USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 41
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Paris in 1900, during the Paris Exposition. He read a paper on the Canadian oil industry before that body. For some years he occupied a seat on the Municipal Board of Petrolea and is at the present time serving in the capacity of mayor. In religious belief, he is an Episco- palian and has served as church warden and lay delegate to the Synod of Huron. August 26, 1869, he was united in marriage with Helen Kirkpatrick, who is a daughter of Judge Kirk- patrick of Peterboro and a cousin of the late Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. Four sons have blessed this union, namely: Robert Kirk- patrick, Stafford D'Oyly, James Burrowes and Ernest Annesley.
Edwin St. George Noble received his early education in Kingston, near Dublin, and at Brussels, Belgium, after which he completed a scientific course in the Royal College of Sci- ence, Dublin, pursuing special courses in min- eralogy and chemistry. In December, 1860, he came to America to join his brother, John D. Noble, and immediately went to the latter's lead mines in Newton County, Missouri, known as Granby mines. He took charge of individual lead and zinc mines in and around Granby, Missouri, and in 1877 came to Galena, Kansas, to look over the field. He again came to Galena in 1880 and has remained here continuously ever since. He served as superintendent of various mining companies and also mined some on his own account. He had charge of the Cornwall Mining Company, the Stanley mine, the Galena Lead & Zinc Mining Company, the Cyclone Mines, the Wyandotte Lead & Zinc Company and the Owl Mining Company, whose property is located on Owl Creek, inside the city limits. He became identified with the Galena Light & Power Company, and in 1900 was elected president, a position he has filled in a most creditable manner since. The other offi- cers are : A. M. McPherson, vice-president, and J. Shomon, secretary and treasurer. The plant
has a 400-horsepower Corliss engine, two 200- pound marine boilers, and a Morrison fur- nace. This company has been gradually ex- tending its business and in 1903 began furnish- ing light and power to Empire City. Mr. Noble is also a member of the Galena Commer- cial Club. He is one of the enterprising spirits of the city, and has an extensive acquaintance throughout this section of the State.
REDERICK W. SIMKIN, one of the pioneer settlers of Cherokee County, and a well known and esteemed resi- dent of Columbus, was born April 10, 1848, at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, Eng- land, and is a son of Capt. George and Char- lotte (Watson) Simkin.
Capt. George Simkin was a captain in the merchant marine of Great Britain, and followed a seafaring life until his death, which occurred about 1857. In 1858 the mother, with her three sons, George Watson, Charles Edward and Frederick W., came to America. The family spent a few months in New York city and then moved to Leesburg, Kosciusko County, Indi- ana, where the mother died in 1867, aged 46 years. Both brothers of the subject of this sketch served in the Civil War.
Frederick W. Simkin attended school in Leesburg, where he continued to live until 1869, when he decided to accompany W. M. Benham, Albert Fisher and A. D. Watts to Cherokee County, Kansas. They took up ad- joining claims, three of them lying side by side, Mr. Simkin's land was the northwest quarter of section 25, township 32, range 23, in Ross township, three and a half miles north, and a half mile west of the center of the present city of Columbus. He improved his farm and spent about 30 years there, successfully engaged in farming and in raising of fruit and vegeta-
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bles. In 1902 he removed to Columbus, hay- ing leased his farm to the Fleming Coal Com- pany, of Parsons, Kansas.
Mr. Simkin was married in Indiana, on August 7, 1869, to Mary A. Ervin, who was born in Kosciusko County, Indiana, and is a daughter of John and Mary ( Harris) Ervin, who were farmers in Indiana. There the father died in 1842. aged 44 years, and the mother, in 1872, aged 59 years. Mrs. Simkin is next to the youngest in a family of eight children, viz: John M., a resident of Ross township; Charles, who died in Indiana ; Mrs. Elizabeth Kibler, of Oswego, Indiana; Mrs. Sarah Rowbotham, who died in 1878 in Indi- ana : Mrs. Angeline McDevitt, of Indianapolis, Indiana; William, of Ohio; Mary A. (Mrs. Simkin) ; and Susan, who died aged 10 years.
