USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 99
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 99
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JAMES P. KELLEY.
JAMES P. KELLEY, who is now oceupying the position of county clerk in Yates Center, was for some years identified with the building in- terests of this eity and has been a resident of Woodson County for thirty years-years in which great changes have been wrought as civilization
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has advanced westward, leaving in her wake all the improvements known to the longer-settled east. Mr. Kelley has ever manifested a commendable interest in every hing pertaining to the welfare of the county and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to the office which he is now creditably filling.
Almost half the width of the continent separates his present resi- dence from the place of his birth, for he is a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, born May 12, 1845. The family is of Irish lineage and was planted on American soil by Alexander Kelley, the grandfather of our subject. who came from Cork, Ireland, to the New World and took up Ins abode in the Keystone state where he spent his remaining days, leav- ing a large family. One of the number, George Kelley, was the father of our subject. He too, was a native of Fayette County, born in the year 1806, aud in 1848 he removed with his family to Stark County, Ohio, where he carried on agricultural pursuits, finding his time fully occupied with the labors of the farm, whereby he provided for his wife and children. He married Margaret Sholes and they were the parents of four children. of whom James P. is the youngest. After the death of the mother the father was again married, and by the second union had three children.
James P. Kelley was only three years of age when he accompanied his father to Stark County. Ohio, where he was reared, acquiring his education in the common schools and working on the farm through the period of his youth . He afterward engaged in teaching school and also learned the carpenter's trade, to which he has devoted many years of his active busi- ness carcer. In 1865 he removed from Stark County, Ohio, to Hancock County, Illinois, where he remained until coming to Kansas in 1870. He located in what was then Owl Creek township, but is now Eminence town- ship, Woodson County, and secured a claim. which he at once began to improve, for the land was in its primitive condition, not a furrow having been turned hitherto. He made the journey to this state with a company of people, come of whom are yet residing in Woodson County, and like him have aided in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization. His training at farm labor in his youth proved to him a valuable experience when he began the work of cultivating his fields here. He continued the operation of his farm until 1889, when he became a resident of the county seat. again resuming work at the carpenter's trade. Evidences of his skill and ability in that direction are seen in some of the most substantial and attractive buildings of the city. In 1899. however, he was elected to the position of county clerk and the duties of the office now claim his undivided attention.
In May, 1872, Mr. Kelley was married to Miss Mary Patterson, a daughter of W. W. Patterson, a farmer of Woodson County who came to the Sunflower state from Tennessee. Their marriage has been blessed with two children. Ellora and Crystal, the former now the wife of W. R. David- son, of Sedgwick County, Kansas. Although his father was a Democrat and
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he was accordingly reared in that political faith. Mr. Kelley has always been a Republican, unwavering in support of the principles of the party of progress, and on that ticket he was chosen to the position which he is now filling. As a citizen he is honorable, prompt and faithful to every engagement, and as a man he has the esteem and confidence of all classes, of all creeds and political. proclivities.
S. R. SHAW.
Farming and stock-raising claim the attention of many enterprising and successful business men of Woodson County. among which number is accounted S. R. Shaw, of Everett township. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, January 1, 1857, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Kelso) Shaw, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. About the year 1831 the father went to Illinois, settling in the midst of the green forest, where he developed a farm upon which he made his home until 1868 -the date of his removal to Schuyler County, Missouri, where his remain- ing days were passed, his death occurring January 20, 1890, when he had attained the age of seventy-nine years, eleven months and twenty-four days. He would have reached the eightieth anniversary of his birth had he lived seven days longer. His widow still survives him and makes her home in Schuyler County at the age of sixty-seven years.
