USA > Kansas > Crawford County > A Twentieth century history and biographical record of Crawford County, Kansas > Part 33
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His father, John Turkington. now deceased, was one of the pioneer
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cattlemen of this section of the state, having come here when Crawford county was largely range land and as yet untouched by the enterprise of the agriculturist and home-maker. John Turkington was born in county Armagh, Ireland, of a Presbyterian family, was reared and educated there. and in young manhood came to the United States. He lived for a number of years at Xenia, Ohio, and in 1867 came to this section of Kansas, when there was only one railroad in the state. In those early days he dealt extensively in Texas cattle, buying them on the Texas ranges and driving them north to Crawford county, and thence shipping them to the markets. He was a liberal and enterprising man in all his undertakings and in affairs in general, and was an active Presbyterian throughout his life. He died, honored and respected by all, at the age of eighty-two. His wife was Eliza McCreary, born near Belfast, county Down, Ireland, and her noble qualities had much to do with her husband's success. She is still living, being on the old farm- stead near Monmouth in this county. There are six children in the family, namely : W. E .: Elizabeth Myers, of Arkansas ; Eliza Degum. of Beulah, this county; John D., of Monmouth, a cattleman ; Oliver, on the old home farm; and Minnie E., at home.
W. E. Turkington was born at Xenia, Ohio, in 1853. He was a boy of fourteen when he came with the rest of the family to this county. and, having already received such educational advantages as the schools of his native locality afforded, he at once became actively interested with his father in practical affairs and as the oldest son was soon given a large part of the business direction. He later gave himself to the study of civil engineering, and for a number of years was a successful and active member of the profession, being engaged in railroad work for some time. He is one of the popular Democrats of this part of the state, and on one occasion made the race for state legislator, and while he was defeated by six votes he ran great numbers ahead of his ticket. It is said that if any Democrat could be elected from this county he would be the lucky man. Mr. Turkington is the owner of twelve hun-
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dred acres of land in this vicinity, and it is all underlaid with coal. Five shafts are in active operation on his place, and ninety thousand tons of high-grade coal are annually hoisted above ground and nmarketed. He is proprietor of the Louck patent for manufacturing anthracite coal fron slack, which is one of the most valuable inventions of recent years. There are two veins of coal on his land, the upper one being twenty-six inches, and the lower forty-two inches thick. He is also conducting a large mercantile business in Cherokee, which was established in 1889.
As has been stated. Mr. Turkington is politically a Democrat, and has always been active in party affairs. He is also well known in Masonic circles, being a member of the blue lodge, chapter and com- mandery. He has been very liberal in helping all worthy causes, giving much to religion and church work, and also gave three acres as ground on which a high school might be established, his interest in educationa! affairs causing him to be active in every enterprise looking to the better- ment of the local schools. He has done a great deal for Crawford county, and is esteemed among his fellow citizens accordingly.
Mr. Turkington was married in this county in February, 1879. to Miss Virginia Potter, who was born at Springfield, Missouri, a daughter of Davis and Eliza (Tarrence) Potter, both parents being deceased and her father having served as a soldier in the Civil war. They have four children : Jennie O., Ethel, John E. and Victor B. Mrs. Turking- ton is a member of the Presbyterian church.
DR. E. O. SLOAN.
Dr. E. O. Sloan, physician and surgeon of Pittsburg, Kansas, has been engaged in the active practice of his profession in this city for fourteen years, and in many ways has gained pre-eminence in his work. Having been acquainted with the life of the physician from boyhood in the home of his father, who was one of the old-time genial and beloved household doctors, he lias from the time of his first aspirations
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toward the pursuit been devoted to the study of every branch of the great science. Because he realized the magnitude of the realms of the art of healing, he offered an inspired mind to his theoretical preparation and worked with ardor during his student days. But as the complement of his knowledge of the science he possesses a humane and sympathetic nature which is penetrative and healing of itself and goes beyond the range of the coldly scientific man to that influence of spirit over matter which is often more powerful than all medicaments of the world. Dr. Sloan thus fills an important place in this city, not merely as a man of energy in his profession and business or as a popular member of society, but as one who by his daily work helps mankind and who necessarily stands above self and pelf in his altruistic endeavors.
