A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 105

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

USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II > Part 105

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March 7. 1878, Mr. Haston married Mary J. Campbell, a daughter of John Campbell& of Fairhaven, Preble county. Ohio, and they have had borne to them seven children : Charles A. Haston is a young man well known in Reno coun- ty. Martin Haston assists his father very materially in carrying on his business en- terprises. Frank D. who is only sixteen years old, is the merchant at Thurbur. where a postoffice was established two years ago. Harry D. died at the age of eight months and James died at the age of three months. Samuel O. is six years old. Charles A. Haston is a graduate of the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois. Mrs. Haston was born in England, April 25. 1858. a daughter of John and Mattie ( Scott) Campbell, who brought her, an in- fart. to the United States. Her parents

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were farmers in England and in 1859 they settled in Ohio and took up new land which they cleared and improved. They had four sons and two daughters, all of whom, ex- cept one of their daughters, are living. Mrs. Campbell died in 1890, at the age of sixty-five, Mr. Campbell at the age of seventy-five years, in 1890.

JEREMIAH JASPER GILMORE.

Jeremiah Jasper Gilmore, a well known resident of Washington township, Rice county, was born in Fayette county, Illi- nois. December 23, 1851. His father, Jere- miah Gilmore, was a native of Kentucky, born in 1852, and at an early age went to Illinois, casting in his lot among the pio- neer settlers of Fayette county, in 1825. There his death occurred in the year 1806. He wedded Mary Landshom, who was born in Kentucky in 1807. Her father was a farmer of that state and lived and died there. rearing a family of six children. Her grandfather, John Murphy, was a na- tive of Ireland and was accidentally drowned at the very venerable age of one hundred and four years. After their mar- riage Mr. Gilmore began farming and de- voted his life to that occupation. He and his wife became the parents of sixteen chil- dren. thirteen of whom reached mature years, were married and had families of their own. The eldest. William. is still living. at the age of seventy-eight years, his home being in Effingham county, Illi- nois. Eleven of the number are still liv- ing. Jeremiah J. being the youngest. The mother also departed this life in Illinois, passing away in 1875. She was a very indus- trious woman and made all of the clothes for the family, taking the raw material and carding. spinning and weaving the wool into cloth, of which she made the gar- ments. Both Mr. and Mrs Gilmore were devoted members of the Baptist church. tak- ing an active part in its work and contrib- uting in a large measure to its success.

Jeremiah J. Gilmore, whose name forms

the caption of this review, was reared to farm laber and from early boyhood assisted materially in the work of the fields and meadow. He acquired a fair common- school education, pursuing his studies until fifteen years of age, when his father died and he was therefore required to give some of his attention and time to farm work. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred August 6, 1872, Miss Mary E. Whitzell becoming his wife. She was born in Marion county, Ohio, a daughter of II. R. and Hannah ( Dunkleborger ) Whitzell, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. They were farming people and on the old homestead they reared their family of seven children. The mother died in No- vember, 1878, when about sixty-two years of age, and the father passed away in the fall of 1885. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore have been born nine children: William. Sherman and Olive, at home: Myrtle, the wife of B. L. Swearins, by whom she has one living child: Samuel, a salesman of Newton, Kansas; Carry E., Nellie, James, John and Ethel, all still under the parental roof.

After his marriage Mr. Gilmore en- gaged in the operation of the home farm. residing in the stone house built by his fa- ther. The latter gave to each of his thir- teen children a farm, having through an active business career become a wealthy man, although he started in life without capital and his first crop in Illinois was planted with the aid of one ox, the other of the team having been lost. His market was at St. Louis, one hundred and forty miles away, and that was reached but once or twice a year. Wild animals were a continual menace to his poultry and pigs. The same resolute spirit which enabled the father to work his way steadily upward was manifest in the son. Our subject contin- ued his residence in Illinois until 1874. when he sold his eighty-acre farm there and came to Rice county, Kansas, secur- ing a homestead here. He began life over again in this wild western district, for it was then during the pioneer epoch in the history of this portion of the state. He

