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 52
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 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
After the close of the war Mr. Page was honorably discharged and re- turned to Illinois. January 1, 1866, he was married to Josephine Reed, a daughter of David Kingsley Reed of Warren county, Illinois. Her parents were residents later on, of Cawker City. Kansas, followed later by a removal to Clyde, Kansas, and are now sleeping the quiet slumber of the dead, resting peacefully in the pretty little cemetery of Mount Hope. One year after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Page they moved to Iowa, but feeling that was not the place to make a home, emigrated to Kansas, which was then still new. Many changes had taken place since their first advent in the state in 1857. Mr. Page came to the "poor man's country," penniless and endured without murmuring the many privations incident to a new country, and has acquired his present competency through his untiring indus-
504
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
try and enterprise. The first move after getting to the frontier was to take up a claim: the next move was to make a dugout, and dig a well. This was called home and their very own, where no sour visaged landlord presented a bill for the collection of rent. Their little dugout while not a thing of beauty was a warm shelter and more comfortable than many of their neigh- lors were possessed of. They lived two years in this unpretentious dwelling place and then erected a small frame dwelling.
Mr. and Mrs. Page are the proud parents of twelve children, all of whom are living and not one to spare, each holding its own individual place in the hearts of the parents. These children have all been reared on the Kansas homestead, have done credit to the traming and schooling they have received and are fine representatives of the state to which they belong; they are possessed of more than average intelligence. There are six sons and six daughters, and each of these twelve children have brown eyes.
Emma B., is the wife of Bert Eashbaugh, a farmer near Zella, Kansas, Alfred M .. the oldest son, is a farmer living east of Clyde. Phoebe, wife of Henry Schriver a farmer near Elmwood. Kansts. Edmond Willis, a transfer of Boise City. Maho Mary, wife of Henry Baker, a farmer but at present employed in a grocery store at Boise City, Idaho. Arthur, a horse buver is a resident of Clyde. Alla, wife of Walter Harrison, a carpenter and mine owner of Boise City, Idaho, Josie, is unmarried and lives under the parental roof. John assists his father in the duties of the farm. Nellie, wife of C. N. Bunda, who operates an elevator at MeLouth. Kansas. Frank and Verr, aged respectively sixteen and fourteen years, are attending school in District No. 15. Where all of these dozen children received their educa- tion.
The family are faithful attendants and members of the United Brethren church. When the society was organized at the Crammer school house the majority of the members consisted of the several Page families, hence it was given the name of "Page Congregation." After darkness comes dawn, and after many struggles and lowering clouds in the battle of life come rifts of sunshine as a reward for a well spent life. Mr. Page and his estimable wife are now enjoying the comforts of a pleasant home.
JAMES W. LAW.
Prennent among the old settlers of the Clyde vicinity is James W. Law an old soldier of the Civil war. who homesteaded near the western boundary of Elk township in 1871. Mr. Law is a native of Ohio, born in Guernsey county. in 1835 : for his ancestors the reader is referred to the sketch of the late Judge Porton, whose wife is a sister. Mr. Law emigrated to lowa three years prior to locating in Kansas, but joined the innumerable throng that eagerly sought homes in the promising new commonwealth. For ser- cral years he struggled with destiny, for his capital was limited and com- modities high. For seed corn and oats he paid one dollar and a quarter, and eighty cents per bushel. respectively.
505
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Mr. Law narrated an entertaining incident which occurred in 1873. The prairies at that time presented about the same appearance in every direc- tion. and it was a very easy matter for even a settler to lose his way after nightfall, but our subject proceeded to lose himself in the morning of a foggy day. He was enroute to visit his neighbor, McDonald, and in some unac- countable manner lost his bearings and instead of traveling northward, he was trending toward the opposite cardinal point. After wandering around and about indefinitely, he came in contact with a friendly dugout, and was so bewildered he did not recognize his neighboring settler's wife. Mrs. Cary Page, and the estranged wanderer inquired with the utmost reserve as it he were in a foreign land, "can you direct me to J. W. Law's?" With a merry twinkie in the eye of his hostess and the desired information the recognition became mutual, although there was nothing left for Mr. Law to do but admit he was thoroughly duped ; he was in sympathy with the wandering savage who stoutly declared. "Injun not lost, wigwam lost."
