USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 97
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 97
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WILLIAM B. BOATMAN.
Five miles north of Yates Center, in Liberty township, Woodson County, stands an attractive farm residence which is the home of William B. Boatman. It is surrounded by a grove of native forest trees and around it spread the broad fields of grain and the verdant meadows which arc his property and indicate that his life is one of active usefulness.
Mr. Boatman was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on the 18th. of October, 1851, and is a son of William and Eleanor (Callahan) Boatman. both of whom were natives of the Keystone state, where they remained until 1858, when they removed to Illinois, settling in Livingston county. The father had been proprietor of a hotel in Pennsylvania and engaged in the same line of business in the west, conducting a first class hostelry until his death, in 1891,when he was seventy-three years of age. His wife had previously passed away, dying in 1888. at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are yet living: William B., Stephen and Mrs. Nancy Bostlin.
Our subject, the youngest of the family, was seven years of age when his parents removed to Livingston County, Illinois, where he gained his edu- cation in the common schools. He followed coal mining from the time hc was old enough to work in the mines until his marriage, after which he rented a tract of land and began farming. He devoted his attention to the
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cultivation of the fields in Illinois for four years. but believing that he might sooner secure a farm of his own in Kansas he came to Woodson County in 1882 and purchaset one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie five miles north of Yates Center, where he has since made his home. IJe las transformed the place into a valuable property and is now a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser. His fields yield to him a good return and indicate to the passer-by the careful supervision of the operator. He is also en- gaged in the hay business annually putting up large quantities of that product. He also buys and ships hay and his operations in that line are both extensive and profitable. Everything about his place is kept in excellent condition, the buildings are never found out of repair, and the entire place indicates the ownership of a progressive and practical fart".
In March, 1878, in Livingston County, Illinois, Mr. Boatman married Miss Annie Clark, a native of that state and a daughter of Ephraim and Mildred (Jones) Clark. who were also born in Illinois and are yet residents of Livingston County, the father being now eighty-two years of age, while his wife has reached the age of seventy-eight. They had five children: Tal- bert, Annie, Frank, Faron and Coe, the last named now in Liberty township, Woodson County. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boatman has been blessed with two children, but Roy, the elder, died at the age of six years. Clark, now a youth of sixteen, is at home with his parents. Mr. Boatman is a member of the M. W. A. camp at Yates Center, and in his political affilia- tions is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote l:is time and attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with creditable and gratifying prosperity.
BENJAMIN PITMAN.
One of the substantial farmers and respected citizens of Everett town- slip and a veteran of the Civil war is Benjamin Pitman, who elaims Penn- sylvania as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred there, in Ful- ten County. January 23, 1830. He is the fourth in a family of eight chil- dren whose parents were Benjamin and Margaret (Ross) Pitman, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a carpenter by trade and in 1849 removed to Illinois, settling in Whiteside County, where he fol- f wed his chosen vocation and also engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1875, when he was seventy-seven years of age. His wife died long previously, passing away in 1840.
The subject of this review was only ten years of age at the time of his mother's death. and soon afterward he began to earn his own liveli- hood. He was employed as a farm hand until nineteen years of age when Le learned the carpenter's trade. devoting his energies to that work until 1865. when he enlisted in company D, Ninety-second Illinois infantry, in which he served for four months and fifteen days. He participated in the
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Cattle of Atkins, South Carolina, and was wounded in the fore finger and the side by a gun hot. He was then discharged on account of disability and re- turned home, and for two years he was under the physician's care before being able to resume work.
In the spring of 1876 Mr. Pitman came to Kansas, loeating in Dickin- sen County, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of farm land and five town lots in Abilene. He improved his property and made his home in that county until 1884, when he sold out and came to Woodson County. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land on Cherry creek. where he now has a fine farm, the wild tract having been transformed into richly productive fields. The place is improved with a large residence. substantial barn and all the necessary outbuildings jor the care of grain and stock and the farm is now valuable and attractive. There is good bottom land and timber tracts and the place is well watered. Industry has been the keynote of Mr. Pitman's success. His life has been a busy one, in which idleness has had no part and his untiring labor has brought him a handsome competence.
