USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 39
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Samuel C. Howard was educated in the home schools, and grew to maturity on the homestead in Sheridan township, where he re- mained, taking care of the father and mother. until death claimed the father, when he took
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full charge of the farm. Here he still resides and manages the work of the farm, bringing to his assistance the experience acquired by long residence on the place. The land produces all of the small grains, besides quantities of hay. Along with his general farming, Mr. Howard raises a great deal of stock.
In politics our subject votes the Republican ticket, always standing for the principles of his party, and religiously he is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. How- ard has never married but devoted his whole life to his parents, showing a degree of filial love seldom equaled. He is well known in the county and held in the highest esteem by all.
h ENRY HANNON, a successful farmer of Cherokee County, whose fine home, with its beautiful surroundings and well cultivated farm, is located in the northwest quarter of section 14, Crawford township, was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, near the city of Hamilton, November 3. 1831, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah ( Hildreth ) Hannon.
The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were born in Germany, the grand- father being a sea-going man in young man- hood. He married Mary Valentine, and they moved to Canada prior to 1820, after the birth of Andrew Hannon, Henry's father. The mother was born in the State of New York, but was married in Canada, where she died in 1895. aged 75 years ; the father died in 1893, at nearly the same age. They had II children, and the survivors are located in widely separated parts of the country. Mr. Hannon has one brother. Daniel, in the State of Washington, and an- other, Joseph. in Detroit, Michigan. Another, Adam, when last heard from, was in Northern Michigan.
Henry Hannon was reared in Canada, and
during his boyhood had rather meager educa- tional opportunities. This lack he has remedied by later study and reading. Until the winter of 1864-65 he remained in Canada, and then removed with his family to Cass County, Mich- igan, where he engaged in farming and con- ducted a sawmill and lumber concern until 1880. In the spring of 1882 he went to South Dakota, took up government land, and made a farm in Day County.
Mr. Hannon first came to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1870, on a prospecting trip, and made two other trips before leaving South Da- kota and locating here, in 1890. Mr. Hannon's finely improved farm has all been made by himself. He set out the shade and orchard trees, and with infinite care and great industry has developed one of the most attractive and valuable homes in the locality.
In Canada, in 1851, Mr. Hannon married Nancy D. Hannon, who was born there April 6, 1830. They have had eight children, name- ly : Eliza, who married D. F. McAuliffe, re- sides in Crawford township, and has two chil- dren .- Henry, aged 22 years, now in Califor- nia; and Nannie, aged 17 years, who is at home; Philander, residing in Day County. South Dakota, who is a farmer and thresher, and has a wife and six children ; Samuel James, now of Salt Lake, Utah, who owns 400 acres in Crawford township, and 200 acres in Chero- kee township, and has a family; Mahala, who married R. O. Johnson, a successful farmer of Day County, South Dakota, and has six children : Minnie N., who mar- ried E. X. Knight, resides at Butler, South Dakota, and has a farm near Pierpont ; Rachel, who married A. S. McCall, of Cripple Creek, Colorado, and died in 1888, leaving three chil- dren,-Mabel G., Rolla E. and Franklin E., of whom the last named makes his home with his grandfather ; Mrs. Angeline Crosby, who died in Michigan ; and one who died in infancy.
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In politics, Mr. Hannon is a Republican ; he has taken an active part in politics, and has served as township treasurer. He is a well known citizen, and is held in universal esteem.
ATHANIEL THOMPSON ALLI- SON was born in Cooper County, Missouri, January 24, 1846. His father was a native of Kentucky. His mother, who was born in St. Charles, Mis- souri, was the daughter of Elisha Goodrich, a teacher, of Hartford, Connecticut. Her mother. whose maiden name was Greene, was a native of Virginia.
