A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 3

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

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Christian V. Plank was reared on the old family homestead in Lagrange county, In- (liana, where he was early taught the value of industry and economy as a preparation for the active duties of life. He remained un- der the parental roof until twenty-one years of age, when he began life on his own ac- count, and as a companion and helpmate on the journey of life he chose Celestia Smeltz- ly, the wedding being celebrated in Lagrange county, Indiana, in 1877. She was born in Ohio, where she was reared until seven years of age, and was a daughter of Chris- tian and Mary ( Lehmer ) Smeltzly, who still reside in Indiana. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with three chil- dren,-Claude, who is now twenty-one years of age, Mary and Florence.

In the fall of 1878 Mr. Plank came to Kansas, and in the following spring he lo- cated on one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm. As the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings and has added to his original purchase until he now owns four hundred acres, in one body. His farm is located on section 27, Victoria town- ship, and there he is engaged in the culti- vation of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate and in the raising of a good

grade of cattle, horses and swine. He has a good farm residence, a barn thirty-eight by forty-eight feet, a beautiful grove and orchard, and all necessary outbuildings and improvements, and a glance at his well regu- lated place indicates to the passer-by the careful supervision of a progressive owner. He is well versed in all branches of farm work, and his life has been characterized by energy, perseverance and hard work, quali- ties which have won him a high and well merited degree of success.

HENRY S. HOYT.

The year 1877 witnessed the arrival of Henry S. Hoyt in Ellsworth county, and he took up his abode on section fourteen, Gar- field township, where he yet makes his home, although the farm of to-day, with its splen- did equipments, bears little resemblance to the undeveloped tract of which he obtained possession almost a quarter of a century ago. The buildings, including a fine residence and large barn, are built of stone, and everything indicates the careful supervision of one whose methods are progressive, whose ideas are practical and whose efforts therefore are crowned with success.

Mr. Hoyt was born in what was then Newburg, now Cleveland, Ohio, January 19. 1834. His father, Uriah Hoyt, was a na- tive of Vermont and after spending a short time in Canada went to Ohio. He was a tanner and currier by trade. In the Green Mountain state he married Comfort Day- ton, who was descended from one of the Pil- grim Fathers. They had eleven children, of whom Henry S. is the eldest son and the only one living in this portion of the country. The Hoyts are one of the old families of America and they have complete records back to the days when the first of the name came to the new world, but the copy which our subject possessed was destroyed by fire in 1895, his residence being burned at that time. The father was a Whig in his early political affiliations and afterward became a

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Republican. He took an active interest in politics and in educational affairs and was a member of the Disciples church. Both he and his wife died in Ohio.

Henry S. Hoyt pursued his education in the district schools and when young he learned the tanner's trade under the direction of his father, while later he mastered the trade of paper-making. He started out upon his own account when about nineteen years of age, and at the age of twenty he was married and began keeping house. In the fall of 1855 he removed to Illinois and fol- lowed farming in Lake county, that state, for six years, after which he returned to Ohio and worked at his trade. In the first year of the civil war he enlisted, and at the close of his three months' term was honor- ably discharged. On the 17th of August, 1864, he again entered the army, becoming a member of Company C, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, with which he saw service in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. He was once wounded by a bayonet thrust through the fleshy part of his right leg but did not leave the field on that account. He suffered more from exposure than from wounds. At Nashville, Tennessee, July 17, 1865, he received an honorable discharge.

