USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 38
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 38
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Soon afterward Mr. Downs started with his young wife for the new west, arriving in Kansas in the fall of 1865. He secured a claim on Vege- tarian creek, five miles southeast of Humboldt, and has continually made his home here, having one hundred and twenty acres of good land under a high state of cultivation. Prior to the war he voted with the Democracy, first supporting James K. Polk, for the presidency, but since the Civil war he has been unfaltering in his advocacy of Republican principles. His life has been an active and useful one, characterized by fidelity to duty in all relations and he justly enjoyed the esteem and respect of his fellow men. Mr. Downs died April Ist, 1901.
M RS. ELIZABETH HECK-Well known in social and business circles in Humboldt. Mrs. Heck enjoys the warm regard of many friends and well deserves representation in this volume. She was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, April 4, 1872, and is a daughter of Matthew B.
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Mullany, a native of Ireland. Wlien sixteen years of age her father left the green isle of Erin, crossed the broad ocean to the new world and be- came a resident of Virginia. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bates, who was born in New York City, but her parents were natives of England. When Mrs. Heck was a little child of two summers her parents left the Old Dominion for the Nation's capital, and the father engaged in business in Washington. Subsequently he removed to Quincy, Illinois, where he conducted a grocery store. In 1876 he came with his family to Humboldt where both he and his wife spent their remaining days. The father died April 25, 1898, at the age of sixty-eight years, while the mother passed away the roth of June, 1900, at the age of fifty-six. They had three children, but two died early in life.
Elizabeth Mullany, the only surviving member of the family, spent her girlhood days in Washington, D. C., Quincy, Illinois, and in Hum- boldt, Kansas, and the public schools afforded her the educational priv- ileges which she enjoyed. When she had attained womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Henry Heck, the wedding being celebrated in 1890. Mr. Heck was a native of Germany and a man of considerable means, his attention being given to the management of his security inter- ests. His health failed him, however, and after two years of married life, in 1892, he passed away. Mrs. Heck maintains her residence in Hum- boldt where she looks after her real estate interests and other investments which she has here and which yield to her an ample income. She pos- sesses good business and executive ability and at the same time manifests in her life those true womanly qualities which everywhere command respect. Having long made her home in this portion of the State, she has a wide acquaintance and her circle of friends is very extensive.
J AMES L. CHRISTY-One of the most highly esteemed and prominent
pioneers of. southeastern Kansas is James L. Christy, who came to to this portion of the country during territorial days and took part in the exciting events which formned the history of Kansas prior to the Civil war. With the era of progress and improvement he has also been connected, bearing his part in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization. No history of Allen County would be complete without the record of his life.
He was born in Rowan County, Kentucky, July 12, 1840, the eldest son of John A. and Nancy Christy, who came to Allen County in 1860. The mother died June 25, 1870, at the age of fifty-four years, and the father passed away July 29, 1897, at the advanced age of eighty- five years.
James L. Christy accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois during his early boyhood and also went with them to Missouri. In 1855, thinking that he would like to see more of the wild west he came to Kan-
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sas, locating first in Bourbon County, where he was employed on a farm. There he worked for three years, during which time the border troubles broke out and he joined John Brown's party. He was right in the midst of the border difficulties and saw service under Generals Montgomery and Lane, participating in the battle of Osawatomie. He was well acquainted with John Brown, the Abolition leader, whom he says was a very good man and used to preach to his followers every Sunday. When the trouble was over Mr. Christy returned to his work. He was a great hunter and would often accompany the Indians on their hunting expeditions. He also killed, December 27, 1893, the last deer ever shot in this county. When Captain Gordon, the United States surveyor, divided the county into sections, Mr. Christy drove the ox team hauling the stones used in the corners of the sections. In 1850 he returned to Missouri on a visit, but in 1860 again came to Kansas, where he watched with interest the oncoming tide of events that involved the country in war.
