USA > Kansas > Crawford County > A Twentieth century history and biographical record of Crawford County, Kansas > Part 43
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Colonel Howard was married at Girard in 1876 to Miss Phoebe W. Playter, the youngest sister of Frank Playter, now deceased, who was one of the wealthy men of the county, and, more than any other one man, built up Girard, and later took an equally active part in the development of Pittsburg. Mrs. Howard died in 1893. leaving one (laughter, Miss Blanche Howard.
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H. H. KARNS.
H. H. Karns, of Englevale, is one of the most extensive farmers in this part of the county, and has the further distinction of being the founder of the town of Englevale. He has been in the county since 1880. and while his individual prosperity has greatly increased in these twenty-four years, his own success has visibly affected all the interests in this section of the county, and he has added much to the sum total of general wealth and public progress and upbuilding.
Mr. Karns was born in Bedford county. Pennsylvania, August 9. 1849, being a son of John H. and Rachel ( Hixson ) Karns, both of that state. His parents passed all their lives in the state of Pennsylvania, and his father died in 1895 and his mother in 1897.
Mr. Karns enjoyed all his educational privileges at the common schools where he was reared, and the first twenty-one years of his life were spent on the home farm. He then began farming on his own account, and continued his operations in that industry in his native state for several years. In 1880 he sold out and came to Crawford county. Kansas, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and proceeded to develop a farm. His landed estate now comprises eight hundred acres, and in this as in every other of his undertakings his spirit of progressiveness and enterprise has accomplished excellent results. In 1891 he started the town of Englevale, and in partnership with L. H. Lashley engaged in the lumber, grain and hardware business. He sold out these mercantile interests in 1892 and returned to the farm. In 1902 he opened a coal shaft on his place, and on August 17. 1903, leased it to the Pittsburg Coal Company, which now operates it on a royalty basis. On March 1. 1903, he bought the David Dick place, and a part of it he laid out into town lots, since which time eleven new houses have been erected on this addition to the town.
Mr. Karns is a Populist in politics, and has served in the office of justice of the peace. He affiliates with Lodge No. 481. I. O. O. F.,
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and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He was mar- ried August 4, 1870, to Miss Mira Shaffer. a daughter of Isaiah and Sarah Shaffer, of Pennsylvania, but both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Karns are the parents of the following children: Ida, wife of C. A. Strawalley, weigh boss at the coal shaft; Scott, a farmer in this town- ship; L. B. is now partner in the Pittsburg Coal Company at Englevale, and he is also interested in the large mercantile establishment of the village; Harry is general superintendent of the Pittsburg Coal Com- pany and is also interested in the mercantile trade; and Jessie. Sadie, Irvin, Pearl. Clarence and Hattie, still at home.
IRENEUS J. ADAMSON.
Ireneus J. Adamson, a prominent and well known farmer and stock-raiser of Crawford township, Crawford county, has been familiar with this county since the days of boyhood when he trudged into its boundaries behind his father's prairie schooner. He came at a time when pioneer conditions were on every hand, and his young and plastic mind received lasting impressions from those early days. His career has been very active and useful, he has made an honorable name and has gained a fair share of this world's goods, and his place among Crawford county's honored and enterprising citizens is secure.
Mr. Adamson was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. February 26, 1856, being the second of the children of William C. and Hannah (Moser) Adamson. His father was a contractor and builder. He brought his family to Girard, Kansas, in 1869. and bought a deserted claim of one hundred and sixty acres not far from town. While en- gaged in farming he also carried on his work as a contractor, and in that capacity built the first court house of Girard and the first Presby- terian church, besides many of the stores around the square. He lived on his farm until his death, which occurred November 4. 1894. when he was at the honored and ripe age of seventy years. His wife died
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March 4, 1895, at the age of sixty-four years. They were the parents of seven children: Emma, who is the wife of F. S. Wolf, of Kansas City; Ireneus J. ; Dr. L. P .; William H., of Laveta. Colorado; Maggie, wife of George Baker, of Laveta, Colorado; Minnie, a teacher of Trini- dad, Colorado; and Anna, wife of Horace Meloy, of Calhan, Colorado.
