A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 27

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 27

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far both north and south, and has been a close observer in every locality. In addition to his other industries he has an apiary, con- sisting of seventy colonies of bees, and has a local market for all of his honey. Mr. Measer is also a breeder of fine poultry and owns some of the finest specimens of geese in the state, having imported them from Iowa, and they are known as the Toulouse breed.

The marriage of Mr. Measer occurred in New York, in 1862, to Jane Wiggins, a native of that state and a daughter of Henry Wiggins. Seven children were born of this marriage, one of whom, Charles, died at the age of seventeen. The others are : William, who is a farmer in this township ; Mary, the wife of Carl Jacobson, of Portland, Oregon; Sadie, now Mrs. Casey, and a resident of Iowa: Jessie, the wife of E. M. Corrie and resides on the homestead ; Freda, who lives in Hutchinson; and Millie, at home. In 1899 Mr. Measer remodeled and rebuilt his residence and now owns one of the most attractive and delightful homes in Reno county. His success has been so remark- able and his surroundings are so delightful that the Orange Judd Farmer, a large agri- cultural journal, devoted its front page in its issue of March 2, 1901, to a picture of Mr. Measer and his beautiful home. In pol- itics he is in sympathy with the Republican party, but has never consented to accept of- ficial position. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, while he has long been a leading mem- ber and a cheerful and liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church.

JOHN GILCHRIST.

Among the honored pioneers and repre- sentative citizens of Kingman county none are more highly respected than John Gil- christ, who now owns a fine farm on sec- tions 14 and 15, Ninnescah township. He is a native of the land of hills and heather, his birth having occurred in the county of Argyle, Scotland, in November, 1842, the

same year in which King Edward was born. The parents of our subject were Neal and Isabella (Gillis) Gilchrist, also natives of the highlands of Scotland, and they spoke the Gælic language. The father was acci- dentally killed while yet in the prime of life, passing away at the early age of thirty-seven years. He was honored and respected by all who had the pleasure of liis acquaintance, and at his death he left a widow and four children,-John, of this review ; Duncan, of Canada ; Dugald, who was accidentally killed at a barn raising : and Jane McLean, of Can- ada.

John Gilchrist, whose name introduces this review, was but a lad of twelve years when with his parents he left the land of his nativity for the new world, the family locat- ing in St. Thomas, County Elgin, Canada. At the age of fifteen years he was appren- ticed to learn the shoemaker's trade, and during the greater part of his business career he has followed that occupation. In 1864 he came to the United States, and for some years thereafter he resided in different local- ities, traveling through Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, and at Detroit, Michigan, he was employed by McGraw, Smith & Bald- win. The latter afterward became governor of that state. For a time he also worked at his trade in Monrovia, Indiana, and was there married. Mr. Gilchrist remained in the Hoosier state from 1867 to 1878, during which time he made a visit to his old home in Canada, and then came to Kansas in the latter year, where he secured a claim and also followed his trade in Wichita and Kingman for a number of years. In recent years, however, he has abandoned the shoemaker's trade and now devotes his entire time and attention to the farm, which consists of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent and well cultivated land on sections 14 and 15. Ninnescah township, Kingman county. In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate he is also engaged quite extensively in stock-raising. and in both branches of his business he is meeting with a high and well merited degree of success.

The lady who now bears the name of

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Mrs. Gilchrist was in her maidenhood Miss Sarah Brown. She is a daughter of Stephen and Ann ( Wass ) Brown. Six children have blessed the union of our subject and wife. four sons and two daughters, namely : Ste- phen, of Gary, Oklahoma: Neal, in the res- taurant business in Alva, Oklahoma ; Bruce, at home: Finley, who is now twenty-one years of age : Lula J., a prominent and suc- cessful teacher of this county: Laura, a maiden of sixteen years. Two of their chil- dren have also passed away in death,-Belle, who died at the age of eight years ; and Du- gald, who died at the age of six months. Mr. Gilchrist gives his political support to the People's party, and religiously his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He holds to the old Presbyterian faith of his fathers.

HARVEY WIGGINS.

