USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 45
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with Mrs. Hannah Combes, nce Bird. The children of this marriage were: Monroe, James A., Frank and George D. Lucas Covert left Indiana in 1852 and located in Atchison County, Missouri, where he engaged in farm- ing for six years. In 1858 he removed to Pawnee County, Nebraska, where he followed the same occupation until his death, which oc- curred in 1898.
Peter Covert, the subject of this review, received his education in the schools of his native State, and in those of Missouri. After leaving school, as is the custom among most farmers' sons, he spent some time working for his father on the farm. Removing with his father to Nebraska, he remained with him until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in October, 1862, in Company C, 2nd Reg., Nebraska Vol. Cav., and served on the plains for nine months. Reenlisting in the spring of 1865, in Company H, 5Ist Reg., Missouri Vol. Inf., he was discharged in June, 1865, having seen hospital service most of his time during this period of enlistment. At the close of the war, he returned to Atchison County, Missouri, and soon after, in 1866, re- moved to Cherokee County, Kansas, where he has since resided. Mr. Covert was one of the men who laid out the town of Lowell, and drove the first stake. His farm comprises 160 acres of fine farm land all under cultivation. The products are those of the average farm of that section.
On July 17, 1870, the marriage ceremony was performed which united Mr. Covert and Mahala O. Shepherd, a native of Missouri. To this union have been born six children, as follows: Flora A., Anna, Joseph Alexander, John A., Benjamin and Ida. Flora A. married Clark Goodnight, a farmer of Labette County. and has three children. Anna married Elam Hodson, a mining engineer of Long Beach, California, and has two children. Joseph Alex-
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MILTON WARREN ASHMORE
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ander, who enlisted in Company E, 38th Reg., U. S. Vol. Inf., and served two years in the Philippines, married Rosa Thair and has one child. He resides in Franklin County, Kansas, where he is at present engaged in farming. John A. and Benjamin reside at home. Ida married Samuel Simmons, a rural free delivery mail carrier of Baxter Springs, and has two children.
Mr. Covert has been a lifelong voter of the Republican ticket, and was elected to the office of constable, in which position his incumbency lasted for two years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and G. A. R.
ICTOR HUGHES is one of the repre- sentative farmers of Cherokee Coun- ty, and his farm of 200 acres, lo- cated in Pleasant View township, in sections 2, 3 and 4, township 32, range 25, is one of the best in the county. He is a native of Michigan, where he was born in 1847, and is a son of John and Emily (Hurlbert) Hughes and a grandson of John Hughes.
John Hughes, the grandfather, was born in Scotland. He chose the life of a sailor, and spent his early manhood on the seas. Later in life he turned his attention to farming, and his last years were passed in that pursuit in the western part of the State of New York. Among the family born to him was John, Victor's father, who grew to manhood and married Emily Hurlbert, also of New York. He was a painter by trade, and continued to fol- low that occupation during his residence in New York. Then he moved to Illinois and was engaged in farming until his death, at the age of 52 years. His wife survived him a long time, dying in her 77th year. He was a Democrat, but took little part in politics. Four of the five children born to this couple are
still living, namely : Mary, Victor, Annette and Willis.
Victor Hughes was a lad of nine years when his parents moved to Tazewell County, Illinois, and settled on a farm. Being the eldest son, he assisted his father and in time became one of the most practical farmers of his locality. Seeing the opportunities offering in the West to an enterprising man who would take advantage of them, he moved to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1878, and settled on 80 acres of land in Pleasant View township, in section 3, township 32, range 25. He has found that the State fully justifies his estimate of it, and the same industry which made him prominent in his old home has been rewarded here by abundant harvests. These have en- abled him to add to his first purchase,-first So acres in section 2, and later, 40 acres in section 4. This land he farms, finding keen enjoyment in his well kept fields and growing crops.
In 1877, Mr. Hughes was married to Sarah Covey, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of John and Susan (Pettee) Covey. Her father went to California, where he died, and her mother passed away in the old home in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are the pa- rents of seven children, six of whom are living, namely : Emma, who married Ralph Burr, and has two children,-Rose and Ruth; Bertha, who married Al. Thomas; Maggie; Mary; Charles and Flora.
m ILTON WARREN ASHMORE, a highly respected retired farmer of Cherokee County, residing on his farm in section 23, township 31, range 25, Pleasant View township, was born in Clark County, Illinois, October 13, 1830, and is a son of Rev. James and Catherine (Armstrong) Ashmore.
