A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 6

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 15th of October, 1877, while thus engaged in business, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage to Miss Ada G. Smith,

who was born in Perry county, Illinois, be- ing the daughter of Wesley and Sarah A. ( Bottomley) Smith, the latter of whom was born in the city of Philadelphia. The fam- ily removed to Hancock county, Illinois, when Mrs. Sheldon was a child and later took up their residence in Pike county, that state, where Mr. Smith's death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of three children: Walter, who died in Grant county, Kansas; one who died in infancy; and Mrs. Sheldon. Mrs. Smith eventually consummated a second marriage, becoming the wife of Alfred Bull, and of their six children only one survives, William H., a resident of McCall, Louisiana.

Mr. Sheldon continued in the mercantile business until the fall of 1882, when, by reason of the failing health of Mrs. Sheldon, he decided to remove to Kansas. Accord- ingly, with team and wagon, he reached Par- sons and Mrs. Sheldon was compelled to re- main there to recuperate her strength, our subject coming to Kingman county, where he took up a pre-emption claim, the same be- ing the northwest quarter of section 6, King" man township. Within the first month Mr. Sheldon completed the erection of a box house, with basement, and when he had thus prepared for the reception of his wife, Mrs. Sheldon came by rail to Harper, then the nearest railroad point, being thirty-eight miles from his home, whence she was con- ducted to the new home. At that time there were but three houses between Mr. Sheldon's farm and the present city of Kingman, while to the west no dwelling was to be found for a distance of twenty miles. After three years of life on the frontier, with the full quota of inconveniences and deprivations, Mr. Sheldon became thorough- ly dissatisfied and determined to return to Illinois, having at the time no thought of ever returning to Kansas. On reaching Il- linois, however, as our subject expresses, he found that the "hills had grown steeper and the mud deeper," and a period of six weeks proved sufficient to convince him that Kansas was not so bad a place after all. He accord- ingly returned to Kingman county, fully de- termined to cast in his lot with the fortunes

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of the new state and to make this his per- ; No. 43, was chairman of the first school manent home. Sickness in his family , board and has been a member of the board and other unfortunate circumstances con- the greater portion of the time since its or- ganization, acting as treasurer and director and being at the present time clerk of the board. He served for five years on the county board to which is assigned the work of selecting text-books for use in the pub- lic schools, and his interest in the cause of education has been unflagging. Mr. Sheldon secured the location of and gave the name to the postoffice of Lawndale, through which superior mail facilities are given to a large number of residents in this section of the county. Fraternally he is identified with Cunningham Camp, No. 1,052, Modern Woodmen of America. spired to make his lot one which would have discouraged most people. For four years he taught school during the winter -months and was compelled to mortgage his farm. Not being able to keep up the pay- ments he finally lost the place, and he then removed to his present farm, leasing the property until 1901, when he effected its purchase. To the original quarter section is added another tract of equal area, the same having been received from her father's es- tate by Mrs. Sheldon, upon paying off an · incumbrance resting thereon. Energy and good management have finally brought defin- ite success in their train, and Mr. Sheldon is In conclusion we enter a brief record concerning the eleven children of Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon: Walter B. assists his father in the work and management of the home- stead ; Pearl B. and Ethel O. are popular and i successful teachers; Chester, who was born jon the 20th of October, 1889. died on the- 28th of January, 1891 ; Elsie Grace is at the time of this writing a student in Nickerson Normal College, at Nickerson, Reno county, Kansas, having won the county scholarship in 1900; and the other children, who are at the parental home, are Cecil H., Nellie Imo- gene, Roy V., Mollie G., Owen R. and Dewey D. now one of the successful and influential farmers and stock raisers of the county, leas- ing land in addition to the home place and having about four hundred acres under a high state of cultivation, while he has made excellent improvements on his place. He keeps an average of about fifty head of high grade cattle and about twenty horses. In accordance with his progressive ideas, Mr. Sheldon established on his farm some years ago herds of both the Poland-China and Duroc-Jersey swine, no little expense be- ing incurred in the securing of the best types ; and in this line misfortune also at- tended his efforts, since he lost both herds. through disease. Though he has had his full share of discouragements and ill L. DOUGLAS NOSSAMAN. luck he has ever made the best of the situation as presented, and his invincible spirit and indefatigable energy have finally carried him forward to the goal of success, while in all the relations and vicissitudes of life he has ever commanded respect and es- teem, his reputation being unassailable.

