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 46
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ANDREW J. BRADFORD.
A. J. Bradford was one of the early settlers of Clyde and experienced many incidents of pioneer life and met with many reverses, among them los- ing nearly all his children within a brief space of time. He served one term as under sheriff of Cloud county a short time before his death. Mr. Brad- ford was an old soldier. He was a member of Company G, 2d Colorado Cavalry, under the leadership of Captain Boyd, and a comrade of J. B. Rupe. Mr. Bradford was born at Middlesex, Pennsylvania. in 1844, and died in Concordia, December 24, 1893. Mr. Bradford was a pioneer, coming to Kansas in 1866. He was a brave and honored soldier, a patriotic and highly respected citizen.
JOHN HENRY HUFF. 1
J. H. Huff was for twelve years the genial proprietor of the Clyde House, (now the Commercial). He was a prominent citizen and came to Clyde in 1871. He served several times as marshal and on the board of council. Ile ran for sheriff in 1882, and was defeated by Dan Wilson. Two years sub- sequently ran again and was defeated by Ed Marshall. Mr. Huff was an old soldier and spent eighteen months in the Andersonville prison. He died at his home in Kingfisher. Oklahoma, February 11, 1894. His remains were brought to Clyde for burial where he had a son and two daughters resting in Mt. Hope cemetery.
CHARLIE DAVIS.
Charlie Davis, one of the oldest settlers of Cloud county, was the first merchant the county ever had. He opened a store in a log cabin in Clyde in 1865, where he remained until 1873, when he moved with his family to Glen Elder, Kansas, where he lived until his death, April 2, 1881.
E. D. NEELY.
E. D. Neely, now of Crowley. Texas, was one of the pioneers of the Republican valley and for a long time the outside settler on the north side of the Republican river where the buffalo grazed around his house. His
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old homestead was the farm now owned by Peter Pistch. Mr. Neely was the first probate judge of Cloud county and figured in all the incidents of the early settlement of the county. Was one of the party who discovered the awful fate of the Lew Cassel party.
ROBERT H. VINING.
The late Robert H. Vining came to Kansas in March, 1868, and located on Elk creek, in Republic county. On January 1, 1869, he was married to Martha J. Oliver, who survives him and is now living in Clyde. Their wed- ding was distinguished as the first marriage ceremony performed in Repub- lic county, and by the Reverend R. P. West, the pioneer preacher of both Republic and Cloud counties.
Mr. Vining was born in Henry county, Illinois, in 1846. Though very young, in March, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Infantry. He lost a leg in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and was discharged at the United States hospital at Camp Douglas, Illi- nois, in February, 1865. Mr. Vining was patriotic and proud that his lost limb was given to the cause of his country. He was well known throughout the northwest and had served as marshal of both Clyde and Concordia. On October 12, 1888, this old pioneer's sudden death was announced. Mr. Vining was familiarly known as "Peggy," and was buried with patriotic honors, his body wrapped in the emblem of his country. There is a bit of sentiment in connection with this. Some time before his demise Mr. Vining and Jacob Solilinger entered into an agreement by which the surviving party should prepare a flag to enwrap the body of his dead comrade. True to his obligation, Mr. Sohlinger prepared the stars and stripes used for that purpose.
Mr. Vining was manager of the Western Detective Agency of Clyde, which was established in 1879.
FRANK HOAGLAND.
Among the early settlers of 1865, who took an interest in the welfare of Clyde was F. Hoagland. He started a blacksmith shop in connection with B. V. Honey, living in Clyde for several years, when he removed to Ellsworth county, Kansas. Mr. Hoagland was a highly respected citizen and enter- prising man.
RANDAL HONEY.
One of the most prominent of the old settlers of Elk township was the late Randal Honey, born at Windsor, Vermont, February 2, 1820. Mr. Honey came of hardy, loyal New England stock. His grandfather served in the Revolutionary war and his father, Joseph S. Honey, fought under General Wade Hampton with the Army of the North in the War of 1812,
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taking part in the famous battle of Plattsburg on Lake Champlain, in the autumn of 1814, when two thousand British attacked the American forces numbering but fifteen hundred, and were repulsed and driven back. I 1838, when cigliteen years of age, Randal Honey moved with his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio: the trip was made by way of the Erie canal and loke steamer. After locating at this point he learned the carpenter trade; though he did not follow it through life, it served him well in after years in helping build up and improve a new country.
