A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 111

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 111

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Elizabeth Gardner, who married Jesse Ashcraft, and became the mother of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born one mile from her present home in Pike township, Coshoc- ton county. Ohio, in 1834, a daughter of Archibald Gardner. The Ashcrafts are of German descent. The parents of Elizabeth (Gardner) Ashcraft were born in Ireland. Jesse and Elizabeth (Gardner) Ashcraft. who were married in Ohio in 1850, had twelve children, eight of whom are living.

Jacob C. Ashcraft, who is the immediate subject of this sketch, had an older brother who died at the age of one year. Martha Ashcraft married Spencer Lake, of Coshoc- ton county, Ohio. Hugh Ashcraft is a far- mer in Sedgwick township, Harvey county, Kansas. Anna Ashcraft married John Chil- cote and lives in Ohio. John Ashcraft lives in Ohio and has a family. Flora Ashcraft married Thomas Noland, of Ohio. How- ard Ashcraft lives in Ohio and is at the head of a family. Bert Ashcraft is living unmar- ried on the old Ashcraft farm.

Jacob C. Ashcraft received such a com- mon-school education as was available to him and remained under the parental roof until 1881. June 20, that year, he arrived in Sedgwick township, Harvey county, Kan- sas, and located on a half-section of land, which he had bought in 1878 of a railroad company at eight dollars an acre, on which were a few small cottonwood trees and a little shanty, and eighty acres of which had been broken. For a few years he herded sheep for his neighbors and himself, board- ing round and keeping bachelor's hall until he married. The lady who became his wife was Miss Hattie Wales, and their marriage was celebrated September 30, 1886. Miss Wales was born at Lena, Stephenson coun- ty, Illinois, May I, 1870, a daughter of Al- fred B. and Rachel ( Armagost) Wales, who had gone out from Snyder county, Pennsyl- vania. From Illinois they removed to Kan- sas in March, 1882, and they are now well known farmers in Sedgwick township, Har- vey county. The following facts concern- ing their children will be of interest in this connection : John Wales lives in Cando, North Dakota. Emma married Carl Wire and lives at Pond Creek, Oklahoma. George Wales lives in Sedgwick township, Harvey county, Kansas. Mrs. Ashcraft was the next in order of birth. Katie, now Mrs. EI- liott, lives in Sedgwick township. May ( Mrs. Barnes) lives at Wichita, Kansas. Maud Wales is a member of her parents' household. To Mr. and Mrs. Ashcraft have been born four children, as follows: Old- est son, not named, born August 11. 1887, died August 27, 1887; Harrison, who was

A. C. ashcraft

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born July 28, 1888: Jesse Edgar, who was born November 23, 1889, and died aged two years; and Frank, who was born Decem- ber 18, 1891.

In 1881 Mr. Ashcraft went back to Ohio and brought out to Kansas two hundred sheep. He and his borther engaged quite extensively in the sheep business, owning at one time twenty-three hundred head, but they closed out that interest in 1895. He is the owner of twelve hundred acres of land in five tracts, on four of which are complete sets of farm buildings. He op- erates about one-third of his land and leases the remainder. His principal crop is corn, to which he planted one year two hundred and fifty acres, which yielded an average of thirty bushels an acre; and another year he raised two thousand five hundred bushels of wheat. His stock consists principally of cattle and hogs. For a time he devoted himself to Shorthorns, but more recently has given much attention to Galloways. He owns usually about two hundred and fifty head of cattle and about two hundred Po- land-China hogs. He has fifty head of high- grade Galloway stock. He is a regular at- tendant at stock sales in Kansas City, and is always ready to buy good stock when he can do so at advantage. He is careful and conservative, but is enterprising and far- seeing and he knows a good thing in cattle when he sees it, and is always willing to pay for it. His residence was erected in 1895. He has four orchards, and one of them on his land in Marion county is a very prolific one. Mr. Ashcraft is a charter member of Sedgwick Lodge, K. of P.

JOHN ORLANDO FUGATE.

