USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 66
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 66
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mutually pleasant and he possessed their confidence in a high degree. It was awkward, at times, for him to perform his part in a social or fraternal function, because of his broken speech, but he found much in them to. enjoy and appreciate and this fact, alone, pleased his friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Otten's children are: Joseph Otten, born in 1860, Al- vina Otten; Jolin Otten, widely known throughout Allen county; Lena; Ludie Otten and George Otten.
Charley Otten was an Odd Fellow and a Workman. He died April. 5, 1900, amidst comfortable surroundings and after three years of retirement at his country home.
W ILLIAM H. LING, of Iola township, who resided in Kansas since 1881 and in Allen county since 1883, was born on Canadian soil but of British parents. January 12, 1841, he was born near Charlottetown, Prince Edward Islands, and died near Iola, Kansas, February 19, 1901. 'His father, George R. Ling, was a grain merchant who carried on his busi- ness in St. Thomas, Ontario, to which point he migrated with his family in 1848. He was born in England in 1812 and came to Prince Edward Island at eleven years of age. He died near St. Thomas, Canada, in 1857.
Our subject's mother was Mary Taylor, now a resident of Ingham county, Michigan. She was born in 1819 and is the mother of William H. Ling, deceased; Mary A. Young, wife of William Young; Mary A. and her next sister, Martha, are both deceased; Maria, who married William Jacobs, resides in Lincoln, Nebraska; George R. Ling, of Ingham county, Michigan; Eliza, deceased, married a Mr. Young; Robert A. Ling, of Los Angeles, California; Frank Ling, a methodist minister, in Ingham county, Michigan; Adaline and Josephine, twins, reside in Ingham county, Michigan.
W. H. Ling reached manhood as a farm hand. He continued in this vocation till his entry into the lumber woods soon after reaching his ma- jority. At twenty-three years of age he came to the United States and was married the next year at Howell, Michigan, to Mary J. Buckwell. The couple started life in charge of a large farm in Livingston county, Michi- gan. Two years of his married life were passed as farm superintendent and concluding his service he went into north Michigan, bought a farm and began its operation and improvement. He seized an opportunity to engage in merchandising at Weberville, Michigan, and, in 1873, lost his all by fire. While casting about for some profitable employment, and at the same time something to his liking, he did a little farming. He soon succeeded in making a contract for furnishing large quantities of charcoal wood and at this he recovered his losses rapidly. He came to Kansas and invested in sheep and cattle in Montgomery county, and between Texas fever and scab he lost much of his stock. In prospecting about for a new location he was pleased with Allen county and located in Iola. He turned
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his attention to the hotel business and ran the old New York house about nine months. He next purchased the Joslyn delivery business and con- ducted it and carried the express for a year. The following five years he was engaged in the ice and coal business. He then established the "Star Lunch Room," the predecessor of the "Our Way," and for many years found it a profitable enterprise. Upon disposing of it to the Wilhites he exchanged his home in Iola for one of the best eiglities of land in Allen county and took possession of it soon after.
Mr. Ling's first wife died in Michigan, Ingham county, in 1872, leav- ing him two sons, Albert A. Ling, of Iola, and Edward E. Ling. In 1882 Mr. Ling was married in Montgomery county, Kansas, to Nora McGuire, who was reared by A. K. Miller, of Coffeyville, Kansas. She was born in Marshall county, Indiana, in 1862 and is the mother of ten children, viz: Lena, deceased; Lulu, Howard, Walter, Edna, Irvin, Aldo, William, Helen and Jennie.
Mr. Ling cast his first presidential ballot for U. S. Grant in 1868. He found it to his interest to remain a Republican and it was his disposition to assert himself upon public questions whenever he was challenged. He served in the Second ward of Iola three terms in the City Council and made an active member. He took sides with the proposition for city ownership of the gas plant and supported it with all the energy he pos- sessed. He was also a member of the school board in his district and was in thorough accord with advanced notions of education.
