A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 41

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

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William H. Libby is residing upon the old Libby homestead, where he located on the 21st of March, 1873, the farm being one of the desirable country seats of Rockville township, Rice county. He was born in Saco, York county, Maine, January 29, 1840, the year of the great Harrison can- paign, when "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," was the rallying cry of the Whig party, and every one spoke of the "log cabin and hard-cider campaign." David Libby, the fa- ther of our subject, was born November 30, 1796, on the farm which was the birthplace of his son William and of his father, David Libby, Sr. The latter was born March 26, 1765, and was. a son of Joseph Libby, whose birth occurred at Kittery, Maine, on the 14th of December, 1725. He was a son of Solo- mon Libby, who was born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1695. and his father was David Libby, who was born in Scar- boro, Maine, in 1651. It was his father, John Libby, who became the founder of the family in America. He was born in Eng- land, in 1602, and in 1630, braving the dangers incident to an ocean voyage at that time in order to establish a home in the new world, he settled in Scarboro, Maine, his descendants in America now numbering many hundred. Representatives of the name have been prominent in peace and brave in war and have attained distinguished

positions in connection with the great ma- terial industries and with the professions. One of his descendants is Mr. Libby, the fa- mous pork packer of Chicago. The name is found in almost every state in the Union and is borne by men and women of sterling worth.

David Libby, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, was married on the 17th of No- vember, 1793, to Miss Elizabeth Cleves, who was born in Saco, Maine, a daughter of Robert Cleves, whose birth occurred in Beverly, Massachusetts. Their son, David Libby, Jr., was reared upon the old family . homestead in the Pine Tree state and en- gaged in farming and lumbering. As a companion and helpmate for the journey of life he chose Miss Sarah Berry, a daughter of John and Jane Berry, of Saco. The lady was born and reared in Maine, and their marriage was celebrated on the 5th of Oc- tober, 1823, while their union was blessed with seven children, namely : Martha Jane, deceased wife of S. M. Harmon; Sarah Elizabeth, who has also passed away ; David, who is living in Thomasville, Georgia ; Car- oline, who became the wife of O. R. Ham- ilton and died at Lynn, Massachusetts ; Jo- seph F., who died in 1853 : Gideon, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in Kings, Illinois, in 1879: and William H., whose name introduces this record. The father devoted much of his life to agricultural pursuits, but was also a-saw- yer in the pine woods of Maine and engaged in the lumber business. In early days he gave his political support to the Whig party and was an honored and respected citizen of the community in which he made his home. His death occurred at the age of seventy- six years, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-four. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her Christianity formed a part of her daily life.

William H. Libby was reared on the old family homestead and early became familiar with the work of cultivating the fields. He was also employed in the pine woods and at intervals he attended the public schools of Maine, acquiring a good education. At the

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age of nineteen he began teaching, and after the inauguration of the Civil war he put aside all personal considerations that the country might have the benefit of his services on the field of action. He enlisted on the 2d of July, 1861, donning the blue uniform as a member of Company B, Sixteenth Massachusetts Infantry, under command of General Mason and Colonel Powell T. Wy- man. He became a member of the Army of the Potomac, commanded by General Mc- Clellan, and served until honorably dis- charged on account of disability. When he was again able to work he secured a posi- tion in the navy yard at Charlestown, Mas- sachusetts.

Before leaving for the front and after his enlistment, Mr. Libby was married in his soldier's uniform, on the 5th of August, 1861, to Miss Emily A. Crosby, and then bade adieu to his bride in order to assist his country in her struggle to preserve the Union intact. The lady was born at Calais, near Passamaquoddy bay, Maine, on the 18th of September, 1839. Her father, Jeremiah Crosby, was a native of Machias, Maine, a son of Joseph and Sarah Crosby, of the Pine Tree state. After arriving at years of maturity Jeremiah Crosby wedded Susan L. Keyes, who was born in Orland, Maine, a daughter of William Keyes, of Orland, who was of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby became the parents of four children, namely: John, who was an officer in the Civil war and is now in the United States navy at Boston, Massachu- setts, holding the rank of captain, and has been all over the world: Mrs. Libby, who is the next younger ; Helen, who died at the age of twenty-two years ; and Frederick, who died at the age of four years. The mother of this family died when Mrs. Libby was only nine years old, and the father was afterward again married, his second union being with Martha Smith, by whom he had one son, Algernon Crosby, of Bos- ton, Massachusetts, and one daughter, Fan- nie, who is also living in Boston. The fa- ther was a millwright by trade and at the time of the discovery of gold in California he made his way to the Pacific coast and

