A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 39

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 39

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SIMON W. KOONS.

Simon W. Koons was born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 12, 1848, and is now engaged in farming on section 2. Valley township, Rice county, Kansas. His par- ents were John and Rebecca ( Gesleman) Kcons. The former was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. and died

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upon the farm there in October, 1872. By his marriage he became the father of eleven sons and four daughters, of which number ten sons and three daughters reached adult age and all were married with the exception of one daughter. The youngest daughter of the family was accidentally poisoned when one year old. and they lost an infant son. The parents began life in humble circum- stances and in the midst of the heavy forest the father cleared and developed a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and the rich fields yielded to him a golden tribute for the care and labor he bestowed upon them. He served in the war of 1812 and was ever a loyal and devoted citizen. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren church and the latter died in 1884. being an ccto- genarian at the time.

Simon W. Koons spent his youth in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period. He acquired a good common-school educa- tion, such as was given to the other mnem- bers of the family. The nine sons engaged in teaching school and two of them, Samuel and Isaac, became ministers of the gospel, the former now preaching in California, while the latter is located in Wichita, Kan- sas. Joseph was the inventor of the Min- nesota Chief Thresher and makes his home in Glencoe, Minnesota. Jacob was a soldier for four years in the Civil war and now resides at New Auburn, Minnesota. He has a son who is engaged in military service in the Philippines. During fourteen winter terms Simon W. Koons engaged in teach- ing school in Ohio and Kansas and was a capable educator, who imparted clearly and concisely to others the knowledge he had ac- quired. He remained at home until his mar- riage, which was celebrated on the Ist of December, 1870, Miss Minerva Grady be- coming his wife. She was born in Ohio. August 11, 1850. Her parents came to Kansas in the fall of 1884, but both are now deceased. Mr. Koons of this review arrived in the Sunflower state on the 23d of August. 1877, settling on a quarter section of land. He homesteaded eiglity acres and paid two thousand dollars for the other eighty. He has since carried on general farming. his

principal crop being wheat and corn. He has raised twenty-three hundred and fifty bushels of wheat and three thousand bush- els of corn in a single year and has kept on hand from six to ten head of horses, most of which he has worked in the operation of his land He also keeps about thirty-five head of cattle and an equal number of hogs. In 1901 he erected a good residence upon his farm and to-day he has a well improved place, neat and thrifty in appearance, the richly cultivated fields bringing to him a splendid return for his labor.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Koons has been blessed with six children: Frank- lin Walter, who married Bertha Talbott, is a graduate of the Kansas City Medical Col- lege and is now engaged in practice in Chase, Kansas; Nola Maud is the wife of Bruce Burrows, and they have two children : Carrie May is the wife of William Coldwa- ter, a farmer living near Chase, Kansas, by whom she has one son: Guy Grady assists his father in the operation of his farm; and Lena Catherine and Bryson are both at home. Mr. Koons is a member of the sub- ordinate lodge and encampment of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and has membership relations with the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen. He supports the men and measures of the Republican party. has been township trustee for one term and lias served on the school examining board. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church and he is a public spirited and progressive citizen who gives all his aid and influence to support every measure which he believes will prove of gen- eral benefit.

COL. C. L. VAUGHAN.

An important business interest of Hutch- inson. Kansas, is the insurance line, and a leading representative is the Vaughan-Font- ron Agency. the senior member of the firm being Col. C. L. Vaughan of this biog- raphy. Although long identified with the interests of this state. Colonel Vanghan was born in Medina, Ohio, on September 18,

te Vaughan

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1845. He comes of a pioneer ancestry and also belongs to a family which has been con- spicuous in the military life of the country from the time when Orlando Vaughan was a distinguished soldier in the war of the Revolution down to the brave young soldier who worthily bore honors in the Spanish- American war.

