USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 98
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 98
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WILLIAM B. STINES.
Forty-two years have passed sinee William B. Stines came to Woodson County and through this long period he has been prominently identified with its educational and professional intere is as a teacher and member of the bar. His labors have ever thus been in the service of his fellow men, and his record is one well worthy of commendation.
Mr. Stines is a native of Mereer County. New Jersey, born May 14, 1835. His aneestry was represented in the Revolutionary war by those who loyally aided in the struggle for independence. His paternal grand- father, Obediah Stines, was born in 1762 and died in 1839. His son, John Stines, the father of our subject, was born in New Jersey, January 29. 1803, and was there reared to manhood. He married Abigail Blake, and in 1839 he started westward with his family, making his way aeross the Allegheny mountains by wagon to Darke County, Ohio, where he settled and for a time engaged in farming. Later, however, he decided to seek a home else- where and while on his way to Illinois in search of a new location, he was taken ill and died near Cambridge City, Indiana, in 1852. His wife sur- vived him until 1875, and passed away in Randolph County. Indiana, at the age of sixty-seven years. Their children were as follows: Margaret, the widow of B. P. Smith of Randolph County, Indiana ; William B .; Abigail, the widow of Samuel Gregg, of Preble County, Ohio : Lueina, wife of James Cordon. of Randolph County, Indiana; B. M., who is also living in that County ; and Jane, wife of James Rockhill. of Randolph County, Indiana.
As his parents were in rather limited financial eireunistances they could give him little in life except an education, but knowledge is the basis of all advancement and his mental training proved a stepping stone to his rise in life. When only nineteen years of age he began teaching and for a num- ber of years followed that profession with excellent sueeess, having the ability of imparting knowledge in such a elcar and coneise manner that it never failed to leave its impress upon the minds of his pupils. On leaving Indiana lie engaged in teaching sehool in Illinois. and from Logan County. flat state, came to Kansas, settling in Coffey County, in 1858. The follow-
HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
ing year he came to Woodson County and took up his abode in what is now North township, where in the fall of 1860 he pre-empted a homestead. He. continued his educational labors in this eounty from 1861 until 1879, his fist school being in di: triet No. 2, in North township. He was county su- perintendent at the time and numbered the districts. No. 2 was eleven by fourteen miles in extent and contained only three farms paying taxes. In his school work Mr. Stine was very successful and many of the now success- ful men of the county are indebted to him for early instruction which he gave them. He held the office of county superintendent two terms and dur- ing that period labored untiringly and effectively for the improvement of the school system of this portion of the state.
In 1865, Mr. Stines took up the study of law. reading under the direc- tion of Alexander Stewart, of Leroy. He was admitted to the bar before Judge Watson and he and Judge C. B. Graves entered their first suit to- grether at Ncosho Falls, it being a civil suit involving a replevin of some. cattle. He served for one term as county attorney and at the bar has handled considerable important litigation in which he has demonstrated his familiarity with the principles of jurisprudence and his thorough under- standing of the points bearing on his cases.
On the 4th of October. 1860. Mr. Stines was united in marriage to Miss Lonisa Morgan. by whom he had three children yet living: Mary, the wife of Warren Miller : Flora B .. wife of D. J. Chambers, and R. Grant. All are residents of Woodson County. On the 28th of May. 1871, Mr. Stines was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Elgiva Miller, a daughter of Russell Morgan, and a sister of his first wife. The father came originally from Clay County, Indiana. His wife was a Miss Bryan. There is but one child of the second marriage Ethelyn. now the wife of J. G. Ward, of Cha- nute, Kansas. On the 14th of May, 1882. Mr. Stines was joined in wedlock to Miss Laura Farnam, a daughter of Asa Farnam, who was captain of Com- pany E, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry during the Civil war and died in Chi- eago, March 18. 1892. He was born in Geneseo County, New York, and married Almeda Smith, by whom he had seven children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stines have been born two daughters. Almeda A. and Edna M.