died in that state in 1849. In religious be- lief he was a Universalist. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Libby has been blessed with three living children: Irene M. and Walter G., at home; and Edna C., wife of A. L. Manassa, of Little River, Kansas, by whom she has one daughter, Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Libby also lost four children who died in infancy.

After his return from the war the sub- ject of this review resided in Massachusetts for some years, working at his trade of car- pentering and step-building. In 1865, however, he removed to Louisville, Ken- tucky, where he followed his chosen pur- suit for eight years, and on the 2d of March, 1873. he came to Rice county, locating on what is now the Libby homestead, in Rock- ville township. He first resided in a sod house and afterward in a dugout within the site of his present home. The date on which the material for this sketch was secured was the twenty-eighth anniversary of his arrival in the county. During the period of his residence here he has accomplished much in a business line, and is to-day the owner of a valuable property, which stands as a monument to his thrift and industry. A grove and an orchard are upon his farm, together with modern buildings, the latest improved machinery and all the equipments of a model farm of the twentieth century. Mr. Libby votes with the Republican party, but the honors of office have had no attrac- tion for him, as he prefers to devote his en- ergies to his business affairs. He is a man of intelligence, broad minded and liberal in his opinions and wherever he has gone he has won warm friends by reason of his sterling worth. Both he and his wife are held in high regard in the community, and their own home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality.

ROBERT J. WATKINS.

Grand View is one of the finest farms in Rice county and is the property of R. J. Watkins, a practical, enterprising and pro- gressive agriculturist, whose possessions

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have been acquired entirely through his own efforts, resulting from capable management, untiring industry and keen discrimination in business affairs. He came to the county in 1879 and is therefore numbered among its early settlers. having been a witness of its growth and development for twenty-two years.

Mr. Watkins was born in Logan county, Ohio, near Bellefontaine, on the 26th of April. 1855. and represents one of the old families of Virginia. His grandfather, John Watkins, was a native of that state, which indicates that at an early period the family was founded in America. Robert J. Wat- kins. Sr., the father of our subject, was also born in Virginia and was reared near Wheeling. West Virginia, his boyhood days being passed in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges. When a young man he went to Ohio and was married in Logan county, that state, to Miss Lydia Cowgill, a native of Logan county, where they began their domestic life, the father devoting his energies to farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-eight years of age. The political principles of the Republican party received his loyal support. He was a member of the Society of Friends, with which his wife was also identified, and in that faith they reared their children. Mrs. Watkins died in Ohio, August 20, 1901, at the age of eighty-nine years. Her noble Christian life and her kindness of heart won her the love and esteem of all with whom she was brought in contact. This worthy couple were the parents of thir- teen children, but only three of the number are now living, namely: John W. and Ed. who reside in Logan county, Ohio, and Robert J., of this review. Those who reached mature years but have now passed away were Thomas, Deborah, Mary and Louisa, and the others all died in infancy or childhood.

Robert J. Watkins, whose name forms the caption of this review, was reared upon the old home farm in Ohio and when old enough to handle the plow took his place

