A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 98

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 98

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Salem, Oregon, and there passing the de-

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clining years of his active and useful life. From the foregoing it will be seen that rep- resentatives of the Welch family have had a full share of pioneer experiences in the various generations, and this experience con- tinues to the generation to which our sub- ject belongs, as will be duly noted in this context. John R. and Matilda (Lowrey) Welch became the parents of seven children. of whom six attained years of maturity, namely: William T., who is a retired far- mer of Salem, Oregon, and who has ten children: James L., who is a man of marked business ability and who has at- tained a high degree of prosperity. resides near Delta, Colorado, and is the father of six children ; Isaiah M., who is a widower with- out children, removed from Burrton, Kan- sas, to Salem, Oregon, in the summer of 1901; John A. is the immediate subject of this sketch: Cecilia E. is the wife of James C. McConnell, of Kansas City, Kansas, and they have five children ; and Seraiah S., who is a resident of Warrensburg, Missouri, has one son and two daughters.

John A. Welch was reared to the stur- dy and invigorating discipline of the farm and waxed strong of muscle and alert in his mentality, while his early educational training was secured in public and private schools in Illinois and Iowa. At the age of twenty years he became a victim to the gold fever, resulting from the discovery of the precious metal in California a few years previously, and in 1854. in company with his brothers James and Isaiah, he started on the long, weary and perilous trip across the plains, arriving in California after hav- ing been nearly four months en route. He engagedl in mining in the placer beds of El- dorado county, and later in Siskiyou county, and his efforts were attended with a fair degree of success, while his experiences were such as were typical of the tumultuous life of the mining camps of the early days. James was the first of the brothers to return to the old home in Iowa, and there our subject put in his appearance after an absence of three years and one month. After his re- turn he resumed his educational work. so assiduously devoting himself to his studies

that he became eligible for pedagogic hon- ors, and he was successfully engaged in teaching at the time when the dark cloud of Civil war obscured the national horizon, rousing his intrinsic patriotism and loyalty to responsive protest, and, in October, 1861, Mr. Welch tendered his services in defense of the integrity of the Union, enlisting at Knoxville, lowa, as a private in Company G. Fifteenth Towa Volunteer Infantry, with which he was in active service for nearly a year. being assigned to detached duty dur- ing a portion of this time and taking part in the memorable battle of Shiloh and in other engagements of minor importance. and re- ceiving an honorable discharge for disability nearly one year after enlistment. . All of his brothers were in active service as Union sol- diers, and the eldest. William T .. received a wound which resulted in the loss of his right eye. James and Isaiah veteranized at the expiration of their original terms of en- listment and continued in the service for a total of about four and a half years, each having been promoted to the office of first lieutenant.

Mr. Welch resumed teaching in Iowa after his return from the front, and there- after was engaged in merchandising in Ma- rion county, that state, until 1882, when he came to Harvey county, Kansas, . where he has ever since continued to reside. Here he became prominently identified with the agricultural industry, in which connection he so directed his efforts as to attain marked success and lay the foundation of the solid competence which is now his. His faith and interest in the great basic art of agriculture as affording a wide and important field for legitimate enterprise under most favorable circumstances in the middle section of Kan- sas, have remained unfaltering, and he still retains the ownership of three extensive and valuable farming properties in this and the adjoining county. Mr. Welch took up his residence in Burrton in the year 1882. and three years later erected his present attract- ive and commodious residence, which is most eligibly located on one-half of a city block. and which is surrounded by beautiful trees and shrubbery, to which our subject points

