A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 66

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 66

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Mr. Cragun was born in Kokomo, Indi- ana, August 2, 1858. His father, John R. Cragun, was a wagonmaker, merchant and farmer. He was born in Kentucky but re- moved to Indiana at an early day in its de- velopment. The family is of Irish lineage. His father, Joshua Cragun was one of twins, and with four of his brothers he came to America. His brother John served in the war of 1812 and his brother Isaac removed

to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he became one of the apostles in the Mormon church.

John R. Cragun was married after his removal to Indiana, the lady of his choice be- ing Miss Ellen Slider. They became the parents of four children, of whom John A. of this review and Elmer are residents of Kansas. The father is one of the six old- est residents of Kokomo, Indiana, where he is now living at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife is also living. They have long been earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they have taken an active part, and Mr. Cragun has held a number of offices in the church. In politics he has been an ardent Republican since the formation of the party and aided in defending Indiana at the time of the Morgan raid through that state dur- ing the Civil war.

John A. Cragun, whose name introduces this review, was the second child in his father's family. He pursued his education in the common and high schools of Kokomo, Indiana and in DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, pursuing a classical course in the latter institution. He studied with the idea of entering the legal profession and has always read law to some extent, his knowledge of the science proving of ben- efit to him in his business career. In 1878 he arrived in Kingman county and took up a claim in White township. He at first set up a small tent, surrounded by dirt, but as soon as possible hauled stone with which to build a house ten by twelve feet. It was one of the first stone houses in the county. He broke his ground with oxen and gradually placed his land under cultivation, developing an excellent farm. In the winter he engaged in teaching school in Kingman and thus gave an early impetus to the intellectual devel- opment of the county.

As the city and county began to grow he assisted in the work of the courthouse, act- ing as deputy clerk of the district court and as deputy register of deeds. Seeing the need which the future would develop for a set of abstract books, he began their compila- tion and has from that nucleus developed an

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important business which is now conducted under the name of the Cragun Abstract Com- pany, of which he is the president. In 1880 he was elected register of deeds. He was nominated by the Republican party and the contest was a heated one, but he gained & majority of fifty-nine votes ; and in 1882 he was renominated and at the election received the largest majority ever given a candidate having an opponent-eleven hundred votes. 'Twas a splendid tribute to his fidelity and capability during his first term. For ten years he served on the city council and there gave his influence and support to every mea- sure which he believed would prove of bene- fit to the city looking beyond the exigencies of the present to the future and considering not only the possibilities of the present but those to come. His service as city clerk covered six years. He has attended the county judicial and state conventions as a delegate and for seven years he has been president of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend whose labors have been of practical benefit. He has left every office as he has entered it- with the confidence and good will of the pub- lic, and his official record is one against which a word of detraction could not justly be spoken by the most malevolent.

With many of the financial interests of the county Mr. Cragun has been identified, having served four years as cashier of the Kingman National Bank, of which he was one of the organizers, while of the Fair As- sociation of the county he is one of the stockholders. He erected two of the brick business blocks of the city and several resi- dences in addition to his own home. In 1891 he turned his attention to the real estate and abstact business and handles large quan- tities of property for non-residents. He also makes loans and has been so active in the business life of Kingman county that his name is interwoven with a majority of its leading departments of industry. He also represents a number of fire insurance com- panies, including the St. Paul's Fire and Marine, Delaware, Hartford, Shawnee, Provident Mutual, Manchester and the Win- chester of New York city.

