USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 98
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F. VERNON RUSSELL.
In the law more than in any other pro- fession is one's career open to talent. The reason is evident : it is a profession in which eminence cannot be attained except by in- domitable energy, perseverance and patience ; and though its prizes are numerous and splendid they cannot be won except by ardu- ous and prolonged effort. It is this that has brought success to Mr. Russell and made him known as one of the ablest representa- tives of the bar in this section of the state.
He resides in Great Bend, which is far distant from his birthplace, for he first opened his eyes to the light of day in Jeffer- son county, West Virginia, on the 10th of December. 1866, his father being Francis M. Russell. He pursued his education in the Randolph Macon College. of Virginia, and afterward in the University of Vir-
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ginia, and when he had completed his liter- ary course took up the study of law. being graduated in the law department of Colum- bia College, of New York, with the class of 1888. Subsequently he was associated with Charles F. Beach, Jr., a distinguished law- yer of New York city, for about a year, when his eyes became affected and he went to Colorado for his health, remaining about eighteen months in that state. During that period he was admitted to the bar in Pueblo, and to some extent engaged in practice. In 1890 he came to Great Bend, where his par- ents had located, and for six years he was associated here in practice with J. W. Clark. Since that time he has been alone. He now lias a large and distinctively representative clientage, and the legal business entrusted to his care is of an important nature. He has served for four years as deputy city at- torney and for six years as city attorney. His labors have contributed in large meas- ure to various business enterprises which have proven of public benefit. He is a stock- holder and director in the First National Bank of Great Bend, and in 1900, associated with other enterprising business men, he es- tablished the Barton County State Bank, of Hoisington, of which Mr. McElmore is president and Mr. Russell vice-president. He is likewise a stockholder and director in the Kansas, Oklahoma and Central Rail- road, having one terminal in Salina, Kan- sas, and extending to Texas. This is a new enterprise which has received a generous and liberal support of reliable business men. Mr. Russell is also the owner of a section of land, being section 27, township 20, range 14, and thirty-three acres on section 29, township 19, range 13. The latter tract lies within the corporation limits of Great Bend, in what is known as the Wells addition.
Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Jettie McBride, a daughter of Ezekiel McBride, of Great Bend. They now have two children,-Ruth D. and Josephine. So- cially Mr. Russell is identified with the Ma- sonic order, in which he has taken the de- grees of the lodge, chapter, council and com- mandery, and in the first named he has served as master for three years, while he is
now high priest of the chapter and eminent commander of the commandery. He also is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the An- cient Order of United Workmen. He is well known in social circles and is a sup- porter of many important enterprises. His chief attention, however, is given to his pro- fession, in which he is meeting with splen- did success.
MAHLON WARD.
Mahlon Ward is a retired farmer of EI- linwood and a man of high standing in the public regard. He came to the county in an early day when buffalo roamed over the broad and uncultivated prairie; often times he has shot buffalo, antelope and deer, and the meat of this wild game furnished many a meal in the early days of that pioneer period, and his privileges were those usually found upon the frontier when hard labor and strong determination are the concomitants of char- acter that enable the frontiersman to obtain a home and work his way upward to pros- perity.
Mr. Ward was born in Belmont county, Ohio, August 13, 1839. His father, Moses M. Ward, was a native of Monroe county, that state, and the grandfather, Timothy Ward, was born in Maryland. He served his country in the war of 1812 and became one of the first residents of Ohio, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Rebecca Matheney and unto them was born, on the 30th of November, 1817, a son, to whom they gave the name of Moses M. He was twenty-one years of age when, on the 18th of August. 1838, he wedded Miss Matilda Moore, a daughter of Solomon and Mary Moore, of Belmont county, Ohio. She was born December 31, 1812, and passed away November 25. 1874, while the father of our subject died in August, 1893. Their children were: Mahlon; Henry J. ; Benja- min: Mary J., deceased: Timothy, who is living in Barton county: Rebecca A., who has also passed away: Mrs. Emily Keeler, and Mrs. Evelyn Cook, twins: and Albert
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E., now deceased. By occupation the father was a farmer and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. About 1884 he came to Barton county, Kansas, where he purchased a farm, upon which he lived until his deathı.
In the year 1844 Mahlon Ward removed with his father to Bartholomew county. In- diana, where he remained for two years, when he went to Brown county. While re- siding here he was married to Miss Rebecca. daughter of Joseph and Jane ( Clark ) Down- ey. She was born in Noble county, Ohio, October 22. 1834. Her parents were farm- ing people and both died when about seventy years of age. After his marriage Mr. Ward began farming in Brown county, Indiana. and then removed to Wayne county, Illi- nois, where he was living at the time when he received many circulars setting forth the advantages of life in Kansas, the splendid opportunities of the state and the advantages here offered to its residents. His interest thus awakened, he resolved to take up his abode in the Sunflower state and on the 15th of February, 1873. he left his home in Illi- nois and started by wagon for the Eldorado. His wagon was loaded with household fur- niture and with his family he thus journeyed across the country. On the 20th of April, 1873, Mr. Ward with his wife and children arrived in Barton county, and he entered a soldier's claim on section 10, township 19. range II, thus securing the southwest quar- ter. He erected there a farm house twelve by sixteen feet. Timber was at that time very high and they made the most of what they had. During the second year Mr. Ward broke sixteen acres of the land for sod corn and raised about fifteen bushels per acre. In the meantime he engaged in breaking prairie for others in order to get money to carry on the work of his own farm and meet the ex- penses of the family. He had to go to Sa- lina for corn to be used for food and grocer- ies were purchased at Ellinwood. Their meat was principally buffalo and antelope which Mr. Ward shot, for those animals were then quite numerous on the prairies of Kansas. As the years passed and his financial resources increased he added to his
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original tract of land and also further im- proved it by the erection of many substantial buildings, including a fine residence, a large barn and other structures for the shelter of his grain, stock and farm implements. He planted shade and fruit trees and to-day owns a valuable tract of land, splendidly im- proved. six and one-half miles northeast from Ellinwood. The excellent appearance of his farm indicates his life of industry and the diligence which has ever marked him throughout his business career. He pur- chased a quarter section of land adjoining his home on the east that had been some- what improved by James Thompson. Alva and Albert, sons of Mr. Ward, now conduct the farms. In 1900 the father retired from business life and came to Ellinwood, where he purchased the D. Scanlan property, which he has improved and enlarged, and now he is enjoying a well earned rest in his pleasant home.
Mr. Ward enlisted August 20, 1861, in Company C, Sixth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, and was honorably discharged Sep- tember 22. 1864. and mustered out at In- dianapolis, Indiana. He was at the battle of Pittsburg Landing and all those of the Atlanta campaign.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ward has been blessed with the following children : Matilda Jane, who died at the age of twenty- one months: Alva Carlton. who married May Brown, by whom he has three chil- dren .- Elsie Rebecca, Chester Lee and Elba Pearl. Alva Carlton is a farmer who has fine stock, including excellent specimens of short-horn and Hereford cattle: Albert Alonzo, who married Elizabeth Chilton and they have one son,-Homer Orville: he manages the farm : Mary Rosetta, who is the wife of A. L. Pickerill, of Kiowa county. Kansas ; Joseph, who died at the age of nine years : and Emma Florence. now Mrs. George H. Bishop, of Trinidad. Colorado. MIr. Ward is a charter member of the Grand Army Post and is now serving his third term as commander, a fact which indicates the high regard in which he is held by the boys in blue. He has served as treasurer of the township school No. Io, the best district
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school in the county, for twelve years, and has also been constable and road supervisor. In these positions he has discharged his du- ties with marked promptness and fidelity, and his life record is indeed creditable, for in office, in business and in social circles he has ever commanded and received the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen.
LEVI H. BAINUM.
As one reviews the history of the coun- ty and looks into the past to see who were prominent in the early development he will find that since an early day the name of Levi H. Bainum has been closely connected with the progress and advancement of this sec- tion of the state. A native of the Buckeye state, his birth there occurred in Monroe county, March 17, 1856, and his parents, Levi H. and Mary ( McConnell) Bainum, also claimed Ohio as the state of their nativ- ity. Levi H. remained under the parental roof in the county of his birth until he was twenty-one years of age, and from an early age, being the eldest of nine children, he was obliged to assist in the support of the family.
In February, 1877, just one month be- fore he had reached his twenty-first year, he started on the long and then tedious jour- ney to the west, believing that in this new and unsubdued country he would find better opportunities for securing a start in life. He first stopped in Champaign and Sangamon counties, Illinois, where he had relatives liv- ing, and after spending a few months in the Prairie state he continued the journey to Wayne county, Iowa, where he visited at the home of his uncle. William McConnell, and while there he was joined by another uncle, Charles McConnell, and together they fitted up a team and wagon and drove through Missouri and Kansas to Reno county, where William Bainum, another uncle, resided. From there the two continued the journey through Pratt and Stafford counties, and they were also accompanied by a cousin of our subject. George McConnell. from Iowa. who secured a claim in Pratt county ; but our
subject was not satisfied with the appearance of that section, and, hearing favorable re- ports of the Ninnescah country, he decided to locate there; accordingly, in September, 1877, he secured a claim on the northeast quarter of section 27, Dresden township. While there residing he was engaged in herding and other work during the winter months, and was also an employe on the Santa Fe Railroad until the following Sep- tember, when he took up his abode in King- man county. On his claim he erected a sod house, twelve by twenty-four feet, contain- ing two rooms, also a stable eighty by four- teen feet, and the walls of his dwelling were finished with a chopping ax. During the same fall he sent for his sisters, Fannie and Mary, to join him in his new home, and the former afterward married Edward Branch, while the latter became the wife of William Ellis, now of Cleo, Oklahoma. A brother, Charles, also came to this county at the same time, and he, too, makes his home in Okla- homa, being a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and stationed at Alva. For six years Mr. Bainum continued to make his home on that place, during which time he was engaged at various occupations, but principally in agricultural pursuits and sheep-raising, having followed the latter vo- cation quite extensively for several years. In 1883, however, he sold his possessions there, and in company with his brother-in- law. Mr. Branch, invested the proceeds in cattle in Kingman county, and one year later became the owner of his present home farm, then consisting of raw prairie land, on which he erected a frame dwelling, hav- ing to haul his lumber from Hutchinson.
In the fall of 1883 Mr. Bainum returned to Ohio, and on the 23d of December of that year, in Monroe county, was united in mar- riage to Lucy J. Hogue, a native of that county and a daughter of Stephen and Eliz- abeth (Flanders) Hogue. Shortly after his marriage our subject brought his bride to his new home, and on his birthday, the 17th of March, 1884. they began their domestic life in the Sunflower state. Since taking up his abode on his present homestead Mr. Bainum has followed general farming and
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stock-raising, and as time has passed by and prosperity has rewarded his efforts he has been enabled to add another one hundred and sixty acres to his original purchase, thus making him the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and fertile land in one body. One hundred and sixty acres of his place is under an excellent state of cultiva- tion, the remainder being devoted to pastur- age, and this is indeed an excellent stock farm, well watered by Painter creek, a never failing source. In his pastures he keeps from thirty to fifty cattle of the short-horn, Hereford and red polled breeds. about sixty head of Poland China hogs and a number of horses, having two registered standard bred mares of the Hambletonian breed. His place is improved with a beautiful two-story resi- dence, sixteen by thirty-two feet, which was erected in 1893, and a barn eighteen by thirty-two feet, while a beautiful grove and orchard further add to its value and attrac- tive appearance.
The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with four children .- William V., Vogil V., Myrtle and Earl. Mrs. Bain- um is a lady of exceptional culture and re- finement and presides over her home with a charming and gracious hospitality, making it the center of a cultured society circle. Since his arrival in the Sunflower state Mr. Bainum has taken an active part in all move- ments and measures tending to promote the general welfare of his locality. He assisted in the organization of Rural township, and on the Republican ticket, of which he has been a life-long supporter, he was elected its first constable, and he also assisted in the organization of school district No. 25. For several years he served as clerk and treasurer of his district, and is the present clerk of his township, in which he is now serving for the second term, while many times he has served as a delegate to the county conven- tions of his party. In his social relations he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is truly one of the enterpris- ing and progressive citizens of Kingman county, whose work and influence have done much for the promotion and advancement of his community, and his career in this state
furnishes a striking illustration of the possi- bilities to be secured in this favored section of Kingman county.