The early family records tell of three English brothers of this name coming to America and settling, one in Rhode Island. one in Massachusetts and the third in Con- necticut. The ancestor of the Vaughan branch under consideration was Orlando, and after the close of the Revolutionary war he moved to New York and took part in the Indian wars of the period. His son Rufus, who was the grandfather of Colonel Vaughan, was a loyal soldier in the war of 1812-14 and at that time was a resident of Ohio, having been one of the pioneers in that state. In 1848, following the example of his ancestors, Chauncy Vaughan, who. although born in New York, was reared in Ohio, migrated to Wisconsin and settled near the present town of Chilton, in Calu- met county, before that great state was ad- mitted to the Union. Whatever prompted these early pioneers, whether it was a spirit of adventure or a desire to better provide for their offspring. the life brought with it exacting conditions which required great physical courage and robust constitutions. At the time of settlement Chauncy Vaughan and wife found a forest surrounding their little log cabin and Indians were their only neighbors. Sometimes these children of the woods were friendly, but occasionally they were savage. Colonel Vaughan recalls one occasion when his mother was badly frightened by finding three Indians grinding knives at her husband's grindstone, near the spring where she had gone for water. Greeting them in a friendly way she escaped injury by giving them food, but it required strong nerves in these pioneer mothers to enable them to go about their daily tasks under such conditions. The mother of our subject was Amanda ( Hyatt) Vaughan. who was born in Ohio, and she passed away in 1863. The father survived until March

28, 1803. Their surviving children are : Col. C. L., who is the subject of this sketch : Mrs. Mary Walsh, who lives in Seymour, Wisconsin : Rufus, who is the talented editor of the Jewell County "Monitor," at Man- kato. Kansas, and Ida, who is Mrs. Walsh and lives at Antigo, Wisconsin.

The subject of this biography was reared on the pioneer farm in Wisconsin and was attending school in Chilton when, at the age of seventeen years, he, in the wake of his ancestors, also became a soldier. Enlist- ing on July 14, 1863. in Company F. New York Heavy Artillery, he took part in the operations of the Army of the Potomac until August. 1804. when he was made prisoner and was confined in Libby prison, and was later transferred to Belle Island. While there he cemented a friendship with a colored man by the gift of a pipe, who frequently suc- ceeded in getting him something to eat. which was a matter of vital importance. By this means he was able to keep his strength : and when the poor victims of imprisonment became so desperate that they would even commit murder to obtain something and it became necessary to police them. he was the one placed in charge of thirty-eight of the most desperate characters. This posi- tion Colonel Vaughan had forced upon him by Lieutenant Ballou, the officer in charge. and he was promised a parole at the winter break-up if he would consent, and with this understanding our subject took the distaste- ful position. Like many of the promises made in that dreadful place, this was not fulfilled. and even President Davis refused to notice it. as the idea was to only parole or exchange those who were unfit for ser- vice. However, in this emergency, Lieu- tenant Ballou privately gave him medicine which made him temporarily sick and in this way he secured parole. After his ex- change, however, he suddenly grew better and lost no time in rejoining his regiment at Fort Steadman, only to again suffer cap- ture. in March, 1865. and was again sent to Libby prison, and was exchanged again at Aiken's Landing, on April 2. He was then given a furlough home of thirty days, return- ing thence to his regiment, and with it went

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to Washington, where i was stationed until came a partner, the firm style being the July. 1866, being discharged in Rochester. | Vanghan-Fontron Agency, and they repre- New York. On account of his excellence sent some of the oldest and most reliable insurance firms in the United States and England. as a drill master, our subject obtained his honorable title, having had charge of a batallion at New York, his instruction in- cluding both officers and privates.

After his return to civil life. Colonel Vaughan was successfully engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages in Wisconsin until his property was destroyed by a disastrous fire. In 1871 he made a trip to Kansas, but did not permanently locate in this state until 1873. when he took up a quarter section on Buffalo creek, in Jewell county, and here did some farming, but was principally engaged at work at his trade in Beloit. In 1875 he invented and patented a breaker, which was a success, but about this time he received an injury which incapacitated him from active work physi- cally and he then entered into the real-estate business at Mankato. In 1885 the Com- monwealth Loan and Trust Company, of Boston, was organized and our subject was made one of the three district agents in this state, the location being first at Millbrook, then at Wakeeney, where the United States land office was located. In 1887 the three agencies were consolidated and Colonel Vaughan was given charge of the entire state and also of Texas. In 1889 he moved to Dallas, but in 1891 returned to Kansas in order to close up the affairs of this busi- ness, on account of the prevailing hard times. Before accomplishing this the Phœ- nix Insurance Company of Hartford, Con- necticut, offered him the position of western manager, covering the states of Kansas, Ne- braska and North and South Dakota, prac- tically all of their investments in this section. They had at that time three-quarters of a million dollars in western investments, but through defaulting creditors their business was in bad shape. Colonel Vaughan en- tered into this with characteristic energy and enthusiasm, and has managed so well that two-thirds of the amount has been paid and the balance has been so arranged that it is now profitable. In 1896 a partnership was formed and in 1898 Judge Fontron be-

