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 93
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
transaction almost "broke him up in business," and was an experience dearly purchased. His farm lies on the upland and the wells of this place cost Mr. Fuller three hundred dollars. He dug one seventy-eight feet and discarded the effort ; at the suggestion of the water-witch, he sunk another well seventy- five feet distant from the first, where he found sixteen feet of water, an inex- haustible supply. Notwithstanding the craft of the water-witch, had he gone down a few feet further he would have been rewarded the first time.
When Mr. Fuller selected a home back on the rolling prairie, he was asked by James Clithero, now of Concordia, "how on earth he could expect to make a livelihood on the bluffs" and further asserted they would starve to death. But our subject has made a home seven thousand dollars would not buy. It is a well known fact that fully as large a number of farmers on the upland have as good homes and surroundings as those on the bottom lands. Mr. Fuller is fond of reciting incidents of the early settlement and in recalling the royal good times they had. Their first residence though but 16x20 feet in dimensions, was extended to the "society" of the neighborhood and enter- tained a dancing party that numbered forty guests. The hardships were made lighter by these assemblies so common at that time and to which all the old settlers refer with pleasant recollections. During the first months of the Fuller's arrival in Kansas they were constantly on the alert for Indians and while camped in their tents near their present home, observed a light which moved at about the same speed a man would while walking. They watched, wondered, conjectured and finally concluded it was savages and prepared for defense, but as time passed and no imminent danger or scalping knife seemed hovering over them they retired for the night. Being anxious to know the cause for alarm they investigated matters the next morning and found the supposed red skins were only James Hay who by the friendly glimmer of a lantern was carrying goods from a wagon to his camp.
Mr. Fuller cast his first vote for John C. Freemont, and remained in the Republican ranks until the organization of the People's party, believing in their principles he transferred his faith and affiliated with the Populists. He has held township offices at different periods and has been a member of the school board almost continuously for eighteen years. In the latter capacity he is succeeded by his son Elmer, who is now treasurer of the board. In sentiment Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are Baptists, but as they are not conveniently near a congregation of that faith they are not members of any church at pres- ent. Mr. Fuller is one of the solid men of his township, and any plan for the benefit of the community receives his staunch support.
MOSES MARSHALL.
Of the many changes wrought by "Father Time" since the advent of Moses Marshall on the Republican river, near the present town of Ames in 1874, where he settled on the old Thorp homestead, perhaps none appeal to the calendar of his busy life more sensibly as a reminder of fleeting years, than
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that his seven sons whose future destiny and welfare prompted hum to en- grate to the new western field, but who were too young to take up land, are now gred, stalwart, broad shouldered men, all but two of whom are surrounded In families. Mr. Marshall was a well-to-do stone mason, worked in the rol- ling mills and had accumulated what the early Kansan considered a fortune Ile bought the old Thorp place, paying Mr. Berry, who then owned it, two the usand dollars. The old cabin, the first house built on the west side of the Republican river is still standing and is distinguished as being the most an- cient landmark in the county. Mr. Marshall also bought eighty acres of the Swearinger chiim and a year later, the relinquishment of Pat Mitchell of two. hundred and forty acres, a homestead and timber claim, making a total of four hundred and eighty acres.
Mr. Marshall is a native of Londonderry, Ireland, born in 1820, but looks ten years younger. Ile has been a man of more than ordinary strength and his hurenlean frame is still erect for the weight of his eighty-three years. When eighteen years of age he engaged in many wrestling matches and was the process of any man in his locality. About this time Mr. Marshall became imbued with the idea of coming to America, and to overcome his father's objections threatened to join the Queen's Life Guards, which won his par- ents unwilling consent, but he had not been settled in Pennsylvania but a short time ere his father and the other members of the family followed in his footsteps and joined him in the United States of America, where his parents both died at an advanced age: his father was ninety-seven. Soon after our subject's marriage to Letitia Criswell, a young woman whose parents were from Ireland, with Scotch-Irish ancestry, they took a boat for Minnesota, and pre-empted land where the city of Minneapolis now stands, but desiring water-power. he changed his location and went further north where he could get land at $1.25 per acre. The land around the present site of Minneapolis was $3.60 per acre. In this state all their nine children (except the youngest ) were born. Mr. Marshall has a brother and sister living in Pennsylvania, both younger than himself, an older brother died in December, 1902, and a sister that was his senior died in Januory, 1903. Mrs. Marshall died March 19. 1894. and since her death W. C., the oldest son, with his family live on the home place.
