A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 90

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 90

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Rev. Solon P. Presby, of this record, was born in Bradford, New Hampshire, on October 8, 1832, but removed to Nashua in the same state, at the age of fourteen years. His education was carefully attended to, and he enjoyed one year of study in the Nashua Literary Institute, being thus well prepared for his later life of usefulness in the minis- try. For ten years Mr. Presby worked in the turning shop of one of the large mills in Nashua.

The marriage of Mr. Presby was a very important event in his career, uniting him, as it did, to a woman of rare skill, intelli- gence and of amiable character, who still survives as his cheerful and beloved com- panion. In June, 1859, Mr. Presby was married to Miss Lucina Austin, who was born at Highgate, Vermont, on March 20, 1833.and she is a daughter of Jesse and Sally (Griffin ) Austin, both of whom were natives of Milton, Vermont. They were farmers in easy circumstances and reared a family of six daughters and three sons, all of these in turn having families. The mother died at the age of fifty-one years.

Mrs. Presby had the usual schooling given young women at that time and until her mother's death passed her time in ac- quiring a knowledge of housewifery. Three years after the mother's death the father married again and then Lucina went to Nashua. New Hampshire, entering the cot- ton mill. She soon displayed skill in wear- ing and remained there for seven years. After her marriage she was urgently asked to return and complete the weaving of three pieces of cloth which were to be used in a

competition contest. This she did, finishing the beautiful work in two and one-half days, and for this she received twenty-five dollars, and the mill, one thousand dollars in premi- 11ms.

In the fall of 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Presby came to Chase county, Kansas, spending one year at Cottonwood Falls, one year in Mar- ion county, one year in Hutchinson, and twenty-eight years ago they came to their present homestead, consisting of one hun- dred and sixty acres, they, with their son, now owning three quarter sections.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pres- by were: Wilbur, who was born in Nashua forty-one years ago, and now lives in Law- rence, Kansas, being private secretary of J. B. Watson, of that city, has been thrice mar- ried and has one son and one daughter ; Myr- tle, a young lady who was educated in Tu- ron ; and two others who have passed away.

Mr. and Mrs. Presby were the very first settlers in this township and began life in the box house, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, which now forms a part of their modest home. It is situated back from the highway and is beautifully shaded by the sturdy trees which have survived the drouth of six excessively dry summers. They to- gether have passed through many vicissi- tudes, including the devastation wrought by the grasshoppers and repeated crop failures. Through these troubles the unfailing cour- age and cheerfulness of Mrs. Presby has been remarkable and she is almost venerated in her community for her wide charity and neighborly kindness. Necessity brings to the front many qualities individuals scarcely know they possess, and when arose the cry among her pioneer neighbors for help in time of sickness Mrs. Presby was ever ready to respond. No physician was near and it was the tender care of this good woman that smoothed the dying pillow and received the new-born babes among her neighbors for many years, and they can never forget. En- shrined in many a grateful heart is Lucina . Presby and her name is honored through this locality.

Mr. Presby has succesfully engaged in stock-raising. and now owns nine head of

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cattle of Jersey and Hereford grade, and keeps four horses and a saddle pony. For twenty-five years he has been a licensed min- ister in the Methodist church, both he and wife having held to the faith since youth. His first pastorate in this state was in Mar- ion county, his second in Hutchinson, where he was the first Methodist minister, at the same time having three other charges. After removing to his present home he was given the appointment to Castleton and was also instructed to take charge of three other points, his last work being at Halstead. Both he and wife have labored faithfully for others without recompense.

EDWARD C. WELLMAN.

