A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 49

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 49

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George Dudley Stratton, of this review, was reared to farm life. He received but two months' schooling each year. In his twentieth year he enlisted in the Civil war. His brother Samuel joined the army in the spring of 1861 and for four years was num- bered among the defenders of the Union. He was wounded in the wrist at Vicksburg and was on the vessel which ran the block- ade there. His regiment was the Twenty- third Indiana, while our subject and his brother William were members of the Sixty- sixth Regiment of Indiana troops. Seth, the youngest of the family, joined the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana, enlist- ing for six months. George D. and Will- iam joined the army for three years and were mustered out at the close of the war, in June. 1865. Mr. Stratton rose from the ranks to become second lieutenant. Both he and his brother William were taken pris-

George D. Stratton, of this review, was married soon after his return from the war, on the 5th of November, 1865, to Miss Camilla Russell, of Bardstown, Kentucky, a daughter of Elza Russell. They began their domestic life upon a rented farm near Campbellsburg, Indiana, and there Mr. Stratton carried on agricultural pursuits un- til the spring of 1871, when, in the month of April, he came to Harvey county, Kansas, and secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres. One settler had preceded him to this locality, but that gentleman has since gone to Arkansas, so that Mr. Stratton is now the oldest living settler in Walton township. He and his wife began their domestic life without any capital, but had saved one thousand dollars at the time they removed to the Sunflower state. They now own four hundred acres of land, all in one body, and this Mr. Stratton has placed un- der a high state of cultivation. He has six miles of osage hedge fence upon his place and his attractive and commodious residence was erected in 1889, while his famous red barn was built in 1901. He was formerly extensively engaged in raising wheat, at times having sixteen hundred bushels in a season, but of late years he has given his at- tention to the cultivation of corn, oats and alfalfa, having seventy acres planted to the last named crop. He is also extensively en- gaged in raising stock and has over fifty head of registered short-horn cattle. He also raises horses, keeping from thirty to forty head, and each year he places upon the market from forty to one hundred Poland China hogs, his sales of stock amounting to from seven hundred to three thousand dol- lars annually. Mr. Stratton has sold breed- ing cattle in southern markets. receiving from one hundred to three hundred dollars a head. He is a practical and progressive agriculturist and in all his business dealings is meeting with excellent success.

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The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stratton has been blessed with eight children, of whom seven are living: Mamie, who has success- fully engaged in teaching for several years; Stella. the wife of Charles Marshall, of Stronghurst, Illinois, by whom she has two sons : Russell A., of Thatcher, Colorado, who is married and has one daughter ; Da- vid A., who is associated with his father in the conduct of the Elm Park Short-horn farm: William and Guy, who were soldiers in the Philippines and are now holding gov- ernment positions in the quartermaster's department ; and Goldie D., who is a grad- uate of the county schools and is with her parents. In his political views Mr. Stratton was formerly a Republican, but is now iden- tified with the Populist party and has served as township trustee and township treasurer, filling both positions for two terms. He is also a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in days of peace, as well as in days of war, is a loyal and pa- triotic citizen, while in business he is an enterprising and progressive man, who has attained well merited success.

C. E. SETTLE.

Among the prominent and well-known citizens of Chikaskia township, Kingman county, Kansas, few are more highly es- teemed than C. E. Settle, who resides near Spivey.

The birth of Mr. Settle was at Union Star. DeKalb county, Missouri, on June 14. 1864. a son of J. C. and Martha (Smith) Settle. the former of whom was born in Kentucky, of an old and honorable family of that state, and the latter of whom was born in Tennessee, of a family of equal promi- nence. J. C. Settle was a survivor of the Mexican war and became one of the leading citizens of De Kalb county. The children of J. C. Settle and wife were as follows: A. B., who resides in Clinton county, Mis- souri : T. C., who is a prominent stock man of this county; T. P., who is a well-known citizen: C. H., who is a prominent man of

this township, also; C. E., who is the sub- ject of this biography; W. E., who is a leading citizen of Winnscot township; and Emma, who lives in Missouri, where the father of these children died at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Methodist church, a successful business man and one who was always highly respected. The mother of these children died at the age of sixty-eight years, in Kingman, beloved by all who knew her.

