A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 11

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 11

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

to-day George A. Vandeveer is one of the most honored members of the Kansas bar.

He was born in Christian county, Illi- nois, December 13, 1853, his parents being Aaron and Sarah C. (McWilliams) Van- deveer. The father was born July 4, 1830, in what is now Christian county, but was then a part of Sangamon county, Illinois. Throughout his entire life hie there resided, taking up his abode in Pana in 1867. There he engaged in the grocery trade until his death. His widow afterward married again, her second husband being Hugh A. Bab- cock, of Hutchinson, in which city she yet makes her home. George A. Vandeveer was one of ten children, of whom four are yet living : Mrs. E. N. Maxfield, of Stafford, Kansas ; Nellie V., the wife of Hon. Frank L. Martin, of the firm of Vandeveer & Martin and the present mayor of Hutchin- son ; Calvin B., a farmer of Clay township, Reno county, and George.

But the ancestry of the Vandeveers may be traced back to a more remote period. George Vandeveer, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Kentucky and be- came a pioneer of Sangamon county, Illi- nois. His father, J. Vandeveer, was a na- tive of either New Jersey or North Carolina and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, while his father, who was born in Holland, became one of the early colonial settlers who took up their abode at Communipaugh, New Jersey. His descendants removed to North Carolina and some of them became associ- ated with Daniel Boone in his explorations of Kentucky, that noted hunter and explorer being a relative of the Vandeveers. The family name was originally von der Veer, meaning "from the Veer." A member of the family well worthy of mention was Horatio M. Vandeveer, a son of Aaron Van- deveer and a cousin of the father of our subject. He was an old-school law practi- tioner of Illinois, who was the colleague and associate of Lincoln, Douglas and other dis- tinguished men of that time practicing at the Illinois bar. While experiencing the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life he studied law by the light of the fireplace and

the blaze of hickory bark, and he spent a long life engaged in practice in Christian county, Illinois. He served his country in the war with Mexico. Entirely through his own efforts he acquired his education and won advancement to a prominent position among the noted men of his state, and at his death, which occurred in 1892, he was worth three million dollars and possessed sixty thousand acres of valuable land in his county. He was at different times judge of various courts and represented his fellow citizens in the house and senate of the state legislature. His son, William T. Vande- veer, was a member of the commission which built the magnificent new capitol building. He took a very prominent part in molding the history of the state at an early day and was a notable figure in public affairs.

The life of this eminent relation has been an inspiration and source of encouragement to George A. Vandeveer, who in some way was deprived of a collegiate education and professional training, but who through the innate strength of his character has over- come difficulties and worked his way upward to success. He remained with his parents upon the farm until fourteen years of age and assisted in the work connected there- with, spending much of the time in the sad- dle, herding cattle. The father owned a large farm of four hundred acres and kept a large herd of cattle, which grazed over the prairies, which were unfenced, therefore de- manding that some one constantly be on the alert lest some of the herd stray away. Young George had very little opportunity of attending school until the family removed to the town of Pana, after which he pursued' his studies in the public schools for three years. From the time he was seventeen until 1872 he assisted his father in the con- duct of the grocery store, and in the fall of that year he accepted the responsible po- sition of deputy tax collector of Pana town- ship. He did most of the work of his sut- perior officer, collecting and conveying to the bank taxes amounting to over forty-six thousand dollars. He was next tendered a position in the Exchange Bank of Pana, act-

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

ing in that capacity until the financial panic of 1873, when that bank, together with many others, closed its doors. On the Ist of January, 1874, he became assistant cash- ier of the Nokomis National Bank, of No- komis, Illinois, which position he occupied for a year, when his father, in company with James P. Walker, established a bank at Morrisville, Illinois, our subject and Mr. Walker's son conducting the same from February, 1875, until the fall of 1879.

