USA > Kansas > Cloud County > Biographical history of Cloud County, Kansas: biographies of representative citizens. Illustrated with portraits of prominent people, cuts of homes, stock, etc > Part 24
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Mr. and Mrs. Crans' family of six children were all born in Clear- field. Pennsylvania. Five of their children are still living. Charles. deceased, unmarried. The others are all married and have families living in different parts of Kansas. One son, Merwin, is a resident of Concordia. A daughter. Margaret A. Richardson, with her two daughters, live in the home of her father. Mrs. Crans, the loving, faithful wife and devoted, unsel- fish mother. after many years of patient suffering, was called to her eternal home. The touchingly beautiful devotion of her bereaved husband was universally remarked. He moved his office to the residence that he might be constantly by her side. Had she been spared her family a few months longer they would have celebrated the proverbial golden wedding, a magic name, a consummation hoped for by congemal companionship. Her death occurred May 17, 1896. The family of Mr. Crans are members of the Prot- estant Episcopal church and while he is not a regular attendant of any church Mr. Crans has a reverence for everything good and holy.
In November. 1901. the semi-centennial of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, was celebrated and Mr. Crans was the only living man at that time who par- ticipated in the organization of that body. Concordia was in its intancy when Mr. Crans settled there in the early part of 1871. J. F. Hannam, who was then a farmer west of Concordia, moved Mr. Crans, his family and their effects to Granny creek ( now White's creek), where he and several of his children had entered land, whereon they anticipated devoting their attention to agriculture only.
Concordia consisted of but a few houses, and a number of active and energetic men engaged in the erection of other buildings with a determina- tion to establish a thriving business point. The whole country at that time was covered with a soft carpet of short buffalo grass and only a very few
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
trees to break the view-a long stretch of level land, but to the eye of a farmer great possibilities were discernible. The greater part of the country was uninhabited and the soil produced very little for the support of the set- tlers. This drawback caused the necessity of Mr. Crans moving into Con- cordia in order to eke out an existence and where shortly afterward an acci- dent opened up to him the means of support through his profession. He found himself a failure as a farmer and his family were not inclined to remain without him upon the lands they had selected.
A difficulty having sprung up between the citizens of the town and the county, which claimed the title to the land, Mr. Crans, at the request of F. W. Sturges, Milton Reasoner, A. A. Carnahan and others, proposed what was then commonly called "jumping" the town site. In 1873 Mr. Crans consented to act as attorney for the inhabitants in a contest against the Town Company to enable them to throw cpen to actual settlers the most of the land contained within the town of Concordia. He became associated with Judge Sturges and Judge Carnahan. The Town Company abandoned its claim to what was yet government land, but through an arrangement between the local land office and the Town Company homesteaded and pre- empted claims for such lands as were entered. The gentlemen named with Mr. Crans then entered contests and after a hard struggle before the United States land office succeeded in securing to all the citizens and those who might afterward become such, the unpatented lands within Concordia.
Mr. Crans removed his family into the city, where he has continued to reside and always, not only as a lawyer, but a law-abiding citizen, with the welfare of his townsmen ever uppermost in his hopes, well knowing pros- perous men make a thriving town.
JOHN D. WILSON.
The late J. D. Wilson, who died at his home in Concordia. October 10, 1885, was among the most successful and prominent politicians of Cloud county, and socially very popular with the people. As a man his kindness and generous heart knew no bounds, hence his friends were legion.
He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1839. He was four times elected to the office of sheriff of Cloud county. He was a brave soldier in the Civil war and an earnest worker of the Grand Army of the Republic organization. He was an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. By his death was removed one of the best officers and one of the most prominent men of Cloud county.
HONORABLE S. C. WHEELER.
S. C. Wheeler, who ably represented the counties of Republic and Cloud in the senate during the Alliance movement. is one of the best-known politicians as well as one of the most prosperous and energetic men of Cloud
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county. Mr. Wheeler was born in Greenfield township. Huron county, Ohio, in 1846, and lived in the home of his parents until he responded to the call for more troops and enlisted in Company G. One Hundred and Ninety- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in February, 1865. He was discharged the following June for disability, while in a hospital at Perryville, Maryland.
