USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 63
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Cherokee County and resides at Columbus. An- drew M. and Mary M. (twins) were born De- cember 4, 1868; Andrew, a physician at Miami, Indian Territory, married Miss Williams, and after her decease married Alice Moore. Mary married Dr. Frank Rainier, who was killed in an accident at Fort Scott, Kansas, where she now resides with her two children,-Rea and Frank. Hugh P., born August 13, 1872, a graduate of Washington (Tennessee) College and McCormick Theological Seminary, is now a Presbyterian minister at Harper, Kansas. Julia Belle, born November 17, 1874, resides at home with her father.
The second marriage of Mr. Cooter oc- curred January 1I, 1897, the bride being Mrs. P. Ann Haley, nee Thomas. Her two children by her first marriage are Mary (Mrs. Dr. P. J. Hendrickson), of Columbus, whose children are Ethel and Hattie; and O. G., a merchant at Trenton, Missouri. Mr. Cooter's second wife died in St. Louis, Missouri, June 20, 1904, while attending the World's Fair. She was aged 65 years, having been born April 15, 1839.
Politically, Mr. Cooter is a Republican, and boasts of having raised seven other voters for that party. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1859, has served as an elder many years, and is now trustee of the church at Columbus. The solid character of the subject of this sketch causes him to be universally respected and esteemed, not only in Columbus, but thoughout all the countryside. 1
€ PHRAIM EDWARD HOLT, a well known citizen and successful business man of Weir City, and the owner of a first-class grain and feed store, was born at Portland, Maine, June 24, 1840, and is a son of Ephraim and Julia A. (Kemp) Holt.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
Ephraim Holt was born at Bethel, Maine, where he died in 1843; his wife was born at Gorham, Maine, and died in 1848, leaving three orphan children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. For some years Ephraim Holt was engaged in the coal and wood business in the city of Portland.
Ephraim Edward Holt attended the schools of Gorham, Maine, to which place he had re- moved, with his mother, at the age of five years, and began his business career in boyhood on the old Cumberland and Oxford Canal, at Gorham. Several years later he learned the shoemaker's trade and followed this in that city. When he was 21 years of age, he worked in lumber camps and at other occupations. In 1865, he enlisted in the Civil War, entering the 29th Unassigned Regiment, Maine Vol. Inf., under Captain Ring, in which he remained from February until the following May, with- out, however, seeing any active service.
In 1868 Mr. Holt came to the West, set- tling first in Grundy County, Iowa, and for one year worked by the month for farmers. In October, 1869, he came to Kansas and bought a partly improved quarter section of land in Crawford County. He made many improve- ments here and followed farming until 1880, when he sold out and went to Colorado. There he worked for a year in the silver mines near Bakersville, in Clear Creek County. Upon his return to Kansas, he worked for a time in a general store at Monmouth, and then went on the road in the interest of a nursery house. He continued to sell nursery stock over the country for five years, seeing much of the coun- try and learning its resources. In 1887 he lo- cated at Weir City, embarking in the confec- tionery and lunch-room business, in which he continued for seven years. In 1894 he pur- chased the already established grain and feed business of W. R. Colean, and this he has made an important feature of the city's business life.
In 1892, Mr. Holt was married to Mrs. Anna (Perry) Godfrey, widow of Joel God- frey. In politics, he is a Republican and dur- ing the administration of the late Dr. D. W. King, as mayor, he served four years as treas- urer of Weir City. Previously, while residing in Crawford County, he served as one of the trustees of Osage township. He is a Mason and a United Workman, and belongs also to the Grand Army of the Republic.
ON. LORENZO D. BREWSTER, mayor of Baxter Springs, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Cherokee County, was born May 10, 1855, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a son of Joel and Jane L. (Hathaway) Brewster.
Joel Brewster, who is a native of New York, is now a retired resident of Montrose, Colorado. Formerly he was extensively engaged in lum- bering, and at one period of his life owned the majority of the boats operated on the Erie Canal. He has been a lifelong Republican, but on no occasion has held official position. The eight survivors of his family of 12 children are: Lorenzo D., of this sketch; Arthur, of Colo- rado; Frank, of Portland, Oregon; Jennie, James and Grace, all of Colorado; Robert, of the Republic of Mexico; and Edward, of Arizona.