Dr. Sloan was born at Walnut Grove, Greene county, Missouri. February 25, 1855. His grandfather, Judge Jeremiah N. Sloan, came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1831, as one of the early settlers of the state of Missouri, and was the first judge of Greene county. He was accidentally killed by being thrown from his horse, in 1846.
Dr. A. C. Sloan. the son of this Missouri judge, was born in Ken- tucky and came to Missouri with his parents in 1831. locating first in Polk county among the earliest settlers, and later removing to Greene county. He made his home at Walnut Grove until his death in 1899. and he was engaged in active practice for the long period of forty years. from the pioneer days until the progressive years of the end of the last century. His wife was Mary Jane ( Hamilton ) Sloan, who was born in Tennessee in 1826 and came with her parents to Missouri in 1832. Her father, Elijah Hamilton, was a soldier in the war of 1812 under General Scott.
Dr. E. O. Sloan received his early education in the public schools of Walnut Grove, and began the study of medicine with his father as preceptor. He then took the regular course at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, where he was graduated with the class of 1881. His first practice was in the town where he was born and reared, but
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in the fall of 1882 he moved to Cherryvale, Montgomery county, Kan- sas, where he was engaged with a successful practice until 1890, January 2d of which year he located in Pittsburg. He served for two years as city health officer. and is now president of the Crawford County Medical Society, an auxiliary of the State Medical Society. Dr. Sloan is a pro- fessional man in the best sense of the term, and his chief concern as a member and president of the county society is to elevate the medical pro- fession to a higher plane. So rapid has been the advance of medical science in the last few decades that even the most studious and con- scientious can hardly keep abreast of the current, and many are left behind in the rut of mediocrity or inert self-satisfaction. The energizing and progressive mind is needed as a kind of leaven and stimulus among all professional men, and this want is what the Crawford County Medical Society, under the leadership of Dr. Sloan, supplies all within the radius of its influence.
Dr. Sloan has always voted the Republican ticket, and he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, having attained the Knight Templar de- gree. March 30, 1876. he was married at Walnut Grove, Missouri, to Miss Lucy M. Mizener, a daughter of E. A. Mizener, who was a native of Indiana and was killed while fighting for the Union at the battle of Chickamauga. Dr. and Mrs. Sloan have three children living : Mrs. Maud Marsh, Miss Georgia Pauline and Miss Edna Ophelia. The other daughter. Laura Wealthier Sloan, died March 19, 1895, at the age of eighteen years. having been one of the most popular young ladies of Pittsburg.
HARRY W. SHIDELER, A. B .. B. S.
Harry W. Shideler, superintendent of Girard schools and Spanish- American war veteran, has had, as these descriptive titles would indicate, a most interesting and varied career, and although still in the ranks of young men is a progressive leader of many affairs and a definite influ-
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ence for good in that which pertains to the civic and educational ad- vancement of his community.
He was born in Clay county, Indiana, January 14. 1873, a son of Henry and Sophia ( Harbaugh) Shideler, both natives of Ohio. His father is a wagon-maker by trade, but for the last twenty-four years has been engaged in farming. He came to Kansas in 1882 and located in Cherokee county, where he still resides. His good wife died in 1885. at the age of thirty-two.
