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 58
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NICHOLS KLEIN.
The subject of this sketch, Nichols Klein, is the owner and manager of the Oakes House, one of the best business properties in the city of Glasco. Mr. Klein is an old resident of Mitchell county, Kansas, having settled there in 1876 and was the first white proprietor of a barber shop in the city of Beloit, remaining there until 1901, when he purchased the hotel of Mr. and Mrs. Oakes, trading some good Beloit real estate in the transaction.
Mr. Klein was born in the southern part of Germany in the year 1849. His boyhood days were spent on the farm in his native land, but when he reached the age of twenty-three years he started out to see something of the world and with his parents settled in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the barber trade, became an adept tonsorial artist and has followed that occupation ever since. Mr. Klein's father emigrated west and died in Beloit. His mother was deceased in Ohio.
Mr. Klein was married in 1878 to Mary Arnoldy, of Mitchell county. Kansas, where her father. Nichols Arnoldy, was an early settler and prom- inent citizen. He owned nine hundred and forty acres of land, part of which extended into Osborne county. He emigrated to Kansas in 1873 from Min- nesota, his former home, and where Mrs. Klein was born. He died in Downs in the year 1887. where he owned a hotel at the time of his death. Mrs. Klein is one of a family of ten children. five boys and five girls, all of whom are living. Three of her brothers are residents of California: one of them being county attorney of Yuba county. California, and resides in Marys- ville. One brother is in Chicago, and another in Mitchell county, Kansas. Three of her sisters live near Tipton, Mitchell county, and one in California.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Mrs. Klem is an estimable woman and an indulgent mother, devoted to the welfare of her family.
To Mr. and Mrs. Klem eight children have been born, viz: Anna, who was married about a year ago to John Smith, a young farmer of Mitchell county. Ella, the second daughter, assists in the duties of the hotel. Arnold and Les are young men aged twenty and eighteen years, respectively. Fran- ces. Withe and Mavie attend the Glasco schools, and Marie, an interesting little girl of five summer's, completes the family circle. Their family of children are Kansans, born, bred and educated in Beloit. Arnold, the oldest .m. was a student for one year of St. Benedict & College at Atchison, Kan- sas. The family are members of the Cathohe church.
JOHN L MANN
In old settler and progressive farmer of Cloud county is J. A. Mann. a native of Hawkins county, Tennessee, born in 1842. He is a son of McMinn and Elizabeth 1 .. (Bradshaw ) Mann, both of southern birth. His father was an extensive planter in Tennessee and Georgia, moving to the latter state when our subject was a small boy. The Mann ancestry were of Scotch origin, emigrated to America, settled in Virginia in colonial times, and later removed to Tennessee. Mr. Mann's paternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812. J. A. Mann is the eldest of a family of ten chil- dren, seven of whom are living, five in Kansas and the others have drifted to the far west.
Mr. Mann was educated in the subscription schools of Georgia and in 1859 emigrated with his parents to Illinois, where he enlisted in the United States army. under Captain Carmichael of Grant's corps and MeClelland's brigade. He served three years, and during that time participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Shiloh, Fort Donelson and many other engagements and skirmishes: came out with several bullet holes in his overcoat, but es- caped bodily injury. After the war Mr. Mann returned to his home in Illi- nois and in 1866, with his parents and two other families, emigrated to Kansas. They came overland with six wagons drawn by ox-teams and were six weeks making the trip. They arrived in July, the grass had been caten down by the buffalo and was dry and sear, the country was new, the settlers far distant from one another and the prospect was very discouraging. The father's possessions were ten children and one hundred and fifty dollars in money. Mr. Man had four hundred and fifty dollars. They both took up homesteads on Chriss creek, which takes its name from a man who took up school land at the month of that stream in 1860.
Mr. Man participated in several buffalo hunting expeditions. On one of these trips he started November 15. 1866, and was gone until Christmas, bringing back a wagon load of buffalo meat for his father's family. They killed sixty cows and brought home the hind quarters. They also suffered the loss of a yoke of oxen. which cost one hundred and fifty dollars. from
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
storm and starvation, on this expedition. On one trip to Chapman creek to mill he was delayed by a storm for three weeks, during which time the family lived on meat and hominy, having no flour to make bread. They had made a few improvements and were just getting in a condition where they could exist when the Indian troubles began and they were forced to abandon their home. In 1869 they returned and this year an abundant crop was raised. From this they began to prosper and in 1874 there was not a claim in the country unoccupied. Mr. Mann's father died in 1884 and his mother in 1889.
