USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
ued with good success. He is careful in diag- nosing cases and skillful in treating them, and enjoys the confidence of his patients to a re- markable degree. Personally, he is a man of pleasing characteristics, and is well liked by all with whom he comes in contact. He is a member of the Southeast Kansas Medical So- ciety, of which he was formerly president, and also belongs to the Labette County Medical Society. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order.
Dr. Rockhold was joined in marriage, in 1865, with Miss L. E. Nordyke, by whom he has two sons, Henry C., and Jolın R. In pol- itics. he is a strong Republican. He has served on the board of pension examiners for twelve years, and is also county health officer. He served in the city council for eight years, and was elected mayor in the spring of 1899, in which office he displayed much executive abil- ity. His term expired in the spring of 1901.
HARLES BRIGGS MARTIN, the genial separating clerk at the post- office in Parsons, Kansas, has been a resident of the city since 1884, and has had considerable experience in postoffice business. He was born December 23. 1872, at Catskill, Greene county, New York, and is a son of Augustus and Cynthia ( Milks) Martin.
Augustus Martin is a member of a com- pany manufacturing fuel in Parsons, with a plant located near the Davison elevator. He is a member of the city council, and takes a great interest in local affairs. He served dur- ing the Civil War, in the Union army, and was wounded in the right arm, August 21, 1862, at the crossing of the Rappahannock river. He
402
.
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
was taken to Bellevue Hospital, New York, for treatment, and was discharged as cured De- cember 8, 1862.
Charles B. , Martin attended the public schools of his native county, and also. the schools of Parsons, Kansas, whither his par- ents removed in 1884. His first work was in the capacity of a molder at Skelton's foundry, where he worked two years. He then joined 3 party of surveyors on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and made the trip through the "Nation," in charge of A. B. Thurston. Re- turning to Parsons, he entered the government service as sub-mail-carrier, in 1892. In June. of the following year, he was transferred to the clerical department, and acted as general delivery clerk until March, 1894. He was then promoted to be mailing clerk, and made up all outgoing mail,-also separating all incoming mail. Under the Democratic administration, he was "set back" for a short time to general delivery clerk, but in 1896 he was again pro- moted, and became assistant postmaster under Frank W. Frye. He served also under his successor, H. H. Lusk, who advanced him to his present position as mailing and separating clerk. He works from 7 A. M. to 7:30 P. M.
Mr. Martin was joined in marriage with Amelia Myers, a daughter of W. P. and Eliza- beth (Corbett) Myers, that ceremony being performed on June 17, 1894. Mrs. Myers is deceased. Mr. Myers, who is engaged in the transfer business at Parsons, contracted a sec- ond matrimonial alliance by wedding Annie L. Mckinstry. Five children were the result of this union, namely: Nellie, Luella, Alice, Oscar, and Ethel,-aged, respectively, twenty- four, twenty-two, twenty, seventeen, and thir- teen years. Mrs. Martin also has one brother, Ernest Myers, who is a prominent farmer in Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin have one little son, Raymond W., who was born December 25, 1898, and was indeed a blessed Christmas gift. Fraternally, Mr. Martin affiliates with the Knights and Ladies of Security, and the Sons of Veterans, and both he and Mrs. Martin are members of the Knights and Ladies of Amer- ica. They show a decided preference for the Presbyterian faith. In his political opinions, Mr. Martin is a Republican, and believes the principles of that party to be the most ad- vantageous to the country. He is a capable and trustworthy public servant, and is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens.
ENRY H. TROUTMAN has been a resident of Labette county since 1876, QC and has been living in Osage town- ship, in section 2, township 31, range 18, for a number of years. He was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, and is a son of Samuel and Catherine Troutman.
Samuel Troutman was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1820, and his wife was also born in that state, in 1821. They were the parents of II children, namely: Henry H .; Augustus, who lives in Pennsylvania; Mary; William; Louisa ; Daniel, deceased ; Emma ; Jennie; Ag- nes ; Ida ; and Samuel, deceased.
Henry H. Troutman was a merchant in Pennsylvania for eight years, when he sold out his business, and began farming. He soon sold his farm, and removed to Neosho county, Kan- sas, where he lived for one year. Subsequent- ly he bought a farm in that county, on which he lived four years. Mr: Troutman then moved to Parsons where he lived one year, and worked in a lumber yard. He then bought a farm in
.
HON. HENRY G. WEBB.
