USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 34
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After returning to his home Mr. Finley learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming. In 1868 he went to Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand, and after his marriage he rented a tract of land, which he cultivated for six years. With the capital he had ac- quired in the meantime he then purchased a ·small farm, which he continued to operate until 1887. He then sold that property and removed to the new Eldorado, for at that time the attenion of the country was direct- ed toward Kansas and its possibilities. He settled in Rice county, where he leased three quarter sections of land, upon which he yet resides. It was then a tract of raw prairie and he has made all of the improvements up.n the place, including the erection of a commodious house and barn. He has the entire place under fence and the land is de- voted to the raising of crops and to grazing purposes. In connection with general farm- ing he makes a specialty of handling stock, keeping on hand only high grades. He has a herd of fine Hereford cattle and a large
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herd of cows, well graded, owning several full-blooded animals. He has a reputation for the excellent grade of stock which he places upon the market, and he finds a ready sale for all of the calves of which he wishes to dispose, receiving high prices. For many years he has always purchased and bunched cattle and he always has a good bunch on hand on his farm. His business ability has made him widely recognized as a capable financier, and his enterprise and thrift have won for him a very desirable competence. He has purchased a well improved farm, which he rents, and he also owns two resi- dence properties in Lyons, the rental from which adds materially to his income.
Mr. Finley was first married in 1869, to Miss Mary Wood, who was born in San- gamon county, Illinois, and was a daughter of Solomon and Mary ( Preston) Wood, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York, in which state they were mar- ried. At an early day they removed to Illi- nois, where her father followed the black- smith's trade until his life's labors were end- ed in death, in May, 1852. Only a few days elapsed between the deaths of the parents. The mother was a consistent an1 worthy member of the Methodist church. Their children were Harriett, of Iowa; Harvey, who died in Illinois in 1901; Aurilla, who is the present wife of Mr. Finley : Franklin H., of Iowa ; Mary, the first wife of our sub- ject ; Angelia, now Mrs. Connor, of Illi- nois : Elmira, of Iowa; and Scott, who is living in Lawrence, Kansas. By his first marriage Mr. Finley had two children, Will- iam I. and Scott, but the latter died in early childhood. The former is still at home and assists his father in the conduct of the farm and in his stock-raising interests. He is also township clerk. The mother, who was a loyal and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, passed away on the Ioth of February, 1876, and in July, 1877, Mr. Finley was again married. She was born and reared in Illinois. Mir. and Mrs. Finley and their son William are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the last named has held membership since the
age of ten years. Mr. Finley joined the church at the age of eighteen and has lived a consistent Christian life. He has been a liberal contributor to the support of the church, has served as class leader and has filled all other positions and does all in his power to promote the work of the church and Sunday-school. For fourteen years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school in this district and has done much to promote the cause of religious education through this channel. He has also been president of the township Sunday-school organization for six years and has given freely of his means toward the building of many houses of wor- ship. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican, using his influence for and fur- therance of the party's good. He has at- tended township and county conventions, has filled the office of township treasurer and has served in many other local positions. Socially he is connected with Kit Carson Post, No. 20, G. A. R., of Lyons, and in political, social and business circles he is widely and favorably known, his salient characteristics being such as command con- fidence and respect and awaken the favor- able consideration of all with whom he comes in contact. To-day he occupies an enviable position among the men of prom- inence in his adopted county, and his life demonstrates the advantages which Kansas offers to her citizens, for he came here with little capital and all that he now possesses has been won through his persistency of pur- pose and unflagging diligence.
HENRY C. O'HARA.
Since the days of pioneer development in Reno county the name of Henry Clay O'Hara has figured conspicuously and hon- orably in connection with progressive meas- ures which have contributed to the improve- ment and progress of this portion of the state. He was for some time identified with agricultural pursuits and is now engaged in general merchandising in Partridge, where
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he also owns and conducts a livery stable. His life record began in Evansville, Indiana, where he first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 17th of February, 1841, his par- ents being John and Elizabeth O'Hara. His father was engaged in steamboating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, devoting his entire life to that vocation. He died in 1849, when our subject was only eight years of age. In the family were three children : James E., now deceased; Henry C., and Alice E., the wife of Hugh Hampton, who resides at the old Hampton homestead in Memphis, Tennessee.
