USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 42
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In the fall of 1884. Mr. Elliott went to Iowa and was followed by his family in the succeeding spring. As before mentioned, he spent six years in that State. He was pastor of the Congregational Church at Monona. Clayton County, for 16 months; of that at Eagle Grove, Wright County, over two years, and for two years he preached at Manson. Iowa. During this time the farm had been leased. Since his return to it, he has not been
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engaged actively in church work, giving his attention almost exclusively to his farm, and to performing the duties of township treas- urer, trustee, and member of the School Board.
Mr. Elliott first married Lyda G. Grinnell, born in Indiana, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah A. Grinnell, a Quaker minister, who had trav- eled far and wide. Rev. Mr. Grinnell was born . in Vermont, where he married Martha Tabor, who died in Tennessee, while his death, in ad- vanced age, took place in California. Exclu- sive of Mrs. Elliott, his children were: Dr. F., of Pasadena, California ; Rev. S. S., a graduate first, of Marysville College, Tennessee, then of Oberlin College, Ohio, and lastly of Harvard, who entered the Congregational ministry, and died in California; Edwin, lately deceased at Des Moines, Iowa, who was an editor, a mem- ber of the Iowa State Senate, and later a min- ister ; Mrs. Rose Hastings, of Maryville, Ten- nessee ; Mrs. Mary Alfred, who died in the Indian Territory, leaving three sons, now at Hampton Institute, Virginia ; and Eveline, wife of Rev. William Cleaver, a Quaker minister at Carthage, Indiana. Mrs. Elliott died in Iowa in 1889, aged 42 years, and was buried at Des Moines. She was the mother of seven children, the youngest of whom, Albert, a babe, died soon after her decease. The others are as follows : Ethel, a professional nurse, who was born in Tennessee; Clara, born also in Tennes- see, who is a teacher in the city schools at Co- lumbus; Carl, born in the Indian Territory, who graduated in May, 1904, from the Chero- kee County High School; Wilmot, who is a farmer on the homestead in Crawford town- ship; Theron, who is engaged in fruit growing in Oregon; and a son, who died in infancy, in Tennessee.
Mr. Elliott married, second, Annie Kenyon, who was born in Iowa, of Rhode Island parent- age. Two children resulted from their union,-
Laura, who died aged six months, in Cherokee County, and Sarah Kenyon.
For many years Mr. Elliott was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in Iowa, and was active in the affairs of the post at Eagle Grove. He is a Mason, was formerly identified with the Odd Fellows, and belongs to the or- ganization known as the Anti-Horse Thief As- sociation. Mr. Elliott commands the universal respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, and they could not have placed their financial interests in more capable hands. In politics, he has always been an ardent Republican, and has served the public in many official capacities. He was elected to his present office of county treasurer in 1902.
D M. JONES, one of the leading busi- ness men of Columbus, who operates the only granite and marble plant in the city, is one of the early settlers of Cherokee County. He was born at Troy, New York, in 1846, and is a son of J. A. and Mary (Smith) Jones.
Probably all the branches of the Jones fam- ily originated in Wales, and the subject of this sketch belongs to a branch that settled in Ver- mont where its members took prominent parts in early colonial affairs, and became especially notable in the Revolutionary War. The pater- nal grandfather served in that struggle with the rank of major, and later married a member of the wealthy and distinguished Jerome family in the vicinity of Troy, New York.
J. A. Jones was born in 1820, and died at Columbus, Kansas, in 1896, aged 76 years. His business was contracting and building, and during his residence of 12 years in Sandusky County, Ohio (from 1853 to 1865), he was engaged in furnishing wood, ties, etc., for rail-
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road construction. In 1865 he removed to Missouri and bought a farm in the vicinity of Cameron, on which he resided until he removed to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1869. Mr. Jones settled his family on a farm, but his time was mainly occupied at his trade. He erected many of the early buildings on the public square at Columbus, and built the first Court House. He became one of the representative men of the place, and for a long period served as a justice of the peace. His wife was born in 1821, and died at Columbus in 1900, at the ripe age of 80 years.
