USA > Kansas > Cherokee County > History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens > Part 69
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As before stated, the subject of this sketch came to America in 1857. He did not come directly to Kansas, however, but stayed in Cleveland, Ohio, for three months, and then went to the country for his health, as his lungs were weak. A little later his father was taken sick, and sent for him to come back to the old country. He stayed there for four weeks and then returned to the United States. He again went to Ohio and farmed for two years. Thence he went to Lenawee County, Michigan, where he stayed for three years and farmed. From there he went to Nashville, Tennessee, and operated a truck garden. Mr. Dresia then turned his face Westward, and 1871 found him in Cherokee County, Kansas, where he was the first settler in his section. This section was wild land at that time. Mr. Dresia put up a small house and at once began to improve his farm. The people of the present day can hardly imagine that where his farm stands, with its first-rate farm house and buildings, and well tilled fields, was a bare prairie 30 odd years ago.
Mr. Dresia was married in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1859 to Christine Pickol, of Germany. To their marriage have been born eight children, as follows : Wilhelmina, wife of George Eades,
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of the Indian Territory; William, a farmer of Ross township ; Herman, of this county ; Frank, a miner of Ross township; Christina, of Ross township; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Joseph Gordan, and two infants, a son and daughter, deceased.
Besides his farm, which he now rents, the subject of this sketch formerly had 80 acres more, but sold that much of his estate. He also has town lots in Jacksonville, Florida, and in Miami, Indian Territory, and is interested in a lumber yard in Columbus.
Mr. Dresia has been a school officer and road overseer. He is a member of the Republi- can party, and belongs to the A. H. T. A. The Catholic Church has always found him a ready supporter, financially and otherwise. He always keeps a stock of medicines on hand, and doctors his own family.
These pages will serve to acquaint the reader with the main facts in the history of Mr. Dresia, but any of his close friends and neighbors will tell of many little acts of kind- ness, for which the whole community respects and esteems him. A picture of Mr. and Mrs. Dresia, taken with two of their children, ac- companies this sketch.
OHN W. STONE. Inseparably asso- ciated with the early history of the State of Kansas as the son of one of its martyrs, is John W. Stone, a farmer living near Baxter Springs, in section 12, township 35, range 24, in Spring Valley township, where he resides on a farm of 80 acres. He was born in Grayson County, Texas, February 10, 1851.
Joseph Stone, his father, a native of Ten- nessee, was born in 1817. After acquiring a common-school education, he engaged in the occupation of farming. While still a young
man, he removed to Texas, where he was occu- pied in stock-raising along with his farming, as was the custom of the farmers of that State. Before leaving Tennessee, he was united in marriage to Ruth Armstrong of the same State. To this union were born eight children, as fol- lows: James, living in Ohio; Caroline (Mrs. John Shields), who lives in Texas; Elijah, who died in Galena, Kansas, in 1902; Mary Jane (Mrs. James Mordica) ; Martha, who resides in Texas; Joseph, whose home is in California; Amanda, who died in childhood; and John W., our subject.
After having spent a number of years in farming and stock-raising in Texas, Joseph Stone, in 1853, removed to Barton County, Missouri, where he remained until the fall of 1863. Being a loyal Union man, he was com- pelled to leave Missouri, in order to escape the bitter hatred of his pro-slavery neighbors, the life of a Union sympathizer being held of very little value by them. After moving to Douglas County, Kansas, an attempt was made by his former neighbors to take him back to Missouri on some false charge, but it was frustrated by the prompt action of his friends. The band known as "Quantrell's Guerrillas," knowing that he resided somewhere in Douglas County, then made up their minds to get him at any cost. Surrounding his home one night. they de- manded his surrender. He arose and tried by reasoning with them to allay their hatred, but they would have nothing but unconditional surrender, or in all probability the house would have been burned, so Mr. Stone, realizing the futility of trying to resist such numbers, gave himself up. The band condescended to allow him to dress, before he began the journey which he knew was to end in his death. About a half a mile from his home, the band stopped and he was ordered to prepare for death. Mr. Stone's fortitude and bravery so enraged one of the band, that he struck his victim with a
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musket and broke his arm, just before another ruffian drew near and shot him through the temple, instantly killing him. This occurred in 1864 and is only one of the many instances when men became martyrs to this State, through the fierce vengeance of that ruffian - band of guerrillas. To-day, near Trading Post, on the line between Kansas and Missouri, stands a monument to the men who suffered martyrdom.