S. R. Shaw is the eldest of their six children. He received a good common-school education, qualifying him for the duties of practical business life, and was reared upon a farm, remaining with his parents until twenty-one years of age. In the fall of 1878 he came to Kansas, mak- ing the journey by wagon and team to Coffey County, where he rented a tract of land and began farming on his own account. As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life he chose Miss Eleanor Redfern. a native of Ohio and a daughter of Austin N. and Mary Jane (Leach) Redfern, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They came to Kansas from Schuyler County, Missouri, in the spring of 1878, settling in Coffey County, where Mr. Redfern died in June, 1896, at the age of seventy-nine years. his wife being called to her final rest in March, 1897, at the age of seventy-four. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are yet living, Mrs. Shaw being the youngest. The marriage of our subject and his wife was celebrated on the 14th. of November, 1878, and their union has been blessed with five sons and a daughter: Wesley O., Roland M., G. Hurst, Lawrence 1 .. Glenn and Alice B., the last named being a little maiden of six summers.
Mr. Shaw continued to engage in the operation of rented land until 1884. when with the money he had been able to save from his earnings he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the western portion of Everett township, Woodson County. In 1895, however, he sold that property and again rented land for three years. In the meantime he was
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extensively engaged in raising and handling cattle and hogs. In 1897 he purchased two hundred acres of land where he now resides, his home being pleasantly and conveniently situated less than a mile west of Vernon. Here he has a good residence and has erected a large barn and is engaged in general farming and stock-dealing, raising, buying and feeding and shipping hogs and cattle. Ile feeds about one hundred head of hogs and about the same number of cattle each year and thus furnishes a good market for the farmers of the community for their grain and stock. He has been wonderfully successful since he come to Kansas for all he now has i- the acquirement of his labor in this state, and is the well merited reward of his diligence and perseverance.
Mr. Shaw votes with the Democracy, but has never been an active poli- tician and especially has never sought office, but without solicitation on his part his fellow townsmen elected him to the position of trustee of Everett township in which he is now serving his second term, his reliability and fidelity winning him re-election.
ANDREW J. HUFF.
The lives of some men stand out in bold relief as examples of what may be accomplished by perseverance, industry and a steady determina- tion to succeed and make a place for themselves among their fellow men. Success rarely comes to him who labors not for it. This line of thought is suggested as we review the life record of Mr. Huff, who for some years was a well known educator of Woodson County and is now ex-clerk of the district court.
He was born in Dubois County, Indiana. December 8, 1866, and is a son of Jefferson Huff, who now resides in Toronto township, where he is successfully engaged in farming, carrying on operations on an extensive scale. He has large tracts of land under cultivation, and is raising and feeding stock in large numbers.
Andrew J. Huff spent the first fifteen years of his life in the county of his nativity, and during that time acquired a common-school education and was trained to farm work. early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He arrived in south- eastern Kansas in 1881 and took up his abode upon a farm in Toronto township where he remained until called to public office. In the meantime he had supplemented his early educational privileges by study in the Fort Scott Normal, of Fort Scott, Kansas, and had engaged in teaching for ten years in the district schools and in the city of Toronto. His labors in that direction gave uniform satisfaction and largely promoted intellectual activity. He continually strove to improve the methods of teachings and his work was effective and beneficial.
The Huffs have ever been Republicans, unfaltering in support of the
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principles and measures of the party, and in 1888, Andrew J. Huff cast his first presidential vote, depositing his ballot for General Benjamin Harri- son. In 1894 he was nominated for the position of district clerk, but met defeat by seven votes. In 1896. however, he received the unanimous sup- port of the party as a candidate for that office and at the polls was given a majority of one hundred and fifty-three. He filled the position so capably that he was re-elected in 1898 by the increased majority of three hundred and sixty-nine, so that he was retained in the office for four years. Socially he is identified with the Odd Fellows society, and is highly esteemed in the fraternity as well as in other walks of life where his genial manner and sterling qualities pass current as a readily accepted medium of ex- change for the merited regard and confidence of his fellow men.
SILAS L. NAYLOR.
No man is better known in this part of Kansas, nor has a better record for honesty and faithful allegiance to the Republican party than Silas L. Naylor, who has never wavered in his support of the political organization which has ever championed reform and progress. On its ticket he was elected to the office of county recorder in 1899 and his incumbency is one which reflects credit upon the party and is proving entirely satisfactory 15 his constituents.
