A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 84

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 84

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a half section of land on section 2, township 19, range 12, in what is now Lakin town- ship. After two years he purchased section 2, township 19, range 14, of Mr. Annis, but his health failed him and he came to Great Bend, where he has since engaged in the real-estate business, handling much valuable city and country property.

Captain Lewis was born in Holmes coun- ty, Ohio, August 9, 1842, and is a son of Dr. B. S. Lewis, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and came to Barton county, Kansas, in 1874. Here he engaged in practice throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in 1881, at the age of sixty-two years. He married Emily Mack- erell, a daughter of Commodore Mackerell, and her death occurred when she was sixty- four years of age, only three days prior to her husband's demise.

Captain Lewis of this review was taken by his parents to Illinois during his early boyhood and was there reared. After com- pleting his education in the public schools he entered upon his business career as a clerk in a drug store and subsequently filled a sim- ilar position in a dry goods store at Clinton, Illinois. In 1862, however, he severed his connection with mercantile interests and en- gaged in military service, enlisting as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry. He was first pro- moted to the rank of sergeant and became second lieutenant of the company, while on the 23d of February, 1866, he was made lieutenant of the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry, with which command he went to Arizona. Later he returned to Kansas, where he engaged in farming, being thus occupied until failing health caused him to abandon the work of the fields, since which time he has given his energies to the real- estate, loan and insurance business. To a degree scarcely recognized by the casual ob- server the upbuilding and development of a community is due to the enterprising real- estate agent. Through his efforts many are induced to settle in town or county, and thus the work of upbuilding, progress and devel- opment is carried on. Along many lines Captain Lewis has contributed to the im-

provement of the section of the state in which he is located. He is a man of re- sourceful business ability and carries for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and his service in connection with varied business affairs has been of great benefit to the public. He was instrumental in sinking the Barton gas wells. They, how- ever, found salt instead of gas, the well yielding a flow of seven hundred gallons per hour. He labored earnestly and successfully . for the bonding of the town for the salt plant and carried the bonds until the enter- prise was abandoned. He was also one of the leaders in the establishment of the foun- dry now owned by G. H. Hulme.

Captain Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Morton, a daughter of the Rev. Jester Morton, of Iowa. Their chil- dren are: Paul, Charles E., Lawrence L. and Thaddeus A. The Captain is a member of the Grand Army Post at Great Bend, of the Masonic fraternity, of the Knights of Pythias, of the Sons of Veterans and of the Knights and Ladies of Security. His home is a fine residence in Great Bend, and both he and his wife are popular people, enjoying the warm regard of many friends. Captain Lewis is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concerns with which he is connected a large degree of prosperity. In business cir- cles he sustains an unassailable reputation and the part which he has played in public affairs in Great Bend has interwoven his name inseparably to the history of Barton county.

FRANK A. BATES.

White Bluff ranch is one of the best farms of Ellsworth county, complete in its appointments, attractive in its surroundings and supplied with all the modern accessories which indicate the supervision of a progress- ive owner. It is located on section 2, town- ship 16, range 7, and is owned by Frank A. Bates, who is one of the prominent and well known stock men of central Kansas. He

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has about three thousand acres of land, of which four hundred acres is devoted to agri- culture, while the remainder is used for graz- ing purposes.

However, half the width of the con- tinent separates Mr. Bates from his native state, for he was born in Massachusetts, on the 5th of July, 1852. His youth was passed in the city of Boston, where his father was engaged in the importing carpet business, being one of the leaders in that line in the east, carrying on both a wholesale and retail trade. He came of old New England an- cestry, the family having long been prom- inent in that section of the country. The parents were Russell and Margaret K. (Shaw) Bates, in whose family were four children. Two of the daughters survive and are residents of the east.

