USA > Kansas > Atchison County > History of Atchison County, Kansas > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
Sidney Martin acquired his education in the schools of Atchison, and later completed a course in the Platte City (Missouri) Academy. He was reared on his father's farm, near Atchison, and assisted in its carrying on until about sixteen years of age. He then secured employment with Mr. Teuschau, a pioneer French trader and freighter, who had an Indian wife. He was also with the Scotch freighter. Kisskadden, on several trips. The latter recommended him as a capable guide and driver to G. T. Smith, who wished to secure the services of some one who could take his wife and baby, and the aged wife of his partner, from Atchison to Denver in 1864, where Smith owned a hardware store. Although but sixteen years of age, young Martin secured the job. This was in 1864, a time when the Indians were on the war path and Smith's wagon with young Martin as driver, started alone. but joined a freighting outfit numbering some forty wagons and drivers. Just before they reached Ft. Kearney at Big Sandy, they met flee- ing Blue River ranchmen, who were hurrying to the nearest settlement, and who told them the Indians were on the war path. They stayed all night at
396
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
the home of a settler and heard the following day that Indians had mur- dered the settler's family and burned their house. The wife of Smith's part- ner was insistent on a proper observance of the Sabbath day, and while in the Indian country caused Mrs. Smith to order that their wagon remain in camp over Sunday. The wagon train left them behind and the Lord's day was properly kept by the women, although they were warned by Martin that it was dangerous to leave the protection of the train. As related by Martin "that was the longest day I ever spent." About midnight he fed and harnessed the team and started on with the intention of joining the train of eleven men and wagons which had preceded them. At sunrise they reached a lone ranch and its owner, who was postmaster, told Martin the wagons were just ahead, over the first hill. Here he mailed a letter to his mother. On arriving at the hill top Martin was able to see the valley where the train had camped. The wagons were in flames, had been robbed of their contents, a large part of which was whiskey. Two women were taken cap- tives and the eleven freighters had been killed and scalped by Indians. The savages had indulged in the captured whiskey and were so thoroughly stupe- fied that they were incapable of riding a horse and also failed to follow the wagon which Martin drove. He wheeled his team and drove them at full speed to the nearest ranch and found the buildings burned. They drove on to the next ranch where they secured protection, a company of soldiers arriving there the same day. The officer in command was drunk and refused to at- tack the red-skins that night when victory would have been easy. When the company reached the scene of the massacre the following day, the Indians were not to be seen. Martin's next stop was at another ranch and here Mr. Smith joined the wagon, having rushed forward in the belief that Martin had been killed and the women captured by the savages. On parting from his charges Martin was given a plain band gold ring by Mrs. Smith with her blessing. He made several other trips across the plains, the last one with his father, "Uncle Jack" Martin, which took them to Montana. When the Kickapoo Indian reservation was thrown open to purchase, Sidney Martin bought the first section that was sold and several years later he bought the last, becoming the owner of 560 acres in one body. He entered actively into the developing of his raw land and brought it up to a highly productive state. He became widely and favorably known as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and from time to time purchased additional acreage until his holdings in land were extensive, owning at one time 747 acres, at the time of his demise. He took an active part in political affairs of his section, and, while disin- clined to accept office, was called upon frequently for counsel and advice. He
397
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
was a man of keen perceptions, knew men and the motives which actuated them, and was a student thoroughly familiar with the questions of the day. He numbered among his close personal friends, Governor Glick. His death occurred on January 3, 1904.
Mr. Martin married on February 20, 1868, Miss Mary Elizabeth White, a daughter of George B., born May 10, 1815, and Mary Elizabeth (Lindsay) White, born December 14. 1820, the former a native of Woodford county. Kentucky, and the latter of Carroll county. They were married January 25. 1839. She died September 25, 1860, while the family was residing in Mis- souri. After the death of his wife, Mr. White came to Atchison and engaged in the grain business. With S. R. Washer he built the first elevator in the city of Atchison. He died in November, 1900. Mrs. Martin was born on May 15, 1848, while her parents were living in Missouri. On the maternal side she is descended from the Blackburn family, members of which fought with the Continental troops in the war for independence. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Martin became a resident of the city of Atchison, where she has since resided.
ROBERT M. THOMAS.
