A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 77

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 77

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

deacon. His wife also held membership in that organization and both commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom they were associated. The father died in Peoria county, Illinois, at the age of sixty- seven years, and the mother passed away in the same county, when sixty-four years of age. Unto them were born nine children: Mrs. Sarah J. Bishop, wife of our subject ; H. H .; Helen N .; Cynthia Z .; Justin Mead; one who died in infancy; De Witt C .; W. W .; and the youngest, who also passed away in infancy.

After his marriage Mr. Bishop, of this review, resided for a time in Peoria county, Illinois, and then removed to Eaton county, Michigan, where he carried on farming in the midst of the forest, developing a good property. In 1882, however he sold that place and in February of 1883 he came to Rice county, Kansas, where he has since made his home. Here he began farming op- erations and everything went along smoothly until May 6, 1889, when his home was blown to splinters by a cyclone. He lost not only his property but his furniture was also destroyed, together with many souve- nirs and keepsakes which he valued highly. One of his sons had his leg broken in the storm. With characteristic energy Mr. Bishop erected a new residence, which now stands in the midst of a beautiful lawn adorned with vines and other evergreen trees. On the farm is a fine grove and a bearing orchard. The timber tract com- prises thirty five acres and there is a grove of two thousand walnut trees. Barns and outbuildings afford ample shelter for grain and stock, and the farm, comprising three hundred and twenty acres, is one of the valu- able and attractive country seats of Rice county.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop has been blessed with five children: Milton B., who was born in Eaton county, Michi- gan. married Miss Cora M. Greenfield and has one child, Waneta V. : Lillie, the wife of H. E. Bishop, of Rice county, and has one chil.1, Lerin Estelle: and Adelbert C., the youngest, is now a youth of thirteen years. They also lost two children: Luella C. and

an infant daughter. Mr. Bishop is an advo- cate of the Populist party and is recognized as one of the leaders of this party in his locality. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability have frequently called him to public office. He has filled the posi- tion of township clerk and trustee, and for the third term he is serving as justice of the peace. His rulings are strictly fair and im- partial and thus he has "won golden opin- ions from all sorts of people." In the Chris- tian church he is serving as elder, and his wife and youngest son and daughter also hold membership in the same organization. Mr. Bishop is found a champion of the causes of temperance and religion and of every movement that tends to uplift human- ity and promote the general good. His word is as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal, and both in public and private life he bears an unassail- able reputation.

GEORGE AVERY.

For many years Reno county has num- bered George Avery among its most promi- nent and progressive citizens. He is the founder of the city of Avery, which was established on a part of his farm on the 6th of March, 1885, and to his zeal and 1111- tiring efforts Reno county owes much of its prosperity and advancement. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business, and in his dealings he is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellow men.

A native of the Prairie state, Mr. Avery was born in Galesburg, Knox county, Illi- nois, on the 9th of April, 1854. He traces his ancestry back to Christopher Avery, who with his only son, afterward known as Cap- tain Joe Avery, came to the United States from England with Governor Winthrop, landing in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1630. They afterward located in Groton, Con- necticut, where they spent their remaining

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days. The son was born about 1620. The great-grandfather of our subject was Abra- ham Avery, who was the sixth son of Cap- tain Thomas Avery, who was born in New London, Connecticut, in 1690. The grand- father, William Thomas Avery, was also born in New London, on the 19th of Janu- ary, 1764, and died on the 10th of Novem- ber, 1820. George Avery, the father of our subject, was a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in New Lebanon, December 2, 1802, and his death occurred in Galesburg, Illinois, December 31, 1886. In Knoxville, that state, in 1838, he was united in marriage to Miss Saraphena Princess Mary Phelps, who was born in Massachusetts. They became the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to years of maturity. The eldest, Robert H., was born January 7, 1840, and died while on a trip to California, in 1892, leaving a large fortune to his six children. He was the inventor of the Avery machine and was also president of the Avery Manufacturing Co., until his death. During the Civil war he served as a soldier in the Seventy-sev- enth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, remain- ing in the service for three years, and during that time he was incarcerated in Andersonville and other prisons for seven months. The second of the family, John Thomas Avery, was born on the 25th of December, 1841, and is now a wealthy farmer and stock dealer of Galesburg, Illi- nois. Mary, who was born August 13, IS44, is the wife of William R. Butcher, a native of England, and a prominent min- ister of the Congregational church. They now have five children. Cyrus Minor, born January 19, 1846, is president of the Avery Manufacturing Company, of Peoria, Illi- nois. Phebe was born on the 21st of De- cember, 1848. The subject of this review is the next in order of birth, and the youngest child, Frederick Arthur, was born in 1857, and died on the 25th of Novem- ber, 1860. The mother of this family was called to her final rest December 21, 1891. After coming to this locality Mr. Avery fol- lowed ranching, becoming a prominent farmer, and his large red barn was erected

