USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 40
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then he has retained this position. He is serving his third term as county coroner, having made it his aim ever since taking charge of this important branch of the coun- ty business to make the costs as little as will subserve justice. In politics he is a stanch Republican and is fraternally con- nected with Joe Hooker Post, No. 17, G. A. R. For many years our subject has been prominent in the Presbyterian church, for fifteen years serving as retiring elder.
Dr. Taylor has been twice married, first in Quincy, Illinois, to Miss Florence Mc- Kee, and ten children were born to this union, eight of these still surviving, namely : Adeline, who married James H. Stratton, of Hutchinson: Alberta, who married Bert M. Iver, of Abbeyville, Reno county; Ern- est, who is a tobacconist, in Preston, Colo- rado; Robert, who is in the insurance busi- ness with W. S. Thompson, in this city; Grandon, who is a resident of Creston, Colo- rado: Clarence, who is a resident of Hutch- inson: Josie, who lives in St. Louis; and Augustus A., who was born on his father's birthday. The second marriage of Dr. Taylor was to Mrs. Samantha (George) (Newcomb) Scott. The children born to her first marriage are: James Newcomb, who served in the Spanish-American war; Mae. who is Mrs. Thorpe ; and Guy New- comb, who is now in the army in the Philip- pine Islands. The children of her second marriage are: Orville, Fairy, Hattie and Annie.
ALEXANDER S. HUNTER.
The subject of this sketch is a man who in his progressive career has demonstrated the value of a good name in the business world. which is worth more than cash. As a merchant and man of affairs he has not only prospered in a substantial manner but has won a name which stands for business stability and insures him a high standing.
Alexander S. Hunter, of Norwich, King- mian county, one of the prominent merchants of southern Kansas, was born in the state New York, January 1, 1831, a son of Sam-
uel and Mary A. (Calvert ) Hunter. His father was born in the state of New York and was descended from an old New Eng- land family, the founder of which in Amer- ica was Mr. Hunter's great-grandfather, a Scotch-Irishman, who came to the colonies a British soldier to help subdue the patriot insurrection of 1776, but who, soon recog- nizing the injustice of the British cause. transferred his allegiance to America and in the army of Washington fought for Ameri- can liberty. After the Revolution he lived for a time in Connecticut and later removed to New York state, where he was a farmer and where he died within the recollection of his great-grandson.
Samuel Hunter, in 1842, emigrated from New York state to McHenry county, Illi- nois, where he died in 1872, aged seventy- three years. In politics he was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, with which he afterward acted. In religion he was an old-school Presbyterian. He had ten children, the following informa- tion concerning some of whom will doubt- less interest readers of this article. His daughter, Mary, married a Mr. Shearer. and, now a widow, lives at Woodstock, Illi- nois. His son, S. H., lives in Kansas City, Missouri. His daughter, Sarah, married a Mr. Austin, and lives in Missouri. His daughter, Martha, is Mrs. Furney, of Genoa, Wisconsin. His son, W. H., lives at Gow- ens, Iowa. His son, Thomas G., lives at Los Angeles, California. Three others of his children died in childhood and youth.
When his father removed with his fam- ily to McHenry county, Illinois, Alexander S. Hunter was eleven years old. He ac- quired some education as was available to him in public schools near his home, and when twenty-one years old he began farming on rented land. In 1854 he bought land in Bremer county, Iowa, which he owned until 1857. but on which he never lived. In 1856 he opened a general store at Crystal Lake, Illinois, which, five years later, he re- moved to Algonquin, Illinois. After trad- ing two years at Algonquin he removed his stock of goods to Elgin, Illinois, where he sold dry goods and groceries until 1866.
