A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 133

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 133

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Mankato State Bank, of which his father is president.

The Wednesday following their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Fair removed to a one- hundred-acre farm near Lena. Illinois, which he had purchased and paid for with money previously earned by hard work. There they lived very happily for five years and then removed to a much larger farm west of Lena, where they made their home until the spring of 1880, when they sold the place and all personal property and moved to Gladbrook, Tama county, Iowa. There Mr. Fair was engaged in the hardware busi- ness and in loaning money. After a few years his inclinations seemed to draw him more and more into the loaning business, and he began looking around for an open- ing to buy out or organize a bank. With that purpose in view he located in Mankato, Jewell county, Kansas, in 1886, and pur- chased the Bank of Mankato, a small insti- tution that had been organized in 1883, in- creasing its capital to forty thousand dol- lars. Finding conditions more favorable to state than to private banks he reorganized. on July 1. 1899, the old Bank of Mankato into the present Mankato State Bank, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. While it is not the largest bank in the state it is consid- ered one of the safest financial institutions in Kansas, and enjoys the patronage of one of the best communities in the world. The building occupied is a substantial two-story brick, imposing and majestic in appearance, and was erected with a view to business comfort. The first floor, on which the bank- ing business is transacted, is a marvel of beauty of arrangement and convenience and is fitted throughout with elaborate and costly furniture and the other necessary parapher -. nalia requisite to an institution of this kindl. Its board of directors consists of J. P. Fair. Mattie E. Fair. F. M. Horn. David Woods. N. M. Fair and C. H. Olson, all of Mankato. and its officers are J. P. Fair, president : F. M. Horn. vice-president ; and N. M. Fair. cashier. The business of the bank is con- stantly increasing, which is due in an em- inent degree to the courtesy and accommo- dation of the officers, as well as their good

business and executive ability. In connec- tion with the general banking business they are also making somewhat of a specialty of farm loans.

Although reared a Lutheran, Mh. Fair has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church since 1882, to which his wife also belongs, and socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Grand Army of the Republic. In his political views he has always been a Re- publican, but at local elections votes for the men best qualified for office regardless of party lines. He has never cared for political preferment and has only served on school boards, being president of the board of edu- cation of Mankato for six years. Public- spirited and progressive, he gives a liberal support to all enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit, and takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his adopted city and state. He is a man of recognized ability, and through his own well- directed efforts has become quite prosperous. being one of the large real-estate owners and consequently one of the heaviest tax payers in Mankato.

ROBERT M. HARMON.

The farming and stock interests of Ella worth county, Kansas, are in the hands of men who are perfectly competent to develop both lines of industry and to place their locality among the leading ones in the state. One of these successful and asistan- tial representatives of this agricultural see- tion is Robert M. Harmon, who resides upon sections 32. 16. 8. where he has a ranch of mme thousand acres of fertile soil and where he has been engaged since 1886.

The birth of Mr. Harmon occurred on April 2. 1852, in Schuyler county, Illinois. and he is a son of John and Elizabeth . Ellis , Harmon. both parents being natives of Boone county, Kentucky, where they were united in marriage, and removed to Illi- nois at an early day. Mr. Harmon was a

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pioneer of Schuyler county, where he was engaged for many years in farming along Sugar creek. Later he moved into Mc- Donough county and from there to Warren county, locating near Monmouth, Illinois, and there he died in November, 1876, at the age of seventy-three years, the bereaved widow surviving but one year. Their fam- ily of children consisted of three sons and five daughters, their names being as follows : Elijah, a resident of Illinois: Louisa, the wife of W. H. Lutz, of Lyons, Kansas: Celia, the wife of James McClintock, of Lyons, Kansas; Julia, the wife of T. A. Butler. of Oklahoma; Anna, the wife of William Welch, of Lyons, Kansas: Emma, the wife of Thomas Horner, of Ellsworth county : Robert M., of this sketch ; and John W .. of Creston, Iowa:

Robert M. Harmon, of this biography, was reared on the farm and acquired his ed- ucation in the common schools. He re- mained until twenty-one years of age with his father, and then began work for the neighboring farmers of Warren county, Illi- nois, but after his marriage, in 1875, he rented a farm and cultivated it one year and then removed to Union county, Iowa. Here he operated rented land until he came to Ellsworth county, in 1886, at this time lo- cating on the Butler ranch, which was the property of his brother-in-law. T. A. But- ler. Until 1890 he remained on this land and then purchased his own ranch.