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secured eighty acres of land, a tract of raw prairie, and with characteristic energy be- ; gan its development. His farm now com- prises one hundred and sixty acres and he also leases two hundred and forty acres. He carries on general farming and makes a specialty of the production of wheat. planting from one hundred to three hun- dred acres to that cereal. He keeps from twenty to sixty head of cattle and works six horses. He is an energetic farmer, whose diligence and strong determination have been the means of enabling him to overcome difficulties and obstacles and work his way steadily upward to prosperity. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge and encampment and has passed all of the chairs in the order. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Through the years of their residence in Kansas they have made many friends, who esteem them highly for their genuine worth. Fidelity to duty and strict adherence to the teachings of their church are potent ele- ments in their lives and such qualities al- ways gain respect and admiration.

W. H. MAUPIN.

W. H. Maupin is a progressive, intel- ligent and successful farmer of Victoria township, residing on section 12. A well developed farm indicates not only the thrift and enterprise of the owner but also a thor- ough understanding of his business, and to this class of progressive citizens belongs our subject.

H., Walter C. B. and one now deceased. The parents became residents of the Sun- flower state, taking up their abode in John- son county, Kansas, where the father died at the age of fifty-six years. He followed farming as a life occupation. His wife was called to the home beyond at the age of fifty-nine, and both were members of the Christian church and were noted for their excellent qualities of heart and mind.

W. H. Maupin, the only one of his fa- ther's family living in Kansas, spent his boyhood days on a farm in Missouri, where he was early inured to the labors of field and meadow. In 1858, at the age of sev- enteen years, he came with his parents to Kansas, a location being made in Johnson county, but he subsequently returned to Missouri and in Howard county, that state, was united in marriage to Mary E. Leg- gett, a native of Howard county and a daughter of Jonathan Leggett, whose wife's maiden name was Stapp. The father was a native of the Old Dominion. Mrs. Mau- pin died in 1881, at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving seven children, five sons and two daughters: Ed L., C. W., O. B., W. G., Julia May Fuson, Mrs. Florence Fuson and H. L. The mother was a mem- ber of the Christian church, and in her daily life exemplified her Christian belief. In 1887 Mr. Maupin was again married, his second union being with Miss A. E. Stapp, a woman of intelligence and culture, who was born, reared and educated in Howard county, Missouri, a daughter of William Stapp. He was a farmer by occupation, and his death occurred in 1858, at the age of forty-two years, leaving four children, three now living,-A. J., M. S. and Mrs. A. E. Maupin. One son, P. G., was acci- dentally drowned when a young man of twenty-nine years. The mother of this fam- ily departed this life at the age of seventy- six years, and was an active member of the Christian church. Mrs. Maupin has also passed away, dying on the 14th of Septem- ber. 190I.

Mr. Maupin was born in Howard coun- ty, Missouri, March 4. 1841, the day on which General W. H. Harrison took his seat as president of the United States and the same year in which King Edward, of England, was born. His father, L. W. Maupin, was born in Kentucky, of French ancestry, and he wedded Miss Julia Hall. a native of the Old Dominion. They had In 1878 W. H. Maupin, the subject of this review, again took up his abode in the ten children, namely: Mary Jane, W. H .. Sarah, Nancy, Lotta, Eliza, Martha, Logan ' Sunflower state, where he now owns and

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operates an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located two miles from Geneseo. His home is noted for its good cheer and comfort, and there hospitality reigns supreme. Ile is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, but has never been an office seeker. Mr. Maupin is a member of the Christian church, with which his wife was also identified. A man of broad mind, he is liberal in support of public interests calculated to benefit the com- munity, and the poor and needy have often found in him a warm friend.

FRANK E. REYNOLDS.

Among the enterprising and valued citizens which Ireland has contributed to our republic may be mentioned the sub- ject of this sketch, who is one of the pros- perotis and influential agriculturists of Kingman county. He was born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, fifty years ago, and is a son of Frank and Ada Reynolds, na- tives of the same county. There the parents spent their entire lives, and they lived to see their children grow up and become an honor to the good old family name.