In his political views Mr. Stines has always been a stalwart Republi- can, giving an inflexible support to the principles and policy of the party. In addition to the offices which he has filled in the line of his professions, he has served for four years as county surveyor. He is heartily in sympathy with temperance work, believing in the abolishment of the saloons, but is not a "third party" man. He co-operates in all movements for the general good. and has lived an upright. honorable life, above reproach. His record will hear the closest serntiny for he has ever been a man who has stood "four square to every wind that blows."
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SUMNER C. HOLCOMB.
Kansas has always been distinguished for the high rank of her bench and bar. Perhaps none of the newer states can justly boast of abler jurists and attorneys. Many of them have been men of national fame, and among those whose lives have been passed on a quieter plane there is scarcely a town or city in the state but can boast of one or more lawyers capable of crossing swords in forensic combat with any of the distinguished legal lights of the United States. While the growth and development of the state in the last half a century has been most marvelous, viewed from any stand- point, yet of no class of her citizenship has she greater reason for just pride than her judges and attorneys. In Mr. Holcomb we find united many of the rare qualities which go to make up the successful lawyer. He possesses perhaps few of those dazzling, meteoric qualities which have sometimes flashed along the legal horizon, riveting the gaze and blinding the vision for a moment, then disappearing. leaving little or no trace behind, but rather has those solid and more substantial qualities which shine with a constant luster, shedding light in the dark places with steadiness and continuity. His mind is analytieal, logical and inductive. With a thorough and comprehen- sive knowledge of fundamental principles of law. he combines a familiarity with statutory law and a sober, clear judgment, which makes him a formid- able adversary in legal combat.
Mr. Holcomb was born in Gallia County, Ohio, January 7, 1857, and is at son of John E. Holcomb. The grandfather, Samuel R. Holcomb, was bern in New York and served his country in the Black Hawk war, thus hx coming known as General Holcomb. He became a resident of Ohio, made farming his life work, and died in 1867. at the advanced age of ninety-one years. John E. Holcomb was born in the Buckeye state in 1817, became a merchant of Gallia, and during the time of the Civil war served as provost marshal. In 1865 he left Ohio for Missouri, and spent his remain- ing days in the latter state, dying in Butler, Missouri, in 1889. In politics he was a staunch Republican. He wedded Mary Matthews, who was born in Gallia County, Ohio, and died in 1894. Their children are: P. H., a lawyer of Bates County, Missouri : A. T., an attorney of Portsmouth, Ohio; Eliza, wife of Richard Wilcox, of Bates County. Missouri; Sarah, wife of John Bybee, of Cass County, Missouri : Charles M., of Greenwood County, Kansas, and Sumner.
The last named was a lad of nine years when his parents removed to Missouri. He acquired a good English education in the schools of Butler, that state. and there took up the study of law under the direction of his brother, being admitted to the bar before Judge Foster P. Wright, in 1880. He began practice there, remaining a member of the bar of Butler for three years after which he came to Woodson Connty, settling in Toronto in 1885. There he continuously engaged in practice until elected to the office of county attorney. His reputation as a lawyer of ability has been won and strengthened in his condnet of many important cases. He is regarded hy
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his fellow members of the bar as a conscientious and painstaking attorney whose thoroughness is manifest in all litigation with which he is connected. He practices in all the state courts in a general way and has a large elient- age. In 1898 he was elected county attorney on a Fusion tieket, and in 1900 he was nominated by the Demoeracy, winning the election by a ma- jurity of one hundred and seventy-nine, although Mckinley carried the county by three hundred votes. Such an election is unmistakable evidence ot his popularity and his high standing among those who know him best.
In Woodson County, in August, 1892, Mr. Holcomb was joined in wed- kek to Miss Margaret Truman, a daughter of Jehu Truman, who came from Virginia to Kansas. They now have two children, Lydia G. and Sumner C .. Jr. Mr. Holcomb is a member of the Order of Red Men and the Modern Woodmen of America. He cast his first presidential vote for General James A. Garfield in 1880, but left the Republican party in 1892. He has never taken a particularly active part in politics, and his eleetion to the office of county attorney has come to him as a merited tribute to his ability. In demeanor he is quiet and unostentatious, in manner is pleasant and genial-an approachable gentleman who enjoys the friendship of å se- loet circle of acquaintances.
ADAM KELLER.