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with justifiable pride, since he planted the of Freemasonry, affiliating with Burrton Lodge, No. 182, F. & A. M., in which he has served as worshipful master. having passed the various other official chairs. same and has continued to take great inter- est in beautifying his premises, having one of the ideal homes of this section of the state. In 1883 Mr. Welch was instrumen- On the 21st of October, 1861, near At- tica, Iowa, Mr. Welch was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary E. Haines, who was born in New Jersey on the 27th of January, 1840, being a daughter of Aaron and Mary ( Watson) Haines, and of this union were born seven children, of whom four survive: Zeno died in infancy; Edgar V., who is identified with the printing and publishing business in Wichita, Kansas, has been twice married and has four children; Galen H., who holds a responsible position in the Mid- land National Bank, at Newton, Kansas, is married and has seven children; Otto R., a successful merchant of Burrton, is mar- ried and has two children; Mary, who graduated in the fine art department of the tal in the organization of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank of Burrton, and later he and his son acquired the entire control of the same, managing its business most success- fully for a period of twelve years and se- curing a representative support. In Janu- ary. 1899. the bank passed into the sole man- agement of his son, who soon afterward merged the same into the Burrton State Bank. in the organization of which he was associated with J. W. Shive, and of this in- stitution our subject is vice-president. The ' bank controls a large and important busi- ness and is recognized as one of the solid financial institutions of the state, while our subject gives the benefit of his counsel and mature judgment in connection with the ex- | Kansas State University, at Lawrence, has ecutive control, being known as a careful, ! produced many art works which indicate her conservative and yet essentially progressive i distinctive talent. and appreciation : Nellie

business man, while his fidelity to all the duties of citizenship and his inflexible in- tegrity in all the relations of life have re- tained to him unqualified confidence and es- teem in the community where he has so long maintained his home. Mr. Welch has ever been an uncompromising Republican in his political proclivities, and he has taken an active part in public affairs and has been an effective worker in the party cause. While a resident of Marion county, Iowa, he was incumbent of the offices of justice of the peace and sheriff, and in 1898 he was elect- ed to represent Harvey county in the lower house of the Kansas legislature, serving dur- ing the session of 1899 and proving an able and discriminating legislator. giving his influence and support in the furtherance of all measures which he believed would pro- mote the general welfare and proving sig- nally faithful to the interests of his con- stituents. He has long been a liberal sup- porter of the Methodist Episcopal church, whose services he regularly attends, though he has never formally identified himself with any religious organization, and fraternally he is identified with the time-honored order

died at the age of two and a half years, and Jolin died in infancy. The son, who is associated in the banking busi- ness in Burrton, is Galen H., who is one of the capable financiers of this section of the state. The beautiful home of Mr. Welch is one in which the refined amenities of life are ever in evidence, and it is known for its gracious hospitality, the family taking a prominent part in the social activities of the thriving little city of Burr- ton.

JONATHAN F. TILTON.

Jonathan F. Tilton is a retired resident of Great Bend, whose name is inseparably interwoven with the history of this portion of Barton county, for he came thither with George N. Moses and aided in laying out the town. In August. 1871, he pre-empted a quarter section of land on section 32. Great Bend township, but soon sold a half of this to William Leek. In 1873 he erected a small board house and planted shade and fruit trees on the place. but he later sold a

J F. Fillon

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portion of this, which became the Ireland addition to Great Bend, and during the boom of 188; was improved with thirty dwellings, although only three are now left on the place. After selling a part of his farm Mr. Tilton erected a home in Great Bend, where he still owns considerable property. He has indeed been an active factor in the upbuilding and progress of the town, and his labors have contributed in a large measure to its success.

Mr. Tilton was born in Noble county, Ohio, May 28, 1841, his parents being Matthew and Henrietta ( Freeman ) Tilton, hoth of whom died in Iowa in 1855. The subject of this review was reared on his father's farm in the Hawkeye state and as- sisted in its cultivation until 1861. when, at the age of twenty, he responded to the call for troops and enlisted as a member of Company G, Tenth Iowa Infantry, serving four years and twelve days. In June, 1864. he sustained a sunstroke and lay for three days unconscious. He was dis- charged in August, 1865. and returned to his home. He was then advised to go to the mountains for his health and made his way to Wyoming. He spent some years there and experienced all the hardships and pleasures of frontier life. He lived among the Indians, and wild animals were numer- ous. He became an expert marksman and enjoyed his period of existence in the heart of nature. In March. 1870, in company with George N. Moses, he started for Ells- worth, Kansas, to pre-empt land and hunt buffaloes, which were numerous in this part of the state at that time, traveling in great herds over the prairies. They rode through various sections of the state in both the south and east and were threatened by the Indians, but they persevered in their in- tentions and hunted buffaloes, killing twen- ty-two on one hunt. He was considered the best buffalo shot of the day, having a true eye and steady aim, and thus he seldom failed to bring down his game. They started out with two yoke of oxen and provisions for the trip, but while camping near Bluff Creek their oxen were stolen by the Indians, and before they could secure aid they were

