USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 118
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John T. Lackey in his early youth was taught by his parents lessons of honesty and industry. His education was received in the common schools of Ohio, his residence being in Champaign, Fulton and Knox counties during his youth. He learned the
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shoemaker's trade and spent the early part of his manhood engaged in this occupation, with which he was thoroughly familiar and which brought him a fair degree of success. When twenty-three years of age he was married, in Fulton county, Ohio, to Miss Agnes Van Nortwick, a lady of intelligence and one who has been to him a faithful and loving companion on life's journey. She was born and reared in Fulton county, Ohio, being a daughter of John and Sarah Van Nortwick, a family of Pennsylvania Dutch lineage. Two of her brothers were soldiers in the war, loyally defending the stars and stripes : Abraham, who was born in Wau- seon, Fulton county, Ohio, and is now a resident of Chicago, Illinois ; and John, who makes his home in Michigan. The parents both passed away in Fulton county, Ohio, in the faith of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Lackey are the parents of five chil- dren, as follows: George E., who resides in Evan township, Kingman county ; Fred B., a well known painter and sign-writer of Kingman county ; Charles E., who is en- gaged in the livery business at Colwich, Sedgwick county; Floyd B., who is mar- ried and lives on the home farm; and Dora Hunter, of Wichita, Kansas.
Mr. Lackey made his home in Ohio un- til 1876, when he came to Sedgwick county, Kansas. Here he remained for four years, and in 1880 came to Evan township and took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of Osage Indian land. This he has placed under a high state of cultivation until it is now one of the richest farming properties in this porton of the state. Three acres of this land is devoted to an orchard of thrifty fruit trees, while the remainder of the land comprises the productive fields and rich pasture lands. He has erected a substantial residence on this land for himself and fam- ily, while a second house provides a home for his son, Floyd B. Lackey. Everything about the place is in splendid condition, in- dicating the careful supervision of the owner.
In politics Mr. Lackey supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, but
is independent, and has been a leading factor in public affairs since he first becanie a citi- zen of Evan township. He has served as township trustee, and also justice of the peace for two terms, and held the office of treasurer of school district No. 31. In all his duties he has served with honor and credit to himself. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist church, in which he holds the office of clerk. Along the lines of educational, religious and tem- perance work he has been actively engaged, and lends his liberal support to all move- ments pertaining to the advancement and welfare of his county. His financial and social successes which he now enjoys are the result of a life of honesty and strict ad- herence to those principles which he learned in early life and which grew stronger within him as the years passed.
C. C. STEVENSON.
C. C. Stevenson is a successful farmer of Galesburg township, Kingman county, who has gained prominence in the agricul- tural line through his thrift and enterprise. Since 1878 he has resided in this county, becoming an important factor along all lines tending toward the general good of the community in which he resides. His birth occurred in Hopkins county, Kentucky, No- vember 18, 1834, and is a son of James R. Stevenson, also a native of the Blue Grass. state. The great-grandfather of our sub- ject was a native of Ireland but he came to America early in the history of the country, locating in Pennsylvania, where his son, John, was born. The family is of Scotch- Irish lineage and were noted for their in- dustry, honesty, courage and patriotism. A brother of John Stevenson, the grandfather of our subject, served in the Revolutionary war under General Washington. John Ste- venson was married to Mary Robertson, whose death occurred in Missouri. He moved from Kentucky to Missouri in 1832, and was one of the pioneers of that state.
C. C. STEVENSON.
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He passed away in Chariton county, Mis- souri, at the age of eighty-nine years.
