A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 105

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 970

USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 105

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

the Old Ohio House, then a popular hotel. After a year's experience at hotel keeping he bought an interest, with W. R. Morrison, in the Queen City meat market, the first enter- prise of the kind in Hutchinson north of the line of the Santa Fe Railroad. Contin- uing in the meat trade successfully for three years he then accepted a position with the Hutchinson Packing Company, and for three and a half years was in charge of the whole- sale and retail delivery department of that concern. He served two terms as member of the council, in 1899 and again in 1900 he was elected commissioner of streets for the city of Hutchinson, and while assuming the duties of the office he has had entire supervision of every street in the city and has proven himself a careful, energetic and honorable official. Before he took up his residence in Hutchinson he was for eighteen years a member of his township school

board.

He took a prominent part in organizing the Presbyterian church, of Hutchinson, in 1872, and later the Valley Presbyterian church, in which he long filled the offices of elder and Sunday-school su -. perintendent, and of which both he and his wife are charter members. In politics he is a Republican, and his influence in local af- fairs is recognized by all who know him. He is a charter member of Reno Lodge, No. 140. A. F. & A. M., of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and for three years has been treasurer of the local organization of the Knights and Ladies of Security ; and his sons, Walter B. and Arthur are Knight Templar Masons and past emi- nent commanders of Reno Commandery, No. 26. For the past twenty-six years Mr. Hoagland has been local correspondent for the agricultural department at Washington and for the past eight years a regular cor- respondent for the Orange Judd Farmer. He is past commander of Joe Hooker Post. No. 17. G. A. R., at Hutchinson. and has filled every office in the organization and is now its quartermaster. He built his pre- sent fine residence in 1887. It is a com- modious, two-story building, arranged with a view to comfort and substantiality. One

of his chief aims in life has been and is to give his children the advantages of thorough and practical education, and from time to time he has engaged actively in char- itable and benevolent work. He is a man of much patriotism and public spirit, takes a deep interest in his city, county and state and has discharged fully and nobly all his duties as a soldier, citizen, public official, fa- ther, husband and friend.

Mr. Hoagland was married November 26, 1867. to Emma Evans, the adopted daughter of Joseph and Nancy Evans. She was born in Ohio and during the period of the Civil war attended school at Steuben- ville, Ohio. She also taught school for some time in Fulton county, Illinois, and is a woman of much refinement and many ac- complishments. Martin and Emma ( Evans) Hoagland have had four sons and four daughters, namely : Walter B., superinten- dent of the Riverside Salt Plant ; Arthur C., the manager of the Hoagland Clothing Com- pany in Hutchinson, Kansas : W. Louis, who is a graduate of the Medical University of Kansas City, with the class of 1899, and is a physician to the Central Coal and Coke Company at Neame, Louisiana ; David R., an employe of the Adams Express Company at St. Louis, Missouri : Olive C., who gradu- ated in music at the Chicago Conservatory and is the wife of H. A. Lloyd. of the reg- istry department of the post-office at Kan- sas City, Missouri ; Nellie, a graduate of the high school of Hutchinson and now a teacher in the public schools of that city; Rosa, who died in her graduating year, in February, 1899 : and Floy, who has just completed her first year in the high school of Hutchinson. Mrs Hoagland is past president of the Joe Hooker Woman's Relief Corps, No. III, and is also past department inspector of the Wo- man's Relief Corps.

WALTER PICKERILL.

The list of the leading citizens of Rice county contains the name of Walter Pick- erill, one of the representative and honored

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citizens of the county. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, near Ripley, December 17. 1863. a son of Thomas J. Pickerill, one of Rice county's early pioneers and leading agriculturists. He was born in Ohio, and there received a good education, following the profession of a teacher for many years. He married Jane Scott, who proved to him a faithful companion through life. In 1865 they took up their abode in Topeka, Kansas, where they remained for one year, and then removed to Missouri, locating in Jackson county. They remained there until 1872, when they took up their abode in Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri. Three years after- ward they returned to Jackson county, that state, remaining there until 1879, when they took up their abode in Victoria township, Rice county, Kansas. The father was en- gaged in farming here until his death, which occurred February 1, 1901, at the age of sixty-eight years. At his death he left a widow and six children, four of whom still survive: Maggie, wife of J. K. Board, of Victoria township; Walter, our subject ; Ida, wife of John Armstrong, of Oklahoma ; Minnie, wife of Adam Collins, of Gault township, Rice county. Two children died in childhood .- Lulu and Jennie. The father of this family was an elder in the Church of Christ for forty years, exemplifying his Christian belief in his every day life.