ADAM KELLER, who follows farming in Everett township, Wood- son County, was born in :andotte County, Ohio, September 26. 1845. His father, Adam Keller, Sr., was a native of Berks County, Pennsyl- vania and married Elizabeth Stahl, who was also born in the Keystone state, whence they removed to Ohio in 1834. The father had visited Wy- andot County the year previous and purchased one hundred and ninety acres of land in the green forest, making the journey to and from Pennsyl- vania on foot. The following year he brought his family to his new home. arriving at his destination with a cash capital of fifty cents. In 1848 his wife died, leaving to his care their eight small children. He was after- ward married twice, and was the father of twenty children. Five of the children of the first marriage are still living, and nine of the other mar- riage. Mr. Keller died on his farm in Wyandot County, Ohio, in 1883. when seventy-two years of age, and his widow is still living on the old homestead there.
Adam Keller of this review was the seventh child of the first mar- riage. He remained with his father until he had attained his majority and then went to Iowa to visit his brother. He spent several years in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, working by the month as a farm hand. ard then returned to Ohio, where he was employed for two years by his father. There on the 18th of September, 1872, he was married to Miss Mary Parish, a native of Hancock County. Ohio, and a daughter of Archi-
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WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS.
bald and Elizabeth (Gordon) Parish, oth of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. The father is still living at the age of seventy-five years, but the mother died on the 5th of June, 1883, at the age of fifty-two. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom yet survive, Mrs. Keller being the third in order of birth.
The wedding journey of Mr. and Mrs. Keller consisted of their trip 10 Woodson County, arriving in Neosho Falls on the 21st of September, 1872. Our subject purchased eighty acres of land in the southern part of Everett township, and there remained for two years after which he went 1, Allen County, renting and operating a farm in the river bottoms for a year. On the expiration of that period he purchased eighty acres on Cherry creek in the southern portion of Everett township, seven miles northeast of Yates Center, where he now owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. His home occupies a beautiful location, sur- rounded by a grove of forest trees, while a fine orchard yields its fruits in season, and the fields bring forth rich harvests of golden grain. There is a large red barn and white house and other substantial outbuildings, and Mr. Keller is successfully engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing.
Mr. and Mrs. Keller have never had any children of their own, but hi ve reared an adopted son, Harry Keller, who came to them when six years of age, and is now a youth of fourteen. Their friends and ac- quaintances in the community are many, for their genuine worth attracts 10 them the sincere regard of those who care for the qualities which in " cry land and clime command respect. Mr. Keller votes with the Re- In blican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have never had a strong enough attraction for him to induce him to sacrifice his business in- tr rests to seek office, and in his farm work he has found a good financial return.
JOHN O. HAMILTON.
JOHN O. HAMILTON is one of the enterprising, wide-awake young business men of Vernon, where he is conducting a grocery store and also dealing in hay. His entire life has been passed in Kansas, his birth hav- ing occurred in Leroy, Coffey County, January 28, 1864. Hle and his twin brother. Charles C., are the eldest in a family of twelve children born unto Alexander and Jane Hamilton. When our subject was two years old the father sold his business interests in Leroy and removed to Wood- son County, purchasing a large tract of land in Everett township, near where the town of Vernon is now located. Thus John O. Hamilton was reared upon a farm and early became familiar with the methods of in- strmetion in the common schools, where he acquired his education. He also spent one term in the school of Neosho Falls. At home he was trained
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in the work of handling cattle and soon became an excellent judge of stock. When he was a youth of fifteen he began driving cattle for his fether from the Indian Territory, and from other parts of Kansas, his time being thus occupied until he was twenty years of age.
On account of failing health Mr. Hamilton then went to Colorado, where he worked on a cattle ranch for a year, when he returned to his home in Kansas and thence made his way to Marceline, Missouri, being there engaged in conducting a grocery store for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he once more came to Woodson County and here on the 30th of January, 1889 was united in marriage to Miss Emma Mor- gan, daughter of Dr. J. Morgan, now of Iola.
