A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 118

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 118

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Andrew Manson was born in Dumfries- shire. Scotland, in 1803. and became a stocking-maker by trade, learning the busi- ness in the town of Lochmaben. He mai - ried Elizabeth Milligan, a native of Gallo- wayshire, and a daughter of John Milli- gan. Both the father and mother of our subject passed away near the old family home in Scotland. the mother dying in No- vember. 1850, while the father's death oc- curred in 1873, when he had reached the age of seventy years. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, as were the other members of the family. In his family of ten children our subject was the fifth in or- der of birth, a brief record being as follows : John, a resident of Dumfriesshire. So t- land: Isabella, the wife of John Hogg, a stocking-maker of the same place: Jessie. the wife of Robert McKee. a merchant tail- or of that locality : Will, who is employed in

a vineyard in Cape Town, South Africa: Walter, the subject of this sketch : Eliza. beth, also of Dumfriesshire: two sons, hoth named Andrew, who died in infancy; a daughter, who died in infancy; and Thomas, of Dumfriesshire.

In his youth the subject of this review began working at the stocking-maker's trade with his father, and when twenty years of age he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, to take advantage of the bet- ter business opportunities of the new world. He landed at New York, and thence made his way to Dubuque, Iowa. and for nine tears he worked in the Rockdale flour mill. owned and operated by his uncle. Walter Mansen. On the expiration of that period he removed to Fayette county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of three hundred acres. and for a period of twenty-six years he carried on agricultural pursuits in that lo- cality. In 1887 he came to Kingman county, Kansas, and has since resided upon his farm on section 25. Liberty township. His first purchase of land was a tract of two hun- dred and sixty acres of wild prairie land. on sections 24 and 25, which he transformed into richly cultivated fields. Thereon he erected a very comfortable dwelling, sixteen by twenty-four feet and two stories in height, with a kitchen fourteen by sixteen feet. With characteristic energy he began breaking the wild prairie and to a limited extent engaged in stock-raising. His steady industry and careful methods have macie his farming operations very successful and as his financial resources have increased he has added to his first purchase until he new owns eight hundred and eighty acres, on sections 24, 25, 20 and 27, all being under fence, while two hundred and seventy acres are included within rich fields which an- nually return golden harvests. He has made many excellent improvements, especially on the original tract. In 1893 he erecto! a fine barn. thirty by thirty-two feet. with twe've got studing. He also has a barn for calves, which is twelve by fifty-two feet. and thus ample shelter is provided for his stock. which he is now extensively engaged in raising. He has a herd of one hundred

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and twenty-five good domestic cattle and sells a number each year as stockers. He has put forth every effort to gain an honorable success, and his valuable farm is proof of his active, industrious life.

Mr. Manson was married in Dubuque, Iowa. June 9, 1854, to Jane Rattray, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1833, a daughter of Charles and Jane ( Willans ) Rattray, both of whom were likewise na- tives of the land of hills and heather. The father was the proprietor of a book and stationery store in Glasgow until the year 1851, when the family came to America, em- barking on the sailing vessel Shirley. On reaching New York they at once proceeded across the country to Dubuque, Iowa, where the father established himself in his old line of business, which he continued until his death, in 1857. His wife survived him until 1873, and passed away in Fayette county, Iowa. Her father, Walter Willans, was a surgeon in the British army and was killed at Cadiz, Spain, in the war between England and Portugal. Mrs. Manson is a represen- tative of one of the oldest families of Scot- land, her ancestry dating back to the feudal ages when the family owned a large estate and lived in a castle. Her childhood was spent amid surroundings famed in history, in story and in song. She has often been in the home of Robert Burns, and in the houses of three Marys whom Burns courted. She is one of a family of eleven children, but only four are living, the others being : Charles, who is in the employ of a steam- boat company, in San Francisco, Califor- nia: Elizabeth. the wife of Cole McCrea, who was a Union soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and who is now a clerk in the Soldiers' Home, in Leavenworth, Kansas; and Margaret, the wife of Chris Buck, of Clinton county, Iowa.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Manson was blessed with seven children, of whom six are still living: Andrew C., a farmer of Fay- ette county, Iowa : Jane, the wife of Joseph Tracy, a retired farmer of that county ; Jes- sie C., the wife of W. H. Clements, who' is in the employ of the Deering Company, in Marshalltown, Iowa; Agnes, the wife of

J. H. Carnell, a retired farmer of Harper, Kansas; Walter L., station agent on the Santa Fe Railroad, at Anthony, Kansas; and William T., a farmer and stockman of Liberty township, Kingman county.

