A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 44

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 44

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

His residence in the county dates from 1885. He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, January 27. 1850, and is a son of Jo- seph D. and Mary A. (Cramer) Murphy, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye state. The father was a farmer by occupation, but when the country sought for the aid of her loyal sons to suppress the rebellion in the south, he put aside busi- ness cares and joined an Ohio regiment which went to the front in defense of the Union. Socially he was connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and held member- ship in the Methodist church, shaping his life according to its teachings. He died at the age of fifty-three years, and his widow is now living in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, at the age of seventy-three years. In their family were ten children: Adam, who was a soldier of the Civil war and is now living in Knox county, Illinois; and Thomas, Hen- rietta, Sarah, Rebecca. Allison, William, John, Ida and Eva.

Under the parental roof the subject of this sketch spent his childhood days, his time being passed in the usual manner of farm lads of the period, his educational privileges claiming his attention through the winter months, while in the summer sea- son he contributed his share of work to the cultivation of the home farm. In Septem- ber. 1873, he gained as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Nancy Pierce, who was born in Clermont county, Ohio. a. daughter of Jasper and Acha ( Grant) Pierce, of Ohio. The father de- voted his attention to farming throughout his business career and died in January, 1902, at the age of about eighty-five years. His wife was called to her final rest when she was fifty-three years of age. They were the parents of ten children : Henry : James, who served for three years as a soldier in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war and is now deceased: Jeremiah, who has passed away; Mary: Sarah; Belle: Lydia: An- thony: Mrs. Murphy; and Charles. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children: Mrs. Lillie P. Nelson, who prior to her marriage was one of the suc-

cessful teachers of Barber county; Clifford E .: Mrs. Goldie B. Stone; Ethel M .; Jo- seph E., Allie R .; Minnie M. and Olive Acha.

In the year 1880 Mr. Murphy and his family left Ohio and removed to Knox coun- ty, Illinois, where they resided until 1885, since which time they have made their home in Barber county, Kansas, with the excep- tion of three years passed in Colorado. Upon his return Mr. Murphy purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he has erected a nice residence and made many substantial improvements. There is an attractive grove and a fine orchard on his place and all modern accessories are there found, indicating the owner to be a man of progressive spirit and practical ideas. His place is located on the antelope flats. and one hundred and thirty acres of his land is under cultivation. He has served as a member of the school board and is deeply interested in the schools of the lo- cality, realizing how fully the strength of the nation rests upon her educational sys- tem. His wife is a member of the Church of God. They are people of the highest re- spectability, who during their residence in Barber county have made many warm friends. Whatever success Mr. Murphy has achieved is the direct result of his own labors. He is resolute, diligent and perse- vering and thus he has gained a good home and derives therefrom a good annual in- come.

CHARLES H. DAVIS.

Charles H. Davis is engaged in general farming and stock-raising in section 22, Galesburg township. Kingman county, and is well known in this part of Kansas as one who has been an important factor in its de- velopment along all lines of material civic advancement. He came to this county with- out capitalistic reinforcement, but has that best of equipments,-strong heart, willing hands and determined purpose, and he has so applied his energies as to attain a success of no indefinite order, while his course has

CHARLES H. DAVIS.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

ever been such as to retain to him the con- fidence and high regard of the people of the community.

Mr. Davis is a native of the state of Maryland, having been born in Harvard county, on the 27th of October, 1851. His father. Philip R. Davis, was born in the same state, where he eventually engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, being ever held in the highest esteem in the community where he maintained his home. He was a son of Reece Davis, who was born in Wales, where the family was an ancient and hon- ored one, and as a young man he emigrated to America, where he believed were afforded superior opportunities for individual ac- complishment.