Mr. Mann sold his homestead in 1887. moved to Oregon, bought a farm which he sold one year later, and then returned to Kansas and purchased a farm three and one-half miles north of Glasco. His farm consists of two hundred and forty acres. Among other improvements there is a fine base- ment barn. His chief industry is wheat and stock raising. Mr. Mann and his family own a pleasant home in Glasco, where they now reside.
Mr. Mann was married in 1871 to Permelia Snyder, a daughter of Captain Snyder, of Glasco. She was deceased in 1887. leaving seven chil- dren, five of whom are living, viz: Henry, foreman of a fine horse ranch near Portland, Oregon; AAlbert, pilot in the railroad yards in Kansas City : Lewis farms with his father : William, a farmer, and Hattie, a Cloud county teacher. Mr. Mann was married in 1888 to Ella, widow of James Axley, by whom she had two children, Myrtle and William. Mr. and Mrs. Mann are the parents of two bright little girls, Olive and Florence. Mr. Mann is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and Grand Army of the Republic.
AUGUSTUS OTT.
Augustus Ott. an old resident, leading merchant and representative cit- izen of Glasco, is a native of Stephenson county, Illinois, born in 1856. His parents are natives of Germany. His father emigrated to America when , twenty-five years old and his mother at a youthful age. They are both living on a farm near Glasco and are aged respectively seventy-six and sixty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Ott reared a remarkable family of fourteen children. all of whom are living and are useful men and women. Augustus Ott is the eldest child. Two brothers and one sister reside in Colorado City. Colorado. and one brother in Orange. California: the other members of the family reside in the vicinity of Glasco. Mr. Ott's early education was limited. He took a four-months' course in the Commercial College of Savannah, Mis- souri, taking a special course in penmanship. He is an expert and thorough penman and taught the Spencerian system for several years. There has been but little penmanship taught in Glasco except through his efforts. He conducted a private subscription school very successfully for a considerable length of time.
Mr. Ott emigrated with his parents from Illinois to Iowa, from there
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANS.AS.
in Missouri, and in 1828 he came to filasco and entered the employ of Isaac Biggs, where he remained more than a year. In INFO he succeeded bane Biggs as postmaster and served in this capacity for seven years; in the it mtime with his brother George he established a small business under the firm name of A. Out & Brother, grocers, and to meet the demand they estal lishe I a jewelry shop in connection and employed a workman in that line. Vier his term as postmaster had expired they opened a general store, which they conducted until roco, and then sold to Mr. Staley. During the finan- er I crisis, and owing to his brother signing a heavy bond, they virtually failed. but were appointed their own agents, and much to their credit, be it said, these honorable and enterprising men dlemed out and squared up every dollar of their indebtedness. His brother went west in search of health and our subject opened up a general store under the name of A. Oft in the La Kosque building, situated on the corner opposite the bank, where he is now located and has been very successful ever since. By his honest dealing he has built up one of the best mereutile houses in the city of Glasco.
Mr. On was married in ISSE to Lucy 11. Dalrymple, a daughter of 11. 1. and Mary (Conner) Dalrymple. The Dalrymples are of Scotch origin. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother in Indiana. The Conners emigrated from that state to Blue Ridge, Harrison county, Missouri. Mr. Dalrymple visited a sister who lived at Blue Ridge and while on this mis- sion met Mary Conner, whom he married in 1800. The Comner's are of Irish origin several generations removed. One and one-half years later Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple removed to Stark county, Illinois, and settled near Bradford. From this point he enlisted in the army at the beginning of the Civil war and served three years. At the end of that period he was dis- charged on account of disability, which resulted in his emigrating to the west. In 1865. with his wife and three children, he came to what is now Cloud coun- ty and took up a homestead on Second creek, where he lived until his death in 1879. his wife having preceded him two years.
