A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 138

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 138

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Mr. Spangler is a Republican and is an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic, which he joined in Pennsyl- vania soon after the organization of that body, and now holds membership in Kilpat- rick Post, No. 36, of which he was vice-com- mander in 1895-96. He was census enum- erator for his township in 1890, and has served as clerk of his township board and of his school district and in 1895 was elected emmy clerk of Harvey county to fill a va-

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cancy and was twice re-elected to the same office. He is a member of the Evangelical church and for several years was one of the trustees of the local body of that denomina- tion and superintendent of its Sunday- school.

The following information concerning the children of Simon M. and Mary ( Tay- lor ) Spangler will be of interest in this con- nection : Vernie May is the wife of J. T. Irvin, of Dennison, Texas. Jennie married a Mr. Quisenberry, and is a widow with one son. Edward Sumner Spangler was grad- uated in 1900 at the Northwestern Univer- sity at Chicago, Illinois, and is a stenog- rapher and bookkeeper. Frank Arthur is employed as a mechanic in the railway shops at Newton, Kansas. Mary Elmeda married John E. Hauck, a farmer of Harvey county. Kansas, and has a daughter three years old. Lydia, who is a member of her father's household, is making a specialty of piano music and bids fair to excel as a pianist.

JOHN G. MCCLURE.

Upon a farm on section 20, Sterling township, Rice county, John Gerry McClure is devoting his energies to agricultural pur- suits. His life has been one of industry, and indolence has figured in his career in not the slightest degree. He was born in Franklin county, this state, on the 15th of September. 1870. His father, George R. McClure, was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, born De- cember 12, 1838, and the grandfather, John McClure, was an Ohio farmer, who was born in 1806, either in Pennsylvania or the Buck- eve state. He died in the latter state in 1891. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Richardson, was born in Ohio, in 18II, and there died in 1900, at the age of eighty-nine years. They reared ten children. six sons and four daughters. All were mar- ried and had children and eight of the num- 1:er are still living in Ohio. The grandfa- ther was a sturdy pioneer, who cleared a farm in the midst of the heavy timber and died an octogenarian.

George R. McClure was injured by a fall when sixteen years of age and was never a strong man. He offered his services to the government during the Civil war, but could not pass muster. He was confined to his bed much of his life and was always an in- valid yet in the brief periods in which he enjoyed health and strength he was very en- ergetic and accomplished much. In Holmes county, Ohio, on the 21st of September, 1865, he was united in marriage to Martha Croco, of Ohio, a daughter of John and Barbara ( Bear) Croco. The Croco family is of Polish origin and representatives of the name removed from Poland to Germany. Peter Croco, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, went to that country and serve Ì under Frederick the Great for six years. He afterward deserted and came to America, where he loyally aided the colonists in their struggle for independence. For ten years George R. McClure, the father of our sub- ject, engaged in teaching school during the winter months in Ohio and throughout the summer season he worked at carpentering. In the spring of 1866 he came to Kansas, lo- cating in Baldwin City, where he aided in building the college now known as Baker College. After a year there passed he re- moved to Franklin county, Kansas, and on the 28th of March. 1866, he took up his abode on a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres which his father-in-law had pur- chased in 1864. During the early days he and his wife were forced to meet the stern realities of pioneer life and to endure many hardships incident to establishing a home on the frontier. They paid ten dollars per hundred weight for flour, fifty cents a pound for butter and thirty cents for pork. Their nearest market was at Kansas City, about forty-five miles away, and they had to drive to that place in wagons, for railroads had not then been built through the state. Mr. McClure continued his farming operations until 1892, when he sold his property and in March of that year came to Rice county, set- tling on two hundred and sixty acres of land near Sterling. In 1898 he purchased a quarter section near the city, and upon that farm he died on the 3Ist of August,

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1898. He was a Republican in his political affiliations and served as a justice of the peace for nineteen years, a fact which proves conclusively that his services were capable and satisfactory. He was also a member of the school board, and while residing in east- ern Kansas he engaged in teaching through three terms. Of the United Presbyterian church he was an active member and serve l as one of its trustees. In his family were seven children : Anna, the wife of William Ewing, of Sterling township, Rice county. by whom she has three children: Lizzie. the wife of Charles Amend, of Sterling, and the, mother of three children: John, of this re- view: George, who resides on eighty acres of the home farm and has two sons : Mary, who became the wife of Curtis McCammot and died at the age of twenty-three years; Carrie, the wife of Archie Rees, who is liv- ing north of Sterling and by whom she has one child : and Jay, a farmer near Sterling, who is married and has one daughter.

