USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 96
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 96
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Henry H. Winter was born in York, Pennsylvania. March 21. 1846.
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
This grandfather was John Winter who died in early manhood. The na- tionality of the family is uncertain for the family records were not pre- served and the name is found among many people. including the English, Germans and scotch, and even among the Latin races. Henry Winter, the father of our subject, was born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1816 and fol- lowed farming and blacksmithing. He spent his entire life in the place of his birth, his death occurring in 1891. He was one of the prominent men and worthy citizens of his community. He married Miss Catherine Dietz, who died in York, in 1882. Of their six children five are yet living in the vicinity of the old homestead. namely: Isaiah: Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Stauffer : Jacob : Mary A., the wife of Henry Matthews, and Leah, the wife of Joseph Loyd.
Mr. Winter, whose name introduces this record, was the third in order of birth, and upon the old home farm in the Keystone state he was reared. He is a graduate of the York high school and for a time he was a student in the normal school at Millersville, Pennsylvania. When twenty-two years of age he began teaching and after following that profession for six years he joined an engineering corps in the employ of the Peach Bottom Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, but the financial panie which spread over the country in 1873 put an end to all railroad work and Mr. Winter then fol- bowed Horace Greeley's advice to young men and came to the west. He first took up his abode in Stephenson County. Illinois. He had no capital, but possessed great energy, a strong constitution and a resolute spirit, and he set to work to wrest fortune from the hands of an adverse fate. At first he followed teaching there and later embarked in the lumber trade on his own account, borrowing the capital with which to purchase a yard. That en- terprise proved successful and he was soon enabled to pay off all indebted- ness. For seven years he was engaged in the lumber trade in Atlantic, Iowa, and then disposed of his interests there and came to Woodson County, Kan- sas, where for a time he was engaged in the cattle business and followed farming to some extent. He has been a resident of this county sinee 1883 and in 1885 succeeded the firm of Dickerson & Opdyke, in the banking business in Yates Center. In 1887 he assumed active control of the bank and has since built up one of the strongest institutions in this portion of the state. The safe. reliable policy which he has followed has been the means of largely increasing the business which is transacted over his counters and the bank is therefore able to annually declare a good dividend.
While residing in Stephenson County, Illinois, Mr. Winter was mar- ried on the 5th. of October, 1875, to Miss Flora Sabin, a daughter of Ralph Sabin, and they now have four daughters: Clara, who is a graduate of the musical department of the Kansas State University : Alice and Blanche, of the Yates Center high school. and Frances, who is still pursuing her studies. Mr. Winter was reared in the faith of the Democracy with which party his people have always been allied until within a decade. But since the princi- ples advocated by William Jennings Bryan have been incorporated into the
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Democratic platform, Henry H. Winter has given his support to the Repub- lican party. The quality which wins Mr. Winter's friendship and admira- tion is uprightness of character. He is easily approachable, showing great courtesy to all with whom he comes in contact. He never acts except from honest motives and in all his varied relations in business affairs and in social life he maintains a character and standing that have impressed all with his sincere and manly purpose to do by others as he would have others do by him.
JOHN F. ARMSTRONG.
JOHN F. ARMSTRONG, of Toronto, has been a resident of Woodson County for fifteen years, and is extensively engaged in dealing in cattle and lings. A native of Gibson County, Indiana, he was born October 11, 1852. and is a son of William Armstrong, a farmer by occupation, who removed from Vanderburg County to Gibson County about 1850. He was born in 1822, and spent his entire life in southern Indiana, where he was extensively engaged in farming, his well-directed efforts bringing to him a comfortable competence. He married Emily Smith and unto them were born five chil- dren who are yet living. In addition to Mr. Armstrong of this review they are William, a resident of Gibson County: Warwick; James, and Pinkney, who are also residents of that county. The father of this family died in 1878. but the mother is still living and yet resides in Gibson County.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Mr. Armstrong in his youth. He remained with his parents until twenty years of age and through practical experience became familiar with the work of field and meadow. He then left Indiana in the year 1881, and n aking his way westward took up his abode on the Verdigris river in Wood- son County. Kansas, where he carried on farming on an extensive scale. He next came to Toronto and began buying and shipping stock, which line of business has since occupied his attention. He raises, feeds and trades in cattle and hogs, and is one of the leading live stock dealers of this part of the county. his shipments being extensive.