They experienced the same hardships that all the pioneers endured- Indians, drouth and grasshoppers. They were among the settlers who leit their homes during the Indian uprisings and for over a year walked one and a half miles to the fort which the settlers had built for protection against the savages. During these primitive times they drove to Manhattan for flour and to Salina for groceries. The store building was a shanty con- structed from a few upright boards. These towns consisted of a few small houses of similar architecture interspersed with dugouts. During those times they did not dare make known they had provisions stored in their homes on account of the Indians, who would not leave without their share and to offset this trouble the settlers would make their beds on layers of flour and provisions in order to hide them from the penetrating eye of the sav- ages. When the Indians passed with Mrs. Morgan in captivity the settlers at the fort watched their movements through a spy glass and saw them stop at the Dalrymple elaim presumably for something to eat. The two Dal-
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
rymples, H. H. and his brother, were the only men in the fort one day among nine families of women and children. Mrs. Ott's father was on the outside when he saw the Indians coming and scaled the high wall of the stockade. His brother Isaac was in bed, jumped out in his night clothes, procured a gun and sallied forth just as the red skins were coming through the gate. He fired and killed one of their number and while the murderous band gathered around to carry him away, as is their custom, they closed the gates. The demons lingered near all day and in the meantime they passed the fort with their captive. Mrs. Morgan.
One day Mrs. Ott and her brother were playing on the hill side near the house when three Indians rode up and attempted to capture them. They threw Mrs. Ott on a horse and proceeded to do likewise with the boy. but he fought and screamed until their uncle Isaac, who lived with them. heard his cries for help and came with his carbme and frightened them away. For several years her father plowed with his gun strapped to his person. In their first settlement on the frontier Mrs. Ott and her brother would often herd the buffalo off the fields as they would cattle. They lived in this lo- cality several years before a death occurred from natural causes. Her father's house was a small log building and served as a church for several years, services being held once a month with Alfred Stackhouse as minister. Prior to erecting their cabin they lived in a dugout about four years: their beds were in tiers and were sort of swinging shelf one above the other.
Mr. Dalrymple had shipped to the end of the railroad a car load of pro- visions and among other things some live hogs; they were red in color and had long snouts-the "razor back" quality-and were sent in first because that breed could subsist on prairie hay. Mrs. Ott remembers her father having sold! one hog for seventy-five dollars. The event was impressed up- on her mind more forcibly perhaps because upon his return she was the re- cipient of a new dress and silver thimble. To Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple seven children were born, all of whom are living. Lucy H., wife of A. Ott; James, a farmer of Solomon township: Zorilda, wife of Dennis Hanchett, a farmer of Stark county, Illinois: Dora, wife of William Luckenbill, a far- mier of Rooks county, Kansas: Arthur, a farmer, now owns the old home- stend; Henry, of Boise City, Idaho, and Herbert, living near Glasco, are both farmers.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ott six children have been born, five of whom are living. . Elma E., the eldest child was deceased July 11. 1883. at the age of one year and ten months. Those living are Mattie B., Roy H., Eva P., Homer M., and Lucy M. Mr. Ott is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Modern Woodmen and Fraternal Aid of Glasco. The family are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Ott is a good citizen and one who is always ready to advance the interests of his town or county. He began at the bottom of the ladder and has proven that when ones opportunities are not of the best everything is possible to him who possesses strength of character, push and integrity.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
No man is more universally respected by his friends and fellow townsmen than Mr. Ott. Their pleasant, cheerful home is evidence of Mrs. Ott's re- fined nature and their family of bnight cluliren give promise of useful careers.
OWEN DAY.
Owen Day, one of the old residents of Cloud county, is a retired farmer and merchant. He was born in the little town of Warren, Marion county. Missouri. in 1841. His father, Thomas Day, was born in Ohio but reared in Virginia and emigrated to Missouri in 1839. He was born in 1801 and died in Marion county in 1855. He was a farmer and carpenter by occupa- tion. His mother, before her marriage in 1827. was Hannah Corder. bom and reared in Virginia. The Corders were among the colonists of that state and were slaveholders. Mr. Day's mother was born in 1800, married when but sixteen years of age and be- came the mother of fifteen children. She died in 1871. His parents were slavehold- ers and when the negroes
were emancipated his mother read the proclama- tion and informed them THE DAYS' PRETTY COTTAGE HOME IN GLASCO. they were free to either go or stay. But one of them departed. a young negro woman, who returned ten days later. When Mr. Day. with his family, visited his old Missouri home fourteen years ago, their aged cook of slavery times gave them a dinner.
