USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 71
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residence in Rice county. It is located in Lyons and is known as the Ed Dupree prop- erty, having been erected by Mr. Dupree at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. It is sup- plied with all modern conveniences, includ- ing hot and cold water, is tastefully fur- nished and gives every evidence of the cul- ture and refinement of the inmates. The house is surrounded by a beautiful lawn, and in the rear of the property stands a splendid barn and a good orchard.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Speck has been blessed with two sons,-Harry and John, aged respectively sixteen and thirteen years. They also lost three children. Their appreciation of the absolute ethics of life, or beautiful home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality, and its social functions are among the most important given in the community. In his political affiliations Mr. Speck is a Democrat, and religiously is con- nected with the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Speck is also a member of that denomina- tion.
WESLEY S. BROWN.
Among those who are devoting their en- ergies to farming and stock-raising in Kingman county is Wesley S. Brown, of Ninnescah township. He was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1859, a son of Ste- phen Brown, who was born on the banks of the Rhine, in France, eighty-one years ago. The latter's father, Paul Brown, was also a native of that locality, as was his wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabetli Dedrick. They subsequently left the land of their birth and came to the United States, and both passed away in death in Ohio. The mother died at the early age of thirty- two years, leaving six children,-Catherine, Barbara, Anthony, Andrew, Frank and Stephen. The father reached the age of sixty-five years. Both he and his wife were active church members, and were honored and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Their son, Stephen Brown, the father of our subject, accom- panied his parents on their removal to the
new world in 1859, and was reared to agri- cultural pursuits in the Buckeye state, where he also received his education in the common schools of his locality. He was married in Carroll county, that state, to Margaret Shull, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Jacob Shull. Mrs. Brown died at the age of thirty-three years, leaving two children, both of whom have joined their mother in the home beyond. For his sec- ond wife Mr. Brown chose Ann Wass, who was born in England, a daughter of Samuel and Phoebe Wass. By this union Mr. Brown had six children, namely : Sarah, the wife of John Gilchrist, a well known citizen of Kingman county; Ella Weiler, a resident of this township; Wesley S., the subject of this review; and three now de- ceased. John Brown was a loyal defender of the starry banner in the Civil war, serv- ing as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-second Volunteer Infantry, of Indi- ana, and he was called upon to lay down his life on the altar of his country, dying at the age of nineteen years. Two of the chil- dren died when young. Stephen Brown, the father of this family, gives his political support to the Republican party, and relig- iously he is a member of the Methodist church, in which he held membership for fifty years. His wife was also a worthy and acceptable member of that denomination.
Wesley S. Brown, the immediate sub- ject of this review, spent his youth and early manhood on his father's farm in Allen coun- ty, Indiana, and the educational advantages which he enjoyed were those afforded by the schools of his locality. Remaining in the Hoosier state until 1878, he then came with his father to Kansas. After attaining to years of maturity he secured a claim in Ninnescah township, but after proving his land he went to Arkansas, where he re- mained for a time. He then again came to Kingman county, where he has ever since made his home and has devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits and the raising of a fine grade of stock. He now owns eight hundred acres of land, three hundred of which is under cultivation. His well directed efforts in his chosen line
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of endeavor have been abundantly rewarded, and he now holds rank with the leading farmers and stock-raisers of the township.
At the age of twenty-seven years Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Martha Bell, who was reared and educated in Illi- mois, a daughter of Josiah and Margaret (Jones) Bell, the latter now deceased. At her death she left four children,-Oscar, Lula, Martha and Henry. The father of these children is a native of the Prairie state, and is now living near Indianapolis, Indiana. The Republican party has long received his hearty support and co-opera- tion, and his religious preference is indi- cated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. The union of our sub- ject and wife has been brightened and blessed by six children,-Mabel, Roy, Roxie, Frank, Lawrence and Herbert. Mr. Brown also votes with the Republican party, and in all matters pertaining to the public welfare he takes an active and commend- able interest, although he has never desired the honors of public office. He has been a successful man in business affairs, and his success has been the result of earnest and persistent effort in the line of honorable and manly dealing.
