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 92
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To think a thought must be divine, Supreme in peace in rage of storm, Oh mighty fortress thought's sublime. 'Tis here and there in human formn.
To think a thought must be divine, Weaving friendship true and pure, Grander than the stars that shine, And leads to duty plain and sure.
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IHISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
In thought perhaps the weak is strong; .A herenlean m might. To turn the tempest into song, Of intellectual light
Go get your thoughts from nature true, The building rose of routing sea. The singing streams and arch of blue, Winch teach the soul and mikes it free.
Mr. Burkhart has also composed numerous other poems, among which are Tabmis: Tumult ? Anarchy. The Recoil of Force. Why Be Your Brother's Keeper? Mr. Burkhart has been honored several times by the election as delegate to state and district conventions of kansas, and in 1800 was a Republican candidate for the legisla- ture but was defeated in convention and again defeated - to put it mild-he says, "by conspiracy against the majority for dis- trict clerk in 1900." He has filled the chair of editer on several Kansas newspapers. In 1884-5. edited the Miltonvale News, and has contributed to various papers and periodicals. Ile is a writer of considerable note and some of his poems have been incorporated in stand- ard works.
Mr. Burkhart was a soldier in the Civil JOSEPH ELIJAH BURKHART. war: enlisted as a private in Company A. Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, and served till the close of the war. A brother, Baxter Clay Burkhart, was a member of the famous Bucktail Zouaves, Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, McCall's Division. He contracted measles and died. He was one of the first to go over the stone wall at the battle of Chancellorsville, and it was con- ceded that his act saved the day. He was but sixteen years old and would have been given a medal for his brave deed had he not died.
Mr. Burkhart is one of the pioneers of Cloud county and helped in the organization of Oaklond township, which was then a part of Meredith. He has been a notary public for several years and also engaged in real estate business. He was married in 1857, to Miss Eleanor N. Stewart, of Dryden, New York. Mrs. Burkhart is a graduate of Butler College, Butler, Pen- nyslvania, and was a teacher for many years, beginning at the age of sixteen. She taught the first school in Oakland township, in a dugout, free gratis, to secure the new district ratio of state fund. She also taught the first school
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in the new school house at a salary of fifteen dollars per month, and again in 1878. The dugout was simply a hole in the ground, and the school num- bered less than a dozen pupils. To Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart have been born one son and three daughters, only one of whom is living : Mrs. Clara Watson, wife of David Watson, a farmer of Oakland township.
Mr. Burkhart is a son of Elijah Burk- hart, who was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, January 3. 1803. He was a millwright. car- penter, joiner and widely known in politics. Was one of the Republicans and original Whigs in Pennsylvania. He started on a career with practically nothing, but died wealthy. Mr. Burkhart's grandfather was born near Allegheny City. Pennsylvania, of Dutch origin. He was a prisoner with the Indians four years, escaped and joined MRS. ELEANOR N. STEWART BURKHART AND LAWRENCE WATSON, THEIR FIRST GRANDCHILD. Washington's army and served with him at Valley Forge, Trenton and White Marsh, until the close of the war. His paternal grandmother was Miss Margaret Powell, of English ancestry. Mr. Burkhart's great-grandfather was from
I'rankfort, Germany. Mr. Burk- hart's mother was formerly Miss Rebecca Richardson, daughter of Joseph Richardson, whose grand- father came with him from England and settled in Philadelphia. The marriage relationship between his parents connected the Washingtons, Lees, Custers, Harpers, Neglies. Pat- tersons, Kenedies, Richardsons, and Burkharts.
Mr. and Mrs., Burkhart live on the old homestead and enjoy the fruits of their labors in a little vine THE PRETTY COTTAGE HOME OF THE BURKHARTS. clad cottage. Mr. Burkhart is inter- ested in the North American Crude Oil Company, in California, and the Beaumont ( Texas) oil wells, Chanute and Buffalo, Kansas; and Belton, Missouri. The company's oil lands in California consist of five thousand acres. The Belton ( Missouri), Kansas and Beaumont properties are large, and the syndicate is reaching out to other fields; a strong company with a bright future, a leader in the world's great enterprise.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
ISAAC B. DAWES.