405
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Osage township, where he has since lived. He has worked hard and long, and has been very successful. He carries on general farming, and raises some stock. He is a good neighbor, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to those who are in need.
Mr. Troutman married Anna Swab, in Pennsylvania, who died in 1897, aged forty- eight years. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Republican party, and takes an active interest in local affairs. He served on the school board for three years. In a re- ligious connection, Mr. Troutman is a member of the Christian church.
5 ON. HENRY G. WEBB, who has faithfully served in many official capacities of public trust since en- tering upon his business career, is a lawyer of high legal attainments, and a gentleman whose opinions carry great weight, and are respected throughout Labette county. He has been located in Parsons since January, 1889, and is in partnership with J. W. Iden, which conjunction makes one of the strongest legal firms in this section of Kansas. Judge Webb was born in Ridgeberry town- ship, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Hon. John L. Webb.
Hon. John L. Webb was a native of Fair- field county, Connecticut, where he was reared and educated. He moved to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, to begin his active business ca- reer, and engaged in contracting and building. He was one of the contractors of the North Branch Canal in Northern Pennsylvania. He was a Democrat and served as county commis- sioner, sheriff. and filled two terms in the state legislature. He was united in marriage with
Anise Hammond, a native of Chemung coun- ty, New York, and they became the parents of seven children, four of whom are still living.
Henry G. Webb was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania. He studied law under the di- rection of Judge John C. Knox, and in Septem- ber, 1848, was admitted to the bar at Wells- boro, Pennsylvania. In 1849, he located at Princeton, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until 1868; in that year he moved to Mound City, Linn county, Kansas. In the spring of 1870, he located in Oswego, Kansas, and in the fall of the same year was chosen judge of his ju- dicial district, and officiated as such until 1873. He then resigned and formed a partnership with W. B. Glass, which lasted for nine years. He was subsequently associated with L. C. True, for fifteen months, after which he moved to Cherokee county, Kansas. There he resided until January, 1889, when he located in Par- sons. He formed a partnership with C. L. Caldwell, which continued until 1893, and later, became a partner of J. N. Iden, with whom he is now associated. He is a man of great experience in matters pertaining to his profession, and has rendered excellent serv- ices to the city, as its attorney, the past few years.
Judge Webb was united in marriage, May 20, 1849, to Susan J. Abbott, who died Sep- tember 3, 1864, leaving a daughter, Emma E., the wife of C. C. Wenzell, of Kansas City. He formed a second union in 1866, Amanda J. Gower becoming his wife. In politics, he is a Republican, and in 1860 was elected to the state legislature of Wisconsin. In '1864, he was elected to the senate of the same state, and was reelected in 1866. In 1876, he was elect- ed to the state legislature of Kansas. Fra- ternally. Judge Webb was a member of Lodge
406
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
No. 33, A. F. & A. M., of Mound City, Kan- sas. He is now a member of Parsons Lodge. No. 117, A. F. & A. M .; Oswego Chapter, R. A. M .; and Oswego Commandery, K. T. He also belongs to Magnolia Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Mound City, Kansas. A portrait of Judge Webb accompanies this mention.
AMUEL G. BRYNER, a prominent farmer residing in section 35, Mount Pleasant township, Labette county, Kansas, has for many years been one of the leading agriculturists of the county. He has always been a prominent and influential man, and takes an active interest in the welfare and progress of the township and county in which he resides. Mr. Bryner was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, in 1842, and is a son of Jacob and Mary ( Hoke) Bryner.
Jacob Bryner was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and his death occurred in that county sixty-nine years afterward. His wife, Mary (Hoke) Bryner, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, and died in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1876. They reared the following children: Jerome, deceased : George W., of Juniata county, Pennsylvania ; Harriet, deceased; Samuel G., the subject of this sketch ; Louis, of Jonesboro, Indiana: William, deceased; and Lydia, of Labette county.
Samuel G. Bryner received his schooling in his native county, and lived in Pennsyl- vania until 1870, when he moved to Labette county, Kansas, and settled on the farm where he now resides. His life has been spent in business activity, and what he now has is due entirely to his own efforts. He has taken great pride in his farm, and the neat and attractive
appearance it presents bespeaks his thrift and unceasing labor. Mr. Bryner is considered an authority in all matters pertaining to the till- ing of the soil, and his advice is freely given to all who seek it.