in 1894 from cottonwood timbers which were sawed from trees planted by him. They were prominent and well-to-do people and were honored and respected by all who knew them.

George Avery, the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in an academy in Galesburg, Knox county, Illinois. On the 5th of April, 1881 at Galesburg. Illinois, he was united in marriage with Miss Ada Adeil Wood, who was born in Quincy, Illinois, on the 29th of January, 1856, a daughter of John and Emily (Fish) Wood. Her ma- ternal grandmother was a member of the Morgan family and was a native of Groton, Connecticut. Mrs. Wood was born in Ca- yuga county, New York, October 12, 1816, and was married on the 14th of January, 1833, her husband being a native of the Empire state. They afterward removed to Illinois, locating near Quincy, where he en- gaged in agricultural pursuts. Their un- ion was blessed with eight children, only three of whom grew to years of maturity, namely: Ambrose F., who is an extensive stock dealer in Missouri, and has two sons and one daughter; Mary, who became the wife Mathias Crum and died in Farmer City, Illinois, leaving three children; and Ada Adell, who became the wife of our sub- ject. She was educated in a female college at Elmira, New York, and also graduated from a commercial college on the 7th of March, 1878. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Avery have been born the following children : George, born January 3, 1882, died at the age of two years ; Princess, born August 16, 1883. died October 13, 1884; Edith Lu- ella, born March 16, 1885, is now a young lady of sixteen years; Saraphena Princess Mary, was born April 21, 1887: Phebe Em- ily, was born August 20, 1888; George, was born February 19, 1890; and Caspar W., was born October 18, 1895. Mrs. Avery is a lady of culture and refinement, and since the age of twenty-four years she has been a successful and popular teacher of instru- mental music. During the World's Colum- bian Exposition she accompanied the Kan- sas Jubilee Singers to Chicago.

When twenty-one years of age Mr.

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Avery cast his lot with the pioneer settlers of the golden west, and has nobly per- formed his share of the work necessary to produce the wonderful change which has taken place in this favored section. In the spring of 1875 he located a timber claim in Reno county, and he also set out trees for two other claims for his father and brother. His farm is located on section 10, Walnut township, and on a portion of his land is located the beautiful little town of Avery, which stands as a monument to his thrift and industry. He is now serving as the postmaster of the town, having held that responsible position for the past sixteen years. His political support is given the Re- publican party, and he keeps well informed on the issues of the day, thus being able to give an intelligent support to the ques- tions which come up for consideration. Al- though never an office seeker, he has a num- ber of times served as a delegate to state con- ventions. Of the United Brethren church the family are worthy and consistent mem- bers. As a citizen and business man he stands among the first citizens of Reno coun- ty, and his name should occupy a prominent place on the pages of the history of his adopted state.

GILBERT H. STONE.

