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 86
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Mr. Christianson still lives on the homestead his father filed on in 1869. and where they built a dugout of two rooms and lived in it several years. In order to "go to mill" Waterville was the nearest point that furnished so great a convenience and necessity as a grist mill, and it was a great meeting point for the settlers. Building in those early days was incurred at a great cost and inconvenience as well. In order to build a house they were compelled to haul down a rock from the hills and burn it to make the lime; with ox teams they hauled the timbers from Waterville. Notwithstanding these dis- advantages, Mr. Christianson decided to build more commodious quarters and hauled the necessary material and erected a stone house consisting of four rooms, the only one in the neighborhood and which was designated as the "big white stone house on the corner." It was plastered and whitewashed and in contrast with the dark and dingy dugouts seemed very fair to look upon.
W. C. Christianson is the possessor of four hundred acres of land and all of which is in a high state of cultivation, which reflects great credit to their industry and careful management as they came to Kansas with prac- tically nothing. The four Christianson brothers now own collectively fifteen hundred and twenty acres of land highly improved and a just return for their labors. Mr. Christainson and his brother Anton passed the summer of 1876 working in the mines of Colorado; while they accumulated five hundred dollars each and with this capital purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. Mr. Christianson sold his eighty to his brother, who now resides upon it, and purchased the homestead in 1884. where he now lives and enjoys the hal- lowed memories of the old home. Wheat is almost exclusively raised on the farm, but thirty acres has been sown to alfalfa.
Mr. Christianson was married in 1880 to Miss Lottie E. Burns, a lineal descendant of Robert Burns, the Scottish bard, who speaks to the hearts of all nations through his poems. Mrs. Christianson was born in Mason county, Michigan. July 5. 1857, and was demised June 13, 1887. She was a woman of excellent educational ability and taught several terms of school in her okl home in Michigan, also in Kansas. She was a consistent Christian woman, actively interested in philanthropic works, and was for many years a member of the Free-Will Baptist church. Their two daughters, Alice and Blanche, are graduates of the Jamestown high school. Alice is teaching her second term in the home school, District No. 65; Blanche is teaching on her first term in District No. 99. Both of these accomplished daughters are intellectual and excellent young women.
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Mr. Christianson was married in 1888 to Marie Eskildsen, a comely and prepossessing young Danish woman who came to America in June, 1888. The parents of both families were friends in the old country. She came to live in Mr. Christianson's family and soon afterward Lecame his wife. Her father. Eskild Jensen, was a Baptist minister in Denmark. Mr. Christiansen'e chest sister. Mrs. Mary Johnson, is now a resident of Washington, near Walla Walla. Christina married John Christianson and moved west with her older sister and was deceased there. The youngest sister is Mrs. Martha Peterson, wife of the Reverend G. R. Peterson.
Mr. Christianson is a Republican in politics. He received the nomina tion for sheriff of Cloud county in 1898, and was defeated by Morrisette m his second term. He lowered the record about three hundred and was a for midable opponent. He has served his township two terms as trustee, served several years on the school board and was a director almost continuously until he resigned. He is deeply interested in all political moves, is well read and well posted on all matters of vital interest to the welfare of the country. While in Minnesota Mr. Christianson and his brothers learned the use of fire arms and were therefore capable of enjoying the chase on the Kansas prairies, and hunted the buffalo as long as there were any in the state. It was noticeable with regret after each hunt the herds were being driven he vond the boundary of the Kansas line. Mr. Christianson killed his first buffalo in the spring of 1870 and furnished the family with meat for the first year. He, like hundreds of others, declares those were the happiest days of his life; the freest from care and would gladly live them over again. Mr. Christianson and his family are progressive, stand on their own honor and m- tegrity and have earned for themselves a good name.
ANTON CHRISTIANSON.
No foreign element has become more important in our American citizen- ship than that furnished by Denmark. Her stalwart and industrious sons bring with them stability and enterprise, characteristics of their country. Their dreams of homes on this continent are more than realized, for most of them are prosperous and many have acquired wealth. Of this class of city zens the subject of this sketch. Anton Christianson, of Buffalo township, is a worthy example. He was born in Denmark in the year 1858; when fourteen years of age he emigrated with his parents to America and settled in Mine- sota ( see sketch of Christ Christianson ).
