A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 45

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 45

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On the ioth of October, 1891, Mr. Nicholson was joined in wedlock to Miss Carrie C. Morse, of Emporia, Kansas, a daughter of the Rev. T. C. Morse. She was born January 3, 1863, and died March 23, 1899, at the age of thirty-six years, leaving one child, Mary Morse Nicholson, who was born July 23, 1897. One child, Margaret, had died at the age of two years.

Mr. Nicholson has a very pleasant dwell- ing, built of brick and stone, on East Fifth street. He stands as one of the most promi- nent and honored men of his adopted city. His business interests are so extensive that they have brought him splendid success and yet they have also been of that character that contribute to the general good while promoting individual prosperity. No move- ment or measure that has for its object the upbuilding of the city seeks his aid in vain, and what he has done for Newton cannot be adequately told in words. His business methods have at all times been such as bear the closest investigation, and the most en-

vious cannot grudge him his success, so honorably has it been gained and so worth- ily used.

J. B. GANO.

On the roster of Barber county's officers appears the name of J. B. Gano, of Medi- cine Lodge, who is now serving his second term as sheriff, having continuously filled the position since 1898. By the discharge of his duties he has awakened the conti- dence of all law-abiding citizens and the dread of those who do not hold themselves amenable to law and order. Neither fear nor favor can deter him from the faithful performance of his duty and his reputation as an official is above question. His resi- dence in the state covers a period of twenty- one years and since 1884 he has made his home in Barber county.

As Mr. Gano is widely and favorably known, his history cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He was born in Winchester, Virginia, a place of his- torical interest on account of Sheridan's ride of twenty miles, at which time he turned the tide of battle and changed defeat into victory. The Ganos were of an old and prominent family of Virginia, celebrat- ed for integrity and business ability. The natal day of our subject was March 3, 1859, and his parents were Daniel and Bettie (Grove) Gano. The father was born and reared in Vrginia and was a planter of that state, successfully conducting his agricult- ural pursuits. He was known as a worthy and upright citizen, commanding the respect of all with whom he was associated. In his political views he was an earnest Re- publican and sought no honors and emolu- ments of public office in return for party fealty. He held membership in the Pres- byterian church, served as one of its ruling leaders and was most loyal to its interests and upbuilding. He married Miss Grove, a daughter of William Grove, a leading plant- er and extensive slave owner of Virginia. Mr. Gano died in the Old Dominion at the age of eighty-six years, and his wife passed away at the age of seventy. They were the parents of eight children,

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four sons and four daughters. One of the number, W. G. Gano, now resides in Park- ville, Platte county, Missouri. W. G. Gano was a gallant soldier in the Union service during the Civil war.

On the old family homestead in the state of his nativity, J. B. Gano of this review was reared, amid the refining influences of a good home, and while he obtained his edu- cation in the public schools, under the pa- rental roof he was early taught lessons of industry, economy and perseverance which have proven of great value to him in his later life. In 1881 he came west, locating first in Sumner county, Kansas, and in 1884 he arrived in Medicine Lodge, where he has since made his home. Called to pub- lic office he has manifested unfaltering de- votion to his duties and the welfare of his constituents. He served as city marshal for some time and was so fearless and resolute in the discharge of his duties that law and order were easily maintained. In 1897 he was elected county sheriff and the follow- ing year entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office, which he acceptably filled for two years and was then re-elected.

At the age of twenty years Mr. Gano was married in Virginia to Miss Alice Zeiler of that state,-a daughter of Jacob and Sophie Zeiler, of the Old Dominion. This union has been blessed with two chil- dren, Jerry Clifton, a young man of twenty- one years, and Mildred. Mr. Gano holds membership relations in the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a gentleman of pleas- ing address and easily wins friends on ac- count of his unfailing courtesy and genial manner. He is, moreover, determined and faithful in the performance of public duty. which he regards as a public trust, and in Barber county there is no more capable and loyal officer than J. B. Gano.

JOHN CHILCOTT.

