USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 44
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 44
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There were five brothers in the army. One of the number made his escape from the Indians at the time of the massacre on the Platte river. He was also of the party of men that rescued Mrs. Larimer from the Indians, by whom she had been held captive for one year.
Hiram A. Myers, whose name begins this review, came to Kansas in 1857, and remained with his parents on the home farm until twenty years
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of age, when, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he volunteered as a Union soldier on the 17th of September, 1862, enlisting in Company D, Eleventh Kansas Mounted Infantry. He saw some very arduous service, participated in the battles of Fort Wayne, Cane Hill, Van Buren, Prairie Grove and Cross Hollows, and was at Lawrence at the time of the Quantrell raid. He also aided in repelling the Price raid, and at the close of his term was honorably discharged February 22nd, 1865.
Returning to his home Mr. Myers was united in marriage to Miss L. E. Young, who was born in North Carolina and came to Kansas in 1860. In March, 1870, they removed to Allen County, locating on a farm in Elsmore township, where they lived for several years, Mr. Myers raising, buying and selling stock. He now resides in Savonburg, and for the past twelve years has been traveling agent for a stock company of Kansas City.
In 1898 Mr. Myers was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died leaving five children: Cora Alice, Oliver J., who is a guard in the Kansas penitentiary and who served in the Spanish-American war with the First Territorial Infantry, Company M; Delia I .; Lillian D .; Julia A .; Clara E. and Gilbert O., the third and fifth members of the family, are now deceased. Since attaining his majority Mr. Myers has been a stalwart Re- publican. He belongs to Savonburg Post, G. A. R., and is as true to his duties of citizenship today as when he followed the stars and stripes on southern battle-fields.
C HARLES W. DANIELS .- One of the successful farmers of Allen county is Charles W. Daniels. He claims Virginia as the state of liis nativity, his birth having occurred in Birbara county, of the Old Dominion on the 22nd of February, 1865. His father was Elmore Daniels, also a native of Virginia and in which state he was reared, spending the days of his childhood and youth in the usual manner of farmer lads of that period. After arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Rebecca Cooper, also a native of the same state, and after residing there a number of years suc- ceeding their marriage they came to Kansas, emigrating westward in 1877. In Bourbon county they took up their abode on a farm, and to the further improvement and development of the land Mr. Daniels devoted his time and energies until his life's labors were ended in death. He passed away in 1888 at the age of seventy years and the community thereby lost one of its valued citizens, for he was a man faithful to every trust reposed in him, honorable in business and well worthy of the esteem in which he was uni- formly held. His widow still survives him and is now living in Baldwin where her son Edwin is attending Baker University. In their family were twelve children, and with one exception all are yet living, namely: Eugene, John, Alice, Jennie, Elizabeth, May, Charles W., Anna, Grace, Ed and Frank. Jessie, who was the eleventh in order of birth, died at the age of twenty-three years.
In taking up the personal history of Charles W. Daniels we present to
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our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known im Allen county. He spent the first twelve years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their westward journey to Kansas where he has since made his home. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and during that time he- acquired his education in the common schools, mastering the branches of English learning which usually formed the curriculum in such an institu- tion. During the summer months he assisted in the work of the fields- from the time of the early planting until the crops were harvested and thus he gained practical experience in the work he has followed as a means of livelihood since attaining his majority. After he had reached man's estate. he left the parental roof and entered upon an independent business career, and rented a farm which he operated for three years. As a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Lottie Lorrick, a native of Ohio, his preparation for a home being consummated by their marriage in 1886. The lady is a daughter of John and Mary Lorrick. also natives of the Buckeye state. John Lorrick died in Charleston, Coles county, Illinois. The widow and family settled in Neosho county, Kansas, in 1869, where she now resides.
