USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 37
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104
314
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
member of the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintains pleasant relationships with his comrades of the blue. He has been quartermaster of Vicksburg Post, No. 72 for a number of years. He is now seventy-one years of age, but still manifests a commendable interest in public affairs and is recognized as an esteemed citizen and honored pioneer of Humboldt.
M RS. CELIA H. STEELMAN is a native of the Empire State, her birth having occurred at Gloversville, New York, on the 28th of September, 1846. She is a daughter of Abraham Gulick, who was born in New York, in 1814, and was married on the 25th of November, 1841, to Miss Maria Mitchell, whose birth occurred July 2nd, 1816. Their union was blessed with three children, but only two survive, namely: Mrs. Steel- man and Andrew. The latter was born July 12, 1844, and is now living with his sister. Mr. and Mrs. Gulick became residents of Kansas in 1880.
In the State of her nativity Celia H. Gulick spent her girlhood days in acquiring her education in the public schools. In 1869 she gave her hand in marriage to J. F. Wing, who was also born in New York, in which State they began their domestic life. They removed to Minnesota, where they remained for three years, and in 1874 they came to Kansas, locating in the northern part of Allen County where Mr. Wing purchased a large farm. They remained upon the farm for three years, and then took up their abode in Iola, which was their place of residence for about eight years, when their home was given in exchange for Humboldt property. In 1888 they located in the latter city and Mr. Wing purchased business property there. He was identified with the business interests of the place until 1890, when his life's labors were ended in death, he being then fifty- seven years of age. Mrs. Wing remained a widow for two years and in 1892 was married to David Steelman. Theirs was a short but happy married life, terminated by the death of Mr. Steelman in 1896, when he was seventy-seven years of age.
Mrs. Steelman and her brother now reside in her pleasant home in Humboldt. She owns two nice residences in the best portion of the city and has other property which yields to hier a good income. In no field of endeavor requiring intellectuality has woman failed to demonstrate her equality with man, and her business and executive powers, when brought to a practical test, are found equal to his. Mrs. Steelman shows decided ability in the care and supervision of her property interests. For twenty- seven years she has been a resident of Allen County and is now widely known in this portion of the State, where her estimable characteristics have gained for her the sincere friendship of those with whom she has been associated.
315
WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
JAMES T. TREDWAY-While the race is not always to the swift nor
the battle to the strong, tireless energy, resolute purpose and sound judgment never fail to gain success, and though Mr. Tredway spent his youth amid rather nufavoring circumstances and has had to depend entire- ly upon his own labors, he has risen to a position of affluence and is classed among the substantial citizens of Allen County. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, April 10, 1849, and is of English lineage. His parents. however, were natives of Maryland, and were married in Wheeling. West Virginia. The father died when James was only two years old. The sur- viving members of the family are: Mrs. Olivia B. Littell, whose husband was a captain in the Civil war and later was captain of police in Cincinnati; Thomas Albert, who is married and lives with his family in Kentucky; John W., who is general manager in the offices of the Selmer Hess Publish- ing House, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; James T .; and Almira E. Nes- bitt who resides at the old home. Of the sons, Thomas served as one of the boys in blue in the war of the Rebellion.
At the father's death the mother was left to cate for her six small chil- dren, but she nobly took up the work and ably prepared them for the practical and responsible duties of life. She gave them good educational privileges. and after attending the common schools James T. Tredway continued his studies in Clermont Academy in Ohio. When still young he went to Cin- cinnati, where for five years he served as a street car conductor in summer and stencil cutter in the winter season. He also spent two years in St. Louis, Missouri, as foreman in the stencil and steel-stamp establishment of J. G. Harris & Company.
He resigned this position and returned to Ohio to wed Miss Josephine Brede, of Cincinnati. She was born of German parents. Her father served in the war of the Rebellion and was taken prisoner and spent many months in Andersonville and other southern prisons. He returned home after the war but in a few years died from the effects of prison life. Her mother is still living with Mrs. Tredway on the farm at the age of seventy- five years.