On February 3, 1842, he was married to Miss Polly A. Phillips, of Trumbull county, Ohio. The hearts united on that day remained linked together not alone by the laws of the land, but by bonds of love and tender- est affection which grew stronger, tenderer, sweeter as the years rolled by till death bid them part more than three score years later. For sixty event- ful years this couple journeyed side by side along the pathway of life; strongly up the steps of life, bravely along the crest of middle age, trust- ingly, peacefully, serenely, down the western slopes toward the setting 5111. In 1856 Mr. Honey and his family moved overland to Wisconsin, locating in Jefferson county. Here they made their home until March, 1864. when the homestead lands in the great new west prompted another change and they came to Kansas, locating in Cloud county (then Shirley ). Mr. Honey took his homestead on the Republican river at the mouth of Elm creek. eleven miles east of where Concordia was located several years later. The homestead taken at that early day was still his when called to his eternal home thirty-eight years afterward. When Randal Honey and his little family arrived there were but eight families located in the little set- tlement on the banks of Elm creek. The vast stretchi of prairie on all sides furnished grazing ground for countless thousands of buffalo. The nearest 1) "toffice and the nearest store were sixty miles away. Every family within i rty miles were neighbors. Only people who have helped develop a new country can appreciate the homes obtained by these pioneers who risked their lives and braved the hardships and privations incident to the frontier. Mr. Honey built for himself a hewed log house and laid therein a puncheon floor. That house stands today, but with its shingled roof and siding over the logs it would scarcely be recognized by those who saw it a third of a century ago when it was the most commodious house in the county, and sheltered all the inhabitants of the settlement ou those nerve-trying nights when Indian rumors filled the air and it was uncertain whether or not the morning dawn would find all scalps in place. In those early days Indian raids were com- mon, bountiful harvest uncommon and tried men's nerves and tested their courage and resourcefulness. Through all those years of danger, hard- ships and privations, through Indian scares, hot winds, grasshoppers and other discouragements, the subject of this sketch never wavered; with un- shaken faith in the future of the country, with calm determination and a resourceful nature he bore his full share of the burdens and with a willing hand lent courage to others.
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A great reader he kept posted on the events of the times and took a lively interest in politics, but quiet and unassuming, he never sought polit- ical preferment. To him, home was everything. Probably the only office he ever held was that of postmaster at Elm Creek before and during the time of the Waterville-Beloit stage line. Ever brave hearted and cheerful, always good natured and generous to a fault he had no enemies and his friends were limited only by the extent of his circle of acquaintances. Such in brief was the life of this good man and when the summons came March 5. 1902, he met his death as he had met the difficulties of life, calmly, peace- fully, and with a heart as pure and a faith as simple as that of a child.
His aged wife, his companion for sixty-two years, two daughters and two sons survive him. The four children are Mrs. Rosella Wilcox and Mrs. Kitty Zedeker, both of Cloud county; Elson H. Honey, of Cuprum. Idaho. and Henry R. Honey, of Mankato. His eldest daughter, Rosella ( Mrs. Matt Wilcox). taught the first school, and hers was the first wedding sol- emnized in the county .- {The above in substance was taken from the Man- kato Advocate .- Editor.]
THE FARMERS' VOICE.
The Farmers' Voice was first issued by the Farmers' Voice Company January 21, 1901. It was instituted to advocate the principles of the "Farm- ers' Alliance." J. J. Henley assumed control April 14 of the same year and a few months subsequently purchased the interests of the other members of the company. The paper has been continued along the same lines-stead- fastly advocating the principles of the Populist party and Democracy ; always staunch for fusion and fusion principles. The Voice is classed as a Demo- cratic paper, but it has always advocated the same policy.
J. J. Henley was born in Randolph county. North Carolina. January II, 18.49. He was reared and educated in the common schools of that locality. Mr. Henley was a pioneer of Kansas, having come to the state in the autumn of 1869. In the spring of 1870 he homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 35. town 5, range 1, across the Republican river, just one-half mile south of Clyde. From 1876 to 1887 Mr. Henley followed mining in Arizona, but returned to Cloud county and took up newspaper work. Mr. Henley was married in 1893. His family consists of a wife and two engaging children. Edna, aged seven, and Bryan, aged five.
JOHN M. THORPE.