Mr. Day's ancestors were patriotic, two of his uncles serving in the War of 1812, and his maternal grandfather in the War of the Revolution. Mr. Day had finished the common school course and had just entered upon high school work when the war was declared. His parents being slaveholders engendered in him a tendency or inclination to defend their property and in 1862 he enlisted in Captain Valentine's company of Porter's regiment. in the Confederate ranks. While in the enemy's line they were disbanded and with other comrades made their way south, under the protection of Quantrell. the noted guerrilla chieftain. Among Mr. Day's associates were Captain "Bill" Anderson and his brother "Jim," who were schoolmates of Mr. Day in Mis- souri. They were on the south side of the river and resorted to all manner of strategy to pass through the lines and over the Missouri. They stopped
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
over night at Roanoke with parties whom they had been referred to and pursued the journey the next morning, traveling toward the river during the night time, but before morning Mr. Day and his companion after crossing the river grew sleepy and fatigued and concluding to rest they tied their horses to a stack of oats and sought the inviting shelter of a hedge. where they slept soundly until sunrise, and upon awakening from their slumbers found themselves along side a public highway in imminent danger of falling into the enemy's hands. They met a brother Confederate, who assisted them in finding a boatman, who rowed them over the river, while their horses swam one on either side of the boat. Upon gaining the ranks they joined the command of Colonel Shelby. Mr. Day's two older brothers served in the southern army, the eldest responding to the first call. Mr. Day was among those who surrendered at Austin, Texas, August 5. 1865. He experienced his principal service through Arkansas, but also operated in Texas, Tennes- see and Louisiana.
During the hostilities he was on five raids through Missouri and with Price in his expeditions. He participated in the battles of Helena and Little Rock, Arkansas, seven days' fighting with General Steele. Cape Girardeau, Marshall, Springfield, Missouri, and many other minor engagements. He was struck by a spent ball on the shoulder, but not seriously wounded. Mr. Day's mother was a woman of considerable courage and great nerve. Dur- ing the turbulent war times in Missouri, Colonel Glover and some of his mien endeavored to force an entrance into their residence at an early hour before the household, including her daughters. had arisen. She refused them admittance until they could make their morning toilets, and while defending their honor a warm volley of wrathful words ensued: Colonel Glover called her a liar and she in return gave him a violent slap in the face.
After the war Mr. Day settled at his old home. but one year later located south of the Missouri river. In 1872 he was married to Amanda VanLand- ingham and the same day started overland in a "prairie schooner" bound for Kansas, and located on the land he had homesteaded the year prior. five and one-half miles northwest of Glasco, where they lived until the autumn of 1886, when he sold, and, becoming associated with J. R. Fuller in the hardware business, moved his family into Glasco. One year later Mr. Fuller sold his interest to G. B. VanLandingham and the firm continued until the autumn of 1894, when Mr. VanLandingham retired and the firm became Day & Day, the partner being the son, Samuel T. They conducted a success- ful hardware business until 1900 and were succeeded by T. W. Nicol. Mr. Day was appointed postmaster, under Cleveland's second administration. and served a little more than four years. He has been trustee of his town- slip, a member of the school board for several years, a justice of the peace. and is a notary public.
Mr. and Mrs. Day are the parents of one son and two daughters. Sam- uel T. is a graduate of the Glasco common school and was a student for one year of William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri. one of the best institu-
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tions in that state. He was married in 1848 to Miss Bessie Miller, of Lib- erty, who is a daughter of Robert Miller, the founder of the Liberty Journal and a prominent journalist for many years. Her mother's people, the Wil- sons, are a family of politicians and prominent people. Her grandfather was a noted general in the Confederate army. Samuel T. and wife are the par- ents of two children. Roger Owen, aged two years, and an infant .. Estelle B. is the wife of Sherman Truex, whose parents were among the old settlers of Ottawa county; their residence is Delphos. Mrs. Trues passed the exam- ination and finished the high school course of Glasco. Leta Catherine is a graduate of the Glasen high school, and in food graduated from the Linds- borg College, in music and delocation. She has special talent and is a success- ful teacher in music.
