A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 102

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

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Bright had four children : Bliss B. B .. Hazel D., Glen \\'., and Lester A. Mr. Bright's present wife, who is a member of the Presbyterian church, was Miss Buckles. daughter of Jacob Buckles, and widow of a Mr. Pratt, who died leaving two children, William Pratt, of Salina. Kansas; and Claude Pratt, who is a member of his mother's household. Jacob Buckles was born in Indiana and was an early settler in Rice county, Kansas, where he improved a good farm and where he lived out his days. Before locating in Rice county, he had lived some years in Saline county, and had improved a farm near Salina. He married Mrs. Schoonover, a widow, who bore him children named James, Lewis and a daughter who is now Mrs. Bright. By her former husband Mrs. Buckles had children named Mary, Susan. Ella, Ida and Harrison Schoonover. Mr. Bright has no issue by his last marriage.

E. H. RUTLEDGE.

Nature has been bountiful in her gifts to Kansas, for the broad prairies and rich meadow lands offer excellent opportunities for the farmer and stock-raiser, who, if he possess energy and ambition can receive from the soil rich returns for his labor. Mr. Rutledge is one of the enterprising and prosperous agriculturists of Rice county, being the proprietor of Riverdale farm, in Rockville township and he is one of the most respected and worthy citizens. His country seat comprises four hundred and eighty acres of rich land, in the midst of which stands a pleasant residence, spacious barns and good sheds. There are also feed lots, rich pasture lands, highly cultivated fields of corn and wheat. and everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating the careful supervision of the owner who has been proprietor of this place since 1885.

Mr. Rutledge was born near Blooming- ton, McLean county, Illinois, August 14,

1861. His father, Charles H. Rutledge, was also a native of that state, born in Montgomery county, in 1828. His father, Mark Rutledge, was born in Georgia and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. After arriving at years of maturity he mar- ried Miss Nancy Bostick, who was born in Kentucky and died in Illinois, in 1855. In the year 1826 the grandfather of our subject had removed to the Prairie state, casting in his lot with the pioneers settlers of Mont- gomery county. Charles H. Rutledge, the father of our subject, was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier and in 1846 he manifested his loyalty to his country by enlisting for service in the war with Mexi- co. In DeWitt county, Illinois, he married Martha A. Chapin, who was born in that county and was a daughter of Hiram and Pattie Chapin, the former a native of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge resided in McLean county, Illinois, until 1885, when they took up their abode upon the Riverdale farm before mentioned. The fa- ther, however, was not long permitted to en- I joy his new home, for he departed this life in 1886. He had been a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser and was a good business man. His widow still survives him and yet lives in Rice county. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four yet sur- vive, namely: Stillman D., of Hutchinson, Kansas; Ed H., of this review ; Florence, wife of Frank McConnell, of Little River; and Louise, wife of William Wood, of Hutchinson, Kansas. One child, Harvey, the eldest, died at the age of fifteen years, and another died in infancy. The father of this family was a Democrat in his political affiliations but never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office. Long a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian church, he served as one of its elders for a number of years and was an exem- plary member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the principles of be- nevolence and brotherly kindness were ex- emplified in his daily life and he was regard- ed as one of the substantial and worthy citizens of every community with which he was identified.

MRS. E. H. RUTLEDGE.

E St Rutledge.

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E. H. Rutledge spent his boyhood days upon the home farm in Illinois, where he was taught to work and to be honest and trustworthy in all his dealings. The lessons of his youth have been closely followed and have made him a successful and highly re- spected citizen. He pursued his education in the public schools of Bloomington, Illi- nois, and in 1885, at the age of twenty-four years, he came to Kansas, where he has en- graged in general farming and stock-raising, being now the proprietor of the fine River- dale farm,which brings to him an excellent return for the care and labor bestowed up- on it.

