A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 28

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

from Germany to America. In the father- land the name was spelled Zirkle, but in this country the orthography was changed to the present form.

Daniel Circle, the father of our subject. spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon a farm in the Old Dominion and when he had arrived at adult age he sought as a companion and helpmate for life's journey. Miss Julia Alphine, who was born in Rock- bridge county, Virginia, a daughter of Rich- ardson Alphine, who represented a promi- ment and distinguished family of the Old Dominion. Three children were born unto Daniel and Julia Circle, namely : John Rich- ardson, of this review: Mrs. Martha Tay- lor. of Oklahoma ; and Viola, who is now de- ceased. After the death of the wife and mother, the father was again married. his second union being with Ellen Williams. who was born in Scotland and with her par- ents crossed the Atlantic to the new world. the family establishing a home in Virginia. Five children were born of the second mar- riage: Andrew L., of Oklahoma: Duncan M .. a prominent cattle man of Barber coun- ty : Lillie, who is living in Woods county. Oklahoma: David, of Washington; and William H., who lives in Alva, Oklahoma. The father died in West Virginia at the age of forty-nine years. Throughout his busi- ness career he had carried on farming and stock-raising and was a man of energy and industry. His political support was given the Democracy and he served for two or three years in the Civil war. His widow still survives him and makes her home at the present time in Barber county, Kansas.

John R. Circle, of this review. first opened his eyes to the light of day in the 19th of December. 1848, on the old Virgin- ian farm where he was reared. early becom- ing familiar with all the duties and lah rs that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His home was near Clifton Forge and there be remained until after his marriage, which oc- curred when he was twenty-seven years of age. He wedded Madora Cutlip, who was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, and was reared and educated there. Her father. John Cutlip, was a soldier in the Union

army during the Civil war. He married Elisebuth Williams and they had two children. Madera and Dove. The latter married U. O. Case and now lives in Wel- lington, Summer county, Kansas. Mrs. Cir- cle is the mother of six children : Scott. who married a Miss Sanders and has two children, and now resides in Oklahoma; and Daniel, Quincy, Villa. Ottie and Fay, at home.

In the year 1884 Mr. Circle came to Barber county and secured a tract of one hundred acres of Indian land. He has since added to his possessions until his landed property now aggregates more than twenty- two hundred acres, of which three hundred and fifty acres is planted to wheat. He has also leased four hundred acres which is also planted to wheat. and he is numbered among the largest wheat producers in this portion of the state. His stock raising interests are also extensive. He breeds a high grade of Hereford cattle and has large droves, his annual shipments being extensive and bring- ing to him good profit. His farm is im- proved with all modern equipments and ac- cessories. In the rear of his pleasant he me is a large barn and other necessary outbuild- ings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has a grove covering eight acres and an or- chard of six acres. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance and indicates his careful supervision. His meth- ils of farming and stock-raising are pro- gressive and his labors have brought to him very gratifying success. Throughout his manheed he has been a supporter of the Democracy. As a citizen he is wide-awake and enterprising and he has firm faith in Kansas. Barber county numbers him among its valued residents and in its his- tory he well deserves honorable mention.

RICHARD R. TRUESDELL.

With the building interests i Sterling Richard Ransom Truesdell is prominenty connected. He is a carpenter and context- tor. and many of the substantial street es

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of the town stand as monuments to his skill, enterprise and business ability. He was born in Steuben, Oneida county, New York, February 18, 1832: His father, Cyrus Pearl Truesdell, was born in the township of Butternuts, in Otsego county, New York, July 10, 1805, and the grandfather, Ransom Truesdell, was a native of Massachusetts, but traveled to Gilbertsville, New York, on horseback with his wife behind him on the same animal. Mrs. Truesdell bore the maiden name of Sarah Abiah George. They made the journey about 1790, and in their new home became identified with farming interests. They were Orthodox church members and brought up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. They reared a family of seven sons and daughters and lost one child. Harvey Truesdell went to La- Porte, Indiana, and is still living there, but the other members of the family have passed away. The grandfather of our subject served in the war of 1812. and died at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. A few sad and lonely years were passed by his wife before she. too, was called to her final rest, passing away on the old homestead farm, which since the death of the parents has been sold.

