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 78
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C. I. Gould is now on his second year as superintendent of the Sunday school. His enrollment is one hundred and thirty, with an average attend- ance of about one hundred: an Ipworth League with Junior department, C. E. Carpenter, president. Both are in fine condition. Clara Vogue is president of the Junior League. There is in connection a Ladies' Busy Bee society, with Mrs. Fink, president. Mrs. Annie Ansdell. vice-president, Mrs. Carroll, secretary. Mrs. Colwell, treasurer, and are doing good work.
CHURCH OF CHRIST OF JAMESTOWN.
September 6, 1881. a charter was taken out for the organization of the Church of Christ of Jamestown with the following members: William Spahr. Luther Bradley. Daniel French, Robert Barton and William French (the two latter are still residents of Cloud county ). the corporation to be sustained by voluntary subscription.
The following year a church edifice was erected, a frame building with a seating capacity of about two hundred. The congregation is small and the church is not able to maintain a regular minister. . At one time it was one of the strongest denominations in the city. Elder Beaver, of Glasco, min- isters to the congregation twice a month and has many friends and admirers among the people of Jamestown.
FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCH OF JAMESTOWN, KANSAS.
During the latter part of 1882 or early in 1883. Reverend J. P. Finey began preaching irregularly for the United Presbyterians, who had secured homes in and around Jamestown. Even before this time Reverend Patter- son, then pastor of the "Concordia Congregation." seven miles north of the
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city of Concordia, had preached a number of times in a school house five or six miles northeast of Jamestown.
By order of Concordia Presbytery a meeting in charge of Reverend J. P. Finey and the session of Concordia congregation was held at the French school house, two miles northwest of Jamestown. on April 18, 1882. to perfect the organization. After a sermon and prayer by Reverend Finey. fourteen persons were received by certificate from Concordia Congegation as charter members of the First United Presbyterian church of Jamestown, Cloud county, Kansas; of these fourteen, five still remain in the church, viz : Mrs. Mary E. McCall, Mr. Hugh L. Smith and wife and Mr. David Harnett and wife. In completing the organization, Messrs. J. H. McCall and Hugh L. Smith were elected elders and Messers William M. McCall. J. 11. Coy and David Harnett. trustees. William M. McCall was chosen treasurer. At another meeting held in November of the same year. Mr. Smith was ordained an elder, which completed the organization.
On the 17th of March, 1884. a meeting was held at which a committee consisting of William M. McCall, C. I. Gould and David Harnett, were appointed to draft a constitution. At this meeting steps were also taken to secure a building fund. An adjournment was then made until April 7, on which date the committee on constitution reported and the report was accepted and adopted, and an application for charter filed. The building committee was not ready to report and was continued.
At a special meeting in the fall of 1884, to take action regarding the building of a church, it was decided to proceed and a new committee con- sisting of C. I. Gould. George A. McCall and David Harnett was appointed, to whom was submitted structures of various dimensions, for each of which they were to ascertain the cost of constructing and report at next meeting; they were also instructed to choose a suitable location for the building some- where within the limits of Jamestown.
The congregation met February 4. 1885, to hear the report of this com- mittee and it was decided to erect a frame building 32×54 feet, which was done on a lot donated by C. I. Gould in his addition in the north part of town.
Reverend H. T. Jackson, late of Stronghurst, Illinois, was chosen as the first pastor soon after the organization and hell services each alternate Sabbath, he being pastor of the Concordia Congregation also. These two congregations have been united in one pastoral charge ever since, except a short time in which Hopewell and Fairview congregations were also a part of the same charge. Reverend Jackson was pastor about three years, after which the congregations were without a pastor until the summer of 1891. when Reverend I. P. Stevenson accepted a call and took up the work.
During this long interim a number of ministers were sent to supply the pulpit. Among them were Reverends Wellington Wright, Thomas Mc- Cague, D. D., J. G Torrence. R. G. Campbell. J. M. Henderson, W. V. Monks. McKnight. William Murchie. M. M. Milford and R. L.
.
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Wilson. Reverend Monks continued in charge of the work for almost three years. The time cach supply remained on the field varies in length and one or two of them were there at different times. Reverends Murchie, Wilson and Milford were each theological students at the time they were in charge of the congregations and remained only during the summer vacation.
