USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 54
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A COLES. One of the leading spirits of Galena and a gentleman who is fast becoming prominent in the county is Police Judge Coles. The high character which he has sustained since coming to the county in 1895 has made him a popular resident of his city and early brought him preferment in public office, the conduct of which is eminently satisfactory to his con- stituents.
Judge Coles is an Iowan, born in Des Moines County in 1838, the son of Robert and Lydia (Hunt) Coles. His father was for years a prominent Methodist preacher. Locating in Iowa in the territorial days, he became a leading factor in the events which preceded
the birth of that State into the Union. In his later days he was a merchant in that State. Our subject's parents reared to maturity a fam- ily of six sons and two daughters, six of them being still in life.
Judge Coles passed the period of child- hood and youth in a home, the atmosphere of which was permeated with religious feeling and fervor and where education was held in high regard. As he came to manhood he received a good business training in his father's store and was thus well fitted to take up the responsi- bilities of life on his own account when he arrived at maturity. He had hardly got down to the serious business of life, however, when that great event occurred which changed the lives and plans of so many young men of that day-the Civil War. At the full maturity of his powers some time before the war came on, he had settled in his own mind the course he would take and at once joined the army, becom- ing a member of the 13th Regiment, Iowa Vol. Inf., of which Col. (afterward Maj. Gen.) M. M. Crocker was commander. Judge Coles served his time with this organization, being discharged with the rank of Ist lieutenant of his company.
Returning from the war, Judge Coles spent seven years in California. Returning East, to Missouri, he soon thereafter became connected with the "Frisco" railroad system and was with it for a period of 18 years. He came to Cher- okee County, Kansas, in June, 1895, since which time he has been intimately connected with affairs in the county. He received the ap- pointment to his present office in November, 1902, and so satisfactory was his administra- tion of the office during the remainder of the term as to secure him election in 1903. Judge Coles is a stanch Democrat and is a prominent figure in the councils of that party in the county. He is well up in Masonic circles, hav- ing taken all the degrees of the York rite.
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In the State of Missouri in the year 1879, Judge Coles was happily united in marriage to Lucy Hunt, who has borne him four children, three of whom are living, as follows: Robert A., Lydia P. and Clarence B., all of whom are still inmates of the parental home.
OLOMON RYAN, one of the oldest residents of Lowell township, Cher- okee County, living in section 9, town- ship 34, range 25, and owning 400 acres of land in the township, is also a veteran of the Civil War and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of this section of country. Mr. Ryan was born in 1840, in New Brunswick, and is a son of Henry and Mary ( Blakeny) Ryan.
Both parents of Mr. Ryan were born in New Brunswick, where the father followed farming until 1855, when he removed to Bureau County, Illinois, and spent two years, and in the fall of 1857 removed to Coffey County, Kansas. After farming there for nine years, he came to Cherokee County and in 1866 set- tled in Lowell township, on Spring River, where he started a ferry in 1867 and continued to operate it for a number of years, greatly to the convenience of the public. Old letters and local histories have mention of this ferry as it became a general stopping place for travelers, many families camping near by for a rest be- fore penetrating farther into the Indian coun- try. The Indians were still very numerous here, but Mr. Ryan and his family soon estab- lished friendly relations and our subject can recall his father going out with them to spear and even shoot fish, which at that time filled the various streams. He also accompanied them to hunt deer and other game, and with them as companions spent many days in the hunt. Mr. Ryan bought an Indian "Headright," which
property adjoins our subject's farm. He con- tinued to operate his ferry long after Galena was founded. His wife died on the farm on Short Creek, in 1875, and his death took place in October, 1886. Of their nine children, four grew to maturity, but the only survivors are our esteemed subject and his sister,-Martha, wife of William Stephenson, of Galena.
Our subject was the oldest member of the family and attended school in Illinois and in Coffey County, Kansas, and assisted his father in his farming. The call to arms, in 1861. found him ready to respond and in the fall of that year he enlisted in the 6th Regiment, Kan- sas Vol. Inf., being later transferred to the 8th Regiment Kansas Vol. Inf., and served three years in this regiment and one year as a veteran in Hancock's Veteran Corps. Mr. Ryan in his four years of army service saw hard work and participated in many battles and assisted in the triumphs on many fields. Under Capt. (later Col.) John Conover, he took part in the Atlanta campaign and belonged to one of the first regiments to enter the Southern city. Miraculously preserved through these adven- turous four years, he was honorably discharged in the spring of 1866.