Arriving at years of maturity Cyrus P. Truesdell married Miss Miranda Platt. whose parents were natives of England, and after crossing the Atlantic to the new world took up their abode in Steuben, Oneida county, New York. There the father of our subject learned the carpenter's trade, and there in the year 1825 he was married. After several years he removed with his family to Westernville, New York, where his wife died in 1861, being survived by four of five children, namely: Bera Ann, who became the wife of Charles Paddock, and removed to Whiteside county, Illinois, where she died. leaving two children: Rhoda Aman- dla, the wife of Jerome B. Potter, of Sauk county, Wisconsin, a man of prominence in political circles and in railroad enterprises : Richard Ransom of this review : Emily Al- mira, the wife of John Paddock, who died at Gilbertsville. New York, in 1890. After

the death of his first wife the. father was again married, and his death occurred in 1889.

Richard R. Truesdell, whose name intro- duces this sketch, received a very meager . common-school education. He worked early and late in his youth, providing for his own support from the time he was fifteen years of age. He secured a situation as a farm hand and afterward learned the car- penter's trade at Westernville. New York. He has followed that pursuit throughout his entire business career, save when in Septem- ber, 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops to aid in crushing out the rebel- lion, enlisting at Rome, New York, in the Third New York Artillery, light battery, H. He served for nearly three years and at the close of the war was discharged, in July, 1865. He was three times slightly wounded and is now given a pension of six dollars a month as a compensation to him for the suf- ferings he sustained.

When the war was over Mr. Truesdell returned to his home and family. He had been married on the 3d of July, 1855, to Miss Fannie Wheelock, of Oneida county, New York, who was born December 23. 1839, a daughter of Phillip and Phebe ( Ful- ler ) Wheelock. Mr. and Mrs. Truesdell began their domestic life in the Empire state, residing in Oneida county until 1867. when they removed to Butternuts township, Otsego county, locating upon the grandfa- ther's farm, where they remained until 1873, when they came to Kansas. settling at Sterling. Mr. Truesdell arrived in Febru- ary, of that year, and in May, 1874. he was joined by his wife and children. In Decem- ber. 1876, he established his shop and has since been a leading contractor and builder at this place. His work includes more than one-half of the brick work that has been ex- ecuted since his arrival. He has his shop on Broadway and it is equipped with a good engine and a variety of machines and lathes, which are placed upon a solid foundation and finely adjusted, enabling him to execute splendid workmanship. One of his sons, Harvey L. Truesdell. is recognized as a very superior mechanic, possessing rare

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ability in that direction. In addition to his Si pher was a large From Main street and ha- a pleasant residence at the corner of Ad- ans and Eighth streets.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Truesdell has been Hessel with six children, namely : Mary Emma, the wife . i T. E. Henshaw. who is now in Lyons, Kansas: Sarah Ellen. the wife of Sylvanus T. Stubbs, by whom she has three children : Harvey, who is mar- ried and has two sons and two daughters: Fannie Maria, the wife of J. R. Coulter, who is new residing in Parker county, Texas, and by whom she has a daughter three years . i age : Rosa, the wife of Ed M. Henshaw, a successful teacher of the coun- ty: and Benjamin William, who is a tall and active young man of scholarly tastes and attainments. He was graduated in the Sterling high school at the age of eighteen years and is : w a successful teacher. In lis 1. litical views Mr. Truesdell is a stal- wart Republican, having voted for the men and measures of the party since casting his balbi f. : J.h :: C. Frem nt in 1856. Ile has been a justice of the peace and police julge. By all who know him he is held in high regard on account of his fidelity to duty. his faithfulness in meeting all obliga- tions and his reliability in business circles.

AUGUST JOHNSON.

Any of these y i have contributed ma- turially & the business activity of Kingman County. Names. i- st Jamon. who is a successful farmer and stock-raiser. in Richland township, and a prosperous grain dealer in Cleveland, Kansas, Mr. bush is al- spedite de peri the settlers of the county, o ming here in 18. since which time he has been active in agricultural life. and has lee are bir died with auch of the progress of this flourishing locality.

The Birth of August Jahren was in Sweden, a country which has supplied many of its best citizens t . this state. In his na- tive land he attended school and was taught to make himof racial in his father's farm.

where he remained until he was twenty-one, at which time he decided to find a new in me in America. In 1868 the young man bade farewell to home and friends in his northern land and joined a company of other emi- grants which were Found for Lee e ants. Iowa, safely reaching Keokuk, in that -tate. where he remained for a few months, sub- sequently working in various localities, gradually learning the customs and lan- quage, and accumulating means with which to purchase some farming land. For some time he was employed near Alton, Illinois ; for a period he worked in Rock Island, Illi- nois, then he returned to Keokuk, Iowa, and then became engaged in farming in Schuy- ler county, Illinois.

