A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 73

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

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Jacob C. Shideler was reared upon the old homestead farm, and after acquiring his education in the public schools, engaged in teaching with success for several terms, but in March, 1865, he put aside all personal consideration in order that he might aid the Union cause, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio In- fantry, in which he served until honorably discharged after the close of hostilities. He then returned to Ohio and was a resident of that state until 1876, when he came to Kan- sas and secured a claim of Osage Indian land. He has since spent about two years

in Holden, Johnson county, Missouri, where he had a partial living. In 1882 he added to his original possessions here and by judicious investment of his capital, he has become the owner of sixteen hundred acres, well adapted for stock or grain rais- ing. He now has several well improved farms supplied with all modern accessories and conveniences. His property is the vis- ible evidence of active and honorable labor, and has the well merited reward for his industry and enterprise.

On the 26th of September, 1897. Mr. Shideler was married, in Galesburg town- ship, to Anna Cawthon, who was born in Illinois, but was reared and educated in this state. Her father, James Porter Caw- thon, of Galesburg township, was born in Tennessee in 1850, and was a son of Wes- ley and Margaret (Osborn) Cawthon, also natives of Tennessee, whence they removed to Saline county, Illinois, and from there went to Williamson county, that state, where the father died at the age of seventy- five years, and the mother at the age of seventy-one. Among their eight children, James Porter Cawthon was married at the age of nineteen to Susan Crosson, who was born in Tennessee and was a daughter of Samuel and Margaret ( Lebo) Crosson. Mr. and Mrs. Cawthon became the parents of five children, namely : Mrs. Edna Wallace ; Mrs. Shideler ; Herbert : Mrs. Roxy Marks ; and Elden W. They also lost one child, Agnes, who died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Cawthon came to Kansas in 1872 and has since made his home here. He is a gentleman of the highest respecta- bility, who holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church and has served there- in as class leader.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Shideler has been blessed with two daughters, Elizabeth Bernice and Susan Angeline. The parents hold membership with the Methodist Epis- copal church and Mr. Shideler is one of its trustees. He votes independently and is a citizen deeply interested in the welfare and progress of his county. Splendid suc- cess has crowned his efforts in business life, indicating his marked ability, unflagging in-

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dustry and strong determination. His ex- ample is one well worthy of emulation, and with pleasure we present his life record to our readers.

JOSEPH S. GEORGE.

Practical industry wisely and vigorously applied never fails of success; it carries a man onward and upward, brings out his in- dividual character and acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The great- est results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordi- nary qualities of common sense and perse- verance. The every day life, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample oppor- tunities for acquiring experience of the best kind, and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and for self-improvement. It is along such lines that Mr. George has won a most prom- inent and honorable place in business circles, being the secretary and manager of the Hutchinson Wholesale Grocery Company.

At an early period in the development of America the George family was founded in America, although the dates of emigra- tion to the new world of the first American ancestor is not definitely known. It is an established fact, however, that one of his ancestors owned the land upon which the present city of Norfolk, Virginia, now stands, and this proves conclusively their early connection with the country. Martin H. George, the father of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion, and his brother, Enoch George, was a Methodist bishop who was well known throughout Ohio. The for- mer was a planter in early life, but later en- . gaged in merchandising, which he followed in Pennsylvania until the early '30s, when lie removed to Ohio. In that state he wed- ded Mrs. Mary A. Black, and they became the parents of three children, of whom our subject was the youngest. In his political views he was first a Whig, and on the dis- solution of that party he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. His religious faith was that of the Methodist denomina-

tion, and he long held membership in the church. He died at the age of sixty-eight years, but both the paternal and the mater- nal grandfather of our subject reached the advanced age of ninety-five years.