In Gibson County. Indiana, Mr. Armstrong was united in married to Miss Lucinda Mauk. and unto them were born four children: Frank, who married Alice Jones and is associated in business with his father ; Nora, Della and Dick, at home. Mr. Armstrong is independent in politics. He has taken the Master degree in Masonry and is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He possesses the enterprising. progressive business spirit of the west and his diligent efforts have enabled him to ad- vance steadily on the road of prosperity so that he is now numbered among the substantial citizens of his adopted county.
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HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
JORDAN W. MASON.
The subject of this review is a well known business man of Yates Cen- ter and an enterprising and popular liveryman of that city. He is one of those young men who came to Kansas from the east less than a quarter of a century ago with his labor as his capital and who has been persistently and continuously the companion of hard work during his residence in Woodson County. He became familiar with it first upon his father's farm in Illinois and when he was left at the head of a large family, and responsible for their welfare to years of accountability. industry was the shield which pro- tected them and the benefactor which provided them with the wants of life. Though his years number a half century no less than two seore of them span the period of his life's work.
Jordan W. Mason was born October 5 1850. Samuel Mason, his father, was a farmer residing near Mifflinville, Pennsylvania, to which point he n oved from about Morseton. New Jersey. He was born at the latter place in 1818, moved from there to Miffinville, thence to Kendall County, Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. There were six children in his father's family, three sons and three daughters. one surviving. He grew to manhood about Miflinville and was there married to Katie Eekroth whose death occurred in Kendall County, Illinois. Their children were: Jordan W .; James: Libbie, wife of Nathan Colthirst, of Remington In- chana. and Lewis E., John M., Samuel E. and Lavina M .. of Kendall County, Illinois.
Our subject secured very meager school advantages in the distriet schools and, when he became a man, work was about all he knew. In the fall of 1877 he came out to Kansas and seeured a half seetion of new land in Owl Creek township, preparatory to his removal hence in the spring. The next year he unloaded his effets at Neosho Falls with Charles Diver and "Ren" Thurber. took possession of his piece of prairie and proceeded to make a farm of it. He resided there some years when he took up his resi- denee in Yates Center and engaged in the butcher business. Changes in business were apparently rapid from this time on for some years. from butcher to farmer, teamster, freighter from Humboldt to Yates Center, and finally jobbing about from one thing to another that would yield a legitimate dollar. When work was scarce it he couldn't get his price for doing work he took the other man's and thus established a reputation for industry and re- liability. November 20. 1893, he began the livery business with a stock of six ponies, four sets of old harness, three buggies and a spring wagon. His business methods were legitimate and, patronage sought him and pros- perity followed in its wake. With success in business came an enlarge- ment of his accommodations and expansion of stock and equipments to meet the needs of a well-ordered livery.
Mr. Mason was married in Woodson County. Kansas, December 24, 1882. to Emily Brodman, a lady of German birth and parentage. She was bern in 1864 and was brought to the United States by a widowed mother,
WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
Mrs. Victoria Brodman, who died in Yates Center in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Mason's only child is a daughter, Cecil.
JOSEPH B. JACKSON.