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From that time until 1873 he was in his old home in McHenry county. locking after his parents and attend- ing to his father's farm. After the death of his father in September of the year mentioned, he went to Wyoming, where for two years he operated mines and looked after mining investments. In 1875 he lo- cated at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he was a leading merchant until 1886, when be removed to Norwich, Kansas, which had been founded the previous year, where he opened a general store, which he has man- aged successfully to the present time. He has invested to a considerable extent in town property, owning several dwellings in Nor- wich and the Norwich flouring mill, and has acquired eight hundred acres of good land in Bennett township, which he leases. As a member of the People's party he has been active in public affairs and has been elected justice of the peace and a member of the city council. Since 1883 he has owned mining interests in southern Colo- rado and in 1900 he became financially in- terested in the Norwich flouring mill, al- ready mentioned, which has a capacity of seventy-five barrels of flour a day, and which has recently been equipped with up-to-date machinery and is under his own manage- ment. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
December 12. 1855, Mr. Hunter was married, in Illinois, to Mary A. Lynd, and they have four children: Viola, who is the wife of William E. Haynes, a merchant of Emporia, Kansas; Fannie, who married Dr. Frank Boyington, of Chariton, Iowa ; Albert O., who lives at Wichita, Kansas ; and Jay Alexander, who assists his father in the man- agement of the store. As a merchant Mr. Hunter has made it the rule of his life never to procrastinate in any business affair or to depend on another to attend to matters of importance about which he felt any solici- tude. During his many years active career he has never asked for an extension of time on any obligation and has discounted all bills, and his thoroughness and carefulness have carried him safely through several fi- nancial panics which have wrecked many of
his competitors. His friends rejoice with him in his success because they know that it has been fairly won.
WILLIAM R. JOHNSON.
Among the successful and prominent farmers and stockmen of Ellsworth county. Kansas, as William R. Johnson, who resides on the east one-half of section. 32, in Gar- field township. Mr. Johnsen has a ranch of ten hundred and thirty acres in cultiva- tion and raises some enormous crops ofcorn. Kaffir corn and sorghum, employing eight mien.
The birth of Mr. Johnson occurred in Lawrenceburg. Anderson county. Kentucky. on December 6, 1858. and he is a son of Berry W. and Elvira ( Mountjoy ) Johnson. both of whom are natives of the same state. The father followed farming in that state until 1869, when the family removed to Bates county, Missouri, where the parents remain- ed until 1895, at which period they returned to their old Kentucky home, where the fa- ther died in April. 1899, but the mother still survives.
Mr. Johnson of this sketch was the eldest in a family of eight children, two of his bro- thers. James and John, also being residents of Ellsworth county. His school days had to be shortened in order that he might also become a wage-earner, as he was the eldest of a large family, and when only eleven years of age he started out, securing work with neighboring farmers, and spent thirteen years thus, working for four years for one man, J. C. Farrar. Industrious and provi- dent, our subject accumulated means and bought a one-half interest of Mr. Farrar. One year he spent in Arkansas, but not lik- ing the country. he returned to Missouri. where he remained until October. 1895. when he came to Ellsworth county. Prior to this Mr. Johnson had been engaged in farming and later in mining for coal, but the vein gave out. and he decided to move to Kansas. Mr. Johnson shipped the first coal, over the Kansas City & Southern rail-
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road, which was erer em south of the Marais des Cygnes and the Cypress rivers.
Upon coming to Ellsworth county Mr. Johnson could not at first find and buy a place that suited him, so he leased the Mc- Lennan ranch, consisting of nine sections. This extends for four miles on the creek. with luxuriant pasture on both sides, seem- ing to be especially adapted to stock-raising. He buys almost exclusively western cattle, both on the ranges and in Kansas City, and at the present writing he is feeding six hundred and forty head of his own, and | the great state of Kansas.
wintering two hundred head for another in- dividual. This is not the extent of the cat- tle interests Mr. Johnson is a large farmer. Johnson, for he buys and sells from two thousand to three thousand head, his plan being to buy in large numbers and to sell in small lots to other feeders, who do not do so extensive a business. Aside from his cat- tle interests MIr. Johnson is a large farmer, cultivating ten hundred and thirty acres. The amount of energy and ability required to manage all these large interests, is abund- ant proof that Mr. Johnson is gifted with great executive force and the most excellent judgment.
The marriage of our subject was solem- nized in Bates county, Missouri, on October 12, 1881, to Miss Ruth Woodfin, who was the daughter of John and Emily Woodfin, the former of whom was born in Vermont but became one of the pioneer settlers of Missouri, and one of the most extensive farmers of that state. Two children were born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John- son, one son and one daughter, namely : Samuel F. and Emma V.