Frank A. Bates spent his youth in Bos- ton, attending the city schools, and when eighteen years of age was graduated in the high school. Subsequently he spent two years in travel and study in Europe, prepar- atory to entering Harvard College, in which lie matriculated in 1873, being graduated in 1877. with the degree of bachelor of arts. After completing his University course. he accepted a clerical position in New York city, but, deciding to identify his interests with those of the great and growing west, he made his way to Kansas in February, 1879, and in 1882 he located in Ellsworth county, where he invested in government, railroad and school lands, turning his atten- tion to the sheep-raising business, which he carried on very extensively. However, this enterprise did not prove entirely satisfactory. and after four years connection therewith he began raising cattle, to which he has since given his attention. He is recognized as one of the most successful cattle men of Ells- worth county and his operations have at- tained considerable magnitude, for he han- dles from six to eight hundred head an- nually. He has paid considerable attention to the grading of his herd, using registered Herefords for breeding purposes until he now has only high bred stock. Mr. Bates has made all of the improvements upon his place, including the erection of a commodi-

ous and comfortable residence and substan- tal barns and outbuildings. He is a man of strong purpose, indefatigable energy and splendid business ability and carries forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes.

Twice married, it was on the 6th of De- cember, 1877, in the city of Boston, that Mr. Bates was joined in wedlock to Miss Ada M. Bearce, a daughter of H. M. Bearce, who was prominently known in official circles in Boston, in which city the daughter was reared and educated. She died May 8, 1880, leaving three sons,-Russell, Lindon D. and Horace C. The last named is now engaged in mercantile business which was founded by his grandfather, Russell Bates, while the other sons assist our subject in the conduct of the home farm in Kansas. On the 22d of October, 1884. Mr. Bates was again mar- ried, his second union being with Kate M. Clark, a native of Vermont. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but his business interests have always made too great demands upon his time to allow him to take an active part in political affairs, and the only office he has ever accepted has been that of treasurer of the school district, in which capacity he served for several years. The cause of education receives his hearty co-operation and all movements for the gen- eral good are given his warm endorsement. Fraternally he is a Scottish-rite Mason, and Knight Templar, and in his life he exempli- fies the beneficent spirit of the craft. He is one of the most prominent and progressive citizens of the county, a man of broad schol- arly attainments and strong individuality. Equipped for life by training in the best ed- ticational institutions of the land, he could undoubtedly have filled positions of promi- nence in public or private life, but his tastes and inclinations were thoroughly in sym- pathy with western life and business enter- prises in this section of the country. He sought a wide field for operation upon the plains of Kansas and entered upon the stock business, an industry upon which the pros- perty of the country largely rests as a sure foundation. He has been particularly suc-

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cessful in the raising of cattle and horses and is a lover of the noble steed, always keeping some fine roadsters for his own use. His attractive home indicates the culture and refinement of the inmates in its appoint- ments and tasteful furnishings and its gra- cious hospitality and good cheer are enjoyed by many friends.

JOSEPH A. SMITH.

Nature is bountiful in the opportunities which she affords to man. In every section of this vast land she has given to him oppor- tunity to carry on some productive work which will yield a good return. Central Kansas is one of the wheat producing sec- tions in our nation and the broad prairies of the state also afford ample opportunity to thie stock-raiser. Both as an agriculturist and stock-raiser J. A. Smith is carrying on business that is bringing to him an excellent financial return. He came to Rice county in 1879. and has never had occasion to re- gret his choice of a location for a home. With firm faith in its future he began the work of developing a farm here, and his labors have been carried on so energetically that he is to-day numbered among the most prosperous and progressive farmers in this portion of the state.

Mr. Smith was born in Franklin county, Vermont, on the 10th of December, 1845. His father. Allen Smith, was also a native of the Green Mountain state and belonged to an old family noted for industry, honesty and morality. He married Miss Annis Rice, who was born in Vermont and likewise rep- resented an ancestry honorable and distin- guished. Her father was Levi Rice, whose birth occurred in the Green Mountain state. After residing for some years in New Eng- land Allen Smith and his family removed westward. taking up their abode in Will county, Illinois, near Joliet, in the year 1855. They were among the early settlers there and the father developed and improved sev- eral farms. thus aiding largely in the work ·of upbuilding and substantial improvement

in the county. His wife died at the age of seventy-five years, but he reached the ven- erable age of eighty-six years. In his politi- cal views he was a- Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, their lives being in har- many with their professions, winning for them the confidence and regard of all with whom they were associated. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom ten are living, namely: Elvira, who lives in Minnesota : Warner, who was a soldier in the Civil war and is now living in Wright county, Minnesota; Edgar, who also de- fended his country as a member of the Union army and is also a resident of Wright county ; Edna Laura; Joseph A., of this re- view: Ezra: Oscar; Silas; Emma; and Olive, who died at the age of thirty-five years.

