USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 46
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citizens known as the Land League, and Mr. Crowe did not try to secure property of his own until 10 years later. He farmed during this period on the James F. Joy land, who was a railroad contractor and controlled the land owned by the railroad company. After the land litigation had been satisfactorily settled, Mr. Crowe purchased 960 acres, which he still owns. It is located as follows: The whole of section 16; a quarter of section 10; the west half of the northwest quarter of section II ; the south half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 3, all in township 32, range 24, making 960 acres, besides the 21 acres in section 34, township 31, range 24, on which he lives, and which is now an addition to the southern part of Weir City. This land is all valuable and Mr. Crowe, with an army of assistants, has it under a fine state of cultivation,-its annual yield testifying to the fertility of Kansas soil.
On his own home tract he has a valuable coal vein, the quality of the product being that known as the four-feet vein. Mr. Crowe sells coal from this vein. Formerly he was largely interested in the raising of horses, in fact lie was at one time the leading man in this line in the county, but now devotes more time to hogs and Shorthorn and Red Polled cattle. His various enterprises have resulted success- fully, and have made Mr. Crowe one of Chero- kee County's capitalists. He lias been identified with public affairs in the county and township, serving on the School Board of District No. 69, as Cherokee township treasurer, and for three years was a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Cherokee County.
In 1857, Mr. Crowe married Susan Irving, who was born in Clarion County, Pennsylva- nia. They have a family of three sons and three daughters, as follows: J. Robert, of the J. R. Crowe Coal Company, of Weir City, re- siding at Kansas City, who married Margaret Hamilton, daughter of William Hamilton, of
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Weir City, and has two children,-Stewart and Mary C .; Mary Catherine, born in Jackson County, Ohio, who married B. S. Abbott, of Weir City, and has two children, Nellie May and Vida; Brady W., born in Vinton, Ohio, who married Jennie Holmes; Ada Belle, born in Vinton County, Ohio, who is the wife of Sidney Gould, the present postmaster of Weir City : Mark, born in Cherokee County, Kansas, who married Nellie Gingery, and has one child,-Bernice ; and Effie May, born in Chero- kee County, Kansas, who married Joseph R. Burnett, and died in Weir City, in 1900, leav- ing one child,-Joseph R., Jr.
Mr. Crowe was reared in the principles of the Democratic party, but since he reached years of discretion he has been identified with the Republicans. While not a member of any religious body, he is liberal in his support of all, and is a man of higli character and unim- peachable integrity. He has seen this section of Kansas in its worst days, has done his share in bringing about its peace and prosperity, and receives, as he deserves, the respect and personal regard of all who know him.
AMES H. BROOKS, a leading farmer of Cherokee County, living on one of the finest 160-acre farms in Sheridan township, is a native of Hart County, Kentucky. He is a son of Rev. Joshua Brooks, a sketch of whose family is found in another part of this volume in the biography devoted to Floyd W. Brooks, our subject's brother.
James H. Brooks was born October 7, 1841, at a time when only subscription schools flour- ished in his native State, and had little opportu- nity for acquiring even a common-school edu- cation. His earlier years were spent in very hard work on the farm, and not until he grew to manhood did he have a chance to acquaint
himself with books. At the age of 19, he left home and lived in another section of the State until the breaking out of the Civil War.
In April, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, 6oth Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., at Mount Vernon, Illinois, and was with the 14th Army Corps. Most of the time of his enlistment was spent in Georgia, where he was with Sherman in his famous "March to the Sea," afterwards taking part in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. He was later mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and discharged at Springfield, Illi- nois.
Mr. Brooks' marriage occurred in 1867, the bride being Almira Woodworth, of Athens County, Ohio. To this union six children have been born, namely : Charles H., a graduate of the State Normal School at Emporia, now the principal of Spring Hill School, Johnson Coun- ty, Kansas; Lydia, wife of C. A. Rule, of Mannford, Oklahoma; Albert, a farmer of Sheridan township; Fred, who is farming on the old home place; Lucina, wife of C. Wise, of West Mineral; and Nina L., who lives at home.