After his marriage Mr. Hamilton followed farming for four years and then purchased property in Vernon, on which he built a good barn, resi- dence and store. He has since conducted a grocery store, of which his wife is in charge, while his attention is given to the hay business. He buys and ships may quite extensively and his sales in both branches of his en- terprise now amount to six thousand dollars annually. His trade is stead- ily increasing. and it is, safe to predict that a still more brilliant success awaits him. He is yet a young man, full of energy, determination and laudable ambition, and his labors cannot fail to bring prosperity.
Mr. Hamilton is a member of Vernon Council, No. 7690, M. W. A., and in politics he is a Democrat. He was appointed postmaster of Vernon under President Cleveland's second administration and served in that ea- pacity for four years with entire satisfaction to all the patrons of the of- fice. As a public-spirited citizen and business man he is numbered among the valued residents of the community, and is held in high regard by all with whom he is associated.
WILLIAM WILKINSON.
Although a native of one of the eastern states, Mr. Wilkinson was reared in the west and is imbued with the true western spirit of progress and enterprise-a spirit which has wrought the wonderful development of the Mississippi valley carrying forward the work of progress so rapidly ti at it is commonly referred to as "magical." Mr. Wilkinson first opened his eyes to the light of day in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, July 9. 1834, and is of Irish lineage. His father, William Wilkinson, Sr., was born in County Derry, Ireland, but in the early part of the nineteenth century came to America on a British war vessel which had just been engaged in the war of 1812. that had ended only a short time previous. Ere leav- ing the Emerald Isle he was united in marriage to Miss Ann MeDougal and one child was born to them ere they came to the United States.
On reaching the new world Mr. Wilkinson located in Philadelphia. where he conducted a small cloth factory until 1840, when accompanied
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by his family he went to Illinois, locating upon a farm on which he lived over thirty years, then moved to Farmington, Illinois, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring at the advanced age of ninety-four years. His children were: Mary, deceased wife of Thomas Bell ; Samuel. who has also passed away ; Annie, deceased wife of Henry Rogers; John of Fulton County, Illinois, and William, of this review. All were mar- ried and reared families of their own. George who was killed near At- lanta, during the Civil war : Elizabeth died in 1893. and Rebecca, who still lives on the home place.
In the city of his birth William Wilkinson spent the first six years of his life and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Fulton County, Illinois, where he was reared upon a farm. He spent the winter month in the district schools near his home, and in the summer followed the plow and the harrow and aided in thre hing and harvesting the erops. When he began life on his own account he took up the calling to which he had been reared. devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits until his enlistment in the army. He first visited Kansas in 1860. on a prospect- ing tour, and being pleased with the state he returned for his family whom he brought to the state in the fall of that year. making a location on a farm south of Fort Scott. The erops suffered from a drouth the follow- ing year. and without harvesting the little grain which he had succeed- el in raising he returned to Illinois.
In 1862 Mr. Wilkinson enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry. under Colonel Dickerman. His regiment belonged to the Army of the Tennessee and was first under fire at Jackson, after which it participated in the Vicks- burg and Memphis campaigns. Mr. Wilkinson was also in the Atlanta campaign until after the capture of the city. when he resigned his com- mission as first lieutenant and returned to his home. He had enlisted as a private, had been elected by the company to the office of sergeant, was afterward promoted to orderly sergeant, then to recond lieutenant and finally to first lieutenant. at Scottsboro, Alabama.
Upon his return home Mr. Wilkinson engaged in merchandising at Farmington, Illinois, following that business until 1874. when he returned to the farm, which line of labor claimed his attention until his retirement to private life in 1897. In 1882 he again came to Kansas. locating upon a farm in Owl Creek township, Woodson County. where he successfully eul- tivated the fields until 1897. He then removed to Yates Center where he has since made his home, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. Industry and perseverance have been the salient features of his career and have brought to him a very desirable competence.
