History of Butler County Kansas, Part 96

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

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Mr. Allen began in the abstract business in 1882. The Boyden ab- stract business has gradually developed until it has become one of the important institutions of El Dorado. During the recent industrial de- velopment in the oil and gas business, the abstract business has in- creased beyond any reasonable expectation. During the first six months of 1916 Mr. Allen gave employment to eighteen clerks in his office, and during normal conditions he employed eight assistants. He owns his own building at No. 125 West Central avenue, and the abstract business occupies the first floor with a floor space of 1.320 feet.

Mr. Allen was born near Boston, Mass., a son of Louis E. and Susan (Boyden) Allen, natives of Massachusetts. The father was a sea- faring man and was lost at sea when F. S. was a child, and the mother now resides in El Dorado. Mr. Allen came to Kansas in 1882, and since that time has been located in El Dorado, and is one of the substantial business men of Butler county. He was elected registrar of deeds of Butler county in 1897, and at the expiration of his first term he was re- elected to that office, and served five years in all, serving one additional vear, on account of a change in the law. Politically, Mr. Allen has al- ways been identified with the Democratic party.

Thomas H. Overstreet, a Butler county pioneer and Civil war vet- eran, who has made his home in Little Walnut township for the past forty-four years, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Mercer county and is a son of Harding Overstreet. The father was a stone mason and farmer. Mr. Overstreet located on government land in Little Walnut township in 1872, and since that time has been engaged in farm- ing and stock raising. He is one of the men whose industry and fore- sight have made Butler county one of the leading counties in the great State of Kansas.

Mr. Overstreet was married in October, 1865, to Miss Sarah Jane Beasley, and the following children have been born to this union : Mrs. Ida Sinkhorn, Wichita. Kans .; Mrs. Delitha Dawson, Wichita, Kans. ; William, Wichita, Kans. : Hardy, Elgin, Kans .; Mrs. Gertrude Tabing, 'Leon, Kans.

When Thomas Overstreet came to Butler county the country was in a new and undeveloped state. Conveniences and accommodations were few, and, like the other early day pioneers, he made the best of the

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

situation, with a view of building a home for himself and his family. He endured the many hardships incident to pioneer life and enjoyed few luxuries, but lie lived to be rewarded and was not disappointed. He reared his family in a way that they are a credit to their parents and to the community-the highest type of American citizenship. They are all prosperous and well-to-do, and in view of all this, Mr. Overstreet and his wife may well spend the remainder of their days in the con- sciousness of the fact that they have lived successful lives and con- tributed their part towards a better and higher civilization. This noble band of pioneers who reclaimed the great American desert are rapidly passing away, and it is but fitting that a work of this character should chronicle something of the lives and deeds of those who did their part nobly and well. It may be said of Thomas Overstreet that as a soldier and a pioneer he fought a good fight.

Amos Stewart, a prominent farmer and stockman of Rock Creek township, is a Civil war veteran and Butler county pioneer. Mr. Stew- art was born near Greencastle, Ind., February 10, 1840, and is a son of James and Dicy (Wright) Stewart, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of North Carolina, both of whom migrated to Indiana with their respective parents when children. The Stewart family re- mained in Indiana until 1849, when they migrated to Washington county. lowa. The father conducted a farm there and also operated a sawmill. In 1857 the family moved to Appanoose county, lowa, remaining there until 1882, when they removed to Kansas.

On August 12. 1861, Amos Stewart enlisted in answer to the Presi- dent's call for volunteers to defend the Union. The Iowa quota was filled by the time he was recruited and he was mustered into the United States service as a member of Company D, Fifth Kansas regiment, and was later transferred to Company B, of the same regiment. This regi- ment saw service along the troublesome border in Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas, and were principally engaged in fighting guerillas. Mr. Stewart's term of enlistment expired in February, 1864, after he had served three years, and he immediately re-enlistd in the same company for a period of four years. He served until after the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge on August 21, 1865. after serving four years and nine days. He saw much hard service of a dangerous and disagreeable character known as "guerilla warfare," where military rules and usages were disregarded and frequently no quarter was shown. To be captured invariably meant death.

At the close of the war Mr. Stewart returned to Appanoose county, Iowa, and in October, 1866, he was married to Miss Mary Linton, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of L. L. and Rachel (Moore) Linton, natives of Ohio. Mr. Stewart and his wife began life on a farm in Iowa. where they remained until July, 1870, when they came to Kansas and settled in Butler county, which has since been their home. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been born the following children: Alice R. married

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

A. G. Huffman, Lamar, Neb .; J. P., resides on the home place ; Louis R., farmer, Rock Creek township; Rachel N., died at the age of one year, and one child, born in Iowa, died in infancy. Mrs. Stewart departed this life on July 4, 1909.