Colonel Vaughan was married on Ali- gust 4, 1867, to Miss Eliza Jane Godding, a daughter of Joseph O. Godding, and a son of this marriage. A. E., is associated with the business of his father. In political life Colonel Vaughan has been actively identified. with the Republican party as far as good citi- zenship extends, and has done his civic duty in the city council, but his tastes are not in the direction of political honors. In this city he stands high in public esteem and is recognized as one of its most reliable and capable business factors.

ISAAC L. MCCRACKEN.

Isaac L. McCracken is now living re- tired in Sterling, the rest which crowns hon- orable, continued and well directed efforts having been vouchsafed to him, and now as he approaches the evening of life he is en- abled to enjoy quiet retirement. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 18, 1836. His father, the Rev. S. W. McCracken, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, near Cin- cinnati, in 1800, and was a son of Wilson McCracken, but aside from this little is known concerning the remote ancestral his- tory. During the greater part of his life the Rev. McCracken devoted his labors to gos- pel work as a minister of the United Pres- byterian church, and was at one time pro- fessor of mathematics in the Miami Univer- sity, of Ohio. He married Miss Catherine E. Monfort, who was born in Butler coun- ty, Ohio, about 1809, and was a daughter of Peter and Anna Maria ( Spinning ) Mon- fort. The parents of our subject were mar- ried in Oxford, Ohio, and the mother died at Morning Sun. Preble county, that state, in 1849, while the father, surviving her about ten years, passed away in the same county, in October. 1859. He was for twen- ty years the pastor of Hopewell church in

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that county and his remains were laid to rest in the churchyard there. They were the par- ents of nine children, but only four reached years of maturity, namely: John Calvin. who is now a merchant in Urbana. Ohio: Isaac L. : Charlotte A., who became the wife of W. Craig and died in Oxford. Ohio. April 23, 1893, at the age of forty-nine years, leaving four children; and Samuel, who was killed at the battle of Resaca, and sleeps in the soldier's cemetery at Atlanta, Georgia. He left the Miami University at President Lincoln's second call for troops, served for three years and on the expiration of that period, when his first term of enlist- mient had expired, he re-enlisted, meeting death upon the battlefield.

Isaac L. McCracken, the immediate sub- ject of this review, and the member of the family in whom the citizens of central Kan- sas are most interested, was a student in the Morning Sun Academy, after which he en- gaged in teaching for one term. He voltin- teered for service in the Union army August 8, 1862, becoming a member of Company G. Ninety-third Ohio Infantry. He joined the army as a private and was sergeant when mustered out. He was never wounded, but was accidentally injured while on the sick list. Brave and loyal he was ever found at his post of duty and with a creditable mili- tary record he returned to his home.

Mr. McCracken was united in marriage October 27, 1857, to Miss Ella W. Stewart. of Preble county, Ohio, born December 9. 1835, her parents being Joseph and Naomi ( Hart) Stewart. Eight children have been born of this union: Alla M., wife of A. D. Ramsey, of Sterling, and they have three living children and have lost one; Frank M., who died at the age of two years, while his father was in the service of his country ; Myrta C., who is the wife of N. C. Elliott, of Union county, Indiana, and they have two living children ; Charley S., who is now a ranchman in Texas : Lee S .. a resident of Sterling, who is married and has four chil- dren : Gilbert G., who is married and also resides in Sterling : Josiah C., who graduat- ed in the University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1901, and was for four years a

member of the football team and one of the finest athletes of the school, while he is also renowned for his mental superiority and his moral worth ; and Daisy E., who is the wife of O. B. Johnson, of Lyons, Kansas.