After regaining his health he emigrated to Iowa, where he purchased a small farm and engaged in agriculture for three years. After three years
HONORABLE S. C. WHEELER.
MRS. DELORA ASHLEY WHEELER.
of western life Mr. Wheeler removed to Berrien county, Michigan, where he became a tiller of the soil, remaining three years. He then located in the town of Pentwater. Michigan, which is situated in the timber region of that state, and worked in a lumber camp. Three years later he was appointed superintendent of the Berrien county farm for the poor.
Accepting the position he returned to his former home and superin- tended that institution four years. But his vigorous nature longed for broader fields and the boundless prairies of Kansas, where his ambitions could soar unrestrained and where he could build a home for himself and family. He came to Kansas during the era of emigration in 1879, and on the 7th day of March landed in Buffalo township, where he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of what is now his present farm. He has since added another quarter. making a half section of land second to none in the county in point of fertility and productiveness.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Politically Mr. Wheeler is a Populist. He joined the Alliance move- ment in 1889 and was elected state senator for Cloud and Republic counties at a special election held for the purpose of filling the vacancy caused by the death of E. E. Swearengin. He was the only Populist senator at that ses- sion. In 1897 Governor Leedy appointed Mr. Wheeler member of the state board of charities for Kansas, which position he filled with satisfaction to the state and commendable credit to himself for two years and two months, or until his term expired and the office succeeded to by a Republican. At the last city election, held in April, 1903, Mr. Wheeler was chosen mayor of Concordia.
On March 23. 1867, he was united in matrimony with Miss Delora Ashley, of Adamsville, Mich- igan. Mrs. Wheeler is a sister of John H. Ashley, whose bio- graphical sketch ap- pears in this volume. Although Mr. Wheeler has gained prominence as a pub- lic character he is what might be con- sidered a home man and has always spent his leisure hours en- THE PRETTY COTTAGE HOME OF MR. AND MRS. WHEELER. joying the domestic felicity of his family, which consists of two sons and a daughter. Their children are all married. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have retired from the farm and occupy a beautiful cottage home in Concordia, where they expect to spend the remainder of their days at ease. They also have a large circle of friends who enjoy their genuine hospitality. Mr. Wheeler is a man of public spirit, always doing his part toward promoting any enterprise which is calculated to benefit mankind.
HONORABLE BOYD H. McECKRON.
In casting about for a man or a personality worthy to extol, we do not find any whose praises are more in evidence than those of his friends and fellow citizens of the late B. H. McEckron. It is often when the recipient "has crossed the divide" that we realize that his name is a household word, but Mr. McEckron's pathway was smoothed by many appreciative utterances, while his name will go down to posterity as one of those early settlers who
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contributed largely to every good cause, was ever on the side of right and justice, and taking an intelligent interest in his town, his county and his state. He was a valuable member of the legislature. A more staunch Republican, a truer man, a more worthy citizen could not be found.
Mr. McEckron was born June 17, 1834, in Hebron, Washington county, New York. He was a son of A. S. MeEckron, who was born in 1800. He was originally a woolen goods manufacturer and later a farmer. In 1876, having retired from active business life, he visited Kansas. Ths death occurred in 1880. Mr. McEckron's paternal grandfather, Jacob MeEckron. was a soldier in the American struggle for freedom. His mother. Anna (Donoldson) MeEckron, was born in 1800 and died July 2, 186t, and was buried on the Fourth of July. She was a quiet, unostentatious and con- scientious woman. Both parents were devoted members of the Presbyterian church.
B. H. MeEckron was educated in Delaware Academy, Delhi. New York. receiving a thorough education in the higher English branches, in French and the sciences. Before entering the academy he had nearly learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he pur-ned for several years during the summer, but followed the profession of teaching school during the winter. From 1866 to 68 he was engaged as bookkeeper and foreman for D. ... Goodyear, a lumber dealer at Portage City, Wisconsin. In February, 1868. he paid a visit to his native home in New York, shortly afterward removing to Kansas and homesteaded land in the Republican valley, near Ames, in Cloud county, where he lived until 1874.