A native of Rock Island County, Illinois, he was born January 12, 1860, and is of Swiss lineage. A representative of the family left the land of the Alps to try his fortune in the New World, selling his time for his passage to some English Quakers. The name was then spelled Warchler, but as he was not able to speak his name so that the Quaker family could readily comprehend it they called him Nailer, and thus the family has been known to the present time. Four generations of the Naylors have resided in Penn- sylvania. Samuel Naylor, the father of our subject, was born near Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and now resides in Yates Center, having almost reached the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. His wife bore the maiden name of Ann Albert. and by her marriage she became the mother o.' nine children, of whom seven are yet living, all residents of Woodson County with the exception of Samuel H. Naylor, who is now living in Cali- fornia.
Silas L. Naylor was the seventh in order of birth in his parents' family, and spent the first nine years of his life upon his father's farm in Rock Island County, Illinois. He then came to Woodson County in the year 1869 and for eight years was a resident of Liberty township. Since that time he has resided at intervals in the city of Yates Center, the re- mainder of the time upon a farm. He acquired his education in the common schools and without having the advantage of a high school course he fitted himself for passing an examination which won for him a first grade
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teacher's certificate. For eleven years he was engaged in teaching in Wood- son County and was classed among the successful educators in this part of the state. He has not only acquired comprehensive knowledge, but has the ability to impart it elearly and readily to others, his instruction never fail- ing to impress the minds of the students. At the present time his atten- tion is given entirely to his official duties. He has not a blood relation who is not a Republican, stauneh and true, and in 1899 he became the candidate of that party for the office of recorder of Woodson County. He won the election by two hundred and thirty-two votes, succeeding J. L. Martin in the office. In the discharge of the tasks which devolve upon him he is prompt and notably reliably, and during his incumbency the public trust has never been betrayed in the slightest degree.
On the 27th. of May, 1883, Mr. Naylor was united in marriage to Miss Maggie M. Taylor, a daughter of George W. Taylor, a farmer by oe- eupation. He came to Woodson County from Iowa, but had formerly re- sided in Ohio. Four children graee the union of Mr. and Mrs. Naylor. as follows: Edith L., Claude H., Muriel A. and Johnnie L., all of whom are still under the parental roof excepting the latter who died June 30th .. 1900. The parents have many friends in the community. Mr. Naylor is very widely known on account of his connection with educational inter- ests, as well as the active part which he has taken in political affairs, and wherever he is known he is held in high regard by reason of his sterling qualities of character which have won him advancement in professional life. He is a man of marked individuality and strong character and is accounted one of the valued residents of the county seat.
CHARLES H. LANDES.
Among the young men of Yates Center whose prominence in public affairs and ability in business life have won for them a position among leading citizens of twice their years is Charles H. Landes, an enterprising and successful grocer . His keen discrimination, sound judgment, relia- bility and energy well qualify him for the management of mercantile interests and his opinions carry weight in regard to many movements and measures relative to the general welfare.
Mr. Landes was born in Woodson County, on the 7th. of November, 1864, and is a son of the late Isaac S. Landes, an honored pioneer of this sec- tion of the state, long connected with agricultural pursuits. He was born ir. Kentucky in 1836. His father was a farmer and was of Virginian parentage. It was in the fall of 1859 that Isaac S. Landes eame to Kansas, loeating in Center township, Woodson County. He came from Auburn. Sangamon County, Illinois, leaving his home in August of that year. with a yoke of oxen and a wagon into which he loaded his household effects. With his wife and child he then started westward. concluding the trip in
WOODSON COUNTIES. KANSAS.
Your weeks. On reaching Woodson County he homesteaded a claim on see- tion twenty-five, township twenty-four, range fifteen, and began the actual work of cultivating and improving a farm. In the fall of his arrival he crected a cabin containing one room and split the rails with which to fence fifteen acres of land. His first crop was one of sod corn, which yielded him only one load of fodder for that was the year of the excessive drought-1860. In his effort to save the fodder his oxen became frightened, ran away and scattered the load over the priarie.