A year after the death of her husband, Mrs. Stone, leaving the scene of her sorrows, moved with her family to Cherokee County, locating in Garden township, where she died in 1879.
John W. Stone received a common-school education in the schools of Missouri and Kan- sas. At the time of the removal of the family to Cherokee County, he was 14 years of age. He remained at home working on the farm until he was 17 years old, when he went out as a laborer. On May 8, 1870, he was united in marriage to Mary Berger, daughter of Adam and Eliza Berger, of Cherokee County. To this union were born five children, as follows,- William, a farmer in the Indian Terri- tory, who married Eliza Rigsby and has five children, named as follows,-Goldie, Elsie, Ray, Paul and Hazel; Albert, living in Labette County, who married Carrie Ray- mer and has one child,-Floyd: Etta, who married G. W. Dale, engaged in the wholesale feed business in Joplin, Missouri, and has these children .- Grace, Essie, Otho, Opal, Earl and Marie: Dora, who married William Geary, a salesman living in Iola. Kansas, and has two children,-Murl and Weymouth ; and Minnie, wife of Arthur Leroy Hubbard,-they reside with our subject.
After his marriage, Mr. Stone went to farming for himself. He also engaged in rais- ing hay and stock, and has for nearly 20 years been a successful farmer. He also has large mining interests. He is a stanch member of
the Republican party, for the principles of which his father suffered martyrdom. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The farm on which our subject resides comprises 40 acres of well improved farm land, all under cultivation. It is one of the most desirable and comfortable of homes for himself and wife as they advance in years. Here they live, esteemed by neighbors and friends and enjoying the results of their labor in earlier years.
AMUEL JEFFERSON ELLIS, one of the most prosperous farmers of Shawnee township, is well known to the older settlers of the county, among whom he has lived for so many years. He came to this vicinity as early as 1869, and has wit- nessed the wonderful change from prairie to cultivated fields, from sparsely settled commu- nities to populous cities and towns. He was born in Cocke County, Tennessee, August 15. 1845, and is a son of Elbert and Temperance (Driskill) Ellis, coming of English and Scotch ancestry.
The great-grandfather of our subject was Isaac Ellis, who came from England to this country, locating in North Carolina. He served in the Revolutionary War and was a man typi- cal of our colonial settlers, strong in character. strong in decd and of the highest sense of honor.
Samuel Ellis, grandfather of Samuel J .. was born in Rutherford County. North Caro- iina, and served in the latter part of the Revo- lutionary War. being under Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox." He was wounded at the battle of Cowpens. He early moved to Ten- nessee, and about 1824 came West to Polk County. Missouri, where he was one of the pioneers. He married Mary Howard, of
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Scotch birth, and of their children Elbert was the youngest.
Elbert Ellis was born in Burke County, North Carolina, in 1795, and grew up on the home farm in Buncombe County. In his youth he moved with his parents to Sullivan County, Tennessee, where he grew to maturity. He followed teaming to Baltimore until he was about 26 years of age, and after his marriage located upon the farm of his wife's mother, which he later bought of the other heirs. This farm, consisting of 360 acres, he devoted to the raising of hay, grain and stock. He was a Whig in politics but, while he spent time and money in politics, never aspired to office. He was later a Republican until the Reconstruc- tion, after which he was a Democrat. He mar- ried Temperance Driskill, a daughter of Rich- ard and Amanda (Young) Driskill, and they became the parents of the following children : Mary, deceased, who was the wife of James Breeden, of Jefferson County, Tennessee, a Union man in his sympathies during the Civil War, who was conscripted into the Confederate Army, captured by Federal soldiers and died in a Northern prison in 1864, before the proof of his Union sympathies reached his captors ; William H., deceased; Martha Louisa. widow of William B. Reams, of Tennessee ; Elizabeth. widow of Drewry Dawson, of Tennessee ; Lu- cinda, wife of Alexander Fowler, now living on the old homestead in Tennessee; Patrick Howard, deceased; Sarah Ann, deceased ; Richard Driskill, of Shawnee township; Cath- erine Jane, wife of J. L. McMillan, of Shawnee township; Dorcas M., widow of Pleasant Poe, of Tennessee ; Elbert A., of Shawnee township ; Samuel Jefferson ; Moses L., of Shawnee town- ship; and an infant, deceased. Religiously, Mr. Ellis was a Primitive Baptist and his wife a Missionary Baptist.