Coming to Kansas with his parents when nine years of age, Mr. Shideler finished off his common school education in Cherokee county, and later attended the Kansas Normal College at Fort Scott. During his student career in the latter institution he taught for his tuition, and after his graduation he became instructor of history, civics and political economy in the same school, which shows the fine record he made for studious work and keen intelligence in subjects which have ever since kept him in more or less close touch with public and institutional affairs. Before the late war he held the rank of second lieutenant of Company F, Kansas National Guard, and was commissioned to the same rank in Com- pany F. in Twentieth Kansas Volunteer Infantry, recruited for service in the Spanish- American war. March 23. 1899, he was promoted first lieutenant, and was in command of Company D during part of the cam- paign against the Tagalogs, and was promoted to the rank of captain on July 24. 1899. upon which he was placed in command of Company F. He served throughout the severest campaign in the Philippines, and took part in twenty-seven engagements in the islands. He acted as battalion quartermaster, was battalion ordnance officer for a time and also secretary of the regimental exchange. After his muster out and return home from the orient he took up his residence in Girard and for two years was principal of the high school. He then accepted a position as associate editor of the Daily Republican at Fort Scott, and a year later was elected superintendent of the Girard schools, an office which he has since filled with the most satisfactory degree of administrative
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ability and has shown himself to be an educator of the progressive and enterprising type, and has systematized and broadened the school work in all its departments. Mr. Shideler also employs his time in writing for newspapers and magazines, and he wrote a large portion of the book entitled "Campaigning in the Philippines." notably the part entitled "The History of the Twentieth Kansas Regiment." Among his earlier experiences was a term spent in teaching school among the Mormons of Idaho, in 1893-94.
August 17. 1904. he was appointed county superintendent of schools to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of H. E. Hornaday. He appointed Mrs. H. E. Hornaday, the widow of his late friend, his deputy, entrusting the duties of the office to her, while he himself con- tinued his duties as superintendent of the Girard schools.
Mr. Shideler and family are members of the Christian church. He is a stanch Republican in politics. His fraternal affiliations are with Lodge No. 93. A. F. & A. M., at Girard, and also the Ancient Order of United Workmen at the same place.
September 15. 1897, he was married to Miss Iva Jessup, a daughter of Solomon P. and Mary (Long ) Jessup, of Cherokee, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Shideler have four children in their pleasant and comfortable home at Girard, namely : Harry Kenneth. Ralph Jessup. Robert Theo- dore, and Frederick Muriel.
JOHN W. ALLISON.
John W. Allison is one of the most extensive buyers, feeders and shippers of cattle in Grant township. Crawford county, doing a business aggregating as high as twenty-eight thousand dollars annually. Every- thing about his large premises indicate prosperous and methodical man- agement, and his is one of the model farms of the entire county. He takes the more pride in these material circumstances in that they are almost entirely the result of his untiring effort and diligence from the
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age of boyhood. He is a self-made man and the master of his own destiny, owing little to anything but his perseverance and courage in overcoming the obstacles of life. He really began to do battle with the world when he was about nine years old, and consequently deserves the competence which he has gained.
Mr. Allison was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, February 13. 1858. being a son of James and Hanna A. ( Erickson ) Allison, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Norway. His father died in Illinois in 1862, at the age of forty-two, but his mother is living in the first house west of John W. Allison's, being now sixty-eight years old.
John W. Allison went to live among strangers when he was six years old, and the education that he received was obtained in the com- mon schools of his native state. He began working on a farm for his board when he was nine years old, and continued in this way in Illinois until October 17. 1871. when he arrived in Kansas. He worked by the month until September. 1874. and then returned to Illinois and worked there until February 12, 1878. This constant labor was putting him chead in the world somewhat, and when he returned to Kansas in 1878 he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on what was known as the Neutral Lands. From this beginning. in the subsequent twenty- five years, he has accumulated a fine property of five hundred and twenty acres. He has a modern residence, with running hot and cold water and bath, and all the comforts of an ideal farm home. His up-to-date stock barn is sixty-four by one hundred and twelve feet, and he has the best of facilities for carrying on his large business.
Mr. Allison was married January 8. 1880. to Miss Emma B. Marker, a daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Higgenbotham) Marker, natives of Illinois and of Pennsylvania, respectively, and the former of whom died in 1871 at the age of forty-nine, and the latter on April 15, 1900. at the age of fifty-seven. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allison : Joseph C., a farmer. wedded Miss Ethel Bringle :
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Myrtle A., who died at the age of three months: Florence E., wife of Dr. L. H. Thurston, mentioned elsewhere in this work: Maude E., wedded Frank Tannehill, a resident of the city of Pittsburg and a machinist : Jessie A .. Olie B., Gelo P. and Robert E., all at home. The family are members of the McCune Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Allison affiliates with the blue lodge. No. 237. F. & A. M .; was with Camp No. 2870, M. W. A .; and is a member of the A. H. T. A., all at McCune. He has served as township clerk and also on the school board, and in politics is a stanch Republican.