Mr. Bryner married Margaret Gray, who was born in 1844, in Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, and is a daughter of James and Cynthia (Killigore) Gray. James Gray was born in Juniata. county, Pennsylvania, in 1791, and died in 1864; his wife was born in Perry coun- ty, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and her death oc- curred in 1860, Mr. and Mrs. Gray reared the following offspring: Thomas, of Cali- fornia; James, of Pennsylvania; Catherine (Smith), of Waterford, Pennsylvania ; Martha (Bender), of Perry county, Pennsylvania ; Nancy, deceased; Margaret; Samuel, of La- bette county; George W., deceased; and Jo- seph, of Altamont, Kansas. Mr. Bryner and his wife have been blessed with four children, namely: Wilbert H., of Labette county, who has two boys, Ralph and Harold; Carl, of Missouri; and Della and Louis, of Labette county. Mr. Bryner has been township treas- urer for a period of seven years. He has many friends in the community.
ILLIAM GILLIES, foreman of the boiler shops of the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railway, at Parsons, is an expert boiler-maker, having served an apprenticeship in the boiler shops at Vincennes, Indiana, in the " 'sixties," and has since that time followed his trade, working in various railroad shops.
Our subject was born at Glasgow, Scot- land, in 1850, and is a son of William Gillies, Sr., who immigrated to America with his fam-
407
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
ily, in 1852. He located first at Detroit, Mich- igan, and later at Marshall, Michigan, where his son, William, supplemented his elementary schooling with a course in the Marshall High School. In 1865, the elder Gillies removed his family to Vincennes, Indiana. He died in 1893, aged seventy-eight years.
After completing his apprenticeship at Vin- cennes, Mr. Gillies moved to Aurora, Indiana, in 1870, and engaged as foreman for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company, now the Baltimore & Ohio South-Western. He worked there a short time, then moved to Seymour, Indiana, as foreman, where he remained until 1877. He then came to Kansas, and worked a short time at Parsons. He next took charge of a boiler room in Texas, and subsequently went to McComb, Mississippi, to assume the supervision of a boiler department for the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company. In May, 1883, he returned to Parsons, at once becon- ing foreman of the boiler shops of the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railway, which position he still ably fills. Mr. Gillies has about 35 men under his supervision. All heavy work on boilers is done in the shops, and preparations are being made to do all boiler work in the new building at Parsons.
Mr. Gillies was married in Sedalia, Mis- souri, to Caroline McDonald, a lady of Scotch descent. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Gillies are : W. R., a graduate of the Parsons High School, and a machinist of Shreveport, Louisiana; Hugh A., a graduate of the Par- sons High School, and a machinist's apprentice at the "Katy" shops ; Celesta, also a graduate of the Parsons High School, who is at home; Nellie, who is in the graduating class of the High School; and Carrie and Ray, who are at home.
Mr. Gillies is an unswerving Republican,
and is a member of the board of education at Parsons. Fraternally, he is a member of the A. O. C. W .; M. W. of A .; Triple Tie; K. O. T. M., of which he is past state commander ; and of the I. O. O. F. since 1866. He accepts the doctrines of the Presbyterian church as the ground of his religious belief.
ICHAEL CARR GAFFEY, c'ty engineer of Parsons, Kansas, was born in Randolph county, Indiana, February II, 1854, and is a son of Bryan and Margaret ( Carr ) Gaffey, natives of Ireland, the former coming from County Roscommon, the latter from County Galway.
Bryan Gaffey was a sailor in his boyhood. He came to America about 1848, and located in Massachusetts, where he was married to Margaret Carr. They moved to Winchester, Indiana, in the winter of 1853-54, before the subject hereof was born. The father engaged in railroad work for some time, after which he began farming near the town. He is now at the advanced age of ninety years, and resides at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Julia Hurley, of Indianapolis, Indiana. His wife died in Indiana, in August, 1891, aged sixty-six years. Bryan Gaffey and his wife were parents of eight children, the birth of the first two hav- ing occurred in Massachusetts; they were : Mary, who died in infancy ; John, deceased at the age of forty-two years; Michael Carr, the subject of this narrative; Thomas, a printer by trade, who died at the home of his brother, Michael, in November, 1900: Julia ( Hurley ). of Indianapolis, Indiana; Ella (Franks), of Des Moines, Iowa ; Eliza (McNirney), of An- derson, Indiana; and William, a traveling man.