Joseph A. Smith was reared in Vermont until ten years of age, and then accompan- ied his parents on their emigration to the west, after which he lived upon his father's farm in Will county, Illinois. He was early taught the power of industry and the value of honesty in the practical affairs of life. He acquired his education in the public schools and through experience in the busi- ness world, supplemented by reading in leisure hours. When a young man he sought as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Jane E. Ashton, and in Will county, Illinois, in 1876, they were married. She was born in Vermont and is a daughter of Thomas and Marian ( Mc- Clure ) Ashton, also natives of the Green Mountain state. Mrs. Smith was only three years of age when she removed to Will coun- ty, Illinois. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ashton was blessed with seven children, but only four are now living : Daniel, who was a soldier in the Civil war, serving with the Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and is now a resident of Nickerson, Kansas ; Mrs. Smith; Mrs. Caroline Hoover, of Alden, Kansas : and Myron, of Minnesota. Three of the number passed away : Sidney, who died in early manhood; and Maggie and Joshua, who died in childhood. The father devoted his attention and energies to farming and

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thus provided for the support of his wife and children. He died at the age of sixty- three years, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a mem- ber. His wife is also identified with the same church and is now living at the age of eighty-two years.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with two children, Rosetta and Arthur J., both at home. Our subject continued his residence in Illinois until 1879, when he resolved to establish a home in Kansas and came to Rice county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Center township, and to-day he is the owner of one of the best farms in this locality. An enumeration of the improve- ments upon the place include a good resi- dence, a barn, a grove and orchard and the latest improved machinery, the improve- ments costing about three thousand dollars. There are over two hundred trees upon the place, and the residence, well shaded, stands upon a natural building site, commanding an excellent view of the surrounding coun- try. Mr. Smith also purchased and owns the Dave Burney farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He has also another tract of eighty acres, so that his landed possessions now aggregate four hundred acres and he owns a good residence and a block of land in Lyons. He is recognized as a very suc- cessful business man, possessing keen dis- cernnient and reliable judgment. These qualities are supplemented by fair and hon- orable dealing, by unflagging industry and by laudable ambition and have gained for him a handsome competence. He votes with the Republican party and is a stalwart ad- vocate of its measures, which he believes to contain the best elements of good govern- ment. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and, realizing the object of the church in its efforts to bene- fit mankind, they have given to it an earn- est support and are also in touch with its kindred movements of temperance and edu- cation. The life of Mr. Smith illustrates most clearly what can be accomplished by determined purpose. He was without capi- tal when he entered upon his business

career, yet to-day he is numbered among the most prosperous farmers of his community, and this is the result not of influence or the aid of friends, but is the legitimate outcome of his own well directed efforts, his un- flagging perseverance and industry and his zeal in business affairs.

ALBERT A. DEAN.

In every agricultural community of our country are men who, because of their thrift, their neatness, their enterprise and their success, are referred to as model farmers. They are to be found in all parts of Kansas. Among the model farmers of Reno county, none is better known than Albert A. Dean, of section 14, Medford township, whose postoffice is at Sterling.