Mr. Day is a member of the Ancient Order United Workmen Lodge at Delphos. He is a Modern Woodmen and an honorary member of the Fra- ternal Aid. The Days have one of the neatest and most tasteful cottage homes m Glasco, made particularly charming by a bower of fine evergreens and other trees, Mr. Day is a good citizen, and though once a southern sym- pathizer heartily affiliates with the people of his adopted home. Is one of them politically and socially and no one enjoys a larger circle of friends than he and his estimable family. Mrs. Day is a woman of culture and the daughters are accomplished and possessed of many personal charms.
HISTORY OF THE DAVIDSONS OF GLASCO.
The lives of the Davidsons have been so interwoven with the history of the Solomon valley that to know one is to know the other. Of the older Davidson families there are two brothers. Garrett and E. C. They are the sons of Levi and Charity ( Handley ) Davidson.
Levi Davidson was a farmer. He died in 1880. The mother died in 1853. The paternal grandfather was Genaja Davidson who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war at the age of twelve years. He married and emi- grated to Kentucky in the early settlement of that state and was twice cap- tured by the Indians. The last time, he had started out for an arm full of wood when he was seized by the savages and carried away. His wife did not know his fate and had not received a word from him until he returned seven years later carrying an arm full of wood which he said was the one he had started for when captured.
After demonstrating to the Indians that he was a good shot and lucky huntsman, they treated him well, as he made a "good Injun." Another man was taken prisoner about the same time who did not have the strength to keep up in the tramp and dropped back. His fate was never known, but in all probability he was tomahawked.
Ganaja Davidson moved to McCordsville, Indiana where he died: The maternal grandfather. Lientenant Handley was a native of Connecticut. He
THE HOME OF GARRET DAVIDSON, AS PORTRAYED BY MR. BOND OF THE "GLASCO SUN." The picture from which the engraving is made was executed twenty years ago, and before the erection of Mr. Davidson's new barn. The log house to the left is their first Kansas residence.J
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
emigrated to Ohio in an early day and located in Perry county, near Colum- bus, where Charity Handley Davidson was born. He was a Lieutenant in the war of 1812.
GARRETT DAVIDSON.
Careful speculation, good judgment and -close application to his busi- ness interests have made Garrett Davidson the Croesus of Cloud county
MR. AND MRS. GARRETT DAVIDSON. THE DOG IS ONE OF MR. DAVIDSON'S FAVORITE CANINES AND THE MOTHER OF HIS ENTIRE KENNEL OF GREYHOUNDS.
and he is still active on a business career. He had acquired a good start before coming to Kansas but earned every dollar of his belongings through his own personal efforts. He possessed an indomitable will, pushed west- ward and soon occupied a foremost place among the moneyed men of Cloud county. He has built up a competency on the foundation he laid early in his
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY. KANSAS.
career and may still be considered in the prime of hie. Like his brother Ii. C. he is fond of the chase and the music of his hounds has made merry many a chave for the running to earth of the yelping coyote.
Mr. Davidson is a native of Ohio, born May 2. 18g, in the town of Dublin, built on the old lime stone rocks of Franklin county, Ohio. His me ther having died when he was tuche years of age, he worked for a cousin several years for huis board and clothes. He then started out to make the record berein recorded.
He had received but a few months schooling during the winter months for as soon as the sugar making season arrived, both teacher and pupils ad- journed from the old log school house to assist at the sugar camps. Mr. Davidson's career began by working on a farm at Su per month. His duties consisted of clearing ground, picking up chunks from the newly made fields, and farming. His first worldly possession was a young horse pur- chased in exchange for three months labor plus Si, which he invested in a straw hat and a pair of overalls. The following year he earned enough to buy a $4o colt and then rustled and skirushed around until he purchased a wagon. His next project was to rent a farm in Madison county, Ohio. From this date he began to accumulate, the origin of his present financial standing. In 1862, he drove a team down into Lexington, Kentucky, then a wintering quarter for horses and troops, furnishing rations and feed. In 1803, he moved to Illinois, where he bought sixty acres of land three miles distant from Bushnell. In 1865. he enlisted in Company C. 151st Illinois Volunteers. His company did not see active service but went as far south as Kingston, Georgia, where they guarded the railroad and scouted around on dark nights over the corduroy roads After being discharged at Springfield, Ilinois, he returned home and resumed his farming opera- tions.
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