Mr. Manson has often been solicited to accept public office but has always declined, preferring to give his entire time and atten- tion to his business interests, which have grown to be very extensive. In politics he has always been a stanch Republican, and in religious faith is a Methodist, while his wife has also been a member of that church for a number of years. Liberty township has no more highly honored and respected citizens than these worthy people, and with pleasure we present their history to our readers.

HAMILTON BOLIN.

A prominent and representative citizen of Kingman county, Kansas, is Hamilton Bolin, whose fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, near the village of Cleveland, shows in its yield of grain and its produc- tion of fine stock not only that it is one of the best estates of Richland township but also that it is operated by an excellent agri- culturist.

Hamilton Bolin is a worthy representa- tive of an old and honorable southern fam- ily whose members have been conspicuous for generations in all the military operations of their section, rendering distinguished services in all the wars, from the early In- dian campaigns until the latest struggles with foreign powers. It has been a notable family in its display of courage and valor. The great-grandfather of our subject was the founder of the family in America, whith- er he came from England. He became a man of affairs in Kentucky, and his name is preserved in the annals of the town of Bowling Green. His son, Solomon Bolin. who was the grandfather of our subject, was born in Bowling Green and there became well known. He married a Miss Johnson, of English parentage, and both he and his wife died in North Carolina.

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William Bolin, a son of Solomon Bolin and the father of our subject, was born in North Caroina and became skilled in me- chanics, a worker in steel and iron. After the close of the Civil war he removed with his family to El Paso, Woodford county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, and there he died at the age of fifty-eight years. He married Betsey Sheets, a daughter of Jacob Sheets, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and also in the war of 1812. William and Betsey Bolin had three sons and four daughters, one of the latter dying young and the names of the other children being as follows: Martha. Mary. Margaret. Hamilton. David and William. The mother of these children sur- vived her husband and died at the age of sixty years, both having been consistent members of the Baptist church and having enjoyed the esteem of many friends.

Hamilton Bolin was born in Ashe coun- ty. North Carolina, in 1842, and was reared in a home where honesty, courage and hos- pitality were regarded as cardinal virtues. At the outbreak of the Civil war he offered his services to the Confederacy and served through the war. under General Palmer, in the North Carolina cavalry, upholding the honorable record for valor which his family has so long enjoyed. After the close of the war Mr. Bolin returned for a short time to North Carolina, but on account of disturbed industrial conditions he decided to make a change of location, and in 1865 he removed to Livingston county, Illinois, and engaged in farming.

The first marriage of Hamilton Bolin was solemnized in Illinois, where he wedded Miss Anna Barnard. a daughter of Simpson Barnard, who was a native of North Caro- lina and who had previously settled in Woodford county, Illinois, whence he later removed to Iowa. After his marriage Mr. Bolin also moved to Iowa, and settled near Marengo, and here his wife died. leaving one daughter, who is now Mrs. Rosa Lee Michels. of Woodford county, Illinois. After the death of his wife Mr. Bolin re- turned to Illinois, where he remained for a time. and in 1869 he was married to Miss

Catherine A. Carroll, a most estimable lady, who was born, reared and educated in Woodford county, being a daughter of James and Mary Carroll, who lived out their lives in that county.

In 1885 Mr. Bolin came to the state of Kansas and purchased his present estate, which comprises one hundred and twenty acres of rich land, located within one-fourth of a mile of the village of Cleveland, and also including a half block in the village limits. Since that time he has carried on a genera! line of farming, with increasing prosperity, his land producing generously and offering the best possible conditions in favor of the raising of a fine grade of stock. With the assistance of his two sons Mr. Bolin has made this one of the very best farms in Rich- land township.

