USA > Kansas > Brown County > Annals of Brown County, Kansas : from the earliest records to January 1, 1900 > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
451
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Hiawatha Academy last year. Mr. had been Geo. J. Englehart and in Pfeiffer is a member of the Methodist 1858, they came to Hiawatha and Episcopal Church of Padonia. He started the firm of Englehart & Fair- belongs to Hamlin lodge No. 185 A child. This was at that time the F. and A. M. He was one of the only store in Brown County. The original stock holders of the bank of first stock of goods cost $2,500.00, Hamlin and at its reorganization in but this was afterwards increased to 1897 was elected its president which about $6,000.00. In 1865, Mr. Engle- position he now holds. Recognizing hart sold out his interest to. Major the value of a Fair Association and E. N. Morrill, the firm being known a Farmers' Institute to the farmers as Fairchild & Morrill. Mr. Morrill of the county, he has been earnestly soon retired and Mr. Fairchild con- working for both institutions. He tinued the business alone until 1875.
Mr. Fairchild was married in Hia- watha, Aug. 6th. 1862 to Maggie E. Selleg, the eighteen year old daughter of A. J. Selleg. Three children were born to them, Ernest, Hal and Fay. Ernest is a Hiawatha township farmer, Hal is the up to date plumber of Hiawatha and Fay is the wife of Win. Heffner, Jr., a Hiawatha town- ship farmer.
is a stock holder in the Fair Associa- tion and has been one of its directors a good share of the time for the past 20 years. He is at the present time president of the Farmers' Institute. He is a progressive, public spirited, esteemed and respected by all with whom he comes in contact.
Raymond Scott Fairchild.
Raymond Scott Fairchild or Mr. Fairchild was made an Odd "Scott Fairchild" as he was familiar- Fellow in California and was active ly known, was intimately connected in organizing the Hiawatha lodge. with the early history of Brown He was also a Mason, belonging to County. He was born Dec. 9, 1817, Hiawatha Lodge 35, Troy Chapter 16 in Batavia, N. Y. Sometime after and Washington Commandry of this, his parents moved to Lucas Knights Templar of Atchison. He County, Ohio where the subject of this was a Universallst and a Republican. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild have been dead for several years and are
sketch grew to manhood. Here he was educated in the country school, attending school in the winter and buried in the Hiawatha cemetery .. working on the farm in the summer. When he was fourteen years old, he Mr. and Mrs. John Moser. quit school entirely and hired out as
John Moser, who now lives in a farm hand. He was afterwards comfort and luxury in a pretty mod- employed for a short time on the ern residence in east Hiawatha, is Dayton & Ohio R. R. In 1854, he the oldest living settler in Hiawa- went to California by the water route, arriving in San Francisco sick
tha township, Jacob Englehart was the only settler in the township and with only $1 00 in money. He when, on the last day of March 1855, went to work in the mines and in a Mr. Moser, Christian an I Rudy Zim- few years bad enough to bring him merman and their families moved back to the east and start him in into the township. business. His partner in the mines
Mr. Moser was born near Bern,
452
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN MOSER.
Switzerland on March 26, 1826. He owns 360 acres of the choicest Brown received a common school education County land handsomely improved and was employed with his father with a brick residence, good barns as a brick and tile burner until 1854 and other conveniences. Some years when he came to America. He spent ago he rented his farm and moved one summer in Andrew County, Mo. into Hiawatha city.
During the war, Mr. Moser be. and the next spring pushed ou into the new Kansas Territory and pre- longed to the Brown County Batal- empted his claim in Hiawatha town- ion of State Militia and helped repel ship. Here he has prospered and the Price raid. In politics, he was added to his holdings until now he always a Republican until the alli-
453
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
ance movement struck Brown Coun- and determined to move there and ty, since which time he has affiliated help make it a free state. The winter with the Populist party. of 1856-7 was passed at New Boston
In 1852, Mr. Moser was married to Ill. Here he traded his two span of Maglema Wenger, also a native of horses for four yoke of oxen that he Switzerland. Five sons and three might have a breaking team and as daughters were born to them, John, soon as the weather permitted in the the oldest son was killed in a street spring he pushed on to Kansas. car accident during the World's Fair Hiawatha was reached early in the at Chicago; Fred, Arnold, Eli and spring. The journey from Ill. was Frank are prosperous farmers of made with four yoke of oxen and one Hiawatha township. Elizabeth is span of horses.
the wife of Frank Norton, deceased, A town had been staked out and Anna, is the wife of Rev. J. K. the town company was building Young, of Abilene; Mary, lives with a hotel on the corner where the Mor- her father in Hiawatha. Mrs. Moser rill and Janes bank now stands. Mr died in 1896 and is burled in the Hla- Barnum prempted the claim adjoin-
watha cemetery. Both Mr. and ing the town on the south and the Mrs. Moser have been active mem- family lived in a tent until the hotel bers of the Evangelical church of was enclosed when they moved into
Hiawatha for many years.
it. This hotel was the only public building in Hiawatha for a long time and it was in this building that Chief Justice Pettitt held court in 1859.