CHARLES S. CHAPMAN.
Charles S. Chapman, whose death occurred in January, 1902, as a result of his being injured by a train at Fort Scott, was one of the most prominent citizens of Pittsburg. He is best known in business circles as having been the proprietor of the Pittsburg Foundry and Machine Works, which he developed from small beginnings into one of the large industrial enterprises of the city. But in addition to this. he was known as one of the city's most public-spirited and progressive men, having done much for building up the city both as an official and in a private capacity. He is still held in affectionate remembrance for his broad-minded and upright character, his liberal dealings with men. and his unflinching rectitude in all the relations of life.
Mr. Chapman was born at Wooster, Ohio, in 1857, and was a son of Augustus R. and Lillie (Mott) Chapman, both now deceased. His father was a long-time resident of Wooster and a well-known iron master of Ohio. He was extensively engaged in manufacturing, being the senior member of the firm of Chapman, Barrett and Company, foundrymen. of Wooster, and was also head of the Lima Agricultural Works at Lima, Ohio. At the time of his death he was a member of the board of education in Wooster, and his activity was in many other ways useful to the city in promoting its intellectual and material welfare.
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His wife. Lille ( Mott ) Chapman, was a member of the well-known family of which Lucretia Mott was such a notable member. On her maternal side she was a direct descendant of Roger Williams, and in the Chapman home at Pittsburg there is a table of solid mahogany. which was among the possessions brought by the noted colonial preacher to America, and which has been preserved as a most valuable and inter- esting relic through all the succeeding generations of the family.
Mr. Charles S. Chapman was reared in Wooster, where he received a good education. He learned the trade of machinist and foundryman in the works of his father, and with the intention of making mechanical pursuits his life work added to his equipment in that line by studying and becoming a draughtsman. His talents were of a high order, and in the course of his research work he devised several devices that became valuable adjuncts in shop work. He left Wooster, when about twenty- nine years of age, to accept the position of master mechanic of the cable street railroad in Kansas City, which was the forerunner of the present Metropolitan Street Railroad Company of that city. He was in charge of the cable line when the first wheel was turned in the system, and he continued as master mechanic of the company for nine years. He came to Pittsburg in 1892. His foundry and machine shop was started in a little shanty of a building, but from this unpretentious inception, because of the excellence of the workmanship and the thoroughly hon- orable business methods in vogue, it expanded into the large works known as the Pittsburg Foundry and Machine Company, with shops on Locust street, at the corner of First. The establishment was both large and successful, and Mr. Chapman became one of the leading busi- ness men of the city, resourceful and enterprising in his own work and lending his aid to every worthy cause for building up the city. Pitts- burg as well as his family and friends sustained a great loss in his early death, for his substantial citizenship and well-rounded character were benefits conferred on the community and are worthy monuments of his career.
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He was mentioned for the office of mayor of his city, and took such a prominent part as a member of the city council that he was some- times called the father of the council. He had fraternal affiliations with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. When he met with the injury that terminated his life he was on his way home from Iola. Kansas, where he owned another foundry.
Mrs. Chapman survives her lamented husband. Her maiden name was Mary J. Clark, and she was born in New York city and was a daughter of John and Helen ( Miller) Clark. She was married to Mr. Chapman at Kansas City in 1885. There are three children : Charles S .. Thomas William and Robert Lanyon.
DR. CHARLES R. TINDER.
Dr. Charles R. Tinder, physician and surgeon and proprietor of a drug store in Englevale, Crawford county, has been listed with the pro- fessional men of this county and town for twelve years. He came well equipped for the successful practice of medicine, and his subsequent record indicates how well he has advanced into the favor of the people of this vicinity. He is a thorough business man, and has managed his affairs most profitably. Since coming to Englevale he has been thor- oughly identified with the best interests of the town, and its prosperity as a town must always reflect more or less credit on this one of its es- teemed citizens.