I. T. SUMMERS.
I. T. SUMERS, who is engaged in farming in Everett township and was formerly identified with industrial interests of Woodson County for a cumber of years, was born in Richie County, West Virginia, September 18, 1847, a son of Elias S. and Miranda ( Wilson) Summers, also natives of the same state. The father spent his entire life in West Virginia where he d'ed in 1889, at the age of eighty years. His wife is still living at an advanced age. In their family were twelve children, of whom six are yet Living.
Mr. Summers of this biographical notice was reared on the old home- stead farm and his educational privileges were quite limited for at the time when he naturally would have been in school he was engaged in protecting hans southern home from the raids of bushwhackers, for the Civil war was in progress and he was employed by the state to act as a state guard or scout to protect the property of the Union citizens. After a year spent in that way he enlisted in company E, Sixth West Virginia volunteer infantry, in October, 1864, and served until the elose of the war. His duty was mostly in hunting and driving out the bushwackers, but his service was none the less arduous or dangerous and he had many narrow escapes from death, wounds and capture.
After the war Mr. Summers returned to his home and began to learn the stone mason's trade, which he followed throughout the period of his residenee in his native state. In 1873 he came to the west, knowing that he eculd secure a home sooner by coming to a new country. Accordingly he took up his abode in Woodson County. Kansas, where he continued to
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work at the stone mason's trade until 1898. He was a good workman and always had employment, so that as the result of his industry and economy h. was enabled to gain capital sufficient to purchase his present farm, a fine and well developed tract of eighty acres, located on Cherry creek, one mile south of Vernon, in Everett township. It is all bottom land and never fails to produce a good erop. He has a large barn, other substantial outbuildings and a comfortable residence, in fact all the modern equip- ments of a model farm of the twentieth century are found upon his place. When he arrived in Woodson County he had only eight dollars, so that al! he now possesses has been acquired since coming to the Sunflower state, a fact which indicates that his life has been a busy one, characterized by is defatigable industry. In polities he is a staunch and uncompromising Re- publican, and socially he is a member of Tuscan Lodge. F. & A. M., at Neosho Falls.
WILLIAM O'GILVIE.
WILLIAM O'GILVIE, who follows farming in Toronto township, where he owns and cultivates three hundred and twenty acres of land, was born in Madison County, Ohio, on the 19th. of May, 1847. His father, Flisha O'Gilvie, was a native of Virginia and married Charlotte Thompson, who was born in the Buckeye state. For many years he engaged in mer- chandising in Ohio and was also a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1883 he came i. Kansas, settling in Toronto, where he resided until his death which oc- curred in 1896, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife is still living in Toronto. at the age of seventy-four.
On the home farm in his native state William O'Gilvie was reared and in the common schools mastered the branches of English learning usually tanght in such institutions. At the age of twenty-two he left home and was married. the wedding being celebrated April 15, 1869. Miss Margaret Hunter becoming his wife. Her parents were Charles and Martha (Fitzger- a!d) Hunter and both were natives of Virginia but spent their last days in Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. O'Gilvie have been born five children: Ed, Walter and Ezra, all residing npon farms of their own in Oklahoma ; John who is operating his father's farm. and Minnie, the only daughter, also with her parents.
After his marriage Mr. O'Gilvie rented land and hegan farming in Ohio on his own account. For fourteen years he carried on agricultural pur- ยท suits thus, and then tiring of operating rented property he resolved to remove to a district where he could seenre a farm of his own. Kansas was his choice of a location, and in 1882 he came to Woodson County where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Toronto township, seven miles north of the town of Toronto, and there he and his wife began life in the west, determined to gain advancement if it could be won through
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earnest effort. He soon had his farm under a high state of cultivation and well stocked with cattle, and to-day he owns three hundred and twenty acres of rich land ou Cedar creek. A comfortable residence, good barn and richly cultivated fields are among the leading features of the place and he keeps on hand about fifty head of cattle and from fifty to one hundred head of hogs, together with such a number of horses as are needed to operate the farm.
