USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 29
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 29
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stantial citizens of Elm township, including Tobey, Pickell, etc. In the spring of 1875 he bought an eighty in section 2, township 25, range 19, and put into it the wages he had saved since his arrival in the United States. His success in farming and, to a limited extent, stock raising, has brought him to a position of financial ease not always achieved by the average farmer. He has added eighty acres to his first purchase giving him a quarter section of land.
Claus Barnholt has known nothing but work. It is one of the char- acteristics of his race. Reaching maturity with no special opportunities and no talent resources his capital was his industry. The world was be- fore him and it is always kind to the honorable son of toil. In the vigor of manhood did he put forth his greatest efforts and what he achieved will supply his wants in old age. He is a Republican.
H ENRY BUSI,EY, of Elm township, Allen county, successful farmer, and thrifty and progressive citizen, has passed a full score of years within the confines of his county and is a gentleman worthy to be known and trusted. He came amongst us almost a raw English emigrant and purchased a small farm in section 23, township 24, range 19. He reached Iola on the 4th of March, 1880, and the next day was driven into the country by George A. Bowlus, Iola's genial banker, then an ordinary land agent. He sold Mr. Busley the tract above mentioned and the latter brought his family to his new home at once.
Mr. Busley was born in Lincolnshire, England, May 29, 1845, and was left an orphan by the accidental death of his father, Samuel Busley, two years later. There were six children in the family and Henry is the only one who ventured across the Atlantic. Jane Scotney was our subject's mother. Her other children were: John, William, Samuel, Ann, Sarah, and George, Joseph and Jane Reed, the last three by her second husband.
Henry Busley was strictly a farmer boy and at eleven years of age began the task of finding his own keep. He worked seven years for one man at four pounds the first year and at ten pounds a year the last two years. The following four years he spent with another farmer at sixteen pounds per year. The last four years in England were spent as foreman over a farm. In this position he acquired a valuable and accurate know- ledge of caring for all kinds of stock belonging to the farm. 1
On reaching the United States Mr. Busley located in Livingston county, New York, and spent seven years there. He became foreman of a large farm belonging to Mr. William Hamilton, a leading man of that county. He was induced by Arnold and Kemp, emigration agents, to make a trip to the west with the result as above mentioned.
· Farming in the west Mr. Busley has found to be different to farming in England or New York. He has been able in the years he has cultivated Kansas soil to not only improve his original home but to add to it a half
Henry Busley
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section of land and to properly improve and till the same. In his case agriculture includes the growing and handling of stock. £ Much of his ac- cretions have come from this source and when conducted with wisdom it produces the easiest money a farmer makes.
For three years Mr. Busley has given much of his time to the interests of the Lanyons and their successors. The leasing of territory for prospect- ing for gas and the renewal of leases in the territory of LaHarpe are mat- ter which the company has entrusted to him and the fidelity with which he performs his duties is a matter of common recognition. He has a personal interest in the development of the gas fields of Allen county for his land is all within the territory and the "Busley well" is the farthest north, yet discovered.
Mr. Busley was married in 1868 to Sarah A. Green and their children are: Sarah Elizabeth, wife of William Higgins; Mary Jane, wife of Fred E. Daniels; and Annie G., John W., Emily, Thurza E., George H., Nellie, Harry and Albert J. Busley, all in the family home.
In matters of public policy Mr. Busley is a Republican. His first presidential vote was cast for the lamented Garfield and his voice and vote have gone to each Republican nominee since the campaign of 1880.
As a citizen Mr. Busley is honest, energetic and industrious. As a business man he possesses the utmost integrity and practices only the recog- mized principles of business. As a neighbor he is accommodating and helpful, encouraging the timid and lending substantial aid to the weak.
E LLIS P. DELAPLAIN is one of the early settlers of Elm township, Allen County. He dates his advent to the county from the year 1868 when his father, Joshua P. Delaplain, emigrated from Macoupin County, Illinois, and became a permanent resident of this new country. Ellis Delaplain was born in Madison County, Illinois, January 3, 1850, and fin- ished his education in the Brighton, Illinois, high school. Tilling the soil has engaged his attention here for nearly thirty-two years, continuous- ly, and when, at two different times, he tried to settle to be content else- where, he found it impossible and each time returned to the fertile plains of Kansas.
