USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 61
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Emma (Mrs. Hodgin), deceased; Dora (Mrs. Henry Dewey), of Independence, Kansas ; Sarah (Mrs. Alford Dawson), of Ross town- ship; and Mary (Mrs. Jacob Carpenter) of Lola township. Before settling in Kansas, the family moved to Bremer County, Iowa, where the father secured a large farm and was con- sidered a wealthy farmer.
Lewis R. Westervelt, as one of a large fam- ily, had little chance to acquire an education. He remained with his parents until the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company B, 14th Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., at Waverly, Iowa, Au- gust 15, 1862. He participated in the fighting at and around Vicksburg and took part in many skirmishes. He was in one of the three new companies added to the 16th Army Corps. After his discharge at Davenport, Iowa, in 1864, he went back to the old home in Bremer County.
On August 30, 1862, Mr. Westervelt was united in marriage to Martitia Tibbetts of Iowa. Their family consists of eight children, as follows: Martha L. (Mrs. M. Hall), of Sheridan township, who has three sons,- Hugh, Ross and Carl; Asa, who married Sarah Peters and is a farmer in Sheridan township; Arthur, who married Orvilla Hall and has two children,-Glen and Ruth; Cora (Mrs. Ed. Smith), of Sheridan township, who has four children,-Carrie, Elsie, Homer and Elda ; Clayton Lewis, a teamster of Ross township; Nellie (Mrs. James Hall), of Sheridan town- ship, who has four children,-Zona Mabel, Myrtle, Ray and Ernest; Fred, a farmer of Sheridan township, who married Mattie Pick- ering; and Simon, who lives at home. By a second union, with Mrs. Annie Freeman, nee Bavard, a son, Harry, was born, who resides at home. The third wife bore the maiden name of America M. Lovelace; she is a native of Missouri, and still survives.
In October, 1867, Mr. Westervelt located
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on the place where he now lives. The land was wild, only seven acres being under cultivation and there were no roads. The buildings on the place consisted of a small log house. However, there was plenty of game, and the man who could make a "Figure 4" trap could have quail on toast every morning if he so desired, or if he could handle a gun he could have baked wild goose or duck for dinner during the spring or fall, while as to rabbit stew, that could be be served at any hour in the day, for rabbits were as common as grasshoppers.
Our subject, not satisfied with only 160 acres of land, added to the original property from time to time until he now has 460 acres of fine land, about 300 acres of which is under cultivation. All the small grains are produced and large quantities of hay put up every year. Horses are raised for use on the farm, besides other stock.
Mr. Westervelt takes a great interest in politics, always voting the Republican ticket. A member of the Baptist Church of Sheridan township; he stands for that which is for the good of the community always, and is well known throughout the county as a man of up- right character and honesty of purpose, a man trusted and liked by all. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Westervelt accompany this sketch.
ALTER L. BRADSHAW, the pro- prietor of a general merchandise store at Crestline, is a well known citizen of Cherokee County. He was born in Maries County, Missouri, Decem- ber 9, 1866, and is a son of Henry C. and Nancy A. (Fritz) Bradshaw.
The subject of this sketch is a grandson of Skelton Bradshaw, whose father came to this country from Scotland, locating in New York State. Henry C. Bradshaw was born in New
York State and died near Lowell, Kansas, July 28, 1895, aged 56 years. When a small boy he was taken by his parents to Illinois, near Bloomington, where he was reared to manhood. He was 18 or 19 years old when the family moved to Muscatine, Iowa, and when the Civil War broke out he was living in Missouri. He enlisted at St. Louis, in Company H, 24th Reg., Missouri Vol. Inf., and immediately saw ac- tive service. He was wounded at Tupelo, Mis- sissippi, and for a time was confined in a hos- pital, afterwards rejoining his regiment. He served three years and six months, and was mustered out at St. Louis. He then took up farming in Maries County, Missouri, and con- tinued in that occupation until he removed to Galena, Kansas, in 1879. Here he mined one year, and then purchased a farm on which he continued until his death. During the last 12 years of his farming, he made a specialty of the raising of potatoes. He planted from 10 to 20 acres in potatoes each year, being the lar- gest producer in the county, and disposed of them in the home market. His death was the result of an accident, brought about by his team becoming frightened and running away. He was a Republican in politics. Fraternally, he was a member of the Galena Post, G. A. R .; and of the A. O. U. W.