D. M. Jones was the eldest of the family of six children, the others being as follows : Helen M., deceased, who was the wife of W. S. King, of Chanute, Kansas; Charles B., who is a shoemaker of Columbus; Mary, widow of Ex-Probate Judge H. C. Purcell, who resides in Kansas City; Mrs. Josephine Meads, who is a resident of Greeley, Colorado; and John M., a contractor and builder, who was engaged for two and a half years on the magnificent struct- ures of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, Missouri.
The subject of this sketch was schooled in Ohio, from which State he enlisted in 1861 in Company A. 72nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and at the expiration of his first term of service re- enlisted in the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, in which he served until August 9, 1865. He then returned to Ohio, and afterward joined the other members of his family in Missouri. He remained at home until his marriage, en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. In No- vember, 1869, he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, having started a month previously to drive the distance from Cameron, Missouri. He located on a claim four miles northeast of Columbus. On December 31, 1881, he re- moved to Columbus and embarked in his pres- ent granite and marble business, in which he has so greatly prospered.
This plant is located on Maple avenue, one and a half blocks east of the northeast corner of the square. The building, which was erected by Mr. Jones, is equipped with every modern kind of machinery known for the perfect and successful carrying on of this business. A gaso- line engine of 10-horsepower is used, together with an air compressor having a capacity of 30 cubic feet a minute, for running the pneu- matic tools, polishers, chain-hoist and swinging crane, and a large outside derrick. Mr. Jones has arranged a commodious display yard at the north side of the building, facing Maple ave- nue, while the workrooms and machinery are in the immediate rear of the office and display salesroom. This workroom is a very interest- ing place to visit, as about half a dozen skilled workmen are there employed, who produce ar- tistic results of exceeding beauty. Mr. Jones uses Vermont marble and granite almost exclu- sively, which naturally acquire a high degree of polish. His two traveling salesmen cover portions of Kansas, Missouri and a part of Oklahoma, but Mr. Jones has placed monu- ments in various other localities,-one in Penn- sylvania, one in Indiana and several in Illinois. His interests here are so great that he devotes his exclusive attention to this plant.
Mr. Jones married Clara B. Hicks, who was born in Owen County, Indiana, and is a daugh- ter of John T. Hicks, formerly a carpenter and farmer, and now living retired at Columbus. They have three children: Bertha, who is at home; Edgar A., associated with his father in the marble business; and Lawrence Raymond, 'a high school student.
Mr. Jones has always been identified with the Democratic party, has taken an active part in civic affairs, and has frequently served on the School Board. He stands as one of the representative business men of Columbus, and owns probably the best marble and granite plant in the State.
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J F. PINSON, senior member of the firm of J. F. Pinson & Son, grocers of Galena, is one of the most prosper- ous merchants of the city. He has long been closely identified with the interests of the place, materially aiding in its develop- ment as a councilman and as a public spirited citizen. He is at the present time serving Ga- lena as city treasurer.
Mr. Pinson was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, July 29, 1846, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Hawkins) Pinson, being one of six children born to his parents. His father was born in North Carolina and his mother, in Virginia; they settled in Indiana as early as 1823.
Our subject was reared on a farm and re- ceived a limited education in the common schools of the home community. He first en- gaged in farming for some years, after which he turned his attention to merchandising which he has followed continuously ever since, with the exception of a short period spent at farming in Kansas. He came West to Cherokee Coun- ty, Kansas, in January, 1880; soon after lie became employed as a clerk in a grocery, and followed that line of work for several years. His son also gained experience as a clerk, and together they established their present store on South Main street, January 1, 1899. Being men of experience and enterprise, their success was assured, and each succeeding year since its inception this store has increased its stock to keep pace with the laregly extended trade. J. F. Pinson served four successive years as a member of the City Council, and in April, 1899, was elected city treasurer on the Republican ticket, William Smith, who is now postmaster of Galena, being at that time mayor. Mr. Pinson succeeded O. E. Allen as treasurer, and is still efficiently discharging the duties of that office.
On September 16, 1868, the subject of this
sketch was united in marriage in Marion Coun- ty, Indiana, with Esther Kellum, who is a daughter of John Kellum of that county. Four children were born to bless this union, namely : John, Ward, Nora and Wallace. Politically, Mr. Pinson is a stanch Republican and lends his utmost endeavor to the success of the party. He has frequently served as delegate to county conventions. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Sons and Daughters of Justice. He also be- longs to the Commercial Club of Galena.