Mrs. Simkin was born May 19, 1848, and was reared in Indiana. She accompanied Mr. Simkin, after their marriage, to his pioneer home in Cherokee County. As did other brave women of that day, who like her faced drudg- ery, monotony and deprivations of all sorts with a courage and cheerfulness almost beyond belief, she lived through trying times, and can recall conditions and events of those early days, of the most interesting character. The eight children resulting from this marriage were as follows : Mary, born August 5. 1870, who died September 9, 1870; Jessie G., born Jan- uary 31, 1872, who married I. W. Shaw, lives four miles north of Columbus, and has three children,-Fern, Thelma and Charles ; Bessie, who was born March 18, 1874, and died aged 19 months ; George E., who was born April 10, 1877, and died at Columbus, aged 19 years ; Charles Ervin, born September 3, 1879: Net- tie E., a teacher, born October 28, 1881 ; and Eulalia, born October 19, 1883, and Frederick IV .. born November 6, 1886, who are at home.
Politically, Mr. Simkin has always found his ideals in the Republican party. Fraternally
he is a Mason and Knight Templar, belonging to the Oswego Commandery, and was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Co- lumbus. Mrs. Simkin is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Rebekahs and the Knights and Ladies of Security. They belong to the Presbyterian Church.
ILLIAM HENRY HORNOR, de- ceased, a prominent member of the legal profession, was one of the most influential and public-spirited citizens of Baxter Springs, in whose growth and development he was a conspicuous figure.
Mr. Hornor was born in Lumberport, Har- rison County, Virginia, now West Virginia, April 23, 1841. He received his education in Middlebourne, West Virginia, supplemented by a college course at Morgantown, in the same State. He was admitted to the bar and during his early manhood practiced in the courts of West Virginia and Kentucky. In May, 1867. he came West to Fort Scott, Kansas, and a short time later removed to Baxter Springs, where he resided until his death on May 31, 1903. He came to the city at a time when lawlessness and crime were prevalent, but was unalterably op- posed to the organization of a vigilance com- mittee and lynch law, believing that the maj- esty of the law should be upheld and that the courts should deal with every alleged offender. He believed that men composing a vigilance committee might in the heat of passion wrong- fully punish an innocent man and that if the accused were given jury trials and permitted to defend themselves, errors might be avoided. The vigilance committee was composed of men of influence in the community and Mr. Hor- nor's attitude in this matter was unpopular, but with characteristic straighforwardness he main- tained his course in this matter, as in all others
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when he believed he was in the right. He took great pride in his citizenship in Baxter Springs and as he was considered a remarkably shrewd business man, as well as an able lawyer, was actively associated with all enterprises tending toward the progress and development of the city. He was greatly instrumental in inducing the "Gulf" railroad to construct a line through Baxter Springs, going to Boston with Lucien Denton, then the mayor of Baxter Springs, to close the deal. He met with General Blair and Mr. Pratt and settled the bonded indebtedness of the city in the matter of the "Gulf" railroad. He was identified with much of the important litigation in this community, among other cases the celebrated damage suit of Stone and Gove against the city, out of which he secured a good settlement. As a citizen he was always fore- most in advancing the interests of his home city, and was indefatigable in his efforts to promote its welfare. For many years he was owner of the private bank known as the Dro- vers' and Farmers' Bank, established by him, and served as its president. In politics he was a Republican and for a time was mayor of the city. He was not a man to cast a vote for one party or the other at all elections, but voted for the candidate best fitted for the office.
In June, 1862, Mr. Hornor was united in marriage with Adelaide Neale, a daughter of Alfred and Clementine (Saunders) Neale of Neale's Island, West Virginia. Mr. Hornor was a man who loved his church and it was chiefly through his influence that the Protestant Episcopal Church at Baxter Springs was built. He was the first senior warden and remained such until his death. He would often gather flowers to adorn it. kept up repairs and gave it his liberal financial support. He was buried from the chapel, the funeral services being con- chuicted by Rev. J. C. Ferrier, rector of the Epis- copal Church in Pittsburg, Kansas, and in memory of his labors the chapel was beauti-
fully decorated with wild flowers. The Chero- kee County Bar Association attended in a body and joined in showing their regard and the loss they felt at his demise. Fraternally, he was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Knights and Ladies of Se- curity.
A L. MAJORS. city attorney of Galena, and one of the most promising young lawyers of Cherokee County, was born in Crawford County. Kan- sas, in 1871, and is a son of E. WV. and Eliza- beth E. (Townsend) Majors.
