History of Butler County Kansas, Part 74

Author: Mooney, Vol. P
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Lawrence, Kan. : Standard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 946

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He remembers the time when markets were a long distance away, prices low and money scarce. He has driven cattle as far as Leaven- worth to market, a distance of about 200 miles. He has hauled to El Do- rado, a distance of over twenty-five miles, hogs which he sold for less than a cent and a half per pound. Their nearest doctor in the early days was thirty miles away, but Mr. Wright always had faith in the future possibilities of Butler county, and has lived to see his expecta- tions realized, and while, by his thrift and industry, he has been accum- ulating a competence for himself, he has been a dominant factor in the upbuilding and development of his adopted county, of which he is justly proud.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright have ten grandchildren, and their children live near enough that they often have family reunions, at which they have enjoyable times.

F. M. Payne, one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Glen- coe township,, is a native of Ohio, and was born in Licking county in 1843. His parents were Irvin and Ruth ( Hall) Payne, natives of Ohio. The following children of the Payne family are living; H. C. Payne, Cedar Rapids. Iowa ; Mrs. Esther E. Ulum, Kesswick, Iowa ; and F. M, whose name introduces this sketch.

F. M. Payne is one of the veterans of the Civil war who, in the stir- ring days of the early sixties, responded to President Lincoln's call for defenders of the flag. On August 11, 1862, lie enlisted in the Twenty- second regiment, Iowa infantry, and for two and a half years carried his musket in the Southland in defense of the Union. He participated in the battles of Champion Hills, Port Gibson, the seige of Vicksburg, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and a number of lesser engage- ments and skirmishes. He was captured at Cedar Creek and was held prisoner four and one-half months at Salisbury, N. C.

In 1872, Mr. Payne came to Butler county, and bought out a claim of 160 acres in Glencoe township, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He has added to his acreage and now owns 448 acres, where he conducts an extensive and profitable farming and stock raising business. Mr. Payne was married in 1877 to Miss Rosa Dobson, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Goodwin) Dobson, and to this union have been born six children, as follows: Mrs. Alta Ledgerwood, Leon, Kans .; L.

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D., Leon ; Mrs. Vina McMullen, Bular, Kans .; Mrs. Iva G. Cannon, Leon, Kans. ; E. E., Leon, and W. H., Fort Smith, Ark.

When Mr. Payne located in Butler county there were no railroads in the county, his nearest railroad point being Emporia and he frequent- ly drove there for supplies, and El Dorado was his nearest town, which was about twenty miles distant. Mr. Payne is a Republican, but has never aspired to hold political office. He is one of the progressive farm- ers and stockmen of Butler county and keeps himself well posted on current events. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

Henry H. Marshall, now deceased, was a Butler county pioneer whose influence in the early days contributed in no small measure to the early development and upbuilding of Butler county. He was a cap- able business man, and with his keen foresight, saw the possibilities of the future greatness of Butler county when others could see nothing but the horizon, which seemed to surround this great unpeopled western waste.

Henry II. Marshall was a native of Indiana, born in Fountain coun- ty in 1846, of North Carolinan parentage. He was reared to manhood in his native State and in 1869 was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Elwell. Two years later they came to Butler county, Kansas, and in 1871, Mr. Marshall bought a quarter section of land of Peter Johnson. This farm is two miles northeast of Leon and was a part of the Osage Indian trust lands, ceded to the United States in 1868. It was preempt- ed in 1868, being on the northern boundary of the Osage Indian lands. Dr. Munson preempted this place in 1868 and later in the same year traded it to Peter Johnson for an ox team and wagon and Mr. Marshall bought it from Johnson in 1871 and paid $2,250. This land is now worth $150 per acre. It is all bottom land. Mr. Marshall also preempted a quarter section adjoining it in Little Walnut township. There was a small house on the Johnson place 12x18 feet, which Johnson built in 1868, and which is still standing. The lumber for this house was sawed from native timber at William Martin's mill at El Dorado.

Although Mr. Marshall had some capital when he came here, he began at the bottom, and experienced all the various phases of pioneer life. He had been a school teacher in Indiana, but after coming here devoted himself exclusively to farming and stock raising. He also bought and sold cattle extensively, and was a large feeder, and did a large volume of business. When he came here there was lots of game, and he has stood in the door of his home and shot deer, and while he was not a professional hunter, by any means, he kept his table well supplied with meat in the early days, without any unusual effort. In 1874, when this section of the State received outside aid on account of the devasta- tion of the grasshoppers, Mr. Marshall was appointed one of the dis- tributors of the supplies, and conducted this work in a manner that gave entire satisfaction to all concerned.

