A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 25

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

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JAMES ST. JOHN.

The life of James St. John-pre-emi- nently that of a business man-has been crowned with success and shows the power

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of untiring energy and industry in over- coming obstacles, meeting competition and gradually advancing to the goal of prosper- ity. He is now the president and manager of the Huthinson Lumber & Planing Mill Company, a leading industry which contrib- utes to the commercial activity of the city as well as to the individual success of its stockholders. The company was organized under the present form in 1897 and its large trade indicates that the business methods of the house commend it to public patronage.

James St. John was born in Preble coun- ty. Ohio, June 5. 1838. Tradition says that the family is of French lineage but the orig- inal American ancestors came to this coun- try from England. The grandfather of our subject was another James St. John and was born in Dutchess county, New York, April

4. 1788. his parents being John and Ann (Lockwood) St. John. In 1807 he married Elizabeth Payne, a native of Culpeper coun- ty, Virginia, and to provide for his family he followed agricultural pursuits. Remov- ing to Ohio his son. Seth St. John, was there born and reared. He learned the tanner's trade, which he followed in the Buckeye state until 18440, when he removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he established a tannery, which he conducted for some time. He took an active part in public affairs dur- in the early history of the county and for two terms served as sheriff. After his elec- tion to that office he removed to Keosauqua, the county seat, where he spent his remain- ing days, his death occurring in 1865. He was a man of pronounced character and fear- less in defense of his honest convictions. He gave a stalwart support to the principles of Democracy and was an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally he was connected with the Ma- sonic lodge and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife, who was a native of Pennsylvania, died at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Sarah Kreigh, of Johnson. Kansas, in February. 1888. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom reached mature years, while five are still liv- ing. namely : Carlisle, who is a sheet metal worker in Des Moines, Iowa; Jacob M., an

attorney of Des Moines; James of this re- view : Sarah R., wife of L. H. Kreigh, post- master of Edwin, Stanton county, Kansas ; John F .. who served through the entire Civil war as sergeant of Company K. Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died at the Soldiers' Home in Kansas, in 1891 ; Mary A., the wife of M. C. Davis, for many years special examiner in the pension department in Washington, D. C .; and Seth, who for many years was engaged in business in Os- ceola, Iowa, and died in Texas in 1891.

James St. John was only two years old when his parents went to Iowa, where he was reared to manhood under the parental roof. He attended the public schools until thirteen years of age and then entered upon an apprenticeship to the tinner's trade at Keosauqua, Iowa, where he remained for eight years, when, having attained his major- ity, he entered into partnership with his father in the establishment of a stove and tinning business in Keosauqua, Iowa. He was there located for four years and on the expiration of that period he removed into the country in that county, where he im- proved a new farm and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for about two years. He next went to Bloomfield, Iowa, where he conducted a lumber yard for about six years and in 1877 he removed to Kansas, locat- ing at Burrton, Harvey county, where he was connected with the lumber trade for a year. In 1878 he arrived in Hutchinson and organized the Hutchinson Lumber Company. a stock company, of which he became pres- ident and manager, conducting the enterprise until 1885, when the company was merged into the St. John & Marsh Company, busi- ness being carried on under the latter name until 1887 when Mr. St. John disposed of his interest to the Marshes. In 1889, in con- nection with Mr. McCandless, he purchased the banking business of J. F. Redhead & Company, and continued it under the name of James St. Jolin & Company until 1897. when the bank was sold. The following year Mr. St. John established the Hutchin- son Lumber & Planing Mill Company, with which he has since been connected as its president. It was established on much the

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same plan that is now followed, but the trade has constantly grown in volume and impor- tance and the enterprise is now accounted one of the leading industrial concerns of the city. In addition to the manufacture and sale of lumber the company does a large building contract business, employing a number of competent mechanics, as many as from twenty to twenty-five during the building season. The office of the company is at No. 13 Sherman street, west, and the plant on Avenue A, west. The present of- ficers are James St. John, president ; M. H. Wagner, vice-president ; A. W. McCandless, secretary and treasurer. The firm carries a complete line of lumber and building ma- terials of every description and in the plan- ing, mill employs fifteen operatives. Every branch of their business is well managed and is profitable. The partners are men of en- terprise, practical, progressive and reliable. and the house sustains an i nassailable repu- tation in trade circles.