In 1891 Mr. O'Gilvie met with a very sad accident-his team running away and throwing him out of the wagon thus crippling him for life. After his recovery he engaged in the hardware business in Toronto, conducting the store while his wife superintends the operation of the farm. For five years he was engaged in commercial pursuits and then sold his store since which time his entire attention has been given to his farming interests. "In America labor is king" and it is the only sovereignty which our liberty- loving people acknowledge but they never fail to accord due respect to the man who has conquered fate and won advancement through his own effort. Thus Mr. O'Gilvie receives in large measure the respect and esteem of his fellowmen at the same time he is enjoying the rich fruits of his diligence.
WILLIAM F. AGNEW.
WILLIAM FRAZER AGNEW is one of the native sons of Kansas, his birth having occurred in Anderson Connty, on the 8th of December. 1862. His father, William Agnew, Sr., now deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of Woodson County, whither he came in 1873. identifying his inter- ests with those of the agricultural community of this portion of the state.
Our subject spent the first eleven years of his life in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents to Woodson County, where he was reared, the family residing upon the middle branch of Owl creek. The district school afforded him his educational privileges, and he acquired a good knowledge of the common English branches of learning which pre- pare one for the practical duties of life. He has always followed farming and stock-raising and is now classed among the prosperous representatives " that class of people. His farm is located on Section 31. Eminence township, where he owns and operates two hundred and forty acres of rich land, which yields abundant harvests. Nature is usually bountiful in her gifts, restoring many hundred fold the seeds planted in the ground. and the labors of Mr. Agnew are crowned with a rich reward.
On the 20th of November, 1895, Mr. Agnew was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Funston, a daughter of John Funston, of Yates Center. She is a native of Illinois, born in 1866. and by her marriage she has become the mother of three interesting little children, namely: William Maynard, Boyd Funston and Annabel. Mr. Agnew takes a deep interest in political affairs, as every true American citizen should do, and gives his support to
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the Republican party. Having long resided in Woodson County he is widely and favorably known, and that those who have known him from boy- hood are numbered among his warmest friends is an indication that his life- history has been an honorable and upright one.
LEVI SMITH.
Among those who wore the blue in defense of the Union during the Civil war Levi Smith was numbered and to-day is as true and loyal to his duties of citizenship as when he followed the Stars and Stripes upon the battlefields of the south. Thus he is accounted one of the valued resi- dents of Woodson County, well worthy of representation in its history.
Mr. Smith was born in Scott County, Illinois, May 2, 1843, and is the third son in a family of eleven children whose parents were John and Sarah A. (Downey) Smith, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Penn- sylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and before his marriage went to Illinois, casting in his lot with the early settlers who laid the founda- tien for the development and upbuilding of that state. There he remained until his death which occurred in 1881, when he was sixty years of age. His wife still survives him and is living upon the old homestead in Illinois, at the venerable age of seventy-eight years. Of their children six are yet living.
In taking up the personal history of Levi Smith we present to our readers the record of one who for a quarter of a century has been a well known resident of Woodson County. He was reared upon a farm, received his education in the country schools, and worked in the fields until the 9th. of August, 1862, when with his patriotic spirit aroused by the continued opposition and rebellion in the south, he offered his services to the govern- ment, joining company I. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois infantry. After two years and ten months of arduous and fearless service as a de- fender of the Union he received an honorable discharge June 8, 1865. He was in many hard fought battles, participated in the campaign from Resaca, Georgia. to Atlanta, went with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea, which proved that the Confederacy was but an empty shell, took part in the battle of Marietta and was in many other engagements and skirmishes of that campaign. He was never captured or wounded although several times his clothes were pierced with bullets and his haversack and canteen were shot away. At the close of the war he received an honorable dis- charge in Washington and was mustered out in Chicago, Illinois.