Henry C. Bradshaw was married, in Mis- souri, to Nancy Fritz, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Philip Fritz. Four children were born to them, namely : Walter L. : Laura, deceased wife of J. L. Phillips, of Galena ; Rob- ert A., of Crestline; and John E. They were members of the Christian Church, of which Mr. Bradshaw was a deacon.
Walter L. Bradshaw remained with his parents until he was 22 years old, working on the farm during the summer and in the mines in winter. At that age he prospected for him- self, with some success, and subsequently farmed for four years. After mining again for
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18 months, he went to the Cherokee Nation, In- dian Territory, and was engaged in general merchandising for two and a half years. He next returned to Galena, and in 1891 purchased the general merchandise store of V. K. Hocket, at Crestline, which he has since conducted with good results. He also has a farm of 80 acres, which he has rented out.
In September, 1891, Mr. Bradshaw was united in marriage with Jeanette Wentzell, a daughter of William Wentzell, of Lowell, Kan- sas. They had five children, three of whom are living, namely : Ira O., Ray and William H. Politically, the subject of this sketch is a Re- publican. He was trustee of Garden township one year, and takes an earnest interest in party affairs, although never a seeker for political honors. He is a member of Crestline Lodge No. 476, I. O. O. F. ; the Rebekahs ; Lodge No. 139, A. O. U. W .; and the Anti-Horse Thief Association. Mrs. Bradshaw is a member of the Christian Church.
F. SMYRES, a very successful farmer and breeder of fine horses, who is lo- cated on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 27, township 33, range 24, in Crawford township, and is a large land owner in other parts of the country, was born April 13, 1855, in Hocking County, Ohio, and is a son of Lewis and Martha (Fink) Smyres.
Lewis Smyres, who came of French ances- try, was born in Hocking County, Ohio, and lived there until he was about 48 years old, when, in 1861, he moved to Wabash County, Indiana, where he made his home until his death, in 1894. He was a farmer and stock- raiser and was widely known as a breeder of of fine, heavy-draft horses. His farm was lo- cated in the Hocking Valley coal district, the underlying coal beds being still undeveloped
when he sold out. His wife was also born in Hocking County, of Scotch parentage. Her father, who died at the age of 98 years, was a Methodist preacher, and was the father of five preachers, three of whom still survive. Two of his sons served in the Civil War, one as a general and one as a colonel, while the father had served in the Mexican War. Mrs. Smyres died in Hocking Valley while the sub- ject of this sketch was a babe. She left two other children, viz: D. P. Smyres, of Rice County, Kansas ; and L. A. Smyres, an attorney in Champaign County, Illinois. By a second marriage, the father reared eight other chil- dren, who reside in Wabash County, Indiana.
H. F. Smyres was reared and educated in Indiana, where he attended Valparaiso Col- lege under the noted Professor Brown. His active life has been devoted to the breeding of fine standard horses, but he has also taught school and farmed extensively. He first came to Kansas in 1884 and settled in Rice County, where he secured a farm and made his home for nine years. Then he sold that property and removed to Ellsworth County, where he still owns 320 acres of land, which is known as the "Smoky Hill Ranch." He also has 400 acres, known as the "Frenchman's Valley Stock Farm," in Phillips County, Colorado. In March, 1900, Mr. Smyres came to Cherokee County, and purchased his farm of William Duncan. He has taken a deep interest and much pride in his high-bred horses, among the most valuable of which were : "Gray Harry," a pacer, with a record of 2:14, and the sire of over 40 horses which have made records be- low 2:25 ; "Billy, the Twister," 2:15: "Prairie Girl," 2:19 1-4; "Lydia R. Smyres," 2:24 1-4; and "P. D. Q.," 2:12 (in a trial heat).
Mr. Smyres was married in Indiana, to Emily E. Ridenour, who is a daughter of John and Lydia (Elwood) Ridenour, of German and English ancestry, respectively. John Ride-
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nour was one of the oldest residents of Wabash County, Indiana, where he died aged 82 years, being survived by eight children. He was one of Wabash County's most esteemed and sub- stantial men. Mr. and Mrs. Smyres have one daughter,-Lydia R.,-who is an instructor in vocal and instrumental music, and a performer of ability. Her talent is well known, and her services are frequently given in the cause of charity. Mrs. Smyres is a member of the Ger- man Lutheran Church.