Mr. Brooks and his wife came to Cherokee County, Kansas, April 1, 1880, and for the first two years of his residence here he rented the farm that he operated. At the end of that time, he purchased the 160 acres of land where he now lives. It was the usual wild land of the West, with some little breaking done by a former settler, and without fences, roads or buildings. Mr. Brooks put forth his best efforts to make of this a home for himself and family; that he succeeded in so doing is proved by the appearance of the place as it is to-day, with its cultivated acres, its pastures and its orchards of various fruits. Besides general farming, our subject raises a great deal of stock, and has in his possession, some thoroughbred Angora goats.
In politics, Mr. Brooks is a Socialist, and
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WAT IS.
EDMUND BAKER
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fraternally a Mason, his membership being in the lodge at McCune, Kansas. He is also a member of the A. H. T. A., No. 10, of which he has been president for a number of years. Many times Mr. Brooks has occupied positions of trust; at the present time, though retired from active work on the farm, he is president of the Mutual Rural Telephone Company, which was organized in 1902. A well read man, who unaided acquired an education, he is one of the most progressive farmers of this section, always bringing to his work the knowl- edge acquired by his extensive reading. His acquaintance reaches beyond the limits of his county, and he is highly esteemed by all who know him.
E DMUND BAKER. There are few citizens of Weir City, who have been more closely identified with its mate- rial growth, than Edmund Baker, the result of whose public spirit and business enterprise may be seen in the substantial struct- ures which line the city's business streets, and the elegant mansions which adorn its choice residence portions. Mr. Baker was born in 1841 in Somersetshire, England, and is a son of Richard and Maria (Jenkins) Baker.
Richard Baker was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1808. He followed the trade of a brick-maker all of his life, and died in 1872, at Swansea, Wales. His wife was also born in Somersetshire, and died at Swansea, Wales, in 1902, when more than 90 years of age. Of the six children resulting from their union but two came to America, and but two still survive, -Edmund and his brother, Richard, now a resident of Indiana.
Edmund Baker came to America with his family in 1873, and resided at St. Louis, Mis- souri, until May, 1874, when he removed to Weir City, Kansas. He obtained employment
in the smelting works, where he continued until 1889. In the meantime, about 1883, he bought 80 acres of land in section 33, township 31, range 24, in Cherokee township, Cherokee County, a most fortunate purchase both for Mr. Baker and for his chosen city of residence. It placed in his possession large capital, through the discovery of rich coal beds underlying it, and instead of settling down to an agricultural life, Mr. Baker leased the land until the coal was exhausted, and then, with sufficient means at command, platted it and named the suburb "Bakertown." Men of less business capacity and less public spirit, would then have retired from the field and left others to continue the improvement of this section, which is now one of the most desirable additions to the city. Mr. Baker, however, continued his operations, divided his property into city lots, and as he spent lavish sums in their adornment and im- provement, they were sold at high figures, mak- ing him one of the large capitalists of the section. In 1883 he built his first house here, which he replaced in 1894 with his present ele- gant residence. He has also built other houses in the town. In 1891 he built the Edmund Baker Block, on Main street, Weir City, which is the finest modern structure in the place. Mr. Baker has not limited his energies to advancing his personal interests, his public spirit being shown by assistance given to many successful commercial enterprises and public works, and by the encouragement offered to educational institutions.
On January 1, 1862, at Swansea, Wales, Mr. Baker was married to Martha Fudge, who was born at Bristol, England. Five of their children were born on the other side of the At- lantic, namely : Walter, who married Egele Deaneve, and died at Weir City in 1902; Rich- ard; William; Thomas, who married Susan Villiens, and has one child,-Martha; and Emily, who married Joseph Hanley, and has
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one son,-Walter. Two children. Martha and Maria (twins) were born in South St. Louis, Missouri, and died a few days after their birth.
Politically, Mr. Baker is a Democrat, and he has served six years as a councilman at Weir City. Fraternally. he is associated with the Masons, Odd Fellows. Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Only a man of energy and resolution and, at the same time, of good judgment and ster- ling qualities of head and heart, could have ac- complished what Mr. Baker has done at Weir City. The good wishes of his fellow citizens have followed him into the retirement of pri- vate life. His portrait is shown on a preceding page.
R OBERT P. HANKS, a substantial citizen and a good farmer of Lola township, owns a well improved farm of 260 acres, situated in section I. township 33, range 22. He was born in Mus- catine County. Iowa, November 9. 1856. and is a son of Jonathan and Hannah (Pasley) Hanks.