One of the pioneers who shared in the hardships of the frontier and one of the "main stays" of the new settlement was John M. Thorpe. He came to the county in company with J. M Hagaman, whose lives having been spent on the wild prairies together made them bosom friends. Being the head of a family Mr. Thorpe did not enlist in the army but was patriotic 27
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enough to contribute two sons. Mr. Thorpe was the first justice of the peace with jurisdiction extending over the whole county. There were not many law snits but he became a sort of general expounder of the law and people accepted and were usually satisfied with his decisions. However, the early settlers had enough to employ their time without going to law.
For a considerable length of time there was no regular physician this side of Manhattan or Junction City. This want was supplied by J. M. Thorpe who apparently possessed considerable knowledge of the human system, with remedies for its disorders. Many em testify to having been brought back to health through his treatments. He generally performed these duties gratuitously, and in this way made himself very useful. However, the people were generally hale and hearty, as no one would come so far away from medical aid who was not. Mr. Thorp removed to Russell county and in losing him the county sustained a loss not easily repaired.
MOSES HELLER.
"Uncle Heller" as he was known, was looked upon as the father of Clyde and surrounding country, having been one of the first to erect his log calin in the Republican valley. He was among the first and ranked with the most prominent of the first settlers. Coming west in so early a day and at an advanced age, proves him to have been a man of great pluck and energy. He was a man of exceptional integrity and justly enjoyed the confidence and respect of the whole community. He settled in Elk township in the year 1860, when hut few men had traversed this sec- tion, and located where the beautiful little city of Clyde now stands. He enjoyed the honor of being the first postmaster in Cloud county, a position he held until the latter part of the 'seventies, receiving the appointment from Montgomery Blair, in 1864. Okl age was the cause of his resignation. Prior to the establishment of the postoffice at Clifton. he used to carry the mail from Clay Center to Clyde in his hat, and distributed it among the settlers.
The nearest postoffice was Manhattan. but Mr. Huntress, who was living in Clay Center, was interested with a business firm EFH. at Manhattan which took him there every week ; on his return he would bring all the MOSES HELLER. mail for the settlers as far as his house. (Reproduced by the Author from an old photo- graph kindly submitted by John Ran- dolph of Clyde. Uncle Heller would go there after it. per- forming the trip most of the time on foot, distance of twenty-five miles. He deposited the mail in his hat 2
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placed it on his head and started homeward, where the settlers were anxiously awaiting his arrival. Considering these were war times his coming must have been watched for with great eagerness. When asked if he received any compensation for his trouble he remarked in the nega- tive, adding, he was glad to go for nothing. This service he performed for over two years. Having a son in the army from whom he was always anxious to hear no doubt made the task much lighter.
Mr. Heller was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1800; emigrated to the state of Kansas in 1856, and to Cloud county in August, 1860. He was among the three who were appointed county com- missioners by the governor at the organization of the county and was elected to the same office by the people of the county at the next general election, and was made chairman of the first board of county commissioners. Although not a member of the church he had a high appreciation of Christain religion. His house was the first in the county thrown open for public worship and also the first in which a Sabbath school was established ; in fact his house seemed to be the radiating center for everything and everybody. Mr. Ileller's house was a sort of gateway to all the old settlers west of him and many a new comer has partaken of his hospitality. No one entertained more strang- ers or fed more of the hungry than he. He was also a man of great courage. which at one time was put to a severe test.
A company of soldiers coming through on horse back planned to frighten him. They took their places in single file, rushed toward the house on a run giving vent to a war whoop. Mr. Heller thought of course they were Indi- ans, seized his two six shooters which he constantly kept ready for use, placed himself at the window ready to pick off the redskins one by one, as they made their appearance over the rise at the Elk creek bridge. When the first one put in an appearance Uncle Heller saw his mistake and was so overjoyed that he met them with both weapons cocked. forgetting to lay them down. The soldiers laughed and made merry, but concluded that such indulgences might terminate seriously when dealing with such characters as Uncle Heller. Mr. Heller is destined to live long in the memory of all old settlers. His frank and genial countenance left an impression that time can not easily efface.
THOMAS WILLIAMSON.
The advent of Thomas Williamson in Cloud county, in March, 1866. was exceedingly opportune, for up to this time, with two or three exceptions perhaps, there were none who made any pretentions of Christianity. In the Ell: creek settlement there was but one. Andrew W. Smith. On the second Sabbath of Mr. Thompson's arrival he was the instigator of a prayer meeting held at the house of AAndrew Smith, and through him mainly these meet- ings were kept up for some time. He was an incessant worker and labored under the severest discouragements. lle united with the Baptist church (his persuasion ) on Fancy creek. Riley county, which was forty miles or more
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distant. and has been known to repeatedly drive that distance to attend the charch of his choice. Soon afterward, through his efforts and the assistance of the Reverend Cloud. a church was established on Elk creek, the first church building erected in the county. It was a very weak concern and had it not been for his untiring energies would have been a complete failure, the congregation often consisting of Mr. Williamson and his wife. Had it not been for him the church would probably have never been built.