ON. GEORGE W. WOODS, who was formerly one of the prominent men of 260.00 Cherokee County, Kansas, which he represented in the State Legislature for two terms (1872 and 1873) was born in 1827, in Frankfort, Kentucky, and died at the mines, near Springfield, Missouri, in 1887, aged 60 years.
While still young, Mr. Woods removed to Owen County, Indiana, with his parents, and was reared, educated, and, later, married in that locality. In 1853, six years after his mar- riage, he moved to Greene County, Iowa, where he was engaged in the milling business for three years. He then located in Douglas Coun- ty, Kansas, where he bought a farm of 160 acres and followed farming until 1869. In that year he came to Cherokee County, and settled down three miles east of the present city of Columbus. The city did not then ex- tend beyond the box house of John Appleby, situated on a tract which he took as a claim, on the present site of the Cherokee County Poor Farm. In 1884, Mr. Woods sold his farm, went to Galena and became interested in the mining operations there, going thence to Lawrence County, Missouri, where he was en- gaged in mining until his death.
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Mr. Woods was married in Owen County, Indiana, to Cassie Abrell, who is now deceased ; and her remains, together with those of her husband, rest in the cemetery at Columbus. Their eight children were as follows: Robert, a farmer, who lives in Minnesota; Willis, a farmer of Lincoln County, Oklahoma; Mrs. Adelle Stockley, a widow, living in Colorado; Isaac, a cowboy in Colorado; James and Den- ver, both of Colorado: George, who is in the transfer business at Galena; and Helen Eliza- betli, deceased in 1882, who was the wife of G. W. Crawford. now a resident of Texas.
For a long period Mr. Woods was promi- nent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A stanch Democrat, he took a leading part in political affairs in the county, was respected for the consistency of his principles, and was a standard bearer who won the approbation of the public. He was captain of the "Land League" organized here in the early days for the defense of the settlers' title to the Cherokee Neutral Lands. His name belongs on the hon- orable roll of the early settlers of Cherokee County, the directors of her public policies and promoters of her material development.
OHN P. BELTZHOOVER. Among the names of the wealthy and promi- nent residents of Cherokee County, is found that of John P. Beltzhoover, a farmer of Spring Valley township, who lives 011 135 acres of land in section 16, township 35. range 24. He was born in Cumberland County. Virginia, October 8, 1825.
Jacob Beltzhoover, our subject's father, was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and there acquired the education which was to be obtained in the schools of the rural districts of the East at that time. Making the most of the few available advantages, he put to good
use the knowledge acquired and taking up the occupation of farming he made a success of that business. Along with his farming he often did teaming for other people. To his marriage to Rebecca Leidig, one son was born, John P., the subject of this sketch. After Mrs. Beltz- hoover's death, in 1828, he married her sister, who died shortly after. A later marriage was consummated when Louisa Jacobs of York County, Pennsylvania, became his wife. To them were born three children : George, a resi- dent of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Susan Weaver; and Mary Ellen. In 1864 the family removed to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where Jacob Beltzhoover died in 1876.
John P. Beltzlioover, the subject of this sketch, was educated at Mount Rock, Pennsyl- vania, completing the course at the age of 15. After leaving school, he worked for his father as teamster for 10 years. After that 12 years more were spent on a farm in Cumberland County in the same State. In 1866 he moved to Clinton County, Illinois, where he located on a farm and lived for 18 years, making improve- ments and building up a home for himself. In 1884 he purchased the farm in Cherokee Coun- ty, Kansas, where the family have since lived.
In 1851 Mr. Beltzhoover was united in marriage to Hannah Nagle of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The children of this union are: Jacob, who married Josephine Geiger, lives in Clinton County, Illinois, and lias seven children,-Clara E., Dorothea, George, Anna, Mazie, John and Edith; Jennie, who married Edward A. Ennis, a dealer in musical instruments living in Centralia, Illi- nois, and has four children,-Harry, Della, Thomas and Edgar ; Ida, who married William Lieth, formerly of Clinton County, Illinois, and has three children: Annie, who first mar- ried William Stewart, a stock dealer of San- doval, Illinois, and by this umion had two chil-
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dren, one of whom is living,-Lola ; her second marriage was to Frederick Bartole, and to them a daughter was born,-Mona ; and Jennie, who is the wife of A. E. Ennis, of Centralia, Illinois. On June 24, 1876, our subject contracted a second marriage, the bride being Mrs. Rachel (Watts) Thompson, daugliter of James and Mary (Gilmer) Watts, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Beltzhoover was born in Allen County, Ohio, December 25, 1844. The three children to the marriage are,-Rachel, who married Orrin Callis, a farmer of Spring Valley town- ship, and has two children,-Jessie and John William; and Nola and Mayme, who are still at home.