Jonathan Hanks was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1828, and died in McDonald County, Missouri, in 1888, at the age of 60 years. He married Hannah Pasley, who was also born in Muskingum County, and died in Iowa, in 1870. They had the following named children : Elizabell, deceased; Miflin Levi, of Denver, Colorado: Frank, of Wallace County, Kansas; Firman J .; Robert P .: George, of Mound Valley, Kansas; John, of Nebraska; Sydney. of Denver, Colorado: and Mrs. Addie Stotten, of Salamanca township. Jonathan Hanks was a farmer and stockraiser all his life, and. while generally successful, had num- erous ups and downs in the stock business.
When Robert P. Hanks was 20 years of age, he accompanied his parents to Linn
County, Kansas. Two years later, about 1878, shortly after his marriage, he came to Cherokee County. Here he purchased 80 acres of land and subsequently bought 80 more, coming to his present location about 12 years ago. For the past 10 years, in addition to farming. Mr. Hanks has been engaged in buy- ing and shipping timber for the coal mines,- a business he has found very remunerative. He came to Lola township before much improving had been done. and had his share of the hard- ships with which early settlers in this beautiful section had to contend. He has done his part in improving conditions, and for years has been one of the reliable, representative men of the township.
In December. 1877, Mr. Hanks married Currilda J. Hayes, who was born December 9, 1855, in Ohio, and is a daughter of Wesley and Theressa Hayes. They have six children, viz. : Mrs. Sydia Theressa Hitchcock, of Wash- ington ; and Charles, Alta, Maude, Joseph and Clarence, who are at home.
Mr. Hanks is a stanch Democrat, and has filled many of the township offices, perform- ing his duties with due regard for the best interests of the public. For 16 years he has been on the School Board. and his judgment is frequently consulted in the furthering of educational affairs in Lola township.
D DAVID J. WATSON was for many years a most highly respected farmer of Cherokee County, and left many friends to mourn his loss when death came on April 20, 1902. He was born in Frankfort, Kentucky. March 18, 1828, and was a son of Jonathan and Nancy Watson, also natives of the "Blue Grass State."
Jonathan Watson was a carpenter and mill- wright. After his marriage, he removed to
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McComb County, Illinois, where his wife died. Mr. Watson's death occurred later in Mis- souri, to which State he had moved after his wife's death.
David J. Watson was reared in Illinois and in September, 1865, removed to Cherokee County, Kansas, becoming the first settled in Sheridan township. He located on 160 acres of land in section 23, township 32, range 21. where his widow now resides. The journey from Illinois to Kansas was made in a wagon drawn by six yoke of oxen. The country through which they passed was still considered the far West, while the territory to which they were bound was called the "frontier." Only unbroken prairie greeted the eye, while the nearest place at which supplies could be ob- tained was Leavenworth, which was many miles away. He first proceeded to erect a small, floorless, log cabin and then dug a well, which was the first to be put down in the town- ship. The early settlers were not in danger of starvation, for there was plenty of game and an energetic man could have had quail on toast for breakfast, roast duck for dinner and fried or stewed rabbit for supper.
In Illinois Mr. Watson married his first wife, Elizabeth A. Wyatt, who died in 1872 in Sheridan township. The children of this marriage numbered eight, three of whom are living : Albert, of McCune, Kansas; John, of Crawford County, Kansas ; and Nellie, the wife of Irvin Palmer, who lives in Washington. In December, 1873, a second marriage was consummated, the bride being Mrs. Matilda Mizer, of Williams County, Ohio, she was a daughter of E. Shatto and Any Brown his wife, and the widow of John Mizer of Ohio, who came to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1870, and spent one year in Sheridan town- ship, and then moved to Arkansas, where he was killed in 1871. Mrs. Watson's father was a native of the "Keystone State" and her
mother was a "Buckeye." The mother's death occurred in Iowa in 1881, and the father's some 23 years later, in April, 1904, at the age of 87. To the second marriage of our sub- ject, five children were born, four of whom are living, as follows; Montford, who resides at Sherman City, Where he runs a store and barber shop; Roy, who lives at home; Grace, the wife of Charles Stevens, a farmer of Ross township; and Vada Ethel. Earl died at the age of two months. The children of Mrs. Watson's first marriage are: Orville, a farmer living near Sapulpa, Indian Territory; Dici:, a blacksmith and wagon-maker of Basalt, Colo- rado; Kate, the wife of William Tate of La- clede County, Missouri ; and Edward, a farmer of Sapulpa, Indian Territory.
