A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 78

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 78

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In 1875 Mr. and Mrs. Samuel W. Ram- Hey came to Kansas and lived with Samuel W. put the place under cultivation and im- me and cared for the .

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

tree-claimed from government the southeast quarter of section 10. township 19, south of range 6 west, containing one hundred and sixty acres and making in all an aggre- gate of three hundred and twenty acres which he now owns. On the homestead he builded a large ten-room, two-story house, fitted with modern improvements, and also erected ample barns and other outbuildings, while he has beautified the place with or- chards, groves and shade trees. On this beautiful farm he grows miscellaneous crops, raises stock and does feeding and shipping. At present he occupies his resi- dence property in Little River, Kansas. leaving his farm to the immediate super- vision of his only son, Orion S., who is becoming his father's assistant and success- or in business.

Mr. Samuel W. Ramage is character- ized by his benevolent, upright, charitable disposition and life. By Christian faith he and his wife were for years members of the Congregational church. They now are affil- iated with the First Methodist Episcopal church of Little River, Kansas. Mrs. Ramage is a modest, quiet home body, in- terested in no public work save of church or benevolent interests. Mr. Ramage was reared in the Democratic faith, to which he held until 1900, when he cast his vote for President McKinley.

He petitioned Corner Stone Lodge, No. 219. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Little River, Kansas, September 13, 1884; was initiated November 22d following; passed December 27th, and was raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason Jan- uary 27. 1885. As an enthusiastic Mason he served his lodge as worshipful master several years.

To Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Ramage were born but two children. Flora May, born September 27, 1875, in Daviess county, Missouri, was educated in the denomina- ti nal schools of Kansas, holds a life cer- tificate to teach, and has had conferred upon her the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She is a prominent worker in the interests of the Young Women's Christian Associa- tion of Kansas. Orion Sylvester was born April 26. 1878, on the old homestead in

Rice county. Kansas, and was educated in the public schools. He was married Feb- ruary 1, 1899, to Nellie S. Morehouse, of Little River, Kansas, and to them has been born one son. Leon Maurice, who was born March 31. 1902. They live upon the old homestead and Orion S. is gaining for him- self no meager reputation as an industrious, practical, well informed, business-like farmer.

WILLIAM C. WINFREY.

Lieutenant William C. Winfrey, who is one of the intelligent and leading farmers of White township, Kingman county, living on section Io, was born in Dallas county, Mis- souri, on the 13th of October. 1839. His paternal grandfather was James M. Win- frey. and the father of our subject bore the same patronymic .- James M. He married Eleanor M. Conn. a native of Tennessee and a daughter of Josiah Conn, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812. The par- ents of our subject were married in Dallas county, Missouri, where they resided for a number of years, the father being a well known representative of its agricultural in- terests. In early life he was a Benton Democrat, but transferred his political allegiance to the Republican party soon after its organization, and during the Civil war he became a member of the Missouri Home Guards. He returned home from the serv- ice in very ill health. and died at the age of forty-eight years. His widow still survives him and has reached the advanced age of eighty years. One of their sons, Benjamin E. Winfrey, was a soldier in the Fourteenth Missouri Cavalry and died in the service, while another son. Josiah L. Winfrey, was a member of the Home Guards, and is now living in Camden county, Missouri.

On the homestead farm Lieutenant Win- frev. of this review, spent the days of his loyhond and youth, and the public schools af nie him his educational privileges. He, t :. was numbered among the valiant and Dval defenders of the Union during the war the Rebellion. He first joined the Home

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Guards of Missouri, in which capacity he rendered valuable service. and in 1861 he en- listed in the Twelfth Osage Regiment, while in the spring of 1862 he became a member of the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, in which he made an excellent recenti. He was present at the isuttle of Wilson crock, Missouri. where General Lyon was killed on the roth ¿ August. 1801, and he also participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and in many minor engagements and skirmishes through that section of the country. In that he enlisted in the Second Missouri Light Artillery. which he had aided in recruiting, and ine was made second lieutenant of his company. He was a valiant officer, fearless and loyal. and his valor won him the respect and con- fidence of his men and inspired them to deeds of bravery. He served until the che se of the war. participating in the battle of Boonville and also taking part in the cam- paign along the border of Arkansas and Missouri, being most of the time thus identi- fied with the frontier warfare. His con- mand met the enemy at Hartville and was in the campaign against the three Confed- erate generals, Price. Marmaduke and Selby. With an enviable war record he re- turned to his home, and he is certainly de- serving of the gratitude of the nation for what he did in her behalf.