They began farming in Ohio and after several years of up hill work concluded to go west and were attracted to Allen County by circulars of George A. Bowlus, real estate agent.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tredway have been born five children, who are a source of great comfort to the parents. Guy, the eldest, is a graduate of the State Normal College, at Emporia; Charles is among the first teachers of Allen County; Edna is a graduate of the Iola high school; John is a student in the Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kansas, and Alt at four- teen is still with his father on the farm.
In his business career Mr. Tredway has experienced many difficulties, but the obstacles in his path have served as an impetus to renewed effort. When he came to Kansas he had nothing but a team of mules, and, renting a farm of Jacob Zike, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. The firm of Scott & Goforth, of Iola, furnished him with provisions for a
316
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
ye ir and with characteristic energy he began his work, which brought to him a good return. He purchased his farm without paying a cent down, but soon discharged his indebtedness and bought an adjoining eighty. The building which is now utilized as a barn served as his house for eiglit years, but as the years passed he added substantial improvements to his property and has made it a very desirable and attractive place. All of which has been made possible only by the aid of liis dutiful wife.
In politics Mr. Tredway has always been a Republican, has taken an active part in the work of the party and has been chairman of the county central committee. He has, however, never sought office as a reward for his service, which has been given because he believes earnestly in Republi- can principles. He has been elected president of the County Farmers' In- stitute for several years and has been twice elected president of the County Sunday School conventions. He and his family are members of the Re- formed church. His life demonstrates most clearly what may be ac- complished by determined purpose and shows that success does not depend upon fortunate circumstances, upon inheritance or the aid of influential friends, but upon the man. His career is creditable and honorable and should serve as a source of inspiration to others who are forced to begin life empty-handed, as did Mr. Tredway.
JOHN S. LEHMAN .- It is a well proven assertion that the history of a J county is best told in the lives of its people, for it is individual enter- prise and effort that bring about the upbuilding and advancement of a community. One of the energetic and reliable merchants of Humboldt is John S. Lehman, who is now connected with the grain trade. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 16th day of May, 1850. His father, Christian Lehman, was a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio when he was only six years of age. After reaching years of maturity he married Susannah Shank, a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, who was a little maiden of five summers when her parents became early settlers of the Buckeye state. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation and died in Ohio, in 1895, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife passed away some time previous, her death occurring in 1866. He was a second time married. By the first union he had eight children, and by the second, one.
John S. Lehman, our subject, is the eldest of the family, the others being David, a minister residing in Columbiana county, Ohio; Jacob, a farmer of that county; Henry, who is a horse buyer and shipper of Hum- boldt; Christian, who is conducting a planing mill and lumber business in Columbiana county, Ohio; Mrs. Anna Miller, of the same place; Mrs. Susan Hurst, of Wayne county Ohio; and Mrs. Rebecca Culler, of Column- biana county. Frances L. Lehman, the half-sister, died in 1893.
After John S. Lehman completed his common school course he pur-
317
WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
sued his studies through one term in the Polland Seminary Union, and afterward organized the Columbiana Lumber & Coal Company, with which he was connected for eight years, serving for two years as its manager. In 1884 he came to Kansas, locating on a farm in Allen county, north-west of Humboldt. There he engaged in the cultivation of grain and the raising of stock for seven years, and in 1893 took up his residence in this city, where he engaged in buying and shipping live stock, an industry to which he devoted his energies for about three years. He was then appointed by Governor Leedy, to the position of superintendent of the public grounds and state house, thus serving until he was relieved by the Republican gov- ernor. After his return to Humboldt he opened a grain and feed store, buying and shipping all kinds of grain, vegetables, seeds and flour.
Before leaving Ohio Mr. Lehman was married in 1876 to Miss Mary A. Kistler, of Lordstown, Ohio, and to them have been born eight children: Gertrude, wife of Edward King, who is now foreman of a blacksmith shop in Topeka, Kansas; Cora, who is living with her sister, Gertrude; Allen, who died in 1897; Arden; Leslie; Ethel, who died in 1888, and Harney and Floyd, at home.