JOSEPH B. JACKSON, a farmer and dairyman of Woodson County, exemplifies in his life the typical western spirit of progress and enter- prise which has led to the rapid advancement of this section of the country, an advancement so great that it has awakened the astonishment and ad- miration of the world. Mr. Jackson has spent the greater part of his life in the Mississippi valley. He was born in MeHenry County, Illinois, on the 4th. of November, 1844. His father, George Jackson, was a native of Eng- land, and when eighteen years of age he crossed the Atlantic to the New World, locating first in Delaware. He married Miss Maria Hill, a native of Connecticut, and on leaving the east made his way to Fort Dearborn, which stood upon the site of the present city of Chicago. There was nothing but a trading post at the time on the land now covered by the metropolis and Mr. Jackson became the owner of a number of lots in the small town, gaining possession of them through a trade. Upon the property now stand valuable buildings, ten or more stories in height, and the land is valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mr. Jackson, however, made his way into the interior of the state, locating in MeHenry County, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1893, at the age of ninety years. His widow still survives and is now living in MeHenry County, at the age of eighty-five years. This worthy couple became the parents of seven children and three of the sons volunteered for service in the war of the Re- bellion. George lost his life in the battle of Chickamauga. Wilber and Joseph B. were members of the Elgin Battery of Light Artillery.
Joseph B. Jackson was reared on the old homestead farm in MeHenry County. and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. When the question of slavery brought on sectional differences between the north and the south and the country became involved in Civil war he joined the Elgin Battery and served for eighteen months, participating in the engagements at Newburn, Five Forks and Strawberry Plains. He also spent some time in front of Knoxville, and when the war ended received an honorable discharge, in August, 1865, being not then twenty-one years of age.
After his return from the army Mr. Jackson spent three winters in the pineries of Wisconsin and during the summer months engaged in farming upon rented land. In 1868 he was married, and in 1870 came with his family to Kansas. renting a tract of land on the eastern line of Woodson County. He there resided for three years, after which he purchased eighty acres of prairie land on which he has since made his home. having in the meantime extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises two
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hundred and forty acres. The place is divided into fields of convenient size that are highly cultivated, the rich alluvial soil yielding excellent crops. A substantial residence, two good barns and many of the modern improve- ments go to make his farm one of the best in the county. Mr. Jackson is engaged in the dairy business, keeping on hand about thirty head of cows for this purpose. He is also a stockholder in the creamery at Neosho Falls, where he disposes of his dairy products. He got his start in business with a capital of three hundred dollars which he saved during his service in the army. He has. however, met with some reverses. Since coming to Kansas a fire destroyed his home, together with all its contents, including clothing and provisions. but with resolute spirit he set to work to retrieve his lost possessions, and is now one of the well-to-do citizens of the county.
Mr. Jackson has been twice married. In 1868 he wedded Alfaretta Brown, who died in 1879, leaving him with four children, namely: Frank B., now of Erie, Kansas; Julia M., wife of David Henry, who is living on . farm in Woodson County ; Ora A., wife of Frank Wilson, of Neosho Falls, and Harry Elmer, who is operating his father's farm and also materially assists in the care of the stock. In 1880 Mr. Jackson was again married. his second nnion being withMiss Susan Boley. a native of Illinois, who came to Kansas in 1879. The children of this union are: Walter, Edward and May Edna. In his political affiliations he is a Republican and socially he is connected with the Grand Army Post at Neosho Falls. The brave and loyal spirit which he manifested on southern battlefields has always been one of his marked characteristics, and has gained for him the confidence and good will of those with whom he has been associated.
FREDERICK L. ARNOLD.
Among the early settlers of Woodson County is Frederick L. Arnold, and through the long years of residence here, he has been numbered among the honorable citizens and representative farmers. His birth occurred in Randolph County, Indiana, on the 5th. of September, 1838. His father, Lewis Arnold. was a native of South Carolina, and the mother of our sub- ject, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Lucas, was a native of Clinton County. Ohio. As a life work, the father followed farming, and his death occurred in the Buckeye state in November, 1856, when he was sixty years of age. His wife survived him many years and passed away in 1885 at the age of seventy. They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living, as follows: William; Lewis: Elizabeth. wife of Abraham Thompson : Sarah, wife of John Carver : Frederick L., and John.