Mr. Rutledge was united in marriage, in Rice county on the 2d of October, 1890, to Miss Ida MI. Mathes, a woman of intel- ligence and a representative of a highly re- spected family. She was born in Missouri, and was reared and educated in the Sun- flower state. Her father. Samuel Mathes. was born in Morgan county, Illinois, and for three and a half years served as a sol- dier of the Eighth Illinois Infantry during the Civil war, making a gallant record. He was married in Jacksonville, Illinois, to Miss Susan A. Tricknor, a native of Morgan county, that state. His death occurred in 1901, when he had attained the age of fifty- seven years. He had devoted his life to farming and in his political views he was a Republican, while socially he was connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. His widow still survives him and makes her home in Oklahoma. They were the parents of five children: Ulyses, who is living in Oklahoma; Frank, of Rice county : Harry; Mrs. Cora Hendrickson, of Oklahoma; and Gilbert, who is living in Rice county.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge hold mem- bership in the Congregational church and he exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the Demo- cratic party. He is now numbered ameng the representative stock men and farmers of Rice county, is a gentleman of frank and genial manners, honorable in business and has won the confidence and gained the re-

spect of all with whom he is associated. While free from ostentation and display his kindly interest and sympathy wins for him the warm friendship of all with whom he comes in contact, and he is numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of the community.

CHARLES H. WOOD.

The parents of the subject of this skete were born, the father in Virginia, the moth- er in Ohio. Virginia and Ohio have done as much for the west in the matter of sup- plying material for good citizenship as any two states in the Union, and Kansas is just- ly proud of her citizens from those sources -men of brain and of action, who are ev- erywhere advancing her enlightenment and her progress along all worthy lines. Such a citizen is Charles H. Wood, merchant and postmaster at Adams. Kingman county, an account of whose creditable career it will be attempted now to give.

Charles H. Wood was born near New Upton. Virginia, May 22, 1869, a son of Frederick and Ann (Lindsey) Wood. His father, who was a farmer, went in his car's manhood from his native state to Carroll county, Ohio. After his marriage in Ohi . he returned to Virginia, and from that state he removed in 1875, when the subject of this sketch was a lad of about six years, t Monroe county, Iowa, where he bought land on which he farmed until 1881. Ir the year last mentioned he emigrate : : Kansas and located in Sumner county, and engaged in stock-raising and general farm- ing. He became the owner of about eight hundred acres of land and was well known as a man of enterprise and public spirit. In religion he was a Baptist, and in politics . Republican. He was no less patriotic than progressive, as is proven by the fact that he served his country three years as a soldier in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war. and was wounded in action at Vicksburg. He died at his home in Sumner county, in 188;, aged fifty-six years; his wife. i 1894, aged sixty-three.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Frederick and Ann (Lindsey) Wood had six children, the following facts con- cerning whom will doubtless be of interest in this connection : Clay is a farmer in Sumner county. Carrie married Taylor P. Thompson, of Calhoun county, Iowa. Maud became the wife of Charles Shoup, and died in Sumner county in 1890. Robert lives on the old homestead in Sumner coun- ty. Jennie married Howard Ammann, and lives at Caroline, Sumner county. Charles H. is the immediate subject of this sketch.

Charles H. Wood was about twelve years old when his parents brought him to Kansas. He had already gained the foun- dation of a common-school education in Iowa, and after he came to Sumner county he divided his time between the school- rom and his father's fields and cattle range

-sonietimes he was in the saddle almost literally day and night. Later he took a commercial course at a business college at Fort Scott. He began his active career as a farmer on a part of his father's estate, working two hundred and forty acres with considerable success until he embarked in the mercantile business at Adams, King- man county.

In February, 1901, his store was de- stroved by fire, and in April following he moved into his new building. the erection of which was then just completed. It is a two-story structure, covering a ground space of twenty-four by forty feet, and is well stocked with all kinds of goods re- quired by his trade. He does a consider- ! do the work of his profession in connec- alle business also in handling coal and shipping grain, and is always progressive i the service of the government, making an and up-to-date as a business man. quick to discern the wants of his patrons and prompt ! to supply them : and he is not only the only merchant hut the only postmaster in his township, of which he has the added dis- tinction of being the only representative of this work.

