USA > Kansas > Butler County > History of Butler County Kansas > Part 46
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At the time the family came to America there were six daughters and one son, the latter the subject of the present review. One son. Henry, was born in Iowa. All the children grew to maturity, and they are in the order of birth as follows : Caroline, who now resides in Cedar county, Iowa. married Nels Fulgsang ; Sine, married Peter Peterson, is now deceased: Mary. married John Swan, West Burlington, Iowa ; Nels C .. the subject of this sketch ; Hannah, Burlington, Iowa, married Peter Simonson; Carrie, married Conrad Schwartz, Winfield, Iowa; Minnie, wife of George Schafer, Chicago; and Henry, resides in Butler county, married Miss Laura Hagley.
Christian C. Hanson, the father, enjoyed the advantages of a good education, having in his native land received an excellent training in a military school, and as an officer in the Danish army. took part in the war between his country and Germany in 1848. He had the good for- tune never to be wounded. but the wholehearted character of the man and his service in those trying times is indicated by the fact that he was awarded a medal for meritorious conduct. His devotion to his native land in no way exceeded his loyalty to the land of his adoption, and on coming here he made a conscientious study of public questions. He was a lifelong student, being a lover of reading and research along intellectual lines. His nature, too, was deeply religious. although he never became identified with any particular church, and it was charac- teristic of him that he was ready at all times to sacrifice his own ease and pleasure for the benefit of those who were near and dear to him. Thus, while he realized that for himself and his wife the conditions of life would have been easier in Denmark than in this country, he never regretted that he had moved to America, as this country offered greater opportunities to children. He provided for each of his children a good common school education, and to their welfare he devoted the best
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efforts of a long life of arduous toil. He died July 24, 1893, and the mother died in August, 1897, in Des Moines county, Iowa.
Nels C. Hanson received a fairly complete common school educa- tion in the district schools of Iowa, and, early, began to assist his father in the support of the family by working for a farmer when only ten years of age for $8 per month. Not satisfied with his education, he matriculated in a business college at the age of seventeen years, but lacking financial resources, he was compelled to give up this line of study after one month. He had inherited from his father a taste for good reading, however, and in this way he largely made up for the de- ficiency of his former training and supplied his lack of the usual advan- tages, for he began this method of self culture when but a small boy, and has ever since continued it with increasing enthusiasm. He has in his home a library of 500 volumes, which is one of the best selected private libraries in Butler county. He still worked at farm labor, how- ever, until his twenty-second year, when he bought 120 acres of land in Hamilton county, Iowa.
In Union township, Des Moines county, Iowa, on February 18, 1886, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Sopha Schwartz, a native of that township and a daughter of Fred and Caroline Schwartz, who were both born in Germany. For two years Mr. Hanson and his bride resided at the farm in Hamilton county, but at the expiration of that eropd he sold the farm there and removed to Burlington, Iowa, where he lived for approximately six years, engaged in various occupations. During two years of this time he was shipping clerk of the Burlington Saddlery Manufactory, and for the following three years he resided at Galesburg, Ill., as a representative of the same firm. He then pur- chased a farm in Union township. He became much interested in the improvement of farm stock, and his activities, in fact, extended to almost all matters of community interests. In 1901 Mr. Hanson and two other gentlemen organized and incorporated a telephone company in Des Moines county, Iowa, and Mr. Hanson was made the first sec- retary and treasurer of this corporation, a position he occupied until January 1, 1905 ; and during this period so great was the success of the enterprise that the capital stock was increased to $25,000.
In 1907 Mr. Hanson came to Butler county, Kansas, for his health, which had been failing for some time. He was so pleased with the climate and the country that he bought 160 acres of land in Prospect township, where he has since been living in partial retirement, although he supervises the operation of his farm and is considered one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Prospect township.