Then he removed to Concordia after receiving the appointment as reg- istrar of the United States land office, which position he filled to the entire satisfaction of the public for over nine years. Mr. McEckron took part in the war of the Rebellion. enlisting September 2. 1861, in Company E, Sec- ond Wisconsin Cavalry, and served until November 28, 1862, when he was discharged for disability, being unable to walk. Ilis army life was passed mostly in Missouri and Arkansas in the campaign against the guerrillas and bushwhackers.
In 1868 he was elected superintendent of public instruction in Cloud county. Before the expiration of his term he was elected representative to the legislature from Cloud county in 1870, and unanimously re-elected in 18;1 and again in 1873. In the latter term he was chosen speaker of the house of representatives. He was always a Republican, his political career beginning with the birth of the party. His first vote was cast for John C. Fremont for president.
He was married .April 16, 1864. to Miss Adaline MI. Parmenter, of Randolph. Wisconsin, who was a native of Niagara county. New York. Mrs. McEckron was born April 22, 1842, and died in February, 1897. Mr. Mc- Eckron died one year later. July. 1898. Three children. who survive them, were born to this union : George M., Maud and Alex S.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
In 1881 Mr. McEckron bought an interest in the Palace drug store. In 1883 he assuined entire control, buying his partner's interest, and continued in the business until his death.
HONORABLE JAMES STRAIN.
The late Honorable James Strain was one of the most able attorneys Concordia has ever known. He was a man of rare ability, one of the first members and the first ruling elder (which office he held nine years) of the Presbyterian church.
The news of his death cast a gloom over the community where he had lived ten years and assisted in every public enterprise. He was a man of rare ability and brilliant attainments. Ile died January 25, 1880.
THOMAS WRONG.
Thomas Wrong was once one of the leading politicians of Cloud county and one of the most able attorneys and parliamentary debaters in the city of Concordia. He was a pleasing stump speaker and held an audience well. He was a man of agreeable, pleasing address and suave manner.
There is much in his history to praise that is commendable and little to. condemn. Mr. Wrong for years had a particularly clean political record and the same could be said of his business and social affairs. Drink was the cause of his downfall. He lived in Concordia until the summer of 1901, when he went to Oklahoma.
HONORABLE E. J. JENKINS.
Colonel E. J. Jenkins was one of the foremost men in Concordia. He was an earnest, untiring worker for the advancement of Cloud county. He was a native of Ohio, but came to Donovan county, Kansas, in an early day, where he practiced law and represented that county in the Kansas legislature with distinction, both as a senator and member of the lower house.
Ile was prominent in political and social circles and all public enter- prises. He did much for Concordia and personally was immensely popular. He was one of the pioneers of Kansas and was the faithful receiver of the Republican valley land office from its creation in 1870 until a short time before its removal. He was acknowledged to be a man eminently fitted for the position, hence his continued service with the government.
HAMILTON MACK SPALDING.
Cloud county is much indebted to H. M. Spalding for the interest lie manifests in every worthy project, and there is no one man more distinctly associated with the progress and advancement of Concordia than he. II. M.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Spalding was born at Lockport. Niagara county. New York, December 14, 1852. and has a lineage that might well be a source of pride and ambition. His ancestors were represented in a prominent way during the colonial set- tlement of the United States. Fle is a son of N. Mack and Sarah ( Ellicott ) Spalling. N. M. Spalding was an old and well-known business man of western New York. H. M. Spalding is a direct descendant of Edward Spalding, who came from England with the distinguished Sir George Yeardley in the year 1619, and was a member of the Virginia colony. Edward Spalding afterward emigrated to Massachusetts. This branch of the Spalding family has been noted for the number of successful business men in it.
