A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 114

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 114

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Mary, who resides in Michigan; Elizabeth, deceased ; W. IL .. the subject of this review ; Francis, a resident of Kansas City, Mis- souri ; Jacob, who died in Ohio when thir- teen years of age; Ella, who passed away in Indiana: John, who died at the age of nine years; and Christena, a resident of Connersville, Indiana. The parent- both died in the city last mentioned, the father passing away when he had reached the age of sixty years, while the mother survived until seventy-two years of age, both hav- ing been devoted members of the Methodist church. In early life the father was en- gaged in the brewery business, but after- ward followed agricultural pursuits. In po- litical matters he gave his support to the Republican party. He was an honest and industrious farmer. and both he and his wife were much respected and esteemed in the localities in which they made their home.

W. H. Keener. of this review. was reared in Fayette county, Indiana, and was early inured to the work of the farm, his early education having been received in the schools of his Reality. He has, however, greatly added to his knowledge in later years by constant reading, observation and experience, and is a well informed man. During the Civil war he valiantly offered his services to the Union cause, becoming a member of Company A. Sixteenth Indiana Mounted Infantry, under Colonel Lucas and Captain Timothy Daugherty, and with this command he served until the struggle was past and the country allanger

services. During this military service he was in Louisiana and Mississippi and many other southern states. Receiving an hon- oralle discharge, he returned to his home and again took up the quiet duties of the farm. In 1872 Mr. Keener came to the Sunflower state, locating in Blaine town- ship. Ottawa county, where he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of the finest land to be found in the locality. It is im- povel with all the necessary outbuildings and farm machinery, and his fields are un- der a fine state of cultivation. annually yield- ing to their owner a handsome financial re- turn.

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The 18th of March, 1867, witnessed the marriage of Mr. Keener and Miss Martha L. Hutchinson, a daughter of Dr. B. D. and Martha L. (Culley ) Hutchinson, of Lamar, Ottawa county, Kansas. Three children have graced the marriage of our subject and wife, but the eldest, Lillie, died at the age of twenty-four years. She was a well educated and cultured young lady, and was an efficient teacher in the public schools. The two living children are Cora and Ollie, both of whom are also successful and pop- ular teachers. Mrs. Keener and her daugh- ters are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Keener is a stalwart sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party, as a candidate of which he was elect- ed to the office of sheriff of Ottawa county, and so faithfully did he fulfill the require- ments of that position that he was re-elected for a second term, and for a number of years he has also served as a member of the township board, of which he was elected treasurer. In his social relations he is a : member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

G. S. HOFFMAN.

Among the pioneer families of Ottawa county was the one of which our subject is a representative. His father, Godfrey Dan- iel Hoffman, one of the prominent early set- tlers of the county, is now deceased. He came to the Sunflower state in 1870, se- curing from the government a timber claim in Ottawa county, on which he spent the remainder of his days. He was a native of the German fatherland, his birth having there occurred on the 16th of March, 1815. and he was a member of a prominent old German family. His father, who was a miller by trade, owned and operated a mill and enjoyed a lucrative trade. Godfrey D. MRS. JOSEPHINE CONNER. received a good education in his native lan- guage. having attended the University of Mrs. Josephine Conner is the widow of the late W. M. Conner, who was one of the well known and highly esteemed citi- zens of Logan township, Ottawa county. Leipsic, and after leaving that institution he returned to his father's home and assist- ed him in the operation of the mill. He was first married in Leipsic, Germany, and . For twenty years he made his home in the

of the children of this union we record that Fred Hoffman resides at Minneapolis, Kan- sas; Mrs. Emma Gatsell makes her home in Missouri; and two of the children are now deceased, one of whom, Robert Hoff- man, was a soldier in the Civil war, and his death occurred in Oregon. By his second marriage the father had two children,- Louisa Evans, a widow, and G. S., the sub- ject of this review.