Joseph S. George was born in Xenia, Ohio, March 31, 1850, and after attending the public schools of that city took a course in Xenia College. When he had completed his education he made his way westward, and in 1870 was a resident of Chase county, Kansas. From 1871 until 1873 he was en- gaged in clerking in Newton and Wichita, when, owing to failing health, he was ob- liged to engage in some other occupation that would not have the close confinement of the store. Accordingly he engaged in herding cattle for a time and the free life of the plains restored his health. He then returned to Chase county and for a year he served both as deputy county clerk and dep- uty district clerk. In January, 1874, he came to Hutchinson. He had previously visited the city-then but a village- in 1871, but did not make it his permanent abode until three years later. Here he en- tered the employ of Frank Gillett, with whom he remained for a year, and then formed a partnership with F. Dunkin, his father-in-law, who later sold his interest to J. L. Penny. After a year, however, Mr. George purchased Mr. Penny's interest and from that time forward carried on the busi- ness alone until 1880, when he formed a partnership with J. H. Mauritius, the con- nection being maintained for three years, during which time they conducted a large retail trade. In 1883 Mr. George sold his interest in the retail store, and in company with his former partner, J. L. Penny, began doing a wholesale business in the purchase and sale of produce. On the 12th of Jan- uary. 1889, was consummated the plans whereby was established the Hutchinson Wholesale Grocery House, of which Mr. George was one of the organizers and pro- prietors. This was not only the first whole- sale house of Hutchinson, but there was no other in the city for ten years. The enter- prise proved a valued addition to the trade interests of this portion of the country and

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returned to the stockholders a good divi- dend from the beginning. The company erected its present building, which is of stone, and is thirty-three by one hundred and seventy-nine feet, three stories in height. Mr. George was elected secretary and manager of the company on its organi- zation and it is mainly due to his unceasing energy, careful management and familiarity with the grocery trade that the extensive patronage of the house has been secured. Eight traveling salesmen represent the com- pany upon the road and cover a territory two hundred miles to the north and south and four hundred miles east and west. Not less than twenty-eight families receive their support from the business, which has shown a healthy and continuous growth from the beginning.

On the 25th of September, 1875, Mr. George married Miss Mary J. Dunkin, of Hutchinson, and unto them have been born six children : Jennie, the wife of Lewis B. Cory, of this city ; Hugh D., who cultivates his father's farm in Harvey county, Kan- sas; Clara, who is living with her brother in Harvey county ; Alma, Mary and Joseph D., at home. The present handsome resi- dence of the George family, at No. 228 Sixth avenue, east, was purchased by Mr. George and is one of the attractive and hospitable homes of the city. Previous to this time, however, he had erected a dwell- ing. When he first came to the county he secured a timber claim about a mile and a half south of the city, consisting of eighty acres. To-day he also owns a well im- proved farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Harvey county, and this, as well as his other property and business inter- ests, have all been acquired through his own efforts. He has witnessed the development of his chosen place of residence from a little village of about five hundred people, without a graded street or even a grade for the buildings. He has watched it become one of the thrifty, well improved cities of central Kansas, and in the work of public improvement and advancement he has ever borne his part. When he arrived in the county the condition of the country was sc

new that large herds of buffaloes could be seen only fifty or sixty miles to the west, and he has enjoyed many a fine buffalo steak, and when in the retail business pur- chased buffalo hides for from seventy-five cents to a dollar and a quarter each. Great changes have been wrought since then in the business, intellectual and social life of the community, for the people of Hutchin- son have kept pace with the general ad- vancement in other parts of the country and to-day the traveler is always attracted by the enterprising spirit of the city and the progress which has been made by her citi- zens.

