USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 62
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north to Carthage and at a forking of the road he was detailed as guide for two companies to go north of Neosho on Shoal Creek. On the morning of July 4th, they went along the La- mar road until Coon Creek was crossed, when they came in sight of the Confederate Army on a high hill. A line of battle was formed and the skirmish following was in favor of the Con- federates. General Sigel returned with his army to Carthage on his way to Springfield, and as Mr. Carver was not needed further as a guide he was discharged. In 1862 he en- gaged as a spy and scout for General Double- day and continued throughout the remainder of the war in that service. He then returned to his home and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits. A fine orchard was set out, which is now yielding well, and in 1898 he erected a comfortable home. He has been very successful as a business man and is a pub- lic spirited citizen. He was elected township trustee for a term of two years, but did not serve the full term, resigning the office on ac- count of poor health. He was also a school officer, and was clerk of the school district for a period of 26 years. Politically, he is an enthusiastic supporter of the Republican party.
In 1867, Mr. Carver was united in marriage with Clemsey Clark, and after her death mar- ried, in 1870, Kate Gandy, a native of Kansas. They became the parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy; those living are: Charles, who married Cleo Tindall and has two children,-Lila and Ever; Emma, who mar- ried Charles Porter, and has three children,- Roy, Ray and John ; John, who lives at home with his parents; and Myrtle, the wife of Charles Smith, of Joplin, Missouri. Mr. Car- ver is a member of the Old Settlers' Associa- tion of Cherokee County. A picture of the Carver family accompanies this sketch. being shown on a preceding page.
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ARRY H. BROOKHART, M. D., one of the most successful and well known physicians of Cherokee Coun- ty is Dr. Harry Brookhart, of Scam- mon. He was born in Hainesville, Missouri, in 1872. His early mental training was ob- tained in the public schools of his native place, and he graduated from the high school when very young. Later, he attended the Medical Department of Washington University, in St. Louis, Missouri. He finished the course, grad- uating in medicine in 1895. After graduating, he immediately began the practice of his pro- fession in Missouri, where he lived for four years. In 1899, being convinced that a greater opportunity awaited him farther West, he moved to Kansas, locating at Scammon, where he has since made his home.
His marriage occurred in 1891. His wife's maiden name was Maggie Miller, of Pittsburg, Kansas. They have only one child, Harry Carter, born in Scammon.
Mr. Brookhart's parents were Dr. Jacob F. and Mary (Bryant) Brookhart, the father being a native of Maryland, and the mother, of Kentucky. The parental family consisted of eight children, five of whom are living,- Cecilia, Ella, John, Iva and Harry H. Dr. Jacob F. Brookhart was a graduate of the Louisville (Kentucky) Medical College, in the class of 1847. He immediately began the prac- tice of medicine, and was engaged in that pro- fession all his life. As a Southern Democrat, he was very prominent in the politics of his State, having been a member of the Legislature at one time. During the war he was a surgeon in the Confederate Army under Lee, and served during the entire conflict. At one time he was taken prisoner in Arkansas, but was later ex- changed. His death occurred in 1888. at the age of 64 years. His wife died in 1877, at the age of 49 years.
David Brookhart, the grandfather, was of German descent, and a native of Pennsylvania, but removed to Maryland, afterward living in Kentucky and Missouri. He died in Missouri, at the age of 87 years. The father of David Brookhart came from Germany with two brothers; one settled in the South, one in the North and one in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Brookhart's residence in Scammon has been most helpful to the community, as he has taken a keen interest in everything that is for the advancement of its financial and social in- terests. He is a good "mixer," courteous and agreeable, painstaking and careful in his diag- nosis of cases, and has built up an extensive practice.
R. STROTHER, a prominent and popular citizen of Galena, was born at Louisa, Lawrence County, Ken- tucky, September 7, 1853, and is the oldest of a family of six sons and one daughter born to his parents, Anthony S. and Aura (Reeves) Strother, all of Kentucky.