G. S. Hoffman was reared on his father's farm, early assisting in the work of field and meadow, and his educational advan- tages were those afforded by the common , schools of his locality. In 1898, in Ottawa county, he was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Cox, who was born in Missouri. a daughter of Ulysses and Elvira ( Taylor) Cox, the former also a native of Missouri. The wife and mother has been called to the home beyond, leaving one child, Mrs. Hoffman. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with two children,- Ray, born March 18, 1900, and a baby boy, born July 9, 1901. Mrs. Hoffman is a zealous member of the Baptist church, while her husband is identified with the . Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the leading and representative agriculturists of Ottawa county, now owning one hundred and sixty acres of the finest land to be found in the locality. His fields are under an excellent state of cultivation and everything about the place indicates the supervision of an ener- getic and progressive owner. He gives his entire attention to his farm work, which has brought to him an excellent financial return. so that he is now numbered among those who may well be proud of their success, as it has come to him through his own labors, his keen enterprise and perseverance.

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Sunflower state, and during that long period his kind impulses and beneficence won for him the love and esteem as well as the grati- tuide of many, and all who knew him held him in high regard for his many estimable characteristics. A native of Indiana, he was there reared and educated. His par- enis, Charles and Frances Conner, departed this life in Jackson county, Indiana. One of their sons, A. L. Conner, now resides in Indiana, and they had four daughters. The father followed farming as a life occupation, and both he and his wife were worthy and acceptable church members.

When eighteen years of age W. M. Con- ner came west, taking up his abode in the Sunflower state. He was an excellent me- chanic, and after locating in Ottawa coun- ty he engaged in bridge-building, in com- pany with his brother Daniel, who is now deceased. They operated in Kansas, Colo- rado. Idaho and Nevada, and were very suc- cessful in their chosen vocation, their ef- forts in that direction having brought to them gratifying financial returns. In 1891 Mr. Conner purchased the farm on which his widow still resides, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable and highly cultivated land. The place is im- proved with a beautiful residence, large and well built barns, an attractive grove and orchard and all other requisite accessories.

In 1889, in Ottawa county, Kansas, oc- curred the marriage of W. M. Conner to Miss Josephine McGowan, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of James McGowan. Mrs. Conner is one of five children, the others being John, a resident of Ottawa county : Iva Porter, a resident of Logan township, Ottawa county; Decatur, also of this county; and Arminta, deceased. The father of this family was a prominent agri- culturist of his locality, and was identified with the Democratic party. The family re- moved from Illinois to Allen county, Kan- s. locating near Iola, and in this state Mrs. Conner was reared and educated. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Conner were born two chil- dren,-Charles William, who was born Au- gust 4. 1890; and Anna Ellen, born July 25. 1893. In politics Mr. Conner was a

Democrat, and in his social relations he was identified with Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was also connected with the Continental Insurance Company. He passed away in death in 1895, at the early age of thirty-two years, honored and re- spected by all who knew him. His life had been characterized by energy, perseverance and consecutive application, and to those forces his success was due. For twenty years he resided in the Sunflower state, ant during that time he so lived as to gain the respect and high regard of his fellow citi- zens.

WILLIAM POSTLETHWAITE.

William Postlethwaite, of Blaine town- ship. Ottawa county, Kansas, comes of a race of pioneers and soldiers and is himself honored both as a pioneer and a soldier. The Postlethwaites have been conspicuous in every war fought on American soil. Indian wars, the Revolution, the war of 1812-14, the Mexican war, the Civil war and the late wars. William Postlethwaite, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the blue grass region of Kentucky and came to an old family, noted for honesty and cour- age. He first saw the light of day July 3. 1820. in Crittenden county, and was a son of Richard Postlethwaite, who was im near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Richard

Postlethwaite was a son of Richard Postlethwaite. Sr., who achieved a reputa- tion as an Indian fighter and Revolutionary soldier and who was for a time stationed at ol Fert Pitt: he died in Pennsylvania at an advanced age. Richard Postlethwaite, Jr., grew to manhood among pioneer scenes in Pennsylvania and married Rachel Nol- bert, daugliter of a Revolutionary soldier who fought under General Marion and a sister of three soldiers in the war of 1812. Her father participated in the battle of Cowpens and in other historic engagements of the Revolution.