Through his mother Mr. Spalding traces his lineage back to the Elli- cotts, another family prominently identified with the early history of this country. Andrew Ellicott was the first surveyor general of the United States. It was he who surveyed and laid out the city of Washington, District Colum- bin, and was the first instructor of mathematics in the United States West Point Military Academy. Ilis brother, Joseph E., surveyed and laid out the city of Buffalo, New York. Ellicott square of that city was named for him. Mr. Spakling prides himself on being an American citizen and also in the fact that both his paternal and maternal ancestors took an active part in the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Spalding came to Concordia. Kansas, in 1872 and engaged as clerk in the store of II. A. Lockwood, which occupied his time for fifteen months. In the summer of 1874 he purchased an interest in this stock of general mer- chandise and the firm assumed the name of Lockwood & Spalding. Upon the death of Mr. Lockwood two months later. Mr. Spalding purchased his late partner's interest in the business and continued until the spring of 1878, when he sold to W. G. Patrick and engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1878 he formed a partnership with John Tate, under the firm name of Spalding & Tate, for the purpose of shipping live stock and grain, raising cattle and dealing in real estate. May 22, 1880, they brought into Cloud county six head of blooded cattle-one bull and five cows. This firm was the first to ship in and keep up a herd of registered short horn cattle. Mr. Spalding kept a large herd of fine cattle for twenty years and took much interest in blooded stock.
In 1879 he was elected county treasurer and was the first Democrat elected to a county office in Cloud county, assuming the duties of this office from October. 1880. to October, 1882. In 1883 Mr. Spalding helped to organize the First National Bank of Concordia and was its first president. In 1884 he bought an interest in and took charge of the Concordia flouring mills, and later became sole proprietor, operating them for eight years. He also put in the electric light plant in Concordia, which he controlled for years. keeping it up to date by constantly adding modern improvements. He is now president of the Concordia Electric Light Company and its prin- cipal stockholder.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTOR, LEHOY TILBEN FOUNDATIONS
OFFICE
CONCORDIA ROLLER MILLS.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
He was again elected county treasurer in the autumn of 1895 and in 1897 received evidence of recognition of his having served the people with gen- ·eral satisfaction and with credit to himself by being re-elected. He is the only man elected to and holding this office three terms in Cloud county. Mr. Spalding has long since established himself as a man capable of assum- ing various lines of important industries. His natural ability along with enterprising spirit and capacity for work have gained him a record as a prominent business man and semi-public character.
He was married to Martha E. Sherman, of Wrights Corners, Niagara county. New York. March 20, 1875. They are the parents of two promis- ing sons. Edward H. and Merrill E. The former is taking a complete .course in mechanical engineering at the Rose Polytechnic Institute, Terre Haute, Indiana. and the latter, Merrill E., is a cadet of the United States Mil- itary Academy at West Point. Mr. Spalding and family occupy a pleasant home on West Sixth street, where they have lived for the past twenty- five years.
HONORABLE CHARLES N. AND WILLIAM M. PECK.
Concordia is especially fortunate in the character and standing of her business and professional men. and among those who have won marked dis- tinction within the space of a comparatively few years are the twin brothers. Charles N. and William M. Peck. They are both men of prominence in the business and social world. Their personality is very similar, with the same fine physique and military bearing and the identity of one might easily be taken for the other.
They were born in the town of Hampton, Washington county, New York, between Whitehall and Fairhaven. Vermont, May 25. 1863. Their father. Josiah Peck, like most of his ancestors, was a farmer, and resided on the old homestead. which has been in the possession of the Pecks for two centuries or more, until his death. May 10. 1902. The Pecks originally came from England: three brothers came to America. Two of them settled in Connecticut and one in New York, and all of the Pecks in this country seemingly sprung from one of these three branches. Harriet Peck, mother of Charles and William, was a Miller, her father being the eldest son of "Prophet" Miller, who acquired national fame by prophesying to the world the coming of Christ in 1843. She is the only granddaughter of the "Prophet" now living.
The twin brothers were reared on the farm, where they worked, help- ing to till the soil in summer and attending school during the winter months. In 1881 they gratified their ambition to attend military school at Granville, New York. Charles N. assumed the position of drummer boy and William M. of bugler, and their services were recompensed by the consideration of one- half of the tuition. Later Charles N. resigned his position to enter the ranks of Company .\ as captain. They both graduated in 1883 and returned home
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with the intention of helping on the farm, as their father was becoming advanced in years and needed their assistance; but after three years of mili- tary training they were not content with the daily routine of farm life, and from this time took, as it were, diverging paths.