After liis marriage Mr. Daniels continued to operate a rented farm for five years and during that period, as the result of his industry, economy and capable management, he acquired money sufficient to enable him to purchase eighty acres of land in Bourbon county, and there he resided for two years, after which he sold the eighty-acre tract and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Allen county, the place being three miles east of the town of Elsmore. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made on the place, but through his energetic efforts he has developed a very desirable farm property. The fields are well tilled and give promise of good harvests. He has also made many improvements, erecting a nice residence, a good barn and all the necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. As time has passed and his financial resources have increased he has made judicious investments of his capital in more land, extending the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises three hundred and sixty acres. He also handles stock to a considerable extent, feeding hogs and cattle, and thus he utilizes all the corn which he raises.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Daniels have been born six children, namely: Elmer, Gerard, Zola, Leonard, Jessie and Edna. Mr. Daniels is a member of the Masonic lodge of Savonburg and also has membership relation with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the camp in Elsmore. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat.
Not many men of Mr. Daniels' years have met with such success as he has achieved, but his prosperity has all been won along legitimate business lines. He has followed closely the old time-tried maxims such as, "Hon- esty is the best policy." and "There is no excellence without labor." He had to incur indebtedness in order to buy his first farming implements, but his successful management has enabled him to work his way steadily up-
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ward and to-day he is numbered among the substantial citizens of bis community.
H ENRY A. RICHARDSON was born in Ripley county, Indiana, February 18, 1859, and was the eldest of the six children of M. A. and Eliza Richardson. His father was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 12, 1835. The grandfather, Asa Richardson, also a native of the Empire state, married Barbara Babcock, and died in 1870, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife passed away at the age of thirty-five years.
M. A. Richardson, the father of our subject, became a resident of In- diana during his boyhood, and there resided until his removal to Kansas. In the meantime he married Miss Eliza Wylie, a native of Ohio, the wed- ding being celebrated in 1858. Feeling that his duty was to his country at the time of the Civil war, he enlisted on the 12th of August, 1862, as a member of Company A, Eighty-third Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, serving for three years, in which time he participated in the battles of Arkansas Post, Helena Arkansas, Chickamauga, Grand Gulf, Champion Hills. Black River Bridge, both charges of Vicksburg, the battle of Jack- son Mississippi, and many smaller engagements, displaying his bravery and valor on many occasions. After the stars and stripes were planted in the capital of the Confederacy he received an honorable discharge, August 27, 1865, and returned to his Indiana home. In 1872 he came to Allen county, Kansas, settling on a farm, and both he and his wife are now resi- dents of Savonburg. He is still a vigorous and energetic man and assists his son Henry in the conduct of his business. This worthy couple are people of the highest respectability and have reared a creditable family of six children, namely: Henry A .; Mary, wife of William H. Allen, of Colorado; Lida, wife of William Pullum, of Argentine, Kansas; Lucy, wife of C. H. King, of Bloomington, Ill .; V. B., of Colorado; and Josie, wife of N. W. Mills, of Kansas.
Henry A. Richardson spent the first fourteen years of his life in In- diana and then came with his parents to Allen county, living near the south line in Cottage Grove township. His boyhood days were spent in the work of the farm or in attendance at the district schools. He was mar- ried August 5, 1880, to Alice C. Reed, a native of Kentucky, who came to Kansas with her parents in 1870. Mr. Richardson then purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he owned and operated until 1886, when he sold out and became identified with commercial interests in Leanna, dealing in all kinds of produce there until 1895, when he removed to Chanute. A year later he took up his abode in Savonburg, and for eight months conducted the City Hotel, but later bought a business prop- erty, and has since engaged in dealing in produce with excellent success, his business now amounting to from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars annually. He has always paid the highest market price for produce and
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ships in car loads to the city markets. He has won the confidence of all with whom he has thus come in contact, by reason of his honorable busi- ness methods.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have been born six children: Ada, now the wife of August Schwardt, a lumber merchant of Savonburg; Blanche, Edith, Nellie, Flora and Homer, all of whom are still with their parents. Since casting his first presidential vote Mr. Richardson has been a stalwart Republican, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to office, so that he is now serving for the third term as constable of his township. He is a member of Savonburg Camp, No. 1271, M. W. A., and is prominent in business, social and political circles.