The seven sons and two daughters born to this worthy couple are as fol- lows: W. C., of whom mention has just been made is a prosperous farmer and stockman. He was born January 23, 1857. His wife is one of the esti- mable daughters of that well known old settler, 1 .. O. Fuller. They are the parents of three children, one daughter and two sons. Lelitia P., the oldest grandchild of the Marshall family was born in the historical old cabin, Novem- ber 14. ISSI. Their eldest son Robert F., was born December 20, 1884. Their youngest, William R., was born February 1, 1891. W. C. Marshall feeds and ships cattle and hogs, keeps from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of the latter and is interested in two hundred acres of land. He is a public spirited man, has served as clerk of the school board for six years
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
and is one of the solid citizens of the Ames community. Jennie B., the oldest daughter of Moses Marshall is known in educational work all over the county. She is one of the most successful and has taught more terms of school than any teacher in Cloud county, but owing to failing health has retired and makes het home with her sister and brothers. She was born November 1, 1858, began hier school work in 1876 and taught continuously until 1898, one year in Minnesota and eight years in District No. 1. She is a very accomplished and worthy woman. Samuel H., born February 16, 1860. is a grain dealer of Glen Elder, Kansas. Martha S., born January 6, 1862, is the wife of Arch Quinett, a prominent farmer and owner of a fine estate, the Richard Coughlin homestead. Robert J., born July 18, 1863. is a resident of Carroll. lowa : he is a railway bridge builder. Moses Scott, born May 7, 1867, is a policeman of Everett, Washington. He inherits his father's rugged phy- sique, is six feet, one and one-half inches tall and weighs two hundred and thirty pounds. Arthur S., born November 17, 1870, is a resident of Clifton. where he is engaged in the music and sewing machine business. He is also a band leader, and has under his instruction four bands at the present time. Ames once had the "only band" in the county, and the seven Marshall boys were members, hence it bore their name. John R. is the giant of the family. He is six feet four inches in height. He was born May 9, 1873. He is a foreman in the export elevator of the Missouri Grain Company, located at Moberly, Missouri. Joseph T., born in Kansas, September 27. 1875. He is a resident of Dakota. With the expectation of promotion and a railroad career, he is section foreman. Moses Marshall stands in the family alone in his Democratic principles, for all of his sons are Republicans, a somewhat remarkable situation.
Mr. Marshall owns three hundred and fifty acres of land that ranks with the finest in the county, and it is reasonable to suppose Mr. Thorp would make a good selection when the "whole earth" was his to choose from. The Marshalls lived in the primitive cabin. where the first settlers congregated to hear Reverend West preach, repaired it, replaced the puncheon floor by boards, added a room and lived there until 1883. . The original fireplace extended across the entire end of the cabin. The Marshalls are all good citizens and honorable people.
RICE.
The town of Rice is a small village, situated on the Central Branch rail- rond, the first station east of Concordia. Its business enterprises consist of a store, an extensive elevator, a neat little house of worship and a school build- ing. The town is too near Concordia to ever be more than a railroad station with a trade from the immediate neighborhood. The farmers in the vicinity of Rice are all well-to-do and much of the town is occupied by farmers, whose estates adjoin the townsite.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
LAWRENCEBURG.
The station of Lawrenceburg is on the Union Pacific railroad, about mid- way between Concordia and Clyde, in the prosperous Salt creek valley. The town was named for L. D. Lawrence, who was accidentally killed October 17, 1885. As the train was approaching the depot Mr. Lawrence tried to cross the track and was run down by the approaching engine. His skull was frac- tured by being thrown violently from the track and his body mangled. He was an elderly man of about sixty years, and was very deaf. He settled in Lawrence township in 1860.
MINERSVILLE.
The town of Mmersville, village ci floating population, varies accord- ing to the seasons. It is a coal-mining town on the northern edge of the county in the northeastern part of Sibley township. Much of the coal consumed in Concordia and the adjacent country comes from Minersville.
