USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 83
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 83
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After forty-five years of happy married life he was separated from his wife by death. She passed away on the old homestead October 17, 1899. at the age of sixty-six years. and all of their four children have departed this life with the exception of Mrs. Charlotte Klinkinburg, who is now liv- ing with her father, acting as his housekeeper in his declining days. They are the only surviving members of the family and the relation between them is accordingly very near and dear. Mr. Askren has been called upon to fill many positions of honor and trust in his township and county. He has been township trustee and justice of the peace and was the second county assessor after the organization of the county. His duties were ever faithfully performed and over his public record there falls no shadow of Trong. while his private life is alike above reproach. In his political views he is now a Prohibitionist. warmly advocating temperanee principles. morality and all movements that tend to uplift mankind.
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WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
T. A. MITCHELL.
On a farm in Liberty township, Woodson County, T. A. Mitchell is engaged in the raising of stock, and his activity in business has brought him a comfortable competence. He was born in Washington County. In- .diana, July 26, 1854, and is a son of Elisha Mitchell, a native of Indiana. Mr. Mitchell has records tracing their family history to a Robert Mitchell born in Scotland, October 8, 1740. Elisha, after attaining years of maturity, wooed and wedded Miss Lydia Colglazier, a native of the Hoosier state, whose people had emigrated to Indiana in 1812, settling in the midst of the woods when the Indians in motley garb still stalked through the forest. The father of our subject was a miller by trade but spent part of his time on a farm and by following such pursuits provided for his family, which included his wife and ten children, five of whom are yet living. His death occurred in 1864, when he was forty-six years of age. His wife also passed away at the age of forty-six. her death occurring in 1867.
T. A. Mitchell was the seventh of their family and was reared upon a farm where the work of the fields early became familiar to him through practical experience. His preliminary education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by study in the Paola Normal school of In- diana, and three years he engaged in teaching, two years in Indiana and one in the district of his present home. In the spring of 1877, he came to Kansas, settling first in Neosho Falls, where he made his home for a year. He afterwards purchased two hundred and forty acres of unimproved land ten miles north of Yatcs Center, where he has developed an excellent stock farm. He engages in the rai: ing of grain and stock. and his good erops and sales of cattle are profitable somees of revenue. He is also one of the stockholders and directors of the creamery at Neosho Falls where he de- livers his cream. Mr. Mitchell has given much time and attention to dairy- ing. having purchased the first centrifugal cream separator used in Wood- son County.
On the 22d. of April, 1880. Mr. Mitchell was joined in wedlock to Miss Imma Williams, a native of Howard County, Indiana, and a daughter of I.r. Henry Williams, who was born in Ohio and married Harriet C. Ellis, a native of Kentucky, whence in her girlhood she removed to the Hoosier state. The doctor successfully practiced for many years in Russiaville. In- d'ana and also engaged in merchandising in the same town. He died in 1871, at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife passed away in 1884, at the age of sixty-eight. They were the parents of three children Mrs. Mitchell's parents, heing in a position favorable, gave her excellent opportunities to acquire an education. of which she made good use hy qualifying herself for any position she might desire. She engaged in teaching previous to her marriage, having taught the year before her marriage in Severy, Green- wood County. Kansas. She, by her marriage, has become the mother of two sons and three daughters. Stella. the eldest, died in infancy. The
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others are Florence, who is a graduate of high school of Neosho Falls and. is now teaching her first term of school in her home district in Woodson County ; Thomas, E. Carl and Harriet, all of whom have completed the' course of study in the common schools.
Voting with the Democracy, Mr. Mitchell, thus expresses his political belief. but he has never been an office seeker, believing that his business will' le attended by better results if he confines his attention solely to the occu- pation which he has chosen as his life work and which is returning to hin: a good financial reward
MICHAEL HEFFERN.
