USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 25
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Just a trifle lonesome she, Just as poor as poor could be, But her spirit always rose, Like the bubbles in the clothes., And though widowed and alone, Cheered her with the monotone, Of "a Savior and a friend" Who would keep her to the end.
I have seen her rub and scrub, On the washboard, in the tub, While the baby soaped in suds, Rolled and tumbled in the duds ; Or was paddling in the pools, With old scissors stuck in spools; She still humming of her Friend Who would keep her to the end.
Human hopes and human creeds Have their roots in human needs ; And I would not wish to strip From this washerwoman's lip Any song that she can sing, Any hope that songs can bring ; For the woman has a Friend Who will keep her to the end.
It has been said that this poem, when read by Theodore Roosevelt, some years before he became President of the United States, touched a tender spot in his "strenuous" nature, and that through it he was led to seek Mr. Ware's acquaintace. The acquaintance ripened into a close friendship, and afterward, when there was a vacancy, and the appointing power had come to him, he made Mr. Ware his commis- sioner of pensions. The appointment, though it may have been made through the following
of a sentiment, was prompted by good business judgment, and the people, particularly those of Kansas, have given it thorongh approval.
I think that here should be given a fitting tribute to the memory of an unpretentious old man who recently departed this life, at the city of Columbus, at a very advanced age. George C. Bailey was born in Fort McHenry, near the city of Baltimore, Maryland, June 17, 1811, and he died at Columbus, Kansas, August 9, 1904. He was an old-time gentleman, quiet of manner, rugged, of industrious habits and courteous in his demeanor toward others. He did not possess much of this world's goods, but he had a proud spirit, and an ambition never to be in any way dependent. Toward midnight, August 9, 1904, an old clock, which had been keeping him time for 73 years, was ticking away the seconds in the quiet room, when lie turned his face to his daughter-in-law and said : "Mary, what time is it?" She told him that it was 10 minutes to 12. Then he said : "I guess I shall be going soon, for I think I have stayed long enough." Then he was quiet for a while, but breathing and yet in his mind, until the faithful old clock chimed the hour of "low twelve," and then all was over and the more than 93 years of the spirit's lingering here was at an end, and it was free to go elsewhere, into the beauties and glories of the higher life.
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HON. SAMUEL J. CRAWFORD
Representative Citizens
5 ON. SAMUEL J. CRAWFORD, ex- Governor of Kansas and a distin- guished lawyer, whose portrait ac- companies this sketch, has a beautiful country home in section 6, township 35, range 25, in Garden township, Cherokee County, Kansas. He was born in Lawrence County, Indiana, near Bedford, April 10, 1835, and is a son of William and Jane ( Morrow) Crawford.
Mr. Crawford's ancestors were Scotch- Irish and came to America at an early period in the colonial days. His paternal grandfather served in the Revolution as a soldier from North Carolina, and his maternal grandfather was a planter in the same State. His father, William Crawford, migrated to Indiana in 1815, when it was a Territory, locating in Law- rence County, where he successfully farmed. Although he was born, reared and educated in a slave State, he had an unconquerable preju- (lice to the institution of slavery, and therefore sought a home in the territory northwest of the Ohio, where slavery and involuntary servitude had been forever prohibited.
Samuel J. Crawford was reared on his father's farm and attended the common schools and also an academy at Bedford. At the age of 21 years, he became a student-at-law in the office of Hon. S. W. Short of Bedford, Indiana, where he continued until the fall of 1857, when he entered the Law School of Cincinnati Col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1858.