In his political sympathies Mr. Johnson has always been a Democrat, but he has never consented to accept office, with the exception of membership on the school board, on account of his interest in education, al- though few men in this locality are more fitted to assume such responsibilities. Fra- t.rnally he is high up on the roll of worthies both in the I. O. O. F., of Brookville, and in Ellsworth Lodge, No. 146, A. F. & A. M., as well as the chapter, commandery of
Knights Templar, and Consistory No. 2. S. P. R. S., at Wichita, and of Isis Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Salina. Mrs. John- sin is a devoted member of the Christian church, and our subject is an attendant and liberal supporter. He is widely known in this part of Kansas, his large business op- erations bringing him into contact with many residents of all sections, and he most worth- ily represents that type of the progressive and successful western business citizen who has done so much to build up the interests of
ELIJAH RAYL.
Diversified interests claim the attention of Elijah Rayl, who is now successfully en- gaging in stock-raising, horticultural pur- suits and the nursery business, and each in- dustry returns to him a good income. Since 1874 he lias resided in Reno county and has aided in its development from primitive conditions and surroundings to its present advanced stage of progress.
Mr. Rayl was born in Howard county, Indiana, January 27, 1861. His father, Thomas Rayl, was a native of Kentucky and when a boy removed with his parents to the Hoosier state, where he was reared upon a farm amid pioneer surroundings. He began farming upon his own account when entering upon an independent busi- ness career and was thus engaged until the close of the Civil war, when he removed to the town of Kokomo, and began general contracting, making a specialty, however, of the building of streets. In his political views he was a Democrat and for several terms he served as councilman and once as mayor of the city. His administration was a practical and beneficial one and he was widely regarded as one of the repre- sentative and influential residents of his community. He was deeply interested in the cause of education and while serving on the school board exercised his official prerogative to advance the interests and
Elijah Rays
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efficiency of the schools and raise the stand- ard of intellectual attainment. In Kokomo he married Miss Julia Ann Connell, and unto them were born seven children: Will- iam, a farmer of Clay township, Reno coun- ty, Kansas ; Harless, who is living in Hutch- inson; Katie E., the wife of William Brown, of Arlington township, Reno county ; Elijah; Mary Jane, the wife of Fred Malick, of South Reno township; Levi and Thomas, who are also living in the same township.
In 1874 the family came to Kansas and railroad land was purchased, upon which Levi Rayl now resides. The tract com- prised a half section, and here in pioneer style the family began life in the Sunflower state. Prairie was broken, crops planted and in course of time good harvests were garnered and the family also aided in the work of development and improvement, in- cluding the organization of the schools. The father died in 1890. He was a man of upright principles, who did what he be- lieved to be right ; and so fair and just was he in all things that it is doubtful if he ever had an enemy. In his business career he was successful and in addition to his farm made investments in real estate and in busi- ness interests in Hutchinson. His widow still survives him.
In the public schools of Kokomo Elijah Rayl began his education, which he has largely supplemented through practical ex- perience and observation. When fourteen years of age he came with the family to Kansas and here bore all the hardship and trials of frontier life which came to the household. His youth was a busy one, as he aided in breaking prairie and in per- forming all the tasks incident to the develop- ment and cultivation of a new farm. He remained on the old homestead until thirty- one years of age, and long prior to that time the management and operation of the farm largely devolved upon him. In 1880 he made a trip to the mountains and helped to build the railroad from Albuquerque to California, continuing in the west for two years. He prospered in his work there and upon his return he purchased the old home 16
place, and when his youngest brother, Levi, became of age, deeded one-half of it to him. They continued in business together for some time and invested largely in property west of the old farm. They had seven hundred and twenty acres when they di- vided their interests. In connection with general farming they engaged in raising and handling cattle and also began the culti- vation of fruits, their specialty being apples. Since the brothers divided their business in- terests Elijah Rayl has continued in the same line of activity, and is the owner of one of the finest farms in the river bottom. He has one hundred acres in fruit, includ- ing apples, peaches, pears and grapes, and had forty acres in nursery stock, fruits, shrubbery and other plants. His business in this direction is constantly increasing and year by year his sales have grown larger and his profit thereby increases. He owns altogether five hundred acres of rich and productive bottom land, and in connection with horticultural pursuits he is engaged in the raising of short horn cattle, keeping from fifty to two hundred head of good stock. In 1892 he erected his present com- modious and comfortable residence and to his farm he has added all modern improve- ments and accessories. He has a blacksmith shop on his place and his practical under- standing of that business enables him large- ly to facilitate his work.