E. W. Majors was born in Jowa in the year 1840 and there grew to manhood, taking part in the great civil struggle as a cavalryman from Iowa for a period of almost five years, during which time he participated in some of the fier- cest engagements of the Rebellion. In 1869 he moved to Crawford County, Kansas, and en- gaged in ranching, his herds grazing over the open prairie. But this was all changed when the settlers from the East came pouring into the State and the herd law went into effect. Then it became necessary for each herd to be confined to its own pasture and Mr. Majors took up a claim where he continued to live until 1874 or 1875, when he removed to Girard, Kan- sas, where he now lives in easy retirement. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth E. Town- send who was born in Knox County, Missouri, in 1849, and six children were born to them, five of whom are living.
A. L. Majors received his primary educa- tion in the public schools of Girard, graduating with the class of 1889. The following two years were spent in teaching and he then entered the Indiana Normal College, from which he graduated in 1894. Having decided upon the law as his profession, he entered the Kansas State University at Lawrence, was admitted to
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the bar in 1899 and the same year opened a law office in Galena, where he has since been active- ly engaged in the practice of his profession. He has been prominently identified with the best interests of Galena, has made many friends and is regarded as one of the city's most relia- ble, substantial citizens. He has been closely associated with the best legal talent, having served as deputy county attorney two years, and as the present city attorney of Galena he has gained a practical experience by which he has not failed to profit.
Mr. Majors has been active in politics, and has taken a deep interest in both city and county committee meetings. In 1902 he was nominated on the Fusion ticket for county at- torney but was defeated. While he is interested to some extent in mining, his time and atten- tion are devoted to his official duties and his success in his business is only exceeded by his growing popularity. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
AMES J. FRIBLEY, for many years one of the most active and successful business men of Baxter Springs, is at the present time living a retired life. He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, December 2, 1842, and is a son of Daniel and Leah (Edmunds) Fribley.
Jacob Fribley, great-grandfather of our subject, came from Germany and located in Pennsylvania in the latter part of the 18th cen- tury. He had a son Jacob, born in Pennsylva- nia, who followed the occupation of a farmer and in 1816 located in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The latter married Elizabeth Woods, by whom he had the following children : John, Margaret, Daniel, James, Thompson, David, Mary, Enoch, Elsie, Jacob and Elizabeth.
Daniel Fribley, the father of our subject, was born in Milton, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1812, removed to Ohio with his parents at the age of four years, and received his education in the district schools there. After leaving school, he purchased a piece of timber land which he cleared and improved and followed farming and stock-raising, raising horses and sheep on an extensive scale. The land re- mained in his possession until 1903, at which time lie deeded it to his children. He married Leah Edmunds, a daughter of Edward and Susan (Rhodes) Edmunds, who originally came from Vermont and Pennsylvania, respec- tively, and they had the following issue: Ed- ward, a retired farmer of Assumption, Illinois ; Wesley, who died in 1862 of measles at an army hospital in Memphis, Tennessee; James J .; Cornelia, who resides on the old family homestead in Ohio; Ellen L., wife of Lyman Hardman, a hardware merchant of New Phil- adelphia, Ohio; Susan N., wife of Dr. J. W. Toland, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman of Coshocton, Ohio; Lambert E., a stock dealer of New Philadelphia, Ohio; Milton D., who is traveling through Texas, Indian Territory and Arkansas for the Tuscarawas Advertising Company of Coshocton, Ohio; and Charles J., who is in the hotel business in Springfield, Illi- nois. Mrs. Fribley died in 1883, and Mr. Fribley died at New Philadelphia, September 16, 1904, at the advanced age of 92 years.
James J. Fribley received his educational training in the public schools of New Phila- delphia, Ohio, which he attended until his 18th year. At the outbreak of the war, in answer to Lincoln's first call, he enlisted in Company F, 16th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was discharged four months later. He reenlisted August 12, 1862, in Company K, 98th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, on October 8th, was shot through the right shoulder, and was sent to the hospital. He was
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unable to join his regiment for a year and served in the hospital service until January, 1864, when he rejoined his regiment and served through the Atlantic campaign as a member of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. He was mustered out in July, 1865, and returned home. After spending the following winter in school, he engaged in the grocery business in Uhrichsville, Ohio, for two years, then clerked in the grocery and hardware store of M. R. Haskins & Son for two years, and after the store was bought by Wesley Crale managed it for 15 months. He next engaged in that line of business on his own account, and added to it a line of dry goods. He continued until January 1, 1882, then sold out, removed to Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas, and for four years raised cattle and sheep in the Indian Territory. He next purchased the L. C. Fuller hardware store, which he con- ducted until the spring of 1903. adding thereto a full line of farm implements. He sold out in 1903 to G. E. Rucker, but still owns the buildings.