When about twenty years of age he began a career for himself and was employed in various capacities. Was one year in the mines of Colorado. Twenty-two years ago a span of horses was his only capital. He now own two hundred and forty acres of land, one of the most desirable farms in the country that ten thousand dollars would not buy; it is highly cultivated and well improved. Here he has prospered and within that number of years has not had a complete failure of crops: he owes no man a dollar and takes hie
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
easy under "his own vine and fig tree." Mr. Christianson's chief product is corn ; will have eight thousand bushels the present year, the ground yielding between fifty-five and sixty-five bushels per acre. He is an extensive stock grower. raising Jersey cows and many hogs.
Mr. Christianson was married in 1879 to Mrs. Maggie Lied, the widow of Myrick Lied. She left Scotland, her native land, came to Canada when a young girl and later to Michigan, where she lived during her first marriage. In 1878 she came to Kansas and one year subsequently was married to Mr. Christianson. She is an educated woman and has considerable artistic allity. Mr. Christianson votes the Republican ticket and has held local offices at vari- ous times. Fraternally he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for fifteen years. Mr. Christianson is a man of pleasant, agree- able manner and possesses a keen sense of humor which draws around him a large circle of admiring friends.
HENRY GRAY.
The late Henry Gray and his family were among the early settlers of Grant township. They came in the spring of 1872 when there were but few settlers and not many remain at the present time who were there then. The Grav homestead was first settled by a man who when he had broke out a few furrows of ground received word of an accident that had befallen his wife in the east. and left without filing on the land.
Mr. Gray was born in Germany, but when four years of age came with his parents to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a sol- dier of the Civil war in the Third Battalion. Company G, Eighteenth Regi- ment of United States Regulars. He experienced the horrors of a southern prison for six months ere he was paroled. Ile was a valiant soldier and under General Sherman and General Rosecrans participated in many battles, Mr. Gray died in 1890 at the age of fifty-seven years. By his death the commu- nity lost one of the best men in the township-an industrious, honorable citi- zen. He accumulated land until with his children he owned five hundred and thirty acres, which has since been divided between his wife, daughter and son who survive him.
Mrs. Gray was born in Montreal, Canada, but reared in Pennsylvania, having removed there with her parents when but one year of age. Through the glowing description as depicted by the two brothers who preceded him, Mr. Gray became enthused over the prospect of gaining a home in the west, and with their capital of about one thousand dollars came on a boat down the Monongahela into the Ohio river. and thence up the Mississippi and Missouri to Atchison. From this point they traveled overland to their destination in a spring wagon. Upon their arrival improvements began. Mr. Gray erected a stone house about 50x16 feet in dimensions, covered with boards for a roof. For several years they experienced all the hardships of the early settlers, brought alout by grasshopper raids, drouths, etc. It was three or four years
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANS. I.S.
before they raised a crop but managed to keep out of debt. Mr. Gray W.h .t hard working man and gained his estate by hard labor.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gray three children have been born, namely : (phd) .. the eldest child. is the wife of Frank Spear, who has been a resident of Grant township almost a dozen years and is a prosperous farmer. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land. They are the parents of two little soll. Vernon Theodore and Hubert Paul. Theodore Charles, their second child. and first son, died at the age of twenty-one years.
The second son. Frank Gray, is one of the successful farmers and stock men of that vicinity. He owns two hundred acres of fine bottom land that raises more corn perhaps than any other farm of the same magnitude in the community. He has a fine orchard that yielded about one hundred bushes of apples the past season ( 1902). He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Julia Eichinger, who died six years after their marriage, leaving three children, Nellie, Frank Karl and Earnest Wilbur. His second wife was Miss Nettie Williams. Her parents were old settlers of Jewell county, where she was born and reared. To their union one child has been born, a httk. daughter, Alice, aged seventeen months.
Frank Gray is a public-spirited citizen and one of the leading men of the community. Socially he is a member of the Order of Woodmen and of ile Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is a Republican. With his mother he keeps a herd of about sixty head of well graded cattle and also raises hogs quite extensively.
ILANS OLSEN.