Upon his father's death, Frederick L. Arnold went to Illinois, locating in Logan County, where he resided with his brother-in-law, and there worked by the month as a farm hand, being thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war. His patriotic spirit was thus aroused, and on the
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WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
12th. of August, 1861, he enlisted as a member of company B, Second Reg- iment of Illinois cavalry. He was later transferred to company D of the same regiment, and served until the third of January, 1866. He partici- pated in the battle of Fort Donelson and Shiloh and in all the engagements in which his regiment took part. He was ever found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the Stars and Stripes, the emblem of the Union. At the close of hostilities, he was sent to San Antonio, Texas, where he re- mained for almost a year after the war had ended.
On receiving an honorable discharge, Mr. Arnold returned to Illinois, and in June, 1866, came to Woodson County, Kansas, locating on Turkey creek, five miles west of his present home. In the spring of 1870 he pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of land where he is now living, ten miles northwest of Yates Center, and has here developed a very fine farm. Assisted by his son, he is engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. They feed some cattle and raise a large number of logs, and this branch of their business brings to them a good income.
On the 25th of February, 1868, Mr. Arnold was joined in wed- lock to Miss Helen S. Miller, a native of Darke County, Ohio, who came to Kansas in 1859; a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth E. Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had four children. of whom three are yet living; Dora E., who i: acting as her father's housekeeper; Warren F., at home, and Nellie M., wife of George W. Mainfield, who is living on a part of the father's farm. Mrs. Arnold, who was born October 9th., 1848, died August Sth., 1898, after a happy married life of thirty years.
Mr. Arnold has frequently been called to public offices. He has served the people of his township as trustee for six years, and has also been treas- urer and clerk of the township for a number of years, while almost con- tinuously he has served on the school board. The cause of education has found in him a warm friend, and in all his public offices he has discharged his duty with marked promptness and fidelity. His life illustrates the power of industry and integrity in business affairs. When he came to Kan= sas, he had only the money he had saved during the time he spent in the army. Investing this in land. he is to-day the owner of one of the fine forms of his adopted county. Indolence is utterly foreign to his nature, and his untiring labor and perseverance have enabled him to overcome all dif- ficulties and work his way to success.
ALBERT D. COE.
One of the enterprising young farmers and stock-raisers of Liberty township, Woodson County, is Albert D. Coe, who was born in Livingston County, Illinois, on the 6th. of May, 1873, the second son of Albert and Farsina Coe. He remained in Illinois until eight years of age and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas in 1881. He ac-
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HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
quired a knowledge of the common English branches of learning in the distriet schools and afterward entered the high school of Yates Center, while later he spent two years in the Agricultural College. at Manhattan Kansas, pursuing the scientific course. At the time of his marriage his father gave him eighty acres of land upon which he has erected a nice home and is now comfortably situated in life, devoting his energies to the improve- ment of his land and to the raising of stock. He now has forty head of eat - tle. He is also connected with his father and brothers in the raising of hay, carrying on the business quite extensively and securing a good income as the reward of their labor when the hay is placed upon the market.
On the 31st. of March, 1898, Mr. Coe was united in marriage to Miss Mabel T. Rose, a native of Toronto. Canada, born November 24, 1874, and a daughter of Amzi and Lottie Rose. During her early girlhood her parents came to Kansas, and her father is now engaged in business in Garnett, 1las state. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coe has been blessed with one child, Ruth M., who was born May 23, 1900. In his political views Mr. Ime is a Republican, but office seeking has no attraction for him, as he pie fors to increase his income through the legitimate channels of business, and his future will undoubtedly be a successful one.
JAMES M. PARK.
JAMES M. PARK, who since 1873 has resided upon his farm in Lib- erty township, Woodson County, six miles from Yates Center, has spent his entire life in the Mississippi valley and the enterprising, progressive spirit of the west which has wrought the wonderful development of this section of the country is manifest in our subject. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, April 24, 1839. a son of Aaron and Jane Park. The father was a native of South Carolina and when a young man went to Illinois, where ler was married and spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1846. In his family were nine children, six of whom are yet living, namely: John W,. a resident of Yates Center; William J., of Iowa; Nancy A., wife of M. C. McDonald ; Mary Kelley and Elizabeth Allen.