Seth Barnum.
The first resident of Hiawatha Mr. Barnum did not keep the hotel was Seth Barnum. He was a Ver- long, but having built a residence monter and was born in Addi,on a few lots west of the hotel he moved County in the Green Mountain state into that and Andrew (+. Sellegg suc- Jan. 17 1806 He was the son of Ellhu ceeded him as proprietor of the hotel. and Tamer Barnum and a relative of The Barnum residence was after- the great showman P. T. Barnum. ward moved onto his claim south of His grandfather was a soldier in the town where it still stands. Here Revolutionary war and was killed Mr. Barnum resided until his death in one of the skirmishes with the In- which took place Dec. 31 1893. Mr. dians. Mr. Barnum received a prac- Barnum was married in Vermont to tical education in the Vermont Miss Polly M. Partch. Fourteen child- schools. He resided in his native ren were born to them, of whom state until 1850 when he moved to three are still residents of Brown Crawford County Pa. Here he re- County. They are Celinda, wife of sided until 1856 when he started for Edw. S. Peiffer of Hiawatha, and Illinois with his family making the John S. of Hiawatha, and Samuel G. pilgrimage with three teams and a resident of Walnut township. Mrs. three wagons. The presidential cam- Barnum died in 1873 and Mr. Barnum paign was at a white heat and the was married again to Miss Rachel family saw all phases of it as they Ramsey who still survives him. crossed the country. Being an ard- Mr. Barnum took an active inter- ent abolitionist Mr. Barnum was en- est in all efforts to build up and ad- thused over the situation in Kansas vance the community. He was a
454
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Universalist and helped to organize they moved into town of Reserve that society in Hiawatha. He was Here Mrs, Cornellson died Nov. 21, a strong abolitionist and an ardent 1895 and was laid to rest in the Hart free stateman and naturally cast cemetery. She was held in high es- his lot with the Republican party. teem by her neighbors and was He was public spirited in all things greatly beloved by her family, to and is remembered most kindly by whom she had been a faithful wife all the old settlers.
Edward R. Cornelison.
It will doubtless always be a question as to who was the first Four sons were born to Mr. and white settler in Brown County. Ed -. Mrs. Cornelison; John, Frank, a merchaut at Reserve, Robert, who is ward R. Cornelison, an honored and respected citizen of Reserve was cer- in the grain business at Reserve, tainly one of the first and there is certainly no man living in the county
Henry, who died at the age of 23 years and William, who is engaged today who was here when Mr. Cor- in the grocery business at Fairfield, nelison marked his claim on Walnut Nebr. Creek. He first came to the county n 1854, and marked his claim and then returned to Missouri for his family, returning the next spring when the actual settlement was . mostly upland and is in a high state made.
Mr. Cornelison, or uncle "Ed" as every one calls him, was born in Madison County, Ky , Jan. 8th 1826. His grandfathers on both his father's and mother's side were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, the one serving in North Carolina, and the other in Delaware. Both emigrated to Kentucky after the war where the parents of Mr. Cornelison were born.
On Nov. 26 1846. Mr. Cornelison was married in Madison County, Ky. to Miss Elizabeth A. Gillispie, also a native of the blue grass state, having been born near Richmond, May, 5th, 1830. They at once emi- grated to Andrew County, Missouri, where they lived until 1855, when they moved to Brown County. They continued to live on their Brown County homestead until 1894 when community.
and mother. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cor- nelison have been members of the Christian church for many years and Mr. Cornelison is the senior elder of the church.
Mr. Cornelison has been a success- ful farmer and business man He has added to his original homestead until it has grown to 480 acres. It is of cultivation, well improved and with a good orchard. There is also a hundred acres of native timber on the place. In politics, Mr. Cornelison has always been a Democrat. He served a year as treasurer of Padonia township and was justice of the peace for six years. In 1880, he was his party nominee for county com- missioner and in 1884 for the legisla- ture but his party was in a hopeless minority. He cared little for politi- cal honor but rather preferred to give liis attention to his business affairs. It is nearly haif a century now since he firstsaw Brown County and now surrounded by liis friends and neighbors who honor and re- spect him, he can look back upon a well spent life for he has always been a valuable and useful member of the
455
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Isaac F. Martindale.
company was called out to help re- pel the Price raid in 1864.