Edward C. Wellman, the youngest son of J. W. Wellman, is a stock farmer, associ- ated with his father in business. He was born in Geneseo, New York, October I, 1875, and was there reared until five years of age, when the family came to Kansas, locating in Rice county. After a year a re- moval was made to the home farm on sec- tion 28, Valley township. The son was ed- ucated in Washburn College, of Topeka, and in the Cooper Memorial College, but laid aside his studies in order to enter his busi- ness career. When nineteen years of age he started out in life for himself, and in 1892, when many people became bankrupt in this locality, he purchased the title to and the claims against one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the old homestead, securing the same for one thousand dollars. He thus became owner of a property which he has developed into a very fine farm. His first shipment of Poland China hogs was seventy head and on these he netted seven dollars and seventy-five cents per hundred weight. The following year he had seven hundred acres of land planted to corn, broom corn and wheat, and his forty-four tons of broom corn brought him thirty-seven hun- dred and fifty dollars, he realizing from his various crops more than five thousand dol- lars. As time has passed he has made judi-

cious investments in real estate and now owns thirty-two hundred and twenty acres of land in Valley township, upon which ex- cellent improvements are found. He car- ried on farming operations until 1900 and is still in the cattle trade. He has fed as high as five hundred head of cattle a year and now handles from two to three hundred head annually. He has been breeding Hereford cattle and now owns some very fine stock. He owns some of the finest animals, with excellent pedigrees, to be found in this por- tion of the state. He is still engaged in farming, but rents most of his land and de- votes much of his time buying and selling land and cattle. He has a poetic, artistic nature and his library embraces the writings of most of the poets, especially those of America. He has a keen appreciation for both the useful and the beautiful. His splendid business ability is supplemented by a temperament that enables him to fully en- joy the writings of the great men, and such a taste cannot but influence his career. He is regarded as a young man of superior worth and is very popular with all who know him. In his political views he is a Prohibi- tionist. His genial manner and unfailing courtesy have gained for him a very large circle of friends and he enjoys the hospital- ity of the best homes of the county.

G. H. MOWERY.

G. H. Mowery possesses the true west- ern spirit of progress and enterprise. He belongs to that group of distinctively repre- sentative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating and building up the chief industries of this section of the coun- try. He is now one of the leading carpen- ters and contractors of Lyons, and the large patronage which has been accorded him is the just recompense of indomitable indus- try, spotless integrity and marvelous enter- prise.

Mr. Mowery was born in Huntington county, New Jersey, near New Brunswick. in 1848. His father, Peter Mowery, was

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born in Pennsylvania and was of German de- scent. When eight years of age he was ta- ken by his parents to New Jersey, and was there reared to manhood and learned the mason and stone cutter's trades. He became familiar with the business in all its details and was an expert workman. He died at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at the age of sixty-five years, and his wife departed this life at the age of sixty-three. They were the parents of four children .- John, who died at the age of four years: G. H., our subject : Frank, of Bethlehem, Pennsylva- nia : and Calsine, of Philipsburg, New Jer- sey. The father of this family was a sup- porter of the Democratic party and was a member of the Dutch Reformed church.

G. H. Mowery, the immediate subject of this review, received his education in the public schools of New Jersey and Pennsyl- vania. In Philadelphia he served an appren- ticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, under J. A. Cline, a prominent build- er of that city. He assisted in the erection of the Dutch Reformed church in Philadel- phia, one of the first buildings in the city, also the Lehigh University, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After spending three years and seven months with that able builder he attended a school of architecture until he mastered the trade in all its departments. In the year 1870 he decided to take up his abode in the west, with its broader possibil- ities, and accordingly located in Indiana, subsequently removing to Chicago and after- ward to Kansas City. In 1872 he became an honored resident of Rice county, Kansas; where he secured a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres. He now owns a val- uable farm one and a quarter miles from the court house at Lyons. Here he has all the modern equipments and accessories of a model farm, including a fine orchard and all necessary buildings. As a contractor and builder Mr. Mowery has taken an active part in the improvement and upbuilding of At- lanta, Lyons and Ellsworth and many other towns. He has erected many of the prom- inent buildings in Lyons, among which may be mentioned the opera house, and he also had charge of the building of the salt works.

Mr. Mowery has been an important factor in the promotion of many business interests, and, while laboring for individual success, has also advanced the general prosperity.