In his political views Mr. George is a Republican, but has always been too busy to take an active part in political affairs, always refusing to become a candidate for office save that of a member of the city coun- cil, to which position he has several times been elected, accepting the nomination at the urgent solicitation of his many friends. In 1891 and 1892 he took an active and effective part in the organization of the Kansas Jobbers' Association, of which he was secretary, and which appeared before the railway commissioners to secure job- bers' rates for interior Kansas. To this work he gave much time and attention in preparing data and schedules, and it was mainly owing to the intelligent manner in which he presented the facts that jobbers at interior points secured the necessary rates to enable them to compete with houses on the Missouri river who could take advant- age of the cheaper rates of navigation-a work that has done much to advance the wholesale interests of central Kansas. For more than twenty years Mr. George has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Reno Lodge. No. 140, F. & A. M .: Reno Chapter, No. 34. R. A. M. He is also a member of Buron Lodge, No. 197, K. P., and is a charter member of the Commercial Club. Mr. George is an earn- est and enthusiastic follower of Izaak Walton, his chief recreation being with the rod and gun, for he is a leading member of the Gun Club and the most skillful have reason to look to their laurels when he en-

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ters the competitive field. The hours of recreation, however, have been comparative- ly few with him, as his time has been mostly occupied in building up a business which has now assumed extensive proportions an 1 which brings to him a handsome and de- sirable financial reward, of which he is well deserving.

JAMES M. CAMPBELL.

Virginia, the mother of presidents, might justly be termed also the mother of settle- ments. In this sense the name Virginia is intended to include the states of Virginia and West Virginia, which were under one state government until the Old Dominion was dis- rupted by the bitter feeling engendered by the Civil war. Virginia has sent her repre- sentatives to almost every locality of impor- tance in the west, northwest and southwest and they have not only grown up with the country but have been foremost in every pro- gressive movement. Virginians in Kan- sas have lived up to this reputation. Among the best known of them in Reno county is James M. Campbell, whose residence is at No. 428 Tenth street west, Hutchinson, and who operates a farm which is the east one half of section 10, Salt Creek township, and which consists of three hundred and twenty acres of well improved land.

James M. Campbell was born within the borders of the present state of West Virginia February 3. 1829, a son of John Campbell, a native of Nicholas county, West Virginia, who was born in 1804, and was a farmer during his entire active life and who died in 1897. aged about ninety-three years, after having lived in the same log house for more than sixty years. He was one of the first settlers in Fayette county, West Virginia, he and his father-in-law having been the first white men to locate there. At that time the country was new and wild, much of it was heavily timbered and the woods were filled with abundant game and in their jungles and shadows fierce animals roamed at will. Mr. Campbell bought a farm of about two hundred acres and erected on it

a log house, into which he moved when he began clearing his land and improving it into a productive farm. He was married in 1827, to Elizabeth Kesler, a daughter of Jacob Kesler and a native of West Virginia, whose mother, of the family of Funk, was of German descent. Year after year Mr. Campbell labored, enlarging his clearing and putting more and more land under culti- vation, killing off dangerous animals and supplying his family abundantly with wild game,-deer, turkeys, bear and other game animals and birds all being plentiful about him. As the country became settled and Mr. Campbell's circle of acquaintances widened, the influence of his strong per- sonality caused him to be regarded as a leader among his fellows, not only in political and religious work but in every movement tending to their mutual welfare. He held numerous important local official positions and was an officer in the Bap- tist church. In political affiliation he was a Democrat. The locality in which he lived was long destitute of public schools, but he taught his children carefully at home until subscription schools were established, and from that time on gave them as good edu- cation as was afforded in that part of the country.

When James M. Campbell was seven or eight years old his mother died suddenly in the prime of life, for she had scarcely passed the age of thirty years, leaving a family of six children, only two of whom survive-the subject of this sketch and Nancy who, un- married, is living on her father's old home- stead. Eventually Mr. Campbell married Amanda Alderson, who lived near him and to them five children were born, three of whom are living in that vicinity. One of them, Susan, became the wife of James Savy. James M. spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and like his father became a hunter of much experience and ef- ficiency. He killed much big game, includ- ing bear, panthers and wild cats, and once killed a wild cat which measured six feet from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail, the largest animal of its species ever killed in Virginia, so far as is known. He

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shot it in the head while it was descending a tree with the intention of attacking his favorite dogs by which it had been treed. On one occasion, when a mere youth, he was bringing his father's sheep into the fold at dusk and was pursued by a panther, but reached home before it ventured close enough to attack him. At his death John Campbell left his farm in a fine state of cultivation and it was a valuable agricultural property. John Campbell, father of John Campbell and grandfather of James M. Campbell, came over from Ireland at the age of sixteen years and some time afterward was captured by the Indians and was held a prisoner by them four years, undergoing many hardships be- fore he was finally released.