In every community we find that there are some individuals who seem naturally endowed with the ability to go ahead and do things and take a place of leadership among their associates. Robert M. Thomas is one of those who possess the natural endowments, peculiar to leadership and the ability to make things go with which he is connected. A successful farmer, a good citizen and business man, makes an excellent combination, and Mr. Thomas has made his mark in his community as a progressive and enterprising citizen.
Robert M. Thomas was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, February 2, 1868, a son of Moses and Katie ( Critchfield) Thomas, who were born and partly reared in old Kentucky. The parents of both were early settlers of Buchanan county. Moses was the son of Robert Thomas, and the father of his wife was Martin Critchfield. They were Southern born, and were de- scendants of old Southern families. Moses Thomas was born in 1843, and still resides in Buchanan county ; his wife, Katie, was born in 1850, and is still living. The Thomas family has a farm of 140 acres in Buchanan county, upon which was reared a large family of eleven children, nine of whom are living: Robert M .; John, deceased; Walter, living in California ; Forrest, re-
398
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
siding in St. Joseph, Mo .; Harriet and Cecil, at home ; Ollie, deceased ; Louise, Margaret, Cora and Ellen, at home with their parents.
R. M. Thomas received his education in the public schools of his native State and assisted his father in the operating of the home farm until 1892, when he married and farmed for three years in Buchanan county, Missouri, and then worked his farm in Platte county, Missouri, for four years. His first purchase of land was in 1899 when he invested in a farm of 120 acres in Buchanan county, which he sold three years later at a profit over the original purchase price. In 1902 he bought another farm, and in 1903 located two and one-half miles northwest of Effingham in Benton township. This farm com- prises 160 acres and is now one of the best improved places in the neighbor- hood. Mr. Thomas did so well in Atchison county that he was enabled to buy another farm of 160 acres in 1912. This farm is located in Grasshopper township, about three miles north of Muscotah. Upon the organization of the Farmers' Mercantile Company in June, 1913, in which Mr. Thomas took an active part, he assumed the managership of the same and attends to his business during the day, while still making his home at the farm. This plan gives him an excellent opportunity to oversee his farming operations at all times.
Mr. Thomas was married in 1892 to Katie Stanton, of Platte county, Missouri, a daughter of William and Cynthia (Hall) Stanton, natives of Platte county, and of Eastern origin. To this union the following children have been born: William, married Pearl, daughter of Thomas O. Gault, and is managing his father's farm, two miles north of Muscotah ; Clara, a graduate of the Atchison County High School, and a teacher in the public schools ; Margaret, Ollie and Jessie, students in the county high school ; Elva, Emma, Robert M., and Daisy, attending the district school near their home.
Mr. Thomas is a Democrat in politics and has filled the office of trustee of Benton township one term. He and his family are members of the Chris- tian church. He is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows lodge.
The Farmers' Mercantile Association, of which Mr. Thomas is the man- ager, was organized in June of 1913 for the purpose of handling grain, coal, feed and seeds. The capital stock of the concern is $10,000, of which $6,800 is fully paid up. The officers of the association were : President, C. A. Talia- ferro; vice-president, Stewart Hefflefinger; secretary and manager, R. M. Thomas : treasurer, C. M. Snyder. The directors are : C. A. Taliaferro, S. Hefflefinger, Charles M. Snyder, John E. Sullivan, R. M. Thomas, E. H. Cawley, W. M. Sutter, R. B. Hawk, Reuben Hargrove. The present offi- cers are the same with the exception that Reuben Hargrove is now serving
399
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
as the vice-president, and Fred Wyatt was elected to fill the vacancy in the board of directors, caused by the demise of C. A. Taliaferro and Edward High succeeded W. M. Sutter. The concern has a grain elevator with a capacity of 8,000 bushels. The largest shipment of grain made in any one year has exceeded 115,000 bushels.
WILLIAM McADAM.