In his boyhood years he was under the tui- tion of excellent New England teachers; and through them, in addition to the training which a cultured mother gave, he gained a fairly good education, before the coming on of the Civil War, in 1861. When the schools were closed, on account of the war, he was put to an appren- ticeship in a printing office; but the condition of the country becoming more unsettled, he left the printing office, without the knowl- edge of his parents, went to Peoria, Illinois, and enlisted in the 28th Regiment, Illinois Vol. Inf. After the war, he entered school again, teaching and going to school, alternately, for several years. He taught four years in the Southwest Baptist College, Bolivar, Missouri, and while there he was secretary of the faculty. He holds the degrees of A. B. and A. M. from this school. He came to Columbus in October, 1888, and bought a half interest in the Star- Courier, the leading Democratic paper in Chero- kee County, and he continued as its editor until January, 1895. He was a delegate from Kan- sas, in the Democratic National Convention at Chicago, in 1892. In March. 1894, he was appointed postmaster at Columbus, Kansas, by President Cleveland, and he held the office
from April 1, 1894, to July 1, 1898, since which time he has practiced law and dealt in real estate.
In 1868, Mr. Allison was married to Nannie Morton, a cultured, well educated woman. She died in 1879, leaving him two daughters,- Olive, now Mrs. Emmett Rea, of Vinita, Indian Territory; and Hortense, yet at home. In June, 1882, he was married to Mrs. Nannette Martien Cook, of Clinton, Missouri, one of the leading teachers of the State. By this mar- riage two step-sons were taken into his family ; Homer Martien Cook, now pastor of the South- side Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois; and Joseph Norman Cook, a commercial traveler, now living in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Allison live in Columbus, where they have a quiet, com- fortable home.
EORGE J. KNIGHTON, one of the prosperous business men of Weir City, who carries on a large general grocery business, was born in Cam- bridgeshire, England, in 1870, and is a son of George Knighton.
The subject of this sketch came to America with his father in 1886. He is one of a family of seven children, all of whom live in the United States, viz. : Lizzie, wife of Frank Baker, located near Weir City; George J .; H. T .; Mary, wife of James Hope, living near Weir City ; Sarah, wife of Archie Brown, a resident of the same vicinity ; William ; and Ernest.
On coming to America, George J. Knighton and his father settled near Scranton, Pennsyl- vania, where they worked in the coal mines, and later in the mines at Midway, near Pittsburg, Kansas. In 1891 they came to Weir City, where they worked in the mines, and where the father is still employed. From 1891 to 1897, the subject of this sketch was engaged
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in the mines and in other occupations. In the latter year he started an oil wagon, and fol- lowed that business for about three years, visit- ing customers at Weir City, Scammon and throughout the county. In 1900 he bought two lots ou West Main street, Weir City, on which he erected his present commodious store building, and then went into the general gro- cery business. Mr. Knighton has met with the success his energy and industry deserve, and he is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citi- zens. He has always taken an interest in the general advancement of Weir City's interests. having served one year on the city's School Board. and five years on the board of District No. 59.
In politics. Mr. Knighton is independent. Fraternally, he belongs to Encampment No. 60. I. O. O. F., at Weir City. He is one of the active, earnest, working members of the Meth- odist Church in the city.
REDERICK HILLER, a worthy and respected farmer of Ross township, of German descent, was born Sep- tember 2, 1853, in Wurtemberg, Ger- many. He is at present residing on a farm in section 25, township 32, range 23. Mr. Hiller owns considerable property in different parts of the county, and has of late years become in- terested in the coal industry, Mine No. 5 hav- ing been sunk on his home farm. He is what might be termed a self-made man, having ac- cumulated the property now in his possession by his own efforts.
Frederick Hiller was his father, and Marie (Garbroeck ) his mother, and both were natives of the same place in the "Fatherland." They grew up together and were married there, and until 1863 were engaged in farming in their native country. In that year they embarked with their family for America, and after a four-
weeks voyage landed at the port of New York. From this gateway to the New World they pro- ceeded to Butler County, Ohio, and thence, after a short period, to Livingston County, Illinois. On February 7, 1872, they arrived after an overland trip, in Ross township, Chero- kee County, Kansas, where they purchased 160 acres of wild land in section 24, township 32, range 23. They erected an 18 by 24-foot house, and further improved the place. About 1893 Mr. Hiller sold out and thereafter lived with his children. The mother died in March, 1892, at the age of 66 years,-the father surviving until March 4, 1903. They were consistent and worthy members of the Evangelical Church. The father was a man of sturdy character, industrious and of a quiet disposi- tion. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party. A family of eight children were born to these parents, as follows: Fred- erick ; Jolin and George, of Crawford County, Kansas; an infant boy deceased; Kate, who married Fred Budde, and resides in Weir City, Kansas; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of J. E. Best, a farmer of Ross township; Emma, now Mrs. George Bergman, of Crawford County ; and Rose, who married George Rea- ser, and resides in Crawford County.
