A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 117

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 117

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JOHN W. WYER.

For nearly a score of years has the sub- ject of this sketch been identified with the industrial life of Barber county, Kansas, and this fact implies that he was numbered among the early settlers, upon whom de- volved the arduous labors of opening the wild land and inaugurating that work of development whose results have been so ad- mirable. He is one of the representative citizens of the county, and is successfully en- gaged in farming and stock-growing on a finely improved farm of five hundred and sixty acres on section 4, Nipawalla town- ship, his post office address being Medicine Lodge, the county-seat, from which his home is eight miles distant.

Mr. Wyer is a native of the south, hav- ing been born in Davidson county, North Carolina, on the 7th of December, 1852, being the son of Philip and Catherine ( Kill- ion) Wyer, both native of North Carolina and members of worthy families long estab- lished in that section of the Union. Philip Wyer was a son of Barney Wyer, who was born in Pennsylvania, whence he removed to North Carolina, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits, to which he had been reared. His wife was a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth ( Hines) Killion, who were of English lineage. The father of our subject was a man of the highest in- tegrity, and his life was one of signal use-

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fulness and honor, his death occurring when he was thirty-seven years of age. In poli- tics he gave his support to the Whig party, and was a devoted member of the Baptist church.

When our subject was thirteen years of age his mother removed with her family to Hendricks county, Indiana, where they re- mained five years and then continued their journey westward, locating in Saline coun- ty, Missouri. In the family are four chil- dren, our subject being the only son and the second in order of birth. His three sisters are Rosa Elizabeth, Joicey and Mary Jane. John W. Wyer was reared under the invig- orating discipline of the home farms in North Carolina and Indiana, and by per- sonal application and by active association with the practical affairs of life has effect- ively supplemented the somewhat meager educational training which as a boy he re- ceived in the common schools. He was en- gaged in farming in Missouri until 1884, when he came to Barber county, Kansas, and entered a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres on the Cherokee Indian strip, which had been opened to settlement only a few years previously. His first abiding place was one of the primitive "dug-outs" which were common to the sec- tion at that time and which were more comfortable and attractive than the name implies, though they were far different in character from the homes which the ma- jority of settlers had left in other sections of the Union. To his original claim MIr. Wyer has added until he now has a fine landed estate of five hundred and sixty acres, a considerable portion being under the highest state of cultivation, while the remainder is devoted to the extensive rais- ing of high grade stock, of which our sub- ject makes a specialty. Upon his farm he has erected a substantial and commodious residence of two stories, with good stone basement, while all other farm buildings are of the best order.

In politics Mr. Wyer is a zealous and enthusiastic supporter of the Populist party and its principles, and as one of the pro- gressive and capable men of the county, he

has been called to positions of public trust and responsibility, having rendered signally valuable service as representative of his township on the board of county commis- sioners, having been elected to this office in 1894 and having served three years, while he has been a member of the school board of district No. 70 for the past thirteen years, ever standing ready to do his part in the support of all that is intended to foster the material, moral and civic prosperity of his community. Fraternally he is identfied with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and his unfailing kindliness and ster- ling character have gained to him the good will and confidence of all who know him.

In 1875 Mr. Wyer was united in mar- riage to Miss Belle Delap, the daughter of Robert and Phoebe Delap, of Saline coun- ty, Missouri, and she entered into eternal rest in December, 1883, leaving two chil- dren, Zora, who is the wife of Wesley Urton, of Barber county ; and Minnie, the wife of George E. Crouse, of Pratt county. In 1888 Mr. Wyer consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Eliza- beth Trelow, who was born in Indiana, but who was reared and educated in Saline county, Missouri, to which section her par- ents, John and Elizabeth Trelow, removed while she was an infant. Her mother is deceased, but her father still maintains his home in Saline county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Wyer have six children, namely : Kate, Philip, Pearl, Harry, Myrtle and Osie.

GEORGE TIBBUTT.

Among the prominent and representa- tive citizens of Kingman county, Kansas, is George Tibbutt, who is a township treas- urer and one of the most intelligent and substantial citizens. Mr. Tibbutt owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, on section 27, in Richland township, and has been a resident of Kansas since 1883.

