A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 71

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 71

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BIOGRAPIC.IL HISTORY.

lines of business, he ran distilleries. In the early days he was colonel of the militia, and well known as Calone Snyder. He served as a justice of the peace of the Vietnam district for forty years, and died in Pean- sylvania, a consistent member of the Pres- buterian church. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder was Blessed with seven chil- dren, namely : George: Thomas: John: Elizabeth, there therefear subject: Peter: Sarah : and Adam.

Albert Wynn, whose name introduces this review, was born in Northumberland county. Pennsylvania. May 10, 1832. IIe was reared in his native state, where he ac- quired a good common-school education, and when nineteen years of age left home and learned the millwright's trade, which he followed at intervals for sixteen years. In 1852 he married and settied on a farm. later engaged in the banker business and after a few years returned to the home- stead and managed the farm for his fa- ther for five years. In 1864 he came to Iowa, rented a farm two years and from there movel to Peoria county, Ilinois. where he followed his trade for eight years. In 1873 he went to Kansas, and after pros- pecting for a short time took a homestead. upon which he moved and there made his home until his death. At the time he lo- cated there his was the most northern claim in the settlement, and there was no house between his and Ellsworth. Wild beasts. buffalo, antelope and other game roamed over the prairies ; much of the land was vet unbroken and the early settlers had to call- tend with many hardships and discourage- ments in establishing their homes in the west. Many became so discouraged with the frequent failure of the crops and the trials which they had to bear that they aban- doned their claims and returned to the more settled east, but our subject and his wife pa- tiently have all the inconveniences and hard- ships incident to pioneer life and by unre- mitting toil, economy and good manage- ment at last succeeded in placing the land under a high state of cultivation. He made a study of the soil and when the land was

fresh and strong be on's court a pak wheat to the were. while efter. saved hashd and a half, with the result that his fields gave the greater viel. Her potatoes, and in spite of the grappe- that in 1874 destroyed everything inviare them he had always had plenty and space. As his financial resources increased le del to his land and became the owner of large tracts, some of which he gave til children, and his homestead consisted of eight hundred and ninety acres, all fine land, all under fence and in a good state of cultiva- tion. The home is a fine two-story frame building of modern style of architecture. commodious and supplied with all the acces- sories and convenience so necessary to the comfort of the family. Upon the phe are also found commodious barn- and outbuild- ings: a beautiful grave of shake trees: an orchard of over two thousand fruit trees of various kinds: a large amount :" fruit and grapes. Mr. Wyni. siderable attention to the raising of stock of high-grade, Imth cattle and horses, and had some fine Percheron stallions.

In Pennsylvania, in 1852, Mr. V ..... was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Ba- con, who was born in Pennsylvania, on the Ioth of June, 1832, and is a daughter of Nehemiah and Polly ( Wolf Bacon, both natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and maxle his home in Pennsylvania until his death. He was an Episcopalion in religions faith, while his wife was a Lutheran. After her husband's death she went to Ohio and made her home with a son until her death. They were the parents of the following children : Maria. who married G. Fetterman; Isaac: Jerry and Rachel, twins, and the latter ::. mar- ried a Fettermm: Charles: Ezekie': Join: Nancy, the wife of our subject : Elizabeth. who married J. McKloe: Polly, the wife of 1. Persing: and Thomas. Unto our subject and his wife were born eight children. namely: William, who makes his home in Peoria, Illinois : Charles D .. a farmer of Rice county, Kansas : Mary, the wife of W. Eng- lish : Laura, who married J. Elrick; George,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

a farmer : Nora, who became the wife of N. Hysell; Ed, who is engaged in farming : and Dorcas, the wife of E. Bethers.

Mr. Wynn was an energetic, enterpris- ing and public-spirited man who was deeply interested in everything calculated to pro- mote the progress and upbuilding of the community in which he made his home. He was reared a Democrat, but after coming to Kansas joined the Populist party and at one time was a candidate to represent his coun- ty in the state legislature but was not elected owing to a division in the party. Later he joined the Socialist party, with which he af- terward affiliated. He was also a leading member of the Farmers' Alliance. He passed away in death on the 8th of Febru- ary. 1902. after a life of industry and one rich in those rare possessions which only a high character can give.