Returning to Ohio Mr. Hoyt was con- nected with a paper mill for a time and later engaged in farming there for three years. In 1878 he came to Kansas, arriving in April, where he bought out the man who had filed a claim on the place where Mr. Hoyt now lives. He then started in to get the farm in good shape, erected a house and be- gan raising both grain and stock. Having fine bottom land on the Mulberry he can raise corn when others fail. For twenty successive years he has raised good corn crops in the same field. He raises native cattle and always has good grades. He owns a pedigreed Durham bull and has thus graded his stock. Formerly he was exten- sively engaged in dairying, but now that he and his wife are alone he has abandoned that branch of his business. They made such excellent butter that they could always se- cure for it twenty-five cents per pound, even

when the regular price of butter on the mar- ket was ten cents. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt have lived through the hard times here, but have persevered in their attempt to establish a home here and their labors have eventually been crowned with a high degree of success. He now owns two hundred and sixty acres of valuable land on the south bank of the Mul- berry, and his improvements are all of the most substantial kind. The stone barn, erected in 887, is thirty-two by fifty feet. There are also two large corrals, both of stone, the walls being built by Mr. Hoyt. In November, 1895, he met with a severe loss, his dwelling with all its contents being en- tirely destroyed by fire, and he and his wife having nothing left but the clothing which they wore. With characteristic energy he began the erection of a new home, which Phoenix-like rose from the ashes, and they now have a very comfortable residence. Upon the place there is also a good orchard and he has planted two acres of mulberries and a number of cottonwood trees. He is largely engaged in the raising of hogs and is the owner of two especially fine teams, his driving team, a span of large grays being particularly speedy.

The lady who bears the name of Mrs. Hoyt was in her maidenhood Miss Marcia F. Oaks, and their marriage was celebrated July 12, 1854. Her parents were George and Eveline (Foster) Oaks, the former a native of Massachusetts, whence his parents removed to New York when he was ten years of age. There he followed farming and also carried on the same pursuit after going to Ohio, in which state his death eventually oc- curred. The family is of English descent on the paternal side, but the grandmother was of East India Dutch stock. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt have been born three chil- dren: Sarah, now the wife of Washington Litch, of Topeka ; David Gerard, who also is living in Topeka; and Ellen, who died in infancy.

In his political views Mr. Hoyt has al- ways been a Republican, but at local elec- tions where there is no issue up before the people he votes independently of party ties.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

He does all in his power, however, to secure the adoption of his party principles and his services have been recognized by the party which has frequently elected him to office. He has served as township treasurer, has been treasurer of the school district for nine years, was township trustee and assessor, was county committeemen for three years from the first district, was county commis- sioner for three years, and has always proved a good and efficient officer. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity and among his brethren he is held in high es- teem-a feeling which is entertained for him wherever he is known.

WILLIS N. BAKER.

A native of Michigan, Mr. Baker was born at Battle Creek, on the 20th of Octo- ber, 1860, a son of James and Lucy A. (Webster) Baker, the former a native of New York and the latter of the Wolverine state. The father was reared in his native state and in early manhood went to Mich- igan, engaging in mercantile pursuits in Battle Creek. Leaving that place he went to Belle Plaine, Iowa, where he again conduct- ed a mercantile establishment. In 1887 he took up his abode in Hutchinson, Kansas, and engaged in the real-estate and loan business, and in 1892 became associated with the banking interests of the county. In con- nection with his son, Willis N. Baker, he organized the Farmers State Bank at Pretty Prairie. Reno county, conducting that insti- tution for five years, when in the fall of 1897 they organized the State Exchange Bank of Hutchinson, with the father as president, the son as cashier, in which positions they had respectively served in Pretty Prairie. Here they began doing a general banking business, making a specialty of farm loans and investments. The father died January 20, 1900. He was one of the successful busi- ness men and respected citizens of Hutchin- son who during a comparatively short resi- dence in this city became favorably known

in financial circles for his strictly honorable dealings and his business ability, and socially for his many worthy and estimable quali- ties. In his political views he was a stanchi Republican and in his church relations was a Presbyterian. He often held office in the church to, which he belonged and was serv- ing as an elder at the time of his death. His widow is still living with her son.

