USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
Mr. Pender was married first, in 1848, to Mary Felt, who was born in Michigan and died in Iowa, aged 31 years. She was survived by three sons, namely : Frederick. who died at the age of 22 years, in Texas; Frank, who died in Cherokee County, aged 20 years; and Nor- ris, a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, who has been a railroad man for 20 years. Mr. Pen- cler's second marriage was to Lida Craig, who was born in Ohio, and still survives. She is the mother of the following six children : William S., a minister of the Church of the Latter Day
Saints, of Malad City, Idaho; Olney, a resi- dent of Cherokee County; Mrs. Mary Berg- man, of Cherokee: Mrs. Nettie Johnson, of Scammon ; and James and Mabel, who are at home.
In political action, Mr. Pender has always zealously supported the Republican party. From the first organization of township and county affairs, he has taken a leading part. He was one of the first county commissioners, when that body was elected by the people. He served three years and was largely instrumental in obtaining the success of the movement which changed the county seat from Pleasant View to Baxter Springs, whence the change was later made to Columbus by popular vote. The county business was disposed of by the commis- sioners, during the first year, in about 12 days.
In his early years in this locality, Mr. Pen- der was active in fraternal life, being both a Mason and Odd Fellow. He assisted in the establishing of a Commandery of Knights Tem- plar at Fort Scott, and was prominent in the affairs of both orders. Mr. Pender is very well known and is probably as well informed concerning the early days of Cherokee County as any other resident.
O LIVER WALKER SPARKS, one of the prominent and substantial citi- zens of Columbus, a large mine oper- ator at Peacock City, formerly a member of the city council of Galena, and sher- iff of Cherokee County for five years, was born August 5, 1862, at Shelbina, Shelby County. Missouri, and is a son of Samuel and Lydia (Lewis) Sparks.
The Sparks family originated in England, whence came Robert Sparks, the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch. He set- tled in Virginia, but removed to Kentucky at
419
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
a very early day. There on March 30, 1808, was born his son, Henry J. Sparks, who died in 1888, in Missouri, to which State he had moved in 1839. He bought 320 acres of land for $4.50 an acre, and was an extensive grower of tobacco and stock. He married Nancy Thrailkell, daughter of John Thrailkell; she was born in 1804 and died in 1854. Samuel Sparks was the third child of this marriage. He was born in Henry County, Kentucky. about 40 miles from Louisville, July 2, 1835, and in boyhood accompanied his father to Mon- roe County, Missouri. He served in the Con- federate Army during the Civil War, from the fall of 1861 to the fall of 1863, as a member of Company A, 8th Missouri Regiment.
Samuel Sparks first married when he was about 21 years of age. He bought a farm near that of his father, and farmed in Cedar County for some years. He moved to Joplin, Missouri, about 1870, and became somewhat interested in mining. In 1878 he went to Leadville, Colorado, where he was engaged for three years in prospecting and making charcoal. In 1881 he came to Galena, Kansas, and for some time was very successful in his mining opera- tions, but an ailment of his eyes rendered it impossible for him to continue in such exhaust- ing work. The trouble increased and from 1888 until 1893 he was almost totally blind, losing the sight of one eye as a result of neu- ralgia. To his great relief, his sight seemed to be restored until the winter of 1902, since which time he has again been afflicted. He has al- ways been a man of physical activity, and this affliction has been hard to bear. Politically, a stalwart Democrat, he has never consented to accept office.
Samuel Sparks' first wife was Lydia Lewis, whom he married in 1856. She was a daugh- ter of Jesse Lewis, of Monroe County, Miss- ouri. She died in 1862, aged 22 years, leav- ing four children, of whom the two survivors
are Oliver Walker and Mary E., wife of Allen Thompson, of Cripple Creek, Colorado. The second marriage was to Mary C. Adams, who was a daughter of James Adams. She died in 1878, leaving three children, of whom the two survivors are,-Lulie V., wife of Lafayette Roe, of Galena; and Edmund L., of Shawnee township. Both wives were members of the Baptist Church. In 1883, Samuel Sparks was married to Mrs. Mary Ann ( Horne) Stanley, who died in 1890. In 1892, he was married to the lady who is his present helpmeet, Mrs. Mary M. Stoops, a daughter of Samuel W. Robinson, of Joplin, Missouri.