Reverend Stevenson was very successful during his pastorate of nearly three years and was highly esteemed by the people of Jamestown and Con- cordia congregations, and it was only at his earnest solicitation on account of failing health that the congregations agreed to release him. He was released by the Concordia Presbytery at its meeting in Hopewell in April, 1902, and Reverend HI. A. Kelsey, a student of the Nenia Theological Sem- inary, Nenia, Ohio, was appointed to supply for the summer. His appoint- ment terminates September 14. 1902.
The probability of Mr. Kelsey not returning is a source of regret to his congregations as he is a young man of exceptionally fine talents. His sermons are clear, forceful and replete with soulful thought.
THE POMEROY LIBRARY.
Following is a brief history of the pride of Jamestown, an institution in which the city takes a great deal of interest :
September 8, 1898, cleven of Jamestown's fair women convened at the home of Mrs. Amelia Hartwell for the purpose of organizing a club for promoting study and mutual benefit. An organization was effected and the following officers were installed : Mrs. Mary E. Kelly, president ; Miss Alice Fitzgerald. vice-president ; Mrs. Annie M. Strain, secretary and treasurer ; Mrs. Brotchie, historian. At a subsequent meeting the name "Current Litera- ture and History Club" was unanimously adopted. In December the motto "Know Thy Opportunities" and the club colors, lavender and white, were chosen. Desirous of advancing the best interests of their people the ladies decided no one thing would tend more to promote good or be a more lasting monument in this direction than a public library. Accordingly by an assess- ment of twenty-five cents per member. a traveling library of fifty volumes was secured from the state secretary for six months use. The front room over the bank was offered, rent free by F. A. Lane.
The members alternately taking charge kept the library quarters open Saturday afternoons. Early in November, 1899, a social was held and out of the proceeds Munsey's, McClure's and the Cosmopolitan magazines were subscribed for. Many contributions were made by friends of the enterprise and other entertainments instituted for the purpose of securing funds, hence in May, 1899. they received their first order of books, which numbered forty, and the traveling library was returned. It was decided a room on the ground floor would be more convenient and the club consequently accepted Doctor Hartwell's proffered room rent free, and the library was removed
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to the building south of the drug store, where it remained until their pres- ent quarters were ready for use.
At the beginning of the second year, September 28. 1899. through the gift of numerous citizens and members of the club, along with an accumu- lated fund, about seventy-five books and two hundred magazines had been collected. With these results the ladies felt encouraged to persevere in their cherished plan of establishing a free library and reading room. Through the solicitation of Miss Alice Fitzgerald, James Pomeroy, the founder of Jamestown, contributed one hundred dollars to the enterprise in December, 1899. This sum was used as a nucleus for a building fund. Subscriptions were then solicited from citizens of Jamestown and adjacent territory, and people were liberal with their donations of both labor and finances. Whole- sale firms with whom the various merchants dealt were also generous in their assistance, giving in cash and articles to be sold and the proceeds applied- a total of three hundred and fifty dollars.
"In April, 1900, the club incorporated under the name of "Current Liter- ature and History Club" and on May 19, the instrument was signed by the following charter members: Mary E. Kelly. Ellen L. Nelson. Agnes Fitz- gerald. Lizzie Fitzgerald, Annie M. Strain, Stella Lane and Ellen Il. Patton.
Like most enterprises this commendable undertaking had its ripples. Shortly after the plans were well matured three of the club's members with- drew. leaving the burden to rest on fewer shoulders, but they assumed the responsibilities with increased zeal, and their efforts have not retrograded. but continued to thrive. Many who in the early stages of its career prophe- sied that, like Fulton's steamboat project, "it would not move." gradually came with helping hands to further a cause that was bound to succeed. Various societies and organizations in the town have aided materially in support of the establishment that was growing in popularity daily, and the people gen- erally were awakened to the elevating and moulding influence it would weild for the good of society.
The society holds its meetings weekly in the club room of the building and new members have been received. The building is a one-story, two-room structure-library and reading room and a club room-which are so arranged that they may be all thrown together, making an audience room with a seat- ing capacity of over two hundred. Lectures and various social functions are held here, the library building being the largest audience room in the city, outside the churches.