Ohio has given to Ottawa county, Kan- sas, many men who have been among its leading citizens in the past and present. One Ohioan whose career in Kansas covers a considerable period of her modern his- tory is John Orlando Fugate, who lives in section 33. Garfield township, Ottawa county, and whose post-office address is

Minneapolis. Mr. Fugate, who is a vet- eran of the Civil war, in which he served in the Eleventh Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was a homesteader in Kansas in 1870 and has since been a factor in the progress and prosperity of Ottawa county. John Orlando Fugate was born at Oak- land, Clinton county, Ohio, May 4, 1838, a son of Enoch Fugate, a native of Penn- sylvania and a member of an old and patri- otic family of that state. Enoch Fugate's grandfather fought for American freedom in the war of the Revolution, and Thomas Fugate was a soldier in the war of 1812. By trade the last mentioned was a carpen- ter. He married Mary Hileman, a native of Georgia, and whose father was a native of Germany, and she bore him twelve chil- (Iren. The family moved to Clarksville, Ohio, where Enoch Fugate died in 1895, at the age of eighty-five years, and where his wife died at the age of sixty-six. The fol- lowing data concerning the children will be of interest in this connecton. John Orlando is the immediate subject of this sketch. Almira became Mrs. Burroughs and lives in Ohio. Harriet Beatty lives in Greenfield, Ohio. Eva, who became Mrs. Touchstone, lives in Winfield, Kansas. James Monroe, of Frankfort, Ohio, was a second lieutenant in the United States army in the Spanish- American war and was a gallant officer. Mary and Lucy died in infancy, and Blanche died at the age of three years. Amanda became Mrs. Large and died at Pomeroy, Kansas. Hannah became Mrs. Slogden, and Susan became Mrs. Hallan, and both died at Greenfield, Ohio. Jerome H. lives in Greenfield, Ohio.

The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life and educated in the public schools of Clinton county, Ohio. He re- sponded to President Lincoln's call for troops in 1861, and after a brief connection with the Twelfth Regiment of Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry he became a member of Company E, Eleventh Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His regimental com- mander was Colonel P. P. Lane and his company was commanded by Captain L. G. Brown. He saw thirty-seven months of

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active service under the stars and stripes, and was in battle at Chickamauga, Chatta- nooga and other points, after which he was transferred to Company G, Seventh Veteran Reserve Corps. He fought against Early at Fort Stevens, and in 1863 was for sixty days in the hospital. On one occasion he was in a memorable railroad accident in Ohio, between Belmont and Bellaire. His dog Curley was with him throughout his entire service, and during the time it was twice wounded, and once, by being thrown from the cars, had its leg broken. It died at the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio.

Mr. Fugate was married in Warren county, Ohio, to Miss Jerusha A. Penquite, a woman of good family and of much edu- cation and refinement, who proved to be a worthy helpmeet. Mrs. Fugate was born in Warren county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Julia ( Ford) Penquite, both of whom' died at Clarksville, Clinton county, Ohio, respected and regretted by all who had known them. Mr. Penquite, who was a successful farmer, was an influ- ential citizen who affiliated with the Re- publican party. The following facts con- cerning his children will be found interest- ing in this connection. Mrs. Jerusha A. Fugate is the wife of the subject of this sketch. John W. Penquite lives at Minne- apolis, Kansas. Nat B. Penquite is one of the old settlers of Garfield township, Ottawa county. E. F. and A. M. Penquite are well known citizens of Clarksville, Ohio. S. H. Penquite lives at Dialtown, Ohio. Anna became Mrs. Robertson and lives at Leb- anon, Ohio. James F. Penquite, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company H, Thirty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died at Minneapolis, Ottawa county, Kansas, May 16, 1897. Nancy E., a twin sister of Nat B. Pen- quite, was the next in order of birth, and died in infancy, and one daughter died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. Fugate in 1871 took up a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres in Garfield township and built upon it a box house, in which he lived while he made im- provements and put his land under culti-

vation. His farm is now one of the best in its vicinity and his home is one of the most hospitable in the township. In poli- tics Mr. Fugate is a Republican. He is a member of Giffee Post, No. 266, Grand Army of the Republic, of Ada, and Mrs. Fugate is a member of Relief Corps No. 801. For thirty years he has been a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- low's and he is one of the proud recipients of the twenty-five-year medal. Mr. and Mrs. Fugate are members of the Christian church. Their daughter May Julia, who was formerly a successful teacher, married Lewis Pickrell and lives at Minneapolis. Their daughter Mary F. married George L. Smith, of Fountain township, Ottawa county. Their son Charles H. married Gertrude Delcamp of Ottawa county, and is a well known citizen of Garfield township.