Walter Pickerill, whose name introduces this review, spent the days of his youth upon a Missouri farm, there enjoying the educa- tional privileges afforded by the common schools, but by reading and experience he has added greatly to his knowledge. In 1879 he came with his father to Rice county, Kansas, where he now owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has resided for eleven years. The place is improved with a good residence, a large barn, a beautiful grove and orchard, excellent pastures, and everything about the place indicates the supervision of a progress- ive and thrifty owner.

In 1883 Mr. Pickerill was united in mar- riage with Lizzie Weckman, who was born in Blackhawk county, Iowa, near Waterloo, a daughter of Adam and Sarah (Walker)

Weckman, natives of Stark county, Ohio. The father was of Pennsylvania German de- scent, and his death occurred at the age of thirty years, leaving three children,-Byron, Minnie and Lizzie. The mother was a sec- ond time married, becoming the wife of William Strayer, and they had nine children, five now living,-Calvin, Hattie. Frank, Orville and Jessie. Three of the children died in childhood, and Ida departed this life at the age of sixteen years. The mother now resides in Iowa, and is a member of the Dunkard church. Mrs. Pickerill was reared and educated in Iowa, and at the age of fourteen came with her grandmother to Kan- sas. She is now the mother of eight chil- dren, five sons and three daughters: Jesse, who is seventeen years of age; Lelia, aged fifteen; Roy, aged thirteen; James, aged eleven; Minnie, aged nine years: Charles, aged eight years ; Grace, aged five years ; and Alfred, a lad of three years. Mr. Pickerill is a supporter of Democracy and is a mem- ber of the Church of Christ. He enjoys the high esteem of all who have the honor of his acquaintance.

DAVID FOX.

From the position of shepherd boy watching his flocks on the fertile uplands and meadows of old Sussex county, Eng- land, to that as the owner of one of the finest stock farms in the state of Kansas, represents a marked contrast, and such has characterized the career of the honored sub- ject of this sketch, who is one of the pio- neers of Kingman county and whose influ- ence in the promotion of the stock business of this section of the Union has been so notable and valuable that on this score alone he merits consideration in any work touch- ing the lives of the representative citizens of the commonwealth. He has contributed in large measure to the normal development and substantial upbuilding of Kingman county, has served in positions of distinct public trust and responsibility, and to-day is held in the highest esteem as one of the

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leading stock-growers and valued citizens of the county, his fine herd of thoroughbred Hereford cattle being recognized as one of the finest in the state. His beautiful stock farm is located in Allen township, while Norwich is his post-office address. As a ster- ling citizen and as one of the representa- tive stockmen of Kansas we are pleased to enter at this juncture a brief record of his varied and interesting career.

In the county of Sussex. England. Da- vid Fox was born, on the Ioth of January, 1848, coming of stanch old English lineage and being the son of Caleb and Jane (Woods) Fox, both of whom were born in the same county, where the latter died when our subject was a child of two years, so that he was deprived of the tender, solici- tude and fostering care which only a mother can accord. His father was a farmer and stock grower, and it is interesting to note that David thus became familiar with flocks and herds when a mere boy, thus early fostering that love for the great industry through which he has attained such marked success and prestige in his later years. He attended the common schools of his native county, but as a boy was called upon to as- sume personal responsibilities, serving as a shepherd when a mere lad, and so, care- fully studying his flocks that he could give definite information as to the dispositions and characteristics of the various individ- uals in the same and also point out their good and bad features. This knowledge be- came of much practical value to him in after years, when he became a purchaser of high grade merino sheep in the United States, as will be duly noted later on.