The subject of this sketch was eight years old when his parents moved to Joplin, and he has been interested in mining ever since he reached the age of II years. Shortly after the family located at Galena, he went to mining in what is known as the Sawyer mines, and was the first man to find mineral on the old Scher- merhorn place. These mines have made Galena. For about seven years Mr. Sparks had a lease here, and at the same time was associated with W. Sapp and H. Blackford when mineral was found on "The Lost 40." In the following year they found ore at the "Shelbina," which they worked several years and then sold. With John Murdock, Mr. Sparks owned the famous "Maggie Murphy," and has also owned the noted "Cock Robin" mine. With E. B. Scher- merhorn and J. C. Moore, he owned the "Bunco" mines, and with his brother, Edward, the "Bessie Lee." Later with Wesley Best and J. Tutton, he was part owner of the "Miller" and "Gin Hollow" mills and mines, these be- ing considered the best mills in the country. He was also associated with L. H. Winter in the ownership of the "Hot Spot" mine, and a fine mill connected with it. In 1891, Mr. Sparks sunk three shafts in the S. H. & S. Case, which are the best in which he has ever been interested. In June, 1902, the
420
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
Sparks, Henderson & Sweaney Company was incorporated, with Mr. Sparks as general man- ager, and he is the main stockholder. This company controls a large territory. In ad- dition to liis large mining interests, Mr. Sparks is proprietor of a large retail furniture store in Columbus, the oldest and largest concern of the kind in that city.
Mr. Sparks has long been one of the lead- ing Democratic politicians of the county, and holds the unusual record of being twice elected sheriff, in one year, as he was serving in that capacity at the time the act was passed chang- ing elections to even years. While living at Galena he served four years in the city council. On December 15, 1897, he took up his residence at Columbus, and in the same year was elected sheriff, assumed the duties in the following January, and served five years.
Mr. Sparks was first married to Ida May Keller, who was a daughter of Wesley and Lydia (Decamp) Keller. Four children were born to them, the three survivors being .- Dottie, Una and Warren. On June 26, 1903, Mr. Sparks was married to Brosie Newton, who is a daughter of Wallace Newton, of Columbus, and they have one son,-Oliver Wallace.
Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, at Galena ; the Odd Fellows, at Empire City, in which he has passed all the chairs; the Rebekahs; the Modern Woodmen of America, at Galena; and the Royal Neighbors.
ILAS JOHNESSEE, a well known farmer of Sheridan township, was born in Washington County, North Carolina, August 11, 1834. In 1839 his parents removed to Greene County, Illinois, remained there two years, then went to Calhoun County. Illinois, where they spent the rest of
their lives, both dying in the above named county. The family consisted of four children. These children had little chance to acquire even a common-school education, so our subject grew to manhood with only a scant knowledge of books. In 1863 he went to Montgomery County, Illinois, where he remained for six years and then turned towards the West to find a new home. In 1869 he settled on the farm in Sheridan township where he now lives. This farm comprises 160 acres in sections 26 and 35, township 32, range 22. As one of the first settlers, he had the experience of breaking but a small portion of prairie at a time and slowly but surely adding improvenments when time and money allowed, until out of the prairie a good home and farm slowly rose as a monu- ment to his perseverance and industry.
Our subject has been twice married. His first marriage, occurring in Illinois, was to Mary T. Thorp, a native of Calhoun County, Illinois. Her death occurred in 1879. His sec- ond marriage, occurring in 1880, was to Mrs. Martha (Heep) Scheider, a daughter of John Heep of Jackson County, Illinois. Mrs. John- essee's first husband was Christian Scheider, by whom she had one daughter,-Dora, wife of T. B. Lovelady, of Sheridan township. There were seven children born to the first union of Mr. Johnessee, of whom three are living, as fol- lows: Mary Ann, wife of Chester Handshy, of Columbus, Kansas; and Sylvester and Frank, who are farming on the home place.
Mr. Johnessee has always been a farmer and a good one, as his present farm testifies. The extent of his present holdings insure a good income from rentals, and he finds it quite profitable for he has rented out the land for the past three years. Left an orphan at the age of nine years, our subject has had his own way to make in the world, and he may be called in the best sense of the phrase a "self-made man."