In December, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Cynthia Poole, a lady of intelligence and culture, who was born, reared and educated in Gen- try county, Missouri. She is a daughter of William Poole, an honored and respected early settler of Rice county. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mowery was blessed with three children, but only two are now living : Frank, who is now twenty years of age, and Wade, a young man of seventeen years. The second child, Winnie, was called to the home beyond when only three months old. Mr. Mowery casts his ballot in favor of Demo- cratic principles. In his social relations he is a member of Keystone Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Mowrey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Mowery has ever taken an active interest in every movement or meas- ure calculated to prove of public benefit, and has withheld his support from no enter- prise that tends toward the general good.

J. M. WELLMAN.

It falls to the lot of almost every indi- vidual to superintend, execute or control some business interests, and the man who is industrious and energetic wins success if he wisely chooses the work to which he devotes his energies. The majority of failures comes through the individual entering upon a life work for which he is unsuited, but nature undoubtedly intended Mr. Wellman for agricultural labors, as in this line of work he has met with creditable and enviable prosperity. He resides on section 28. Val- ley township, Rice county, where he has a good stock farm.

Mr. Wellman was born in Wyoming county, New York, May 24, 1834. His grandfather, Isaac Wellman, a native of the Green Mountain state, became a pioneer set-

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tler of Wyoming county, New York. In the former place lie had engaged in business as a drover, but lost heavily and then re- moved to the Empire state, where he became a prosperous farmer. His death there oc- curred about 1848, when he was sixty-four years of age. He married Sally Bixby, and they reared eight children. The mother lived to be ninety-three years of age, and the parents and children when called to the honte beyond were laid to rest in a cemetery in Lagrange, New York. The father of our subject. Chauncey Wellman, was a native of Brookline, Vermont, born in July, 1810, and his death occurred in Covington, Wyoming county, New York, in May, 1898. His first wife, who bore the maiden name of Electa Wing, died in New York in 1841, at the age of twenty-six years, leaving three children, namely: J. M., of this review; Lucy, the wife of Rev. Oscar Hewett, a Unitarian minister of Chicago: and Nelson M., who re- sides in Covington, New York.

J. M. Wellman acquired a fair academic education and was at home upon his father's farm until he had attained his majority, when he was married and started out in life for himself. At the age of twenty-two, on the 9th of April, 1856, he was joined in wed- lock to Jane A. McMillan, a lady of Scotch parentage. Their union has been blessed with the following children: Irving, who is in the. employ of the Santa Fe Railroad Company at Topeka, Kansas, and has a wife and two children, a son and a daughter ; Eva, the wife of D. Given, a farmer of Wy- oming county, New York, by whom she has two daughters: Elton E., who was born in 1871 and is now living with his wife in the state of Wyoming; and E. C., who was born in 1873. Eva was a student in the nor- nial school and was a teacher, and E. C. pur- sned his education in the Cooper Memorial College. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wellman took up their abode in New York, but in 1879 he sold his farm of one hundred and forty acres there and came to Rice coun- ty, Kansas, purchasing a quarter section of land in the northern part of the county. After two years, however, he disposed of that property at a good profit and home-

steaded one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he made improvements and secured a title. He also became the owner of a timber claim and has a half section of good fertile land, well fenced and improved with splen- did buildings and modern accessories. For sixteen years he lived in his pioneer shanty, until he liad discharged all the indebtedness and then invested capital in the erection of a good residence and barn. He has all the latest improved machinery and all facilities for carrying on his work, and as the years have passed he lias been enabled to enjoy the . comforts and luxuries which success brings. Corn has been his principal crop, his annual harvests being from two to four thousand bushels. During the past sixteen years he has also been in the cattle business, raising and feeding stock and breeding and raising fine matched teams of horses. He now has about twenty head of horses and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty head of cattle upon his place. In his political views he is a Republican and has served in townshp offices in a most cred- itable manner. enjoying the confidence re- posed in him by his fellow townsmen. How- ever, he prefers to give his attention to his business affairs, and thus he has made a wise choice, for his energetic efforts have been crowned with a rich competence.