In 1879 Mr. Cragun married Miss Rosa B. Branaman a daughter of James Brana- man, one of the early settlers of the county and they now have one child, J. Beach. So- cially Mr. Cragun is connected with Chi- kaskia Lodge, No. 100, K. P. and the An- cient Order of United Workmen, in both of which he has filled all the chairs, and he likewise belongs to the Modern Woodmen, Camp No. 86, and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Society and has been a dele- gate to its state conventions. He was one of the organizers and charter members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Kingman and aided largely in the erection of its first house of worship. He has held all the lay offices in the church and served for seven years as superintendent of the Sunday- school. In 1886 he was a member of the building committee which erected the present edifice, the only brick church in the city, and was the most liberal contributor thereto. Honored and respected by all there is no man in the community that more justly deserves the regard of his fellow townsmen. In whatever position he has been placed whether as an officer of church, of fraternal organi- zation or of the city or in the walks of pri- vate life he has commanded the esteem of those with whom he has come in contact, and with pleasure we present his life record to our readers.

ALBERT W. COLLINGS.

One of the successful and well known citizens of Reno county, Kansas, who has prospered since his location in this state is Albert W. Collings, a reliable contractor and builder, who also owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is located within one mile of Langdon.

The birth of Mr. Collings was in Jackson county, Indiana, on November 8, 1855. His grandfather was Thomas Collings, who was born in Kentucky and became a pioneer set- tler of Indiana when there were no railroads in that part of the state, the journey to the

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nearest mill entailing a ride of sixty miles on horseback. He became a famous hunter and Indian fighter, reared a family of three sons and three daughters, and finally died there at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather was Zephaniah Jackson, and his native state was Kentucky. He also re- moved to Indiana, and lived there until he was one hundred and four years old.

The parents of our subject were Isaac and Mary Jane (Hancock) Collings, the former of whom was born in 1835, on his father's large estate, consisting of six hun- dred acres, in Indiana. The latter was a daughter of Taylor and Catherine (Jack- son ) Hancock, and she was born in Clark county, Indiana, in 1835. Her parents were also pioneers in Indiana from Kentucky, and they reared three daughters and five sons. The family was noted for its robustness and longevity, all of these children living to rear large families, the mother of our subject be- ing the eldest. Her father took part in the Revolutionary war and was known well in the early settlement of Indiana. A family of eight children were born to the parents of Albert W. Collings, of this sketch, and he was the eldest, the other surviving members are as follows: Louisa, who is the widow of William Ralston and lives in Langdon; Isabelle, who is the widow of Ezra Johnson and lives in Sylvia, Kansas; Emma, who is the wife of John Sallee and lives on a farm near Hutchinson, Kansas; and Isaac Wes- ley, who resides in Seattle, Washington, and has a wife and one son. Isaac Collings is a remarkable specimen of physical develop- ment, being six feet and one inch in height and weighing two hundred and forty pounds, and he is an athlete widely known for his feats of strength.

Albert W. Collings, our subject, was reared in Tipton county, Indiana, and there attended the district schools, growing to manhood on the farm. At the age of twenty years, on January 13, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Sturgean, a na- tive of the same county and a daughter of Ewing and Fanny (Hancock) Sturgean, and these children were born to this mar- riage : Mary Frances, who died of mem-

branous croup, at the age of thirteen years ; Charles, who is associated with his father in business ; George, who is a manly youth of thirteen years; Forest, who has reached the age of five years; and Lulu, who is the baby of one year.

On November 8, 1877, Mr. Collings reached Kansas, with the intention of mak- ing this state his future home. He took a one-quarter section homestead, located two miles south of Langdon, and resided there for a period of twelve years, engaging in general farming. After disposing of this property he came to Langdon, and followed the blacksmith trade for five years, but since that time has been busily employed in con- tracting and carpenter work, although he owns a fine farm one mile north of Lang- don, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, which he rents for pasturage. The farm is the family home, although Mr. Col- lings also owns a very nice residence in the village and a store building, both of which he rents to tenants. In his political views he has always been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and his services have been acknowledged by it, as for two years he was the very efficient postmaster of this town. In the county he is held in esteem and he has demonstrated that what the state of Kansas needs is a class of settlers like him- self, who through industry, public-spirit and progressive methods can place the common- wealth in the very front rank among the great sisterhood of states.