August 22, 1862, Mr. Law enlisted in Company G. One hundred and twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served under the command of Colonel William Ball and Captain O. G. Farquahar until mustered out with his company in Washington, D. C., in April, 1865. and honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio. He was "drummer boy" and served the entire term with- out being furloughed. His company participated in many important battles : among them, Gettysburg, battle of the Wilderness, Petersburg. Richmond. Cold Harbor, at Spottsylvania, where his company lost ten men : they were in the Shenandoah Valley campaign and with Sheridan on his famous ride which has been immortalized by Greenleaf Whittier in his beautiful poem. During one engagement in the Shenandoah his regiment fought their way through the ranks, mowing down men as they went. In this mad charge Company G counted a loss of half their men by shot and shell and could not tarry to remove their dead and wounded. Company G was also at Appo- mattos, where General Lee surrendered. The veterans relate their prowess of war to the "sons of veterans" who in turn will pass their achievements on down the line to their sons and thus the courage and valor of the "boys in blue" will live countless ages. To have served under the "stars and stripes" is a never forgotten glory after having faithfully served "Uncle Sam."
After the cessation of hostilities, Mr. Law returned to the home of his boyhood, was married to Miss Louisa J. Bainter, and shortly afterward emigrated to Iowa, where his parents had preceded them two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Law seven children have been born, three of whom died in infancy Francis M., their eldest son. is a carpenter and resides in Con- cordia ; his wife before her marriage was Minnie H. Ellis: they are the par- ents of two children, Ethel and Wilbur Francis. Minnie M., their only daughter is.a prepossessing young woman ; she lives under the parental roof. Lewis W. B., who has ably assisted his father on the farm, is now a student of the Great Western Business College, of Concordia. The youngest son,
506
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Elmer F. aged seventeen, was named for Colonel Elsworth of the famous "Elsworth Zouaves" who was killed at Mexandria, Virginia. Mr. Law takes an active interest in the Grand Army of the Republic and is a member of Conforth Post, of Clyde.
The Law homestead is a fractional quarter section, comprised princi- pally of second bottom land, and viekls excellent corn, has never been an en- tire failure, with the exception of the grasshopper year. The little frame house of one room has been supplanted by a comfortable seven-room resi- dence and although they were compelled to live in a very frugal way, resort- nig to all sorts of economy to live within their means, after buffeting with many hardships and discouragements Mr. Law and his family anchore 1 in a safe harbor of prosperity. Their country home is made particularly pleasing by a garden of beautiful vari-colored flowers, where rich in nature's hues many varieties of chrysanthemums, asters and bright blushing commons nod to and fro in the breeze, recalling the sentiment-"In every flower around that blooms, some pleasing emblem we may trace."
Mr. Law has always lived a straight-forward, upright life and enjoys the universal esteem of all who know him.
MYRON E. WEBSTER.
Myron E. Webster is a native of Christain county, Illinois, Forn in the year 1860. His father was Myron P. Webster. Webster is a good old nume and the subject of this sketch traces his lineage back to the world renowned Danich and Noah Webster. and their descendants justly pride themselves on their "family tree." Mr. Webster's mother was a native of Vermont ; before her marriage she was Julia Chase. After she removed to New York she met and was married to Myron P. Webster. They emigrated to Springfield, Illinois at an early day, traveling over the chain of lakes, and down the Illi- nois river in a small boat, much after the pattern of canal boats drawn by horses on a tow path at the side of the river, possibly not quite as quick transit as by cars, but exceedingly safe. and in earlier days people seemed to have more time to jaunt through the country. At that period only one rail- road ran through the state, and that is now the Wabash. When this road was built the tracks were made of wood with iron nailed on the top. Myron E. Webster is one of nine children, eight of whom are living and all are resi- lents of the state of Kansas: their homes embracing Clay, Washington and Cloud counties, excepting a sister in Kansas City, Kansas, and one brother in Ellsworth county. There are none so distant as to make it impossible to meet occasionally in pleasurable family reunions, where they can indulge in a retrospective rehearsal of childhood days when cares were unknown.