THE HESSIAN FLY.
The following article regarding the Hessian Ay and the Chinch bug is clipped from a Deering implement phamplet and will be of more than ordinary interest to wheat growers.
The Hessian fly is a fragile, dark-colored gnat or midge about one-eighth of an inch long, resembling closely a small misquito. Its operations extend
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
to the entire wheat belt. It also exists in the form of a footless maggot or in what is determined the flax seed state, appearing more or less hidden in the have of young wheat plants and other grains.
The Hessian fly is a wheat insect, but also breeds in rye and barley. There are two principle broods, viz .: A spring brood and a fall brood. There are. however supplemental broods in the spring and fall, especially in the southern wheat areas, but very often in the extreme northern areas there may be but a single annual brood, the progeny of the spring brood sometimes not progress- ing further than the flax seed state, and so passing the late summer and winter. It is possible, however, that in the northern region an autumn brood may develop in volunteer spring wheat. There are four distinct stages in cach generation of the llession fly : the egg, the maggot or larva, the pupa or flax- seed and the mature winged insect. The eggs are very minute, being usually deposited on the upper surface of the leaf in rows of three to five or more. In the occurrence of the spring brood, the eggs are often deposited beneath the sheath of the leaves on the lower joints. Whitish maggots are hatched from the eggs in from three to five days and these crawl down the leaf to the base of the sheath and embed themselves between the sheath and the stem, taking the nutriment from the wheat and causing a distortion or enlargement of the point of attack. The fall brood works in young wheat very near or at the surface of the ground. The spring brood develops in the lower joints of the Wheat close enough to the ground to escape the harvester.
The insect of the spring brood remains in the flax seed state during mid- summer, yielding the perfect insect for the most part in September. The latter phase of the insect's development into the adult fly is of particular importance because it presents the means of preventing loss by sowing late enough in the fall to avoid infestation. The latest date at which sowing may he attempted with safety will vary with the latitude and even the altitude of a place. The first indication, in the fall, of the insects presence in the wheat manifests itself in a much darker color of the leaves and a tendency to stool out rather freely. This gives the plants a rather healthy appearance. but later those infested turn yellow and die in part or completely.
The best preventative is Jate sowing. This method seems to be the most effective. Burning the stubble of an infested field, or turning it under by deep plowing has each its advantage. As above set forth, the second or fall brood secrets itself in the lower joints of the wheat and it is in the flax-seed state at harvest time. This brood may be completely destroyed by promptly burning the stubble. Plowing a field, turning under the stubble, and afterward rolling it. has also proved efficacious in burying the pest beyond resurrection.
CHINCH BUG.
The Chinch bug seems to flourish in seasons of drought, when its per- nicious raids are more apparent and far reaching. The whole wheat belt is the scene of its operations. Wet weather is fatal to it and has often wrought its
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
complete destruction. As these natural conditions are ungovernable, it is best to revert to such methods as are practical for allaying if not preventing loss from the scourge.
The Chinch bug is a native of this country, formerly confining its operations to wild grasses in whose stools it still hibernates. Where there are no wild grasses near, it is known to hibernate beneath such rubbish as straw. matted grass, hedgerows of leaves, and the like. It is especially harmful to wheat.
The following table compiled by a United States government entomolo- gist after a careful study made in Kansas, is a clear exposition of the life cycle of the insect. These dates given hold for the middle region ; northward there will be a retardation, southward an acceleration.
April 10-20, spring flight from hibernating quarters in the grass stools to wheat fields.
April 20-30. in coitu about the roots of wheat.
May 1-31. deposition of eggs on wheat beneath the surface of the soil, with young hatching from May 15 to June 15.
July 1-15, maturing of the first brood, followed immediately. by the mid- summer flight, if a migration of immature and adult forms has not been previously occasioned by the harvesting of grain or the local failure of the food supply.
July 15-30, union of the sexes and deposition of eggs in the soil about late corn and millet, the young of this brood appearing in maximum numbers about August 5th.