The agricultural interests of Rice county are well represented by Harvey Wiggins. who devotes his time to farming and stock- raising in Atlanta township. For twenty- six years he has resided in this locality. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, No- vember 3. 1849, and is a son of Benjamin Wiggins, whose birth occurred on the same farm, and he is now eighty-one years of age. The grandfather, Edward Wiggins. was born in the panhandle of West Vir- ginia. His parents, however, were natives of Ireland, and when young people left the Emerald Isle for the new world. Remov- ing from his native state Edward Wiggins took up his abode in Coshocton county, Ohio, on Wills creek, a branch of Muskin- gumm river. There he cleared a tract of land and developed a farm, upon which he made his home from 1807 until his death. His son, Benjamin Wiggins, was there reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life and became familiar with pioneer experiences in Ohio. Having attained man's estate he married Jemima Magnus, who was born in

Coshocton county, a daughter Of George Magnus. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wiggins were born ten children, of whom six are living, namely: Edward, who was a sol- (lier in the Union army and is now living in Coshocton county; Samuel, who has a similar record for army service and is also a resident of Coshocton county : John, who wore the blue during the Civil war and now makes his home in Rice county, Kansas; Harvey, of this review; Mrs. Mary Will- iams, of Coshocton county : and Mrs. Aman- da Workman, who is living in the same county. Those who have passed away are : Seth, who diel at the age of thirty years ; Benjamin, who died at the age of ten years ; and two who died in infancy. The mother reached the psalmist's span of three-score years and ten and then departed this life, honored and respected by all who knew her. The father, however, has reached the age of eighty-one years and is still living on the ancestral home in Coshocton county, where throughout his active business career he carried on farming and stock-raising. In politics he was a stanch Republican and gave three of his sons to the Union dur- ing the Civil war. Like him they were all stanch admirers of Lincoln. Honored and respected he has lived an upright life and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of young and old, rich and poor, wherever he is known.

Harvey Wiggins, the well known resi- (lent farmer of Atlanta township. Rice coun- ty, was reared on the old homestead, and the plowing, planting an.1 harvesting be- came familiar to him in youth. His liter- ary training was received in the public schools of Ohio. At the age of twenty-two years he was united in marriage to Isabella Sturtz, who was born in Muskingum coun- ty, Ohio, a daughter of Adam and Jane ( Wiggins ) Sturtz, of that state. The young couple began their domestic life in his na- tive county, where they resided until 1875, when they removed to Jefferson county, Ne- braska, but after five months there passed came to Rice county, Kansas. Here Mr. Wiggins purchased a homestead claim, upon which he yet resides. He has greatly im-

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proved it, making it one of the valuable farms of the county, and his tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres yields to him a good return. Its improvements are modern and indicate his progressive spirit. A comfortable residence, a substantial barn, sheds, an orchard and richly cultivated fields give evidence of his thrift and care. He also has three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Mitchell township, Rice county, and is thus extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits. Stock-raising has also proved to him a profitable source of income.

In 1884 Mr. Wiggins was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died Sep- tember 21, of that year, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a consistent member. She was also a devoted wife and mother and a kind neigh- bor. She had three children: Ada, now the wife of David Foreman, of Harrington, Kansas; Ella, wife of Daniel Brubaker of Washita county. Oklahoma; and Jesse, who married Delia Monroe and resides in Mitch- ell township, Rice county. On the 22d of February, 1888, Mr. Wiggins was joined in wedlock to Mary E. Brubaker, an estimable lady, who was born in Greene county, Ten- nessee, hier parents being Jonathan and Mar- garet (Carter ) Brubaker. Her father was born in Virginia and has now passed away, but her mother is living in Rice county. He devoted his energies to agricultural pur- suits until his life's labors were ended in death, when he had attained the age of sixty- three. In politics he was a Democrat, and was an elder in the German Baptist church, in which his wife also held membership, while his children are of the same religious faith. In the Brubaker family were four daughters and three sons, namely: Nancy, Mary E., Margaret. John, Benjamin, Will- iam and Lucy. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wiggins has been blessed with four children .- John F., Leora MI., Blanche and Harvey Stanley. In his political views Mr. Wiggins is a Republican, and has served as township treasurer, while for fifteen years lie has labored earnestly and effectively as a member of the school board. His wife belongs to the German Baptist church. His

landed possessions comprise six hundred and forty acres in Rice county, and his property is the visible evidence of a life of usefulness and activity. He is a champion of educa- tion, temperance and morality, and is re- garded as one of the valued, progressive and upright citizens of his adopted county.