Mr. Strother's boyhood was passed on his father's estate in the country and his educational advantages were only those to be secured in the little log, country school house. Although he came of old and honored ancestry and bears a name well known in his native State, the state of the family fortunes in his early manhood made the ambitious young man dependent upon his own resources for advancement. The home of the youth for a time, during the Civil War, was on the border, where he could see the out- posts of the Federal Army on one side and those of the Confederate on the other. With less ambition his life might have been one of vast difference, for his days were necessarily spent in exhausting work and his preparation for the bar was made entirely by himself, in the
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evenings. Thus undirected he succeeded and in 1881 was admitted to practice law, begin- ning in Grayson, Carter County, Kentucky, where he soon was elected police judge and served there until 1884. In the following year he moved to Southwestern Kansas, entering into practice at Ashland and Englewood, Clark County, serving as the first city attorney of the latter place and two years as justice of the peace at the former. Removing then to Jasper County, Missouri, he settled at Webb City and was soon elected justice of the peace there and served as such for six years, when he came to Cherokee County and located at Galena in 1900, entering upon the practice of his profession. In August, 1904, he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Justice of the Peace Spiva and is performing the duties of this office at present.
On December 20, 1878, Mr. Strother was married to Rebecca S. Nethercult, who was born in Carter County, Kentucky, and they have two children, viz : George S. and Ora B., aged respectively 18 and 15 years.
Mr. Strother has been an active public man since he reached his majority and has been a masterful force in the Democratic party and closely identified with party leaders. His fra- ternal connections include membership with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles. Since locating at Galena Mr. Strother has taken a public spirited interest in the city and its development. He has established his permanent home in the city, purchasing the valuable property on the corner of Sixth street and Bellevue avenue, in East Galena. His office is located on the corner of Fifth and Main streets, opposite the City Hall.
Mr. Strother was called upon in early life to endure some rough discipline, but the re- sults have proved that this only made his char- acter stronger. His wide experience in the law, his legal knowledge and a judicial temperament
have brought him unusual professional success, while his high sense of honor and unsullied integrity have brought him the confidence and esteem of his professional brethren and the pub- lic. A particularly genial personality has al- ways insured him a wide circle of friends. :
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B ASIL WIGGINS. Among the prom- inent and wealthy farmers of Chero- kee County who have retired from ac- tive work on their farms, is Basil Wiggins of Crestline, Shawnee township. He was born May 25, 1829, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Eliza- beth (Jeffries) Wiggins, both natives of Penn- sylvania.
John Wiggins was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania, and after arriving at man's es- tate followed farming most of the time, al- though for several years he carried freight be- tween Baltimore and Brownsville, over what was then called the "National Pike." In 1836 he moved to Holmes County, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming, until he was so ad- vanced in years that he was compelled to give up the heavier work of the farm. He died in 1868 at the age of 65 years. Some time before his death, he became a member of the Metho- dist Church, the family having previously been Friends. He always evinced a great interest in politics, being in earlier years a Whig, and later a Republican. For seven years, he served in the capacity of treasurer of his township. His first wife, Elizabeth Jeffries, who was a daughter of Elias Jeffries, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, died in April, 1830. Their family consisted of three children, namely : Margaret, who married P. C. Bolsinger, and lived in Colesburg, Iowa, where the deaths of both occurred; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Maxwell Dearth, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania; and Basil.
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A second marriage was consummated in Febru- ary, 1835, the bride being Martha Buchanan, of Pennsylvania. Of the children born to this union, eight grew to maturity, as follows : Jane; Harrison, deceased; Eunice; Ellen ; Henry; Albert ; John and Robinson, a member of the Union Army, who was killed at South Mountain, Maryland. Henry came to Kansas in 1869, and founded the town of Crestline.
Basil Wiggins was reared on a farm in Ohio, and lived with his parents until 1851, when he went to Colesburg, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming for 14 years. In the fall of 1865 he concluded to find a home farther West, and moving to Kansas located near Fort Scott. There he farmed for 18 months, and then bought a claim in Shawnee township, Cherokee County, where he has farmed the greater portion of his time for many years. In 1882 he was given the place of mail carrier be- tween Crestline and Pleasant View, and later Weir City was added to the route. For 15 years and seven months, his coming was the harbinger of good or bad news to many people. His face became a familiar and welcome one to all on his route, while he numbered among his numerous acquaintances many people, who were not residents of the towns where the mail was delivered. Mr. Wiggins owns 104 acres of fine farm land, all under cultivation, and all at present rented out. In 1900 he added to his possessions by the purchase of the Dr. Adams place, where he now resides.