C. E. Settle grew up on his father's farm and was early taught the stock busi- ness, in which his father had been so suc- cessful and in which the son has been very extensively engaged, his early training giv- ing him the advantage over those who enter totally inexperienced in this complicated in- dustry. His education was the best afforded in his locality, and he remained at home un- til he reached maturity. £ At the age of twenty-one, in Missouri, Mr. Settle was married to Miss Mattie Wilson, who was born in Ohio and who was a daughter of Dr. M. J. Wilson, of Henry county, Mis- souri, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, and both of Mrs. Settle's parents died in Mis- souri. The three surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Settle are Mable, Howard and Peale, those who have died being two babies and one son named Byron.

In 1891 Mr. Settle came to Kansas and since 1894 has operated one of the finest stock farms of Kingman county. This place, locally known as the Osborn farm, consists of three hundred and twenty acres of fine grazing land. Its natural advantages . and water facilities make it particularly de- sirable for the successful operation of ex- i tensive stock interests, and to these Mr. Set- tle has added improvements in the way of the planting of shade trees and the building of shelters. Usually he keeps about one hundred and fifteen head of cattle of high grade, and as a stockman his reputation is high throughout the county. His comfort- able home and attractive surroundings make life very agreeable on this Kansas home- stead.

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Although not an active politician Mr. Settle has been a life-long Republican and thoroughly believes in the principles of that party. For a number of years he has been identified with the order of Odd Fellows and is very popular in that fraternity, his pleasant, genial manner, his uprightness of life and his respect for the rights of others making him many warm friends. It is truth- fully said of him that his word is always as good as his bond, a reputation which Mr. Settle always lives up to. It has been a mat- ter of public spirit with Mr. Settle to pro- mote with his influence all moral and edu- cational measures in his locality, and also to encourage all legislation in the interests of temperance. Both he and wife are much esteemed members of the United Brethren church, and few men of this township are more truly representative of her best ele- ment.

FRED. WASHBON.

The law has ever attracted to its ranks a certain class of men gifted with keen percep- tions and logical minds, men who, by nature or training or both, are peculiarly fitted to deal with the problems which arise among their fellows. In reviewing the prominent members of the Harper county bar the name of Fred Washbon takes precedence of many of his professional brethren, and we are pleased to present to his numerous friends and acquaintances this sketch of his useful life.

Fred Washbon. a member of the firm of Washbon & Washbon, prominent attor- neys of Harper and Anthony, was born in the town of Morris, Otsego county. New York, a son of Henry R. and Eliza M. Washbon, also natives of the Empire state. The father was prominently known in the legal circles of central New York, his prac- tice extending far beyond the confines of Morris, where he made his home, and he continued an active practitioner at the bar until his death, which occurred in 1883.

Our subject was admitted to the New

York har at Utica in February, 1800, and he at once came to Harper, Harper county, Kansas, where in the following March he became associated in practice with his bro- ther, James G. Washbon. For seven years they pursued a general practice in that city, but in May, 1897. they decided to establish an office in Anthony, of which our subject was put in charge. Since coming to the city of Anthony Mr. Washbon has been promi- nently identified with its growth and im- provement. In his political affiliations he is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, and has ever been an active and effi- cient worker for its interests. In hvis social relations he is a member of Anthony Com- mandery, No. 37. K. T .. of Harper Chapter. No. 61. R. A. M .. and Harper Lodge, No. 206, A. F. & A. M., and in these orders he has filled the offices of eminent commander, high priest and worshipful master. He is a broad-minded, progressive man and a public- spirited citizen, and in all life's relations is found true to the duties of professional and social life which the day may bring forth.

ANDREW B. DOTY.