Mr. Webster owned a small farm in Washington county, near the Cloud county line, which he disposed of, and in 1890, purchased the "Nick Guiger" farm on the main Elk creek, one of the most desirable farms in the country, and under his management it has been a great success. He had 13.000
507
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
bushels of corn carried over for several seasons, some of it as far back as five years and his farm was called "Egypt" because of the abundance of corn, when there was a shortage in the country. People came from Concor- dia and other points hauling it away in wagons and paid from sixty to sev- enty cents per bushel; it was bought principally for feed. To the hungry stock it was a priceless boon and if their satisfaction could have been expressed in words they would have shouted, "Corn is king." Mr. Webster's farm lands consist of two hundred acres in Cloud county and five hundred acres in the Republican river valley in Clay county, where he had three hundred acres in corn, two hundred of which was washed out by floods. He gener- ally plants two-thirds of his land in corn. In the years 1896-7 he raised one hundred and twenty acres of corn that averaged fifty-five bushels to the acre. He does not raise mich stock.
Mr. Webster was married in 1888, to Lora V. Matthews, a daughter of William Matthews, who died in the army of a gunshot wound, and from over- exertion, gangrene set in cansing his death. He was buried in Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Webster's family emigrated to Kansas in 1879: her mother now resides in Beatrice, Nebraska. Her family consists of two sons and one daughter ; one of the sons is older than Mrs. Webster and the other younger.
To Mr. and Mrs. Webster have been born three children: the eldest, Lila Gay, deceased at the age of eight years. Longfellow beautifully tells us. "There is no flock however watched and tended, but one dead lamb is there." An infant was deceased January, 1902. One daughter remains to her parents' loving care, Julia May. She has considerable talent for music and her parents are ambitious to cultivate the gift : she is also very apt in her studies and a general favorite. Mr. and Mrs. Webster and daughter have recently returned from an extended trip to the coast, after visiting many places of interest.
The Webster home, a pretty cottage, is beautifully situated near the banks of Elk creek, which is a running stream of water, a greater part of the year and is skirted by heavy timber. The stream is crossed by a rustic bridge, reminding the beholder of a dainty picture painted by an artist that loves a bit of sky, a purling stream winding its way through mossy banks shadowed by overhanging trees where bright plummed birds fearlessly sing from morn till dewy eve. The cottage is surrounded by trees and a grassy lawn, adding much to its appearance. Mr. Webster brought some cedars and pines from Washington to test their growth in Kansas soil and climate. - He had previously been rewarded by the nine growth of a dozen or more evergreens.
In politics Mr. Webster is a Republican, has been a member of the school board nine years, and during his reign a new school house has been erected. Mr. Webster and family are members of the Baptist church, Clyde congregation. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the very pros- perous men of the township, possessing a keen, shrewd eye for business,
508
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
which makes money, and money begets many comforts and pleasures. Mrs. Webster has helped with true womanly instincts to bridge over many diffi- culties, and has been a helpmate and companion, an unselfish. devoted wife and mother.
JOHN W. JOINER.
: J. W. Joiner, one of the pioneer settlers of Elk township, located in Cloud county. September 30. 1870, and bought the Harley Williams home- stead where he has since resided. The Joiner home is an exceedingly pleas- ant one and bespeaks all the comforts and conveniences of a well appointed farm house.
Mr. Joiner's capital of five hundred dollars that he brought to Kansas was well invested. He, with his sons William L. and John E., own a section of land that averages well with the magnificent farms of that vicinity. They were very recently offered $6.700 for one quarter section. Mr. Joiner, like many Kansans had a rough up-hill climb and has doubtless been oftentimes wearily discouraged, but after darkness comes dawn. and with the first streak of approaching light, renewed courage to push on. Instead of the present commodious residence and broad fields of cultivated land there were but a few acres of sod turned and a log house with one room below and a loft above. At a trifling expense they obtained a "roof-garden," not so extended as those that grace some of our modern cities, but where the sun-flower and tall grasses.grew in abundance, for the covering was of Kansas soil. This little cabin was later provided with a shingled roof and they continued to occupy it for five years and as all old settlers testify 'there were passed the happiest (lays of their lives."
