USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 114
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JOHN G. EVANS.
In commercial circles of Sterling John G. Evans occupies an enviable position, standing at the head of the firm of John G. Evans & Son, dealers in farm implements, coal and oil. His business methods will bear the closest scrutiny and his enterprise and diligence form the keynote of his success. His life record began in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 7th of January, 1837. The an- cestral history states that the family is of Welsh lineage. The great-grandfather, John Evans, was born in Wales, April 21, 1724, and there spent his entire life. The grandfather, James Evans, was born in Wales, on November 20, 1777, and became the founder of the family in America.
Crossing the Atlantic he took up his abode in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and subsequently became a farmer of Wayne county, Ohio, where he died in 1855, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was the sec- ond settler of the county and took a very active part in laying the foundation for its future prosperity and improvement. In Beaver county, Pennsylvania, he had mar- ried Mrs. Mary Shafer, a widow who had two sons by her first marriage. She was born January II, 1766, and was also a na- tive of Wales. Her death occurred in Wayne county, October 4. 1844. This worthy cou- ple were the parents of two sons and two daughters, namely: James, the father of our subject : Nathan, who was married and had two sons and two daughters; Mrs. Sa- rah Camp, who had nine children ; and Mrs. Delila Johnson, who had six children. The members of the Evans family were all mar- ried and reared from four to nine children.
James Evans, Sr., the grandfather, started in life empty-handed in Ohio, but as the years passed and his farming operations prospered he was enabled to surround his family with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He was a man of splendid 1.hysique, six feet, six inches in height and weighed two hundred pounds. He was also strong and athletic, a typical frontiersman, well fitted to endure the hardships of pio- neer life. He also enjoyed hunting and found ample opportunity to indulge his taste in that direction, for in the early days wild game. and wild animals of many kinds abounded in the forests of Ohio. He walked the entire distance to Ohio from his home in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, located his claim and returned in the same manner, camping out at night by the wayside. He hunted bears in the mountains of the Key- stone state and in his pioneer experiences found frequent use for his gun.
James Evans, Jr., the father of our sub- ject, was born in Beaver county, Pennsyl- vanina, December 6, 1808, and was reared in his parents' home, sharing with the fam- ily the hardships of fronticr life. He mar- ried Catherine Gardner, a native of Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania, born April 19, 1805. Her father was David Gardner. Mr. and Mrs. Evans resided upon the old family homestead in Ohio for many years, but when their son John was about twenty-four years of age removed to Oilville, where the latter died May 6, 1872, and the former passed away February 24, 1887, at the age of sixty- eight years. They had four sons and two daughters, as follows: David G., who was born April 4. 1833, at the old home in Oil- ville, Wayne county, Ohio, and is now a widower: Lutherna, who was born Decem- ber 15, 1834, and died at the age of twenty- one years; John G., of this review ; James, who was born April 22, 1841, and is living in Sterling; Mary, who was born January 6, 1847, and died at the age of twenty-one years ; and William S., whose birth occurred December 21, 1843. and who is now a tele- graph operator in Oilville, Ohio.
The educational privileges which John G. Evans enjoyed in his youth were meager
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in quantity and rather poor in quality, for he pursued his studies in a primitive round- log schoolhouse, with clapboard roof. built without nails, and puncheon floor, desks and seats. He could attend only about three months in the year, for during the greater part of the time his aid was needed in the work of the home farm. His school life ended when he was eighteen years of age, after which he gave his entire attention to the labors of the fields and to the work of a sawmill. He also operated a horse-power threshing machine and was the owner of the first steam thresher and the first separator in his part of the state. At the age. of twenty-four he was married and through the four succeeding years continued to carry on the old homestead. He removed from Oilville to Kansas twenty-four years ago, arriving in Sterling on the 3Ist of March, 1877. This portion of the state was then a wilderness, but with characteristic energy he began the improvement of a farm. He first settled on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, two miles north of the town, paying the Santa Fe Railroad Com- pany five hundred and fifty dollars for the tract of raw prairie. He built a house and at once began the work of transforming the wild land into richly cultivated fields,-a labor which he continued for twelve years, after which he sold eighty acres of this land and removed to the town. Nine years ago he erected his present comfortable residence and established the coal business. In 1900 he extended the field of his labors by becom- ing a dealer in agricultural implements and wagons. He admitted his son to a partner- ship, and the firm is now doing a prosperous business, enjoying a large and constantly growing patronage.
