USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 51
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Cyrus C. Richart was seven years old when his parents moved from Akron to Hancock county, Illinois, where he attended the district schools. At the age of eighteen years, he en- tered the college at Canton, Missouri, where he spent three years. In 1858, he accompanied his father to Pikes Peak, Colorado, and they spent three years in that state. Upon his re- turn, he enlisted, in May, 1862, as a private in Company H, 78th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf. He served under Generals Thomas, Rosecrans and Sherman, and was with General Sherman on his march, to the sea. He participated in 21 engagements and was mustered out as fifth sergeant. Returning to Hancock county, Illi- nois, he was wedded to Lydia M. Phillips, on November 25, 1865, and they lived in that county until August 10, 1866, when they set- tled in Linn county, Kansas, where they spent just one year. They then moved to Labette county, and settled upon the northwest quarter of section 28, Oswego township, where the family has resided ever since. Mr. Richart was very prosperous in his undertakings, and established a reputation as a conscientious, loyal and enterprising citizen. He passed to the unknown beyond on November 1, 1894. and his death was deeply deplored by all who knew him.
Mr. and Mrs. Richart were the parents of the following children: William T., who was born at Mound City, Kansas, in 1866, wedded Ida Wimp, and has a child, Fay; Charles C., who married Alice Parnell, and has two chil-
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dren,-Phyllis and Russell; May, born in Os- wego, Kansas, November 4, 1871; George, born June 5, 1873; Robert E., born May 7, 1875; and Bessie, born in Oswego, Kansas, January 25, 1885. Mrs. Richart was born in Champaign county, Illinois, August 11, 1840. When she was three years old, her parents moved to Hancock county, Illinois, and there they lived until she had attained the age of nineteen years. In 1859, they removed to Lyon county, Kansas, and in 1860, to Linn county, Kansas, where they spent five years. Returning to Hancock county, Illinois, she was married to Mr. Richart, as previously stated.
ILLIAM C. ONDLER, living on the southwest quarter of section 9, is one of the prosperous and well-to- do farmers of Oswego township, Labette county, Kansas. He was born in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, in 1856, and is a son of Philip and Sally (Sherrets) Ondler.
Philip Ondler was a native of France, and was born in 1833. He came to America in 1847, settling in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. In 1872, he moved to Linn county, Iowa, where he now resides. