A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

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tence which enabled hin : :... og hi- for- ming interests and retire from active .aber and business. He is an influential Repab- lican and although never aspiring to pal- lie office he has served as deputy sheriff and tions, in which his opinion- Inse carried great weight and he has done furt effective work for his party. He is my resilbig Lyons, and he and his wife are caje. ing the fruits of a well spent life. She is . daughter of Thena- and Martha Show- er ) Vannatti and a granddaughter of Ger- eral IIull, of national reputation. Thomas Vannatti is a native of Pennsylvania, a prominent farmer and a pioneer settler of lowa, who accumulated a large estate and now finds a good home with his daughter at Lyons, having attained the ripe all age of eighty-five years. He is very public- spirited and gave a trace of land and endowed College Farm in Jasper coun- ty, in which institution he is deeply interested and does everything possible to promote its growth and success. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and a strong Republican. His chi- dren were: James, an attorney at law : 1 . seph, also an attorney: Mary, who became the wife of William McCulloch: Age. the wife of R. Cader: Hannah, the mother of our subject : Ress: Anna, now deces-0 !: Nancy, who marriedl William Morton : and Charles, an auctioneer. The marriage di Mr. and Mrs. Young was blessed with three children. namely: Ernest. a printer by occupation : Jay. a commercial salesman : and R. Claud. the subject of this sketch. The father of this family is a member .of the Independent Order ADMIT that the Fraternal Aid Association. while his wife is a Daughter of Rebekah.

R. Claud Young, the subject of this re- i- Den tr. where

of age he went

be ghine! much valua

Cocol .he Windom Enterprise. Į .:

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY ..

Herald, another weekly paper, and then accepted the foremanship of the Lyens Re- publican office and then accepted a position with the Rice County Eagle. During inter- vals he read medicine with Dr. Vermillion, of Lyons as preceptor, and also rode with the Doctor when visiting patients, receiv- ing valuable instructions, and later he took three courses of lectures at the Iowa Med- ical College, at Keokuk, where he graduated in 1898. He had successfully passed be- iere the board of examiners and commenced to practice before he graduated, locating in Chase where he has since remained. Not- withstanding the old saying: "A prophet is not without honor save in his own colin- try," he began the practice of his profession within a few miles of his birthplace, be- cause he had faith in his own natural ability and acquired skill and through preparation, and the result has shown that he had not overestimated his ability, for, though his predecessors in the field had enjoyed seven- teen years of successful practice there, in less than two years Dr. Young had secured the principal business in his profession in the community, and bought out the good- will and residence of his former competitor.

In 1898 Dr. Young was united in mar- riage to. Miss Mildred Smith, a descend- act of one of the early pioneer families of Rice county, where her birth occurred! Sep- tember 27. 1880. She is a daughter of Mark and Hester MI. ( Personeth ) Smith. Her father was a native of Berlin, Ger- many. emigrated to America and was mar- ried in Arkansas, soon after which he came to Rice county. He was a veterinary sur- geon by profession which he followed until his death, which occurred at Lyons, Kan- sas. June 20, 1900. In politics he was a strong Democrat, and held some public of- fices. He was a brave soldier of the Civil war and for his services received a pension from the government. His wife survives him and is still living at her home in Lyons. They were the parents of two children, namely: Mildred, the wife of our subject : and Gertrude, who became the wife .f \\. MI. Fisher. He was a member of the Chris- tian church, as is his wife. She is a daugh-

ter of Marshall Personette, a på neer far- mer of Rice county, where he died in 1882, in the faith of the Christian church, of which his wife was also a member. They were the parents of six children, as follows : Hester M .: Delia who became the wife of J. Bucher; Lottie, who married O. Heath ; Motitis, a farmer: and Mark and Harry, who are railroad men.

Dr. Young and his wife have no chil- dren, but they have a delightful home to which the large circle of their friends ever receive the most cordial welcome. He is a member and active worker of the Methodist church, while his wife is a member of the Christian church. He is a member of the Rice County Medical Association, is health officer of the county and also serves as county physician at a good salary. In his private practice he has been remarkably suc- cessful. and is especially noted for his skill in surgery, having performed some very difficult operations, being particularly suc- cessful in the operations of cancers. He is not only a skillful physician but a good financier and business man as well. is a loyal, progressive and enterprising citizen. taking an active interest in everything per- taining to the welfare of the community and well merits the confidence and high esteem in which he is held by all with whom he is associated in private and public life.

V. D. PETERS.

I. D. Peters who has passed the sey- enty-third milestone on the journey of life and who has left behind him a career un- tarnished, is now a well known and honored resident of Rice county. He claims In- diana as the state of his nativity his birth having occurred in Switzerland county, January 10, 1828, a son of Michael and Ann (Culver) Peters, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The father, who was of German descent, removed to In- diana in an early day, where he was mar- ried and engaged in farming. He l cate l on a heavily timbered tract of land, which

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

he cleared and improved, and there he spent lis remaining days, his death occurring in ISSO, his wife surviving him for some time. They were the parents of seven children,- John. Henry. W. D., Abraham, Isaac, Pol- "y and Barbara. The parents were worthy members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Pe- ters was a daughter of Samuel Culver, a native of Maryland, and of English de- scent. He followed farming as a life occu- pation and was a prominent early settler of Indiana, where he spent his remaining days. His children were: James, John, Jane and Ann.

W. D. Peters, the subject of this review, remained under the parental roof until about fourteen years of age, when he went to Madison, Indiana, where he learned the tinner's trade, and also became a sheet iron and copper worker, following those well- patiens for many years. He first worked as a journeyman in Indianapolis and at offer places. At the inauguration of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Union. and in 1861 became a member of the Third Indiana Cavalry, Forty-fifth Regiment. He entered Company C, under command of Colonel Carter, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, with General Pleas- anten in command. He took part in many skirmishes and some hotly contested hot- tles, among them being the second battle of Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Upper- ville. At the last named engagement he received a bullet wound in the right shoul- der which rendered him unable for active duty, and he has never fully recovered from the wound. After spending two months in the hospital he rejoined his command and remained in active service until the close of hostilities. He was ever found in the front ranks, faithfully defending the old flag, and when the long and terrible strug- gle was ended and the country no longer needed his services he returned to his heme at Madison, Indiana.

Mr. Peters again took up the work of his trade and als i- wed farming t & me extent. He subsequently rem vel to Clark county, Indiana. spending three years on a farm there, and in 187; he sal ais prop-

erty and came to Kansas. On arriving m this state he secured a homestead claim in Rice county, which he has since infine , el and there he yet makes his home. How- ever. during the intervening perion he worked at his trade in Sterling. Great Deal und Livres, and for five years conducted a shop at Chase. On the expiration of thu period he returned to the quiet pur-ni :. the farm, where he has been a diligent and indefatigalle worker. For the poet on years he has rented his land and has de- viel him time to looking after his hi- ness interests. Ile has never aspired to public notoriety, preferring to give his un- divided attention to his business affairs. His social relations connect him with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the G. A. R. Bist ri Chave.

In Indiana, in INGS. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Peters and Miss Orera Hogy. who was a native of the Hoosier state, and a daughter of John Hess. The father was a farmer ly exemption. and his death occurred in Indiana. R .::

his wife were members of the thin church. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Rates was blessed with one son, Mike, who is most a butcher of Chase. Mrs. Dessa Brevet away in iNo. in the faith of the United Brethren church. i which she was an ac- tive member. In 1871 Mr. Peters THE HOUR married. his second ith Mrs. Sarah Howard, va was born in Indiana. May 29, 1840, a daughter of Gerrard G. and Elizabeth Ryker. She was the while of Allen Howard, who was an engineer and farmer. During the Civil war he entered the service di bis country, and his death . c- curred at Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Howard had two sons,-Ryker J. and Samuel T., who have been reared in der subject. The father of Mrs. Peters Still resides in Madison, Indiana, but her mother passed away in 1850, in the faith of the Baptist church, of which her husband is also a worthy member. They were : .. ...:- children, -Sarah, now Mrs. Peter : and Mary, the wife of D. Nismo. After the death of his first wife Mr. Ryker Was again married, and by his second union

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had two children,- Amelia, the wife of George Brown; and John A. The mother of this family also passed away, and for his third wife the father chose Anna Harris, by whom he had six children,-Benjamin, Walter A., Hadda, Gerrard, Albert and Edgar. After the death of his third wife Mr. Ryker married Kate Oberly, but no children were born of that union. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Peters has been blessed with three children, namely : Will- iam T., a resident of Oklahoma; Ella, the wife of K. D. Harding, of Bushton, Rice county : Edward J., who is engaged in the butchering business at Chase with his broth- er. The parents hold membership in the Congregational church. Mr. Peters has led an active and useful life and his well directed efforts have brought to him a hand- some competence. He enjoys the high es- teem of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, and he is widely known throughout this locality.

O. G. BROWN.

O. G. Brown, one of the prominent early settlers of central Kansas, has been identi- fed with the business interests of Niles, Ottawa county, , for many years, where he is now serving as the postmaster and as a merchant. He was born in Brooke county, Virginia, November 4, 1833, a son of James and Jane ( McGuire) Brown, natives also of the Old Dominion, where their marriage occurred. James was a son of Oliver Brown, a native of Massachusetts, and dur- : ing the Revolutionary war he served as captain of his company. After independence was established he joined a colony coming west. their objective point being Marietta. Kansas, but he located in Virginia, where he improved a farm and spent the remain- dler of his life, his death occurring at his old homestead. His children were Danforth, Oliver, John, George, James, Richard and Mrs. Colwell. Richard Brown was a Pres- lyterian clergyman.

The father of our subject, James Brown,

was reared in the state of his nativity, and after his marriage he removed to Rich- mond county, Ohio, where he improved a fine farm, remaining thereon for many years. He afterward engaged in the hotel business for two years, and for the same length of time conducted a mercantile busi- ness. Disposing of that interest, he re turned to his homestead farm, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1885, at the ripe old age of ninety- two years. In political matters he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican, and although he was a prominent and public- spirited citizen he never aspired to political honors. During the war of 1812 he spent some time in service. He was a prominent and successful business man, and was wide- ly known for his sterling integrity and hon- orable business methods. His wife was of Irish descent, and was a daughter of James McGuire, a prominent farmer of Virginia, where his death occurred. He was the fa- ther of six children, namely: Jane, the mother of our subject; Luke, Michael, Ed- ward and two daughters who married brothers named Davis. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born the following children : Sarah, who died in early life; Ruth, who became Mrs. Dickey; Mary, Sally and Caroline, who died before marriage; Har- riet, who became the wife of J. Cole; Mar- tha, now Mrs. Agiter; and O. G., the sub- ject of this review. The parents were con- sistent members of the Presbyterian church.

O. G. Brown is a native of the Old Dominion, but was reared and educated in Richland county, Ohio. He remained un- dler the parental roof until he reached ma- ture years, and after completing a college course he taught school during the winter months, while in the summers he assisted his father on the home farm. He was mar- ried in 1855, and in the same year removed to Iowa, where he purchased raw land and began the arduous task of placing his fields under cultivation, at the same time follow- ing the teacher's profession during the win- ter season. Later he was engaged in ship- ping stock to Chicago, conducting that busi- ness on an extensive scale until 1871, when

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BIOGRAPHICAL IHISTORY.

he returned to the home of his youth, there work of his party and doing all in bi- pon- er to promote its anivancement and success. While residing in lowa he filed many lar sitions of honor and trust, having served a: justice of the peace and county commis. sioner, and since coming to Kansas he has filled the office of justice of the peace in the past twelve years, being its present in- cumbent, while at the same time he act as a notary public. In 1901 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Niles, and in that position he is discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. In re- ligious matters he is a consistent member of the United Brethren church. His inter- conducting the homestead farm and caring for his father during the remainder of his days. After the latter's death, in 1885, Mr. Brown came to the Sunflower state, I cating at Niles. Ottawa county, where he pur- chased a tract of eight acres . i land, erected his residence and began the task of setting out fruit trees. He now has a fine bearing orchard of the choicest fruit. Soon after his arrival here he also engaged in the mer- cantile business, but afterward disposed of his stock of goods and for the following two years was employed by a Mr. Davidson in the same line of trade. His next venture was in the real-estate business, which he est in the welfare and progress of his adopt- conducted for a time, and has since resumed ed county is sincere and commendable, and is manifest by the hearty support he gives to all measures for the public gel. merchandising, in which he is still engaged, owning the building in which his store is incated.

For his wife Mr. Brown chose Miss Elizabeth M. Castor, a lady of intelligence and superior worth. Her birth occurred in Richland county, Ohio, on the 13th of Sep- tember. 1835, a daughter of William and Sophia ( Watson) Castor, natives respect- ively of Pennsylvania and of the state of New York. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Iowa in 1856, where he died in 1865, while his wife sur- vived him until 1867, both dying in the faith of the Methodist church. They were the parents of six children .- Elizabeth MI .. Paul. William, John, James and George. Two of the sons, William and James, served for three years during the Civil war. Dur- ing that memorable struggle our subject al- so rendered valuable service to the Union. having served as captain of a militia com- pany for the Missouri border. He saw much exciting service during the war and was a brave and loval soldier. Unto our subject and his wife have been born the foll wing children: Ella S .. now Mrs. Flora: James V., a resident of Oklahoma: William, a prominent merchant of Niles: Elmar W., who is still at home, and for eleven years served as postmaster of his town: and Mary E., nowi Mrs. Hampton. In his political relations Mr. Brown is a stanch Republic- an. ever taking an active interest in the

J. D. BRIGHT.

The prominent citizen of Rice county. Kansas, whose name is the title of this ar- ticle, has been identified with the settlement, growth and development of his part of the state of Kansas and with some of its im- portant business interests and the manner in which he has discharged all responsibili- ties has commended him to his fellow citi- zens so strongly that they have called to him to the important office of county clerk. which he is filling with a degree of ability and efficiency that promises well for his con- tinuance in it should he desire to retain it.

J. D. Bright, whose residence is at Lit- the River. one of Rice county's flourishing little towns. was born in Pendleton o unty. West Virginia, January 19. IS ;. ? ~ 21 of William and Susan ( Miller) Bright. who were born and married in Virginia. William Bright was the son of Peter and Elizabeth Mirim) Bright. Peter Bright was la en in Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Grim in Virginia. The father of Peter Bright one a : IVier in the German army white "French leave" and came to America, locat- ing in Pennsylvania, where he was an neer and where he married and reared a fam-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

ily and lived out his days. Peter Bright passed his childhood and youth in Pennsyl- vania and when quite a young man went to Virginia. His children were named as fol- lows : John, David, Samuel, Azariah, Will- iam (father of J. D. Bright), Mathew, Elizabeth (Mrs. Beverly), and Mary ( Mrs. Kyle).

William Bright was reared to farm work and after his marriage settled on a fram in West Virginia, where he brought up his family. During the period of our Civil war he was in sympathy with the Union cause, but maintained a strict neu- trality until early in the struggle he was drafted into the Confederate army. Upon his refusal to serve he was put under guard and was forced to do duty with the militia. from which he soon afterward deserted. In revenge for that action Confederate sympathizers burned his home and destroyed much of his property and soon afterward he cast his lot with the Federals. by whom he was employed to guide troops to the mountains of Virginia and Maryland, and after the close of the war he was the recip- ient from the state of Maryland of a medal for gallant and meritorious service. He had many times endangered his life for the flag of his country, but he did not consider it safe to return to his old home. and located in Grant county, West Virginia, where he yet lives. During his active life he worked from time to time as a cooper and as a car- penter, but gave most of his time to farm- ing. He was a worthy member of the Lutheran church.

William Bright was born in 1819, and Susan Miller, who became his wife, was born in 1821, and died in February, 1899. Mrs. Bright was a daughter of John and Elizabeth { Eye) Miller, natives of Virginia, and her father was a prominent farmer who saw service at Norfolk, Virginia, in the war of 1812, and died in Virginia in 1864. more than ninety years old. John and Elizabeth ( Eve) Miller had children as fol- lows: John H .. who died in Virginia: and Susan, who was the mother of the imme- dinte subject of this sketch. His wife. Elizabeth, died comparatively young, and

he married Hannah Kiester, who bore him three daughters named Elizabeth. Lavina and Christina. William and Susan ( Mil- ler) Bright had two children: Susan E., who married a Mr. Probst, and died in Vir- ginia in 1870, leaving a daughter and a son, named Lovisa and William A .. respect- ively, and J. D. Bright, of Little River, Kansas.

J. D. Bright was reared at his birth- place in Virginia, now West Virginia, and remained under the parental roof until he was seventeen years old, when, in 1863, he was made a prisoner by the Confederates and sent to Belle Isle prison, at Richmond, Virginia, where he was offered his liberty if he would enter the Confederate army. After a month he and two others, who were Union sympathizers, were conscripted and forced to join the Confederate army at Orange Court House, Virginia. The next day he managed to get away and make his way back toward his former home and for five days he suffered terribly from cold and hunger. He did not dare return to his home but hid himself in the mountains, where he remained for eight months. sleeping at night between two logs, which were his only protection from storm and cold and wind. In August, 1864, in company with his sister he escaped on horseback to the Union lines, where he volunteered as a pri- vate in the Eleventh Regiment. Virginia Volunteer Infantry, in which organization he fought for the stars and stripes until the close of the war, experiencing many hard- ships and taking part in many hotly con- tested engagements. In one of the batties in the valley of Virginia he received a bul- let wound in the right thigh; at Cedar Creek he received a minie ball in his right breast and later he was again wounded, but not seriously, in the right arm. At the time of Lee's surrender he was with his command on the state line between Virginia and Maryland. He was mustered out of the service at New Creek. West Virginia, and with an honorable discharge and his pay he returned to his former home, where he remained until 1868.

Beginning in 1868 Mr. Bright spent

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

four years in traveling and prospecting. finally stopping in Illinois, where, in 1874. he married and began farming on rented land. In 1876 he removed to Kansas and fed en a homestead claim in Unien tan ship. Rice county, where he imprendi a gal farm and jivol until 1882, when he located at Little River, where the year he- fore he had created a building and started a boarding house, in which he accommo- dated men engaged in the completion of the railroad there. In 1882 he became one of the first merchants in the town, and trad- ed successfully until he closed out his busi- nes to engage in a grain and live stock enterprise, in which he continued until 1887; when he opened a real-estate and loan of- fice. A few months later he bought a gen- eral store, which he managed for a year un- til financial stringency made the business unpretalle, and he then removed his stock night Salem, Nebraska, where he was a general merchant for four years. In 1892 he said out his business in Salem and re- turned to Little River. where he was a salesman in a store for five years.

In 1890 Mr. Bright was elected coun- ty clerk of Rice county. He was re-elected to that office in 1898 and again in 1900. During the first three years of his incum- beney of the office he lived at Lyons, but he then returned to Little River. where he has since made his home. Before his election to this important office he filled many re- spensilille township and city offices, among them those of township clerk and township treasurer and member of the common coun- cil and mayor of Little River. In 1882 he bought seven acres of land adjoining the village of Little River, which is now in- cluded within the corporate limits of that town. on which, in 1892, he built a resi- dence which he has since rendelel and colargul until it is in every way attractive ard c mit stoi le. He has good barns and wwwhuidlings and his house is surrounded by fruit and shade trees. He has erected

in the village and has

fority of the place, and he has bought back "ginal homestead farn.

ol as one of the substantial men of the town.

Mr. Bright is a broad-minded man of much public spirit and he has acquitted him- seli admirably in every public Sce to which he has been called. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, ci tire Grand Army of the Republic, of D'ie Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Daugh- ters of Rebekah, and of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Knights and Li- of Security. Like a majority of the pio- neers who went to Kansas he arrived there with much to gain and little toks. He was the numer of a team and a few house- hold goods, but asted three hundred del- lars, and at this time many evidence of this worldly success are visible to the mest ce- mal . bserver. His first wife, when he nur- ried in Illinois, was Miss Mice Bar-tex. 2 native of Ohio, and a daughter of Andrew Barstow, who remove! Ilinois Tram Ohio, and in 1883, from Illinois to Kan- sis, locating at Little River, where he farmed for some years until he remained to Hutchinson, where he is a manufacturer of tombstones. Mr. Barstow was twice mar- ried. By his first wife he had children named Alice, John, Martha, who married J. Hope; Perry and George. By his second marriage he had a daughter name ! I. - rena. J. D. and Alice ( Barst go) Bright had two children: Isafene M., wis mar- r'ed S. P. Plank, acting deputy clerk of Rice county; and Lloyd S., who is a paint- CT. Mrs. Bright, who was a natten member of the Mesleyan Methodist church. clied in September, 1882. In 18844 Mr. Bright married Hester ( Matter) Betts, a childless widow: daughter of John Matter. a native of Indiana. : aller living ing a time in Wisconsin, removed to Kins -. where he was a successful farmer until his Heirement from active life and whis non Mr. Matter had chil- Les. Riley. Martha (MITs. Burnahin), Maggie. John A .. and Harvey. Mr. and Mrs. Matter are mem- les i the United Brethren church. By his ser p! wife, who died in 1897, and who is remem1 1:

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084