Mr. Marshall was a man who was very kind to animals and would

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never permit one to be abused. In the early days he used a great many mules in his farming operations and after these animals became old and decrepit they were pensioned by being cared for just as well as when they were in the prime of their usefulness. They never were required to do any work after reaching the decrepit age. In 1914 one of these mules died at the age of thirty-four years. And in 1915 two others died which had attained the age of thirty-five years. And in 1916 one died that had attained the age of thirty-six years.

Mr. Marshall continued to buy land, after coming to this county un- til he became the owner of over 2,000 of valuable land. He died in No- vember. 1911, at the age of sixty-six years, and thus came to a close the career of one of Butler county's most successful pioneer citizens. His wife passed away in April. 1912. The following children of this hon- ored pioneer couple survive : Morton W., William S., John A., Etta M., and Grace E. Morton W. Marshall, the eldest of the family, was born July, 1870, and is a successful lumber dealer at Leon, Kans., having been engaged in that business there for twenty-six years. He was mar- ried to Miss Eleanor, daughter of W. J. Martin, a prominent pioneer of Butler county. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall : Vivian, Jean L. and Shirley.

William S. Marshall was born in November. 1872, and is engaged in the banking business at Leon. He was married in December, 1903. to Miss Lyndia Dedrick, a daughter of J. J. Dedrick, and three children have been born to this union : Aneta, Arlone, and Ruth.

John A. Marshall was born in November, 1874, and is a prominent implement dealer of Leon, Kans. Etta M. married Bert R. Smith, a banker of Reece, Kans .: and Grace E., married H. S. Dedrick and lives on the old homestead in Little Walnut township. All the members of the Marshall family are prominent and well to do citizens, and be- long to that substantial type of citizens who make for the betterment of the political, industrial, and social world.

F. B. Tabing, a prominent farmer and successful stockman of Lo- gan township. is a native son of Butler county, whose parents were ear- ly settlers in this county. He is a son of Charles and Permelia (Moore) Tabing, who settled in Butler county at an early date, locating in Logan township, the father being a pioneer cattleman of that section. He pros- pered in his operations and amassed a comfortable fortune, and at the time of his death owned over a thousand acres of land which was well stocked, 620 acres of which is now owned by F. B. Tabing, the subject of this sketch, and 420 acres is owned by Frank Tabing, the only two surviving children born to Charles and Fermelia (Moore) Tabing. The father was a prominent and influential citizen of Butler county and died in 1897, and the wife and mother departed this life one year later. The father was a native of Germany. He was a Civil war veteran and served in Company I. Twenty-second regiment and Company H, Forty-second regiment, Illinois infantry.

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F. B. Tabing spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and was educated in the public schools of Leon. He has spent his life in farm- ing and the cattle business, and is one of the best posted and most suc- cessful cattle men in Butler county. He studies his business and has made a success of it and his spacious farm of 620 acres is well improved and superbly adapted to general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Tabing was united in marriage in 1904 with Miss Gertrude Overstreet, and six children have been born to this union, as follows : Jerrine, born in 1906; Ethelyn, born in 1907; B. C. N., born in 1909; T. H. M., born in 1910; Lulu J., born in 1912; Oletha, born in 1914; and Fred B., Jr., born June 13, 1916.

Mr. Tabing recalls many amusing as well as serious incidents of his carly boyhood life on the plains of Butler county. It was a habit with his father to carry his money (bills) under the sweat band of his hat, and one day while he had quite a considerable amount of money thus concealed in a light straw hat, a playful Kansas zephyr blew his hat off. and so far away that neither the hat nor the money has been heard of according to last reports.

George H. Eckel, a well known farmer and stockman of Glencoe township, is a native of Butler county. He was born February 18, 1871, and is a son of Charles and Julia (Zimpleman) Eckel, natives of Mich- igan. The parents of George H. Eckel came to Butler county in 1870, locating near where the town of Pontiac now is, where the father home- steaded a quarter section. He engaged in farming and stock raising in that vicinity, which has been his life's occupation. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served in that great conflict with the Michigan troops. He now resides on a farm in Butler county. Of the children born to Charles and Julia (Zimpleman) Eckel, the following the now living: Frank, Douglass, Kans .; George H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Nettie Louthen, Ponca City. Okla .; William, Douglass, Kans .; Mrs. Belle McIntyre, Wichita, Kans., and Mrs. Eva Dornboss, Doug- lass, Kans.