J. S. GIBSON.

One of the honored and distinguished citizens of Geneseo is the well known vice- president of the Geneseo State Bank, J. S. Gibson. A man of distinct and forceful individuality, of broad mentality and most mature judgment, he has left and is leaving his impress upon the industrial world. For years he has been an important factor in the development of the state, in the upbuild- ing of the city and in the promotion of the enterprises which add not alone to his in- dividual prosperity but also advance the general welfare and prosperity of the city in which he makes his home, and of which he is now the honored mayor.

Mr. Gibson was born in Constantine. St. Joseph county, Michigan, thirty-three years ago, and is a son of the Hon. Samuel Gibson, who was a prominent factor in the state of Michigan for fifty years. As an ex-member of the legislature, banker, farm- er and capitalist he wields a wide influence in affairs of his commonwealth, and no man stands higher in business circles than he. For some four years he has been

president of the Commercial State Bank, of Michigan. Pennsylvania is the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred near Williamsport, and he was there reared and received his education. He has ever been active and influential in the ranks of the Democratic party, believing firmly in its principles, and he does everything in his power to aid its advancement. He is also president of the Geneseo State Bank.

J. S. Gibson, one of six children, two sons and four daughters, received a good education in his native state and later at- tended the college at Poughkeepsie, New York. At an early age he served as book- keeper in the national bank at Constantine, Michigan. The year 1888 witnessed his arrival in Kansas, and he at once took charge of the bank here. He has an able assistant in his brother, W. G. Gibson, who is serving as cashier and who is a popular man for the position. The bank building is a fine brick block, seventy-five by sixty feet, two stories in height, and the upper Hoor is made into flats. By judicious man- agement this has become one of the leading banking institutions in this part of the state, and the reliability of the stockhold- ers has secured it a liberal patronage.

In 1897 Mr. Gibson was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Flora A. Coulter, a native of Charlton, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Dr. S. E. Dix. Our subject is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and was its choice for the high and responsible position of mayor, being now the incumbent of that office. For ten years he also held the office of treasurer of Gen- eseo, and is now treasurer of the school board. He was made a Scottish Rite Ma- Son at Wichita, Kansas, in 1898, and is now serving as junior warden in Geneseo Lodge, No. 361, A. F. & A. M. He is also a past chancellor of Geneseo Lodge, No. 249, K. of P. Although a young man, he has attained eminence in industrial and po- litical life, and the future will undoubtedly hold still higher honors for him, for a man of marked ability and energy is always in demand in connection with the important activities of business and public life.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

CHARLES C. BOND.

Perhaps in all Barber county there is Hut a citizen more widely or favorably known than Dr. Bond, whose connection with this part of the state dates in im early pioneer days. He has been engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising, and has also prac- ticed his profession, being the loved fam- ily physician in many a houscholl. The distance was never too long, a storm too severe, or the sun too het, or the night too dark to deter the Doctor from responding :" a call from the sick, and his efort- proved of the greatest benefit in a large majority of cases. He was also the organ- iper and for many years president of the First Cattlemen's Association of the coun- ty. and his efforts along many lines of prog- ress and improvement have been most bene- ficial to the county.

The Doctor comes of one of the oldest New England families of Puritan ancestry, dating back to the first settlement of the Puritans in Massachusetts. He was born October 26, 1831. in Leicester, Worcester county, Massachusetts, where many gen- erations of the family had lived and died. The first authentic record we have concern- ing the Bond family states that Burley Bond, the great-great uncle of our subject, was married in 1740 to Elizabeth Hopkins, and during the Revolutionary war served under Captain Henshaw. Benjamin Bond, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, spent his life in Leicester. By his wife, Mary, he had four children-Benjamin, Richard. Mary and Elizabeth. His son, Richard, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject. was born December II. 1747, followed the shoemaker's trade, and left a son, Rich- ard.