Upon reflection and in the rehearsal of incidents and events connected with the first years of Allen County Mr. Christy adverts to the fact that the first blacksmith shop in the county was located in section 5, town 24, range 18, and that it was established by Reuben Benbow. The first death in the county of which the public and society took notice was that of Tommy Keith. He was buried on the Carpenter place which was, necessarily, the first opened cemetery in the county. The first school house was named for "Uncle Jimmy" Carpenter and was erected on his premises.
In the days of disorganization and before the establishment of Terri- torial regulations for the county the few settlers were distressed by thiev- ing Indians and white men and were driven to take matters into their own hands. They formed an organization for mutual protection and chose the first officers and established the first seat of government for the county. Cofachique was selected as the county seat and the officers chosen were: A. W. J. Brown, Probate Judge; Jesse E. Morris, Sheriff and William C. Keith, Justice of the Peace. Frank Morris, son of Jesse, was selected to represent the county in the Lecompton Constitutional Convention.
These scenes are long past and few are alive who remember them. Elijah Brown, son of the pioneer Isham Brown, who resides in Neosho County, Kansas, and Robert McQuigg, of Roseburg, Oregon, were among the active participants in these events.
On the 24th of July, 1861, Mr. Christy enlisted in Company F, Third Kansas Infantry, and soon afterward the Third, Fourth and Fifth regi- ments consolidated to form the Tenth regiment, with which he served for three years, experiencing all the hardships and rigors of war. He partici- pated in nineteen engagements, including some of the most hotly contested battles, among which were Wilson's Creek, Locust Grove, Dry Wood, Newtonia, Ray's Mills, Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Chattanooga and the storming of Fort Blakely. He was taken ill and was forced to remain at Salem, where he was captured by the Rebels, but after two weeks he managed to make his escape by running through the guard lines. He
J'7 Spices
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faithfully defended the stars and stripes and the cause they represented, but when the war was over he gladly returned to his home.
I11 1867 Mr. Christy was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Morris, a native of Missouri, who came to Allen County in 1855 with her parents. She is the second daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Morris, who located on Deer Creek, in Geneva township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Christy have been born nine daughters: Louisa E .. died at the age of four years; Emma, wife of George A. Smith. of Chandler, Oklahoma; Cora, who died at the age of sixteen years; Mamie, Ruby, Lora, Mattie and Lizzie, twins, and Jessie, the youngest, all at home. Ruby is a teacher in the county schools.
Mr. Christy has held a number of responsible positions in Allen Coun- ty. He was deputy sheriff under J. C. Redfield and also under Charles P. 'Twiss. He has also served for several terms as justice of the peace and constable of Geneva township, and discharged his duties with marked fidelity and promptness. In his political affiliations he is a Republican. Whether on the field of battle, in public office or in the walks of private life, he has ever been true to his duties of citizenship and has commanded and enjoyed the high regard of those with whom he has been associated.
JONATHAN H. SPICER has passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's
journey and his has been an honorable record, the history of his life containing no esoteric chapters. Manly and sincere at all times he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has associ- ated, and he now receives the veneration and regard that should ever be accorded those who have reached advanced age.
Mr. Spicer was born in New Hampshire, on the 12th of April. 1816. His father, Jabez Spicer, was also born in the old Granite State and married to Miss Mary Huvey, a native of Connecticut. The father won the degrees of D. D. and M. D. He pursued both the classical and theological course in the Dartmouth Theological College, and though he prepared for the medical profession he never engaged in practice, believing that his duty called him to the ministerial field. In an early day he removed to Michigan where he entered upon the often arduous life of a home mission- ary, and during the greater part of his career he was thus engaged in work in the west, carrying the gospel tidings into settlements where church privileges were little known. When he arrived in the Wolverine State it was a largely undeveloped region, the Indians being far more numerous than the white settlers. He took a very active part in planting the seeds of truth in the new communities and his influence was manifest in the upright lives of those among whom he lived and labored. He died in Michigan on the 25th of December, 1847, at the age of sixty-two years, and his wife passed away three years later when sixty years of age. They were the parents of ten children, but only two are now living, the other being Charles R. Spicer.