In politics, Mr. Wiggins was formerly a Democrat, but later became a Populist. He was at one time honored with the office of treas- urer of his township, in which capacity he served for four years. For 47 years, he has been a member of the I. O. O. F., having held all the chairs ; he belongs to Columbus Lodge, No. 387. He has been a member of the Re- bekahs at Crestline, and of Western Star En- campment No. 26, of the I. O. O. F.
On August 22, 1861, Mr. Wiggins married Rebecca E. Craig, a daughter of Curtis N. Craig, of Clermont County, Ohio. Her mother was a native of Kentucky, her father of Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Wiggins is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and when possible has been an active worker in that church during her membership.
Mr. Wiggins has reached an age when most men lay aside all interests and cares, but al- though in feeble health, and suffering some- what from asthma which he has had from childhood, he is still active to a large degree. One of the early settlers of the county, he is now left almost alone, many of the friends of former days having passed away. But in the decline of life, in a pleasant home, surrounded by all the comforts of our modern times, he may be happy in the satisfaction of having lived a good life and of duties well done, and in the en- joyment of the esteem of neighbors and friends.
0 E. SKINNER, secretary and head bookkeeper of the A. Hood & Sons Implement Company, at Columbus, is also one of the most successful poultry raisers west of the Mississippi. He was born in 1855 in Albion, Indiana, and is a son of Alfred and Samantha (Cary) Skinner.
The parents of Mr. Skinner were residents of Indiana until 1881, when they removed to Labette County, Kansas, and settled near Os- wego. Both of them are now deceased. The members of the family now living are the sub- ject of this sketch and his brother and sister. His brother is freight agent for the Santa Fe & Colorado Southern Railroad Company, at Pueblo, Colorado; and his sister, Mrs. Lillie Smith, is a resident of Lola township, Cherokee County.
O. E. Skinner was reared and schooled in
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Indiana, and took a complete business course at an Indianapolis commercial college. He came to Cherokee County in 1880, and began car- penter work for the firm of Branin & Bunch, but gradually drifted into his present occupa- tion of a poultry fancier. He owns 40 acres of suitable land on which he has 45 buildings, miles of poultry fence, and all the equipment necessary for the successful carrying on of this business. Mr. Skinner pays particular atten- tion to fancy stock, and poultry from his yards brings fancy prices. He enjoys the work and it affords a relaxation from his duties as cashier and bookkeeper with one of the large business concerns of Columbus.
In Indiana, Mr. Skinner married Ella Buchan, who was born in Ohio, and is a cousin of former State Senator Buchan, of Wyan- dotte County, Kansas. The only child of this marriage is deceased.
Politically, Mr. Skinner is one of the active Democrats of this section.
ES. F. WOLFE. The rapid commercial development which has come to South- eastern Kansas in the last decade has attracted to the centers of its popu- lation a stirring, energetic class of young pro- fessional men, who always prove the life of the community. They are fresh from the seats of education, generally of good birth and breed- ing, and bubbling over with enthusiasm in the line of their different professions. They are of course first anxious about their own success, but as that is always more or less dependent on the prosperity of the communities with which they cast their fortunes, they can always be depended on to put their shoulder to the wheel and "push the town along." In this volume will be found mentioned a number of these young men, and we here present, as one of the most worthy members of the bar of Cherokee
County, Jes. F. Wolfe, the only member of the legal fraternity in the stirring village of Scam- mon.
Mr. Wolfe was born in Salem, Marion County, Illinois, in 1876. His parents came to the "Sunflower State" when he was but a child, so that he is a product of Kansas, in education and training. His elementary study was pursued in the common schools at McCune, Crawford County. He then matriculated at McPherson College and later took a course with the Sprague Correspondence School. His mind being now well settled in regard to a pro- fession, Mr. Wolfe took up its formal study in the law office of Charles Stephens, at Colum- bus, Mr. Stephens being then prosecuting at- torney of Cherokee County. In due time he passed a creditable examination, and was ad- mitted to practice in 1901. Having faith in the future of Scammon, he selected this point as a place to take up the practice of his profession, and has since been closely identified with the progress of the place. Mr. Wolfe is making rapid advancement, and building up a practice which might well be the envy of older members of the bar. He is city attorney of the corpora- tion and treasurer of the Board of Education, and has proved himself alive to the interests of the town at all times. His friends will not be disappointed in their prediction of a success- ful future for this talented young man.