W. F. RITCHEY.
W. F. Ritchey, one of the extensive and leading agriculturists of Kingman county and one of its esteemed pioneers, was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, November 22, 1848. His father, A. B. Ritchey, was a na- tive of Greene county, Ohio, and was a son of John Ritchey, who was born in the east and was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He be- came the father of the following children : John; Martha Sellers, of California; Dan, who was a member of an Illinois regiment during the Civil war, and his death occurred during that struggle; and Addison Boyd. The latter was reared in both Ohio and Indiana, and in the latter state he was mar- ried to Mary A. Hayes, who was then but fifteen years of age. She was a daughter
of John Hayes, of the Buckeye state. This union was blessed with fifteen children, namely: J. Q., who was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry during the war of the Rebellion; W. F., the subject of this review; W. W .; Sarah E .; Mary; Robert, deceased; Cath- erinė; H. L .; Ida; Charles D .; Della; Net- tie; and three who died in childhood. The father, who was born in 1817, passed away in death in Schuyler county, Illinois, at the age of eighty years. Throughout his en- tire business career he followed the tilling of the soil, and his ballot was cast in favor of the men and measures of the Republican party, while prior to the organization of that party he gave his support to the Whig candidates. His widow is still living, hav- ing now reached her seventy-second year, and she is a worthy Christian woman, hold- ing membership in the Baptist church, with which religious denomination her hus- band also was identified.
W. F. Ritchey, of this review, was reared on the old family homestead in the Prairie state, where he was early taught the work of the farm in all its departments, while the district schools of the neighbor- hood afforded him the educational privi- leges which he enjoyed in his youth. In 1877 he cast in his lot with the early pio- neers of Kingman county, Kansas, securing one hundred and sixty acres of Osage In- dian land in Vinita township, on which he has ever since made his home. As the years have passed by and prosperity has attended his efforts he has added many improvements to his place, has placed his fields under an excellent state of cultivation, has erected large and substantial buildings and in many other ways has added to the value and attractive appearance of his homestead.
At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Ritchey was united in marriage to Sarah J. Barnes, who was born near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, but when only three years of age she was taken by her parents to Illi- nois, where she was reared to mature years. She was a daughter of John and Keziah (Cooper) Barnes. The father has been called to his final rest, but the mother still
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survives and makes her home in Illinois. Their son, W. A. Barnes, assisted his coun- try in the struggle between the north and south. Four children have been born unto the union of our subject and wife: Hattie, the wife of E. J. Goldsborough, of Sapulpa, Indian Territory; Emmett, who is now six- teen years of age ; Leonard, who has reached the age of thirteen years; and 'Addison Clyde, who died at the age of eight years. The Republican party receives Mr. Ritchey's active support and co-operation, and on its ticket he has been elected to many positions of honor and trust, having for four years served as township trustee, was a member of the school board for many years and has been a delegate to many conventions. So- cially he is a member of Morton Lodge, No. 258, F. & A. M., and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. They have hosts of warm and sincere friends in this locality, and all speak in the highest terms of the Ritchey house- hold.
B. F. DERN.
Among the prominent and useful citi- zens of Kingman county, Kansas, who are thoroughly representative is B. F. Dern, who resides on section 3, in White town- ship, having been a resident of this state since 1883, coming to this locality in 1891.
The birth of B. F. Dern was in Carroll county, Indiana, October 25, 1860, and he was a son of Ethan and Zelda (Shaffer) Dern, the former of whom was born in Ohio, where he was reared and married. Later he moved to Kingman county, Kan- sas, where he successfully engaged in farm- ing, and where he died January 1, 1894, at the age of seventy-three. Mr. Dern was a man whose life was without reproach and he is remembered with affection and respect. In his political affiliation he was a Repub- lican, and all his life was a consistent and worthy member of the Methodist church. The mother of our subject since the death of her husband has been 'making her home with her children.
A family of eight children was born to Ethan Dern and wife, their names being as follows: Martin, who was a gallant soldier during the Civil war, now lives in comfort in Yeoman, Carroll county, Indiana; Isaac, who also testified to his loyalty by entering the army, died in this county, in 1893, his widow and four children still surviving ; Nelson, who is a prosperous resident of Kingman county ; A. J., who is a prominent physician of Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Josie Woodworth, who lives in Dublin, In- diana; Mrs. Dema Bunnell, who lives in Ford county, Kansas ; B. F., who is the sub- ject of this biography; and Mrs. Emma Daugherty, who resides in Rensselaer, Jas- per county, Indiana.