Politically an adherent of the Republican party, Mr. Smyres has always refused office, his attention being devoted to his personal business. He is fraternally connected with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men.
ENRY BENJAMIN BOGGS. A work devoted to the history of Cherokee County and the men to whom she owes her marvelous development, would be incomplete without mention of Henry Benjamin Boggs, a prominent farmer, living on the southwest quarter of section 7, township 33, range 23, in Salamanca township. Mr. Boggs came to the county March 20, 1875, from the State of North Carolina, where he was born September II, 1851, in Alamance County.
The family of which Mr. Boggs is a worthy member, has been represented in North Caro- lina since the earliest colonial days. His pa- rents were Allen and Caroline (Isley) Boggs, both of whom died when he was a child. In the family were one brother and two sisters, all of whom came to Cherokee County. They were as follows : Jerry A., a former merchant, but now a clerk for a coal company at Weir City ; Cornelia Ann, who married Henry Isley, and died at Weir City in 1902; and Mary Jane,
deceased in 1882, who was the wife of J. Pick- ering, also deceased.
Mr. Boggs remained in his native State until he was 23 years of age. He passed his boyhood on a farm, and was later apprenticed to the carpenter's trade. As before stated, he came to Cherokee County, in the spring of 1875, drawn by the possibilities here existing for the poor man. He located first in Sheridan township, but after two years, rented land in section 9 in Salamanca township, where he re- mained about five years, and then purchased from the railroad company the east half of the northeast quarter of section 8. This farm remained his home until 1895, when he sold it and purchased the piece of land on which he now resides. Mr. Boggs, since coming to the county, also resided for a period of two and a half years in Columbus, during which time he was engaged in carpenter work and bridge building. Indeed he has at various times made use of his knowledge of carpentry, since coming to his present location, having assisted in the construction of the Laflin-Rand powder mills. The different farms with which Mr. Boggs has had to do have all shown the marks of his in- dustry and intelligent management, in their im- proved condition. He is looked upon as one of the best farmers in the county.
During his residence in Cherokee County, the subject of this sketch has always been alive to the interests of the different communities in which he has resided. His hand and his purse have been at the disposal of his neighbors, when it came to the building of school house or church, or any other improvement which had for its object the betterment of society. Not an office seeker, he has never yet shirked the duties of the minor and unsalaried offices in the township and school district. He was for II years a member of the School Board in District No. 74, and has for the past eight years been a member of the School Board of his home
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district, No. 101. He was also a member of the board of trustees of Salamanca township, having been clerk of the board for several years. In matters of business, Mr. Boggs is wide awake and up-to-date, hailing the advance of each new idea with a helping hand. He was actively interested in securing the advantages of a telephone system in his neighborhood, and was secretary of what was known as the Sher- win Junction Telephone Company. Mr. Boggs has been quite a traveler, having been across the continent to Portland, Oregon, -- up to Vancouver Island, going via Seattle, Washing- ton, and returning to Kansas by way of Spokane, Washington, and visiting other points of interest.
In political action, Mr. Boggs inclines to the Democratic party, although he demands clean men and sound principles ; otherwise lie reserves the right to vote independently. He is a firm believer in the fraternal principle, and has been a potent factor in building up the A. H. T. A., serving his local lodge as presi- dent. In Masonry, also, he has taken a deep interest, and at present is serving as master of Prudence Lodge, No. 100, of Columbus.
Mr. Boggs was married in 1877 in Cher- okee County. Prior to that period, Mrs. Boggs was Barbara J. Isley. She is a native of North Carolina, from which State her parents moved, about 1867, to Kansas. They first located in Lyon County, but after a short period came to Cherokee. To Mrs. Boggs five children have been born, namely : John A., Dora, Elmer, Gertrude and Jerry S., of whom the three last named live at home. John A., the eldest son, who has passed his majority, has traveled ex- tensively on the Pacific Coast, and was for a year in the employ of the Central Coal & Coke Company at Bonanza, Arkansas. Dora, the elder of the two daughters, is the wife of Ed- ward Best; they reside at home with Mr. Boggs, together with their little daughter, Gertrude.
Gertrude, the younger daughter, is a member of the class of 1905 in the County High School at Columbus.
The foregoing will serve to acquaint the reader with the standing of the subject of this sketch in Cherokee County. Both he and his family receive, as they merit, the highest es- teem of all citizens of the county.
