History of Butler County Kansas, Part 82

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


USA > Kansas > Butler County > History of Butler County Kansas > Part 82


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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY


Mrs. M. E. Correll, of Rosalia township, is a typical representative of that noble band of pioneer women who played their parts so bravely in the early settlement of the then wilds of Butler county. She is a native of Kentucky, born in 1849, a daughter of William and Martha A. Woods, natives of Kentucky, and of Scotch and English descent. Mrs. Correll came to Butler county with her husband and parents in 1869, and they homesteaded 160 acres in Rosalia township. She was married in 1864 to James Correll, and the following children were born to this union : Mrs. Cordelia McGinley, Rosalia, Kans .; William, Loredo, Tex .; Charles, Rosalia, Kans., and Mrs. Myrtle Hurlbert. Hutchinson, Kans.


Mr. Correll was a successful farmer and stockman, and after pass- ing through the early days of frontier vicissitudes and discouragements. he became one of the prosperous citizens of Butler county, and at his death. left a competence for those dependent upon him. He was a musi- cian by natural instinct, and during the pioneer days, played the violin for the numerous dances that were held in the neighborhood in those days. Later he became a member of the Baptist church, and was by nature, a deeply religious man. He was a kind father and husband, and a good neighbor. He believed in the golden rule and appealed to the good that was in other men. He was patient and courageous. and. dur- ing the most trying times of the early days of discouragement, he was happy and looked on the sunny side of life. He will long be remem- bered as one of the pioneers of Butler county and a man of real worth. After her husband's death, Mrs. Correll sold the old homestead, and purchased a home in Rosalia, where she now resides, her granddaugh- ter, Clara Correll, living with her. Her daughter, Mrs. Cordelia Mc- Ginley, owns the old homestead, which is located three and a half miles south of Rosalia.


D. R. Blankinship, an extensie land owner and stockman of Rosalia township, is one of the early settlers of Butler county. Mr. Blankinship was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, February 24, 1844. He is a son of William C. and Almeda Blankinship, natives of North Carolina who removed from that State to Illinois at a very early day. D. R. Blankin. ship came to Kansas in 1869, and the following year homesteaded a quar- ter section of land in Rosalia township, filing on it May 10, 1870 He built a log house on his claim, 14x16 feet, using in its construction all the logs that he could find. Had he been able to find more logs, no doubt he would have built a larger house. His parents located in Rosalia town- ship in 1870 and the father homesteaded 160 acres adjoining the claim of D. R.


When D. R. Blankinship came here, he was favorably impressed with the country, but his capital was limited and during the first few years progress was slow. He had a team of horses and shortly after coming here one of them died. He had no money to replace his horse, so he sold the other one, or rather traded it, taking a pig and a cow in


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part payment. During his first year or two here he worked out for other settlers part of the time, taking his pay in provisions. He started in the cattle business by buying calves. He next traded some of his calves for a team of oxen, but fate seemed to pursue his motor power, and one of his oxen was killed by lightning and, resorting to his usual remedy for a broken team he sold the other one the next day. Mr. Blankinship did the first plowing that was done in the township and also built the second house. In February, 1870, he sowed wheat and oats on the burnt prairie and turned it under. From this he reaped eleven bushels of wheat and twenty-five bushels of oats of good quality, to the acre. When the stage line was established from Ft. Scott to Wichita the stage station was es- tablished at Mr. Blankinship's place. They paid only after three months' service. A man by the name of Tom Taylor was carrying the mail and just before pay day Taylor skipped the country and failed to pay Mr. Blankinship for taking care of the horses for the quarter. He had his ups and downs in the early days but eventually he began to prosper and buy more land from time to time, until he has become one of the large land owners of Butler county, owning over 4,300 acres. He had been here just forty-three years, when he owned the above stated amount of land which is an accumulation of 100 acres for every year that he has lived in Butler county, which is not so bad. Mr. Blankinship has followed gen- eral farming as well as stock raising, and has been very successful in his undertaking. He now has most of his land rented, and is taking life easier than he did, during the strenuous pioneer days in this county.