One of the oldest settlers of Grant township who settled in Cloudcity in the year 1869, was the late Hans Olsen, who was deceased in 1880, ledonne a wife and five children, four daughters and one son. Amelia, the c'est daughter, is the wife of Edmond Buer, who has just purchased a the firm five miles south of Jamestown; they are the parents of four children Mis Oisen's three single daughters are Gena. Matilda and Louisa. Pote E tik third child and manages his mother's farm, consisting of one Findich in 1 sixty-two acres.
Hans Olsen was a native of Norway and engrated to Kansas aliens young man. He made his choice. after looking the ground well wer Of the present homestead in the year 1869. Mrs. Olsen was Miss Ellen Poteeen. also a native of Norway. She sailed for America to join her lover al 1 previously left the "land of the midnight sun." to make a home in the lie . try for his prospective bride. Mr. Olen owned only a joke of wym my of a team, and a neighbor wishing to do a kind act offered to go with lejes to meet and bring back the young stranger. In less than a week Vy Alle a returned with a letter from Miss Peterson saying she did not king a las mon had been sent for her or not, adding if Mr. Olsen was not there Dig icam certain time she would return to the old country . Not Hesitating av. our 49
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
delay he yoked up his slow but sure oxen and made all possible speed to do her bidding, met his promised bride at Junction City and brought her to the Lake Sibley fort, where they were married. Theirs was one of the first weddings celebrated in that locality.
llard lines in many ways were endured by the young husband and wife, but their confidence in the future for better days kept up their courage and in spite of their humble fare consisting of corn bread and water, were willing to brave these hardships for the sake of a home of their own and to this end bent all their energies and lived to see the fulfillment of their hopes and wishes. They have met with many discouragements in various ways; in 1878 the floods swept away their crops. The confluence of the Buffalo and Cheyenne creeks is on their land and the overflow did much damage.
Mrs. Olsen is sixty-one years of age and in conversation said in substance, the best days of her life were in those pioneer times but she would not have the courage to live them over again. She and her family are Lutherans, be- longing to St. Luke's congregation, which is located just over the line in Jewell county. "After darkness comes dawn," and these brave people who buffeted the stormy waves of the wide sea in search of prosperity can now enjoy the fruits of their labors in their comfortable little stone cottage of four rooms, under the shadow of the trees planted by their own hands.
NICHOLAS M. FRENCH.
N. M. French is one of the early settlers of Grant township, emigrating to Cloud county in 1873. The name French is of English origin, the great- grandfather and his six brothers having come to America from England and serving as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. All the Frenches of this coun- try so far as have been found are descendants of these ancestors. They set- tled in Vermont, where the father of our subject was born and lived until twenty years of age. when the family removed to a point near Buffalo, New York, and one year later to Canada, where he was united in marriage to Sarah Taylor and reared a family of five sons and two daughters, viz: Nicholas M .. Benjamin D .. William J .. Damel E .. Walter S. and Bradford C. The daughters are Martha, wife of David Mccullough, of Grant township, and Mrs. Rosetta Jones, now of Illinois, but formerly of Cloud county. . At one time and for several years the entire family were residents of Grant and Buf- falo townships. David E. returned to Canada and Walter S. and Bradford (. are in Oklahoma, the former. however, claiming a residence in Buffalo township. In 1868 the French family removed from Canada to Illinois and in September. 1871. emigrated to Kansas, where the father died in 1901 at the ripe age of eighty-seven years. The wife and mother survives him at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
N. M. French located in Livingston county. Illinois, in 1864. He tried the possibilities of California for two or three years and various other places. Returning to Illinois he was married to Caroline Markel, formerly of Ohio,
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
her native state. She was a daughter of John Markel, who died when she was but eleven years of age. The Markels were of Pennsylvania Dutch origin. their ancestors being among the William Penn colonists. Her mother was Tane J. Johnstone, of Ohio, and she died when Mrs. French was seven teen years of age, leaving four other children, two sons and two daughters.