The subject of this sketch was born at Angelica, Allegany county, New York, December 15, 1844, a son of Apollo and Wealthy (Lincoln) Dean. Apollo Dean was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1808, and his father was killed while fighting for his country in the war of 1812- 14. Wealthy Lincoln was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1817. Apollo Dean, who fought in the Black Hawk war and was dis- charged from the service at Buffalo, New York, married Wealthy Lincoln in Allegany county, New York, where her father was an early settler, having come out from Mas- sachusetts with an ox team. Apollo Dean became a well-to-do farmer and he and his good wife brought up their six sons and two daughters most worthily and all of their children are living except Frederick M., who became a lawyer and died in the prime of life at Attica, New York. Of the others, all except two, Charles O. Dean, of Okla- homa, and Clara Dean, who lives with an aunt in Boston, Massachusetts, are married and have children.

Albert A. Dean was educated in the common schools near his father's home in Allegany county, New York, and entered the normal school at Geneseo, Livingston county, that state. In April, 1861, he tried

Albert X Deam

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to enlist for service in the Federal army in the Civil war, but was rejected for the rea- son that he was under age. In September, following. he left school at Geneseo and en- listed in Company E, Eighty-fifth Regi- ment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He veteranized in the same regiment January 6, 1864, and altogether saw four years con- tinuous service. April 20, 1864, he was made a prisoner of war at Plymouth and was on the shore at that point when the Albemarle was sunk. He was confined in a prison pen at Andersonville eight months. After the close of the war he returned to Angelica, New York, and he is in receipt of a pension from the United States gov- ernment of ten dollars a month.

June 10, 1873, Mr. Dean filed a soldier's claim for a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Kansas, where at this time he owns five hundred and sixty acres. He does general farming, giving his special at- tention to wheat and corn. He was one of the first fruit growers in his vicinity, where he and J. B. Schlicter and W. Q. Elliott are regraded at having been the pioneers in that line. He has at this time about two thou- sand apple and peach trees and he gives some attention to stock raising. breeding horses and mules. He uses fourteen horses in the cultivation of his farm and usually has on hand from twenty to thirty head of cattle and is the owner of a Spanish jack of good pedigree. His farm is one of the richest and most fertile in the township and he gives such careful attention to it that he keeps it year after year in a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Dean was married, June 13, 1875. to Miss Emma Wheeler, daughter of J. O. Wheeler, a native of Indiana, now living in Nickerson Reno county, Kansas, but at that time a resident of Jasper county, Illi- nois, where the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dean was celebrated. They have had ten children seven of whom are living: Francis O., who lives in Oklahoma, enlisted as a soldier for service in the Philippines, and was for some time in camp at Chickamauga. He is married and has one child. Frederick E., unmarried, lives in San Francisco, Cali-

fornia. He also enlisted for service as a soldier in the Philippines. Orrel is a prom- ising young man of nineteen. Clara is sev- enteen years old, and the next in order of birth is Gilbert Lincoln Dean. Myette H. is nine years old and Elsie is two years old. Mr. Dean is a Republican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is also a Master Mason and belongs to the blue lodge at Nickerson, Kansas. A man of intelligence who keeps abreast with the times, he is enjoying in a most rational way the fruits of a well spent life. He takes a deep and abiding interest in public educa- tion and is a man of much public spirit who withholds his encouragement from no effort which he believes to be conducive to the public good.

GEORGE V. RADIEL.

Close identification with the agricul- tural and stock-raising interests of Ells- worth county has made George V. Radiel one of the substantial citizens of the com- munity. He resides on section 16, township 15, range 9, and his land, a tract of three hundred and sixty acres, lies both on sec- tions 16 and 17. The years as they have passed have brought to him prosperity in reward for his earnest endeavor, his unre- mitting diligence and unfaltering persever- ance.

Mr. Radiel is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Perry county, May 29, 1852, his parents being George and Rachel (Uhlrich) Radiel, both of whom were born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. The father was a well-to-do farmer and died in Perry county during the infancy of his son and namesake. The mother, with her family of six children, then returned to her girlhood's home in Dauphin county, where she was again married, becoming the wife of Isaac James, of that locality. A second time she was left a widow and since 1878 she has resided with her children in Kansas, now making her home with her son John in Salina, at the advanced age of eighty years.