James R. Stevenson was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, in 1802, and in 1829 he was joined in marriage to Sarah R. Givens, who was born in December 1810, and died October 8. 1901, in Kingman county, Kan- sas. She was a daughter of Eleazer and Jenny ( Robinson) Givens, both natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson became the parents of eight children, namely : John, now deceased; Eleazer G., of Grant county, Oklahoma; C. C., the subject of this re- view ; W. T., a resident of Missouri; Mary J. Riley, of Galesburg township; Margaret I. Long and Martha L. Davis, also of Gales- burg township; and Eusebia, who died in childhood. The descendants of this worthy couple numbered sixty-one, eight children, thirty-five grandchildren and eighteen great- grandchildren. Mrs. Stevenson became a member of the Baptist church in 1838, but on moving to Missouri united with the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, of which she remained a member until her death, a de- voted and consistent Christian woman. James R. Stevenson remained in Kentucky until 1853, when he removed to Missouri, and there he passed away in death on the 27th of December, 1857, at the age of fifty- five years. During his active business ca- reer he was principally engaged in farming, but was also a carpenter and erected many homes. In politics he was a Democrat, and was honored and respected by all who knew him. He was brought up under the teachings of the old Presbyterian church.
C. C. Stevenson, whose name introduces this review, began life on his father's farm, assisting in the labors of the field and there learning the lessons of perseverance and in- dustry. The common schools of Kentucky furnished him his literary education, which has been supplemented by reading, observa- tion and experience. When twenty years of age he left the old homestead and went to Chariton county, Missouri, where he en- gaged in farming. Here, at the age of thirty-four, he was joined in marriage to
Mary C. Taylor, whose birth occurred in Mason county, Kentucky, where she was reared and educated. Her parents were Jolin W. and Elizabeth (Knight) Taylor, in whose family were five children. The fa- ther passed away at the age of seventy- three years, in the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which he had served as elder for many years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have been born three chil- dren, namely : Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Riley, of Galesburg township; and Laura R. and Lucy T., at home with her parents.
In 1878 Mr. Stevenson left Missouri and came to Kansas, where he took up a claim of the Osage Indian land. To this he has added from time to time until he now possesses three hundred and twenty acres of land under a high state of cultivation. The many improvements which he has made to this property, together with the substan- tial residence and barn, has increased the value of the farm and it now ranks with the principal homesteads in the county. Its neat and thrifty appearance, its well tilled fields and high grade plainly indicate the owner to be a person of energy and abil- ity, and the success which is his is well mer- ited, after the careful supervision and hard labor which he has bestowed upon his farm. Mr. Stevenson gives his political support to the men and measures of the Democratic party and is active in local movements which promote the welfare and general good of the community in which he re- sides. His outdoor life has given him a robust constitution and good physique. he being about six feet and one inch in height and his weight is one hundred and eighty pounds. For a number of years he has served as an elder in the Cumberland Pres- byterian church, of which he and his fam- ily are members. He has also hield the office of justice of the peace, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity, which have won for him the confidence of his fel- low men. His life has been one of honor and upright living, and his success is dne to his strong adherence to the principles in which he believes.
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SAMUEL W. STEWART.
Samuel W. Stewart is engaged in the raising of stock and wheat in Valley town- ship. Rice county, owning a tract of land on section 2. The Old Dominion is the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Montgomery county, that state, on the 14th of July, 1856. He represents one of the old and honored families of the south and traces his ancestry back to Scotland. His paternal grandfather, James Stewart, was a Method- ist minister, and was born in Spartanburg county, South Carolina, in 1797, but his death occurred in Alden, Kansas, in 1887, at the advanced age of ninety years. He wedded Betsey Bush, a native of Roanoke county, Virginia, who died in Montgomery county, that state, in 1858, leaving five sons and three daughters, of whom five are yet living, namely: Robert B., the father of our subject; Alice, the wife of Woods Eakin, of Athens, Tennessee: Lizzie G., the wife of Robert Bush, of Sumner county, Kansas; James R., of Alden; and Sallie, the wife of George Kiester, of Wichita. Three sons of the family were soldiers in the Confederate army during the Civil war. Jack Stewart was a captain and served throughout the period of hostilities, while J. R. Stewart served in the ranks for four years, and Charles died from disease in the hospital.