James M. Campbell left his father's farm when he was twenty-one years old and moved to the vicinity of Harper's Ferry. Virginia, where he built a house and en- gaged in farming. There he became ac- quainted with Sarah McDonald, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Stump) Mc- Donald, whom he married October 31, 1851. Her father was of Scotch descent. After · three years' residence there he sold this land and accepted a position as brakeman for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. His adaptability to railroad work and his faithfulness led to his advancement and he filled one position after another until he be- came engineer, and it is a matter of railroad history that he was on the first train that crossed the Alleghany mountains on the Baltimore & Ohio line between Washing- ton, District of Columbia, and Wheel- ing, West Virginia. During his railroad experience his home was at Piedmont, a quant old town at the foot of the moun- tains. Leaving the railway service, he was for a year a farmer in West Vir- ginia, then removed to Lee county, Illi- nois, where he bought eighty acres of land on which he farmed successfully twenty years, improving it until it became a valuable property and which he sold to advantage in April, 1877, with a view to removing to Kan- sas. Chartering three cars in Chicago, he loaded them with cattle, hogs, horses, farm- ing utensils and household goods and pro-

ceeded as rapidly as possible to his point of destination. He bought the east half of section 10, in Salt Creek township, and at once set about breaking one hundred acres, which was the first land broken in the town- ship and which he sowed to wheat. He rent- ed forty acres nearby which he planted with corn. He bought lumber at Hutchinson, at fifty-five dollars per thousand feet, and built a house which cost him a thousand dol- lars and was considered a fine residence in that new country at that time and which was distinguished as the second erected in the township. With the assistance of his son he farmed successfully, raising wheat and corn principally and was successful in handling hogs and short-horned cattle. In the season of 1879, he and his older boys, each operating a header, harvested thirteen hundred and sixty acres of wheat. When he settled on his farm there was not a tree any- where in sight and he was obliged to haul posts for his stable, sheds and other out- buildings from Medicine Loge, seventy- five miles away, each round trip consuming about a week. He had to make that long and arduous journey several times. Of late he has experimented to some extent with alf- alfa and with many other farmers in his lo- cality believes that it will prove one of the most valuable crops that can be raised here. In 1898 he bought three town lots in Hutch- inson, upon which he moved a residence which he had purchased and which had for- merly occupied a site in another part of the town. In a sense he is retired from active life, but he gives close attention to the man- agement of his agricultural interests. Some time since he suffered a partial stroke of par- alysis, from which he never fully recovered. Poltically he acts with the Democrats when state and national questions are under con- sideration, but is an independent voter of local candidates. Though he and his good wife are able to take life easy and have reached an age when most people -do so they continue in a measure to lead active lives from force of habit.

James M. and Sarah ( McDonald) Campbell have had five sons and one daughter, but their daughter and one son

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are deceased. Their son William is married and is a successful farmer in Reno county. John H., formerly a progressive farmer of Stafford county, Kansas, where he still owns a good farm, is now employed in a large dry- goods store in Kansas City, Missouri. James C. is prospering as a contractor and builder at Aurora, Illinois. Perry L. was formerly a school teacher, but is now a suc- cessful farmer in Salt Creek township, Reno county, Kansas.

CHARLES HEDRICK.