Samuel J. Ellis lived on the home farin until June 1, 1863, when he enlisted in Company L,
IIth Reg., Tennessee Vol. Cav., U. S. A., which regiment was later consolidated with the 9th regiment, his company becoming Company M. He continued with his command until the close of the war, being discharged October 12, 1865. He returned home and worked on the farm until April 12, 1869, when he came West to Cherokee County, Kansas, settling on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 24, township 33, range 25, in Shawnee township. The country was at that time in a wild state, game of all kinds abounded, and there was much outlawry. At that period courts were not so efficient as in the present day, and many of the best men of the commu- nity organized for the purpose of taking the law into their own hands. Mr. Ellis was al- ways opposed to drastic measures and always exerted his influence toward the adoption of better methods. An instance of this is found in his conduct at the time when feeling was very strong against the railroad company. He stood on the floor two hours one evening argu- ing with the infuriated settlers to spare the life of Dr. Oaks, a settler whose influence on behalf of the railroad company had been used to a point where they felt hanging was the only fit punishment. The counsel of Mr. Ellis and one other conservative and eloquent young man prevailed and resulted in the Doctor being pre- sented with a set of resolutions instead of a rope. Our subject remained on his original farm for some 10 years, then sold out to good advantage and purchased his present farm of 98 acres also located in section 24, township 33. range 25. He makes wheat his principal crop, usually having 40 or 50 acres in that cereal, while the remainder is devoted to the raising of corn, oats and hay. He is a practical far- mer and expends his energy in such manner as to bring forth the best results. He was a Dem- ocrat for some time and then became a Populist. He was township assessor two years, and for
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SAMUEL HAMBLIN
MRS. LUCY A. HAMBLIN
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20 years has served as justice of the peace, being the present incumbent. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association.
Samuel J. Ellis married Kate Chesnutt, a daughter of Thomas Chesnutt, of Tennessee,, and they had two children who grew up: Wil- liam R., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Robert B., of Joplin, Missouri. Mrs. Ellis died in 1871, aged 25 years, and he married her sis- ter, Sarah J. Chesnutt, by whom he had three children : Samuel J .; Martha, wife of Charles McCumber, of Joplin, Missouri; and Frank P. His second wife died in 1899, aged 35 years, and in 1901 Mr. Ellis married Hattie Evans, a daughter of Nathaniel H. Evans, of Shawnee township. Religiously, he has always been a Presbyterian. He was a member of the old Land League, which was organized to protect the homes of the settlers from the railroad.
AMUEL HAMBLIN. In the year 1867 Cherokee County gained one of her most substantial and pro- gressive men in the advent of Sam- uel Hamblin, and in 1891 she lost one of her most esteemed citizens in his death. He was born in Pennsylvania December 13, 1821. A farmer all his life, at the time of his death he owned and lived on what is known as the old Harold place, consisting of 160 acres of fine farm land in section 27, township 32, range 22, in Sheridan township.
Mr. Hamblin was a son of David Hamblin, a native of Pennsylvania. The father was mar- ried in New Jersey and spent the rest of his life there. Our subject grew to manhood in New Jersey and then thinking that better for- tune awaited him farther West, he went to Fayette County, Indiana, and worked as a mill- hand in the mills of Fayette. Later he mar- ried Lucy A. Rockefeller, of Hunterdon Coun-
ty, New Jersey. She was a daughter of Age- silaus and Pamelia (Young) Rockefeller, both natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Hamblin's father was a carpenter by trade, and later became a farmer. After spending some time in Ohio and Indiana, in the year 1868 he came to Cher- okee County, Kansas, where he took a section of land in Ross township, where Mineral P. O. is now located. He lived on the place until he died, his wife's death having occurred some time before. He was a man well known throughout the county and held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.
The subject of this sketch had 12 children, as follows: Amelia (Mrs. C. L. Albin), of Columbus; Sarah Jane (Mrs. L. W. Crain), of Labette County, Kansas ; Margaret (Mrs. G. W. Graver), of Crawford County, Kansas; Mary, who is living at home; Charlie, living in Columbus ; David, living in Crawford Coun- ty, Kansas; William, of Lola township; Clara Belle, who is living at home; Ellen (Mrs. J. C. Stonecipher), deceased; Lola (Mrs. H. H. Todd) ; Dora Mabel (Mrs. Joseph Todd), whose husband farms the old home place for Mrs. Hamblin; and Bertha (Mrs. Joel Spriggs), of Ross township. After their mar- riage, our subject and his wife lived in Greene and Fayette counties, Indiana, and later moved to Bureau County, Illinois, where Mr. Ham- blin owned a general merchandise store. In 1869 they moved to Cherokee County, Kansas, . and settled on 160 acres of land, where they lived for 12 years, making improvements and turning the wild prairie farm into a home. Thiis was traded for 160 acres in Ross township, where the family lived for a while, when it was sold to a coal company. In 1895 they removed to the present home in Sheridan township.