On January 1, 1868, Mr. Fribley was joined in marriage with Mary Alma Johnson, a daugh- ter of Elias and Matilda (Campbell) Johnson, of Harrison County. Ohio. Three children were born to them, of whom two sons are liv- ing. The older son, Charles J., who is in the implement business at Miami, Indian Territory, married Lelia Sands, a daughter of Robert Sands of Baxter Springs, and four children were born to them as follows: Wood S., James K., Robert C. and Lelia. Edward J., the second son, is cashier of the Arnold Carni- val Company. Religiously, Mrs. Fribley is a consistent member of the Christian Church. In politics, our subject is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, held a number of local offices in his native county, and has been a member of the City Council of Baxter
Springs two terms, and mayor, one term. He is president of the School Board and formerly was president of the Inter-State Reunion As- sociation, of which he is now treasurer. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica; Ancient Order of United Workmen; Bax- ter Chapter, No. 78, Royal Arch Masons; Ga- lena Commandery, Knights Templar; and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a man who stands very high in the esteem of his fel- low men, and has always been found among the most public spirited citizens of Baxter Springs.
P HILIP C. METZLER, of Columbus, manager of the Columbus Vitrified Brick Company, was born at Marine, Illinois, February 4, 1869, and is a son of C. G. and Margaret (Healy) Metzler.
The father of Mr. Metzler was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1844, and died at Columbus, Kansas, in 1898. When 16 years of age he came to America, and learned and followed the brick manufacturing business at St. Louis, Missouri. In 1874 he came to Weir City, Kansas, and went to work in the clay de- partment of one of the zinc companies, where he was engaged in the manufacture of retorts, tile, etc., until 1881, when he removed to Co- lumbus and established the above named brick plant. He commenced the manufacture of building brick and drain tile, and the products of his establishment were used exclusively in the building of the first houses in Columbus. He was the pioneer in this line here, and until his death supplied most of the bricks used here for building purposes. His widow survives, with two children,-Philip C. and Catherine (Mrs. George Gallagher), of Columbus. Two chil- dren died young. Mr. Metzler was a member, in good standing. of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Select Knights.
WARY
K AND
A.S.
Yours truly, Franklin Elliott
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Philip C. Metzler was reared and schooled at Columbus. In 1889 he became associated with his father in the brick-making business, which he has continued alone since his father's death. His practical knowledge of brickmak- ing contributes to his efficiency as manager of the Columbus Vitrified Brick Company.
Mr. Metzler was married at Galena, in the fall of 1903, to Lillian Balch, of that city. Politically, Mr. Metzler is a Democrat, and a very zealous and influential member of his party. He served as president of the Bryan Club during the presidential campaign of 1900 and has been a member of the Democratic County Central Committee and a delegate to numerous conventions. His fraternal and social connections are with the Modern Wood- men of America; Degree of Honor; Royal Neighbors; Select Knights and Ladies of Honor; and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he is master workman. He belongs also to the Anti-Horse Thief Asso- ciation. In religious belief, he is a Catholic.
RANKLIN ELLIOTT, county treas- urer of Cherokee County, whose por- trait appears on the opposite page, is the owner of a fine farm of 200 acres in section 26, township 33, range 24, in Craw- ford township, and has been a resident of Co- lumbus since the fall of 1903. He was born in 1842 in Henry County, Indiana, and is a son of Solomon and Penelope (Morris) Elliott.
Solomon Elliott and his wife were born in Indiana and came from Quaker ancestry. The great-grandfather on the paternal side was born in North Carolina, and as far back as can be traced the family has lived up to the faith of peace and simplicity advocated by the follow- ers of that early reformer, George Fox.
