A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 62

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 62

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the state on the Liberal Republican ticket in 1872.

Mr. Sherman, of this review, received his education in the local schools and in Cornell University. After teaching and do- ing some newspaper work he went to Arizo- na in 1879. and about four years later, while in charge of the Tombstone schools, he be- came interested in the cattle business. In 1886 he was married, and in the same year, in company with John J. and Lewis H. Lap- ham, of New York city, and F. H. Rack- well. of Warren. Pennsylvania, they pur- chased over a hundred thousand acres of land in Sonora, Mexico, one hundred miles south of Bisbee, Arizona. This ranch was stocked with cattle, and there Mr. Sherman lived until 1895, when he removed with his family to Kansas, he having shipped cat- tle to Ellsworth county, this state, the pre- vious year. Pleased with the results in the Sunflower state, this company, to which Arnold Schlaet, of New York city, had been admitted. began the purchase of land in 1897. They now own over twenty-five thou- sand acres in one body, besides renting over fifteen thousand acres, thus making a tract of over forty thousand acres. Of this land about five thousand acres is under cultiva- tion, making the largest farming enterprise in the state, and here they carry a herd of two thousand breeding cows, in addition to the cattle shipped from their Mexican prop- erty. Extensive improvements have been placed upon this ranch, including the erec- tion of sheds capable of sheltering four thousand head of cattle. The grain fed to the cattle is ground, while most of the corn fodder is shredded. A telephone line con- nects the different divisions with headquar- ters, where every day is reported the work of the employes, numbering from eighty to one hundred and fifty men. and an accurate account is kept of each separate farm and field of every bunch of cattle. Although the management of the Mexican and the Kan- sas ranches has entailed much work and many improvements have been introduced in connection with the business, Mr. Sherman considers his chief work in central Kansas to have been the demonstration that by deep

ploughing the lack of moisture. as this fe- gion does not always have a full amount of rainfall. can be successfully farmed against. The real trouble with this section of Kan- sas consists not in the lack of rain last in the lack of a proper cultivation of the soil. The three and four-inch ploughing, generally in vogue, can hardly be expected, as a rule, to produce a crop as a general thing anywhere, though in this region the extreme richness of the soil yields bounteous harvests when the seasons are favorable. The Sherman Ranch produces excellent crops, even in what are called bad years, although Mr. Sherman contends that there are no more bad years in central Kansas than in any other agricultt :- ral country.

The year 1886 witnessed his marriage to Lisette F. Jones, of Utica, New York. She is a graduate of Cornell University, and it was in that famous institution that they le- came acquainted. Their union has been blessed with two children-Carl, a son, of thirteen years ; and Elizabeth. a little girl of ten summers. Both were born in Tomb- stone. Arizona, and are now attending sch. . 1 at Salina, Kansas.

ANDREW S. KINSEY.

The industrial interests of Minneapolis are well represented by the firm of Kinsey & Bishop, who own and control the Min- neapolis Marble Works, now a paying and growing enterprise of Ottawa CUIMy. Cn- tributing to the general prosperity as well as to the individual success of he partners. Mr. Kinsey has a very wide acquaintance in central Kansas. for he came to this ec- tion of the state in pioneer times when de- velopment and progress was larger a work of the future, when the few homes in this lo- cality were widely scattered and the men and women were known as frontier settlers. being far removed from the progressive di- triets further east. But the country offered excellent possibilities and was rich in its nat- ural resources and thus it drew : ma drift days of podle, who wishing : take ad-

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vantage of its opportunities, have aided in establishing a splendid commonwealth.

Among this number is Mr. Kinsey, who was born in Ohio in 1847 and in 1852 was taken by his parents to Indiana, the family locating in Kosciusko. He is a son of Fran- cis and Esther ( Creamer ) Kinsey, the for- mer a native of Delaware and the latter of Maryland. The father was a farmer by oc cupation during his active business career. Both are still living in Indiana, where they located in 1852. Mr. Kinsey having reached the venerable age of ninety-two, while his wife is eighty-seven years of age. Their ten children were all living in 1895. death having never broken the family circle up to that time.

