USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 57
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The subject of this sketch was reared in Carroll County, Ohio, and attended the local schools. In 1868 he left home and went to Clinton County, Missouri, where he remained until January, 1870, when he came to Ross township, Cherokee County. Together with John Reynolds. he bought and improved 320 acres of land which they disposed of. In 1875, he bought 80 acres of his present farm, which was partly improved. He subsequently bought the other 80 acres, making 160 in all. The greater part of this Mr. Taylor has placed under cultivation, successfully growing wheat, oats, corn, hay and flax. He has also raised many hogs, sheep, horses and mules, and herds of very valuable Shorthorn cattle. He has been mainly engaged in farming all his life, although he taught school for a time in Carroll County, Ohio, and in 1865 served eight months in Com- pany A, 186th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf.
On September 17. 1873, Mr. Taylor was married to Eliza J. Edgmond, of Wayne, County, Iowa, who is a daughter of Marion and Elizabeth (Logan) Edgmond, of Wayne County, Kentucky. The family removed from Kentucky first to Wayne County, Iowa, and in 1866 to Ross township, Cherokee County,
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Kansas, and settled on section 33, town- ship 32, range 23, where the mother died in 1867, and the father, in 1873. Of their five children, the two survivors are Mrs. Taylor and John K., of Ross township. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have two children,- William E., a farmer of Ross township, who married Effie Davidson, and has one child,- Marion ; and Bessie, who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor belong to the Methodist Church, while the children are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Politically, Mr. Taylor assumes an inde- pendent attitude, none of the great parties com- ing exactly to his high standard ; hence he votes for the man whom he deems best fitted for the office. For several years he has been a member of the School Board of Ross township, and takes an active part in local matters of public interest. He came to Cherokee County with little capital, and has acquired his fine farm through his own energy and industry. He is recognized as one of the leading men of the township. 1
AMUEL HASSON, one of the promi- nent farmers of Pleasant View town- ship, who owns the northeast quarter of section 6, township 32, range 25, was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 4, 1847, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Love) Hasson.
The parents of the subject of this sketch were both born in County Derry, Ireland. The father ran away from home in boyhood, and thus the family records were lost, but it is re- called that he was in his teens when Napoleon was made prisoner. By a first marriage he had four children,-Jane, Mary, Eliza and John. In 1844, after his marriage to Elizabeth Love,
in St. John's, New Brunswick, they moved to the city of Philadelphia, where Mr. Hasson se- cured employment in Norris' foundry, and afterwards, in Mathews' foundry, working in the former 14 years, and in the latter, 13 years. In 1850 he removed to Illinois and settled at Springfield, where he farmed rented land until 1869, when he came to Cherokee County, Kan- sas. He was one of the earliest settlers in the County. Before leaving Philadelphia, he had sustained a compound fracture of his left leg, and this prevented him from engaging in very active occupation of any kind. His death took place January 24, 1892. In politics he was a supporter of the Democratic party, but never took any very active part in political contests. The children of his second marriage were as follows: Samuel ; Alexander and Joseph, both deceased; William, of Crawford County, Kan- sas; and Matilda, wife of Timothy Martin, of Crawford County. Mr. Hasson was a worthy member of the Catholic Church. His widow still survives, bearing well her weight of 80 years, and being still an active, interested mem- ber of the home circle.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Philadelphia and attended the excellent city schools. He accompanied his parents to Illi- nois and to Kansas, and with his brothers at- tended to the farming, remaining at home until his marriage, in 1882. In the spring of 1870 he bought his present farm, which is the north- east quarter of section 6, township 32, range 25, in Pleasant View township. This he has devoted to crops of wheat, oats and corn, and to stock-raising, doing considerable feeding. He is one of the prosperous farmers of his locality, as well as one of the township's representative men.
In 1882 Mr. Hasson was united in marriage with Rebecca Workman, who is a daughter of Peter Workman, of Northern Missouri. Of
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their five children, four survive, namely: Ja- cob, John, William and Lloyd. Religiously, Mr. Hasson is a Catholic. Politically, he is a Democrat.
ILLIAM W. WALKER. One of the families of Lola township, Kansas, that can rightfully lay claim to distinction as being among the pioneer element in Cherokee County, is that of Mrs. Catherine Walker, now represented by herself and several stalwart sons, the father, William W. Walker, having died in 1882.