Mr. and Mrs. French emigrated to Kansas in 1873. The first four years their residence consisted of a frame house 12322 feet in dimensions. At the end of that period they erected a granary with a basement underneath. This building was 20x30, divided into three rooms, where they passed seven years very comfortably. In 1885 Mr. French erected a handsome and commodious residence, consisting of fifteen rooms, three halls and two cellars. It is a mod ern building with up-to-date conveniences and beautiful surroundings. The lawn is wide and seeded to blue grass, beautiful flowers bordering the broad walks.
"Whence comes the beauteous progeny of spring They hear a still small voice 'awake." And while the lark is on the wing. from dust and darkness break. Flowers of all hues laugh in the gale."
Mr. and Mrs. French are the parents of five children, who are being reared in the useful school of industry and integrity that will mark ther ci reer through life. There are no drones in this busy hive. The cholest soll. .\ Markel, is married and resides on one of his father's farms, three miles south of the old homestead. His wife, before her marriage, was Mary Dan iel. a daughter of Isaac Daniel, of Grant township. The second son, Frel D). L., lives one mile south and one mile east. He is married to Etta, a daughter of Alexander McMillan. The death of their third son just before attaining his majority was a sad blow to Mr. and Mrs. French. He che 1 m February, 1880. Fay S., the fourth son, assists in the duties of the ium. Dencie E., the eldest daughter, is an intelligent and prepossessing young wo man. Osey Gail, a bright little daughter, aged eleven years. The full of children have all received their education in the home school district Vo. 65. with one exception. The eldest son took a Few course in the Lawrence University and was admitted to the ber in Douglas county, Kansas. this preference for agriculture and an out door life prompted him to practically give up his profession.
Mr. French owns seven hundred and nineteen acres of fine land stitel in Grant township. It would seem he must have brought with him t kafas one of Aladdin's lamps or a fairy wand. as his firmerd circumstnie were limited to a stock of ambition and an energetic wife who sto J at the hem with her husband through all his undertakings, and to her wise comoel he owes not a little of his success. Years ago when Mr. French plantel the little slips of cottonwood. box-ellers. walnuts and ash, that lave since groen to luxurious proportions, his wife sadly, almost terfully, Sul. "I am so hom".
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
sick to see a bird or a tree." Her husband cheerfully replied. "There trees will soon be large enough to climb," but the sad protest came. "I never expect to stay in Kansas to see those trees large enough for that."
The large grove that is the envy of many passersby is the result of this planting and evidences the prophetic vision of Mr. French. Mr. French is one of the most extensive wheat growers in the county and the highly culti- vated farm and fine improvements demonstrate that the wave of prosperity has rolled his way. He was one of the first to son a large acreage and now raises from two to three hundred acres annually. He does not claim as heavy yields per acre as many wheat growers and remarked to the writer. "When my wheat reaches seventeen bushels per acre on an average I consider it good, when it reaches twenty-five bushels exceedingly good, and when it gets up to twenty-eight bushel it is a record breaker." In the year 1807 he thresher between sixty-eight and sixty nine hundred bushels, the following year, sixty- five hundred bushels. This was of an excellent quality, which he marketed at the goodiy price i one dollar per bushel. In 1900 his yieldl amounted to but forty five hundred bushels ; the present season (1902) he threshed about seventeen hundred bushels, the smallest yield excepting the total failure of 1805. when he did not out a bundle. Corn has been a second consideration. as 180; was the last planted by him to any extent. He has forty five acres of alfalfa, which has yielded heavily and brought good returns.
Mr. French is not a partisan politician though he voted the Democratic ticket several years. He is independent in his views and votes for the best man. He has held various local township offices and is a member of the school board. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Jamestown. Mr. and Mrs. French will in all probability spend the re- mainder of their days calmly and contentedly under their own "vine and fig tree," enjoying their beautiful home and its environments.
SOUTHWORTH BROTHERS.
Charles and Couch Southworth, successful farmers of Grant township. left their former home in Henry county, Illinois, where they were born and reared, and located in Cloud county in 1881.