George H. Eckel was reared on his father's farm in Butler county near Pontiac and received his education in the public schools. He be- gan farming and stock raising on his own account in early life, and now owns a splendid farm of 440 acres located on the south branch of the Little Walnut in Glencoe township. This place compares favorably with the best stock farms of Butler county and although a young man Mr. Eckel ranks as one of the leading farmers and stockmen of the com- munity. He is an active and aggressive business man whose worth as a citizen of high standing is recognized by those who know him best.

Mr. Eckel was married February 27, 1901, to Miss Nelle V. Hobbs. a native of Mediaoplis, Iowa. She is a daughter of William and Nancy (Gilmore) Hobbs, who settled in Butler county, in 1897, locating near Pontiac, and later removed to El Dorado, where they now reside. Mrs. Eckel is one of the following surviving children, born to William and

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Nancy (Gilmore) Hobbs: Mrs. George H. Eckel, the subject of this sketch ; William C., El Dorado, Kans .; Hal R., Los Angeles, Cal .; and Louis B., Wichita, Kans. To Mr. and Mrs. George H. Eckel have been born the following children : Merele, born in August, 1903; Lloyd, born in September, 1906; Leslie, born in October, 1908; and Lois, born in July, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Eckel are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and well known and prominent in the community.

John Gordon Axtell, Civil war veteran, plainsman and pioneer of Beaumont, Kans., traces his Anglo-Saxon ancestry back nearly three centuries. Mr. Axtell was born in Ohio, December 3, 1845, and is a son of Alexander A. and Jane (Gordon) Axtell. Alexander A. Axtell located in Ohio about 1832. He was a son of Daniel Axtell who was born in 1780 and whose ancestors of the Axtell family are as follows, in the direct line of descent, with dates of births : Daniel, 1748; Thomas, 1727 ; Daniel, 1673; Henry, 1641 ; Thomas, 1619, and who was the founder of the Axtell family in America, coming to this country in 1642. He was a native of Berkhampstead, England. Jane Gordon Axtell, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in ISII, and married Alexander A. Axtell, about 1843. Two children were born to this union, John Gordon Axtell, the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Martha J. Adams, now residing at Grove City, Pa.

John Gordon Axtell received a common school education, and spent his boyhood days similar to that of other boys of his time, until the Civil war broke out. On August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-fifth regiment, Pennsylvania infantry, and was mus- tered into service at Erie, Pa. His regiment became a part of General Maher's Irish brigade and later was attached to Miles' brigade. Mr. A.x- tell participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, and was in the Mine Run campaign, and during the Wilderness campaign served on a detail that was assigned to carry the wounded off the field of battle, during the engagement. He was in the Wilderness campaign, at the disastrous blowing up of the Mine, the siege of Petersburg, Deep Bottom and Ream's Station. At the latter engagement, he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby prison and later transferred to Belle Island prison and from there to Salisbury, N. C. He succeeded in escaping from the latter place, and found his way back to his regiment, which he joined at Burks- ville Junction and remained in the service until his discharge June 18, 1865. He participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C., after the close of the war. His regiment saw much hard service and few com- panies of the entire Northern army, if any, show a greater loss than Com- pany HI, of which Mr. Axtell was a member. Every man that went out with that company was either killed, wounded or taken prisoner and only five of the entire company returned home.

In 1868, Mr. Axtell came to Kansas and drove a six mule team to Ft. Hayes where he joined General Forsythe's scouts, taking the place of a man who had recently been killed. While with Forsythe's scouts they

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

operated with the Fifth U. S. Cavalry in the Republican river campaign, and were sent with General Sheridan to supply and to locate the Nine- teenth Kansas which was on an expedition against the Indians in the West under command of Governor Crawford. After reaching Camp Supply, where General Sheridan was, Mr. Axtell was detailed as one of Sheridan's body guards, serving in that capacity while he remained in the service in the West.

The following March he went to Coffeyville, Kans., where he re- mained until 1870, when he returned to Pennsylvania and was married and in 1872, came to Kansas again, locating in McPherson county. In 1884 he went to Elk county where he remained until 1892. In 1907 Mr. Axtell removed to Beaumont, Butler county, but still owns his farm of 320 acres which is located in Greenwood county, about five miles from Beaumont where he is extensively engaged in stock raising.