421
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
He is an independent voter and always strives to cast his vote for the best man. He has several times held office and at one time was United States marshal and detective. During the Civil War our subject was a member of the Illinois State Militia. He is a familiar figure in the county and surely deserves the esteem which is bestowed upon him by his hosts of friends.
SCAR A. RHOADS, a man well known in Cherokee County, was born in Chenango County, New York, June 18, 1863. He lives on a well cultivated farm of 80 acres in Spring Val- ley township on the Rural Free Delivery Route No. 2.
His father, Albert Rhoads, was a native of New York, where he grew to manhood, re- ceiving his education in the country schools of his native State. After reaching man's estate, he became interested in farm management and dairying, continuing this occupation until De- cember, 1876, at which time he came to Cher- okee County, Kansas, and located on a farm in Spring Valley township. This farm he rented for seven years, at the end of which period, having by hard labor and perseverance, ac- cumulated considerable currency, he purchased the property. He remained on the place, en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, until his death, which occurred May 5, 1901, when he was run over by a St. Louis & San Francisco train and instantly killed.
Albert Rhoads' wife Nancy was a daughter of Thomas and Margaret Sisson ; her father was a farmer and came originally from New York State. Their family consisted of four children, namely: Alice F., wife of C. A. Nicholson, a farmer of Spring Valley town- ship; Oscar A., subject of this review; Elbert and Edna (twins), both deceased,-the former
at the age of 16 and the latter, who was the wife of Joseph H. Thompson, of Lyon town- ship, in 1900. Mrs. Albert Rhoads, the mother of these children, is still living in Spring Val- ley township.
Oscar A. Rhoads lived in his native State of New York until the age of 13, there receiving the rudiments of the education which he com- pleted later in the schools of Kansas. Having finished school in Cherokee County at the age of 19 years, he assisted his father in the care of the farm until he attained his majority. In January, 1884, at the age of 21, he married Georgia A. Kinnaman, daughter of Henry and Ruth Kinnaman of Spring Valley township. To this union were born four children, as fol- lows: Lena B., Fred H., Nellie L. and Floyd.
After his marriage, he began farming for himself on the farm adjoining where he now resides. At the end of a year he moved to the farm just west, and later spent three years on a farm near Sherwin Junction. After work- ing a farm near Columbus for one year and the home place for another, he concluded to buy a home for himself, and returning to his present farm purchased it and became engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has since continued in this occupation. The farm on which he resides comprises 80 acres of highly cultivated land, which produces the usual small grains, and on which are raised many head of stock. But Mr. Rhoads, not being satisfied with small farming, has branched out more extensively, until he now operates some 300 acres of rented land. His operations have proved most successful, and he is numbered among the well-to-do farmers of his section.
Of secret societies, our subject is a member of one that was founded in an early day, the A. H. T. A., of which he is a prominent and popular member. In 1903 he was sent as a delegate to the association's State meeting at Winfield, Kansas. In politics Mr. Rhoads has
422
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
always been a Republican, and always stands for the principles of his party, taking an interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the State or county.
ILLIAM BOYER, a highly re- spected citizen and successful far- mer of Ross township, is the owner of a finely improved farm of 160 acres in section 31, township 31, range 23. He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, March 8, 1838, and is a son of Abraham and Catherine Boyer.
Abraham Boyer and his wife were born in Pennsylvania and went to Ohio shortly after their marriage. The mother died in 1848, aged 35 years, but the father survived until he reached the advanced age of 96 years. His sec- ond marrige was to Mary Norman, who was born and died in Ohio. Eight children were born to the first marriage, and six to the second. Aside from two who died in infancy, their names were as follows: Catherine, Julia Ann, Lavina, Rebecca, William, Levi, Alexander, John Henry, James, David, Samuel and Nancy. Lavina died at the home of her brother Wil- liam. The father was a farmer throughout his active life. He was a member of the Luth- eran Church. His interest in politics was only that the best man should be elected, irrespective of party.