H ENRY GIVLER had passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, before he passed away, and his last days were made happy by the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded to those of advanced years whose career has been colored by good deeds and by honor- able purpose. He was numbered among the pioneer settlers of this sec- tion of the Sunflower State, and had not only been a witness of the growth and progress of the county, but had aided in its advancement and sub- stantial improvement.
Mr. Givler was born in Pennsylvania, on the first of September, 1817, and was of German lineage. His grandfather was the founder of the family in America and located in Pennsylvania at an early day. The father of our subject was born in that State in 1775 and was a miller by trade. His son Henry spent his boyhood days on the home farm, where he early learned to plow and hoe, working in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the autumn. In early life he learned the machinists's, carpenter's and blacksmith's trades and followed the latter until his removal to Illinois, in 1855. In that State he again carried on both blacksmithing and farming, but thinking to benefit his financial condition in a district still further west he came to Kansas in 1867, taking up his residence in Elm township, Allen county. This region was
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then wild and unimproved; there were few houses and an old log school house was almost the only evidence of civilization in his immediate neigh- borhood. With characteristic energy he began the work of developing a farm, and as the years passed his richly cultivated fields brought him in a good financial return.
Mr. Givler was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Goodhart, who belonged to an old Pennsylvania family, and two of her brothers and three of her sisters are still living in Cumberland county. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Givler, namely: Mrs. Lina Reilly, who resides with her family on the old home place; Mrs. Mary Faddis, of Iola; Mrs. Anna Morrison, ot Iola; Isaac, a resident of Carthage, Missouri; W. F., of Clay- ton, Illinois; and Samuel, of Meade Center, Kansas.
Like the other members of the family Mr. Givler gave his political sup- port to the Democratic party in early life, but at the time of the civil war espoused the cause of the Republican party, which loyally stood by the Union. Of recent years he had given his allegiance to the People's party. His first presidential vote was cast for Martin Van Buren in 1840. Since the age of eighteen years Mr. Givler had been a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and in his life exemplified his belief. The cause of education ever found in him a warm friend and he aided in building schools in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Kansas. He never withheld his support from any measure or movement which he believed would contribute to the public good, and his was a well spent life, in many respects well worthy of emulation. He looked back over the past withont regret, and forward to the future without fear. Mr. Givler died between 12 and I o'clock Jannary 1, 1901.
JOHN A. SCANTLIN-For thirty years John A. Scantlin has been a resident of Allen county, and is now one of the prosperous farmers of Cottage Grove township. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, on the 14th of August, 1844, his parents being Thomas and Delilah (Elliott) Scantlin, the former a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Ohio when a young man. In the Buckeye State he was married and for a number of years followed the miller's trade, but in later life turned liis attention to agricultural pursuits and died upon his farm in 1859, at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife survived him until 1870, passing away at the age of fifty-seven.
John A. Scantlin is now the only surviving member of their family of three children. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for him in his youth. He assisted his father and pursued his education in the public schools. When he had arrived at man's estate he was married, in February, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Reed, a native of Ohio, and in the fall of 1870 he came to Kansas, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in East Cottage Grove township. Witli character-
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istic energy he began the development of his farm and as his financial resources have increased, he has extended its boundaries until it now com- prises three hundred and ninety-two acres of land. The place is highly cultivated and is improved with modern accessories and conveniences
Not long after arriving in Allen county, Mr. Scantlin had the misfor- tune to lose his wife, who died in 1876. They were parents of three chil- dren, but only one is now living, Thomas, who is a resident of Neosho county. For his second wife Mr. Scantlin chose Mrs. Salina McCord, widow of Andrew McCord, and a daughter of Nelson Gibson. They were married on the 4th of March, 1882. Mrs. Scantlin was a native of Indiana, and became a resident of Kansas about 1872. By her first marriage she had two children, one of whom is living, Lillie, now the wife of Edgar Kelley, who is living near Joplin, Missouri. There are also two children by the second marriage: Clinton J. and Emma L., who are with their parents.