Isaac F. Martindale was born near Greenfield, Hancock County, Ind., Mr. Martindale was married on March 24, 1859 to Miss Lucinda Abshear · daughter of Abraham December 6, 1832 and lived in his native state until the year 1856. Abshear, one of the pioneers. Seven He spent one year iu Iowa but in children were born to them, Minerva Alice, born in 1861, who became the wife of Thomas Glover, of Garfield County, Colo., James A. born In 1863; Calvin, born in 1865; Cora, born in 1868, now the wife of John Proctor of Willis; Anctia, born in 1871, now wife of Willlam Snyder, of Robinson; Isaac F., born in 1875 and William, born in 1881. Calvin, the second son was married in 1898 to Miss Myrtle Nellans, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Nellans, of Robinson. They February 1857, he located In Brown County and pre empted a claim. The next year it was wanted for a townsite and he sold out to a com- pany from Parkville, which located the old town of Robinson upon it. Mr. Martindale then pre-empted a quarter in section 20, town 3, range 18, which he still owns. Here he spent the active years of his life de- voting his energies to cultivating the soil and to the raising of feed live on a farm near Robinson and and shipping of stock. In this, he have two children. Isaac F. was married in 1899 to Miss Ida Conkle, of Missouri. They now live on the old homestead. prospered and from time to time he added to his farm until now it com- prises 385 acres. This tract is high- ly improved with a fine residence, Both Mr. and Mrs. Martindale are members of the Methodist church at Robinson, which they helped to or- ganlze more than a quarter of a century ago. good baras, extensive feed lots and large orchards. The Meadowbrook school house is located on one corner of this farm. In addition to this fine farm Mr. Martindale also owns a fine property in the city of Robin- son, where he now lives. John A. Dowell.
Mr. Martindale was raised a Dem- John A. Dowell is one of the well ocrat but on coming to Kansas he known pioneers of Brown County, cast his lot with the free state men who came here in the 1857. He was and helped organize the Republican born in Warren County, Va., March party in the county. He has been 22, 1830. He lived here until 1847 one of the strong adherente ever when he removed to Licking County, since. He was the first free state Ohlo. Here he stald until 1856, when constable in Claytonville township. he came to Tama County, Iowa, but This office he held for three terms. the next year he came to Kansas, He was, then elected Justice of the He pre-empted the land just across Peace for one term. Later, he held the road from where the Prairie the office of Justice of Peace in Springs school house now stands Robinson for two terms. During and transformed it from the raw the war he was a member of Com- prairie into one of the finest im- pany C of the Brown County Battal- proved farms in the state, with a ion and was 3rd Sergant when the fine residence, good bank barn and
456
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
improvements. He dealt in fine cat- early history. When the free state tle and horses and did much to im- men met in Hiawatha in 1857 to prove the breed of the fine stock in nominate a county ticket Hoover this county. This farm he sold in was named as one of the commis- 1890 and went to the Indian Terri- stoners to locate the county seat and tory but realizing that no place is was elected at the ensuing election quite so good as Brown County, he together with the rest of the free disposed of his Interests in the terri- state ticket. I. B. Hoover, ISAAC
tory and returned bought the farm Chase and I. P. Winslow formed the east of Robinson, where he resided board and they took the county seat until recently when he moved into away from Claytonville and located Robinson still retaining his farm it at Carson. When Carson school however.
district No. 1 was organized in 1859
Mr. Dowell was a free state man Mr. Hoover was named as clerk. during the territorial troubles and He was chosen chairman of the board his life was often threatened by the of supervisors of Walnut Town- pro·slavery element. He was a Re- ship at the spring election that year. publican in politics and was usually In the county election in 1860 he was a delegate to the county conventions elected a county commissioner. In of that party until 1890, when the 1861 he was elected sheriff of the Alliance movement struck Kansas. county and reelected in 1863. He He took an active part in the Al- had no children and some time be- liance work and upon the organiza- fore his death he decided to leave his tion of the County Alliance, he was property to the Hiawatha Academy. made Lecturer. He was an active It was this generous bequest on his worker in the People's Party and part followed by that of his wife at helped to organize it in Brown Coun- her death which enabled that worthy ty. He was never a seeker after of- institution to carry out its good fice and aside from serving as a mem- ber of the school board for a number of years, has never held an office.
work. Mr. Hoover was a loyal and enthusiastic Mason and was a charter member of the lodge, chapter
He was married in November 1858 and commandry at Hiawatha. At at White Cloud to Miss Mary C. his death which occurred July 23, Northern. They have tix children, 1890 he was lald to rest by the Sir Emma, wife of Charlie Kelley, of Knights of the Hiawatha Comman- Santa Anna, California; Elmer E. of dry. Mrs. Hoover survived her hus- Robinson; Charles, of Hamlin; Hat- band until May 10, 1896 when she tie, wife of Harry Thomas, of Fair- was laid beside him in the Hiawatha view and George H. and John, of cemetery.