Mr. Delaplain was married in Iola May 14, 1871, to Jennie Penn, whose father, John Penn, settled in Macoupin County, Illinois, in an early day. He was a native of St. Clair County, that State, and was married to Catherine Bates. The other Peun heirs are: Charles, Joseph, Benjamin and Samuel Penn.
Mr. and Mrs. Delaplain's children are: Hairy J .; Herbert W .; and Earl L. Delaplain, all of whom inhabit the family home.
Mr. Delaplain has been, for some years, one of the well known stock handlers of his township. He is one of the extensive farmers of the county
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and with the aid of his sons is operating the large tract of George G. Fox near LaHarpe.
The political affiliations of the Delaplains are well known. Their Re- publicanism is not a subject of doubt or question and their interest in honest and wholesome municipal government is constant and unflagging. Our subject has served his township efficiently as trustee as well as its con- stable and his conduct of both offices marks him as eminently fair and scrupulous in his execution of the law.
JOHN WESLEY LAURY, Marmaton township's successful farmer and popular citizen, was born in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1853. Godfrey Laury, his father, was born in Lehigh County, in 1823, and was a Pennsylvania Dutchman. His early life was passed as a merch- ant at Mahanoy in Schuylkill County, but the last twenty years of his life were spent with our subject on the farm. John Laury, our subject's grand- father, was one of the successful farmers of Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Pennsylvania, in the former of which he died in 1832. His son, Godfrey, served under General Albright in the defense of Washington when the Rebels were marching on the capital in the summer of 1863.
Godfrey Laury married Anna Maria Dreisbach, a daughter of Daniel Dreisbach, a Carbon County Pennsylvania farmer. Mrs. Laury died in Allen County, Kansas, in 1866, at the age of sixty-three years; while her husband died March 29, 1897. Their children are: John W., our subject; Emma, wife of Theodore Maxson, of Elm township, and Ella, who married J. O. Eagle, of Allen County.
The Laurys came to Kansas in 1878 and settled upon section 9, town 26, range 20, which our subject has succeeded in reducing to a productive farmi and a comfortable home. A few years after his advent to the county he discovered an opening in his community for a country butcher and he fitted out a store-on-wheels and engaged in the business. Fourteen years is almost a generation but it is that long since this venture was under- taken and its success has been ample and more than its projector anticipated.
May 18, 1882, John W. Laury was married to Alice McCray, of Wil- son County, Kansas, a daughter of William McCray who came to Kansas from Hancock County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Laury's children are: William G., Charles McCray, Clara Olivia, John W. Jr., Emma Alice, George Aldridge, Raymond H., Everett M., and Ruth Jane.
With nothing has John Laury been more familiar and taken a deeper in- terest in Allen County, than its politics. The time was not when he was not a Republican. He inherited the spirit from his ancestors, breathed it from the air in which he was reared and practiced it from the time he reached his majority. He cast his first Presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hays and he has felt it a great privilege to be permitted to aid in choosing for the
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Presidency such men as Garfield, Harrison, and Mckinley. Mr. Laury's convention record, as a delegate, is a long and almost unbroken one. His influence is of far-reaching and weighty character and the candidate whose cause he espouses finds him enlisted for the war. He has been urged for the County Treasurership, which office he is admirably adapted to preside over, but the opportunity has not yet arrived. Were all the elements of our composite citizenship as industrious, as energetic, as honest and as patriotic as Jolin W. Laury there would be no need of court or juries or lawyers.
J
OHN GWILLIM -- In March, 1871, John Gwillim took up his residence in Allen County. He owns the north half of the southeast quarter of section 6, town 25, range 20, but settled upon section 29. town 24, range 20. He came from Herefordshire, England, where he was born March 3. 1846. His father died in Herefordshire in 1897 at the age of eighty-two years. The latter was married to Harriet Lloyd and their children were: John, Mary, William, Robert, of England; Thomas, of Wallowa County, Oregon; Martha and Elizabeth, both in Oregon, and Ebenezer Gwillim, who still clings to his English home.
John Gwillim was reared on a farm and left old England at the age of twenty-four years. He had sufficient capital to begin business on in Kan- sas and, after spending a year in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, he came hither and added his name to the list of prairie farmers of Elm township.
He was married before he emigrated from England to Ann Watkins, who died in 1877, leaving a daughter, Annie, who is her father's companion.