Mr. Joiner was born in the northwestern part of North Carolina, in the town of Sparta. in 1833. His paternal grandfather was of English birth and settled in North Carolina in an early day. Our subject's father died on the homestead in the early 'seventies, a few years later he was followed by the wife and mother who also died in the old southern home. She was of German origin, her father having been of German birth. Her maiden name was Hopper. Mr. Joiner is the fifth child of a family of nine. all of whom but one are living and all but the subject of this sketch are residents of North Carolina.
Mr. Joiner was married in 1866 to Emeline Edwards. also of southern birth. Her father was a slaveholder for a short time. To Mr. and Mrs. Joiner have been born eleven children. six of whom are living: four were deceased in early infancy. The angel of death visited this family and claimed one of their daughters. Myrtle E .. a bright and promising young woman of twenty-one years. She was a pupil of the Clyde high school. preparatory to entering upon a commercial course. Caroline is the wife of C. A. Parker. a harness dealer of Clyde. Phoebe J. is the wife of A. C. Garwood; they reside in Sacramento, California. Sarah F .. is the wife of William Trow-
509
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
bridge, a farmer of Elk township. Nellie, is the wife of Burt Arten, a car- riage and wagon repairer of Clyde.
Mr. Joiner was a soldier of the Confederacy; he was conscripted and served one and one-half years, entering the second year of the campaign and remaining until he was discharged for disability.
There are ever some incidents occurring to give a merry side to the darker one, and many amusing episodes with contingent circumstances have mitigated the woes of soldiering. Mr. Joiner relates the following : . There were thousands of "Yankees" and a few "Johnnies" marching through a field when one of the rebels fell wounded. Mr. Joiner and a comrade lifted him from the ground and tenderly carried him across the rough land. When they had gained a place of safe retreat their burden softly remarked "let me see. perhaps I can walk now," whereupon the two weary and almost breathless soldiers of the gray placed their cumbersome load on its feet. The next moment he was running at full speed. faster than his rescuers could possibly have done after transporting so many pounds avoirdupois over the broken field.
Just after the close of the war with its attendant horrors and scenes of bloodshed, Mr. and Mrs. Joiner with their three little children emigrated to Indiana, and six months later to Harding county, Iowa, where they resided until coming to Kansas, the "mecca" for homeseekers. He' made a wise choice and does not regret the venture, although he would have returned and declared his intention of doing so as soon as financial conditions would per- mit, but says he would not know where to better his present condition, and is well content to continue in the home where every comfort is provided. One of the more recent branches of diversified farming in which they are engaged is their herd of twelve milk cows. At times this number is exceeded. The milk is sold to the creamery. Mr. Joiner has also been successful in hog raising: he sold one thousand dollars worth in 1900. They also find profit in poultry.
Mr. Joiner is one of the most reliable, honorable, and highly esteemed citizens of Elk township and there is no more loyal or useful citizen in the community. He is generous, just and kind. Mrs. Joiner is a worthy and most excellent woman: she has done her full share toward acquiring their present competency. The family are members of the Baptist church of Clyde. Mr. Joiner has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than thirty years.
JOHN G. HOSE.
In the year 1871. J. G. Hose arrived in Cloud county, Kansas and lo- cated the land in Elk township from which his present fine farm has developed. His financial resources at this time summed up a total of fifty cents, but by daily labor he soon saved enough to secure the homestead pa- pers. Mr. Hose bought the relinquishment of John Garrison. There was a
510
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
dugout on the claim and in this pioneer abode the settler "bached" as was the custom when the newcomer was not the happy possessor of or accompanied by his wife and family.
The birth place of Mr. Hose is Massillon, Ohio, born in the year 1848. The parents of Mr. Hose were of German birth ; early in their married life they emigrated to America and settled in Ohio. While yet in his boyhood his parents removed to Indiana where our subject grew to man's estate. Ilis father died in 1800, preceded by the mother in 1886. Mr. Hose is one of seven children, all of whom are living with the exception of one brother, who died of small-pox m Mishawaka, Indiana, in 1902. David, the ellest brother resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado; he is a carpenter by trade. Two sisters. Mrs. L. J and F. D. Smith are residents of Clyde and two sisters live in Indiana.