William McAdam, retired farmer, of Effingham. Kan., was born Feb- ruray 6, 1861. in Sterlingshire, Scotland, and is a son of James and Helen ( Macnee) McAdam, who, with their children emigrated from their native country in 1882 and settled on a farm near Effingham in Atchison county, Kansas. They reared a family of five children, of whom William is the old- est, the others being as follows: Mrs. Jane Drummond, of Ellenville, Kan .; George, of Holton, Kan .; Mrs. Nellie Drummond, residing in Cottonwood Falls, Kan .; and James, living at Holton, Kan. The father of these chil- dren was born in 1820, and died in 1885, just three years after coming to America. He was a hard-working, industrious farmer. The mother was born in 1839 and departed this life in May, 1899.
William McAdam was twenty-one years of age when the family came to Atchison county and for three years after his arrival here he assisted his parents in the operation of the home farm. He then worked out for one year and began renting land on his own account, renting twelve years in all. five of which were in Jackson county, Kansas. His first purchase of land was a tract of ninety-six acres in Jackson county, which he improved and resided upon until 1907, when he moved to Effingham, where he and his family reside in one of the most attractive homes in the city, located on a tract of ten acres. Mr. McAdam is now the owner of 160 acres of good land south of Effingham, over which he has supervision.
He was married in 1888 to Miss Augusta Sutter, a daughter of Fred- erick Sutter, now deceased, who was one of the earliest settlers in Atch- ison county, and who became one of the wealthy land owners of the county. (See sketch of Fred Sutter.)' Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McAdam, Fannie and Mabel, both of whom are at home with their parents. The mother of these children was born in Atchison county in 1861.
Mr. McAdam is an independent Democrat, who votes as his conscience
100
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
dictates, and prefers to support the man rather than any one political party or creed, believing in this manner that better government will result. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is fraternally connected with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
CLAUDIUS DEMONT WALKER.
The citizen who loves his city to the extent that he is willing to devote his energies toward making it a better abiding place for his fellow men, and does his duty in a public capacity, regardless of criticism or adverse comments, is a man worth while. He whose name heads this review is such an individual. As mayor of Atchison, C. D. Walker made a record which will outlive the present generation ; as an attorney he has achieved a signal success and ranks high in the legal fraternity of the State of Kansas; as a religious worker he has accomplished much good of a lasting and enduring quality for the com- munity in which he lives. Born of Kansas pioneer parents, his training and education were such as to prepare him for the career which has made him dis- tinguished among his fellow men ; and he has proven that a wholesome example set by noble parents is the best incentive that a man can have to guide him through life.
C. D. Walker was born March 29. 1851, at Greenville, Pa., a son of Har- vey and Anna M. Walker, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter a native of Ireland. Harvey Walker, the father, was born in 1820 and was a son of Harvey Walker, a native of the Keystone State, who married at Pittsburgh, Pa., Miss Mary Ann Carr, who was born at Mile End, England. The grandfather of C. D. Walker was a wagon and carriage maker by trade and operated a shop in Greenville for many years. The history of the Walkers in America begins with three brothers who emigrated from the north of Ire- land in colonial days. One of whom, Samuel Walker, located near Rochester, N. Y., one, Andrew Walker, settled in Virginia, and one, the great-grandfather of C. D. Walker, settled in Pennsylvania. Being north Ireland people it is practically certain that the Walker family is of Scotch descent, their ancestors having emigrated from the ancestral home of the family to the north of Ire- land a few centuries ago when the migration of the protestant people from the Isle of Britain to escape religious persecution occurred. Harvey Walker learned his father's trade of wagon and carriage making, but worked but little at the business. Imbued with the desire to better his fortunes in the great
Agrumes.