Frank E. Reynolds, the subject of this review. in his youth enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the public schools of his native land, and in later years he has greatly added to his knowledge by observa- tion, reading and travel. At the age of nineteen years he bade farewell to his home and the land of his birth and sailed for the United States, landing at Portland, Maine, and after a short residence there he moved further west, locating at Plattsburg, Clinton county, Missouri. There Mr. Rey- nolds made his home for one year, on the expiration of which period he went to Buch- anan county, Missouri, and thence to St. Joe. at the latter place accepting a posi- tion in a produce store, in which he served with efficiency for six years as clerk. In 1878 he left that city and came to King- man. Kansas, and after his arrival here he purchased a carload of lumber and erected

a business house, in which he was engaged in business for seven years, and while thus engaged he became widely and favorably known throughout Kingman county. After abandoning mercantile pursuits he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in Ninnescah township, to which he has since added from time to time until he now owns a valuable farm of four hundred and forty acres. Ilis land is located a mile and a half south of Kingman, is under a high state ci cultivation and has valuable build- ings. He is also extensively engaged in raising stock and dairying, and in both branches of his business success has abund- antly rewarded his efforts.

In Kingman county, in 1883, courred the marriage of Mr. Reynolds and Miss Bella Carson. She is also a native of the Emerald Isle, her birth having occurred in county Derry, and is a daughter of Robert Carson. a resident of Philadelphia. Penn- sylvania, for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have become the parents of two children. Marguerite, a young lady of six- teen years, and Samuel FF .. who has reached the age of fourteen years, who are students in the Kingman high school. The family are Protestants in their religious affilia- tiens. Mr. Reynolds is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and for nine years he has served as trustee of Namescan township, filling the office to the entire sat- isfaction of all concerned. He has proved himself in all the relations of life an earn- est. honest and upright man and a citizen of whom any community might be justly proud.

HIRAM N. MOREHOUSE.

The subject of this sketch is a man whose career exemplifies the trite but sig- nificant saying that good character is the best weapon which one can use in the war- fare of life. Hiram N. Morehouse, who has filled the office of postmaster at Little River. Kansas, and is a prominent and rep- resentative farmer of Rice county. was born in Orleans county. New York. Oet Ker

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22, 1836, a son of Dill L. and Mary A. ( Smith ) Morehouse. His father, who was a native of Canada, was a son of Lyman Morehouse, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who for many years was master of boats plying on the St. Lawrence river. During the war of 1812 Lyman Morehouse was not friendly to the English cause and was compelled to leave the Dominion in haste. With his family he escaped on horseback and fled to Onondaga county, New York, from whence he went to Orleans county, in the same state, where he reared his children to years of maturity. Later he removed to Michi- gan, where he lived out his days. His wife was also a native of Canada. They had children named as follows: Mercy, who married Samuel Williams; Dill L., the fa- ther of the subject of this sketch ; Mathew, deceased; Fannie, who married Luther Herrick; Charlotte who married George Owen; Elmira, who married Orin Price; Lucy, who married Truman Phelps ; Marion, who married Mr. Yerkes; and Myron, who became a retired farmer in the state of New York, and his wife passed away February 22, 1902.

Dill L. Morehouse was born in Mon- treal, Canada, February 19, 1809, and was three years old when his mother carried him on horseback to Onondaga county, New York. He was eight years of age when, in 1817, the family located in Orleans county, where he was reared to manhood and meagerly educated in the public schools. He was employed in various ways and to the extent of his ability helped to support the family. For three years he worked on the Erie canal and was employed from time to time at other heavy work. In 1830 he attained his majority, and with all his earthly possessions wrapped in a pocket handkerchief set out to seek his fortune. His first independent occupation was at chopping cord wood at sixteen and two- thirds cents a cord, for which labor he was paid in corn at the rate of forty cents a bushel, and he hauled this product seven miles to exchange for store goods, while later he was employed by the month at eight dollars. The second year his pay reached