The family now removed to Cherokee County and became identified with the interests of Lowell township. Our subject made a first purchase of So acres and now owns 400 acres in Lowell township, 200 in Linn County and an interest in 126 acres in Bourbon County on which two gas wells and two oil wells have been developed. In 1897 he purchased a flour- ing mill at Lowell, which he operated seven years when he sold out. In Lowell township, his land is situated in sections 16, 9 and 15, township 34, range 25. In 1901 he erected a fine modern residence in section 9, one of the most comfortable and attractive ones of the township. When he first located here, the mat- ter of transportation was a very serious ques-
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HON. EDWARD E. SAPP
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tion and the present excellent public highways and fine bridges have been constructed mainly through his continued efforts. To his public spirit many of the improvements of Lowell township are due and he is justly considered one of the representative men of this locality. One of the most successful farmers, he is also one of the most prominent township officials, hav- ing served for a number of years as township treasurer and as school treasurer of District No. 28, and has been a school officer for the past 28 years. During the first winter after settling in Lowell township, our subject and his father built the first subscription school house in this locality and the father served many years as a school director. Both father and son have been men whose advice and assist- ance have been of the greatest value to the community.
Our subject was married in 1876 to Maggie Welch, who was born in Indiana, and is a daughter of Patrick Welch, who, with his wife, resides in Texas. Eleven children were born to this marriage, namely: Lillian May, who married Charles Esterbrook, of Lexington, Missouri, and has one son,-Otto; George and Minnie, who are at home; Lenora Belle, who is a graduate of the Columbus High School and the Sedalia Business College, and a very accomplished young lady; Emily, who is at home; Charles and Edward (twins), both of whom are in the United States Navy; Frede- rick and John, who are at home; Clara, who died on Christmas Eve, 1900, aged four years ; and Elsie.
There still remain traces in this section of the days when it was the home of the aborigines. One of these is a historic spot, an Indian grave- yard, in one of Mr. Ryan's pasture lots. Mr. Ryan's father purchased the claim from a well known Indian named Morgam, who was well known in Cherokee County and was a son of an Osage chief. In the early days Mr. Ryan
has attended the Indian dances and his recollec- tions of the conditions in those days are in- tensely interesting. He belonged to a branch of the Land League which was organized by Frank McDowell and took an active part in many of the exciting conflicts between the League and the railroads.
Out of all those early troubles have come forth civilized conditions not to be excelled in the Middle West, and Mr. Ryan is a type of the class of resolute, earnest men whose labors have brought prosperity, comfort and security to this beautiful part of Kansas.
ON. EDWARD E. SAPP, an attorney and ex-Probate judge and ex-judge of the Court of Common Pleas, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is one of the large capitalists and leading citizens of Galena. He was born at Jackson, Michigan, July 12, 1858, and is a son of Rev. Rezin and Margaret ( Peyreferry) Sapp.
Judge Sapp was educated in the schools at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his father was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. When he came to Kansas, he spent some time herding cattle in the eastern part of the State. Later he located in Cherokee County and stud- ied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1883. In January of the following year he removed to Galena and entered into partnership with his brother, W. F. Sapp, under the firm name of Sapp & Sapp, which continued until 1886. He then continued alone until I891 when he en- tered into partnership with George Webb. under the firm style of Webb & Sapp, which continued from 1891 to 1896, when he was elected Probate judge. After holding the office three years, he resigned in the middle of his second term, and was then honored by elec- tion as judge of the Court of Common Pleas
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for Cherokee and Crawford counties, and con- tinued in this responsible position until 1900. Since July 5, 1904, Judge Sapp has been the senior member of the law firm of Sapp & Brown, having offices in the Opera House Block, which he erected in 1900. This firm has the most expensively furnished offices in the county, the suite consisting of public and private offices and a library of several thousand volumes.
The city of Galena has profited greatly by Judge Sapp's public spirit. It now has an Opera House of which it may be very proud, the seating capacity being 900, having a gallery and parquet circle and a stage with dimensions of 47 by 36 feet. All the equipments are mod- ern throughout and it compares favorably with like structures in much larger cities.
