USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 32
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Mr. Jones was married September 1, 1850, to Sarah J. Bayless, who was born April 23, 1832. Her death occurred at Brownville, Ne- braska, November 25, 1883. There were 10 children of this marriage, those who lived to maturity being as follows: William F., born July 7, 1851 ; John B., born January 7, 1853; Nancy E., born January 1, 1855; James R., born February 4, 1859; Wyatt B., born Sep- tember 9, 1861 : M. S. I., born November 20, 1864; Laura J., born November 17, 1866; and Jacob K., Jr., born July 24, 1870. Two died in childhood.
On July 3, 1884, the subject of this sketch married Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Meeks, a daugh- ter of R. A. Robinson, of Independence, Mis- souri. She was born August 5, 1852, coming from the old Kentucky family of Robinson. Her children by a former marriage are,-Laura Belle, born February 15, 1874, now Mrs. An- drew Tolliver, of Pittsburg, Kansas; Charles W., born December 3, 1875, living at the Bad- ger mines ; and Nettie May, wife of David M. Haynes, of the Badger mines. The children of her marriage to Mr. Jones are: Solomon Le- Roy, born May 15, 1885; Ethel B., born Au- gust 16, 1887; Fred B., born September 19, 1889; and Henry Arthur, born November 7, 1891.
Mr. Jones was a Democrat, and stood for the principles of the party at all times. Fra- ternally, he affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and
the A. F. & A. M. In his church relations, he was a consistent Baptist. Of Southern birth, Mr. Jones possessed all the good qualities of a Southern gentleman, and his kindness of heart and uprightness of character made for him many friends. His generosity and open hospi- tality, natural traits of the Southerner, made all feel welcome who came within his gates.
On July 3, 1900, Mrs. Jones married George B. Rollins, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who was born January 7, 1865. His mother died when he was 13 years of age, and he went to Iowa, where he was employed on a farm for three years. Later, having learned the carpenter's trade, he worked at it in various places until his marriage.
Mrs. Rollins is a consistent member of the Christian Church. She still lives on the farm. and with her husband manages the work on the place. The land produces all the small grains, and large numbers of cattle and Poland China hogs are raised on it for the market.
ILLIAM M. BENSON, who was a prominent farmer of Crawford township and one of the early set- tlers of Cherokee County, coming here in 1876, died August 17, 1904. He was born in Warren County. Indiana, near the Wa- bash River, on September 20. 1830, and was a son of Samuel and Martha ( Martindale) Ben- son, a grandson of James Benson and a great- grandson of James Benson.
James Benson, our subject's great-grand- father, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and shipped to America, at the age of 18 years. subject to indenture for his passage money of $30. This resulted in his working for six years for a Philadelphia weaver, who was a just man and took the young Irish lad into his family as one of his own, winning the youth's lifelong
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devotion. Prior to the Revolutionary War, he went to South Carolina, where he secured a title to 400 acres of land in Union County. and resided upon it until his death in 1790.
His son, James Benson, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Union Coun- ty, South Carolina, and in 1810 removed with his family to Warren County. Indiana, where he resided on a farm until his death.
On the maternal side, William M. Benson's great-grandfather was a native of Sweden, an expert weaver, who was employed in London and later settled in County Tyrone, Ireland. The genealogy can be traced traditionally back to the days of Holy Writ, even to the tribe of Benjamin.
Samuel Benson. the father of our subject, was born December 15, 1800, in Union County, South Carolina, and died on his 66th birthday. December 15, 1866. His wife was born in 1805 in Greene County, Ohio. of South Caro- lina parentage. The subject of this sketch was the only son of the family that reached matur- turity.
William M. Benson was reared in Warren County, Indiana, and was afforded excellent educational opportunities. He took a three- years collegiate course at what is now De Pauw University. His cousin, H. C. Benson, was one of the first graduates of this institution and later became a member of its faculty as professor of Greek. For about 25 years Mr. Benson then made teaching his profession, mainly in War- ren County, his last experience in this line being in the winter of 1877-78. In 1876 he purchased a claim in the northwest quarter of section 10. Crawford township, Cherokee County, Kansas, and secured the deed from the railroad company in 1877. He built a house on his land and then returned to Indiana for his family, bringing them to their new home on March 15. 1878. This home was burned in the following year, while he and his wife were vis-
iting in Indiana. Upon his return, he built another house, which is one of the most attract- ive in the township. With wise forethought. he brought with him from the old home a num- ber of cedar tree slips, which he disposed about his residence. They took kindly to the genial climate and fertile soil and have much more than repaid, in their growth, symmetry and beauty, all the care Mr. Benson ever bestowed upon them. The place has now a beautiful grove of more than 500 pines and cedars, which apart from their value were, during his life. constant reminders of the days of his boyhood and young manhood, and brought back many tender recollections of those who had passed away.