Mr. Gwillim's first presidential vote was cast for Garfield and his fealty to the Republican party has remained constant. He is in 110 sense a work- er, in party parlance, but his knowledge of policies and men enables him to cast an intelligent and patriotic ballot.
W ALTER A. KERR, of Eli township, one of the energetic and substantial young farmers of his community and a son of our worthy countryman, Obed Kerr, was born in Pennsylvania October 9, 1869. He came into Allen connty at the age of nine years and has been reared and fairly educated here. His life has been that of a farmer and stockman and he remained under the parental roof till near his twenty-ninth year. He was married May 13, 1898, to Miss Alice Brookins, a daughter of Prof. W. E. Brookins, one of the effective educators of Kansas, now located at Blue Mound. The latter was born in New York, is married to Libbie Gay, and Fred Brookins and Mrs. Kerr are his two children.
Mr. and Mrs. Kerr's only child is Bessie V. Kerr born May 1, 1899. Mr. Kerr manages the east half of section 13, township 25, range 19
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one half of which he owns, and he is gradually and surely coming to be one of the successful cattle growers and dealers of Eli township. He takes a citizen's interest in the management of public affairs, and while he lias no inclination toward politics he keeps abreast of current events and manifests a keen concern for the success of Republican principles at the poles.
C' HARLES W. SMITH, one of the foremost young farmers of Elm town- ship, whose unquestioned reputation has been established in Allen county in the past twenty years, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, Octo- ber 18, 1853. He was reared on the farm of his father, Samuel W. Smith, who died in Allen county, Kansas, in 1886, at the age of sixty-three years. The latter was born in Pennsylvania, came to Illinois early in life and was inarried there to Sarah H. Bodine. Mrs. Smith was born in New Jersey in 1831 and is a resident of LaHarpe, Allen county, Kansas. Her children are: Josephine, wife of Charles Cole, of Iola, Charles W., our subject; Addie, wife of W. H. Baker, of Cherryvale, Kansas; Henry B. Smith, of Moran, Kansas; George C., of LaHarpe, and Luella May, wife of Andrew Smith, of Wichita, Kansas.
Charles W. Smith was married at twenty-one years and started in life as a farmer. Hecame to Kansas about that date and, with a small amount of capital, purchased eighty acres of land north-east of LaHarpe and began its improvement and cultivation by degrees. He worked by the day near Moran for Peter McGlashan who paid him twenty-five cents more for a day's work than any one else was getting, and lie earned good wages with Vandegrift and Paske who paid hands in proportion to what they were worth. By this method he acquired the means with which he sustained himself and family while the initial strokes of farm improvement were being made. When he got some land broken and a shanty erected our subject was well on his way toward independence, and when he had accumulated a small bunch of cattle and gotten his income to exceed his expenses by some fold prosperity had really set in. Since he made his first crop of twenty acres of broom corn his farm could be relied upon to produce suf- ficient for the family needs.
Mr. Smith's energy is not the kind that would permit him to go back- ward instead of forward. Whatever he planted he reaped a crop from, if weather conditions did not interfere, and if his crop was small one year he retrenched just as much in proportion to bring the yearly balance on the right side. He is the owner of a fertile one hundred and sixty acres.
Beyond his father, little is at hand as to the Smith ancestry. Samuel W. Smith was an ouly son and his widowed mother married an Aby, and two of their their children survive: G. H. Aby, of Harper county, Kan- sas, and Rebecca, wife of Nelson Milles, of McDonough county, Illinois. March 23, 1879, Charles W. Smith was married to Louisa, a daughter
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of Jonas Johnson, deceased, of Knox county, Illinois. The latter reared eight children, six of the surviving ones being in Illinois. Our subject's children are: Herschel W., Claire H., Helen Marie and Nola Belle.
Mr. Smith is a Republican without compromise or apology. He has given his services in a modest way to party affairs in Allen county and is a delegate to nearly every County convention held. He looks back over his modest political history and feels gratified in the belief that he has never been on the wrong side in a national campaign.
A LFRED C. KOHLER .- Elm township, Allen county, contains few farmers who are more enterprising and progressive than Alfred C. Kohler. His industry and thrift are subjects of common report and his pride in farm-improvement, and thus in county-development, is very ap- parent to the passerby. It is only sixteen years that he has dealt with con- ditions in Kansas, for he came here in 1884, and in that space of time Pennsylvania energy and perseverance have done effective work.