Ireneus J. Adamson was educated in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and at the age of thirteen came to Kansas with his parents. He walked all the way from Kansas City to Girard. He worked at home on the farm until 1877, and then went to Leadville, Colorado, where he was engaged in contracting and building, and later was in the grocery and butcher business. He was in that town five years, and for two years was in Colorado Springs. In 1885 he returned to Kansas, and for the follow- ing three years farmed a place near his father's farm. He then engaged in contracting and building in Kansas City, and was there until 1900, when he purchased the old home farm and took up his residence thereon. He owns two hundred and eighty-one acres of first-class agricultural land, and engages extensively in stock-raising and general farming.
Mr. Adamson was married July 30, 1884, to Miss May La Fontaine, who was born at Joliet, Illinois, August 11, 1859. being a daughter of Damose and Lucy ( Brezee) LaFontaine. Her father was in the ice business at Joliet for a number of years. and both her parents are now living with their son, the Rev. C. B. LaFontaine, at Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Adamson was a school teacher before her marriage, having taught in Grand Ridge, Illinois, and in the academy at Brooklyn, a suburb of Joliet, for six years, and was also a teacher for four years in the district schools of Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. Adamson have the following children : Earl L., Ireneus J., Lillian May, Grace Evelyn, Paul Damose. Gladys Anna and Frank William. The family attend the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Adamson affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, and in politics is a stanch Republican.
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WILLIAM LEONARD EDDY.
William Leonard Eddy is the proprietor of the Crystal Jar Dairy and Maplewood stock farm on section 15, Crawford township. Craw- ford county, and his business has become an important and profitable one, owing to capable management and untiring industry on the part of the owner. Mr. Eddy is a native son of New England, his birth having occurred in Leicester, Massachusetts, on the Ist of June. 1845. His parents were Leonard and Isabella ( Newton) Eddy, also natives of Massachusetts. During his active business career the father fol- lowed the occupation of farming, but during the later years of his life lived retired, enjoying a richly merited rest. He died in 1893 at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife passed away in 1886 at the age of fifty-seven years.
William Leonard Eddy, having mastered the branches of learning taught in the common schools, continued his education in Worcester .Academy at Worcester. Massachusetts. He was but eighteen years of age when in response to his country's call for troops he enlisted in Feb- ruary, 1864. as a member of Company K, Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry. He was twice wounded during his service and was often in the thickest of the fight. He participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg and ten other engagements, and never faltered in his per- formance of duty, faithfully following the old flag into the thickest of an engagement, upon the long marches or to the lonely picket line. He received an honorable discharge at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Sep- tember, 1865, and returned home with a creditable military record. On account of the mjuries which he had sustained in battle, however, he was unable to enter into active business for some time thereafter. The year 1867 witnessed his arrival in Crawford county, Kansas, and he became a factor in the development of the great and growing west as a merchant in Crawfordsville, entering into partnership relations with Colonel Percy Daniels. After a short time, however, he withdrew
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from the store and turned his attention to farming and stock-raising. Since 1888 he has given his entire time to the dairy business, and the Crystal Jar Dairy has become famed throughout this part of the state. He has a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres pleasantly located a mile and a half west of Girard. The place is well equipped with modern improvements and accessories. He has a fine residence, and there is also a most commodious and substantial cattle barn, forty by sixty feet, which was completed in the year 1903, and affords abundant shelter to the large herd of cows which he keeps upon his place for dairy pur- poses. Neatness and thrift characterize the farm, and the products of the dairy being of an excellent quality find a ready sale on the market. His patronage is now extensive and returns to him a good annual income.