Dr. Tinder was born in Audrain county, Missouri, January 27. 1865, being a son of David M. and Elizabeth (Thompson) Tinder. His parents were natives, respectively, of Virginia and Kentucky, and they took up their residence in Missouri in 1861. His mother died on March 4, 1884, at the age of fifty-one, and his father on November II, 1884. aged fifty-four years.
Dr. Tinder received his early schooling in the Old Pine school in Audrain county, and later at the State Normal at Kirksville, Missouri.
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He began the study of medicine in the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, and in 1891 graduated from the Marion Sims College of Medicine in St. Louis. In April of the year of his graduation he came to Hepler. Kansas, and on February 23. 1892, indentified himself with Englevale by purchasing the drug store of Gardner and Boaz and engag- ing in practice here. Since then his career has been one of steady progression, and his patronage is large and drawn from the best classes. He held the office of health officer of Crawford county during 1900 and 1901, and is a member of the Southeastern Kansas Medical Society. He owns his own home and store, besides two houses and lots in town which he rents.
Dr. Tinder affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, No. 458, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. No. 481. the Knights and Ladies of Security, No. 99, and the Modern Woodmen of America. No. 1612. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He married, August 17. 1887, Miss Clara B. McAllister, a daughter of F. M. and Ellen Mc Allister, of Indiana. Dr. and Mrs. Tinder have four children : Esta E., Paul Paguin, Chrystal C. and Charles 1.
SABINA SNOW.
Sabina Snow is one of the well known and honored women of Crawford county, where she has lived for over thirty years. She is the widow of Joseph M. Snow, who died in this county January 14, 1879. having been one of the early settlers and one of the most prosperous farmers of Sheridan township, where Mrs. Snow still lives.
Mr. Snow had an active, honorable, useful career, and in whatever relation of life he was called to serve he gave a good account of him- self and caused men to respect him for his true worth and ability. He was living in Missouri when the war came on, and at Rockport in Atchison county he enlisted in the Forty-third Missouri Infantry. He was detailed for duty at St. Joseph. Independence and Warrensburg,
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Missouri, and his chief service was in the dangerous business of fighting bushwhackers in that part of the state. He served faithfully until receiving his honorable discharge, and then returned home and resumed his trade.
He was born in the state of Maine in 1832, being a son of John and Elsie Snow, who both died in that state. He was reared in the hardy Pine Tree state, gained his education in the schools there, and above all learned the value of faithful labor in winning success in life. He learned the trade of blacksmith in early life, and became an expert at the business, so that he could do almost anything possible to that trade. When he was twenty-two years old he was married in New Hampshire to Miss Sabina Merrill, who was of a fine New England family, her father being Nathaniel Merrill and her mother's maiden name Bixby. both her parents dying when about sixty years old.
Some time after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Snow came west, first locating near Guthrie Center in Guthrie county, Iowa, then lived for two years in Nemaha county, Nebraska, after which they crossed the Missouri and became residents of Atchison county, Missouri, where they lived for eight years, during which time the Civil war was fought. In 1871 they came to Crawford county, and from that year until his death in 1879 Mr. Snow took a prominent part in the affairs of the township and county and gained a large degree of prosperity as a farmer, which occupation he followed almost exclusively in his later years. Before his death he owned a fine estate of three hundred and
twenty acres in Sheridan township, but after his death much of this was distributed to the sons. Mrs. Snow now resides on the old homestead of eighty acres, which is a valuable tract of rich bottom land with some timber, and is excellently well improved with nice residence, barn and other farming equipments indicative of the enterprise and progressive- ness of its owners. The home place is not far from the town of Mon- mouth, being situated on both Limestone and Wolf creeks. Mrs. Snow resides here in comfort and continues the gracious hospitality which was
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one of the chief charms of the Snow home during the life of Mr. Snow.
Mr. and Mrs. Snow during their happy union of twenty-five years had the following children born into their home: Melissa Strode, Belle Stoker, Charles, Frank, Laura Stoker, Nellie, Orin, Ada, William, and two who died in childhood. Mr. Snow was prominent in Masonic circles, being master of Chapter No. 59 in Missouri. Politically he was a strong Republican.
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