Soon after his father's death Mr. O'Hara of this review went to Hancock county, Illi- nois, to make his home, and there grew to manhood. When twenty years of age, in response to the first call for Union men to serve three years, he enlisted, becoming a member of the Black Hawk Cavalry, August 16, 1861. The quota was full and there- fore he went to Missouri where he did scout- ing and other service until February, 1862, when his regiment was consolidated with the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, under com- mand of Colonel Schofield. Previous to this time he had received no pay for his services. After the organization was effected he did service in Missouri and Arkansas, pursuing bushwhackers and guerrillas. At Lone Jack his command encountered Price, Quantrell and Coffee with their troops, about eight hundred Federal troops being surrounded by some five thousand Confederates. Sev- enty of his company survived and some of them were wounded. Other companies of the regiment suffered as severely. This was on the 16th of August, 1862. Another se- vere engagement was at Prairie Grove, Ar- kansas, December 7, 1862, when his com- mand went on a forced march to reinforce General Blunt, but before they reached him the enemy turned on them, inflicting severe loss. They succeeded, however, in reaching Blunt and dispersed the Rebels. In this en- gagement twenty of the company to which- Mr. O'Hara belonged were captured. The enemy retreated to Fort Smith with prison- ers, where the following day the Union forces overtook them and succeeded in res-
cuing all of the captured Union troops. Mr. O'Hara had been wounded at Lone Jack, and on account of his injury he was mus- tered out at Springfield, Missouri, February 23, 1863. He enlisted as a corporal but was made orderly sergeant, and thus command- ed the company a portion of the time.
After leaving the service Mr. O'Hara re- turned to Hancock county and for one season took charge of a large farm owned by a Mr. Chandler, near Warsaw. The following winter he became a student in the high school of that town with the intention of pursuing his studies longer, but in the spring he entered a recruiting office where he con- tinued for some time. He afterward lo- cated in the southeastern part of the county, where he engaged in farming, and while there residing he was married to Durella Dilly, a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Dilly, of the Congregational church. She was born in Illinois. For a year after their marriage they resided upon her father's farm and then removed to Lewis county, Missouri, where Mr. O'Hara purchased a tract of land, upon which he remained for a year. He then sold and returned to Han- cock county, Illinois, where he bought forty acres of land in Wythe township, making his home thereon for three years. Again he disposed of his property and this time re- moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where he en- gaged in the transfer business. He next ac- cepted a position in the freight office of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and after three years spent in Galesburg returned to Bowen, Hancock county, where for eight months he conducted a grocery and meat market. On the expiration of that period he sold his store and went to Clay county, Arkansas, where he followed agricultural pursuits for three years and in the mean- time he became interested in the manufac- ture of candy in Galesburg, Illinois, dividing his time between the two places.