John Garry McClure was reared to farm life and did not leave the old homestead un- til his marriage, which occurred on the 22d of February, 1898, Miss Alice Rees, of Jas- per county, Iowa, becoming his wife. Her mother was a successful school teacher be- fore her marriage. Mrs. McClure has been an able assistant to her husband. She is not only a practical housewife, but also has charge of the poultry on the farm and is as successful in this work as her husband is in raising grain and stock. At the time of their marriage they located upon a farm of eighty acres whch had been deeded to Mr. McClure by his father. Throughout his entire career he has carried on agricultural pursuits. He makes a specialty of the raising of corn and broom corn. and of the former crop pro- duces about twenty-eight hundred bushels annually. He also raises horses, cattle and swine. keeping on hand from eight to ten horses and from fifteen to twenty cattle, while annually he sells about sixty head of Poland China hogs. He became the man- ager of his father's farm at the age of six- teen, so that he was well qualined by prac- tical experience to carry on business for him-

self when he took up his residence at his present home only about two years ago. He is a young man of enterprise, thoroughly in touch with the progressive methods of farm- ing in vogue at this day and his labors have gained for him a place among the substan- tial citizens of the community.

MIRS. SARAH JANE WENN.

Mrs. Sarah Jane Wynn, one of the hon- med pioneers of Rice county. Kansas, is the widow of Adam Wynn, who was a well known early settler of this locality and a valiant soldier of the Civil war. He was born in Northumberland county. Penn-vl- vania, March 20, 1838. His father. John Wynn, was also a native of Northumberland county and was of French descent. He married Elizabeth Snyder, who was of Ger- man descent, and they became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Two of the sons were defenders of the stars and stripes when the attempt was made to overthrow the Union, and Chambers is now a resident of McPherson, Kansas. The fa- ther followed the occupation of farming as a life occupation, and of the Methodist Epis- copal church both he and his wife were worthy members. His death occurred in Pennsylvania, and she was called to her fins! rest in McPherson, Kansas.

Adam Wynn was reared to the quiet pur- suits of farm life in Northumberland coun- tv. Pennsylvania, where he was earl taught to work in the fields. He was a millwright by triple and was thus engaged for ten years. At the outbreak of the Civil war he donned the blue in defense of the Union enlisting in Ogle county, Illinois, in 18m. in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry. He was afterward honorably discharged vor account of dis

: - ity, having been afflicted with chronic rheu- mitism. receiving his discharge at Pittsburg. Tennessee. He afterward veteranized in the Think I wa Battery, from which he was die charged on the 23d of Order ING. : Davenport, Iowa, for the way er entela.

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the country no longer needed his services. After the close of hostilities he returned to Pennsylvania, and in Northumberland coun- ty, that state, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Wynn, who during the re- mainder of his life was a true and loving companion for the journey of life. She was born in Northumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, and is a daughter of Samuel and isliz- abeth ( Shipman ) Wynn, natives also of that county. Both are now deceased, the father dying in 18-8, at the age of eighty-five years. and the mother was also called to the home above at the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of nine children,-Reuben. Jacob, David. Rachel, May. Barbara, Emma; Sarah J. and Susanna. The father devoted his life to the pursuits of the farm and was identified with the Democratic party.

Adam Wynn devoted his time and atten- tion to the millwright's trade in Pennsyl- vania until 1878, when he came to Rive con- ty, Kansas, locating on eighty acres of land. In 1896 he located on the farm where his widow still resides, consisting of three hate- dred and twenty acres, which is improvel wth a good residence, a large barn and all other necessary improvements. There he remained until his death, which recurrel when he had reached his fifty-ninth year. His army service undermine : his he Ith a :d brought on rheumatism. which eventually caused his death, and thus passed in m earth one of nature's noblemen. His life had ever been upright and honorable, characterized by fidelity to duty and to the right. He affil- nated with the Republican party, but later be- came a Populist. He was connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Methodist Episcopal church he was a worthy and active member.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wynn were born four children: Harper J., who married Sarah Nickel, by whom he has one som. Sam- tel C., and they reside on a farm adjoining the old homestead : Dickson D., who is thir- ty-one years of age; Lloyd E., who has reached the age of twenty years ; and Troy Logan, a young man of seventeen years. The three younger children are at home.