In his political adherency Mr. Sheldon is arrayed with the Republican party, and he has taken an active interest in public affairs of a local nature. He has served as trustee and treasurer of his township and as chair- man of the township executive committee, bringing to bear marked fidelity and ability in the discharge of his official duties. He Mr. Nossaman is a native of the state of was one of the organizers of school district Missouri, having been born in Harrison

The family of which the subject of this review is a worthy representative, is one of prominence in connection with the indus- trial activities of Kingman county, and it is but consistent that its members are given recognition within the pages of this work. L. Douglas Nossaman is one of the pro- gressive and successful young farmers and stock growers of the county, having a fine estate of seven hundred and twenty acres on sections 29, 31 and 32, Rural township, and also owning a tract of eighty acres across the line in Pratt county.

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county, on the 4th of October, 1862, the son of Louis and Mary ( Springer) Nossaman, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Ohio; their marriage oc- curring in Indiana on the 13th of January, 1849. Both went with their parents to Marion county, Indiana, where they were reared and educated and where their mar- riage was solemnized. In 1850 they re- moved to Marion county, Iowa, becoming On the Ist of November, 1886, Mr. Nos- saman was united in marriage to Miss Nancy C. Ratclief, who was born in Harrison county, Missouri, the daughter of Elcana and Kate ( Pruett ) Ratelief, who removed to Kansas at the same time as did the sub- ject of this review. Mr. Ratclief improved a farm in Rural township, and later removed to Oklahoma. He died at the home of Mr. pioneer settlers in that section of the state, where they improved a farm and there con- tinued their residence for nine years, at the expiration of which time they removed to Harrison county, Missouri, where the father continued in the same line of industry as before. He disposed of his farm in the spring of 1884 and came to Kingman county, Kansas, purchasing a claim on section 30, : Nossaman, on the 9th of November, 1896, Rural township, where he and his wife have since made their home. being among the most honored pioneer citizens of this sec- tion. He was a defender of our Union, be- longing to the mounted horse infantry, called Merrill Horse, and enlisted in 1861, and fought till the close of the war. He is now retired, living at Wellington, Kansas. His six sons are all living, namely: Alonzo, a farmer in Oklahoma: W. Pierce, to whom 1 individual reference is made on other pages of this work ; Oscar, who is likewise a farmer in Oklahoma; L. Douglas, the subject of this sketch; Francis M., of Oklahoma; and David A., a farmer of Rural township. Adam, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania-Ger- man descent, as was also his wife.

L. Douglas Nossaman was reared on the old home farm in Missouri, receiving his early educational training in the public schools, and when seventeen years of age he accompanied his brother, Pierce, on his removal to Kansas, where he remained two years, at the expiration of which he re- turned to Missouri. Two years later he again left his native state and came to King- man county, Kansas, pre-empting a claim of a quarter section in Rural township and at once instituting the work of development and improvement. This was the northwest quarter of section 31, and here he has ever

since made his home, having added to his holdings until he now has one of the best farms in this section of the state, the same comprising eight hundred acres, as was noted in the initial paragraph of this sketch. He continued to reside in the parental home, in Rural township, until his marriage, and since that important event has lived on his own farm.

his widow being now seventy-four years old and makes her home with her youngest daughter, Francis Hall. Our subject's first domicile on his farm was a dug-out, ten by twelve feet in dimensions, and eventually he left this to take un his abode in a box house, fourteen by eighteen feet, which he erected on the place. This building is a portion of his present commodious and comfortable residence of seven rooms, and in addition to thus improving his dwelling he has erected other excellent buildings on the farm, hay- ing good barns, sheds, etc. The farm is one of the most fertile and productive in this section, is well fenced, has a good orchard of about fifteen acres, and in every respect betokens the prosperity which has attended the efforts of a progressive and energetic owner. In addition to following out a ju- dicious system of diversified farming Mr. Nossaman is also successfully engaged in the raising of high grade live stock, having a fine herd of Hereford cattle and having also devoted considerable attention to the raising of Duroc-Jersey swine.