ten dollars a month and the third year it was twelve dollars a month. He married an orphan girl, who was also without means, and they built a log cabin, with a stick and mud chimney, and bought a few articles of furniture at a point seven miles distant, for which Mr. Morehouse went in debt to the extent of nineteen dollars, but this he paid during the following winter by hauling staves. An old chest, which served the double purpose of chest and cupboard in their forest home, he kept through life as a relic of the beginning of his career as a married man. He succeeded in placing his land under cultivation in the spring of 1834, and farmed with some success until 1843, when he went to Wyoming county, New York, farming successfully until 1853, then bought a grist, saw and shingle mill, which he conducted in connection with his farm until 1857, meanwhile remodeling it somewhat, and he then rented it in order to remove to Illinois. He located at Leroy, McLean county, where he became a mem- ber of the firm of Humphrey, Wakefield & Company, grocers and mill proprietors. Later he traded his milling interest in the firm for a large tract of land, and in 1860, in company with his son Cyrus, he bought the Humphrey & Wakefield interest at Leroy, and until 1864, when his son suc- ceeded him, was a general merchant at that place. He lived a life of retirement until 1873, when he opened another store, but that he eventually sold to his son, who re- moved the stock of goods to Champaign City, Illinois. During all his active life he was aided very materially by his wife, a woman of more than ordinary natural abil- ity. They planned carefully, worked hard and denied themselves many comforts in order to save money and get a start in the world. In time they got together a good property and Mr. Morehouse occupied a place high in the esteem of his fellow citi- zens. They were earnestly devoted to the cause of Methodism, and Mr. Morehouse gave one thousand dollars to erect the house of worship at Leroy and a like amount to promote the celebration of the centennial of Methodism in 1866. His

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good wife, whom he married in October. 1833, was in her maidenhood Mary .1. Smith, and was born in the state of New Jersey, April 19, 1810. They had children as follows: Olive .A., born August 15. 1834. married Dr. S. H. Birney, of illi- nois ; Hiram N., born October 22, 1836, is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Cyrus S., born December 13, 1839, formerly lived in Champaign City and Chicago, Illinois, but recently removed to Minneapolis, Min- nesota : Amos R., who was born February 9. 1842, served in the Federal army for ninety days during the Civil war and is now living in Big Rapids, Michigan; Or- rilla M., born July 5, 1844, married Dr. E. C. Bartholow, of Mahomet, and he died January 3, 1892 ; Philo F., born September 4, 1847, died at the age of two years. The mother of these children died at Leroy, Illi- nois, March 21, 1887, and the father after- ward married Miss L. E. Hemingway, a spinster of much culture and intelligence. who was for some years a missionary to the Fiji Islands. She made his last days happy and is now living at Leroy. D. L. More- house died January 7. 1896, and was buried in his family vault at Champaign City, Illi- nois, beside his first wife. His daughter, Orrilla M., died January 16, 1886: Olive A. died March 10, 1888; and Amos R. and Cyrus S. are living.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Orleans county, New York. until 1843. moved with his parents to Wyoming coun- ty, that state, lived on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, learned the miller's trade, and after remaining in the mill for a time he became one of its owners. During the year 1855 in which he was there en- gaged, he cut out a stencil brand for brand- ing his flour sacks, and this brand became known as the best flour manufactured in the county, and long after he had disposed of his interest in the mill this flour was manu- factured under the same brand. In the fall of 1901 he returned on a visit to Wy- oming county, New York, and on going to the mill almost the first object which met his view was the old stencil hanging on the nail which he had driven for that purpose

forty-seven years ago. He remembered that that event was forty-one years since he left the mill, and although not now in use, the stencil still hung in the same place. He brought it with him to his Kansas home, where it is kept as a much prized relic.

In 1859, after his marriage, Mr. More- house returned to New York and took charge of his and his father's mill and other i property, which he sold in 1860. Going again to Illinois, he was for a few years engaged in farming and in 1868 embarked in the furniture and undertaking business at Leroy, conducting it successfully until 1872, when he sold his interests there and removed to Streator, Illinois, where he was an undertaker and furniture dealer for five years. Selling out his establishment at the latter place in 1877, he returned to Leroy. where he farmed for three years. He next

became a dealer in grain and general mer- chandise at Sabina, McLean county, Illi- nois, where he lived for four years, during which time he filled the office of postmaster and was local railroad agent. In 1885 he removed to Rice county, Kansas, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the corporation line of Little River, which he yet owns.