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Of their six children five are living: Aman- da, the widow of Uriah Spatz and a resident of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania ; Mary, who is the widow of Phillip Schaffer and makes her home in Millersburg, Penn- sylvania; Louisa, the widow of Josiah Heni- inger, of Salina; John, who is living a re- tired life in Salina; Hannah, deceased wife of Samuel Sweigard, of Ellsworth county ; and George V., who was only nine months old at the time of his father's death. After being first left a widow the mother kept her children together, living upon the old Uhl- rich homestead in Dauphin county, which she inherited.

George V. Radiel, the subject of this re- view, remained with his mother until twelve years of age and then began earning his own living by driving a team along the tow- path of the Pennsylvania canal. Through four successive seasons he was employed on the Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake & Dela- ware and the Union & Juniata canals, mak- ing the cities on the Juniata canal from its junction with the Pennsylvania canal to Hollidaysburg ; from the Pennsylvania canal through the Union to Philadelphia; and on the Tidewater canal from Brightsville to Havre de Grace. During these years Mr. Radiel spent the winter months in his mother's home and attended the district schools. During the summer in which he was sixteen years of age he engaged in farm work for his brother-in-law in Dauphin county, and the following year he joined the bridgebuilding crew on the Northern Central Pennsylvania Railroad, with which he spent two years in building bridges. When ninteen years of age he engaged in coal mining in Lykenstown, Penn- sylvania, and the following year he began work at the stonemason's trade, of which he had previously gained some practical knowledge while doing bridge work for the railroad company. He served a two-years apprenticeship in Harrisburg and he became an expert work- man, after which he followed the trade in his native state until the spring of 1878, when he followed his brother John and his brother-in-law, Mr. Sweigard, to Ellsworth

county, they having made the journey two weeks previous. He had intended accom- panying them but the completion of a con- tract which he had on hand delayed him.

On the 25th of April, 1878, Mr. Radiel arrived in Ellsworth and at once secured a homestead of forty acres of the railroad land on the southwest quarter of section 28, township 16, range 6. Here he remained for one year, after which he sold that prop- erty and purchased from his brother John one hundred and sixty acres, on which are now located his residence and farm build- ings. He paid nine hundred dollars for the land, which was then unimproved save for a sod house and a broken tract of twenty acres. Mr. Radiel at once began the de- velopment of his place, erected a comfort- able frame residence and has since continued the work of improvement until the farnr is now one of the best in the locality. Here Mr. Radiel has since made his home, carry- ing on agricultural pursuits and stock-rais- ing with success, so that he has been enabled to add to his original purchase, his landed possessions now aggregating two hundred acres. He was formerly largely engaged in grazing cattle, but since it has become neces- sary to have the range fenced he has devoted considerable attention to the raising of wheat, for which the soil is splendidly adapted, his yield being from five to seven thousand bushels annually. In 1900 he erected his present attractive residence and other buildings and improvements on the place are in keeping with his modern dwell- ing.

On the 22d of May, 1873, at New Buf- falo, Perry county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Radiel was united in marriage to Miss Mag- gie E. Varnes, the widow of J. D. Varnes, of Pennsylvania. Her family name in maidenhood was Morris, and she is a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania. Seven chil- dren graced the union of our subject and his wife, but two of the number died in infancy. The others are: Rachel A., wife of Law- rence Grubb, of Ellsworth ; Charles C., who married Harriet Philips and is engaged in farming in Ellsworth county; Harry A., Samuel M. and John L., all at home. In his

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political views Mr. Radiel is a Republican, earnest and active in support of the party, and has served as a member of the Republi- can county central committee and as a dele- gate to the county and congressional con- ventions. For seven years he has satisfac- torily served as township trustee and the cause of education has found in him a friend, as he has exercised his official pre- rogatives as a member of the school board in behalf of the best interests of the schools of his neighborhood. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ellsworth. Although he is now one of the substantial farmers of the county he has experienced the adversities as well as the prosperity of life in Kansas, but his determination and resolute will have en- abled him to overcome all obstacles and work his way steadily upward. His life clearly illustrates what may be accomplished through strong purpose and straghtforward business methods and his example is well worthy of emulation.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 84

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