He then returned to his home and spent one year as guard on the bridge across the Illinois river. In the fall of 1876 he came to Kansas and engaged in farming upon rented land until 1884, when with the money which he had saved from his earnings he purchased eighty acres of land De mile west of Vernon, where he has since made a good home for himself
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al.d family. His possessions are a monument to his enterprise and worth, and are the visible evidence of his labor and his economy, for all that he has is the reward of his individual effort.
Mr. Smith has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Mary E. Harris, who only survived their marriage five years, and at her death left two little children : Allie, now the wife of Will Farris, a resident of Idaho, and Charles E .. who is also living in the same state. On the 20th of Novem- ber, 1879, Mr. Smith was joined in wedlock to Miss Lavisa Adams, a native of Bloomington, Illinois, born August 22, 1854. Her father, Jeremiah Adams, was a native of Indiana. and after reaching mature years wedded Elizabeth Robinson. He died when Mrs. Smith was only about a year old and her mother afterward became the wife of Edward Summerfield, who re- moved with the family to Kansas in 1866. Woodson County was then but sparsely settled and they were forced to live in true frontier style. They had to pound their meal in a mortar-for the nearest mill was at Iola, Allen County-and other primitive methods of life formed part of their pioneer experience. Mrs. Summerfield passed away in 1896, at the age of seventy- one years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born five children: Mrs. Carrie D. Porter, who died August 2, 1900, leaving a little son, Roscoe C. Porter. who is now a bright little boy of fourteen months living with his grandparents, Dora E., Newton L., Roy A. and Elza O., who are still at home.
Socially Mr. Smith is connected with Woodson Post, No. 185, G. A. R .. and thus continues his comradeship with the boys in blue. During his long residence in Woodson County he has ever commanded the respect of his fel- low citizens by reason of his genuine worth. and by all who know him he is appreciated for his commendable qualities.
FREDERICK FREVERT.
In the pioneer epoch of the history of Woodson County, Frederick Fre- vert came to Kansas and took up his abode in Owl Creek township among its first settlers. He is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred near I ippe-Detmold, November 14, 1828. His father, Conrad Frevert, was a farmer there, his ancestors having lived in that locality from time imme- morial. He married Sophia Bohlman. and unto them were born five child- ren. namely: Conrad, of Columbus, Indiana: Wilhelmina, who is yet in Germany: Frederick ; Henrietta, deceased, and Henry, who is also in the fatherland.
Mr. Frevert of this review spent his early boyhood in herding cows. and in his youth he was employed by a paper manufacturer and a brick miaker. For a year and a half he served as a soldier in the German army and according to the law of the country would have had to remain in the army for five years had he not come to America. An officer, who was his
WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS
friend, secured him a pas :: to Bremen and there he took passage on a west- ward-bound vessel, which in 1852 dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Landing at the metropolis he thence made his way to Lake County, Indiana, where he spent a year and a half as a farm hand, during seven months of the time receiving only seven dollars per month, although he did more work than most farm hands who are now paid three times that amount. He worked on the railroad for three years at a dollar and a quarter per day and about that time he met the lady whom he married. Miss Minnie War- urek becoming his wife in 1856. She is a daughter of Andrew Warwick, a Prussian, who brought his family to the United States in 1848 and located in Lee County. Illinois, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He wedded Mary Ru se, who was born in Thuringia, near the Black Forest, and died in 1854. at the age of fifty-four years. She had five children, the three now living being: Mrs. Frevert : Ernest. of Lee County, Illinois, and Mrs. Hannah Miller. also of that county.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Frevert loaded their house- hold effects into a wagon and bringing with them some cows and chickens tarted for Kansas. They were several weeks upon the road, finally crossing the Missouri river into Kansas, at Leavenworth, on the 4th of July. 1858. Their journey was continued to Neosho Falls, which contained one store in a log cabin, this being the trading point for most of the settlers along Owl creek. Mr. Frevert secured a claim of one hundred and twenty acres of land on seetion two, there locating a Black Hawk land warrant. He also took up a homestead claim and as time passed he purchased other tracts, becoming the owner of extensive and valuable realty, portions of which he has sinee given to his children.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Frevert have been born the following : Frederick : Wil- liam, of Humboldt, Kansas ; Louisa, who became the wife of August Koenig and died in 1881, leaving a daughter. Mary. who has married August Kirch- hoff, of Woodson County : Annie, wife of William Bowser. of Elk County, Kansas : Mary, wife of Robert Kemerer, of Yates Center; Verilla who mar- ried Thomas Bell, of Woodson County : Matilda. wife of Henry Stockebrand. of Yates Center : Martha, wife of Emil Stockebrand. of this County : Rosa, wife of Frank Stoekebrand : Frederick, who married Clara Henderson, and Henry who wedded Flora Durby. Both Fred and Henry reside near the old family homestead.