Mr. St. John is pre-eminently a busi- ness man, devoting almost his entire time and attention to his industrial and commer- cial affairs. He has never sought or desired office and has seldom ever consented to accept political positions. His fellow towns- men, however, elected him to the office of city councilman while he resided in Bloom- field and much against his desire he was compelled to accept. In a quiet way, how- ever, he aids largely in the city's progress and improvement and endorses every meas- ture for the general good. He votes inde- pendently, supporting by his ballot the men and measures which he thinks will best ad- vance the welfare of the city, state and na- tion.

On the 25th of December, 1861, Mr. St. John was married to Miss Margaret Trebil- cock, a daughter of Frank and Anna ( Dow- erick) Trebilcock, both of whom were na- tives of England, while Mrs. St. John was born in Ohio. By her marriage she has be- comme the mother of three children: Frank T., who is controlling a branch of the lum- ber business, located at Frederick, Kansas : Agnes, the wife of A. W. McCandless, the secretary and treasurer of the Hutchinson

Lumber & Planing Mill Company ; and Mary who died in infancy. The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church, con- tribute liberally to its support and take an ac- tive part in its work. Mr. St. John is one of the oldest, best known and most highly respected business men of Hutchinson, hav- ing been an active factor in the trade circles of this city for twenty-three years. While in Iowa he was one of the organizers of the Fort Madison Chair Company, which is still in existence, and was one of the organizers and the first president of the Valley State Bank of Hutchinson. Besides his other in- terests in this city he owns valuable fruit lands in the state of California. H is a man of superior business force and exec- utive power. forms his plans readily antis determined in their execution. He has keen foresight and his judgment is rarely, if ever. at fault. His treatment of his empl ves is just and considerate and his reputati. 1 is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong. His splendid success has bee ? worthily achieved and his career excites the admiration and respect of all.

ALEXANDER L. FORSHA.

One of the most notable places in Reno county is the ranch and milling property owned by Alexander L. Forsha, a very prominent business man whose success is the result of his own earnest labors, directed by sound business judgment. His life his- tory again proves the truth of the ( Il adage that "the achievement depends upon the man." It is not he who waits for opportu- nity to aid him, but the individual who can make his opportunity, who can make condi- tions serve his purpose that gains wealth. Such has been the career of Colonel Forsha. who now resides at a beautiful home in Hutchinson and yet spends much of his time upon his ranch, his beautiful country sent proving a most attractive feature of the land- scape.

The Colonel is a native of Oxford, Ohio. born on the 27th of December, 1832. his par-

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The father was born and reared in New York and was a ship carpenter by trade. In early manhood he removed to Ohio, where he was married and soon afterward, in 1836, went to Scotland county, Missouri, casting in his lot among its early settlers. He became an extensive land owner and stock raiser and a well known and popular citizen actively iden- tified with public and official affairs in Scot- land county. He spent the last years of his life in retirement from business cares in Monticello, Missouri. In his family were five children : Mary, the wife of J. M. Fish, a wealthy merchant of Eddyville, Iowa; Siles E., who is engaged in the real estate business in Los Angeles, California : Alex- ander L .; Lizzie J., wife of William F. Staples, of Los Angeles : and William B., who died at the age of eighteen years.

