A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 39

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

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On the 22d of June, 1832, in Cincinnati. Ohio, Mr. Carswell was united in marriage to Matilda Mallinee, and they became the parents of two children. The elder, Eme- line, was born on the 13th of March, 1833. and in June, 1852, became the wife of David L. Clephane, of Cincinnati, and they had four children. three daughters and a son. Mr. Clephane went south in 1871 and died of yellow fever in New Orleans. Mrs. Cars- well, the mother of our subject, was born in Clermont county, Ohio. December 22. 1816. a daughter of Jeremiah W. and Nancy ( Thompson) Mallinee. Her brother, also named Jeremiah, was one of the founders of the Ohio Falls Rolling Mills, at New Albany, Indiana. Her parents removed from New Jersey to Ohio before its admission to the Union, where they passed through all the experiences and hardships known to the early pioneers. Both the Thompson and Mallinee families came to America prior to the Revolutionary war and were participants in that great struggle for independence. Our subject's great-grandfather Thompson's death occurred in New Jersey, and his widow afterward went to Ohio with her family, where she passed away in 1846. at the age of eighty-six years. Left a widow in 1875. with a widowed daughter, and mother, and our subject as the only means of support. Mrs. Carswell resided on the old homestead in Indiana until 1878. and

there Mrs. Clephane died in May, 1876. In 1878 Mrs. Carswell disposed of the home there and removed to Camden, Missouri, on the Wabash and Santa Fe Railroads. She lived until nearly eighty years of age, dying at Hutchinson, while making her home with our subject, in January, 1894.

William C. Carswell, whose name in- troduces this review, although but a youth, carried on the work of the farm while they resided in Indiana. and after his removal to Missouri he made his home with a nephew, George A. Clark, now night operator for the Santa Fe Company at Hutchinson, but who was at that time station agent and operator for the Wabash. There Mr. Carswell quali- fied himself for his life work. In Novem- ber. 1878, he was given a position on the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northwestern road, now a part of the Wabash system. at Keytesville station. He resigned his post- tion with the Wabash and came in 1881 to Topeka, where he was given employment by the Santa Fe Company. After filling different positions he was located at New- ton, where he remained until the 15th of May. 1887. When the Western Union Telegraph Company opened an office at Newton he was installed as manager, re- maining there until February, 1891, when he was transferred to Atchison, as manager of their office there. He was permanently assigned to the management of the , ffice at Hutchinson May 1, 1891. He is als mani- ager of the American District Telegraph Company.

Mr. Carswell has been twice married. his first union being with Ida A. Johnson. of Louisville, Kentucky, on the 30th of June. 1884. and they had three children, two sons and one daughter, the latter dying in infancy. Firman L .. the elder son, took up the same business as his father, and is now in Colorado; while William C .. Jr .. is at home. After the death of his first wife he was left with the care of two small boys, and. realizing the truth of the Bible saying that "it is not good for man to be alone." he accordingly, on the 11th of September. 1896. was again married. choosing as his

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wife Loretta. a daughter of Isaac and Mary M. Young, the former a contractor of In- man. Kansas. Mrs. Carswell was born in Cuba, Illinois, October 10, 1871, while her father was born in Belmont county, Ohio. September 2. 1818. During the Civil war he was a member of the One Hundred and Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was wounded in the battle of Stone river. His father. William Young, was born in Pitts- burg. Pennsylvania, a son of the celebrated Dr. Young, of that place, whose brother-in- law. Rufus King, was one of the signers of the constitution. His mother bore the maid- en name of Mercy McCulloch and was a daughter of Major General John B. Mc- Culloch. the famous scout that made the fifty-foot leap at Wheeling, West Virginia. The mother of Mrs. Carswell was in her maidenhood Mary M. Henderson and was a native of Ohio, born October 1. 1837. Her father. Nathan Henderson, was a native of Virginia, while her mother, nee Catherine Larkins, was born in the state of Maryland. The marriage of Isaac D. Young and Mary MI. Henderson was celebrated in Lewistown, Illinois, on the 4th of November. 1855. They subsequently moved west and in 1871 came to Kansas, where he located a claim on Little River. Later, however, he removed to Inman, and upon the opening of the "strip" secured a soldier's claim in Grant county, where his widow now resides with her son. The union of our subject and his second wife has been blessed with two chil- dren .- a son and a daughter: J. Horton, who was born May 29, 1898; and Mary W. Emaline, born on the Ioth of March, 1900.

