A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 17

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 17

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In Pawnee county, Kansas, in the year 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Long to Miss Malinda Carpenter, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, the daughter of Joseph and Emily ( Blaur) Carpenter, who removed thence to Kansas in an early day, the father passing the re- mainder of his life here and his death oc- curring in Edwards county, at the age of seventy-three years. His widow now re- sides with her daughter, Mrs. Long. Our subject and his wife have one son, Elmer. who is eighteen years of age at the time of the popular and promising young men of Kiowa.

Jacob Crow, the father of him whose of this writing ( May, 1902) and who is one : name introduces this review, was but a

ISAAC CROW.

The deserved reward of a well spent life is an honored retirement from business in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. I in Monroe county, Ohio, to Mary Laisure. To-day, after a useful and beneficent career. Mr. Crow is quietly living at his beautiful home in Reno county, surrounded by the comforts that earnest labor has brought to him. He is a prominent citizen of this sec- tion, and the splendid accomplishments of his life should serve to encourage others who must look to themselves for the pros- perity which they may enjoy.

Isaac Crow was born in Noble county, Ohio, on the 16th of August, 1832, a son

of Jacob Crow, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1790, and throughout his entire business career he followed the tilling of the soil. His father. Frederick Crow, was also a native of the Keystone state and was of German descent. In the state of his nativity he grew to manhood, and was there married to Rachel Enochs, a lady of English de- scent. With his wife and children Freder- ick Crow made the journey from Pennsyl- vania to Monroe county, Ohio, where he was among the early pioneers, and at that time the country was covered with dense for- ests and was infested with hostile Indians and wild animals. Entering a heavily tim- bered tract from the government, he there erected a substantial log cabin, and this dwelling is still standing on the old home- stead, which is now owned by George Reed, also a descendant of one of the early fam- ilies of the Buckeye state. As time passed Mr. Crow succeeded in clearing his farm from the dense timber, and from time to time he added to his landed possessions until he became an extensive property owner. He was an upright, honorable and conscientious citizen, honored and respected by his neigh- bors and acquaintances. His political sup- port was given to the Democracy.

, youth when he removed with his parents to Ohio, and in that commonwealth he was reared to agricultural pursuits, while the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth were those afforded by; the common schools of his neighborhood. Re- maining under the parental roof until his twenty-seventh year, he was then married, a native of that county and a daughter of Jeremiah Laisure, one of the early pioneers : of that locality. Shortly after his marriage MIr. Crow removed with his bride to what is now Noble county, Ohio, where he en- tered one hundred and sixty acres of gov- ernment land on the east branch of Duck creek, between the towns of Stafford, Mon- roe county, and Harriettsville, Noble county, As the years passed by and prosperity at- tended his efforts he was enabled to add

MR. AND MRS. ISAAC CROW.

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one hundred and sixty acres to his original purchase, and there he spent the remainder of his life, his life's labors being ended in death in 1846, when he had reached the age of fifty-six years. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and of the Method- ist Episcopal church he was a worthy and consistent member. His wife was called to the home beyond in 1887. while making her home with her eldest son. U'nto this worthy couple were born twelve children, namely : Elizabeth, who died in Noble county, Ohio ; George, who passed away in death in 1880. while residing in Reno county, Kansas; Anna, who died in Washington county, Ohio: Nancy, who died in Wyandot county, Ohio. in 1899: Isaac. the subject of this re- view : Jacob, who laid down his life on the altar of his country during the war of the rebellion: Mary, who died in childhood. in Monroe county, Ohio : Rhoda and Cynthia. 1 th of whom died in Noble county, Ohio: Martin, who resides in Hutchinson, Kansas : . Robert, who is in the Soldiers' Home in Newark. Ohio: and Diantha, who is married and resides in Wyandot county, Ohio.