Mr. Scantlin votes with the Democratic party and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. He has never sought office for himself, yet is always ready to assist a friend. He withholds his support from no measure which he believes will prove of public good and is therefore a valued mem- ber of the community.
W ILLIAM W. HUFFMIRE was born in Fountain county, Indiana, August 5, 1859, and is of German lineage. His grandfather was a native of Germany, became a sailor and spent many years upon the ocean. His death occurred in Indiana. Samnel Huffmire, father of our subject, was a native of New Jersey and during his boyhood emigrated to In.liana with his parents. Upon a farm, amid the wild scenes of tlie fron- tier, he was reared, and after he had arrived at years of maturity he married Melissa Myers. When the country became involved in Civil war he joined the Union army and died while in the service. His widow afterward became the wife of John Lawson, and they had two children, Manson and Nettie, the latter the wife of William Redenbaugh. Mrs. Lawson died in 1897, at the age of fifty-eight years.
Early in life William W. Huffmire was left without a father's care, and since he was thirteen years of age he has made his own way in the world. He went to live with John Bonebrake, a German farmer, who treated him most kindly, and Mr. Huffmire remembers him with gratitude. He was allowed the privilege of attending the common schools, and he also pursued a commercial course, becoming an excellent penman. In 1879, when twenty years of age he arrived in Kansas, locating first in Wilson county, where he was married to Miss Ella Sowers of the county in which Mr. Huffmire was born. Her father is now living in Allen county. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Woodson county, and after a year came to Allen county, where he purchased eighty acres of land, on which he has since erected a good residence and barn,
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adding all the other improvements of a model farm. The home has been blessed by the presence of five children, who are living, namely: Charles S., Edna M., Alonzo E., Minnie G. and Telcy C. Allen C. died April 8, 1898, at the age of four years.
Mr. Huffmire has for one year served as township clerk, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity, and in the fall of 1900 was nom- inated on the Republican ticket for trustee. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, serving as clerk in Leanna Camp. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished for he started out in life without capital save a pair of willing hands and a determination to succeed. His success is attributable to his own efforts, and his accomplish- ment is a matter worthy of congratulation.
E DWARD HITE is one of the more recent arrivals in Allen county, having taken up his abode upon a farm in Osage township in 1898. He was born on the 20th of April, 1868, in LaSalle county, Illinois. His parents were James M. and Martha M. (Jones) Hite, the former a native of Licking county, Ohio, and the latter of Vermont. The father was a farmer by occupation and when a young man removed to the Prairie state, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, the 28th of August, 1893, when he was sixty years of age. His widow still survives him, and is yet living on the old homestead. They were the parents of ten children, and nine are living.
Edward Hite, the third member of the family, remained with his parents until twenty-eight years of age, and during that time received practical training on the farm, while the public schools afforded him mental discipline. He was almost twenty-nine years of age, when in 1897, he left Ilinois for Kansas and located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres situated a mile and a half northwest of Bayard. His father had pur- chased the land a number of years before, but the "leaguers" had taken possession of it and for a number of years the family were deprived of its use, but ultimately obtained possession, and since 1898 Mr. Hite of this review has resided upon the place. He erected a large barn and other substantial buildings, fenced the land, set off feed lots, and made other im- provements in addition to the cultivation of the fields. He also has the place well stocked with good horses, cattle and hogs.
Soon after coming to Kansas in 1898 Mr. Hite was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Gertrude Ellenwood, who was born in Washington county, Chio, and in 1878 came to Kansas with her parents, who are now living in Huntsville, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Hite now have two interesting little children, Anniversary, born February 22, 1899, and Edwin Everetta, born December 16, 1900. In politics Mr. Hite is a Democrat, but has never souglit office as a reward for party allegiance. In the three years of their residence here he and his wife have gained many warm friends and now have a wide acquaintance.