The property now owned by our sub- ject is well adapte l to agriculture and stock- raising, and he has three hundred acres un- der cultivation and also cultivates two hun- dred acres of rented land ; he also rents two whole sections for grazing purposes, keep- ing from one to two hundred head of cat- tle and twenty horses. He feeds grain and usually feeds more than he raises, shipping every year from seventy-five to one hundred head. Mr. Harmon has paid close attention to his stock and has carefully graded it and improved with pure bred animals. His suc- cess in establishing himself in Ellsworth county has been remarkable in one way, as he came to the state a poor man and for a number of years saved only what he could

make on farm hand wages, but Ire is of the fiber which makes the good citizens of a county like Ellsworth. Hard-working and provident, progressive and far-sighted, he has so managed his opportunities that now he is one of the substantial men of his lo- cality. owning one of its most valuable es- tates.

Mr. Harmon has taken a great interest in educational matters in Ellsworth county and has been identified with almost all of the movements for the advancement of school facilities and has served on the school board continuously ever since his settlement here.

The marriage of Mr. Harmon was cele- brated on December 1, 1875, to Miss Mary Thomas, who was a daughter of Mathew and Emeline ( Rayburn) Thomas, and she was born in Warren county, Illinois, and to them eight children were born, the six survivors being as follows: Jessie A .; Fairy L .: Mildred M .; Blanche E .: Bert MI .; and Robert M., while those deceased were: Harry, who died in 1891, at the age of twelve years ; and Clarence, who died on December 29, 1889, at the age of two years. Mr. Harmon possesses a pleasant home and an intelligent family and has every reason to feel satisfied with the prosperity which has attended him since coming to Ellsworth county, where he has built up an enviable reputation for strict integrity and upright living.

JOHN C. BROWN.

John C. Brown, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising in Kingman county and makes his home in Nashville, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, November 5. 1845. The family of which he is a representative was founded in Vir- ginia at an early day in American history by those who emigrated from England. Jesse Brown, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born near the Potomac river, in Virginia, and emigrated thence to Wash- ington county, Tennessee, where he became

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a pioneer settler and entered land from the government. Clearing and developing his fields, he became a well-to-do farmer and representative citizen of his community. In Burke county, North Carolina, he married Elizabeth Wakefield, a lady of Irish de- scent. whose father was a large land owner and slave holder of the old North state. Jesse Brown continued to make his home in Tennessee throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in Washington coun- ty in 1886, at the extreme old age of ninety- five years. In his family were eight chil- dren. Alexander, the eldest, lived and died in Washington county, where he was known as a progressive farmer. Rebecca died in the same county. Colwell was the next

younger. Elizabeth became the wife of Hyder Prichard and died on the old family homestead in Washington county, Ten- nessee. Her two sons, J. C. and George

Prichard. are prominent residents of Raleigh. North Carolina. The former left home when only ten years of age with a sandwich and ten cents in his pocket. His mother was a widow at that time and re- sided in Jonesboro. Tennessee. It seemed necessary that he earn his own living, and going to Bakersville, North Carolina, he se- cured employment in a printing office, in which he managed to pick up a good educa- tion, to which he has since been adding by reading and observation. He then took up the study of law. rose to prominence at the bar and also in political circles. He be- came the candidate for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket and was defeated by a majority of only five hundre.l in that strongly Democratic state. Upon the death of Senator Vance the governor of North Carolina appointed J. C. Prichard to fill out the unexpired term, and at the next regular election was elected to that office, in which he is now serving, having been the nominee of both the Republicans and the Fusionists. His brother. George P. Prichard. has three times been elected sheriff of Mitchell county, North Carolina. During the first term it became his duty to arrest a notorious char- acter by the name of Garland and a des- perate pitched battle followed, in which the

sheriff was struck by five bullets from the weapons of the criminals, but fortunately these produced Lut slight wounds. His own aim was more accurate and he killed Gar- land. During the second term he had to arrest Garland's brother, and again the des- perado offered armed resistance, with the result that the sheriff killed him, but in the encounter he was twice shot through the lungs. He has since recovered, however, and now holds a position in the United States senate. Evaline, the fifth member of the family of Jesse Brown, died in Wash- ington county, Tennessee. Joseph is a re- tired farmer and prominent citizen of Wash- ington county. Sarah is the wife of Pro- fessor Hulin, who was formerly a teacher in Leavenworth county, Kansas, whence he removed to Erwin, Tennessee, where he met his future bride. and they are still living there. Julia is the widow of William Long- mire and resides in Ness county, Kansas.