Andrew B. Doty follows farming and stock-raising in Cloud county, near the Ot- tawa county line. He is a native son of Illi- nois, his birth having occurred in Cook coun- ty. that state, in 1851. his parents being Sam- uel and Delilah (Windbeglar) Doty. His maternal ancestors were of English and German lineage. The father of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, his wife of Maryland, and unto them were born four children. three sons and a daughter, all of whom are yet living in Kansas. In 1854 Samuel Doty removed with his family from Illinois to Iowa and there purchased land. making his home thereon until 1870. when he came to Kansas and secured a home- stead. while his son William entered the tract of land adjoining. They were among the pioneer settlers and lived down near the river in tents for a time. Later they built a

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sod house of one room, which was occu- pied by six people, and while living in that habitation an east rain washed out one whole side of the house. Two years later a base- ment was built and covered over and in it the family resided for two years, when their present comfortable residence was erected. It is a substantial country house: near by stand good barns, sheds and other equip- ments found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. The family came to Kansas without money enough to buy a homestead and they experienced many hard- ships and trials in gaining a start. They had to go to Salina to secure milling products, and buffaloes, which could be killed about forty miles westward, furnished their meat supply for the winter. Samuel Doty, re- mained upon the old family homestead until his death, which occurred in October, 1890. His wife passed away in 1880 and he then lived with his son, who succeeded to the ownership of that half of the homestead upon which the house stood.

The subject of this review accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa and to Kansas, and bore his share in the work of developing the home farm. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Cassie Haun, who died in 1882. She was a daughter of Wilson and Eliza Haun. Her father depart- ed this life in 1893, but her mother is still living and is a resident of Delphos. In 1884 Mr. Doty was again married, his sec- ond union being with Luetta Rogers, a daughter of Isaac and Mary Ann ( Hackle- man) Rogers, who were natives of Indiana. Her father was a farmer by occupation and came to Kansas in 1882. She has two broth- ers in Boulder, Colorado, engaged in mining. and an uncle is also living there, and two of her brothers are grain dealers of Minnesota. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three interesting children, but Ora Ethel. who was born in 1885, died in 1898. The others are Millie Aletia, born in 1890 and. Myrtie Troy, born in 1894. These two at- tractive little girls are the life and pride of the household.

In order to provide for his family Mr.

Doty follows agricultural pursuits and is an industrious and practical farmer. He has two hundred and thirty-seven acres of well improved land, mostly devoted to the raising of wheat with the exception of ten acres of pasture land. He also raises cattle and has about twenty-four head of Herefords, which he ranges on the hills in the summer months. His business affairs are well conducted and he is now the possessor of a comfortable home and good income, as the result of his well directed labors. Socially he is connect- ed with Delphos Lodge, No. 129, A. O. U. WV. and in his political views he is a Republi- can but seeks not the honors and emoluments of public office, preferring to devote his en- ergies to his business interests, in which he is meeting with creditable success.

WILLIAM RINER.

William Riner is a retired farmer of Burr Oak, Kansas, and an honored veteran of the Civil war, whose loyalty to his coun- try was manifest on southern battlefields. He is as true to-day to the old flag and the land it represents as when he followed it through the scenes of conflict forty years ago. Mr. Riner is a native of Warren county, Indiana, born September 25, 1840, his parents being Daniel and Mary ( Starry) Riner. The former was born in Virginia and removed to Indiana between 1830 and 1835, while in 1850 he went to Iroquois county, Illinois. In 1883 he came to Kan- sas, following his son, William, and his death occurred in Burr Oak, in 1885, when he was eighty-eight years of age. His was a life of usefulness and honor and he always commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow men. His wife was born in Vir- ginia and died in Illinois in 1861.