Judge Sapp was married in 1885, at Ga- lena, to Mary E. Andrews, who was born in New York, and they have three children : Dex- ter, Thomas and Viva. The family home is an elegant residence on Galena avenue and the family take part in the social life of the city.
Politically, Judge Sapp is one of the lead- ing Democrats of Cherokee County. He served as city attorney from 1885 to 1892 and again, from 1901 to 1903. His professional standing, either at the bar or on the bench, cannot be assailed. He served his fellow citizens for many years in high positions, with the justice, fairness and dignity which reflects upon him the greatest credit, both as an upright exponent of the law and as a man of high personal aims and character.
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H. D. BROWN, who has been a resident of Galena since 1877, has been identified with the mining business for many years and has attained considerable success. He is a native
of New York City, where he was born July 7, 1830, and is a son of Thomas and Annie (Gol- den) Brown. His father was born in France and died in New York City in 1851. His mother was born in New York City and died there in 1853. They were parents of six sons and four daughters, of whom W. H. D. Brown was the third in order of birth.
W. H. D. Brown was educated in the pub- lic schools of New York City, and at the age of 18 years learned the trade of a machinist, which he followed for four years. He then ran as engineer on the old New York & Erie Railroad, which was equipped with the old six-foot guage. He took up the study of medi- cine and was graduated from the St. Louis Medical College in 1857, after which he en- gaged in the drug business in St. Louis. In 1861 he enlisted as steward in the hospital serv- ice of the regular army and served for three years, a part of the time as surgeon. At the close of the war, he engaged in the oil business in Pennsylvania, then returned to Missouri, where he practiced medicine and served as post- master of the town where he lived during the administration of President Grant, the mail at that time being carried on horseback. Joplin, was at that time known as Blytheville. Upon the expiration of his term in office, he farmed near Harrisonville for a year, then went to Oronogo, Missouri, where he held a position as stationary engineer. He came to Galena. Kansas, during the great lead excitement in 1877, and has worked at mining ever since. He has been identified with the South Side Mining Company since 1888, and is now sec- retary of the company.
Mr. Brown was married in St. Louis to Margaret Russell, a native of Scotland, and they are the parents of the following children : William, who married Mamie Boden and lives at Galena ; Margaret, wife of W. A. Potter, of Joplin, Missouri : George, who is unmarried;
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and Ora, wife of George F. Braun, of Galena. Mr. Brown served 16 years on the School Board and in the Council one year and has also worked for the good of the city. He is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Elks. He resides with his family at No. I IO Galena avenue.
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C. BAKER, a farmer and stock dealer of Cherokee County, who owns 320 acres of good land, situated in Lowell and Shawnee townships, re- sides on that portion of his property that lies in section 16, township -, range -, in Lowell township. He was born in Ohio in June, 1852, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Sebert) Baker. John Baker was born near Columbus, Ohio, while Mrs. Baker was born in Maryland.
The father of our subject was a railroad contractor in his early days, but later engaged in farming. In 1872 he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, and settled in Lowell town- ship, in section 16, township 34, range 25, where he purchased 80 acres of farming land, Io of which had been already broken and a log house built on it. At that time the land was of so little value that Mr. Baker obtained it on a trade for a mule and a buggy and har- ness. This land he rented out and rented our subject's present farm, which the latter bought on the father's death. After ore was discovered on his farm, Mr. Baker took out $2,000 royalty and spent a large amount in the building of a shaft. About one and a half years later, he sold the property for $10,000. The mine is known as "Baker's Diggings" and is located on South and East Main streets, Galena. Mr. Baker became a prominent citizen of the min- ing town and was elected a justice of the peace, in which capacity he served until his death in 1883. His family consisted of two daughters
and three sons, the two survivors being the two oldest sons,-our subject and his brother John P., of Galena.
C. C. Baker was educated in the district schools of his native place and was reared a farmer. He has resided on his present farm since 1872, and has mainly devoted his at- tention to raising thoroughbred horses, and buying and shipping horses and mules. Since 1880 he has been almost exclusively en- gaged in buying and selling stock, handling only good grades, shipping east and west. He owns the old Leslie farm of 120 acres, which is partly located in Shawnee township, and 40 acres lying east of his home farm, and he rents a claim in the Indian Territory where he keeps his fine trotting stock. He is well known all over this section and does a very extensive business.