The proprietor of one of the fine stock ranches of central Kansas, Gilbert H. Stone, maintains his residence at Nickerson and from that point superintends his extensive business interests, in which he is meeting with good success. He was born in Medina county, Ohio, August 30, 1845. His grand- father, William A. Stone, removed from Connecticut to Rochester, New York, and thence to Ohio, where he died at the age of sixty-nine years. He wedded Elizabeth Branch, and they reared three sons and six daughters, but all are now deceased with the exception of Lucy E., who is now a widow and resides in Ohio, aged eighty years. One of her brothers, William B. Stone, died in the Buckeye state at the age

of ninety-one years. Orson Stone, the fa- ther of our subject, was born in Connecti- cut, on the 8th of August, 1809, and his death occurred in Medina county, Ohio, in 1893. When three years of age he was ta- ken by his parents to Rochester, New York, and in 1832 the family located in Ohio, re- moving to that state when it was yet a wil- derness. He was there married, in 1842, at the age of thirty-eight years, to Asenas Kimber, a native of New York, and they had three children: Gilbert H., the subject of this review ; William A. anl Levi A. The second son was born in 1849 and was a cabinet maker by occupation. His death oc- curred in Ohio, in 1898, and he is survived by his wife and one daughter. The young- est son is still residing in the Buckeye state, and is engaged in farming on the old home- stead, which at the father's death was divid- ed between the three sons. He is married and has five children.

Gilbert H. Stone received his early edu- cation in the common schools of his native place, but in later life he has greatly added to his knowledge by observation, reading and practical experience. When the trouble arose between the north and the south his loyalty to his country asserted itself and he valiantly offered his services to the Union cause, but on account of his youth they were rejected. He remained at home and worked upon the old farm, of which he had charge until he was twenty-three years of age, and he also farmed a portion of it until he reached his thirty-third year. In 1867 he was united in marriage with Miss Maranda J. Patterson, a daughter of Robert Patter- son, who entered the war of 1812 at the early age of sixteen years. His death oc- curred in 1848, leaving two sons and six daughters. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Rosanna McIntyre, and after her hus- band's death she was again married, but had no children by her second union. Her death occurred in Ohio, at the age of sev- enty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have become the parents of six children, namely : Robert, who is engaged in farming in Mis- souri, is married and has three children; Lillian O., who attended school at Emporia

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and also the Great Bend Normal, is now a successful and popular teacher, and has fol- lowed that profession in Hutchinson and in the district schools : Walter O. is engaged in farming operations ; Roy H., who for three years was a student in the Nickerson Nor- mal College, is now in the shops at Akron, Ohio; Clarence A., who is also attending college, is a youth of seventeen years ; and Pearl G. is a young lady of fifteen years.

In the year 1878 Mr. and Mrs. Stone took up their abode in Kansas, first locating on one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land, and later pre-empted eighty acres in Huntsville township. In 1884 he sold that farm, but soon afterward bought another, which he also disposed of, and in March, 1901, he took up his residence in Nickerson, where he now owns a good home and three blocks of land. In addition to his city prop- erty he also owns eighty acres west of Nick- erson and one hundred and sixty acres in Hayes township, where he is extensively en- gaged in the raising of a good grade of stock, dealing in horses, cattle and hogs. He now has about twenty-three horses and mules on his place. His land is under a high state of cultivation, and he is accounted one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of this locality. His political support is given the Republican party, and he is an ac- tive and efficient worker in its ranks, believ- ing firmly in the principles set forth by its platform. Mr. Stone is truly a self-made man, and as the architect of his own for- tunes he has builded wisely and well, plac- ing his confidence in those reliable qualities of energy, industry and honesty which in the end never fail to bring the merited re- ward.

DAVID BOYCE.

David Boyce, who followed farming near Sterling, represented a family widely and favorably known in this locality. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, near Fair- haven, on the 25th of January, 1826. His father, Robert Boyce, was a native of South Carolina, born in a fort. on the 2d of Aug-

ust, 1776,-the memorable year in which the nation declared its independence. He became a pioneer settler of Ohio and there spent his remaining days, his death occur- ring in 1847. He first married Miss Mc- Gaw, and after her death, wedded Rachel Latti. They reared five of their seven chil- dren, two of whom are yet living: J. L. Boyce, who is upon the home farm; and Mary J.