In March, 1859, he came to Kansas Territory and located at Garnett, the county seat of An- derson County, where he engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. He was elected a mem- ber of the first State Legislature, convened at Topeka, March 27, 1861. The swiftly follow- ing events of secession thrilled loyal Kansas to the very core, and Mr. Crawford, respond- ing to the call of President Lincoln in 1861 for 75,000 volunteers, resigned his seat in the Leg- islature, returned home and recruited a com- pany, of which he was chosen captain. This company, designated as Company E, was as- signed to the 2d Regiment, Kansas Vol. Inf .. and mustered into the United States service. He participated under gallant General Lyon in the battle of Wilson's Creek and various other battles of the campaign in Missouri fought dur- ing the summer of 1861. As it had suffered severe losses, the regiment was ordered home to Kansas and reorganized in the winter of 1861-62 as the 2d Regiment, Kansas Vol. Cav. Captain Crawford was assigned to command of Company A and was soon thereafter given command of a battalion. He participated with the regiment in the battles of Newtonia, Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove and other engagements fought by General Blunt during the Trans-Mississippi campaign of 1862. In these engagements he developed ex- traordinary ability as a cavalry leader and was complimented in general orders for his gallant
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services at Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill and Prairie Grove. In March. 1863, although hold- ing the rank of captain, he was assigned to command of the 2d Regiment, Kansas Vol. Cav .. and led the regiment in the campaign of that year through the Indian Territory and Western Arkansas, which resulted in the en- gagements at Perryville, Backbone Mountain and the capture of Fort Smith by the Federals. The 2d Regiment covered itself with glory in these memorable campaigns. In October, 1863. Captain Crawford was promoted colonel of the 83d United States Colored Infantry and with his regiment accompanied General Steele on the Shreveport (Louisiana) expedition, which moved southward in March, 1864, from Fort Smith and Little Rock and co-operated with General Banks in his Red River campaign, participating in the battles of Prairie D'Ane and Saline River. At the latter engagement Colonel Crawford charged and captured a bat- tery, which his men brought off by hand, their horses having been killed or disabled. After this battle he returned with the 7th Army Corps to Little Rock, and thence, with the Kansas Division under the command of General Thayer, to Fort Smith, Arkansas. In July, 1864, Colonel Crawford commanded an expe- dition that was sent into the Choctaw Nation in pursuit of the Rebel general, Standwattie, whom he routed.
On September 8, 1864, Colonel Crawford was nominated as Republican candidate for Governor of Kansas. Obtaining leave of ab- sence, he returned to Kansas, arriving at Fort Scott on October, 9th. There he learned that a heavy body of Rebels under General Price was moving westward through Central Mis- souri with the design of devastating Kansas. He hastened to Kansas City, arriving there October 17th, reported to General Curtis, con- manding the Federal forces there assembling to resist General Price, and was assigned to
duty as a volunteer aide. A few days later the battle of the Blue, Westport and Mine creeks were fought, and at the last named engagement Colonel Crawford ordered and participated in a charge of two brigades of cavalry that re- sulted in capturing the Confederate generals. Marmaduke and Cabell. 500 prisoners and eight pieces of artillery. This battle closed his military career in the Civil War, having partici- pated in all battles fought west of the Missis- sippi River, with the exception of Pea Ridge. On April 13. 1865. he was promoted by the President of the United States to the rank of brigadier-general, by brevet, for meritorious services in the field.
On November 7, 1864, General Crawford was elected Governor, and in 1866 was chosen for a second terin. Governor Crawford and his friend, Governor Holbrook, of Vermont, are the only two of the war Governors that now survive. During his service as Governor, he reorganized and consolidated the volunteer reg- iments in Kansas and secured the enactment of new laws under which the State militia was placed on a sure footing for the protection of the people against Rebel invasions and Indian incursions. He devoted much of his time to the establishment and maintenance of the vari- ous State institutions and on his retirement from office left the Deaf, Mute, Blind and In- sane asylums, the State University, the Agri- cultural College and the State Normal School in successful operation.
During 1867-68 hostile bands of Indians hovered on the borders of Kansas, driving back the incoming settlers, checking the construction of railroads and threatening to cut off com- munication between Kansas and the Western States and Territories. For two years an In- dian war of savage barbarity was carried on. Many settlers were killed and scalped. prop- erty destroyed, women and children outraged and others carried into captivity to suffer a fate
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worse than a thousand deaths. The Federal forces stationed on the border and State troops furnished by Governor Crawford proved in- adequate. The Indians followed their usual custom of making war during the summer months and then retreated to their homes in the Indian Territory to be clothed, fed and nurtured by the government in the winter. Finally, as a culmination of the Indian out- rages, in August, 1868, the settlements of Northwestern Kansas were raided by Indians, who killed and wounded some forty persons, . carried women into captivity and committed other atrocities. When the terrible details of this last massacre reached Governor Crawford's ears, he proceeded at once to the scene of dis- aster, saw that the dead were properly buried and the wounded cared for, then returned to Topeka, organized the 19th Regiment, Kansas Vol. Cav., resigned his office as Governor, and with his regiment accompanied Custer, then lieutenant-colonel of the 7th United States Cav- alry, the whole force being under the command of General Philip H. Sheridan, on the historic campaign into the interior of the wild country bordering on Texas, where the hostile tribes had always felt secure from punishment during the winter seasons. These Indians were at- tacked and defeated in the Washitaw Valley, in what is now Oklahoma Territory, in December, 1868, and several of the chiefs held as hostages until the captive white women were delivered up.