Mr. Stewart is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a member of the Church of Christ, Little Walnut Chapel. He has been a life-long Republican and is a firm believer in the policies and principles of that party. Since coming to Butler county, Mr. Stewart has accumulated a competency, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of Rock Creek township, being the owner of one of the fine farms in Butler county. Mr. Stewart has always done his duty conscientiously and well, whether on the field of battle or in the quiet walks of every day life.

James Isaac Plummer, a prominent farmer of Rock Creek township, is a Kansas pioneer. Mr. Plummer was born near Greencastle, Putnam county, Indiana, February 12, 1848, and is a son of John Wilson and Nettie (Stewart) Plummer, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Putnam county, Indiana. In 1860 the Plummer family left their Indiana home and started West, with Kansas as their destination, and finally located in Pottawatomie county, where the father bought 120 acres of land. They drove the entire distance from Indiana to their new home in Kansas, and brought with them about thirty head of cattle. At first they were much pleased with their new home in Kansas, but later in the season of that year an unusual drought developed, no rain of any amount falling between April and the following winter.

In 1870 the Plummer family came to Butler county and settled in Rock Creek township, filing on the northeast quarter of section 5, on what was known as the Indian trust lands. The father also filed on a claim three miles southwest a few months later. Mr. Plummer's first home in Butler county was a stone structure built without mortar, which was succeeded about five years later by a more pretentious resi- dence, which is a very substantial stone building, and which is still the family home.

Mr. Plummer was united in marriage in 1869 with Miss Bertha A. Fuller, a native of Iowa, and to this union was born one child, who died in infancy. Mrs. Plummer died in 1871, and ten years later Mr. Plum- mer was married to Emma F. Dugan, a native of Missouri, and one child was born to this union, Hugh L., who resides on the home place with his parents.

Mr. Plummer is one of the substantial men of Butler county, and has been identified with the development of this county almost since its beginning. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, and for a number of years was actively identified with the Grange Lodge. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and Mrs. Plummer is a profound student of the Bible. Politically, Mr. Plummer is a Republican, although inclined to be independent and liberal in mat- ters of politics.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

C. M. Price, a prominent and influential citizen of Butler county, is an early pioneer well worthy of mention in a work of this character. Mr. Price is a native of Kentucky, born in Logan county on October 12, 1849, and is a son of T. J. and Sarah (McCarley) Price, natives of Ken- tucky and of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

C. M. Price grew to manhood in Kentucky and drove through from Logan county, Kentucky, to Butler county, Kansas, with a team and wagon. He pre-empted the northeast quarter of section 21, Clay town- ship, or what was later called Clay township, upon the organization of that township. Mr. Price has successfully followed farming and stock raising, and has added to his original farm until he now owns 520 acres of rich, alluvial soil on the Rock creek bottoms.

Mr. Price was married on August 25, 1874. to Miss Melcena Blan- cett, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, born January 27, 1857. She is a daughter of Joseph and Isabell (Barker) Blancett. The mother was a native of New Orleans, La., and daughter of Samuel Barker, a native of Connecticut, and of English descent. Joseph Blancett was born and reared in Ohio, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Beadle) Blancett, the father being one of the very early settlers of Ohio, locating in that sec- tion when it was still a part of the Northwest Territory. The Blancett family are of French origin. Mrs. Price was the only child born to her parents. Her family migrated from Ohio to Adair county, Missouri in 1870, and two years later came to Butler county, Kansas and pre-empted a claim in the northern part of Clay township.

To Mr. and Mrs. Price have been born the following children : Opal married Charles M. Frakes, Clay township; Ernest, an extensive cattleman, Clay township; Clifford, also a cattleman, in Clay township; Roy P., Clay township; Marjorie, married George Hall, Clay township; Ruby, married W. E. Jenkins, Douglass, Kans .; Nina, married George Gibson, Clay township; Emmett, Clay township; Audrey, resides at home; Belle, married Joseph Markley, Atlanta, Kans .; Percy, resides at home; Iris, died at the age of one year, and Romney, died at the age of six years.

Mr. Price has been identified with Clay township and Butler county almost since their beginning, and has always taken a praiseworthy inter- 'est in local affairs, and in the welfare of his county and State. He attend- ed the first election ever held in Clay township, and has the distinction of having cast the first Democratic vote in that township. He is recog- nized as one of the successful citizens of Butler county.

George R. Fox, now deceased, was a Civil war veteran and an early settler in Butler county, who by his industry and integrity attained a prominent position among the representative men of this county. He was born in Geauga county, Ohio, March 28, 1844, and died on July 26, 19II. He was a son of John Wilkins Fox, a native of Ipswitch, Mass. The Fox family is of English descent and was founded in New England many years prior to the Revolutionary war. Captain Fox, the great (55)

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY 1

grandfather of George R. Fox, was a distinguished soldier in the Amer- ican army during the Revolutionary war.