On the 27th of November. 1873. occurred the marriage of Mr. Eddy and Miss Ella M. Bayless, a daughter of Jonathan and Eugene (Briggs) Bayless, natives of New York and Michigan, respectively. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Eddy has been blessed with four children : Frank B., at home: Leonard J., who is now in Kansas City, Missouri : and Lucy Isabella and Henry Newton, who are still with their parents. Mr. Eddy and his family are members of the Methodist church at Girard and are well known people of the community, the hospitality of the best homes of the neighborhood being extended cordially to them. Mr. Eddy belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Girard and he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in General Bailey Post No. 49. G. A. R. In politics his allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but while he always votes in support of the measures which he believes will contribute most to the general progress of town, county or state he has never sought or desired office for himself. preferring to give his attention to his business inter- ests, in which he is meeting with very desirable success.
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MICA G. VINCENT.
Crawford county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Kansas, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to con- serve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of the section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacity, and in this connection the subject of this review demands representa- tion as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of distinct trust and responsibility. He is now filling the position of sheriff. to which position he has been twice elected.
Mr. Vincent is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in McDonough county, on the 30th of May, 1869. His father, David A. Vincent, is represented on another page of this volume. The son was but a small boy when brought to Crawford county, and he pursued his early education in the district schools here, while later he had the oppor- tunity of attending the Gem City Business College, at Quincy. Illinois, of which he is a graduate. He resided upon the home farm until 1883. and in 1891, after completing his education at Quincy, he returned to Girard and became a factor in its mercantile life, conducting a grocery store here for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and went to Texas, but after a short time he returned to Girard and was engaged in merchandising until. 1896. He was then appointed under sheriff by Sheriff Adsit and served in that capacity for two years. He afterward became connected with an implement business, and also clerked for H. P. Gurnd, while subsequently he purchased stock for his fatlier. In the fall of 1899 he was elected sheriff of Crawford county for a term of three years, and in 1902 was re-elected to the office, so that he is now serving for a second term. He is fearless and faithful in the discharge of his duties, regarding a public office as a public trust, and his record in connection with the shrievalty has been most commend- able.
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Jossae L De. Vincent
Mica I. Vincent
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On the 24th of February, 1897, Mr. Vincent was united in mar- riage to Miss Jessae L. Hursh, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Hursh, residents of Girard. Mrs. Vincent is now spending considerable time in Arizona, Tennessee and other southern states for the benefit of her health. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vincent hold membership with the Meth- odist Episcopal church and are numbered among its consistent repre- sentatives. He is identified with several fraternal organizations, includ- ing the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. No. 412: the subordi- nate lodge and the uniformed rank of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. No. 63; the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Fraternal Aid. His political support has always been given to the Republican party, and it was upon that ticket that he was elected to his present office.
J. A. CURRY.
J. A. Curry, of Cherokee, commander of Shiloh Post No. 56. G. A. R., has lived in this part of Kansas since 1877, thus being one of the old settlers. He is well known and highly esteemed in Crawford county, and he has made a fine record, not only as a man of affairs and a successful business man, but as an honored soldier in the country's greatest war.
He was a young man living in the state of Illinois at the time the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted at Chambersburg, Pike county. November 1, 1861, in Company M, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, under Cap- tain Moore, Colonel J. Barret (Lincoln's brother-in-law ), and Lieu- tenant Colonel Wickersham. The regiment was organized for western frontier service, but was sent south instead, and made a long and gal- lant record in the Mississippi valley. From the camp at Springfield. Illinois, the regiment was sent into Missouri and did rough rider service in that state and Arkansas against General Price. In 1863 they cam- paigned among the Iron mountains, thence went to Helena and Little Rock, and in the spring of 1864 went south by boat to New Orleans.
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They were employed in operations about Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama, and then took part in the Red River expedition of General Banks. At the close of the war they escorted General Sheridan across Texas to San Antonio. Mr. Curry received his honorable discharge and returned home with the consciousness of having performed long and faithful service in behalf of his country.