Mr. Walker was born in Clay County, Indi- ana, in 1822. He grew to manhood in the "Hoosier State," and there married Catherine Lints, the lady who now survives him and whose birth occurred November 22, 1832. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Renaud) Lints, the former being a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter, of Virginia. Mr. Walker was a son of Richard and Drusilla Walker, of Kentucky, and was one of a family of 10 children,-four boys and six girls.
Five sons and four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Maria E. Dobbs, the eldest, is deceased; Henry C. and Robert manage the farm, and look after the interests of the home; James M. lives on the farm, and occupies a separate house; Mrs. Laura A. Payne is deceased; William S. is a farmer of Cherokee County ; Charles WV. lives in Pawhaska, Oklahoma ; and Mrs. Ida M. In- gersoll and Mrs. Nellie M. Troop reside in Columbus, Kansas.
Mr. Walker followed agricultural pursuits during his lifetime. In 1875 he came to Kan- sas, using the wagon route, and taking six weeks to make the trip. The Walker farm comprises nearly 320 acres in section 12, town- ship 33. range 21, and section 7, township 33.
range 22, in Lola township. The breaking of the raw prairie, and the making of other early improvements occupied the father's attention until his death, since which time the widow and sons have worked to such advantage, that now they have a large farm under cultivation, and a good substantial farm house and buildings,- all standing as monuments to their hard labor, perseverance and energy.
Mr. Walker was a pensioner of the Mexican War, having served under Gen. Zachary Tay- lor. He was a stanch Whig, and although his party opposed the war, yet the chief military renown was won by it .- both Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott being Whigs.
Mr. Walker was a man of very liberal views, believing in working for principle and the right, regardless of friend or foe. He was possessed of many sterling qualities, and was highly esteemed by his neighbors. The family which he left are all occupying responsible positions in life, which is due to the early train- ing of the father, together with the excellent care of the mother in later years.
J OHN W. SNIDER, one of the prosper- ous farmers of Cherokee County, who owns a finely improved and well cul- tivated farm, comprising the southeast quarter of section 14, township 33, range 2.4. in Crawford township, has been a resident here since 1869. Mr. Snider was born in Cayuga County. New York. September 2, 1825, and is a son of Daniel and Annie ( Dean) Snider.
The parents of Mr. Snider removed to Wyandot County, Ohio, in 1835, where the father died aged 92 years, and the mother, aged 45 years. Daniel Snider was a harnessmaker by trade, but was engaged mainly in farming. The subject of this sketch had one brother and three sisters, viz. : Mrs. Lovina Parrigo, who
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resides at Donovan, Iroquois County, Illinois ; Mrs. Sally Ann Owens, who came to Cherokee County about 1869, and died in Shawnee town- ship in 1895; Mrs. Ruth Van Osdell, who is a resident of Wyandot County, Ohio; and Aaron, who died in 1894, in Wyandot County, Ohio.
John W. Snider was reared in Ohio, where he obtained his schooling and learned the trade of harness-making. This he never followed as a business, preferring agricultural pursuits. During the Civil War, he was in the service for a time, giving loyal support to the government. He is one of the old settlers of the county, hav- ing come here in 1868, and located on his pres- ent farm in 1870, in School District No. 71, He took up a claim which was deeded to him by the railroad company in 1880. His fine improve- ments include a comfortable and attractive residence, good, substantial buildings, fencing and orchards, and he feels that he could not have made a much better selection of a home than this.
Mr. Snider was first married, in Ohio, in 1847, to Katie Ann Van Osdale, who died in Ohio in 1857, leaving three children, namely : Isaac Luther, who is a railroad conductor, re- siding at Fort Wayne, Indiana ; Lucy Ann, wife of James Adkins, who resides at Columbus, Kansas; and Edwin, who lives with his father. Mr. Snider's second marriage was to Annie Ross, who died in Cherokee County, in 1888, leaving a daughter,-Idolia,-who married Melvin Watkins, and died in Cherokee County. Mr. Snider was married, third, to Mrs. Mary Jane Parsell, who was born in New York in 1827 and removed to Ohio in 1834, where, in 1848, she was married to S. S. Parsell, who died in 1890. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parsell, three are now living, namely : Mrs. Nancy Robinson, a resident of Crestline ; Mrs. Pliœbe Owens, a resident of Shawnee township; and Mrs. Clara Barrett, of Joplin,
Missouri. Mrs. Snider buried six children of her first marriage.