In this last named locality he married Miss Mary E. Rover, who was born, reared and educated in Illinois, a lady whose ad- mirable qualities have endeared her not en'y to her husband and children but also to all with whom she has become acquainted. To her economy and wise and excellent meth- vds of housekeeping much is due for the suc- cess which has attended her husband's ef- fris. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson seven chil- dren have been born, the six survivors he- ing five sturdy sons and one fair daughter. viz. : Aaron and Harry, beth born in Illi- nois, and Leslie, Earl. Frank and life. 1 :1 in Kansas.

Until 1879 Mr. Johnson carried en farm- ing in the state of Illinois, coming then to Kansas. Soon after reaching this satte he Located in Kingman county and perda.al tr twenty-two hundred & lars a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, since which time until lately he has been engaged in the cultivation of that estate, its substantial in :- provement, and in stocking it with valuable cattle and other live stock. He has recently sold this farm for eight thousand dollars. which he has owned for twenty years, and purchased for eight thousand five hundred dollars a farm adjoining Kingman, which he expects to make a dairy farm and to make his permanent home there. It consists of three hundred acres, improved with a herec. costing two thousand dollars and a large barn and outbuildings, complete for a first-

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class dairy farm. Mr. Johnson is known as one of the best farmers of the township. there being very little about the science of agriculture which has escaped his investiga- tion. Each section of country has been en- dowed by nature with its own peculiar ad- vantages, and it is only the thoughtful and thorough farmer who is able to understand the properties of the different soils and how to adapt each to cause it to produce to its fullest capacity.

Mr. Johnson has also made a success of the breeding and feeding of stock, and he is financially interested in a grain business, in Cleveland, being a partner in the same, with William Ebbert, a well known resident of this township. Mr. Johnson has shown much public spirit and has interested himself in many enterprises which have been organ- ized for the benefit of his county. He is a Populist in his political convictions, and has efficiently served as township treasurer, per- forming the duties of this office with credit and satisfaction to all, being a man who is noted for his honest and upright dealing.

The comfortable home occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and family was erected at a cost of seven hundred dollars, and his commodious barns and excellent accommo- (lations for his stock show that this is justly regarded as one of the model farms of the township. Mrs. Johnson is a worthy mem- ber of the German Baptist church, while Mr. Johnson lives up to a high moral code, although not formally connected with any re- ligious body. In business and public life he commands the respect of his fellow citizens. while in private life he is a devoted husband and a kind and careful father.

JAMES W. ALLEN.

James W. Allen is a representative of the agricultural interests of Elwood town- ship, Barber county, his home being on Sec- tion 26, where he has maintained his resi- dence for a number of years. He first came to the county in 1884. and after a time re-

turned to the east, but in 1891 took up his permanent abode here. Mr. Allen was born near Greencastle, Putnam county, Indiana, on the 11th of September, 1850. His father, John Allen, was a native of Kentucky, and the paternal grandparents were William and Fanny Allen, who were also born in the Blue Grass state, and spent their last days in Indiana. Upon the old home farm in the Hoosier state John Allen. the father of our subject, was reared and became familiar with the work necessary to cultivating the fields. He married Celia McConnell, who was born in Tennessee, and represented an old family of the south, her parents being William and Elizabeth McConnell. Her fa- ther died in Indiana, but her mother after- ward went to Missouri, and was called to her final rest when living in that state. Five children have been born unto John and Ce- lia Allen, namely: James A .. Eizabeth, James. John W. and Richard. The father carried on agricultural pursuits in order to provide for his family. He endorsed the Union cause at the time of the Civil war, but : did not live to see the happy culmination of hostilities, his death occurring in 1863, when he was thirty-seven years of age. Of the Methodist Episcopal church he was a con- sistent member. His widow belongs to the United Brethren church. and now makes her home in Woods county, Oklahoma, where she is living at the ripe old age of seventy- three.