The family is one of prominence in the com- munity, and they are honored and respected by all who know them.

J. F. GAMBLE.

A member of a prominent old southern family. J. F. Gamble has been a resident of the Sunflower state for a number of years. He was born in Wilkes county, North Caro- lina, January 20, 1851. His father. Jesse Gamble, who was of French descent. was reared and educated in his native southland, and was there married to Mary M. Prather, who proved to him a worthy companion and helpmate for the journey of life. They be- came the parents of the following children : John F., Nora E., Ocie, L. W .. C. E., Mary, and one deceased. The father was called to his final rest at the age of sixty-six years. He was a life-long farmer, a supporter of the Democracy, and a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Gamble still survives her husband, and she, too, is a worthy member of that church.

J. F. Gamble, of this review, received a good education in the schools of his native siate, and when only twenty years of age he was made a county superintendent of the schen Is of McDowell county, West Virginia, which important position he continued to fill for four years. Later for some years he was engaged in the lumber business in that state and Tennessee, and while a resident of the south he was a number of times appointed to the position of postmaster, serving in that capacity in Perryville and Harrisonville, West Virginia, and at Thompson's Mills, Tennessee. The year 1893 witnessed his ar- rival in the Sunflower state, and after his arrival here he engaged in farming and stock-raising in Barber county, also follow- ing the drug business for a time at Hazel- ton. During President Cleveland's adminis- tration he was made postmaster of this city, and also served as a salesman and as assist- ant postmaster of Peck. He is now recog- nized as one of the leading cattle men of

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the county, and in addition to attending to the duties of his large stock farm he has also served as township trustee for the past five years, discharging the obligations roi- ing upon him in that important position to the satisfaction of all.

In West Virginia, at the age of twenty- one years, Mr. Gamble was united in mar- riage to Miss Nancy Peyton, a native of that commonwealth and a daughter of John and Nancy Peyton, both now deceased. Mrs. Gamble has also been called to her final rest, dying in 1892, at Hazelton, and at her death she left nine children, namely : Mollie, the wife of J. E. Davis, of Moberly, Missouri : Jessie, at home: Wesley, of Enid, Okla- homa : Elbert William : Samuel and Shelby. twins : Inez : and Grace. For his second wife Mr. Gamble chose Olive Della Hardin, their wedding being celebrated in 1901. She was reared and educated in Illinois, and her fa- ther, John Hardin, was a well known citi- zen of Barber county. Mr. Gamble was made a Mason at Clinton, Tennessee, and is now a member of the chapter and of Anthony Commandery, of Anthony, Kan- sas, and Alhambra Temple. He also holds membership relations with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Clinton, Tennessee.

DANIEL T. COY.

Daniel J. Coy, who is engaged in the practice of law in Burr Oak, has by his en- terprise, thorough preparation of cases and his natural and acquired ability won an en- viable position as a representative of the bar of Jewell county. He was born in Defiance county, Ohio. October 26, 1857. his parents being Daniel and Angelina (Wartenbee) Coy. His father was born among the Green mountains of Vermont and became one of the early settlers of Ohio, where in the midst of the forest he developed a tract of land into a fine farm. He died in Defiance coun- ty, in 1857, before the birth of our sub- ject. His wife, a native of Brooke county.

Virginia, long survived him, and pascal away in Defiance county in 1895. Their eldest son. Albert Coy, joined the Union army at the time of the Civil war and served until after the restoration of peace.

Daniel J. Coy had few advantages in his youth. His lot was one of toil and had it not been for his ambition and determination the advantages of education, beyond those of the common school, would not have been his, but realizing the value of mental train- ing as a preparation for life work he earned the money which enabled him to continue his olucation in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, in which institution he was graduated in the class of 1882. He afterward engaged in teaching in the coun- try schools of Ohio and in the graded schools of Michigan.

In the fall of 1884 Mr. Coy arrived in Kansas, where he became principal of the schools of Gove City, Gove county, and later. by appointment, became superintendent of the schools of that county. On severing his connection with educational work in Gove county he took up the study of law, and in ISgo was graduated in the law department of the State University of Kansas, at Law- rence. He was admitted to the har in Gove county, October 2, ISSS, before his gradan- tion. Later he located in Joplin, Missouri. and was admitted to practice in the Jasper county circuit court of that state June ?. 1891. For about a year he remained in Joplin and then came to Bart Oak, where he has made his home continuously since 1893. For three years after his arrival he was principal of the Burr Oak public schools and then resumed the practice of law. in which he has since gained a large clientare. connecting him with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of his district.