Colwell Brown, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Washington county, Ten- nessee, about ISog, and was there reared and educated. after which he followe l farm- ing and teaming, for railroads had not then been built. For a time he a's. nagel is merchandising in partnership with his fa- ther. When but thirty years of age he was married to Sarah Phillips, a daughter of John and Sarah ( Honeycut) Philips, both of whom were of Scotch ancestry and were natives of North Carolina, whence they re- moved to Tennessee, where they remained until called to the home beyond. They clied on the same day, only six hours apart, and were buried in the same grave. After his marriage Colwell Brown gave his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits in Washington county, and gained a comfortable compe- tence. He was a leading and influential citizen of the community and took an active interest in everything pertaining to the wel- fare of the county. In politics he was an old- line Whig and in religious faith was a Bap- tist. His death occurred in 1854, after which his widow married A. D. Moore, continu- ing to make her home in Washington coun- ty until her death. which occurred on the 20th of June, 1898. By her first marriage

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there were five children: Isaac L., a suc- cessful farmer of Washington county, who died at the age of forty years; John C., of this review ; Harriet A., who died in Wash- ington county, at the age of twenty-six ; Sarah, who was the wife of Thomas Pat- ton and died at the age of twenty-five; and Robert Bruce, who was named for the re- nowned Scottish chieftain and king, and who at the time of his death was engaged in the live stock business in the Panhandle of Texas. By the mother's second marriage there were three children: Julia, the wife of Charles Beverley, a stock man of Claren- don, Texas: William, who makes his home with his father. A. D. Moore, in Tennessee : and Charles, who is also engaged in the stock business in Clarendon, Texas.

John C. Brown, whose name heads this record, was reared on the home farm in Washington county. Tennessee, and re- mained there until the 28th of September, 1803, when he enlisted at Mossy Creek as a member of Company H. Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by Colonel S. K. N. Paton. His service was in his native state, North Carolina and Virginia. and the first engagement in which his regiment participated was at Mcr- ristown. Tennessee. Then followed the fights at Carter's Station, where he was wounded in the ankle, and at Bull's Gap. He also took part in the engagement at Ma- rion, Virginia, a running fight to Wythe- ville. twenty-six miles distant. Next came the battle of King's Salt Works, the eight- eenth Tennessee Cavalry being a part of General Stoneman's division. It did a great deal of scouting and skirmishing and aided in suppressing the guerrilla warfare. He was finally mustered out at Knoxville. Ten- nessee, September 11, 1865. During his military service Mr. Brown was brigade orderly for one year to General A. C. Gil- lem. When that general was promoted J. K. Miller took his place, and our subject remained with him in the same capacity.

After the war Mr. Brown returned to his home in Washington county, Tennessee. and completed his education by attending the Franklin Academy near his home. He