The Emerald Isle-the land of beautiful lakes and verdant hills, the' country of war, romance and history-was the birthplace of Michael Hef- fern, who on the 22d. of September, 1835, first opened his eyes to the light of day in the parish of Dunhill. County Waterford, Ireland. His father. Patrick Heffern, married Bridget Carol, and both were natives of Ireland where they resided until 1850 when they crossed the broad Atlantic to America, locating first in New York. After a short time, however, they re- moved to Illinois. settling in LaSalle County, where they spent their re- maining days, the father passing away at the age of sixty-five years. while the mother died at the age of sixty years.
Michael Heffern was a lad of fourteen years when he came with his parents to the New World. In Illinois he worked on the railroad as a tea: ster for three years and then rented a tract of land, after which he en- gaged in farming there for eight years. As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life he chose Miss Ellen Vaughn, a native of Ireland, the wedding being celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, August 26, 1855. He continued his agrienltural pursuits in Illinois until 1867 when he came to Kansas and purchased two hundred and forty acres of raw land in Owl Creek township, Woodson County, eight miles east of Yates Center on the north fork of Owl ereek. There for the first time he began farming on land which was his own property. He has sinee made valuable improvements until he now has one of the best farms on the creek, and to his landed pos- sessions he has added until he now has nine hundred and sixty acres, all improved. while three hundred acres is under cultivation, the othe
pasture and meadow land. For a short time after coming to Kansas Mr. Heffern worked on the railroad as a contractor but has since devoted his entire time to his farm work and has long since been recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of the county. He feeds all of his grain to his stock and each winter ships about two car loads of cattle to the city markets.
Eight children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Heffern, of whom six are yet living. as follows: Mary, the wife of Tim Collins; Johanna,
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Tarife of Thomas MeGanon, of Humboldt ; Margaret, wife of Charley Feney : "Lizzie, wife of Vincent Gallagher, now of Colorado: Josie, wife of Ven Lossen, of Woodson County, and Thomas, who resides upon the home farm with his father. He married Miss Minnie Cornell and has two children, Michael and Mary.
In his political affiliations Mr. Heffern is a Democrat and belongs to that substantial elass of citizens who give an earnest support to measures for the public good but are not carried away by fads or nnpractical schemes. He is a self-made man who without any extraordinary family or peeuniary advantages at the commencement of life has battled earnestly and energetically, and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both character and fortune, winning a vietory in the business world which is as ereditable as enviable.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Woodson County figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Kansas, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to eonserve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of this section. The county has been signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs, and in this connection the subject of this review de- mands representation as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of distinet trust and repsonsibility. Moreover he has been one of the most extensive stock dealers and leading business men of southeastern Kansas, and is one of the honored pioneers of the commonwealth, having come to the state in its territorial days.
Mr. Hamilton was born in Gallatin County. Kentucky, September 12. 1832. His father, John O. Hamilton, was also a native of that state and there married Miss Hannah Gregg, whose birth occurred in the same lo- cality. They were the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth. He was reared on the home farm and at- tended the common schools until sixteen years of age when he went to Cov- ing ton College and later became a student in Western Collegiate Iustitute at Patriot. Indiana. He was afterward graduated in a business college in Marietta. Ohio, and later in a law college in Louisville. When eighteen years of age he went to Tennessee, where he engaged in teaching sehool for two years after which he returned to his old Kentucky home and took up the study of law. being admitted to the bar in 1854.
The following year Mr. Hamilton came to Kansas, loeating first in Leavenworth. whence he went to Council Bluffs. Ia., but not liking that place he returned to Missouri, taking up his abode in Clinton County. Soon the border war came on and he was appointed captain of a company and saw some arduous and dangerous service. With his company he came to Kan-
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sas, where he met Gov. Geary with whom he held a consultation. Captain lamil. on, wishing to make his home in Kansas. surrendered his command and took up his abode in the Sunflower state, which has since been his: place of residence. Not long afterward the Civil war was inaugurated and for a time he was connec'ed with the home guards. He afterward entered the employ of the government as wagon master and later received an ap- pointment as sutler, being thus associated with the army for a number of months. He was next appointed to buy cattle for the Indians and can relate many hair-bread'h escapes which he had while in the United State :: service among the red men.