During the period of hard times which followed the drought, Mr. Landes provided for his family by doing butchering for the Germans on Owl creek and by freighting, and in those ways he earned many an honest dollar which aided in tiding him over the period of financial depression in this part of the state. Game was also plentiful, and not a great distance away buffalo could be secured. Mr. Landes thus killed enough game 10 supply the table with meat, and as the years passed his farm became productive and his erops materially increased his ineome. He became one of the substantial farmers of his community and was widely known as a reliable business man. During the war of the Rebellion he belonged to the Kansas State militia and for about a month was engaged in an attempt to check the Rebel General Price on his raid against Fort Scott. He participated in the famous run from Moonlight's men who were thought to be Price's men, and five miles were covered before Colonel Moonlight could call the fleeing troops back. Mr. Landes also took an active part in political affairs during pioneer days in Woodson County and was well known for his support of Republican principles even when it was quite unpopular to belong to the new party.
Mrs. Isaac Landes, the mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Christina Shutt and was a daughter of Henry Shutt. who is still a resi- dont of Sangamon County. Illinois. where he has made his home since early pioneer days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Landes were born the following ramed: Sallie, who became the wife of J. M. Wolfer (and after his death wedded Frank MeGinnis) died leaving one child, Godfrey McGinnis : Frank, the second of the family, is also deceased: Charles H. is the next younger : Daniel E. has also passed away; Hale is living in Yates Center : Ollie is the wife of Guy Myers, of Wichita. Kansas: Jessie is the deceased wife of F. M. Finley, and Davis completes the family.
Charles H. Landes has spent almost his entire life in his native county. His boyhood days were passed upon the home farm and the sun shown down upon many a field as he followed the plow and planted the grain that brought rich harvests in the autumn. He pursued his preliminary edu- cation in the district schools and later was a student in the Kansas State Normal School. For three years he resided in Kiowa County, during the early period of its development. and for two years of that time he was agent at Brenham for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. In October. 1896. he opened a grocery store in Yates Center where he has
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since carried on business. He has a carefully selected but complete stock of staple and fancy groceries and the business poliey is such as to make those who once patronize him his constant patrons. His dealings are honorable and his consideration and desire to please have won him continually inereas- ing success.
On the 21st. of October. 1886, Mr. Landes was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Funston, a daughter of John L. Funston, of Yates Center, originally from Ohio. Her death occurred April 21, 1895, and three ehil- dren were left to mourn her loss-Herbert Ross, Charles Harrison and Ruth Irene, who reside in Yates Center with their father. With a full realization of the obligations and duties of citizenship Mr. Landes has given close thought to the questions affecting the general welfare and his mature deliberation sanctions the policy and principles of the Repub- liean party. He therefore gives to it his earnest support and is a worker in its ranks in Woodson County. For one year he was chairman of the ecunty committee and was its youngest member. His ability as an or- ganizer, his tact in harmonizing the working forees and his keen discern- ment, enabling him to manage all affairs effectively, have made him a leader i :: Republican ranks. He co-operates in all measures for the general good and for advancement along substantial lines of progress, and is an esteemed representative of one of the honored pioneer families of his county.
FRED HARTWIG.
Almost forty-three years have come and gone sinee Fred Hartwig ar- rived in Woodson County. Casting in his Iot with the pioneer settlers, he took up the work of making a home for himself and at the same time bore his full share in the labor ofprogress and development in this seetion of the state. He aided in reelaiming the wild land for purposes of civiliza- t'on and in promoting the work of advancement along substantial and beneficial lines. Throughout the decades he has been accounted one of the valued and reliable eitizens of the community.