On the 23d of May, 1892, Mr. RayI married Miss Minnie L. Thompson, a daughter of Joseph Thompson, who died in Indiana prior to the removal of the family to Kansas. With her mother Mrs. Rayl re- moved to Wichita. By her marriage she has become the mother of one daughter, Ethel. Mr. Rayl is a member of the park and fair associations and is interested in every measure and movement that tends to benefit the community. He votes with the Democracy, is quite active in political af- fairs and frequently attends the county, congressional, senatorial and state conven- tions. In 1890 he received the nomination for sheriff, but his party strength was not equal to that of the opposition. His life has been guided by sound principles, his
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work has been carried along the lines of strict commercial ethics, and his reputation for reliability as well as industry and enter- prise is one most enviable.
F. E. FULLER.
F. F. Fuller, who is engaged in general merchanliving in Geneseo, and is one of the successful merchants of the town, was born in Colebrook. Ashtabula county, Ohio, De- cember 0. 1862, a son of William O. and Laura ( Cotton) Fuller. The father was a well known citizen of Ashtabula county, Ohio. and his death occurred at Colebrook at the age of forty-three years. The mother died at the age of forty-two years.
F. A. Fuller, the subject of this review, was reared in the county of his nativity. where he received a good common school ed- ucation. He afterward entered the New Lyme Academy, where he was graduated in 1885. and he is also a graduate of the Spen- cerian Business College and of Rusk's School of Oratory. Being thus well fitted for life's practical duties by a thorough education, he entered upon his business career in his na- tive state. He was engaged in the memorial business at New Lyme for two years and also followed the same occupation at Ul- richsville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. He was next engaged in milling in Trumbull county, that state, for a time. The year 1899 witnessed his arrival in Rice county, Kan- sas. and since the spring of 1893 he has been an important factor in the business circles in Geneseo. In that year he embarked in general merchandising in this city, and he now carries a large and well appointed stock. his being one of the leading stores in his line in this locality. He carries a general line of dry goods, boots, shoes, groceries and notions and also handles furniture and hardware, and his trade is steadily increas- ing. His store room is fifty by seventy feet. By his close attention to business and honor- "able methods he has acquired the confidence and good will.of the citizens of Geneseo and the surrounding country.
In the year 1886, in New Lyme, Ohio, occurred the marriage of Mr. Fuller and Miss Bernice E. Hyde, who was reared and educated in Ohio and is a daughter of Perry G. Hyde. Three children have come to bless this union .- Frances, Obediah and Temperance. Mr. Fuller is a leader in the ranks of the Democratic party, believing firmly in its principles and doing everything in his power to promote its advancement. | He has served his fellow townsmen as town- ship treasurer, and for three years was a member of the school board. His social re- lations connect him with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has been the architect of his own fortunes and has builded wisely and well, placing his confidence in those reliable qualities of energy, industry and honesty, which in the end never fail to bring the merited reward.
ANDREW J. GREGG.