John Chilcott, a well known early set- tler of Medicine Lodge township, Barber county, Kansas, and an honored veteran of

the Civil war, was born near Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 2nd of November, 1836, and is a son of John R. Chilcott, and grandson of Elijah Chil- cott, who was of English descent and served with distincton in the light-horse cavalry in the war of 1812, of which his son Amos was also a soldier. The father of our subject was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and on reaching manhood married Miss Margaret Miller, who was also born in the state of Pennsylvania of Dutch extraction. In 1842 they removed to Indiana and settled on a farm, where the father spent the re- mainder of his life, dying there at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. He was by birthright a Quaker and always adhered to that faith, though his wife was a member of the Methodist church. She died at the age of forty-four years. In politics he was first a Democrat and later a Whig. His family consisted of six sons, all of whom were numbered among the "boys in blue" during the war of the Rebellion, with the exception of Christopher C., who died at the age of sixteen years. Amos was a mem- ber of the Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; Henry was a recruiting officer of the Ninth Indiana Regiment; and Benja- ntin B. was a member of the Forty-Sixth Indiana Infantry.

Mr. Chilcott of this review was prin- cipally reared and educated in the Hoosier state. When the war broke out he was among the first to offer his services to the government, enlisting August 19, 1861, on the call for six hundred thousand more troops. He joined Company K. Ninth In- diana Volunteer Infantry, which was as- signed to General Buell's command, in Nel- son's division and Hazen's brigade. The company was first commanded by Captain William La Salle, and later by D. B. Mc- Connell, and then by Captain Thomas H. Ijams, while the regiment was under Col- enel R. H. Millroy, who later became a major general. Mr. Chilcott participated in the battle of Shiloh and the siege of Corinth, and then with his command crossed the Tennessee river and proceeded to Florence, Alabama, where they met General Bragg's troops. They were in the battles of Perry-

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ville, Nashville, Stone River, Murfreesboro, Redville, Tennessee, and Chattanooga. They met General Crittenden's corps on the skir- inish line, and then proceeded to Nashville. They were in the engagements at Snod- grass Hill and Lookout Mountain under General Thomas, and later participated in the battles of Rossville, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold, Georgia. After the last named engagement they returned to Look- out Mountain. While there Mr. Chilcott veteranized and was given a furlough. He rejoined his command at Blue Springs, Ten- nessee. His regiment under the command of General O. O. Howard was assigned to the central division of General Sherman's army on the march south, and participated in the battles of Resaca, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Allatoona Pass and Franklin, Tennessee. They then returned to Nashville under Gen- eral Thomas, and took Montgomery Hill the following day. They subsequently fol- lowed general Hood to Huntsville, Ala- bama and from that place again returned to Nashville. They next went to New Orleans and crossed the Gulf to Indianola, Texas, where they were stationed when hostilities ceased. Mr. Chilcott had risen to the rank of sergeant, and was afterward commis- sioned second lieutenant by Governor O. P. Morton. The war being over and his serv- ices no longer needed, he was honorably dis- charged on September 27, 1865, and re- turned to his home.

On the 2nd of November, 1865, Mr. Chilcott was married in Logansport, Indi- ana, to Miss Hannah M. Bookwalter, who has been to him a faithful helpmeet. She is a native of the Hoosier state and a daugh- ter of Jacob and Sarah (Adair) Book- walter, the former of whom was born near Philadelphia, in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, and the latter in Ohio. The Bookwalter family came originally from Virginia. By a former marriage Mrs. Chil- cott's father had seven children, three of whom are still living, namely: Eli; Will- iam, who was a member of the Fifteenth Indiana Infantry during the Civil war; and Mary. By his second marriage he had eight children: Sarah J., now deceased; Han-

nah, wife of our subject; John Adair, Jo- seph Calvin and Rosanna, all three de- ceased ; George, a resident of Indiana ; James R., of Nebraska; and Charles, of Indiana. The father of this family died at the age of ninety-four years, and Mrs. Chilcott's mother departed this life at the advanced age of seventy-two years.

Unto our subject and his wife were born five children: Cassie, who died in Indiana when only four weeks old : John J., who died in Barber county, Kansas, at the age of twenty-one years; Mary, who wedded Walter Perry, and died at the age of twen- ty-one, leaving a son, Paul C. Perry, who now lives with our subject; and Olive, at home with her parents.

Mr. Chilcott continued to make his home in Indiana until 1885, when he came to Bar- ber county, Kansas, and settled on the farm of eighty acres in Medicine Lodge town- ship where he now resides. To the im- provement and cultivation of this place he has since devoted his energies. He has erected a house and barn upon his farm and has set out a grove and orchard, which add greatly to the attractive appearance of the place. He and his estimable wife are mem- bers of the Christian church, and in poli- tics he is an ardent Republican, and for nine years he was the treasurer of school district No. 45.