In 1870, Mr. Axtell was married to Miss Jennie A. Blair, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Daniel and Martha (McMichael) Blair, natives of Pennsylvania, where the father was a farmer. Mrs. Axtell has two brothers living, Mathew, Youngstown, Ohio, and John A., Cochranton, Pa. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Axtell, as follows : Mrs. Minnie Ryerson, Burden, Kans. ; Mrs. Ollie R. Norman, Beaumont, Tex. ; Mrs. Martha J. Olds, Beaumont, Kans .; Guy P., mar- ried Effie Westfall, Altamont, Kans .; Mrs. Lena F. Westfall, Piedmont, Kans .; Mrs. Coral A. Ragsdale, Leech, Okla .; Mrs. Clara L. Ludwig, Fall River, Kans. ; Glenn J., married Rebecca Hutton, Beaumont, Kans., and Free L., Salt Lake City, Utah. There are forty-five grandchildren in the Axtell family.

Mr. Axtell served as postmaster of Beaumont for two years during President Taft's administration. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Repubic, and he and Mrs. Axtell belong to the Methodist Epis- copal church. Few men of this age and time, are to be found who have passed through the experiences which have fallen to the lot of Mr. Axtell, and any man might well be proud of his record as a soldier and a citizen. He is a remarkable man for his age and his vigorous body and active mind would be a credit to a much younger man. He possesses a remark- able memory, and can relate to the most minute detail, incidences that occured over fifty years ago.

W. A. Mccullough, a pioneer in the threshing industry of Butler county, and a leading farmer and stockman of Logan township, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Newton county, that State, in 1858, and is a son of G. L. and Matilda (Garded) McCullough, both natives of Indiana, the father having been born in Union county in 1833. The Mccullough family came to Kansas in the fall of 1877, and located in Butler county. The father now resides at Leon. G. T .. and Matilda (Garded) Mccullough are the parents of the following children: W. A., the subject of this sketch ; S. J. Derby, Kans .; H. L., lives in Ore- gon ; Mrs. Nannie Heddey, El Dorado, Kans .: Mrs. Effie Allen, La-

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tham, Kans .; Mrs. Alta Hubbard, Leon, Kans .; Mrs. Flora Larrick, Leon, Kans .; Bert, El Dorado, Kans .; James E., the eldest, was killed in a mine in Arkansas; and Laura A. Mccullough, died about twenty years ago.

W. A. Mccullough came to Butler county in 1877. He operated the first steam thresher in this county. It was not of the tractor type of engine, but had to be hauled from one farm to the other by oxen. In connection with his threshing operation, he carried on farming and stock raising, and, for a time, handled sheep, extensively, and perhaps understands the sheep business better than any other man in Butler county, but, he says, with all of his experience with sheep, the most interesting feature was to make both ends meet, when wool was five cents a pound.

Mr. Mccullough was married, in 1879, to Miss Lucy J. Grove, a daughter of W. and Sarah (Hodson) Grove of Butler county. To Mr. and Mrs. McCullough have been born the following children: Mrs. Elma May Arnold, Leon, Kans .: Mrs. Elsie Arnold, Latham, Kans .; Mrs. Cora Bertchsinger, Wichita, Kans .; S. E. Mccullough, Leon, Kans. ; Mrs. Sarah L. Woodard, Bristol, Colo., and Lucy Mccullough, Leon, Kans. In referring to the days when prices were low and money scarce, Mr. Mccullough said, "I have hauled stove wood to Wichita, and also wheat, and sold the latter at thirty-five cents per bushel."

Mr. Mccullough is a Democrat and has taken an active part in local politics. He has served as trustee of Logan township for five years, and has also been township clerk.

Richard E. Oldbury, a prominent farmer and stockman of Little Walnut township, was born at Evansville, Ind., in 1849. In 1858, he came to Kansas with his father's family. He spent his boyhood on the plains of Kansas, hunting buffalo with the Indians or rounding up cattle. He is now engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is one of the substantial farmers of Little Walnut township, and is also extensively interested in stock raising. Ile has an excellent farm of 130 acres, which is well adapted to both grain and stock farming. Mr. Oldbury is of the thrifty and progressive type of farmer, and his well kept place. bears mute testimony to its owner's prosperity.