Upon his father's farm William Riner spent the days of his boyhood and youth, working in the fields through the months of summer and in the public schools pursued his education during the winter months. When the south attempted to overthrow the Union his patriotism was aroused and on

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the 20th of November, 1861, he offered his services to the government and enlisted at Onarga, Illinois, as a member of Company M. Ninth Illinois Cavalry, under the com- mand of Captain Knight and Colonel Brack- ett. He had previously enlisted, but on ac- count of his mother's alarming illness, fol- lowed by her death in the summer of 1861, he did not go to the front until November. He made his way to Chicago, thence to St. Louis. Pilot Knob. Helena and Memphis. Much of his service was in Tennessee and Mississippi, in which states he participated in numerous engagements, including the battles of Guntown and Tupelo. He experienced all the hardships and rigors of war, and on the 19th of November, 1864, in company with one companion, he was accidentally cut off from his company near the scene of a battle in northern Mississippi. His command was returning to camp from an expedition which had resulted in the capture of a number of Confederates when Mr. Riner and his companion suddenly found that they were ocnfronted by the Confederate troops. They were surrounded by rebel soldiers and in escaping Mr. Riner lost his horse, gun and hat, but he managed to elude his pursuers. However, he became lost in the woods and again and again he came across rebel camps and other unlooked for dangers and from the 19th of November until the 12th of January, 1865, he was prac- tically lost to the world. having no ocm- munication with his relatives, who thought him dead. At length, however, he man- aged to reach the Union lines, but in the meantime had borne many hardships. After long and faithful service, covering more than three years, he was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, March 13. 1865.

Mr. Riner returned to his home and con- tinued his residence in Illinois, until 1871. when he came to Jewell county, Kansas, ar- riving on the 13th of October. In Burr Oak township he secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he has since resided. being one of the old- est pioneers, as well as most honored citi- zens of the community. He has lived here

through the grasshopper plague. through scenes of drouth and also experienced a loss of nine thousand dollars through a bank fail- ure, but with undaunted courage, determina- tion and enterprise he has steadily advanced, overcoming all these difficulties and ob- stacles, and to-day is the possessor of a hand- some competence which enables him to live a retired life in Burr Oak, where he has a pleasant and attractive home. He still owns two hundred and thirty-two acres of valu- able land in the homestead farm and a farm of one hundred and thirty acres adjoining Burr Oak on the west.

Mr. Riner was married in Iroquois county, Illinois, December 31, 1867, to Miss Jennie Lewis, a daughter of James and Lydia ( Patton) Lewis. Her father re- moved to Iroquois county when she was quite young and died when she was only five years old. In later years the mother came to Kansas to live with her daughter and died in 1882, at the Riner homestead, four and one half miles southwest of Burr Oak. In the Lewis family were five broth- ers, three of whom. Thomas, Calvin and William, were Union soldiers of the Civil war. and Thomas and Will- iam were prisoners for nine months at Andersonville, where they suffered untold privations such as were in- cident to life in those southern prison pens. Mr. and Mrs. Riner are people of the high- est respectability, enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they came in contact by reason of their many excellencies of char- acter. He is a gentleman of genial disposi- tion and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his community-a man who in business life has ever been straightforward and who in his civil relations has gained many warm friends.

JOSEPH A. MCCOY.

One of the most prominent and respected citizens of Barber county is Joseph A. Mc- Cov. a man whose history furnishes a splendid example of what may be accom-

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plished through determined purpose, lauda- , of a store and blacksmith shop there. She re- ble ambition and well directed efforts. A mained as his housekeeper until about 1864, when she located with her family on a farm, but our subject, Joseph A., remained with his uncle for a period of five years. At that time the Civil war broke out, and as his brothers enlisted for service it became nec- essary for him to return to his mother's home and look after the farm. In 1867 he removed to and purchased a farm of fifty acres in Peoria county, that state, on which he made his home until 1883. native of the Buckeye state, his birth there .occurred in Wayne county, December 3, 1849. His paternal great-grandfather was a native of the north of Ireland, but in a very early day left his little home across the sea and came to America, locating in Pennsylvania. In that commonwealth his son. Joseph McCoy was born and there mar- ried to Anna McCoy, who, although of the same name, was not a relative. They became the parents of the following chil- dren : John, David, Alexander, Neil. Rachel and Sarah, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania. There the father of these children was engaged in the tilling of the soil until his removal to the Buckeye state in a very early day, making the journey with his wife and six children, a location being made seven miles north of Wooster, in Wayne county, where the wife and mother died. The father afterward took up his abode in Auglaize county, where he spent the ramainder of his life in the home of his son Alexander.