C. A. DEAN.

Mr. C. A. Dean is a self-made man, who without an extraordinary family or pecun- iary advantages at the commencement of life, has battled earnestly and energetically, and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both character and fortune. By sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked his way upward. He is now man- ager of the mercantile firm carrying on busi- ness under the style of M. A. Webb & Com- pany in Lyons, Kansas. Theirs is the lead-

let Dran.

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ing general mercantile house in .Rice county and the firm is one of the most prominent in business circles in central Kansas, where for fourteen years Mr. Dean has made his home, having come to Rice county in 1887.

A native of the Buckeye state, he was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1848, and is a representative of a sturdy race of Scotch- Irish people noted through many genera- tions for their good business ability and hon- esty. Allen Dean, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Ohio and was a son of John Dean. After arriving at years of maturity Allen Dean was united in marriage in his native state to Miss Maria Webb, who was to him a faithful companion and help- meet on the journey of life for many years. She, too, was born in Ohio. Some years after their marriage the Deans removed to Taylorville, Christian county, Illinois. They became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters.

C. A. Dean, whose name introduces this record, was a little lad at the time of the re- moval to the Prairie state. He attended its public schools and at the age of fifteen years entered upon his business career in the capa- city of a clerk in a grocery store. He was thus employed for several years, on the expi- ration of which period he came to Kansas, settling at Burton, on the Santa Fe railroad, where for fifteen years he was engaged in the general merchandise business. On the expiration of that period he came to Lyons, in 1887, and his business connection with this city began as an officer in the Ex- change Bank where he remained as cash- ier for four years. He then became con- nected with the firm of Lantz, Marshall & Company and later with Dean & Webb. This enterprise has proved of great value to the community by promoting commercial activity and has returned an excellent income to the stockholders. The business occupies two large store-rooms, hav- ing fifty feet front and a depth of one hund- dred and thirty feet. A large line of general merchandise, valued at fifty thousand dol- lars, is carried and includes dry goods, boots and shoes, and clothing. Their stock is very complete in all of its departments, contain- 26

ing goods reaching from low to high prices and thus being such as is demanded by gen- eral trade. Operations are carried on along lines of strict honesty, the business policy of the firm being such that commends itself to all and wins a large patronage.

Mr. Dean was united in marriage in Macon, Illinois, to Jennie Seamans, a lady of education and good family. Her father, James Seamans, is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dean have one child, Nira, now the wife of R. H. Benedict, of St. Joseph, Mis- souri. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and are deep- ly interested in every thing pertaining to the welfare and progress of the community. In his political views Mr. Dean is a Republican and his fellow townsmen have manifested their confidence in him by electing him city treasurer for two terms. He is an exemp- lary representative of the Masonic lodge and the Knights of Pythias fraternity and in his life closely follows its teachings concerning the brotherhood of mankind, mutual forbear- ance and mutual helpfulness. As a busi- ness man he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable and he has the confidence and respect of all who know him.

WILLIAM R. TEDRICK.

Nowhere more clearly and forcibly thair in Kansas has the idea been inculcated that pluck, energy, perseverance and good busi- ness ability will win success in spite of many obstacles and discouragements. This thought is suggested by a consideration of the career of William R. Tedrick, dealer in flour and feed at No. 320 North Main street, Hutchinson, Reno county, Kansas, who is one of the progressive business men of that city, where he has an exceedingly homelike residence at No. 210 First avenue, east. Mr. Tedrick is a native of Ohio and was born near Winchester, Guernsey county, in 1856, a son of Michael and Margaret (Turkle) Tedrick, who were married in Winchester in 1855. Michael Tedrick was born near Win- chester in 1834 and was a grandson of

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Michael Tedrick, a native of the state of New Jersey, who traced his English ances- try to the old home of the family on the isle of Jersey. Margaret Turkle was a daugh- ter of Joseph Turkle, of Guernsey county, who was of Scotch descent.

