USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 59
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The subject of this sketch has passed the greater part of his life in Cherokee County, the years 1874 and 1875. however, having been spent in Southeastern Missouri. Since lie
reached the age of 20 years, he has made his own way in the world without outside assist- ance, and has met with deserved success. He is one of the substantial farmers and most highly respected citizens of Crawford town- ship.
On November 26, 1882, Mr. Douglass was married to Thula Ellis, who was born in Cocke County, Tennessee, August 6, 1863, and is a daughter of Richard Driskill and Sarah J. (Holdway) Ellis. They came to Cherokee County, Kansas, in April, 1869, and located two miles east of Crestline, where the father still resides, the mother having died in 1876. The three children of Mr. Ellis are: Mrs. Douglass; James Howard, of Columbus; and Elbert Hezekiah, a claim agent for the "Frisco" railroad.
Mr. and Mrs. Douglass have had four chil- dren, namely : Richard L., born February 9, 1884; Sarah E., born September 28, 1886; Walter, born August 27, 1890, who died No- vember 4, 1897; and Arthur Lloyd, born Feb- ruary 27, 1893. The children are all at home, and form a cheerful, intelligent family group.
Politically, Mr. Douglass is independent, or, as he facetiously puts it, "an orphan,"-none of the great parties quite meeting the issues which he considers of paramount importance, while he thinks all have excellent ideas in their platforms. He is a man of domestic tastes, en- joys his home and his farm duties, and cares little for outside matters. He is a member of the A. H. T. A.
OHN RILEY BURROWS, one of the pioneer farmers of Cherokee County, resides in section 31, township 33, range 25, in Shawnee township, where he has a tract of 160 acres of land. He was born in Washington County, Ohio, September
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26, 1837, and is a son of John and Electa (DaVal) Burrows.
Our subject's grandfather came to this country from Ireland and was shipwrecked during the passage,-being in the water a day and a half before he was picked up by a vessel. Upon his arrival he was indentured to pay for his passage, and finally settled in Ohio.
John Burrows was born in Washington County, Ohio, and followed farming there all his life. He hewed timber and hauled it to Beverly on the Muskingum River, and also farmed some on a tract of 40 acres that he owned. He was a member of the Sons of Honor. He married Electa DaVal and they became parents of 15 children, 13 of whom grew to maturity, as follows: James W., de- ceased ; Harriet, widow of Robert Mullin, who resides in Beverly, Ohio; Stephen D., deceased ; Clarissa, wife of Jacob Stires, of Beverly, Ohio; Elizabeth, deceased, who first married Ebenezer Voshel, and subsequently Benjamin I. McAtee ; Jane, deceased wife of Shadrach Hall, of Galena, Kansas; John Riley; Polly, who died, aged 15 years; G. Royal, of Faulkner, Kansas; William H., deceased; Samuel, of Beverly, Ohio; Mary, wife of E. C. Sheehan, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and Ellen, de- ceased.
John Riley Burrows lived on his father's farm until he was 18 years of age, and then paid his father $100 for the balance of his time. He worked for a time in the timber as a rail splitter, and then for four years, during the winter months, he was employed on flat-boats going down the river to New Orleans. These boats carried a line of general merchandise which they sold along the Mississippi. During his 2Ist year he worked on a river steamboat be- tween Zanesville and Pittsburg, and in 1859 removed to Illinois, where he drove a stage dur- ing the winter. He was then employed on a farm until his marriage, on December 5, 1860,
and shortly afterward contracted the ague, which resulted in his return to Ohio. In the spring of 1861, he again went to Illinois, and rented a farm, which he worked until 1864. In that year he enlisted in Company E, 6Ist Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., and was sent to Murfrees- boro, Tennessee; he served with his regiment until it was mustered out. In the spring of 1866, Mr. Burrows started with his wife and two children, in a prairie schooner, for the Cherokee Neutral Lands in Southeastern Kan- sas. After numerous mishaps, and difficulties which confronted them on every hand, alter- nating with some pleasant incidents, they reached their destination and at first camped on the land which Mr. Burrows now owns. He was one of the first settlers and the country was virtually a wilderness. There were so few people that for a time Mr. Burrows feared no schools would be provided, and he was anxious that his children should receive a better educa- tion than he had been able to get. He raised wheat, oats and corn, and for a few years bought calves, which he shipped in car-load lots to St. Louis. On his property he has a good quarry of flagging sandstone, which he sells extensively. He furnished the stone for the walks, steps and porches of the Court House at Columbus.