HOMAS W. DORSEY, secretary of the Democratic County Central Com- mittee, and a successful real estate dealer and leading business man of Faulkner, was born in New York City, Febru- ary 22, 1872, and is a son of Andrew and Catherine (Welch) Dorsey.
Thomas Dorsey, his grandfather, was a na- tive of Ireland, and was one of the first school teachers in County Mayo, while his maternal grandfather, James Welch, was game warden on one of the large preserves situated in the same county.
Andrew Dorsey was born in 1849 in Frank- fort, Kentucky, but was taken to New York by his parents when they became residents of that State. Being of a roving disposition, he determined to see something of the world, and became quite a traveler, working his way and visiting England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and inany points on the Continent. Returning to the United States, he became a contractor in Indianapolis, and continued in that business until he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to retire from active pursuits. He thien purchased a fine farm near Joplin, Mis- souri, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred August 28, 1904. He also in- vested in city property. He was a stanch Demo- crat, and a man of sterling character and worth. He was married to Catherine Welsli, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1856. Their
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marriage was solemnized in Edinburgh, Scot- land, and was blessed by the birth of seven children, namely : Thomas WV .; William A., a resident of Neck City, Missouri ; Peter J., who lives in Kansas City; Mrs. Margaret Coonts, of Joplin, Missouri; Mrs. Katie Porgen, of Coffeyville, Kansas ; Mrs. Fannie Richards, of Joplin, Missouri; and Mary, who died at the age of 16 years.
When Thomas W. Dorsey was but a few months old, his parents moved to Indianapolis. In the fall of 1878 they located in Caldwell County, Missouri, which was his home until the spring of 1897. He was there extensively engaged as a stock-raiser and agriculturist, fine stock being his especial pride. Indeed, he has not been able to entirely give up his pleasure in this respect and annually raises about half a hundred fine, pedigreed Poland-China hogs, al- though he has been mainly interested in buy- ing grain since coming to Faulkner. He erected a building 38 by 16 feet, in dimensions for scales, granary purposes, etc., and has built up a good, paying business. In addition to this, he is frequently asked to act as auctioneer, and the sale of many farm properties has re- sulted through his instrumentality. Besides two lots in Faulkner, he owns a fine farm of 80 acres in Neosho township, and has been closely identified with the public spirited, enter- prising men who have been such important factors in building up the county. Mr. Dorsey is a Democrat, and has exerted no little in- fluence in politics, being a stump speaker of force and vigor. He has held the office of justice of the peace since he has been a resident in Faulkner, and for the past four years has been the efficient secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee. Through his ex- ample and influence he has raised the standard in the schools of his township, and is a man who may always be relied upon to favor any public improvement. He is a member of the
Roman Catholic Church, and a prominent Odd Fellow, having passed through the chairs. He is corresponding secretary of Lodge No. 108, Anti-Horse Thief Association, and has assisted in capturing some of the many thieves who at one time infested the State, and were a menace to its prosperity and order.
AMES R. PETERS. Among the wealthy and influential citizens of the county, none stands higher in the public esteem and can count more real friends, than James R. Peters, a farmer living in section 15, township 32, range 22, in Sheri- dan township. He was born in Dutchess County, New York, November 4, 1839. His father, John Cotton Smith Peters, was the owner of and ran a cotton factory for many years. Going South when our subject was only six months old, he died there of yellow fever.
The mother married a second husband, Stephen Griffin, whose occupation was milling. The two children of her first .marriage are : George A., deceased, and James R., our sub- ject. To the second marriage were born a son and a daughter, both of whom are living : John, a miller at French Creek, New York; and Ella, who lives in Pennsylvania.
In 1844. Mrs. Griffin and the children moved to Chester County, New York, where she died in 1846 and our subject was left alone in the world when only seven years of age. From the time of his mother's death, he lived out among relatives, and received rather harsh treatment, and had no advantages whatever. His schooling was sadly neglected, and little chance if any was given him to obtain even a common education.
Mr. James R. Peters married Harriet A. Morgan, a native of New York State. She was born in Clymer, in the aforenamed State.