During the Civil War, Mr. Watson spent his time doing hospital duty, caring for the sick and wounded soldiers.
In the earlier days of his residence, he was appointed to the position of mail carrier be- tween Sherman City and Hallowell. Politi- cally he was a Republican, and several times was honored by being elected to office. So- cially he was a member of the I. O. O. F., and religiously a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. He was a man of genial and engaging personality, making friends of all whom he met. He had an ex- tensive acquaintance throughout the county, and was held in. the highest esteem.
J OHN W. WAGNER, one of the lead- ing and representative citizens of Cherokee County, was born in Ire- dell County, North Carolina, Febru- ary 12, 1853. The name so famous in musical composition is of German origin, but the sub- ject of this sketch is of English descent on the maternal side.
The father, I. L. Wagner, was born in
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Davidson County, North Carolina, in 1815. Having few advantages as compared with the youth of to-day, he acquired only such educa- tion as the country schools afforded. Having been reared on the farm, he chose farming as a means of livelihood. To his marriage with Elizabeth Goodman, a daughter of Henry Goodman, a well known Lutheran clergyman, II children were born, as follows: Albert L., a farmer and cotton-gin operator of Troutman, North Carolina; Charles M., who resides with his brother, Albert L .; John W., the subject of this review; Esther F., the wife of Homer Leonard, a farmer and the county assessor of Hancock County, Indiana; Susan E., the wife of William Johnson, a merchant of Troutmans, North Carolina; Daniel, who died in child- hood; Henry, a carpenter of Iredell County, North Carolina; Mary V., the wife of William Kimball, a merchant of Statesville, North Carolina; Amanda, the wife of Scott Bark- ley, a farmer of the same place; S. Alice, deceased February 29, 1904, who was the wife of Luther Kimball; and David L., who is farming on the old homestead in Iredell Coun- ty, North Carolina. The father, T. L. Wagner, died in 1894. The mother, at an advanced age, is still living, her home being at Troutmans, North Carolina.
At the age of 21, John W. Wagner had finished the common-school course, in the schools of Statesville and Taylorsville, North Carolina. For three years after leaving school, he was employed as a teacher and later as a traveling salesman. In the spring of 1880 he went to Texas, where he remained two years, engaged in grading on a railroad. A visit East then took him to Indiana for a few months and later, after spending several months at the old home in North Carolina, he returned West and located in Cherokee County, Kansas. After farming for a year in Salamanca township, and nearly two years in Neosho township, he
moved to Neutral, Spring Valley township, where, with the exception of one year spent as a merchant in Galena, he has since resided. For a period of 13 years he was a merchant in Neutral and was also station agent.
On February 22, 1883, Mr. Wagner was married to Fanny S. Herman, a daughter of Miles and Camilla Herman, farmers of Cataw- ba County, North Carolina. Miles Herman enlisted in the Civil War and never returned to his home. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have five children, as follows: Alexon, Leslie Herman, Mary Stella, Bertha Ida, and Marshall Ralph, all living at home.
The farm that is the family homestead con- sists of 120 acres of fine farm land, all under cultivation. It produces all the small grains besides hay, and some fruit is raised; the build- ings are of a substantial and comfortable kind, the home being an unusually pleasant one, whose owners make all welcome with true Southern hospitality. Our subject and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran Church, taking an active part in the church life of that organization. A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Wag- ner votes the ticket straight, and takes an active interest in politics. He was honored by elec- tion to the office of township trustee in 1900 and is at present treasurer of his township. The prosperity of the county lies in just such men as Mr. Wagner. He is a man of broad and liberal views and gives his earnest support to all measures tending toward the betterment and the prosperity of his township and county.
1 SAIAH M. COLTRANE. Among the well known old settlers of the county, now deceased, no name stands higher in the memory of the residents than that of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review. For many years he was a resident of Sheridan township, where
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he lived on a farmi of 200 acres in sections 21 and 16, township 32, range 22. He was born in North Carolina, April 19, 1838, and was a son of William and Elizabeth Coltrane, natives of the same State.
William Coltrane, our subject's father, who was a farmer by occupation, concluding that the West held greater possibilities for the far- mer, came to Kansas in 1866 and bought a farm near Timber Hill, Kansas, and later re- moved to Sheridan township, Cherokee County, where he resided until his death. His family consisted of seven children,-Isaiah M. (called "Jim" when he was in the army) ; Mary ; Lou- ise; Franklin ; John ; Monroe; and Branson.