Mr. Blankinship was married in 1864, to Miss Hannah A. Brown, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Isaac Brown. Seven children have been born to this union, four of whom are living, as follows: Martin A., Charles A., LeRoy A., and A. Z., all residing in Rosalia township. Dur- ing all the uncertain days of early Butler county, Mr. Blankinship man- aged to weather whatever storm or stress came. In 1874, he was made distributor of supplies sent to aid the settlers after the grasshopper de- vastation. He has always taken a commendable interest in local affairs and for good government of his county and State, but has never aspired to be a politician. He was constable of his township in 1872, and has served for a number of terms on the school board, always taking a deep interest in educational matters. Mr. Blankinship is a man who is held in the highest esteem by his neighbors and his many friends and ac- quaintances throughout Butler county. He is one of Butler county's substantial pioneer citizens, and is always ready and willing to further the best interests of his community.


Miss May Gaskill, the present efficient postmistress of Potwin, Kans., is a representative of that type of twentieth century women who are contributing their share to the efficiency of the business world. Miss Gaskill is a native of Pike county, Illinois, and a daughter of Samuel and Alice (Byram) Gaskill, both natives of Illinois. Samuel Gaskill was a son of John and Susanna Gaskill. He came to Kansas in


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the spring of 1887. and first located in Hamilton county, where he homesteaded land. Two years later, the family removed to Butler county, and settled in Spring township, where they remained about two years, when they located near Potwin, in Plum Grove township. Here they lived on a farm about eight years. The mother died in 1900. The father later removed to Augusta, and is now living retired in El Do- rado.


Miss Gaskill is one of a family of four children, as follows: Har- vey A., resides at Amber, Okla: Maggie, married R. E. Joseph, El Dorado, Kans .; Nettie, married E. E. McDowell, Verden, Okla., and May. the subject of this sketch. Miss Gaskill was educated in the public schools and worked at the printer's trade in the office of the "Augusta Journal," and later she worked in the office of the "El Dorado Advocate." In 1908 she returned to Potwin and engaged in the mil- linery business, and, in the meantime, had served as assistant in the postoffice at different times, when C. V. Cain was postmaster. In 1913 she passed the civil service examination, and, on April 4 of that year, was appointed postmistress, and has conducted the affairs of that office in a manner that reflects great credit upon herself, and to the unqual- ified satisfaction of the many patrons of the Potwin postoffice. Miss Gaskill is a Democrat, and belongs to the Rebekah lodge, of which she is noble grand. She is one of Butler county's representative women.


Charles Coppins, a Butler county pioneer. now deceased, was born near Canterbury, England, September 7, 1829. He was a son of Thomas and Sarah Coppins, also natives of England, where they were farmers. The Coppins family immigrated to America in the fifties and settled near the town of Conesus, Genesee county, New York. The mother died in New York and the family migrated to Michigan a short time after her death and located near Hudson where the father spent the remainder of his life.


Charles Coppins was united in marriage at Mt. Morris, N. Y .. June 4. 1859. to Miss Elizabeth Ather. She was born June 29, 1830, at Windy Nook, a small village in the northern part of England. She is a daughter of William and Jane (Somersides) Ather, both natives of England, and they were born near Durham, where the father was a quarryman in early life. Elizabeth Ather came to America in 1854. locating near Connors Lake, New York, where she met her future husband, Mr. Coppins. In 1866, they removed to Michigan, where they were engagd in farming until 1871, whn they came to Butler county. Kansas, and homesteaded a claim in Plum Grove township, where Mrs. Coppins still resides. Charles Cop- pins, after having passed through the hard experiences of the early years in Butler county, became a successful and prosperous farmer. He was industrious and a valued citizen, honesty being the dominant trait of his character. He died in March, 1913. He was a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and was a life long Republican. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Cop-


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pins were born the following children: H. A., resides at Arnold, Kans .; Isadora, married J. M. Worley, Wichita, Kans.


Mrs. Coppins is a representative of the noble pioneer women of Kan- sas. In the early days it fell to her lot to be of more than ordinary serv- ice to the early settlers of Butler county. When a young woman she lived with the family of a physician in New York State for a number of years, and during that time had an opportunity to familiarize herself with the elements of medicine ; and under the instructions of the doctor she be- came a very competent trained nurse, and acted in that capacity in con- nection with his professional work. When she came to Kansas, physi- cians were few, often from twenty to fifty miles away, and Mrs. Cop- pins was frequently called upon to attend the sick, and her presence was a Godsend in many instances. She has responded to calls at all times of day and night, and in all kinds of weather. She says settlers would fre- quently come for her with lumber wagons, and that riding over the trails was rough, but that was the order of the day. She built up a wide reputation in her work as a nurse and has frequently been called to El Dorado and even to Kansas City.