Mr. Curry was born in Mercer county. Kentucky, near Cornishville. March 11. 1836. One of his uncles served in the Mexican war. His parents. William and Nellie (Cunningham) Curry, were both born in Kentucky, and moved to Illinois in 1842, locating in Brown county. where the father, who was a farmer. a Jackson Democrat and a member of the Christian church, died at the age of forty-eight, and the mother at forty-seven. They left seven children, two sons and five daughters.
Mr. Curry was reared on the Illinois farm, and after his school days were over he gave himself to learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed successfully while living in Illinois. In 1877 he came to Crawford county and bought a farm near Cherokee, but during the past thirteen years has resided in Cherokee and followed his trade. He has been a successful manager, and is held in high esteem wherever he is known.
He was married in Brown county, Illinois, in November, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Byrns, who was born in Portage county, Ohio, and was reared and educated there and in Carroll county. She went to Illinois when she was sixteen years old. Her parents were James and Margaret (Gonvales) Byrns, both natives of Ohio, and the latter died in Ohio at the age of fifty-two. Her father, who died in Illinois at sixty-six. was a farmer. a Democrat in politics, and in religion a Quaker. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Curry, four of whom are living, as follows: Frank, of Kansas City: Myrtle, of this county: Olin, at home : and Adna Bumcrot, of Cherokee. The son William died in Illinois, Herbert died in childhood, and Mrs. Mary A. Tharp died,
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leaving a son. Marion F. Tharp, who is now five years old and living with his grandparents.
Mr. Curry is independent in politics. He served as township trustee for three terms, and was on the school board of Cherokee county for twelve years. Fraternally he affiliates with the United Workmen, and he is a member of the Christian and she of the Methodist church.
GEORGE C. MASON.
George C. Mason, of Arcadia, is one of the stock farmers of his township, and he has followed out a career that has been unusually successful, viewed both from the standpoint of material circumstances and that of personal worth and character. He has spent most of his life in Crawford county, and his family is one of the old and prominent names of the county, with residence here since 1869, only a year or so after the county was organized and when primitive conditions of living were manifest on all sides.
Mr. Mason was born December 30. 1853. in the state of Kentucky. His parents. J. G. and Eliza ( Wilson ) Mason, natives of Virginia, in 1860 came west from Kentucky and took up their abode on the still wild and virgin prairies of Crawford county. They were very successful people, and by their industry and good management as farmers had accumulated, at the time of their death, six hundred acres of choice land in the vicinity of Arcadia. J. G. Mason died here July 28. 1895. at the age of seventy-three, and his good wife passed away on August 14. 1899, being seventy-one years old.
Mr. George C. Mason was reared and educated in the states of Ken- tucky and Kansas, and took up the occupation of farming when twenty years old. Though a stanchi Democrat in politics, Mr. Mason has little time to devote to such matters. He and his wife are both members of the Corinth Christian church in Lincoln township. and Mrs. Mason is a member of the ladies' aid society.
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December 2. 1875, Mr. Mason married Miss Mary E. James. Her father. John W. James, a veritable pioneer of pioneers in this county, was born in Morgan county. Illinois, May 16, 1824, and was reared and educated there. In 1858, almost ten years before Crawford county was organized and when this section of the state was still known as the Neutral Lands. he came to Arcadia and located on the farm on which his widow until recently resided. He married, March 21, 1850, Caro- line Williamson, who was born November 28. 1828, and died October 9, 1904. Mr. James died February 3, 1870.
JOHN FRANKLIN PRICE.
John Franklin Price, editor of the Cherokee Sentinel and prom- inent inan of affairs in Crawford county, now postmaster of Cherokee, also one of the old-time farmers and business men, took up his home in this part of southeastern Kansas in 1866, before the county was organ- ized, before the Indians, the wild animals and other phases of unciviliza- tion had passed on, and has been identified with the growth and upbuild- ing of the county as only very few other men now living have been. In various other parts of this work Mr. Price is mentioned for his par- ticipation in pioneer affairs, politically and as a newspaper man, and there follows also a brief sketch of the main points of his life history.