In politics Mr. Nossaman gives his sup- port to the People's party, and in 1901 he was a candidate of his party for the office of township treasurer. Previously he was elected justice of the peace and also overseer of highways, but feeling that the demands of his private business would not permit him

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to give proper attention to official duties he has declined to serve, though ever manifest- ing a deep interest in all that touches the wel- fare of the community. Fraternally he is identified with Cunningham Lodge, No. 431, 1. O. O. F., and with the adjunct chapter of the Rebekah degree. His religious belief was that of the Christian church, but he was not a member of that body, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lawndale and active in its work. They are the parents of five children, namely : Howard T., Ruby A., Albertha, Laura Edna and Lulu H.

Mr. Nossaman is one of the successful farmers and representative citizens of King- man county and is to be considered as essen- tially entitled to the honor which comes to the one who has been the architect of his own fortunes. He came to Kansas without other equipment than a stout heart, willing hands, a good constitution and a determina- tion to make for himself a place of independ- ence, and it is gratifying to note the results which have attended his energetic and dis- criminating efforts, since thus are shown the advantages which this section of the sover- eign state of Kansas offers to the man who is willing to apply his energies and abilities.

ARTHUR LARKIN.

There is no man in central Kansas who is better known to the traveling public than Arthur Larkin, proprietor of the White House, at Ellsworth, the seat of justice of Ellsworth county, Kansas, and there is no man in that thriving town who is held higher in the regard of his fellow citizens. When it is added that Mr. Larkin was a pi- oneer at Ellsworth, it will be understood that no biographical work devoted to the leading men of Ellsworth county would be com- plete without some account of his interesting career. There is probably no other one man who has been so generally and so inti- mately identified with the business interests of Ellsworth, city and county, as the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Larkin went to New York city, a poor boy sixteen years old, and a year later went to Texas, where for two years he served as a member of Captain Ford's Texas Rang- ers, in frontier service during the war of the Rebellion. He was honorably discharged from the United States service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and immediately thereafter engaged in business at Leaven- worth, where he later fitted out a wagon train and made a trip to Denver, Colorado, and return. In the fall of 1866 he estab- lished a restaurant at Junction City, from which point he did a good freighting busi- ness to Salina, Kansas, then the terminus of the Kansas-Pacific Railroad. In the spring of 1867 he removed to the then newly lo- cated town of Ellsworth, where he built and opened to the public the Larkin House, the first hotel in the place and one of the first buildings erected there. In 1868 he opened a general merchandise store, carrying a good line of dry goods, boots and shoes, clothing, etc. Later he established a store at Lincoln Center, and another at Little River, in Rice county. Associating with himself a man named Getty, he built the large flour- ing mill at Ellsworth, in which he retained an interest for several years.

The old Larkin House, which stood on Main street near Lincoln avenue, was burned in 1869. In 1872 Mr. Larkin erected his present hotel, known as the White House, on the corner of Main street and Lincoln avenue, a fine two-story brick building, cov- ering a ground space of forty-eight by ninety feet, which, until a comparatively recent date, was the largest and finest structure in town. In the spring of 1876 he erected his fine two-story store building on Douglas ave- nue, in which he established an extensive mercantile business, which is now conducted by his sons under the firm name of Larkin's Sons, and has grown to such dimensions that the store is one of the largest and most complete in central Kansas. In 1877 Mr. Larkin built the Golden Belt steam elevator, which had a capacity of twenty thousand bushels, and in the following year he erected the two-story stone hotel building known as the American House. In 1885 he built

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his large and attractive suburban residence on his farm south of Smoky Hill river, just beyond the corporate limits of Ellsworth, which is the largest and most expensive resi- dence in Ellsworth county. Its location is beautiful, the house is a most imposing" structure and is fitted up with every con- venience of a modern city residence, and it is known to the traveling public for many miles round about.