When Mr. Boyer was a boy, many parts of Guernsey County were but sparsely settled, and the log school houses were far apart. He at- tended the school which was nearest his father's farm, which was two miles distant, but only dur- ing the three winter months when agricultural work was not pressing. The family was large, and when William had reached the age of 16 years, he decided to start out for himself, know- ing that his practical knowledge of farming would easily secure him employment. He
made his way to Mercer County, Illinois, and worked at farming in different sections for about 10 years. The opening of the Civil War aroused his patriotism and he entered the army, enlisting in Company E, 9th Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., as a private, and serving until he received his honorable discharge at Springfield, Illinois, in July. 1865. He took part in many great battles, including Forts Henry and Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and Corinth, and then marched with Sherman to the sea. His com- mand then moved to Richmond and took part in the Grand Review at Washington,-that spectacle no one can ever forget. Even those who were children at the time recall the thriil which came over them as they saw regiment after regiment of battle-scarred veterans pass by with thier tattered flags. Mr. Boyer's war record is one in which he may take a justifiable pride.
After his return from the army, Mr. Boyer spent a short time in Mercer County, and in 1866 came to Kansas with his bride, having been married in September of that year to Sarah Calhoun, who was born in Mercer Coun- ty, and is a daughter of David Calhoun. They have one daughter, Maggie, who is the wife of James Boots, a farmer of Sheridan township, and has two children,-Lewis and Emma. The party traveling to Kansas consisted of Mr. Boyer and his wife and her father and his family. They drove across the country and set- tled together in Crawford County, where Mr. Boyer lived for eight years. In 1874 he came to Cherokee County, and bought 160 acres of wild land, of the railroad company. This he has since developed into his present valuable farm. He has been a hard worker, but has met with most satisfactory results. His land pro- duces wheat, oats and corn abundantly, and he gives much attention to raising draft horses, Durham cattle and high-grade hogs. For some time he has had his property under rental.
C.
٠
---
WILLIAM BAKER
MRS. ELIZA W. BAKER
425
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Politically, Mr. Boyer is a Democrat, but he has never consented to hold any office. He is one of the well known citizens of his town- ship who has been successful through his own energy and industry.
ILLIAM BAKER, whose residence in Cherokee County dates from 1867, has lived almost continuously on the same farm, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 10, township 33, range 24, in Crawford town- ship. Mr. Baker was born in Cayuga County, New York, in 1837, and is a son of Horace and Lucretia (Buck) Baker. . His parents later moved to Chautauqua County, New York, where they engaged in farming. The mother died many years since and the father in 1892. Of their nine children, the subject of this sketch was the eighth, and is the only one who ever came to Kansas.
In March, 1857, Mr. Baker left home for Warren County, Illinois, and was at work there when the call came for troops, in 1861, to sup- press the Rebellion. He was one of the first to respond, enlisting in April, 1861, in the Ist Regiment, Illinois Vol. Cav., and was taken prisoner at Lexington, Missouri. He was dis- charged from Benton Barracks, St. Louis. in October, 1861. He re-enlisted in Novem- ber, 1861, in Company K, 11th Reg., Illinois Vol. Cav., for three years or during the war. He veteranized in 1864 and fulfilled his promises to the letter until Octo- ber, 1865, when he was discharged with the other gallant veterans, to whom the country they so bravely served owes a debt of gratitude. Although he narrowly missed death, having a horse killed from under him, he was sound and whole when he received his honorable dis- charge papers at Springfield, Illinois. Three of
his brothers also served in this war. Mr. Baker held the rank of orderly sergeant.
The subject of this sketch then went to McDonough County, Illinois, where he soon married. With his wife, he came to Cherokee County as one of the first settlers. He took up in Crawford township the southeast quarter of section 10, township 33, range 24, a portion of which he has since sold. To the improving of his land and its careful cultivation, Mr. Baker has devoted the best years of his life, and he has been well repaid. All the fine improvements have been the result of his labor, and the beauti- ful trees which throw their grateful shade have arisen in all their symmetry from seed planted by his own hands. Gratifying indeed must be his feelings as he realizes how much he has accomplished. When he first located liere, Petersville was his first postoffice, and Baxter Springs was the nearest town.
Mr. Baker was married in McDonough County, Illinois, to Eliza Ward, who was born in 1835, in Fulton County, New York, not very far from Albany, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Sheldon) Ward. She afterwards went to Illinois, and was married to Mr. Baker in 1865. They have had three children, namely : William, who died in Cherokee County, when 14 months old; Cornelia Carrie, who married James Gaither, of Crawford township, and has one son, William: and Ida May, who married Edward Jones, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and has three children .- Leota, Freda and Ernest.