Charles N. chose the law for his profession and after writing various attorneys, obtained desk room in the office of King & Rhodes, of Troy, New York, (of which firm LaMotte W. Rhodes was district attorney) in Octo- ber, 1883. where the foundation was laid for the reputation he has built as an at- torney, for he has established a record in the legal annals of Cloud county, and has a large clientage. After reading law one year he assumed the duties of chief clerk in their office for the small salary of $3 per week. Later it was increased to $5, out of which he saved enough to visit his brother, who lind come to Concordia in 1884.
Charles N. Peck was admitted to the bar of the state of New York at Albany in 1886. After coming west he worked in the Cloud County Bank for two months and then became a member of the law firm of Sturges & Kennett. The following year F. W. Sturges was elected judge of this dis- HONORABLE CHARLES N. PECK. trict, and the firm became Kennett & Peck, which combination still exists. They are attorneys for the Atchison & Topeka Railroad, the Rock Island Railroad and the western syndicate of banks owned by castern capitalists, and have an ex- tended general practice of law.
In 1892 Charles N. Peck was married to Frances A. Paradis, the only child of Frank Dana Paradis, a contractor and builder formerly of Mem- phis, Tennessee, where he was well known. Mr. Paradis was of Parisian French stock. Mrs. Peck was born in Chicago, but removed with her par- ents when a child to Memphis, where she grew up and attended school, until the death of her mother, when her father's health failed and they returned to Chicago, where she finished her education, graduating at St. Xavier's Con- vent, taking a special course in music. She has had the advantages of a thor- ough musical training and has more than ordinary talent. Mr. Paradis died in 1896. Mrs. Paradis was of English origin. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peck. two sons and a daughter, viz: Charles North- rop, Frances Harriet and William Miller.
Since the above sketch was written. Charles N. Peck has been elected to represent his county in the legislature. He carried his ticket by a large majority and will fill the representative chair with credit to himself and to the many friends from both political parties that cheered lustily over his
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victory-a well merited honor. He is also member of the city council of Con- cordia.
William Miller Peck chose the occupation of architect and served as an apprentice in Albany for a short time. As there was no pay for services ren- dered he became discouraged and decided to try his fortunes elsewhere. He taught school for a brief time and assisted in keeping a set of books for six months. He also spent much time writing to the various banks, whose names and addresses came under his observation. One of these letters found its way to Brandon, Vermont, and fell into the hands of T. B. Smith, the late president of the Cloud County Bank, who, fortunately for Mr. Peck, wanted a bookkeeper, and he was given the place at five dollars per week, and in the summer of 1884 came to Concordia.
Soon after he was made assistant cashier, and in 1896 was elected cash- jer, which place he has since occupied. During his connection with the bank he has assumed many responsibilities and performed to the utmost satis- faction of the corporation the duties appertaining to the position he holds. He is an expert accountant, well informed in banking systems and has estab- lished a reputation for himself as a competent business man. The entire man- agement of the bank is left to the exercise of his judgment rather than to officials of superior rank.
W. M. Peck was married in December, ISS7, to Mary Martin, of Chi- cago, Illinois, a daughter of Lawrence T. Martin, a commission merchant of · that city. She is an accomplished woman, talented in art-a student of St. Xavier's Academy. Their family consists of three daughters: Margaret, Ruth and Helen, all musically inclined. Margaret plays the cornet and Ruth. the violin. Mr. Peck is also a cornetist of considerable ability.
The Peck brothers have attractive, modern homes on West Ninth street, surrounded by beautiful shade trees and wide lawns. They have been Re- publicans from the cradle but are not radical politicians.
WILLIAM ENGLISH.
William English, one of the early settlers who experienced pioneer life among the frontiersmen north of Concordia and known to the people who were in the county at that time, died in Frisco, Utah, in October, 1885. He. had removed there about ten years prior.
VIRGIL A. BROWN.
V. A. Brown, a retired farmer with residence in Concordia, is one of the pioneers of Kansas. He first settled in Waubaunsee county, where he farmed rented land and the following year, 1867, removed to Cloud county and set- tled on Wolf creek, in Buffalo township, three and one-half miles southcast of Concordia, when he and Phillip Kiser were the only settlers on that creek, and when the buffalo appeared in numbers like a living, surging mass of animal life.
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