Mr. Benson owned large bodies of land in Cherokee County, at one time an aggregate ot 600 acres, but retained at the time of his death only 220 acres, located in sections 3 and 10. Crawford township. This property, known as "Evergreen Bower Farm," he devoted to gen- eral farming and spared neither labor nor ex- pense in placing it under a high state of culti- vation, and making permanent improvements.
Mr. Benson was first married, in Indiana. to Prudence M. Slauter, who was born in War- ren County, Indiana, and was a daughter of one of the early settlers of that county, who came there from the State of New York. Mrs. Benson died in 1884, aged almost 48 years, leaving a family of six children, viz: Martha Marinda, who married J. H. Clawson, resided for a time in Warren County and then moved to the Indian Territory, where she died in 1900: Cynthia Ann, who maried Robert Radley, in Kansas, and died in Cherokee County in 1896; Samuel I. (unmarried), his father's successor on the farm; William Willard, who married Emma Allen, and resides near Shawnee, Okla- homan ; Rose Lee, who married William Cline. and resides in Oklahoma : and Theodoshia, who resides at home.
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In 1885, Mr. Benson was united in marriage with Margaret Ann Fagan, of Cherokee Coun- ty, who was born in Andrew County, Missouri, June 12, 1864. Mrs. Benson is a daughter of George and Margaret (Waterson) Fagan, the latter of whom was born on the Isle of Man. Mrs. Benson's father was born in County Kil- larney, Ireland. He came to America in 1850. and still resides in Cherokee County, where lier brother, Thomas WV. Fagan, and a half brother and sister also reside. Hon. Henry Watterson, the great Democratic editor of Louisville, Ken- tucky, probably came from the same family branch as did the mother of Mrs. Benson. Mr. and Mrs. Benson had five children, namely : Tressie Treene, aged 17 years; George W., aged 14 years; Marguerite Christine, aged 10 years; Lucy May, aged five years ; and Clara June, aged one year.
In religious views, Mr. Benson was a mem- ber of the First-Day Adventist Church. He was a liberal supporter of church work, and not only contributed the site, but also paid about $600 toward the expense of erecting Beth- any Methodist Episcopal Church, which is lo- cated in section 10, Crawford township. Polit- ically, he was reared a Jacksonian Democrat and was practically one of that party's suppor- ters, although he did not favor a departure in any way from its sound old principles. His first vote was cast for a candidate of the Know Nothing party.
Mr. Benson most acceptably filled many of the township offices, and always took a deep interest in educational matters, his long ex- perience as a teacher making him particu- larly well qualified to judge of the efficiency of school methods. For a number of years he was active in the Masonic and Odd Fellow fra- ternities, but was not affiliated with the local lodges, never having taken his demit from In- diana.
The mortal remains of Mr. Benson were
interred in Bethany cemetery, which is located near the Benson homestead, Rev. Mr. Stone, of the United Brethren Church officiating.
OSEPH H. GALPINE, one of the prosperous farmers of Cherokee County, residing on his well-improved farm of 200 acres in section 24, town- ship 32, range 25, in Pleasant View township, was born in 1864 in Iowa, and is a son of Rob- ert J. and Mary (Hawkins) Galpine.
Robert J. Galpine was born in 1819 in Eng- land, and was a son of James and Mary Jane (Mackie) Galpine, neither of whom ever came to America. Robert J. Galpine came to the United States in 1858, and located first at St. Louis, where he followed his trade of cabinet- making. Then he settled in Farmington, in the southeastern part of Missouri. Thence he moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where he resided for a time, going from there to Fort Scott, Kansas.
In 1866 he moved to Cherokee County, Kansas, and secured the farm now owned by his son Joseph H. in Pleasant View township. At that time it was entirely unimproved and he was one of the pioneer settlers. This land he put under cultivation, converting it from the raw prairie into one of the most productive farms of the locality. Here his death occurred in 1889. In England he married Mary Hawkins, who survived him until 1900, dying at her daughter's home in Smithfield, Missouri. Their family consisted of four sons and one daughter, the two survivors being the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. Jane Smith. The latter was born in England. She married, first, Thomas Noble, and had one child,-Nellie. She is now the widow of David Smith, who left one son, Robert.