Robert B. Stewart is a native of Roan- cke county, Virginia, born in 1829. He wedded Miss Angeline Arrington, of Frank- lin county, that state, a daughter of Samuel and Eveline ( Phelps) Arrington, the wed- ding taking place in the Old Dominion in 1855. They began their domestic life upon a farm, but in 1881 Mr. Stewart sold his property and emigrated westward with his family, taking up his abode in Rice county, Kansas. By his marriage he had seven chil- dren, namely : Samuel W. ; J. E. and R. O., twin sons, the former now a practicing phy- sician in Hutchinson, Kansas, while the lat- ter is engaged in the raising of wheat and stuck in Valley township, Rice county ; Eva, who died in this county, at the age of twenty-four years: Alice, who died in Rice
county at the same age; Richard A., a practicing physician of Hutchison: and Olive, the wife of Samuel Steinmetz, of Val- ley township. The father is still living, at the age of seventy-two years and is well preserved in health and strength. He began life in limited financial circumstances, but by unfaltering labor and keen business dis- cernment he prospered, acquiring a comfort- able competence.
Samuel W. Stewart of this review was the first of the family to seek a home in the Sunflower state. He came in 1881, and for two years resided in Sterling, where he fol- lowed the trade of carpentering. He pur- chased his first farm in 1883, becoming own- er of one hundred and sixty acres of unim- proved land, for which he paid sixteen hun- dred dollars. He now owns two hundred and forty acres, and in connection with his brother. R. O. Stewart, keeps thereon from seventy-five to two hundred and fifty head of cattle for the market. They are also breeding shorthorn cattle. They have raised over twenty-two thousand bushels of wheat in a single year and the farm is pro- ductive and profitable in its various depart- ments. In 1892 Mr. Stewart of this review erected a large and pleasant cottage and in 1898 built his extensive barn. He has a fine orchard of two acres, in which are many fruit trees of various kinds, which he plant- ed eighteen years ago. He raises peaches, cherries, plums and quinces, and the orchard is well irrigated, being graded and fixed for this purpose. He also breeds horses and mules and works about seven head.
The home life of Mr. Stewart is very pleasant. He was married in Botetourt county, Virginia, in 1880, to Miss Bessie Gislı, a daughter of David Gish. Her par- ents came to Kansas in 1883 and both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart lost a son and daughter in infancy, but they have five children living : Clara, who was born in the spring of 1881 : Blanche, who was born in 1883: William Other, born in 1885 : Ola, who was born in 1892; and Gladys, who completes the family and who was born in 1901. In his political views Mr. Stewart is a Prohibitionist, but has never been an as-
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pirant for public office. He belongs to the Methodist church, and is interested in every- thing pertaining to the welfare and progress of his country along substantial lines of im- provement. Coming to Kansas twenty years ago, he has throughout the intervening period done all in his power for the advance- ment of the community and at the same time he has found in his business affairs the suc- cess which he coveted and which led him to try his fortune in the Sunflower state.
H. C. MARKLE.
For a quarter of a century H. C. Markle has resided in Rice county and now makes his home on section II, Center township. He is a native of the middle west, and the enterprising spirit which dominates that sec- tion of the country has been manifest in his career. He was born in Madison coun- ty, Indiana, December 27, 1865, and is of German lineage, the family having been founded in the new world at an early day. George W. Markle, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Henry county, Indiana, and spent his youth upon a farm, early aiding in the task of developing and improving his fields. In the public schools he acquired his education and after arriving at man's estate he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Brown, who was also born, reared and educated in Henry county and represen- ted a good pioneer family of that section of the country. With his wife and children George W. Markle removed to Madison county, Indiana, where for several years he engaged in the livery business, conducting the enterprise at Anderson. Subsequently he made his way westward, taking up his abode in Center township, Rice county, Kan- sas, where he resided until 1887, when he removed to Reno county. He is now en- gaged in farming near Sylvia, in that coun- ty, and is accounted one of the leading and influential agriculturists of his community. His political support upholds the men and measures of Democracy, and while residing in Rice county he was the candidate for
sheriff, but met defeat owing to the strong Republican majority. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church, and their religious belief permeates their lives and is manifest in their honorable re- lations with their fellow men. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, namely : Milton, who is living in Alvah, Oklahoma: Rolla, a resident of Seward, Reno county, Kansas; H. C. ; William, who is also living in Reno county; Mrs. Ida Witt, who resides in the same locality ; and Peter and Joseph, who are yet under the parental roof.