Mr. Hamilton first settled in Leroy, Coffey County, and began the practice of law before the county was organized. He attended the legisla- ture of 1857, succeeded in having the county established and was appointed by the a sembly to the offices of county clerk and register of deeds. He pur- chased a large body of land in the vicinity of Leroy. and at the same time conducted a large general mercantile store, so that he was kept very busy in managing his agricultural and commercial affairs, in addition to his law practice and the discharge of his official duties.
On the 22d. of February, 1858, Mr. Hamilton was married and con- tinued to reside in Coffey County until 1875, when he sold his Iand there and came to his present home in Woodson County, purchasing six hundred and forty acrer on Cherry creek in Everett township, where he has since developed a very fine and highly improved farm. He has purchased and sold more cattle than any other stock dealer in the county. handling thousands of head, but in late years, on account of his advanced age, he has largely retired from that business, feeding only a small number of cat- tle. He has recently purchased property in Leroy, including a part of his old homestead.
The lady who for forty-three years has traveled life's journey by his vide as his faithful wife and helpmate was in her maidenhood Miss Jane Scott, and she is the oldest lady member of the Old Settlers' Association of Coffey, Allen and Woodson Counties. She is a daughter of General John B. Scott. who was a native of Virginia and when a small boy accom- panied his parents on their removal to Bloomington, Illinois. There he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Davis, of New York. In an early day he went to Iowa as a trader with the Indians, and in 1849 came with the Sac and Fox Indians to Kansas. The red men at that time owed him twenty thousand dollars and he came to collect it. He settled at Leroy where he was appointed major general of the Kansas Home Guards. His death occurred in 1873, when he was fifty-seven years of age. His first wife died during the early girlhood of Mrs. Hamilton and he afterward married again. His second wife died in 1880. General Scott was the founder of Leroy and was Indian agent for many years, both in Iowa and Kansas.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have been born fourteen children, of
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whom twelve are now living: Mrs. T. W. Plummer and Mrs. Fred Pearl, both of Yates Center; John O., of Vernon; Charles C., a twin brother of John and a farmer by occupation ; Mrs. Ed Vetito, of Yates Center; Alex. O., who aids in the work of the home farm; Gus R., who served with the Twentieth Kansas regiment in the Philippines and is now in Vernon ; Her- bert, a barber in Yates Center ; Clarenee P., who was also a member of the Twentieth Kansas regiment and is now in Joliet, Illinois: Grace, who is in business in Yates Center, is wife of Eber Holiday; S. Wallace, who is also i: the county seat, and Nellie at home. Aliee, the third child, died at the age of three years, and Stanley died at one year old.
Mr. Hamilton has always taken an active interest in public affairs, per- taining to the welfare of his community and has held several local offices. He was the first postmaster of Vernon. has filled the position of justice of the peace and for two years was a sheriff of Woodsn County. His popularity in the community is unmistakable not only on account of his fidelity to duty in public office. but also because of his honorable business career, his fidelity to manly principles and his reliability in private life. During the long years of his residence in Kansas he has left the impress of his indivi- Unality for good upon the communities with which he has been connected and he feels just pride in the splendid advancement made by his adopted state.
JAMES W. MACLASKEY.
The Maclaskey home is a fine residence, built in modern architectural style and standing on an eminence which commands a view of the sur- rounding country for miles in any direction. Forest trees surround the house, which stands in the midst of a valuable farm of nine hundred and fifty-nine aeres, all the property of our subject and all acquired sinee he enie to Kansas. A proof of the advantages which the state furnishes to her citizens cannot better be given than in the life records of such men as Mr. Maelaskey who have won fortune by earnest and well directed effort siee locating within her borders.
As one of the leading citizens, early settlers and prominent agrieul- turists James W. Maelaskey certainly deserves representation in this volume. He was born in Pike County, Illinois, August 14, 1849, a son of George and Barbara (Sweet) Maclaskey, both natives of New York, al- though they were married in Illinois. When a young man the father went to the Prairie state and there followed farming for many years. In 1881 he made a visit to Nebraska. where he was taken ill and died, at the age of eighty-one years. His widow still survives him and is now living with her sons in Kansas City, Missouri, at the age of seventy-nine years.