Politically Mr. Carswell has always affiliated with the Republican party, his first presidential vote having been cast for Blaine in 1884. He has always taken an active in- terest in political affairs, but he has made it a rule never to allow politics to interfere with his business, it being of such a public nature. Socially he is a member of the blue lodge and chapter in Masonry at Newton. and holds membership in the council and commandery at Hutchinson. He is also a member of Lodge No. 453. Benevolent and

Protective Order of Elks, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is also a member of the Old Time Telegraphers' As- sociation. He is thoroughly a self-made man, and while he endured many privations in his youth he has succeeded by persever- ance and determination in greatly bettering himself, fighting his way to the position he now holds. For fifteen years he has served continuously under one superintendent.

OZRO J. CORLISS.

One of the best known residents of Sun City, Barber county, and a prominent farmer and stockman, was born in Swan- ton, Franklin county, Vermont, April 12, 1857, and is a son of John R. Corliss, who was born in the same state. September 20, 1827. It is believed that the fam- ily is of pure English ancestry and comes from good old Puritan stock, the line being traced back in America to the Plymouth colony. For many generations representa- tives of the name have resided in Massachu- setts and different ones have served in the Colonial, Indian and Revolutionary wars. John Corliss, the grandfather of our sub- ject. seems to have been the first to leave the old Bay state. He located in Franklin county, Vermont, where he engaged in till- ing the soil and there was married to Jane Todd. His death occurred at the age of forty years, when his son, John, was a youth of only ten summers. His wife. re- maining true to his memory, survived him for thirty years. In the course of time the Corliss family has become scattered through many sections of the United States and different members have won prominence in various walks of life. The noted manu- facturer of the Corliss engine is undoubted- ly descended from the same ancestry as our subject. Others who have won prominence are Ibn B. Corliss, congressman from De- troit. Michigan, and Captain A. W. Cor- lis .. who is serving with the army in the Philippines.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

John R. Corliss, the father . i our sub- ject, son after his father's death, was beund ott te a farmer in Massachusetts and there vis cere! to manhad, but later returned to Vermont, where he was married al mt ISso te Lenis: Eaton, a native of the Grees Mountain state, and a daughter of William and Sabra (Thompson) Eaton, both of whom were ratives of Vermont, and were descended from Puritan ancestry. They never left their native state. After his mar- riage Mr. Corliss rented land for several vears until he was able to make a purchase. Our subject was five years of age when the father bought a farm upon which his family lived for four years. He then traded the property for the old homestead, upon which his wife's father had first located in Ver- ment. and where the maternal grandfather of our subject had lived for forty years. It was near St. Albans by the side of Lake Champlain, and Mr. Eaton was there living at the time of the battle of Plattsburg, near the close of the war of 1812. Since making the purchase of the old homestead, John Corliss has resided upon that farm, compris- ing one hundred and sixty acres and has engaged in the dairy business. His reputa- tion as a farmer and dairyman extends throughout the state, for it is known that he carries on his work along modern lines. He has separators and all other equipments of a modern dairy and his farm is supplied with all the accessories and conveniences which promote the work. His residence is a beautiful modern structure, heated by a furnace. The place is an ideal country home. Mr. Corliss has filled several local offices and in politics is a Republican, while in religious faith he is a Baptist. His wife. who was most devoted to her family and to the Baptist church. passed away about five years ago and Mr. Corliss has since married Abbie Gamble. He has three brothers who are yet living: Martin, a farmer residing near St. Albans, Vermont: Daniel T .. a farmer of Swanton, Vermont; and Levi O., a farmer of Massachusetts. One brother, Ozr. T., for whom our subject was named. died in Ellenburg. New York. Mr. Corliss. whose name introduces this record. is the

Vangest of three endres, Mi- bir thers be- ing Lester K., a merchant of St. Albans, Vermont : and Clank. of Springted. Vor mont.