Mrs. Coppins deserves great credit for the part that she took in the early days in Butler county. She relates many incidents of the pioneer days, and the hardships that confronted the early settlers on the plains. On one occasion while returning from a visit to a sick neighbor, she was overcome by the cold, but fortunately had almost reached home before she became exhausted and her husband discovered her just in time to save her life, as she had already reached the state of stupor which im- mediately precedes death by freezing. She is one of the interesting old ladies of Kansas who has performed her part nobly and well in the de- velopment of Butler county.


Capt. Mike Guinty .- The story of Captain Guinty, is the story of a boy who was left an orphan among strangers in a strange land at a ten- der age, and by his industry and personality, made his own way in the world from that time, and has always been a citizen of real worth and has reached a position of wealth and affluence. His record as a soldier is also characteristic of the man. Enlisting as a private in the ranks, his ability was soon recognized and he gradually rose, step by step, until he became captain of his company.


Captain Guinty was born in Ireland March 19, 1842, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (Hendley) Guinty, natives of Ireland. They left their native land and immigrated to America when the subject of this sketch was a child. The family remained in Vermont for a time, when they re- moved to La Salle, Ill., where the parents both died, within a few months, from cholera which swept over that section of the country in the early forties. Mike Guinty remained in the vicinity of La Salle until he was eleven years old when he went to Chicago. His first job was a driver on the canal, and while thus engaged he became acquainted with a man named Jerry Dean, of Chicago, who owned and operated a number of


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canal boats. Mr. Dean became attached to the boy and took him to his home, and young Guinty attended school for two or three years in Chi- cago, making his home with Mr. Dean. At about the age of fourteen he left the Dean home and became a driver on the canal again at $15 per month. He says driving on the canal was not a bad place for a boy who was compelled to earn his own living. He next went to Rock Island, Il1. Times were very hard in that section then and work was scarce at even 75 cents per day.


Young Guinty remained in Rock Island and that vicinity until the Civil war broke out, and on July 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company D. Twelfth regiment, Illinois infantry. His regiment was under command of Col. John McCarther, of Chicago, at first. They were immediately sent to Paducah, Ky .. under Gen. C. F. Smith, and joined Grant at Fort Don- elson, remaining under his command until Grant was transferred to the Army of the Potomac and made commander-in-chief. Captain Guinty was with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. and immediately after the fall of Atlanta he was made second lieutenant. About that time, the sixteenth army corps, to which he belonged, was consolidated with the fifteenth and placed under the command of General Logan. September 7. 1863 Mr. Guinty was commissioned first lieuten- ant, and the following summer was commissioned captain, and took com- mand of his company in that capacity before he was twenty-one years old. After participating in the grand review at Washington, he was mustered out of service and returned to Illinois.


A few years after the war he went to Iowa and was engaged in farm- ing there until 1871, when he came to Kansas and settled on a claim in Butler county, locating on the northwest quarter of section 14. Fairmount township. He had saved quite a little money and came to Kansas with considerably more capital than the average settler had in those days. When he came he was accompanied by a man named Henry Robison. They came as far as Emporia by rail and they and another man drove southwest from Emporia to look the country over, with a view of locat- ing, and on the entire trip from Peabody to where Wichita now stands they saw only one human habitation and that was a dugout. Wichita at that time had not attained the dignity of being called a town. It was a rough little frontier settlement of about 150 people, and this population was mostly made up of gamblers and a few wandering cowboys and fron- tiersmen. After locating his claim in Butler county, Captain Guinty re- turned to Iowa, and shortly afterwards came back to Butler county, which has since been his home. He started in the cattle business in a small way, first buying a herd of cows and engaged in the dairy business. and raised calves for a few years. He then engaged in the stock raising business and abandoned the dairy and fed for the market, usually hand- ling from 200 to 500 a year. He bought land as opportunities presented. and now owns 960 acres of some of the best land in Butler county.


Captain Guinty was married in January, 1866, to Miss Sophia S.