Soon after taking up his residence in Ellsworth county Mr. Larkin became in- terested in land and live stock, in which he is still the owner of extensive interests. His home farm consists of two hundred acres, he has a farm of four hundred and eighty acres near Frederick and a ranch of seven hundred and twenty acres southeast of Ells- worth, on which he keeps from three hun- dred to four hundred head of full blooded high grade Hereford cattle. In developing the county and in making improvements in town and country, Mr. Larkin has estab- lished more landmarks at and about Ells- worth than any other man. His life has been an unusually active one and it is often said of him that there is not a township and scarcely a school district in the county in which he has not had interest, direct or indi- rect. at some time and with which he has not had to do with improvements. His en- terprise has been so broad that he has as- sisted to start and fostered in their infancy many business interests of widely different character. most of which have been brought to satisfactory success. He retired from . active mercantile life in 1896, when his sons 'succeeded him in the management of his store. The White House, to which he gives his personal attention, is widely known as the best hotel in central Kansas and he is extremely popular as a landlord.

Mr. Larkin was married in 1861 to Alice Baird, a native of Indiana, who has borne him six children, three of whom survive: Arthur, Francis and Hubert F. Though not a politician Mr. Larkin has found time to serve the public in several capacities, no- tably as county commissioner and county treasurer.

BENJAMIN J. RAGLAND.

A leading representative of the agricul- tural interests of Reno county is Benjamin J. Ragland, who owns and operates a fine farm pleasantly located near Sterling. He is most practical and yet progressive, and his untiring industry and capable manage- ment have brought him a handsome com- petence. He was born in Hancock county, Illinois, February 3, 1852. His paternal great-grandfather was Edmund Ragland, who was born in Wales and came to the new world about 1750. After his arrival here he loyally assisted the colonists in their struggle for independence, serving his adopted country in the war of the Revolu- tion for seven years, and during that time he arose step by step from the position of captain to that of the colonelcy of his regi- ment. He was a brave and loyal soldier, and nobly endured the hardships and dan- gers of that memorable struggle. He was married in Pennsylvania, and his wife's fa- ther was a member of the royalty in Eng- land, but the family were then residing at Richmond. Their son, Benjamin Ragland, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1793. He was united in marriage with Susan Edmondson. a native of Maryland, and they afterward removed to Maryland, but later returned to Kentucky. In 1829 the family went with teams from that state to Illinois, locating in Scott county, where he died in 1851, in the prime of life. He was a prominent and in- fluential farmer. and while residing in Ken- tucky he owned a number of slaves. His widow survived him for about twenty years, dying in Piatt county, Illinois, when sixty- five years of age. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters.

William P. Ragland, the father of our subject, was born in Clark county. Ken- tucky, on the 22d of September, 1821. On the 6th of December, 1849, in Hancock county, Illinois, he was united in marriage with Ursula Spangler, a native of Indiana. After their marriage they located on a farm.

Mr. &Mrs B. J. Ragland and family

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in Hancock county, Illinois, later removed to Piatt county, and in 1873 came to Reno county, casting in their lot among the early pioneers of this locality. He first home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. and their first place of abode, a board shanty sixteen by eighteen feet, now forms a part of our subject's present residence, and for a time theirs was the only house in this part of the township, but in the following Octo- ber two more families came to the locality. At that time wild animals were still numer- ous here, and during the winter of 1873-74 their son, Oscar Ragland, shot four hun- dred buffaloes. Those animals roamed over the prairies in vast numbers, one herd ex- tending to a distance of thirty miles. Mr. and Mrs. Ragland were the parents of five children, namely: Benjamin, the subject of this review : Oscar, a resident of Newton. Kansas; a daughter who died in infancy ; Henry, who died at the age of three years ; and a son who died in infancy. The mother of this family was called to the home be- yond on the 30th of May, 1898, in her sey- enty-first year, and on the 22d of September, of the same year, her husband also passed away.