Although but 10 years of age when the family came to this country, the subject of this sketch had received some mental training in the schools of his native land, which was sup- plemented by school attendance in the different places in this country where his parents lived. He even attended school after coming to Cher- okee County, although he had nearly reached his majority. He remained dutifully at home until he was of age, and then began branching out for himself. He, however, was an inmate of the home until his marriage, which occurred January 11, 1876, Mrs. Hiller having been Kate Buergin, of Woodford County, Illinois. She is a daughter of Frederick and Gertrude
CHARLES A. GIBBS
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(Ecker) Buergin, the father being a native of Baden, and the mother, of Prussia. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Buergin came to Amer- ica, and first settled in Woodford County, Illi- nois. They came, in 1871, to Ross township, Cherokee County, Kansas, where they pur- chased 160 acres of wild land in section 26, township 32, range 23, which they continued to cultivate the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1897, and the mother in November, 1903. There are seven children in the Hiller family, as follows: Charles W., who married Mamie Mills, is bookkeeper for The Central Coal & Coke Company, and has one son,- Vivian Louis; John E., weigh boss for the Fleming Coal Company : Frank; Lena; Roy; Arthur; and Gertrude. All but Charles W. live at home.
Upon his marriage Mr. Hiller located on his present farm, which at that time was wild land. All the improvements which are seen upon it now are the work of Mr. Hiller and his good wife. As he prospered. he put his savings into other lands, and now owns 240 acres in sections 25 and 26, township 32, range 23, in Ross township, and 160 acres in section 3. township 33, range 23, in Salamanca township. The discovery of coal on his home farm has, in later years, greatly increased its value.
Mr. Hiller is a companionable, social spirit. and is popular among his neighbors. He has served as treasurer of the School Board for the past 15 years, and has held other offices in the township. He supports the Democratic ticket, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W., both at Columbus.
HARLES A. GIBBS, a prominent citizen of Cherokee County, whose portrait is herewith shown, is en- gaged in mercantile pursuits at Hal- lowell, in Lola township. He was born Jan-
uary 5, 1852, in Oneida County, New York, and is a son of John and Sarah J. (Dunn) Gibbs.
John Gibbs was born in Connecticut, but became a resident of New York in early man- hood. He was engaged in manufacturing lum- ber for a number of years in the "Empire State," but came to Kansas in 1879, and died in Cherokee County in 1891, aged 67 years. He married Sarah J. Dunn, also of Oneida County, New York, who died in Cherokee County in 1898, at the age of 75 years. They had three children,-Charles A., Ida P. and Fred W.
Charles A. Gibbs enjoyed excellent educa- tional advantages and is a graduate of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, of the class of 1874. He was engaged in the study of law for the three succeeding years, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He entered upon the prac- tice of his profession at Ithaca, New York, but did not settle down permanently until 1878, when he came to Cherokee County, after spend- ing one year in Grayson County, Texas. Since making his home at Hallowell, Mr. Gibbs has become interested in business enterprises, and now conducts the leading mercantile establish- ment of the town. He does not closely apply himself to his profession, although he accepts cases to accommodate those who have more reliance upon his ability than on that of other practitioners. Politically a Democrat, he has received many honors at the hands of the party. During the administration of President Cleve- land, he was postmaster at Hallowell, and has frequently been selected as a candidate for higli positions, meeting defeat only when the party has been unsuccessful. He served three years as a trustee of the Cherokee County High School, being one of the first appointees on that board. He was also a member of the special committee appointed by the Grand Jury, and worked six months as county auditor.
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Mr. Gibbs was first married in 1873 to Eva Shade, who was born at Ithaca, New York, and died in Cherokee County, aged 34 years, leav- ing three children,-Ernest, Nellie and Edith. In 1889 Mr. Gibbs married Mary Higgins, who was born at Carbondale, Pennsylvania, and they have two children,-Dorothea and Josepli.
Mr. Gibbs is one of the leading members, and most liberal supporters, of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hallowell. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow. He is one of the promi- nent citizens of the community, and an active promoter of all movements which promise to be of substantial benefit to the locality.