At that time George A. Vandeveer sold his interest and came to the west. While in Morrisville he was married. Septem- ber 5, 1876, to Miss Clara B. Edgcomb, a daughter of John Edgcomb, of LaSalle county, Illinois, and in the fall of 1879 he came to Newton, Kansas. During his resi- dence in Morrisonville, while in the bank he had pursued the study of law under the direction of his brother-in-law, David F. Murry, now of Tacoma, Washington, and in December, 1879, he began practice in Newton in partnership with A. B. Knowl- ton, which connection was maintained for about a year. In 1880 he removed to Burr- ton, Harvey county, Kansas and established a private banking business. When he had placed it in successful operation he had an opportunity to dispose of it to advantage and did so. In the fall of 1862 Hon. A. R. Scheble, of Hutchinson, who had been elect- ed to the state legislature, desiring an active and capable young attorney in his office, of- fered to make Mr. Vandeveer a partner, and the law firm of Scheble & Vandeveer was accordingly formed, maintaining an exist- ence as such until December, 1885, when the senior partner died. In July of that year Frank L. Martin had come to Hutchinson from Illinois and succeeding Mr. Scheble became a member of the present firm of Van- deveer & Martin. They enjoyed a large and representative clientage until September, 1890, when our subject removed to Kansas City, where he practiced until the spring of 1896. In the meantime he drafted the char- ter and assisted in the organization of the National Surety Company with Charles A.

Dean as president, the headquarters being in Kansas City until the spring of 1876, when the business was removed to New York city. In March of that year Mr. Van- deveer went with Mr. Dean to the eastern metropolis to secure additional capital and extend the organization. Mr. Vandeveer then took an important part in incorporating the company and drafted the charter for the New York organization. He became gen- eral solicitor for the New York National Surety Company, with offices at No. 346 Broadway, in the New York Life Insurance building, where he remained until August, 1900, when he resigned his position and re- turned to Hutchinson, where he once more entered into partnership with Mr. Mar- tin for the general practice of law. Since that time he has given his attention exclu- sively to his legal work and his devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial.

During his residence in New York city Mr. Vandeveer had charge of a large num- ber of important cases in the interests of the company throughout the principal cities of the United States. He prepared a form of fidelity bond which was adopted and is now used by the American Bankers' Association. The success of the National Surety Com- pany is largely due to his talent of organi- zation as well as control of its affairs. It has become one of the leading institutions of the kind in the entire country and is of national importance in the business world. It bonds the employes of over fifty per cent. of all the transportation companies of the United States, such as railroad and express companies and the employes of the United States mail service, also the employes of banks, and furnish bonds for guardians and executors. To-day Mr. Vandeveer has a large and constantly growing law practice, which connects him with much of the most important litigation tried in the courts of this district, while in the supreme court of Kansas and the supreme court of the United States he has figured in connection with notable suits. His knowledge of the law is comprehensive and accurate, his mind is

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

analytical and inductive and lie has shown splendid ability in handling the most intri- cate problems of jurisprudence.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vandeveer have been born three children: Cossie, the wife of Ernest F. Tietzel, who has business interests in New York city and resides in Brooklyn; Fred Leroy, a graduate of Yale College and an attorney of St. Louis, who married Vesta Hardy, of New Haven, Connecticut, a daughter of George Hardy, chief engineer of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company ; and Harry D., who was admitted to the Kansas bar in 1901, when in his nineteenth year and is now a student in the law department of Yale University. In the school of experience George A. Van- deveer has been an apt pupil. Study, earnest investigation, close observation and laudable ambition have given to him the capability which a college course would have afforded. Marked strength of character has been mani- fest throughout his entire life ; and the prom- inence he has attained, the work he has ac- complished, his manly principles and up- right career have ever commanded for him the admiration and respect of prominent men throughout the country. While in the localities in which he has resided he has gained that friendship which is a tribute to personal worth. In politics he is a Repub- lican.

JOHN S. GARDNER.

History chronicles many changes in con- dition, in progress, in business and in the ways of life. No longer do the annals of a country consist of a record of wars and conquests, but teem instead with the ac- counts of business extension, of commercial prosperity and of the consequent progress and improvements which appear in every walk of life. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter, not of man over man, and the victor is he who can success- fully establish, control and operate extensive commercial interests. Although a young man Mr. Gardner has become an important

factor in the business life of Hutchinson, where he holds a responsible position as foreman of the Pennsylvania Salt Block. He has also been prominent in public affairs in the city of South Hutchinson and in mold- ing public thought and action his opinions have carried weight.