B. F. Dern, of this sketch, was reared to farm life, and agricultural pursuits have in- terested him more than any other line of ac- tivity ever since. Until he was twenty-three years of age he remained in Carroll county, Indiana, and then made his first trip to the far west, locating for a time in central Colo- rado, going thence, about 1884, to Gray county, Kansas, where for some time he was engaged in mercantile pursuits and later in farming and stock-raising. In 1891 Mr. Dern came to Kingman county in order to take charge of the county farm, where he immediately inaugurated such changes and made such improvements that the public farm became a credit to the county. It was under his superintendency that the present admirably constructed buildings were. erected and methods of agriculture intro- duced which have continued with success ever since.
Mr. Dern is the fortunate owner of a fine farm, well watered by the Ninnescah river, which he has brought to a fine state of production and which is well adapted to stock-raising. His estate is located within two miles of Kingman, his residence, erected at a cost of twelve hundred dollars, combining all the comforts and conveniences suitable for comfortable living. Mr. Dern is regarded as one of the substantial farm- ers of this locality and well represents the best element of Kansas citizenship.
In 1888 Mr. Dern was united in mar-
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riage to Miss Jessie Williams, a lady of edu- cation and intelligence, who was born and reared in Indiana, a daughter of Thornton Williams, who was a well known farmer of White county, Indiana, now deceased. He was a member of the Republican party and was always interested in its success. For many years he was a leading member of the Methodist church. The mother, nec Mary E. Rinsler, was born in Virginia, but early in life moved with her parents to Indiana, where she lived until her marriage. She has two brothers and three sisters living : T. R. and W. H. Williams, both farmers. and the latter has held the office of trustee of Honey Creek township, White county, Indiana, for four years, where they both now reside; Mrs. Belle Seymour, of Clin- ton, Iowa; Mrs. Alice Wysong, of Koko- mo, Indiana; and Mrs. H. H. Asley, of Kingman, Kansas.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Dern are highly esteemed in their locality and both are earn- est members and liberal supporters of the Methodist church. Fraternally Mr. Dern is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Workmen Lodge, No. 161, of Kingman, and is devoted to its interest. Mrs. Dern is also a member of the Degree of Honor, connected with the Workmen, in which she has taken great interest, and the lodge has honored her with the highest office within its gift. He is a pleasant, genial, whole-souled man, whose frank ex- pressions of interest are known to be gen- uine, and the result is that he has a wide circle of personal as well as a large follow- ing of business friends. He has been a life- long Republican, although he has not been any seeker for political preferment.
JOHN N. NUTTER.
On one of the well improved and highly developed farm of White township resides John Nutter, an enterprising agriculturist who in the Sunflower state has found op- portunity to work his way upward, and by determined purpose and unflagging en-
ergy has reached a position of affluence. A native of the Old Dominion, he was born on the 26th of July, 1846, and is a son of John C. Nutter, who was born in Harrison county, West Virginia. The latter's father, Andrew Nutter, was a native of Pennsylvania, but his last days were spent in West Virginia, where his wife also died. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Emily Vinson, and by her marriage to John C. Nutter she became the mother of nine chil- dren,-Mary, Cassie, Julia, Derenda, Ellen, Andrew, John N., Joseph and Thomas, She passed to the home beyond when yet in the prime of life, but her husband reached the ripe old age of three score years and ten. He gave his political support to the Dem- ocracy, and was ever a public-spirited and loyal citizen.
John N. Nutter, the subject of this re- view, was reared to the vocation which has since engaged his efforts, having been early inured to the labor of field and meadow, and in the public schools of his native state he received his early educational advantages. The Nutter family have been represented in every war in which the United States has taken part, and when the trouble arose be- tween the north and the south our subject enlisted for service in 1863, becoming a member of the Eleventh West Virginia In- fantry, under Colonel Frost, Lieutenant Col- onel Burk and Captain Simpson. At the time of his enlistment he was but a boy in his 'teens, but on the field of battle he proved himself an intrepid and gallant soldier, and as such served until the cessation of hostil- ities. As a member of General Sheridan's noted cavalry company he took part in many of the important battles of the war, serving in General Crook's division, with General Steadman in command. He was at Winches- ter when General Sheridan mae his famous ride of twenty miles, and at Snicker's Gap, Virginia, where Colonel Frost was wounded, he assisted in carying that gentleman to his tent, where he afterward died. At the time of General Lee's surrender Mr. Nutter was stationed at Petersburg, and at the close of the war he was mustered out of service at Appomattox Court House, after which he
MR. AND MRS. J. N. NUTTER.