In 1848 Richard Postlethwaite. Jr., re- moved with his wife and children from Kentucky, to Illinois, and in 1849 they re-

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moved to Benton county, Iowa, near the present site of Belle Plains, where they were among the pioneer settlers. There the fa- ther took up government land and improved a home farm. The family endured all the hardships of pioneer life in that cold and wind-swept country, and during the earlier years of their residence there their sub- sistence was made easier by the game which Mr. Postlethwaite and his sons were en- abled to kill near their home. After a suc- cessful career as a farmer Mr. Postlethwaite clied at the age of seventy-six years, hon- ored and respected by all who know him. His good wife died at the age of fifty-two years, leaving ten children, as follows : Jonathan, Charlotte, Daniel, James, Eliza- beth. Catharine, William, Mary Ann, Jo- seph Francis Marion and Melinda A. Jo- seph Francis Marion Postlethwaite served his country as a soldier in the Civil war, be- ing a member of the Eleventh Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

William Postlethwaite was reared on his father's farm in Kentucky and was ed- ucated in subscription schools, taught in a log school-house. He accompanied his fa- ther to Iowa in 1848 and after assisting the family to establish a home there he went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where for about two years he was employed by the United States government in cutting hay and wood. In this and other work he was under command of Major Armstead. He drove horse and mule teams in government service at Fort Dodge for a time and later went down the Des Moines river by boat to the Mississippi river and up that river en route for Musca- tine, Iowa, where he found employment for a time. He then returned to his old home, where he secured employment in railway construction. After the outbreak of the Civil war he placed his knowledge of army and camp life at the disposal of his country and did successful work in recruiting soldiers throughout Iowa, in many parts of which state he was well known. Eventually he enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which distinguished itself as a fighting regiment, and as

such won a permanent place in history. The organization was commanded by Colonel Miller, of Iowa City, whose subordinate officer next in rank was Lieutenant-Colonel McConnell, of Toledo, Iowa. Major Myes was next in rank, and Mr. Postlethwaite's company commander was Captain Wilson. Though Mr. Postlethwaite was offered a commission he chose to serve as orderly- sergeant, because of his gallantry in action he became known as the "fighting orderly of the Twenty-eighth." "He took part in many engagements and in nearly every one of them was in the thickest of the fight, often doing perilous service as a sharpshooter, and his escape not only from death but also from serious wounds he has always regard- ed as providential. At Champion Hills, a fierce battle in which he fought under Gen- eral Hovey as a sharpshooter in the skir- mish line, he was conspicuous for his brav- ery, and though his regiment lost heavily he escaped injury. He performed hazard- ous service all through the siege of Vicks- burg, much of the time at picket duty, and as a sharpshooter he fired four hundred and eighty rounds of cartridges at the portholes of a fort. He fought at Jackson, Missis- sippi: at Natchez, Mississippi; at Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and at New Orleans ; and later he participated in Banks' Red river campaign. At different times he was un- der command of Generals Steele and Sheri- dan. Later he went south with his reg- iment and assisted General Sherman at Savannah and Augusta, Georgia. When at length he was honorably discharged from service, with due credit as an intrepid and devoted soldier, he had been seventy-two days under fire in battles and skirmishes and during three years had traveled twenty- five thousand miles, on foot and by rail and boat.

After the war Mr. Postlethwaite re- turned to Iowa and engaged in farming there. He married Lucy J. Fay, a native of Michigan, who bore him two children, Lucy L., who became Mrs. Barslon and lives in Blaine township; and William Orville, who lives in Illinois. His present wife, who was Mrs. Rhoda A. (Edwards) Cisco, was

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born at Paterson, New Jersey, a daughter of William H. Edwards. Her first hus- band was a locomotive engineer and she was with him skotten on my sogine that She became expert in the running of tex. ma tives, mal during the Civil war had some remarkable experiences, on the railroad med in the sea, a narrative of which, if she were Bot ton mindest to go into detail concerning then, would add gready to the interest of this sketch.

In 1866 Mr. Postlethwaite took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Blaine township. Ogawa coast. Kan- Hle now owns three hundred and sixty acres, constituting one of the best farms in the county. Tic has one of the best stone houses in central Kansas, and in its in- terier arrangements the home reflects the taste and culture of Mrs. Po-tie. thwaite. He has been successful as a farmer, and his annual sales of stock and grain average about twenty-two hun- crud dollars. Mr. Postlethwaite, whose stature is five feet. eleven and one-half inches and who weighs one hundred and eighty pounds, is of imping appearance, every inch the typical soldier. His frank- ness and geniality make him popular with his large circle of acquaintances and his hos- pitable home is often thronged with old soldiers and pioneers, who come to exchange reminiscences with the "fighting orderly of the old Twenty-eighth." In politics he is a Republican, fully in accord with the up-to- date policies of his party, and he is an en- thusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

REV. ISAAC ROLLINS.

