A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 38

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 38

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

between him and Lyons. He now has upon his place a commodious frame residence. large barn- and outbuildings and a good orchard. The home is pleasantly located six miles east of Lyons and supplies him with a comfortable living. He carries on general farming and is engaged in the grading and raising of Short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs. He finds for all his young steers a ready market owing to the excellent grade of stock which he pro- luces. His hogs are shipped as far as Okla- homa, and any stock which comes from the Alfalfa farm is sure to meet with ready disposal when placed upon sale. He has ex- hibited hogs and cattle at the county fairs, where he has carried away many premiums.

Mr. Hunter has been twice married. In 1880 he wedded Miss Effa McMurtrey, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of Rev. William McMurtrey, a Baptist min- ister, who resided in Missouri during the war of the Rebellion and was in the service of both the Federal and Confederate soldiers' by bearing information to them. In 1879 he came to Rice county, where he purchased large tracts of land. Later he sold these and removed to Barber county, where his death occurred, but his remains were in- terred in Rice county. His children were: Thomas: Wesley ; Margaret, the wife of C. Cain: Effa: Bernice, the wife of C. Bissell ; and Marvin. Harry and Frank, of Okla- homa. By the first marriage of Mr. Hunter he had three children, Homer, Pearl and Harry. all yet under the parental roof. The wife and mother passed away August 13, 1886. She was a devoted member of the Methodist church and her loss was mourned by all who knew her. On the 26th of Jan- tary, 1888. Mr. Hunter was joined in wed- lock to Miss Mary E. Thompson, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 2, 1861, a daughter of William and Sarah ( Hawk) Thompson, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania. Her father came to America when a lad and followed agricultural pursuits. He died in the Key- st ne state. This worthy couple were the parents of eight children. as follows: Reid; Mary E., now Mrs. Hunter: Jennie, the wife of W. Watts: Maggie, who married

1. M. Heny; James, whe died at the age of twenty-four years: Edward: Frank: and Imma, the wife of I. Hunter. The par- ents hold membership in the United Pres- byterian church. The second marriage of Mr. Hunter has been blessed with six chil- dren : Lydia N .. born December 1. 1888 : Sarah I., born April 5, 1890; Reid T., born November 2, 1801 : Hazel D., born August 5, 1893: Clark R., born November 13, 1896; and Ethel W., born November 28, 1898.

Mr. and Mrs. Hunter hold membership 'in the Methodist church and take an act- ive part in its work. He has served as steward and as superintendent of the Sun- day-school and is deeply interested in all that pertains to its progress and upbuild- ing. As a citizen he is enterprising and public spirited, co-operating in every move- ment for the general good. Politically he is a Republican Prohibitionist, voting in- dependently at local elections supporting the men whom he thinks best calculated to fill the township and county offices. For many years he has served on the township board. is now serving for the second term as township trustee, has been assessor for two years and was a member of the school board. In all of these offices he has dis- charged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity.

GRANT G. SHIGLEY.

Grant G. Shigley, a popular and enter- prising merchant of Lake City, is a self- made man, whose advance to his present prominent position in commercial circles is through his own efforts. He was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. December o. 1863. His father. George W. Shigley, was born in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, and was of Scotch descent. When four years of age he was left an orphan, and when a little lad of eight summers was 1 und out to a man with whom he resided for several years. When he arrived at man's estate, he removed to Tippecanoe county, Indiana. where he purchased land from the green- ment. There he married Sarah Haupt s.

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who was born in Columbus, Ohio, a daugh- ter of James Hampton, a farmer of this state. After his marriage Mr. Shigley car- ried on farming until 1862, when he enlisted in Company G., Fifty-second Indiana In- fantry, being mustered in at Indianapolis. He served for three years under Generals Grant, Sherman, Logan and Thomas, and participated in many of the most imporatnt engagements of the war, including the bat- tles of Chickamaugua, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. He went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and was present at the fall of Atlanta. He also par- ticipated in the grand review at Washing- ton, and after being mustered out at the national city returned to his home in 1865.