Santa Anna, Callfornia.
Mr. Dowell is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity having joined it at Wyandotte, I. T.
Isaac B. Hoover.
Although prominently identified with the history and progress of the county there seems to be few people who know much about his history. Hon. W. W. Guthrie of Atchison un- der date of March 29, 1901 wrote of him as follows:
Isaac B. Hoover was one of the first settlers in Brown County and "I found Hoover living on a claim was prominently identified with its which took in a part of the Hatfield
457
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
grove, when I went to Brown Coun- Masonic Lodges at Hiawatha. ty the last of June, 1858, and that he
I think he was married just follow- went from Illinois, a single man, In ing his election as sheriff and moved the early part of that spring. He Into my house, near the northwest was a blacksmith by trade and had corner of the square, and lived there a shop at his claim until elected during his term of office and during sheriff when he removed to Hlawa- which I left the county and could not tha, the court records, will give the tell about his life in Hiawatha after date of his election and the time of that except that he carried on a holding his office. He has been a blacksmith and wagon shop in the soldier in the Mexican War and east part of town until well along landed at Vera Cruz with General in years, and retired from his busi- Scott's army. At the close of that ness in affluent circumstances, sever- war he took an active part in the al years before his death.
affairs of Brown County, and was To sit down and talk about an at the head of an anti-horse thief old acquaintance on short notice, association of which there was great this is about as good a sketch as I need in that day, and captured the can furnish the items for. Every- Hatfield horses, which were stolen body knew him to be an honest, fair In mid-summer of 1857, in the Kaw and moral man, who had very few river timber without being able to advantages for education in his get a shot at the thief, but after- early life, and who, having no rela- wards assisted Hatfield in recover- tives in Kansas concluded to place lng large damages out of property his property where it would enable found iu that county, in the first other young man to accomplish in law-suit that I had in Kansas, and the world what he might have done out of which Hatfield, Hoover to a much better advantage, had he and I divided the profits in gold. had any school advantages in his When the Civil War broke out, he boyhood.
organized a militia company on Walnut creek, which furnished a good many volunteers later on. He was one of the County Commission- ers who located the county seat at Carson where it remained until locat- ed by election at Hiawatha. His next public office was that of sheriff
Charles Knabb.
Charles Knabb president of the First National Bank of Hiawatha was born In Berks County, Pa., August 31, 1836, and is the son of William and Margaret Knabb. His great grandfather emigrated to
to which he was elected with practi- America from Prussia and was cally no opposition. He with Mor- among the early pioneers of Berks County. The house he built is still owned by the Knabb family and in it the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. Knabb spent his boy hood days on the farm receiving the education furnished by the district schools of that section and supplementing it by rill, Burnet+, Joel G. Kelsey. Gregory Amann, myself, ( the man who raised the walnut trees on the south side of the road about two miles, and the Robinson man who was county commissioner, and long since dead- just now I cannot think of the name six months study at an Academy. of either) organized one of the early In 1857 he came to Iowa but after a
1
458
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
three months sojourn there came to was again; elected trustee making Leavenworth in this state. Here he three years service in that office. In began teaming. The excitement over 1880 there was a vacancy in the office the Colorado gold fields created a of County Commissioner and Mr. demand for freighters and for five Knabb was appointed to fill it. He years Mr. Knabb followed that busi- was nominated as his own successor ness. The Indians on the Kansas by the Republican convention that plains were not at all friendly to the fall and elected at the November whites at this time and Mr. Knabb election.
and his associates had many thrill- ing experiences during this time.