On December 5, 1860, Mr. Burrows mar- ried Nancy Wells Corey, a daughter of Thomas Corey of Hillsboro, Illinois, and they had eight children who grew to maturity, namely : Amanda M .; William F., of Morrison, Okla- homa ; Emma J., wife of William R. Nichols, of Shawnee township; Electa H., wife of Grant Hicks, of Crawford township; Carrie, wife of Edward Walker, who lives near Hallowell; James H., of Columbus ; Julia, wife of Charles Noredike, of Columbus; and Charles H., of Crawford township. Mrs. Burrows was born February 6. 1838, and died August 19, 1903. She was first a member of the Lutheran Church
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and later joined the Christian Church, of which Mr. Burrows has been a member 36 years, and an elder, 30 years.
When the subject of this sketch first came to Kansas there was no civil law, and the set- tlers had to protect their claims. They held a meeting and elected a president, secretary and sheriff, Mr. Burrows being elected to the last- named office. As long as there was a G. A. R. post at Crestline, he was a member of it. He has written a detailed narrative of his trip from Illinois to Kansas, covering many interesting incidents, and describing the early experiences of the settlers in fighting railroad claims, and protecting themselves against horse thieves. Should this appear in print, it would prove of great interest to the public.
A BIJAH PICKERING. Among the pioneers of the county, none can re- late more varied experiences of ear- lier days, of the wild, unbroken prairies, of failure of crops, and of many other hardships experienced by the first settlers of what is now the most progressive of all the great States found on the Western plains, than Abijalı Pickering, pastor of the Friends' Church, whose home is located in section 29, township 32, range 22, in Sheridan township. He came to Kansas from Iowa, but was a na- tive of Tennessee, where he was born in No- vember, 1844.
His parents, John and Miriam (Beals) Pickering, were born, grew to maturity and were married in that State. In 1855 they moved to Jasper County, Iowa, where for II years John Pickering followed his chosen occu- pation of farming. In the fall of 1866, he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, having previously in the spring of that year, located a claim. He brought his family with him on his second trip
to his farm. The journey was made in a wagon and lasted six weeks. They took with them two ox teams and one mule team, four milch cows, two heifers and a drove of 30 sheep. The land on which they located in sec- tion 29, township 32, range 22, was wild, un- broken prairie, and he at once proceeded to put up a house and stable and began to make for himself and children a home; the rest of his life was spent on this place, his death occurring here in January, 1895, and that of his wife in No- vember, 1882.
John Pickering was not very active in poli- tics, but always voted the Republican ticket in his early years, but later became a Prohibition- ist. He was the father of the Friendship Friends' Church, built in 1872, on the property he entered in Sheridan township, of which church he was for many years pastor.
The family numbered 10 children, as fol- lows: Mrs. Rachel Jones, living in Jefferson County, Tennessee; Abijah : Susanna E., who married Seth Janeway, and lives in San Diego County, California ; William R., who resides in McCune, Kansas; Margaret A., the widow of E. A. Garrison, whose home adjoins the old place in Sheridan township ; Riley D., a farmer of Sheridan township; Rebecca, who died in 1873; Joseph, who died in April, 1902; Mrs. Hannah Gordon, now deceased; and Luther J., principal of the Galena High School, of Ga- lena, Kansas.
Abijah Pickering, the subject of this sketch, had few opportunities of acquiring an educa- tion, as the schools of the early day were lim- ited in number and not of a very high grade. He lived at home until the age of 28. when he branched out for himself.
On March 1, 1874, Mr. Pickering was mar- ried to Vandela Wells, of North Carolina, a daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Wells, who came to Cherokee County in 1868, and settled in Sheridan township. The father was a black-
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smith by trade, which occupation he followed until within two years of his death. Our sub- ject and his wife have two children, as follows : Rhoda L., the wife of Rank Waugh, living on the old Waugh place; and Arthur T., who is single and lives at home.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pick- ering located on their present farm in Sheridan township. The land cost $8 an acre, and was unimproved. It is now improved and all of the small grains are produced and horses and cattle are raised.