In 1866 he removed to Allen county, Kansas, where he purchased and operated a farm, making it his home until 1870, when he went to Montgomery county, where he entered a homestead claim. Ten years later he removed to Parsons. Kansas, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred December 19. 1882, when he was sixty- seven years of age. In 1875 he built a church at Independence, Kansas, and gave it to the United Brethren congregation. He was long a zealous and faithful worker in that denomination. His wife still sur- vives him and is now living with her daugh- ter. in Humboldt, Kansas, at the age of sev- enty-seven years. Like her husband she has long been a consistent member of the United Brethren church. Our subject is the eighth in their family of four sons and five daugh- ters, namely: Riley, who died in 1872, at Independence, Kansas, at the age of twenty- two; Martha, who passed away in 1868 at the age of nineteen, at Humboldt, Kansas; Mary, the twin of Martha, now the wife of Jesse Mullainx, a farmer of Yates Centre, Woodson county, Kansas; Elizabeth A., who married Aquilla Cochran, a farmer of Humboldt, Kansas: Charles W., who is en- gaged in the butcher business in Wichita. Kansas; John W., who was inspector for the Missouri , Kansas & Texas Railroad, and whose death recently occurred at Coffeyville, Kansas: Ellen, residing at home with her mother: Grant G .. our subject ; and Emma

J., who died at Parsons, Kansas, in 1900, and was the wife of Joseph Ross, express messenger of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company.

Grant G. Shigley has been connected with Kansas for thirty-six years, having been brought to this state by his parents when a little lad of three summers. He ac- quired a good education in the schools of Independence and at the age of twenty-one secured employment in a store in Attica. Kansas, where he remained for four years. It was while he was living there on the 23d of October, 1887. that he married Miss Maud Miller, a refined and accomplished young lady, who was born in Mound City, Lynn county, Kansas, a daughter of J. W. and Amanda ( Fairbanks ) Miller, the form- er a native of Pennsylvania, and. the latter of New York. Her parents now reside in Woodward, Oklahoma, where Mr. Miller is serving as receiver in the United States land office, having filled the position for four years. While residing in Lynn county, Kansas, he served a's county collector. Unto him and his wife have been born five chil- dren: John A., an engineer residing in Wyoming; Charles, who carries on farming in Woodward, Oklahoma ; Maud, now Mrs. Shigley; Harry, a farmer of Woodward, Oklahoma: and Lena, the wife of William Hixon, who operates a .meat market in Woodward.

Soon after his marriage Grant G. Shig- ley came to Lake City, where for three years he engaged in clerking for I. C. Cubby and Reuben Lake in a general mercantile store. With a limited capital he then started in business for himself with a small stock of groceries, but as success attended his efforts he added other lines of goods, first dry goods, then hats and caps, harness, sad- dlery and hardware. His business has stead- ily grown until he now carries a stock val- ued at six thousand dollars, while his annual sales amount to more than twenty thousand dollars. This is one of the best and most complete stores in the county and would be a credit to any of the larger towns of southern Kansas. Mr. Shigley now owns a two-story brick block in which his busi-

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ness is conducted, the upper rooms being rented for dwelling purposes, while all the space of the lower floor, fifty by one hun- dred feet, is utilized in his business. In 1894 he purchased his present home, a neat cottage in one of the desirable residence portions of the town. For thirteen years he has also been postmaster, conducting the office in his store:

Mr. Shigley has filled other positions, having served for one term as assessor and two terms as treasurer, and for six years he has been on the school board. In poli- ties he is a stanch and earnest Republican and has served as a delegate to the county, congressional and state conventions. Fra- ternally he is connected with Medicine Val- ley Lodge, No. 262, F. & A. M., in which he has held offices, and with Lake City Camp. No. 4763. M. W. A. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recogni- tion of labor: and to-day he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his coun- tv. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of the northwest, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and co-operation to; any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its won- derful development.

JOHN W. FULTON.

Thirty years ago John W. Fulton came to Kansas. and is therefore numbered among the pioneer settlers. The work of civiliza- tion and progress had scarcely been begun at the time of his arrival and taking his part in the universal progress he became known as one of the founders of the county. He now follows farming near Mankato. where he owns and operates a good tract of land.