Governor Crawford returned home after the campaign and practiced law in Topeka. For many years he has been attorney for the Indians, and many interesting notes may be found in the State Historical Library, in his briefs. Governor Crawford is of imposing presence, standing six feet two inches in height, of Herculean form, symmetrically propor- tioned, and has a pair of shoulders that Atlas might fairly envy. He has a handsome resi-
dence at Washington, and also one at Topeka. His summer home is a quarter section of land in Garden township, Cherokee County, inter- sected by Spring River. It is beautifully sit- uated on a hill in the southwestern part of the township. one mile north of the Indian Terri- tory, and from its elevation can be seen the Court House at Columbus and the beautiful fields between. He has his farm well stocked with standard animals, in which he takes a pride, and also has set out a good peachi orchard.
On November 27, 1866, General Crawford was united in marriage with Isabel M. Chase, an estimable and accomplished lady of Topeka, daughter of Enoch and Mary Chase of Massa- chusetts, where she was born. Her father was a large ship-builder of Newburyport, Massa- chusetts, on the Merrimac, and when he came to Kansas was one of the original five men who laid out the town of Topeka, where both he and his wife died. Our subject and his wife became the parents of two children, as follows: Flor- ence, wife of Arthur Capper, proprietor of the Topcka Capital; and George, a graduate of Yale and at the present time proprietor of a large printing house at Topeka, publishing the Mail and Brecse. He married Hortense Kelly. a daughter of Bernard Kelly, who was chaplain in the army, and to them were born two chil- dren : George Marshall and Isabel.
EORGE W. WALKER, M. D., is a prominent practitioner of medicine at Melrose. Cherokee County, and is well known to the citizens of the county, among whom he has lived for many years. He was born on a farm near Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois, April 13, 1855, and is a son of John and Permelia (Ewing) Walker. John Walker was born in North Carolina
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in 1823, and when a boy went to Illinois with his parents, overland, being a pioneer of Logan County. He died there at the age of 34 years. when George W. was two years of age. He was a farmer by occupation. His wife was born in Moultrie County, Illinois, in 1828, and died in Logan County in January. 1894.
Dr. Walker was reared on a farm and at- tended the common schools until 1874, when he entered Lincoln University, at Lincoln, Illinois. His college course was interrupted for one year. during which time he engaged in teaching, and in 1880 he was graduated with the degree of .1. B. He then taught school for a year, and in 1881 went to Oregon, Washington and Colo- rado with the primary object of seeing some- what of this great country. During his stay in the West, he was engaged in shipping grain. In 1882 he returned to Illinois, where he taught school until 1884. Then he came to Cherokee County, and taught school at Blue Mound for four years. In 1888 he was elected superin- tendent of the Weir City schools, and in 1890. superintendent of the city schools of Columbus. In that year he was a candidate on the Republi- can ticket, for county superintendent of schools. but was defeated by the candidate on the Alli- ance ticket. He was again the choice of his party for that office in 1894, but withdrew in favor of Edward Herod, who was elected. The subject of this sketch continued as superintend- ent of the Columbus schools until 1894, when he resigned to prepare for the medical profes- sion. He entered the medical department of the University of Kentucky at Louisville, and was graduated from that institution in 1897, with the degree of M. D. In . April, 1897. he opened an office at Baxter Springs, and in the following June removed to Melrose, where he has since practiced with a high degree of success. He owns a farm of 40 acres one and a quarter miles west of Melrose, in Neosho
township, and also has city property, and is a man of high standing in the community.
In 1888, Dr. Walker was joined in mar- riage with Julia A. Atchison, a native of De- catur, Illinois, who died in 1890, at the early age of 25 years, leaving one son. Clarence E., who lives at Decatur, Illinois,. In 1900, the Doctor formed a second matrimonial alliance, wedding Julia A. Wise, a native of Kansas, and they have two daughters,-Permelia M. and Roberta. While attending college in Illinois, Dr. Walker united with the Presbyterian Church, of which he has since been a faithful member. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason : a member of the Knights of Pythias; Modern Woodmen of America ; Home Builders Union ; and Woodmen of the World.