Mr. Beltzhoover casts his vote for the Re- publican party and advocates. Republican prin- ciples at all times. He is a member of the I. O. O. O. F. Our subject is a lover of home, and in all the countryside there is perhaps no more beautiful home than the one occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Beltzhoover. Here, surrounded by some of the best farm land to be found in the county, they quietly live, busy with the numer- ous tasks of the farm, or in hospitably enter- taining their hosts of friends.
EORGE F. BRAUN. president of the LaHarpe Smelting Company, with offices at Galena, is one of the most successful dealers in ore in this sec- tion of the State. He has been and is still identified with many prominent companies, and has made this business his life work.
Mr. Braun was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1871, and is a son of George H. and Emma Braun, residents of St. Louis, where the father is a commission merchant and an extensive dealer in grain. The union of our subject's parents was blessed with the following chil-
dren : Minnie, who lives in St. Louis ; George F .; Fred, who is in the office with our subject at Galena; and Clara (Schlosstein), of St. Louis.
George F. Braun received a superior educa- tion in the public schools and in Washington University at St. Louis. Upon leaving school he became identified with his present occupa- tion,-buying ore, mining and smelting. He came to Galena, Kansas, in 1890, and bought ore for the Picher Lead Company, of Joplin, Missouri, and he still represents them. He was also with the Collinsville Zinc Company until 1896, and from that date until 1902 rep- resented the Nicholson Smelting Company. In 1903, he was identified with the Prince West- ern Smelting Company, and on November Ist of that year began for himself, establishing the LaHarpe Smelting Company of LaHarpe, Kansas, with the ore-purchasing department at Galena. He has met with unqualified success and has sold some of his interests to New York capitalists. The plant at LaHarpe covers 10 acres of ground, on which there is a large brick building, 65 by 100 feet in dimensions, and eiglit furnaces in all. It is located on the Mis- souri Pacific and Missouri, Kansas & Texas roads, three switches from each road affording exceptional railroad facilities. The average number of men employed is 100. The latest pattern of smelters and all modern machinery are used, and 50 tons of raw ore are treated per day. Mr. Braun is also interested in the Palmetto Mining Company, the Riverside Min- ing Company, the Red Rose Mining Company, and the South Side Mining & Manufacturing Company, of which he is vice-president. In 1901 lie erected one of the most beautiful homes in the county at Spring Grove, and the grounds surrounding the house are of especial beauty. Flowers of many varieties are raised, also shrubs, and some of the roses grown there have measured six inches in diameter.
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Mr. Braun was married in Galena, Febru- ary 10, 1895, to Ora Brown, daughter of W. II. D. Brown, a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. They have one daugh- ter, Margaret Russell, the name Margaret hav- ing been handed down from generation to gen- eration in this family. Mr. and Mrs. Braun possess many accomplishments and are clever entertainers, and their many friends delight to while away pleasant hours with them at their home amid beautiful surroundings. Our sub- ject is a high Mason,-a Knight Templar and Mystic Shriner,-and is a member of the A. O. U. W.