Lieutenant Winfrey was married. in Camden county, Missouri, to Elizabeth C. Hammer, a daughter of Felix J. Hammer, who was a stanch Union man and a member of the Osage regiment in the Civil war. He is now deceased. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ella Combs, was a sister of Albert Combs, of Kingman county, Kansas. They had two sons, David R. and Thomas M., who were numbered among the boys in Due, being members of Company K. Second Missouri Light Artillery, an organization of loyal volunteers. The other sons, who re- mained at home. acted as guards of the Osage regiment, Simon C. having been the . eldest. He was a representative of Camden county in the Missouri legislature in the years 1863-4. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Winfrey has been blessed with eleven children. namely: Bamma E., William F ..

Wert E. Taller: 1. Manha 1. Mary E.

In 1888 Lieutenant Winfrey with his family from Missous: 30 Er sah county, Kansas, and here he fa

a goal farm with all modern bear. falls. His work is carried on with onery anice termination, and his industry has reste! in bringing han a creditables He is a stalwart advocate of Republican principles, and his five sans are also Repaldies He belongs to the Baptist church. while his wife holds membership in the Mandise church. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity and with the Ancie .: Or- der of United Workmen. He he lene wides recognized as a leader in Republican circles in Kingman county, and has worked as representative of his township . die Ke publican central committee of the commy. During the reconstruction period i h wing the war he was one of the three our "s officers of his county who tek ike cath .: obligation from those who were du

vote, under the enfranchisenost art. in Camden county, Missouri. He served as deputy sheriff of that county. while ?! ESO .. as candidate for sheriff of Kingen e umy. Kansas, he succeeded in reducing the Demo- cratic majority from four bedred o hundred and fifty. Mr. Winfrey keeps well informed on the issues of the

citizen of sterling worth he

great no sacrifice af per- will advance the welfare. progr

perity of his county, state =

who know him entertain for him warm re- gant, and his circle ifriend Our subject's post-office address is Varner. from which village his farmi-

half miles distant, in Smoot creek

B. I. OLSEN.

The prominent citizen of Or Kansas, whose name is alowe post-nice address is Being ". lives in section 23. Uneel camp and was

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

elected trustee of that township in the fall of 1900. Mr. Olsen has been a resident of Ot- tawa county for thirty-one years and may be said to have grown up with the country and as boy and man to have witnessed and par- ticipated in its remarkable material, social and political development.

B. H. Olsen is of Norwegian ancestry and was born near Madison, Iowa county, Wisconsin, March 30. 1867, a son of Hans Olsen, a native of Norway and a member of a good Norwegian family. His grand- father. Ole Olsen, lived and died in Nor- way and his widow came with her children to the United States and located in Wiscon- sin. There Hans Olsen married Helen Nel- son, who was a most estimable woman and a good wife and mother. He moved with his family to Concord township, Ottawa county, Kansas, in 1870, and took up a wild prairie farm in a country which had just been vacated by herds of buffalo which had sought new pastures in western Kansas. There he made a home for himself and fam- ily and set about the work of developing the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen had children as follows: Turb Halderson, who lives in Glasco, Kansas; Helen Keller, who lives at Solomon, Kansas : Thomas, who lives on his father's old homestead; Margaret Nelson. who lives at Bennington, Kansas : Henry, who lives at Kansas City, Missouri : Carrie Lott, who lives at Abilene, Kansas: Sadie Lott, who lives at Kansas City, Missouri : B. H., who is the immediate subject of this sketch: Earl, who died at the age of six years : Ovedia, who died at the age of nine years; and Jane Nelson, the eldest of the family, who died in Ottawa county. The father died at the age of seventy-six, deeply regretted by all who knew him as a good husband and father, a useful and patriotic citizen and a successful man of affairs. He was a member of the Lutheran church and in all its aspects his life was that of a Chris- tian man, and he was a man of wide experi- ence. His earlier years were spent in lead- mining in Wisconsin. His widow, who also is a member of the Lutheran church, lives on the old family homestead.