Our subject is a stanch Prohibitionist, and stands for all that is best in politics. As a pas- tor of the Friends' Church since 1895, he has been the means of bringing into the community higher ideals of Christian life and a consecra- tion to Christian work, seldom equaled in a country district. The church has a member- ship of about 140, all of whom are consistent Christians. Mr. Pickering's influence is not confined to his township but reaches even be- yond the limits of the county, and he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
D ANIEL A. JESSUP, who is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Ross township, where he operates a well improved farm of 160 acres in section 22, township 31, range 23, was born in Butler County, Kansas, October 16, 1871, and is a son of Solomon P. and Mary (Long) Jessup.
Solomon P. Jessup was a native of Michi- gan, and his wife, of Gosport, Iowa. In 1861 the father enlisted in Company E, 8th Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., which was recruited at Gos- port. With his company, he took part in many of the leading battles of the war, and at the battle of Shiloh, where so many of his com-
panions fell, he received a bullet through his left lung, which incapacitated him for further ser- vice. After his return from the army, he mar- ried and then removed to Butler County, Kan- sas, where he took up a homestead, and occupied it for 16 years. He sold that property and came to Cherokee County, where he located on what was known as the old Goodwin place. in the oldest settled portion of the county. Here he continued to farm until his death in 1889. His widow survived him until June 5. 1902. He was a valued member of the G. A. R. post at Cherokee, and always took an active part in its affairs. During his residence in Butler County, he served as a justice of the peace, and was one of the representative men of that section. In politics, he was a Republi- can. He was connected with the Christian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Solomon P. Jessup had eight children, among whom the only death has been that of Doyle, the eldest, who lived but seven years. The others are as follows: Lillie, who is the wife of A. G. Bird, station agent at Noel, Missouri, for the Southern Pacific Lines; Dan- iel A .; Iva, who is the wife of Capt. Harry Shideler, superintendent of city schools at Girard, Kansas; William, who is an employee on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway, living at Cherokee; Frederick, who is a book- keeper at Stone City, Kansas; Purl, who is a member of Company G, Ist Reg., U. S. Inf., and is now stationed at Fort Wayne, Michigan : and Grant, who is in the employ of the South- ern Pacific Lines at Spiro, Indian Territory.
With the exception of one winter, during which the subject of this sketch kept books for one of the local coal companies, he has been engaged in farming all his life, since he finished his school studies. He, like the other members of the family, had excellent educational advan- tages, completing both the common and high-
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school courses. He is serving as clerk of Ross township, and has been a school director for some time.
On September 23, 1900, Mr. Jessup was married to Alpha Entzminger. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and are liberal in its support. Politically, Mr. Jessup is a Republican, and takes quite a lively interest in public matters. His fraternal rela- tions include the Masonic Blue Lodge, No. 119, of Cherokee, and the Order of the Eastern Star. He belongs also to the Anti-Horse Thief Association.
R EV. JAMES H. MOORE, a prosper- ous farmer of Lyon township, was for many years engaged in evangelical effort in this section, but has had no connection with such work during the past three years. He is a man of business ability and of recognized integrity, and stands very high among his fellow men. He was born in County Down, near Dublin, Ireland, in October, 1844, and is a son of James and Eleanor (Mena) Moore.
James Moore and his wife were natives of Ireland, and both died in Johnson County, Kansas. The father was drowned in the Wa- karuso River in 1860. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Mrs. Isabelle Gor- miel, of New York ; Mrs. Margaret J. Jones, of Arkansas; James H. and George, of Cherokee County ; and Robert, who died in July, 1903. The two last named were twins.