ON. ANDREW H. SKIDMORE. The maternal ancestors of Mr. Skid- more were hardy Highlanders of Scotland, and those on the paternal side were of Scotch-Irish descent. At the be- ginning of his life, he was by nature well equip- ped for battling with the obstacles which one meets in the struggle for success, and his pa- tience, vigilance and perseverance have enabled him, by his own efforts, to succeed in every un- dertaking in which he has engaged.
Judge Skidmore was born in Randolph County, Virginia, now West Virginia, Febru- ary 14, 1855. While he was yet a boy, his par- ents moved to Illinois, where the family lived on a farm. He obtained such mental training as the country schools at that time afforded. After teaching one year, he spent 1874 and 1875 in the law department of the University of Michi- gan at Ann Arbor, and on September 14. 1876, he was admitted to the bar, before the Supreme Court of Illinois at Ottawa. Believing that
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the boundless West afforded better opportuni- ties for advancement in the profession of the law, he came to Kansas, and on November 14, 1876, opened an office in Columbus. Here he continued in the practice of the law uninter- ruptedly until he was elected to the bench of the Eleventh Judicial District of Kansas, in 1894. He was reelected in 1898. After he had served eight years on the bench, he resumed his gen- eral practice, in 1893.
While occupying the position of judge of the Eleventh Judicial District, Judge Skidmore was fair in his rulings, considerate toward the less fortunate, fearless in the discharge of his duty, and yet prudent in the application of the law. His course was noted for the energy he displayed, his economical manner of conduct- ing the business of the court, the general fair- ness he extended to all, and his clear, concise decisions in disposing of the legal questions which came before him. For the first six years of his service, the district was large, including Cherokee, Labette and Montgomery counties. Naturally there were many closely contested cases, and as a matter of course, many appeals to the Supreme Court. The records of that court show fewer reversals of the decisions of Judge Skidmore than of those of any other judge in the State of Kansas, for a similar period and in a like number of appeals. While he always presided over the court with becom- ing dignity, he was constantly courteous to at- torneys, and kindly in his treatment of every class of litigants that sought the benefits of a just administration of the law. The result was that when he retired from the bench, he did so with the good will of the members of the bar. and of all his constituents, regardless of party affiliation.
In 1902 Judge Skidmore crected a fine. brick office building, on the northwest corner of the square, in Columbus, where, as senior mem- ber of the firm of Skidmore & Walker, he now
has his office, and is engaged in a lucrative practice. He stands in the front rank of his profession, being a safe counsellor, careful in the preparation of the cases put into his hands, expert in trial proceedings, and always loyal to his clients. He is a logical reasoner and an able advocate.
Judge Skidmore resides with his family in the suburbs of Columbus, where they have a beautiful, well appointed home, and where they live in the enjoyment of the fruits of his well directed efforts in life.
The subject of this sketch married Alice M. Allen, who was born in Wisconsin, and ac- companied her father, the late Gilbert Allen, to Cherokee County, in 1875. He was engaged in the coal business, and was also the owner of a large body of land. His death took place in 1902, at the age of 84 years. Four children have been born to Judge Skidmore and his wife, namely : Mrs. Daisy A. Dillard, of Cher- okee; Etta May, wife of James C. Broadley, cashier of the Bank of Weir City; Andrew Allen, who is attending school; and Hazel B., who died, aged four years.
Politically, Judge Skidmore is an active Republican. He has been chairman of the Re- publican County Central Committee, and has taken a prominent part in public affairs for many years. Fraternally he is a Mason and Knight Templar, and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of Uni- ted Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
E A. SCAMION, M. D., whose long and honorable professional life of 34 years has made him known to almost every resident of Columbus, Kansas, was born at Saco, Maine, and is a son of Luther and Rhoda (Carter) Scammon.