Politically Mr. Snider is a Democrat, firmly adhering to the principles of the party. Since the fall of 1857, he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, having joined it in Wyan- dot County, Ohio, from which place he brought a demit to Prudence Lodge, No. 100, A. F. & A. M., at Columbus, of which lodge he is now a valued member. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has served many years as a class leader, both here and in his old home in Ohio. He is a very highly respected citizen, and a man of sterling character.
C. CHEYNE, a leading business man at Melrose, who does a large business as a general merchant and as a dealer in drugs and oils. was born in Tazewell County, Illinois, not far from Morton, February 22, 1860, and is a son of William and Christiana (Duncan) Cheyne.
The father of Mr. Cheyne was born in Aberdeen County, Scotland, and now resides at Weeping Water, Nebraska. He came to the United States with his wife, who was a daughter of Alexander Duncan, of Aberdeen. County, and she died at Morton, Illinois, when the subject of this sketch was two years old. They had six children, the three survivors being : William, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; John S., cashier of the Miami Bank, at Miami, In- dian Terirtory ; and M. C.
M. C. Cheyne remained on the home farm in Illinois, until he was 21 years of age. Then he came to Kansas, and has been a resident of this State ever since. He had but a small capi- tal and began working by the day, but subse- quently entered into the sheep business, with
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Richard Barber. They bought sheep in Arkan- sas which they sold in Missouri, and the busi- ness proved fairly profitable. Later, Mr. Cheyne sold his interest to his partner, and re- moved to Melrose, Kansas, and then to Ga- lena, where he worked two years for the Excel- sior crushing works. He then returned to Neosho township, secured land in the rich bottoms, and was engaged in farming for 20 years. After disposing of his farm to Samuel Reynolds, he bought out the established notion store of C. S. Bingham, putting in a stock of merchandise. Soon he was appointed post- master by President Cleveland. He conducted the store and post office in conjunction for II years, to the entire satisfaction of the comniu- nity. He has added drugs and oils and does a large business.
On October 7, 1896, Mr. Cheyne was mar- ried to Olivia Mims, who was born in Texas. They have two children,-Hobart L. and Mary C.
Politically, Mr. Cheyne is a Republican, and he has served for one year as township clerk. He is a well known citizen, one who is held in very high esteem in Melrose and Neosho townships, both on account of his business qualifications and honest dealing, and for his sterling traits of character.
ASHINGTON WILLIAMS, who conducts a first-class blacksmith shop at Columbus, on Pennsylva- nia avenue, one block north of the square, was born in Brooke County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1852, and is a son of Thomas and Christina ( Mendell) Williams.
In February, 1871, after the death of his mother, the subject of this sketch came, with the family, to Cherokee County, Kansas. The
father, however, soon returned to West Vir- ginia, where he remained until his death, in 1877. He was a cooper and farmer. The fan- ily consisted of eight children, the two others who located in Kansas being George, now of California, who resided for a time at Galena, and Valentine, who until his death was a far- mer in Salamanca township.
Washington Williams was schooled in his native locality, but learned his trade after con- ing to Columbus, working in the blacksmith shop of Ben. Dilworth, one of the early smiths and well known residents of the city. Mr. Williams afterwards formed a partnership with S. B. Jay and they continued to work together for two years ; a partnership with the late Rob- ert Neal lasted the same length of time. Then he and David Martin became associated and remained together for nine years, when Mr. Williams continued alone, and Mr. Martin opened a shop in another part of the city. Mr. Williams is thus one of the city's early business men, and one of the oldest. He has always had a large amount of work, and until the present time has had a skilled man in his employ. He is so well known here that he is familiarly and affectionately known as "Wash" Williams.
On January 1, 1878, at Columbus, Mr. Wil- liams was married to Lizzie Coble, and they have three children,-Bessie, Floyd and Lola, The family belong to the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Williams is a deacon.
Politically, Mr. Williams is a Republican. He has served for seven years as a member of the Board of Education, and in every way is a representative citizen. His fraternal and social connections are with the Odd Fellows ; Modern Woodmen of America; Sons and Daughters of Justice; and, together with his wife, with the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Anti Horse Thief Association. His long residence in Columbus makes Mr. Williams an encyclo-
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pedia of information concerning this locality, and he has known personally many of the mak- ers of history in this part of Kansas.
ILLIAM H. EVANS, one of the representative citizens of Ross township, who owns a well culti- vated farm of 240 acres, situated in section 22, township 32, range 23, was born in Warren County, Ohio, March 6, 1844. He is a son of Aaron and Margaret Ann (Tucker) Evans.