In the state of his nativity James M. Park was reared and educated, and the events of his boyhood were of no very important nature up to the time of the Civil war, but when the country became engaged in hostili- ties over the attempt at secession of some of the southern states, his patriotic spirit was aroused and although he was not in very robust health he en- listed in 1862 as a member of company H, Sixty-third Illinois infantry. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg. Jackson and Missionary Ridge, and at the last named was slightly wounded. At the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged in 1864.
On the 11th. day of February of that year Mr. Park was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Marple, a native of Bureau County. Illinois,
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born September 4, 1843. Her father, David Marple, was a native of West Virginia, while her mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wat- kins, was a native of Ohio, in which state the parents were married. In an .early day in the history of Illinois they removed to that state. where the father died in 1890, at the age of eighty-one years. His widow still sur- vives him and is yet living on the old homestead at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. For sixty years they had traveled life's journey to- gether when separated by the death of Mr. Marple. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are yet living: William ; Joseph, who re- sides in Des Moines. Iowa : Richard; Mis. Park. and Sarah J., wife of Thomas Maston, of Illinois.
In 1866, two years after their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Park removed to Iowa, where he purchased a farm, but in 1868 he sold that property and returned to Illinois, where he engaged in the operation of rented land until 1873, when he came with his family to Woodson County and purchased eighty acres in Liberty township, six miles north of Yates Center. Here he has a nice home, which he erected, and many substantial improvements on the place stand as monuments to the thrift and enterprise of the owner. The home has been blessed with five children: Ola. now the wife of Dr. Wood, of Iola : Elizabeth, wife of Fred Park, of Yates Center; Grace, wife ( f Judson Newton ; Richard, who is married and lives on the home farm, and William, who is yet with his parents. Mr. Park exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but does not seek office, his farming interests elaiming and receiving all of his at- tention. In return they yield to him a good income and he is thus enabled to provide comfortably for his family.
CHARLES O. MENTZER.
Almost the entire life of Charles O. Mentzer has been passed in Wood- son County for he came here when only two years of age with his parents, and throughout the period of his youth and manhood he has been connected with its agricultural and stock-raising interests. He was born in Kewanee, Henry County, Illinois, the eldert son of George and Emma Mentzer, who in 1871 left the prairie state for the Sunflower state, taking up their abode in Woodson County, five miles northwest of Yates Center, where our sub- ieet has since resided with the exception of one year which he spent in Illi- nois. In the schools of the neighborhood he was educated and his training at farm work was received under the direction of his father and was of that practical nature which well fitted him for carrying on the duties which now engross his attention. In 1891 he went to his native county on a visit and remained for about twelve months, after which he returned to Wood- son County, where he is now engaged in the occupation of stock-raising. After his marriage he began farming on his own account in North town-
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HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
ship where his father owns a large body of land, and now his place is well stocked with cattle and horses to the raising and sale of which he is de- voting his energies, finding this a profitable source of revenue.
On the 18th of October. 1893, Mr. Mentzer was joined in wedlock to Miss Nettie Wells, one of Kansas' native daughters, her parents being Thurston and Saloma Wells. Five children have come to bless their uniou, Lamely : Gladys, Paul and Paulina; twins, George and Herbert. Mrs. Mentzer's father was a native of New York and when a young man went to Iowa, where he married Miss Saloma Crandall, a native of Ohio. They afterward removed to Kansas in 1870, where Mr. Wells made his home until death in June 3, 1893. Of his seven children four are yet living . Frank; William, a resident of Iowa; Anna, wife of Fred Mentzer, and Nettie, wife of our subject. All are residents of Woodson County, except William.
Mr. Mentzer of this review is a Prohibitionist in his political prefer- ences, but as that party seldom has a ticket in the field at local elections he supports the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office. Long residence in Woodson County has made him-familiar with its history from an early day and his npright career during this period has gained him a position among the leading and representative young farmers of the com. munity.
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