Mr. Lehman is a stalwart advocate of the Populist party and his deep interest in political affairs has led him to give an earnest support to its principles and to labor untiringly for its success. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. As a citizen he has always been true and faithful to every trust reposed in him and is a worthy representative of that class who lead quiet, industrious, honest and useful lives and constitute the best portion of a community.
A SA M. WOOD .- Although one of the more recent arrivals in Allen county, Asa M. Wood is already widely known and has made for himself a place among the practical and progressive agriculturists who have made Elin township to bloom and blossom as the rose. He was born in Harrisou county, Missouri, August 14, 1860, and is a son of John Irwin and Elizabeth (Bartlett) Wood. His paternal great grandfather was a native of England and became the founder of the family in America at an early period in the development of this country. George Wood, the grand- father, was born in Kentucky during the pioneer epoch in the history of that state, and there occurred the birth of John Irwin Wood in 1816. Hav- ing arrived at years of maturity he wedded Elizabethi Bartlett, who was born in Tennessee in 1818. She has a brother Nathan who is living in Mississippi, and a half brother, Daniel T., who is also a resident of that state. (Her father was married twice. ) Mr. and Mrs. Wood became the parents of seven children, namely: Asa M .; D. C., a ranchman of Seward county, Kansas; Joseph, a farmer of Missouri; Amanda and Martha, who manage the homestead in Harrison county, Missouri; and Mrs. Arazilla Easton, who is also a resident of Harrison county. Robert H. died in 1874.
On his father's farm Mr. Wood, of this review, spent the days of his
318
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
boyhood and youth, and at the age of twenty-six went to Colorado, where he remained for two years engaged in ranching. Returning to Missouri he spent the two succeeding years in his native state, and then again located in Colorado, but after four years he came to Kansas and in 1896 purchased his present farm in Elm township, formerly owned by Mr. Swartzman. Since that time he has been engaged in the cultivation of his fields and in stock raising. He conducts both branches of his business profitably for he follows progressive methods and in all his dealings he is strictly reliable.
In 1888, in Missouri, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Frisby, whose people were from Ohio. Her father, J. C. Frisby, is still living, and spends the summer months in Kansas, while in the winter season he makes his home in Missouri. Mrs. Wood has two brothers, Adna H. and E. H., who are residents of Missouri. Our subject and his wife have two sons, Glenn and Kirk, aged respectively eleven and five years. Mrs. Wood is a lady of considerable business ability, who is now contributing to the family income through the raising of poultry on an ex- tensive scale.
In his political views Mr. Wood is a stalwart Republican, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party, and on that ticket he was elected to the office of township trustee of Elm township, in which capacity he is now serving. He is a western man by birth and by inclination and is thoroughly imbued with the western spirit of progress and enterprise.
G EORGE G. FOX .- Not in desultory fashion that renders effort un- profitable and labor without satisfactory result has Mr. Fox prose- cuted his business career for he is a man of marked energy and strong determination who has steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence. He now resides in LaHarpe, where he is successfully engaged in real estate dealing.
A native of the Empire state, Mr. Fox was born in Livingston county, New York, June 23rd, 1845, and is a son of John and Hannah ( Hillman) Fox, the former born in Connecticut in 1803, the latter in New York in 1808. They had ten children-five sons and five daughters. Two of the sons loyally served the Union during the Civil war. George G. Fox ac- quired his education in the common schools of his native county and in an academy at Geneseo, New York. In his early business career he engaged in the manufacture of cheese for eight years, and was also proprietor of a general mercantile establishment for twelve years. Prominent in the con- munity in which he resided, he was elected and served for one term as township clerk in Livingston county, and was also postmaster at East Groveland, New York.
The year 1883 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Fox in Kansas, and for seventeen years he has made his home in Allen county. He first located on a farin north of LaHarpe, but for some time has been engaged in real
319
WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
estate dealing in the city. He is well informed on land values and has conducted a number of important transactions in his line. He is a man of sound business judgment, obliging and courteous and at all times perfectly reliable. These qualities have insured him gratifying success.