When the colonies essaved the task of throwing off the yoke of British tyranny. he joined the army fighting for liberty and and rendered yeoman service as one of the valiant and loyal soldiers of the Continental line during the great Revolutionary con- flict. He married Rebecca Sacket, who like- wise was a native of the fair and rock-ribbed country of Wales. Their son, Philip R. Davis, after attaining his legal majority, was married in Pennsylvania, to Louisa B. King, who was born November 5. 1815, and who proved his devoted companion and help- meet during the long years of their married life. She was a daughter of W. L. King, who was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1854 Philip R. Davis removed with his fam- ily to Vermilion county, Illinois, settling near Danville and there devoting his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits until 1868. when he removed to Barry county, Mis- Souri, locating in the vicinity of Cassville, where he continued farming until 1880. when he came to Kingman county, Kansas. For several years after his arrival here he made his home with the subject of this sketch, but in 1884 he engaged in the gen- eral merchandise business in Waterloo. this county, and continued in this line of enter- prise until his death, which occurred on the 25th of November, 1886, at which time he had attained the advanced age of seventy- five years. While a resident of Waterloo

he also held the office of postmaster, and he was well known and highly honored in the community. In politics he was a Democrat of the Jacksonian type, and after his removal to Kingman county he served as a member of the board of trustees of his county. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and ever clung to the tenets of that simple and noble faith. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife, who was a devoted member of the Baptist church, survived him by about four years, passing away at the age of seventy-five. Her many beautiful traits of character endeared her to all who came within the sphere of her gracious influence. and her memory is reverently enshrined in the hearts of those who knew her. Philip R. and Louisa B. (King) Davis became the parents of eleven children, two of whom died in childhood. The nine who attained years of maturity were as follows: Reece. Samuel, Sarah A., William K., Alice I ... Charles H., Amanda F., Catherine K. and George P. Lessons of industry, honesty and resolute purpose were instilled into the minds of the sons and daughters, so that they became useful and valued members of society, and of the nine who thus reached maturity six are living at the time of this writing.

Charles H. Davis was three years of age when his parents removed from Maryland to Illinois, and in the public schools of Ver- milion county, of the latter state. he received his early educational discipline, while under his father's watchful care and guidance he became an industrious and reliable youth, having been sixteen years of age when the family removed to Barry county, Missouri. There he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1878, when he came to Kingman county and here secured a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has since added, as time and financial resources justified, until his landed possessions in Kingman county now have an aggregate area of three hundred and sixty acres, constituting one of the finest farms in Galesburg township, while he also

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owns a third interest in a ranch of five thou- sand acres. in Gray county. His fine resi- dence, with its attractive furnishings, in- dicates the refined and cultured tastes of its inmates. There are on the place a beautiful grove and a good orchard, while the barns, shecis and other permanent improvements are of the best order. The well tilled fields, the fine pastures and the high-grade live stock, all give evidence of the progressive spirit and effective methods brought to bear by the owner, and he has gained a due quota of success from the discriminating applica- tion of his energies and ability. In connec- tion with general agriculture he also raises cattle and hogs and thus adds considerably to his income. His success has been the dia- metrical result of his careful management, well defined purpose and unflagging in- dustry.

Mr. Davis gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party, and he has been called upon to serve in several township offices, while he has been a member of the school board of his district for several years. He is a stanch friend to the cause of educa- tion and has been very zealous in promoting the efficiency of the local schools through every means in his power. Both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Pres- byterian church, in which he is serving as treasurer of the church at Waterloo. As a member of the building committee he has rendered most timely and effective service and has been a liberal contributor to the church work and a supporter of its collateral benevolences, while he takes a deep and act- ive interest in the Sunday-school. He is a man whose sterling character is uniformly acknowledged and his integrity of purpose in all the relations of life is beyond ques- tion.