In 1866 the parents of our subject came to Baxter Springs, and here Lorenzo attended school until 16 years of age, when he became interested in surveying and spent almost a year in this work. He then went to the West and for something like 12 years was engaged in farming, stock-raising, mining and freight- ing, and during this period he visited almost every State and Territory in the West and pen- etrated into Mexico. After these many years of varied experiences, he returned to Baxter
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JOHN CLABOURN HUBBARD
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Springs, where he now lives, engaged in vari- ous enterprises and carrying on farming and cattle-raising.
On May 27, 1885, Lorenzo D. Brewster was united in marriage with Jennie Van Gundy, who is a daughter of Samuel Van Gundy, a well known citizen of Colorado, who for 20 years was a justice of the peace in that State. One son has been born to this marriage, Frank L., who is still a student.
Mr. Brewster is serving his second term as mayor, having been elected as the choice of the Democratic party, of which he has been a lifelong member. His administration has been marked by great civic improvements, and the inauguration of a general era of good feeling and laudable public spirit has been notable.
Fraternally, Mr. Brewster is a Mason and belongs to other leading organizations. He is a man of sterling character, devoted to his city, county and State and a representative of the highest kind of citizenship.
OHN CLABOURN HUBBARD, whose portrait is shown on the oppo- site page, is one of the most successful farmers in Shawnee township. He has a farm of 200 acres in section 23, township 33, range 25, which he conducts according to modern and approved methods, and the general appearance of the place indicates good manage- ment and prosperity. He is a native of Wash- ington County, Indiana, where he was born December 16, 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Mary Ellen (Franklin) Hubbard.
Joseplı Hubbard was born in Indiana and died there when the subject of this sketch was IO years old. He was a carpenter by trade and followed that occupation in connection with farming and stock-raising. Politically, he was a Democrat. He married Mary Ellen Frank-
lin, a daughter of Clabourn Franklin, and a native of Kentucky. Of the nine children born to them, four grew to maturity, namely : John Clabourn ; William G., a member of the 66tlI Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf., who was killed during the Civil War at Collierville, Tennessee; Da- vid, who is deceased; and Nancy, who is the widow of Thomas Weir, of Indiana. Relig- iously, Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard were originally Methodists and later belonged to the Christian Church, in which they were very active work- ers. The family removed to Indiana from Ten- nessee, but were originally from Virginia.
John C. Hubbard was reared after his fathi- er's death by his uncle, P. C. Franklin, a far- mer, and later by his uncle, Rev. Aaron Hub- bard,-a very prominent elder in the Christian Church, who gave him employment in a store for about two years. After this, he farmed on his own account until the war, renting different places. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany C, 38th Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf. He vet- eranized at Rossville Gap, Tennessee, in 1864. He was honorably discharged in August, 1865. having received but slight wounds in the sery- ice. The 38th Regiment belonged to the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, of the 14th Army Corps and was one of the "star" regiments of the Civil War. It was in 17 battles, in which men were killed and wounded. Mr. Hubbard was in every battle in which his regiment was en- gaged, and was with Sherman on his famous "March to the Sea." He fought in the last battle of the war at Bentonville, Northi Caro- lina, in 1865. After the close of the war, he opened a grocery store at Little York, Indiana, which he conducted a year and a half. In 1867 with his wife he moved to Iola, Allen County, Kansas, where he purchased a farm and con- ducted it for six or seven years. While resid- ing at Iola, in 1872, he was elected trustee of Deer Creek township, at that time six by II miles square. Having sold this farm, he went
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
1 to Granby, Missouri, and engaged in the grocery business with Jacob Mingus under the firm name of Mingus & Hubbard. He dis- posed of his interest in the store to his partner in 1879, and went to Leadville, Colorado, where he furnished a transportation service for a railroad survey from Georgetown to Lead- ville, remaining there one year. When snow came on, he went from the mountains to Lead- ville, and bought a feed store, which he con- ducted until the following spring. In 1880 he returned to Granby. In the spring of 1883 he went to Texas, but as he did not like it there he came North within a few months. He lo- cated at Galena, Kansas, and was engaged in prospecting and mining there until 1892, meet- ing with fair success. In that year he was elected register of deeds. During the four years he held that office, he resided at Colum- bus. In 1896 he bought his present farm of 200 acres and engaged in general farming and stock-raising, having more stock than the aver- age farmer, and of very fine blood. He has from 50 to 60 head of cattle, and as many Po- land-China hogs. He has a Poland-China boar, registered, from "Western Wilkes," and is the owner of "Albion Duke Second," No. 202.385, an American Shorthorn bull. He has as fine buildings as any farmer in this section, and is well fixed for raising both grain and stock. In 1903 he built a splendid bank barn, with 14-foot posts on one side and 20-foot posts on the other, and with a capacity for 75 tons of hay and eight head of horses. He has the finest corn crib and granary in the county, and an implement building of the same size as the barn, with the exception that it has Io-foot posts. It is equipped with grain bins, and space for hay overhead. Mr. Hubbard has a young orchard of 700 trees, consisting of ap- ples. peaches, cherries and plums. He also has an excellent vineyard, with four of the best varieties of early and late grapes. Although
a man given to hard work and close applica- tion to business, Mr. Hubbard has never been a slave to the accumulation of money, but be- lieves in partaking of the pleasures of life, and in relaxation from work. He has always been partial to the comforts of home life, and the companionship of his family. In 1903 he re- modeled his residence, the frame of which is of white pine and was erected in 1877. There are 10 large, airy rooms, well provided with closets and other conveniences, making it one of the best country homes in the county.