EUGENE M. CAFFRY.

One of the representative business men of Hutchinson is Eugene M. Caffry, who while acquiring for himself a comfortable competence has contributed in substantial measure to the improvement and upbuilding of the city and surrounding district. He is now engaged in the real-estate business and is also pension claim agent and notary public.

Mr. Caffry is a native of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in Danville, that state, February 19. 1849. His father, Philip S. Caffry, was a native of Newark, New Jer- sey, and represented one of the old families of that state. Although most of the mem-

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bers of the family were merchants or manu- facturers, he entered professional life and throughout his business career engaged in the practice of medicine. In an early day he removed to Mississippi and later went to Arkansas, when that state was being opened up for settlement. There he successfully followed his chosen calling until his death, which occurred October 24, 1862. He wed- ded Mary Hall, a native of Liberty, Missis- sippi, and they became the parents of seven children, but only two are living, the elder being Velasco P., who is engaged in the in- surance business with headquarters . in Hutchinson.

In the public schools of Arkansas Eu- gene MI. Caffry acquired his early education and later continued his studies in St. John's Military College, in Little Rock. His early business experience well fitted him for real- estate dealing in later life, for he had con- siderable farm property to manage. He also accepted the appointment as United States storekeeper and gauger, his territory com- prising the entire state, and in addition to this he engaged in the pension business, that interest claiming his attention at the time he came to Kansas in 1886. Here he embarked in the real-estate, loan and insurance busi- ness, and in 1897 he again took up the pen- sion claim business, and with the assistance of Congressman Long has secured many claims for soldiers residing in this locality. During his early residence in Reno county he engaged extensively in building in Hutch- inson and in making loans to parties who platted additions. Upon these he then erec- ted buildings, putting up many of the sub- stantial business blocks and residences of the city. He is now largely handling outside property owned by others. His business has proved profitable and his enterprise, sound judgment and judicious management have contributed in large measure to his success. He is now largely interested in Cripple Creek and Idaho Springs mining stock and finds this a profitable investment.

In Arkansas. on the 19th of February, 1872. Mr. Caffry was married to Miss Mag- gie MI. Black, a daughter of Alexander Black, formerly of Georgia. They have six

daughters: Cornelia, May, Fay, Vera, Ber- tha and Corinne. His social relations are with the American Benevolent Association and the Sons and Daughters of Justice. In his political affiliations he has always been a stanch Republican, active in the work of the party and frequently serving as a dele- gate to its county, congressional and state conventions. He keeps well informed on the issues of the day, but has never been an aspirant for office, his business interests claiming his attention. He heartily co-oper- ates in all movements for the general good and is deeply interested in the progress of the community along all lines of substantial improvement.

SOLOMON P. HIMES.

Solomon P. Himes is the proprietor of a hardware store in Ellsworth, where he deals in stoves, tinware, shelf and heavy hardware, harness and agricultural implements. He is the oldest resident merchant of Wilson and has contributed in large measure to the growth and upbuilding of the town. In all his business transactions he is alert, enter- prising and progressive, and his sound judg- ment and keen discrimination have been im- portant elements in bringing to him a richly merited success.

Mr. Himes is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in York county, on the 13th of August, 1851. The family is of German lineage. His father, George Himes, was also born in Pennsylvania and there also learned the miller's trade, which he followed for forty years on the Yellow Breeches creek. In 1872 he started west- ward, and on the 8th of April of that year arrived in Wilson, accompanied by some of his family. Here he spent his remaining days. He came to Kansas as a member of a colony of about one hundred and fifty peo- ple, who located at Dorrance, the object of the emigration being to secure land for their children. Mr. Himes made extensive claims and improved farms, carrying on agricul- tural pursuits until a short time prior to his

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death. He thus largely aided in reclaiming the county for purposes of civilization. He was a member of the school board and held a number of township offices, but never took an active part in political affairs. He voted, however, with the Republican party, and in his religious belief was connected with the Dunkard or German Baptist church. He passed away when about eighty years of age, and in his death the community mourned the loss of one of its valued and representative citizens. He was united in marriage, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Catherine Linebaugh, a native of York county, and unto them were born nine children: Henry, who was killed by a boiler explosion when twenty-five years of age; Mary, the wife of George Smyser, of Russell, Kansas; Lizzie, deceased wife of Henry Cochran, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania : William, an agriculturist living at Dorrance, Russell county ; Catharine, now Mrs. Weakley, of Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania: George, a merchant of Edmond, Indian Territory : Jacob, who is living in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania; Jennie, wife of Edward Moore, of Russell, Kansas; and Solomon P.