JUDGE W. . B. CONNER.

Judge W. B. Conner is an honored pio- neer settler of Rice county. He came to this portion of the state many years ago and found the broad prairies unmarked by the homes of settlers, the land being in its primitive condition. Wild prairie grass, waving in the wind, resembled a billowy sea of green. Buffaloes, antelopes and other wild animals found here excellent pasturage, and the most far-sighted could not have dreamed that within a brief interval of time a great transformation could have taken place, changing the broad prairies into rich- ly cultivated farms. In the work of im- provement and progress Mr. Conner has borne his part, and his name is thus insep- arably interwoven with the history of cen- tral Kansas, in whose advancement and im- provement he feels just and commendable pride.

He was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 7, 1825, and was reared to the hon- est toil of the farm, while in the common schools he pursued his education. His par- ents, James and Jane (Brooks) Conner, were both natives of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and were there married, while the grandfather, Caliph Conner, was born on the green isle of Erin. Crossing the Atlantic to the new world, he took up his abode in the Keystone state and became a prominent farmer there, following that pursuit until life's labors were ended in death. He had but two children, the elder

NB Comer

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dying in Pennsylvania. Both the grandfa- thers were soldiers of the Revolutionary war.

James Conner, the father of our subject. remained in that state until his marriage and soon afterward removed to Butler coun- ty. Ohio, becoming one of the pioneer set- tlers there. He entered land from the gov- ernment, developed a farm and there re- mained until 1829, when he removed to Montgomery county, Indiana. where he again purchased land and carried on farm- ing. On selling that property he went to Kankakee county, Illinois, where he pur- chased a farm, but after his children were married and had left home he broke up housekeeping and went to live with a daugh- ter in Iroquois county, Illinois, where he died in 1863, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years. In early life he had learned the trade of a stone and brick mason, and also weaving, but during the greater part of his business career he carried on agricult- ural pursuits. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, yet never aspired to office. Reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, he always adhered to that doctrine, and was a man of stern disposition and sturdy integrity. His children were: James, who died in Ness county, Kansas ; Eleanor, deceased wife of E. Richardson; Agnes, who married L. Tender and after his death became the wife of Rev. E. Sargent; Su- sanna, the wife of J. R. Frogg: Elizabeth, who married A. R. Frogg: Mary, the wife of J. Wadkins ; W. B., of this review : John, who died in Iowa ; and Martha, who died in childhood.

W. B. Conner was reared in Indiana, where his parents remained during his early childhood. He remained at home until eight- een years of age, when he went to Will county, Illinois, and secured a claim. Subse- quently he sold that property and entered another tract of land, on which he made improvements. On again selling out he re- moved to Iowa and entered land in Mahaska county, making it his home for two years. i when he disposed of the same and returned to Will county, Illinois. There he purchased and sold a farm and bought another one,

and on the second place he remained until 1872, when he again disposed of his prop- erty and came to Kansas, locating in Rice county. Here he secured three claims and homesteaded a pre-emption and a tree claim, all of which he proved up and still owns the land, yet residing on the old homestead claim. At different times he purchased other property and has sold four hundred acres, but still owns a tract of more than four hundred acres. He was first to lo- cate upon the farm which has since been his place of abode, and it was then five miles distant to the home of any neigh- bor. He hauled lumber from the town of Ellsworth in order to build his house. Game of all kinds was plenti- ful, and from his own doorway he has shot buffaloes. Wild geese and other kinds of game were also in the neighborhood. Mr. Conner brought with him horse teams and soon began breaking his land, carrying on stock farming. His home became self-sus- taining, although at times crops have not been very good, and in 1874 the grasshop- pers destroyed nearly everything raised in this section of the country. Many people became dissatisfied and left Kansas, but it was a time of merely temporary depression, as almost uniformly the fields yield good crops, so that the farmers have a splendid return for the labor and time which they bestow in cultivation. Many years have passed since Judge Conner first won a place among the substantial citizens of the county. In addition to general farming he has en- gaged in stock-raising, and his labors in this direction have been crowned with pros- perity.