Mr. Baker married Mary Ann Wilder, who was reared in Cherokee County, and they have three children : Campbell C., aged 10 years; Lester C., aged six years ; and Grace, aged two years.
Politically Mr. Baker is a Democrat. He is one of the representative citizens of this locality, is serving as clerk of the school dis- trict and takes an active part in local affairs.
ARRISON ANKRUM, one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of Pleasant View township, lives on a farm of 320 acres in section 26, town- ship 31, range 25. He was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, and is a son of David Ankrum, a native of Virginia, who died in Illinois. The family numbered nine children. Those living are: John, whose home is in Iowa; Wesley, living in Pleasant View township; David. liv- ing in Iowa ; and Harrison, the subject of this sketch.
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David Ankrum's occupation was that of a farmer, although in early life, he was a hand- weaver. Many beautiful, old-fashioned articles has his loom turned out, and fortunate indeed is the possessor of one of these durable pieces of hand-made goods. Such a valuable relic, in the form of a coverlet is the property of the subject of this sketch, and it is needless to say that it is highly prized by the family as an heirloom.
Harrison Ankrum came to Kansas in 1868, and located on 160 acres of raw prairie land, which is now owned and occupied by his brother. The farm now occupied by Mr. An- krum comprises 320 acres of improved land, with a fine set of farm buildings, including a nice house, barn, granary, etc., which were erected at different times. As a farmer, he has been very successful. Most of his present farm is rented out, Mr. Ankrum working only a small part of it.
In 1895 the subject of this sketch married India Manifold, a native of Hagerstown, Wayne County, Indiana. They have had one child, Charles Clifford, who was born on the old homestead in Pleasant View township, De- cember 27, 1896.
Mrs. Ankrum is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Manifold, both of whom are living. Joseph Manifold, the father of Samuel, was a native of Tennessee, and died in Indiana in 1849, at the age of 62 years. His wife, Susan Butler, a daughter of Beale Butler, of Georgia, was born in the last named State, and died in Indiana in 1861, at the age of 60 years. Of the 10 children comprising this family of seven boys and three girls, but four are living, namely : Beale, who is 82 years of age, and lives in Kansas; and Joseph, 74 years old, whose home is in Indiana; Samuel, father of Harri- son Ankrum's wife, living in Kansas; and Moses, of Missouri, aged 56 years. Mrs. An- krum's maternal grandfather was Charles Con-
way, a native of Kentucky, and a son of Richard Conway, who lived to the advanced age of 100 years.
The marriage of Samuel Manifold and Elizabeth Conway, a daughter of Charles and Malinda (Shaw) Conway, occurred in 1860. Two of the three children born to them are living, namely: Charles F., who was born in Wayne County, Indiana, resides in Cass Coun- ty, Missouri, and married Frances E. Gille- land; and India, wife of Mr. Ankrum. Having heard of a prosperous place called "State Line City," in the far West, Mrs. Aukrum's parents decided to make that the objective point in their journey Westward from Indiana. On September 20, 1869, they started in a spring wagon drawn by a good team of horses, and having pleasant weather and no serious acci- dents, made the trip in 28 days. On their ar- rival they found, very much to their disap- pointment, that the "city" contained only three houses, and one family, by the name of Davis. This family by their kindness and good will persuaded them to stay there through the win- ter. When spring came they located on 160 acres in section 25, township 31, range 25, in Pleasant View township, where they are now residing.
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1 RA HEATON, one of the leading mem- bers of the Cherokee County Bar, and one of the early settlers of Columbus, was born near Peru, Miami County, Indiana, on the Miami Indian Reservation, August 26, 1856.
The parents of Mr. Heaton were not able to give him educational advantages, or assist- ance in the shaping of his career. His school days ended at the age of 12 years, and when he was 16 years old he left Indiana, and came to Kansas, reaching Humboldt on October 10,
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1872. Going still farther West in search of em- ployment, he stopped at what was then known as Howard, Kansas, and lived there until No- vember, 1876, when he went to Fayetteville, Arkansas. There he lived until the fall of 1879, when he came to Columbus, where he has resided ever since.