Isaiah M. Coltrane was occupied on the home farm until the age of 21, when he went to Parke County, Indiana, where he enlisted in the 1 Ith Regiment, Indiana Vol. Cav. He served three years in the Civil War under Grant, dur- ing that time being taken prisoner twice and held for a short time. At the close of the war, he returned to Parke County, Indiana, where he was united in marriage to Samantha Ella Teague, a daughter of John and Luzana (Morgan) Teague, natives of Guilford Coun- ty, North Carolina. The father, John Teague, when a boy of 12 years, went with his mother to Indiana, where he remained the rest of his life, following the occupation of farming. In politics he was a Republican and religiously a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the mother, belonged to the United Brethren. His death occurred in 1884, and that of his wife in 1896. Their family consisted of these children : Lofton, of Parke County, Indiana; Cynthia (Trueblood), of Berkley County, California ; Samantha Ella, our subject's first wife; Virena, Rockville, Indiana; Sarah Emily, our subject's second wife; Joseph and Mary, of Marshall, In- diana; Albert, a resident of California; Mau- rice, of New York City; and Bertie, of King- man, Indiana.
Mr. Coltrane's first wife died in July, 1881, and in 1883 he married Sarah Emily Teague, a sister of his first wife. The children of his first marriage were Annie J., Mary and John, all deceased. The children of the second mar- riage are as follows : Bertha May and Homer M., both living with the mother on the home farm. In the spring of 1866, Mr. Coltrane came to Kansas, first going to Douglas County, where he stayed only a short time before com- ing to Cherokee County, where he located on 160 acres of land in section 21, township 32, range 22, later adding 40 acres adjoining in section 16, which go to make up the 200-acre farm, where the family now reside. The place was unimproved, the only building being a small log house. He began to make improve- ments, and in later years built substantial farm buildings, and now the place stands as a monu- ment to the perseverance and untiring energy of one man.
In politics he was a Republican, socially a member of the G. A. R., and religiously a con- sistent member of the Friends' Meeting. No family stands higher in the county than the one bearing the name of Coltrane. The mother and children, loved and esteemed by all who know them, are worthy representatives of the man whose death caused universal sorrow through- out the township.
€ LIJAH WILLIAM SPENCER, a well known farmer and respected cit- izen of Ross township, who owns a finely cultivated farm of 80 acres, sit- uated in section 28, township 31, range 23, was born in Boone County, Indiana, March 10, 1838. He is a son of Elijah W. and Mary Spencer.
The father and mother were natives of Ken- tucky, whence they moved to Boone County,
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Indiana, where the former followed farming until his death, in 1839, leaving the subject of this sketch, his only child, an infant. The mother contracted a second marriage, wedding Jesse Roberts. They moved to Platte County. Missouri, and later to Crawford County, Ar- kansas, where Mr. Roberts was engaged in farming until 1862. His death occurred at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He left a family of eight children.
The boyhood of Elijah Williams Spencer was spent in work on the farm, and his school opportunities were limited to a period of two months. He accompanied the family to Craw- ford County, Arkansas, where he married and lived until 1863, when he spent one year in Missouri, and then moved to Taylor County. Iowa, where he was engaged in farming for five years. He then took a farm in Cedar County, Missouri, but did not feel well enough satisfied there to remain longer than five years. In 1874 he moved to Crawford County, Kansas, and four years later located on his present farm of 80 acres in Ross township. A small clearing had been made and a little cabin erected, but most of the improving had to be done by Mr. Spencer, who was admirably aided by his wife. It was a dreary outlook at first, and Mr. Spen- cer had much to contend with, for he was a poor man at that time, but all the discouraging features have been eliminated and prosperity has followed. He carries on general farming, and raises hogs, cattle and horses.
On September 19, 1858, Mr. Spencer was married to Mary Mickey, who was born in Cedar County, Missouri, and is a daughter of Ellis and Matilda Mickey, the former a native of Iowa, and the latter, of Illinois. Ellis Mickey went to California in 1848, and after five years' residence there was lost sight of. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have had 10 children, namely : Elvira, who is the wife of D. Grisham, of Rocky Ford. Colorado; Johanna, deceased;
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