Of the eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Bolin four survive, James, John, Ella and Etta .- all of whom have been well educated and are capable in every way of taking part in both public and social life of this com- munity. Both Mr. Bolin and wife are con- sistent and valued members of the Christian church and they enjoy the high esteem of the community. In politics Mr. Bolin advocates the principles of the Populist party, but his poor health precludes any great activity in political work. The privations endured dur- ing his war service left ravages which time has never remedied. Perhaps there is no home in this locality where more generous hospitality is offered, Mr. Bolin being typical of the affable, genial, true-hearted southern gentleman.

EDWARD T. BENNETT.

Edward T. Bennett. an intelligent and enterprising farmer residing of some : 24. Wilson township, Rice county, has main- tained his home in this portion of fire state since 1883. Not only the width of tio con- tinent but also the Broad Atlantic scorates him from his birthplace, which was is Dat- et ing. England. He first opened file eyes to the light of day on the 28th of October,

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1849. his parents being Eli and Elizabeth Bennett, who were likewise natives of Dor- setshire. In 1857 they bade farewell to friends and native land and with their chil- dren took passage on a sailing vessel at Liverpool, arriving in New York after a passage of six weeks and four days. They landed at Castle Garden and then went to Syracuse, in which locality they located upon a farm, there remaining for three years. In 1860 they went to Peoria county, Illinois, and subsequently took up their abode near Galva, in Henry county, Illinois, and not far from Kewanee. Later the father re- ; turned to England, where he died at the age of sixty-six years, but his wife died at Brim- field, Peoria county, Illinois, at the age of sixty-seven. He had followed farming as his life work and had thus provided for the support and comfort of his family. He was reared in the Episcopal church and in his political views, while residing in America, he was a Republican. In his family were six children. five of whom reached years of maturity. Nehemiah having passed away in early life. The others are: Charles, who is living in Peoria, Illinois; Amelia, the wife of H. Ryder, of Missouri: Albert, who was a gallant officer of the Civil war, holding the rank of captain, and was a prominent citizen of Marshall county, Kansas, for a number of years before his death; and Ed- ward T., of this review.

Edward T. Bennett was a little lad of eight years when he came with his parents to the United States, and at the age of eleven he accompanied them on their removal to Illinois, where he was reared upon a farm and was early instructed in the practical methods of tilling the soil. He acquired his education in the public schools of that state, and after arriving at years of maturity he was united in marriage, at Galva, Henry county. in February, 1869, to Miss Emily Shaw, who has proven to him a devoted wife and helpmeet on the journey of life. She was born in Yorkshire, England, and was a maiden of twelve summers when she came to Illinois. Her parents, Ed and Sarah Shaw, were natives of Yorkshire and the fa- ther died in England, but the mother came

to this country and spent her last days in Rice county, Kansas, where she passed away. loved and respected by all, by reason of her many good qualities. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett has been blessed with nine children : Allie, now the wife of H. Peter- son; Louisa, wife of Charles Rawlins; Rosa, a successful teacher of Rice county ; and Florence, George, Nehemiah, Ed, Walter and Albert.

After his marriage Mr. Bennett located upon a farm in Illinois, where he resided un- til his removal to Fremont county, Iowa, in 1875. He was then engaged in farming near Shenandoah until 1883, which year wit- nessed his arrival in Rice county, Kansas. Taking up his abode on section 24, Wilson township, he has here made his home and his vigorous prosecution of his business af- fairs has brought to him well merited suc- cess. Mr. Bennett votes with the People's party, but was formerly identified with the Republican party. For many years he has served on the school board and has done much to advance the cause of education in this locality. He and his wife and daugh- ters are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church and have taken a very active inter- est in church and Sunday-school work, while his hearty co-operation is ever given to all measures for the general good. He is thor- oughly reliable in all business transactions and in every relation of life commands re- spect and confidence.

A. M. HUTCHINSON, M. D.

Attilla M. Hutchinson, by reason of thorough preparation for and ability in the line of his profession, easily main- tains a foremost position in the ranks of the medical fraternity in central Kansas. His office is located in the Citizens' Bank Building of Hutchin- SO11. The demands of his extensive and constantly growing practice leave him little leisure time, but he seems to find en- joyment in the fact that he is ministering to his fellowmen. Nature endowed him

MRS. E. P. HUTCHINSON.