For many years Charles Hedrick was in the railway service but is now an attendant at the state insane asylum at Osawatomie, capably discharging his duties toward the unfortunate wards of the commonwealth. He was born in Taylorville, Illinois, Au- gust 2, 1852. It is thought that the grand- father, Jacob Hedrick, was a native of Ger- many and became the founder of the fam- ily in the United States. John E. Hed- rick, the father of our subject, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, November 16, 1829, and was a carpenter by trade. When only a boy he went from his na- tive state to Illinois and was bound out un- til twenty-one years of age. On attaining his majority he was married, January 9. 1850. in Sangamon county, Illinois, to Sarah E. Morris, who was born in that state, a daughter of John Morris, a farmer of San- gamon county, where he made his home for many years and died at a ripe old age. He was one of the leading men of that section of the state and was of Scotch and English descent.

After his marriage John E. Hedrick fol- lowed the carpenter's trade until the break- ing out of the Civil war, when he enlisted, in 1861, at Peoria, Illinois, in the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry. Previous to this time, in 1858, he had removed to Missouri with the intention of locating there permanently, but was driven out on account of his strong Union sentiments, which were not popu- lar in the section of the state in which

he located. He began his military career with the rank of second lieutenant and saw four years of nearly constant ser- vice. He participated in the battle of Shiloh and numerous other engagements and was discharged at Jackson, Mississippi, on ac- count of partial paralysis as a result of the concussion of heavy artillery fire. After the war he entered the United States revenue service and for years acted as gauger. In 1884 he came to Kansas, locating in Hutch- inson, and purchased thirty-five acres of land, all now within the city limits. Here he engaged in raising fruit and vegetables until the time of his death, which occurred December 13, 1891. His wife survived him until September 12, 1899, when she, too, passed away. In his political views Mr. Hedrick was a radical Republican and at one time took a very active part in politics. He entertained strong temperance principles which he exemplified in his life, and socially he was connected with the Odd Fellows So- ciety for forty years, while with Hooker Post, G. A. R., of Hutchinson, he also held membership.

Charles E. Hedrick is the only child. He was educated in the public and high schools of Peoria and later was graduated in Bry- ant & Stratton's College, in that city. His course in the last named institution, however, was not consecutive, for he left the college in order to enter railway service. But at the age of eighteen years he returned and completed the work that fitted him for practi- cal business duties. Again entering the railroad employ, he acted as brakeman for about three years and was then promoted to the position of conductor, in which capacity he served continuously until about 1894. He was first employed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, his run being from Peoria to Chicago. Later he accepted a po- sition with the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw, running from Peoria to a point one hundred and eleven miles distant in Indiana. He continued in that position until 1876, when he went to Creston, Iowa, and entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, running from Creston to Council Bluffs, one hundred and one miles. For

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seven years he traveled over that route and was then transferred to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was located for about a year and a half, still with the same company. On the expiration of that period he removed to Min- neapolis and was conductor on a train run- ning between Minneapolis and Albert Lea, in the employ of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company. Sub- sequently he was connected with sev- eral other companies and then went to Idaho, but remaining there only a short time came to Kansas, where he aided in the construction of the Hutchinson & Southern Railroad. On its completion he took charge of a passenger train as conductor and acted in that capacity until 1894, when he resign- ed, having devoted twenty consecutive years to the different railroads. With the exception of three years spent as brakeman, through- out the entire period he was employed as a conductor.

In 1895 Mr. Hedrick accepted a posi- tion on the police force of Hutchinson and for four years was assistant marshal, rendering efficient and faithful service in maintaining law and order in the commun- ity and in apprehending the offenders who disregarded the rights and liberties of their fellow men. In 1900 he was appointed an attendant in the state asylum at Osawato- mie, Kansas, and has since been in care of the unfortunate people in the epileptic ward. There are now one hundred and twenty-five attendants in an institution which was found- ed only thirty-five years ago. The build- ings are thoroughly modern and were erected at a cost of three-fourths of a million dollars. The grounds contain three hundred and twenty acres and the institution has ten hundred and forty inmates.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 73

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