Born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, August 6, 1838, a son of Perry and Melinda (Eagle) Price, both natives of West Virginia, he accompanied the family on their removal to lowa when he was eighteen years old, and in Taylor county of that state he grew up among rather primitive surroundings, without much schooling, and prepared for a busy career by early actual contact with life's duties. His parents both died in Taylor county, Iowa.
Mr. Price lived in Iowa until 1866, and then, with his young wife. came to Crawford county and made settlement out on the prairie about three miles west of where the town of Cherokee now lies. He put up a
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rough kind of cabin, such as was typical of all the early homes of the county, and farmed his claim until 1877, in which year he moved to Cherokee and went into the mercantile business. This he also continued eleven years, until 1888, and then took charge of the local weekly paper. the Cherokee Sentinel, on whose pages his name has ever since appeared as editor and proprietor. He has conducted this journal with excellent success, he being one of the oldest men, in point of length of service, in the newspaper business in Crawford county. Mr. Price is a trenchant, effective writer on all matters affecting local affairs, and combining this talent with good business ability he has taken place among the few suc- cessful editors and publishers of the county. Also an entertaining public speaker, with definite convictions and well thought out opinions, his services in this regard have been much in demand, at political meetings, old settlers' reunions and other public gatherings. Perhaps no one excels him in knowledge concerning the early history of the county. knowledge based on personal experience and abiding interest in the annals of his county, and his articles along these lines written a few years ago for the Sentinel were greatly enjoyed by all residents of the county. Mr. Price serves as city clerk of Cherokee, and for many times has served as city councilman, treasurer, township trustee and in other offices.
In April, 1866, Mr. Price was married in Iowa to Miss Christina Larson, and the three children born of this marriage are Mrs. Mamie Breyfogle. Harry B. and Miss Jennie Florence.
DR. A. C. BROOK.
Dr. A. C. Brook, of Opolis, is a physician of the eclectic school. and during his career in Crawford county has created for himself an unusual degree of success and obtained a high position among the medical fraternity. Dr. Brook is especially progressive and ambitious
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toward high attainment in his profession, and the field of his endeavor and usefulness is continually broadening.
Dr. Brook is a son of a physician and is thus almost an inheritor of his profession. He was born in Jackson county, Indiana, in 1859. His father. Dr. William Brook, born in North Carolina, came with the family when it made settlement in Jackson county, Indiana. His career as physician extended over a great many years, and he was a man of prominence and esteem wherever he lived. From Indiana he moved out to Randolph county. Missouri, in the earlier seventies, and about 1883 came to Kansas and located at Cherokee, Crawford county, whence about two years later he removed to Opolis, where he died in 1893. His wife was Elizabeth ( Sharp) Brook, also a native of North Carolina, and her death, which occurred in Jasper county, Missouri, preceded that of her husband.
Dr. A. C. Brock, being a boy when he went to Missouri, received most of his early education at Rennick. in Randolph county, and during several years of residence at Moberly, Missouri, he studied pharmacy. and later conducted a drug store in that city for five years. He came to Kansas with his father in 1883. Taking up the study of medicine. he spent some time at the American Medical College in St. Louis ; then attended the Kansas City Medical College at Kansas City, and from there transferred his matriculation to the Independent Medical College of Chicago, where he graduated in 1896. He is an adherent of the eclectic school of medicine, which, untrammeled by dogmas ancient or modern, to his mind embodies the best and most progressive principles of the great science of healing. His first practice was in Opolis, and he has continued huis work here ever since, and with increasing and marked success. In order to broaden his sphere of usefulness in every possible way, he took a course in "suggestive therapeutics" under Dr. George C. Pitzer, of the American Medical College at St. Louis, one of the prom- inent authorities and teachers in that subject.
Dr. Brook is also a capable business man, and has given his energies
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to many affairs that concern the growth and welfare of his community. He built the Brook Hotel in Opolis, besides several other buildings, and his interest in the progress of this town has taken practical form in many ways, and his efforts for its development are unstinted and given in a most publie-spirited manner.
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