in the fields, preparing the ground for culti- vation in the early springtime, aiding in the work of planting as the season pro- gressed and assisting in the harvest fields when the crops were ready for the garner- ing. He acquired a fair education in the public schools and supplemented his early study by a course in Earlham Academy, in Richmond, Indiana. He continued at home until twenty-five years of age, when he re- solved to try his fortune in the west, believ- ing that he might have better opportunities for advancement in the less thickly set- tled district beyond the Mississippi river. Coming to Kansas, he took up his abode in Wilson township, Rice county, in 1879, and secured four hundred and eighty acres of rich land. The soil, however, was rich in its latent possibilities, needing only the cul- tivating powers of man to make it produc- tive. As the years passed Mr. Watkins transformed the place into rich and fer- the fields and added all modern improve- ments. He also secured the machinery nec- essary to facilitate farm work, erected sub- stantial buildings and developed a farm which is well entitled to the name of Grand View. Upon the place is a fine grove of maple trees and box-elders. There is a good bearing orchard, commodious barns and sheds for the shelter of grain and stock, good feed lots and yards, rich pastures and grain fields which give evidence of coming harvests. Everything on the place is in good condition and the owner has every reason to be proud of his valuable farming property. In addition to the production of the cereals best adapted to this climate lie breeds finest stock, including short-horn cat- tle and Poland-China hogs.

Mr. Watkins was married on the 15th of February, 1898, in Lyons, Kansas, to Miss Lena E. Cowdry, a cultured lady, who was reared and educated in Lyons a dauglı- ter of J. A. Cowdry, a prominent and well- known resident of that city. Her father was born in Meigs county, Ohio, in 1847. and at the time of the Civil war responded to the call for aid, serving as a member of Company I. Second Ohio Infantry. He married Abbie Wolf, a native also of Meigs

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county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Rebecca Wolf. They became the parents of four children, as follows: Mrs. Lena Wat- kins ; Elbert E., at home ; J. Ray, a dentist, who is engaged in practice in Lyons; and Herman, who is still with his parents. They also lost two children, Neil and Laurel, who died in childhood. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Watkins has been blessed with one child, a little daughter, Helen, who is the life and light of the household.

Mr. Watkins is quite prominent in pub- lic affairs and his influence is strongly felt as a supporter of the Populist party. In the fall of 1895 he was elected sheriff and filled the position in such a capable and com- mendable manner that he was re-elected for a second term. An exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, he has taken the de- grees of the blue lodge in Sterling, Kansas, and also belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter at that place. He is likewise a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His disposition is cordial and genial, his manner friendly and courteous and his so- cial qualities are such as have won for him a wide circle of friends, while in business affairs he is known for his reliability, and lie has gained the confidence and good will of all.

E. F. TRUESDELL.

The agricultural interests of Rice coun- ty are well represented by E. F. Truesdell. who owns a fine farm on section 31, Victoria township. He has been a resident of the Sunflower state since the 28th of March, 1879, and has ever borne his part in the work of improvement and development. He was born in Warsaw, Wyoming county, New York, on the 19th of August, 1856. and is a son of John Truesdell, a native of Lake George, New York, of which locality the grandfather, John Truesdell, was also a native. The latter married Miss Nancy Smith, also of the Empire state. John Truesdell, Jr., was reared in the place of his nativity and was there married to Jane Waldron, who was born at Warsaw, New

York, a daughter of Benjamin Waldron. He joined the Mormons and went with them across the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah. The mother of our subject died. leaving five children,-Frank, a resident of Lyons; George, also of that city; John, who is em - ployed as a boiler-maker by the Truesdell Company in Hutchinson, Kansas: Grace, who still resides in New York : and E. F., the subject of this review. For his second wife the father chose Ella Gifford, and they also became the parents of five children; Gifford, a well-known and successful physi- cian of Warsaw. New York: Artie, at home ; Emily, also at home ; Willie : and one other. The father has now reached the ven- erable age of seventy years. He is a farm- er and stock man and votes with the Re- publican party. For many years he has been a worthy and active member of the Baptist church.