Luther Scammon moved with his family
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from Maine to Illinois, in 1845, and settled in Bureau County. In 1876 he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, where he died in 1878, aged 70 years. His widow survived until 1896, dy- ing when 88 years old. The family consisted of four sons and one daughter, viz : E. A .; S. F., who died in July, 1902, having settled on a farm near Scammon, Cherokee County, in July, 1872, and being also the owner of large coal interests; E. C., now a resident of Columbus, who was formerly in the coal business, and served one term as treasurer of Cherokee Count- ty, and two terms as a member of the Legisla- ture from the northern district of the county ; W. L., who resides in the vicinity of Cherokee; and Mrs. Hoover, who is the widowed mother of Ex-County Treasurer Frank Hoover.
Dr. Scammon was reared and educated in Illinois; he attended the Dover Academy at Dover, Bureau County, before going to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he pursued his medical studies during the win- ters of 1864 and 1865, and was graduated there in medicine, in 1867. He settled at Arlington, Illinois, for practice, but two years later, in December, 1869, hie removed to Columbus, Kansas, where he has made his liome ever since. In January, 1870. he opened a drug store, which was the first drug store ever opened in Columbus. This he sold in two years. In 1888 he began to restrict his work to office practice. and opened another drug store, which he sold in 1902, and is now practically retired. Aside from his profession, he has been interested in other lines, and still continues his connection with coal lands, having been formerly engaged in the coal business with his brothers. Dr. Scammon is one of the county's substantial men, who has always shown much public spirit and enterprise. His beautiful home, built on a choice location and in the midst of a plat of 15 acres, is one of the finest in the city.
Dr. Scammon was married in Columbus.
Kansas. to Lida Snevely, who was born in Ohio, and is a daughter of Dr. Snevely, who became a prominent physician in Indiana, where Mrs. Scammon's kindred are now lo- cated. The two children of Dr. and Mrs. Scammon are: Mrs. F. D. Crowell, whose hus- band has charge of the electric lights of Colum- bus; and Harold, a youth of 12 years, who is at school. Dr. and Mrs. Scammon attend the Presbyterian Church.
Politically, Dr. Scammon is a Democrat. He lias accepted few political favors, his pro- fession and his coal interests having absorbed his time and attention to a great degree. He accepted, however, the appointment of State mine inspector, tendered him by Governor Glick, being the first incumbent of the office under the law creating it. At that time the office was no sinecure, none of the later regula- tions being then in force and many of the pres- ent safety devices and inventions in modern machinery having hardly been thought of. These in combination render the work at pres- ent almost perfunctory. Dr. Scammon has been interested in the growth of the various medical societies in the State, and retains his membership with the Southeastern Kansas and the State medical societies. He has lived a very useful and active life, having achieved success both in business and in his profession. and now commands the respect and enjoys the esteem of his fellow citizens.
5 ON. HOWARD RANDOLPH CROWELL, president of the Colum- bus Electric Company of Columbus, Kansas, has been a citizen and resident of Cherokee County since 1871. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey, on the 25th of September, 1837, and was edu- cated in that city and in Philadelphia. He
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became a student at law in the office of Judge M. Russell Thayer, of Philadelphia, in 1855 and was admitted to the bar in 1859.
Coming West in 1861 to visit a brother then living in Osage County, Missouri, Mr. Crowell remained there taking charge of his brother's business during the four years of the Civil War. The brother. R. C. Crowell, en- tered the army and was mustered out as major of the 26th Regiment, Missouri Vol. Inf., at the close of the war. H. R. Crowell was com- missioned as the organizer and member of the Western Sanitary Commission for Osage Coun- ty and spent a good part of his time in provid- ing and forwarding hospital and sanitary stores for the wounded of the Union Army.
After the war, Mr. Crowell and his brother engaged in the forwarding and commission business in Kansas City, Missouri, under the name of R. C. Crowell & Company and contin- ted in this business along the line of the old Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad until that line reached Baxter Springs, Kansas. At that time the forwarding business from rail- way terminals was of great importance. The firm had a large and profitable business for some years.
In June, 1871, Mr. Crowell moved to Bax- ter Springs, where he remained about 20 years, engaged in various lines of business, chiefly banking. He was vice-president and after- wards acting president of the First National Bank of Baxter Springs and finally closed out its business and established a private banking house. This bank was afterwards incorporated as the Baxter Bank and the business was con- tinned until 1890. when Mr. Crowell finally sold out and moved to Columbus, where he established a bank. He withdrew from the banking business in 1894, selling to J. E. Tut- ton, now the active president of the Columbus State Bank. Mr. Crowell and others incorpo- rated the Columbus Electric Company in 1893.
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