The Colonel was only three years old when the family took up their abode in the new home in Missouri and there amid the wild scenes of pioneer life he was reared, early becoming familiar with the work of the farm, while in the common schools he pur- sued his education, also attending St. Charles College. At the age of twenty-two years he engaged in business on his own ac- count as a merchant in Eddyville, Iowa, where he remained for six years, when he re- turned to Missouri, locating in Schuyler county, that state, where he had large landed interests. There he engaged in farming and milling until 1883. He had previously purchased a large tract of railroad land in Reno county, and in that year he disposed of his Missouri property and removed to Hutchinson in order to superintend his growing business interests here. He had first purchased ten sections of land and here he devoted his attention to the real-estate business. A man of resourceful business ability, he extended his operations to other lines and became one of the founders of the Hutchinson Street Railway Company. In December, 1889. he began improvements on what has become widely known as the For- sha Ranch, then comprising sections 7, 17, 19 and 29 Castleton township, to which he

ents being William and Elizabeth ( Louis) | has added until the place now comprises over Forsha, the latter a native of New England. | four thousand nine hundred and eighty acres. It is conducted as a stock ranch, where they graze and feed about one thousand head of cattle and sell each year from four to five hundred head. Since developing the ranch Mr. Forsha has given his chief attention to it, disposing of many of his other business interests. He has a fine residence in Hutch- inson, at No. 317 Sherman street, east, which he considers his home, although he spends much of his time on the ranch.

In his political views Mr. Forsha is an ardent Republican and keeping well inform- ed on the issues of the day is able to support his position by intelligent argument. His first vote was cast for John C. Fremont and in this he did not follow the example of his father, who was first a Whig and then a Democrat, favoring the slavery position of the south. In his fraternal relations the Colonel is a Mason, having been made a member of the craft many years ago.

On the 13th of February, 1862, at Eddy- ville, Iowa, Colonel Forsha was united in marriage to Miss Jean Irvin, a daughter of James M. and Louisa (Castell) Irvin. She was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and during her infancy was taken by her parents to Nodaway county, Missouri. Later the father removed with his family to Doniphan county, Kansas, and took an ac- tive part in the border difficulties attendant upon the settlement of this state. When the Civil war was inaugurated he became a colo- nel in the Union army and was a brave and loyal officer. He served as a member of tlie first senate of Kansas and left the impress of his individuality upon the early history of the state. He died March 7, 1900, at his home in Pasadena, California, where for several years he had lived a retired life. In his family were six children, of whom four are now living: Frank, of Los Angeles, California ; Mrs. Forsha; Flora, the wife of E. E. Ward, a business man of Chanute, Kansas; and Emma L., the widow of Jo- seph L. Barbee, of Chicago. One son, Wal- ter, who was connected with railroad service. died in West Virginia in 1898. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Forsha have been born two sons :

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Fred A., who is vice president of the Na- tional Live Stock Company, of Kansas City. Chicago and Omaha, and resides in the first mentioned place : and Sam W .. who carries on the Forsha ranch.

This ranch has become a valuable and remunerative property under the personal supervision of Sam. W. Forsha, who since its establishment has been in charge of the place. His ability as a financier and man- ager is amply demonstrated by the success and profitable results of one of the largest and most completely equipped and systemat- ically conducted stock ranches in southern or central Kansas. One thousand acres are planted to alfalfa, about three hundred and fifty are cultivated in forage crops and the remainder is pasture land. The first im- provement was made on the ranch in 1889. a small house being erected, in which Sam W. Forsha slept for the first time on the 24th of December, although the house was not completed until the 2d of January, 1890. Business was first carried on exclusively as a stock ranch and cribs were erected for one hundred thousand bushels of corn which would be required for feeding purposes. In July. 1895, a new department was added to the business by the erection of a mill, which was built largely for their own use in grind- ing feed for the cattle, but an increasing cus- tom trade induced them to erect a modern mill and in May and June, 1899, work on the Forsha Roller Mills was carried forward to completion, the plant constituting a three- story building, equipped with the latest im- proved machinery, and having a capacity of one hundred and seventy-five barrels per day. Mr. Forsha and his son have demon- strated their ability to manufacture as good four as can be produced in the country and they have a large and constantly increasing patronage. Their principal brands are Peer- less, Standard and Pakers' Delig't. and these are well known throughout central and southern Kansas and in the Indian Terri- tory. They also ship largely for the export trade, and in addition to the merchant trade they have a large custom trade and exchange covering an area of from twenty-five to thirty miles. The mill is operated by power