Their father was James Southworth. He was a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared on Lake Chautauqua, New York. When he emigrated to the then new country of Henry county, Illinois, in 1837, they started on a Hat- boat via the Allegheny river, down the Ohio and from the mouth of the last named river embarked on a steamer on the Mississippi for Rock Island. In the winter of 1878-9 he visited Kansas and purchased a section of school land and subsequently removed to the farm where he died in 1893. Their mother, who was Miss Elizabeth Hanna before her marriage, died in 190L. Four children survive them: Mrs. Mary McCauley, of Scottsville. Kansas; Mrs. Nannie Keeley, of Lacey Springs. Virginia, and the subjects of this sketch.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
The brothers own jointly three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land-none better on the face of the earth. Their chief products are wheat and alfalfa. Their field of the latter is probably of the longest standing in the township, having been seeded in 1885. Charles Southworth was married in 1895 to Miss Nannie Guinn, of Pennsylvania, whose parents came to Kan- sas but returned to their eastern home. They have one child. Ruth, aged five. The Southworth farm is well improved, the commodious residence is surrounded by a wide lawn and many shade trees, and is situated on a prom- inence of ground which overlooks the agricultural splendor of their time farm.
JAMES W. CUTSILAW.
Among the highly esteemed farmers and financially solid men of the Jamestown locality is J. W. Cutshaw, who came to Kansas in 1870 and home- steaded his present farm. He was born in Marshall county, Indiana, in 1843. When he was nine years old his parents removed to Michigan and set- tled in Berrien county, near Three Oaks, where Mr. Cutshaw was reared. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in Company K. Sixth Michigan In- fantry, and served until 1863. when he was discharged on account of a gun- shot wound received in Port Hudson. Louisiana, which disabled him for service. His company commander was Captain Ed. Bacon. Their lieutenant colonel was David Bacon-cousins. The warfare of his company consisted of guard duty, tearing up railroads, etc. Mr. Cutshaw returned to Michigan and lived in different localities of that state until 1870, when he emigrated west. He was unmarried when he secured his prairie claim and erected a little cabm and later a board house. But with the accession of a home all his own. "the young man's fancy lightly turned to thoughts of marriage," and in accordance was wedded to Miss Frances E. Wilson in 1877. Whose acquaintance he had formel during his youth in Indiana. Of the eight children born to their umon six are living : Grace L., a promising young girl of fifteen, died m 1893. Earl J. and Carl F. were born at the same birth and are very smular in per- sonality. The resemblance between the twins is so marked they often exercise pranks on their hand-shaking friends. They are manly fine fellow . welly. three years of age. Earl J. is a student on his second year in the Kansas City Dental College. He had previously been a pupil of the Concordia high school for two years. Carl F., who represents the Continental insurance business, is located at Lincoln Center, Kansas. He is a graduate from the Comconchit high school. Ralph Roscoe, aged twenty, is interested with his father of the farm. After a course in the Concordia high school he matriculated in the Great Western Business College for two years. The other sons, Lewis Robert and Paul Fulsom, are young men of promise. They are age | mneteen alle seventeen years, respectively. Fannie Louise, their only daughter, is a bright little girl of thirteen years. These children have been reared in the school of industry as well as book lore, for Mr. Cutshaw owns five hundred and twenty acres of land and is a large wheat and alfalfa grower as well as stockings.
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HISTORY OF CI.OUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
He owns thirteen quarter sections of uncultivated land in Thomas county. Kansas, which he purchased for ranching and speculative purposes, but he- lieving it will produce good wheat, will put much of it under cultivation. His farm in Buffalo township is all first and second bottom land of excellent quality.
The parents of Mr. Cutshaw were Jesephus AArnold and Phoebe ( Be- langee ) Cutshaw. His father was of Dutch origin and Pennsylvania birth. lle lived for short periods in Ohio and Illinois, and later in Indiana. Hle gained a considerable fortune in the gold mines of California in 1849. The family came to Kansas in 1876, where the father and mother both died a few years later. There were six children: Mortimer, who lived in the same vicinity for many years, removed to California, where he died. Cecil Cut- shaw is a prominent farmer and lives on an adjoining estate.
Until the birth of the Populist party Mr. Cutshaw was a Republican, but is not a partisan politician and votes independently. Socially he is a member of the Woodmen and the Grand Army of the Republic. Although Mr. Cut- shaw has experienced his share of the early hardships he has given his sons better educational advantages than the average farmer boy receives and has accumulated an estate that warrants all the comforts of life. He is a typical western farmer and he and his excellent family are among the most desirable citizens of the community.
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