E. F. Truesdell, the immediate subject of this review, was reared in his parents' home in Warsaw, New York, and was there taught lessons of industry, honesty and per- severance. After reaching years of matur- ity he was employed for a time in the serv- ice of the Lake Erie Railroad in Buffalo, New York. On the 28th of March, 1879, .he came to Rice county, Kansas, and his first employment was as a brakeman on the Atch- ison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. He was subsequently promoted to the position of conductor. After four years of railroad service he again returned to the quiet pur- suits of the farm. In 1883 he chose as a companion for life's journey Miss Flora L. Gay. She is a daugliter of Frank Gay. The father and his son Floyd were killed in a railroad accident in Attica, New York. The son was then only five years of age. The mother is still living and is now sixty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Gay had five chil- dren .- Flora L., Charles, Josie and Fred and Floyd, twins. Unto our subject and wife have been born five children, but two are now deceased,-Grace, who died at the age of three years, and a daughter who died in infancy. The living children are Gertie, Herbie and Glenn, aged respectively four- teen, twelve and three years. Mr. Truesdell

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is independent in his political views, prefer- ing th cast his vote for the men whom he regards as best qualified for public office. For six years he served as justice of the peace of Victoria township. He is well known to many citizens of the community and has lived so as to command their con- fidence and respect. He has many warm friends, who esteem him for his sterling worth and many excellencies of character.

WILLIAM H. S. BENEDICT.

William H. S. Benedict, a prominent business man of Hutchinson, was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, May 4. 1855. His father, Cyrus Benedict, was a native of the Buckeye state, born near Co- lumbus. May 4. 1823. When but seven years of age he was called upon to mourn the loss of his mother, and he was then bound out to a man named Savage, who for six years demonstrated to the lad that he, Savage, was well named, in fact treating the boy with such cruelty that at the age of thirteen years he ran away, making his way to Pennsylvania, where he found em- ployment in a Quaker community and there grew to manhood. On the 2d of August, 1844, he was there married to Hannah C. Cope, who was born in Pennsylvania on the 14th of April, 1826, and was a member of an old and prominent family of that state. Their family history can be traced back to 1681, when Oliver Cope came to America from Wilkshire, England, becoming a landed proprietor in Pennsylvania. Our subject now has in his possession a deed to land granted to one of his mother's ances- tors by William Penn.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ben- edict took up their abode with her parents, intending to make their home there for at least that season. On one occasion the mother, forgetting that her daughter had risen to the dignity of a married lady, pun- ished her for a supposed falsehood, accus- ing her of spilling the milk on the floor of the milk house, which the daughter, being innocent, stoutly denied. Then followed

the punishment, which so incensed the young husband that he gave up his contract to farm his father-in-law's place and with his wife started for the wilds of Wisconsin, notwithstanding the fact that he was warned by his Quaker father-in-law that if they left he would disinherit his daughter, and that threat was afterward carried out. The young couple located in the woods near the vicinity of Milwaukee, which was then a mere hamlet, the year of their arrival being 1846, and there they encountered manv hardships and privations, but they were am- bitious and for a time the husband worked at any honorable occupation that was of- fered him. He was engaged in splitting rails at forty-seven cents a day, walking three miles to his work, and their first win- ter in Wisconsin was a very severe one, the snow lying to a depth of six feet. Mr. Ben- edict was naturally a very strong man, but while assisting another man to carry a large beam, which they had on their shoulders, the latter misunderstood the order to throw it off and let his end drop too quickly, thus injuring Mr. Benedict's spine, and during the remainder of his life he was practically a cripple.

In 1850 the family removed to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, locating about four miles from the town of Brandon, where they remained until 1856, going thence to Winnebago county, that state, that event taking place when our subject was only fourteen months old. A location was made in the town of Omro, on the Fox river, about twelve miles from Oshkosh, where Mr. Benedict was employed in conducting a restaurant for several years. While there residing he also spent several years in ex- perimenting with a cough remedy, which he wished to make as nearly perfect as pos- sible, and after perfecting it waited three years before applying for a patent, wishing to test the keeping qualities of the medicine, which he found to be perfect. He was scru- pulously conscientious and honest in every respect, and would never enter into an en- terprise unless it was absolutely honorable. In his cough remedy he used only the purest and best ingredients that could be procured,