Isaac Crow, of this review. attended the district schools of Noble county, Ohio, dur- ing his youth, and when only fourteen years of age his father died. and from that time on he received but limited educational ad- vantages. After attaining to years of ma- turity he continued to make his home on the il farmstead, subsequently buying out his mother's interest and later purchased the interests of the remaining heirs. thus gain- ing entire possession of the old home place. on which he erected an elgant residence at a cost of three thousand dollars, and an. enormous barn large enough to shelter three hundred head of stock. His farm was one of the most fertile and best cultivated in that section of the state, and there he fol- lowel farming and stock raising on a large scale. In 1886 Mr. Crow was elected one of the commissioners of his county, and dur- ing the three years in which he served in that capacity he was responsible for many of the important changes which there took place, he having introduced and carried through more measures for improvement 54

than had been made for the previous twenty- five years. Among other things may be mentioned his levying a three-mill tax on the dollor, and was thus able to carry on a vast amount of work. having purchased the eighty acres for the infirmary and the farm for the Children's Home. In 1889, after serving his county faithfully for three years in that capacity, he sold his beautiful farm in Ohio for fifteen thousand dollars and came to Reno county, Kansas, here purchas- ing the west half of section 17. Reno town- ship, and later added a seventy-acre tract on the south half of the same section. Six years later he removed from that place to Hutchinson, purchasing a residence and twenty acres of land on the west side of Cow creek, where he made his home for two vears, during which time he greatly im- proved the place until it is now a very valu- able property. He next bought the eighty- acre farm and residence where he now re- sides, on the southeast quarter of section 19, Reno township, where he has since lived in quiet retirement. his son. Luther, a most ex- cellent farmer. having charge of the place. The place is located in one of the finest farm- ing districts of Reno county, and as a proof of the fact during the present year his sixty- two acres of wheat yielded a return of forty bushels to the acre. which is, indeed, an abundant yield. Since his residence in the Sunflower state Mr. Crow has owned as high as eight hundred and ten acres of land. located on sections 17 and 19. but he has since sold or divided his land among his chil- dren, until he now has but his homestead of eighty .acres.

In Noble county. Ohio, on the Ist of August, 1859, Mr. Crow was united in mar- riage to Mary A. Calvert, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, but was reared in Monroe county, that state. a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Powell) Calvert, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. and the former of Scotch-English and the latter of Welsh descent. During the war of 1812 the father enlisted for service. but the war had closed before he was sent to : the front. Ten children have been born unto the union of our subject and wife.

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namely : Adalaska, who died in infancy ; Leola Dell, who is an artist and resides in Hutchinson: Edward Gordon, a farmer of Salt Creek township, Reno county; Charlie R., who died in infancy : Cornelia Jane, who passed away in infancy ; Elizabeth Ellen, the wife of Frank Danford, a farmer of section 17, Reno township: Will R., who is en- gaged in business in Hutchinson: George Luther. a farmer of section 17, Reno town- ship : Roswell Holland, who died in infancy : and Otis Homer, who is employed as a painter in Hutchinson. In political matters Mr. Crow is a life-long Republican, and has long been an active worker in the ranks of his party, having frequently served as a delegate to county conventions. In his so- cial relations he is a member of the Masonic order, and in his daily life he exemplifies its ennobling and helpful teachings. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM H. HARRIS. M. D.

Among the able and representative members of the medical profession in the state of Kansas stands Dr. Harris, who has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Kiowa. Barber county, where he has been established for more than a decade. gaining a high reputa- tion in his chosen vocation and command- ing unequivocal confidence and esteem as a physician and a citizen of sterling character. The Doctor is thoroughly well read in his profession and keeps in touch with the rapid advances made therein, while to him double credit is due for his accomplishment. since he has been the architect of his own for- tunes. having prepared himself for his chosen life work through personal effort and being imbued with that fidelity and res- olute purpose whose normal sequel is defin- ite success, distinctive prestige and objec- tive respect and honor.