ILLARD M. RICHART, a well known young man of Columbus, who is traveling representative in the Southwest of one of the lead- ing law-book publishing houses of the country, was born in Spring Hill, Kansas, August 16, 1878. When he was six years old, his parents moved to Galena, Kansas, where the boy went to school until he was II years old. At that age he became practically dependent solely upon himself for support and maintenance; without any further chance at going to school, he was hired to work in the office of the Galena Times, a newspaper then just established. He did all kinds of work, such as sweeping out, rolling the forms, setting type and running errands. He was in that office 18 months, when he was employed in the office of the Galena Republican, owned and edited by L. C. Weldy, one of the best known newspaper men in Southeastern Kansas. The paper was at that time a weekly publication. Afterwards it became a daily, and Williard M. Richart was made the city editor. He was an apt newsgatherer, and it was largely due to him that the paper was well patronized. He was with the paper, altogether, about seven
years, when he became the lead and zinc staff correspondent of the Age of Steel, of St. Louis, Missouri, his work being in the Galena-Joplin lead and zinc district. The position was not a very remunerative one, and after serving in it for several months, he went back to the Ga- lena Republican, where he remained until 1899, when he took editorial charge of the Columbus Courier, under the firm name of Richart & Cav- aness. During this period, which was of about three years duration, Mr. Richart became wide- ly known throughout the Third Congressional District, on account of the stand which he took against some of the leaders of his party. The part which the paper took, under the edi- torial direction of Mr. Richart, caused it to lose some of the patronage which it formerly had, and it ceased to be financially profitable. In 1902, Richart & Cavaness gave up the paper, and it was sold to W. S. Norton, the present owner.
In April, 1903, Mr. Richart entered, as a traveling salesman, the employ of the Vernon- Richard Book Company, of Kansas City, Mis- souri. After 14 months of unprecedented suc- cess with this house, he accepted a like position with Callaghan & Company, of Chicago, Illi- nois, law-book publishers, sellers and importers, perhaps the largest house of the kind in the world. His field is all of the South west of the Mississippi River.
Mr. Richart was married, December 30, 1903, to Mabel Clair Houx, elder daughter of Dr. J. O. Houx, of Columbus, Kansas, of which city Mr. and Mrs. Richart are residents. Considering the hardships through which he has had to pass, and the fact that not many bright days came to him in his childhood and in his boyhood years, few have done better than he in gaining knowledge and in laying the foun- dation for a helpful, happy and prosperous life. He has had to fight his way through all kinds
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of adverse circumstances, and it is to his credit that it has made him stronger and better, with- out having set him against all others, as adver- sity often does.
A. McNEILL, one of the ablest mem- bers of the Cherokee County Bar, a leading citizen of Columbus and a member of the State Board of Char- ities and Corrections, was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, January 13, 1869, and is a son of C. A. and Nancy ( Kelly ) McNeill.
C. A. McNeill, the father, was born in Ross County, Ohio, and died in Cherokee County, Kansas, December 31, 1889, aged 77 years. His wife, who was also a native of Ross Coun- ty, Ohio, died in Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1901, aged 70 years. Of their eight children, but two survive, C. A. and his brother, E. V. McNeill, who was a practicing attorney for three years at Baxter Springs, but is now a resi- dent of Columbus.
About 1858, the elder McNeill removed with his family to Illinois, and in 1871 came to Cherokee County, Kansas, where he became a large land owner and extensive farmer and stockman. His home farm was located in Lola township, and he owned about 600 acres in the county. For years he was a recognized leader in the Republican politics of the county, but never held office.
The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Cherokee County, and resided in Lola township until July 29, 1889, when he re- moved to Columbus, and was employed for six months as a messenger boy at the depot of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad. He then entered the office of Ritter & Wiswell, well known attorneys at Columbus, with whom he read law for two years, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1892. He then bought out the practice of another lawyer, and has since
continued in practice with most encouraging success. He has gained a recognized position at the bar in this section of Kansas, and has taken part in much of the important litigation in Cherokee County, and has fairly gained his reputation as an astute lawyer and a wise coun- sellor.
In December, 1891, Mr. McNeill married Edna Macy, who was the daughter of Edward Macy. Mrs. McNeill died September 29, 1902, leaving a son, Maurice, who is a bright young student in the city schools.
Mr. McNeill is a recognized leader, like his father, in the Republican ranks, and in 1894 was elected county attorney, overcoming a for- mer Democratic majority of 1,000. He served two years,-from 1894 to 1896,-and in the latter year was renominated. He was defeated in the Free Silver landslide of that year, al- though, even then, his popularity was shown by his running about 600 votes ahead of his ticket. For three years, he was chairman of the Republican County Central Committee, and for two years of the Congressional District Com- mittee, and in 1902 and 1903, he was a member of the Republican State Central Committee.
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