Ere his removal from Ohio Mr. Evans was united in marriage on the 16th of No- vember. 1863, the lady of his choice being Lovina Miller, who was born in Wayne county. Ohio, in 1841, a daughter of Abra- ham and Sarah (Gindlesburger ) Miller, both of whom were natives of Beaver coun- ty, Pennsylvania. The marrage of Mr. and Mrs. Evans has been blessed with five chil- dren : Minnie. the wife of James Haslen,
by whom she has one son and one daugh- ter ; Clara Belle, who died when twenty-one years of age; Mahlon, who is his father's partner in business; James, who died at the age of one and a half years; and Mary, who passed away when only a year old. Mr. Evans is a Populist and has served as road- master for two terms, building the road to Lyons. He aided in the survey of Sterling township and in many ways he has promoted public progress and improvement, manifest- ing a deep interest in the upbuilding and general welfare of the community. He and his family are members of the Christian church and their lives are in harmony with their religious belief, for upright'principles find exemplification therein.
JOHN GORMAN.
Jolin Gorman, who carries on general farming in White township, Kingman coun- ty, is one of the well known and progressive citizens here and was a loyal soldier of the Union in the Civil war. He was born April 16, 1842, in Tennessee, and is a son of Da- vid H. Gorman, whose birth occurred in Virginia, whence he removed with his par- ents to Tennessee during the period of early development in that state, settling in Cocke county. The family is of Irish origin but was established in Virginia in colonial days. Reared to manhood in Tennessee, the fa- ther of our subject married Ruth Long, a native of that state. and a representative of one of its old families. David H. Gorman was three times married and had thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters. Four of the sons were soldiers in the Civil war. namely: T. J., George W .. who served with the rank of captain, John and James. With the exception of our subject these are all now deceased. The father was a farmer by occupation, following that pur- suit in order to provide for his family. In politics he was a stanch Republican and a strong Union man, abhorring the attitude of the south in its attempt at secession. He died in Greene county, Missouri, at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife passed
MR. AND MRS. JOHN GORMAN.
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away at the age of fifty-four. They held membership in the Baptist church and were people of the highest respectability.
John Gorman, whose name introduces this review, was rearerd upon his father's farm in Tennessee and accompanied the family on their removal to Missouri. Af- ter the inauguration of the Civil war, the Confederate forces attempted to make him. enter the southern army, but he escaped and after six days wandering, during which time he experienced many hardships and difficulties, he reached the Union forces and made his way to governmental headquarters. There he joined the boys in blue as a mem- ber of Company I, Second Tennessee Cav- alry, and was made first sergeant. He had to cross the Cumberland Mountains in or- der to reach the Union lines and it was nec- essary to have a guide. Going to Lexing- ton, Kentucky, and thence to Gallipolis, Ohio, he joined the Second Tennessee under command of Captain George W. Gorman and Colonel D. M. Ray ; the former a broth- er of our subject. The regiment was as- signed to the Fourteenth Army Corps and was in active duty much of the time, pro- ceeding southward to Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee. With his command, Mr. Gorman participated in a number of engagements in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, including the battle of Huntsville, and in the move- ments against the rebel forces under Gen- eral Hood. Altogether, he was in nine- teen engagements. When on General Gor- don's plantation, a bullet pierced an oak plank and struck him in the breast. Other- wise he was not wounded, although he was often in the thickest of the fight and never shirked his duty, whether on the field of battle or on the picket line. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged as a non-commissioned officer and returned to his home in Tennessee.
In 1870 Mr. Gorman removed to Greene county, Missouri, where for twelve years he made his home, and in 1881 he came to Kingman county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and began the cultivation of his farm. He erected a good dwelling at a cost of eight hundred
dollars, and a barn at a cost of two hundred. The latter is twenty-four by twenty-four feet, and he has substantial sheds sixteen by twenty-four feet. The fields are richly cul- tivated. There is a good bearing orchard and everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating the pro- gressive spirit of the owner.