furnished from a large Corliss engine. In connection with the mill is a large storage room for mill products, fifty by seventy-two feet, steel covered. The mill in all its equip- ments is strictly in line with all general im- provements and is in keeping with the mod- ern stock ranch on which it is located. Since it has been remodeled it grinds from eighty to one hundred thousand barrels annually. They sell at the door all coarse mill prod- ucts. besides shipping from twenty to thirty car leads each year. The Forsha mill and ranch creates a good demand and excellent local market for both wheat and corn. The feed lots and yards are arranged with a view to convenience and economizing time. There are large roofed feed sheds and a large dou- ble barn for winter feeding, while substan- tial pens and yards are arranged in the man- ner of city stockyards. Water is piped from an eighty-foot standpipe mounted on a steel tower and thus the feed lots, outbuildings, mill and residence are supplied. There are also two fire plugs with hose attachments, furnishing adequate fire protection. The place is equipped with a modern blacksmith shop where a competent mechanic does the work in his line for the ranch besides the custom work of the neighborhood. In the yards is a dehorning chute and a sixty thou- sand pound Fairbanks stock scale. A well drilling apparatus is kept for sinking their own wells. which are located in different parts of the pasture lands. There are alto- gether ten wells and windmills, which fur- nish abundant water supply. The feeding is conducted in the most careful and system- atic manner, and account being kept of all feed consumed, and the cattle are weighed every thirty days. The care and precision which is manifest in the conduct of this large ranch with its varied interests are a credit to the executive ability of Sam W. Forsha. the genial and hospitable manager and host. The office and residence at Hutchinson are connected with local and long-distance phones with the ranch, and few conveniences of the modern city home or office are missing at Forsha. The elegant and comfortable residence is three stories in height with base- ment, and is furnished in a manner that is a

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supervision and is justly accounted one of credit to the good taste of the host. It has all modern conveniences, including furnace heat, hot and cold water, toilet and bath and gas is furnished by their own gas plant. The ranch presents an inviting prospect and the Colonel and his wife spend much of their time there in the summer months in prefer- ence to their elegant city home.

In public affairs Sam W. Forsha has taken an active part since locating upon the ranch. He is identified with the Republican party and is a member of the township cen- tral committee. He has also been a delegate to the county, state, congressional and na- tional conventions, and his opinions carry weight in the councils of his party. Frater- nally he is a thirty-second degree Mason. holding membership in Friendship Lodge. No. 208. F. & A. M .: Revo Chapter, R. A. M .: and Wichita Consistory, No. 2. A. A. S. R. He is also connected with the Com- mercial Travelers' Association. Since tak- ing charge of the ranch, however, he has given his attention almost exclusively to its the most capable and reliable business men in Reno county, possessing sound judgment, keen foresight and earnest purpose. He forms his plans readily and yet not without mature consideration, and is determined in their execution. The Forsha ranch is indeed a creditable monument to the business ability and worth of its founder and its manager.

JOHN MARCH.

For almost a quarter of a century John March has resided upon the farm which is now his home, having taken up his abode here in 1877. Kansas tested the bravery, endurance and faith of her early settlers in the years of pioneer life here, but those who had the courage and the resolution to meet hardships and difficulties have ultimately been rewarded. "Hard times," occasioned by droughts and grasshoppers, are now no longer known. The advent of the railroad has bought all the comforts of civilization known to the older east, and moreover has

afforded shipping facilities so that the citi- zens are in direct contact with the great market centers of the country to which an- nually millions of bushels of grain and thou- sands of heads of cattle are sent. Mr. March is one among the brave pioneers who faced the trials to eventually win success and he is now in very comfortable circum- stances financially. Moreover, he has won the high regard of his fellow townsmen and one of the popular residents of Ellsworth county is John March.