The Dawes family sprung from good old English stock; the ancestors came early to America and established the family name from which the sub- ject of this sketch owes his origin. Isaac B. Dawes was born in eastern Ohio, in the year 1827. his parents having removed there when that state was con- sidered the "far west" and when they were in danger of being scalped by the savages or devoured by the wild beasts that roamed the forests. The Dawes family were all patriots and served their country with unflinching courage. Ihr father served in the war of 1812
Our subject was one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, whose devotion to his country was tested by service on the battlefield. He was a member of the 137th Indiana. Company D. under Captain James Sewell and Colonel E. J. Robinson, regimental commander. Mr. Dawes enlisted in May, 1801, serving until he was mustered out at the close of the rebellion. He re- ceived the appointment of orderly sergeant at the beginning of his enlistment. His men were not well drilled reerints, having had neither time nor up- portunity for military tactics, and in a time when veterans were needed, but they were called into active duty and filled the places of two old regiments on guard duty where they were given the opportunity to demonstrate their cour- age and valor.
After being honorably mustered out, Mr. Dames returned to his family and resumed farming until 1878, when he, with his family emigrated to Kan- sas and settled on their present farm, when the silence of nature was unbroken by the locomotive's shrill whistle, but "to those who wait, all things come." and in a brief time they were in the midst of a busy traffic of a great rail- road system.
Mr. Dawes was married in 1850. to Julia Maxwell, and three years later removed to Indiana, where their seven children except the eldest were born. Of this number. five are living, viz : Samuel F., the eldest son, resides with his father and is a successful, intelligent farmer and stock raiser. The sec- ond son, the Honorable F. B. Dawes, is a Leavenworth attorney and ex-attorney general of the state of Kansas. He established for himself a national reputation and is one of the most gifted ora- tors in the state. The numerous positions of trust to which he has been called have been successfully filled and his popularity is well deserved. His success is not due to an inherited legacy or adventi- tious circumstances, but to his unbending will. application and sterling in- tegrity. The daughters, three in number, are estimable and intelligent women. The eldest is Mrs. M. E. King, of Clay county, near Idana. Luella is her father's housekeeper. She has been a teacher of Cloud and Clay counties for a period of eight years. Mrs. Iva B. Mock, the youngest daughter. re- sides on a farm in Oklahoma.
Politically, Mr. Dawes is a staunch Republican, and during President Harrison's administration was appointed postmaster at Miltonvale. holding
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
that office from 1889 to 1893. Miss Luella Dawes was his deputy and made an efficient clerk. Mr. Dawes has held various township offices. He was elected justice of the peace of Starr township and held the same office in Indi- ana. Mr. Dawes emigrated to Kansas with limited means but a stout heart and hewed his way through many obstacles in his path; with a will he put his shoulder to the wheel and it turned.
He erected a small house one and a half stories high, the most preten- tious in the neighborhood, and proceeded to otherwise improve the homestead. He with his son, keeps a herd of about sixty head of graded Shorthorn cattle and raises hogs extensively. He has built up by degrees a comfortable and pleasant home, a well improved and equipped farm, where he may spend the remainder of his days in quiet comfort and in the enjoyment of peace and plenty.
Mr. Dawes is recognized by the community as a thoroughly true and up- right man, courteous to every body, a helpful citizen and revered by all. He is the youngest and only living child of a family of eleven children, having buried a sister, the last surviving member except himself, in 1900. They all lived to maturity and reared families. Mrs. Dawes, who was deceased in July, 1898, was a woman possessed of a gentle, sympathetic nature, which drew around her a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and her demise was universally mourned.
Miss Dawes is actively engaged in the profitable and interesting pursuit of poultry raising from an incubator which has a capacity for one hundred and twenty eggs. There is special attraction watching and waiting for the hatching day of the incubator and witness it turn out one hundred or more downy little chickens, and see them develop into hens or the lusty, crowing chanticleers. She expects as a season's output, the brood to number four or five hundred. Miss Dawes and her brother are chicken fanciers and received first prize at the Salina fair in 1902, on their pure bred Plymouth Rock fowls, bred from the famous Conger strain. which is their specialty. In ad- dition to this branch of poultry raising. they take great pride in their pure White Holland turkeys and Mammoth Pekin ducks, which are fine speci- mens; the latter carry on their conversation much after the fashion of plain every day ducklings. The barnyard filled with the fine Plymouth Rock chick- ens, beautiful White Holland turkeys and gabbling ducks, was an interesting sighit to the author at feeding time.