In February, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fox and Miss Mary Eagle, who was born in Livingston county, New York They have a pleasant home in LaHarpe and occupy a leading position in social cir- cles. In politics Mr. Fox is a stalwart Republican and has filled the office of township trustee in Elm township, Allen county. Throughout the greater part of his life he has been an active worker in the church, and was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church of LaHarpe. He withholds his support from no movement or measure calculated to prove of public benefit, along material, social or moral lines, and is a valued resident of the .county, having the respect of all who know him.
JOHN N. OHLFEST-Among the residents of Kansas who are of foreign birth is numbered John N. Ohlfest, who is a native of Holstein, Germany. The days of his boyhood and youth were passed in that land, and his education was acquired in its public schools. In accordance with its laws he served in the German army, was in the Schleswig-Holstein war between Denmark and Germany and was three years in Denmark as a soldier. In 1855 he came out of the army. Hearing of the advantages offered young men in America and thinking to better his financial condi- tion on this side of the Atlantic he crossed the briny deep in 1857 and took up his residence in Valparaiso, Indiana, where resided his brother Carl, who had come to America the year previous and who sought a home in Kansas in 1870. He is now a neighbor of our subject. The latter engaged in the butchering business in Valparaiso, Indiana, and was married there in 1861, to Anna Dora Urbahus, who was also born in Holstein, Germany, and came to the United States in 1858. The year 1870 witnessed the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Ohlfest in Kansas, and since that time he has de- voted his energies to the development of his farm, which, at the time of his purchase was a piece of raw prairie land, entirely destitute of improve- ments. Not a furrow had been turned, but he at once began the work of plowing and planting, and in the intervening years he has developed a valuable property, complete with all the accessories and conveniencies of a model farm.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ohlfest has been blessed with six chil- dren, namely: Mrs. Mary Davis, who is living in LaHarpe; Otto, a railroad employe located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was a soldier in the Span- ish-American war, Company I, 157th Indiana Volunteers; Minnie, who is at home; Emma, wife of Dr. Hooper, of LaHarpe, and Albert Frederick, who is also under the parental roof. John died in 1877 at the age of eight years. The family have many warm friends in the community and their
320
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
circle of acquaintances is an extensive one. Mr. Ohlfest has always given his political support to the Republican party, and keeping well informed on the issues of the day is able to support his position by intelligent argu- ment. In religious belief he is a Lutheran. He left the little German home across the sea to become identified with American interests and in the new world he has found the opportunity he sought for advancing in life to a position among the substantial citizens of the community in which his lot has been cast.
E DWIN IRVING CROWELL .- At a period in the pioneer develop- ment of Allen county, Edwin Irving Crowell came to Kansas, and for many years was identified with agricultural interests in Elm township, becoming one of its most prosperous farmers. The years of his active labor annually augmented his income, and now with a handsome compet- ence acquired, entirely through his own efforts, he is living retired. He has watched with interest the progress and upbuilding of the county and has aided in its advancement and progress along the lines which have con- tributed to its substantial improvement.
A native of the Buckeye state, Mr. Crowell was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, April 9th, 1839. It is believed that the family patronymic was originally Cromwell and that the ancestors of our subject were direct connections of Oliver Cromwell, changing their name to its present forni when they fled to America in order to escape the persecution brought upon them by reason of their connection with the attempt to establish a pro- tectorate government in England, and thus end monarchial rule. Samuel Crowell, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Massachusetts in 1742, and was married in 1770 to Jerusha Tracy, by whom he had four sons: William, Samuel, John and Hezekiah. Of this number Samuel Crowell became the grandfather of our subject. With a colony he emi- grated westward, locating in Ashtabula county. Ohio, where he was known as a thrifty and enterprising farmer. By trade he was a tanner, having served an apprenticeship of seven years, as was required in those days, but in later life he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. He served as a soldier in the department of the east in the war of 1812 and held a cap- tain's commission. He was born August 5, 1773, and died August 22, 1864. The early Crowells were Whigs, but on the formation of the Repub- lican party representatives of the name joined its ranks.