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returned to his home and once more took up the quiet pursuits of the farm. In 1887, however, he left his Virginia home and sought a new location in central Kansas, and on section ten, White township, Kingman county, he became the owner of a well im- proved and fertile farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to the attention of which he de- voted his time and attention for a number of years. But he has recently sold his farm and purchased a home in the city of King- man, where he intends to spend the remaind- er of his days in quiet retirement, the injuries he sustained while assisting in the defense of the Union cause rendering it impossible for him to carry on the work of the farm. Since coming to this favored section pros- perity has abundantly rewarded his efforts, and he is now numbered among the leading and representative citizens of this locality.
In 1867, in the Old Dominion, Mr. Nut- ter was united in marriage to Elizabeth Dye. who was born in Virginia in 1846. a daugh- ter of Dennis Dye, a native of Prince Will- iam county, that state, and a Revolutionary hero. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Webb, was a native of that com- monwealth and a daughter of Ben Webb. The latter also claimed Virginia as the state of his nativity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Dye were born eleven children, namely : Julia, Jane, Eliza, Harriet, Nancy. Mary. Druzilla, Elizabeth, Ben, William and Da- vid. The father of this family was a Re- publican in his political views, and his death occurred when he had reached the seventieth milestone on the journey of life, while his wife reached the ripe old age of seventy-five years. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with nine children, as fol- lows: Winfield Sheridan, who makes his home in Oklahoma; Dove T., the wife of Samuel Kuhns, a farmer of this county, and they have two children, Harry M. and Mel- vina : William T., J. Allison, John R. and James Anderson, all of whom reside in Okla- homa : Anna, who is married and resides on a farm in Kingman county : Charles A .. also a resident of Oklahoma; and Daisy M., a little maiden of fifteen years. The Repub- lican party receives Mr. Nutter's hearty sup-
port and co-operation, and religiously he is a prominent and worthy member of the Bap- tist church.
IDA M. MITCHELL.
Ida M. Mitchell resides on a fine farne on section 30, Galesburg township, and is widely known throughout her locality, where many years of her life have been passed. She is the widow of the late Charles S. Mitchell, who first came to King- man county in 1884, and with the exception of three years he lived continuously here until his life's labors were ended in death. He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1857, a son of Mathias and Sarah (Stermer) Mitchell, natives also of the Keystone state. The father was a brave and loyal soldier during the struggle be- tween the north and the south, and his death occurred in the state of his nativity, but is still survived by his wife, who yet makes her home in York county, Pennsylvania. Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, six sons and two daughters.
Charles S. Mitchell was fourteen years of age when he left his native state for Ohio, and after remaining in that state for a time he removed to Illinois, locating near Peoria. While there residing, in 1880. he- was married to Miss Ida M. Brubaker, who- proved to him a loving companion and help- mate for the journey of life. The Brubaker family removed from Ohio to Woodford. county, Illinois, in 1851, where they became. influential and representative citizens. Aaron Brubaker, an uncle of Mrs. Mitchell, was a member of the Illinois legislature. Her father, Abraham Brubaker, was born in Richland county, Ohio, July 4, 1830. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Cath- erine Sentle, who died eight years later, leaving three. children,-Ida M., William A. and Henry. For his second wife he chose Sana Sentle, a sister of his first wife, and their union was blessed with two daughters, - Mary and Norah. Mr. Brubaker fol- lowed the tilling of the soil as a life occupa-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
tion, and in political matters he was identi- fied with the Republican party. He passed to his final reward at the comparatively early age of forty-nine years, loved and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaint- ance. Six children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, four sons and two daughters, namely: May I., Roy H., Clyde E., Eva V., Ralph C. and Earl W.