James W. Allen spent the first eight years of his life in the state of his nativity, and then accompanied his parents to Putnam county, Missouri, where he remained upon a farm throughout the period of his youth. He received ample training at farm work. and acquired his literary education in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood. When twenty-four years of age he was married in Putnam county, Missouri, to Miss Celia J. Ward, and found in her a faithful compan- iun and helpmate on life's journey. She was born in Putnam county. Indiana, and was reared and educated there. Her father. Joseph Ward, died in the Hoosier state, but her mother, who bore the maiden name of

MRS. JAMES W. ALLEN.

JAMES W. ALLEN.

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Polly McConnell, departed this life in Mis- souri. By her marriage she had become the mother of four children, namely: Peter. Anna. Mrs. Allen and Joseph.

Reared in the west, our subject early be- came familiar with the labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and was imbued with the true western spirit of progress and enter- prise. In the year 1884 he arrived in Bar- ber county, Kansas, and secured a claim upon which he lived for a year. He then returned to Missouri, but in 1801 again came to this locality and to-day is the owner of a valuable farming property which is im- proved with a good residence and a sub- stantial barn, and an orchard covering four acres. He has three hundred and twenty acres of land, of which two hundred acres is under a high state of cultivation, bringing to him good harvests in return for his labors. He also engages in stock-raising, having a good grade of horses and cattle.

Mr. Allen has five children living, namely: Zorah W., born May 6, 1880, and now a student at the Kansas Wes- leyan College. at Saline: Clarence V .. born January 26, 1882: John O., born March 18, 1884: Maude D., born July 2. 1885: Mary Frances, born May 21. 1888: Alva E., who died at the age of thirteen months: and Florence Stella, who passed away at the age of eighteen months. The greatest blow that has ever come upon the household, however, was in the death of the wife and mother, who passed away on the 30th of March, 1891, at the age of fifty- three years. She was untiring in her devo- tion to her family, and put forth every ef- fort in her power to promote the happiness of husband and children. A sincere Chri -- tian woman, she belonged to the United Brethren church. and was highly esteemed for her many excellent qualities of heart and mind. Mr. Allen is also identified with the same religious denomination. and has served as steward of the church. In his political views he is independent. He has served on the scho. 11 ard. but has never been an office seeker. preferring to give his entire time and attention to his farming interests, whereby he has won creditable and desirable success.

JOHN A. CARLISLE.

The farming interests of Kingman coun- ty are well represented by John A. Carlisle, an enterprising agriculturist and stock-raiser who makes his home on section 18, King- man township. He represents an old and distinguished family of Kentucky to which John G. Carlisle, an eminent lawyer and sec- retary of the treasury under President Cleve- land. also belonged. His paternal grandfa- ther was born in Virginia and was of Scotch and Irish lineage, his ancestors coming in America at an early period in the history of this country, their first home being in the Old Dominion. The family was represented by loyal soldiers in the war of 1812.

Albert M. Carlisle, the father of our sub- ject. was born in Virginia in '1803 and was reared in Kenton county, Kentucky, where he was married to Flora Fish, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Ezra Fish. Eighteen months later she died. leaving . ne child, Lilburn, who was born in 1829 and died in Texas in 1887. Mr. Carlisle was afterward again married, his second union taking place in Bourbon county. Kentucky, when Hannah Reynolds became his wife. She vas a native of the Empire state. After his marriage he followed farming in Kenton county. Kentucky, and become an extensive land owner there. but in 1864 he sold his property and removed to Boone county. Kentucky, where he resided for about three years. On the expiration of that peried he went to Grant county. Kentucky, where he lived until called to his final rest. Oet ber 22, 1876. His wife survived him only until the following August. when she died in Shelby county. Illinois, while making her home with her daughter there. Mr. Car- liste was a prominent member and officer of the Missionary Baptist church. and in pol- ities he was originally an old-line Whig. while later he became a Democrat. Unt. Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle were born seven chil- Cren. namely : William A .. who died in Shelby county. Illinois. December 1. 1879: Mary J., who was the wife of Lafayette Conley and died in Bates county, Missouri : Fra Il .. who married W. E. Savres, a re-

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tired foreman and bridge builder of Shelby county, Illinois: Alexander M., who was a soldier in the Confederate service and died in Medora, Macoupin county, Illinois ; John A .. of this review : and Arabelle and Isa- belle. twins, the latter now the wife of James I. Tate. of Witchita, Kansas.