In politics, Mr. Hamblin voted the Demo- cratic ticket; thoughi never holding office. he was interested in politics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hamblin have always been members of the
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Methodist Episcopal Church, and always used their influence for good, whether in family, church of community. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hamblin accompany this sketch.
AMES N. McDONALD, cashier of the Scammon State Bank, and ex-mayor of Scammon, was born in 1859 on his father's farm in Howard County, Missouri, where he grew to manhood. In 1881 he struck out for himself, first entering the office of Keith & Henry, coal operators, now the Central Coal & Coke Company. He stayed with them for nearly 20 years, as assistant in the Rich Hill office for two years, and in charge of the office in Scammon for more than 17 years. Later, he had charge of the Mackie- McDonald Lumber Company, of Scammon. In 1901 the Scammon State Bank was organized, and he was appointed to the cashiership, which position he still holds. The present officers of the bank were its organizers; they are David Mackie, Sr., president, A. H. Slanger, vice- president, and James N. McDonald, cashier.
The subject of this sketch entered the matri- monial state in 1885, marrying in that year Jennie Coman, who was born in Bureau County, Illinois, and is a daughter of James and Joanna (O'Mally) Coman. Mr. Coman came to Cherokee County in 1868, being one of the very early settlers, and this county contin- ued to be his home until his death. His wife's father was also an early settler in Kansas. James N. McDonald and his wife have one child,-Mary, born in Scammon.
Mr. McDonald is a son of James Russell McDonald, who was born February 1, 1821, in Howard County, Missouri, and died August I, 1897, near Rich Hill. His wife was Iantha Hill. She was born in December, 1820, in
Howard county, Missouri, and died there in 1878.
James N. McDonald was one of eight chil- dren, all born in Howard County. One died in infancy and five are still living, as follows: James N .; Elizabeth; Laura (Mrs. L. N. Dinkle) ; Thomas A., who married Susan Hol- lenback; and Edward H., who married Maggie Ewing. The father was a farmer all his life. He was a Democrat in politics, was elected county commissioner at one time, and held various other offices.
Mr. McDonald follows in his father's foot- steps as to political matters, and takes an ac- tive interest in city, county, State and national politics. He moved to Scammon before the town was laid out, and has been the agent of the town company ever since it was organized. He has served four terms as mayor. So use- ful a citizen as Mr. McDonald deserves the re- spect and esteem in which he and his family are held by the entire community.
AMES M. ROBINSON, one of the prominent farmers and large land owners of Cherokee County, who has a farm of 620 acres (the home place), situated in section 26, township 31, range 24, in Cherokee township, was born in 1843 in Gallia County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Ritta (Matthews) Robinson.
Both parents of the subject of this sketch were born in Ohio, and both died in Illinois, the father, at the age of 64 years, and the mother, aged 77 years. They reared a family of four sons and four daughters, namely : James M., of this record; William, who mar- ried Phene Farwell, and resides near Hunts- ville, Illinois; Mary (Mrs. George Roberts), who lives at Augusta, Illinois; Phineas W.,
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who married Tillie Ingalls, and lives near An- gusta, on the old homestead; Hettie ( Mrs. Mitchell Woods), who lives near Huntsville, Illinois ; and Emma ( Mrs. John Ellis) who also resides near Augusta, Illinois.
James Robinson, grandfather of James M., was born in Virginia, whence he went as an early settler into Ohio. He took part in the War of 1812, and at the battle of New Or- leans contracted a sickness which caused his death, at the age of 35 years. He was survived by three sons and one daughter, of whom some are still living.
John Robinson, our subject's father, came to Kansas and bought some land, but decided to return to Illinois, where his death took place as before recorded.
James M. Robinson was about five years old when his parents located in Illinois. He remained at home until he reached the age of 27 years, assisting on the home farm, which was conducted as a large stock farm. In 1869, attracted by the fertile soil and equable climate of Cherokee County, Kansas, he decided to make a home here. He secured a large tract of land but could not purchase at that time, on ac- count of the trouble between the Land League of the settlers and the railroads, which is a matter of State history. He was given suf- ficient assurance that he would finally be per- mitted to purchase, to induce him to settle on the land and improve it, and at a later date it came into his possession. He has devoted him- self to the business of stock-raising, making a specialty of "White-Face" cattle, Poland-China hogs, horses and mules, and has met with much success.