In early life Mr. Frevert voted for the presidential candidates of the Democracy but when Abraham Lincoln was nominated he east his ballot with the Republican party with which he was allied for a number of years. but for some time he has been a Prohibitionist. He belongs to the German Evangelical Association and his wife is a member of the United Brethren church. They are people of sterling worth and are numbered among the honored pioneers of the county in which they have so long made their home. Mr. Frevert has more than realized his anticipations of gaining a good home in the new world. He has prospered in his undertakings by improving his
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
opportunities and his valuable property is an indication of the busy and . useful life he las led.
WILLIAM M. PATTERSON.
WILLIAM M. PATTERSON, who is engaged in dealing in and ship- ping hay, his home being in Rose, has spent almost his entire life in Wood- son County, where his father William W. Patterson, located at an early day. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Alexander Patterson, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was one of ten brothers that left their home on the Emerald Isle and came to America, thus founding many branches of Pattersons in various sections of the country. James Patterson, the grandfather, removed from Virginia to Meigs County, Tennessee, and there followed farming and blacksmithing. He served his country in the war of 1812 and two of his sons were defenders of the Union during the war of the Rebellion. The grandfather spent his last days in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and at his death left a large family of sons and daughters.
William W. Patterson, the father of our subject, was born in Meigs County, Tennessee, in 1824, and there was reared, but at length was forced 10 flee from his native state on account of his Union sentiments. He accord- ingly took up his residence in Kansas. becoming a well known farmer of Woodson County. He married Martha J. Claiborne. a daughter of Jubal ('laiborne, of Knox County, Tennessee, and once the owner of the farm upon which the city of Knoxville was built. Mr. Patterson carried on farming in Woodson County, meeting with good success, until his death, which occurred in 1893, and his wife passed away in 1898. Their children were as follows: Charlotte who became the wife of Henry Peters, both now deceased ; Emma, wife of J. H. Flower; Mary, wife of James P. Kelley ; Katie, wife of B. C. Farmele, of Newton, Kansas, and William M.
The subject of this review was born in Paveshiek County, Iowa, March 17, 1863, and as the family came to Woodson County in 1866, he has practically spent his entire life here. In his youth he assisted in the work of the home farm and attended the district schools, and later he engaged in teaching school at intervals until his marriage, being accounted a successful and capable educator. Since 1893 he has in connection with farming and stock raising been engaged in dealing in and shipping hay from Rose and also from Buffalo, Roper and Yates Center. His business has constantly in- creased in volume until it is now quite extensive, and his annual sales are a very desirable source of income. He possesses good executive and business ability and above all that untiring industry which form the foundation of all prosperity. Beginning life as an assistant to his father and upon the home farm his continued success has made him the owner of 686 acres of_ land. and the operator or controller of 2,800 acres.
On the 23d of September, 1886, Mr. Patterson married Miss Cora
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Camac, daughter of I. J. Camae, of Yates Center, and they have noe child, Earle T .. who was born on the 19th of July, 1889. In his politieal affiliations Mr. Patterson is a Republican who warmly espouses the principles of the party. He has served as township elerk, has been postmaster of Rose, and always attends the township eon- ventions, while to the county conventions he has also been sent as a dele- gate. Sueh in brief is the history of a well known resident of Woodson County, a man who has the happy faculty of winning friends and of draw- ing them closer to him as the years pass by. this making him a popular and valued resident of the community.
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