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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY


Wood, a daughter of W. A. and Sophia (Smith) Wood, natives of Cort- land county, New York, who settled in Illinois at a very early date, the father removing to that State with his parents in 1835, when he was three years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Guinty have been born the following children : H. A .: Bessie E., married John Speir, Marion county ; W. H .; Grace, married J. V. Leydig; Charles S .; Lena B. deceased ; Hattie E., married Elmer D. Lambert. all of whom are prosperous and reside in Butler county, except Bessie E., who resides in Marion.


Captain Guinty has always taken an active interest in political af- fairs and has served as county commissioner of Butler county, and in the exercise of the duties of that office, the business of the county was given the same careful attention and efficient management that Captain Guinty gives his private business. Captain Guinty has many friends throughout Butler and adjoining counties, friends who hold him in the highest es- teem.


Joseph King, of Plum Grove township, is one of the most extensive farmers and stockmen of Butler county. He belongs to that type of men who have built up a reputation for Butler county, as one of the prosperous and progressive counties of the great State of Kansas. He came to Butler county in the spring of 1886, with approximately $2.500 in cash, which he invested in a quarter section of land, and stocked it with a few head of cattle. He went in debt considerably, and met with more or less adversity, during the first year or two in Butler county ; and in 1888, two years after coming here, he was $1,500 worse off than nothing. However, he was not discouraged, but continued to buy land. In 1889, he raised a good crop, but cattle and grain scarcely brought any price. Cows were worth only $15 a head, and two-year-old steers sold for $12 per head ; and during that year he raised 14,000 bushels of corn. He has paid as high as eighteen per cent. interest on money which he borrowed. He now owns 2,400 acres of some of Butler county's best land, and his home is on the first quarter section that he purchased in Plum Grove township.


Joseph King was born in Springfield, Ohio, April 4, 1854, and is a son of William and Nancy (Hatfield) King, natives of Ohio and both descendants of old American families. The father was a school teacher in early life. In 1854, the King family removed to Tazewell county, Illinois, where the father engaged in farming and teaching school, and the parents spent their lives there. In his youth, Mr. King's oppor- tunities to obtain an education were limited. However, he succeeded in picking up the rudiments of an English education, but most of his time was devoted to the farm and stock.


Mr. King was married, April 1, 1879, to Miss Mary Roberts, a native of Missouri, who was reared and educated in Illinois. She is a daughter of Ellis and Nancy Jane (Musick) Roberts. To Mr. and Mrs. King have been born the following children: Clarence, Merton, Mel- vin, and Paul, all of whom are associated with their father on the ranch


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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY


where they have all worked in harmony to one common end, which, no doubt, is one of the strong elements of success which has crowned their efforts. The King ranch is famous for its high grade horses and cattle. They usually have a large herd of shorthorn cattle and a great many Percheron horses are raised here.


When Mr. King was forty-two years old, he became affiliated with the Christian Church of Potwin. He is a man of deep, religious con- viction and carries his Christianity into his daily life. He is a liberal supporter of the church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Masons, Knights of Pythias, Royal Neighbors, Mod- ern Woodmen of America, Rebekahis and politically is a Republican, although inclined to be independent.


C. G. Epperson, a pioneer merchant of Walnut township, who now conducts the leading mercantile establishment and is also postmaster at Gordon, is a native of Tennessee. He was born in Hamilton county in 1854, and is a son of John R. and Emma (Good) Epperson, natives of Virginia. They were the parents of five children, only two of whom are now liv- ing: C. G., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Caldona Woodan, Georgetown, Tenn.


C. G. Epperson was reared to manhood in his native State, and received a good public school education in the schools of Georgetown, Tenn. He re- mained at home with his par- ents until 1880, when he went to Macon county, Illinois. Here he followed farming three or four years, when he came to Kansas, locating in Walnut township, Butler county. He was engaged in farming about four years and was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad Com- C. G. EPPERSON pany about a year. He then began his mercantile career as a clerk in the store of Mr. Farrow. Later he clerked for Lou Myers. While in the employ of Mr. Myers he was appointed postmaster of Gordon by President Cleveland, and served in that capacity for three years. He was then in the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad Company again for one year, when he embarked in the mer- cantile business for himself, opening a general store at Gordon, Kans. His first store building was an unpretentious affair, 12x20 feet, and he


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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY


began with a small stock of goods, only about $90 worth. He paid cash for his, goods, and at first bought in small quantities, and often carried his goods from Augusta to his place of business on a bicycle.