In 1865 Mr. Gorman was united in mar- riage in Tennessee, to Polly Ball, who has been to him a faithful companion and help- mate on the journey of life. Her parents. Alfred and Mahala Ball, are both now de- ceased. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gor- man has been blessed with eight children: Lillie Burl, a successful music teacher, and whose husband is a minister of the United Brethren church, locating in Kiowa county, this state: Mrs. Della Cunningham, whose husband is also a minister in the United Brethren church and is located in Sedg- wick county; David, in Wichita; Daisy, at home; Mrs. Lulu Noble, who lives in Kingman ; and Ethel, Alta and John, at home. They also lost two children, who died in Tennessee. The parents are mem- bers of the United Brethren church, and their upright lives have won for them many friends. Socially Mr. Gorman is a charter member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 265. of Kingman. He gives his political support to the Republican party and is as firm and unfaltering in his advocacy of political prin- ciples, as he was earnest in behalf of the Union cause when he wore a soldier's uni- form. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Kingman, and is widely recognized as an intelligent and enterpris- ing citizen who gives his support in all movements to promote intellectuality, mor- ality and temperance principles, and to ad- vance law and order.
WILLIAM WEST.
William West, who carries on agricul- tural pursuits in Rice county, has been con- nected with the history of this locality since its early pioneer days, has been a witness of
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its growth and upbuilding and has done much for its advancement. He was born in Branch county, Michigan, February 4, 1853, His father. James B. West, was born in the state of New York, and in Buffalo, that state, was married to Olive L. Roberts, who proved a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life. She was born. reared and educated in the Empire state. After their marriage James and Olive West removed to Ohio, where they remained for a time and then located in Branch county, Michigan. They were the parents of seven children .- Isadore, Albert J., Charles, Will- iam W., Esther and Eva and Clua, twins. The father of this family followed farming as a life occupation, was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church and gave his political support to the Republican party. He was honored and respected by all who knew him, and his life was ever in harmony with his Christian belief. His widow is still a resident of Michigan, and has reached the ripe old age of eighty-one years.
William W. West, whose name intro- duces this review, was early inured to the labors of field and meadow, and his educa- tion was received in the public schools of his native state. For seven years he worked in the pineries of Michigan, lumbering in the woods and on the river, and he became an expert in that line. In 1874 he located in the neighborhood of where he now re- sides, first securing one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land, and as time has passed he has placed his land under a fine state of cultivation. The place is located four miles from Mitchell. and is one of the finest farm- ing properties in this locality. All the equip- ments and improvements of a model farm are there found, and he annually garners rich harvests.
At the age of twenty-eight years Mr. West was united in marriage, in Rice coun- ty. Kansas, to Myra R. Cummings, a lady of intelligence and culture and a daughter of Caleb F. Cummings, who was born in Vermont. When a young man he came west with his parents, and in Wisconsin he was united in marriage with Myra Jchuson. They became the parents of two children,
and the son, Henry R. Cummings, is now a resident of Portland, Oregon. The father was a gallant soldier in the war of the rebel- lion, serving in a Wisconsin regiment, and his death occurred in Rice county, Kansas. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed with the following children : Pearl M., the wife of Charles Wycoff, of Galt township, Rice county ; Myrtle, Clay- ton, Esther, William and Lester. Mr. West casts liis ballot in favor of Republican prin- ciples, and in his social relations he is a member of the Woodmen of America and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Personally he is a man of sterling qualities, prominent among which are his strict integ- rity, his industry and his frank and genial manner. Those who know him best esteem him most.
HENRY L. McILHENNY.