FRANK DAY.

Frank Day, a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of Kingman county, is a native son of Indiana. his birth having there occurred, in Jasper county, in 1871. His paternal grandparents, Wilbur N. and Margaret ( Sails) Day, were num- bered among the early pioneers of the Hoo- sier state. They became the parents of twelve children, and those who are still liv- ing are: John, of Ninnescah township, Kingman county, Kansas; Charles, who makes his home in Valley township : Aman- da Antrim, of Belmont township: Martha Venice, who resides in Nebraska: Louisa Norman, who still maintains her residence in Indiana ; and George, a farmer of Illinois.

William Day, the father of him whose name heads this sketch, was born in Hunt- ington county, Indiana, and there he grew to years of maturity. He afterward moved to Jasper county, Indiana, where for several years he was successfully engaged in farm- ing, but about eight years ago he purchased a flouring and grist mill, and has since de- voted his energies to its operation. He was also married in his native state, Miss Eliza-

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beth Wilcox becoming his wife. She. too, was born in Indiana, and by her marriage to Mr. Day became the mother of two sons and a daughter,-Frank, Bruce and Elma. The daughter is the wife of Charles Brown, who was formerly a druggist, but is now serving as superintendent of a telephone line in Starke county, Indiana. After a hap- py married life of about ten years the lov- ing wife and mother was called to her final rest. By his second marriage Mr. Day became the father of two sons and a daugh- ter .- Glen, Omer and Ethel Floyd. The last named died at the age of three years. Mr. Day is one of the leading and influen- tial business men in the community in which he makes his home, and in political matters he gives an unfaltering support to the prin- ciples of the Republican party. The cause of Christianitly also finds in him a warm friend, and for many years he has held membership relations with the Christian church.

Frank Day the immediate subject of this review, spent the first seventeen years of his life in Jasper county, Indiana, the place of his birth, on the expiration of which pe- ricd he cast in his lot wth the settlers of Kingman county, Kansas. During his ear- ly life he suffered greatly from ill health, and for some time after coming to this state he was incapacitated for active labor, the first work which he performed here having been as an employe of A. O. Yeoman, a prominent citizen of Kingman county. In 1893 he purchased the farm which he now owns and operates, consisting of two hun- dred and forty acres of fertile and well improved land on which is a pleasant and commodious residence well built barns and all necessary outbuildings and conveniences. Two hundred acres of his place are under a fine state of cultivation, and in his pas- tures he usually keeps a herd of one hun- dred head of cattle besides a number of horses and hogs. His business interestes have always been capably managed, and have brought to him- the handsome compe- tence which is to-day his.

In 1898 Mr. Day was united in mar- riage to Emma Johnson, who is a native of

Ilinois, but who was reared and educated in Kansas. She is a daughter of J. C. and Sarah ( Reeves ) Johnson. Her paternal grandfather, William C. Johnson, is of German descent and is a tanner by trade. For many years he has made his home in the old town of Iroquois, Illinois. J. C. Johnson is a prominent farmer of Richland township, Kingman county, Kansas. The home of our subject and wife has been brightened and blessed by the presence of one child, Ivan, who was born May 8, 1900. The Democratic party receives Mr. Day's support and co-operation, and in 1900 he was elected to the position of trustee of his township. He commands the respect of his fellow men by his sterling worth, and Kan- sas numbers him among her honored citi- zens.

WILLIAM E. SETTLE.

Among the enterprising and successful citizens of Kingman county Kansas, iden- tified with its industrial advancement. is William E. Settle, who has been a resident of Ninnescah township since 1891, and is well known and most highly esteemed. be- longing to a family which is a representa- tive one in this part of the state.

The birth of William E. Settle occurred in DeKalb county, Missouri, at the town of Union Star. in 1873, and he is a sen of 1. C. and Mary ( Smith) Settle, the former of whom was an ex-soldier of the Mexican war and a well known stock man in Mis- souri for many years. J. C. Settle was born in Kentucky, and was a scion of an old and honored family of that state, one which has borne a reputation for the observance of a high moral code for generations. The mother of our subject belonged to an equal- ly prominent family of Tennessee. Until 1891 the family remained in Missouri, coming then to Kingman county, Kansas. where the parents both passed away, when about sixty-eight years of age. In politics Mr. Settle was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist church, retaining the high

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regard of all who knew them. Their chil- dren were as follows: Benjamin, who re- sides near Easton, Buchanan county, Mis- souri; Emma, who likewise lives in Mis- souri; T. C., who is a prominent citizen of Kingman county, Kansas ; Charles H., who is a prominent citizen of Richland town- ship; C. E., a well known citizen of Rich- land township; Mary Price, who resides in Missouri ; and William E., of this sketch.