James H. Moore was three years of age when he was brought to the United States by his parents, who located in New York State, near Rochester. He was 13 years of age when he accompanied them to Johnson County, Kan- sas, making the trip to St. Louis by water, and thence overland to Kansas City. In July, 1862,
he enlisted from Johnson County in Company I, 12th Reg., Kansas Vol. Inf., under Colonel Adams, and during the first year was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, and at Wyandotte. He was then sent to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the regiment remained one and a half years, being engaged in the Steele expedition. It was stationed at Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1865, and discharged at Lawrence, Kansas, in August of that year. At one time Mr. Moore was sent on detached duty to what is now Cherokee County, and arrived at Baxter Springs the day following the massacre, in 1864, receiving many impressions of the county which after- ward was to be his home. At the close of the war, he returned to Johnson County, Kansas, and afterward spent two or three years in At- chison County, Missouri, engaged in the lum- ber business. He then returned to Johnson County, where he remained for two years, and in 1870 started with his brother-in-law for Barry County, Missouri. They stopped, how- ever, at the wild border town of Baxter Springs, where Mr. Moore located on his present claim. He started a house, 14 by 16 feet in dimensions, but before its completion his money gave out, and he found it necessary to secure some work. He engaged in hauling freight from Columbus, Coffeyville and Chetopa, earning enough to complete his house. This house stood and was in use until three years ago, when it was torn down and the present comfortable home was erected. Mr. Moore broke 60 acres of land, and planted it to corn the first year. Vast changes have taken place since that early day, when the country was sparsely settled. He was obliged to go to Columbus for his mail, which is now delivered at his house. Among other improvements is the telephone, with which the up-to-date farmer is provided, and Mr. Moore has one in use. He owns 356 acres of land in sections 7 and 8, township 34, range 23, in Lyon township, and of this he has 15 acres set
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out in fruit trees, which are yielding abund- antly. He was engaged extensively in stock- raising in past years, but at present devotes his attention principally to raising wheat. His place is known as "Valley View Farm." He is a Prohibitionist, in politics, and has been en- gaged in evangelical work for 17 years.
Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Perrylee Rochell, who was born in Tennessee, June 14, 1849, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Rochell. They have had nine chil- dren, namely : Ellen E., who died at the age of 22 years; Evaline M., who died at the age of 16 years; Vida M. L .; Clyda M., wife of Homer Brewer, of Cherokee County; James J. ; Kate L .; Isaac P .; Rosa, who died at the age of three years; and Ruth E., who died in in- fancy.
T. LAIZURE. An example of what industry and intelligent management can accomplish in agricultural enter- prises in Southern Kansas is found in the career of J. T. Laizure, one of Cherokee County's prosperous farmers. Mr. Laizure has his residence on the northeast quarter of section 21, township 33, range 23, in Sala- manca township. He came to the county in the spring of 1874, from Madison County, Iowa, having moved there in 1856 from Ohio. Mr. Laizure was born in Harrison County, Ohio, on January 13, 1831.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. to which county his parents removed when he was a child. Re- maining there until after his marriage, he went to Madison County, Iowa. There he rented land until 1864, when he purchased a farm in that county, which he continued to improve un- til failing health admonished him to seek a dif- ferent climate. On his arrival in Cher-
okee County, he settled on the southwest quarter of section 22. township 33. range 23, where he remained until 1901, the date of his removal to his present home. As he prospered, Mr. Laizure invested in land at different times. The place where he now lives, he purchased of James McEwan in 1876. He also owns a 40-acre tract in section 27 in Salamanca township. During his lifetime Mr. Laizure has been a very active worker. In his youth he first learned carpentering, and later blacksmithing, both of which he has utilized in connection with farming, having erected nearly all of his buildings, and having operated a blacksmith shop on the farm in his earlier years. His home farm presents a most thrifty appear- ance, with its fine orchards and well fenced fields, and the substantial character of its out- buildings.
Turning briefly to family history, the pa- rents of J. T. Laizure, William Laizure and Elizabeth (Trickle) Laizure, were natives of Ohio. The mother, who was of Irish ex- traction, died in 1838. The father was by oc- cupation a general tradesman,-shoemaker, carpenter, etc.,-being especially noted for his skill in hewing timbers. His home was in Uhrichsville, Ohio, during the later years of his life. The subject of this sketch was the second of five children born to these parents, the others being now deceased.
Mr. Laizure was married, in 1854, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, to Lovinia Gramm, who was born in that county in September, 1834, and was a daughter of Henry and Rachel (Prinkle) Gramm. Her parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio at an early day. The father was a miller by trade, and also followed farming. Later, they moved to Martin County, Indiana, in which county they made their home until their death. They had quite a number of children, most of whom are now deceased. Two sons, Henry
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and John, came to Cherokee County, Kansas, Henry being one of the earliest settlers of Salamanca township.