When quite young, Mr. Hanson became an active worker for the success of the Republican party, whose principles involved his ideas of popular government, and at an early age began serving his party in both county and State conventions. In recognition of his services he received in 1901 the nomination for representative for Des Moines
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county in the Iowa State legislature, and although the party was in the minority in that county he attracted such a strong following that he was again made the standard bearer. This honor was entirely unsought on his part but his personal popularity carried him forward and he lacked only a few votes of election. Co-existent with his activities in pub- lic life. he has always maintained a warm interest in humanitarian and religious work, and in 1899 he became a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. From this body he has received license as an exhorter, a branch of the work in which he has accomplished much, and he has also served as superintendent of the Sunday school. His labors in this field have been so markedly successful that he has been solicited and even urged to devote himself to the regular ministery of the Gos- pel ; and should he ever decide to do so it would doubtless mean much for his denomination.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have been born the following children : Irwin, born in Burlington, Iowa, March 9, 1890, married Mary Free- man, a native of El Dorado, and he is an electrical engineer in the employ of the Mississippi Power Company, Keokuk, Iowa; Myrtle, born in Burlington, Iowa, July 13, 1892, married Joseph Locke of Pros- pect township ; and Virginia, born in Burlington, Iowa, August 15, 1906, resides at home.
In these modern days of intense specialization, when most men find time only along one line of restricted endeavor, it is encouraging to find a man who has not paid for his success at the cost of his own self devel- opment. Naturally gifted with versatile talents, Mr. Hanson has by extensive experience in practical affairs, touched the circle of an ideal career at almost every point. Honor, reputation and loyal frindship he has won by the strength and sincerity of his purpose. His work in religious and fraternal circles, in the political world and in the home community have been a help and encouragement to many, while his suc- cess in a business way should inspire the young with the thought that even in this day of specialization a man may attain to a high material achievement and still develop a broad and many sided character.
Mr. Hanson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Butler County Grange and has been secretary of that organiza- tion for the past year. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of El Dorado.
F. L. Preston, M. D., is a native of Michigan, born in Grand Rapids in 1881, and is a son of Rev. C. L. and Della May (Reynolds) Preston. The father, now deceased, having been a Congregational minister, was of English lineage, the family coming from England to Virginia, where they were prominent in the affairs of that State in early Colonial days. Several members of the family in direst line of descent for several gen- erations were ministers, other members being identified with the pro- fessions of law and medicine.
Dr. Preston's mother, Della May (Reynolds) Preston, is of Scotch
F. L. PRESTON, M. D.
4 087
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descent, being a daughter of Volney and Christina Reynolds, of Wald- ron, Mich. C. L. and Della May (Reynolds) Preston were parents of six shildren, four of whom are now living, as follows: F. L. Preston, the subject of this sketch; C. C. Preston, Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Edna (Preston) Tuttle, Wooster, Ohio; Miss Erma Preston, Waldron, Mich- igan.
After a public school education, Dr. Preston entered the Presby- terian College of Alma, Mich., where he took a scientific course. Upon completing this, he entered North Western University of Chicago, Ill., where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, after which he took a post-graduate course, and work in the surgical depart- ment of Passavant Hospital of Chicago. During his course at Alma College, at Alma ,Mich., Dr. Preston served as student interne in the hospital of that city for a period of three years, and then did surgical work in Columbia Hospital in Chicago for the same length of time.
Dr. Preston was married in 1906 to Miss Gertrude Slaght. Dr. and Mrs. Preston came to El Dorado in October of 1911, where he has since been successfully engaged in practice. Dr. Preston has given special attention to surgery, and has, already, won the well merited reputation of being one of the successful surgeons, not only of But- ler county, but of the State of Kansas. He has performed many delicate and difficult operations, in the course of his practice since coming to El Dorado, and has met with success to a marked degree.
Dr. Preston established the El Dorado Hospital in 1914, which of itself represents one of the most advanced steps in behalf of medicine and surgery in the history of Butler county. The wisdom of this move is now clearly apparent, more especially since the great industrial de- velopment in this county at the present time. There is scarcely -a day passes but what this hospital receives several emergency cases, to say nothing of the demands made upon the institution in the regular treat- ment of ordinary cases. The hospital now has a capacity of twenty pa- tients which is constantly taxed to the limit, and plans are under way for the erection of a more extensive hospital building to meet the rap- idly increasing demand.