Mr. Fulton was born near Madison. Wisconsin. March 10. 1846, and is a son of William D. and Mary A. ( Pickle) Ful- ton. His father was a native of Genesee county. New York, and at an early date re-

moved to Michigan and afterward to Wis- consin, while in the year 1854 he took up his abode in lowa and there he spent his re- maining days, his death occurring in the spring of 1891. By occupation he was a farmer and followed that pursuit in order to provide for his family. His wife, a native of Michigan, still survives him and is liv- ing in Mitchell county, Iowa, at the age of seventy-six years.

Upon the home farm Mr. Fulton, of this review, was reared and early became famil- iar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. The public ! school system of his neighborhood furnished him his educational privileges. He came to Jewell county in 1872, only a few weeks after the arrival of Captain Vance, who is regarded as the earliest settler of this lo- cality. Mr. Fulton entered a tract of land from the government and upon it has since made his home. developing the land into a fine farm, which is now three hundred and twenty acres in extent. He has a nice home. substantial buildings upon his place and all modern improvements, indicating his care- ful supervision and his progressive spirit.

Mr. Fulton was united in marriage to Asenath Frazier, a native of New York. and a daughter of William Palmer and Harriet (Huntress) Frazier. Her father was born in Rhode Island and died in Sa- lem, Kansas, October 25. 1901, while his widow. a native of the Green Mountain state, is still living, making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Fulton. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with six children, who are yet living: George N., William P., Edison L .. Vada P .. Alvin C. and Benjamin H. They also lost one son, Freddie W. In his political views Mr. Fulton is a stalwart Republican, unfaltering in his support of the party. He has served as a member of the school board and as jus- tice of the peace, and in both offices has been found true to duty. He can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer life in this locality and deserves mention among the honored early settlers who laid the founda- tion for the present prosperity and progress of this section of the state.

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WILLIAM BURRIS, M. D.

A large patronage indicates Dr. Burris' standing in professional circles, for as a phy- sician of Burrton he is well and favorably known. He was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 2d of December, 1839. His father. John Burris, a native of Brooke county, West Virginia, was fifteen years of age when he accompanied his father, Zadock Burris, on his removal to the Buckeye state, arriving there in 1829. There both the fa- ther and grandfather followed agricultural pursuits, and were thrifty, progressive and influential residents of their locality. The grandmother bore the maiden name of Con- nely, and by her marriage to Zadock Burris became the mother of eleven children, nine of whom, seven sons and two daughters, grew to years of maturity, and two sons are now living. Mitchell, who makes his home in Missouri, and Zadock, who still resides on the farm which his father first located on his removal to Ohio. The father of our subject married Mary Wood, who was born in Jackson county, Ohio, but she departed this life when young, leaving five children, namely: William, the subject of this re- view : Esther Bates, a resident of Iowa ; Za- dock, an extensive agriculturist of Keokuk county, Iowa, and the father of two sons and a daughter; Ruth Anna, wife of W. W. Douglas, of New York city, and they have three children; and Mary, who died at the age of twenty-six years. After the mother's death the father was again married and his death occurred in Keokuk county, Iowa. on the 9th of February, 1899, the seventy-fifth anniversary of his birth.

William Burris, the subject of this re- view, received a good common school educa- tion in the schools of his locality, and was employed on the home farm until twenty- five years of age. Determining to follow the medical profession as a life occupation, he accordingly entered the Pulta Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in which in- stitution he was graduated in the class of 1886. Previous to his entering the medical college, however, Mr. Burris came to the Sunflower state, locating in the vicinity of

Wichita on the Ist of April, 1871, where he was among the early pioneers, and during the same day of his location in that locality there were fourteen hundred acres taken up in the neighborhood. He secured as his claim a tract of one hundred and sixty acres near Wichita, and in Sedgwick county he was engaged in the practice of medicine for three years. In March, 1888, the Doctor took up his residence in Burrton, where he has ever since made his home and has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. He is the only homeopathic physician in the place. He has ever been a close student, which fact, together with his wide range of experience in practice, has gained for him a position among the able and skillful physicians.