Mr. Hubbard was united in marriage with Olive Maynard, a daughter of A. K. Maynard, of Indiana, and of the II children born to them seven grew to maturity, namely: Flora, prin- cipal of the First Ward School at Galena ; Fran- cis M., a mechanic of St. Louis; Walter G., who is in the undertaking and livery business at Bisbee, Arizona ; Calvin, a general merchant of Appalachie, Oklahoma; David Albert, who is on the farm; Annie, a music teacher, who is the wife of John McMillin, of Joplin, Missouri, who conducts a music store; and Arthur Leroy, a farmer of Spring Valley township. Mrs. Hubbard died November 9, 1888, at the age of 44 years. She was a member of the Chris- tian Church. On August 15, 1900, the subject of this sketch formed a second union, wedding Minnie Van Metre, of Wisconsin.
OHN SAMUEL McCORMICK, presi- dent of the Sherwin-Mineral Local Telephone Company, of Cherokee County, and the owner of a farm of 105 acres in section 29, township 32. range 23, in Ross township, was born in Todd County, Kentucky, April 24, 1857. He is a son of Dr. Walter B. and Belle ( Holcomb) McCormick.
Both parents of the subject of this sketch were born in Kentucky, the father, in Todd County, and the mother, in Logan County. Dr.
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McCormick was twice married, the children of the first union having been,-Theodore A., a farmer of Ross township; Christina J., Mar- garet and R. F., deceased ; and Rebecca, of Ross township. The children of the second mar- riage were: John Samuel; Walter A., of Ross township; Esther F., of Vernon County, Mis- souri ; and Mary E., Lulu and Martha, de- ceased.
In May, 1867, Dr. McCormick and his family left Kentucky, and, after six weeks of traveling, stopped near Galena, Kansas. A de- sirable location was sought on which to settle, and on July 28th they permanently located on the farm which the subject of this sketch now occupies. The family secured 240 acres of wild land, but few other pioneers having yet located there. Dr. McCormick had brought with him four yoke of oxen, two wagons, 17 cows and two Kentucky blooded mares. The family and stock needed immediate shelter, and as expe- ditiously as possible a house was built, the ma- terials for which had to be brought by ox teams from Kansas City. This home was known far and wide as the "White House" as it was the first house to be painted white in the county, and probably one of the first which was painted at all. It became a landmark, and its hospitality was enjoyed by many a traveler of that day.
During the first year, about five acres of ground were broken, for the year was well ad- vanced before they could begin work, and in the following spring a crop of oats was put in. In 1868, 40 acres were broken, which were de- voted to wheat and sod corn, the former being sold for $2, and the latter, for $1 a bushel. Their cattle multiplied, and the family grew very prosperous. Dr. McCormick continued to practice his profession, and was known and esteemed all over the county. In politics, he was a Republican. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and an upright, Christian man.
He died November 16, 1884, and his widow survived him until March 5, 1898.
The subject of this sketch enjoyed the best educational advantages which the schools of Ross township afforded, and he remained at home until he was 22 years of age. Then he started out for himself as a farm hand. He worked for $13 a month for about three years, and then bought 40 acres of land in Ross town- ship, in section 8, township 32, range 23. After selling this, he bought 80 acres in section 29, township 32, range 23, which he also sold, and purchased 80 acres in section 31. On this he lived for five years, building a house, barn and other structures, fencing, etc., and then traded it for his brother's share in the old homestead, to which he removed in 1890. He has sold off a part of the home land, and since 1898 has de- voted the larger part of his attention to dairy- ing, keeping 30 head of milch cows, and selling Jersey milk at Mineral. He also raises horses, mules and Poland-China hogs.