40E
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
West, he left the old home of the family in about 1854 and migrated mo Oneida. Ill., near which town he purchased a homestead. After farming for a few years he sold out and started overland to the new State of Kansas, which at that time was attracting adventurers from all parts of the country. The family possessions were loaded upon wagons drawn by horses, and in due time the Walkers arrived at Ft. Scott in Bourbon county, Kansas, their destination. During the years '57-'58- 59. the senior Walker traded with the Inchians, and eventually located on a homestead, twelve miles northwest of Ft. Scott. Har- vey Walker was a stanch Methodist of the uncompromising type and was un- alterably opposed to the institution of slavery. He fearlessly and freely voiced his convictions at every opportunity, and his out-spoken tendencies frequently brought trouble upon him from the slavery advocates, who had settled in the neighborhood in considerable numbers. He was always introducing new in- novations in farming methods and machinery. It is a matter of history that he owned and used the first rake harvester brought to that part of the country. The slavery advocates and border ruffians annoyed him considerably. They stole his horses, broke up his wagons and farming implements and so pro- nounced were the threats of the slavery men that Mr. Walker was forced to spend most of his time in Ft. Scott away from his family. He was greatly in- terested in the success of the anti-slavery propagandists and used great in- fluence in determining the ultimate destiny in Kansas becoming a free State. When the war broke out he decided to move north. In the spring of 1861 he arrived in the city of Atchison, which at that time was a small village, and was induced by Capt. Asa Barnes to locate in Atchison county, where he remained about a year. He afterwards purchased and settled on a tract of land adjoin- ing the town of Winchester, Jefferson county, Kansas. Here he located his permanent Kansas home, and developed a fine farm. Here he raised a large family, and gave his children the best education the school facilities at that time afforded. Harvey Walker was married December 24, 1848, to Anna Mariah Nelson, who bore him the following children, namely: Crandall C., an importer of thoroughbred horses, Sioux City, Iowa: Claudius D., with whose career this review is directly concerned : Marion D., a farmer and fruit grower, living near Midland College, Atchison county ; Marvin L., a banker of Oklahoma City, Okla. : Ellis Lytle, living in Washington State : Schuyler R., a farmer of Stillwater Okla. : Harvey Mitchell, an importer of thoroughbred horses of Oklahoma City : William Nelson, a farmer of Stillwater, Okla. : Ro- land Ferris, who died in infancy : Orlina L., widow of William McKenney, de- ceased, a hardware merchant of Winchester. Kan., and Anna M., wife of William B. Stevenson, a Methodist minister. The mother of the foregoing
26
10.2
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
children was born in north Ireland, September 24, 1824, a daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Farris) Nelson. James Nelson was agent for an English estate in Ireland, and was the son of William Nelson and Catherine ( Stewart ) Nelson. His wife, Elizabeth Farris, was the daughter of Robert and Jane Farris, all of English descent. Anna Mariah Nelson came to America when eight years old with a brother, and went to live with an aunt in Greenville, Pa., while her family settled in Bayfield, Canada. She was educated in the schools at Greenville and afterwards became a teacher in the public school where she was wooed and married by Harvey Walker. Harvey Walker and his noble wife were sturdy God-fearing Christians, and the family prayers were a part of the regular regime of the religious creed followed by them through life. They were ardent Methodists who believed in living faithfully according to the precepts of their religion, and the examples set by their upright and consistent conduct throughout their long lives left an indelible imprint upon the lives of their children, who have endeavored to follow in the footsteps of their par- ents. Claudius DeMont attended the district school at Winchester, and when eighteen years of age left home to enter Baker University at Baldwin, Kan. After two years of hard work in Baker University he entered the agricultural college at Manhattan, which at that time was a college controlled by the Meth- odists and had the best facilities of any college of the State of Kansas. Here he spent four years and should have graduated in the class of 1873, but on account of ill health was compelled to leave school before the end of the term. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Walker matriculated in the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. During the year previous to this, he had studied law in the office of Boyce & Boyd in Cincinnati, Ohio, and upon his matriculation at Ann Arbor entered the junior class of the university. He graduated from the law department at Ann Arbor in the class of 1878, and immediately located in Atchison, where he began the practice of his profession. From the very beginning his professional career was a success. In February, 1882, he formed a partnership with Judge Gilbert, which continued until Gil- bert's election to the district bench in the fall of 1887. Since that time Mr. Walker has practiced his profession alone for thirty-four consecutive years, which has been filled with gratifying success. The district records of Atchi- son county show that for many years Mr. Walker was interested in virtually all of the important cases pending. For many years he was attorney for the First National Bank of Atchison, Kan., together with many other large insti- tutions of the city.
During his long successful legal career, Mr. Walker has not neglected the material side of his affairs and early invested his money in loans and real
403
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
estate. His investments were so judiciously made that he has become one of the largest land owners of Kansas, and is rated as one of Atchison's wealthiest citizens. His total holdings in Atchison county will exceed 1,700 acres of farm lands, and he also owns other lands in Texas and western Kansas.