Dr. Harris is a native of the state of Illinois, having been born in the town of Fillmore, Montgomery county, on the roth

of September, 1858, the son of Samuel and Emma ( Allen ) Harris, both of whom were born in England, where they were reared and educated. their marriage having oc- curred in Illinois, where the mother of our subject came when sixteen years of age, her husband having also emigrated to America when a young man, taking up his abode in Alton. Ililnois, where he eventually formed the acquaintance of her who became his devoted companion and helpmeet. They were folk of marked integrity and sterling character and to them was ever accorded the fullest measure of esteem. the father having been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Montgomery county, Illinois, until his death, which occurred when he was thirty- five years of age, his widow surviving him only a few years and passing away at the age of thirty-eight. They left six children, namely : Catherine. William H .. Mary. George S .. John C. and Norman.

Reared under the sturdy discipline of the old farm in Illinois, Dr. Harris waxed strong in mental and physical vigor and here laid the foundation for that fine phys- ical constitution which has enabled him to bear so successfully the responsibilities and arduous work of his noble profession. to which he has devoted his attention for near- ly a quarter of a century. Through his early associations he gained a lasting regard for the dignity of honest toil, and he has no toleration for the unproducing idler, who is simply an organized day-dream. Ambitious to fit himself for a broader sphere of useful- ness than that implied in the work of the farm. he not only made the best use of the opportunities offered in the public schools in the vincinity of his home, but devoted much of his leisure time to thorough study and application, while he began the work of preparing himself for his chosen profes- sion by prosecuting his early technical read- ing in the office of an able physician at Fill- more. Illinois, and began the practice of medicine as soon as he found himself quali- fied for the work. To more thoroughly for- tify himself he finally was matriculated in the American Medical College at St. Louis. where he was graduated as a member of

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the class of 1881, and he later took a pest. graduate course in the Chicago Post Grad- nate school in the year 1900. and in 1001 in the New York Polyclinic.

In 1884 the Doctor located in Call- water, Comanche county, Kansas, which was one of his first fields of professional endeavor, and there he met with marked success in his practice, which was of dis- tinctively representative character. He re- mained in Coldwater for a period of seven years and at the expiration of the same, in 1891. he came to Kiowa, where he has since been engaged in the work of his profession. maintaining the highest reputation as an able and skillful physician and surgeon, keeping fully abreast of the progress made in the sciences to which he is devoted, be- ing a close student and having the confi- dence and good will of his professional con- freres and the general public. He is a man of intrinsic strength of character, ani- mated by high motives and ever courteous in his association with his fellow men. His genial personality makes him a welcome visitor in the sick room, aside from his pro- fessional ministrations, and he holds the af- fection of the many whom he has served so faithfully in the hours of distress and suffer- ing. his deep sympathy being shown in mani- ill acts of kindness and helpfulness. Fully alive to the duties of citizenship and taking a deep interest in all that concerns the material progress and general welfare of the community. Dr. Harris exercises his franchise in support of the principles and 1 Teies of the Republican party. in whose cause he has been an active worker in a 1. vad! way, and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 1. w. and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the active and en- thusiastic members of the Kansas State Medical Society.

Dr. Harris has been twice married. At Fillmore. Illinois, in the year 1881, he wedded Miss Kate E. Moody, who was born and reared in that place, her death occur- ring in Comanche county, Kansas, in 1885. On the 5th of December. 1886. the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Martha A.

Huston, of Comanche county, this state, she having been reared and educated in Illi- nois, where she was born, being the daugh- ter of John Huston, of Savonburg, Kansas. who is now living retired, having attained , the venerable age of eighty-six years and · being one of the honored pioneer citizens of that section of the state. Dr. and Mrs. Harris have one son, John Herald Harris, who was born on the 6th of January, 1896; and one daughter, Ruth, born on the 17th of October, 1901.

A. L. HERR. 1

It is now our privilege to touch briefly upon the career of one of the representative young members of the bar of the state of Kansas and one who has gained marked prestige since engaging in the active prac- tice of his profession in the thriving town of Kiowa. Barber county, where he took up his abode in the year 1895. his practice also extending into Wood county. Oklahoma.