In 1870, in Illinois, Mr. Robinson married Ellen Andrews, who was born in New York. They have had three children, the two surviv- ors being,-Herbert P., who has one son,- James H .; and Hartell, who is the wife of Will- iam Kaher.
Although Mr. Robinson is a very busy man, he gives some time to recreation, and has lately returned from a trip of 8,000 miles through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washing- ton, Oregon and portions of the Southwest. So pleased was he with its beauties and attrac- tions, that he sent his wife and daughter to make the same trip in the summer of 1904. The family is one of social prominence in this sec- tion, and Mr. Robinson is one of the most sub- stantial citizens of Cherokee County.
ILLIAM M. BENHAM, the leading liveryman at Columbus, and a farmer and stock-raiser of Chero- kee County, has been a resident of the county since 1869, and has been established in his present business at Columbus since 1873. He was born in 1844 at Niles, Michigan, and was reared in Indiana, to which State his pa- rents moved, and where both of them died.
Mr. Benham attended the common schools of Indiana, and prior to coming to Cherokee County, in 1869, followed farming in that State. After locating on a claim in Ross town- ship, two miles north of Columbus, he spent about two years in hauling freight between Columbus and Independence. In 1873 he started his livery at Columbus, and has been in the business continuously ever since, being the oldest operator in this line within a radius of 100 miles.
Mr. Benham first located on the northwest corner of the square, and there erected a build- ing in 1876, which he used for 26 years. The site is now occupied by the Benham-Scovel Block, which affords accommodations for stores and offices. Mr. Benham purchased a corner property on Maple street, one block west of the square, on which he erected his present building, which he occupied since August, 1902.
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This is a modern, sanitary building and con- tains quarters for a large number of horses. He uses about 24 in his own business, and keeps on hand conveyances of every kind, and suit- able for every occasion. In addition to this business, he has been interested in a number of successful mining enterprises.
On November 12, 1874, Mr. Benham was married at Columbus to Hattie L. Potter, who came to Cherokee County, locating at Baxter Springs, about 1871, but moved with her pa- rents to Columbus at a later date. They have one son, Mortimer, who is associated with his father in the livery business. Mrs. Benham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Politically, Mr. Benham is a Democrat, and has always taken a lively interest in the ad- vancement of his party, in which he is highly regarded. Formerly, in his younger days, he was active in a number of fraternal orders, but now confines his interest to the Masonic Blue Lodge, the Knights of Pythias, and various in- surance organizations. He is widely, one might almost say universally, known through this section of Cherokee County. His friends are found on every side.
URTIS RANDALL, a prominent farmer of Cherokee County, residing on his farm of 160 acres in section 9, township 33, range 23, in Sala- manca township, and a leading and influential member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, of which there is a flourishing branch in the township, came to the county March 21, 1871. He was born in Chautauqua County, New York, in 1832.
Curtis and Sarah ( Bailey) Randall, his pa- rents, left New York when the subject of this sketch was five years of age. They stopped in Erie County, Pennsylvania, for a period of six
years, and then removed to Boone County, Illi- nois, where they spent the rest of their lives. They were respected middle-class farmers, and reared a family of eight children, to whom they left as a legacy a name unstained by any dis- honest act. The children were : Curtis; Oliver B., William, Mary and Martha, deceased; James, a farmer in Fremont County, Iowa; Marvin J., of Antelope County, Nebraska ; and John, a farmer of Janesville, Wisconsin.
Curtis Randall passed his young manhood in Illinois, engaged in farming. His opera- tions, although carried on with a fair degree of success, were not such as to satisfy a man of his ambition, and in 1871 he yielded to the in- ducements held out by the "Sunflower State" in the matter of cheap lands, and joined the stream of settlers that had been flowing past him in ever increasing volume, since the close of the war. Southern Kansas had begun to lose its claim to distinction as an exclusively cattle country, and the tide of population was pouring into the southern tier of counties at a rapid rate. After carefully looking over the ground, Mr. Randall entered a claim in Chero- kee County in section 17, township 33, range 23, now owned by David Coble, and began the hard labor of reclaiming it from its wild and virgin condition. Three years later, however, he saw fit to sell out, and purchased his present farm of 160 acres from its original owner. It was little better than bare prairie, few improve- ments having been placed upon it, so that its present highly improved condition is due almost entirely to the labors of Mr. Randall and of his family.
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