Arshutchinson TUD.

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with the qualities necessary for success as a practitioner for he is a sympathetic, patient and thoughtful and in the hour of extremity cool and courageous.

Dr. Hutchinson was born in Lerov. Gen- esee county, New York, February 28, 1847. His paternal grandfather, Sylvester Hutch- inson, was also a physician and spent his entire life in the practice of medicine in New York-his native state. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a surgeon in the Mexican war. His son, Edwin W. Hutchinson, the father of our subject, was a native of Broome county. New York, and after arriving at years of maturity married Sarah Bowker, who was born in Massachusetts. By trade he was a carriage trimmer and upholsterer and followed those pursuits for a number of years. About 1852 he removed with his family to Rochester, New York, and subse- quently went to Janesville .. Wisconsin, while later he resided in Fond du Lac, that state, There for a number of years he was super- intendent in the Chicago & Northwestern car shops, for, being a superior workman in his line, his ability enabled him to command excellent and responsible positions. Through an accident he lost his eyesight and was therefore obliged to abandon his trade. In 1880 he came to Kansas, homesteaded land in Grant township, Reno county, improved the property and thereon resided until his death, which occurred October 21. 1888. His wife died in Ansalem, Minnesota, in 1875. She was born in what is now West Springfield, Massachusetts, in an old co- lonial house which had been in possession of the family for generations.

The Doctor was only five years of age when his parents removed to Rochester. New York, and was still a young lad when they took up their abode in the new state of Wisconsin. He attended the schools of Janesville until fourteen years of age and was an apt scholar, realizing the value of education as a preparation for life's work. Improving his opportunities to the best of his ability he was soon in advance of most pupils of his own age when he left school to become a clerk in a store. He still kept

up his work of mental improvement, how- ever, by organizing a class and teaching his associates in night school. He was thus occupied until eighteen years of age, when he entered the printing office of the Fond lu Lac Commonwealth, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, there spending about two years, after which he received an advantageous offer from the office of the Austin Regis- ter, of Austin, Minnesota. Accepting this he was identified with that journal for three years. He then purchased a half interest in the Western Progress, a paper published at Spring Valley, Minnesota, and assumed the position of local editor. Three years later by purchase he became sole proprietor of the business, publishing the paper until 1879. when he sold it and began to travel in the interest of the Good Templars society, with work he had become identified while con- nected with journalism. He was elected to the office of grand chief templar and was offered a profitable position by the order. his duties being to organize lodges, lecture thorughout the country and in other ways extend the influence of the society. He held that position during 1887-8. and during that time he established the official organ of the order. The Liberty Blade. of Minne- apolis. During his second year's service his labors were attended with signal success. resulting in a large increase in the numer- ical and working strength of the lodges.

After suspending active labors in the interests of the Gond Templar- society Dr. Hutchinson founded the Pine Island News, at Pine Island. Minnesota. After editing and publishing that paper for eighteen months he sold out and became a partner of A. D. Donalson and Alex Ralph, at Alexander. Meanwhile he began the pri- vate study of medicine with a physician who had an office in the same building in Pine Island in which our subject was located. He had acquired considerable knowledge of the use of remedies and of diagnosis, when cir- cumstances caused him to give up his other business and take up the profession as a life work. He prescribed first for an old lady of his acquaintance who had been bed- ridden for some time, but whose case seemed

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to his ready perception susceptible to cure. In a short time he had succeeded in effect- ing the healing-a work which seemed mar- velous to her acquaintances. He was next called to see a sick boy, whose case had been pronounced hopeless. He reluctantly responded to a midnight call from the child's father, who would listen to no excuse. On reaching the boy's bedside he prescribed such remedies as the case seemed to require and in time the boy was well. His success in these two instances made his services in demand, but not wishing to practice with- out thorough preparation he entered Hahne- mann Medical College, of Chicago, in which institution he was graduated with the class of 1883. It seemed too that nature must have intended him for the profession, as the essential qualities of the successful phy- sician are pre-eminently his.