He was born October 29, 1837, in Wel- lingborough, Northamptonshire. England, a son of John and Dinah (Chamberlain) March. The father, who was connected with the railroad service there, died during the early boyhood of our subject, and when fourteen years of age the latter came to America with his uncle, crossing the ocean on the ship Leviathan, which was forty- nine days in making the New York harbor. Mr. March went west to Columbus, Ohio, and remained with his uncle until twenty- one years of age. when he offered his aid to his adopted country for military service, en- listing July 22, 1861, as a member of Com- pany E, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the battles of Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, where he served as a sharpshooter during the fight between the Merrimac and the Monitor. He was also in the battles of Fair Oaks. White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Manassas, the second battle of Bull Run, Chantilly. Fred- ricksburg, Chancellorsville and many minor engagements and skirmishes. He was wounded by a minie ball when before Rich- mond and was confined in St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, D. C., where his thumb was amputated. He was also wound- ed at Fair Oaks. He received an honorable discharge at Camp Pitcher, Virginia, De- cember 24, 1862, on a surgeon's certificate of disability, and then returned to Ohio.

From there Mr. March went to Iowa with the intention of following farming there, but finding that a regiment was being raised, and the war spirit being still strong within him, he re-enlisted at Newton, Iowa,

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for three years' service, being mustered in at Davenport, November 30. 1863. as a member of Company L. Ninth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry. The command was assigned to the army at the frontier, and he was mostly on detached service in Arkansas, tak- ing part in a number of engagements with the bushwhackers. They lost one hundred and ninety-four men by death from wounds and disease. At Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 3d of February, 1866, Mr. March re- ceived his final discharge, and with a most commendable record for faithful military service and for bravery he returned to his Ohio home.

Renting a farm in Delaware county, that state, lie continued its operation until 1877. when he came to Kansas, and bought out the man who had pre-empted the land upon which Mr. March now resides, giving him one hundred and fifty dollars for his right. He then purchased a yoke of cattle with which he broke the land, and here he has car- ried on his farming pursuits ever since. He raised considerable corn at first, as he had a tract of bottom land that never entirely failed of yielding a crop. He has given most of his attention, however, to the production of wheat. He has added sixty acres to his land and with the exception of seventy-five acres all is under the plow. The other is largely used for pasturage, for he raises some cattle.

On the 20th of September. 1866, Mr. March led to the marriage altar Miss Mary A. Dickinson, a daughter of Edward W. Dickinson, a farmer of Ohio. He was born in Northamptonshire, England, and came to America in the spring of 1851, spending ten years in Saratoga county, New York, after which he removed to Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. March have been born seven children : Emma J .; John H .: Edward A., who is farming in Illinois: Margaret, the wife of Bert Story, of Ellsworth township, Ells- worth county : Samuel E., a resident farmer of Illinois: Melvina and Charles MI., at home. For eleven or twelve years after coming to Kansas the family lived in a small house of only two rooms, but additions were made to this and they now have a nice home.

while all modern improvements, in the way of good buildings, are found upon the place. Mr. March continued the active manage- ment of the farm until 1900, since which time he has lived practically retired in the enjoyment of a well merited rest. In his political views he is a Republican, and for twelve years he has served as treasurer of the school district. He belongs to Ellsworth Post. No. 22, G. A. R., and attends the ser- vices of the Methodist Episcopal church. The years of his life have passed in activity mostly given to business, yet he has never neglected his duties of citizenship or the ob- ligation of private and social life.

ROBERT C. MILLER.

Among the well known citizens of the flourishing town of Langdon, Kansas, is Robert C. Miller, a farmer and merchant, who was born in Washington county, Indi- ana, on June 16, 1844, a son of William and Susan ( Truman) Miller. William Miller, the father of Robert C., was born in Ten- nessee, in 1819, and he died in Georgetown, Indiana, in 1892, at the age of eighty-three years. He married Susan Truman, who was born in Kentucky in 1818. the marriage tak- ing place in Indiana about 1839. and there they have followed a farming life. They reared these children : L uise, who married Thomas J. Teaford, of Indiana : Robert C., our subject : John N., who is a farmer in Kingman county, Kansas; and Charles A., who resides in Reno county. Kansas. Both parents had been previously married and each had one son. William Bright, who lives in Martinsburg, Indiana, and Thomas Mil- ler, who died in Vermilion county, Illinois. After the death of the mother of our sub- ject, in 1867. the father again married.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 25

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