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and his medicine possessed great virtute as a cure for coughs, colds and lung trouble. Before his death he sold a half interest in this business to John Wilcox, they form- ing a stock company with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and erected a fine two- story brick building in which to manufac- ture medicine, and of this company Mr. Benedict was made treasurer and Mr. Wil- cox superintedent. Previous to this time, however. Mr. Benedict had taken our subject into his confidence and had entrusted him with the secret of the compounding and manufacture of this valuable remedy. Short- ly after the formation of the company the father was confined to his bed with a serious illness, and while in this condition his part- ner substituted various cheap and worthless ingredients for the pure ones formerly used, and our subject, who was then work- ing in the factory, reported it to his father. This proved his death blow, but before his death he called his partner to his bedside and expostulated with him, but to no pur- pose. The preparation which Mr. Wilcox put upon the market spoiled as soon as the warm weather came, and the reputation of the firm was ruined, and to complete the misfortune the building burned to the ground, leaving not a trace of what would have been a fine business if honorably con- ducted.

Mr. Benedict passed to his final reward on the IIth of April, 1870. In political matters he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican, and during the Civil war he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, but could not pass the physical examination. He was a man of intense loyalty to his country, and would have served as a brave and fearless defender had his health permitted. His social rela- tions connected him with the Odd Fellows fraternity ; and religiously he remained true to his Quaker teachings. He never sought or desirel the emoluments of public office, but he was often solicited by his friends to accept positions of trust, and he some- times consented. About five years after his death his widow married, at Brandon,

Wisconsin, Samuel Hubble. a Quaker, and they removed to Omro, that state, where they remained until the 30th of May, 1878, when Mrs. Hubble also passed away, dying in the Quaker faith. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Benedict were born four children, namely : Anna, wife of Felix Gunning. a hotel pro- prietor of Salem, Oregon ; David, who is en- gaged in the grocery business in Newton, Kansas ; Charles C., a machinist Dy trade, and for nineteen years was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad Company, but now makes his home at Nickerson, Kansas, where he has a large vineyard and orchard ; and Will- iam H. S., the subject of this review. The second child, David, was a soldier in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C. Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- try. He began his military career when only fifteen years of age, and for twenty- two months was a brave and loyal defender of the stars and stripes. He was with Grant at Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg, and was with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea.

William H. S. Benedict, the immediate subject of this review, received his educa- tion in the schools of Omro, Wisconsin, and after the burning of his father's medical works he learned the machinist's trade, be- ing then about sixteen years of age. In Tune, 1876, he came to Kansas, two of his brothers having preceded him to the Sun . flower state, the eldest, David, arriving in 1871. He purchased a farm north of Great Bend, where his family resided, but he worked at his trade in the town, and our subject and his brother. Charles, the latter having come to this state in 1875, operated the farm for two and a half years, when they took a claim north of Great Bend. On his land our subject erected a sod house and soon had fifty acres under cultivation and planted with wheat, but his crop was de- stroyed by the drouth of that year, in conse- quence of which the government granted an extra time of eighteen months to the home- steaders. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Ben- edict went to New Mexico, where his broth- er and G. L. Brinkman owned an outfit for

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freighting. our subject going there to re- lieve his brother, who was called to his home at Great Bend, Kansas, by his wife's sickness, and for two and a half years there- after our subject followed freighting for the railroad company. In 1882 he removed to San Pedro and engaged in the same oc- cupation for the big copper mines, hauling ore with four mule teams and there he final- ly secured the position of timekeeper, while still later he arose to the position of fore- man, looking after the machinery in the mines, for which he received six dollars a day. This was an old Mexican mine, but at that time was owned by a New York and Boston syndicate, who had purchased the property from an old Mexican named Otera. Twelve months after our subject began work there the mine was captured by about fifty armed miners, who had been bribed by the sons of the former owner, they dis- puting the title of the company then operat- ing it. The employes were taken entirely by surprise, and were forced to surrender. Af- ter this event Mr. Benedict removed to So- corro and assisted in the construction of the railroad from that point to the Magdalena mines, his time being thus employed for one year, when he removed to Golden, a mining camp near San Pedro, and was there married on the 8th of August, 1883. His wife bore the maiden name of Louisa E. Talbott and was born in Brooklyn, Pow- eshiek county, Iowa, a daughter of John M. Talbott, a Quaker.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 41

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