Mr. McCormick was first married on No- vember 8, 1893, in Vernon County, Missouri, to Minnie Dunn, and they had one child, John S. The second marriage was in Caldwell County, Missouri, August 14, 1901, to Mrs. Sarah Belle Campbell. Like his father, Mr. McCormick has always enjoyed the sports of fishing and hunting. He is a well known citi- zen, who is very highly esteemed throughout the county.
LARK W. HOAG, M. D., who has the distinction of being the oldest physi- cian in Weir City, and has long been one of the leading members of the profession in Cherokee County, was born in 1847 in Illinois, and is a son of Ashel W. and Celestine (Dye) Hoag.
The father of Dr. Hoag was born in 1816
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
in New York, and died in Cass County, Mis- souri, in 1900, aged 84 years. The mother was born in Illinois in 1815, and died in Missouri in 1891, aged 76 years. They had five children, the three survivors being Clark W., and two older brothers, viz : Wilber C., who still resides on the old homestead in Missouri, and has three children,-Laura, Arthur and Wilbur; and Oscar, living in the State of Washington, who married Laura Hoag and has three children.
Dr. Hoag's parents removed to Illinois in 1849, when Chicago had but a few log houses resting on her mud flats, and when business prospects were not encouraging enough to in- duce Mr. Hoag to remain any longer than was absolutely necessary. He pushed on into Iowa and settled in Allamakee County, where he se- cured a homestead grant and lived upon his land for 13 years. Thence he moved to Bu- chanan County, Iowa, where he lived until 1867. when he went to Cass County, Missouri, and there became a prominent farmer.
Dr. Hoag was reared in Iowa and obtained his literary education at Iowa City. In 1867 he came to Kansas, and bought and improved land in Miami County. This he subsequently sold, and then took a medical course in the Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1868. His parents had set- tled in Cass County, Missouri, and he entered into practice there and remained two years. His attention was then attracted to the lately opened mining districts in Cherokee County, Kansas, and in the spring of 1871 he decided to engage in practice at a place first named "Coal Field," and later changed to "Stillson",-a point lo- cated about a mile from Scammon. The Doc- tor was made postmaster at Coal Field and gradually became one of the leading spirits of this locality. His profession made him ac- quainted with almost every family, and his strong personality, sense, judgment and capac- ity, brought him naturally into close contact
with the business affairs and social arrange- ments of the little community.
Dr. Hoag has been called the father of Scammon. He came here when but one coal shaft blackened the prairie, and bestowed upon the little settlement the name it bears to-day, as a prosperous little city of 2,000 inhabitants. He was not only instrumental in obtaining post office facilities here, but for years was a prime mover in all public spirited enterprises. In 1881 he removed from Scammon to Weir City, again being one of the early settlers, and has witnessed the city's growth from a few scattered homes to a population of 3,000. The wonder- ful changes taken place here, the great indus- tries put in motion and the immense influx of capital, have all come since Dr. Hoag came to the little settlement to give his professional help to the workmen, who then labored under much more dangerous conditions than at present. He is city physician, and president of the Board of Health.
In December, 1866, Dr. Hoag married Ag- nes Beith, who is of Scotch ancestry, and they had two children : Evelyn, born at Coal Field, wife of Dr. J. C. Adams, of Weir City ; and Arthur C., who was born in 1869, in Miami County, Kansas, and died at Weir City, De- cember 21, 1893; he was a very promising young business man of this city. He married Maud Wagner, at Pittsburg, Kansas, and they had three children,-Harold, Hazel and Fred. The death of this son was a source of great sor- row to his parents, and occasioned deep regret in the community, by whom he was much es- teemed.
At one time Dr. Hoag was one of the three physicians of Cherokee County, the others be- ing Dr. Bailey of Cherokee and Dr. Barry of Weir City. The records of those early days contain matter for a thousand romances, all dealing with the sternest realities of life and death.