After giving up his position as a shep- herd Mr. Fox served for a time on the ocean brig Robiner, and finally. in 1867, he came to America, determined to try his fortunes in the great republic, where he felt that bet- ter opportunities were afforded for young men dependent upon his own responsibili- ties and efforts for a livelihood. From New York he made his way to Allegan county, Michigan, where he remained until 1870. when he became a pioneer of Kansas, com- ing to Wichita, Sedgwick county, the now attractice city being at that time indicated 41

by only a few smail buildings, while the characteristics of the locality were those typical of the frontier. Finally he took up a claim of government land in that county, and then turned his attention to freighting to Fort Sill and the Indian Territory. This line of enterprise was frought with much danger and difficulty in the early days, and Mr. Fox had many exciting experiences in this connection. He was associated with and knew intimately Pat. Hennessy and the nine other men who were killed by the In- dians while on a freighting trip. Afterward for a time the government provided escorts of soldiers for the freighters, this being nec- essary in order to secure protection from the hostile Indians.

After devoting his attention to freight- ing for some time Mr. Fox engaged in the sheep business, being associated with J. R. Askew. a capitalist of Wichita. He intro- duced the thoroughbred merino sheep and through his discriminating methods and ex- cellent judgment in the selection of breed- ing stock made southern Kansas famous for its fine sheep, securing most of the first pre- miums in the line at the state fairs for a number of years. In inaugurating this en- terprise he purchased some of the best thor- oughbred stock to be found in the state of Vermont, and he had the distinction of bringing to Kansas at this time the best sheep ever introduced in the state, "Lord Wool." register No. 50. At a state fair held at Topeka, in a competition with twelve others from Kansas, New York, Vermont. Missouri and Michigan. "Lord Wool" took the premium. About this time Mr. Fox's ambition was aroused by the fact that a breeder named H. Brookings, of Vermont, raised a sheep whose wool weighed forty- four and a quarter pounds, and this became the world's record. Mr. Fox knew that to excel this record it required density of wool and cil and length of fleece, and he began to breed accordingly, and in the course of time he bred and raised the ram. "Baby Lord," sired by "Lord Wool." whose clip of wool, weighed by a committee appointed for this purpose at a public shearing at Mulvane, Kansas, reached fifty-two pounds, three hundred and sixty-five days' growth-

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beating the world's former record seven and three-fourths pounds, and up to the present time this has remained the world's record. "Baby Lord," who was sold by Mr. Fox at a large price, became the head of a fine herd in Texas, and was afterward purchased by an Australian for five thousand dollars.

In 1885 Mr. Fox disposed of his sheep interests and came to Kingman county, where he engaged in the cattle business, es- tablishing his present herd of pure-blood Hereford stock. in connection with which he has attained a reputation even higher than he did in the raising of sheep. His herd is headed by Conselor, No. 71,682. recognized as one of the finest animals of the breed in the state, while his cows, heif- ers and young males are second to those of no herd in this section of the Union, his stock commanding the maximum market prices and the demand being ready and con- stant. He makes a point of genuine merit, Mr. Fox has been twice married. On the Ist of May, 1875, at Wichita, Sedgwick county, he was united in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Smith, who was born in England, the daughter of Peter Smith, who passed his entire life there. She accompanied her brothers on their emigration to the United not mere show, and this fact is recognized and has begotten uniform confidence in his representations, from which no appeal is taken. His fine stock farm comprises four hundred and forty acres of excellent land, particularly well adapted for the purpose for which it is utilized, and here he has an | States and was a resident of Wichita at attractive home of modern architectural de- sign, the best of barns and other adequate facilities for the shelter and care of his stock.

As one of the representative men of the county Mr. Fox has shown a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature, and the confidence and esteem in which he is uni- formly held has been indicated by his having been chosen incumbent of responsible offi- cial positions. His political support is given to the People's party, as the candi- date of which, in 1890, he was elected a member of the board of county commis- sioners, serving for a term of three years, and with such signal ability that he was chosen as his own successor and continued in office for a second term of equal dura- tion. . On the board his attitude was that of the thorough business man, and it is con- ceded that he was one of the best and most popular commissioners Kingman county

has ever enlisted in her service. He also served as trustee of Minnescah township for a term of two years. Prior to coming to this county he assisted in the organization of Sedgwick county, of which he was one of the first settlers and in which he is well known and highly esteemed. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has taken the Royal Arch degrees, while he is also a member of the adjunct or- ganization, the order of the Eastern Star. For many years he has also been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 316, of Norwich. He is a man whose integrity of character is inflexible, while his genial personality has won to him a host of warm friends. His success has been achieved by worthy means, and none can view the same save with satisfaction and admiration for the energy and ability which made the same possible.