On the 27th of September, 1888, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Mary F. Waddle, their marriage being solemnized in Greene county, Missouri, who was born in Washington county, Arkansas, near Fay- etteville, being the daughter of Young De Waddle and Nancy Jane ( Floyd) Waddle. Her father was born in Chariton county,

Missouri, on the 22d of November, 1825, and the greater portion of his life was de- voted to teaching and to the work of the Christian ministry, as he was an ordained clergyman of the Methodist Protestant church. He began teaching at the age of seventeen years, his first school ' being in Cooper county, Missouri, and he was one of the pioneers in the organization of the pres- ent and effective school system of south- western Missouri, from which state he re- moved eventually to Arkansas, where he was a member of the state legislature, as a rep- resentative from Washington county, from 1863 to 1865. He enlisted as a Union sol- dier in the Arkansas Battery, and was in service from April 9. 1863, until August IO, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge. While thus serving as a soldier he was granted a leave of absence during the time the legislature was in session, and during the war he was a member of the Christian commission, having received the appointment from President Lincoln. He was signally faithful and zealous in all the relations of life, was a true patriot, a friend of progress and a devoted student until his death, having been a man of high intellect- uality. He was a great reader and a volu- minous writer, but his writings were never published with the exception of a number of lyric poems, mainly in regard to condi- tions and events of the Civil-war epoch. He was the author of the hymn, "We Shall Know Each Other There." which is found in many popular song collections. He was an honored and prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in con- nection with the loyalty of the family it is interesting to advert to the fact that Mr. Waddle had a brother who was in active ser- vice in the Mexican war, that one of his sons was a Union soldier in the Civil war and that one of his grandsons enlisted for ser- vice in the Spanish-American war. He died from an attack of pneumonia, January 30, 1886, at his home in Greene county, Mis- souri. Mr. Waddle was a son of Martin Waddle, who was of Scotch descent and was born in Kentucky, to which state his parents

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

emigrated in an early day, locating in Hart county, where one of the entrances to the Mammoth Cave was on their estate. Mary De Lamar, the wife of Martin Waddle, was the daughter of Young DeLamar, who was born in France, whither he came to America with General Lafayette, under whom he served as a valiant soldier during the war of the Revolution.

Nancy Jane (Floyd) Waddle, the mother of Mrs. Davis, was a daughter of Ash Peter Floyd, Jr., who was born in or near Raleigh, South Carolina, and who mar- ried Elizabeth Cox. a daughter of Hawkins and Rebecca (Skeen) Cox, the former of whom was a soldier in the war of the Revo- lution. Ash Peter Floyd, Jr., was an or- dained clergyman in the United Brethren church and devoted the greater portion of his life to service in the vineyard of the di- vine Master. His father, Ash Peter Floyd, Sr .. was born in Scotland, whence he emi- grated to Raleigh, South Carolina ; his wife. whose maiden name was Ann Bonner, was of Irish lineage.

Nancy Jane (Floyd) Waddle, the mother of Mrs. Davis, was born in North Carolina, March II. 1827, and she was a child at the time of her parents' removal to Missouri. She became a Christian at an early age. uniting with the Methodist Prot- estant church, and has always been hospit- able and charitable, a loving and devoted wife and mother. and she still lives at her old home near Ash Grove, Greene county. Missouri. For one of her advanced age her mind is very clear and active, and she is still a great reader, keeping herself well in- formed on the events and issues of the day. Her Bible, however, is her standard of study. Of her nine children, four sons and five daughters, Mrs. Davis was the sixth in order of birth and one of the eight who are still living.

Mrs. Davis was reared and educated in Missouri, in which state she was a popular and successful teacher, as also she was later in the schools of Kingman county. Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children.

namely: Herbert L., who was born Octo- ber 6, 1889: and Nellie C., who was born February 26, 1892.

T. L. LINDLEY.

The history of the state as well as that of a nation is chietly the chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by that of its representative citizens, and yields its tributes of admiration and respect for the genius, learning or virtues of those whose works and actions constitute the rec- ord of a state's prosperity and pride; and it is in their character, as exemplified in probity and benevolence, kindly virtues and integrity in the affairs of life. are ever af- fording worthy examples for emulation and valuable lessons of incentive.

To a student of biography there is nothing more interesting than to examine the life history of a self-made man, and to detect the elements of character which have enabled him to pass on the highway of life many of the companions of his youth who at the outset of their careers were more ad- vantageously equipped or endowed. The subject of this review has through his own exertions attained an honorable position and marked prestige among the representative men of the west, and with signal consist- ency it may be said that he is the architect of his own fortunes, and one whose success amply justifies the application of the some- what hackneyed but most expressive title "a self-made man."