almost destitute of anything to eat save buffalo meat. Where are now seen beautiful and highly cultivated farms to-day was then a vast prairie, over which roamed deer, elk, antelopes, wolves and other animals, while bands of Indians traversed the country. However, with the white man came all in- provements and advantages known to civil- ization. and the labors of Mr. Tilton and his contemporaries have transformed this region from an unproductive waste into the greatest wheat-growing belt in the entire country.

In 1872 Mr. Tilton was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Addie Eastey, whose maiden name was Moses and who was the widow of Henry H. Eastey and a sister of George N. Moses. She came here with her two children, Frank H. and Estella, and prior to this time she had lost one child, Fred- erick W. Her son, Frank H., has since married Julia Stalk, and they now have two children .- Mildred and Lillian. He is now associated with the firm of King, Richard- son & Company, publishers of Springfield, Massachusetts. The daughter Stella is now the wife of Elmer H. Dean, of Great Bend, and has one daughter, Florence.

Mrs. Eastey, now Mrs. Tilton, was born and reared in New York. On coming to Barton county, in 1872, she erected a story and a half house on the east side of the square. It is one of the pioneer homes that is still standing, and is now owned by Mr. Swift. In this residence Mr. and Mrs. Tilton were married on the 26th of No- vember. 1872. this being the first wedding celebrated in Barton county. They moved to the frame house which she erected and which was twelve by fourteen feet in di- mensions. There they spent many happy days, always assisting pioneers to seek homes and establish a residence on the frontier. Their door was always open for the reception of strangers as well as friends, and many a time their home was filled with Indians, but Mrs. Tilton was always able to manage them and maintained their good will. The little pioneer dwelling was fre- quently surrounded by animals, and the prairie rats carried away everything p --

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sible, but together they labored on, over- coming the trials and hardships which fall to the lot of pioneer settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton hold membership in the Congrega- tional church, and they ever contributed in a large measure to the movements which are calculated to prove of general good. They hold in high esteem and veneration the memory of Mrs. Tilton's mother, Mary Ann Moses, who was largely instrumental in establishing the church in this district. She came here in 1876 on a visit and im- mediately began missionary work. She, too, was a devout member of the Congre- gational church. By holding socials and doing other such work she soon secured a lot, which was paid for and a church erected thereon. She raised by subscription the money which was used to purchase the bell which has since each Sunday called people to worship. The following obituary gives a very condensed account of her life and death :

"Mary Ann Moses was born February 22, 18II, in Philadelphia; was married in Brooklyn, New York April 17, 1828, to Anson G. Moses; lived in New York city until 1832, then in Cuba and Olean, New York, eighteen years, then they moved to Pecatonica, Illinois, where they lived until 1867. when they moved to Sedalia, Mis- souri. Mr. Moses died in 1868, while on a visit to his aged mother in New York. Mrs. Moses was converted in 1832, and united with the Presbyterian church in Cuba, New York. She was not sectarian in her religious views. She was always working for united action on the part of the churches and at the last prayer meeting she attended, the night after Christmas, she spoke very earnestly and was very anxious for a re- vival in all the churches in this city. She had fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls. Mrs. Moses came to Great Bend in the spring of 1875, and was a great worker in the church and the Grand Army, and in looking after the poor. Her life was one of earnest devotion to the cause of the Master. Family worship was always main- tained by her. She was faithful unto death. 'She rests from her labors and her works do follow her.'"

As an enterprising business man Mr. Tilton is well known. His keen foresight and sagacity enabled him to dispose of his property at a time when land was com- manding good values, and thus he gained a handsome competence, which now enables him to live in retirement. Both he and his wife enjoy the warm regard of many friends and are numbered among the most honored and respected pioneer people of this portion of the state.

ERSKINE BECKER.