Rev. Isaac Rollins who for many years lais devoted his life to the ministry of the I'nited Brethren church took up his alnudle in Sterling in the spring of 1001. He was born in Upshur county, West Virginia. July 24. 1830, being a son of Bernard J. K lins, who was a native of Maryland, and These father was one of the car's seiffer- !! Virginia. The family ven the West

Virginia at the thee when the Illant- - till love: in that section of the country, and there tarin the sex scenes of pioneer life Bernard j. kellin- :

ginia and die. Lewang the parents Leight years. When. Mrs. Rollins was a little maiden of four summers she was in the fort when the tram

killing William W. White just il

in West Virginia about 1857, when

in i terreil in Her bskan

Monroe county.

Rev. Isaac Rollins is now the only liv- ing member of their family. He was reared to farm life and received only a limited common-school education. In Feb- mary. 1862, he volunteerel as a delos of the Union. enlisting in Company H. of the Tenth West Virginia Infantry. He served in the ranks for two months and was then made second lieutenant. At the beginning of the war he went out as a som and guide, and remained in the service un- til peace was declared, when. as the country no longer needed his services, he returned to his home.

Mr. Rollins had been married in April. 1851, to Rachel Walmsley, of Virginia, and they became the pare three children. but their first born. a daughter, died in in- fancy. Dora K., the second, is the wife of F. I. Thead

whom she has five living children. is the wife of Walter W. Hanks.

his village farm of twenty-five gere- Waynesville, Jis: and in February. 1870. arrived in Rice county, Kansas. accompanied by his family. ii- way up the

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claim to a fractional quarter section of land, made the necessary improvements and se- cured his title, but in February, 1900, he sold his farm, which is located in Reno county. However, he still owns a farm of eighty acres in Finney county and in the spring of 1901 he took up his abode in Sterling. He had engaged in shoe-making. in Virginia, and after coming to Kansas he devoted much of his attention to agricult- ural pursuits, but for twenty-eight years he has been engaged in preaching the gos- pel, as a minister of the United Brethren church. His last work in that connection was two years' service as presiding elder. His wife is fully six feet in height, and at one time would have measured six feet two inches. Mr. Rollins is also six feet in height. They are a worthy couple, whose many excellencies of character have gained for them warm regard. Mr. Rollins has devoted much of his life to the uplifting of his fellow men, performing such service in a humble spirit, closely following in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene.

RICHARD T. LEVITT.

Conspicuously identified with the indus- trial activities of Ellsworth county and known as a representative business man and sterling citizen of the Sunflower state is Richard T. Levitt, president of the Wilson Milling Company, of Wilson, which is one of the thriving and attractive towns of Ells- worth county.

Richard Thomas Levitt is a native of the state of Wisconsin and comes of stanch old English lineage, as will appear from the genealogical record here incorporated. He was born in Lafayette county, on the 6th of December, 1859, a son of Richard and Jane (March) Levitt, both of whom were natives of England. Richard Levitt was born in Little Wheaghton, parish of Row- ley, near Hull, Yorkshire, England, on the 3Ist of October, 1822, and there he was reared to the age of eighteen years, when, in 1841, in company with one of his young