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Joseph M. Galpine is the only member of his parents' family who was born in America. The ouly surviving son, he inherited a part of the farm which his father secured and cleared, and which he has continued to improve until the present time.
In 1892 Mr. Galpine was married to Anna Houston, who was born in Moultrie County, Illinois. They have two sons and two daugh- ters, viz: Grace, Nellie, Henry and Justice. Mrs. Galpine is a daughter of Caleb and Au- gusta (Justice) Houston, natives of Kentucky and Ohio, respectively. They came to Chero- kee County, Kansas, in 1876, from Illinois. Mr. Houston died in 1887, aged 64 years. Mrs. Houston only survived her arrival here until March, 1877. She left six children, viz: Wil- liam, Carrie (Wales), Anna, Jacob A .. Otis and Arrie.
In politics, Mr. Galpine is a Populist. He is one of the progressive and enterprising men of this section, keeps fully abreast of the times, and is a representative member of one of the oldest pioneer families of this township.
ILLIAM H. SHAFFER, county clerk of Cherokee County, was born in Cherokee County, July 16, 1870, and is a son of David and Margaret (Helms) Shaffer.
David Shaffer was born in Germany in 1846. and was six years old when he accom- panied his parents to America. They located in Wayne County, and later in Randolph Coun- ty, Indiana, where David grew to manhood and married Margaret Helms, of Wayne Coun- ty. She died in Crawford County, Kansas, in 1894, at the age of 42 years. They had seven sons and one daughter, all of whom still sur- vive except one. George, who was accidentally killed by a street car in Pittsburg, Kansas. All were born in Cherokee County, and those liv-
ing are : William H. ; Robert R., who lives on the old homestead in Ross township, Cherokee County; Nelson, who is a farmer near Mon- mouth, Kansas : Charles and Carl, who are far- mers in Crawford County ; Jesse, who is a res- ident of Crawford County; and Eva, who is the wife of Burt Gordon, also of Crawford County.
David Shaffer and his wife came to Chero- kee County May 10, 1870, locating in Ross township, where the former filed a claim on 160 acres of land. It was subsequently contested, but he finally acquired his title and made the place his home until March, 1892. Then he removed from Cherokee to Crawford County, where he bought a farm, and is now engaged in raising Percheron, horses.
William H. Shaffer was reared in Cherokee County and attended the district schools. His early training made him a good farmer and judicious stock-raiser, and for about four years lie raised Percheron horses very successfully.
In December, 1891, in Cherokee County, Mr. Shaffer married Anna Heinrichsmeier, who was born in Illinois, and is a daughter of Frederick Heinrichsmeier, who came to Chero- kee County in 1871, and located in Ross town- ship with his family. Mrs. Shaffer's father died in 1885, and her mother. in March, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have four children : Elsie, Ralph, Dee and an infant daughter. Their pleasant home is in Ross township, with- in four miles of Columbus.
Politically, Mr. Shaffer is an active member of the Populist party, and was elected to his present office on the Fusion ticket. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge at Co- lumbus, the Anti-Horse Thief Association and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Co- lumbus. His religious views are liberal, al- though his and his wife's people have been leaders in the Lutheran Church for genera- tions.
JEREMIAH LUCKEY
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EREMIAH LUCKEY. Not to know "Jerry" Luckey, as he is familiarly called, is to argue oneself unknown in Cherokee County. Coming to the county when all "trails,"-for it was before the day of roads,-led to Cherokee Center, the pio- neer nane of the now thriving county-seat town of Columbus, Mr. Luckey has been a prominent factor in each advancing stage of the county's progress. The character of the business fol- lowed by him during his residence in the county is responsible for his being so universally known, as he has operated a threshing machine during each recurring season, for the past 30 years. He is a farmer residing on the south- east quarter of section 1, Salamanca township, where he located in the fall of 1867. Mr. Luckey came to the State from Ohio, where he was born in Athens County, October 15, 1842.