Mr. Williamson was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1809. His field of usefulness was mainly in the ecclesiastical or re- ligions work and he had a record in this capacity.
REVEREND F. D. BAKER.
Reverend F. D. Baker had charge of the Clyde Methodist Episcopal church from 1885, until the present year ( 1902) when he went to Beloit, Kansas. Mr. Baker comes from a family of divines, his father having been a minister and an uncle, John Baker, was a prominent preacher. Reverend Baker's relationship as pastor so many years in Clyde resulted in much
F. K. TETER.
F. K. Teter came to Cloud county in 1870, and settled in Clyde where he became associated with Walter Herman, and was an important factor in the building up of Clyde, one of the pillars of the Baptist church and a prime mover in every worthy enterprise. He had been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows over fifty years. Mr. Teter died in Mena, Arkansas, October 17, 1900, at the home of his son-in-law. Ed Roach.
OBADIAH THOMPSON.
The subject of this sketch is Obadiah Thompson, who came to Cloud county November 8, 1865. He was a native of Wisconsin. Mr. Thompson was an old soldier of the Fourteenth Wisconsin. He joined that regiment November 8. 1861, and was mustered out June 1, 1865, serving over three years and six months. During this time he was in some very severe engage- ments. among which were the battles of Pittsburg Landing. Corinth and Tupelo, in the Siege of Vicksburg and the celebrated Red River expedition, and several other engagements. He lived a retired life and stood high in the esteem of his neighbors and friends.
DONALD McINTOSH.
One of the old settlers who withstood his share of the trials and con- flicts of frontier life is Donald McIntosh. He came from Canada where he was born, to Cloud county, May 29, 1866. In his life there is a bit of inter-
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esting history. He was one of the "Lopez Filibustering Expedition" which had for its object the annexation of Cuba to the United States, and trans- pired in 1850. A short sketch of this affair is given in Barnes' history. page 193. The expedition consisted of three ships. Two of them were captured by the Spanish ship Tizezara, and Lopez and the officers were exe- cuted. The captain of the ship which Mr. Melntosh had the good fortune to be on kept up a good steam and by throwing overboard all their cargo reached a neutral fort and evaded the enemy who were in close pursuit. There were six hundred in this expedition. Mr. McIntosh enjoys the honor of being among the few survivors of the crew, and perhaps the only man in the state of Kansas, who was on that expedition.
- HENRY SARGEANT.
Henry Sargeant homesteaded the Jack Billings' farm but shortly after- wards removed to Clyde where he was prominently connected with many en- terprises. He was an old soldier of the Mexican war and was also a veteran of the Civil was and an active G. A. R. member. He had charge of the cemetery, was janitor of the school building for several years-and was truly faithful. His daughter. Mrs. Eliza Farmer, was a Clyde teacher for a number of terms and for efficient work in that capacity is deserving of special mention.
ROBERT E. STIMSON.
An old resident of Clyde and vicinity, and an old veteran of the Civil war, who served his country well. is R. E. Stimson, of Clyde. He visited Kansas in the spring of 1866, en route home from Utah, where he was a member of General Custer's brigade. Mr. Stimson experienced nearly five years of United States service. He enlisted directly after the battle of Bull Run in July. 1861. He participated in the battles of Winchester in 1862. Culpeper Court House, Cedar Mountain, the second battle of Bull Run. Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Gettysburg. He was in the cavalry fight at Brandy Station, covering Meade's retreat, where from twenty to twenty- five thousand cavalry were engaged Also at Mine Run. Bucklin's Mill and through the entire series of the battles of the Wilderness. He remained with the campaign until the explosion of the mine at Petersburg. After this event he went with General Sheridan to the valley of the Shenandoah and was in the battles of Fisher Hill and Cedar Creek. He spent the next spring with Grant's army in front of Petersburg. Mr. Stimson had many narrow escapes from death. He was wounded in a saber charge at Gettysburg and taken prisoner at Five Points, Virginia, just prior to the surrender of Gen- eral Lee. He was wounded on the 3d of July, but entered the service again December 21. 1863. During the summer of 1864 three horses were shot from under him: one of them at Bethseda church, near Cold Harbor. At
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the close of hostilities between the north and the south Mr. Stimson's regi- ment was taken across the plain- by the Colonel commanding Fort Bridger. where they were on duty until March 24. 1866. Immediately afterward he started with a party of nine comrades who emigrated along the valley of the Platte river. through Kansas to his home in Michigan, where he resumed farming and married Miss Helen French. In 1868 they emigrated to High- land. Kansas, and to Cloud county in May. 1870. where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land three miles north of Clyde. He sokl hi- farm in 1886 and removed to Clyde, where he has since resided.