T. E. MORRIS.
Among the widely known stockmen of Kingman county, Kansas, none are more highly esteemed than is T. E. Morris, who since 1884 has been prominent in the busi- ness life of this section. Mr. Morris was one of the first to engage in the mercantile business in the young town of Spivey, and no one is better acquainted with the difficul- ties under which the pioneer settlers labored at that time. In various lines of activity in this county, Mr. Morris has been eminently successful, having been merchant, land agent and cattle raiser. Through all the discour- agements which met the early settlers of this state. Mr. Morris held his faith in the ulti- mate result, and his confidence has not been misplaced and no citizen enjoys more fully the proud prominence which Kansas has at- tained.
The birth of T. E. Morris was in Madi- son county, Ohio, in 1857, a year made mem- orable by many public events of great sig- nificance, and he was a son of W. D. and Nancy ( Wilson ) Morris, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of the Buck- eye state. Later these parents moved to Jennings county, Indiana, where the father engaged in farming and the raising of stock, becoming a man of means and prominence. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris, the survivors now being two sons and two daughters, namely: Isaiah, still liv- ing in Ripley county, Indiana : Mattie and Jessie, living in Jennings, Indiana, and both married, Mattie to A. E. Grimes, and Jessie to James Shuck. One brother. W. A., is a resident of Wellington, Sumner county, Kansas.
T. E. Morris grew to manhood on his father's farm in Jennings county, Indiana, and under his father became thoroughly in- structed in all the departments of agricul- tural life, and he became much interested in
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the raising of stock, this being one of his ob- jects in seeking the western plains. His ed- ucation was of an excellent character, as he had access to the good common schools of his district, and he came to Kansas in 1884. equipped with a trained mind and robust health.
Mr. Morris located in Kingman county and engaged in an extensive stock business and also had a large farm. In 1886 he en- barked in the mercantile business in Cleve- land, Kansas, a venture which proved very successful, but later selected the town of Spivey as his home and here carried on a large mercantile business for a considerable period. For this purpose he built here a large stone store edifice, two stories high and twenty by eighty feet in dimensions, and enjoyed a prosperous trade until he took up other lines of activity. Mr. Morris has done much business in the way of buying and selling land, and he has been particu- larly successful in the buying of western cat- tle, disposing of them to advantage, his al- most life-long experience in cattle and stock making him a very superior judge of their merits.
After seven years in the mercantile busi- ness in Spivey, where, as mentioned. he was a pioneer, he sold his interests and bought a farm of four hundred acres and there en- gaged in his extensive cattle business. Mr. Morris handles and raises only good stock and the output of his farm commands excel- lent prices. He has a most comfortable home and is surrounded with all of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life.
In 1884 Mr. Morris was united in mar- riage to Miss Emily Hoover, a daughter of Charles Hoover, who is now a resident of Missouri. Three daughters have been add- ed to the family, namely: Florence, Stella and Inez, all of whom are well educated and socially attractive.
In his political belief Mr. Morris is a stanch Republican and has long been a zeal- ous worker for the good of his party, and exerts a very considerable influence in po- litical circles. Fraternally he is prominent in the order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 372. of Spivey, and has been a
delegate to the grand lodge. He is also a member of the order of Woodmen. Still in the prime of life, much achievement is still possible to Mr. Morris, and there is scarcely any token of public esteem from his party. that his hosts of friends in Kingman county would not think justly deserved. The ad- vancement made in this county in the lines of public improvements and more advanced educational facilities have always met with his hearty approval.
JESSE GREENFIELD.