The birth of Mr. Tibbutt was near Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, in

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1853, and he was a son of John and Eliza- beth (Hawthorn) Tibbutt, both of whom were natives of Lancastershire, England. They came to the United States after their marriage, and located in Montgomery coun- ty, Ohio, where Mr. Tibbutt engaged in farming, but later removed to Illinois, where he died, in Centralia, at the age of sixty-three. He was a good man, a con- sistent member of the Methodist church, and was devoted to the welfare of his fam- ily. The mother of our subject died at the age of seventy-one, in Desoto, Missouri, having been a devoted wife and mother, who was beloved by a large circle of friends. Three children survive these parents, name- lv: Mrs. Martha Loggins, of Centralia, Illinois ; George, of this sketch; and Mrs. Anna Jones, of Denver, Colorado. One child died on shipboard, and one daughter, Eliza, passed away at the age of eighteen years.

sixteen years; and Lawrence, the second child, died aged eighteen months.

In August, 1883, Mr. Tibbutt came to Kansas and located in Valley township, in Kingman county, which he later exchanged for one previously occupied by D. L Strat- ton, at his present location in section 27, Richland county. In 1901 Mr. Tibbutt bought an additional one hundred and sixty acres and is now the owner and cultivator of three hundred and twenty acres of fine farm land, well adapted to the raising of grains. Here Mr. Tibbutt has every appli- ance for the successful cultivation of his land and the raising of cattle and stock. His house is well built and finely appointed, one of the best and most comfortable in this locality, while his barns, granaries, feed sheds and shelters are commodious and convenient, and a large windmill assures him sufficient water. Every part of Mr. Tibbutt's domain is made productive, and this has been one secret of his success.

George Tibbutt, of this biography, was reared until fifteen years old in the state of In politics Mr. Tibbutt has inclined to- ward the Populist party, and has been quite prominent in public life in this locality. For three terms he has served with great credit as township treasurer, and has been a jus- tice of the peace one term. His interest in school matters has been shown by willing service on the school board, and he has been foremost in all enterprises looking toward the betterment of his section on all lines. The religious connection of the family is with the German Baptist church. Few cit- izens of this township are more highly re- garded in every walk of life than is George Tibbutt. Ohio and attended school there; then, at the age of seventeen years, he came to Illinois and married there and was a renter of a farm until his removal to Kansas. In Bond county, Illinois, in 1877, Mr. Tibbutt was married to Miss Mildred Wagener, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1855. She was a daughter of John Perry D. and Margaret Jane (Jones) Wagener, the former of whom died at his daughter's home, at the age of eighty-one, and the latter of whom died at the age of sixty- three, in Bond county, Illinois. Both par- ents were worthy members of the German Baptist church. They had eleven children, the six survivors being as follows : Adolphus, of Ohio; Mrs. Derinda Reed, of EDWARD D. SCHERMERHORN. this township: Mrs. Elmira Revis, of Illi- ncis : Cyrus, of East St. Louis, Missouri ; An eventful life has been that of Edward Dow Schermerhorn, and no man in Wilson can relate from practical experience a more accurate account of life upon the plains in an early day before railroads had carried the evidence of civilization into the western dis- tricts. He has been an active factor in the Mildred; and Mrs. Elizabeth Dver, of Liv- ingston county, Illinois. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tibbutt, namely : Margaret Elizabeth, who is the wife of U. Campbell, of this township; Corda Anna, who is a young lady of seventeen years : John Perry, who is a promising youth of , work of progress and improvement, aiding

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in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present prosperity and advanced condi- tion of Ellsworth county. Among the resi- dents of Wilson he is the oldest settler of this portion of the state, having come to northern Kansas in the spring of 1867.