In 1884 Mr. Mitchell came to the Sun- flower state, first locating in Dale town- ship. Kingman county, but a short . time afterward he returned to Illinois and there spent the following three years. On com- ing again to this state he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 30, Galesburg township, where his widow now resides, and four years ago he purchased one hundred and sixty acres additional. The land has been placed under an excel -. Ient state of cultivation, is improved with all the necessary farm buildings, and a beautiful grove and orchard add much to its value and attractive appearance. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Mitchell has had entire charge of this large homestead, but she is an excellent business woman, and un- der her careful supervision the fields annu- ally yield golden returns. In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate stock-raising is also carried on at this place, about fifty head of cattle and fifteen horses being usually kept upon the farm. During his residence here Mr. Mitchell imported many thoroughbred Norman horses, thus greatly enhancing the quality and value of horses in Kingman county. He passed away in death on the 29th of July, 1898, and his demise was the cause of wide-spread regret, while the com- munity mourned the loss of one of its truest and best citizens. His friends were many, and. on the list were numbered many of the representative men of the county.
SAMUEL A. SPERRY.
Samuel A. Sperry, a horticulturist and gardener, who resided with his daughter, Mrs. Heryer, the wife of David Her-
yer, a wholesale grocer at No. 216 East Fifth avenue. Hutchinson, was esteemed by his fellow citizens of Reno county no less for his admirable reputation won by hon- orable dealing in every relation of life than for his innate geniality which causes his so- ciety to be sought by all who knew him. Mr. Sperry was born in Portage county, now Summit county, Ohio, September 27, 1819, and came from a line of illustrious ancestors which took root in America, as family tra- dition has it, about thirty-seven years after the landing of the Pilgrims. It is said that the ancestor of one branch of the family joined the colony at Plymouth and that the ancestor of another branch of the family who came with him from England settled in Virginia. It is from the Plymouth an- cestor that Samuel A. Sperry is descended.
Lyman Sperry, father of Samuel A. Sperry, was born in Waterbury county, Connecticut, about 1767 and was a nephew of the wife of the Rev. Lyman Beecher, fa- ther of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. After Henry Ward Beecher had attained to emi- nence he often remarked that he was proud of the fact the blood of the Sperrys ran in his veins. Lyman Sperry was a farmer in Connecticut until 1819, when he emigrated to Ohio, making the trip with ox-teams and carrying with him his wife and eleven chil- dren, five of whom were by his previous mar- riage to Deborah Newton, a native of Con- necticut. His second wife was Lydia Peck, also a native of Connecticut and a cousin of the late Bishop Jesse T. Peck, of the Methi- odist Episcopal church. The children of Lyman and Deborah ( Newton) Sperry were named A. M., Mary, Amanda, Phoebe and Adna. The children of Lyman and Lydia (Peck) Sperry, several of whom were born after the worthy couple located in Ohio, were named Lyman, Lydia, Elizabeth, Levinas, Lewis, Ira, Samuel A., Ebenezer, Willis. Of these the first five mentioned are dead. Ira is living in Summit, Tallmadge county, Ohio. Samuel A. is the immediate subject of this sketch. Ebenezer lives at Carthage, Missouri. Willis is a physician at Tall- madge, Ohio.
Upon his arrival in Ohio, Lyman Sperry
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bought one hundred and sixty acres of land which was densely timbered, and began the work of erecting a double log cabin and clearing away the forests to make room for crops. The family arrived at their prospec- tive home September 17, 1819, and only ten days later the subject of this sketch was born in the midst of that almost endless forest, where the cries of wild animals were among the sounds which first greeted his ears. There for many years the father and his sons worked, clearing and improving their land, and in doing so they cut down and burned quantities of fine timber, then an in- cumbrance, which would now be worth thousands of dollars. After a time the father turned his attention to quarrying stone and allowed his sons to run the farm and late in life turned the place over to his youngest son by his first wife, with whom he lived in his declining years. While Lyman Sperry was an unostentatious man who sought 110 personal preferment, he was of that solid, sturdy, substantial stuff of which good pio- neers were made, and his sterling qualities were recognized by all who knew him. In politics he was a Whig and in religion he was originally an old-school Presbyterian, but later in life a Congregationalist. He died about the year 1860, having attained the advanced age of ninety-three years. His wife died at the age of fifty-one years, in 1833.
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