After acquiring his preliminso eine. tion in the common school au ml arding schools, Ora J. Caris entered The sender: at Barre, Vermont, where he remained be- tween the ages of sixteen and nineteen vers. Ile afterward spent two years upon the irene farm and in 1878, when twenty-se voll's of age, he enlisted in the United States navy at the Charleston Navy Yard in Mas- sachusetts on the receiving ship. Wabash. In December, of that year. he was trans- ferred to the United States man of war. Richmond, Captain A. E. K. Benham, com- manding : while Lewis Clark was lieutenant commander. During the latter part of the month the ship sailed from Boston to New York, where she took on coal and supplies, and on January 11, 1879, started for Gibral- tar, reaching that port on the 5th of Febru- ary. The Richmond had been tendered General Grant to carry him upon his trip around the world and he was expected to come aboard at Gibraltar. but as he was not there the vessel sailed for Villa, France, and left that port on the 22d of February, bound for Naples. Near the Island of Corsica she was struck by what has since been known as the great storm of 1879 and was very seriously damaged but managed to reach the port of Naples, where the entire force of carpenters on the ship, together with all the help that could be secured in the city, was nine days in making the necessary repairs. The Richmond then sailed for Port Said. Egypt, thence through the Red Sea 1 M- exandria and on to Point De Gitte a the Isle of Ceylon. Later it made the port of Singapore and went through the straits .i Malacca to Hong Kong. China, arepa Shanghai and to the Taku forest a: the mouth of the Pi Ho river. where General Grant came on board and was taken to see the great Chinese wall where it was built down to the sea. From there they sailed to Chee Foo and on to Nagasaki, Japan, on through the inland sea to Kobe. Japan, and to Yokohama, where the Richmond was

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made a flagship of the Asiatic squadron, and Admiral Patterson came on board. During the two succeeding years Mr. Corliss was in the Asiatic station on board the Richmond, spending Christmas day of 1879 in Manilla and two winters at Hong Kong. During this time Theodore G. Dewey, a nephew of the present admiral, was "middy" on the Rich- mond. and Admiral Sampson was captain of the Swartara, one of the vessels of the squadron, the others besides the Richmond being the Monocacy, Ashuelot and Palos.

On the 15th of July, 1881, the Richmond left western waters bound for Panama and was seventy-three days in making the trip. being out of sight of land for seventy-one days. At Panama she took on a relief crew and sailed back to the Orient. With others Mr. Corliss left the ship after a three-years' service, crossed the Isthmus of Panama by rail and on reaching the Atlantic coast was taken on board the Powhattan, which sailed for Newport, whence he proceeded to Bos- ton, there receiving his discharge. During the entire cruise the vessel had sailed forty- three thousand miles and Mr. Corliss was one of only forty out of a crew of three hun- dred and fifty men who received an honora- ble discharge and a continuous service cer- tificate. When he first enlisted he was a smooth-faced, beardless boy and was inno- cent and unsophisticated in appearance, so that the crew of the vessel concluded that they would have much sport with this rus- tic youth, whom they nick-named Vermont. as he was the only sailor on board from that state, but he took their chaffing good- naturedly, and they soon found that the quiet. self-contained Yankee lad was a match for any of them in a test of wits. He saved his wages, which he loaned and re- loaned at good interest on board the ship and when his term expired had over a thou- sand dollars to his credit.

Returning to his home. Mr. Corliss was married the following spring on the 12th of April. 1882, at St. Albans, Vermont, to Della M. Dutton, a native of that state and a daughter of Lucius and Mary ( Keeler) Dutton. Her father, formerly a harness maker. is now living retired in St. Albans.