Mr. Schermerhorn was born in Rensse- faer, New York, September 4, 1848, and is a representative of one of the old Knicker- bocker Dutch families that was founded on the Atlantic coast. David Schermerhorn, the father of our subject, was born in New York and was a son of James Schermer- horn, but of whom there is no definite rec- ord. He was a farmer by occupation and participated in the war of 1812. David Schermerhorn learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for many years. He was married in the Empire state to Ein- ily Ponieroy, and unto them were born four children who attained years of maturity, of whom Edward D. was the youngest. One brother, Frank A., is now living in Riley county, Kansas. The mother died when our subject was only six months old, and the father afterward married Lois Hunt, by whom he had two children, one daughter still living. His death occurred when he was sixty-eight years of age. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church and his life was in harmony with his professions.

Edward D. Schermerhorn received but limited educational privileges, attending school for only forty-two days after he had attained his twelfth year. However, in the practical affairs of life by experience, read- ing and observation and through the pos- session of a retentive memory he has become a well informed man. He started out on his own account in 1863, when only fifteen years of age, working as a farm hand. In the succeeding winter he entered a blacksmith shop and learned the trade and followed that pursuit until he came to Kansas, lo- cating at Fort Harker in the spring of 1867. For a short time after he came to the west he was associated with Mr. Parks, a rail- road contractor, but he later was killed by the Indians when they were doing work on the grade west of where the town of Ellis

now stands. The Indians made an attack and the white men threw up some breast- works for rifle pits, and for some time re- pulsed the attack of the savages. Mr. Schermerhorn was shot through the left hand and others of the party were injured. Mr. Parks and some of his men, however, were killed while out on a buffalo hunt. After the death of his employer Mr. Scher- merhorn returned to Fort Harker and was in the sutler's department there. In 1870 he was appointed sutler of G Troop, Sev- enth Cavalry, and B Troop, of the Fourth Artillery, and spent the spring of that year on Solomon river, but in the fall returned to New York, intending to remain in the state of his nativity.

After six weeks, however, his love for western life overcame him and he returned to Kansas. He hunted buffaloes that winter and in the following year purchased five hundred head of cattle and engaged in the stock-raising business, but the winter of 1871-2 was so severe that the cattle were frozen and he lost all that he had invested. He then accepted a clerkship in the store of Arthur Latkin, in Ellsworth, with whom he remained until February, 1879, when he came to Wilson and began business on his own account, opening a stock of dry goods and clothing at the corner where his pres- ent large store is now located. He first oc- cupied a frame building, one story in height, twenty-four by sixty feet, but his business soon outgrew its accommodations and in 1893 he erected the present fine block which now adorns the corner. The building is a steel frame, built of stone and pressed brick, two stories in height, with basement, and its dimensions are fifty by eighty feet. From the beginning Mr. Schermerhorn has en- joyed success in this undertaking, and he now has a large and well selected stock of dry goods, clothing and boots and shoes. He has strict regard for the ethics of com- mercial life, and his honorable dealing, com- bined with his earnest desire to please his customers and his moderate prices, have se- cured him a very large patronage. He con- tinued alone in business until February I, 1899, when he admitted his son, Frank L.,

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to a partnership. He is regarded as one of the most prominent merchants of the city, and, while his labors have been of individ- uel benefit, they have also promoted the prosperity of the community, for every town and city owes its existence, its growth and improvement, to its commercial inter- ests and industrial enterprises. Mr. Scher- merhorn is also vice-president of the Cen- tral National Bank, of Ellsworth, and is a director in the Sylvian State Bank, of Lin- coln county. His judgment in business affairs is so accurate that his opinions and counsel are always valued in trade circles. He is likewise interested in farming, and is the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, of which nine hundred acres is planted to wheat, the entire amount being operated on the shares.

On the 4th of September, 1875, Mr. Schermerhorn was joined in wedlock to Miss Christene Calene, daughter of Lewis Calene, of Dickinson county, Kansas, and they have three children, of whom two are living, Frank and William E., both of whom are associated with their father in the store, the former as a partner. He at- tended the high school of Wilson and re- ceived his business training in the commer- cial college at Salena. He is the youngest man who ever took the thirty-second degree in Masonry, having only passed his twenty- first birthday by fifty-two days at the time when he attained the degree of the Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.