When James W. Maclaskey was seven years of age his parents removed to Adams County, Illinois, where he was reared to manhood, remaining un-
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der the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-seven. His education was obtained in the common schools. In connection with his brother he owned three hundred and twenty aeres of land in Adams County. Ere leaving Illinois he was married, on the 4th of November, 1869, to Miss Sarah E. MeCarl, a native of Pike County, that state, and a danghter of Samuel and Doreas (Likes) MeCarl, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Illinois. Mr. MeCarl died at the age of sixty-eight years, but his wife is still living in Illinois. and has attained the age of seventy-one. They were the parents of six children, as follows : Alexander, of Oregon : Mrs. Bethana Myers: Mrs. Lizzie Maelaskey ; Isaiah and Calvin MeCarl, all of Illinois, and Mrs. Sarah E. Maelaskey. of Wood- son County, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Maclaskey began their domestie life in their native state but in 1880 came to Kansas. In 1876. prior to his com- ing to Kansas, he purchased one hundred and sixty aeres in Woodson County, nineteen miles northwest of Yates Center, and since that time he las added to his possessions until he now is owner of the valuable property dieseribed above. Recently he removed his residenee to a place two miles north of where he so long resided. His farm is one of the most desirable in this portion of the county. He is engaged in stock-raising and has some very fine grades of shorthorn and Hereford eattle, which find a ready sale on the market. He had only a team and wagon at the time of his marriage, and he has made practically all that he has sinee coming to Kansas. He is now one of the wealthy farmers of the community and his property is a monument to his enterprise and thrift.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. MeClaskey has been blessed with eight children, namely : William L .. now a stenographer in St. Louis, Missouri ; Lizzie A .. at home: Alford, who is living in Gridley, Kansas: Charles A .. who is married and resides in Woodson county : James A. and Samuel R .. who are with their parents, and George W .. who died October 16, 1884, at the age of ten years and seven months, and Floyd E., the youngest at home. In his political views Mr. Maclaskey is a Democrat. He has filled the office of trustee of his township and is now serving as its treasurer, proving a competent and faithful officer. A quarter of a century has passed since he eame to Kansas. and through the entire period he has so lived as to win the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in eon- tact. His snecess has been worthily won along the lines of honorable effort so that the most envious eannot grudge him his prosperity, and his upright example and successful career should serve as a source of inspiration to others.
SANFORD G. PARIS.
On the roster of county officials in Woodson County appears the name of Sanford G. Paris among those who are serving as county commissioners.
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WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
His labors in behalf of the county have been productive of good and indi- rate liis loyalty to the best intere. ts of citizenship. As an enterprising, praetieal and progressive farmer of Center township he is also widely known, and as a representative of the political and agricultural interests of this portion of the state he well deserves mention in the history of Woodson County.
·A native of Putnam County, Indiana, Mr. Paris was born on the 10th, o" December, 1847, a son of Allen and Elizabeth (Youngman) Paris. The father was born in 1818, near Covington, Kentucky, and during his boyhood days went to the Hoosier state ,where he grew to manhood and was mar- ried. His wife was also born in Kentucky and was a daughter of Jesse Youngman. The father of our subject followed farming and shoemak- ing throughout his entire life. In polities he was a Republican, recognized as one of the active local workers in his party. In October, 1883, he was killed by the falling of a limb, but is still survived by his widow, who yet resides in Putnam County. Her children are: Agnes, of Putnam County ; George. who died in 1863; Melissa, wife of W. F. Butler, of Putnam County ; Charles, who was a soldier of the Civil war and died in 1890, in l'utnam County leaving a family ; Sanford G .; Alice, wife of James Ruark, of Putnam County, and Viola, wife of. G. H. Hamm, of the same county.