The last-named. the grandfather of the Doctor, was born November 1. 1774, was a manufacturer of shoes and a farmer. His wife was named Elizabeth Howard and had lived in Stoughton, Massachusetts. The grandfather died in 1838 and his wife sur- vived him fourteen years, dying in 1852. They had eight children: Louisa. the eld- est, born January 15, 1799, married Rev. 75

Otis Converse, and died in Worcester. April 1. 1882; Jeremiah, born October 6. 150O. was a shoe manufacturer of Worcester and latter a general solicitor. His death - curred in Worcester. Narcissa, born Apri! 21. 1803, married Mr. Colyer, of Tros. N. Y., and died in Worcester, leaving two children. Zephaniah, the father of the Dec- tor, was the fourth. Mary, born April 9. 1807, married Hastings Bridges, a farmer, and died in Springfield, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 20, 1878. Carey, born December o. iSoo, died at the old homestead in Leices- ter, April 17, 1832, at the age of twenty- two years. Lydia, born March 28, 1814, married Dexter Trask, and died in Litch- field. Connecticut. Joseph, born August 21. 1821, died November 3. 1850.

Zephaniah Bond, born February 23. 1805, when twenty years of age bought his time of his father and began learning the machinist's trade, but finding it too call- fining he followed blacksmithing instead, es- tablishing a shop in Leicester, Massachu- setts, but after a time he changed his loca- tion to Paxton, Massachusetts, his wife's native town. Finally, however, he returned to Leicester, abandoned the blacksmith's trade, and from there removed to Wilkes- barre, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a large boot and shoe store for Willard Snow, his father-in-law. He remained there fifteen years, then sold his interest and entered the livery business in Carbon- dale, Pennsylvania, where he remained wn- til the '6os. His next place of residence was Harford, Pennsylvania, where he lived retired in a farmer's family until the sum- mer of 1872, when he went to Labadie. Indiana, where his son Alonzo lived, and there his death occurred that year. He was an honest, conscientious man. a Universal- ist in religious faith and a firm believer in universal salvation. In political views he was originally a Democrat. but afterward became a Republican. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow.

On the 13th of October, 1830, Mr. BEI was married in Paxton, Massachusetts, to Sophronia Snow, who was born there Jan- uary 7, 1808, a daughter of Colonel Will-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

ard and Polly ( Abbot) Snow. Her father, born July 25, 1775, became a contractor and builder and built the greater part of the town of Paxton. His wife was born in Hol- den. Massachusetts. Willard Snow became very well to do, owning a farm of five hun- dred acres, which included the most of Has- neburniskit Hill, a place of some historical importance and now a famous summer re- sort. His death occurred on this farm. He was a colonel in the local militia. Mrs. Bond died May 23. 1839. She was a faithful Christian woman. Her brothers and sis- ters were as follows: Polly, born Septem- ber 17. 1797, died November 5, 1820; Carlo H .. born November II. 1799, died May 2. 1828; John, born October 30, 1801, died January 15, 1828; Lucy, born March 29. 1805. died November 30, 1895, at the age of ninety years; Sophronia. born January 7, 1808. died August 23, 1839; Lucretia, born June 6, 1810. died September 13, 1813 ; Sybil. born May 31, 1813. died May 6. 1836; Willard. Jr., born August 29, 1818. is now a retired farmer of Mitchell, South Dako- ta : Henry, born January 21, 1827, is a car- penter of Newton Corners. Boston, Massa- chusetts.

Unto the parents of the Doctor were born five children, of whom he is the eld- est and the only survivor. The others were Sophronia S., who was born December 16. 1832, and died September 15. 1833; So- phronia S., who was born August 7, 1834, and died December 18. 1837: Alonzo G., who was born July 31, 1835, and died De- cember 15, 1837: and Alonzo S., who was born July II, 1839, and became a railroad engineer. While running on the Wabash Railroad, at Jewell, Ohio, he slipped from his cab and fell under the wheels. being killed January 20, 1881. He was married to Jennie Bennett, and left a widow and two children : Charles Z., an expert machinist in the Wabash shops at Fort Wayne, In- diana: and Lulu, who died in 1882, at the age of seventeen years.

Dr. Bond, of this review, was reared in Leicester, Massachusetts, when he went to live with his maternal grandfather in Pax- ton. He spent five or six years there, at-

tending the town school. and at the end of that time he went to make his home with his paternal grandmother, who lived on the old homestead. just south of Leicester, Mas- sachusetts. There he resided until 1846, and was a student in the schools of that place. He was then apprenticed to Orlando Whitney at Grafton. Massachusetts, to learn the shoemaker's trade, and remained there for six months after the expiration of his two years' apprenticeship. Going to Wilkes- barre he worked for a time with his father, but soon left there, and for a year was in the employ of a Mr. Crosby, a custom shoe- maker of Wilkesbarre, during which time he completed his trade and became a jour- neyman shoemaker, following that pursuit for several years through Pennsylvania and New York. By the water route he made his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thence to Janesville and on to Racine. He there took boat and returned as far as Cleveland, Ohio. Three or four years afterward he returned to Wilkesbarre, again entering the employ of Mr. Crosby.