W. H. YOUNG.

A prominent citizen of Kingman coun- ty. Kansas, who has been identified with the agricultural development of his section since 1889, is W. H. Young, the owner and opera- tor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land on section 5, in Valley township. Few men in this locality are held in higher esteem as reliable, capable citi- zens, whose influence in the direction of edu- cation. morality and temperance have con- tributed materially to the name and fame of Kansas.

The birth of Mr. Young was in the state of Kentucky, a state which has long been

MR. AND MRS. W. H. YOUNG AND SON.

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noted as the home of brave men, beautiful women and good horses, and in Lincoln county in 1856, he first saw the light. His parents were William and Eliza ( Bryant ) Young. the former of whom was a son of Godfrey Young, who belonged to one of the distinguished families of Virginia. William Young was born in Kentucky and there mar- ried Eliza Bryant, a member of an oid, set- tled family of Pulaski county, Kentucky, and they passed their lives in that state all through the Civil war. Although Mir. Young was a strong Union man. his char- acter was such that those who differed with him in public affairs accorded him the right to remain a neighbor unmolested. In politi- cal sympathy he was a Republican, and he was a devout member of the Methodist church, and was a steward in that body at the time of his death. His widow resides with her son, the subject of this sketch, and has reached the age of seventy-six years, her life being pleasantly spent in the midst of those who honor and respect her. The fam- ily born to William Young and wife, con- sisted of four sons and two daughters, name- ly : James, who was a soldier in the Union army, during the Civil war: and Mary J .. John Wesley, George, William H. and Julia. all surviving, while Tabitha, Sarah. Hen- derson and Godfrey are deceased.

William H. Young was reared on the old home farm in Kentucky and attended the nearest schools, in Lincoln county. At the age of eighteen he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Goklen, who was a native of the same locality, a young lady who pos- sessed in high degree those graces and at- tractions for which her sex is noted in that state. She has proven an admirable wife and a judicious mother. She was the second daughter of Nathan and Susan ( Gentry) Golden, the former of whom was a farmer. and during the Civil war was the manager of one of the wagon trains in the trans- portation department of the Union army. His death occurred in Kentucky. and he had been a consistent member of the Christian church. His widow still survives and re- sides in Lexington, Kentucky. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Golden were:

Malissa, Nancy, Sophia, Fillmore, William. Elvira, Alfee, Joseph, Charles and Edward.

In 1882 Mr. Young first became a resi- dent of Kansas, and in 1889 he purchased his present fine estate, which was formerly the property of M. J. Albright and which is o needed to be one of the best farms in Val- ley township. The soil is rich and arable and quickly responds to cultivation, produc- ing corn, wheat or grass. Mr. Young has one hundred acres under cultivation in grain. has four hundred apple-trees of the best and hardiest varieties in his orchard, this being one of the best orchards in Kingman county, and he has twelve acres in a magnificent growth of walnut and ash timber. His home is attractive and comfortable, and his preparations for the housing of his stock and cattle when they come off the ranches are convenient and appropriate. Mr. Young is a farmer and stock-raiser who has suc-

ceeded in his efforts, and he is a man of re- markable force of character and is widely known as one who is upright in his dealings.

A family of three children grew up around Mr. and Mrs. Young and they now have the satisfaction of seeing all well- placed in life and prosperous, while a nen generation is springing up to comfort them in old age. The eldest daughter, Myrtie. married M. F. Dew. of Richiand township. and she has two sons .- Vernon and Charles. Leather. the second daughter, married L. Blodgett, and she has two children,-Ra- chel and Theodore H. The youngest of the family, Beadie W .. is an intelligent and promising young man of eighteen year -. who is his father's very capable and ener- getic assistant on the farm.

In political sentiment Mr. Young has al- ways been a Republican and has been ready to work for party friends although not an aspirant for political honors for himself. As township trustee and member of the sche. 1 board. he has testified to his interest in pub- lic matters, while both he and wife are lead- ing members and liberal supporters of the Methodist church, in which he has served as steward. 'The family is one which enjoys the esteem of a large circle of attached friends.