On the 26th of June, 1889, in Beloit, Kansas, Mr. Coy was united in marriage to Miss Emma Long, and they now have three interesting children .- Catharine A., Homer G. and an infant whose name is not given. Socially Mr. Cov is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In his political views he is a Republican and at

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present is serving as city clerk of Burr Oak. Diligence, determination and honorable pur- pose are numbered among his salient char- acteristics and have already won him suc- cess in his chosen profession, in which he will no doubt gain even greater distinction.

JOHN T. SELFRIDGE.

One of the valuable farming properties in Washington township. Rice county, is that owned by John T. Selfridge, who re- sides on section 28, not far from Sterling. Born and reared in the west, the spirit of en- terprise which has led to the remarkable de- velopment of the Mississippi valley is mani- fest in his career. He opened his eyes to the light of day in Randolph county. Illi- nois, near Coulterville, on the 14th of No- vember. 1845. His maternal grandfather, John Selfridge, was a native of Argyle, New York, born in 1798. He engaged in farm- ing in the western portion of the Empire state, in Ohio and in Illinois, and died in the last named commonwealth in the fall of 1875, at the age of seventy-seven years, at which time he was residing in Randolph county. ' He wedded Harriet Smith, who was born in Vermont, and they became the parents of four sons, namely : Jason, Olive ". Francis and John. The mother died and the father afterwar l again married, having a son and daughter by his second wife. He also had a third wife, but there were no children by that union. His daughter, Josephine, is now the wife of William Anderson, of Sterling township, and she has four living children.

Grayson S. Selfridge, the father of our subject, was born in New York January 12. 1824, and is now living in Sterling. in his seventy-eighth year. After some years' resi- dence in Randolph county, Illinois, he came to Kansas. in 1867. settling first in Craw- ford county, where he remained for five years. He afterward spent four years in Missouri and in 1876 came to Rice county, where he followed agricultural pursuits un-

til January 8, 1884, when, having sold his farm of one hundred and sixty acres six miles north of Sterling, he removed to the city in which he yet lives. He was for three years a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in Perry county, Illinois, in August, 1862. as a member of Company C, Eighty-first Illi- nois Infantry, and. though in many battles, including the terrible charge of Vicksburg. where many fell around him, he was never wounded. However, he suffered from a sun- stroke at Junetown, Mississippi, and being thus - mewhat incapacitated for active field duty he was detailed as an orderly. He married Susan Woodside, a native of Ken- tucky, and a daughter of James Woodside. The wedding was celebrated in Ilinois No- vember 26. 1844. the groom being then in his twenty-first year, while the bride was eighteen years of age. Nine children were born unto them, five sons and four daugh- ters. Among the number was Mary Ellen, twin sister of Jason Smith Selfridge, and she died on her fourteenth birthday. The other children of the family are: John, of this review : Robert J., who is living north of Sterling; Mrs. W. J. Harrison; Eunice, the wife of George Danser, of Woods county, Oklahoma; Susanna, the wife of William Connery ; William O., who makes his home south of Sterling ; Jason, a railroad official living in Summer county, Kansas; and George W., a resident of Sterling.

John T. Selfridge, the immediate sub- ject of this review, acquired a good com- mon-school education in Coulterville, Illi- mois, and on the 10th of December, 1863, he put aside his text-books in order to en- list in the Eighty-first Illinois Infantry, as a member of Company C. He was then eight- een years of age and joined the service as a private. He was with his command for a year and a half and was then taken prisoner on the Cumberland river. Subsequently he was paroled, and at the close of the war re- ceived an honorable discharge. He now draws a pension of eight dollars per month. given him on account of ill health occasioned by his army service. He was a brave soldier

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boy, who wore the blue uniform with dig- nity and fearlessly defended the starry ban- ner of the nation.