In his early life Solomon P. Himes at- tended the public schools and afterward learned the miller's trade, which he followed until the family came to the west. The idea of becoming a farmer was not pleasant to him, so when he arrived in Kansas he did not take up his abode upon a farm as did the other members of the family, but located at Wilson, which was then a small hamlet. A small store had been established here, and this he purchased, beginning mercantile life in a primitive way. As the years have passed. however, success has attended his efforts and at the present time he is one of the most prominent and successful representatives of commercial interests here. He was associ- ated with Jerome Beebe, of Ellsworth, in the conduct of his store, but after a time Mr. Beebe sold his interest to Mr. Jellison, and the firm of Himes & Jellison carried on business until 1874, when the damage done by grasshoppers produced such a financial depression that Mr. Himes felt he could not earn a living here. He therefore sold his

interest to his partner and returned to the east, but in the fall of 1875 he again. came to Wilson and established a hardware store on his own account, continuing alone for two years. He then sold the store and embarked in the lumber business, which proved to him a very fortunate venture, his patronage steadily increasing until his trade extended forty miles to the north. He conducted his operations in lumber for eight years, and his large business brought to him a very grati- fying financial return. In the meantime he resumed dealing in hardware, establishing a store, which he has conducted continuously since, being for a time situated on the corner now occupied by Mr. Swartz. Subsequently he purchased the corner north of the bank, where he remained until February, 1900, when he purchased the double building in which he is now carrying on operations. He has the place well stocked with a large and complete line of hardware, stoves, tinware, harness and agricultural implements, and his business methods are such that those who are once his customers become his regular patrons. When he began general merchan- dising in Wilson, in 1872, in connection with Mr. Beebe, his stock was valued at only about fifteen hundred dollars, and to-day he carries a hardware stock worth twelve thou- sand dollars, occupying a building forty- eight by seventy-five feet. utilizing two stories and a basement. His business has grown as the result of his enterprise, untir- ing diligence and capable management, qual- ities which may be cultivated by all and which anever fail to win prosperity.

When Mr. Himes came to Wilson there was nothing but a depot and store and one or two residences in the town. Not a build- ing stood between Wilson and Dorrance, and the country was all wild, having as yet not been reclaimed for farming purposes. He has therefore witnessed the entire growth of the town and has aided to a larger degree in the erection of buildings than any other one man. He has built both residences and building blocks, the latter being mostly sub- stantial stone structures. He is also a direc- tor in the Wilson State Bank and is a man of enterprise, resolute purpose and strong

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will, who would be an active factor in any community.

In the fall of 1878 Mr. Himes was united in marriage to Miss Lena Claussen, a daugh- ter of C. J. Claussen, of Wilson, and they now have five children : William, who is in the store with his father; Edward; George; Mazie: Blanch, and Solomon. The home of the family is one of the finest in this part of the county. It is a large stone residence. built in attractive style of architecture, and stands in the midst of a well kept lawn and surrounded by a fine hedge fence. The evi- dences of a refined and cultured taste are seen in its furnishings, and more than all it is celebrated for its generous hospitality. Socially Mr. Himes is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Select Friends. In politics he is a Re- publican and has served as township trus- tee, as a member of the city council and as a member of the school board, acting in the latter capacity for many years. He is a man of wide experience and broad mind, who has many friends over this part of the state-a man whose strong individuality is the strength of integrity, fortitude and deep litt- man sympathy.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 90

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