Upon the old family homestead Mr. Kin- sey of this review remained until he had attained his majority, when he began learn- ! ing the plasterer's trade. He went to Tope- ka, Kansas, in 1869, and there followed plas- tering until May. 1871, when he came to Ottawa county, and located a claim six miles from Minneapolis. He was accompanied by his brother, and they were here during the In lian scare. When they were getting out logs for their dugout one would work while the other watched, fearing that the Indians might attack them. Their weapon was a very uncertain six-shooter ; sometimes all six of the chambers would be discharged at the same time: again none of them would fire. Mr. Kinsey, of this review, was also in the path of the cyclone of 1878, stood directly uncler the funnel-shaped cloud and narrowly escaped its awful destruction. However, he has prospered in Kansas, and has watched with interest its development from year to year. He carried on the work of improv- ing his claim and at the same time worked at his trade in Salina and other places. In- 1886 he embarked in merchandising at Ada. Kansas, in connection with William Price, conducting the store until 1894. when he came to Minneapolis and secured a position as a salesman in the store of A. Porter. where he remained until 1898, when he es- tablished the marble works as a member of the firm of Kinsey & Bishop. They turn out an excellent grade of work of attractive de-

! signs and this has led them to win favor with the public, whereby their patronage is con- stantly growing.

In 1873 Mr. Kinsey was married to Miss Eva A. Bennett, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas and Mary Bennett, who were born in Bristol. England, and came to the United States in their early married life. After residing in New York for a few years they emigrated westward to Illinois, set- tling in Peoria county, and soon afterward removing to Livingston county, where the father purchased land and carried on agri- cultural pursuits until his death in 1874. His wife survived until 1895. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey have been born two sons and one daughter: Thomas A., born in 1875. is a graduate of the stenographic course in Wesleyan College, of Salina, Kan- sas, and is now a stenographer in the real estate office of John Silon : Charles E., who is a barber living in Minneapolis ; and Mary E., who is engaged in statistical work in the office of the Messenger, a newspaper of Minneapolis.

Mr. Kinsey says his political opinions in early life were formulated from the New" York Tribune. His ancestors were Demo- crats until the Pierce administration, when they became Republicans, and Mr. Kinsey also supports that party to some extent, and at times gives his ballot to the men and measures of the Prohibition party. He be- longs to Minneapolis Lodge, No. 97. I. O. O. F., and to the Sons and Daughters of Justice, while he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in their lives exemplify their belief.

SAMUEL K. DAVIS.

Samuel K. Davis, one of the early pio- neers of the Sunflower state and an honored and respected resident of Harvey county, was born in Monroe county, New York, on the 19th of April, 1831. His father, Sam- uel C. Davis, was born on the seashore of Massachusetts, not far from Boston, in 1780, and his death occurred in Kalamazoo, Mich-

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MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL K. DAVIS.

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igan, in 1878, at the age of ninety-eight Years. He was a remarkably healthy man. his death resulting from okl age, and during his entire life he never took a dose of medi- cine. He died while sitting in his chair. He was went to compare the journey of life with a spool of thread, and when the thread of life was unwound one would drop from existence. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his brother. Hope Davis, was a captain in that brief struggle. The father of our subject wedded Laura Finch, of Herseneck, Connecticut, and unto them were born six children, namely : Niram P .. who followed agricultural pursuits, died at Hillsdale, Michigan, about 1889, at the age of seventy-three years, leaving six children : Emily Tillotson died in Hillsdale, Michigan, at the age of forty years, leaving two chil- dren: Edward H. passed away in Florida. in which state he and his family spent their winters, dying at noon on Thanksgiving day of 1884, leaving three sons and one daughter: Mary Wallace, who made the journey to California twice by water and once across the plains on horseback, died in Nevada, when about forty years of age: Elisha P. died in Jackson, Michigan, in March. 1898; and Samuel K. is the subject of this review. Three of the sons made the overland journey to California in 1849. The father of this family was a gentleman of commanding appearance, being six feet and one inch in hight. He was a carpenter by trade, and was also self educated in law. having followed the practice of that pro- fession for over forty years. His wife was called to her final reward from Michigan. to which state they had removed from New York in 1839. passing away at the age of sixty-seven years.