Mr. Stimson was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1843. When sixteen years of age he went to Michigan, where he had an older brother and began life as a farmer. To Mr and Mrs. Stimson have been born three somos: Clarence, aged twenty-eight. a baker with residence in Concordia : his family consists of a wife and one child. Roland, aged twelve months. Frnest. aged twenty six, is night central line man for the Clyde Telephone Company. Louis, aged twenty-four, is an employe of the Santa Fe Rail- road in Topeka. Politically, Mr. Simon is a Republican; is the carrier of the rural free mail delivery. Route No. 1. He is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen and the Grand Army of the Republic.
FRANCES HAY.
There are many avenue of business and employment open to women. butt the flour. feed and coal establishment conducted by Miss Frances Hlay, of Clyde. is rather out of the ordinary, but this intelligent young business woman has demonstrated that good management is more to be desired and more essential than the muscular strength of the opposite sex.
Mi -- Hay embarked in this enterprise August 13. 1901, and has built up a lucrative trade. She is a daughter of G. W. Hay, who was among the very early homestead settlers of the Sibley neighborhood. During the Indian uprising- the family removed to Iowa. Returning a year later Mr. Hay bought a pre-emption claim of a man named Simon, one mile east of Clyde, where his family of five daughters grew to womanhood. Their mother died while these children were young and their father married again. By the second marriage there was one daughter and two sons. Their father, G. W. Hay, died in 1887.
Clara. the eldest daughter, was one of the early Cloud county teachers. She taught two years in the Clyde schools. She is now Mrs. Miller, of Clif- ton. The other daughters are Eva, wife of W. L. Brandon ( see sketch). Ella, wife of L. B. Haynes, a harnes-maker of Salina, Kansas, and Inez. wife of T. M. Brown, of Walsenburg. Colorado. Mrs. Brown has clerked in several of the different stores in Clyde and for several years was engaged in the millinery business in Hebron. Nebraska, and Ellsworth. Kansas. She was married in June. 1902.
Miss Frances Hay's early educational advantages were good and she
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held a position as assistant in the county clerk's office during Charles Proc- tor's reign and in the district clerk's office with Mr. Hostetler. She taught school successively for several years, beginning when very young. She was one of the first corps of instructors in the Miltonvale school building. In 1901 she did kindergarten work in Lincoln. Nebraska.
GIROUX & LAVALLE.
The enterprising firm. Giroux & Lavalle. dealers in hardware. tinware. pumps, pump fixtures and tanks, is composed of Joseph Giroux and Amedie Lavalle. Mr. Giroux is one of the hundreds of French Canadians who have settled in and around the vicinity of Clyde and like many of them he has prospered and be- come prominent in business circles. He is a native of the province of Quebec. born in 1865. When a small boy his par- ents located in Kan- kakee. Illinois, where he received a business education. In 1879 he came with his fa- ther's family to Kan- sas. llis father is Francis Giroux, a re- tired farmer and hotel keeper now re- siding in Clyde. He AN INTERIOR VIEW OF GIROUX & LAVALLE'S EXTENSIVE HARDWARE STORE. owns two good farms in Cloud county but has never lived on them. One of them is situated one mile south and one mile east of Clyde, the other five miles south and one mile west. He at one time owned the lowa Hotel, which he sold in 1892. Mr. Giroux's mother was Petrilone Larreaux of French Canadian birth. His grandpar- ents from both sides of the house were of France and among the early set- tlers in the province of Quebec. His mother died in the summer of 1902. Mr. Giroux is the only son of six children. His sisters are Mrs. Itzweire. of Arizona, Mrs. Mathews, of Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Girard, of Lin- coln. Nebraska. and Mrs. Juneau, of Clyde. By a previous marriage he has a half brother. Francis Giroux. Jr .. of Dallas, Texas.
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