November 1, 1845, A. C. Kohler was born in Lehigh county, Peun- sylvania. A son of Dr. W. S. Kohler and a grandson of Peter Kohler he was reared in Lehigh and Northampton counties. His ancestors were of the first settled families in that region and Peter Kohler was one of the large land owners in his county. He was a Whig and later a Republican while his ancestors were Federalists. He married Catherine Steckel and died in 1872 at the age of ninety-three years. Of his eight children five were sons of whom Dr. W. S. Kohler was the eldest. The latter spent forty years in the practice of medicine and died at the place of his birth, now Egypt, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1870 at the age of sixty-six years. His first wife was Miss Kern who bore him three children only one of whom died with issne, Dr. John P. Kohler, who left two children. His second wife, and our subject's mother, was Catherine Laury, a daughter of a Lehigh and Northampton county farmer, John Laury. Of the issue of this last marriage Alfred C. Kohler is the eldest. The other children are Sarah, Martha, wife of Dr. Erdman, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Silas Kohler who resides in Lehigh county.
A. C. Kohler secured little more than a common school education. He was a country youth till his seventeenth year when he went to Phila- delphia to clerk for S. H. Bibighaus, a prominent hardware merchant, and he remained in the city two years. In 1864 he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel W. B. Thomas. The regiment was ordered to Fort McHenry and later to John- son's Island where it served for a time as prison guard. From this point it was stationed at Galipolis, Ohio; Parkersburg, West Virginia, and finally returned to Philadelphia where it was mustered out of service.
For three years succeeding the close of his army service Mr. Kohler was in a mill at Copley, Pennsylvania. In 1868 he was married and en-
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gaged in farming in Northampton county. His wife was Sarah Laubach, a daughter of John Laubach, a Pennsylvania German and a farmer. Mrs. Kohler was born in 1850. Their seven children are: John P., who married Nannie Mitchell and has two children, Helen and Bulah; Esther Kohler, who married Charles Rebman and is the mother of three children, Clara, Esther and Sarah; Irene, Richard, Bulah, Charles and Sadie Kohler are all on the homestead.
When Mr. Kohler came to Allen county he located upon the north-east quarter of section 17, township 25, range 20, and is now the owner of three quarters of the section. less eighty acres. His farm is well stocked and he is otherwise admirably situated for reaping a profit from his labors year after year. In matters of religion the family are members of the Reformed church.
W E. SLOAN, a well known and prosperous fariner of West Hum- · boldt. was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, September 29,
1855. His father was James F. Sloan and his mother was Martha Oli- phant, both natives of the Keystone state. W. E. Sloan was their third child. He was one of thirteen children and was reared in the state of his birth. He came to Kansas in 1880 and took a claim in Harvey county. He disposed of this in 1884, came to Allen county and purchased a farm four miles north-east of Humboldt, which he yet owns. He resides on and cultivates, as a tenant, the old Thurston farm just west of Humboldt and is regarded as a liberal, progressive and thrifty citizen.
In August 1880, Mr. Sloan was married to Miss Ella Scott, a daughter of M. E. Scott, of Marion county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Sloan's mother was Miss E. J. Scott, and the state of Pennsylvania was the home of the Scotts. Mrs. Sloan was born February 11, 1865, and is the mother of five children, viz: Wilbur, Austin, Edward Henry and Fiank.
In his early manhood and to gain a sum with which to engage in farm- ing Mr. Sloan was a wage earner. He was inured to the duties of the farm and upon this did he become a hand when he became accountable for his future. Whatever he is and has has resulted from the effort of his own hands. His political history is told when it is said that he votes the Re- publican ticket. He came from a patriotic state and was conceived by loyal antecedents and that he is both patriotic and loyal is not a subject of wonder.
W ILLIAM GWILLIM, of Elm township, who settled in Allen County, in the spring of 1871, was one of the first of the English colony to locate in his township and he came to it front Jo Daviess County
CWB Hackney
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Illinois. His sojourn in that State was only temporary and while there he was a visitor of a friend of his father's, hoping to get some information with reference to Kansas, in which State it was his intention of making a home.