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WILLIAM L. PARSONS.

William L. Parsons, superintendent of the county farm at Medicine Lodge, Bar- ber county, and one of the prominent- con- tractors and builders here, was born in Lincoln county, Missouri, December 6, 1858. His father, Peter J. Parsons, was born in West Virginia, about 1808, and when a small boy removed with his parents to Pike county, Missouri, where his father entered government land and became a lead- ing and successful agriculturist, dying there about 1825. Peter J. Parsons was reared to manhood in Missouri and from the govern- ment entered a tract of land, developing a farm in the midst of the wilderness in Lincoln county. As his financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of his property until he had five hundred and sev- enty-five acres. In addition to the tilling of the soil he engaged in raising and handling stock and in both branches of his business met with success. His political support was given the Democracy. He married Tem- perance Strader, a native of North Caro- lina, and a daughter of Andrew and Mary Strader. Her mother was American born, but was of German lineage. Her father, however, was a native of Germany and on coming to America, located first in North Carolina. He afterward became a farmer of Pike county, Missouri, where his death occurred in 1870; his wife also died in Pike county, that state, about 1864. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parsons were born nine children, seven sons and two daughters, as follows : Hezekiah, a farmer, who died in 1883 in Pike county, Missouri: Jeremiah, a painter and paper-hanger of Wellsville, Mont- gomery county, Missouri; Joseph. an

agriculturist of Pike county, Missouri ; Ne- hemiah, a farmer, who died in Howell county. Missouri, in 1886; Mary .1 .. who died in Montgomery county, Mis- souri, and who was the wife of H. B. Hud- son. an agent for marble works and resides in Montgomery City, Missouri; Obediah, who carries on farming in Pike county, Missouri: William L., the subject of this review ; Benjamin. a traveling salesman

who resides in Paris. Texas ; and Margaret, the wife of Charles Kirk. a farmer and stockman of Wiley, Texas. The father died in the year 1874, but the mother is now living with her daughter in the Lone Star state at the advanced age of seventy-three years.

In the district schools of Lincoln coun- ty, Missouri, William L. Parsons received his mental training and upon the home farm he remained until nineteen years of age. when he began working at the carpenter's trade in New Hartford. Missouri, under the direction of Charles Caniman. After two years he came to Barber county, Kansas, locating in Sharon township, where he took a claim and also engaged in building, re- maining, however, upon his land until he had secured the title. In 1883 he entered the employ of Sparks & McClary, extensive stockmen of the Sharon valley, with whom he continued until July. 1884. when he was employed by Gregory, Eldred & Company, that service continuing for six years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm in the southern part of the county. where Eldred is now located. There he es- tablished a general mercantile store and also a postoffice. Continuing his abode there until about 1888. he sold his property and came to Medicine Lodge. since which time he has given the greater part of his atten- tion to contracting and building. He has won the reputation of being a leading builder of this part of the state and has erected many fine structures in Medicine Lodge, including the Episcopal church and the addition to the Central Hotel. He has also built a great number of country resi- dences. Having been appointed superin- tendent of the county farm of Barber coun- ty in the latter part of 1901, he took up his residence thereon on the 16th of De- cember. The place comprises three hun- dred and twenty acres. His task will prob- ably not prove a heavy one. for at this writ- ing there is not a single inmate of the county house, which speaks volumes for the gen- eral prosperity and welfare of the people of Barber county. On the farm are two com- fortable residences. the larger one being oc-

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cupied by Mr. Parsons and his family, and the land will be operated by him through the season of 1902. Mr. Parsons has filled ther ofices, including that of township trustee. In politics he is a Republican and was a delegate to the county convention in