August 10 to September 10, maturing of the second brood and partial flight of same to late corn or other green crops if in fields of corn already mature and dying.
September 15 to October 15, autumnal flight to grass lands and conceal- ment in the grass stools for hibernation.
The most important preventative for practical control of the Chinch bug is to burn over and clean up all waste lands where these insects might congregate. also to burn grass lands, especially those growing wild grass which may have the stooling habit. This should be done in the fall, in order to expose the Chinch bugs that might escape the flames to the unfavorable action of the cold frost of winter. All rubbish in fence corners and hedge-rows shoukl be raked out and burned, removing every possible place of refuge where the bugs might hibernate.
THE CHURCH OF SARON.
The church of Saron is located about three miles northeast of James- town. It is a Danish Baptist church which was organized July 30, 1871, with the following members: Reverend Nels Nelson, Sr., and wife. Nels Nelson. Jr., and wife, Christine Nelson, John O. Hanson and wife, Car- oline Hanson, Peter C. Nelson and wife. Catherine Nelson and daughter, Trine Nelson, Jonas Goodman and Sophia Jensen.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
The organization was incorporated in 1872. Its first pastor was Rever- end Nels Nelson, Sr., and its first clerk John O. Hanson, with Nels Nelson, Jr., treasurer. The first trustees were Nels Nelson, Jr., John O. Hanson and Peter Shott.
Before the building of the church edifice the meetings were held altern- ately at the homes of the various members and in spite of hard times, drouth and grasshoppers they set to work to get a church built and through the kind- ness of Mr. N. M. French, they were donated one acre of ground for church and cemetery purposes, and at once got out rock from the hills and commenced the building.
October 14. 1877, this little church building was dedicated without any debt hanging over it, much to the satisfaction of its congregation and from that day have had regular services. Services are conducted in English and Danish, alternately twice a month by the Reverend G. B. Peterson, who has served the church for many years regardless of compensation.
To the zeal and determination of Nels Nelson, Sr., much credit is due for the accomplishing of this work, the erection of the church buikling, which is the only one of this denomination in the county. They have a Sabbath school and also young people's meeting. The cemetery in its bosom holds its first beloved pastor, Nels Nelson, as well as a good many of its first workers who helped to make the barren prairie blossom like a garden, where the buffalo and coyote roamed at will.
In the thirty years of its existence the following pastors have served : Reverends Nels Nelson, Sr., Laust Jacobson, A. Sorenson, Christ Lund and G. B. Peterson.
HONORABLE DUNCAN MCKELLAR.
Duncan Mckellar spent the earlier years of his life in the city of Lon- don, province of Ontario, Canada, where he was born in 1829. Mr. McKel- lar comes from a long lived race, many of them dying from sheer old age and some almost reaching the century mark. Mr. Mckellar has always been associated with public matters; was commissioner in his Canada home for a period of cleven years. In his early life he lived on a farm, then he engaged in the saw mill and lumber business for fifteen years.
Prompted by the failing health of his wife, Mr. Mckellar came to the new western country in 1870, and settled near Ottawa, in Franklin county, where he farmed two years. Mrs. McKellar was Margaret McCall. The hope of benefitting her health proved futile and she died in May, 1871, leav- ing a son and daughter, Donald P. and Mary A. Donald is a prosperous man, owning a tract of land near Jamestown and is salesman for the J. C. Gibson Granite and Marble Works of Atchison. The daughter is married to A. J. Certain, a produce buyer of Clyde.
In May, 1872, Mr. Mckellar came to Jewell county and homesteaded
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
land in the southeast corner of the county. When he took up his claim, the land for miles around was umoccupied, but within a few months the tide of emigration did not leave a vacant quarter section. Mr. Mckellar traveled extensively through the Rocky Mountain region and was on the town site of Leadville when that city was platted, and assisted in building the Harri- son Reduction Works, the first masonry done in Leadville. This was in 1877
He helped to organize, was the first justice of the peace, and was instru- mental in the establishment of the first postoffice in AAllan township, Jewell county, Kansas. He circulated the petition and his uncle, Archibahl Paul. who died in 1901, was appointed postmaster. It fell to Mr. Mckellar to supply a name and he said inasmuch as they were hoping for better things he would suggest West Hope and it was adopted.