Mr. Morehouse has made many im- provements on his property at Little River, where he owns a large residence au! ample barns and outbuildings, and also has a fine orchard and groves of forest and orna- mental trees. He has added one hundred and sixty acres to his original purchase. and his homestead now aggregates three hun- dred and twenty acres, all of which is under cultivation. In 1886-7 he bought and shipped grain, and in 1889 was appointed postmaster at Little River, in which office he served for five years, a part of the time under an adverse administration. tothe en- tire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. Since then he has devoted his attention to general farming and stock-raising, and the yah his health is inadequate to hard labor be man- ages his business interests with marked ability. He is a Roval Arch M . :: and has filled all the chairs in the line : dge.

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He and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, in which he holds the office of trustee.

In 1859 Mr. Morehouse married Miss Elsie A. Chapin, who was born in DeWitt county. Illinois, February 15, 1837, a daughter of Hiram and Martha (Day) Chapin. Her father was a native of Ten- nessee and her mother was born in Ken- tucky, where they were married. He was an early settler in Illinois, and his first pur- chase of land embraced the original site of the city of Springfield, which, without any idea that it would ever be so valuable as it is, he sold very cheap. Locating in De- Witt county, he bought considerable land there and became a prominent and influ- ential farmer. After rearing his children to mature years he sold his property there and retired to. Leroy, where he died in 1871. His wife died in 1853, and both were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. . The following data concerning their children will be of interest in this connec- tion: Their son John died at the age of twenty-two years; Stillman A. resides at DeWitt. Illinois; George died unmar- ried : Abraham D. died at Canton. Kan- sas: Martha married C. H. Rutledge; Ursula married Dr. Richards, who after- wards became known as Colonel Rich- ards, and he was killed at Raymond. Mississippi, during the Civil war, while later his widow became the wife of Dr. Morris : Elsie A. is the wife of Hiram N. Morehouse: Rebecca married J. Vander- venter : and Nancy is the deceased wife of T. V. Smith, of Leroy, Illinois. Hiram N. and Else A. (Chapin) Morehouse have had children as follows: Frank C., born January 8, 1861, died April 17, 1863 : Min- nie E .. born March 6. 1863. is a success- ful school teacher; Martha O., born Octo- ber 17. 1865. died October 14, 1891; Hi- ram E., born March 31. 1868, is engaged in farming on his father's homestead in Rice county : Mary A., born October I. 1870. is a member of her father's house- hold: George W .. born April 30, 1876, is prominently connected with agricultural interests, and was married on the 28th of

November, 1900, to Mila Van Arsdale, whose father is a clerk at Little River; and Nellie O., born February 22, 1879, is the wife of O. S. Ramage, who is a successful farmer residing near Little River, Kansas.

JESSE H. WILSON.

Prominent among the enterprising and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Kingman county, Kansas, is Jesse H. Wil- son, who resides on section 6, Union town- ship. He is of Irish and German descent and was born August 24, 1857, in Hen- dricks county, Indiana, which was also the birthplace of his father, John W. Wilson. His paternal grandfather, John White Wil- son, was probably a native of North Caro- lina and was a pioneer of Indiana, being about fifteen years of age when he removed with his parents to the Hoosier state. He became a farmer of Hendricks county, where he spent the remainder of his life. dying about twenty-five years ago.

John W. Wilson, the father of our sub- ject, was reared upon the home farm in Hendricks county, Indiana, and on attain- ing his majority commenced farming for himself upon his father's place, remaining there several years. He then rented a farm in his native county, which he operated five or six years, and in 1884 came to Kansas. locating in the city of Kingman. Kingman county, where he resided three months. He then took up a claim just over the line in Pratt county, where he spent two years, and after it was proved up he removed to Greensburg, Kiowa county, where he con- ducted a hotel for eighteen months. At the end of that time he removed to the eastern part of Indian Territory, where he had a mail route for a time, and at the opening of the strip made the run with the rest and se- cured a tract of land near Arkansas City. To the improvement and cultivation of that place he devoted his energies until the sum- mer of 1900, when he retired from active labor and removed to Newkirk, leaving one of his sons to operate the farm. Politically

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 105

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