408
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
Michael C. Gaffey attended the common schools of Indiana, and later was a student at Asbury College, now known as DePauw Uni- versity. After leaving this institution, Mr. Gaffey taught school seven winters, and main- tained his studies as he could. He left home at fifteen years of age, and made his way in the world. He began as assistant with Phoenix Pomeroy, a county surveyor and city engineer, who subsequently turned his instruments and work over to Mr. Gaffey, who occupied the po- sition until 1886. Mr. Gaffey also conducted a livery business from 1882 to 1886, having traded a farm for a barn and stock in Win- chester, Indiana. In 1886 Mr. Gaffey came to Kansas, looked over the country, worked five months for the city of Parsons, and was engaged at Pittsburg, Erie, and other points, until January 19, 1889. He was then appoint- ed to his present position as city engineer, suc- ceeding Mr. Courtney.
Mr. Gaffey was united in marriage with Eliza Brooks, a daughter of Milton and Amanda (Bell) Brooks, who was born near Richmond, Indiana, in 1859. The wedding. ceremony, which has a touch of romance about it, occurred while the young lady was attending college at Danville, Indiana. At the dinner hour, the young couple were made one, after which the bride resumed her studies. Six chil- dren were born to Mr. Gaffey and his estimable wife, namely : Narcissa; Troy M .; Edna; Willie, deceased ; Margaret ; and Jonas S.
Mrs. Gaffey's parents are dead. She was the third in a family of eight children, as fol- lows : William, who died in infancy; Ada, Mrs. Dr. Leslie Deweese, of Indianapolis, Indiana ; Eliza ; David, a railway mail-clerk, of Indiana; Charles, a railroad engineer, residing at Mo- berly, Missouri; Belle, who is single, and re- sides with the family of Dr. Deweese; Frank.
a railroad conductor in Texas; and Howard, a farmer in Indiana.
Mr. Gaffey has a fine home at 1714 Craw- ford avenue, and also owns another house near by, which he rents. He also buys and feeds horses at his private barn. He has a success- ful trade, and is greatly pleased with his home. Politically, he has always acted with the Re- publicans, having cast his first vote for Presi- dent Rutherford B. Hayes. Fraternally, Mr. Gaffey is a member of the M. W. of A., of Parsons; he was formerly a member of the K. of P. He and his wife are members of the Knights and Ladies of Security. In religious belief, Mr. Gaffey's parents were Catholics, but his views are liberal. Mrs. Gaffey is a Quaker, her people being identified with the Society of Friends.
EWIS HUDSON, a prominent con- ductor running both local and extra passenger trains out of Parsons, Kan- sas, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, is a native of Virginia, having been born in Lynchburg, May 28, 1844. His fa- ther, William Hudson, is deceased, and his mother died when Lewis was but an infant. He has one sister, Mrs. Mary Montgomery, who is a resident of Louisville, Kentucky. William Hudson, although not particularly act- ive in politics, was a stanch Whig.
After the death of his mother, Lewis Hud- son lived with his paternal grandmother in Vir- ginia, until he attained the age of eleven years. He then went to live with his father, who had married a second time. When thirteen or four- teen years old, he ran away from home, and has made his way in the world ever since. He had limited educational advantages, and worked nights and mornings for several
409
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
months, in order to pay for his board while he obtained a little schooling; he gladly accepted any kind of work he could obtain.
In 1874, he began his railroad career, first working on the Vandalia line of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad system, upon which he was em- ployed seven years. Within nine months, he was promoted to be a conductor, having first been examined by the general manager at St. Louis, Missouri. That gentleman gave him a letter of recommendation to the train master at Terre Haute, Indiana, who assigned him to a train. He was first placed in charge of a bridge train; and assisted in building bridges all over the system ; he continued to run bridge trains during the summers, and through freight trains during winters for the next three years. Afterwards, he worked in a similar capacity for the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railway Company.
In 1881, Mr. Hudson accepted a position on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, as ex- tra conductor under Train Master H. Wag- ner. He was placed on local passenger and through freight service from Parsons, Kansas. Several years later, he left that road and for two years ran a steam-shovel excavator on the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Rail- way -working mainly in Illinois. Returning to Parsons, he again entered the service of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, under Superintendent Welch, for whom he has worked for the past fourteen years,-first run- ning freight trains, and later, both local and ex- tra passenger trains, out of Parsons. This last position he has maintained up to the present writing, and is one of the most reliable and trustworthy conductors on the system.
Mr. Hudson was united in marriage with Jennie Gilispie, of Tuscola, Illinois. They have reared one son, Charles, who is now twen-
ty-one years old, and who intends to follow a railroad life. He was given a thorough course in the Parsons Commercial College.