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The Ashmore family is of Scotch-Irish extraction. The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Amos and Patience Ashmore, natives of North Carolina and early settlers in Illinois. The Ashmores have been noted for the quick temper which usually ac- companies an alert intelligence, but the patient qualities of the grandmother, who was rightly named, brought in the strain which has been the controlling element in her descendants. Rev. James Ashmore was born before his par- ents moved to Illinois, and, although a youth of unusual intelligence, was a grown man be- fore he had mastered the common-school curri- culum of the present day. In the pioneer re- gion in which the family settled, no educa- tional opportuities were afforded, and the sub- ject of this sketch recalls the spectacle of his father studying the rules of grammar with his children, by the light of the hearth fire.
At a very early age James Ashmore was convinced of his call to the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Although a graduate of no school of theology, he was a vigorous and successful preacher. Thoroughly persuaded of the truth, and a firm believer in the Bible, he earnestly and efficiently set forth the doctrines of his faith. Naturally an orator, his ministry was attended with convincing proofs of its efficacy. Like the Apostle Paul, he believed it right to provide for his necessi- tics with the work of his hands, and all his active life he followed the quiet pursuits of agriculture. In 1838 he removed to Vermil- lion County, Illinois, where he died in 1882, aged 76 years.
James Ashmore was but 19 years of age when he married Catherine Armstrong, a daughter of Richard Armstrong, of Illinois, who had only reached her 14th year. This marriage was an unusually happy one, and eight children were born to them, viz: Hiram HI., of Peoria. Illinois; Milton Warren; Mrs.
Sarah Brown, of Edgar, Illinois, whose hus- band is deceased; Richard Nelson, of Chehalis, Washington; Mary Catherine, residing with her brother at Peoria, Illinois; Robert Alex- ander, deceased; Belle, wife of Henry Traugh- ber, of Monett, Missouri ; and James, who was a victim of the Civil War, being killed at the battle of Perryville. The mother of this family died October 13, 1851, aged 40 years. The father married, secondly, Sarah Newman, and they had five children.
The subject of this sketch was reared a farmer and remained at home until he reached the age of 21 years. He worked on various farms in his home neighborhood until the year 1866, when he and his wife started for Kansas. They stopped for two years at Medoc, Missouri, and there engaged in farm- ing, but in December, 1868, pushed on into Kansas, locating in the Cherokee Neutral Lands, and settling on the farm where they now live. This farm Mr. Ashmore continued to operate until 1899, when his son, Henry H., relieved him from the responsibility. There are light veins of coal on the place, which Mr. Ashmore mined for 12 years, finding it of very fine quality. He has made a specialty of the growing of fruit, and has an apple orchard of 300 bearing trees, a large vineyard and a peach orchard of 40 trees. He has demonstrated here the possibility of raising some of the finest fruit that can be placed on the market, and has made a financial success of his venture.
In February, 1854, Mr. Ashmore married Caroline H. Newman, a daughter of Alexander Newman, of Oakland, Illinois. They had seven children, the six who grew to maturity being as follows: James, of Cushing, Oklahoma ; Lillie Catherine, wife of Charles Roberts, of Pleasant View township; Stephen Allen, of Pleasant View township; John, who died in 1891, leaving a widow and two children, who now reside with the subject of this sketch;
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Belle, wife of Albert Harmon, of Crawford, County, Kansas; and Henry H., who operates the home farm.
Mr. Ashmore is a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder since 1867. In his younger days, be- fore coming to Kansas, he was a Douglas Dem- ocrat, but for many years has been identified with the Prohibition party. He was one of the active members of the Sons of Temperance, in Illinois, and has always cast his influence in favor of prohibition measures. As a good citi- zen, he has taken an interest in the management of township affairs, and has served as school trustee and as road master. For some years, during his active agricultural life, he belonged to the Grange and Farmers' Alliance. He is a man who stands very high in his community. As one of the old settlers, he has witnessed the wonderful development of this region, and has done his share in bringing about the improved conditions which prevail throughout Cherokee County. His portrait accompanies this sketch.