The subject of this review was reared in the state of his nativity and in 1858 went to Iowa, where he owned and operated an eighty-acre farm near Keokuk, continuing its cultivation until 1875, when he came to Kansas and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of school land, near Sterling, for three dollars and a half per acre. He with his brother and sister lived in Iowa to- gether and together they came to the Sun- flower state. His brother married Mrs. Wolley, a widow, but they had no children. The brother, the sister-in-law and sister all lived together as one family and the relation between them was one of utmost harmony. The brothers carried on general farming, raising wheat and corn. For a number of years they were engaged in the production of broomcorn, but the low price that was paid for that product led them to discon- tinue its cultivation. They carried on farm- ing along progressive lines and the richly cultivated fields of the homestead of our sub- ject insured him a golden reward for his care and labor. He supported the Repub- lican party, as does also his brother, casting their ballots to further its interests. He also belonged to the Presbyterian church in Ster- ling and was deeply interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and substantial progress of the community. Not only was he numbered among the early settlers of this portion of the state, but was among the worthy and highly respected citizens, en-

tirely free from ostentation, and his com- mendable characteristics won for him the esteem of all with whom he was associated. These statements also hold good in the case of his brother, with whom he was so long and intimately associated, having had a home in common, as he never married. Mr. Boyce

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was summoned into eternal rest on the 13th of November, 1901, and his death was sin- cerely mourned in the community where he had so long made his home and where his sterling worth of character was duly appre- ciated.

JOSEPH McPEEK.

The influential citizen of Kingman, Kan- sas, whose name is above is police judge of the city of Kingman and ex-probate judge of Kingman county. His residence is at Broadway and G street, Kingman, and he has a fine farm in Dresden township. Judge McPeek was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, August 28, 1837, a son of William and Re- becca (Bowers) McPeek, natives of that county. Daniel McPeek, father of Rev. William McPeek and grandfather of Joseph McPeek, was born in New Jersey and be- came a pioneer in Guernsey county, Ohio, where he took up government land. He married Lydia Osborn, a native of the state of New York. His son, William McPeek. became a minister of the Baptist church and spent forty-five years in ministerial work in Washington, Guernsey and Noble counties, Ohio, living most of the time in Noble coun- ty, where he died in January, 1901. In pol- itics he was a Democrat. His wife, who died in 1885, bore him seven children : Elias, a farmer in Hardin county, Ohio; Eli, a farmer in Noble county, Ohio; Allen, a farmer and millwright and lives in Wood county, West Virginia; Joseph, the immedi- ate subject of this sketch; Philip, who died in West Virginia, where he founded a home and left a family ; Jane, who died at the age of eighteen years; Mary, the deceased wife of William Springer. of Noble county, Ohio.

Judge Joseph McPeek was carefully reared by his father, the Rev. William Mc- Peek, who owned a good farm in Ohio and who afforded the boy a good common-school education which he supplemented personally by systematic instruction. He early devel- oped a taste and talent for music and gave much attention to musical study and at the age of twenty-one began teaching vocal mu- sic during the winter months and continued

to work on the farm during the remainder of the year. Eventually he secured a small farm of forty-five acres, which was his home until he removed to Kansas in September, 1878, and filed a claim on the northwest quarter of section 34, Dresden township, Kingman county, which he improved and still owns and which is regarded as one of the finest farms in the Ninnescah valley. His first residence was a two-room sod house, covering a ground space of fourteen by twenty-six feet and which had a roof of brush and slough grass covered over with dirt. In that little house he lived about ten years, devoting himself to general farming and stock-raising. It should be stated that he was one of the first in his vicinity to un- dertake horticulture on an extended scale. In 1888 his fine young orchard of thirty acres, just becoming fruitful, was destroyed by a cyclone and hailstorm, the trees being literally stripped of bark and foliage. He at once planted an orchard of four acres, in which he has a carefully chosen variety of fruits, which the moist bottom land of the valley brings to perfection. This orchard, though small, is considered one of the best in the county. He gave much attention to grading stock and still keeps on his farm about fifty head of high grade short-horn cattle.