The young couple remained in Vermont until 1884, when Mr. Corliss located at Syl- van Grove, Lincoln county, Kansas, where he purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres and for two years was engaged in farming and stock raising. On selling that property, he came to Barber county and settled in Sun City, where he opened a drug store, which he conducted alone for a short time and then admitted J. D. Cass to a part- nership. Two years later he sold his inter- est to J. J. Miles, and through three succes- sive years engaged in teaching school at Turkey Creek. Deer Head and Sun City, being thus employed throughout the win- ter. while in the summer months he followed farming. He then purchased what is now known as Likes' place, a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, which he operated for several years. He finally sold out and go- ing to Oklahoma purchased a lot at Enid, contemplating making his home there, but returned to Barber county the following spring. He has since been engaged in farm- ing and stock dealing and four years ago purchased a finely improved farm of four hundred and forty acres adjoining Sun City, on which is a splendid brick residence that is justly called the finest home of the place. He cultivates about two hundred acres of his land, raises a large amount of alfalfa and other feed for his stock, and keeps on hand an average herd of at least one hundred head of cattle. In addition he is constantly buy- ing and selling stock, especially cattle and hogs and to some etxent he raises hogs, hav- ing some splendid thoroughbreds. He has an excellent stock farm with good facilities for feeding and with substantial barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of his stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Corliss have two sons, Clark L. and Bruce R., who are being edu- cated in the east. Since coming to Barber : county, Mr. Corliss has served as township clerk and treasurer. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has frequently served as a delegate to conventions. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. An enterprising, far-sighted business man, he has prospered through his

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capable management and unflagging indus- try. His chief source of recreation is hunt- ing and he has the reputation of being the best shot in this portion of the state. Cour- teous and genial and worthy of high regard, he is a popular resident of the community.

LOUIS BISSANTZ.

L. Bissantz, the leading merchant of Sun City, Barber county, was born in Ba- varia, in the city of Durkheim, Germany. about 1860, a son of Adolph B. Bissantz, for many years a prominent merchant of that place. The grandfather, Frederick Bissantz. was a native of the same province and was a blacksmith by trade. He served under Na- polen in the campaign in Russia and un- til the end of the French general's military career, which was terminated at the battle of Waterloo. When the war was ended he ressled in his native town of Durkheim and for six years was its mayor.

A ph B. Bissantz was married in that city to Elizabeth, a daughter of Christian Herold, also a soldier under Napoleon. Mr. Bissantz continued as the leading merchant and one of the most enterprising residents of Durkheim, and for many years was a member of the city council. In 1888 he visited America and the following year died in his native town. He had become very prosperous, was the owner of large lands and vineyards, was an extensive dealer in wine and had a large export trade in that commodity. Both he and his wife were life-long members of the Lutheran church, in which he served as an officer. Mrs. Bis- santz is still living at the age of sixty-five vears. In their family were six children : Jacob, who came to America in 1868 and for the past twenty-eight years has been a hardware merchant now located in Wichita. Kansas : Elizabeth. the wife of Franz Hillen- brand. a wine dealer of Durkheim, Bavaria : Katrina, the wife of Carl Hummel, who was for thirty years foreman of the rail- road shops at Kaiserlantern, Bavaria : George, a well-to-do retired baker of Durk- heim. Bavaria: Louis, of this review: and

Fred, a baker and confectioner of Wichita, Kansas.

Mr. Bissantz, of this review, acquired an excellent education in the public schools of Durkheim and in 1877 came to, America, locating in St. Louis, where for four years he served as shipping clerk in the employ of C. C. Conrad & Company, brewers. On the expiration of that period he went to Wichita and entered the employ of his brother. Jacob, as bookkeeper in his hard- ware store, serving in that capacity until 1885. when he came to Sun City, then a flourishing town of several hundred popula- tion. Here he established a hardware store in partnership with Jacob Mertes, the con- : nection continuing for five years, when Mr. Bissantz sold his interest to his brother. Through the four succeeding years he was engaged in the cattle industry, meeting with splendid success and becoming the owner of a ranch of one thousand acres and a . herd of two hundred cattle. At the end of that time he became a factor in mercantile interests in Sun City, beginning with a small stock of groceries, valued at about two hundred dollars. After the first year he added a line of dry goods and is new als dealing in boots and shoes, harness and hardware. and all other commodities found in a first class general store, his stock be- ing valued at thirty-five hundred dollars. His business has steadily increased from the beginning. He not only owns the store building, forty by fifty feet, in which h's enterprise is conducted, but also has another store building across the street, which he has rented. In 1887 he erected a neat med- ern six-room residence.

On the Ist of January, 1887, Mr. Bis santz married Miss Julia Balding, who was born in Malta, Ohio. a daughter of William Balding, who was a farmer and speculate: in oil in Ohio. Durng the war of the Re- bellion he served as a colonel of the Home Guards at the time of Morgan's raid. In [885 he came to Kansas, where he engaged in the cattle business and is now living re tired in Sun City. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bissantz have been born four children: Adolph. Roy. Gracie and Bessie.