Of such a class is T. L. Lindley a rep- resentative. He has indeed been an import- ant factor in public affairs here and is now extensively and successfully engaged in the abstract and real-estate business in Medi- cine Lodge. He claims Pennsylvania as the state of his nativity, his birth having oc- curred near Little Washington, Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania in the year 1850. He is a representative of an old family that

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resided at Lindley Mills, that county. His father, Cephas Lindley, was a prominent and influential resident of that locality and a son of Benjamin Lindley, who was one of the early settlers of western Penn- sylvania, where he died at the extreme old age of ninety-six years. His son Cephas devoted the greater part of his business career to dealing in stock and found it a profitable source of income. He carefully conducted his business interests and his enterprise and capable management brought to him success. His death oc- curred in 1898, when he had reached the age of eighty-three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Hanna, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and belonged to the same family of which Senator Marcus Hanna of Cleveland is a member. She was a daughter of John Hanna, one of the lead- ing and influential citizens of Washington county, Pennsylvania. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and four daughters. The subject of this review was the fourth in order of birth and the only other member of the family who resides in Kansas is Mrs. Mary Day, whose home is in Chanute.

Under the parental roof Mr. Lindley of this review spent his boyhood days, ac- quiring his education in the public schools of Washington county and of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. He was a successful teacher for two years, following that profession in Bluff City, Illinois, and in Atwater, Ohio. He has been a resident of Medicine Lodge since 1876, and his efforts have been a potent influence in promoting the welfare of the town and county along many lines of progress. He was connected with the Citizens National Bank of this place for a number of years, acting as assistant cash- ier for two years, while for a similar period he was vice-president of the First National Bank. He was also elected to the office of county superintendent of schools and his deep interest in the cause of education led to his effective labors in behalf of the school interests here. He did much to raise the standard of intellectual intelligence, and the influence of his work is yet felt. He is

now engaged in the real-estate and abstract business and has handled much valuable property and negotiated important real- estate transfers. He has a full set of ab- stracts of Barber county and has in charge the sale of a large number of good farms and cattle ranches, No man in the com- munity has better knowledge of realty val- ues or is more thoroughly informed con- cerning property interests in this portion of the state. His office is situated in a brick building and comprises an attractive suite of rooms well furnished. He has an able corps of assistants and enjoys a large cli- entage. Mr. Lindley is likewise engaged in the stock-raising business and his large ranch of four hundred and fifty acres is divided into pastures, in which are found many head of fine cattle.

In this county Mr. Lindley was united in marriage in 1880 to Miss Emma Blan- ton, of Kiowa,-a most estimable lady well known in social circles here. She was reared and educated in Coffeyville, Kansas, and was a daughter of Captain N. B. Blanton, of Hazelton, Kansas. She died in 1888, leaving three children: Esme, who is now a student in the commercial college at Wichita ; and Herbert and Frank, at home. Mrs. Lindley was but twenty-five years of age when called to her final rest. She held membership in the Presbyterian church and was a lady whose many excellent traits of character had gained for her a large circle of friends, who greatly mourned her loss. In 1890 Mr. Lindley was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Laura Wads- worth, who was born, reared and educated in Illinois, her parents being J. C. and Ade- line ( Ellis) Wadsworth, who are residents of Barber county. The children born of the second marriage are Clifford B., Glenn E. and Gondon W.

Mr. Lindley has always given his polit- ical support to the Republican party and is most earnest in advocating its principles. Since residing in Medicine Lodge he was elected to the office of mayor, in which po- sition he served for two years, his adminis- : tration being practical and progressive. Fraternally he is connected with the Inde-

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pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the .Ancient Order of United Workmen and both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as elder. He withholds his aid and co-operation from no movement calculated to prove of general good and his efforts have been of marked benefit in promoting the material, social, moral and intellectual im- provement of Barber county.

JOHN C. NICHOLSON.