George Crowell, the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut in 1859, and in his youth accompanied his parents on their removal to Ashta- bula county, Ohio. There he reared his family, and his eldest son, Edward I. Crowell, after attending the common schools, continued the acquirement of an education at Grand River Institute at Austinburg, Ohio Subsequently he engaged in teaching school for two years, and then turned his attention to farming which he followed in the state of his nativity until
32
WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
his removal to Kansas in October, 1870. In the meantime, however, he had spent a few months in Greeley, Colorado, after which he took up his abode in Doniphan county, Kansas, removing thence to Iola. His farm in Elm township which he came to in 1875 was entirely a tract of raw prairie, but with indefatigable industry he begau its development and for twenty- five years has continued its cultivation, making it one of the most highly improved and desirable farm properties in the county. In connection with the raising of grain he has engaged in the breeding of graded hogs, and has found this a profitable enterprise.
In December, 1866, Mr. Crowell led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah E. Crosby, a daughter of Elijah Crosby, who was originally from Connecticut, but removed to Ohio with the colony of which the Crowells were members. His wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Chester, and their surviving children are Mrs. Crowell; Albert C., who is married and lives in Delta, Michigan; Alice, who was formerly a school teacher of Iola and is now teaching in the Indian Territory; Carrie, who is widow of Elton Stiles. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Crowell are Newman I., who is married and lives in Elm township; Oriette B., wife of Rev. L. S. Faust, of Emporia, Kansas; George T. and Walter C., who are still at home. They also have three adopted children, Hattie, Sarah and Nellie.
Mr. Crowell served for several years as justice of the peace in Elm township and was frequently called upon to perform marriage ceremonies as well as settle litigation. He was commissioner of Allen county in 1891, and is now filling the office of justice of the peace, discharging his duties in a manner which has won him high commendation. He is one of the leading and influential members in the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as elder for twenty years, and in all life's relations he has been found true to manly principles. His word is as good as any bond solemnized bv sig- nature or seal, and among those who know him his honesty is proverbial. In all his business dealings he lias been straightforward. and this is doubt- less one of the salient factors in his success. His life record is well worthy of emulation, and being closely interwoven with the history of Elm town- ship it certainly deserves a place in this volume.
S AMUEL E. DOWNS passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten. He was an honored veteran of two wars and one of the pioneer settlers of Allen county, having long been identefied with the work of improvement and development in Cottage Grove township. He claimed Virginia as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Culpepper county, on the 14th of February, 1825, his parents being William H. and Cynthia (Bean) Downs. The father died in the Old Dominion, and the mother afterward removed to Illinois when her son Samnel was ten years of age.
Amid the wild scenes of frontier life in the Prairie state, Mr. Downs
322
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
was reared and after arriving at years of maturity he was married, on the 15th of October, 1857, to Martha A. Savage, a daughter of Moses P. Sav- age, who was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, and who wedded Sarah Lee, a native of Virginia. He died in 1885, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away when seventy-six years of age. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom seven are now living, as fol- lows: F. M., who is in the Indian Territory; C. A., of Danville, Illinois, Mrs. Etta Nye, of Chanute, Kansas; Mrs. Laura Bans, of Saybrook, Illi- nois; Mrs. Florence Howe, of Bloomington, Illinois; and Mrs. Downs. By the marriage of our subject and his wife eight children were born, the living members of the family being Mrs. Laura F. Matsler, of Chanute; Charles L .; William E., now of Lafayette, Indiana; Harmon E. of Hum- boldt, Kansas; Nettie J., and W. H. Savage, a resident of Allen county, Kansas.
Mr. Downs followed farming in Illinois until after the inauguration of the Civil war. He, entered the service with a knowledge of military tactics, for he had been numbered among the loyal defenders of his country throughout the Mexican war. When the South refused to acknowledge the supremacy of the national government at Washington, he joined the army for the preservation of the Union, becoming a member of Company C, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry, in which he served for three years, participating in many hard fought battles. He was for four months under constant fire, though many bullets pierced his clothes he escaped without wounds or injury. Truly this was a remarkable record. He was never absent from the regiment until the war was over, and par- ticipated in all of the engagements down the Mississippi river and through the south to Nashville. When the stars and stripes were planted in the Southern Confederacy he received an honorable discharge and returned to his home.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.