On the 24th of May, 1857. ocenrred the marriage of Mr. Wilkinson and Miss Sarah M. Simpson, a daughter of John and Margaret (Cordner) Simpson, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former of County Tyrone and the latter of County Derry. On coming to America the father
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located in Phialdelphia, Pennsylvania, and in 1835 removed thence to Il- linois, where he died in 1854, at the age of fifty-three years. He had seven children who reached adult age: Annie. wife of H. R. Rose, a resi- dent of Avon Illinois; Margaret, deceased wife of Howard Sebree; Wil- liam, of Fort Scott, Kansas: James, who died in the army; John, of Farmington, Ill., Mary, wife of Blake Barrows, and Mrs. Wilkinson.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children-Fred and Annie M. The former was born November 23 ,1858, was principally reared upon a farm and acquired a high school education. He is now half proprietor and editor of the Yates Center Advocate. He was married in Avon, Illinois, to Minnie Ransom, and his children are Clarence and Leon. In his political views William Wilkinson is a Republican and since casting his first presidential vote for Fremont he has Lever failed to vote at a presidential election but once . The Wilkinsons are all Episcopalians and our subject is of that religious faith, although his wife was raised in the Presbyterian church. In a pleasant home in Yates Center this worthy couple are now residing, surrounded with the. comforts which go to make life worth the living and which have been pro- cured through the earnest and indefatigable labors of Mr. Wilkinson in former years.
ROBERT B. LEEDY.
The concensus of public opinion places Mr. Leedy among the popular citizens as well as enterprising and prosperous farmers of Woodson county. He is so well known in this portion of Kansas that he needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, most of whom are well acquainted with his- useful and upright career. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 22, 1847, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of that state. his paternal grandfather having located there in 1811, only a few years after the admission of the state into the Union. Samuel Leedy, the father of our subject, was also a native of the Buckeye state, and there married Margaret Whitnah, who was born in New York, of Scotch parent- age. He lived and died in Ohio, passing away in 1853, when he had reached the thirty-sixth milestone on life's journey. His wife still survives him and at the age of eighty-two years is yet living in Ohio. This worthy couple were the parents of six children. five of whom are yet living; namely : Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson, who is living in Ohio; Mrs. Virginia Hays, a resident of Kansas City, Kansas ; Robert B: ; John W., who was at one time governor of Kansas and is now living in Seattle, Washington ; and H. C., who is a resident of Burlington, Kansas.
Robert B. Leedy was reared in Ohio. working upon the farm in sum- mer and doing chores for his board while he attended school in winter, until 1864, when at the early age of seventeen years he enlisted in his
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country's : ervice as a member of company D. One Hundred and Sixty-third Chio infantry, which became a part of General Butler's command. He was at City Point when that place was besieged by the rebels. He remained at the front until the term of his enlistment had expired when he returned to his Ohio home and became a student at the Bellville high school, thus fitting himself for a business career, after which he seeured a position in the employ of the firm of J. J. Cover & Company of Johnsville. For two Years he engaged in clerking, and in 1868 he went to Indiana, where he stayed one year and moved then to Illinois, following farming through the summer months, while in the winter season he engaged in teaching school, soon demonstrating his ability to impart with clearness and readiness to others the knowledge he had acquired. He saved much of his earnings and was thus enabled at a later date to purchase a farm.
In the year 1884 Mr. Leeay came to Kansas, arriving in Neosho Falls on the 10th of December. He purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres two miles west and a half mile north of the town, and has since made his home upon this place. He has a tract of rich ho'tom land, raises fine crops of corn. wheat and potatoes, and also keeps some stoek. A pleasant residence and good barn stand near the Ncosho river and no accessory of the model farm of the present day is laeking.
While in Illinois, on the 7th of September, 1876. Mr. Leedy was joined in wedloek to Miss Juliet Newport, a native of Montgomery county, that 'state, and their marriage has been blessed with six children. all of whom are vet living, namely : Mary Virginia. at home: Margaret Juliet. who is "teaching in the home district : Oliver O .. who is in school ; Robert Franklin, Edna and Eugene Newport. who are still under the parental roof. The members of the household occupy an enviable position in the social eireles in which they move and their friends are many. Socially Mr. Leedy is connected with Woodson lodge No. 78. K. P., at Neosho Falls, and with B. I'. Goss Pest. G. A. R., of the same place. He cast his first presidential vote in 1868 for U. S. Grant, when in Indiana and for some time advocated the principles of the republican party. but is now a populist. He has been quite prominent in public affairs, and in 1891 he was elected on the populist tieket to represent Woodson county in the state legislature, where Te proved a capable member, giving an earnest support to all measures which in his judgment seemed calculated to serve the ends of public god and advancement.
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