YUMA.
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Y'uma is a small station, five miles west of Concordia, where the Republi- can valley branch leaves the Missouri Pacific railway.
IIOLI IS.
The village of Hollis is located at the intersection of the Union Pacific and Burlington & Missouri Pacific railways. It consists of a store, a good school building, which is said to be the best preserved house in the county. The pupils take a pride in the neat and well cared for interior, seldom found in any town.
Hollis is situated in the midst of a fine agricultural district. It was first known as Christie, so called in honor of its founder, W. J. Christie, who owned the town-site.
POSTOFFICES.
Prior to the days of the railroads, there were postoffices established in various parts of the county, but the numerous towns, coupled with the rural delivery service, has banished the country office. There was Redstone, in Lawrence township, Nelson. in Nelson township, Sulphur Springs and Heber, in Aurora township, Malta, in Oakland township, Carmel, in Colfax township, Warren, Halfway and Welcome in Summit.
MEREDITH.
The village of Meredith is situated a little to the south and east of the center of Meredith township. When the town was instituted or founded, it was expected a railroad would be built through this part of the country and that consequently a good town would spring into existence; the bonds were voted to this effect, but the survey was made to other points.
The first postoffice in the township was located at Meredith in 1868, with Abner Coffin, as postmaster. The papers were sent to him with a blank for name to be supplied and at the suggestion of his daughter, Mrs. A. D. Corn- ing, the name of Meredith was adopted in honor of the colonel whom Mr. Coffin served under during the Civil war. Mr. Coffin was also the first justice of the peace in the townshup, and served in that capacity many years. The first merchants were Dan Yockey and George Carns, who sold to Morgan Grant. Mr. Grant took Reverend Collins as a partner. Later the store fell into the hands of Robert McLean, who bought and sold the stock three different times. In 1893. J. C. Mason assumed control and operates one of the best country stores in the county, receiving a large patronage. As Meredith is situated mid-way between Glasco and Miltonvale, he draws a fair portion of the trade that would otherwise go to one of these two trading points. Mr. Mason is the present postmaster. T. A. McLean, a brother of Robert McLean, started a blacksmith shop about the same time the store was established and contin- ued there from 1868 until his death in 1883. He also carried on farming in connection with his trade.
One of the Continental crcamery stations is located at Meredith and is managed very successfully by John Hileman. The creamery averages from eight to ten thousand pounds of milk per day. There is a good frame school building adjacent to the village and here several of the most prosperous busi- ness men, and some of Cloud county's best teachers, have received their educa- tion or from this little house of learning prepared to enter universities and col- leges.
. Meredith is situated on the main Pipe creek and a prettier site for a town could not be found. The farming country which surrounds it is second to none in the country and the farmers are all prosperous and well-to-do.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Peter's Catholic church, located in Meredith township, was erected by subscription among the congregation in 1880, at a cost of eight hundred dollars, aside from the work donated by the society. Prior to the building of the church, the Cathohe society met at the various residences of its mem- hers.
'The church was built under the pastorate of Father Mickloff, Father Mol- lier conducting the first services. This district is connected with the Glasco and Delphos parish, and the services are conducted by the priest from that field the fourth Sunday of each month. The membership includes twenty- four famthes. The church is modern in its appointments, is well furnished, with organ, etc. Miss Mary Richards presides at the organ.
The cemetery which is located just opposite the church was a public bur- mal place, established in 1870, but at the organization of the church became a Catholic cemetery. It consists of a tract of twenty acres of ground, for- merly owned by Mr Murphy.
JAMES P. SHE.A.
One of the self-made men, progressive farmers and recognized political leaders of Meredith township is J. P. She, a native of Wabash county, Indi- ana, born in 1856. His father was Jeremiah Shea, a native of the Emerald Isle, who left his native land when a young man to make a home in America. He died when only thirty two years of age, of pneumonia, leaving a wife and two suns. Mr. Shea's mother was Catherine Breen, also a native of Ireland. To this union. four children were born, two of whom are living. \ brother Michael, is one of the representative farmers of Meredith township. The mother was married a second time, her last husband. Jeremiah Sullivan, dying in 1877. To this union six children were born, viz: Patrick, Flurry, Law- rence. Mary. Johanna and Helena, all of whom are single and live at home with their mother on the farm in Meredith township.