W ILLIAM E. ALEXANDER was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, on the 24th of April, 1859, and his childhood days were spent upon a farmi. At the age of eleven years he accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri where they remained two years, and in 1872 they came to Kansas, William E. then being a youth of thirteen summers. Throughout the period of his boyhood he attended the public schools near his home. The family located at Austin, Kansas, and he resided with his parents until seventeen years of age, completing his education in the schools of that town. He then began teaching and successfully followed the profession for five years. After his marriage he began farming, oper- ating a tract of land for three years. His next venture was in a com- mercial line. Removing to Chanute, Kansas, he accepted a position as salesman in the hardware store of A. H. Turner with whom he remained for six years when he entered the employ of F. W. Jeffries of the same place. There he remained for two years when he took up his abode in Big Creek township and once more engaged in farming and threshing grain. He operated a threshing machine for six years and in the meantime operat- ed a mill at Leanna. In 1898 he became a resident of Savonburg, where he purchased a residence and five acres of ground in the east edge of the town. He has gradually improved his place and has now one of the most attractive little homes in this section of the county. In 1898 he entered into a partnership with M. K. Hunter, known as the Savonburg Milling Company, and erected a mill for the purpose of grinding meal and feed. They have since conducted this enterprise and are the proprietors of a well equipped plant supplied with good machinery and modern processes. They make a specialty of the manufacture of graham flour and are doing a good business, owing to the excellence of their product and their reliable and trustworthy business methods. When Mr. Alexander once secures a patronage he has no difficulty in retaining it, owing to his well known honesty, to his obliging manner and his courteous treatment of his patrons.
In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of William E. Alexander and Miss Ida Cochran, of Missouri. They now have two interesting daughters,
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Ina B. and Hallie, aged respectively fourteen and ten years. In his politi- cal affiliations Mr. Alexander has been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. He was elected and served as trustee of Canville township, Neosho County, in April, 1884, and proved an acceptable officer. He was chairman of the Mckinley and Roosevelt club at Savonburg during the campaign of 1900. He belongs to Savonburg Camp, No. 1271. M. W. A., and for two years held the office of venerable consul. While at Leanna he served two years as venerable consul of Camp No. 3750. Mr. Alexander is a man of strong force of character, true to his honest convictions, trustworthy in business relations and reliable in citizenship. With him friendship is inviolable, and by all who know him he is esteemed for his genuine worth of character.
F RANK GOYETTE is the popular cashier of the Elsmore Bank, and the success of the institution is attributable in a large measure to his efforts. Banking institutions are the pulse of a commercial body and indi- cate the healthfulness of trade. In times of financial panic all the world looks toward the banks of the country and any weakness or uncertainty therein displayed immediately bring about disastrous results in the com- mercial circles, while the bank that is known to be reliable and in the hands of substantial business men will do more to establish the public confidence than any other one interest or enterprise. The Elsmore Bank has a reputation for reliability that is indeed enviable and at its head stand men of known worth and ability, of high business honor and 1in- questionable integrity.
The cashier of the institution was born in Canada, on the 13th of September, 1846. His parents were also natives of the English province whence they came to the United States when their son Frank was but five years of age, taking up their abode in Kankakee County, Illinois, where the subject of this review was reared to manhood. The family was in limited circumstances, thus his educational privileges were meager, but he had a desire to broaden his knowledge, realizing the importance of an edu- cation in the business world. By study at night he became well informed and as the years have passed his knowledge has been continually broadened through experience, observation and contact with the world.
When seventeen years of age Mr. Goyotte responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty eighth Illinois Infantry, with which he served six months when he was discharged, the war having ended. Returning to his home he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iroquois County, Illinois, where he began work by the month, giving his father his wages. He was thus employed for five years and then rented a tract of land in order to engage in farming on his own account. Through the succeeding five years he carried on agricultural pursuits in the Prairie State and in 1879 he came to Kansas, locating in
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Salem township, Allen County, where he made a claim on what he sup- posed was government land, but it afterward proved to be railroad property and he was therefore obliged to purchase it. Carrying forward the work of cultivation and development, he has now one of the finest farming proper- ,ties in the township, improved with orchards, groves, a good residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating his progressive spirit and careful supervision. Having acquired considerable capital, he determined to enter into business in Elsmore and in the spring of 1900 took up his abode there, becoming one of the leading stockholders in the Elsmore Bank, of which he was made cashier.