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Mr. Bissantz has filled many local offices, Attica, where the family remained until the early spring of 1832 when they again started for Illinois. He made a squatter's claim in Will county, for the land had not then been surveyed by the government and placed on the market. When the Black Hawk war commenced the family returned to Attica, Indiana, and occupied the cabin which the father had there built. After the trouble had subsided, however. they returned to the claim in the fall of 1832, and the fa- ther took a very important and active part in the early development and progress of the country. He was interested in the con- struction of the Illinois & Michigan canal, has been township treasurer and clerk and has also served on the school board. He strongly endorses Democratic principles and has served as a delegate to the conventions of his party. He belongs to Sun City Lodge, No. 262, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the offices and is a member of Medi- cine Valley Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Lake City. His wife is a member of the Chris- tian church and both are highly esteemed people. Mr. Bissantz has never had occa- sion to regret his determination to seek his home in America. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He ; and he filled various official positions in ad- found the opportunities he sought -- which, by the way, are always open to the ambi- tious, energetic man-and making the best of these he has steadily worked his way up- ward. He possesses the resolution, perse- verance and reliability so characteristic of people of his nation, and his name is now en- rolled among the best citizens of Barber county.

W. A. WATKINS.

Captain W. A. Watkins is now living a retired life. after many years' connection with farming and stock raising, and his rest from labor is well deserved for his career has ever been marked by diligence, persever- ance and honestv. He resides on section 15. township 26, range 8, where he has a valuable tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. The Captain is a native of In- diana. his birth having occurred in Foun- tain county, that state, April 12, 1832, his parents being Robert and Ann (Dunbar) Watkins.

His father was a native of Virginia and in early manhood went to Ohio, where he was married in 1831 to Miss Ann Dunbar, a native of Kentucky. Soon afterward they started by team for the wilds of Illinois, in- tending to locate in Will county, but win- ter overtook them before they had crossed the Indiana border into the Prairie state, and Mr. Watkins erected a little cabin at

dition to the work which he did in reclaim- ing the wild land for purposes of civilization. He died in Grundy county, Illinois, in 1847, but his widow reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. By this union nine children were born, while by a former mar- riage the father had five children. Only two of the number now survive, the Captain and Dr. Frank Watkins, of Peru, Indiana. John A. and Joseph K. both died in the army. The former was a member of Com- pany K, Seventy-sixth Illinois Infantry, and the latter belonged to the One Hun- (red and Sixteenth Indiana Infantry. He was killed in a skirmish at Nashville, Ten- nessee.

Captain Watkins, whose name intro- duces this review, was reared in Will and Grundy counties, Illinois, until eighteen years of age. He was a youth of fifteen when his father died, after which the moth- er returned with her family to Indiana. Our subject remained in the Hoosier state and, there engaged in farming until the spring of 1860, when he removed to Iroquois coun- ty, Illinois, where for two years he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, but on the 22d of July. 1862, he put aside all personal consideration in order to aid in the defense of the Union.

On that day Captain Watkins joined the boys in blue of Company K, Seventy-sixth Illinois Infantry as a private. The regiment was attached to the Seventh Corps, Second Brigade, Fourth Division of the Army of

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the Tennessee. under General McPherson, and was later transferred to the Thirteenth Army Corps. At the organization of the company Mr. Watkins was made second sergeant. was afterward promoted to first sergeant and after nineteen months was made fire lieutenant. Later he was com- missioned captain and served with that rank from May until August, 1865, but in reality had command of his company for one year. According to the records his regiment tray- eled fourteen thousand miles and buried a man for every twenty-five miles covered. Captain Watkins was under fire for eighty- four days, including forty days at Vicks- burg. He took part in the engagements at Fort Blakeley, Jackson, Bentonville, Jack- son Cross Roads and in a number of skir- mishes, and although he was often in the thickest of the fight he always escaped wounds and capture. He was mustered out at Galveston, Texas, July 22. 1865, and on the 5th , i August was honorably discharged at Camp Douglas, Chicago.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 39

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