the time of her marriage. Of this union three children were born, Charles C., who is now twenty-six years of age: Minnie. who is the wife of Albert W. Shipley, of Deer Creek, Oklahoma; and one who died in childhood. Mrs. Fox was summoned into eternal rest in 1882, and in January, 1884. was solemnized the marriage of our subject to Miss Elizabeth Baldock, who was born in England, the daughter of James Baldock, now a resident of Kingman county, having attained the venerable age of seventy-nine years. His wife died prior to his coming to America. The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Fox occurred on the 5th of December, 1900, and her loss was deeply deplored by a wide cir- cle of friends who had thoroughly appre- ciated her gentle and womanly character. She was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church and was a popular mem- ber of the order of the Eastern Star and the Rebekah chapter of the Independent

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Order of Odd Fellows. By her second marriage, to Mr. Fox, two children were born, David J. and Lizzie.

LARUE H. DURHAM.

LaRue H. Durham, editor and propri- etor of the Sylvia Sun, at Sylvia, Reno coun- ty, Kansas, was born in Cass county, Illi- nois. on the 11th of March, 1862. His grandfather, Silas Durham, was a native of the Keystone state, born at or near Mead- ville, and became a pioneer settler of Ashta- bula county, Ohio. He wedded Laura Morse, of Scotch ancestry, and probably a native of that country, and they became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Mr. Durham passed away in death in Illi- nois. in 1875, and his wife survived him for seven years, dying at the age of seventy-six years, and she lies buried at Oakland, Illi- mois. Their son, Ebin R., the father of our subject, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, on the 28th of April, 1833. His death oc- curred in Stafford county, Kansas. March 14, 1899, to which place he had removed from Illinois in October, 1876. In this state he secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and his house was the first one erected in Hayes township, Stafford coun- ty. He was a shoemaker by trade, and was also a professor of music, having served as a violin teacher and band master. As a com- panion for the journey of life he chose Jane McDaniels, a native of Scotland. She was left an orphan in early life with an only brother, whom she afterward accompanied to America. In this country, in April, 1858, she married Mr. Dunham, and they became the parents of five children, three of whom grew to years of maturity.

LaRue H. Durham, whose name intro- duces this review, suffered from ill health in his youth, and in consequence obtained but a limited education. At the early age of twelve years he became a printer's devil on the Oakland Herald, remaining on its staff for three years, after which he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas. In

1889, however, he left his Kansas home and removed to Colorado, where he followed his trade in Pueblo for three years, after which he leased the Villa Grove Head Line for two years. On the expiration of that period he became a journeyman for the Colorado Her- ald, and soon purchased a controlling inter- est in that paper, later becoming its sole owner and proprietor, which he conducted until 1898. In that year he returned to Stafford county, Kansas, and in December, 1900, came to Sylvia. June 1, 1900, he es- tablished the Sylvia Sun. In the newspaper business Mr. Durham has been eminently successful, and through his connection with this paper has become widely and favorably known throughout Reno county.

On the 16th of August, 1883, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Durham and Miss Rebecca J. Warren. The lady is a na- tive of Pennsylvania and a daughter of James B. and Sarah (Caldwell) Warren, the former of Scotch and the latter of Scotch and English descent. The father was a coal miner, and for three and a half years was a soldier in the Civil war, having been twice wounded in battle. Both are now living and make their home in Indian Territory, and of their eleven children eight still survive. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Durham have been born three children,-William E., who is a youth of nineteen years and is a compositor on the Sylvia Sun; Albert L. and Steve. aged re- spectively fourteen and thirteen years, and both are learning the printer's trade. Mr. Durham is independent in political matters, preferring to vote for the men whom he re- gards as best qualified for public office.

RENNING H. GRIEM.

Among the stockmen of Kingman coun- ty, Kansas, few are more prominent than is Renning H. Griem, who resides on a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres on section I, Rochester township. His large stock operations have made him known very widely through central Kansas.