5 S. COON. One of the necessary and beneficént institutions of Cherokee County is the farm maintained for the unfortunate poor of the county, for the past five years efficiently conducted by Superintendent H. S. Coon. It contains 240 acres and is situated in Crawford township, comprising the southeast quarter of section 8, and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 9, township 33, range 24. This farm was started with five inmates, October I, 1882, Mr. Pattyson being its first superin- tendent. The following gentlemen have served as superintendents up to this date: Mr. Patty- son. 1882-83; M. I. Davis, 1883-84; Jacob Lemly, 1884-90; James Taylor, 1890-92; James Marshall, 1892-93: M. L. Medsker,
1893-95; and I. D. Van Orsdall, 1895-99. On September 30, 1899, Mr. Coon succeeded to the office. The number of inmates has varied from 22 to 35, there being at present about 22. The farm has always been largely self-sup- porting, and in 1903 showed a balance on the credit side. It is well stocked, having at pres- ent 52 head of cattle, 67 head of logs, two horses; and about 75 acres of corn, 30 acres of oats, and a large and well kept garden.
Superintendent H. S. Coon is a native of Carroll County, Missouri, where he was born in 1862, and is a son of Florello and Anna (Bennett) Coon. The father was a New York State man, who removed to Nebraska in the late "fifties", where he married and thence moved to Carroll County, Missouri. In 1883 he came to Kansas, locating at Weir City, where he made his home until the year before his death, which occurred in 1891, at the age of 69 years. He was a carpenter, and also fol- lowed farming. The mother was a Virginian, by birthi, who came when a child to the Mississ- ippi Valley, and finally to Nebraska, where she married. She died in 1900 at the age of 70 years. These parents reared six children to maturity. A daughter, Mrs. McClure, lives in Cherokee County.
Mr. Coon remained at home in Carroll County until he had reached the age of 20 years, when he came to Cherokee County. Since that time he has divided his labors be- tween mining and farming. He worked at Weir City when there was but one shaft at that point. He followed mining eight or 10 years.
At Weir City, Mr. Coon married Alice Lydick, a daughter of Isaac Lydick. She was born in Illinois, and came to Cherokee County in 1876. Isaac Lydick was a farmer in Cher- okee township, and died in Nebraska in 1903, at the age of 81 years. His widow now resides in Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Coon have
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been born the following children : Lyle, Clyde, Frella, Bertie, Nettie and Lois.
In the matter of politics, Mr. Coon has been a stanch Populist since the organization of that party. He has served in a number of the minor offices, such as trustee, justice of the peace and road overseer. He is a worthy member of several - fraternal organizations, notably the Red Men, the A. O. U. W., and the A. H. T. A.
Mr. Coon is what men call a self made man. Coming to the county a poor boy, he has by persistent effort and great industry forged to the front. In the position which he occupies at present, he is strict and careful concerning the property under his charge, while at the same time he is kindness itself to the unfor- tunates whose lot it is to need the fostering care of the county. Cherokee County is for- tunate in the possession of such an officer.
OHN FITZGERALD, city marshal of Galena, is a son of James and Ellen Fitzgerald, old and highly esteemed residents of Wyandotte County, Kan- sas. He was born April 19, 1865, and is one of 10 children, eight sons and two daughters, all of whom are living.
James Fitzgerald has been a resident of Wyandotte County, Kansas, for many years. As early as 1850, he went to Kansas City on a steamboat on the Missouri River and when the Union Pacific Railroad was built he engaged with that company in their shops. Several years later he purchased a farm six miles out from Kansas City and still resides there. Probably in no point has the march of civiliza- tion been more noticeable than in that city which he has seen develop from a struggling, little, river town into a thriving, bustling city whose commercial importance is recognized in every point of the globe.
John Fitzgerald was reared on a farm and followed that occupation during his early years, attending the public schools during the winter and farming in summer. This work, however, was not at all congenial to him and he tried railroading in the railroad yards at Argentine, Kansas. He also served as a member of the railroad police in Kansas City. Later he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, and 16 years were spent in mining here and in Joplin, Mis- souri. In this work he was successful and in the fall of 1899 he located in Galena, as a miner and prospecter, and has been a respected resi- dent of the city since. Mr. Fitzgerald has taken an active interest in politics and his un- tiring efforts have been appreciated by the Democrats with whom he has labored so un- selfishly and successfully. He has not been an office seeker, his work being done for love of party principles, and it was in accord with the general public sentiment that Mayor C. L. Sawyer appointed him marshal of Galena in 1903. Into this, as in all he undertakes, he puts his whole energy and has shown himself to be the right man in the right place, capable and efficient. He is a prominent Elk and a member of the Empire City Catholic Church.