Solomon Elliott died in Indiana about 1902,
aged 83 years. In his locality he was consid- ered a just man, and to him were entrusted the estates of many minors, his integrity of character being above question. His wife also died in Indiana, aged 65 years. Of their chil- dren, Franklin was the eldest, the others being as follows: Martin Luther, a carpenter by trade, and now a resident of Carthage, Mis- souri; Emma F., who died in Ohio, several years ago; Lindley, now an invalid, and a resi- dent of Carthage, Missouri, who formerly served four years in the collector's office in that city ; Laura C., who is the wife of William Mills, of Indiana; Amanda, who has been a teacher in the public schools at Moline, Illinois, for a number of years; and Milo P., who has recently located near Salem, Oregon, having formerly managed the home farm in Indiana.
The subject of this sketch was educated at Earlham College, at Richmond, Indiana, after serving his country for three years during the Civil War. He enlisted in 1861 in Com- pany A, 36th Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf., as a private. His first baptism of fire was on the field of Shiloh. His regiment was first attached to the 21st Army Corps, which was in the ad- vance guard of General Buell's army, and Mr. Elliott was a participant in that campaign. On December 31, 1862, he was wounded, at Mur- freesboro, and again, on October 19, 1863, at Chickamauga. While the first wound was slight, the second was of a very serious nature, and was complicated by his being taken pris- oner. He later secured a parole, but recovered sufficiently to take part in the siege of Atlanta and the battle at Jonesboro south of that city. In the fall of 1864, he returned to Indiana, with the record of a brave and gallant soldier. who was never absent from his post of duty except when incapacitated by wounds.
Mr. Elliott then entered college where by close application he was able to cover the three- year course in two and a half years, but at the
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expense of his health. Prior to leaving col- lege he began to preach, a profession he fol- lowed for about 30 years, although not con- tinuously. His ability was recognized by vari- ous educational institutions, and he received numerous flattering offers, but his health con- tinued to be so precarious that he felt obliged to decline them all; he continued, however, to make some mental efforts and did a little farm work. He accepted a position as school teacher and spent several months in that occupation in Indiana. Then at the solicitation of Prof. Jo- seph Moore, one of his admirers and a former instructor, he went to Deep River, North Caro- lina, where he assisted in normal school work.
Mr. Elliott continued to improve in health. and later accepted a position in a college at Friendsville, Tennessee. This was quite a dis- tance from his previous location, but Mr. Elliott decided to make of the journey a partial walk- ing trip. From Deep River to Knoxville was something of a journey, thence to Concord was another, and from there to Friendsville he made his way entirely on foot, over a but little traveled highway. He safely reached the quiet little Quaker village, and was welcomed with the heartiness of simple people, and the respect which attaches itself to superior educational requirements in a locality of that kind. There he opened Newburg Academy, with about 60 young men and women from the town and its vicinity and numerous children; he had an enrollment of from 125 to 140 pupils during his two years in that school.
Mr. Elliott then returned to Indiana and took up the study of dentistry, which he pur- sued for one year, after which he was tempted to return to teaching, by the offer of what he considered a sufficient salary, as principal of the Little Rock (Arkansas) High School. Prior to taking up the duties of this promising position, he went to Tennessee, and was mar- ried in Blount County. After spending one
year at Little Rock, he returned to Blount County and there entered upon educational work, being elected superintendent of the schools of that county, a position to which he was reelected. Before he had completed his second term. he resigned the position, in order to go to the Indian Territory as a missionary to the Indians.
In 1879, Mr. Elliott, with his wife and two children, located at Shawneetown. Indian Ter- ritory, where he remained six years, lacking one month, devoting himself to work with the Pot- tawatomies and Shawnees. Then he removed to Independence. Montgomery County, Kan- sas, where he remained during the winter, com- ing to Cherokee County in April, 1884. He located at what was called "Timbered Hill." but is now known as "Quaker," a station on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, in Crawford township. Here he purchased a farm of 40 acres, the nucleus of his present fine farm of 200 acres. It was formerly a nursery. and was very valuable property on account of being well stocked with fine fruit, the cultiva- tion and sale of which have for years resulted in a large addition to his income. His peaches and cherries are his most reliable crops, and both do well. He has also carried on general farming, meeting with excellent success and. with the exception of six years spent in Iowa in ministerial work, the farm continued to be his home until his election to his present posi- tion required his residence in Columbus.
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