Mr. Oldbury was united in marriage to Sarah Stout of Cottonwood Falls, Kans., in 1877. To this union were born two children: David E., and Dora N. In 1882 Mrs. Oldbury passed to the great beyond, leaving Mr. Oldbury to fight life's battles alone, with two small chil- dren to "mother" and care for. In 1886, Mr. Oldbury moved to Clark county, Kansas. One year later, he was married to Miss Adaline Palmer, a successful school teacher, and daughter of Henry Palmer, stone mason, front Ohio.

In 1893, Mr. Oldbury made the "run" into Oklahoma, and was the first rider into Pond creek. He staked a claim and, with his family, made a valuable farm of the once cactus strewn, prairie-dog-town

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plains. While in Oklahoma, Mr. and Mrs. Oldbury were blessed with two daughters, Wanda A., and Mary F. In order that their daughters might have proper education and yet not be separated from them, Mr. and Mrs. Oldbury returned to Kansas in 1902, settling on a valuable farm, thirty miles east of Wichita in Butler county. Here they made their home until the spring of 1916, when Mr. Oldbury turned the farm over to younger hands and retired from active business.

Mr. Oldbury has seen many ups and downs of the early life. on the plains, and was here when many of the settlers asked for and received help from the aid societies, but Mr. Oldbury never asked for, nor re- ceived aid, never refused to pay an honest debt, and never was sued. In 1888, when the settlers were all hard up, and many of them asking for assistance from the outside world, he not only made a living. but made money hunting jack rabbits and selling their scalps for bounty. He is one of the substantial men of Butler county, and is made of the kind of material that has reclaimed the wilderness and conquered the plains and deserts of this country.

Mrs. Mattie M. Blankenbaker, of Glencoe township, is one of the brave pioneer women who came to Butler county in the early days when conveniences and comforts were few, and hardships and privations many. Mrs. Blankenbaker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1845, a daughter of James and Nancy (Hyndman) Dunlap, both natives of Ire- land. Mrs. Blankenbaker has one surviving sister, Mrs. Charles Mitch- ell, of LyCygne, Kans. Shortly after her marriage to Mr. Blankenbaker they came to Kansas and remained for a short time in Linn county, and in 1879 came to Butler county and preemptied a quarter section of land in Glencoe township, which has since been the family home. Mr. Blankenbaker was a Civil war veteran, having served as a member of Company I, Sixty-seventh regiment, Indiana infantry. He was a brave soldier and was honorably discharged after having made an unusually good military record. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, Murfreesboro and a number of other important and hard-fought battles of the Civil war. At Murfreesboro he had the misfortune of being taken prisoner, and after the war he was always fond of relating how he shouted with joy at the sight of the stars and stripes, after he had been released from the Con- tederate prison and exchanged. He served three years in the army.

S. A. Blankenbaker and Mattie M. Dunlap were married in 1866. and the following children were born to this union : Mrs. Jennie Fillmore, Leon, Kans .; Clinton, Latham: Mrs. Bernice Butts, Keighley, Kans .; Clyde, Keighley, Kans., and Mrs. Beryl Evans. Kansas City, Kans. Clyde is living on the home farm with his mother and in addition to operating the home farm, rents 160 acres in that vicinity, and is one of the prosperous farmers and stockmen of Glencoe township. Mr. Blank- enbaker died, suddenly, in the Odd Fellows Hall at Beaumont, Kans., January 7, 1911, being stricken with heart failure. He was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for years had

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been active and influential in that Order and was much in demand at special meetings and extraordinary gatherings of members of that lodge. He also took an active interest in local, political affairs and was promi- nent in the community. He had held several local offices of trust and responsibility, having been trustee of Glencoe township.

Mrs. Blankenbaker remembers many incidents connected with the pioneer life of this county, of which the present generation know little. When she came here there were deer and antelope and large quantities of small game. One day while she and her husband were hauling a load of corn they discovered a herd of antelope, and Mr. Blankenbaker be- came so excited that, at first, he started after the antelope with his team and the load of corn, but upon second thought, he unhitched one of the horses, mounted it and went in pursuit of the antelope, leaving his wife perched on the load of corn. Like the other early pioneers Mrs. Blank- enbaker was exposed to the many dangers that beset the early settlers, the chief ones of which were prairie fires and cyclones. She has always had a dread of cyclones, and she is very thankful that in their playful pranks over the plains they have thus far missed her.

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History of Butler County Kansas, Part 74

Author: Mooney, Vol. P Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Lawrence, Kan. : Standard Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 946

Author: Mooney, Vol. P
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Lawrence, Kan. : Standard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 946