J. D. Morley, a Butler county pioneer and prominent farmer and stockman, of El Dorado township, is a native of New York. He was born in Wayne county, in 1845, and is a son of Oliver and Laura (Fas- sett) Morley, the former a native of Boston, Mass., and the latter of Jefferson county, New York, and both descendants of old American fam- ilies. The father came with his parents from Massachusetts to New York when he was a child. The parents of J. D. Morley both spent their lives in New York State.
J. D. Morley was reared in the State of New York and received a good common school education. In 1870 he came west, as he beleived there were better opportunities for a young man in a new and undevel- oped country. After coming to Kansas, he spent about two years in (29)
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Greenwood county when he returned to New York State and remained there until 1876. Like many others in the early days, he had seen Kan- sas and had breathed its pure free air, and was unable to remain away from the State of opportunity. Accordingly, in 1876, he returned to this State, this time settling in Butler county. He bought 160 acres of land in El Dorado township, and has added to his original holdings and now owns 480 acres which constitutes one of the valuable farms of But- ler county. His place is located a few miles north of El Dorado, which is one of the ideal spots of the county. Since coming to Kansas and lo- cating here Mr. Morley has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising and is one of the representative and substantial men of Butler county.
Mr. Morley was married in 1878. to Miss Fannie Dix, of Butler county, and they have two children : Oliver, who is associated with his father on the farm, is married and lives in a commodious modern resi- dence across the road from the old home ; and Laura Eugenia resides at home.
During his many years of residence in Butler county. Mr. Morley has become widely and favorably known and has many friends. He belongs to that genial, wholesouled type of men who not only make friends but keep them.
J. W. Kirkpatrick, the leading jeweler of El Dorado, Kans., is a progressive young business man who has made rapid and substantial progress in his chosen field since he has engaged in business for himself. Mr. Kirkpatrick was born at Holden, Missouri, August 31. 1881, and was the only child of James L. and Rebecca (Hall) Kirkpatrick, the for- mer a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. The mother died when J. W. was an infant and he never knew a mother's care. The father married a second time and to that union were born two children : Russell Kirkpatrick, of Jefferson City, Mo., and Ernest, who resides at Holden, Mo. The father also resides there.
In 1886. when J. W. Kirkpatrick was five years old, he went to live with his grandfather, W. W. Hall, at Anthony, Kans. Here he was reared and educated, attending the Anthony High School, and after- ward learned the watchmaker's trade at Anthony. After working at his trade there for two years he went to Atchison, Kans. and was employed as a watchmaker for one year. In 1900 he came to El Dorado and worked at his trade for seven years and on October 15, 1907, engaged in the jewelry and watch-making business for himself at No. 105 North Main street, which is his present location. He carries a complete line of watches, jewelry and articles usually found in a first class jewelry store. During the nine years that he has been in the jewelry business in El Dorado, he has built up a reputation for honesty and square dealing which is one of the most valuable assets that a merchant can have. espe- cially in his particular line of business. When Mr. Kirkpatrick says "It is solid gold," it is solid gold, for it is his business to know, and it is his method to represent his goods as they are.
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Mr. Kirkpatrick was united in marriage at Wichita, Kans., June 6, 1906, to Miss Ester Louise Thayer, of Wichita. She is a daughter of J. L. Thayer and Mina (Cash ) Thayer. The father is now living retired at Wichita and Mrs. Thayer is deceased. Mrs. Kirkpatrick was born in Decatur, Ill. She is a prominent member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was the organizer of the El Dorado chapter. She is now regent of that order. Mr. Kirkpatrick is a member of the time honored Masonic Lodge and politically is a Republican. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick are well known in El Dorado and vicinity and have many friends.