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JOSEPH M. BOOE has passed the Psalmist's span of three score years J
and ten, and at the age of seventy-two is still actively concerned in the business affairs of life. He was born in Fountain county, Indiana. on the 4th of October, 1828, and is a son of Jacob Booe. a native of Nortli Caro- lina, who when thirteen years of age accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Kentucky, where he remained until he had attained his majority. He then went to Indiana and was there united in marriage to Miss Nancy Henderson, also a native of North Carolina. His remaining days were spent in the Hoosier state, were he died at the ripe old age of seventy- seven years, his wife passing away in 1832. They were the parents of six children, but only two are now living, namely: Joseph M. and L. D.
Mr. Booe of this sketch was the eldest and was reared to farm life, as- sisting in the work of field and meadow, while in the district schools near lıis home he mastered the common branches of English learning. Farming has been his life work, and has been profitably followed by him. In early manhood he was married on the 19th of June, 1853, to Miss Amandy Ayls, but after a short wedded life of three years she passed away, leaving two children, the elder being Charles E. Booe, an eminent lawyer of Frankfort. Kentucky, who has served on the bench as judge of the Frankfort circuit court for eight years. Mrs Emily (Booe) Winslow, the younger, is now living in Fountain county, Indiana. Mr. Booe was again married March 12, 1857, his second union being with Rachel Wilson, with whom he lived seven years. Four children were left to mourn her loss, only one survives, McDonald Booe, who is living in Indianapolis. For his third wife Mr. Booe chose Margaret Boman. His present wife bore the maiden name of Lucy Huchen. She was a native of Kentucky, and was married in 1866. Five children blessed this union. Those surviving are Francis Marion, M. M., Warren, Elzady and L P. The daughter is now the wife of Elzady Carey Cloud.
Mr. Booe has been a resident of Kansas since 1881, in which year he took up his abode in Cottage Grove township, on the south line of Allen county. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in the two counties of Allen and Neosho. His has been an active and useful life and he is now in the possession of a comfortable competence and expects soon to put aside business cares that he may enjoy the rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
T HOMAS CATION, JR., is one of the wide-awake and progressive farmers of East Cottage Grove township, and as he is widely known in Allen county a record of his life cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, April 18, 1863, and is of Scotch descent. His father, Thomas Cation, Sr., was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, May 24, 1824, his parents being William and Mar- garet (Paul) Cation, who were also natives of the land of hills and heather.
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In 1843 they crossed the Atlantic to America, taking up their abode in Illinois, where the grandfather of our subject died when seventy years of age. His wife departed this life in Kansas, at the ripe old age of eighty. Thomas Cation, Sr., was a weaver by trade, learning that business in Glasgow, where he pursued his chosen occupation until he became a resi- dent of America. He spent the first eighteen years of his life in the land of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. From Illinois he removed to Kansas in 1871, taking up his abode in Allen county, where he now resides upon his fine farm of two hundred and eight acres. He was married in Illinois to Miss Jeannette McClanet, who died on the 11th of March, 1897, at the age of fifty-nine years. They had eight children: Willie, Jeannette, Johu, Maggie, David, Mary and Annie, being the wife of William Cation. Since coming to America the father has four times visited his native country. He is now spending the evening of his life in a very comfortable home which he has gained through his own industry.
Thomas Cation, Jr., whose name introduces this record, was only seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas. He therefore spent the greater part of his youth in Allen county, and in the district schools he conned the lessons which made him familiar with the common English branches of learning. From early boyhood he assisted in the operation of the home farm and worked with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, giving him the benefit of his services, after which his father paid him for his labor until he was twenty-five years of age.
On the Ist of February, 1888, Mr. Cation led to the marriage altar Miss Agnes Campbell, a resident of Cottage Grove township, a native of Scotland, whence she came to the United States with her parents, William and Helen (Gray) Campbell. They crossed the ocean in 1868 and for six years were residents of Chicago, her father there following the carpenter's trade. In 1874 he came with his family to Humboldt, Kansas, where he was engaged in the furniture business with Mr. Utterson. After a year, however, he returned to Chicago, although in a short time he again came to Allen county, and purchased a farm in East Cottage Grove township, erecting thereon a nice residence. Leaving his farm to the care of his family he engaged with a company to build elevators and followed that business in many sections of the country. Subsequently, however, he re- turned to the farm and has since devoted his energies to its operation. Uito Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born eight children, of whom six are living, namely: Jessie; Martha Agnes; Nellie, wife of George Jordan of Neosho county; John, a resident of Kansas City; David; Nina, and Wilfird.