In the district schools of Kenton county, Kentucky, John A. Carlisle obtained his ed- ueation and early became familiar with the work of the farm, remaining at home until 1866, when he became a resident of Shelby county, Illinois, where his brother was liv- ing. With him he worked that season and then returned to his native state. joining his father who was then living in Boone county and with whom he remained until 1869. In 1872 they together purchased a tract of land which they operated one season and the fol- lowing year our subject rented a farm on the Lexington Pike, where he made his home until 1876. In the meantime he was mar- ried on the 7th of January, 1873, in Grant county. Kentucky, to Calista M. Clark, who was born in Williamstown, Grant county. October 8. 1852. Her grandfather, Thomas Clark, was of English descent and married Barbara Jump, who was of Irish lineage and who had four brothers who were soldiers of the war of 1812, three of these being Hiram, Milton and Joseph Jump, the name of the cther having now been forgotten. The parents of Mrs. Carlisle were William and Armilda ( Bovers) Clark. both of whom were natives of Grant county, Kentucky. The latter died during the infancy of Mrs. Carlisle, but the father survived until 1886. living in Grant county, where he was known as an extensive farmer and prominent citi- zen. He there served as sheriff for two years and gave his political support to the Dem cracy. By his first marriage there were four children. namely: Mary Eliza- leth, the wife of Chris C. Webster, who is living retired in Covington, Kentucky : Esau B., a carpenter of Whatcom. Wash- ington: Barbara H., the wife of James Eales. a grain dealer of Burrton, Kansas : and Mrs. Carlisle. After the death of the mother of these children. Mr. Clark was again married, his second union being with

Mary E. Woodyerd, who was born in Ken- tucky. They had six children: Ida, who is married and lives in Covington, Kentucky, her husband being in the railroad service; Willie, a resident of Grant county, Ken- tucky; Anna, the wife of John Lawrence, a farmer of Grant county ; Thomas, a lawyer of Seattle. Washington: Eunice. the wife of Edward Lucas, a farmer of Grant county; and Maude, the wife of John Burris, also an agriculturist there.

In December, 1876, Mr. Carlisle and his wife removed to Crawford county, Kansas, and he purchased a farm of eighty acres near Cherokee, continuing its cultivation until 1884, when he came to Kingman county, bringing with him thirty head of cattle, some horses and household goods. He pre-empted a claim in Kingman township, to which he afterward added two hundred acres and there he engaged in the cultivation of his land and in stock-raising, adding many mod- ern improvements to his place. In the spring of 1900 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres. on which he took up his abode in the spring of Igor. He has erected an addition to his residence and added many modern equipments and conveniences, also has planted an orchard. He has a herd of fifty graded cattle and rents one hundred and sixty acres of pasture land. He has in the past bought and fed several carloads of cattle each year and now sells principally as stockers. He also milks a large number of cows, selling the products of his dairy to the Cunningham creamery. He also raises thoroughbred Duroc Jersey red hogs, fattening about fifty head each year. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle have been born nine children: William A., who deals in horses and conducts a livery stable in Cherokee, Oklahoma: John M., who is fireman in a boiler room in Granite. Mon- tana: Clara M., the wife of Charles Mar- shall, a blacksmith of Medicine Lodge, Kan- sas: Herbert, who is with his brother in Cherokee: Robert. a school teacher of Bar- ber county, Kansas: Carrie, who is attend- ing school in Medicine Lodge : James : Stan- jev: and Ethel, at home. In his political views Mr. Carlisle was originally a Demo-

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

erat. lant in 1888 left the ranks of that party and practice was www dated with the Union Ir ro vorent and later he became con- neste with the Farmers Alliance, suisse- grends with the People's movement and Ment k a more advanced step, being new a firm believer in the principles advocated by Wayland, the editor of the Appeal to Kous :. He is a deep and pre i und thinker and a logical reasoner and has strong views on many national and social problems in ad- vance of the present age. He strongly be- lieves in government ownership of all the great industries now operated by the trusts as the only remedy for existing evils caused by the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few. He is one of the greatest work- ers in the county in the interest of the prin- cipal organ of the socialists, the Appeal to Reason, and for a year has been working for a valuable prize offered by its editor. Mr. Wayland, to the one who secures the greatest mumler . i subscribers to the journal,-the prize being two residences, a store house. and three acres in Hortense, Tennessee. and one hundred dollars in cash. He has served for three years as township trustee and for nine years was treasurer of his school dis- trict. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and his wife is a member of the Court of Honor. and also of the Methodist church. . During their residence in Kingman county they have become widely and favorably known and their circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintances.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 28

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