When Mr. Shea was about one year old his father's family moved to Dubuque. Iowa, and two years later to Pettis county, Missouri, sixty miles east of Warrensburg, where Mr. Shea received a common school education. In 1872, he came to Kansas and located the homestead where he now lives. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty years. In 1900, he pur- chased the desirable original Burson homestead and now owns three hundred and twenty acres of very excellent land. They live in a comfortable cottage of five rooms. Most of Mr. Shea's ground is corn land but he intends raising in the future more wheat and alfalfa. He has thirty head of two-year-old Hereford and Shorthorn cattle and raises hogs extensively. For a period of eight years Mr. Shea was elected shipper, annually for the Glasco Shipping Association.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
He was married February 4, 1884, to Margaret McLean, a native of Abilene, Dickenson county, Kansas. She was a daughter of F. A. McLean, who for several years was a farmer and blacksmith of Meredith township. He died in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Shea's family consist of eight children. the oldest of whom is sixten. Joseph, Thomas, Tessie, Charles, Helen, James, Agnes and Jeremiah. Mr. Shea is a Populist but was elected trustee of the township in 1887-8 on the Democratic ticket. The family are regular at- tendants and active members of the Catholic church.
J. C. MASON.
T. C. Mason is a farmer, extensive stock feeder and shipper and a mem- ber of the firm of J. C. Mason & Son, dealers in general merchandise-the only store in Meredith, where they do a thriving business of about $20,000 annually. Their capital stock is $4,500 and composed of hardware, clothing. dry goods. groceries and everything found in a complete stock of general merchandise.
Mr. Mason is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Chipman) Mason, both natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Missouri soon after their mar- riage and where J. C. was born in 1847, and grew to manhood in the town of Richmond. G. W. Mason was an extensive merchant in the city of Richmond for many years and died there in 1861. Both the Masons and Chipmans were families of southern proclivities and were slave owners in Missouri. G. A. Mason owned twenty or more, several of them remaining with the family as faithful servants several years after Mrs. Mason's death in 1878.
J. C. Mason was educated in Richmond, Missouri, and began his career as clerk in his brother's store. He is one of four children, two of whom are living. A sister, Octavia, wife of Doctor William Baron, of Richmond, Missouri. A brother. George W. Mason, Jr., who was a prominent mer- chant and stockman of Richmond, was killed in a railroad wreck while ship- ping stock to St. Louis in 1874. J. C. Mason became a partner in his brother's store and at his death became sole proprietor, continuing the enter- prise two years. At the end of that period he sold his interests in Rich- mond and established himself at Knoxville: after three years of successful operation there he sold and bought a stock farm. Six years later he dis- posed of the farm and came to Kansas locating in Miltonvale in 1890, where he bought. fed and shipped stock for three years.
Mr. Mason discovered what he thought to be-and he reckoned well- a promising outlook for a general merchandising business at Meredith in con- nection with his stock interests. He came with money to invest and energy to assist in building up a business in that line. In advance of this venture he had visited Cloud county several winters buying and shipping stock.
In 1890 he brought his family, located permanently, and in 1893 rented the old Parks homestead adjacent to Meredith where he still resides, and
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feel from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head of cattle, and from two hundred to three hundred head of hogs. Mr. Mason was married 11 18-3 to Alice Kingo a daughter of Andrew H. and Margaret ( With Kingo, of Kentucky.
Andrew King, was a Marchent interested at Richmond, Liberty and Gallium, Missouri, with residence in Richmond, under the firm name of Wirt & Ringo Her father died in isse and her mother in 187; Mrs. Mann is one of og t children, all of whom are living, scattered over various States of the Inten A mother. W FRingo, was a member of I'nce's band and served during the entire war He was county derk of Kay county for eight years and & new collecter of lives
I. Mr and Mrs Mason tour dulien have been born, the oldest of whom is bergs and with his father in the store. He is a competent Salma The daughters are Dass, who assists her father in the store; Edna, a graduate of the Milton ale schow Is, and Ama.