On the 20th of September, 1873. Mr. O'Hara arrived in Reno county and located a homestead claim in the northwest quarter of section 24. township 26, range 7. This he at once began to cultivate and improve. His first home was a dugout in which he
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lived for two years when he built a frame house, walling the cellar with rock. The first year he broke some sod and in the spring of 1874 planted thirty acres to corn, but the grasshoppers entirely destroyed his crop. This left him destitute and he had to go away from home and find work to support his family. That fall he planted about sixty acres of wheat but the grasshoppers ate the seed wheat in the ground. The following spring he sowed a small amount of spring wheat. He resided upon the homestead for seven years and in the meantime he pur- chased the south half of section 16. township 24, range 7. To this place he removed in the spring of 1880, building a good house of seven rooms. Improving the place he made it his home for some time, but when the rail- road was built through the locality he sold to the company one hundred and twenty acres of his land for the town site of Part- ridge. In the meantime, in 1880, in com- pany with C. Bussinger and others, he be- came largely interested in the cattle business. grazing about a thousand head or more in the Indian Territory, with winter quarters at Mule creek, in Barber county, where they had land for the purpose. After disposing
of their interests in the territory he contin- ued with Mr. Bussinger in the same line of business in Reno county for two years, graz- ing and feeding some two hundred and fifty head of cattle. After the town was estab- lished on his land in Center township, Mr. O'Hara remained at that place for a number of years and engaged there in the real-estate and insurance business until 1891 when he took charge of the Farmers' Alliance store in Partridge, which he later purchased. The business was at first an exclusive grocery trade, but in 1899 he added a general stock of goods, including dry goods, men's fur- nishing goods, queensware and in fact every- thing found in a first-class general store. He still carries on the real-estate and insurance business, representing the old Hartford In- surance Company, of Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to his other interests he is pro- prietor of a livery stable and in the various departments of his business he is meeting with excellent success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. O'Hara were born ten children: Levi A., a member of the Twenty-first United States militia, now in the Philippines ; Hugh S., a resident farmer of Reno county; Henry P., who owns the old homestead; Asaph, who died at the age of five years; Alice G., the wife of W. M. Hemphill, a farmer of Reno county ; Ina, the wife of Harry Lusk, postmaster of Part- ridge : Elsie : Don C .; Seth, who died at the age of three years ; and Veazie. Mr. O'Hara has given his children good educational priv- ileges and his daughter Elsie is an accom- plished musician and teacher of music.
Mr. O'Hara has always taken a deep in- terest in public and political affairs and al- ways gave his support to the Republican party until recently when he has voted with the People's party. He has served in nearly all the township offices, was postmaster of Reno Center for five years, and for four years has served as postmaster of Partridge. His service on the school board covers a period of sixteen years, during which time he did much to raise the standard of educa- tion in his district. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Ancient Order of United Work- men. In Partridge he is a most valued citi- zen and has been identified with nearly every movement that has contributed to its up- building and progress. He assisted in the building of the elevator and creamery and was a member of the building committee of the school board when the new school house was erected. Since 1886 he has been agent for the Santa Fe Town Company, transact- ing their business and looking after their in- terests in Partridge. He has erected alto- gether eight residences and business blocks in the town and he was one of the organizers of the Congregational church here, both he and his wife becoming charter mentbers in the fall of 1873. He has since served on the official board and has also been active in Sunday-school work as teacher and super- intendent. In the fall of 1888 he was com- missioned notary public and for twelve years served in that capacity ; he has also been jus- tice of the peace, and thus in official, busi- ness, church and social life he has contrib- uted in large measure to the advancement
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and upbuilding of the town, deserving men- tion among its most prominent and enter- prising men.
THOMAS O. FOX.
Thomas O. Fox, who is carrying on ag- ricultural pursuits on the southeast corner of section twenty-two, township fifteen, range nine, Ellsworth township, claims Ohio as the state of his nativity, for his birth occurred there in Ashland county on the 8th of March, 1850. On the paternal side he is of German lineage, for his father, David Fox, was a native of that country. When a lad of fourteen years he crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Ohio, where he form- ed the acquaintance of Matilda Watson, who was reared in Ohio. They were married and began their domestic life in the Buck- eve state. The father was an attorney-at- law, but devoted much of his life to farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the breeding of fine stock. His death occurred in Ohio, in 1884, and his wife passed away in 1898. He was prominent in public and official life, and his opinions carried weight among his fellow townsmen, who recog- nized his devotion to the public good.
Thomas O. Fox was one of five children, of whom four are now living, namely : James WV., a policeman in Wichita, Kansas : Allan C., who is living on the old homestead at Hayesville, Ohio; Mrs. Elizabeth Far- shing, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Thomas O., who was the third of the family.