Mr. Gardner was born in Coles county, Illinois, September 20, 1869, and is of Scotch-Irish lineage. His grandfather opened and operated a farm in Indiana and there followed agricultural pursuits through- out his entire life. His son, Samuel Gard- ner, was born in Scott county, Indiana, June 13, 1847, and was reared to the work of the farm, early taking his place in the fields. After his father's death he assumed the management of the old homestead, which he successfully operated for some time. About 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret K. Weir, who was of German de- scent, and was born in Indiana, February 2, 1849. Her father, James Weir, was a farmer by occupation and became one of the pioneer settlers of the Hoosier state. Her brother, George Weir, served throughout the civil war as an officer. About 1866 Samuel Gardner removed with his family to Coles county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming until 1875, when he went to Barton county, Missouri. There he followed the same pursuit until about 1887, when he re- moved to Marion county, Oregon. He re- sided in Woodburn and Oregon City dur- ing his stay there and followed his original trade of stonemason and plasterer. In 1889 he became a resident of Gray county, Kan- sas, locating in the town of Cimarron, where he engaged in the same pursuits for six years, and in 1895 he took up his abode in Hutchinson. Here he accepted the posi- tion of foreman in the packing department of the Hutchinson Salt Block and he makes his home at No. 800 Third avenue East. During the Civil war he served as a team- ster in the Union army. In his political views he is a Democrat and fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist church.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, of whom four are now liv- ing. The record is: George, who died in Illinois in childhood; John S., of this re- view : Orrell, who is employed in a grocery store in Hutchinson; Anna, the wife of Charles Mason, who is engaged in the creamery business in Preston, Pratt county, Kansas; Dora, the wife of Harry Mounts, who is employed by the Centney Wholesale Grocery Company and lives in Hutchinson; Charlie, who died in infancy, while the fam- ily were in Missouri; and a son who died in infancy in the same state.

In the common schools of Barton coun- ty, Missouri, John S. Gardner began his ed- ucation, which was continued in the public schools of Cimarron, Kansas, where he re- mained with his father until nineteen years of age, when he secured a railroad position in Greene county, this state. He was thus employed for about two years, when he ac- cepted a position in the Hutchinson Salt Block, but after a year he became foreman of the Pennsylvania Salt Block, located on the other side of the Arkansas river in South Hutchinson and thither he removed his family. The Pennsylvania Salt Block was built about 1886, its dimensions being two hundred by two hundred feet. It contains two pans, each one hundred and fifteen by thirty-two feet and the capacity of the plant is three hundred barrels per day. The pro- cess of evaporation by natural heat is used and two grades of salt, fine and coarse, are manufactured. The output is sent mostly to packing houses in Omaha, Kansas City, and St. Louis.

On the 24th of September, 1890, in Hutchinson Kansas, Mr. Gardner was united in marriage to Miss Anna Millhouser, a na- tive of Missouri and a daughter of Fred Millhouser, now a resident farmer of Pratt county, Kansas. His wife died in Carroll county, in 1873, when Mrs. Gardner was only three years old. Her uncle, John Mill- houser, served as an officer in the Union army during the Civil war and on account of the wound he sustained now draws a pension. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have

been born four children: Hubert S., who was born July 30, 1891 ; Dora, born Octo- ber 5. 1892; Leslie, January 5, 1895: and Orrell, September 22, 1896. All were born in South Hutchinson. Mr. Gardner owns a pleasant residence just outside the city lim- its of South Hutchinson. This he pur- chased together with seventeen acres of land, in June, 1899. There was a fine peach or- chard on the place at the time he bought it and he has since set out a new orchard of peach and apple trees. The remainder of his land he usually plants in corn forage, and other grains.