While residing in Indiana the Judge was united in marriage, in 1846, to Miss Betsy A. Mullen, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Indiana, and was a daughter of Samuel Mullen, of New Jersey. Her father was a cooper by trade, but followed farming through much of his life. He died in Indiana. His children were: Asenath, who became the wife of P. Mitchell ; Betsy A., wife of Judge Conner; William, a banker, who died in Winfield, Kansas: Al- myra, who married H. Harlan and after his

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death became the wife of John Rose, while her third husband was John Funk; and Kelsey, who completes the family. The parents were members of the Methodist church. By his first marriage Judge Con- ner had five children: James, now of Chi- cago: John, who died in Rice county ; Mrs. Matilda J. Rife: Mary, the wife of James Pogue; and Abraham L. The mother was a consistent member of the Methodist church from the age of eight years. She was called to the home prepared for the righteous in September, 1872. In 1873 the Judge married Mrs. Sabine Ambrose, a widow, and a daughter of Owen Johns, of Ohio, who removed to Illinois and in 1872 came to Kansas, locating in Rice county. He built a hotel at Atlanta, which he car- ried on for some time. He also owned a farm, and when Lyons was made the county ; seat he removed his hotel property to that place and there resided until his death. He voted with the Democracy. His chil- dren were: Owen, a resident of Wilson county, Kansas : William; Mrs. Jane Chis- 011: Mattie, the wife of a Methodist mis- sionary minister: Sabine; and Belle, the wife of John Keys. The marriage of the Judge and Mrs. Conner has been blessed with four children: Cora, now the wife of E. Wilson; Mary, who is attending college ; Frank B., at home: and Hugh, who is a student in Winfield College.

Judge Conner has ever been known for his marked loyalty to his, country and its interests, and during the war of the rebel- lion he enlisted as a defender of the Union. joining the army in Will county, Illinois, in 1862, for three years' service or during the war. He became a member of the One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, un- der command of Colonel Fred Bartleson, and was assigned to the Army of the Cum- berland, with the Fourth Corps, Second Division, Third Brigade. He saw much arduous service, was in many skirmishes and in eighteen hotly contested battles, went on many long and tedious marches and was with General Thomas on the campaign after General Hood. On the 19th of September. 1864. at Chickamauga,

he was struck by a minie ball in the right shoulder. He acted as chief sergeant of his company and was detailed to serve as com- mander at Gallatin for four months. His wound troubled him and he was granted a forty days' furlough, but as he had not recovered on the expiration of that period the time was extended to eighty days. He then joined his command, with which he re- mained until the close of the war, and was at Bull's Gap at the time of General Lee's surrender. Mustered out at Nashville, Ten- nessee, he then returned to Chicago, where he received an honorable discharge, after which he made his way home. He had been reared in the Democratic faith, but in 1856, when the Republican party was or- ganized, he voted for Fremont and contin- med with the party until Grant's second term, when he joined the Greenback party. Later he assisted in organizing the Reform or Populist party, attending its conventions and doing everything in his power for its progress. He was a delegate to the first county Republican convention in Rice coun- ty. but he there bolted and had many fol- lowers and admirers who nominated him for the office of probate judge, to which he was elected by a large majority, being the second person chosen to that office in Rice county. During his term he resided in At- lanta, then the county seat. He has always been a leading factor in political circles, has been active in naming successful candi- dates and his opinions carry weight and in- fluence in party councils. During his early life he studied law and was the first young man admitted to the bar in Rice county, but he has never engaged in practice to any ex- tent. He has filled many local offices of honor and trust, including that of township treasurer, in which he served for two terms. He is indeed a citizen of worth, loyal and faithful to every trust reposed in him. On account of advanced age he does not take an active part in public affairs as he for- merly did, but in 1900 he attended the Pop- ulist convention at Clay Center, where he was heard with interest. He is yet a mem- ber of the county central committee of his party. His acquaintance is very wide and

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the circle of his friends is almost co-exten- sive therewith. His life has been an hon- orable and upright one, commending him to the confidence and respect of all.

JAMES L. HOPKINS.