Samuel K. Davis, whose name intro- duces this review, received his education principally in the district schools of Mich. igan, and until reaching years of maturity he remained under the parental roof. In Jackson, Michigan, in 1862, he responded to the call for volunteers, becoming a member of Company L. Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and was engaged in active service from that time until the close of hostilities. During his

military career he was thrice captured, but each time succeded in making good his es- cape. In 1861 the regiment started on a march from Detroit, Michigan, and among the soldiers was Oliver Perry, a son of top- modore Perry, who was wounded in battle and was left on the field. After the battle was over his horse went to him and stood by his side until he climbed into the saddle and then took him to camp. During Mr. Perry's incarceration in Libby Prison this faithful animal was given to our subject, who named him Billy. Mr. Davis was then a "green" soldier, and was unfamiliar with the bugle call. but Billy knew it well and carried him safely through. On one march of one hundred and twenty miles in Virginia our subject and his noble steed were with- out rations for about six days, and when al- most despairing of ever getting food Mr. Davis resolved to kill his horse to save him from further suffering and from falling in- to the enemy's hands, but he soon afterward received three hardtacks and some bacon, which he shared equally with his horse, and thus they managed to subsist until rations came! Later Mr. Davis was wounded near Snicker's Ford, in Virginia, August 19. 1864, the ball entering the right nostril, passing through the roof of the mouth and lodging in the spinal column.

After the close of hostilities our subject returned to his home with an honorable mil- itary record and immediately took up the quiet pursuits of the farm. In 1869 he left the Wolverine state and in the spring of 1870 located in Sedgwick county, Kansas, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and there remained for three years. He then located on a new claim three miles north of Burrton, but in the spring of 1892 sold that place and located in the sub- urbs of Burrton, purchasing eight acres of broken prairie, for which he paid fifty dol- lars per acre, and there he erected his pres- ent beautiful residence and large red barn. He has planted all the shade trees which surround his home. and his fine large or- chard is also the work of his own hands. The latter contains peach, pear, plum and cherry trees, which yield an abundance of

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fruit in season. Mr. Davis has been obliged to lay aside the active cares of a business life on account of ill-health, and for the past three years he has been confined to his bed, but he bears his affliction with the same Christian fortitude which has been displayed throughout his entire life. Mrs. Davis no- bly cares for her afflicted husband and also superintends the work of their little city farm.

The marriage of Mr. Davis and Malinda Preston was celebrated in Michigan, in the autumn of 1859, but when about forty-six years of age she passed away in death, leav- ing two sons, Fred and Del, both residents of Chicago. On the 8th of September, 1868, our subject wedded Miss Mary A. McCor- mick, who was born in Canton, Ohio, a daughter of David and Margaret ( Him- baugh) McCormick, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father died in 1853, and his widow survived until 1872, passing away in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They reared seven of their eight children, and six of the number still survive. An uncle of Mr. Davis was a prominent lawyer of Roch- ester, New York, and at the age of one hundred and four years he was engaged on a suit in which the Astor family was in- volved. He died at the age of one hundred and seven years. In his political affiliations Mr. Davis is a supporter of Republican prin- ciples, and socially he was a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic in Kala- mazoo, Michigan. He has proved himself in all the relations of life an earnest, hon- est and upright man and a citizen of whom any community might well be proud.

EDGAR WOOD.

Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and distinguished and happy is he whose lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. In person, in char- acter and in talents Mr. Wood is a worthy scion of his race. Though his life has been une rather of modest reserve than, of ambi- tivus self-seeking, he has displayed excellent ability as a financier, as a capable manager.

and as a man of marked business and execu- tive force.