In Wapello county, Iowa, on the 24th of March. 1870, Dr. Burris was united in mar- riage to Sarah Ellen Becker, a native of Van Buren county, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Rebecca ( Peters ) Becker. Three children have blessed their union. The eldest, John Murray, is now employed as a railroad clerk in the Santa Fe office at To- peka, Kansas. He is a graduate of the Burrton high school and was also a student in the State Normal, after which he followed the teacher's profession in Burrton for a time. Preferring a business to a profes- sional life, however, he graduated in the Gem City Stenography School, and is now a valuable employe of the Santa Fe Rail- road Company. He is also a natural musician, and can play on many of the band instruments. The second son, Will- iam Galen, is employed as a drug clerk in Burrton, and the daughter, Mary Mabel, is a graduate of the high school of this city and is still at home with her parents. Both are also accomplished musicians. In politi- cal matters Dr. Burris is a stanch advocate of Republican principles, but has never been an aspirant for political honors, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his extensive medical practice. In his social re- lations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has served as a noble grand. Both he and his wife are active and prominent members of

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

the Congregational church. They are well known people, having a wide acquaintance in the county, and the sterling qualities i character which they display in their rela- tien with their fellow men have gained for them the confidence and good will of many with whom they have been brought in can-

PETER CAREY.

Peter Carey, a retired farmer of Burr- ton, where he held the improtant office of mover. was born in Hamilton county, Indi- ama. on the 21st of April, 1839. His grand- inther. S.lemen Carey, was a native of Ire- land. and during the Revolutionary war he served ir a time as a soldier in the English army, but afterward deserted from its ranks anl joined the American army. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subject. Francis Wycoff. of Germany, was also a soldier during the struggle for independence, and afterward became a resident of Maryland. Both gentleman became pioneers of Ohio, 1. cating near Chillicothe, where they became leading and influential farmers. James Carey, the father of our subject, was born in Maryland, in 1791, and he became one of the early pioneers of Indiana, where his death occurred on the 14th of March. 1852. Our subject now has one brother and two sisters living, namely: Charity, the widow of William Townsend, and a resident of Rene county, Kansas: Sarah Dale, of In- diana: and Allan W .. a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Custer county, South Dakota. He removed to that place in 1877. and in 1901 our subject visited him there. that being their first meeting in forty-three and a half years. Both were soldiers in the Civil war. but were in separate regi- ments. The brother was a member of a regiment from Jasper county, Iowa. He has a w reached the good old age of seventy years, and has one son and four daughters. Peter Carey, the subject of this review. enj. ved but limited school privileges during his youth. his parents having both died be- fore he was sixteen years of age and before the free schools had been established. He

was reared to the life of a farmer, and re- mained at home with his brothers and sis- ters until his nineteenth year, when he mar- ried, on the 221 of October. 1855. 0 89-11 Ann Broyles, who was born in 1840, she being but seventeen years of age at the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of Grim- asen C. and Hannah ( Plow ) Broyles, the former a native of Monroe county. West Virginia, and the latter of Chillicothe, Ohio. Their marriage was celebrated in Delaware county, Indiana, October 12, 1839. and Mrs. Carey was the eldest of their five children, two sons and three daughters, and all are now living with the exception of one. The mother of this family passed away in El- wood. Indiana, at the age of fifty-five years, and the father was afterward again mar- ried. He was called to his final rest in June, 1897, when nearly eighty-six years of age. The parents were prominent farming people in Indiana. and in that state they reared their family.

Mr. and Mrs. Carey began their domes- tic life in the house in which our subject was born. on the old home farm of eighty acres, where they remained for two years. They then sold that place and purchased land in Tipton county, Indiana, and while there residing Mr. Carey joined the Union army, becoming a member of the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry, Company K. in which he served for three years or until the close of hostilities, during which time he arose to the position of second lieutenant. He was wounded at the battle of Champion Hill. the ball carrying away the little finger of his right hand and inflicting two flesh wounds across his right thigh, and during that engagement, within the short space of half an hour. more than one-half of the com- pany were killed or wounded. His wound confined him in the hospital for two weeks.