Willis N. Baker was the only child born to his parents and was reared under the parental roof, acquiring his preliminary edu- cation in the public schools of Belle Plaine, Iowa. At the age of sixteen he matriculated in the State University at Iowa City and was graduated in the class of 1883, standing sec- ond in a class of forty. After completing his college course he joined his father in busi- ness, becoming his partner, an association that was maintained until the father's death, when he succeeded to the presidency of the bank. For a number of years he had been the virtual manager of the business, his fa- ther encouraging him from his boyhood to assume personal responsibility and giving him all the aid possible that would fit him for the conduct of important affairs. As the son mastered business methods and principles the father more and more re- legated to him the control of their banking interests and prior to his father's death he was the virtual president of the State Ex- change Bank of Hutchinson, which is now widely recognized as a leading and reliable financial institution of this part of the state. He served as president of this bank until January, 1902.

On the 20th of October, 1887, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Nellie M. Norton, a daughter of George and Frances (Stone) Norton. She was born in St. Charles. Illinois, and is a most estimable lady who has made her hospitable home a favorite resort with their many friends. Mr. Baker's reputation in banking circles throughout the state is indicated by the fact that at the state convention of bankers hekl in 1901 he was elected to the office of vice- president for Group 3 of the state asso- ciation. His influence and efforts, however,

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

have not been confined entirely to business matters, as he has taken an active part in educational, religious and social affairs and withholds his support from no movement or measure which promises advancement along any of these lines. In fact he is a leader in such progress and his opinions carry weight with the public mind. In the Masonic order he has attained the Knight Templar degree, and of Reno Lodge, No. 99, I. O. O. F., he is a past noble grand. He is an active and official member of the Presbyterian church. For several years he has served as deacon, has taken a leading part in the various branches of church and Sunday-school work, and has served as su- perintendent of the latter. In politics he is Republican and while he keeps well in- formed on the issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, he has never sought or desired political prefer- ment. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend and he is al- ways on the side of progress, reform, and improvement.

JOHN C. FREMONT CRAWFORD.

John C. F. Crawford, who for a number of years has occupied a very conspicuous place among the leading business men of Reno county, was born in Allen county, In- diana, on the 20th of November, 1856. His father, John Crawford, claimed Ohio as the state of his nativity, his birth there occur- ring in Columbiana county on the 6th of November, 1820, and in that county his fa- ther, Samuel Crawford, lived and died. He was probably born in the Buckeye state, and was there married to Kate George, a native of Columbiana county. The great-great- grandfather of our subject reached the re- markable age of one hundred years, passing away in Columbiana county. John Craw- ford, the father of him whose name intro- duces this review was married in that coun- ty, in 1853, to Elizabeth A. Bowman, and she, too, was born in Columbiana county.

Prior to his marriage, however, Mr. Craw- ford had removed to Allen county, Indiana, and had purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres of heavily timbered land, and with his bride he located in the dense forest. At the call of one hundred day men during the war of the Rebellion he nobly put aside all personal considerations and responded to the call of duty, and on re- turning to his home after the expiration of his term of service he found that his loving wife had passed away in death just the day before his return. About eleven years ago he retired from the active duties of farm life and since that time has made his home at Roanoke, Huntington county, Indiana. His political support is given to the Republican party, and socially he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Odd Fellows fraternity. His religious prefer- ence is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. By his first marriage he became the father of four chil- dren,-Noah Henry, who is engaged with the Packard Organ Company, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; John C. F., the subject of this review ; Christian Frank Y., an agent for the Wabash Railroad Company at Catlin. Illinois; and Sarah Emaline, the wife of Austin Hamlin Lopshire, a hotel proprietor of Fort Wayne. About 1867, in Columbiana county, Ohio, Mr. Crawford was united in marriage to Sarah Armstrong, and they had three children,-Hattie, who died in child- hood; Perry M., who is engaged in the hard- ware business at Rogers, Ohio; and Effie Elma, who died in Allen county, Indiana, in 1899.