March 28, 1901, Mr. Wood married Miss Anna Boggell, a native of Indiana, whose father was a farmer in that state. owning on hundred and seventy acres of land, which he sold in 1886, when he set- tled in Kansas. After farming and raising

hogs and cattle some five years in Chase county, Mr. Boggell moved in 1900 tu Reno county and leased the Eckroyd ranch in Curton township and on that and other land engaged in stockraising, grazing about one hundred and fifty head, which he sold in 1900, and in 1901 he bought the Charles Merrick place.

Mr. Wood is a member of Argonia lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past noble grand, and is identified with the Milan lodge of Modern Woodmen of America. He is popular both as a merchant and as a citizen and his fellow townsmen know that he may be safely de- pended on to further to the extent of his ability any movement which in his good judgment seems to tend to the general good. Politically he affiliates with the Re- publican party. His grandfather Lindsey, a native of the Emerald Isle, was an early settler in Ohio, where he married and reared a family and won success in life as a farmer and man of affairs.

R. A. THOMAS.

In the practice of his chosen and ex- acting profession of dentistry, which is both an art and a science, Dr. Thomas has not only attained marked precedence and suc- cess, but has also had a unique experience, since he went to the Philippine Islands to tien with the United States army and in excellent record and doing much in the line among the brave boys who have protected and are still protecting American interests in that far distant section of the Orient. The Doctor has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession for about a dec- ade, and is thoroughly skilled in the matter of technical knowledge and the power to ap- ply the same most effectively.

The Doctor is a native of the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the place made memorable by the disastrous flood a num- ber of years ago. He is a son of Dr. . 1.

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BIOGR. IPHICAL HISTORY.

N. Thomas, who was likewise born in Penn- sylvania, and who has been for many years established in the practice of his profes- sion in Goodland, Sherman county, Kan- sas, having maintained his residence in that section of the state from the time of its early settlement and being one of its hon- pred pioneers. Our subject passed his early howheed in his native state and then ac- companied his parents on their removal to Kansas, in whose public schools he received his carly educational training, while he prepared himself for the technical work of his profession by taking courses of study in leading dental colleges in the cities of Philadelphia and Chicago.

Dr. R. A. Thomas located in Kiowa. Barber county, in the year 1898 and here has well equipped offices and controls a large practice of a representative order, his undoubted skill contributing to his success, as has also his high personal popularity. He received the appointment to practice dentis- try in the United States army, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was or- dered to San Francisco California. and la- ter to the city of Manila. Philippine Islands. making the voyage of forty-two days' du- ration on the government transport Han- cock and arriving at Manila the day after the government troops had made a march of eighteen miles into the interior and had a brisk skirmish with the natives. The Doc- tor remained in the Philippines for two years, being located in the same section as was the Twentieth Kansas Regiment for a time. and doing much professional work for the boys in its ranks. He then returned to the United States on the government transport Logan, making the trip by way of Japan and Hong Kong, China, and ar- riving in the city of San Francisco after a voyage of thirty-three days.

There is somewhat of a romance con- nected with the marriage of Dr. Thomas. Upon going to San Francisco he formed the acquaintance of a Miss Carr. the daughter of Hon. P. J. Carr, a promi- nent and influential citizen of that place. and the result was that in November, 1900, their marriage was solemnized and Mrs. Thomas

as a bride accompanied her husband to the Orient, where she remained with him un- til his return. She is a lady of refinement and is prominent in the social activities of Kiowa, as is also the Doctor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Woodmen of America.

T. J. WOOD.

As a representative of the class of sub- stantial builders of a great commonwealth who has served faithfully in the enterpris- ing west, we present the subject of this re- view, who is a pioneer of the Sunflower state and has nobly performed his duty in establishing and maintaining the material interests and moral welfare of his commun- ity and has exerted a strong influence throughout his adopted state as an agri- culturist.