In central Kansas are many fine stock farms. In the pastures are seen high grades of horses and cattle and in the barn yards splendid animals give evidence of the care of an ambitious owner who wishes to im- prove his stock and therefore make it of high market value. Mr. Gregg owns a good farm on section 34, Valley township, Rice county, and is devoting the greater part of his attention to this branch of agricultural labor. He was born in Winchester town- ship, Adams county, Ohio, July 3. 1858. His father, James Gregg, was a native of Brown county, Ohio, born March 4. 1823, and the family is of Irish lineage, for the grandfa- ther, Andrew Gregg, was born on the Em- erald Isle. After coming to America he was married in Ohio to a Scotch wife. They reared two children, the daughter being Ellen Houston, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The son James Gregg, was reared in his parents' home and established a home of his own through his marriage to Miss Sarah Dilling- er, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, a daughter of William Dillinger, a farmer,
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whose property is now included within the ' father died in the Buckeye state, but her mo- corporation limits of the city of Pittsburg. ther is now living in Rice county and has at- tained the age of eighty-four years. She had twelve children, of whom five are yet living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gregg has been blessed with three children : Sadie, who died at the age of two years ; a son who died in infancy; and Pearl, who is now eleven years of age. Socially Mr. Gregg is con- nected with the subordinate lodge and en- campment of the Rebekah order of the Odd Fellows society, and is likewise a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His wife belongs to the Methodist church, in which he is serving as one of its trustees. Politically he is a Republican and is now overseer of the highways. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg were married in 1857. and their union was blessed with seven chil- dren, namely: Andrew J .; Margaret, the wife of Del Cummings, of Portsmouth, Ohio: Harriet, who married James Larkin, of Valley township; Catherine, the wife of William Hibbard, of Portsmouth, Ohio; Edward, a stock farmer of Reno county, Kansas ; Mrs. Laura Hawkins, who died at the age of twenty-five years; and Stewart, who is also living in Reno county. The fa- ther carried on agricultural pursuits in Ohic and died in. Scioto county, that state, in De- cember, 1900, at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow is now living in Kansas, keep- ing house for her son, Edward, and is a very active old lady of seventy-five years.
Andrew J. Gregg received but limited school privileges for his services were needed upon the home farm in his youth, and he early began to assist in the labors of field and meadow. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age. In 1884 he came to Kansas, arriving at Sterling on the Ioth of July, with only twenty-five cents in his pocket after he had paid his hotel bill. He came here as a feeder of a threshing ma- chine, and during the first winter after his arrival he was employed to feed cattle own- ed by Tom Harper. Later he erected a blacksmith's shop on the Arkansas river, south of Sterling, and there conducted busi- ness for one summer. His first purchase of land comprised eighty acres, for which he gave eleven hundred and ninety dollars. He afterward bought a tract of two hundred and forty acres one mile to the north and in 1900 he became the owner of a quarter sec- tion adjoining his farm. He carries on gen- eral farming and does an extensive business as a stock raiser, having fifty-two horses and mules and seventy-five cattle of his own, while each year through the winter season he cares for from one hundred and twenty to two hundred and fifty head of cattle.
On the 19th of September, 1885, Mr. Gregg was joined in wedlock to Miss Caro- line Elhuff, a native of Ohio. Both of her parents were natives of Germany, and her
WILLIAM B. LUCAS.
William B. Lucas, who occupies the po- sition of clerk of the courts of Barton county and resides at Great Bend, was born in High- land county, Ohio, October 30, 1865. His parents were John S. and Rebecca (Steel ) Lucas, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. The father was a farmer by occupation and died in the prime of life, at the age of forty-one years, but his widow is still living and is now making her home in Great Bend. There are also two sons of the family yet living, the brother of our sub- ject being Clay Lucas, a prominent agri- culturist of Buffalo township, Barton county.
William B. Lucas of this review had been provided with excellent educational privileges and was thus well equipped for the responsible and practical duties of life. After attending the public schools he entered the Wesleyan Normal School, at Salina, Kansas, and was afterward a student in the Central Normal College at Great Bend. In 1886 he began teaching in a district school in Buffalo township and followed that pro- fession for ten years, becoming a most ca- pable instructor, readily imparting the knowl- edge that he had acquired to those who were under his direction. After a decade devoted to the profession, however, he turned his at-
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tention to farming which he followed in Buf- falo township until 1900, becoming one of the enterprising and prosperous agricultur- ists of the community. He was then elected on the fusion ticket to the position of clerk of the courts of Barton county as the suc- cessor to F. G. Strothman. Entering upon the duties of the position, he has since proven a capable officer, his career reflecting credit upon himself and his constituents. He is very popular in both business and social circles and is an esteemed and valued mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and the An- cient Order of United Workmen.
WILLIAM H. LIBBY.
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