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MR. AND MRS. ANDREW DWIGHT WATTS
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Politically, Dr. Hoag is and always has been a stanch supporter of the principles of the old Democratic party, but has desired no politi- cal preferment for himself. In the early days here he had to serve in many positions, and was the first justice of the peace at Scammon, but his professional dutes have more than filled the limit of his health and time. Fraternally, he is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
NDREW DWIGHT WATTS, ex- County Treasurer and one of the leading farmers of the county, re- sides in section 33, township 32, range 22, in Sheridan township. Mr. Watts has for many years made a specialty of raising fine stock, his imported horses being especially famous. He is a native of the "Green Moun- tain State," where he was born in Addison County, May 22, 1843.
The parents of our subject, John G. and Mary (Foster) Watts, resided in their early youth at Gardner, Massachusetts, whence they moved up into Vermont. In the summer of 1844, they moved out to Leesburg, Indiana, where they continued to reside the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1871, the father two years later. Both were consistent mem- bers of the Christian Church during their life- time, and the father was a Democrat in politi- cal belief. He was a maker of wooden pumps and followed the business quite extensively and with considerable success. He was a man of strong characteristics and always took quite an active part in affairs, having been for 18 years justice of the peace at Leesburg. Of Nebraska ; Hannah, of Wabash, Indiana ; Mary- rick, a retired carpenter residing at Humboldt, Nebraska ; Hannah, of Wabash, Indiana ; May- ett, of Andrews, Indiana; Marinda, of Ligo-
nier, Indiana; and Andrew Dwight, the hon- ored subject of this review.
Owing to untoward circumstances in his early youth, Mr. Watts had poor advantages of education. He attended school but three months each season in his boyhood, and later took a commercial course at Bryant & Strat- ton's Business College at Troy, New York. This, however, has not been a bar to his success, as he was possessed of an unusually observant mind and as years passed has become a well informed man. He learned the pump business at home and later, leaving home at 17 years, took up the carpenter's trade. For the follow- ing II years he followed this occupation with success in Indiana. Finally, in June, 1869, Mr. Watts resolved to see what was in the stories which were being circulated concerning the rich land that could be had for a "song" in Kansas. Fort Scott was the first town at which he stopped and there he spent the year 1870 as a patternmaker in a foundry at that point. In the meantime he picked a location four miles north of Columbus, preempting the southeast quarter of section 26, township 32, range 23, in Ross township. In company with his friend, William Benham, he erected thereon a sod shanty and thus humbly began his career as an agriculturist in the "Sunflower State." He soon brought to this primitive home the wife who has been so faithful a helpmeet in the ensuing years, Mary E. Wall, a native of Day- ton, Ohio, but at that time residing with her father, John L. Wall, in Newton County. Mis- souri. Together they took up the task of mak- ing a home on the bare prairie, and a task it was, indeed. They passed through all the trials and privations of those early pioneer times, but by faithful toil succeeded in the 20 years which they passed on that farm in developing a most productive property. In 1891, Mr. Watts traded it for the farm where he now resides,-
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
the east half of section 33, township 32, range 22, in Sheridan township. This farm was only partially improved, the general appearance of thrift now seen about the farm being entirely the result of Mr. Watts' labors. About 200 acres of this place is under cultivation, the crops raised being such as can be best used in feeding the blooded stock in which Mr. Watts deals.
Of late years, our subject has given much attention to blooded stock and always keeps on hand something fine in imported blood. At present, besides a fine jack, he has the splendid Shire horse "Nailor," and a German coach horse named "Dorn." In the line of hogs lie favors the red Poland stock. The name which Mr. Watts has established in Cherokee County is the result of painstaking care in the selection of stock, never allowing anything inferior on the place.
As a citizen, the life of our subject has been one which has been helpful along the lines of general uplift. He has never shirked his duty in the matter of administering the minor offices in the township and school district and in the support of religious institutions. Reared a Democrat, he became the nominee of his party in 1892 for the office of County Treasurer, and such was his popularity that he received the certificate of election. Again in 1894 he was chosen to the office and served, in all, a period of four years with satisfaction to his constitu- ents. Mr. Watts is a member of Prudence Lodge, No. 100, A. F. & A. M., of Columbus. His wife is a member of the Friends' Church. To them were born four children, whose names in order are: John Earl, who married Ollie WValler, has two children,-Myrle and Marie,- and resides on part of the home place ; Carl K., who married Allie French, has two children,- Eva and Lucile,-and is farming part of the old farm; Lora, who is the wife of Laburtis Smith, of Sheridan township; and Judd D., re-
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