The political and civic career of Mr. Walker has been a noteworthy one and portrays the rugged honesty and public spirited feeling which have actu ated him during his whole life. He was first appointed to the office of county auditor by Judge Gilbert in 1888, and served for two years; and was elected to the office of county attorney in 1891, and served in this capacity until 1894. His service as county attorney included the most strenuous years of his life, inasmuch as the court docket was continually crowded during his entire in- cumbency. This was the time that Coxey's army of unemployed was making its journey from this part of the country toward Washington and on its way committed all kinds of small crimes, and many arrests were made daily. It was Mr. Walker's duty to prosecute these numberless cases as they came up for trial which overwhelmed him. He has served as a member of the city council of Atchison several terms, and was mayor for two years, 1911 to 1913. Mr. Walker's administration of the city's affairs during his incumbency as the chief executive is considered to have been the best that Atchison ever had in a constructive and law-abiding sense. Several miles of street paving was accomplished and many bad streets were repaved thoroughly and well. The first concrete paving in the city was laid on Division street and done in the best manner possible. The city purchased the finest fire apparatus ever brought to a northeast Kansas city. The West Atchison fire station was built. Three large sewer districts were created and the sewers installed. One of these was the intercepting sewer in White Clay creek. For many years the city of Atchi- son suffered from the filth ard stench of White Clay creek until the same became intolerable. The remedy had been thought impossible, but on Mr. Walker's election he conceived the plan of installing an intercepting sewer which has proved a great success, and a benefit to the city.
The electric light rate was reduced from 15 to 10 cents per kilowatt, thus saving to the consumer thousands of dollars annually. The street lighting was changed from the half night to the all night moon light schedule, with many new lights added and without a dollar's increase in expenses. The city was freed from joints and gambling places and houses of ill repute within the first few months after Mr. Walker went into office and remained so during his entire term. As mayor he first raised the question of requiring the mills and other large institutions located along railroads, and the railroads enter- ing the city to light their own premises and yards.
Mr. Walker was the promoter and organizer of the first independent
tot
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
telephone company in the city, which company succeeded in putting the Bell Telephone Company out of business for the time being, and until the Home company was sold to the Bell company in 1911, and a consolidation effected.
Mr. Walker is a Republican and has always taken a more or less active part in his party's affairs. He was at one time a candidate for Congress from the First Congressional district of the State of Kansas, at the time the three- cornered fight for the nomination between Ex-Governor Bailey. Charles Cur- tis and C. D. Walker was waged, and a deadlock ensued which lasted for more than one week.
His family life has been an ideal one, and in keeping with the career of the man himself. The marriage of Mr. Walker and Miss Lizzie E. Auld took place June 7, 1881, at Atchison, Kan. One daughter has blessed this union, Isabelle, wife of Louis D. Brockett, a son of B. L. Brockett, a leading lumber merchant of Atchison. Mr. Brockett has charge of the loan business estab- lished by Mr. Walker. Mrs. Lizzie Auld Walker was born in Brownsville, Pa., a daughter of William W. and Isabelle Mullen Auld, natives of Pennsyl- vania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The Auld family is one of the oldest of American families. Its members are related closely with the Carrolls of Car- rollton, Va., whose ancestors came from north of Ireland and were originally of Scotch ancestry. William W. Auld migrated from Pennsylvania to Atchi- son, Kan., in 1872, and was a member of the milling firm of Blair & Auld. from that time until his death in 1895. Mr. Walker has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for over thirty years, and has taken a regular course of Masonry, being a Knight Templar. He is fraternally affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, Knights and Ladies of Security, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Royal Arcanum. It is only natural that a man reared in a religious atmosphere, as he has been, should take an active and influential part in church and religious work. Mr. Walker has been a member of the official board of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Atchison, since 1880, and has been a liberal and cheerful supporter of this denomination. At pres- ent he is chairman of the building committee which has charge of the erection of the new building planned by the church for the ensuing year. Since 1889 he has served as a member of the board of trustees of Baker University, of Baldwin, Kan. In 1908 he was a delegate to the National conference of the Methodist denomination at Baltimore. Successful as a lawyer. having achieved substantial competence in his behalf, made history as a public official. followed the teachings of liis Christian parents as regards an up-right life and doing his duty in a religious sense, sums up the life career of this useful Atchison citizen.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.