The Dawes family are worthy, active members and supporters of the Christian church of Miltonvale, of which Mr. Dawes is an elder.
AMES.
The peaceful little hamlet of Ames is located on the Central Branch rail- rond, three miles southwest of Clyde, and in the center of a marvelously beau- trial agricultural country that is unsurpassed in productiveness.
The town fork on an existence in the spring time of 1883, although the original townsite of Shirley had been lud out in March, 1878. The first residence in the town was built by O. B. Thompson, who was also among the first to embark in business there. The first store was conducted by George Clark, followed closely by Thomas & Sharad: William Frederick, black- smith : Chester Thomas, general merchandise; George Dersey (now of Clyde), gro ceries and Mr. Blackmar, grain buyer. Others followed in quick succession and Ames became a town of considerable importance, all lines of business be- ing represented. The eastern capitalist, W. P. Rice, did much to boom Ames. built two large stores and a commodious hall, but the town has diminished in population, but continues and always will-to be a good trading point, for it is the location of one of the most extensive elevators west of the Missis- sippi river. It has a capacity of fourteen thousand bushels. It was built by E. B. Purcell and is now owned by the Baker, Greenleaf Company. Roach Brothers also have an elevator in Ames. In 1872, the First Union church of Ames, a neat frame building, was erected.
S. H. Hooper is the leading merchant and only general store in the town at present. He carries a large and well selected stock of goods, and draws trade from the greater part of the community surrounding the village. Ames once had a bank incorporated under the name of Ames State Bank, in Sep- tember. 1885. with W. D. Rice, president, O. F. Page, vice-president, W. F. Cowell. secretary, and E. K. Streeter, cashier.
George Clark was the first postmaster and when the first election was held on March 6. 1886. he was elected mayor. Mr. Clark died the summer fol- lowing. August 15, 1886.
Ames has been visited by destructive conflagrations. One occurred .April 27. 1886, when eight buildings were consumed, along with the entire lumber yards of the B. L. and M. Lumber Company. On May 9, 1902. the large mercantile house of Wood & Hill and the Chicago Lumber Company's yards were destroyed by fire. Many old residents and many of the original set-
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
tlers continue to live on their homesteads in the vicinity of Ames, which is in close proximity to the historical Elm creek settlement, among whom are the Czapanskiys, Quincy Honey, Mrs. Ernestine Walno, Fullers, Charles Gor- ing, William Hayes, James Buckley, Joseph and Christ Bachaud, Mrs. Hen- rietta Somerfield, Mrs. La Bonte, Edmond Buckley, William Garnet, I. James, Peter Hebert, Fred Lachenmier, Moses Marshall, Edward Cyr, Lewis Chartier, Morrisette (ex-sheriff), Dan Shores, the Rasmussens and many others, all of whom have fine farms, desirable homes and are among the progressive farmers of the county.
Ames is situated on the south side of the Republican river, and during seasonable years is almost hidden by the walls of growing corn and is one of the best markets in the country.
WILLIAM CZAPANSKIY.