Dr. Henry L. Mcllhenny, of Norwich, one of the leading medical practitioners of Kingman county, was born at Gettys- burg, Pennsylvania, near the scene of one of the great and decisive battles of our Civil war, December 31, 1856, a son of Jacob G. and Sarah (Lott) McIlhenny. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, was of Scotch- Irish extraction, and his mother was de- scended from an old Holland family. Ja- cob was a son of Hugh and Ann McIlhenny, who were very old residents of the same lo- cality in which Jacob was born. Hugh Mc- Ilhenny was a miller by. occupation, and was very successful in his business dealings. His death occurred at the age of ninety-two years, and his wife died at about the age of eighty years.
Jacob G .. McIlhenny, a farmer and mill- wright, was a man of prominence in his community and held several important township and county offices. In politics he was a Republican, and he and his wife were active members of the United Presbyterian church. His death occurred in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of sixty-six years. His children were: William B., the present postmaster of Gettysburg and a prominent
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politician of that city: Jacob H., secretary of the Cosmo Soap Company, of Chicago; Robert A., a practicing physician at Con- way Springs, Sumner county, Kansas; John K., who is employed in a steel works in Pennsylvania, and was a soldier during the Spanish war; James G., who also served his country as a soldier during our recent war with Spain and is now deputy post- master at Gettysburg; and Mary R., who clied at the age of fourteen years.
Dr. Henry L. Mcllhenny was reared on his father's farm, within sight and hearing of the battlefield of Gettysburg, and re- ceived his literary education in the Gettys- burg high school and in the Pennsylvania State Normal School, of that city, after which he taught in his native state for two years. In 1879 he came to Kansas and taught school at Belle Plaine, and also took up the study of medicine under the precep- torship of Dr. Justice. He was graduated at the Missouri Medical College in 1884 and began the practice of his profession at Belle Plaine, where he remained about a year. In the summer of 1885 he located in the then new town of Norwich, where he was im- mediately successful, soon having a prac- tice that extended over four counties. He is progressive, keeping himself up-to-date in all things, especially in those things which pertain to his profession or insure his ex- cellence and progress as a medical practi- tioner. In 1898 he tock a post-graduate course at the Polyclinic Medical College of Chicago, Illinois. Not only is he read up to the latest moment in all medical and sur- gical advancement, but he is also a valued contributor to several medical journals of high standing. While pursuing a general practice, he pays special attention to obstet- rics, in which he is achieving a reputation as an unusually well informed and skillful practitioner.
Since he located at Norwich, Dr. Mc- Ilhenny has served continuously as a mem- ber of the board of pension examiners of Kingman county, and he is filling appoint- ments as permanent medical examiner for the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the
Modern Woodmen of America, the New York Life Insurance Company, the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, the Northwestern Life Insurance Company and other fraternal insurance organizations and life-insurance companies. He is a member of the Southern Kansas Medical Associa- tion, and his medical library is as extensive and as well selected as any library of its character in the county. Since casting his lot with the people of Norwich he has pros- pered satisfactorily, and those who know him best say that he richly deserves his prosperity. Besides owning a comfortable residence and other town property, he owns two well improved farms of one hundred and sixty acres each, one of them being lo- cated in Allen, the other in Bennett town- ship.
Dr. McIlhenny found Norwich in its in- fancy and has been identified with its growth and prosperity. His former resi- dence. which he sold with the idea of re- moving from the town-a purpose which he abandoned,-was built under his personal supervision and is one of the best in the city. As a Republican he has been active in local political work and has served his fel- low townsmen as a member of the city coun- cil, and, during nearly the entire period of his residence in Norwich, as a member of the school board. He is a charter member of the local branches of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Wood- men of America; was received as an En- tered Apprentice, passed the Fellow Craft degree and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Norwich Lodge, No. 319, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; is justly proud of the distinction of mem- bership in Kingman Chapter, No. 71, Royal Arch Masons, in which he took the three Master's degrees in capitular Masonry and was exalted to the august degree of Royal Arch Mason. He is also a member and a past noble grand of Norwich Lodge, Nc. 316, of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, which he has represented in the grand lodge ; and is past chief patriarch and dep- uty chief patriarch of Norwich Encamp-
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ment, No. 90, of the Uniformed Rank of Odd Fellows, which he has represented in the grand encampment.