In politics Mr. Baker is a Republican. He served for many years as justice of peace, and has held many township offices. Fraternally. he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, at Columbus, and belongs also to the Grand Army of the Republic post here, in which he has passed all the chairs except that of past commander. He and his wife are valued men- bers of the Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he has contributed liberally
23
426
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
and of which he has been steward and trustee for several years. Mr. Baker is a man who has many friends. He has had many and varied experiences in his long and useful life, and well deserves the ease, comfort and pleasant com- panionship he now enjoys. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Baker accompany this sketch.
ARVY WIMMER. A leading spirit among the agriculturists of Cherokee County, although now partially re- tired from active service in that line, is Harvy Wimmer, whose residence has been near Columbus, in section 19, township 33, range 24, in Crawford township, since January, 1900, and who owns a splendid farm of 313 acres lying in sections 28, 29 and 32, town- ship 33, range 24, where he resided for 19 years. Mr. Wimmer is a Hoosier by birth ; he was born in November, 1847, near Converse, Indiana, where he continued to live until the fall of 1877.
In that year Mr. Wimmer made a change of residence by coming to the "Sunflower State," where he has since been part and parcel of its marvelous progress. He first located on an 80-acre tract near Baxter Springs, but in January, 1881, he secured the farm noted above. Under his intelligent direction, this land has long been one of the best properties in the county. Prosperity has attended the labors of . Mr. Wimmer, so that he is now regarded as one of the solid men of the county.
Mr. Wimmer is a son of James and Mary (Wilson) Wimmer. The father now resides with a son in Howard County, Indiana, having reached the advanced age of 86 years. He was born May 12, 1818, in Virginia, but removed with the family, at the age of four years, to Union County. Indiana. There he continued to reside until his marriage, when he settled in
Miami County, that State, on a part of what was then called the "Western Reserve." He followed the trade of a carpenter until he reached middle age, after which he tilled the soil. His wife was a native of Union County, Indiana, her parents having been pioneers in the State from New Jersey. She died in Miami County in 1890, at the age of 66 years. Mr. Wimmer is of German descent on both sides of the family, and is the eldest of 11 chil- dren, 10 of whom reached maturity as follows : Harvy; William, a farmer in Grant County, Indiana; Sarah, deceased; Mrs. Melinda R. Pence, living in Grant County, Indiana ; James F., a liveryman at Marion, Indiana; Christo- pher, a farmer in Howard County, Indiana ; Mrs. Angeline Harvey, living in Miami County, Indiana; Mrs. Alice Millikin, living at Coffeyville, Kansas; Charley, a farmer, liv- ing in Tipton County, Indiana; and Frank N., who is in the oil business, at Peru, Kansas.
Reared amid agricultural scenes and in- fluences in Miami County, Indiana, where he received a good working education in the com- mon schools, Mr. Wimmer has passed a life- time in the successful tilling of the soil. After farming a decade in his native State with such success as to accumulate considerable capital, he shrewdly concluded that this capital would bear greater fruit in the West, and in 1877 came with his family to Kansas.
Mr. Wimmer was married in Miami County, Indiana, to Arbel Wright, who was born in 1849 and is the daughter and only child of Jonathan and Catherine (Ladd) Wright, na- tives of North Carolina, now deceased. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wimmer, as follows: Arlington, a farmer in Spring Valley township, who married Mamie Sharp, and has two children,-Ray and Marion; Marion, a farmer, who married Edna Swogger, and has three children,-Merle, Harvy and Zilpha ; Ozro, a farmer on his father's farm in
427
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Crawford township, who married Rosa Hogan, and has two children,-Earl and Gladys M .; and Gladys Marie, who is a schoolgirl at home.
As heretofore stated, Harvy Wimmer is one of the solid citizens of the county. His life has been as an open book, and his word is always as good as his bond. Although not seeking public preferment, he has taken a loyal citizen's interest in affairs of local government, serving at the call of his neighbors in many of the minor offices, and always with efficiency. Politically, a stanch Republican from the days of his majority, the subject of this sketch takes keen pleasure in advocating the principles enun- ciated in each recurring platform of the party. In a social way he is affiliated with the Odd Fellows.
Life is what we make it ; and to Mr. Wim- mer, in these, his days of ripe maturity, there comes that satisfaction which results from the deserved esteem of a large circle of friends and neighbors.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.