Meredith The Moon hospitality s of the proverbial Missouri quality. where his neighbor, friends and strangers ahle, always find their "latch string hanging ent "
MICHAEL F. STHE 1.
The subject of this sketch. M. I. Shet a prosperous farmer of Meredith township and a brother of James Shea. is a native of Syracuse, Missouri, born in 1860. He came to Kansas with the family in 1808, and located at Leavenworth, han one year later returned to Missouri. They came to Kan- sas again in 1872, and Mr. Shea bought the relinquishment to a timber clan of C. P. Carpenter which he improved and lived on five years and then bought eighty acres adjoining his mother's farm where he still lives.
Mr. Shea started in life with absolutely no capital. but by his brawn and muscle has acquired a comfortable fortune. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land, making stock raising his chief industry. He raises hogs extensively and has a fine herd of Hereford bred cattle. In 1885 he erected a comfortable stone residence doing most of the masonry himself.
Mr. Shea was married the same year to Maggie, a daughter of John Dooley, who was at one time a farmer of Cloud county, but is now retired and living at Concordia. Her mother was Mary Ann Murphy. Her parents were both of Irish birth. John Dooley came to America when a young man about twenty-one years of age and settled in New York City where he be- came a coachman in the family of a wealthy New Yorker. He later settled in Lebanon. Ohio, where he met and married Miss Murphy, who came from Ireland with her parents when a child. They settled in Cloud county in 1881. where Mrs. Dooley died in 1887. Mrs. Shea is one of three children. two
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
of whom are living: a sister. Mary, wife of Michael Hart. a farmer of Ot- tawa county, Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Shea are the parents of six children, viz: James, aged fourteen : William, aged eleven : Mark, aged nine: Thomas, Margaret and Lewis, aged respectively six, four and two years. Mr. Shea is a Bryan Democrat and takes an interest in political affairs. He has served as con- stable, treasurer and trustee of his township, and has been suggested by his friends for sheriff. Mr. Shea acquired his early education in a dugout at Meredith. He is considered one of the leading citizens of his township. They are members of the Catholic church, St. Peter's congregation.
WILLIAM MARION HARDESTY.
One of the old residents of 1871, and one of the most worthy citizens of Meredith township, is W. M. Hardesty. He is a native of lowa . born in 1844. His father was James Hardesty, and settled in lowa in 1840, in the territorial days of that state. The Hardestys were of English origin. His father was a native of Ohio and moved to Indiana, and from that state to Towa, where he died when his son, the subject of this sketch, was a small boy. Mr. Hardesty's mother was Mary Ann Tuttle, of Ohio. Her ances- tors were German people, and settled in Maryland. She died in 1869. Mr." Hardesty is one of thirteen children, six of whom are living; three of this . number were triplets. The eldest brother. Joseph, is a farmer and stock- man of Barber county, Kansas. Two brothers, John and James, of Omaha, Nebraska, and two sisters in Louisa county, Iowa. By a second marriage there was one child, D. W. Tucker, of Iowa.
Mr. Hardesty was educated in the subscription schools of their neigh- borhood. His father's means were meagre, as is usually the case with set- tlers in a new country, and his educational advantages very limited. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Hardesty enlisted in the United States army and served his country two and one-half years. He was a member of Com- pany A. Ninth lowa Cavalry. with Captain John C. Reed and with General Steele through Missouri and Arkansas, who was superseded by General Reynokls. Their brigadier generals were Trumbull and Geiger. They were engaged in arduous and dangerous guerrilla warfare a greater part of the time and many of their men were killed, wounded and taken prisoners. His brother Joe was captured, but paroled eleven days later.
After the war Mr. Hardesty returned to lowa and resumed the farm - ing he had undertaken before entering the service, continuing in that capuc. ity until coming to Kansas in 1871. Ile came overland and homestended the farm where he now lives, erected a shanty Hx14. with roof sloping one way, but shingled, which was rare among the dwellings of that time, and there was one small window. In addition to this he built a dugout.
June 7. 1872. he was married to Bella J. MeNamer, whom he had known in Iowa. Mrs. Hardesty was born and reared in Louisa county and
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
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