On the 29th of March, 1883, occurred the marriage of Mr. Goyette and Miss Nannie Boman, of Illinois, who came to Kansas with her parents in 1878. They have now six children, namely: Freddie, Omar, Clarence, David, Lucy and Edward. In the community their circle of friends is extensive and their own home is celebrated for its hospitality. Mr. Goyette is a Democrat in his political affiliations. Socially he is identified with the Knights and Ladies of Security in Elsmore. He certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in life, for all that he has is the reward of his own labors and has been acquired since his arrival in Allen County.
S AMUEL A. GARD-In America, labor is king and is the only sovereignty which our liberty loving people acknowledge. The world instinctively pays deference to the man who through his own efforts, has arisen from a humble position to occupy a place among the prosperous citizens of his community, and who has through an active business career ever commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow men by honorable methods. Such a one is Mr. S. A. Gard, who has embraced every oppor- tunity for raising himself to the position indicated by his laudable ambition. A native of Illinois, he was born on the 3rd of October, 1864. in a little log house near Hazel Dell, in Cumberland County. In early life he learned the lessons of industry and perseverance which have proved such potent factors in his later success. He is the eldest son of Jacob Gard, and upon his father's farm lie was reared to manhood. He spent his youth in assisting in the labors of the fields on the old home place, and in working as a farm hand in the neighborhood. He also had a liberal common school education, acquired in the common schools, and was imbued with a true sense of right and wrong, having received excellent moral training from his parents. Beyond this his knowledge of the world was meager. He grew to manhood an upright lad, true to his convictions. At the age of nineteen he determined to leave home and seek his fortune else- where, and accordingly made his way to Allen County, Kansas, in 1884, reaching his destination with $2.00 in his pocket. With a determination to succeed, and wishing to make the practice of law his life work, in 1888
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he entered the office of Milford Donoho, attorney at Bronson, Kansas. When he had mastered many of the principles of the science of juris- prudence he was admitted to the bar May 13, 1890. Previous to this time be had attended the Normal College at Ft. Scott and had received a teacher's certificate, but had never engaged in teaching. After his admis- sion to the bar he practiced law .in Bronson until 1892, when he removed to Iola where he has since made his home. Here he has practiced ever since, and in 1898 formed a partnership with his brother, G. R. Gard, who moved to Iola from Humboldt, and who was elected County Attorney in November, 1898.
In his chosen profession Mr. Gard has made creditable success. He has won for himself very creditable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. He has remarkable powers of concentra- tion and application, and his retentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues. As an orator lie stands high, especially in the discussion of legal matters before the court and jury, where his compre- hensive knowledge of the law and human nature is manifest, and his appli- cation of legal principles demonstrates the wide range of his professional acquirements. The utmost care and precision characterizes his preparation of a case, and has made him one of the most successful attorneys in Allen County.
Mr. Gard was married in 1894 to Miss Lulu Ireland, of Allen County. She is a lady of culture and refinement, who for several years prior to her marriage was successfully engaged in teaching. Her father, W. H. Ire- land, is a farmer in the eastern part of Allen County, whither he removed from Illinois some years ago. Mrs. Gard is the eldest of a family of seven children, one of whom, Thomas, was a member of the 20th Kansas regiment, and served in the Philippines. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gard are well known in Iola and Allen County. Their worth and intelligence are re- ceived as passports to the best society. He certainly deserves great credit for his success in life, as from an early age he has been entirely dependent upon his own resources. Pleasant and agreeable in manner, he has a large circle of friends and is popular throughout the county of his adoption.
C ASSIUS M. EDSON, late councilman of the city of Iola, representing the third ward, is one of Iola's new men. Prior to 1897 he was unknown to our people but in the four years lie has resided in Allen county he has come to be one of the best known of our townsmen.