Benjamin J. Ragland, whose name in- troduces this review, received his education in the common schools of his native county, and after completing the English branches of learning taught therein, he engaged in teaching, following that profession through two winter terms. He was reared to the honest toil of the farm, and at the early age of eight years he began work in the fields, having ever since been identified with agricultural pursuits. He remained under the parental roof until 1875, and on the 28th of October, of that year, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Ross, who was born in Piatt county, Illinois, on the 6th of January, 1858, a daughter of William G. and Mary E. ( Bonser ) Boss, natives, re- spectively, of New Jersey and Ohio. They were the parents of four children, three of whom reached years of maturity : Mary E .. the wife of our subject ; Emily, who became the wife of Samuel H. Howerton and died at the age of eighteen years; and Hattie. who died at the age of sixteen years. Mr.

Boss was a soldier in the Civil war and laid down his life on the altar of his coun- try, dying in a hospital in 1863. His widow was again married, her second union be- ing with Marion Spangler, and in 1873 they came to Kansas, locating on a farm near - our subject's home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ragland have been born four children, as follows : Nellie, who is the wife of Ed- ward Lewis and resides at her father's home: Charles W., a young man of nine- teen years : Walter M., who is fifteen years of age ; and Oscar Earl. a bright and prom- ising boy of four years.

Mr. Ragland is extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits on three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 32. Walnut township. Wheat is his principal crop, and he annually harvests from one hundred to one hundred and sixty acres of that cereal. He also harvests from seventy-five to eighty acres of corn each year, often raising as high as fifty bushels to the acre. He raises con- siderable stock and also about five hundred bushels of apples and all fruits. His is one of the rich and fertile farms of this section of the state. In his political views Mr. Rag- land is a stalwart advocate of Republican principles, and has several times been hon- ored with positions of trust and responsibil- ity, serving as township trustee, as a mem- ber of the school board and in other offices, while for four years he served his county as recorder. The family are members of the Christian church, and Mr. Ragland was the first Sunday-school worker of that denom- ination in the township, in which he is now serving as teacher and superintendent. In the administration of his duties he has been prompt, courteous and efficient. In- dolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and whether in public office or in private business life he manifests great activity and energy, qualities which have made him one of the prosperous residents of Reno county.

A. SIDNEY CHASE.

The office of probate judge is one de- manding for the proper performance of its duties trained business ability, a knowledge

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of law and of property values, sound judg- ment and honor in the highest degree. One of the most reputable probate judges in Kansas is Judge A. Sidney Chase, of Ells- worth county. Judge Chase is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and was born Feb- ruary 5, 1842, a son of Autumnus S. and Mary A. ( Peterson) Chase, both natives of Massachusetts, and descendants of old colo- nial families. Judge Chase's father was an officer in the United States navy and as such saw service during the Mexican war. Silas Chase, father of Autumnus S. Chase, and grandfather of A. Sidney Chase, fought to gain American independence in the Revo- lutionary war and to maintain it in the war of 1812. John Chase, Judge Chase's great- grandfather, had warlike experiences also, and saw service in the Revolutionary war and also in some of our provincial wars.

The future probate judge of Ellsworth county lived in Boston until he was seven years old, when his father removed to Al- bany. New York. There the boy grew to manhood, attending the public schools until he was twelve years old and after that serv- ing an apprenticeship to a piano maker, which was completed when he was eighteen years old. Early in 1861, when he was only nineteen years old. in response to President Lincoln's first call for troops to put down the rebellion in the southern states, the young man enlisted in Company I. Fifth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. At the expiration of his term of service hie re-enlisted as a private. He was soon pro- moted to be corporal, then in turn to the offices of sergeant, second lieutenant and first lieutenant, and was mustered out of the service at the close of the war as captain of Company C. His regiment was included in the army of the Potomac and participated with it in all the engagements in which it took part until after the battles of Mechan- icsburg and Chancellorsville. At Shepards- town he was wounded by a canister shot.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 6

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