George R. Fox no doubt inherited his military inclination from some of his illustrious ancestors. At the age of nineteen years he en- listed in the Twelfth Ohio cavalry, one of the famous regiments of the Union army. Owing to the fact that he was under age when he en- listed his father came after him with the purpose of taking him home, but the young soldier informed his father that if he refused to give his consent to his enlistment this time he would run away from home again and enlist at some other place. The father saw that opposition would be of no avail and offered no further objection.

Young Fox served throughout the war and made a good military record. At the close of the war he returned to his Ohio home and shortly afterward went to the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and in 1869 came to Butler county, Kansas, and pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 4. Douglass township. This is some of the best bottom land along the river. Later he bought another quarter section adjoining his original homestead. This half section is now owned by his widow, with the exception of seventy acres, which Mr. Fox sold for the reason that it was on the opposite side of the river from the main body of his land, which made it inconvenient to operate. Mr. Fox followed farming and stock raising here throughout his life time, and was one of Butler county's substantial citizens.

October 21, 1872, George R. Fox and Miss Agnes Livington were united in marriage. Her parents were John and Lydia (Johnston) Livingston, and she was the only child, and was born on May 5, 1853. in Illinois. John Livingston was a native of Knox county, Illinois, and of English descent, his wife, Lydia Johnston, being a native of Montreal, Canada, and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The Johnston family came from Canada at a very early date, and for a time lived at Navoo, Ill., and from there removed to Knox county, Illinois, when Mrs. Fox's mother was nine years old: Mrs. Fox's father died when she was three years old, after which her mother married C. A. Stine, a Methodist Episcopal min- ister. Shortly after their marriage they removed to Mankato, Minn. The family resided in the vicinity of a great deal of Indian trouble after settling in Minnesota. Their home was only four miles from where the New Elm massacre took place, and Mr. Stine was wounded there. He was a Civil war veteran and during the Civil war raised a company of volunteers. The Stine family endured a great many hardships and were exposed to great dangers during the Indian uprising in the Northwest at that time.

In the fall of 1870 Mrs. Fox, then a girl, came to Butler county with her mother and step-father. They pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 16. The mother died in in 1828, and Mr. Stine died a few years later in California.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fox began life on the farm which

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

he had pre-empted, and which was their home for a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. Fox were born the following children: Mrs. Emma M. Sheets, Blackwell, Okla .; John W .; Neoka, resides at home with her mother ; Ober, resides in Oklahoma ; James E., at home ; Roena, married Guy Elliott, Rhodes, Iowa, and Frank, resides at home.

George R. Fox was an active and prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was a splendid type of American citizen, whose death was not only a great loss to his immediate family and friends, but to the community in general.

Mrs. Fox is one of the interesting pioneer women of Butler county. She taught the first school in Douglass in 1871. The term was for a period of six months. She relates many amusing instances in connec- tion with her pioneer school on the plains. She had thirty-eight pupils, and of their thirty-eight books only three were alike. One man sent six children to school with only one book, the Bible, and requested that his children's education be confined to that text. Even with all these drawbacks, Mrs. Fox said that her pupils made good progress, and no doubt the pioneer schools of that time prepared the boys and girls for just as useful lives as the more artificial and highly organized educational institution of a later day.

John W. Fox, a prominent farmer and stockman of Rock Creek township, is a native son of Butler county, born May 21, 1877. He is a son of George R. and Agnes (Livingston) Fox. The mother was a native of Illinois and a daughter of John Livingston. George R. Fox, the father, was a native of Ohio, and was a son of John W. Fox, who came from Eng- land. John W. Fox was a prosperous farmer in Ohio and frequently visited in Kansas after his son came here, and in the early days the old gentleman took great delight in buffalo hunting. He has killed buffalo on the plains west of Butler county.

George R. Fox, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a vet- eran of the Civil war, having served in the Twelfth Ohio cavalry, serv- ing until the close of the war. In 1868 he came West and located in Butler county, filing on a claim two and one-half miles north of the present site of Douglass. He became a prosperous and extensive cattle man, and at the time of his death owned between 700 and 800 acres of land. He died in IQUI, well known and highly respected. He was a Republican and was active in the interest and welfare of his party, and frequently held local offices of trust and responsibility, having served as clerk in Douglass township, and for a number of years was a member of the school board.

John W. Fox was one of a family of seven children. He was reared in Butler county and educated in the public schools. He graduated from the Walnut City District School and later was graduated from the Douglass High School. Soon after leaving school he engaged in the cattle business for himself and bought a farm. He has added to his orig- inal holdings from time to time until he is now one of the large land

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

owners of his neighborhood. He is considered one of the successful cattlemen of southern Butler county. He specializes in Aberdeen Angus cattle.