B. H. Olsen was educated in the public

schools and by subsequent systematic read- ing and study at home and being a devoted and diligent student he has become an ex- ceptionally well informed man. He was early instructed in farming and cattle-rais- ing and is known as a practical and success- ful farmer. He owned in 1900 two hundred and forty acres of good land located three miles and three-quarters northwest from Bennington, on which are a. good house, ample barns and outbuildings, an extensive grove and a fine orchard. While giving at- tention to general crops he makes a specialty of fine stock of the ordinary kind. Politi- cally he is a Populist, and he is active and influential in party work and has been a delegate to important conventions. He is a member of the Independent Odrer of Odd Fellows at Bennington, and of Nazareth Encampment of that order, and he and his wife are members of the Order of Rebekah. Mrs. Olsen is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Olsen was married in July. 1900, to Mrs. Emma ( Lash) Davis, who was known throughout Ottawa county as a successful and popular teacher and who is a daughter of W. H. Lash, of Bennington.

GEORGE G. HULL.

A sterling class of men have been en- listed in the development of the agricultu- ral interests of Jewell county, Kansas, and have made it a veritable garden spot in the prosperous commonwealth. Among those who have been active and efficient in the work is he whose name initiates this sketch. He has been identified with the agricultu- ral activities of the county for more than twenty years, and in all the relations of life has shown himself to be a man of inflexible integrity and honor. thus commanding ob- jective confidence and esteem, while his well directed industry and marked business ability have been the means through which he has attained a success of no indefinite order, his status being that of one of the representative farmers and stock-growers of this favored section of the state.

PRIMAPHICAL HISTORY.

Mr. Hull is a native son of the west. having been born on a farm in Lucas county, lowa. on the 11th of May, 1850. the so- enth in order of birth in a family of ten chil- tren, of whom seven are vet living. The parents, Abraham H. and Martha W. ( Rey- nolds) Hull, were both natives of the Old Dominion state of Virginia, having been born in Frederick county, where the respec tive families had been founded in the cell - nial epech of our national history. In OG- toler. 1822. they removed from Virginia to Lucas county, lowa, and thence to Cass county, Nebraska, in April, 1860. Both passed the declining years of their lives in Jewell county, Kansas, where the father died at the age of sixty-eight years, his willow surviving to attain the age of seven- ty-two. They were folk of the most sterling character. mutually devoted and roaring their children to lives of usefulness and honor, inculcating valuable lessons by both precept and example and their memory be- ing thus revered by their children and chil- dran's children.

George G. Hull was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and received his early education in the public schools of his native state. In March, 1880, the family removed from Nebraska to Jewell county, Kansas, first locating on Buffalo creek. where our subject had purchased a quarter section of land previous to the removal of the family to this locality. Later they purchased an additional half section of land in the same vicinity, and there they developed a fine farm and continued to devote attention to agriculture and stock-raising until Decem- ler. 1892, when they disposed of the prop- erty and the following year purchased an- other eighth of a section, of which they dis- posed a year later, and in 1804 bought a farm four miles southeast of Jewell City. where they made their home until the year 1900, when they again sold out, and our subject then effected the purchase vi Ii- present fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. the same being located about five miles southeast of Mankato. the county seat. The property is well improved and the land is exceptionally productive, while

The location toone of the best in this section of the state. In his operations Mr. Hull has brought to bear distinctive discrimina- tiep, marked business acumen and sive methods, the natural sequel leng the attainment of a high degree of spice ...

In his political allegiance Mr. Hull is i und stanchaly arrived in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and though he has never desired the Genera of political preferment, he he mat- urally been called upon to serve in various local offices of trust, and has faithfully and capably discharged the duties involved. He prefers, however, to devote his emire time and attention to his private business affairs rather than to be "afflicted" with public of- fice. His course has been that of a frank. honorable and straightforward Ingine- man, and it is needless to say that he is he'll in high regard by the people of the commu- nity. standing as one of the popular and representative citizens of the county where he has lived and labored to so goodly ends. He has taken a deep interest in educationa: affairs and has served as a member of the school ly ard . f his district for many years. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which both he and his wife are members. Both are teachers in its Sunday school, and he is also serving as its superintendent.