E LIJAH T. WEST, one of the success- ful farmers of Cherokee County, lives on a farm of 80 acres in section I, township 32, range 21, in Sheridan township, and also owns 80 acres in Labette County. He is a native of Lewis County, Ken- tucky, and was born in August, 1844. His parents were James M. and Sarah (Mark) West, both natives of the "Blue Grass State," where they grew to maturity and were mar- ried.
James M. West was a farmer and preacher. His special work was that of preaching for the
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American Missionary Association ; aside from his mission work and the care of the farm, he found time to preach the Word throughout his native county. An Abolitionist, he en- gendered the most bitter hatred from the slave- holders, and they tried to drive him out. So in 1855 he removed to Pope County, Illinois, where he followed the occupation of farming during the week and preached on Sunday. The following year, in 1856, he was one of four men in that county who voted for Gen. John C. Fremont for president. After re- maining in Pope County for five years, he moved to Richville, Illinois, where he died in I868.
His wife married again, this time to G. W. Camack of Kentucky, and moved to Wash- ington, Illinois, where they both died. The family consisted of nine children, as follows : William P., a farmer living in Minnesota, who was in the war five years as a member of Com- pany B, 62nd Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf .; Elijah T .; Mary, wife of Newberry Smith, who lives in Ashley, Illinois; Lizzie, living in Ashley, Illinois, who is the widow of J. M. Stevenson ; Laura, wife of Adolph Camack, of Ashley, Illinois ; Lucinda, wife of Floyd W. Brooks, of Sheridan township; Emma, wife of John Bledsoe, of Ashley, Illinois ; Gregg, a carpenter and farmer living in St. Louis, Missouri; and Lydia, whose home is in Centralia, Illinois.
Elijah T. West had only limited opportun- ities for acquiring an education. The old log school house of the country district and the so- called "academy" of the country town were but poor prototypes of the schools of later years. His earlier years were spent with his parents at home until the opening of the Civil War, when, at the age of 18, he enlisted in Company B, 136th Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., as a corporal. His first enlistment was on January 1, 1864, for three months. At the end of that time, he reenlisted in Company B, 62nd Reg., Illinois
Vol. Inf., and served until 1866. He did garri- son duty most of the time during his service, and participated in the battle of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and was also at Port Gibson.
In 1866, soon after leaving the service, Mr. West took up his residence in Cherokee Coun- ty, Kansas, locating on 160 acres of "treaty right" land, in section I, township 32, range 21. He lived alone at first in an old log cabin.
After five years of lonely life on the place, he married Emma Camack, a native of Chester County, Kentucky, and a daughter of G. W. and Martha (Baker) Camack. Mr. Camack's first wife, Mrs. West's mother, died in 1848, and he married, as his second wife, Amanda Fortner, of Tennessee, whose death occurred soon after. He married, as his third wife, the mother of our subject, who was a widow at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah T. West have three children living, one son-George Leon- having died January 6, 1904. He was a well known carpenter and fine finisher of wood. Socially, he was a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at McCune, and left many friends to mourn his loss. The other children are: James Scott, a blacksmith of Sherman City, Kansas, who married Queen B. Anthony ; Flora, wife of G. WV. Hayden, of Sheridan township; and Thomas H., who lives at home managing the work on the farm.
The married life of Mr. and Mrs. West has been spent on the farm purchased by him on his first visit to Kansas. They have made all the improvements, erected good farm build- ings, and brought the farm to a state of culti- vation which produces all of the small grains of the average farm of this section. Besides general farming, many horses, cattle and hogs are raised each year.
Mr. West is what may be called a suc- cessful, self-made man. He is well known in the county, and has hosts of friends. He has
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always evinced a deep interest in the welfare of the community, and has several times been honored with office, serving as a township trustee and also as treasurer of the School Board. In religious faith he and his family are Christians and have been earnest and valued workers in that denomination.