Mr. Herr is of stanch old German lin- eage. and is himself a native of the old Keystone state of the Union, having been born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. on the 18th of October, 1871, being the son of Abraham and Ella ( Shenk) Herr. both of whom were likewise born in Pennsyl- vania, where they were reared and educated. and whence they removed with their family to Barber county, Kansas, when the sub- ject of this sketch was a lad of fourteen years, their family including four sons and one daughter. The father is one of the representative agriculturists and stock growers of this county and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. as a man of sterling worth of character. A. L. Herr received the advantages of the graded schools and the high school and was there- after matriculated in the Kansas State University. at Lawrence, graduating in the law department of this institution as a member of the class of 1893. Mr Herr is thoroughly ready in the science of jurisprudence and his information in regard

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to the statutory laws of Kansas is particu- larly broad and comprehensive. He is a' close student and never takes a case into the courts without thorough preparation, this fact gaining to him popular recognition and concomitant support. He is an able advocate before court or jury and as a coun- sellor is duly conservative, as is every law- ver who observes the due ethics of his pro- fession. He realized that the law is a jeal- ous mistress and will permit no perfunctory devotion, and thus he is known as a hard ·worker and realizes that only through this means can precedence be attained. He con- trols a representative practice and is one of the popular young men of the county. While he was reared a Republican, Mr. Herr has shown the courage of his convic- tions, and while independent in attitude, has been a loyal supporter of the Populist party, in whose cause he has done active service. He has, however, never been an active as- pirant for political preferment, and the only offices for which he has been a candidate have been those essentially in line with his profession. He served two terms as city attorney of Kiowa, and in 1897 was the candidate of his party for the office of coun- ty attorney, but was defeated by the Re- publican candidate. through normal political exigencies. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In the year 1900 Mr. Herr was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Downtain, daughter of the late Dr. C. H. Downtain. who was for many years one of the leading physicians of Kiowa and a distinguished representative of his profession in this sec- tion of the state. Our subject and his wife have one son, Chester Arlington.

N. M. BURNETT, M. D.

A representative of the professional cir- cles of Hazelton, Dr. Burnett is widely known, not only in this place, but through- out the surrounding country as a physician and surgeon of skill and ability. In addi-

tion to this practice he owns and conducts a drug store. He is numbered among the more recent arrivals here, having taken up his abode in Hazelton in October, 1900, but already he has won an enviable position in public regard and has gained a liberal pa- tronage.

The Doctor was born in Dixon, Pulaski county, Missouri, and is a grandson of Judge John G. Burnett, who was one of the most prominent and active citizens of that county. A leader of public thought and opinion, he was particularly influential in political circles and for many years he served as county judge, his course upon the bench being one that reflected credit upon the profession. He left the impress of his individuality upon the judicial rec- ord and the public life of his community and when he was called to his final rest the county mourned the loss of a valued citizen. Joseph M. Burnett, a son of the Judge and an honored resident of Hazelton, is the fa- ther of our subject. He was born, reared and educated in Missouri and was married there to Sarah E. Sanders, a cultured lady representing a good family of Pulaski county. Five children were born of their union, namely: Napoleon M .; John A., who is a student of the Keokuk Medical College; W. F .; Minnie, deceased; and Maymie.

The Doctor spent his boyhood days in Pulaski county, Missouri, and the public schools there afforded him his early educa- tional privileges. He afterward continued his studies in Vincennes. Iowa, and ac- quired a liberal literary knowledge, which served as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning. He began the study of medicine in 1894 under the direction of Dr. F. C. Robb. a prominent and successful physician of Vincennes, connected with the Keokuk Medical College. Later Dr. Burnett en- tered that college, in which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1898. He afterward entered the Marion Simms College of Med- icine at St. Louis, Missouri, in which he was graduated on the 19th of April. 1899, completing the course with honor. He has