Mr. Gwillim was born in Herefordshire, England, October 24, 1848. His father was John Gwillim, a representative of one of the old families of Monmouthshire in which shire they were farmers as far back as memory serves. In olden times the custom was to give the oldest son the Christian name and property of the father and in this family the practice prevailed yet in modern days. Our subject's grandfather was John Gwillim and his great grandfather bore the name of John.
William Gwillim is the third child of his parents and left Liverpool. England, on the steamer City of Paris in the mouth of May bound for New York. He was twelve days at sea and was accompanied by his brother's family. Upon coming into Allen County he purchased, on contract, a quarter section of railroad land, but when the League seemed in a fair way to win their contest for land in the odd sections he joined his fortunes with that organization and let his contract forfeit. When the railroad title was declared good he again purchased the land and owns now the west half of section 29, town 24, range 20. Cattle raising became one of Mr. Gwillim's industries and he has become known as a "feeder" in a small way. His premises present the appearance of thrift and financial in- dependence and add greatly to the settled and matured condition of his township.
Mr. Gwillim was married April 5. 1870, to Sarah Farr, a daughter of James Farr, of Herefordshire, England. Their children are: Albert J., Sarah J. and William Frederick.
In National and State politics Mr. Gwillim is a Republican. He has been a member of the school board of Pleasant Prairie many years and is clerk of the board. In religious matters he is a Methodist.
H ACKNEY & SON-The firm whose name appears above is one of prominence in LaHarpe, actively identified with its commercial in- terests. Its members are men of marked business enterprise, excellent ex- ecutive ability, keen sagacity and determined purpose. Every well con- ducted business concern is of value to the community in which it is located, for the welfare, progress and upbuilding of every town or city depends upon its commercial activity. Those who control a paying business enterprise are therefore representative citizens, and among the number in La- Harpe are the two gentlemen, W. J. and Canby H. Hackney, who consti- tute the well known firm of Hackney & Son.
The senior member, W. J. Hackney, is a native of Frederick County, Virginia, his birth having occurred in Winchester, in 1821. When three years of age he became a resident of Ohio, and in 1854 he took up his abode in Iowa, where he became interested in manufacturing, successfully carry-
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ing on business there until the financial panic of 1876, when he lost all that lie had made. In 188r he came to Allen County and here entered into business with his sons, E. L. and Canby H. In LaHarpe they established the enterprise which has since been conducted by the firm whose name in- troduces this review. The association was maintained as first organized until 1890, when E. L. Hackney withdrew. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary K. Blodgett, whose mother was one of the early settlers of Allen County, and they are now prospering upon a ranch in the White river valley of Colorado. The business was continued by W. J. and Canby H. Hackney and has grown to be an important enterprise in La Harpe.
In the year 1843 was celebrated the marriage of W. J. Hackney and Miss Susan D. Canby, a native of Ellicot's Mills, Maryland. Unto them were born four children and they had been married for half a century be- fore a death occurred in the family. Although fifty-eight years have passed since they started upon life's journey together, they are still enjoy- ing good health and are quite vigorous. Of their children, one daugliter, Mrs. Russell, is now deceased. The other daughter, Mrs. Happersett, formerly a resident of Iola, is now living in Illinois. The elder son, as stated above, is a resident of Colorado. In his political views the father has long been a stalwart Republican, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, his support to the party being freely given because of his belief in its principles.
Canby H. Hackney, the junior member of the firm, was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1856, and spent his boyhood days in his parents' home. He was a hard working lad, in early life. showing forth the elemental strength of his character by his energy and close application. He pursued his preliminary education in the common schools and in Howe's Academy of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He then entered upon his business career, re- maining in Iowa until 1881. With his father he then came to Allen County without a dollar, but with a clear conscience, knowing that they owed no man anything. In Kansas Canby H. Hackney entered upon a career which has made him widely known and has gained for him the u11- qualified respect and confidence of all with whom he has been associated. The firm of Hackney & Son are now engaged in dealing in hay, grain and farming implements at LaHarpe. They began operations on a small scale and gradually from year to year their business has increased until it has assumed extensive proportions. In the employ of the firm is a young man, Orin Hartley, who was left an orphan and came to them when a small boy. He has always been honest and diligent and has aided materially in win- ning the splendid reputation of the firm. In addition to his interest in the store Canby H. Hackney now owns considerable property, having made ju- dicious investments in real estate.
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