In Jewell City, this county, on the 11th of October, 1894, Mr. Hull was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle L. Ullery, who was born in Colorado Springs, the daughter of Nathan H. and Ada D. Une:

subject and his wife have . He : who was born on the 13th of August. Coop.

GEORGE E. HOLDREN.

George E. H Viren, a prominent zen of Washington township, Jewere ty. Kansas, made his advent in this

He is a son of Dennis and Clara ( Kittle ) Holdren. His father was to ; died in Indiana at the age of thir

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

William Holdren, his father, and the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the east and was an early settler in Iowa, where he was a miller and the owner of a water power grist mill, and where his son Dennis assisted him in his business. He died in Indiana at the age of eighty years. William and Patrey Kittle, our subject's grandparents in the maternal line, were of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction. They died in Indiana. the former at the age of sixty- five. the latter at the age of seventy.

George E. Holdren's father died when he was two years old, and his mother when he was ten years old, and he was cast upon the world to make his own way, working at whatever his hand found to do and acquir- ing some education in district schools. He worked by the month until he was twenty- one years old. February 23, 1883. he married Miss Mary C. Cole, a native of In- diana, and March 2, following, he brought his young wife to Jewell county. Mrs. Hol- dren is a daughter of James and Sarah ( Rice ) Cole. Her father died in Indiana and her mother, who was a daughter of Jordan and Elizabeth ( Watts) Rice, was born in Kentucky and died in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Holdren have had three children. One son died in infancy: their son, Robert N .. now eighteen years old, is in school : and their son, Emmett George, was born Feb- ruary 25, 1900.

Mr. and Mrs. Holdren's first home was a little house which only occupied a ground space of fourteen by sixteen feet, but this gave place to a large, modern place about ten years after their settlement in Kansas. Mr. Holdren now owns five hundred and twenty acres of fertile and productive land, which he has provided with every facil- ity for profitable cultivation. His latest im- provement is one of the finest stock and grain barns in Jewell county. He gives his attention successfully to stock-raising and mixed farming. He cast his first presi- dential vote for Grover Cleveland, but for some years has been a Populist, active and influential in local affairs, and at this time he is ably filling the office of township treas- urer. He is a member of the order of Mod-

ern Woodmen, and he is popular in business and social circles. Having taken up the hard warfare of life at the tender age of ten years and attained to a place of honor and prominence, he is in the best sense of the term a self-made man, and his example is worthy of emulation by young Americans who are ambitious to succeed in life hon- orably and legitimately.

ANDREW BRYSON GILCHRIST.

Andrew Bryson Gilchrist, a practical and enterprising agriculturist residing on section 21, is the owner of one of the most valuable and highly improved stock farms of Harvey county, and his management of the estate is marked by the scientific knowl- edge and skill which characterizes the mod- ern farmer. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Fayette county, on the 3d of October, 1848, and is a worthy representa- tive of an old and honored family of that state. His ancestors came originally from Scotland, and have mostly followed agri- cultural pursuits. The early home of his great-great-grandfather, John Gilchrist, was near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and from there he removed to Fayette county at a very early day in its development. There his son, Mathew Gilchrist, was born, and continued to make his home throughout life. When the colonies took up arms against the mother country he joined the Continental army and fought for American independ- ence. His son, John Gilchrist, the grand- father of our subject, was also a life-long resident of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he was born about 1779, and died about 1865. He married Ellen Swearingen, of the same county, and to them were born nine children, five sons and four daugh- ters, of whom three sons and all the daugh- ters reached years of maturity, but only one son and two daughters are now living. The former, George Gilchrist, now makes his home near Oskaloosa, Iowa. His sis- ters. Mary and Margaret Gilchrist, are un- married and are now over seventy years of age.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

William S. Gilchrist, our subject's in- ther, was he vn in Favore county, Pommes !- vania, in the fall of this, and continued to make his home there until called to his final rest in September, 1874. About 1845 he was woited in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Brown, where ilieb recurred in the samme & # # 82. This with care became the parents of eight children, six die! at the age fix months. In der .f birth there are as follows : jan, who still resides on the old homestead farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, which came to the family from his grandmother Swear- ingen ale ut ninety years ago: Andrew B. of this review : Ellen, wife of J. W. Cuth- ric, of Walten township, Harves county, Kansas : William Il .. a farmer of Muhaska county, Iowa : Edward Cada a farmer .i Warten : washin, Harver county, Kansas: Belle, who died in Pennsylvania when al: 41 twenty years of age; and Mathew D., a farmer of Walton township. this county.