was afterward engaged in farming until the fall of 1867. He then spent a few months in Kansas City, Missouri, and for a period of two years was engaged in teaming in eastern Kansas, whence he removed to Jackson county, Missouri, and was engaged in teaming in connection with the conduct of a sawmill. hauling lumber and logs. He was married in 1870, after which he spent six years in farming and teaming in Mis- souri, coming to Kansas again in 1876. Locating in Osage county, he was there con- nected with agricultural pursuits for two years, when he embarked in the coal trade at Mount Carbon, carrying on business for three years with his brother, Robert B. During this time he and his brother went one day into the hardware store of Mr. Raymond to make a settlement. In was on July 13, 1880. In the store was a man by the name of Hall, with whom they were not on good terms, and as Hall started out of the store he met our subject and some words passed between them. Mr. Brown told him to go away and leave him in peace, but Hall continued to quarrel and at length raised a scythe which he carried in his hand to strike Mr. Brown, whereupon the latter's brother. Robert, seized a hatchet and killed Hall in order to save his brother's life. Rob- ert was then arrested and confined in the jail at Lyndon, but a previous sunstroke and the terrible mental strain that followed the deed unbalanced his mind and he was pro- nounced of unsound mind by the jury in the probate court. He was ordered into the custody of the sheriff to be held until the following term of court. One bitter cold night in February he was rescued by his friends and carried to the northern part of the county, where he was tenderly nursed for two weeks. He then went to Dodge City, where he was obliged to remain for a time on account of a heavy snow storm, and, changing his route, he then went to Gun- nison, and afterward returned by train to his home. being at this time very sick. The government offered a reward of three thou- sand dollars for his capture. As soon as he was able he fled to Texas and found em- ployment with Charles Goldnight, the cat-

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tle king. In August, 1885, after the ex- citement had subsided, he returned to Kan- sas and gave himself up, being admitted to bail on six thousand dollars. The case dragged along until 1887, his sanity being in doubt, and finally, when tried. the jury disagreed. the trial developing that Hall's actions were so hostile that Robert took his life to save his brother's and his own. After the trial Brown's counsel was notified by the county attorney that he and his client need pay no more attention to the case until fur- ther notice and the case has never been called again and in February, 1892. was nollified. Robert Brown returned to Texas. where his death occurred in 1893, Previous to these events he had by great industry ac- cumulated several thousand dollars, but all was spent in the trial.

After John C. Brown abandoned the coal business he engaged in railroad work in partnership with Mr. Britton during 1880 and 1881. They operated stone crushing and grading machines and worked on the Santa Fe for a time. Our subject next removed to Missouri and for a few months was em- played on the Chicago & Alton railroad. He then returned to Kansas, locating at Emporia, and after a period of three years devoted to railroad work removed to Nash- ville, where for four and a half years he was employed in the same line. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. About a year ago he pur- chased three hundred acres of land on ste- tion 8. Liberty township, of which sixty acres was under cultivation. He has a herd of one hundred head of cattle. His plan thus far has been to buy cows and keep the increase, but he expects to feed out a num- ber of cattle in the future. He operates in all some six or seven hundred acres of land. of which from one hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty acres are planted to wheat. He also raises a large number of hogs each year and has about sixteen head of horses.

On the 18th of September. 1870, Mr. Brown was joined in wedlock to Mary A. Douglas, of Blue Mills. Jackson county, Missouri, a daughter of John and Lucinda

( Pertle) Douglas, the mother a native of Tennessee. The father died in Jackson county, Missouri, in 1868, and his widow passed away in the same locality in 1880. Mrs. Brown has one brother and two sisters living : Isabel, the wife of L. C. Monroe, a carpenter, who is also operating a small sawmill in Independence, Missouri: Sarah. who is living with her sister in Missouri ; and William, a carpenter of Independence. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born six children, five of whom are living : bi ... the wife of W. L. Manson, the telegraph operater and station agent on the Santa Fe railroad at Anthony, Kansas; Elizabeth, the wife of (). L. Allen, a stockman of Okla- homa; Maud, the wife of C. W. McDavitt, the agent for the Kansas & Santa Fe rail- road at Zenda; J. G., who is now at the Granite silver mines in Montana and who enlisted June 20. 1898. for service in the Spanish-American war as a member of the Twenty-first Kansas Regiment and was mustered out at Leavenworth, December 10. 1898: and William R .. at home. daughter, Lucinda, died in Carbondale. Kansas, at the age of six months.

Mr. Brown has capably filled a number of township offices. In politics he is a rad- ical Republican and has always taken an active part in advancing the principles in which he believes. He was a delegate to the convention at Hutchinson when Chester I. Long was defeated, and at Newton when he was elected, and he has been a delegate to many county conventions. Socially he is connected with Kingman Post. G. A. R .. and he filled all the offices in the past at Nashville before it was abandoned. His wife is a member of the Methodist church. and both have a large circle of family this part of the state. He is a man of frank and genial manner, generous. free-hearted and public-spirited.

GEORGE T. ALMOND.