Under the parental roof at Hayesville our subject was reared and when he was quite young the care of the farm devolved largely upon him, for his older brothers had enlisted in the service of their country as members of the Union army. He pursued his education in the common schools and re- mained at home until 1873, when, in the month of March, he started with three com- panions for the Sunflower state, where he arrived on the anniversary of his birth, the 8th of March. He continued in Ellsworth county until the following September, when, in company with his brother, J. W., and a
Mr. Zimmerman, he engaged in the stock business, going to Iowa, where he purchased ten hundred and sixty-five head of sheep, which they drove across the country, being seventy days upon the road. Until 1897 Mr. Fox engaged in the conduct of his sheep ranch. In 1875 he purchased his present home property, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added until he had eight hundred acres in one body, and upon this he annually kept from fifteen to thirty-five hundred head of sheep. He also engaged in the raising of grain, having about three hundred acres of land under cul- tivation. In 1897 he severed his connection with the sheep industry and has since de- voted his attention to the raising of cattle, keeping on hand about one hundred head. He has also given some attention to fine stock, making a specialty of thoroughbred Poland China hogs. On his place is one . i the finest buildings in the county, a long stone barn which was built for defense against the Indians. At one time "Wild Bill" made his home on this place for a con- siderable period. In his political views Mr. Fox is a Republican, and takes an active in- terest in the growth and success of his party. which he believes to contain the best ele- ments of good government. Official prefer- ment, however, has had no attraction for him, although he has served on the central committee and was active in the organiza- tion of school district No. 49, serving as a member of the school board during the greater part of the time since. Fraternally he is connected with Ellsworth Lodge, No. 146, F. & A. M.
Mr. Fox, has been twice married, hav- ing in Ohio, in 1872, wedded Miss Mary L. Rankin, who died in June, 1873, leaving one son, James O., who is a soldier in the regular army. now serving in the Philippines with the Twenty-second United States Infantry. In 1875 Mr. Fox was married, in Ellsworth. to Emma A. Green, who was born in Au- gusta, Georgia, and is a daughter of M. Green. Her death occurred in July, 1889. By the second marriage there were four sons and a daughter : Edward, who is in the em- pluy of the Union Pacific Railroad Com-
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pany; William C .; Herbert; Harry, who is in the emply of the 'Frisco Railroad Com- pany at Joplin, Missouri; and Nellie, who is in school. Mr. Fox is one of the respected pioneer citizens of Ellsworth county. For almost thirty years he has shared in the for- tunes and aided in the development of cen- tral Kansas. He has thus manifested his faith in the future, a faith which time has justified, for through the labors of its pro- gressive citizens the counties of central Kan- sas have taken rank among the best in the state.
WV. D. STURGIS.
The firm of Kreider & Sturgis occupies an enviable position in commercial circles in Kanopolis. The junior member in con- trol of this well equipped hardware and im- plement establishment is W. D. Sturgis, whose name heads this review and who is a man of sterling worth, well deserving of mention among the representative citizens of central Kansas. He was born in Smith- field, Jefferson county, Ohio, February 22, 1860, a son of the Hon. William and Kesialı (Beresford) Sturgis, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye state. The father was a school teacher by profession and resided upon a farm in the east. He took a very active part in public affairs and was honored with a number of offices. In 1865 he removed to Moniteau county, Mis- souri, where he served as superintendent of the county schools. He is also a recognized leader in public thought and opinion and has the confidence and high regard of the citi- zens among whom he lives. They have manifested their confidence in his ability and trustworthiness by electing him to the office of representative to the state legisla- ture in 1900. He has given careful thought to the questions which have come up for con- sideration in the general assembly and has labored earnestly for the best interests of the commonwealth. His wife is also sur- viving, and in their family of thirteen chil- dren our subject is the second in order of - birth. The record is as follows: J. T., a
prominent attorney of Newton county, Mis- souri, and a partner of the Hon. M. E. Bur- ton; Horatio Edward, who is living at Neosho, Missouri; George, who is principal of the schools of Windsor, Missouri; Reed, who makes his home in Clarksburg, Mis- souri; Stewart, who is engaged in teaching at Clarksburg; Alfred Elmer; Ella, who is the wife of Homer Henry, of Latham, Mis- souri; Irene, the wife of J. H. Seaver, of Springfield, Missouri; Corrine, the wife of Budd Osborn, of Deepwater, Missouri ; Kate, and Mary. Three of the sisters have been successful teachers.