Politically, Mr. Hudson is a Republican, and believes the principles of that party to be right. He stands high in fraternal circles, affiliating with the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic order, of Parsons, the A. O. U. W., and Division No. 161, O. R. C., of Par- sons, having held office in the last named order.
Mrs. Hudson's father and mother make their home with the subject hereof and his wife, who have a fine, large residence at No. 1824 Crawford avenue. The family favor the M. E. church, to the support of which they contribute; they also occupy a high position from a social standpoint. Such is the career of a man who has made himself what he is by his industry, self reliance and fidelity to the obligations of his chosen occupation. His un- qualified success is well deserved.
AMES W. TERRELL. Among the many worthy citizens and prominent railroad men of Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, the name of J. W. Terrell, a competent engineer on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway should not be omit- ted. Mr. Terrell is a son of C. A. and Louisa F. (Jones) Terrell. His father was a native of Ohio, and followed farming for many years. Later in life he became an insurance agent, and his death occurred November 22, 1897, at Par- sons, Kansas. His mother, who was a native of Vigo county, Indiana, contracted a second marriage, and is now the wife of Rev. Frank Foley, a Christian minister, and resides near McCune, Kansas.
Mr. Terrell is one of four children, namely,
410
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
Mollie, James W., John A., and Ella. Mollie married Engineer Anderson, of Parsons. Jolin A. is married and has two children; he is in the employ of Armour & Company, and resides in Kansas City. Ella married a Mr. Wilcock, who is a valve-maker in the air-brakes room of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- way shops, and resides at 2316 Dirr avenue, Parsons,
James W. Terrell was united in marriage with Anna Hickson, who was born in High- land county, Ohio, in 1868. She is one of eight children, three of whom died young. The beloved mother is also deceased, having passed away in October, 1894. The other · children grew to maturity and became useful citizens. Besides Mrs. Terrell, there are the following: Charles, H. F., Lizzie, and Ruth. Charles Hickson is a prominent farmer, re- siding nine miles east of Parsons. Prof. H. F. Hickson (deceased) was an instructor in Parsons College for several years; he subse- quently edited the Labor Advocate at Osh- kosh, Wisconsin, for about three years, being thus engaged when cut off by death, November 23. 1894. Lizzie Hickson married a Mr. Deter, and was a resident of Culver, Missouri, up to the time of her death, in June, 1897. Ruth Hickson married Mr. Stemple, a farmer near Parsons, and died in 1892.
Mr. and Mrs. Terrell have four children, all attending school, namely: Mabel, Mina, Frances, and Frank H. Mr. Terrell owns a fine residence property at 2329 Dirr avenue, where is gathered a bright, happy family circle.
James W. Terrell was born April 26, 1860, in Vigo county, Indiana, and was educated in his native state, where he remained until he was fourteen years old. He then came west to Neosho county, Kansas, and was engaged in farm work until he attained his majority,
working in Union School District, No. 38. In choosing a career for himself, he showed a decided preference for railroad life, and ac- cordingly moved to Parsons, Kansas, in the spring of 1882. Two weeks later, on March 14th, he entered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, and has spent his undivided time upon that system ever since. He first worked as night caller at the roundhouse under W. T. Small and Foreman J. H. Reilly, ex-senator, who is now an engi- neer on the same system. March 22, 1883. Mr. Terrell commenced work as fireman, and worked in that capacity for Engineer Frank Baliss on engine No. 101. For a short time he was extra fireman, mainly on the Cherokee and Junction City divisions. Later he served one year and a half as fireman for Charles Fletcher, and afterward for C. L., Anderson and Engineer Reilly, working under the latter gentleman three and a half years.
Promotion followed and Mr. Terrell be- came an engineer. After serving as hostler for three months, he ran as extra engineer for six weeks, and November 1I, 1891, he was advanced to road service. His trial trip was made with Engineer Tierney, who recom- mended him for proficiency, and he was given an engine. His initial trip was made from Muskogee to Parsons,-a distance of 117 miles, which he covered in four hours and two minutes.
All has not been plain sailing with Mr. Ter- rell, who has had more than his share of acci- dents with which to contend. On July 6, 1892, while going north with a train-load of stock and silver ore, pulled by engine No. 120. his train ran into a cow, and the engine was ditched. In his efforts to save himself, Mr. Terrell jumped down an embankment, but sus- tained injuries which kept him from work for
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.