George T. Almond. the efficient treas- urer of Kingman county, has been a resident of the locality in which he now makes his

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home since November, 1884. He was born in Niagara county, New York, May I, 1850, a son of Charles Almond, who was born in the far-off country of England. When only fifteen years of age he left the land of his nativity and came to America, where he was first engaged in farming in Pennsylvania and New York. In 1854 he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Indiana, and there in addition to his agri- cultural pursuits, he was engaged quite ex- tensively in fruit culture. He was a strong abolitionist in that early day, and his house was the second station on the underground railroad, thus assisting many slaves on their way to freedom. He was often threatened by the Kentuckians if he ever crossed the line into that state. He was always a lead- ing and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he held office for many years. As a companion on the jour- ney of life he chose Elizabeth Secor, their marriage having been celebrated in New York, and they became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom still survive, five sons and four daughters, and of that num- ber our subject and his brother Albert E. are the only representatives in this state. The mother passed away in death when sixty-seven years of age, but the father sur- vived until his eighty-third year.

George T. Almond, whose name intro- duces this review, was but a little lad of four years when his parents removed from Michigan to Indiana, and in the latter state he received his early education. From his youth he was taught the val- ne of industry and honesty as a prepa- ration for the active duties of life, and his time was principally employed on his father's farm. He continued to till the soil in the Hoosier state until 1884, when he came to Kansas and engaged in the feed business with his brother, C. S. Almond, who is now a resident of Stafford county, Kansas. Three years later, however, our subject sold his interest therein and en- gaged with a firm in the salt business, but this not proving a paying investment, he abandoned it and secured employment in the book store of James Bynes, with whom

he continued until 1897. In November of that year he was elected to the office of coun- ty treasurer, assuming the duties of that po- sition in the following year, and so well did he discharge the obligations resting upon him that in 1899 he was re-elected to the same position. At his first election he re- ceived only a small majority over the oppo- sing candidate, but at the second election he was not only the only Republican elected on the ticket but received the largest majority ever given to a county officer in Kingman county, thus showing the high esteem in which he is held by the people of his lo- cality.

The marriage of Mr. Almond was cele- brated in Indiana, on the 26th of October, 1876, Miss Mattie B. Kessler becoming his wife. The lady is a daughter of K. Kessler, a prominent agriculturist of that common- wealth. Four children blessed the union of our subject and wife, but the first born died when only two years of age. Those living are: Bessie, a teacher in the schools of Kingman county ; Madge; and Earl. Mr. Almond is as well known in social as politi- cal circles. He is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, which he has represented in the grand lodge, while in the Select Knights he holds the sec- ond highest office in the state. He is also an active member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. The family reside in their at- tractive and commodious residence in King- man, and in the city which has so long been their home they have a host of warm friends.

HON. HAYES B. WHITE.

Hon. Hayes B. White, who resides on section 19, Center township, two miles and a half southwest of Mankato, is one of the leaders of the Republican party in this sec- tion of the state, his large acquaintance and unbounded popularity giving him an influ- ential following, while his shrewd judgment of men and affairs make his counsel of value in all important movements.

Mr. White was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, September 21, 1855, his parents being

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Thomas and Martha .(Ward ) White. The family has ever been noted for its patriotism and loyalty, and it has been well represented in the wars of this country. His paternal great-grandfather, Captain Thomas White, who was born in Ireland in 1740 and came to the new world in 1760, was a member of the famous "Boston tea party." When war was declared between the colonies and the mhother country he joined the Continental army and became a dispatch writer, with the rank of captain, under General Wash- ington. Our subject has in his possession an interesting old lead candlestick given by the General to Captain White at the close of his service in 1781. A monument to his memory was unveiled at Everest, Pennsyl- vania, in 1891, in the presence of five thou- sand people. Our subject's grandfather. John White, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1790 and died in Huntingdon county, that state. in 1850, was a soldier of the war of 1812. and the father participated in the Mexican war. The latter was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1812, and died in Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1865, having removed to that state in 1848. By occupation he was a farmer. His son, Sam- uel R. White, joined the Fourth Iowa Cav- alry during the Civil war and died in An- dersonville prison. The mother of our sub- ject was also born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, and passed away at the home of one of her daughters in Keokuk. Iowa. in 1887.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 133

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