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مصوم حمود
البيان
MR. AND MRS. JOHN T. CARVER AND FAMILY
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on February 17, 1842. The family consisted of five children, three of whom are living, as fol- lows: Sarah A., the eldest child, born Novem- ber 15, 1860, who is the wife of Asa Wester- velt, a farmer of Sheridan township; Ella O., born October 15, 1862, who died two years later ; Abbie C., born September 9, 1869, who married Francis Kutz, of Sheridan township, and had six children, of whom five are living ; Emma E., born May 15, 1878, and deceased August 28th of the same year; and Pearl Estella, born December 18, 1879, who married Henry Bucklen, of Kansas, and has one son,- Gordon.
Ahasuerus Peters, the grandfather of our subject, was a Methodist Episcopal minister in Connecticut.
After his 15th birthday our subject went to work for himself and by selling stock and doing different kinds of work in and about Clymer, New York, he, by the hardest labor, accumu- lated enough to buy a farm of 130 acres. He started with the small sum of 50 cents and is now possessed of about ten thousand dollars. In October, 1879, he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, and located on 80 acres of land in Sheridan township. Later he added another 80 acres to his first purchase, and has now nearly 160 acres of improved land. The first year of his residence in the county he raised 40 bushels of wheat, 114 bushels of oats and 1,800 bushels of corn. His farm now produces all of the small grains besides large quantities of hay. Mr. Peters has dealt in stock quite ex- tensively and keeps numbers of horses, cattle and hogs. He has also been engaged in the loaning business, having large amounts out at a time.
In politics our subject is a stanch Republi- can and is very active as he is one of the leaders of his party in the county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is well known in religious circles.
His success here as well as during his more youthful days is due to his habits of industry and to his perseverance and well directed efforts, the latter being the keynote of success in any line.
OHN T. CARVER, a representative of the pioneer days of Kansas, is a prominent agriculturist of Garden township, and has witnessed the won- derful transformation of this section from a wide stretch of prairie to cultivated farms and populous communities. He was born on Shoal Creek, Newton County, Missouri, April 4. 1840, and is a son of Richard and Mary Jane (Simmons) Carver, the former a native of Ohio and the latter, of Virginia.
Richard Carver came of a well known Ohio family, and of a large family of children but one survives, who lives in Neosho, Missouri, at the advanced age of 92 years. The father of our subject followed farming in his native State until 1838, then came West with his fam- ily to Newton County, Missouri, making the trip in a covered wagon. He later moved to what was then known as McGee County, Kan- sas, then a part of Bourbon County, but now Cherokee County, settling one mile east of Baxter Springs on what is known as Starr Prairie. He lived there, except during the war, and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1866, when he moved to the farm on which our subject is located in section 36, township 34, range 25, in Garden township. They had vis- ited this claim as early as 1849, and hired a young Indian and a white man named Lee to spear two barrels of fish, which they did at the lake at Cedar Bluff, the fish being so plentiful that they had a great plenty within the short space of two hours. The claim was owned by Ira Goddard, a quarter-blood Cherokee Indian.
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During the Civil War, Goddard died and the property came into the possession of his son James, who was a 16th-bood Cherokee. He had "head-right" to a tract of 320 acres. The Cherokee Neutral Lands were incorrectly sur- veyed and upon a new survey being made it was found that the new line was a half mile south of the one established before by the gov- ernment. James Goddard put in his claim for the 320 acres due him under the treaty, which took up the claim previously purchased by Richard Carver. Thus this tract became an Indian reservation until the Carver family com- promised with Goddard, paying him $1,000 to relinquish and give Mr. Carver the right of preemption and immediate possession. Since that time the Carvers have been in continuous possession of this tract of land. Two double, hewed-log houses, now in use as barns, sur- rounded by a rail fence, were on the place at that early date, having been built by the In- dians. This section abounded in deer, wild turkeys, prairie chickens and ducks, and prai- rie wolves were numerous west of Baxter Springs. Richard Carver was an Odd Fellow and a Mason. He died on this claim March 23. 1872, his wife having died near Lawrence, Kansas, in 1862. Six children blessed their union, namely : William, deceased; Joel, de- ceased ; Stephen, of Quapaw, Indian Territory ; John T .; Mrs. Rebecca J. McGinnis ; and Al- mira, deceased.
John T. Carver was reared on the farm and received a very limited amount of schooling, such education as he received being through his individual efforts. In the latter part of June, 1861, when the first Federal soldiers came to Southwest Missouri under General Sigel, he accompanied his father to Neosho, Missouri. Being so well acquainted with the country, he was engaged by General Sigel to act as guide on July 3rd of that year. The forces moved
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