On December 8, 1904. Mr. Fox was united in marriage with Miss Robbie Parsons. a native of Tennessee, who came to Butler county, Kan- sas, with her mother after her father's death. To Mr. and Mrs. Fox has been born one child, Edith, born in 1907, and died in 1911. Mr. Fox is a Republican and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security.

C. W. Hein, a successful stockman of Rock Creek township, came to Butler county from Germany in 1892. When he came here his father- in-law, Nicholas Kuns, was engaged in the restaurant business at Doug- lass. Mr. Hein had no knowledge of the English language when he came here, but he had learned the butcher trade in his native land, and entered the employ of C. P. Gyot, a Frenchman, who conducted a butcher shop in Douglass. After the first week, Mr. Hein had learned enough of Eng- lish so that he could understand the customers to the extent of making sales in a very satisfactory manner, and made very rapid progress in the mastery of English. He entered the employ of Alfred Edleman, who conducted another shop in Douglass, and worked for him two years.

When he came here Mr. Hein had about $300, to which he added his savings, and later purchased a farm in Rock Creek township, paying $1,000 down and he had enough capital left to buy a team, implements, etc. His farm was located on the northwest quarter of section 28, Rock Creek township. It was practically unimproved. A dilapidated claim shack stood on the place, but there was not a rod of fence, a well, nor any other improvements. He proceeded to improve the place, and soon made a comfortable home for himself. and family. He has prospered, becoming one of the substantial and well-to-do farmers and stockmen, not only of Rock Creek township, but of Butler county. He worked hard to get a start, and has succeded even beyond his expectations. He is a capable business man, and his investments have uniformly proven profitable.

Mr. Hein was born in Germany on October 12, 1855. His parents, Ernst and Louise Hein, were both natives of Germany. The father was engaged in the milling business in the town of Stalupenen, in the eastern part of the German Empire. C. W. Hein received his education in the schools of his native land, and when a youth learned the butcher trade. He was united in marriage to Miss K. P. Kuns, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Nicholas Kuns. To Mr. and Mrs. Hein have been born ten children, seven of whom were born in Germany, and the others in Butler county, Kansas. They are as follows: Mrs. Henry Sherman, who resides near Udell. Kans .; W. F .. Rock Creek township; Charles, Douglass township; Louise, married William Diller, and resides near Mulvane, Kans .; Frank, Douglass, Kans .; Oscar and Mary, live at home with their parents. All of the Hein children are prosperous and sub- stantial citizens.

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Mr. Hein is a Republican and takes a commendable interest in local affairs. He has been a member of the school board for a number of years, and takes a keen interest in educational matters, and is an advo- cate of good schools. For twelve years Mr. Hein has been road super- visor. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, and is a public-spirited citizen.

G. W. Gibson, a successful farmer and stockman of Rock Creek township, is a Butler county pioneer and Civil war veteran. Mr. Gibson was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1844. His par- ents were George G. and Nancy B. (Anderson) Gibson, also natives of Pennsylvania.

G. W. Gibson was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania and grew to manhood in that State, and when the Civil war broke out he was a boy under seventeen years of age, but on September 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Third regiment, Penn- sylvania infantry. He participated with his regiment in the battles of Chickahominy, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, and many other important engagements. At the battle of Plymouth, Mr. Gibson was taken prisoner, in April, 1864, and was confined in the Andersonville and Florence prisons from May I to December 10. He was mustered out of service June 17, I865.

After receiving his discharge from the army Mr. Gibson returned to his Pennsylvania home and took a commercial course, and for three years was in the Pennsylvania oil field. In 1871 he came to Butler county, Kansas, and located in Rock Creek township on the southwest quarter of section 23. He is one of the prosperous farmers and stock- men of Butler county, and now own 640 acres of land.

Mr. Gibson was married March 9, 1873, to Margaret A. Beckner, a native of DeKalb county, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have been born eleven children, nine of whom are living, as follows: Mary, mar- ried H. S. Smith, a farmer of Rock Creek township; William Howard, lives in Colorado; Samuel A., Rock Creek township; Ina, married Fred Williams and resides near Cheney, Kans .; Ada, married F. H. Paisley, of Douglass township ; George G., Clay township ; Charles G., Douglass, Kans .; Clara, married Byron Ray, Clay township, and Harold A., re- sides at home.

Mr. Gibson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a stanch Republican and has stead- fastly supported the principles of that party throughout life, but has never aspired to hold political office.

When Mr. Gibson came to Butler county much of the primitive conditions on the plains prevailed. Game was plentiful and he fre- quently hunted deer and antelope with success. He has seen much of the development of Butler county and southern Kansas, and posseses an interesting store of early day reminiscences. Mr. Gibson is one of the substantial men of Butler county who has made good.

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History of Butler County Kansas, Part 96

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