October II, 1886, at Taylorville, Illi- mois, Dr. McIlhenny married Miss Lynn Harner, daughter of Jacob Harner. Mrs. McIlhenny, who was early orphaned, was the youngest but one in her parents' fan- ily of seven children. Her sister Belle mar- ried a Mr. Hill and lives in Morrow county, Ohio. Her brother S. M. is a merchant at Petoskey, Michigan. Her brother M. B. is a musician and a dealer in musical instru- ments at Petoskey, Michigan. Her brother B. M. is a contractor and builder at De- catur, Illinois. Her sister Jennie is the wife of S. S. Mounts, a teacher at Decatur, Illinois. Her brother Curtis is a merchant tailor at Lansing, Michigan. Mrs. McIl- henny has borne her husband three chil- dren .- Grace A., who was born June 17, 1888: William Bruce, who was born No- vember 22, 1893; and Florence B., born November 6, 1896. The Doctor and Mrs. McIlhenny are members of the Presbyterian church, and he has been a member of the official board of the local organization.
DAVID M. NEGLEY.
David M. Negley is one of the successful farmers of Lincoln township, Reno county. He has a valuable tract of land of four hundred and forty acres, which is mostly de- voted to the cultivation of grain. Mr. Neg- ley was born in Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania. July 15, 1845, a son of David and Saralı ( Miller) Negley, who were also na- tives of the same county. The Negley fam- ily is of German origin and was founded in Pennsylvania about two hundred years ago. Since that time its members and representa- tives have been prominent in business, and in matters of church and state, heing ever ranked among the substantial and worthy citizens of the locality with which they have been connected. They have mostly followed agricultural pursuits. Joseph Negley. the grandfather of our subject. was born in
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and spent his entire life there. The parents of our sub- ject also lived in that county. Three of their children are yet living: David M. : Sarah, the wife of Frank Middlecauff, of Waynesboro, Franklin county; and Sam- uel, who resides on the old family homestead near Welsh Run in the Keystone state.
David Negley, the father of D. M. Neg- ley, died in 1899, at the age of seventy-six years. and the mother, Sarah Miller Negley, is living yet with her daughter, Sarah Mid- dlecauff, at Waynesboro, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. David Negley had two brothers and one sister,-Jacob, Joseph and Mary,-who died previous to him. All were married and with their families have mostly followed the quiet pursuit of farm life in the original state and homes of their birth. With a few exceptions some of the younger have emigrated to the western states.
Upon that farm David M. Negley was reared and in the district school pursued his education, attending and teaching through the winter seasons and whenever his services could be spared from the farm work. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which occurred December 17, 1868, the lady of his choice being Sarah C. Reed, a daughter of William and Sarah (Nicewander) Reed, who were natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, as was their daughter. After their marriage Mr. Negley took charge of the home farm of one hun- dred and sixty-seven acres and operated it successfully for sixteen years. Then with the capital he had acquired through his in- dustry and economy he purchased a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres within four miles of the old home place, and there re- sided for three years. In August, 1886, he sold his property in Pennsylvania and with his family and household effects started for Kansas. On arriving in Reno county, Sep- tember 23, 1886, he purchased a quarter section of land on section 28. Lincoln town- ship, an improved farm for which he paid forty-five hundred dollars. Since then he has added improvements to the value of not less than twenty-five hundred dollars. In 1895 he purchased forty acres of land on
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section 27, and in 1899 another tract of one in Lincoln township, No. 28. He aided in hundred and sixty acres on section 22, and its organization and since that time a grad- ed school system has been maintained, sim- ilar to that of town schools. Mr. Negley de- serves great credit for his success, all of which has been acquired through his own efforts, his unfaltering diligence and straightforward dealing. in 1901 eighty acres more adjoining him on section 28, owning altogether now a very valuable and desirable tract of four hundred and forty acres. His land is rich and fertile and under his careful management his farm has become one of the best in the county. His methods of operation are practical and pro- gressive and a glance will indicate to the passer by the careful supervision of the owner. He has engaged chiefly in the rais- JOHN C. DOZE. ing of grain and has harvested many valua- ble crops.
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