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also taken a special course in diseases of cultural pursuits and in the raising of high grade live stock. Mr. Arrowsmith is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born on a farm in Preble county, Ohio. on the 23d of February, 1845, the son of Albert and Eliza ( Mackey) Arrowsmith. women and children, and has received a special course in optics, ophthalmology and rhinoscopy. Although he is a young man he has been very successful in his chosen calling. He is a close and earnest student, and keeps in touch with the advanced meth- Albert Arrowsmith was born in Culpep- ads and systems of the times. Already he Fer county, Virginia, being a son of Charles has won in Hazelton a patronage which many an older physician might well envy. He owns a two-story business block here, twenty by sixty feet. The first Hoor is fitted up in modern style with a large line of drugs, medicines, optical goods, station- ery, etc. Above he has his office, and in the store he is assisted by his brother, W. F. Burnett, who is a graduated pharmacist, having completed his studies in the Keo- kuk College of Pharmacy, in Keokuk, Iowa. The Doctor is a skillful optician and in ad- dition to his medical practice is engaged in fitting glasses to all who need his services in that direction. Arrowsmith, who was probably born in the same state. the family being of English origin. The latter removed with his family from' Virginia to Ohio, in the year 1837, entering a tract of wild government land in Preble county, where he remained until 1851, when he located in Adams county, where he passed the residue of his life, at- taining an advanced age. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and received a land warrant in Adams county in recognition of ' his services. He was the father of three children: Albert, father of our subject; Abner, who was residing in Fort Wayne. Indiana, when last heard from: and John. a resident of Adams county, Ohio. Albert Arrowsmith was reared to farm work. in Virginia and Preble county, Ohio, and in the latter state he married Eliza Mackey,

In fraternal circles Dr. Burnett is promi- nent. belonging to the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen and a number of other orders. He is the medical examiner for the Woodmen and also for a number of old- line and mutual life insurance companies. He is a gentleman of pleasing appearance, courteous in deportment, kindly in dispo- sition and is well qualified for the import- ant work which he has undertaken.

JOHN W. ARROWSMITH.

Back to that cradle of much of our na- tional history, the Old Dominion, must we turn in tracing the genealogy of the subject of this sketch, who is one of the representa- tive and honored citizens of Barber county, a pioneer of the state, where he has main- tained his home for a quarter of a century. and one to whom belongs the distinction of being a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, in which he rendered valiant service in sup- port of the Union. He has a fine farm property in section 22, Elwood township. where he is successfully engaged in agri-

: who was born in Darke county, Ohio, the daughter of William Mackey, whose wife's maiden name was Hood, she having been a sister of General Hood, who attained such distinction in the Confederate service dur- ing the Civil war. In 1851 the father of our subject removed to Adams county. Ohio, where he purchased ninety-three acres of heavy timbered land. clearing a small tract of the timber and there erecting a primitive log cabin of the pioneer type. Our subject was six years of age at the time, and remembers many incidents of the weary trip made through the almost tin- broken wilderness, in the unpropitious month of March. The father of our subject con- tinued his residence in Adams county until his death, in 1887, having developed a fine property and become one of the influential citizens of the locality. He was originally a Whig in politics and later a Democrat. and he held the office of justice of the peace for many years. He was in earlier life a member of the United Brethren church and

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later joined the Christian denomination, his wife being also a devoted member of this church, in whose faith she died in 1890 at a venerable age. This honored couple be- came the parents of eleven children, of whom we enter brief record, as follows : William, now a resident of Jackson, Ohio, served throughout the war of the Rebellion as a member of the Seventieth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry and was severely wounded in the siege of Atlanta, lying insensible on the breastworks all day, but eventually revived and fully recovered his health : Charles, who served one year in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, died shortly after his discharge, on August 27. 1864: John W. is the immediate sub- ject of this review; Mary A., the wife of Reuben Shoemaker. died in Ohio several years ago: James W. resides in Adams county, Ohio, as does also Abner ; Clayton died in that state several years since: Sarah is the wife of Adam Stoop, of Ohio; Re- becca, who was but six years of age when our subject last saw her, is now married and still lives in Adams county : Lincoln is a farmer in Ohio; and the eleventh child was a boy, who died in infancy.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 17

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