In the meantime Dr. Hutchinson had made his home at Maiden Rock, Wiscon- sin, but after obtaining his degree he located in Warren, Illinois, where for several months he had charge of the practice of an old physician who was absent temporarily. Returning to Maiden Rock, he followed his profession in that place for three years and then went to Waseca, Minnesota, where he successfully engaged in practice until 1888. A portion of the years 1877 and 1878, how- ever, were spent in special study and prac- tice in the office of eminent physicians and specialists of Minneapolis. In May of the latter year he came to this city, having been preceded by C. C. Hutchinson, a relative of the founder of the town which bears the family name. He has since given his entire time and attention to his chosen vocation and his practice has steadily increased both in volume and importance. He has served as president of the Kansas State Medical Society of Homeopathy and since the es- tablishment of the state reformatory at Hutchinson has been attending physician and surgeon at that institution. He is also examining physician for eight or ten bene- ficial and life insurance companies.

On the 28th of February, 1872, his twenty-fifth birthday, the Doctor was united in marriage at Prescott, Wisconsin, to

Elizabeth P., daughter of S. T. and Alma (Newell) Otis. She was born at Brod- head, Wisconsin, July 15, 1850. Her fa- ther was prominently known in educational work and in official circles in that state. He was a public instructor for many years and held the offices of county superintendent and county treasurer. Mrs. Hutchinson is a lady of superior culture, refinement and liberal education and her influence in tem- perance circles has been of no restricted or- der, her labors in this direction winning her a national reputation. She was educat- ed in the State Normal School of Emporia, and since coming to Hutchinson has been a prominent factor in the work of the Wo- man's Christian Temperance Union. She has served for three years as the district secretary of that organization in the seventh congressional district, for two years as pres- ident in the same district. for five years was the state treasurer and for several years has been the state president, in which position she is now serving. She has contributed much to the cause in loyal, effective service and has attended the various state and na- tional conventions as a delegate. She is a lady of strong mentality, of keen discern- ment and views her work from a practical and helpful standpoint. Unto the Doctor and his wife have been born five children, of whom three are yet living: Mabel. the wife of Charles Roberts, of Winfield. Kan- sas: Harry L., who is a stenographer and private secretary to W. Wells in the Santa Fe office in Newton, Kansas; and Clarence R., who is attending school. The family have a pleasant home at No. 300 Sherman street, east, which was erected by the Doc- tor in 1898. Fraternally the Doctor is con- nected with the Masonic lodge in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, also with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Labor, the Royal Neighbors, the Modern Tontines, the Fraternal Aid and the Na- tional Aid. In politics he is a loyal sup- porter of the Republican party and in his religious connection is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His support and co-operation are ever given to those movements which he believes will advance

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the intellectual, social and moral welfare California, by whom she has four living chil- and in his life work he is performing im- dren: Lucy, the deceased wife of Robert portant service for mankind. He is inter- ! ested in whatever tends to bring the solu- tion of the mystery which we call life, and is constantly progressing in his profession through reading, study and investigation.

GEORGE G. BURGESS.

George G. Burgess, a retired farmer re- siding in Newton, has a pleasant home at No. 329 East Seventh street, and in addition he still owns his valuable farm of two hun- dred and forty acres on section 31. Emma township, Harvey county. There he located on coming to Kansas, arriving on the 20th of March, 1874. He made his way to this place from Allen county, In- diana, where he was born on the 13th of June, 1847. His father, Gideon Burgess, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut. in September, 1817, and was a son of Eben Burgess, a Connecticut farmer, who became one of the pioneer settlers of Indiana. In a dug-out canoe on the Maumee river. in 1832, he made his way to his home. settling in the dense wilderness at a time when the Indians stalked through the forests in their motley garb and when wild beasts were nu- merous. There in his pioneer home he reared his family of two sons and one daughter. and at length, at the age of eighty-four years, was called to his final rest. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, and meritorious conduct won for him the rank of captain. Gideon Bur- gess was a youth of fifteen at the time of the removal to Indiana. There he aided in the arduous task of developing new land. and was inured to all the hardships and trials of life in a pioneer settlement. He married Louisa Smith, a native . i Connecti- cut. the wedding being celebrated in In- diana. The lady was born in 1824. and le her marriage she became the ny sher of seven children. of whom two sons and two daughters reached mature years, namely : Altha is the wife of Nathaniel Risden. of

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 118

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