In his political views Mr. Gardner is a Republican when party issues are involved but at local elections he votes independently. In the spring of 1895 he was elected coun- cilman of South Hutchinson on the Citizen's ticket, an anti-license ticket, and served out his term. The following spring he was elected mayor and filled the position for three consecutive terms, while in 1899 he was again elected councilman. He has been a member of the board of education from 1895 until 1901 inclusive. Socially he is identified with the following orders: the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows, in which he has passed through all the chairs; the Modern Wood- men of America and the Modern Tonties, in which he has filled all the chairs, and is now secretary of Council No. 83, of South Hutchinson. In his life history there are many elements worthy of commendation and of emulation and the high regard in which he is held as a man and citizen is indicated by the prominence which he has attained in social circles and in politics as well.

J. A. YEOMAN.

J. A. Yeoman, a well known farmer of Kingman county, was born in Fayette coun- ty, Ohio, on the 2d of February, 1855. His father, Eli Yeoman, was a native of the Em- pire state, his birth having there occurred in Dryden, and in his native state he became a

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

prominent farmer and stock man. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane Knox and was a daughter of James Knox and a cousin of James Knox Polk, president of the Uni- ted States. She was a native of Ohio and was a member of a prominent and well known family of that commonwealth. In 1856 Mir. and Mrs. Eli Yeoman removed from Ohio to Jasper county, Indiana, where they spent their remaining days, the mother dying in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which she was a worthy and con- sistent member. They became the parents of ten children, nine sons and one daughter, seven of whom are now living, and those who make their home in Kingman county are O. A., J. A. and M. M.

J. A. Yeoman, the subject of this re- view, was reared on the old home farm in Jasper county, Indiana, where he was early inured to the labor of the fields, and he re- mained under the parental roof until he at- tained to years of maturity. In 1886 he re- moved to Greensburg, Kiowa county, Kan- sas, where he purchased a farm, but two years later he sold his place and went to the St. Louis valley, in Colorado, where he was engaged in ranching for a time. On coming again to this state he purchased a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sec- tion 10, Ninnescah township, two and a half miles from Kingman, where he is exten- sively engaged in' general farming and stock-raising.

At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Yeo- man was united in marriage to Amy Is- rael, who was born, reared and educated in Jasper county. Indiana, a daughter of Whit Israel. The father was a soldier in the Civil war, a member of the Eighty-sev- enth Indiana Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, Tennessee, leaving a widow and two daughters,-Mrs. Maggie Kirchner and Mrs. Yeoman. The former died in Berry, Oklahoma. The mother was killed by lightning at Greensburg, Kansas, in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Yeoman became the parents of six children, but only two are now living,-Don, a lad of seventeen years, and Joseph, now thirteen years of age. Guy,

their first born, died at the age of three years ; their second child, Verne, died at the age of six months ; Frances also died at the age of six months ; and Bessie, the youngest child, died at the age of fifteen months. Mr. Yeoman votes with the Republican party, and socially he is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Work- men. Both he and his wife hold member- ship in the Christian church, and the family are among the well known and highly re- spected residents of Kingman county.

A. M. JEWELL.

The real-estate business in the city of Hutchinson, Kansas, has been well and suc- cessfully managed by leaders in this line, and one of the most prominent is A. M. Jewell, who since 1886 has dealt very ex- tensively in property in this vicinity. His birth occurred in Lewiston, Maine, on June 29, 1850, a son of Benjamin and Ursula (Ham) Jewell, both of whom were natives of the same state. Both parents have passed away and also all of the children of the fam- ily with the exception of Mr. Jewell of this sketch, and one sister. He was but two years of age when he lost his parents and he was reared by his maternal grandparents, obtain- ing his education in the schools of Mon- mouth, Maine, and graduating at the Mon- mouth Academy. His business career began in his native state, but a year later he start- ed for the west, locating in the state of Illi- nois, and there he engaged in railroad work, in the transportation department, remaining as clerk, train dispatcher and agent for the following eight or nine years. Leaving rail- road work, he then embarked in the mer- cantile business, being associated with part- ners for five years and traveling in the same line for seven years.