Mr. Wood was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, May 23, 1850, a son of T. J. Wond. St., a native of Bourbon county, that state. His father, William Wood. a native of Virginia, was a son of Robert Wood, who was born in England, and was a ship carpenter. His sons became promi- nent in professional life in the United States, two of whom were successful med- ical practitioners in St. Louis, Missouri, and one was a 'Methodist Episcopal minister. William Wood, the grandfather of our subject was a cabinet-maker by trade. He married a Miss Ellis. Their son, Thomas J., Sr., followed various occupations der- ing his active business career, being a car- penter, mason and a boot and shoe maker. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary R. Clark, a lady of intelligence and culture. She was born in Bracken county, Ken- tucky. a daughter of Walker and Sarah (DeCut) Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Wood be- came the parents of the following children : William W., who was a successful physi- cian of Mt. Olivet, Ohio, but is now de- ceased ; Jeremiah, who was accidentally killed at Lagrange, Kentucky; Themas J .. our subject : Robert T., a well known phy-

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sician of Paris, Kentucky; J. B., who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Alt. Olivet, Ohio; and Mrs. Elizabeth Jay, who died in Robinson, Kentucky. The father of this family was called to his final rest at the age of forty-eight years. He was a man of fine physique, weighing two hun- dred and fifty pounds. He affiliated with the Democratic party. Mrs. Wood was called to the home beyond at the age of sev- enty-three years, and both were worthy members of the Baptist church.

T. J. Wood, whose name forms the caption of this review, was reared in the state of his nativity, and there received a good common-school education. In Feb- ruary. 1879. he came to Kansas, taking up his abode in Raymond township, Rice county, where he has since been known as one of the enterprising and successful farmers and stock-raisers. His fields are under a high state of cultivation and the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, in- dicating to the passer-by the careful super- vision of a progressive owner. The place comprises one hundred and sixty acres, and is improved with a good resdence. a large barn, windmill and a beautiful grove and orchard. The United States observa- tory station is located within a few rods of his house.

In 1874, at the age of twenty-four years, Mr. Wood chose as a companion for the journey of life Miss Cynthia A. Bur- den, who was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, but was reared and educated in MIt. Olivet. Her father. C. E. Burden, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, but subsequently became a resident of Rice county, Kansas, where he remained for eighteen years. He is now a resident of Rogers. Arkansas, but still owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in Rice county. He married Nancy D. Wells, a native of Harrison county, Kentucky, and they became the parents of four children : W. C., a successful publisher of Sterling, Kansas: Walter Scott, a blacksmith of Chase. Kansas : Mrs. Cynthia Wood; Ber- tha. wife of James Booth. of Washington county, Arkansas. Two children grace the

home of our subject and wife: Bertha, the wife of Leonard Proffitt, of Raymond township; and Emmett R. They also lost two children, Artie Bell, the first born, dy- ing at the age of three and a half years, and Willis, the third in order of birth, de- parted this life at the age of nine years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wood are worthy and active members of the Baptist church, and he is a Democrat in his political affiliations. For sixteen years he served as a member of the school board. Mr. Wood possesses the enterprising spirit of the west and he has steadily worked his way upward until, hay- ing long since left the ranks of the many, he to-day stands among the successful few.

WILLIAM HENRY HARRIS.

The life story of this man is one that illustrates how self-made men make their way from small beginnings to places of honor in their communities and is one which may be read with benefit by young men who are struggling against adverse cir- cumstances and who may need a reminder that perseverance will bring success.

William Henry Harris, of Ninnescah township, Kingman county, Kansas, who is a prominent farmer and stock raiser. was born in Clinton county, New York, Janu- ary 22, 1857, a son of William F. and Lucy A. (Burnham) Harris. His father was a native of New York, his mother of Ver- mont. His grandfather in the paternal line was a man of success and prominence in that part of the state. William F. Harris was a blacksmith and worked at his trade many years in his native state. In 1877 he removed with his family to Hutchinson, Kansas, and in 1878 located on section 32, Ninnescah township, securing one-quarter of that section. He engaged in farming and stock-raising and died there in 1895, aged seventy-five years. In politics he was a Republican and early in life he was a member of a Masonic lodge in New York state. His widow, aged seventy-two years, lives in Nevada, Missouri, since his death.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

One of his daughters and two of his sons each entered a quarter section of land in section 32, and this, together with the quar- ter section taken by their father as men- tioned above, constituted the entire section. Mr. Harris had thirteen children, the fol- lowing information concerning whom will be of interest in this connection. Ellen married James R. McCormick, of Hitch- cock county, Nebraska. Mary H. is the wife of Marlin Baker, of Iroquois county, Illinois. John B. lives at Nevada, Mis- souri. Susan is dead. Sanford C., who is an upholsterer, lives at St. Louis, Mis- souri. William Henry was the next in or- der of birth. Lydia married W. M. Skin- ner, of Nevada, Missouri. Frank lives at Nevada, Missouri. Alonzo died in infancy. Fred lives in Wichita, Kansas. Jesse died at the age of fifteen years. Two others died in infancy.