Mr. Schermerhorn, of this review, is a prominent Mason, belonging to Samaria Lodge, No. 298. F. & A. M., of Wilson, in which he has filled all of the chairs. He likewise holds membership in Ellsworth Chapter. No. 54. R. A. M .: Ellsworth Council, No. 9. R. & S. M .; St. Aldemar Commandery, No. 32, K. T., and is a rep- resentative of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, belonging to Wichita Con- sistory, No. 2, S. P. R. S. In Isis Temple, of Salina, he was made a noble of the An- cient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine. His name is on the membership rolls of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Ancient

Order of United Workmen and the Select Knights, and of these organizations he is a valued representative. He votes with the Democracy, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, although he has served on a few occasions in local office. He has been a member of the city council of Ellsworth, has served on the school board and has been its chief ex- ecutive, proving a most capable mayor. His business career is one of which he has every reason to be proud. Starting out in life on his own account at the early age of fifteen years, he has worked his way steadily up- ward, having met many hardships and diffi- culties, but has overcome these by deter- mined purpose, and to-day he ranks among the most successful representatives of com- mercial interests in his adopted county, and throughout all he has maintained a reputa- tion for reliability and trustworthiness that is indeed enviable.

G. B. JOHNSON.

G. B. Johnson, a prominent represen- tative of the agricultural interests of King- man county, was born at Penn's Grove, Salem county, New Jersey, in 1850. His father, Jacob Johnson, claimed New Jersey as the state of his nativity and he was there reared to years of maturity. In that state lie was united in marriage to Amanda Bid- dle, a native daughter of New Jersey and a woman of a high degree of intelligence and refinement. He was drowned at the com- paratively early age of fifty-six years, and his wife reached the age of sixty years. They became the parents of five children, as follows: G. B .: Emma, deceased ; Martha; and Elmer and Frank, twins.

G. B. Johnson, whose name introduces this review, was reared to farm life in the Empire state, and on attaining to years of maturity he began work at the carpenter's trade, and from 1875 until 1877 he was en- gaged in work on public buildings in Phila- delphia. In the latter year he came to Kan- sas, securing one hundred and sixty acres of

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Osage Indian land in Vinita township, Kingman county, to which he has since added another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, thus making him the possessor of three hundred and twenty acres. His farm is one of the valuable .ones of the county, and there he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, his efforts in the line of his chosen vocation being attended with a high and well mer- ited degree of success.

When twenty-three years of age, in New Jersey, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Susanna Cobb, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Cobb, residents of Ness county, Kansas. The union of Mr. and Mrs. John- son has been blessed with the following children: Thomas, of Ness county, Kan- sas: Amanda, George, William, Elmer, Marion and Susie, at home. They have also lost two children, Mary, the first born, dy- ing at the age of four years, and one de- ceased in infancy.

Mr. Johnson votes independently of party ties, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He has served a short time as a member of the school board, and his social relations has been a member of the Odd Fellowis fraternity, and at present is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church, and have always been interested in the pro- motion of education and religion and the welfare of the community at large.

FRANK H. HUNTINGTON.

Frank H. Huntington, a representative railroad man residing in Newton, Kansas, was born August 18, 1852, in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father, James Nelson Hunt- ington, was a native of New York, and it was during his youth that he went to the Hoosier state about 1812. He was reared to farm life and received but a limited edu- cation. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Almira Banks, a native of Vermont, and they began their domestic

life in a rude log cabin in the midst of the forest. First a clearing was made on which to erect the house and protect it from fall- ing trees in case of a storm. Mr. and Mrs. Huntington began married life with a capi- tal of one hundred dollars, but always man- aged to live within their means and reared a large family to habits of industry and economy. Their first land was a forty-acre tract covered with a heavy growth of oak, walnut and hickory trees, and for some time they lived in primitive pioneer style, but at length success crowned their combined efforts and they became quite well-to-do; in fact, Mr. Huntington was considered quite wealthy at the time of his wife's death, which occurred in 1865.