The father of Mr. Evans was also born in Warren County, Ohio, and the mother, in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Evans re- sided on their farm in Warren County until 1870, and then the father accompanied his son, William H., to Cherokee County, Kansas. The mother died in Iowa while on a visit, and the father returned to Ohio, where his last years were spent. Aaron Evans was twice married, the children of his first union, with Rachel Tucker, being as follows : Josephine, deceased ; Eugene, of Warren County, Ohio; and Arneen and Margaret Ann, both deceased. The sub- ject of this sketch was the only child of the second marriage. The family is of Welsh ex- traction, Joseph Evans, the grandfather, having been born in Wales.
William H. Evans was reared on the home farm in Warren County, Ohio, and was a pupil in the neighborhood schools. When he was 17 years old, his father gave a tract of land to him and his sister, in Wayne County, Indiana, and they lived there for eight years, Mr. Evans gaining some practical experience in general farming. He then came to Cherokee County, Kansas, and located on section 27, township 32, range 23, in Ross township, having bought 400 acres of railroad land. Of course, at that time, it was nothing but a prairie wilderness,
and presented many difficulties to the early set- tler. Here Mr. Evans has made every improve- ment, clearing his land and placing it under cul- tivation as rapidly as it was possible to do so, erecting substantial buildings, making fences and setting out orchards, and, in fact, accom- plishing, in a comparatively short time, all those marvels which transformed the wild tract of prairie into the home of prosperity and civili- zation. He has found it the best policy to fol- low general farming, his crops being corn, oats, wheat and flax, and he also raises cattle, horses and hogs. As time passed, Mr. Evans found he had more land than he cared to cultivate, and he disposed of all but 240 acres, which still leaves him with a good farm.
In 1868 Mr. Evans married Belle Helms, of Wayne County, Indiana, who died May 12, 1896, having been the mother of 10 children, of whom the survivors are as follows: Mrs. Cassie Seyburn; Cornelius, a farmer, living near Sherwin Junction ; Engene, who lives near Center Star, Kansas; and Arthur, Irving and Irene, who are at home. Mr. Evans was reared in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Evans is in accord with the Reform party, although his father was a strong Democrat. Be- fore all else, however, he is a good farmer and an honest, upright man, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.
HOMAS KUTZ, who is one of the best known of the pioneer farmers of Cherokee County, is located in sec- tion II, township 32, range 22, in Sheridan township. He was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1837, and is a son of John and Mary (Fry) Kutz. The parents of our subject were both born and lived throughout their entire lives in Berks County, Pennsylvania. They became parents of II
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children, as follows : Margaret, deceased; Eliz- abeth, of Berks County, Pennsylvania ; George, a blacksmith, of Berks County ; Thomas ; Mary, Hannah and Frank, of Berks County ; Nelson, of Stark County, Olio; Rachel of Reading, Berks County ; Charles, deceased ; and John, of Berks County. In politics, Mr. Kutz was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. Relig- iously, he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church.
Thomas Kutz attended the public schools and lived on the home farm until he was 19 years old. Having learned the blacksmith trade in Pennsylvania, he went to Stark County, Ohio, and followed it there for two years, then moved to Cedar County, Iowa. There he fol- lowed his trade and farmed four years, after which he went to Linn County, Iowa, and was married in 1862. He remained there and in Cedar County, Iowa, two years, and then re- moved to Nemeha County, Kansas. Leaving his wife with her people, he went to Silver Bow City and Virginia City, Montana, where he worked in the mines. He went with a large wagon train, driving an ox-team for Allen Green Campbell, the trip consuming 108 days. Upon his return from Montana, he took up 80 acres of land in Cloud County, Kansas, which he greatly improved and of which he planted 30 acres to corn. There were just eight families in the settlement and they had considerable trouble with the Indians who warned them to leave that country. They killed a Mr. Morgan and his two children, and captured Mrs. Mor- gan. Many are the exciting and interesting stories which could be told by Mr. Kutz and his wife concerning these early days on the West- ern plains. Our subject, accompanied by his wife, her parents and brother spent five weeks roaming over the prairie in search of a new home. Several of the party were taken sick when they were along Deer Creek in Cherokee County, and here they camped. They all took
up claims here, Mr. Kutz buying the 160-acre tract, where he now lives, in July, 1866. He built a temporary shack, 14 feet square, with no floor and a slab door, and then set about making a home. The party brought 52 head of cattle and seven horses with them. He has lived on this place ever since and has met with success, raising grain of all kinds and cattle, horses and hogs. He is well known over the county and well liked.