The school privileges of Sanford G. Paris were somewhat limited. He spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and his time was largely occupied with the labors of the field. Sinee attaining his majority he has devoted five years to the coopering trade, and was also employed in a rolling mill in Greencastle. Indiana. Upon leaving that position he resumed farming, which he has since followed. In August, 1881, he arrived in Woodson County and first located in Toronto township, where he engaged in the operation of rented land for four years. With money he had then saved from his earnings he purchased two hundred acres of land in Center township, upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement been made, but since 1885 a great transformation has been wrought in the appearance of the property, which is now one of the fine farms of the county, supplied with substantial buildings and all modern conveniences and accessories.
Ere leaving his native county Mr. Paris was married, in 1868, to Miss Mary Wheeling, a daughter of Augustus Wheeling, who belonged to an old Ohio family. Mr. and Mrs. Paris now have eight children: Grace E., wife of M. P. Davis, of Hutchinson, Kansas; Walter, a blacksmith of Rose, Kansas, who married Sarah Reagan; Lillie, deceased ; Herbert, Myrtle, Mabel, Glenn and Ross, who are still with their parents.
Sinee attaining his majority Mr. Paris has been an earnest advocate of Republican principles and takes an active interest in furthering the wel- fare of the party in the community in which he resides. On that ticket he was elected county commissioner, in November, 1900, to represent the second distriet, which he carried by a majority of two hundred and nine. He is
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now filling that office and discharges his duties with the same promptness and practical spirit which characterizes his management of his farming in- terests.
W. P. KINYON.
W. P. KINYON is a prominent farmer of Liberty township, Woodson County. His life has been a busy and useful one and now he is living some- what retired from the more arduous duties of the farm, which have been as- sumed by his son, Mr. Kinyon being thus relieved of the harder work inci- dent to agricultural life. He is a native of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, born June 3, 1831, and is a son of Pardon and Sallie (Eggleston) Kinyon, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father was a farmer by occupation and when a young man removed to Pennsylvania, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death which occurred in 1856, when he was fifty-five years of age. His widow survived him for nearly half a century and passed away in Kansas when almost ninety years of age. They had four children, but only two are now living-W. P. and Mrs. Nancy Warner.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for W. P. Kinyon in his youth. He attended the common schools near his home and in the summer aided in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. He was married in 1857 and then began farming on his own account. being thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when feeling that his duty was to the Union, he enlisted in the fall of 1861, being assigned to the Tenth New York cavalry with which he went to the front to protect the Stars and Stripes, the emblem of the undivided nation. He was only permitted to remain in the south for nine months, ill health com- pelling his discharge.
Mr. Kinyon then returned to his home and family and in the fall of 1864 removed to Minnesota. where he purchased a small farm. making his home thereon until 1879-the year of his arrival in Kansas. Settling in Linn County he there rented a farm which he operated for two years when le came to Woodson County and purchased one hundred and twenty acres on Duck creek, twelve miles north of Yates Center, where he has made one of the most desirable homes in the township. His farm in every depart- ment indicates neatness, thrift and careful supervision. Among its leading features is a nice residence, a good barn and fine orchard on the bank of the creek. He has a beautiful lawn of blue grass and in every particular the farm is modern and indicates the supervision of a progressive owner.
On the 26th of February, 1857, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Kinyon married Miss Lydia M. Wheeler. a native of Tioga County, that state, and a daughter of Moses and Cynthia (Walker) Wheeler. Her father was born Septem- ber 10, 1810, and died on the 1st. of July, 1887, at the age of seventy-seven
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years, while his wife, whose birth occurred in 1812, was called to her final rest in 1880. at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are yet living: Mrs. Julia S. Potts, Mrs. Lydia M. Kinyon, Mrs. Lottie M. Lawrence and Mrs. Laura Oberhotzer. Those deceased are Mrs. Jane Curtis and Mr. Morris Wheeler. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Kinyon has resulted in the birth of five children, of whom three survive: Clarence M., who is living on a farm near his father : Edmund G., who is an editor and until recently was part owner of the Woodson County Advocate and Wilbur M .. who is mentioned later on. Frank E. died in Minnesota and Merton A. passed away in Oklahoma. Such in brief is the history of W. P. Kinyon-a man whom to know is to respect and honor for his life has ever been actuated by honorable principles and worthy motives.
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