H. C. Markle was only ten years of age when he became a resident of Kansas, and throughout the intervening period he has watched with interest the progress and de- velopment of the state as it emerged from a frontier settlement to take rank with the leading commonwealths of the Union. He began his education in the schools of Indi- ana, and in Kansas continued his studies un- til sixteen years of age, when he began working by the month. At the age of eighteen he operated a threshing machine, and for eighteen years has been the most popular and best thresher in the county. He has now a complete Avery steam threshing outfit-the best machine of the kind in the United States. Each season his services are in great demand as a thresher and his business in this line is extensive and profit- able. He is very industrious and energetic and is notably reliable, for when his word is once given any one can depend upon it.
Mr. Markle was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Spech, a woman of intelligence and culture, who was reared and educated in Rice county. Her father, A. D. Spech, is a prominent and honored citizen of this com- munity. The young couple began their do- mestic life in Lane county, Kansas, where they resided for two years, and then re- turned to Rice county. A year later, how- ever, they removed to Oregon, spending one season near Portland, and in 1891 they took up their abode on the old homestead farm in Center township, Rice county, which his father had entered on coming to Kansas. Here he has one hundred and sixty
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acres of rich land, which yields a good re- turn for the labor bestowed upon it. Alto- gether he has two hundred and eighty acres. His home is an extensive residence, com- manding a good view of the surrounding. country. All the other buildings upon the place are modern and kept in good repair. Cribs and granaries, well filled with grain, indicate the success which has crowned his labors. There is a grove of six acres and a good bearing orchard. Altogether his farm is considered one of the best in the commun- ity and is a monument to the efforts and en- terprise of the occupants.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Markle has been blessed with five children: George A., Gwendolyn, Jesse E., Ruth and Mildred. The parents are earnest Christian people, Mr. Markle holding membership in the Ger- man Baptist church. He is a supporter of Democratic and Prohibition principles, be- lieving in both parties, and gives his ballot to support the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office. He is a self- made man, his life having been one of un- usual activity, his labors being guided by keen discrimination and sound judgment. In manner he is genial, friendly and cour- teous and his personal qualities are such as win him friendship and regard wherever he is known.
HENRY R. HONEY.
The writer is ever animated by a fra- ternal feeling when it becomes his privilege to write concerning one who has, like him- self, been identified with the "art preserva- tive of all arts," for he is fully cognizant how great an extent may even a univer- sity education be supplemented and effec- tively rounded out through the discipline of the newspaper office,-a discipline which is in itself equal to a liberal education. The state of Kansas has enlisted in the conduct- ing of its newspaper press many men of ability, originality, excellent business dis- cernment and sterling character, and under each heading of this category we may most consistently classify Mr. Honey, the editor
and publisher of the Western Advocate, at Mankato, Jewell county.