Mr. Nicholson is a native of Parke county, Indiana, born January 2, 1862. His father. David Nicholson, was born in the Highlands of Scotland in June, 1835, and in 1842 was brought to America by his par- ents. John and Margaret Nicholson. They were six weeks upon the ocean and landed at Pictou, Nova Scotia, whence they pro- ceeded two years later to Baltimore, Mary- land, removing from there to Parke county, Indiana, where they cast in their lot among the pioneer settlers. He was a shoemaker by trade and also carried on farming. In his family were three sons and two daugh- ters. His first wife, the grandmother of our subject, was a Miss Bain in her maiden- hood. She died in Pictou, Nova Scotia, surviving but a short time after the family landed in America. The grandfather after- ward married and resided in Parke county, Indiana, more than forty years, and spent his last days in Newton, Kansas, where he died in his eightieth year.

David Nicholson was reared on the farm, and wedded Mary Catherine Dick- son, a daughter of the Rev. James Dickson, an Associate Persbyterian minister. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Isa- bella Graham, was a native of Scotland and a descendant of Sir John Graham. The parents of our subject were married in Parke county, Indiana. March 3. 1861, and began their domestic life upon a farm there. The father was also a carpenter and builder and took contracts for the erection of many buildings in that locality. He reside.1 on his farm, which was just across the road from the old Nicholson homestead, making

it his place of abode until 1883, when he sold his property in Indiana and came to llar- vey county, Kansas. Here he settled on a quarter section of land, two miles south- west of Newton, removing later to Stafford, but about 1895 they took up their abode in the city of Newton, where they have since made their home. They reside in the third ward and both are yet enjoying good health, their mental and physical faculties being still unimpaired. Nine children were born unto them, of whom eight are yet living : John C., of this review; Isabella, the wife of William Brownlee, a farmer of Reno county, Kansas: Mary L., the wife of W. H. Ball, a merchant of Newton; James D., who is superintendent. secretary and man- ager of the Gas & Electric Company, of Newton; William A., who is living on the home farm ; Frank, a coal dealer of Newton ; George A., who died at the age of twenty- two years; and Anna, the wife of Milburn Brown, who resides upon a farm in Macon township, west of Newton. There are also nineteen living grandchildren.

After pursuing his elementary educa- tion John C. Nicholson entered upon a high- school course in Martinsville, Indiana, and later became a student in the Central Normal College, of Danville, same state, after which he engaged in teaching for five years, prov- ing a capable instructor by reason of the : readiness and clearness with which he im- . parted to others the knowledge he had ac- quired. He took up the study of law in Newton in 1886, under the direction of Jo- seph W. Ady, who later was the United States attorney for the district of Kansas. Mr. Nicholson was admitted to the bar February 29, 1888, and became a member of the firm of Ady & Nicholson: July I, 1890, the firm became Ady, Peters & Nichol- sen, and now is Peters & Nicholson, the present firm being maintained since the Ist of July, 1895, when Mr. Ady removed to Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is one of the leading law firms of central Kansas and they have a large clientage, connecting them with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of this part of the state. Mr. Nicholson is well versed in the prin- ciples of law and is seldom, if ever. at fault

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in the application of a legal principle or precedent to the subject under considera- tion. He is strong in argument, logical in reasoning and gifted in oratory, and has attained to an eminent position as a repre- sentative of the legal fraternity of Harvey county.

In his political views Mr. Nicholson is a most earnest Republican and few men in private life are better informed on the is- sues of the day, but he has never sought or desired office. He has, however, served as chairman and secretary of the county cen- tral committee and does all in his power to promote the growth of the party and secure the election of its candidates. He was the president of the Commercial Club of New- ton for five years, and soon after his election to the office he began the task of securing the removal of the railroad shops from Nickerson to Newton. With the aid of other influential citizens this was accom- plished in 1897, and has been of the great- est possible benefit to Newton. He is also the vice-president of the Midland National Bank, and the vice-president and treasurer of the Gas & Electric Company, and a part owner of the Kansan Republican.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 44

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