Mr. Wood is a native of Somersetshire, England, born in 1869. his parents being William Stuckey and Mary ( Armit ) Wood. The father, a native of England, was con- nected with the banking firm carrying on business under the name of the Stuckey Banking Company, and was also a lieuten- ant of the Seventh Dragoon Guards, in the Crimean war. He died in October, 1870. His wife was born in Dublin, Ireland, and is now living in England. Her father was a banker or army agent and did the banking business for the army in Ireland. Our sub- ject is the youngest of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Three of his brothers reside in Australia, and one of the sisters, with her family, lives in a house in Eng- land which was erected in the eleventh cen- tury. Many of Mr. Wood's ancestors are distinguished people, including army officers and eminent financiers.

In Sherborne College, in his native land, Edgar Wood acquired his literary edu- cation and received practical training in the business world after coming to America. He left the land of his birth in 1886 and cross- ing the Atlantic to America became a resi- dent of Mitchell county, Kansas, his home being near the Lincoln county line. The following year he purchased land in Ottawa county, whereon he remained for about a year, after which he came to Minneapolis, however retaining possession of his land and continuing in the stock-feeding business. In February, 1896, he purchased the grain business of Mr. Standford, and two years later sold an interest in the enterprise to the former proprietor, since which time they have conducted a prosperous business under the firm name of the Wood Elevator Com- pany, operating six elevators, including two in Minneapolis and one each in Lindsay, Brewer, Wells, Summerville and Culver, all of Ottawa county. They also feed and ship cattle and hogs, doing a business of about half a million dollars annually.

In 1892 Mr. Wood was married to Anna Campbell, a daughter of Jacob and Clara J. ( Elder) Campbell, natives of Ohio, and

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pioneer settlers of Ottawa county, Kansas, born in 1878, is a graduate of the high school of the class of 1897, and for the past two years has been cashier in the "Blue Store" of E. Winter & Son: John J., born in 1881, is now employed by John West in a meat market. where they are still highly respected citizens. The father was born in 1834. in Preble county. Ohio, and is a son of Charles and Hannah ( Griffin) Campbell. He served through the war of the Rebellion with the Union army as a member of the Fifty-fourth Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born two bright and interesting children : Mary Armit, born in 1896; and Richard Armit, in 1898. Mr. Wood has several times visited his native land since first com- ing to America, and in 1894, accompanied by his wife, went abroad, remaining for ten months. Politically he was a Democrat un- til the Transvaal troubles arose, since which time he has been a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church and are people of prominence in the com- munity, being recognized as leaders in social circles, while the hospitality of their own charming home is enjoyed by many friends. In business circles Mr. Wood is popular and has those sterling traits of character which win friendship and regard everywhere. Ohio Infantry. He is one of the five chil- dren in his fathers' family, one other of whom is living-Charles, a farmer and stock man of Ottawa county, Kansas. Mr. Campbell came to Kansas in 1867, entered a claim, also pre-empted one, and later sold them, at which time he purchased an im- proved tract on the Solomon. He was in- terested in a mill at one time and also in a stock of general merchandise, and owned an interest in the original town site of Minne- apolis. He has platted two additions to the town and was interested in a third during the boom of 1886-7. He has also been largely identified with the improvement of the town and its business interests along various lines. He erected the handsome residence now owned by .A. J. Smith, also the Wood Ele- vator, and was at one time president of the First National Bank, and one of the com- pany that erected the bank building at the FRANKLIN C. REES. corner of Second and Ottawa streets. In 1892 he was elected register of deeds and for ten years he was a member of the city coun- nent representative of financial interests in cil. In 1877 he lost an arm through the accidental discharge of a gun while out shooting prairie chickens.

In March. 1871, Mr. Campbell returned to his Ohio home and was married. He then brought his bride to Kansas, where they en- joyed pioneer life in a cabin with home made furniture, the chairs being constructed of grape-vines, while the other furnishings were equally primitive. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born five children. all of whom are living: Boyce E .. who was born December 28. 1871, pursued a course of study in the Conrad & Smith Business Col- lege of Atchison. Kansas. and then entered the employ of the Armour Packing Com+ pany. of Kansas City, with which he has been connected for ten years: Anna. now Mrs. Wocd, was born in 1874: Ward. born in 1876. went to Alaska in 1898: Bertha S ..