friends, he embarked for America, and upon arriving in the port of New York he forth- with prepared to make his way across the continent for the purpose of joining two of his brothers who had preceded him to the United States and who were located in La- fayette county, Wisconsin. He lived with his brothers for some time, and in that county he finally became prominently and successfully identified with agricultural pur- suits and stock-growing, his marked busi- ness ability and discrimination enabling him to attain a high degree of success. As prosperity attended his efforts he made judicious investments in real estate and eventually became one of the extensive land- holders of the Badger state. A few years after his coming to America Mr. Levitt united his life destinies with that noble woman who proved his devoted and cher- ished companion and helpmeet during the course of a long and grateful married life. In Lafayette county, Wisconsin, on the 12th of July, 1849, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Jane March, who was born in the city of Leeds, England, on the 18th of No- vember, 1830, and she was in her fifteenth year when, in April, 1845, she started for the United States in company with her par- ents. Her mother died on the voyage and her body was consigned to the great deep, and thus the daughter was early deprived of a mother's tender and watchful care. She continued her educational discipline and grew to gracious young womanhood-a womanhood that found its apothesis in the tender, loyal and beautiful life which was hers in all the following years and which was crowned when death set its seal upon her mortal lips. Mr. and Mrs. Levitt con- tinued to reside in Lafayette county, Wis- consin, for the long period of forty years, their home having been in Monticello, a place that became hallowed to them by rea- son of the long and tender associations of the past. Finally, however, as the shadows of their lives began to lengthen with the grateful sunset, they consented to remove to Kansas, where three of their children were living, and in 1890 they came to Ellsworth county and took up their abode in Wilson,

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where they received the most tender votion and filial solicitude of the children until they were summoned to their eternal rest. Their lives were most noble and gen- tle and their mutual devotion was bbllic during the long years during which they passed together down the pathway leading to the sunset gates, and it can not be con- sidered as other than consistent and grate- iul that in death they were not long divided. Richard Levitt was called upon to wicy death's inexorable summons on the 15th of March, 1900, at the age of seventy-seven years and five months, and on the ad of the following February his widow also passed forward to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." In their early married life Mr. and Mrs. Levitt united with the Primitive Methodist church, and subsequently they became members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their lives were ever in harmony with the teach- ings of the divine Master. theirs having been the faith that makes faithful. To- gether their mortal remains rest side by side in the cemetery at their old home in Monti- cello, Wisconsin.

Richard and Jane ( March) Levitt be- came the parents of ten children. concern- ing whom we offer brief record. as follows: William Thompson, who was born in 1850, was reared in Wisconsin, as were all of the children, and when a young man he emi- grated to the new state of Kansas and took up a tract of land, but his career was cut short at an untimely age, as he succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever, his remains being taken to the old home for interment. The second child, Sarah Jane, was born in Monticello, Wisconsin. as were each of the other children, and on the 20th of Imirary. 1874, she was united in marriage to Thomas H. Rowe, who is now a successful farmer and stock-grower of Ellsworth They have three children,-Ella L., who was graduated in the high school at Ells- worth. after which she was engaged in teaching for five years, and who is now the wife of Charles A. Cadwell. a civil en- gineer. of Cleveland, Ohio; they have one son, Thomas Rowe Cadwell : Mary Lena.

Te weeral child of Mr. and Mrs. Kowe, is a graduate of the high school and is now cargaged as a meliste in the city of Chicago; and Verna Jane is attending the Wilson high school. The third child of Richard and Jane Levitt was Harriet Emily, who was married, in 1885, to George D. Green- ough, and they now reside in Wilson, Kan- sas, where Mr. Greenough is identified with the milling business. They have two chil- dren .- Birdie Oneida, who is a graduate of the Wilson high school and who is to pursue at collegiate course ; and Lulu, who is attend- ing the local public schools. George L. Levitt took up the unfinished work of his elder brother shortly after the latter's death. and he has long been extensively identified with the agricultural and stock- raising in- dustry in Ellsworth county, while he is senior member of the firm of G. L. Levitt & Company, who conduct a well equipped department store in Wilson. He married Miss Minnie L. Gray of Ellsworth and they have one child, George Gray. Mary Ade- laide Levitt became the wife of John A. Lamint and they now reside at Apple River, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where Mr. La- mont is engaged in the hardware business. Richard Thomas, the sixth in order of birth. is the immediate subject of this sketch. John E., who still retains his home in Monti- cello. Wisconsin, has followed the vention of a farmer. and resides on the old home- stend. He married Isabel Maynard, and they have one child .- Isola M. James Levitt. the eighth child. died in early youth. Es- marilda became the wife of William Irvin. of Freeport, Illinois, and they became the parents of one child. Blanche Lorene. Mrs. Irvin died, in Wilson. Kansas, in June. 1895. Ella Levitt died in childhood, from an attack of membranous croup.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 114

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