Among the farmer citizens of Ellsworth county, Kansas, may frequently be found descendants of old and honored names of the east, and such is the case with Erskine Becker, a prominent and substantial citi- zen who resides on section 21, in this coun- ty, where he carries on extensive farming and cattle grazing.

The birth of Mr. Becker was in Scho- harie county, New York, on October 15, 1844, and he is a son of Henry and Re- becca (Bergh) Becker, both of whom were natives of the same county. William Becker, the grandfather of our subject, was a pio- neer of Scoharie county, took part in the Indian wars and assisted in the development of the country. Henry Becker. the father of our subject, spent his whole life in farm- ing, with the exception of a few years when he carried on a milk business, and died on the home farm, in 1859. He had been one of the few Whigs of the county. His wid- ow survived him until 1865. Three children were born to these parents, namely: Helen, who married Ephraim Zelie, and resides in New York; Joseph, who died in infancy; and Erskine. of this biography.

Erskine Becker was reared on the home farm, but was afforded excellent educational advantages. After finishing the c. mmon- school course. he spent two years in the Warrenville Academy, and at the age of twenty entered upon the study of law, in the office of Herbert Crumb, of Scoharie, New York, being admitted to practice, and

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engaging in the same until locating in Ells- Worth county, Kansas, in 1871.

Mr. Becker located on eighty acres on Clear creek, sections 34-16-6, and here he cleared his land, made many improvements and engaged in stock-raising, making it his home until 1883. Then he sold that prop- erty and bought the southeast one-quarter of section 21, which is his present home, and since that time he has absorbed the rest of the section. He cultivates about seventy- five acres, but grazes the most of his land, keeping from one hundred to two hundred cattle.

Since locating in Kansas Mr. Becker has not been engaged in the practice of his profession, but his thorough understanding of it makes more reliable his decisions as justice of the peace, to which office he was elected in 1890. Mr. Becker is a staunch Republican, and he has taken an active part in the councils of his party, serving on state, county and congressional committees, and being frequently a delegate. As township trustee and as member of the school board, he has given universal satisfaction. In 1890 he was made census enumerator of Empire township.

The first marriage of Mr. Becker was on January 8, 1872, to a lady of Schoharie county, New York, and five children were born to this marriage, three of whom still survive, namely: Gertrude, who is the wife of Frank B. Faris. a farmer of Empire township; Mary E., who is the wife of Wal- ter Rasmusen, of Nebraska: George, who is employed on the Sherman ranch; Brownlee, who resides with H. V. Faris : and Clarence was killed in the railroad yards, an engin- eer. Mrs. Becker died on July 6, 1880.

The second marriage of Mr. Becker was on December 5. 1883. to Miss Beulah Pasch- all. who was a daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Lincoln) Paschall. and she was born in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, with- in the present limits of the city.

The Paschall family resided for many generations in Delaware, near Wilmington. The family line can be traced from Thomas and Joanna ( Soper) Paschall. of English birth, to Thomas and Margaret (Jenkins)

Paschall, to John and Frances ( Hodge) Paschall, to Dr. Henry Paschall, the dis- tinguished grandfather of our subject's wife. The birth of the latter was in Wilmington, Delaware, but early in his professional life he located at Kensington, Philadelphia, and there became noted as a skilled physician and as a philanthropist. The suburb of Pas- chall, formerly Paschallville, of Philadelphia, was named in his honor. He died on May 13, 1835, at the age of eighty-nine years. Joseph P. Paschall, who was the father of Mrs. Becker, was a son of Dr. Henry and Catherine ( Lincoln ) Paschall, and was born at Kensington, following the occupation of farmer through life. His mother was con- nected with the same family that became distinguished through President Lincoln.

Mr. and Mrs. Paschall came to Ells- worth county, Kansas, in 1879 and bought railroad land on sections 3-17-7, and there they resided until a family removal was made to Kanapolis, in which place the fa- ther died. on July 6, 1894. and the mother passed away on June 22, 1898. Their chil- dren were as follows: George H., who makes his home with Mr. Becker: Beulah, who is Mrs. Becker: Catherine L., who is the wife of George W. Gilkerson, who is a teacher of Kanapolis; Joseph A., who is in the transfer and livery business in San An- tonio, Texas : Moses Lincoln, who is a buy- er and shipper of wool in Philadelphia ; Anna Frances, who is the wife of Abraham Wise, of Ellsworth county. The children of the second marriage of Mr. Becker num- ber three and their names are: Bergh P., Henry V .. and Helen.