Michael Tedrick, father of the subject of this sketch, was the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Guernsey county, Ohio, and gave his attention to gen- eral farming and stock-raising and eventu- ally did a large business as a fruit-grower and nurseryman. In 1879 he sold his farm in Ohio and removed to Reno county, but after farming here for several years he went to Oklahoma Territory where, hale and hearty at the age of sixty-seven years, he is a successful farmer. His good wife, who has been spared to him during all of these years, is of the same age as her husband. Mr. Tedrick is of excellent judgment, is re- garded highly for his many good qualities and his advice is sought in many important

matters. Originally a Whig, he became a Republican at the organization of that party and has cast his influence with it since then. He and his wife are earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held every important office. They have had born to them six children, four of whom sur- vive: G. M., formerly a teacher but now a farmer in Kansas; H. P., a retail dealer in flour and feed at No. 608 South Main street, Hutchinson: and C. E., principal of the North school, one of the large public schools of Hutchinson.

William R. Tedrick spent his youth and early manhood on his father's farm in Ohio, and received a practical education in the public schools near his home. In 1878, when he was about twenty-two years old, he went to Kansas and. engaged in school teaching at Kent, six miles east of Hutchinson. He taught one term of school at Kent and after- ward two other terms at other points in the county, and then went to Hutchinson. where he taught in the public schools under Su- perintendent Wynans. Afterwards he taught in Burrton. Harvey county, for five years, then engaged in the grocery business at Ly- ons, Rice county. In 1890, after a three

years' business career at Lyons, he returned to Hutchinson, where for about two years he was employed by the Hutchinson Whole- sale Grocery Company. After several years spent in the employ of different firms he ac- quired the proprietorship of the Royal Bak- ery, at Hutchinson, which he retained for two years, building up an excellent trade and which he sold in February, 1901, to engage in the wholesale flour and feed trade. He began his present business in a comparatively small way and with many obstacles to over- come, but went about his duties with a de- gree of patience, industry and tact destined to bring about good results and soon ac- quired a satisfactory trade which is con- stantly increasing. He deals specially in the products of the Halstead Milling and Ele- vator Company and handles three grades of flour known as "The Boss," "True Grit" and "Crystal Patent" flours, their superior quality commending them readily to the trade. His business in his feed department is constantly extended and he is handling good quantities of bran, shorts and low grade flour. In 1901 he did much to im- prove his residence property and enlarged his house very materially.

In politics Mr. Tedrick, following in his father's footsteps, is a stanch Republican, and he is not without a recognized influence in the local councils of his party. He is an active and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, has for many years been a leader in Sunday-school work and for the past six years has been assistant superintend- ent of his Sunday-school. He is a member of the Woodmen of America and of the Tontine society. In 1884 he married Miss Nettie Smith, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of H. A. Smith, whose parents were natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Tedrick have a son, Chester A. Tedrick, who is a pupil in the Sherman public school at Hutchinson. In many ways Mr. Tedrick has demonstrat- ed that he takes a deep and abiding interest in the prosperity of his city, county and state, and his willingness to assist to the ex- tent of his ability any movement having for its object the general good of his fellow cit-

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izens marks him as a man of much public spirit. His influence in church and in sect- lar matters is always strong and helpful, and he is of that class of men who believes that the best way to help his fellows is to assist them to help themselves and that they can in no way better insure their own prosperity than by contributing to the general pros- perity.

JOHN E. LYDECKER.

One of the best informed attorneys of Kingman county is John E. Lydecker, whose clientage is of a distinctively repre- sentative character, his ability winning him the support of many of the leading residents of his district. He was born in Elmira, New York, May 31, 1851, and is a repre- sentative of one of the old and honored families of the Empire state of Holland origin, the first of the name in America having crossed the Atlantic prior to 1660 and settled at Nyack, New York. John Ly- decker, the grandfather of our subject, en- gaged in merchandising at Nyack and when water routes furnished the principal way of travel he conducted a line of sloops on the Hudson river. Fenton Lydecker, the fa- ther of our subject, was born and reared in Nyack and there married Catherine E. Polhemus, by whom he had three children, one of whom died in early life. For many years he was connected with railroad work, having charge of the shops of the New York & Erie railroad, the first road built in his part of the state. About 1857 he removed westward and for a short time was engaged in farming in McHenry county, in Illinois. He then again engaged in rail- road work, assisting in the construction of a road in Indiana, extending to Logansport, Laporte and Chicago, and upon the build- ing of the shops in the last named place he was placed in charge. He resided in Chi- cago until his retirement from active busi- ness life, since which time he has been a resident of New Jersey.