Mr. Hartwig was born in Prummern, Prussia, on the 8th. of August, 1850. and is a son of Gottlieb and Minnie (Pribbernow) Hartwig, the latter a sister of Christian Pribbernow, formerly a resident of Owl Creek township, Woodson County. About the year 1856 the parents with their .children bade adieu to the fatherland and crossed the briny deep to the New World, taking up their abode in Kane County, Illinois, where they made their home for a year and then came to Kansas, settling in Woodson County. The father was for many years a resident of Humboldt. How- ever, the family first located near Leroy, Coffey County, and in 1863 removed to the German settlement on Owl creek. The father resides in Humboldt, Kansas, and the mother passed away in 1878. Their ehil- dren were : William : Charles, who was a member of the Ninth Kansas Regi-
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ment in the Civil war and died at Fort Scott: Amelia, who died in 1863 Fred; Bertha, who was the wife of Martin Henrichs and died in 1890, and Henry, who died in 1885.
The subject of this review is therefore the only surviving member of the family. He acquired his education in the district schools, and re- mained under the parental roof throughont the period of his minority. In October, 1873, in Woodson County, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Smith, a daughter of Charles Smith. who came to Kansas from Ohio, where he was born. Nine children have been born unto our subject and his wife: Louise. now the wife of James Leonard, of Woodson County; Wil- liam, who married Grace Waymer and is living in Woodson County. Bertha, wife of Marion Beekett. of Woodson County: Augusta. the wife of Harry Peters, of Rose, Kansas: John, Pearl. Clara, Florence and Hazel, all at home.
Mr. Hartwig gives his political support to the Democracy, voting for its men and measures, but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his time and attention to his farming operation, which he carries on with success. His practicai experience well fitted him for the conduct of business on his own account. and throughout his active career he has been identified with agricultural interests, deriving his income from the products of the fields.
ALBERT J. JONES.
In the legal profession, which embraces many of the most brilliant minds of the nation. it is difficult to win a name and place of prominence. Many aspire, but few attain. In commercial life one may start ont on a more elevated plane than others : he may enter into a business already es- tablished and carry it still further forward, but this is not true in the case of the lawyer. He must commence at the initial point, must plead and win his first ease and work his way upward by ability. gaining his repita- tion and success by merit. Persons do not place their legal business in un- sko led hands: it is the man of power before judge or jury who comman.Is puede patronage. Of this class Mr. Jones is an illustrious type. He began 's a !! « thers do in the practice of law, and his present prominence has come to him as the reward of earnest endeavor, fidelity to trust and recog- mixed ality.
Mr. Jones was born in Warren County. Indiana, June 10, 1857, and is a son of William Jones, a farmer, who became a resident of Indiana in his boyhood. William Jones was born in Ohio in 1827 and after arriving at years of maturity he married Martha S. Tyler. a daughter of Parker Tyler. who removed from Massachusetts to the Hoosier state. In 1866 William Jones left Indiana and came to the west, settling near Garnett, Kansas. whence he afterward removed to the vicinity of Geneva, Kansas. At the
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present time he is residing in Yates Center. His children are: Anna A., wife of Thomas L. Mix, who resides near Osborn, Missouri; Albert J .; Eva L., wife of William Harned. of Crawford County, Kansas, and Wilber S., of Wellston. Oklahoma.
Since 1869 Mr. Jones of this review has resided in southeastern Kan- sas. He attended the common schools and then pursued a full course in the State Normal, at Emporia, where he was graduated. He met the expenses of his normal course by teaching and for thirteen years he followed that pro- fession, becoming widely recognized as one of the most capable instructors in this portion of the state. He was principal of the schools of Kinsley for one year, of Toronto for a similar period and of Neosho Falls for three years. Prominent and successful in educational work, he conducted several teachers' institutes, has been a member of the county examining board for eight years and has also been president of the County Teachers' Associa- tion.
Mr. Jones was admitted to the bar in 1890, and has steadily advanced in his profession, having long since left the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few. A loeal journal said of him: "Among the legal fraternity in this judicial distriet no one is more favorably known than A. J. Jones. His private and professional career has been such as to inspire the fullest confidence in his trustworthiness and ability. His practice is a general one and a specialty is made of probate law, in which, from wide experience he is highly proficient. He has practiced in the appellate and supreme courts in the United States courts and in the departments at Washington. An important feature of his practice is the drawing up of papers and correct legal counsel in which his marked ability is recognized."
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