Phineas Osborn, now living retired in El Dorado, is a Butler county pioneer who came here forty-two years ago. Mr. Osborn was born in Spencer, Tioga county, New York, April 28. 1842, and is a son of Ran- som and Eliza (Thompson) Osborn. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom are living except a daughter who died in infancy. The others are as follows: Elisha, Billings, Mo .; Jabez. Chilhowee, Mo .; Phineas, the subject of this sketch; Lucy, married Charles Foster, El Dorado, and both are deceased; Mary, married Lorenzo Ripley. Bald- win, Kans .; Elizabeth A., widow of Henry Paul, who was murdered and robbed in Greenwood county in the early days; Hannah Emelia, married Alvin Goff, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Phineas Osborn was reared and educated in Tioga county. New York, and was engaged in the lumber business, and also interested in farming in his native State when a young man. In 1874 he came to Kansas, with a view of looking the country over. and if possible finding a suitable location. At that time there was no railroad in Butler county and he came from Florence to El Dorado by stage. He stopped at the old El Dorado hotel which was located on the southeast corner of Main street and Central avenue. After looking the country over he bought 320 acres in Chelsea township. At that time he could have homesteaded land in the vicinity of Wichita, but Butler county suited him and he de- cided to invest here. He later increased his acreage to 560 acres, and en- gaged in general farming and stock raising and has met with unusual success. However, he had his unprofitable and bad years as well as good ones, and saw many of his neighbors get discouraged and leave the country.
Mr. Osborn was married in 1864 to Miss Rebecca Corchran, of Tioga county, New York, and a native of Connecticut. To Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have been born five children, as follows: Robert, died when thir- teen years old ; Charles Harvey, died when a child five years old in But- ler ; Robert Ranson died at thirteen years ; John Hughes, operating one of his father's farms in Chelsea township. and Cecil R., also operating one of the father's farms in Chelsea. Mr. Osborn and his wife removed to El Dorado in 1914, where they purchased a fine residence and are spending their time in quiet and comfort. Mr. Osborn's farm property is some of the best improved property in Butler county. The main farm
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residence is one of the best modern equipped homes to be found in But- ler county.
During his many years of residence in Chelsea township, Mr. Os- born took a commendable interest in public affairs, and served as a mem- ber of the school board for over half the time he was a resident of that township. He also held the office of justice of the peace. He and the other members of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
J. W. Cannon, one of the present members of the board of county commissioners of Butler county. has won the reputation of being a capable and conscientious public official and is well and favorably known throughout Butler county.
Mr. Cannon was born in Jackson county, Tennessee, February II, 1844, and is a son of Alexander and Frances (Hale) Cannon, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Tennessee. The Cannon family removed from Tennessee to northwestern Missouri and settled in Gen- try county, that state, in 1856. and the parents spent their lives in that county. J. W. Cannon is one of a family of nine children. He received his education in the public schools of Gentry county, and when he was just a few months past eighteen, he enlisted. June 1, 1862, at Albany, Mo., and became a member of Company I, Third Missouri cavalry. His company operated most of the time in Missouri and Arkansas, and along the border, which was the most disagreeable and hazardous kind of warfare. They had such notorious military outlaws as Quantrill and his followers to contend with, and fought these organized guerillas on numerous occasions, and also General Price's command and other Con- federate forces. In 1864, Mr. Cannon's command was sent to Rome, Ga., and an incident occurred there that is worthy of narration. Mr. Cannon's comrade was severely wounded and wrote his home address on a five dollar bill which he gave Mr. Cannon. As he wrote, the blood dripping from his wound spattered on the bill and Mr. Cannon has in his possession to this day that blood-stained five dollar bill, and he cherishes it in memory of his comrade, and as a souvenir of the stirring time when human life was held so lightly. Mr. Cannon was in Georgia only ten days when they were ordered to Little Rock, Ark., and continued the campaign in the west until the close of the war. Mr. Can- non was twice wounded. In a skirmish with Quantrill's band at Chilli- cothe, he was shot in the leg and at Camp Craner a ball entered his left side and lodged in his right shoulder. He was never captured but had many narrow escapes. After having served three years and seventeen days he was discharged at St. Louis, Mo., June 17, 1865.