WV. D. Sturgis, whose name introduces this record, remained at home until seven- teen years of age, and was a little lad of five summers when the family removed to Mis- souri. He pursued his education in the public schools, and in Central College of Clarksburg. At the age of seventeen he re- turned to the old home in Ohio and was en- gaged in teaching in the district schools of that locality for three years. At the age of twenty he went to Stanwood, Michigan, where he accepted a position as teacher in the public schools, acting as principal for two years. He afterward served as prin- cipal in Bluffton, Indiana, and in 1885 he came to Kansas, after visiting his family in Missouri. In this state he engaged in teaching in the district schools for two terms and then accepted a position in the city schools of Kanopolis, being thus identified with the educational interests of the city until 1888, when, in connection with Henry Kreider, he established the firm of Kreider & Sturgis and bought the small hardware business owned by Mr. Hallenstein. Since that time he has been connected with the harware and implement trade. The firm has increased its stock, enlarged its facilities and is now enjoying a liberal patronage. In January, 1886, Mr. Sturgis was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Kreider, a daughter of his partner, and they now have six inter- esting children: Ethel, Fay, Kate, Ruth, Alfred and Emily. Mr. Sturgis is a mem- ber of Kanopolis Lodge, No. 324, I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of the Camp of Modern Woodmen, in which he has filled all
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of the offices. In 1893 he was made post- master of the town, under President Cleve- land, and served for about five years. He has also been a member of the city council and of the board of education since his ar- rival in the town. His worth as a business man and citizen is widely acknowledged and he has had marked influence upon public progress along intellectual, social, moral and material lines in this place.
BAXTER COLE.
The stock interests are among the lead- ing ones in many parts of the great west and are particularly important in Reno coun- ty, Kansas, where conditions are so favor- able for men of ability and good judgment to pursue this line with the greatest success. One of the leaders in this locality is Baxter Cole, member of the well-known and pros- perous firm of Cole & Bigger, of Hutchin- son, Kansas.
Mr. Cole is not a native of this state, his birth having taken place, on April II, 1873, in Darke county, Ohio. His parents were William and Clarissa ( Alexander ) Cole, the former of whom was born in Darke county, Ohio, on March 3, 1849. His fa- ther was Samuel Cole, a native of New Jersey, and he is still residing on the farm where he settled as a pioneer, and when the country was still the home of various tribes of Indians. , The marriage of Samuel Cole was to Elizabeth Cox, also of New
Jersey. Soon after their marriage they moved to the reputed rich lands in Ohio, located on a heavily timbered tract and through hard work and tireless energy, changed the wilderness of the forest into the smiling landscape, which is not only a pleasure to the eye but which is the equiva- lent of an immense amount of money. Mr. and Mrs. Cole were blessed with health and strength, and the kind father was able to provide each son with a farm of eighty acres, while the youngest has the home place, con- sisting of one hundred and sixty acres. Ten children were born into this pioneer home,
eight of whom inherited the robustness and vigor of their parents, two of their sons also rearing large families. The youngest, El- mer. is the only one unmarried.
The mother of our subject was a daugh- ter of Samuel Alexander, of Union City, Indiana, and there at the age of eighteen years she was married to William Cole, who at that time had just reached his majority. They settled on a farm near Greenville, and there Mr. Cole still owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, its selling price being not less than ten thousand dol- lars. In the spring of 1886 they left their Ohio home to make a new one in the state of Kansas, and on March 16, of that year they reached the farm they now occupy, in Lodi township, near Bonesprings, in Reno county. Here Mr. Cole owns four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land. Twelve children were born to William Cole and his wife, ten of whom still survive, as follows: Baxter, Samuel, John, George, Clifford, Liz- zie, Perry, Burley, Rosa, and Hobart. Those who have passed away are Willie, who died at the age of two years, and Elmer, who died in January, 1901, at the age of fifteen.
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