Mr. Honey was born on a farm in Jef- ferson county, Wisconsin, on the 21st of March, 1859, being the son of Randall and Polly A. Honey, natives of Vermont. In 1864 the family removed to Kansas and set- tled in that section which was afterward known as Shirley county and later as Cloud county, the location made being near the site of the present town of Ames. That the country was indeed new at that time is evi- dent when we revert to the fact that when Mr. Honey established his home here there were only eight other families residing with- in the confines of the present county of Clond. The subject of this sketch has thus practically spent his entire life in Kansas, and his memory links the early pioneer epoch with that of lat- ter-day progress and prosperity. He was a pupil in the first school taught in the coun- ty, the teacher being his sister, Mrs. W. M. Wilcox, who is still a resident of Cloud county. At this juncture we quote from a sketch previously published concerning our subject : "In a new country educational advantages are not usually very great, but the boy made the most of the opportunities offered, and in a log schoolhouse, equipped with benches instead of desks, he laid the foundation for a good practical education. Indians were numerous and troublesome and it was necessary for everyone among the hardy pioneers to be able to handle a gun. Brought up under these conditions. Mr. Honey became an expert marksman and he is counted among the best rifle shots in Jewell county. His paternal ancestors came from Ireland, and up to about the time of the war of the Revolution the name was Mahoney. His great-grandfather served through that conflict, and his grand- father served in the war of 1812. His ma- ternal ancestors were of Welsh extraction. A dash of Indian blood coming in through his paternal grandmother probably ac- counts for his love of gun and sports. He has always been a great reader and has an excellent memory. He early showed that he was not designated by nature for service
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as a farmer, and when sixteen years of age he entered a printing office and learned the trade in every detail. In 1880 he bought and assumed control of the Concordia Em- pire, the oldest and most influential Repub- lican paper in Cloud county. About two years later he disposed of his paper and was elected cashier of the Concordia National Bank, and he spent the next eight years in the banking business, which gave him the practical business education necessary in conducting a successful newspaper enter- prise. While engaged in other vocations lie never entirely withdrew from newspaper work, but continued as correspondent or as special writer when anything of importance demanded. Mr. Honey has traveled exten- sively and 'notices things.' He has an orig- inal vein of humor, which bubbles up on all occasions and overflows at the slightest provocation. He is a man of strong con- victions, strict integrity and high ideals, and is always found on the right side of all moral questions, while he is a stanch advo- cate of everything that he believes will bene- fit his town and county."
In the year 1897 Mr. Honey effected thie purchase of the Western Advocate, at Man- kato, and he has made of the same one of the best weekly papers known to Kansas journalism, the paper being issued each Fri- day as a seven-column quarto and being not only an able exponent of Populist principles, thus wielding marked influence in political affairs, but also representing local interests in a most effective way. Mr. Honey is a vigorous writer, original in expression and having marked clarity of style, and under his regime the Advocate has been brought to the highest standard of excellence, while the plant is one of the best equipped in cen- tral Kansas and all departments of the -en- terprise are conducted with signal ability and discrimination.
In his political allegiance Mr. Honey was a supporter of the Republican party until 1894, when he espoused the cause of the Populist party, having made a careful study of political questions and becoming convinced that the latter party maintained principles and policies best designed to pro-
mote general prosperity and most in har- mony with the basic idea on which our re- public was founded. He is thoroughly well fortified in his views and has done much to further the cause of his party in this section of the state, while he has served as a men- i ber of both the county and the state central committees of his party. Mr. Honey has had no personal ambition in a political way, never having been an aspirant for public office of any character. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and its auxiliary, the Order of the Eastern Star; and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the An- cient Order of United Workinen and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man of the most cordial and kindly nature and enjoys a high degree of popularity wherever he is known, while his integrity of character is beyond cavil.
On the 14th of May, 1884, Mr. Honey was united in marriage to Dr. Sarah Logan Kennedy, who was born in Laporte county, Indiana, the daughter of A. and Huldalı M. Logan. She is a lady of gracious presence and intrinsic refinement, and is an able member of the medical fraternity, having been graduated at the Chicago Homeo- pathic College, at Chicago, as a member of the class of 1878. Mr. Honey is a lover of home, is essentially domestic in his tastes, and is fortunate and happy in his social life, while he has been successful as a business man and holds high relative prestige in the realm of Kansas journalism.
The writer of this sketch has seen a number of press notices evincing the high standing Mr. Honey enjoys in the editorial fraternity generally, and also demonstrating the editorial ability of his wife. Dr. Saralı K. Honey. We take the liberty of quoting two of these testimonials. The Minneapolis Messenger said: "Henry Honey, of the Mankato Advocate, was recently stricken with brain fag and was ordered, by his phy- sician, to adjourn himself to some vast wil- derness far away from the maddening crowd. He left his wife in charge of the Advocate, and now the readers earnestly hope that Honey's infirmities may keep him
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