On the gth of December, 1877, in Mont- go mery county, Missouri, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Mary Henton, who was born in Pike county, Mis- souri, a daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Estes ) Henton, the former also a native of that state, while the latter was born in Ken- tucky. Mr. Henton was a well known farmer and died in Capron, Oklahoma, in [898, while his wife is still living there at the age of sixty-eight. In their family were eight children: Alice, who married Will- iam Pritchett. a farmer of Pike county, Mis- souri : Mrs. Parsons ; Charles, who is a clerk in a store at Alva, Oklahoma; Edgar, a herder of Capron, Oklahoma; Emma, who became the wife of A. Peterson, a hardware merchant of Ramola, Kansas: Rachel, who married James Roy, a carpenter of Pueblo, Ci h rado: Richard, who carries on farming in Capron, Oklahoma; and Sallie, the wife of Rufus Mulky, a farmer of Powel Creek, Oklahoma. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons has been blessed with six children, all vet under the parental roof, namely : Curtis, who is engaged in the carpenter work with his father: Garfield; Pearl : Goldie: Stacia; and Mary. Mr. Parsons is a highly respected gentleman, pleasant and genial in manner and cordial in disposition. Fraternally he is connected with Kingman Lolge, No. 81. A. O. U. W. As a con- tractor and builder he stands foremost in the county and his identification with the building interests has proven of great value in promoting progress in this part of the state.

JOHN F. KEYES.

John F. Keves, who has the distinction of being the second man to locate in Pratt county, was born in Ray county. Missouri,

February 28, 1847, and the family is proba- bly of Irish extraction. His grandfather, Frank Keyes, was a native of the Old Do- minion, and in that commonwealth was married to a Miss Aleek. Later in life he removed with his family to Missouri, locat- ing in Ray county, where he entered govern- ment land. His son and the father of our subject, John Keyes was born in Washing- ton county, Virginia, March 25, 1814, and he, too, entered land from the government in Ray county, Missouri. He was there married to Mary .A. Woolfard, who was born in Carroll county, that state, February 9, 1822, a daughter of John and Nancy ( Lyle ) Wbollard. They were natives of Tennes- see, but in an early day removed to Ray county, Missouri, where the father became one of the leading citizens and extensive land and slave holders.

After his marriage Mr. Keyes contin- ued to reside on his farm in Ray county, Missouri. until 1876, where he became at one time quite wealthy, but he afterward met with many reverses. He was an extensive buyer and dealer in stock. and such was the confidence in which he was held that he could buy stock within a radius of one hun- dred miles of his home without even mak- ing a deposit. In 1876, in order to better his conditions, he came with teams and twr wagons to Kansas, bringing with him his wife and two children. Our subject was then married. and with his wife and one child he accompanied his parents on their removal here. Their first intention was tu go to Colorado, but hearing many disco ur- aging reports of that country while on the road they turned south with the hope f finding a good stock ranch. When they reached the head waters of North Elm creek. on the present line between Pratt and Barber counties, they agreed they had found the object of their search, for here was a beautiful wooded stream of living water, fe !! by inexhaustible springs, with an abundance of grass. The father located in Barker county, in what is now Elm Mills t ws- ship, on section 2. while our subject tok up his abode just across the line in Pratt county, on section 35. the claim adjoining,

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each pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres, and at that time there was only one other settler in the county. During the first three years here our subject was engaged principally in freighting goods from Hutch- inson to Lake City, making the return trip with posts and buffalo bones, and during this period the father and sons were also engaged in breaking their land. After the first three years the former engaged in the stock business on the shares, and at one time had as high as six hundred head. He was called to his final rest in 1885, and he was survived by his widow until 1898, when, she, too, passed away. In politics he was a life- long Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Cumberland church. They became the parents of twelve children. The eldest son, William P., died in January, 1899, on the farm in Barber county, which his father pre-empted. George W. died in Ray county, Missouri, in 1898. He was an extensive farmer and stock-man, and in partnership with his brother, William P., owned a stock ranch of fifteen hundred acres, of which his father's pre-emption formed the nucleus. The present beauti- ful residence which now stands on the old homestead on section 2 was erected by the son, William P., and is now occupied by his widow, who was formerly Mrs. Elizabeth Burns, and her son. R. B. Burns, who has charge of the ranch. The third child, Char- lotte F., is the wife of C. W. James, a farmer and stockman residing in Clay coun- ty. Missouri, twenty miles north of Kan- sas City. Eliza G., is the widow of Garrett Ashley and a resident of Alva, Oklahoma. John F. is the next in order of birth. Thom- as is engaged in the real-estate business in Kansas City. Robert A. is a cripple and resides on the ranch with his sister-in-law. Mrs. William P. Keyes. James L. was a physician of Ray county, Missouri, who died in 1884. Mary E. is the wife of J. Loren Brown, of Walla Walla. Washington. Ben D. is engaged in the butcher business in Oklahoma. Three of the children died in infancy.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 45

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