To look upon the splendid farms of Chero- kee County, one can scarcely conceive of the wild scene which presented itself to the eye of Mr. Luckey as his "prairie schooner" reached the confines of the county in the fall of 1867. Stopping at Pleasant View, to inquire the way to Cherokee Center, the schooner was headed for that point, which then was marked by a single log house, standing on the north side of what is now the public square. Mr. Luckey was accompanied by his wife and a cousin, Samuel Wilson. After prospecting in different parts of the county, Mr. Luckey located on the quarter which has since been his residence, though he sold the north 80 acres at a later date. This spot was but virgin soil at that time, with deer, wolves and prairie chickens in abund- ance for game. Many provisions and other articles were obtained, at quite a distance from here, at Missouri points.
With the characteristic energy of the early pioneer, Mr. Luckey began his "battle for a home," and none can relate with greater vivid-
ness and truthfulness the privations endured, and the many shifts necessary, in order to bring order out of chaos. Mr. Luckey was the pio- neer thresher of the county, a portion of the time in partnership , but for the most part alone. In this business his known honesty and great energy have made him successful, as also in the management of his farm. In the great devel- opment which has taken place in the coal indus- try of Southeastern Kansas, Mr. Luckey bears the unique distinction of being the first to dis- cover that mineral in the county. The place was in the Stillson coal field in Mineral town- ship, near Scammon, he being at the time ac- companied by Mr. Wilson. Until arrangements were made for mining the field, Mr. Luckey supplied himself with coal at the simple expense of getting it out.
Jeremiah Luckey is the eldest of six chil- dren born to Joshua and Margaret (Means) Luckey. His mother was born in Pennsyl- vania, December 14, 1823. She is a devout member of the Church of God, and is a resident of Washington County, Iowa. Joshua Luckey was born in Athens County, Ohio, January 17, 1817. He was the son of James Luckey. a native of Pennsylvania. He was an early pio- neer in Athens County. There he followed farming until 1850, when he settled in Louisa County, Iowa. His death occurred there July 9. 1903. All the children of these par- nets are living. Besides Jeremiah, there are-Mary Jane (Fisher). a widow re- siding in Waverly, Coffey County, Kan- sas; James M., a farmer residing in Neosho County, Kansas, who has served one term as county surveyor of that county; Joseph C., a farmer in Washington County, Iowa, who also operates a thresher; Sarah E. (McGuire), re- siding in Louisa County, Iowa, on the old home farm; and William, a carriage-maker by trade, now located at Grinnell, Iowa.
Mr. Luckey was reared in Louisa County,
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lowa, and was still in his teens when the tocsin of war resounded throughout the land. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted as a private in Com- pany F, 25th Reg., lowa Vol. Inf., and was mustered out in Washington, June 7, 1865. He saw service in the 15th Army Corps under Gen. Joli .A. Logan and was with Sherman in his "March to the Sea." Although in many tight places and with bullet holes in various parts of his clothing, Mr. Luckey bore the charm of his name and came through without injury.
Returning from the war, Mr. Luckey estab- lished a home of his own, bringing to preside over it the lady who still bears him company, whose maiden name was Mary T. Green. Slie was born in Monroe County, Tennessee, in 1845, and removed to Iowa with her parents in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Luckey have had II children, all born on the old homestead, except the eldest, Harvey E., who was born in Iowa. The family record is as follows: Harvey E., Anthony W., William M., Ai, Faith, Nora, Roy, Ada, Edward, Adda and Emma. Harvey E. died in infancy. Faith, born November 29, 1876, and Nora, born July 1I, 1881, are de- ceased. Anthony W., of Pittsburg, Kansas, born April 15, 1868, is engaged at work in the coal banks, and is married. William M., born March 1, 1870, is located in Washington County, Iowa, and is married. Ai, born Octo- ber 5, 1873, is running an engine at the powder works of the Joplin-Rand Powder Company, and has been with the works for six years, as engineer. He married Lizzie Steinbrook, of the home county, and has two children,-Law- rence and Bertha, also born here. Roy, born February 12, 1879, lives at home and runs the engine to the threshing rig. Ada, born February 28, 1884, and Edward, born Septem- ber 4, 1886, live at home. Adda and Emma (twins) died in infancy.
Mr. Luckey, as has been intimated, has al- ways been a man of influence in affairs, serv-
ing as road overseer and in other official posi- tions at different times. His political princi- ples are embodied in the platform of the Re- form party. He affiliates with the I. O. O. F., of Columbus, and has a warin place in his heart for the G. A. R.
No man stands higher in the estimation of the citizens of Cherokee County, and as he looks out over the broad expanse dotted with well tilled farms and happy homes, Mr. Luckey is justified in feeling a pardonable pride in the part which, under Providence, he has played. His portrait accompanies this sketch.