Mr. Hose was married in 1866, to Sarah Steiner, whom he knew as a playmate in his Indiana home. In 1891 the husband and five children were left to mourn the loss of wife and mother. Their first born. Harry llose, is a young farmer of Elk township, and married Miss Jennie Smock. To their amnion a pair of twin sons have been born. Roy and Ray, aged five years. Daniel E .. the second son is a prosperous farmer living near Ilollis, He married Miss Mollie Bowersock and they are the parents of a son and heir. aged about one year. Daisy, Charlie and Hattie are unmarried and live at home. The latter is her father's housekeeper and assumes the cares of a matron with grace and tact.
Early in life Mr. Hose learned the carpenter trade and many of the best residences in the township are monuments of his workmanship. As an ag- riculturist he ranks with the first. To be a successful farmer does not con- sist alone of plowing, seeding and sowing but requires far-seeing faculties. the same well balanced ideas that are essential to the prosperous merchant or banker, study of the many and varied details. For several years Mr. Hose owned and operated a threshing machine and in this calling, along with his building and farming interests, all of which he plied with diligence, Mr. Hose found himself prospering. In connection with his threshing ex- periences Mr. Hose referred to the grasshopper year and its effect upon the grain. One man's stacks were alive with "hoppers." a mixture of half and lialf, but fearful if postponed there would be no grain left he had it threshed and afterward run the cereal through a fanning mill. While the thought of the jumping insects being beaten through with the grain is not a whole- some one, those days of anxiety and strenuous times, supplies pardon for any reproof that might be offered for the offense. They found the pests very troublesome, as their oily bodies would gum and stop the belts of the ma- chine.
In the early 'eighties Mr. Hose erected a three room frame cottage and four years later built a two story front, which makes a commodious resi- dence of nine rooms, with verandas and bay windows. This one of the best country homes in the community. His farm is well improved, with good
5II
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
barn, sheds, and an inexhaustible well of pure water. If pumped constantly night and day the flow would not be lessened.
In politics Mr. Hose is a Democrat. In religions proclivities he and his family are members of the Christain church. Clyde congregation, in which he is serving as a deacon. Our subject and his family are among the pros- perous and representative people of Elk township and their prosperity has been justly earned.
WILLIAM H. PAGE.
W. H. Page is in the broadest sense of the word an old and respected pioneer, having emigrated to Shirley (now Cloud) county, Kansas in March, 1866. He was attracted by the flow of home seekers on the way to the new "Eldorado." turned his back upon the old home in seeking his fortunes in the new, where nature seems to be kinder and more considerate to her chil- dren, in that her harvests to them yield richer with less toil of the hands and sweat of the brow so necessary among the rocky hills of the east.
MIr. Page pre-empted the land on which the town of Clyde now stands and as stated in the history of Clyde. The Town Company made him an of- fer, and thinking three hundred dollars a large price (greater than he would have given for the land) closed the deal. He could not believe or foresee a town of any dimensions spring up on the prairie one hundred and fifty miles from a trading point and could not conjure up in his wildest imagina- tions that the now prosperous town and the hills densely populated could spring up and prosper. The land grant which Mr. Page possessed consisted of eighty acres, for which he paid the usual government fee, one dollar and a quarter per acre. The Town Company purchased forty acres and other parties the remaining forty. Mr. Page made several trades and deals until the year of 1875. when he bought the Joel Miller homestead two and three- quarters miles west and one and one-quarter miles north of Clyde, which he has steadily improved and made for himself and family the comfortable and pleasant home of today.
Mr. Page married in the year 1876. Lizzie A. Dutton, who was reared in his native state. Ohio, where a boy and girlhood friendship began, cul- minating in a closer tie. Alas. the beloved wife was deceased June 17, 1885. leaving as a solace one child, Aura L., a most estimable, obedient, and lov- ing daughter. to help the bereaved father with kindly advice and brighten with rays of sunshine the desolated home. Miss Page received her education in her home school district No. 15. and later four years in Clyde, making the 'best possible use of her advantages. She is now her father's comfort in his declining years. She is refined and gentle, possesses a kindly and amiable disposition. is intelligent above the average. and a true woman. She was but a child of eight years when her mother died and she deserves great credit for her management of the household and its multiplicity of cares thrust so early upon her young shoulders. Two children died in infancy.
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.