After his marriage Mr. Cation, of this review, rented a farm for he did not have the means to purchase land. However, he possessed energy and determination and with the assistance of his young wife he secured some capital, so that a year after his marriage he was enabled to buy eighty acres of land. This he has improved until he now has a very attractive farmi, on which he has erected a comfortable residence and commodious barn. A
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fine maple grove surrounds his house and outbuildings, so that his barn- yard resembles a park more than a place in which stock is raised. He is an energetic and progressive agriculturist and further success undoubtedly awaits him.
Mr. and Mrs. Cation now have three bright boys, Archie, Robert and Homer. He is a member of the camp of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica at Leanna, and in politics is an earnest Republican, doing all in his power to promote and insure the success of his party.
JOHN H. BEAHM, who is identified with the farming and stock raising interests of Allen county, was born in Page county, Virginia, October 14, 1854, his parents being David and Permetta (Griffee) Beahm. The father was born in Page county, and was a son of John Beahm, of Holland. The mother, also a native of Virginia, was a daughter of John Griffee, who was born in the Old Dominion, but his father came from England, while his mother was of German lineage. In the year 1867 David Beahm left his home in Virginia, where he had previously engaged in farming, and started westward. After spending a year and a half in Indiana he came to Kansas in 1870, locating in Iola township, Allen county, where he purchased the farm of Thomas Ogg, comprising eighty acres of land on section two. There he made his home until his death. In his family were seven children, namely: Mary, wife of Shan Naylor, of Osawatomie, Kansas; Eliza A., wife of J. F. Gay, of Allen county; Julia, wife of Wesley Fisher; Josie, deceased wife of Marion Preston; Andrew J. L., John H. and David M., all of Allen county.
John H. Beahm accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana and thence to Kansas, becoming a resident of this State when in his fit- teenth year. During his early business career he at different times followed broom making, farming and stock raising, and now devotes his energies to the last two. His land is under a high state of cultivation, yielding to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon it, and the stock which he raises is of good grade.
On the 21st of August, 1878, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Beahm and Miss Emma Gay, a daughter of J. N. Gay, who was born in Georgia. Five children bless their union: Dora M., Ollie, Clarence, Edna and Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Beahm have many warm friends in the communi- ty and enjoy the high regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. In politics he is a Populist but in no sense a politician.
W TILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, ex-treasurer of Allen county, whose business engagements in these parts have spanned the period of a third of a century, was born on a farm in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania,
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February 26, 1837. His father moved to Beaver county the next year, and from the common schools of the county William entered Beaver Academy, spending two years there and the succeeding year doing his first work as a teacher in the public schools. He graduated from the Iron City Com- mercial College, of Pittsburg, and filled the position of proof-reader and mailing clerk on the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate for two years. In this latter capacity he earned the funds which defrayed his expenses at the Western University of Pennsylvania two years, at the conclusion of which period he engaged in teaching school in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, following it till the outbreak of the Rebellion.
In 1862 Mr. Cunningham enlisted in Battery G, Pennsylvania Artillery, served through the war and was discharged at Harrisburg in June, 1865. On returning to civil pursuits he took up work where he left off-in the Pittsburg public schools. In a few months he was elected principal of what is now the 23rd ward school of that city and was in that position. when failing health forced his retirement from the school room. Travel seemed one thing which promised the restoration of his health and he secured the general agency for the publishing house of Sheldon & Company, of New York, with headquarters at St. Louis, Missouri. He passed the two years following in the business, traveling over Missouri and Kansas, introducing their school books into the public schools, and while at Sedalia, Missouri, met a very engaging schoolma'm who afterward became his wife.
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