LAUDE A. HESS, the accommodat- ing agent for The Central Coal & Coke Company at Weir City, was born in 1877 in Ohio, and is a son of David and Nancy (Landis) Hess.
David Hess, who is a native of Ohio, is now a resident of Deepwater, Missouri, having been an invalid for some years. The mother has passed away. The family consisted of eight children, viz : Lizzie, Joseph, Emma, Let- tie, Mary, Ira, Myrtle and Claude A. Ira is a resident of Crawford County, Kansas, and is also in the employ of The Central Coal & Coke Company.
Claude A. Hess was educated at Deepwater, Missouri, and began his business life as a clerk with The Central Coal & Coke Company. He was rapidly advanced to the position of chief clerk, then to that of bookkeeper, and then was placed in charge of the store at Nelson, Craw- ford County, Kansas. He continued in the employ of the company in these capacities from November 1, 1898, until 1900, when he was transferred to Weir City, and was bookkeeper at this point until 1902. Then he was appointed agent for the company,-a responsible position
which he still fills. Mr. Hess also has charge of the payment of the miners at the shafts, a position of the greatest trust.
Mr. Hess is very highly appreciated by the company, and his long continuance with it speaks for itself as to his ability and efficiency. He owes his success in life to his own efforts, to his fidelity to the interests of his employers, and to a pleasing personality which easily wins friendly regard.
ENJAMIN THOMAS DUGGER. B who owns one of the best farms of Cherokee County, consisting of 160 acres, and situated in section 23. township 32, range 24, in Mineral township, and also lias a fine trade as a blacksmith, was born in 1859 in Johnson County, Tennessee, and is a son of William H. and Nancy (Cable) Dugger.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Thomas Dugger, who was born in North Carolina, but in early life removed to Tennessee, and later to Indiana. There he died before the Civil War, at the age of 84 years. He married Hannah Pierce, who was born in Virginia, and they reared a family which re- flected credit upon the training they received.
William H. Dugger was born in Johnson County, Tennessee, where he married, and in 1867 came to Cherokee County, Kansas. He settled first in Pleasant View township, where he lived four years, and then removed to a loca- tion on the old "Military Road." There he built a blacksmith shop, and worked at his trade until 1871. Moving at that period to Mineral township, he took up a government claim of 160 acres, where he continued to farm and also to work at his trade. William H. Dugger was very well known and highly es- teemed. One of the first settlers in this locality. he was also one of the most intelligent and re-
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liable and exerted a great influence. His death took place June 7, 1902, at the age of 76 years. He is survived by his widow, who finds a wel- come home with her five children, the subject of this sketch being the only son. The daugli- ters are,-Lizzie, Jane, Sarah and Nancy.
The farm upon which his father settled in Mineral township is now owned by the subject of this sketch, and he also carries on the black- smith business, which he learned under his father's instruction. Mr. Dugger is one of the very busy men of the township, and but few liave made more material progress than he has, in the same time. He is both a good farmer and a first-class blacksmith, and besides is a pleasant, genial man, who has hosts of friends in the neighborhood.
On January 6, 1897, Mr. Dugger was mar- ried to Julia Anna Granson, who was born at Elba, Nebraska, April 6, 1879. They have a happy little family of four children, namely : Clara May, Hazel Fay, Zada Florence, and Anna Elizabeth.
As one of the intelligent and well informed men of his township, Mr. Dugger takes a lively interest in public matters, and politically he is identified with the Republican party.
ILLIAM T. FERGUSON. Kansas is the "old soldier" State. Of all the pages of American history, none breathe the true American spirit with greater fervor than those devoted to the story of her rise and progress, and in every stage of her marvelous development the "old soldier" appears. As a youth he listened to the fireside tales of the Indian and buffalo. In the "fifties" these gave place to even more ex- citing incidents, in which men of his own race appeared as factors. As the years passed, hie himself was frequently found among the actors,
so that when the flame of war swept over the nation, superinduced by the same causes that gave birth to the State, there sprang from her prairies a greater proportionate number of de- fenders of the Union than from any other State. And when the verdict of war had been given, what so natural as that the man, who had offered his life for the same principle which caused the State's birth, should seek to establish his home upon her broad area. There are many of these "old soldiers" in Cherokee County, and we are here privileged to mention one of the most worthy. William T. Ferguson is a farmer, residing in section 12, township 32. range 24, in Cherokee township, where he set- tled in 1887, coming from Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, where he was born July 24, 1838.