Of the II children born to Mr. and Mrs. Laizure, two died in infancy. The others are as follows : Mrs. Rachel A. Law, a widow re- siding in North Dakota; William H., of Canon City, Colorado; George W., who resides in Lyon township; James D., who is a farmer and resides near his father ; Francis M., who resides in Salamanca township; Mrs. Mary Boston, of Hallowell; Benjamin, who is connected with a railroad at Pittsburg, Kansas; Edward, who is a Missouri farmer ; and Charles, a railroad man of Carthage, Missouri. These children are all filling responsible positions in their respective communities, and are a credit to their training.
Mr. Laizure, during his career in Cherokee County, has earned the commendation of all. He has ever been ready to forward the in- terests of education and good government, and has served with willingness in unsalaried minor offices at different periods. He supports, by his vote, the principles of the Reform party, is a member of the A. H. T. A., and both he and his family are worthy members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Cuhrch. His declining years are being spent among hosts of friends, who delight to do him honor.
E. SMITH, a prominent citizen of Mel- rose, who is engaged in general merchandising, also owns a fine farm of 160 acres in section 4, town- ship 35, range 22, in Neosho township. He was born January 1, 1860, in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Edward and Sarah J. (Graham) Smith.
The parents of Mr. Smith were natives of Pennsylvania. They were quiet farming peo- ple, and were highly respected in their locality,
where both died, the father having passed away when the subject of this sketch was a small boy. Of their 13 children, but three now sur- vive.
S. E. Smith was educated in his native township and remained on the farm in Pennsyl- vania until 1885, when he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, which has been his home ever since. For 14 years he was engaged in farm- ing in Neosho township, but in 1900 he en- tered into mercantile pursuits at Melrose, where he has met with success, and has established an excellent business reputation.
In 1885 Mr. Smith was married to Martha J. Adams, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1853, and is a daughter of Elijah and Martha Adams. They have three children,-Gertrude A., Margaret L. and Albert R.
Politically, Mr. Smith is a Populist, and an influential member of his party. He was the first member of this party to be elected to office in the township,-serving two years as trustee. He has been selected as his party's candidate for county commissioner and county treasurer, and on both occasions received a flattering support. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen and to the Home Builders.
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LLIS DAVIDSON. Twenty-seven years of residence in Cherokee coun- ty are sufficient to make one eligible to enrollment among the "Old Set- tlers," although there are a few that came to the county even before the Civil War. The gentleman whose honored name is mentioned above has been a continuous resident, engaged in farming, since the 18th day of July, 1877, and during the intervening years has estab- lished a most enviable reputation for industry, and for integrity of character. He came to
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the county from Christian County, Illinois, his birth having taken place in Greene County, Illinois, April 11, 1834. He lives at present on a farm in section 12, township 33, range 23, in Salamanca township, owned by Mrs. Anna Lisle.
Mr. Davidson is a son of Ellis and Mar- garet (Wright) Davidson, both of whom came from the "Blue Grass State," of which the mother was a native. The father removed to Kentucky with his parents, when a child, from the Broad River country in North Carolina, and settled in Barren County. In this county Mr. Davidson's parents were reared and mar- ried, and in 1829, with their two children, they removed to Greene County, Illinois. There the remainder of their family of II children were born, and there the mother died in the early "seventies," aged 69 years. The father in later years resided in Christian County, Illinois, where he died in 1877, aged 87 years. Of their children, there are now five sons and one daughter living,-all in Illinois except the sub- ject of this sketch, J. W., a former resident of Cherokee County, but now of Colorado, and Elijah, also a former resident of the county, but now of San Francisco, California.
Ellis Davidson was reared to man's estate in Greene County, Illinois, receiving a com- mon-school education. He remained dutifully at home until he was of age, when he began farming on his own account. His marriage took place in Greene County, Illinois. Mrs. Davidson was born in 1843, and is a daughter of Willis H. Springgate. To Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have been born the following chil- dren : Lou E. and Lou Allen (twins), the former being the wife of John E. Watts, of the Laflin-Rand powder works, and the latter re- siding at home; Ross W., a farmer of Ross township, and former register of deeds of Cherokee County ; Mrs. Effie Taylor, of Sheri- dan township; Ambrose L., deceased; Hobart,
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