Mr. McCracken continued to reside in Ohio until the fall of 1872, when he re- moved to Lincoln county, Tennessee, going thence to Emerson county, Kansas, in the fall of 1884. He followed farming and milling. In the spring of 1886 he went to Ness county, Kansas, where he secured four quarter sections of land and thereon carried on farming for five years. In 1891 he came to Sterling, taking up his abode in his pres- ent good residence, and is now living re- tired. Socially he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and has been junior vice commander. He has served as street commissioner for four years and is a stanch temperance man. He also belongs to the United Presbyterian church, in which he is a trustee, and he is deeply interestd in all moral work calculated to uplift his fellow men.

HENRY B. NEWMAN.

Henry B. Newman is a progressive farmer residing one mile north of the city of Sterling. He was born in Rising Sun, Indiana, October 30. 1854. His father, Henry B. Newman, was accidentally drowned when the son was only six months old. He was a cripple, and in falling from a boat at Rising Sun was unable to help him- self and thus found death in a watery grave. He left three sons and two daughters. The mother bore the maiden name of Mary Wal- ton and died in Rising Sun in the fall of 1893, at the age of sixty-seven years. The father of our subject was a native of Eng- land, but was brought to America during his childhood. His crippled condition was caused from a white swelling. At the time of his death he was engaged in the drug bus- iness in Rising Sun, and to his family he left a comfortable home and a small prop- erty. His children were: Charles, now a painter of Rising Sun: Oliver, a farmer of

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that locality ; Sarah Frances, who became the wife of A. R. Talbott and died when about thirty years of age, leaving two children; Harriet, who died when about twelve years , of age; and Henry B.

Mr. Newman, of this review, received a fair common-school education, continuing his studies until thirteen years of age, when lie began working in a woolen mill, where lie was employed for six years. He subse- quently worked in a brick yard, receiving but small wages. At the age of twenty- three years he left home and came to Rice county, Kansas, reaching his destination on the 27th of February, 1877. He made his way to the home of his brother-in-law, A. R. Talbott, a miller of Rising Sun, Indiana, and later came to Rice county. After his arrival here Mr. Newman formed the ac- quaintance of Miss Isabel Heter, and their friendship ripened into love, their wedding being celebrated on the 20th of April, 1879. The lady was born in Bellevue, Ohio, a daughter of Levi and Mary ( Schock ) Heter. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania. born in February, 1834, but was reared in Ohio. The father was born in the latter state on the 17th of April, 1829, and was married in Ohio in 1852. Their daughter, Mrs. Newman, was the eldest of their eight children, of whom four sons and three daughters reached mature years, and all are yet living and are married with one excep- tion. The parents still reside in Bellevue, Ohio, where the father for many years con- ducted a large farm, but is now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Newman took up their abode six miles northwest of Sterling, remaining for two years upon the Talbott farm, after making a purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land for one thousand dollars. The former owner had been Mr. Heter, the father of Mrs. Newman, who had come to Kansas on a prospecting trip and purchased this land as an investment. There were a few improvements on the place and Mr. Newman has added many others, making his farm a very desirable property. The home has been blessed with four children : Ralph .1 .. who was born June 27, 1884, and is now a student in the high school in Sterl-

ing; May Gladys, born May 3, 1886; Rose Fern, born December 21, 1889; and Winnie Belle, born October 28, 1891. All are stu- dents in the schools of Sterling.

Mr. Newman carries on general farm- ing, making a specialty of the production of wheat and corn and also raises cattle and horses. At one time he was extensively en- gaged in raising hogs, but cholera rendered this unprofitable and he now devotes his energies to other lines of farm work. He is a man of marked industry, energy and determination. His home is embowered amid many ornamental shade trees and he has also planted many fruit trees, which have reached a bearing condition and add to the value of the place. Few farmers starting out in life without cash capital have in so sliort a space of time achieved as creditable success as has crowned the efforts of Mr. Newman. He is now the possessor of a handsome competence, which will enable him to carry over his crops for better markets if he does not desire to dispose at the pre- vailing prices. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational church and en- joy the warm friendship of many with whom they have come in contact, for their many sterling characteristics have ever com- manded the respect and regard of those with whom they have been associated. They have labored together earnestly, the work of the one supplementing and rounding out the work of the other, and their attractive home is a fitting monument to their labors.