Franklin Carroll Rees is to-day a promi- Ottawa county, being president of the Citi- zens' National Bank of Minneapolis, but forty-five years ago he came to cast in his lot with the pioneers of Kansas. People of the twentieth century can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacri- fice of lives passed upon the borders of civ- ilization. the hardships endured, the difficul- ties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only the modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer of the early days, far removed from the privileges and conveniences of city or town. the struggle for existence was a stern and hard one, and these men and women must have po sessed indomitable energy and sterling worth of character. as well as marked physical cour- age, when they thus voluntarily selected

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such a life and successfully fought its bat- tles under such adverse circumstances as prevailed in the west. No history of central Kansas would be complete without mention of Mr. Rees, for he has played an important part in the history of Ottawa county.

A native of Butler county, Ohio, Frank- lin Carroll Rees was born in 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth S. ( Griffin ) Rees, both of whom were natives of the state of Delaware. The paternal grandparents were of Welsh extraction, and the maternal grandparents were English Quakers, who left England on account of existing war troubles. Both the grandparents lived in Delaware and were slave holders, Thomas Rees inheriting sixty-five slaves at the time of his father's death in the early part of the nineteenth century. Both Thomas Rees and his wife were reared in Delaware, and there they were married in 1817. He was a practical miller and followed that business. until 1822, when he removed with his fam- ily to Preble county, Ohio, and began farm- ing. There he lived for six or seven years, after which he went to Butler county, Ohio, taking up his abode five miles south of Ox- ford, where he remained from 1828 until the beginning of the Civil war. His three youngest sons entered the service and the family returned to Preble county, where the father died in 1870. The mother was edu- cated in Lidtzett Seminary, enjoying and improving good educational privileges. Af- ter her husband's death she remained in Ohio until 1879, when she joined her sons in Min- neapolis, there continuing until her death in 1884.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rees were born thir- teen children. all of whom reached years of maturity. Olivia Carroll, the eldest daugh- ter, died in Ohio, in 1893. at the age of sev- enty-five years. Willard H. is now a resi- dent of Portland, Oregon. When a mere lad he left his Ohio home, going to Inde- pendence, Missouri, which, in those days. was the starting point for the "far west." and the headquarters for emigrants. A company of one hundred emigrants was there formed and Mr. Rees was made cap- tain of the train. They started out on the

Lewis & Clarke trail-the government sur- vey-with Oregon as their destination, and were nearly two years en route. Mr. Rees located on the Willamette river, forty miles from the present city of Portland, and is now a retired farmer of eighty-five years, living there with his family. He has a son, Harry Rees, who is a paymaster in the United States service at Chicago, Illinois. Sewell G. went to the Pacific coast in 1852. and was killed by a falling building during a storm, only a few months previous to the death of R. R. Rees. Mrs. Ellen M. Pot- tinger, a widow, is yet residing in Preble county, Ohio. Victor D., who came to Ot- tawa county in 1867, was engaged in bank- ing and stock-raising, and served for one term as deputy county treasurer. He died in Minneapolis in 1898 and his widow yet lives with her family in this city. His son, R. R. Rees, is now serving his second term as representative from this district to the state legislature of Kansas. McDonough B .. the next of the family, went to the Pacific coast in 1852 and in 1855 he located on a ranch near Grand Ronde valley, California. He is now retired and makes his home in the city of Cove. Raymond R. Rees died in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1890. He was a journalist and published the first news- paper in Walla Walla, locating there in 1853. He was connected with many indus- tries, engaged in merchandising and in the grain business and was connected with a number of important corporations. J. G. Rees, who now resides in Greeley. Anderson coun- ty, Kansas, first came to the state in 1857. He served as a representative under the ter- ritorial government and was a member of the constitutional convention. At the begin- ning of the Civil war he enlisted as a mem- ber of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry and served until the close of hostilities, holding the rank of captain of his company. For a year he was commander of the post at Inde- pendence. After the war he returned home and resumed farming and cattle-raising. but is now enjoying a well-earned rest from business cares, his home being in Greeley. He has been very prominent in public affairs and several years ago was chosen to repre-

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 62

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