Mr. Heaton has no trouble in recalling con- ditions at that time. The city was then, as now, the county seat, but there was not one well settled farm in Cherokee County. All the fine rural residences, with their great barns and many improvements, have been placed liere since 1879. In the present busy city, there were but three buildings of note on the public square, which is now the pride of its citizens, the others being merely frame structures which have since been destroyed by fire, or replaced by those more in keeping with modern ideas and public progress. When Mr. Heaton came to the county there were but two coal shafts. One of these belonged to the Scammon broth- ers, and was located at what is now Scammon ; and the other, at what was then known as Stillson, one mile south of Scammon, which was owned and operated by Gilbert Allen. Soon afterward Keith & Perry started in the coal business and other companies in that line rapidly formed.
In 1884, Mr. Heaton entered the office of Ritter & Skidmore and took up the study of the law. He was admitted to practice in June, 1889, and has successfully followed his pro- fession ever since.
Mr. Heaton was married September I, 1878, to Calzonia Peck. They have had seven children, all except the eldest daughter being born at Columbus. This daughter is the wife of Harry B. Price, editor and proprietor of the Harrison Herald, a stanch Republican paper at Gotebo, Oklahoma. One son is a brakeman on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway ; H. C., lives in Oklahoma, at Gotebo; and
Gertrude and Mary reside at home. Clarence and another son died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Heaton is a very active and zealous Republican. He supports the adminis- tration, and believes in the gold standard, and a high protective tariff. Fraternally, he is a Knight of Pythias.
N. JOHNSON, M. D., a physician and surgeon at Columbus, has been identified with the interests of this city and of Cherokee County since 1887. Dr. Jolinson was born near St. Louis, Missouri, in 1853, and is a son of P. B. and Rebecca (Patton) Johnson.
The late P. B. Johnson, father of Dr. John- son, was born near Richmond, Virginia, and settled in 1833, in Missouri, where he followed the trade of saddle and harness-making. He resided in different parts of the State and died in 1895, at the age of 89 years. He is sur- vived by his widow, who lives in Columbus, in her 80th year, her son, W. N., and two daugh- ters,-Mrs. Louisa Coxie and Mrs. Mary Miller, botlı of Columbus.
Dr. Johnson was reared in his native State, where he attended the common schools, and spent some early years on the farm. All his spare time was devoted to the reading of medi- cal works, his important study being done under the direction of Dr. A. M. Davy, with whom and other physicians he was associated, when beginning to practice in 1884. In 1887 he located in Crestline, Cherokee County, and in 1895 removed to Columbus. He continued to practice alone until May 1, 1904, when he formed a partnership with Dr. J. Dale Graham, the firm name being Johnson & Graham. Dr. Johnson attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, and received his diploma in 1894 at the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky.
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Dr. Johnson has a large and lucrative prac- tice and has successfully handled many very serious cases. His skill, knowledge and faith- ful devotion to those in need of his services, have won him universal regard. He belongs to the Cherokee County Medical Society, the Southeastern Kansas Medical Society and the Kansas State Medical Society.
Dr. Johnson was married in Cherokee County to Mamie Patterson, who was born in North Carolina, of Virginia parentage. The four children of this marriage were all born in Cherokee County, namely : Sadie, Nelson, Margaret and Robert.
Dr. Johnson's fraternal associations are with the Elks and the Triple Tie. He is con- veniently located over Gettman & Prame's drug store, off the public square.
C. JOHNSON, who owns a fine farm of 179 acres in section 24. township 33, range 23. in Salamanca town- ship, was born in 1836 in Monroe County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah Jane ( Morris) Johnson.
Both the Johnson and Morris families are of Scotch extraction, and both are old and honored names in several States, particularly Virginia. An uncle of Mr. Johnson, Achalas Morris, set- tled in Illinois and at one time was an opponent of Abraham Lincoln for a seat in the Illinois Legislature. Jacob and Sarah Jane (Mor- ris) Johnson removed to Illinois in the fall of 1859. locating in McLean County, near Bloomington, where our subject's father be- came a prosperous farmer and stockman. He served with the rank of captain in the Black Hawk War. His death took place in 1879, at the age of 88 years, and that of his wife, in 1866, at the age of 66 years. They reared 12
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