J. H. Spicer of this review was the third in order of birth. He spent
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much of his boyhood in the Empire State and received a common school education. When a young man he went to Vermont where he engaged in teaching school and also worked on a farm. Subsequently he returned to New York and later made his way to Ohio and afterward to Michigan, where he met a little black-haired maiden of attractive appearance and pleasing manner. Their acquaintance ripened into love and on the 3rd of September, 1842, Emily Finney became his wife. She, too, was a native of the Old Granite State, a daughter of Seth and Lydia Jane Finney, the former born in New Hampshire and the latter in Connecticut. Her father's birth occurred May 27, 1791, his death October 24. 1872. Mrs. Finney was born November 26, 1792, and departed this life May 25, 1852. They were the parents of seven children, but Mrs. Spicer is the only sur - vivor of the family. She was born April 8, 1821, and for sixty one years (September 3, 1900, the 61st anniversary) she has traveled life's journey by her husband's side, sharing with him in all his pleasures, sorrows, his adversity and prosperity, and ever proving to him a faithful companion and helpmate.
A few years after his marriage Mr. Spicer removed from Michigan to Kansas, arriving in this State in 1857 with a colony that took up their abode at Geneva. He preempted a tract of land just north of the little village and his experience on the frontier of Michigan well fitted him to meet the hardships and trials of pioneer life in the Sunflower State. The Indians were still numerous in this section of the country and there was much discussion as to whether Kansas would or would not permit slavery within its borders. It was decided to settle the question by popular suffrage, and the South, anxious to retain Kansas as slave territory, sent many squatters who, says Mr. Spicer, gave the permanent settlers more trouble than all the Indians. Not long afterward the country became in- volved in civil war and loyal to the North, Mr. Spicer enlisted as a member of the Ninth Kansas cavalry, being made quartermaster sergeant of his regiment. He went to the front and served throughout the war, while his youug wife and little son remained alone in the wild country. Mrs. Spicer relates many interesting instances of her experience in Kansas and Michigan, living in both States when they were the haunts of the red men. When they located at Geneva their nearest post office was Kansas City, Missouri. For many years they resided upon a farmi, but about 1886 took up their abode in Geneva where they have a pleasant home. They are nearing the end of life's pilgrimage, but can look back over the past with- out regret and forward to the future without fear.
Duane D. Spicer, the only son of J. H. and Emily Spicer, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, December 4, 1845, and with his parents came to Kansas when twelve years of age. This was in 1857. He was reared upon a farm and the experiences and duties of agricultural life early became familiar to him. His education was acquired in the schools at Emporia and later at the Academy in Geneva. On the 15th of June, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Ella G. Brown, a daughter of G. M. and Caro- line Brown. They had been reared in the same neighborhood and attended
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the same school, and now they are traveling life's journey together in a happy married relation. Their home has been blessed with three children. namely: Fred Brown, a resident of Neosho Falls; Flora E., the wite of Robert B. Warner, of Geneva, and Herbert R., who is still with his parents.
Duane D. Spicer continned farming until 1885, when he sold his land and entered into partnership with C. L. Knowlton in the conduct of a general mercantile enterprise in Geneva, They carried on business together for fourteen years when Mr. Spicer sold his interest to Mr. Knowlton and established a hardware business which he is still conducting. In 1899 he was appointed postmaster of Geneva and is now filling that position with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In1 1887 . he was ap- pointed on the board of county commissioners, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert Inge, and in 1891 he was elected to that office where he served for two terms, retiring from the position as he had entered it, with the confidence and good will of the public. His political support is given to the Republican party and he keeps well informed on the issnes of the day. His prosperity is the reward of his own unaided and well- directed efforts and today he ranks among the representative residents of his adopted village.