ERNEST A. TAYLOR, M. D.

Prominently identified with the inter- ests of Reno county, Kansas, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Hutch- inson, is Dr. Ernest A. Taylor, who since 1886 has been in the active practice of his profession in this city. He is a resident of the west by choice, for his birth occurred in the east, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, on August 13, 1834. Prior to the Revolu- tionary war some of his ancestors founded the great industry known still as the Tay-

to. A. Payfor-MLS

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lor Iron Works, at Highbridge, New Jer- i his career he engaged in farming, and was sey, and it was from these great foundries that the army of General Washington ob- tained many of the cannon balls which so effectually enforced the demands of our pa- triot fathers when they called upon the British troops and the Hessian hirelings to depart from our shores.

Archibald Taylor was the grandfather of our subject, and during the progress of the Revolutionary war bought this iron busi- ness, in association with his sons. Some members of the family are still connected with it. John B. Taylor, the father of Dr. Taylor, was not by nature a worker in iron. He became a teacher, was a man of high attainment, but never accumulated large means. His marriage was to Susan Ade- line Bray, a distant relative and a daugh- ter of John Watson Bray, who traced an honorable descent from Scotch ancestors. These came among the early settlers to New Jersey, where the name still represents public-spirited and financial stability. He served in the war of 1812, was identified with many public affairs and was the orig- inator of the idea of the feasibility of the building and success of the New Jersey Central railroad. His son, Augustus, made a trip to Salt Lake, Utah, in the early days of the reign of Brigham Young, driving the entire distance with six yoke of oxen. He was employed by the great Mormon prophet and later took out one thousand head of cattle. Still later he went to Cali- fornia, where he sold cattle for a time and then engaged in milling, becoming both prominent and wealthy. Our subject was the fourth member of a family of five chil- dren born to his parents, namely: Robert. who has passed away; John, who lives in Boulder county, Colorado: Alexander, who is our subject's twin brother ; and Mary C .. who married Byron Bliss and died in Boulder county, Colorado.

In 1840 Mr. Taylor removed with his family to Missouri, and continued to fol- low his profession of teaching. Our sub- ject was instructed by his father, whom he afterward remunerated, the latter being in limited circumstances. Very early in

so occupied at the outbreak of the Civil war. The family became divided on this great question, Dr. Taylor becoming a mem- ber of Company F, Seventh Missouri State Cavalry, on April 11, 1862, while his twin brother espoused the other side. Governor Crittenden was lieutenant-colonel and Judge Phillips was colonel of the regiment of which Dr. Taylor was a member. His serv- ice was principally in Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas. For forty-one days he was on Price's raid, and was captured on the third day of the battle of Lexington, Mis- souri, but just afterward he was paroled. Some eight months later he re-enlisted and soon afterward was appointed by the col- onel as fifth sergeant of Company F. and later was made hospital steward. This po- sition he held until the close of the war, and this determined his future career. The practical experience that he had received in medicine and surgery during these years of strife awakened in him an enthusiasm for the profession which he has adorned for so many years.

With about a thousand dollars which he had saved, Dr. Taylor entered the Uni- versity of New York and took his first med- ical course, returning then to Missouri and locating for one year in Leesville, in Henry county. A favorable opending presenting itself both for practice and study at Cole- camp, he removed thither, remaining for six years at that point. Then he entered the St. Louis Medical College, remaining until graduation in 1871. A short time was again spent in Colecamp, when removal was made to Aullville, in La Fayette coun- ty, Missouri, where he remained for two years, opening then a practice in Concordia, where he remained for eleven years. In 1886 he came to this city and since that time has built up a lucrative and still in- creasing practice, due to his skill, medical ability and the possession of those personal attributes which go so far to incite confi- dence in a physician. During the first term of the late President McKinley, Dr. Taylor was appointed by him a member of the pension examining board, and ever since

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 39

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