OHN W. ROHRBOUGH, a promi- nent farmer of Cherokee County, liv- ing on a 160-acre farm near McCune, in Sheridan township, was born in Hardy County, West Virginia, November 18, 1840. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Fry) Rohrbough, both natives of Hardy County, where they grew to maturity and were married.
John Rohrbough, who was a farmer by occupation, moved to Douglas County, Illinois, in 1856, where he purchased 80 acres of land, and after 10 years residence there migrated Westward to Kansas, in 1866, with horses and wagon. The journey was made in company with several other families, some 15 wagons making the trip overland. Mr. Rohrbough located on 80 acres of wild, prairie land in Sheridan township, Cherokee County. Many improvements were made on the place, and the family continued to live there for several years, and then removed to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, where a 159-acre farm was purchased. There John Rohrbough lived until his death, his wife having died in Cherokee County. Mr. Rohr- bough belonged to the Dunkard Church. He was a Democrat but later became a Republi- can. The family consisted of eight children, five of whom are living. All were educated in the home schools, receiving such opportunities as were afforded in that early day.
John W. Rohrbough, the subject of this sketch, remained at home until 1862, when he
enlisted in Company A, 70th Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf. After three months' service, he re- enlisted in Company F, 149th Reg., Illinois Vol Inf., and was in the Army of the Tennessee under General Steadman, but did not partici- pate in any battles.
After the war, in 1867, Mr. Rohrbough located on his present farm, where he has since lived, adding to his first purchase until now he has 160 acres of good farm land, which produces all the small grains. From the wild prairie, the farm, under proper cultivation, has become one of the most productive in the county. Many improvements have been made, not the least of which may be mentioned the substantial and comfortable farm house built in 1888, and the barn erected in 1899.
In 1868 our subject was united in marriage to Julia A. Betzer, a native of Dearborn Coun- ty, Ohio. Seven children were born to this union : Arthur W., a farmer of Sheridan town- ship; Harvey R., a farmer of Labette County; Orpha Ella (Mrs. William Carns), of Craw- ford County, Kansas ; Lefea Loretta (Mrs. M. Morgan), of Parsons, Kansas ; and Nellie May, Lenta Elva (a teacher) and Robert R., who live at home.
Mr. Rohrbough has been a Populist since that party's organization, but formerly voted with the Republicans. His success in farm- ing has been the result of his own unaided efforts, and he has by his honesty and upright dealings made for himself many friends throughout the county.
D AVID CROWE is one of the large land owners and prominent farmers of Cherokee County. He owns 960 acres of land and resides on a tract of 21 acres which is now included in Weir City. He came to this section in the early days of its
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settlement, and is one of its most highly re- spected citizens. Mr. Crowe was born in Penn- sylvania in 1836, and is a son of Samuel T. and Mary (Seibert) Crowe.
The father of Mr. Crowe was of Scotch- Irish descent, and the mother, of German an- cestry, but both were born in Pennsylvania. They had a family of 12 children, the only two survivors being David; and Samuel, who fol- lows farming in Pennsylvania. The latter, with two other brothers, Robert and James, served in the Civil War, all in the II4th Reg., Pennsylvania Vol. Inf. James was a victim of the battle of Seven Oaks. Samuel was made a prisoner in the early part of the war, and was confined at Suffolk, and in the awful prison pen at Andersonville, where he was subjected to indignities and to suffering seemingly impos- sible in a civilized country. These resulted in the ruin of his health, the loss of his hair, and of all power of speech, for two years. When released lie was a wreck, and the small pension the government awarded him can never com- pensate him for what he suffered as one of the country's defenders.
David Crowe had but limited educational op- portunities in his youth, his usefulness on the farm being too great to allow of his spending much time over books. Conditions were harder for farm boys half a century ago than now, when machinery takes the place of brawn and muscle. Until he was 19 years of age, he fol- lowed the plough and wielded the hoe on the home farm. Then he accepted a position in the Public Iron Works in Pennsylvania, and remained with that concern for 12 years. His next move was to Vinton, Ohio, where he was engaged in chopping wood by contract, and later, for four years, in running a tannery. This he sold in 1870. In that year Mr. Crowe came to Cherokee County, Kansas. The avail- able land at that time was in litigation between the railroad companies and a body of united
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