Andrew B. Gilchrist was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, and early became familiar with every depart- ment of fari work. Before leaving Penn- svivania he was married. December 18. 1873. 2 Miss Mary K. Dunn, and to them have been hogy seven children, but one som died in infancy. Those still living are: Gertrude J., who was educated at Cooper College, and is now successfully engaged in teaching school: Laura Belle. wife of J. B. Douglass. of Newton, Kansas: Will- iam S. : Harriet D. : Geblie Flor, who is now attending Cooper College, with the in- tention : her ming a teacher : and Beulah Buchanan. is attending the home sch ...

In November, 1879, Mr. Gilchrist Br-t visited Har et commey, Kansas, and being well pleased with this locality he decided here to locate, and in the fall of 1880 he brewgin his family to the west. He pur- chased three quarter sections of land in Walton township. for which he paid twenty- seven hundred das, was here to has since male his home. A wall will. broken prairie land when it came into his

possession, but he has since pes is better high stated i cultivation and created gal und selbstantial building- theseap. .. he now has one of the best inpe ed copl most desirable farm . fit- size in Wien ship. He raises about eighty are. vier. and gives considerable attention . Feeling of stock for market, making & co. ity of a high grade of Shorthoril and Poland-China hogs. He he average of :but one hundred Head tle upon his place.

In his political views Mr. Gilchrist is a Prohibitionst. He and his family are am and prominent members of the United! P .. byterian church, in which he is now filling the office of eller. Upright and hes saint in all relations of life, he has attained a leading place among the it

life commands t: him.

A. JUDSON WOOD.

The farming interests of Jewell are well represented by A. Judson who now resides on a small trae: adjoining Burr Oak, but still homestead farm which he ated en cent ing to the comty, aleest :: He was born in Harrison e aus. cilio. July 20. 1838, and is a son of Ri jamin and Martha father was a native

at an early period in the history emigrated to that state, where he

farming until his death, which occurred in 1863. He was also a minister of the Bar tist church. and the influence f hi- : 444. Christian life was w

wife, a native . l'en ... estimable lady, died in Ohi

The early surroundims- Wand were three i his father's fare in the midst of nature he deve

robust and honorable manhood. America found him among her defenders when the stability . f the U ilir he made for himself a splendid military

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

record. On the 18th of January, 1862, in Cadiz, Ohio, he was numbered among the boys in blue of Company G, Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry, under Captain Bostwick and Colonel Granville Moody, the latter a noted soldier preacher. Mr. Wood first went to Xenia, Ohio, and thence to Camp Chase and Columbus, from which point the regiment was sent to Nashville. The first battle in which he participated was at Stone River, and later he took part in many important engagements, including Murfreesboro, De- cemiber 31, 1862: Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863; Chattanooga, November 24 and 25. 1863: Dalton, May, 1864; Re- saca, May 14 and 15. 1864; Dallas, May 28, 1864: Lost Mountain, June 17, 1864; Lit- tle Kennesaw, June 22, 1864; Great Ken- nesaw, July 3. 1864; and the siege and cap- ture of Atlanta, from July 10 to September 2. 1804. He also went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. continuing from the 14th of November until Decem- ber 22, 1864, and was in the campaign through the Carolinas. He was taken pris- uner March 19. 1865, near Bentonville, North Carolina, and being sent to Rich- mond was confined in Libby Prison and Castle Thunder, but after ten days was pa- r, led. He was constantly under fire from May 3. 1864. until the 2d of September of that year, and that his service was most ar- duous and dangerous is indicated by the long list of important engagements in which he participated. He was honorably dis- charged at Camp Chase, June 14, 1865. the war having closed.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 78

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