It was in 1886 that Mr. Jewell's attention was particularly called to Kansas as a place of residence, and in that year he located in Hutchinson, soon afterward being associated in the real-estate business with several of

a. m. Jawill

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

the leading citizens. Three years later he purchased the interests of his partners and since then he has conducted his very pros- perous business alone. He handles both city residences and farm property, has also done much toward the improvement and building up of many of the subdivisions of this city and has become an authority on values and the real-estate market. He fre- quently buys property and places it in fine condition, eventually disposing of it to great advantage. His beautiful residence at 209 Avenue A was erected in 1889, and he also has one of the fine farms of Reno county.

The marriage of Mr. Jewell occurred on May 26, 1873, in Springfield, Illinois, to Miss Emma C., a daughter of H. M. Wick- ham, who was a resident of that city. Four children have been born to this union, name- ly: Clinton L. ; Helen G., who is the wife of Frank H. Battise, a resident of Hutchinson and a conductor on the Hutchinson & South- ern branch of the Santa Fe railroad; Edna M .; and Howard M. In politics Mr. Jewell supports the Republican party, although he is not a politician in the strict sense of the word. Socially he is connected with both the A. O. U. W. and the Woodmen of the World, while in religious matters he has long been a consistent member of the Meth- odist church, an official member of the same and a leader in its Christian work. Mr. Jew- ell stands very high in the estimation of the business part of the city, while his pleasing personality and courteous manner wins for him friends in every walk of life.

FRANK H. FOSTER.

Mr. Foster was born in Allen county, Indiana, June 19, 1858, his parents being Asher W. and Prudence (Thrasher) Fos- ter, both of whom were natives of Virginia, where their marriage was celebrated. The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of three brothers who came from Ire- land to America, landing in Boston, whence he made his way southward to Virginia. He 5

was a tailor by trade and died during the early boyhood of his son Asher. The latter served an apprenticeship to the cabinet- maker's trade, and in 1857 removed to In- diana, where he engaged in carpentering, following that pursuit until his enlistment for service in the Union army, in April, 1861. He was with the Army of the Po- tomac, and after serving for three years veteranized and remained with his com- mand until the close of hostilities, receiving an honorable discharge in August, 1865. He joined the army as a private but was later detailed as hospital steward, which position he continued to fill until the war was ended. Much of his service was near his old home in Virginia, and he obtained permission to go through the picket lines to visit his old home. He found that all of his relatives were espousing the Rebel cause. He was taken in by his brothers and mother, and they gave him protection for three days, but his mother felt greatly hurt over, as she ex- pressed it, his going back on his state and the interests of home. He remained at home until his command went north, when he left with them. He never visited his home again and was cut off from the estate. Asher Fos- ter had but one furlough during his entire army service, and that was when he veter- anized. He participated in the battles of Antietam, the Wilderness, the seven days" fight at Atlanta and Lookout Mountain, and was in the detail that sailed to New York to enforce army regulations. He was also in the fight at Pea Ridge.

After the war Mr. Foster returned to his family in Allen county, Indiana, and en- gaged in carpentering, which he followed until 1885, when he joined his son Frank in Kansas, locating in Alden, Rice county. There he worked at his trade until his death, which occurred July 27, 1893, when he was sixty-four years of age. He was a man of medium size, had acquired a fair education and had a good memory. His wife died in Alden, in January, 1898. She was a daugh- ter of a Mr. Thrasher, a prominent farmer and slave owner of Virginia, who died in that state. His children were Mrs. Mar-

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

garet Lipse; John P., who served in the Confederate army and died in Virginia; George, a Baptist minister, who died in the Old Dominion; Prudence, the mother of our subject ; Maria; Kate; Adeline; and Henry. Unto the grandfather Foster were born four children: Asher W .; John, who removed to Missouri and afterward to Iowa, where he died; George, who spent his last days in Missouri ; and Harriet. Unto the parents of our subject were born five children: Frank H .; John, who died at the age of eleven years; Dora, the wife of Lee W. Ar- nold, of Burdette, Kansas; Maggie, of In- diana; and Nettie, who is attending school in Emporia. The mother was a member of the Evangelical church, and her Christian life and teachings had much influence over her children.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 11

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