By birth Mr. Griem is a German, and he was born in 1863 at Loge, in the province

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of Hanover, and was a son of John H. and Catherine Griem, both of whom were na- tives of Germany. John H. Griem served in his youth as a soldier in the German army during the famous campaign against Kos- suth, known as the Kossuth rebellion. He later became prominent and wealthy in his native place and was honored by an election to the office of mayor of his village. He lives there yet. held in universal esteem. The mother died some years ago. The family of the parents of our subject consisted of four children, namely: R. F., who is a prominent citizen of Peters township, in this county; Renning H., who is our subject; Sophia. who is the wife of H. Winter, a prominent public man and postmaster of his native German town; and Henry, who still resides in Germany.

The educational advantages offered the youths of Germany are known to be of an excellent character, and Mr. Griem passed through the schools of his native place, with credit. He was a regular attendant at school until he was fifteen years old, at which time he began to work on the farm, where he was thoroughly taught the values of different methods of farming, the benefits of drainage and the adaptation of different grains to varying soils, indispensable knowledge to those who successfully cultivate. In addi- tion Mr. Griems learned lessons in economy which are also taught in perfection in the fatherland and which do so much to assist the sons of Germany in other countries.

Many of the friends and companions of young Renning had gained wealth and prominence in America, and when but nine- teen our subject also decided to cross the ocean and carve out a career for himself. With numbers of others who were also in- tent upon securing homes in the great west, Mr. Griem went first to Nebraska, but soon was attracted to the lands offered in central Kansas, and in 1881 he located in Kingman county, where he has been a valued and use- ful citizen ever since. In the selection of his farm he was led to purchase one which is well watered by the beautiful Chicaski river. and here he has four hundred and eighty acres of some of the best land in this part of

the county, which is most admirably adapt- ed to the extensive raising of cattle and stock. Mr. Griem also is a large grain farmer, having one of the best farms for the culture of wheat in this township. Here Mr. Griem has erected a most comfortable residence, at a cost of eight hundred dollars, while his commodious barns, large yards, feed lots, pastures and grain fields present to the visitor a spectacle which tells of thrift and prosperity.

In 1891 Mr. Griem was married to Miss Minnie Meyer, who also was born in Ger- many, a daughter of Herman Meyer, who all his life was a resident of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Griem have a bright, intelli- gent family of five children, all showing the robustness of healthy country life. Their names are Sophia, Martha, Lucy, Clara, and Ada. In politics Mr. Griem is inde- pendent, with leanings toward the Republi- can party. The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran church. Fra- ternally Mr. Griem belongs to Spivey Lodge, No. 347, A. F. & A. M. He has won his way by honest effort and has gained a posi- tion of prominence in this township and is most highly respected by every one. In manner he has the geniality of his country- men, although Kansas considers him a rep- resentative American, such as he having done much to advance the prosperity and standing of this state.

WILLIAM A. WARREN.

There is particular satisfaction in revert- ing to the life history of the honored gentle- man whose name initiates this review, since his mind bears the impress of the historic annals of the state of Kansas from the early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the Republic and has at- tained to a position of prominence in King- man county:

He was born in Giles county, Tennessee, in 1850. His father, Joseph A. Warren, was a native of North Carolina. but when a child in arms was taken to Giles county,

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Tennessee, the journey being made with teams and wagon, and there his father be- came one of the very early settlers. He se- cured government land and improved a farm in the valley, where Joseph A. grew to years of maturity. He also learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for a number of years. As a companion on the journey of life he chose Elizabeth Morton. who was born in Tennessee, a daughter of William Morton, also a native of that state. Unto Joseph A. and Elizabeth ( Morton) Warren were born eight children, four sons and four daughters. The latter are: Ann Hastings, Emily Jane Hartford, Olive Welsh and Mary Riggs. Two of the sons died when young. The mother of this fam- ily was called to the home beyond at the age of fifty-six years, while the father reached the age of sixty-two years, when he, too, passed away. He was both a blacksmith and farmer by occupation, and in his politi- cal affiliations was first a Whig and after- ward a Republican. He was a local minis- ter in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was an efficient and active worker in the cause of the Master. One of his brothers, Alison Warren. was a gallant officer in the Union army during the memorable strug- gle between the north and the south. He raised a company in Giles county, Tennes- see, in the winter of 1863-4, and remained in service to the end of the war, and after the close of hostilities he passed away in death in Tennessee.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 105

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 970

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 970