The parents of Mr. Wolfe were "Hoosier State" people, who, soon after their marriage, settled on a farm in Marion County, Illinois. They subsequently came out to Kansas, in 1883, and settled in Cher- okee County, where they have since re- sided. To these parents, Leonard and Anna (Neher) Wolfe, were born eight children, as follows : Daniel, Jacob, William, Francis, Jes. F., Emma and Eli and Kate (twins). Leonard Wolfe is a son of Eli and Barbara (Mussel- man) Wolfe, who were early residents of the
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"Buckeye State." On his mother's side of the family, a great number of Mr. Wolfe's relatives lived to a ripe old age, there being several of Mr. Wolfe's uncles and great-uncles who were above 80 years old, and some lived beyond 90 years. His maternal grandmother (Mrs. Neher) is yet living, and is hale at the age of 89 years.
The subject of this sketch is a man of fam- ily, having entered the matrimonial state in 1898. Mrs. Wolfe's maiden name was Kan- sas Rebecca Hogue, and she is a native of La- bette County. She has two lovely children,- Elgiva and Elswitha.
With an excellent start in the race of life, and with conditions and circumstances most favorable, Mr. Wolfe gives every evidence of a bright future. In political affiliation, he is a Democrat, although he has never aspired to office.
ONATHAN R. WRIGHT was for many years one of the best known ag- riculturists of Garden township, and his death, which occurred December 19, 1888, was sadly mourned as a loss to the community. He was born in Wayne County, Indiana, January 20, 1820.
Jonathan R. Wright was educated in the public schools of Winchester, Indiana, after which he taught school at different times, teach- ing nine years in all. On November 5, 1877, he came West to Cherokee County, and settled three miles northwest of the present family homestead, in Spring Valley township. He farmed there one year, then removed to section 20, township 34, range 25. in Garden town- ship, where Mrs. Wright now lives, it now being an improved farm of 120 acres. He was very successful as a farmer, being an industrious man and a capable manager of his affairs.
Mr. Wright was twice married. his second
union being with Mary J. Gates, October 9, 1859. She is a daughter of John L. and Eliza (Ennesly) Gates, and of nine children she is one of three surviving sisters. Her father was a native of North Carolina and her mother, of Wayne County, Indiana. Mr. Gates moved from Wayne County, Indiana, to Miami County, that State, before the Indians had left and was one of the earliest settlers, helping to clear and develop that country. He died there before the Civil War, and Mr. Gates died about 1868.
Mrs. Wright was seven years old when she was taken by her parents to Miami County, In- diana, and there she received her education. Her marriage resulted in no issue, but she raised the daughter of Mr. Wright by his first marriage, giving her a mother's care. She rents her farm on shares and has displayed much ability in the handling of her affairs. Her trading is now done at Galena, but in the early days Baxter Springs was the trading point. In 1893, she had the misfortune to lose her home by fire, and many valuable records were de- stroyed, among them being a diary of current events and all business that had been kept by her husband, as well as his law books. Relig- iously, she is a member of the Friends' Church. Her estimable character has won the love and friendship of many acquaintances throughout the county.
€ LBERT WESLEY COOTER. One of the leading business men of Colum- bus, and a gentleman widely and favorably known throughout the county, is Elbert Wesley Cooter, at present en- gaged in the real estate business. He came to the county in December, 1880, located on a farm in Lola township, 10 miles southwest of Columbus, on Center Creek, comprising 240 acres, partially iniproved, in section 35, town-
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ship 33, range 22. Mr. Cooter was born in Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee, Novem- ber 21, 1831.