The subject of this sketch enjoys the distinction of being the oldest set- tler of Cloud county residing on his original homestead. Mr. Czapanskiy is a native of Prussia, Germany, born in 1831. His grandfather was a Russian, and books that were published in the language of his country when he died were buried with him, as is the custom of that country, when a peasant pos- sesses books that can not be interpreted. Our subject worked in a mill in his native country for eleven years, and in the meantime was married to Miss Julia Fischer, in 1857, a young German woman. When their family consisted of but one child, Lewis, they decided to cross the ocean and find a home in America. They joined some of their countrymen in Wisconsin, with whom they had corresponded, and after having worked there about four months, he, with three other German families determined to seek homes on the frontier. Had they known all the difficulties and privations it involved it is doubtful if they would have braved them. They fitted themselves out with ox teams, some with one yoke and sonie two, our subject being among the former, and thus equipped with the necessary requirements, or such as their means justified, the little colony embarked over the "prairie schooner" line for the wilds of Kansas. After a journey of seven weeks, made more or less eventful by var- ied experiences, they arrived on the beautiful but unsettled prairies of Shirley township. Shirley county (now Cloud). Kansas, the mecca of their dreams. The families of J. M. Hagarman, J. M. Thorp and August Fenskie, comprised the only settlement on Elm creek at that time. The other two families were much discouraged at the outlook and returned. One young man enlisted in the army, but Mr. Czapanskiy had cast his lot in the new country and he had an abiding faith in the future, however distant it might be, and he immediately began preparations to secure a home. He sent a dollar to Junction City by Mr. Hagarman to pay for the filing on his land. The following year he raised a small crop of sod corn on the ten acres he had broken, hauled the proceeds one hundred and fifty miles to Ft. Kearney to buy the requirements of the
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
household, and when he homesteaded in the spring of 1803, he felt like a duke, would scarcely have exchanged his possessions for a baronetey. But later when the settlements fell victims to the Indian raids, the grasshoppers and the dronths, life on the frontier became a lonely dread. However, they were fortimate in not having suffered by Indian depredations other than the suspense incurred from the extreme danger to which they were exposed. About four hundred lowas were passing through the country and attempted to raid their watermelon patch, but Mr. Czapanskiy boldly confronted them and with loud talk and suspiciously emphatic language ordered them to go, One old Indian took him by the shoulders and shaking him said "You little man, won't kill Indian." A neighbor locked himself in the house and when the mauranders had gone he found his melons, along with the vines, ruthlessly cut and torn in pieces. Mr. and Mrs. Czapanskiy 's family consists of live sons and one daughter. Lewis, a welt-to-do farmer five miles south of the old homestead; Gustavus, owns three hundred and twenty acres of land cor- nering his father's farm: Gotleib, owns one hundred and sixty acres adjoin- ing the home place on the north : Rudolph's farm of one hundred and seventy acres, joins his brother Gotleih on the north; William, now owns two hitin- dred and fifty acres and will inherit the homestead as the other heirs have been paid off. Their daughter Julia, is the wife of Henry Taylor, a hardware merchant of Palmer, Washington county, Kansas.
The sun never shown on fairer ground than the one thousand and twenty fertile acres included in the estate of the Czapanskiys. The sons are indus- trious, progressive fellows and have assisted very materially in accumulating this fine proporty.
Our subject visited Germany a year ago, where his parents both died poor peasants, and says he would not exchange his American freedom for the cramped conditions of his fatherland, but prefers his Kansas home. A brother and sister followed to this country; the latter is Mrs. Walno and lives near her brother on a farm. The Czapanskiys are members of the Lutheran church.
LYMAN OTIS FULLER.
Among the okl residents of Cloud county, none bear a more honorable record than L. O. Fuller, who has faithfully discharged every trust reposed in him and is ranked on the list of Shirley township's foremost citiens. In 1870, his vehicle made one of the first wagon tracks south of where the little station of Ames now stands. His existence in the new settlement was fraught with many reverses, but his years of toil have brought happy returns and he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of that locality who are enjoying the fruits of their successful undertakings. Mr. Fuller is a thoroughly up-to- date agriculturist and his farm is one of the best improved places between Clyde and Minneapolis. The handsome residence, substantial and freshly painted barns are pleasing features of this old homestead where Mr. Fuller
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
has spent the better part of his years obtaining these gratifying results and where surrounded by the environments that materially contribute to make life worth living, he with his amiable and most estimable wife, will un- doubtedly spend the remainder of their lives.
Mr. Fuller came to Kansas with a capital of seventeen hundred dollars, including his teams, but spent more than that amount the first two years. He hauled the material for their first dwelling from Junction City, a distance of sixty miles, and while this was under course of construction, camped on the prairie in a tent for two months. Their first house was razed to the ground but a few days ago. These obl landmarks that sheltered the brave pioncers will soon all have disappeared and while supplanted by the more pretentious homes, there is a pathos lingering around the ruins of the little box house or dugout that gave protection and kindly shelter to the homestead settler. About the time Mr. Fuller filed on his land, other home seekers came into the town- ship and soon afterward school district No. 29 was organized. The district at that time contained less than twenty families. The first officers of the dis- trict were L. O. Fuller, director: Edward Cummings, clerk: Dennis Cum- mings, treasurer. The first teacher was Annie McCray, now a resident of California. Among the first settlers in the township were James and William Hays, father and son. respectively, a daughter. Mrs. Woodward. Dennis and David Cummings, brothers. Of these first settlers, Mr. Fuller is the only one remaining in the township.