On the 23d of April, 1861, Mr. Bond was united in marriage to Miss Mary .A. Bingham, in the Episcopalian church, of Fredonia. New York, by the Rev. Norton. She was born in Lima, Ohio, a daughter of Winfield and Mary E. Bingham. During the interval between leaving Wilkesbarre and his marriage Dr. Bond had been work- ing in Dunkirk, and after his marriage hie located at Cherry Creek. where his wife died May 22, 1862. After his loss he was not content to remain there, and spent a short time in Elmira, New York, and then went to Troy, on to Albany and finally reached Lansingburg, where he took up the study of edicine with Dr. Hull. In order to earn a living while pursuing his studies he was compelled to work. finding employ- ment in a retail boot and shoe store just across the river, in Waterford. Later he also conducted a sewing machine agency at Lansingburg, where he remained until 1872. He attended lectures at Albany and was finally registered with Dr. Hull antl prac- ticed with him for a time. In the fall of 1872 he removed from Lansingburg to Fort

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Wanne. Indiana, spent the winter there and in the following spring made his way with a companion to Topeka, Kansas The Dec- for then proceeded to Coffeyville, where he entered into partnership with Mr. Ganger in living and selling cattle. With S. J. Shepler he came to Barber county, and in October. 18-3, secured a claim in Lake City township. At that time the commit was divided into only four townships and there was an abundance of game in the lo- cality. Mr. Bond built a log cabin on his claim and spent the winter of 1873-4 there. During the following summer the Osage Indians went upon the war path and ser- oral people were killed in this locality. Mr. Bond always kept his guns near him, and one night hearing his dog bark he arose and shot in the direction of his watermelon watch. believing that some one was trying to stex melons; but it turned out that ser- und intians were there. They were. how over, scared off by the gunshot. Early that meaning the Doctor started for Sun City to cellver a pair of boots which he had made. for to some extent he was still fol- lowing its trade. He rode one horse and led the other until reaching the home of a Gierman with whom he left the led horse we're proceeded on his way. Soon a shot rang ofit and he discovered he was fol- Towel by four Indians, who were running their horses. He tried to escape, but finding the red men were gaining on him he made his way into the bushes, followed by various shots, some of which barely missed him. As he continued on his way some men work- ing in a fell ran toward them. He shouted for them to return and get their guns and when they made their way to the town, about a half-mile distant. a party Was fi- gariel to go after the Indians, and a com- many of the regiment stationed there was called out. but after following the trail of the men until dark the search was alan- done !. The Doctor succeeded in recovering his horse, which he was forced to abandon when he made his way into the woods, but some of his neighbors had stek stolen by the Indians.

For some years after his arrival 1. Bond followed various pursuits vich copil add to his income. He worked at sheetsk . ing, engaged in farming and steel. : and practiced his profession. cedar posts in the canyon- and her to Wichita. In the fall of 1874 he ' trip to Finddinson, and vide returning through Kingman county he re: man from whom he purchased twel . lief- ers for eight deHar- api them to his ranch and this consigue te beginning of his stock Insine ... He prac- :iced his profession. being called for many miles to attend the sick and senifering and never did he fail to go to the ledsiile of those who needed it's professional somr ces. In many a household he lang' . google rer and aid where before his arrivent and dread. In these early da- had gone om hunting try - after in order to sell their hides for sixty. apiece.