His business gradually developed, and in a short time wholesale houses were anxious for his patronage and willing to ship his goods when they discovered that his business was being conducted along the lines of sound business principles. By his honest methods and square dealing, he has built up a large patronage and won the confidence of the public and is one of the live and progressive merchants of Butler county. In 1912, Mr. Epperson was appointed postmaster of Gordon by Presi- dent Taft, and is still serving in that capacity.


Mr. Epperson was united in marriage in 1889 with Miss Ida Cooley. of Rose Hill. She died two years after her marriage, and in 1904, Mr. Epperson was married to Nora Shreve, of Augusta. Notwithstanding his busy mercantile career, Mr. Epperson finds time to do considerable writing, for which he possesses a natural aptitude. He is local cor- respondent for a number of newspapers and has produced much inter- esting and well written matter, and he has also written considerable poetry of merit. In 1912 he visited his old Tennessee home, and some of the letters which he wrote to the Butler county newspapers at that time concerning his travels and Tennessee life and conditions are surely entitled to a place among the journalistic classics of Butler county.


James Van Tuyl, a prominent farmer and stockman of Clifford township, is a representative Butler county pioneer. Mr. Van Tuyl was born in Green county, Illinois, February 16, 1838, and is a son of Jonathan and Jane (Pennington) Van Tuyl. The mother was a native of Newark, N. J., and of English descent, and Jonathan Van Tuyl, the father, was born near the city of New York, and was of Holland ances- try, the family probably settling in New York when that section was colonized by Hollanders. Jonathan Van Tuyl was a plasterer and brick and stone mason, learning his trade in New York. He came West at an early day, locating in Green county, Illinois, near White- hall, remaining there only six months when he went to Macoupen county, Illinois. He bought land there, and after remaining a few years, went to Montgomery county, Illinois, where he bought a half section of land.


James Van Tuyl, the eldest son, remained at home, and worked on the farm, and also learned the plastering trade with his father. His early educational advantages were fair. In 1868, he was united in mar- riage with Penina J. McElroy, a native of Washington county, Indiana, born September 12, 1849. She was a daughter of Nimrod and Elizabeth (Hubby) McElroy. The mother was a native of Indiana and of Northi Carolina parentage, of Holland ancestry. Nimrod McElroy was born in Lee county, West Virginia, and was a son of George and Mary (Gil- strap) McElroy of Scotch-Irish descent. After their marriage, James Van Tuyl and his wife lived on a farm in Montgomery county, Illinois,


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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY


for four years, and, in September, 1872, they took their belongings, and with four horses and a prairie schooner, came to Kansas, the trip re- quiring four weeks. They remained in Harvey county the first winter they spent in this State, four miles north and eight miles west of New- ton, and the next spring, went fourteen miles north of Newton, and bought a relinquishment on a claim and proved up on a quarter section of land, and afterward got another quarter section through a timber claim. In 1883, they sold their Marion county property and came to Butler county, buying a quarter section in Clifford township.


To Mr. and Mrs. Van Tuyl have been born the following children : Cora, wife of Joel Corfman, California : James F., North Dakota ; Will- iam E,, New Mexico; Myra E., married C. R. Doty, Orville, Wash .; (). L., resides at home; Maggie, at home; Guy W., Butler county ; Ralph L., Peabody, and Nina, wife of Aaron C. Thomas, Whitewater. Mr. Van Tuyl is one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of But- ler county, and is one of the men who had the judgment to foresee the future possibilities of this section of Kansas, and he is entitled to his full share of credit for its development. He has made a study of the cattle business and understands it, and a large measure of his success is due to the fact that he made a careful study of his business, and un- derstands the minor details, as well as the general plans. He is one of the extensive alfalfa raisers of the county, usually producing about fifty acres of alfalfa. There have been many changes since the Van Tuyl family came to Kansas, and they have kept well abreast of the progress. One of the interesting relics of the early days to be found on the Van Tuyl place, is the old wagon with which they made the trip from Illinois to Kansas in 1872. It was second hand when Mr. Van Tuyl bought it in Illinois, but was an unusually substantial wagon, having been made especially for hauling freight from Hillsboro, Ill., to St. Louis, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Van Tuyl are members of the Chris- tian church, and Mr. Van Tuyl is a Democrat. He is a close student of current events, being an extensive reader, and takes a deep interest in political affairs. He is recognized as one of the best posted men in Butler county.




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