On February 13, 1862, Mr. Kutz was married to Mary C. Betzer, who was born in Vermilion County, Indiana, and is a daughter of Aaron and Esther (Ricketts) Betzer, her father a native of Ohio and her mother, of In- diana. Mr. Betzer was a farmer by occupation and died September 16, 1889. He and his good wife had seven children as follows : Anthony, deceased; Mary C., wife of our subject ; Sal- isba, who lives in Missouri; Isabelle, who re- sides in Galena; Julia Ann, wife of William Rohrbough; Isaac Wilson, of Oklahoma, and Josephine, deceased. Our subject and his wife have four children: Lovah E., who married John Pike of Columbus, Kansas, and has two children,-Fay and Floyd; Francis, of Sheri- dan township, who married Abbie Peters ; Rosie E .; and Daisy E., who married Wayne Ser- geant and has two children, Ruth Pauline and Olive Loretta. Religiously, they are mem- bers of the U. B. Church at West Mineral. Mr. Kutz cast his first vote for Lincoln, and now casts his vote for the man best qualified for the office.
RANCIS EDWARD MILLNER, a prominent farmer and highly re- spected citizen of Cherokee County, is the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres in sections 19 and 20, township 33, range 25, in Shawnee township. He was born in
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Kings County, Ireland, June 13, 1839, and is a son of Francis and Hannah (Goodwin) Millner.
Francis Millner was born on the same farm as was the subject of this sketch. He was a farmer, miller and manufacturer of woolen fabrics, and also owned and operated a grist mill. His death was caused by falling from a horse, in 1841. In 1848 the widow, with her children, started for America, taking passage on the sailing ship, "Stephen Balway," and reaching their destination after a voyage of a little over six weeks. Their objective point was what is now Noble County, Ohio. There, a home was established, and there the devoted mother died, in 1856, having done all in her power to advance the interests of her children.
Mr. Millner attended school as much as possible, but started very early to work on neighboring farms. He remained in Ohio until 1862, when he went to Idaho, where he se- cured work in the mines ahout 35 miles from Boise City. There he was employed two years and a half, and then returned to Noble County, where he resumed farming. He continued to farm in Ohio until 1887, when he sold his property and came to Cherokee County, Kan- sas. Three years after coming to this beautiful and fertile part of the State, he bought 80 acres of land, in section 19, in Shawnee township. and several years later purchased an adjoin- ing tract of 80 acres in section 20. This land has proven susceptible of a high state of culti- vation, and Mr. Millner has successfully raised corn, potatoes, oats, hay and wheat. For the past five years, however, he has made hay his leading crop, cutting about 30 tons a season. He has also had very satisfactory results from raising cattle. On February 27, 1862, Mr. Millner was married to Keziah Hamilton, daughter of Thomas Hamilton, of Noble Coun- ty, Ohio. They have had seven children, of
whom six survive, namely : Ada, wife of Ro- bert Settles, of Crestline; James Goodwin, of Shawnee township: Hattie, who is at home ; Samuel S., of Sapulpa, Indian Territory ; Francis Edward, Jr., of Miami, Indian Terri- tory, and William, of Weir City.
Politically, Mr. Millner is a Republican, but is not a seeker for political honors. He was made a Mason in Noble County, Ohio.
EORGE ROBINSON, a much re- spected retired citizen of Ross town- ship, where he owns 80 acres of rich mineral land in section 36, township 32, range 23, was born in Westmoreland County, England, and is a son of John and Ann Robinson.
The parents of Mr. Robinson spent their lives in England and the subject of this sketch is the only member of his family who came to America. In the locality in which he was reared, the leading industry was iron ore min- ing, and before emigrating he worked in the ore mines there. In 1869 he came to the United States, and went to the mines in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently to those in Co- lumbia County, where he remained four years ; thence he went to Stark County, Ohio, where he mined for six years. He then removed to Litchfield, Kansas, where he continued to work at mining until 1878, when he came to Cher- okee County. Mr. Robinson's experiences as a miner convinced him that much of the land in Ross township was rich in mineral wealth or coal deposits, and here he bought 80 acres of prairie land, in section 36, township 32, range 23. This he made into a good home, but has devoted his energies mainly to the developing of the coal which underlies it. In 1882 he put down the Robinson shaft, which has proved a
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