Unto them were born ten children, of whom seven reached years of maturity, namely : Sarah is now the wife of P. H. Fatout, a farmer of Indiana; William was for thirty years a railroad engineer, and was killed on the Illinois Central Railroad between Wetague and Dongola in a wreck in 1897. James Noble, who served through the Civil war in President Harrison's com- mand, was a carpenter and builder and died in Indiana when past middle life. Charles D. died while in the service of his country during the war of the Rebellion and sleeps at Cumberland Gap. Frank H., of this re- view, is the next of the family. Edward had the misfortune to lose his foot in the railroad service, and is now station agent at Tamaroa, Illinois. Melinda died in youth. The father was a second time married and had four sons and two daughters by that union. He died in 1885, at the age of sev- enty-six years, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was strictly temperate and was a strong Union man during the dark days of the Civil war. His morals were above question, and he always stood firmly for the right, truth and justice.

The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm and attended school in the neighboring village, and was later a student at the Northwestern Christian University. On attaining his ma- jority he left home and began his railroad career as fireman on the Illinois Central

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Railroad between Chicago and Cairo, Illi- nois, and later to Bloomington. He re- mained in the service of that company for over six years and was promoted to the po- sition of engineer.

In the meantime Mr. Huntington was married, November 12, 1879, to Miss Sarah Wright, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a daughter of Thomas and Delia (Butler ) Wright, both of whom were also born in that state. Her mother, however, is of Scotch and Pennsylvania German extrac- tion, while her father is of English descent. They are now living in Centralia, Illinois. In their family were six children: Sarah, the wife of our subject; John, who died at the age of sixteen years; Elizabeth, also de- ceased; Thomas and George, both residents of Centralia, Illinois; and Delia, who died at the age of one year. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huntington were born three children, as follows: Thomas Nelson, who was born in Centralia twenty-one years ago, and is now a trainman ; Delia May, who is now fifteen years of age and is attending school and pursuing her musical studies; and Almira June, who is eleven years of age and is also in school.

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Huntington came to Kansas and took up his residence in Nickerson when that place was a mere han- let. There he purchased the house in which his daughter Delia May was born, and con- tinued to make his home there until coming to Newton in 1888. His present elegant home was erected by him in 1893. It is lo- cated at the corner of Seventh and Plum streets and is one of the best and most pleas- ant residences in the city, being a large two- story structure with an attic, beautiful plate- glass windows, well lighted and supplied · with all modern improvements and conven- iences. It is also well furnished and supplied with every evidence of culture and comfort. This delightful home is presided over by a most pleasing lady, whose dignity and com- posure puts her guests at ease, and makes it so attractive to her husband and children. The family hold membership in the Metho- dist church and occupy an enviable position in social circles. For twelve years Mr.

Huntington has been a Royal Arch Mason, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He is also a member of Newton Commandery, No. 9, K. T. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN T. LACKEY.

Among the early settlers of Evan town- ship, Kingman county, there is no one who is held in greater esteem than John T. Lackey, who has made his residence in cen- tral Kansas since 1876. His birth occurred in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 12th of November, 1840. He is a descendant of a Protestant Irish family, tracing back four generations, who were known for their in- dustry, honesty and morality. His parents, Thomas and Sophia ( Hayes ) Lackey, were both natives of Pennsylvania, whence they moved to Champaign county, Ohio, and sub- sequently to Knox county, in the same state. Later he removed with his family to Fulton county, Ohio, and throughout his life was engaged in the manufacture of carriages, at which he was eminently successful. They were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, namely: Margaret, of Ottawa, Ohio; John T., the subject of this review ; Albert, who served as a soldier in the Forty-third Ohio Infantry, and is now a resident of Marshall, Michigan : Edward, who died in Ohio; and Henry, killed by an outlaw in Texas. Mr. Lackey was a Jack- son Democrat and after the war was a Lin- coln Republican. Both parents are now de- ceased, the father passing away at Ottawa, Ohio, at the age of sixty-five, and the mother when seventy years of age. They were both highly respected throughout the county in which they resided and were deeply mourned by all who knew them.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 117

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