William E. Settle was reared on the old farm in Missouri, and until he was eighteen years old was employed in learning the practical details of the stock business, his father being an extensive dealer. His education was acquired in the public schools of Union Star, and subsequent reading, travel and association with men and af- fairs have broadened his mind and have assisted in making him one of the most in- telligent citizens of this township.

In 1891 William E. Settle accompanied his parents to Kansas and lived in Rich- land township in this county until 1895 at which date he removed to Ninnescah town- ship where he has remained ever since. Here Mr. Settle owns and operates a farm comprising six hundred and forty acres, which is regarded as one of the most de- sirable in the township. The many valu- able improvements which he has added, the methods which he has employed and the re- sults which he has attained, have all con- duced to the attractive appearance and prosperity of his estate. With a comfort- able residence, commodious barns, fruitful orchards and growing stock, Mr. Settle has every reason to feel satisfied with his Kan- sas home.

At Kingman was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Settle to Miss Della Amer- man, who was born near Sheffield, Illinois, a daughter of Levi and Sarah (Texas Lawson) Amerman, who had these chil- dren : Reta Camp, who lives in Indian Ter- ritory : Della, who is Mrs. Settle; Charles, who lives in Lawton, Oklahoma; Mable Shrebaugh, who resides in Lawton, Okla- homa ; and Clara, who lives at home. Two children died young. Mr. Amerman was

born in New York, was a soldier in the Civil war, and now lives in Kingman.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Settle, a son and daughter, namely : Karl M. C. and Beulah May. In his polit- ical sympathy Mr. Settle has been a life- long member of the Republican party, and he exerts considerable influence in its coun- cils. He is known as a man of substance, and is identified with many of the enter- prises looking to the advancement of this part of the state and to the satisfactory de- velopment of its wonderful resources.

Mrs. Settle is a leading member of the Methodist church to which Mr. Settle is a liberal contributor, and both are important factors in the social life of the neighbor- hood. The whole Settle family is noted for its free-handed hospitality, high ideals of business integrity and that genial personal- ity which encourages and binds them in strong bonds of friendship with the best representative people of their locality.

J. A. LINDHOLM.

The agricultural interests of Kingman county are well represented by J. A. Lind- holm, who resides on section 22, Vinita township, where he owns and operates a valuable tract of land on which he is en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is one of the worthy citizens that Swe- den has furnished to Kansas, his birth hav- ing occurred in that land in 1864. His fa- ther, John Lindholm, was also born, reared and educated in Sweden and after arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Mary Johnson, who proved to him an able assist- ant on the journey of life. In the year 1867 the father sailed with his family from Gut- tenberg, Sweden, for the United States, coming by the way of Liverpool, England, to New York. On reaching the shores of the new world they made their way across the country to Knox county, Illinois, and subsequently removed to Hamilton county, Iowa, settling near Stanhope, upon a farm

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which was their home until 1880. In that year they came to Kingman county and secured a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, in Vinita township, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits with marked success until his death, which oc- curred in 1885. when he was fifty-six years of age. He was honored and respected by all who knew him for his life was in con- formity with manly and upright principles. In his political views he was a stanch Re- publican, earnestly supporting the party whose principles in his opinion, contained the best elements of good government. He held membership in the Methodist church. in which he served as steward for many years and when he died he left to his fam- ily not only a comfortable competency, but also the priceless heritage of a good name. His widow still lives on the old family homestead in this county and has reached the age of sixty-six years. In their family were four children : S. J. who is the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Vinita township and makes his home in Cheney: J. A., of this review; Cena. the wife of W. B. Gobin, of Rocky Ford. Colorado; Amanda, the wife of R. Sibbitt, who resides on the old family homestead, in Vinita township; and Au- gusta, the deceased wife of Joseph Win- gert.