At the close of the war Mr. Cannon returned to Gentry county, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming until 1880; he then came to Butler county, Kansas, and preempted 160 acres in Hickory township. He later bought additional land until he owned 700 acres. He sold his farm property and in 1906 removed to El Dorado where he has since resided.
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Mr. Cannon has always taken an active part in political affairs and since coming to Butler county he has never missed attending a county convention of his party as a delegate and has frequently attended State conventions. In 1912 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and served as chairman of that body until Jan- uary I, 1916. In the discharge of his duties as county commissioner Mr. Cannon has proved himself to be a capable, conscientious and effi- cient county officer and has won a commendation of the tax payers of Butler county.
Mr. Cannon was married in 1864. November 5, to Miss Mary A. Lewis, of Gentry county, Missouri, and a native of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Cannon have been born the following children : Frances A., married William P. Carter, Kansas City, Mo .; Elmer, died at the age of twenty ; A. G .. and A. D., twin brothers residing at Cato, Okla. These two boys have a remarkable and unusual resemblance to each other, and they are also very much attached to each other.
Mr. Cannon is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonic Lodge. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over fifty years.
L. J. Egan, owner and proprietor of the Egan Tin Works, El Dora- do, Kans., is a native of Minnesota. Mr. Egan was born in St. Paul, April 25, 1865, and is a son of Thomas and Josie (O'Neil) Egan. The mother was a native of Kentucky, and the father was reared in New York City, coming to this country from Ireland with his parents when a child. When a young man Thomas Egan left his New York home and went west as an employee of the Government. in the department of In- dian affairs in connection with an Indian reservation in the Northwest Territory and he was located in the vicinity of St. Paul, which was at that time a mere trading post.
In 1871 the Egan family went to Iowa, locating at Emmettsburg, in the northwestern part of the State. They were early settlers in that sec- tion of Iowa and the father took up a homestead and spent the remainder of his life there. The mother preceded him in death by several years. L. J. Egan was about six years old when the family located in Iowa and he was reared to manhood and educated in the public schools of Iowa. When a young man he served an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade at Ruthven, Iowa, and worked at his trade in that town until 1898. He then came to El Dorado, Kans. and worked at his trade in the employ of C. L. Turner for eight years.
In 1906, he established his present business which he has conducted since that time, and he has occupied his present location, No. 120 West Central avenue, since 1907. By reliable workmanship and honorable methods, he has built up an extensive business which now gives employ- ment to from four to six men.
Mr. Egan was married in 1896 to Miss Barbara Dreis, of Hospers, Iowa, and they have seven children, as follows : Bernice, Blaine, Pansey,
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Joseph. William, Margaret and Con, all students in the El Dorado schools except Con, the baby. Mr. Egan is independent in politics and one of El Dorado's substantial and progressive business men.
C. M. Neal, one of Butler county's progressive merchants who is en- gaged in the hardware business at Benton, has been a Kansan . since he was a year old. Mr. Neal was born in Warrensburg, Johnson county, Missouri, October 22, 1870, and is a son of J. W. and Christina C. (Brougher) Neal. the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of In- diana. The Neal family removed from Missouri to Kansas in 1871, and located in Sumner county, seven miles east of Caldwell where the father took up a Government claim. Soon after settling there he sold his claim and removed to the western part of Sedgwick county. After a short residence in that part of the county they removed to Wichita and from there to Douglass where they resided about twenty years when they came to Benton township. The father was a farmer and died in Benton township in 1910. and the mother now resides on the old homestead in that township. There were eight children in the Neal family, five girls and three boys.
C. M. Neal received a good common school education and followed farming until January 1, 1911, having lived in Benton township since 1888. In 1911 he purchased a hardware store and stock at Benton, and since that time has been engaged in that line of business there. He handles a full line of shelf hardware and also buggies, wagons, farming implements, harvesting machinery and fencing. By his square dealing and reliable business methods he has not only built up a large trade but has won many friends and as a merchant has won the confidence of the community.
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