Returning to his Indiana home, Mr. Carey there remained until his removal to the Sunflower state, arriving in Reno coun- ty on the 3d of March. 1876, where he first purchased three hundred and twenty acres of Santa Fe land, paying eight dollars and a quarter per acre. He later homesteadel one hundred and sixty acres in the Sand

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Hills, and subsequently became the owner of another one-hundred-and-sixty-acre-tract in the same locality. In addition thereto his wife also has a quarter section in Okla- homa. For the past four years they have resided at their present home in Burrton, where Mr. Carey is practically living retired from the active duties of a business life, his labor in former years securing him a com- petence for his declining years. In his po- litical views he was formerly a Republican, but now affiliates with the Populist party. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend, and for twenty years he has served as a member of the school board. He is now filling his third term as township treasurer, and is also the efficient mayor of the city of Burrton. His social relations connect him with the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen and with the Ma- sonic fraternity, being a Master Mason.

The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with twelve children, namely : Frances Hannah, who died at the age of nine years : Sarah Jane, the wife of Charles Rush, of Eldorado, Kansas, and they have two daughters: Oliver Perry Morton, a farmer of Oklahoma."and the father of four living children, two sons and two daugh- ters : Martha Lincoln, wife of M. E. Saben, of Reno county, and they have four sons ; James Gimason Grant, at home ; Willie Wil- son, who died at the age of two years ; Ora Belle Colfax. wife of E. P. McClarren, of Reno county, and they have a son and daughter : Cora Mann, wife of W. H. Jew- ell. of Rice county, Kansas, and they have three sons : Charity, wife of Charles Jerome, of Burrton: Ephemia Hazel. wife of D. B. Hale, also of this city, and they have one son and two daughters: Luella, who married G. A. East, of Saxman, Rice coun- ty, Kansas; and Pearley Susan, who is at- tending school. The Carey family are high- ly esteemed by all, and enjoy the hospital- ity of the best homes in this section of the county, the circle of their friends being al- most co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances. They are all members of the Christian church with the exception of one soll.

WILLIAM C. CARSWELL.

William C. Carswell, the manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Hutchinson, is a man peculiarly fitted for the responsble position he so ably fills. Ac- customed as we now are to the daily use of electricity as applied in telegraphy, we fail to appreciate the wonderful strides which have been made in the use of that unknown power in recent years. Telegraphy has done more to annihilate time and space than has been acomplished in any other way, and in this line he is an expert.

A native of Kentucky, he was born at Newport. March 9. 1861. His grandfather was the first of the family to come to Amer- ica, and he located in Kentucky, where our subject's father, also named William, was born in Lexington, July 19, 1812. He was left an orphan when ten years of age, and at that early age was thrown upon his own resources. Wandering to Pittsburg, he there bound himself to a machinist, learning the trade. He remained there until 1831. during which time he went south each year and constructed sugar mills. In 1840 he en- gaged as an engineer on the river. following the Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumber- land, Missouri, Yazoo and in fact all the streams tributary to the Mississippi.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he went to St. Louis, and, being personally ac- quainted with Captain Eads. he entered his employ in constructing gunboats and was as- signed to the St. Louis, which prior to its having been turned over to the navy depart- ment was known as the DeKalb. He was made chief engineer, with the rank of first lieutenant. The first engagement in which he participated was at Fort Henry, on the Tennessee river, afterward at Fort Donel- son, on the Cumberland, where the vessel was disabled, and in that engagement Com- modore Foote, who was using the St. Louis as his flag ship, was wounded. After the capture of the fort the fleet moved down the river and they had an engagement at Hick- man. followed by that at Island No. 10. where the Essex and Carondelet ran the

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gauntlet at night. Proceeding on down the river. the St. Louis was again disabled at Memphis. After that engagement they pro- ceeded up the Red river and captured great quantities of cotton, but during this trip Mr. Carswell's health gave out and he was ob- liged to retire from the service. But after regaining his health, however, he again fol- lowed the river from Cincinnati to New Or- leans. In 1873 he retired from this calling and located in Ripley county, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his days on a farm, passing away on the 18th of May. 1875. In politics he was first a Whig and subsequently a Republican, with strong abolition sentiments. His last presidential vote was cast for Grant in 1872.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 38

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