In the public schools of Chicago John E. Lydecker, of this review, pursued his

studies and also attended the high school in Kankakee in 1872, studying with the view of taking up law as his profession. He then entered the Ann Arbor Law School, in which he was graduated in 1874. He also read law under the personal supervision of Thomas M. Cooley. Going to Peoria, Illi- nois, he there opened on office and began practice. In 1877 Mr. Lydecker came to Kansas, securing a claim near Caldwell when that section of the state was wild and unimproved. He at once began its develop- ment and later he went upon the range in the Indian Territory and Texas. He bought a herd of cattle and herded in what is now Harper county, Kansas, when there was but one other white man who had a farm in the county. Caldwell was his head- quarters, being the first town on the trail proceeding northward from Texas. Dur- ing one winter he was forced to remain in Caldwell on account of an injury he sus- tained, and while there he was called upon to go to Anthony just after the town was started to take charge of a lawsuit. He had tried to keep back the knowledge that he was an attorney, preferring to devote all his attention to the cattle business while en- gaged in it, but in some way the report spread that he had studied for the bar and he became widely known throughout that country as the "cowboy lawyer." He tried some cases in Caldwell on behalf of friends but he has ever made it his policy to engage in only one kind of business at a time, and herein lies one secret of his success. At length he ceased to deal in range cattle and turned his attention to domestic cattle, com- ing to Kingman with his cattle to get feed. Here he ultimately abandoned stock-raising and has since devoted his time and energies to the practice of law, although he has car- ried on a farm. However, his law practice has occupied his attention chiefly and his legal business has assumed extensive pro- portions. He tries only those cases in which he has reason to believe in the justice of his client's cause and therefore he is usually successful in winning the verdict desired. He is thoroughly informed concerning all departments of the legal science, and his

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forceful argument, logical deductions and skillful pleadings never fail to impress court or jury and seldom fail to convince.

Mr. Lydecker is the owner of three hun- dred acres of land adjoining the city on the northwest, and thereon he raises corn exclusively. When he came into possession of the property only ten acres had been broken. It had been proved up by Captain Sherman, who was formerly chief of police in Chicago and who had built a sod house, but there were no other improvements. Mr. Lydecker has made his home thereon con- tinuously since and now has a very valuable property, supplied with all modern conveni- ences and accessories. He has been inter- ested in the banking business as a stock- holder and officer but is now connected with neither of the banks of Kingman in an offi- cial capacity, although he owns stock in one of then.

In 1881, in Kankakee, Illinois, Mr. Ly- decker was married to Miss Fannie F. . Enos, a daughter of R. H. Enos, a prom- inent farmer of that locality. They are people of culture and refinement. moving in the best circles of society in King- man, where intelligence is taken as the standard of admission. Mr. Lydecker, with one exception, has the finest general library in Kingman. He has always been deeply interested in education and is himself a man of scholarly attainments and broad general information. In politics he has been a stal- wart Democrat since attaining his majority and supported that party here when it had but three adherents in Kingman county. He is, however, a sound-money man.

JAMES KIRK.

James Kirk, the efficient superintendent of the Western Salt Works and a resident of Hutchinson, was born in Pennsylvania, July 14, 1864. His father, George Kirk, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and a farmer by occupation. He was married near his native city, in 1861, to Jane Copper; also born in the land of hills and heather, a

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 66

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