In his early childhood, the parents of Mr. Cooter moved to Lewis County, Missouri, where he was reared to manhood. He received a good common-school education, so applying himself that he was able to enter the school room as a teacher, a profession that he followed successfully in Lewis County, from 1853 to 1859. He had married in 1857. and two years later removed to Holden, Missouri, where he continued to teach until the breaking out of the war. Being a Union man, and Holden being "ultra-secesh," he found it desirable to remove to Douglas County, Kansas, where he resided until the sacking of Lawrence. He then re- turned to Lewis County and resumed teaching, In 1864 Mr. Cooter secured the appointment of surveyor of the county, and for the succeed- ing 10 years was kept exceedingly busy in that office. In the meantime he had become the possessor of a farm of 160 acres, and operated that in connection with his other duties. He had become favorably impressed with the op- portunities afforded in Southeastern Kansas, and in 1880, as stated, he moved with his fam- ily to Cherokee County. He resided on Center Creek for about seven years, during which time he brought his farm to a high state of cultiva- tion. Then he sold it, and bought the So-acre farm near the city, now owned by Thomas Keethler, the photographer. This he sold in 1894, and has since been a resident of the city. During the period from 1881 to 1887, inclusive, Mr. Cooter was county surveyor, during which period an immense amount of important work was required, the sale of large bodies of govern- ment land to the railroad company, which in turn sold the land to the settlers, making it necessary to divide the sections. Since 1894, Mr. Cooter has been active in the real estate business. Few in the county are so well quali-
fied to talk Cherokee County lands, as there is hardly a foot of this section with which he is not intimately acquainted.
Briefly referring to family history,-Mr. Cooter is a son of James and Lavina (Jones) Cooter, the former, a native of Westmoreland County, Virginia, and the latter, of Johnson County, Tennessee. James Cooter was by trade a blacksmith. In 1846 he moved to Lewis County, Missouri, where he died in May. 1864, at the age of 56 years. He was an active member of the Methodist Church, of which he was for years a class leader and Sunday-school superintendent. His wife died in Johnson County in 1841, at the early age of 31 years. She was the mother of the following children : Elbert Wesley; Jasper M., a blacksmith, who was born in 1833, and died at Holden, Mis- souri, in June, 1902: Philip C., born in 1835, who was pension agent at Cape Girardeau, Missouri; John, born in 1838, who was a justice of the peace in Cedar County, Missouri ; and Elizabeth A., born in 1840, who married Thomas Maddox, and resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
Mr. Cooter has twice entered the matri- monial state. He married his first wife, Julia Hamilton, in Lewis County, Missouri, Sep- tember 15. 1857. She was a native of that county, born April 7, 1836, and a daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Chowning) Hamilton, formerly of Bourbon County, Kentucky. Her parents died in Lewis County, their children be- ing as follows: Tabitha, who died at Mr. Cooter's home, aged 46 years; Jackson, a farmer of Lewis County ; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Andrew Young, of Johnson County, Mis- souri, both of whom are now deceased; Will- iam, a farmer, who went to California, where he died in 1852; Martha (Mrs. Thomas Tur- pin), of Lewistown, Missouri ; Margaret (Mrs. Henry Newman), deceased in 1877; Julia, wife of Mr. Cooter; Lucy (Mrs. Edward
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Buckles), residing near Dallas, Texas; Mary, who married Thomas Bowles (now living near Peoria, Illinois), and died in Lewis County in 1892; Nancy, who married William Luckett, a farmer, and lives in Lewis County ; Minerva, who married William Reagan, a farmer, and lives in Lewis County ; and Amanda, who mar- ried Frank Cheatum, now sheriff of Kingman County, Kansas.
Julia (Hamilton) Cooter died in Columbus September 4, 1895. She was the mother of seven sons and three daughters, as follows : James T., Ida M., William H., John H., De- Witt, Guy, Andrew M., Mary M., Hugh P., and Julia Belle. James T., born December 2, 1858, became a minister. He is now president of Washington College in Tennessee, to which position he was elected in 1891. He was edu- cated at Wabash College, Princeton Theologi- cal Seminary, of New Jersey, and McCormick Theological Seminary, of Chicago, and holds the degrees of B. A., M. A., and D. D. He be- gan preaching in 1883, while at McCormick Seminary. He married, in June, 1894, Sadie Gilbert, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and has three children,-Helen, William and James. Ida M. was born September 14, 1860; she married John N. Elliott, a farmer of Sheridan township and her children are,-Elbert Ernest and Julia F. William H. and John H. (twins) were born December 14, 1861, and were educated at Wabash College. John chose the profession of the ministry ( Presbyterian), and William, that of the law. Both were exceptionally prom- ising, when death claimed them, William dying May 22, and John, August 23, 1893. DeWitt, born September 15, 1865, graduated at Wabash College and is now an attorney at Miami, Indian territory ; he married, in 1893, Grace Moore, of Columbus, and his children are,- Ben Hur, Leland J. and Catherine L. Guy, born January 1I, 1867, an attorney by pro- fession, is now acting as deputy sheriff of
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