The birthplace of Mr. Fuller is the town of Weatherfield. Wyoming county, New York, born in 1832. His father, Orren Fuller, was an active and consistent member of the "Free-Will" Baptist church, and was known over a greater part of the state of Wisconsin, as Deacon Fuller. He was a poor man and reared a family of nine children on the proceeds of fifty-seven acres of land : so small a domain in the state of Kansas would scarcely be des- ignated or dignified by the name of farm. On this tract of land his father lived for a quarter of a century and after all those years, sold it for a consid- eration of seven hundred dollars, and in May. 1846, emigrated to Wisconsin, where he deeded one hundred and sixty acres of government land, bought two yoke of oxen, a breaking plow, a cow and a calf and left the two older sons to break the prairie, build a home and prepare for the family.
He returned for his wife and the remainder of the family full of hope for the future, but in the meantime fell ill and did not return for a year. During this interim, the youngest of the two sons was stricken with remittent fever and died in the thinly settled district of that then new country among strangers. From that time the father was an invalid and our subject being the only son remaining at home, the management and responsibility of the farm and sup- port of the family devolved upon him. When he should have been in school, circumstances compelled him to work instead, and consequently he received but a limited education. Deacon Fuller died July 17. 1877. followed by the wife and mother one year and three months later. Mr. Fuller's mother was of New York birth, born near the village of Rome. She died October 16. 1878. Mr.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Fuller is the sixth of nine children, but three of whom are living, himself and two sisters; Mrs. Susan A. Page of Wisconsin, and Mrs. Mary M. Bush of Warrensburg. Johnson county, Missouri.
On the 4th day of July, 1852, Mr. Fuller was united in marriage 10 Miss Permelia Winchell, of Wisconsin. Mrs. Fuller's parents were Jesse 11. and Leah ( Lynn) Winchell. Her father was born in the state of New York, but was a pioneer of Indian, removing there with his father's family when a small boy. He served seventeen days in the Black Hawk war and was among the few surviving veterans of that uprising at the time of his death, which occurred September 11, 1895. He died in the home of his daughter, where he had lived fourteen years. Her mother died when Mrs. Fuller was but little over two years oldl, leaving two children, herself and a baby sister. By a sec- ond marriage there were nine children. After living in Indiana until he reached the age of maturity, her father removed to Michigan, where he mar- ried and returned to a point in Indiana, about seventy miles distant. Ile lo- cated and deeded two hundred and eighty acres of land in Green Lake county (then Marquette), Wisconsin, and moved to that state in 1846. He subse- quently removed to Minnesota, where the angel of death visited his home the second time, claiming the wife and mother. He then broke up housekeeping and lived with his children. Mr. Winchell was a pioneer of four states, Indi- ana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kansas. His sons, Mrs. Fuller's hall-broth- ers, with the exception of one were all patriots; one was killed in battle and another died in the hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have reared a family of eight children, all of whom are living but one, Judith R., deceased wife of David Cummings, who died November 28, 1893. at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving a husband and eight children. Their sons are all prosperous and successful farmers. John R. is one of the prominent residents of Shirley township. Orren is a farmer of Cloud county. Truman is a resident of Iowa, where he is engaged in farm- ing. Hattie B. is the wife of W. C. Marshall. Frank J. is a farmer of Shir- ley township and also a successful teacher. Elmer O., the youngest son, sup- erintends and manages the farm and stock raising. He with his estimable wife live in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller. Mary E., the youngest daugh- ter. is a prepossessing young woman. With the exception of Frank J., who attended school in Concordia and Topeka for a short time, the children have all received their education in the home district.
Mr. Fuller owes his prosperity to diversified farming, stock raising and living within his means. In 1802 he erected their present dwelling, a seven- room residence. One of his barns is 36 by 66 feet with 12 foot to the eaves. and the other 40 by 56 feet in dimensions. They are both built for hay over head and stock underneath. Mr. Fuller, with his son, has a herd of about fifty head of graded cattle, but finds there is more money in raising hogs and keeps from forty to seventy-five head. Several years ago he decided there could be a fortune obtained in threshing and invested in a machine. selling some young cattle to help pay seven hundred dollars. the cost of the thresher. The
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