Mr. Ferguson developed a strong physical frame on a farm in Jefferson County, of the old "Keystone State," and among her hills im- bibed a spirit of patriotism which early carried him into the struggle for the defense of the Union. He enlisted in 1861 as a private in Company E, 62d Reg. Pennsylvania Vol. Inf., in which he passed three years of strenuous warfare. He was discharged July 17, 1864. at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with the rank of fifth sergeant. One needs only to turn to the history of the old 62d Regiment to read the story of Mr. Ferguson's army . life. Besides many minor skirmishes and sharp fights, he was at the siege of Yorktown, at Hanover Court House, in the Seven Days' Battle, the Second Bull Run, Antietam, bloody Freder- icksburg and "stick-in-the-mud" Chancellors- ville, at the immortal Gettysburg, "the high water mark of the Confederacy," and closed his army life with Grant in the operations before Petersburg. Through all this strenuous life, the subject of this sketch passed without a single day away from his company, although he was slightly wounded several times. He re-
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ceived a flesh wound in the left leg at Malvern Hill: in the left hand. July 2, 1862, in the second day's fighting at Gettysburg ; and in the right arm, at Laurel Hill, in May, 1864. On June 18 of the same year, he received his last Confederate "love touch," a scalp wound, in front of Petersburg.
Mr. Ferguson took up the routine of civil life gladly enough after his experience in the army, resuming his trade of carpenter, at which he served an apprenticeship prior to the war. He continued to reside in his native county until 1887, and then resolved to change his oc- cupation to that of a farmer. His farm here in Cherokee County consists of 80 acres of fine land. on which are a comfortable farmhouse and all the necessary outbuildings, the whole making a very nice farm property. For the first seven years after coming to the county, Mr. Ferguson worked at his trade in connection with farming. but of late he has devoted his entire attention to the latter.
The marriage of Mr. Ferguson took place on August 25, 1864. His wife's maiden name was Sarah J. Myers. She is a native of Bed- ford County. Pennsylvania, and a sister of John Lane Myers, a sketch of whom appearing elsewhere in this volume contains the history of her family. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have no children.
William T. Ferguson is the son of William Ferguson and Margaret (Summerville) Fer- guson. The former was born at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1812; the latter was born in Armstrong County, of the same State, in 1811. There they passed their lives in farming, the father dying in 1852, the mother, in 1883. They had 12 children, of whom the following are still living: William T .: Sarah A. (Mrs. D. B. Mortimer), of Clarion County, Pennsylva- nia : Samuel M., who married Margaret Morti- mer, and resides in Clarion County ; Azel F., who married Nancy Cochran, and lives in But-
ler County, Pennsylvania ; and Josiah S., who married Mary Bates, and Hamilton E., who married Annie Lawson, both of whom reside in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.
Having been baptized in the Republican font by casting his first vote for the immortal Lincoln, Mr. Ferguson has always taken pleas- ure in supporting the principles of that party. He is a member, of the A. H. T. A. and of the Grand Army of the Republic. His character in Cherokee County is that of an industrious, upright and patriotic citizen, and he enjoys the respect of all with whom he is acquainted, or with whom he may have business relations.
RANCIS O. PARGEN, a leading citi- zen and prominent farmer of Lola township, has been connected with affairs in Cherokee County since his early childhood, his parents having moved here about 26 years ago. He was born in Livingston County, Missouri, June 16, 1864, and now resides on a farm of 320 acres in sec- tion 32, township 33, range 22, in Lola town- ship, and section 5, township 34, range 22, in Neosho township.
Owen Pargen, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Roscommon, Ire- land, December 23, 1843. He came to the United States as an orphan boy and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained until after his marriage, when he removed to Livingston County, Missouri. Here he became connected with the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad sys- tem as section foreman, being one of the first on the system. In 1871 he moved into the Indian Territory, about the same time making a purchase of 280 acres of "Joy land" in Chero- kee County, this being a part of the farm which the subject of this sketch now owns. After eight years' residence in the Indian Territory,
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