John C. Fremont Crawford, of this re- view, remained on the home farm with his father until he was twenty-six years of age, after which for a short time he was employed in railroad work. In the spring of 1883 he took charge of his aunt's, Mrs. Sarah Bow- man, farm, and in the following spring he came to Kansas, locating first in Saline county, where he formed a partnership with his cousin and together they purchased a quarter section of land, which they farmed during that season. Our subject then be-

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

came dissatisfied with the place, as the land was hilly and unproductive, and he sold his interest to his cousin and came to Reno coun- ty in the fall of 1884, where in the following spring he purchased the lots on which his present residence now stands, erecting a small house fourteen by eighteen feet. At that time his land was located in the wild prairie, there being then but eleven houses south of what is now East C street. From that time until the spring of 1886 he was engaged in teaming, after which he removed to Kiowa county, Kansas, and pre-empted one hundred and forty-five acres, but after a time lie abandoned farming and returned to Hutchinson, although he still retains pos- session of his land. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Crawford took up the trade of carpen- tering, which he had learned of David Boyle, of Hutchinson, and with him he carried on that occupation for the following five years, since which time he has been alone in busi- ness. He has assisted in building the many establishments for the Hutchinson Packing Company, having been employed by that company long before it engaged in the salt business, his work there covering the period from 1891 until 1895. He has twice en- larged and remodeled his home, which is now a tasteful and attractive residence, and has planted his ground with grape vines and pear, peach and apple trees.

On the 3d of April, 1883, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Crawford was united in mar- riage to Anna Hamilton, who was born in Allen county, Indiana, a daughter of Will- iam A. and Barbara ( Scott) Hamilton, the father a native of Allen county, Indiana, and the mother of Licking county, Ohio. They now reside on the farm on which they orig- inally located in Allen county. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with two children,-Edna, who was born Jan- uary 12, 1890, and Jay, born January 4, 1892, and both are attending the Maple school. of Hutchinson. In matters of na- tional importance Mr. Crawford gives his support to the Republican party, but was made councilman of his city against both the Republican and Citizens tickets, having been

elected to the position by a majority of one hundred votes, and in 1901 he completed his two years' term. He is now serving as a member of the school board, having been elected to that position on the Citizens ticket, and he is a member of the building commit- tee. He has passed all the chairs and is now past grand of the Odd Fellows fraternity. and is also a member of the Red Men, while both he and his wife are identified with the Court of Honor.

JAMES M. JORDAN.

Few traveling men of Kansas and the southwest have a wider acquaintance or are more generally esteemed than James M. Jordan, of Hutchinson, who for seventeen years has represented upon the road the firm of R. L. McDonald & Company, of St. Joseph, manufacturers of men's furnishing goods. He has been a resident of this city since 1872 and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth and development, having become identified with its mercan- tile interests in the early period of its up- building.

Mr. Jordan was born in Cabell county, Virginia, in 1849, and is a son of Chapman Jordan, who was also a native of the Old Dominion. Our subject is a representative of the fourth generation of the family that has resided in America. In 1867 his father removed westward with the family to Mis- souri and after James M. came to Hutchin- son he also took up his abode here, but sub- sequently removed to Lawrence. Kansas, where he spent his remaining days. He was married near Gallipolis, Ohio, to Miss Maria Sloan, and they became the parents of seven children. John M., who came to Hutchinson in the fall of 1871 and started in business here, but is now a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Jackson, deceased ; James M .; Margaret A. and William M., who have also passed away; Dallas and Emma, who are living in Leavenworth, Kansas.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

James M. Jordan pursued his educa- tion largely in the public schools of Indiana and when a young man became connected with mercantile life. Joining his brother John in Hutchinson in 1872 they made plans whereby a branch house was estab- lished in Medicine Lodge-this being the first general store in that place-and of this our subject took charge. After a short time, however, he sold out and returned to Hutchinson, entering the store here. He was thus engaged in merchandising until 1874, when he disposed of his interests and was afterwards associated with different mercantile firms until January, 1884, when he entered the service of R. L. Mc- Donald & Company, of St. Joseph, Mis- souri, with whom he has since remained as their traveling representative in the territory covered by southern Kansas, northern Texas, Oklahoma and Indian Territory. Before Oklahoma was opened up he also made New Mexico and Colorado. He makes four trips annually to the more thickly populated districts and Texas he visits about twice each year. He is very popular on the road and with the inany pa- trons that he has secured for the house, and the firm which he represents allows him the utmost liberty and freedom in carrying on his work, for they have implicit confidence in his ability and trustworthiness.