Among the representative citizens of the county none are more deserving of repre- sentation in this volume than James L. Hop- kins, who has for many years been connected with its agricultural interests. For over twenty years he has made his home in the Sunflower state, and throughout this long period he has ever borne his share in the work of development and improvement nec- essary to produce the wonderful change which has here taken place. He has re- mained true to its interests when the dark clouds of adversity have swept over the state, and as the years have passed by prosperity has abundantly rewarded his efforts, he be- ing now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres.

Mr. Hopkins was born in Putnam coun- ty, Missouri, in 1853, a son of James Laban Hopkins, a native of Kentucky, and a mem- ber of a prominent old family of the Blue- grass state. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Emily Wade, and was a daughter of Richard Wade. She was also a member of a prominent old southern fam- ily, and prior to the trouble between the north and the south they owned many slaves, but on account of that conflict they removed to Missouri. The father of our subject passed away in middle life, at the age of fifty-one years, and the mother reached the psalmist's span of three score years and ten. Ten children were born unto this worthy couple, eight of whom are now living, name- ly: Elijah, who was a soldier in the Civil war and is now a resident of Emporia, Kan- sas; Martha: Sarah; Elizabeth; George; James L., our subject : Mary ; John J., a resident of Unionville, Missouri ; Dennis, of Hilgard, Oregon; and Thomas Fletcher. who received the honor of being the first governor of Missouri, and is now a resident of Billings, Oklahoma.

James L. Hopkins, the subject of this re- view, was reared in the state of his nativity. where he was early inured to the labors of field and meadow. After attaining to years of maturity he chose as a life occupation the vocation to which he had been reared, and he was engaged in the tilling of the soil in Missouri until 1879. the year of his arrival in Kansas. Soon after coming to this state he secured a claim of two hundred and forty acres in Evans township, Kingman county, where he has ever since made his home. As time has passed he has placed his fields under a fine state of cultivation, has added all the improvements found upon a well regulated farm, and is now the owner of one of the best and most productive properties in his adopted county. Two hundred acres of his place is planted with wheat, which annually yields handsome returns.

Mr. Hopkins was married at the early age of nineteen years. Miss Margaret C. Franklin becoming his wife, and during the many years in which they have traveled life's journey together she has ever proved to her husband a loving companion and helpmate. Ten children, four sons and six daughters, have blessed their union, name- ly : Mrs. Sarah Emily Summers, Jonathan Laban, Mrs. Lillie Terry. Oliver Tucker, Laura, Ralph, Albert, Nettie, Zena and Her- bert. Mr. Hopkins is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and his last presidential vote was cast for McKin- ley. The cause of education also receives in him a warm friend, and for seventeen years he has served as a member of the school board.

JOHN SHIELLS.

John Shiells, one of the extensive and progressive agriculturists of Rice county, has been a resident of this section of the Sun- flower state since 1882. He is a member of a prominent Scotch family, who trace their ancestry back to the warlike days of that country, members of the family having ta- ken an active part in the historic battles of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Our

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subject was born in Newcastle, on the Tyne, in Northumberland county, England, on the 25th of March, 1851. His father, John Shiells, was a native of East Lothian, Scot- land, born on the farm on which the famous battle was fought by Prince Charles against the English crown. It was an old farm, and was noted far and near as a historical bat- tleground. John Shiells, Sr., grew to man- hood there, and after reaching mature years he was united in marriage to Marian Flem- ing, who was also a representative of an old Scotch family. She was born and reared in the same neighborhood as her husband. They became the parents of four children,-John, the subject of this sketch; Janet, who still resides in England; Mary, who was former- ly a resident of Rice county, Kansas, but now makes her home in England ; and Alice, also of the old country. In 1882 the family bade adieu to home and native land preparatory to seeking a home in the new world, and after landing in the United States they took up their abode in Galt township, Rice coun- ty, Kansas, where the father purchased a farm from the Union Pacific Railroad Com- pany. He became the owner of three hun- dred and twenty acres, and there his death occurred in 1893, passing away at the age of sixty-five years. He followed farming as a life occupation, and his political support was given to the Democratic party. His re- ligious preference was indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. He was a man of fine physique, and at one time weighed over two hundred pounds. The mother survived her husband until 1900, when she, too, was called to the home be- yond, having reached the ripe old age of seventy-two years.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 27

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