HOMAS R. DUNCAN, one of the pioneer settlers of Cherokee County, a substantial and representative far- mer of Lyon township, owns 160 acres of highly cultivated land .- the northeast quarter of section 27, township 34, range 23. He was born at Martinsville, Indiana, Febru- ary 10, 1839, and is a son of William and Amanda M. (Hutsel) Duncan.
Robert Duncan, the grandfather of Thomas R., was born in Scotland and accompanied his two brothers to America, all probably settling in the State of New York. There William Duncan was born and learned the cabinet-mak- ing trade before going to Indiana. Failing health caused him to remove in 1856 to Illinois where his sons could engage in farming. He took part in the Black Hawk War. In early days he was a Whig, but afterwards voted for Stephen A. Douglas and was subsequently identified with the Republican party. He died in Illinois, in 1879, at the age of 72 years. His wife was born September 20, 1815, near Lex- ington, Kentucky, and died at Martinsville, In- diana, November 22, 1847, when Thomas R. was not quite nine years old. Their children were: Thomas R .. who weighed but two and a
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half pounds at birth ; Peter, a farmer of Min- eral Spring, Missouri, who belonged to Com- pany H, 27th Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., in the Civil War : Giles, who belonged to Company D. 8Ist Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., and died in the service in February, 1863; and Jesse H., who resides near Murphysboro, Illinois. The father married three times, and three children of each union still survive.
Thomas R. Duncan was 17 years of age when his parents moved to Jackson County, Illinois, and he was engaged in farming there from 1856 to 1862, when he enlisted on Au- gust 12th, in Company D. 8Ist Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., under Captain Ward and Col. James J. Dollins. He took part in many severe bat- tles, and endured much hardship. He partic- ipated in the battle at Thompson Hill, May I. 1863; at Raymond, Mississippi, May 12, 1863 ; at Jackson, Mississippi, May 14; at Champion Hill; Brownsville; Spanish Fort; in the Red River expedition ; and in the thirce battles at Vicksburg, and the skirmishing all about this region. When serving with the ambulance train at Spanish Fort. he spent a whole night in hauling away the wounded. Mr. Duncan was captured with 700 of his comrades and was confined in Andersonville Prison for two and a half months, at Savannah for one month, and at another point, for a month and a half, and was then paroled. He reached Annapolis, Maryland, in a condition resembling a museum skeleton, and was still too weak for service when he reported for duty, after a furlough of 30 days. He was determined, however, to re- join his regiment, which he did, at Eastport. Mississippi, in January, 1865, after an una- voidable absence of six months. Shortly after- wards he was honorably discharged and now receives a pension of $6 a month. After the review and grand encampment at Columbus, Ohio, he returned to Illinois, in 1865.
In the spring of 1869, Mr. Duncan started
for Kansas, with his wife, two children and his brother. Each of the brothers took up 100 acres of "Joy" land, but the subject of this sketch did not possess enough capital to imme- diately build even a log house, and all lived to- gether in the brother's log cabin, 12 by 14 feet in dimensions, for the first four years. They had brought three horses with them, but neither of the brothers had much money, and during the first winter they endured many hardships. For a long time their diet consisted entirely of corn bread and molasses, excellent warming food. but rather palling as a steady diet for months with nothing else. The brothers broke up the sod for corn and had to pay $1.50 per bushel for seed corn. During the second year. however, Mr. Duncan raised 100 bushels of wheat, and had plenty of vegetables and mel- ons. In recalling those days, Mr. Duncan re- members one delightful episode and that was the Christmas dinner to which the family was invited by neighbors in better circumstances. He remembers it as it had to serve as the only satisfactory meal of that gloomy winter. It was four years before he felt able to build a home of his own, and this has been several times replaced. The present one, situated in the midst of a beautiful maple grove, the seeds of which he planted himself, and flanked by a productive apple orchard, is one of exceeding comfort. The telephone inside and the rural mail carrier at his door sufficiently connect him with neighbors, friends and business associa- ates, and mark very plainly the difference be- tween life in Cherokee County in 1869 and in 1904. Mr. Duncan's farm is well watered, and all of it can be made to produce grains and grasses, and feed stock and cattle.
Mr. Duncan has always been identified with the Republican party since the Douglas cam- paign, and he has frequently served as a dele- gate to the various conventions. In religious belief, he is a Missionary Baptist, and has been
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