Jesse Greenfield, proprietor of the Hutchinson Bottling Works, where business is carried on under the firm name of Green- field & Company, owns an extensive estab- lishment at Nos. 201-3-5-7 East B avenue, and his pleasant residence is at No. 415 North Main street. He was born in Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, on the Ioth of October, 1827, a son of Aaron and Mary (Green) Greenfield. His paternal grand- father, also named Aaron, was a son of Aaron Greenfield, and the latter came to Pennsylvania with William Penn. The fam- ily for many generations have been mem- bers of the Quaker faith and prominent tillers of the soil. Aaron Greenfield, the father of our subject, was born in 1801, and about 1831 he removed from Chester coun- ty to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he improved a farm from the heavy timber, and in addition to his arduous work in the fields he also followed his trade of shoemaking. In 1851 he took up his abode in Jasper county, Indiana, and there his remaining days were passed, his death having occurred in 1876. In political matters he was first a Whig, but after the formation of the Re- publican party he supported its principles. Of his eight children, five are now living. namely : William, a retired farmer of Rens- selaer, Indiana: Lydia, the widow of Dr. Moss, and a resident of Rensselaer; Eliza- beth, the wife of Abraham Warner, of Chi- cago Heights, Illinois; John, who makes his home in Colorado City, Colorado; and Jesse. the subject of this review.
Jefe Greenfield
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The latter was but a child of three years when he was taken by his parents to Ohio. and on a farm in that commonwealth he grew to years of maturity, while the public schools of his neighborhood afforded him the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth. In that early day the schools were very primitive in character, and Mr. Greenfield is principally a self-educated man, having added greatly to his knowledge in latter years by constant reading, study and observation. After his marriage he farmed on rented land for one year in the Buckeye state, and then removed with his father to Indiana, where he purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land, the nearest timber tract having been eight miles distant. He erected a hewed log house and barn and at once be- gan the difficult task of placing his fields under cultivation. After a residence of twenty-two years on that place, on account of ill health he rented his Indiana farm and removed to Clarksville, Tennessee, locating on the Cumberland river, where for the fol- lowing three years he found work at the carpenter's trade. In September, 1876, on account of his father's last illness, he re- turned to Indiana, but after two years he was again obliged to seek a milder climate and accordingly located at Duval's Bluff, Arkansas, where for the following two years he was employed in a sawmill and in the lumber business. His next place of resi- dence was at Little Rock, where he remained for three months, going thence to St. Louis, but two months later removed to Kirkwood, Missouri, and after a year there spent returned to St. Louis and secured a position with Deet Mausher & Company. where he remained in the capacity of a ship- ping clerk for two years. In the fall of 1880. immediately after voting at the presi- dential election, Mr. Greenfield came to Kan- sas, locating first at Columbus. During his first year there, however, the chinch bugs de- stroyed his crop, and he decided to leave the farm, which he had rented, and remove to Hutchinson. Soon after his arrival here he purchased the bottling establishment of J. R. Carr, the entire stock at that time con- sisting of about fifty cases of carbonated
goods and some primitive machinery. How- ever, Mr. Greenfield went to work with a will to improve the plant and increase the volume of business, which immediately be- gan to respond to his efforts and it is now one of the leading houses of its kind in this section of the state. At the time of the pur- chase the plant was located just back of the present site of the opera house, but our sub- ject soon purchased a lot on Fourth street, where he erected a commodious building, and for six years they did an extensive busi- ness at that location. He was first engaged in business with John Mitcalf, but this re- lationship continued only for one year, and since that time Mr. Greenfield has carried on his business alone. He later purchased property on the corner of B avenue and Poplar street, at Nos. 201-3-5-7, on which he erected a two-story building, one hun- dred and six by thirty-five feet, but in 1898 this structure, with its entire contents, was burned to the ground. Not discouraged, however, Mr. Greenfield immediately set about to retrieve his lost possessions, and soon his business was again in a flourish- ing condition. In addition to a large local trade he also ships extensively to the east, south and west, and during the entire year furnishes work for about ten employes. He is a man of splendid business and executive ability and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, while in all life's relations he has proved himself an upright, reliable and honorable gentle- man.
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