William Henry Harris was twenty years old when he came with his father and the other members of his family to Kan- sas, and twenty-one years old when mem- bers of his family pre-empted section 32 in Ninnescah township. He at once set about improving his property and the fact that he lacked means did not deter him, for he earned such money as he required by working for others. In 1886 he built a one- story, three-room, frame house, with a shed kitchen, the main building covering a space of only eighteen by twenty-four feet. No- vember 29. 1887. he married. in Kingman county, Cora B. Nill, who was born in Elk county. Kansas, a daughter of Jacob and Mary A. (Hood) Nill. Her father, who was a native of Williams county, Ohio, was a pi neer in Allen county, Kansas, and later in Elk county, where he died when Mrs. Harris was nine years old. He was a Re- publican and was once a candidate for the office of sheriff in Elk county. His widow, now Mrs. Runyon lives at El Reno, Okla- homa. Mr. and Mrs. Nill had four chil- dren: Cora B .: Theodore and Lillie, who died in infancy; and Charles, who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Harris.

Mr. Harris has long taken an active in- terest in local affairs as an independent Re-

publican, having long served as overseer of roads and as clerk and treasurer of the township school board and having once been nominated on the People's ticket for the office of trustee. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

E. S. LEONARD.

E. S. Leonard, one of the well known citizens of Rice county who is devoting his energies to farming and stock-raising and whose efforts in that direction result in making him one of the substantial citi- zens of the community, came west with his father in 1878, when a boy of eleven years. He was born in Knox county, Ohio. July 14, 1867 a son of John Wick Leonard. a well known citizen of Rice county, now liv- ing in Lyons. The father is a native of New Jersey and in early life went to Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. After attaining his majority he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Sedan, who was born and reared in New Jersey and Ohio. acquiring her education in the schools of the two states. She died in 1892. She was a good wife and mother and a kind neighbor and was loved by all for her kind- ness of heart and mind. In the family were four children who are yet living: C. D., a prominent and influential citizen of Wil- son township. Rice county: Mrs. Altha Hobbs, of Lyons Kansas; Florence. the wife of Frank Hoyt, of Lyons; and E. S .. of this review. They also lost one child, Mary Alice, who died at the age of twenty years. The mother was a worthy member of the Wesleyan Methodist church and in her life exemplified her Christian faith. The father is a Republican in his political views, having long supported the men and measures of the party. He is a harness- maker by trade but through many years has carried on agricultural pursuits. He is honored and respected by all who knewy him for his genuine worth of character and fidelity to duty and to principle.

E. S. Leonard, whose name forms tie

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caption of this review, was reared in Ohio until eleven years of age, when he came with his parents to Kansas. His youth was passed at farm work, assisting his fa- ther in the cultivation of the fields and the raising of crops. He acquired his educa- tion in the public schools of his native state and of Kansas and has added to his knowledge through experience, reading and observation. At the age of twenty years. in June, 1891, in Wilson township, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Anna Wyatt, a lady of intelligence, who was a popular and successful teacher before her marriage. She was born in Lee county, Iowa, near Croton. and is a daughter of D. B. and Mary A. (Davison) Wyatt. Her father served as a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting for service in the Third Iowa Cavalry. While at the front he was wounded, but when- ever health permitted he was always at his post of duty, faithfully defending the old flag. He was born in Kentucky, and with his wife is now living in Clovis, California. They had six children, namely : Mrs. Anna Leonard; Mamie, who died at the age of seventeen years; Mrs. Minnie Beldon, of Wilson township, Rice county ; George; Al- bert ; and Charles.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 102

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