JOHN CORNELL .- With the history of the development and upbuild- ing of Allen county the name of John Cornell is inseparably inter- woven, for he has long been a potent factor in the progress and advance- ment of this portion of the state. He was born in Fountain county, Indi- ana, October 1, 1827, and is of Welsh descent, his paternal grandfather having come to America from the little rock-ribbed country of Wales about 1750. Daniel Cornell, the father of our subject, was born in Canada, and during his boyhood removed to New York, where, after attaining to adult age, he was married to Marry E. Tracy, a native of Kentucky. Abont 1810 he removed to Indiana, becoming one of the first settlers of the Hoosier state. His death occurred when he had attained the age of seventy-four years, and his wife died at the age of seventy-seven. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living, namely: Dessie B., George, John O., Samuel, Martha and Sarah Jane.
John Cornell was reared on the old homestead farm in Indiana, and like most boys who spend their youth in frontier settlements, his educa- tional privileges were quite limited. In his native state he wedded Miss Phoebe Booe, and in 1858 removed to Kansas, securing a claim which ad- joins the present town site of Iola, and is now known as the Delap farm. He made many improvements upon that claim and there lived for several years, it being his home when the Iola Town Company was organized. He became a member of the company and drove the first stake used in laying out the town. After some time he sold his first claim and purchased a tract west of the river, abont nine miles northwest of Iola. This was
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prairie land and he soon learned to know that it was not as preferable for farming purposes as river bottom land lying near him, which was covered with a heavy growth of timber and which no one seemed to want, so he sold his upland and purchased a farm in the river bottom amid the green woods. With characteristic energy he began to clear this, and to-day he has a valuable tract of land worth one hundred dollars per acre. Its im- provement, however, represents much hard labor. but it is now a very pro- ductive tract and yields to him an excellent financial return for the care he bestows upon it.
In 1899 Mr. Cornell was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died June 30, at the age of sixty-seven years. They were the parents ot ten children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Mary E., wife of E. Goff, of Minnesota; Daniel, a resident of Chanute, Kansas; Ashpet W. C., of Bourbon county, Kansas; George, of Iola, Olive, wife of Wellington Osborn, of Allen county; John C. and Albert O., who are on the home farm; and Minnie, wife of Thomas Heffern, of Woodson county, Kansas.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Cornell was called out with the State Militia and went to Fort Scott, for Price was then making his raid into the state. He served on guard duty on the border for about six weeks and then returned to liis home. He has served as deputy under Sheriff Brown and later was elected constable of Iola township. He discharged his duties without fear or favor, and it is said that he always secured the prisoner he was in search of. He is widely known throughout Allen county as "Uncle" John Cornell and enjoys the high regard of many. He belongs to the class of honored pioneers who laid broad and deep the foundation for the present prosperity of this part of the state.
OHN SHELBY -. Among the enterprising and progressive young J farmers of Allen county is John Shelby, who has already attained suc- cess that many an older man might well envy. He was born in Circle- ville, Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 11th of October, 1865, his parents being David and Margaret (Mason) Shelby, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of West Virginia. The father died in Arkansas in 1894, at the age of sixty-four years, while visiting at the home of his son John, but the mother is still living in Ohio, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of three children: John, of this review; W. D. and Edwin B., who are now residents of Ohio.
In taking up the personal history of John Shelby we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in the county of his adoption: His preliminary education, acquired in the com- mon schools, was supplemented by a course in the Northern Indiana Nor- mal School, at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he was graduated. On com- pleting his education and putting aside his text books, he turned his attention to farming and has made that pursuit his life work.
Mr. Shelby was married in Ohio to Miss Jane Young, a native of the
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Buckeye state, and soon afterward they moved to central Arkansas, where Mr. Shelby engaged in farming for ten years. The year 1890 witnessed his arrival in Allen county, Kansas, where he has now made his home for a decade. He located five miles northwest of Iola, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres .. From that time he has continued the work of improvement until he is to-day the owner of a very valuable property, on which is a good house and everything that goes to make up a desirable farm. He keeps his land in excellent condition through the rotation of crops and the rich fields yield to him a good return.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shelby has been blessed with three children: Maxwell, Joe R. and Booth S., who are the life and light of their parents' home. Mr. and Mrs. Shelby have become widely known in Geneva township and the circle of their friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances.