In 1879 Mr. Mckellar returned to Canada and married Mary O'Neil. who is a member of an old Ontario family, her father locating in that prov- ince on the site of London in 1819, and helped to survey the new town. R. H. O'Neil, of the banking firm of R. H. O'Neil & Sons, was a brother. He was a prominent banker there for forty-five years and never held a note in his possession that drew over six per cent interest. Ile died in 1900. J. H. O'Neil, another brother, has been in the town of Lucan, Ontario, for almost half a century, and is a wealthy lumberman.
By the second marriage Mr. Mckellar has a daughter, Frances, who in 1898. in company with her mother, visited Canada, where she took a course in music. She is a bright and talented young woman. She assists her father in the office: is capable and perfectly conversant with the business.
Mr. Mckellar sold his homestead in 1893. In 1885 he took his pre- emption right of one hundred and sixty acres in Jewell county, which he still retains. In the same year he came to Jamestown and established a real estate, loan and insurance business which he continued until the present time with the exception of a short interval when he sold goods on the road.
In 1897 he bought the B. F. Gould residence, which he has remodeled. laid walks of flagging, planted trees, etc., making it a desirable residence ' property. Mr. Mckellar is one of the eight men from Kansas appointed by Governor Lewelling as a delegate to the Gulf Transportation Congress held in Chicago in September, 1892.
Mr. Mckellar's parents emigrated to Canada in 1825. settled in the wilderness of woods, cleared the land and lived there continuously until their deaths. They were the parents of eight children, the eldest was a daughter, Catherine, who died in 1863. Mr. Mckellar is the oldest of seven sons who grew to manhood. John, is a farmer in Canada. Wilham was a major in the Twenty-sixth Battalion of the British army and saw fifteen years of service in Canada and Scotland.
He had retired from the service and was killed by a cable car in Lon con. Canada, in 1890. It was during a strike, a raw recruit turned a switch and suddenly reversing it the car ran over Major MeKellar, cutting his arm
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off. mutilating his breast, and killing him instantly. He left a wife and two children. He was a division instructor and was sent to various points in Scot- laund and Canada. He graduated from the military school in Toronto and in tactics from a military school in England, where he received his com- mission.
Archibald was a hardware merchant. During the invasion of 1867 he was captain of a militia and while in this service he caught the cokl which caused his death. Four of the Mckellar brothers were in the battle of Ridge- way. Peter, a blacksmith in Ontario, hives within three miles of the old homestead. Malcom, a hentenant in the invasion of 1867, was young and tender, unused to hardships, and like his brother, caught cold from expos- ure. from which cause his death ensued. Dugald died in 1892.
Most of Mr. Mckellar's ancestry and relatives were in public life and military men. His father was a major in the Canadian rebellion of 1836. Four of his paternal granduncles who were army officers under Napoleon participated in the battle of Waterloo. General Archibald MeKellar, mem- ber of Kent county, and minister of agriculture, was a second cousin.
Mr. Mckellar is a Democrat, but his father and brothers were Tories (equivalent to Republicans), and when he ran for commissioner they all voted against him, but he was elected, receiving two to one .. Mr. Mckellar is now serving his third term as mayor of Jamestown and has conducted the city's affairs in a satisfactory way. He has been township clerk for a number of years and has held other minor offices in the city and township.
He is a prosperous business man, has a large list of farm and city prop- erties for sale and represents the best insurance companies to be found and enjoys the confidence of his patrons. lle is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of fourteen years' standing and has been through all the chairs of the order and is a member of the Encampment. Mr. MeKellar and his family are members and workers of the Christian church. At the last convention Mr. Mckellar received the nomination on the fusion ticket for probate judge of Cloud county and run with credit to himself and the party that nominated him, but the Republican sentiment defeated him. Had Mr. Mckellar been elected he would have undoubtedly proven an efficient officer.
F. A. LANE.
No one is entitled to more credit for the building up of Jamestown and that part of Cloud county than F. A. Lane, one of its active citizens and successful financiers. He has borne a prominent part in all enterprises promoted for the improvement of the town and for the development of local resources.
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