Mr. Edson was born in Richland county, Wisconsin, April 1, 1861. His father, James Edson, was one of the pioneers of that state, having settled there as an emigrant from the state of New York. He was born in the famous Cherry Valley in 1819 and died in Greenfield, Missouri, in 1875. His occupation was that of a carpenter and in 1871 he located in Missouri where he died. He offered his services to the Union at Lone
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Rock, Wisconsin, but was rejected on account of physical disability. Five of his brothers were in the army, two of whom were killed at the bat- tle of Chickamauga. He was one of eight sons and seven daughters of E. B. Edson. The last named went into Cherry Valley, New York, from some point in old England where he was married to a Scotch lady.
James Edson married Dorcas E. Wood, a daughter of Samuel Wood, who as well as E. B. Edson, lived to be ninety years of age. Three chil- dren were the result of the marriage of James and Dorcas Edson: Cora, wife of Charles Wilman, of Joplin, Missouri; Cassius M., and Mark Edson, an electrician of Chicago, Illinois.
"Cash" Edson's youth was passed in the country, on the farm in summer and in school in winter. At fourteen years of age he worked for wages, contributing to his own maintenance, and at seventeen years of age he became a teacher. He taught a term each in Missouri and in Crawford county, Kansas, and at the close of his last term he secured a clerkship with S. H. Lanyon & Company at Pittsburg, Kansas. The Rogers Coal Company were also his employers and, finally, T. P. Waskey, of Pittsburg and Frontenac, secured his services. While with this last firm he received the appointment of post-master of Frontenac. He remained with the office through the Harrison administration and through Cleveland's second ad- ministration and was not molested till Mckinley had served six months. He left the Mount Carmel Mercantile Company in September, 1897, to locate in Iola. He purchased the post-office news stand of the Miller Brothers and was its proprietor till the rst of October, 1898.
While the history of this branch of the Edson family shows the early voters to have been Republican "Cash's" first vote was cast for Cleveland in 1884. He has persistently and repeatedly espoused the cause of Democ- racy, and its Fusion successor, and Angust 5, 1900, he was nominated at Yates Center by the Fusion forces for State Senator.
In politics and religion Mr. Edson stands for the most liberal notions and the greatest personal freedom and liberty of action. He holds that the proper method of controlling the liquor and other moral questions that enter the politics of live municipalities is to license them for revenue and permit the judgment of men to control their desires and appetites. Legislative restraint should not be placed upon any business which does not take from the public their unwilling dollars and which furnishes it with that which pleases the eye and gratifies the soul.
Mr. Edson was married July 20th, 1887, at Girard, Kansas, to Kate Cox. a daughter of David Cox, of Hillsboro, Iowa. Cora, Melvin and Dorothy Edson are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Edson.
Mr. Edson is an Elk, a Woodman, a Knight of Pythias, a Master Mason and an A. O. U. W.
H ARMON HOBART .- In all ages and enlightened places the admin- istrative officer of the court has been fraught with serious and weighty responsibilities. He is the agent of the court and stands between the
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citizen and the seat of justice. The mandates of his authority he executes without favor and this execution requires not only superior intelligence but must be done without timidity or lack of courage. The sheriff's office, like all others in a county, has its clerical duties to be performed, but unlike other offices, it furnishes ample opportunity for the exercise of native ingenuity and tact, elements not universal in the mental composition of a man. But once in the past quarter of a century has Allen county chosen a man for high sheriff who was not only lacking in clerical ability but was woefully short on courage. For sixteen years the county has . placed men in the shrievalty possessing prime qualities for court officers. They have been men who knew the meaning of duty and were only satisfied in its performance, men who were good citizens as well as good officers and whose history will reveal the incumbency of the sheriff's office as the lead- ing chapter of their lives. But of all the court officers of Allen county none has excelled in" ability or official integrity the present incumbent, Harmon Hobart. The element of training for any business is one to be considered from the standpoint of efficiency and if our subject has not erred, in any manner, during his administration it is due to his bringing-up in the office.
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