Mr. Becker is one of Ellsworth's good and reliable citizens, whose life has been spent in carrying on his agricultural inter- ests and also large stock interests, but he has never been so occupied with personal matters that he had no time to earnestly and sincerely do all in his power to add to the progress of his county. His farm is one of the best in the township. and here he has introduced modern methods, his residence being supplied with water, piped from natu- ral springs. Prosperity has attended his persistent efforts and he is justly consid-

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ered a representative man of this neighbor- hood, and an excellent type of the success- ful agriculturist of Kansas.

ISAAC NEES.

Isaacs Nees, a well known farmer and stockman living near Jewell City, Kansas, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1837, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Crutcher) Nees. His father was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1801 and in 1840 removed to Mason county. Illi- nois, where he resided until 1871, when in the month of August he came to Kansas and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Jewell county. To the devel- opment and cultivation of that place he de- voted his energies until his death, which oc- curred May 27, 1878. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, died when her son, Isaac, was only two years of age.

To the work of the farm Isaac Nees early became inured and throughout his entire life he has followed the occupation to which he was reared. He was quite young when he accompanied his father to Illinois and in Mason county he made his home until 1871, when he cast in his lot with the earliest set- tlers of Jewell county, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the government for securing a home. On the 22d of Au- gust, 1871, he registered a claim to the northeast quarter of section 5, Brown Creek township, wherein he has since resided, but the boundaries of his farm have been sev- eral times extended by additional purchases until he is now one of the largest land own- ers in this part of the state, his realty hold- ings aggregating twelve hundred and forty acres. He is to-day a very prosperous and wealthy man. His success has come to him largely through his capable management as a dealer in cattle and hogs. These animals he has handled extensively and as a result of his labors his sales have annually amount- ed to thousands of dollars. His home is a fine and commodious residence, in the rear of which stands a large barn and other nec-

essary outbuildings. No modern equip- ments are lacking upon this place and he also has a fine orchard which represents an investment of two thousand dollars.

Mr. Nees was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Adkins, a native of Mason county, Illinois, the wedding having been there cele- brated in 1863. The lady is a daughter of Samuel Adkins, who was born in Ten- nessee, and is now living in Jewell county, at the age of eighty-eight years. Her mother, Mrs. Rachel (Stokes) Adkins, who was born in Kentucky, died in Mason county, Illinois, in 1866. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eleven children, namely : Cyrus: Elizabeth E .; Annie; Mary, de- ceased; Rosie; Simon F .; Leslie; Cora; Pearl : Edith ; and Flora, deceased.

In his political affiliation Mr. Nees is a Democrat, and for twenty-six years has been a member of the school board, his la- bors being very effective in promoting the cause of education. He served for one year as treasurer of Brown Creek township, but has not sought office as a reward for party fealty. He and his wife deserve great cred- it for what they have accomplished in a financial way. Together they faced the dif- ficulties of pioneer life, living here through the period when the grasshopper scourge and drough'ts caused many stout hearts to quail but they were determined and resolute and putting aside all desire to return east they remained working earnestly and long and the years have rewarded their prudence and efforts and to-day they are blessed with a handsome competence and are numbered among the leading representatives of the farming interests of Jewell county.

ITHAMORE E. DOUGLASS.

Ithamore E. Douglass is the owner of a beautiful home and valuable farm pleasantly situated three miles southwest of Ionia, in Ionia township, Jewell county. Here he owns three hundred acres of rich land. and the well tilled fields indicate his careful su- pervision. He was born in Vermilion coun-

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try, Illinois, November 27. 1844. His fa- ther, Thomas W. Douglass, was a native of Maine, born April 17, 1798, and at an early period in the development of the Prai- rie state, he took up his abode there, his death occurring in Vermilion county, in 1865. He married Miss Delilah Payne, who was born July 6, 1801, and died in 1856, when her son Ithamore was twelve years of age.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 98

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