H ARVEY H. CARMAN, one of the most energetic young farmers of Allen county, was born in Stark county, Ohio, on the 5th of March. 1869, but has spent almost his entire life in Kansas, having been brought to this state by his parents when a year old. His father, David Carman, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, and died in 1896, at the age of fifty- three years. He first wedded Elizabeth H. Taylor, a native of Pennsyl- vania, and they became the parents of five children, namely: Harvey H. and Ida, who are at home; Anna, wife of Edward Cleaver, and David and Charles, who are deceased. As before stated the father of this family came to Kansas in the spring of 1870 and was a resident of Riley county until the spring of 1876, when he came to Allen county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on Indian creek, one mile west of Geneva. There he improved a farm, leaving his property in good condi- tion. His first wife died in Ogden, Kansas, in 1875, and he was afterward married to Miss Elizabeth Thrall, a native of Ohio, whose death occurred in 1888. For his third wife he chose Miss Nannie Rankin, of Monroe- ville, Alabama, who died September 19, 1890.
At the time of the Civil war David Carinan responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in the Third Ohio Battery, in which he served as gunner. He participated in many engagements under command of Gen- erals McPherson and Thomas, and during the latter part of the war was with the troops of General Logan. He loyally served his country for four years and six mouths. He marched through the southern Confederacy from Atlanta to the sea, taking part in all the engagements on the way. He was also in the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Shiloh, the battle of Appomattox, and in the engagements at Chattanooga, at Peach Tree Creek and at Vicksburg he was wounded. After faithfully serving his country for three years, he veteranized and remained at the frout until after the stars and stripes were planted in the Confederate capital. He ever loyally
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followed the old flag and was often in the thickest of the fight, battling earn- estly for the Union.
Harvey H Carman pursued his education in the schools of Allen county, and in the periods of vacation assisted in the work of the home farm. In this way he was well qualified by practical experience to assume its management upon his father's death. He has since overseen the prop- erty and the fields are under a high state of cultivation, yielding a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He also raises and handles quite a number of horses and hogs and feeds all of his grain to his stock. His sister Ida acts as his housekeeper and the home is characterized by an air of neatness and thrift, while the household is noted for its generous hospitality.
D OCTOR BENJAMIN COPE is a skilled physician and surgeon of Humboldt, whose ability is widely recognized. His knowledge of the science of medicine is broad and comprehensive, and his successful adaptation of its principles to the needs of suffering humanity has gained him enviable prestige in professional circles. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, October 9, 1849, and is a son of Elijah Cope, also a native of the Buckeye state and a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Anna Fryfogle, a native of Maryland, and about 1865 removed with his family to northern Indiana, where he remained for a few years, after which he re- turned to Ohio, where he resided until his death in 1876, at sixty years of age. His widow still survives him and has attained to the advanced age of eighty-three years. In their family were ten children, but all are now deceased with the exception of the Doctor and David Cope, the latter a resident of Colorado. Two of the sons were soldiers in the Civil war, John W., one of them, enlisting in 1861 as a private of the Forty-third Ohio Volunteers. After the battle of Corinth he was taken ill, died and was buried there. Joshua Cope, the other, enlisted in 1863, was sent to the department of the Cumberland, and participated in the arduous service of the campaign of east Tennessee. The troops had to go on long hard marches and their food supply was short, for as communication with the north was cut off they had to live on what they could forage on an almost exhausted country. Joshua Cope participated in the siege of Knoxville, which lasted twenty-five days and when General Sherman went to the re- lief of the besieging troops who were under command of General Burnsides, he found that they were almost starved, having nothing to eat except a loaf of bread daily. Joshua Cope returned to his home at the close of the war and soon afterward died from disease resulting from the exposure and hard- ships of army life.
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