Judge McPeek lived on his farm until 1894, when he was elected probate judge of Kingman county, to which he was re-elected in 1896 and thus has served two full terms. He was elected to his present office, that of police judge of the city of Kingman, in 1899. Since entering upon his official career he has divided his time between his office and his farm, which is under the supervision of his son, W. S. McPeek, and which is one of the best in the county, consisting of fertile bottom land and equipped with every mod- ern improvement, including a fourteen by twenty-eight foot, two-story residence, a sixteen by twenty-eight foot barn, ample corn cribs, granaries and sheds, while a good living spring of water adds to its value as a stock farm. The whole place is well fenced and is divided into fields of meadow, pasture and tilled land.

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During his twenty-three years' residence in Kingman county Judge McPeek has been prominently identified with its growth and development and has taken an important part in its social, moral and religious prog- ress. While living on his farm he served two terms as trustee of Dresden township and two terms as township treasurer and assisted in the organization of school district No. 26, in which he was one of the first directors, serving in that capacity until he removed to Kingman. He was one of the incorporators and was vice-president and treasurer of the town company that platted the town of Cun- ningham. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and acted consistently with the Republican party until 1892, when he joined the reform movement, since which time he has supported the Populist ticket. A life-long member of the Baptist church, he has filled the office of deacon for thirty-five years, and as a member of the First Baptist church of Kingman he is especially promi- nent in the religious work of the town and has long taken a leading part in Sunday- school work. For twenty years of his life he has been a Sunday-school superintendent and he was one of the organizers of the Union Baptist church at Maud schoolhouse in district No. 25.

Judge McPeek, who is a veteran of the Civil war, is a member of Kingman Post, No. 263. Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has filled most of the chairs and which he has served several times in the office of chaplain. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Company K. Ninety-second Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served as corporal until March, 1865, when he was discharged for disability, after nearly three years' continuous experience of war in the southern states. After taking part in a pre- liminary campaign he participated in the sec- ond fight at Fort Donelson. From there his regiment made its way up the Cumberland valley to Nashville and from there to Car- thage, skirmishing all the way. From Car- thage it went to Murfreesboro and took part in a lively fight near that place. After that it participated in the pursuit of Bragg, and after a fight at Hoover's Gap went southeast

toward Chickamauga and participated in six days' heavy skirmishing before the battle of Chickamauga. After that the regiment was stationed at Chattanooga, where Judge Mc- Peek saw three months of guard duty and took part in occasional irregular engage- ments. At Missionary Ridge he received a musket ball in his side, and after being in hospital twelve days at Buzzard Roost and Ringgold he was sent home on a thirty days' sick furlough. At the expiration of his fur- lough he promptly started for the seat of war and had proceeded as far as Nashville when he was stopped by a surgeon as unfit for duty and sent to a hospital at Louisville, Kentucky. From there he went to Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio, where for a time he did such light duty as came within his physical ability. He was at Atlanta with Sherman and his regiment followed that great general in his historic march to the sea, but he was unable to take part in that movement and was finally honorably dis- charged at Camp Dennison at the date men- tioned.

April 8, 1858, Judge McPeek married, in Monroe county, Ohio, Miss Jane Gard- ner, daughter of Samttel and Amelia (Jones) Gardner, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, June 9, 1834. Mrs. McPeek's parents were natives of Virginia and they settled in Ohio at an early day. Joseph and Jane (Gardner) McPeek have had seven children, the following information concern- ing whom will be of interest in this connec- tion: Louisa is the wife of James Vermil- lion, a farmer, who lives in Rural township; Isaphene married Charles Cooley, of Dres- den township; Andrew F. is an officer in the state reformatory at Hutchinson, Kansas; Samuel lives on his father's home farm; Mary is the wife of William Cooley, of Dresden township; Viola married Robert Cates, who is a hardware merchant at Kingman; Bessie, who is a member of her parents' household, is a graduate of the high school of Kingman, and is now a clerk in a leading store in the town.

Judge McPeek is a progressive. up-to- date man who is popular because he is use- ful and agreeable and who bends his energies

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to the advancement of the public good be- cause he has a heartfelt interest in the people at large and wants to see all of them prosper in every legitimate way. In business and public affairs of importance his advice is sought and it is followed by his fellow citi- zens with full confidence because it has been proven good in many emergencies. He is a man of warm and ready sympathies and has been to many a man such a "friend in need" as is truly a "friend .indeed."

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 77

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