The Doctor Hed men - chain by him- self until 1883 and in the me" a good conditionalde ro- of May. 1883. however, he was mentiel. in Barber county, by Rev. Axline . I. S. Burbank. He had secured his license Barber county and the lady lived in The county. Mr. Axline being dential about the validity of the marriage in Pratt cant. 1'e couple then went south into the edge of si- county, where the ceremony was det formed. The lady was born in loc ville, Illinois, February 22. 1800, 3 ter of Lewis and Mary paratets bank. Her father was born in Ca

1820 and the mother was born in S

that country, about 1823. The family is . Eng

ded in Canada many s

grandfather. Cyrus Burbank, and ther having lived and died there. ite mer becoming a well-to-do man. here married Eliza Sanburn, and after her de: welded Betsy Kilbourn. He died in : 00- ada :hom 18;2. By the first marriage there are the war set living: James a free of Sont county. Mind's: and Com : fr-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

mer of Missouri. By the second marriage there is one child : Frances, of Toronto. The parents of Mrs. Bond were married in Can- ada. and several years later removed to Mor- gan county, Illinois, where the father bought a farm, but later he sold it and became the owner of a farm in Brown county, that WILLIAM A. WARNER. state, where he resided until 1874. when he came to Kansas, locating on a claim near Lake City. He subsequently removed to Pratt county, where he spent his remain- ing days, his death occurring Jane 3. 1881. He was one of the pioneers of that county, dug the first well there and people came for miles around to get water from his place. He was a highly honored and respected citi- zen. In politics he was a Republican. Mrs. Mary N. Burbank, wife of Lewis Burbank, died at the residence of her son in Pratt county, April 28, 1902. In the family were six children, of whom four are living : Will- iam, who resides with his mother : Charles. who died in Pratt county, at the age of twenty-three years: Caleb, who died at the age of twenty-three in Pratt county; Mrs. Ifamily subsequently removed to St. Joseph Bond: Cyrus, of Woodson county. Okla- homa : and Sarah R., the widow of William Bell, and a resident of Pratt Center.

Mrs. Bond is a cultured and refined lady whose influence is manifest in the lives of the children born unto her and the Doctor. These are Mary, who is now living with. her grandmother in order to attend school in Pratt : Julia ; Lucy C .; Ammie L .; Lewis C. : and Willie .A.

Since residing in Barber county the Doc- tor has once been elected superintendent of public instruction, and for one term filled the office by appointment. He has always been deeply interested in education. and is a warm friend of the public school system. At one time he lived in his wagon in order to allow his house to be used for school pur- poses. In politics he votes with the De- mocracy on national questions, but at lo- cal elections votes independently. He was the first president of the first Cattlemen's Association of Barber county, and the first meeting was held at his house in 1880. He was instrumental in its organization, spend- ing several weeks in arousing interest in

the movement. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one, and he commands uni- form respect as an honored pioneer.

One of the fine farms of Rice county, known as Pretty Prairie Farm, is the prop- erty of Willam A. Warner, one of the pro- gressive and substantial agriculturists of the locality. He was born in Seneca coun- ty, Ohio, March 9. 1851, a son of Henry Warner, a native of the Empire state, born in Chenango county, in 1818. He was reared to farm life in the state of his na- tivity, and in 1836 removed to the then ter- ritory of Michigan to make his home with an uncle, but he became dissatisfied there and then removed to Ohio and was there married to Sarah Stetler, of Pennsylvania German descent and a representative of a prominent and influential old family. The county, Michigan, locating near Three Riv- ers, where the father improved a good farm. He was a firm supporter of Republican prin- ciples. He reached the Psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, passing away at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife was called to the home beyond at the age of seventy-three years. They were the pa- rents of eleven children. eight of whom grew to years of maturity: Effie and Han- nah, residents of Michigan; William A., the subject of this review: Wilbur H., a prominent citizen of Victoria township: . A. L .. also of Michigan; Herbert E., of Victo- ria township: Sarah Ellen, deceased; and Mary J., a resident of Wakelee, Michigan.

William A. Warner was but six months of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to St. Joseph county, Michi- gan, where he was reared to farm labor and the public schools afforded him his educa- tional privileges. He remained under the parental roof until about twenty-one years of age, and was then married. in St. Joseph county, to Louisa King, a native of Penn- sylvania, but reared and educated in Michi-

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BIER AMICAL HISTORY.

gan. She was a daughter of James and So- phia King, both now deceased, the father dying in 1891. They were prominent and influential people of their locality and were loved and respected by all who knew them. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have had four chi- dren, and the eldest, Ralph J., is now twenty- seven years of age and is a prominent agri- culturist of Rice county, owning two hun- dred and forty acres of well improved Mind. He was married to Hattie Whaley, and they have one child. Ethel. The two younger children of the family, Alma and Alfred. are aged respectively thirteen and ten years. Henry died in infancy.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 71

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