J. A. Lindholm was reared under the parental roof. mostly in Hamilton county, Iowa, and obtained his education in the schools of that locality, and through busi- ness experience. Lessons of industry and honesty he learned at home and they have proven valuable factors to him in the at- taining of success in later life. He aided in improving the old homestead farm and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agri- culturist. At the age of twenty-four years he was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Gale, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of J. H. and Sarah ( Barnes) Gale. of Vin- ita township. Five children were born un- to Mr. and Mrs. Gale: Mrs. Julia King ; George W .: Mrs. Isabel Lindholm: Calvin C. ; and Mrs. Mary De Motte, a resident of

the state of Washington. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lindholm has been blessed with four children : Gale 1 .. Ernest C., Bessie and Paul.

Our subject is the owner of four hum- dred and eighty acres of valuable land, on which are a good residence and a substan- tial barn a grove and orchard, while here are to be seen fine meadow and pasture lands and richly cultivated fields. He has three hundred and twenty acres under culti- vation and is successfully engaged in the raising of both grain and stock. In his po- litical affiliations he is a Republican and has served as township trustee and clerk of the school board. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church at Bethel, Kansas, and he now fills the posi- tion of church trustee. He belongs to the local camp of Modern Woodmen. and is a citizen who withholds his co-operation from no movement or measure for the pub- lic good, supporting educational. church and temperance interests and all measures for the uplifting of humanity.

MARSHALL NESTOR.

This honored citizen of Kingman coun- tv. Kansas, is one of the sturdy pioneers of this section of the state, where he has made his home since 1877. He has ever been found loyal to the cause of right and truth. his influence being used for the good and well-being of those associated with him, in any way. Marshall Nestor was born in Bath county, Kentucky, on the 16th of June, 1849. His father. Andrew Nestor, was born near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, but was reared in Kentucky, and during the war of 1812 his father was a true and brave soldier. For his wife Andrew Nestor chose Anna Uelry, a native of the Bluegrass state and of German descent. and she spoke the German tongue. Unto Andrew and Anna Nestor were born the following children : Ira. Joe, John. David. Andrew. Elizabeth, Johanna, Felix. Marshall and Sarah A. The mother passed away in death at the age

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of ninety years, and the father reached the patriarchal age of ninety-nine years. He was a man of fine physique, weighing two hundred and eighty pounds.

Marshall Nestor, whose name introduces this review, was reared on an old Kentucky farm, where he was early taught to labor in the fields. In 1877 he left his southern home and came to the Sunflower state, se- curing one hundred and sixty acres of Osage Indian land, in Kingman county, three and a half miles from Cheney, and this has ever since continued to be his place of abode. In 1882, in Kingman county, he was united in marriage to Sarahı Ellen Shank, who was born in Champaign county, Illinois, and was there reared and educated. She is a daughter of Levi and Mary Ma- tilda Shank, of Cheney, Kansas. Seven children, three sons and four daughters. have been born of this union .- Hazel John- son, of Sedgwick county, Kansas; Ray Ir- ving, who died when only seven weeks old ; and May R., Earl R., Mary E., Louisa and C. Dow. Mr. Nestor is a stalwart sup- porter of the Democracy and on its tick- et he was elected to the office of township treasurer, in which he served with efficiency. He was also a school director for a num- ber of years. His social relations connect him with the Woodmen of the World. Like his father, he is a well built man, being six feet in height and weighing two hundred and twenty-five pounds. His genial tem- perament, courteous manner and broad- minded principles render him a favorite with all, and those who have known him longest are among his best and most de- voted friends.

BEN MARKLEY.

Ben Markley, one of the early pioneers of Ottawa county, was born in England, on the 30th of December, 1838, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Watson) Mark- ley, natives also of that country, where their marriage occurred. The father was a laboring man in his native country, and in 1853, hoping to benefit his financial con-

dition in this land of promise, he sailed for the new world, where he was joined by his family four years later, locating in the Em- pire state. There the father was also en- gaged as a laboring man. A few years afterward the family removed to Illinois, and later to Michigan, where his death oc- curred. His widow then came to Kansas, spending her remaining days in the Sun- flower state, her death occurring at Minne- apolis. They were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to years of maturity, and two died in their native land, while the remainder came to the United States. The mother was formerly a. men- ber of the Church of England, but after coming to this country she united with the Methodist church. They were industrious and progressive citizens and were highly esteemed for their many sterling traits of character.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 111

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