Alexander McCoy, the father of him whose name introduces this review, was born in Pennsylvania about 1816, and in Wayne county, Ohio, he was reared to years of maturity and was there married. about 1843. to Susanna Hare, a native of the Buckeye state, and a daughter of Henry and Margaret Hare, who were of Pennsylvania birth. In the spring of 1852 Mr. McCoy removed to Auglaize county, Ohio, where he entered a tract of government land in the dense forest and after clearing a sufficient space, erected the log cabin which was still standing when his son Joseph had reached the age of twenty- one years. There his death occurred in the spring of 1854, passing away in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he was a worthy and acceptable member. His wife survived him many years, and after his death she succeeded in keeping her children together, and in 1857 moved with them to Knox county, Illinois, where she had a brother living, the latter being proprietor

On the 28th of May, 1873, Mr. McCoy was united in marriage to Mary E. Stewart, who was born in Peoria county in 1856, a daughter of Cornelius J. and Eliza ( Mark- ley) Stewart. Her maternal grandfather, David Markley, was of German descent, and in a very early day he emigrated with his parents from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he established a distillery. He was a power- ful man physically and he could easily pick up a barrel of whisky and drink from the bung hole. From Ohio he removed to Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, where he became extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was one of the most promi- nent men of Fulton county, and for four- teen successive terms he served as a mem- ber of the state senate, his political sym- pathies being with the Democracy, and he was a great admirer of Stephen A. Douglas. His death occurred in Rochester, Peoria county, Illinois, at the age of eighty-two years. The paternal great-grandfather of Mrs. McCoy was captured by the Indians when a small boy, and at the same time they killed his father. He was kept in cap- tivity until grown, when he made his es- cape and returned to his own people. His son Cornelius, the grandfather of Mrs. Mc- Coy, was reared in Maryland and was there married to Miss Mary McClellan. After his marriage he located near Lewiston, Ful- ton county, Illinois, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. His son, also named Cornelius, was born in Maryland, and both he and his twin brother Edward took up the study of medicine in McDowell College, and after completing his medical course the for-

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mer engaged in practice in Fulton county. but after following the medical profession for several years, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. His brother be- came a surgeon in the United States army and was killed in battle, probably that of Franklin, Kentucky, during the Civil war. From 1856 until 1874 Mr. Stewart followed the tilling of the soil in Peoria county, and in the latter year he came to Kansas, pur- chasing a half section of land seven miles above Wichita, but in 1884 he sold his pos- sessions there and came to Barber county, locating on the farm on which our subject now resides. In 1888 he removed with his wife and seven children to Lower California, and while there his wife and three children died of malaria, after which he removed to the Sac and Fox countries of Oklahoma and there makes his home with his children. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart became the parents of seven children, namely: Mary E., the wife of our subject; Douglas A., of Lin- coln county, Oklahoma ; David M. and Wal- lace C., who died in Lower California : Perry E .. also of Lincoln county, Oklahoma ; Paul C., of the same place: and Maude E., who died in Lower California.

After his marriage Mı. McCoy, of this review. resided on a farm in Illinois until 1883, when he took up his abode in the Sun- flower state and for two years thereafter re- sided in Sedgwick county. The following two years were spent in Kingman county, and since that time he has made his home in Barber county. On his arrival here he purchased his father-in-law's farm, a fine tract of four hundred and eighty acres. where he is extensively engaged in the cattle business, his farm being splendidly adapted to that purpose. He has added to his original purchase until he now owns seven hundred and sixty acres and in addition also controls about twelve hundred acres for grazing purposes, where he keeps on an average about three hundred head of well bred cattle.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCoy: Dale, whose his- tory will be found below : Frank, who is at- tending the University at Norman, Oklaho-

ma, where he has won many honors and medals as an athlete and is also serving as librarian: Joseph J. and Vera Madge, at home. Mr. McCoy gives his political sup- port to the Democracy, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church. He is in all respects one of the foremost citizens of Elm Mills township, and is honored and respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 49

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