On the 26th of July, 1869, in Missouri, Mr. Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Burkhart, a daughter of George Burkhart, a farmer of Carroll coun- ty, that state. They became the parents of seven children, but only three are living : William S., a graduate of the high school of Hutchinson, who is engaged in the dry- goods business in Pittsburg, Kansas, and married Bird Oviatt, of Astoria, Illinois, by whom he has one child, Eugene, who is with the Star Clothiers. of Hutchinson, and Nina May, at home. Mr. Jordan has erect- ed two residences in Hutchinson and the family now occupy an attractive home. In poltics he is a Democrat and served as sec- retary of the Duval Campaign Club, but has usually taken no very active part in

political work. He belongs to Reno Lodge, No. 140, F. & A. M .; Reno Chapter, No. 34, R. A. M. ; Hutchinson Council, No. 13, R. & S. M .; Reno Commandery, No. 26, K. T .: Isis Temple of the Mystic Shrine, of Salina; and his wife is a member of Acacia Chapter, No. 37, O. E. S. She also belongs to the Baptist church and is a most estimable lady. In addition to his Masonic affiliation Mr. Jordan is a charter member of the United Commercial Travelers' Asso- ciation and was the second senior counsel of the organization in Hutchinson. He is a wide-awake, energetic and enterprising man, who in his business life has become an excellent judge of human nature. Tact as well as industry has made him an excel- lent traveling salesman and his honorable business methods have at all times won him the confidence of those with whom he has had dealings, while his genial manner and friendly disposition render him popular in all circles.

PETER HUMMEL.

From early in our history the German element in our population has been one of its best factors. The German character has always made for progress and prosperity of the most substantial kind. Kansas is justly proud of its citizens who were born in the fatherland, and among those best known in Ellsworth county is Peter Hummel, who lives on Blake's addition to Ellsworth and is the owner of a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Noble township and also of much town property.

Peter Hummel was born at Heiback. Germany, October 19, 1843, a son of Lud- wig and Catherine ( Clech ) Hummel, both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. where Mrs. Hummel died, when her son, the subject of this sketch, was four years old. In 1849, Mr. Hummel and his seven chil- dren came to America, and located in Frank- lin county, Pennsylvania, where they lived until 1856, when they removed to Knox county, Illinois, where Mr. Hummel bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres, within five miles of Galesburg.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

The subject of the sketch grew up on his father's farm near Galesburg, Illinois, and received such education as was afforded in the public schools near his home. Novem- ber 9. 1863. he enlisted in Company D, Seventh Regiment of Illinois Cavalry, under Captain Reynolds and Colonel Prince, and saw active service with General Sherman's command in Hatch's brigade in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. At Summerville his company was surrounded by Forrest's casalry and did not escape without the loss of forty men. He served continuously until the close of the war and his last service was on relief guard duty at East Port, near Eureka, Mississippi, when General Forrest came in and surrendered to the federal commander. He was honorably discharged from the United States service at Nashville, Tennessee, November 4, 1865, and, returning to Illinois, worked for farm- ers for wages until he had saved sufficient money to buy a team and wagon, when he rented a farm in Knox county, which he worked successfully until 1873, when he drove with horses from Illinois to Ells- worth, Kansas, where he secured a soldier's land claim within the borders of section 6, Columbia township. He put one hundred acres on his land under cultivation and otherwise improved the property and lived upon it until 1880, when he traded it for one hundred and sixty acres of section I, in the same township, where he was engaged in sheep raising until August, 1897, when he removed to his present home, the old Ramonsbury place, at Ellsworth. He has a fine two-story house, surrounded by a large yard, nicely laid out and ornamented with fruit trees and shrubbery. About that time he bought a half section in Enterprise township, and he has altogether six hun- dred acres, which he rents to tenant farmers.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 3

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