Mr. Knabb was married In 1865 to Miss Sarah Getcher a daughter of
In 1868 he came to Brown County John and Rebecca Getcher of Berks and purchased a half section of land County, Pa. Two children have been on Wolf Creek in Robinsos Township born to them, William the cashier of and began farming and stock rals- the First National Bank of Hiawatha Ing. He has been successful in this and Cora E. wife of Dr. Geo. C. Mc- line and for years has been recog- Knight of Hiawatha. Both Mr. nized. as one of the largest feeders lu and Mrs. Knabb and their children the county. He has added from time are members of the First Presbyter- to time to his holdings until now he ian Church of Hiawatha of which owns upward of 1,500 acres of land Mr. Knabb has been a trustee for all of which is well Improved and in many years. a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Knabb has been a leading stockholder in the First National Bank for a good many years and in 1894 he was elected its president. Under his able management the bank has prospered and is recognized as one of the institutions of which Brown County is justly proud.
Mr. Knabb is public spirited and progressive. He is a stockholder in the County' Fair Association and has been treasurer of the Associa- tion for a number of years. He is also an active worker in the Farm- ers' Institute and is always ready to help along with his counsel and bis purse any public enterprise.
Thomas J. Hart.
In August, 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Thom- as J. Hart settled on Walnutcreek in what is now Padonia township, and pre-empted a quarter section of land Iowa Point was their nearest trad- ing point and the trips to and from this source of supply were made with an ox team. Material for a small frame house was hauled from the Missouri River and the work of mak_ ng.a home in the new territory was commenced. Gradually well tilled fields took the place of raw prairie and timber land. Other lands were added until the farm had grown to a thousand acres, all in a high state of
In politics Mr. Kuabb is a Repub- cultivation and well improved in lican but takes little active part in every respect.
Mr. Hart "Uncle Tommy Hart"
political affairs. He was elected trustee of Claytonville township in as he was familiarly known to every- 1870 and reelected in 1871. The next body, was a native of Ohio. He year the township divisions were was born in Richmond county Feb. changed and Mr. Knabb was thrown 25th 1826. When eleven years old, his into Robinson township. Here he father moved to Andrew cotnty, Mo.
459
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
where Mr. Hart continued to reside there are frequent family reunions at until he came to Brown County. Grandpa Hart's. He lived on the place he had pre- empted in 1856 until December 13th, Owen Jones. 1895, when he passed away and was laid to rest in the Hart cemetery by
May 15th, 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Jones of Mission Township, sur- his brethern of the Masonic fraterni- rounded by six sons, one daughter, ty.
and twenty grandchildren, celebrat- Few men have lived in Brown County who were more universally respected by all who knew them. He was a successful farmer and a man of sterling integrity. He was a member of the Christian church for many years before his death. In politics he was a Democrat, but he never cared for political preferment. ed their golden wedding. Forty-five years of their married life has been spent in Brown County and none are more highly esteemed in all the county than are this worthy couple. Mr. Jones was born in Merioneth- shire, North Wales, Feb. 2nd, 1828. He spent his boyhood days on the farm and was early trained to habits of thrift, industry and economy. Mrs. Hart's maiden name was Nancy J. Gillispie. She was born Oct. 2nd. 1827, near Richmond, Ky. Her people were of that sturdy Vir- Mis. Jones was the daughter of Richard and M. Williams, and was born in Wales, July 27, 1829. They were married May 15th, 1852, and ginia stock which settled Kentucky bidding "good bye" to friends and and from them she inherited that kindred they at once started for the generous hospitality which has New World. The voyage to New characterized her Brown County York took six weeks in those days. home for half a century. Her father For two and a half years Mr. and died when she was a child and her Mrs. Jones lived at Utica, New York, mother married again and moved and then came to Iowa where they with her family to Missouri. Here lived a couple of years. In 1857 they she became acquainted with Mr. started on an overland trip to Kans- Hart and they were married on Sept. as with two yoke of oxen, four cows 2nd, 1847. Nine children were born and their household goods. The to them, William, Henry, a promi- settlement was made on the south- nent farmer of Padonia township, east quarter of section 25; Township Tho+. J. a leading farmer and stock- 4, Range 17, Mission Township, and buyer of Reserve, Mary Jane, wife of here they have resided ever since. R. M. Stewart of Reserve, Margaret For six months they lived in a cover- who died in childhood. Jackson a ed wagon and then moved into a sod successful Padonia township farmer house which Mr. Jones had erected. Sarah E. wife of J.M. Davis, of Re- When Judge Sam'l A Kingman de- serve, Harvey W. a successful far- cided to move to the new town of mer and now ; trustee of Padonia Hiawatha, Mr. Jones bought the township, Robert, who died in child- logs in his cabin and put them up on hood, and Perry F. who now owns his own place. In 1883 he erected his and successfully operates the old home present commodious residence. For- stead. All of the children it will be- tune has been kind to Mr. Jones. He noted reside in Brown County and has been thrifty and industrious and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.