On the Ist of February, 1870, Mr. Self- ridge was united in marriage to Miss Lu- cretia L. Whaling, of Rome, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Morris and Odella ( Brewer) Whaling. The father was a member of the Union army for a few months and died in the service from the effects of an injury which he sustained, leaving to his widow the care of six daughters and three sons. She still remains true to his memory and is liv- ing in Rome, Pennsylvania, at the age of seventy-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Self- ridge began their domestic life in Gerrard, Crawford county, Kansas, to which place our subject had removed from Illinois in 1868. He learned the carpenter's trade un- der his father's direction and has always fol- lowed it to a greater or less extent. He took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land in Crawford county, paying the company seven dollars per acre. After three years he sold the land and removed to Missouri, where he engaged in the operation of rented land for three years, and in May. 1876. a quarter of a century ago, he came to Rice county, Kansas. Here he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he carries on general farming and the bree !- ing of cattle, horses and hogs. He finds the raising of swine and cattle the most profit- able branch of his business, yet he always keeps on hand about twenty head of horses. He is cultivating a quarter section of land and has raised from four to five thousand bushels of wheat annually, sometimes having as high as from six to eight thousand bushels. He has diligently prosecuted his labors, and his well directed efforts have brought to him a comfortable competence.

In their home Mr. and Mrs. Selfridge have a picture on the wall representing five generations. The eldest is Mrs. Susan Woodside, the maternal grandmother of Mr. Selfridge, who died in Arkansas in her ninety-third year. The second is Mrs. Susan (Woodside) Selfridge, the mother of our subject, and she is yet living in Sterling, at

the age of seventy-six. The third is his sis- ter, Harriet Selfridge, the wife of W. J. Harrison, The fourth is Mrs. Mattie Hunt- ington, a daughter of Mrs. W. J. Harrison by her first marriage, and the fifth is Carl Huntington, her little son. Both Mr. and Mrs. Selfridge hokl membership in the United Brethren church, and in politics he is a Republican, having been an Abolitionist in ante-bellum days. In 1882 he made a trip to the far west, visiting Arizona, Cali- fornia, Oregon and Washington, spending three months in viewing the scenes of that section of the country. His life has been quietly and honorably passed, and is char- acterized by fidelity to duty in all relations.

JOB N. FOWLER.

Mention has been made of several promi- nent citizens of Ellsworth county, Kansas. who are honored by their fellow citizens on account of the part they took in our Civil war. Another who deserves mention in that connection is Job N. Fowler. of Ellsworth, who is the owner of a ranch of eight hun- dred and twenty acres in Langley township.

Job N. Fowler was born in Butler coun- ty. Kansas, March 27, 1843, a son of Alfred and Harriet ( Mulford) Fowler, natives of Ohio. Job was one of the three children of his parents and the only one who survives. He lived with his parents on their home farm until he was eighteen years old, obtaining a good knowledge of practical farming and acquiring in the public schools near his home a fair common-school education. His

earliest recollection of an educational insti- tution is of a log school house. February 18. 1861, when he was about eighteen years old he went to Marshall county, Illinois. where he made an independent start in life as a farm hand. He was thus employed un- til August of that year, when in response :. his country's call for soldiers he enlisted in Company F. Forty-seventh Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, which was commanded by Captain Clark. His regiment was attached

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to the Army of the Mississippi. In July, 1863, Mr. Fowler was taken prisoner by the Texas Rangers and he was confined for nine months in the following prisons : Raymond, Mississippi : Meridian, Mississippi : Atlanta, Georgia : Mobile, Alabama : Montgomery, Alabama; Libby, Virginia; and Belle Isle. Virginia. He was exchanged in March, 18of, and rejoined he's regiment. During his term of service he participated in the following among other engagements : Island Number Ten, March. 1862; the siege of Corinth. May, 1862: Iuka. September 19, 1862: Jackson, Mississippi, May, 1803: Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 2 and 3, 1863 : Richmond, Virginia, June 16, 1863: Me- chanicsburg. May 8. 1863: Tupelo, Missis- sippi. July 14 and 15. 1864; Abbeyville, Au- gust 23. 18 4. His regiment formed a part of Mowe's Eagle brigade, which consisted of the Eleventh Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, the Forty-seventh Regiment Illi- fois Volunteer Infantry and the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. It was the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment that carried through the war the celebrated war eagle, "Old Abe." Mr. Fowler was honorably dis- charged from the service at Springfield, Illi- nois. October II. 1864, and returned to Marsha'l county, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand two years. After that he rented land until 1873. In February of that year he brought himself. family and belong- ings in a chartered car from Illinois to Peace. now Sterling, Kansas.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 138

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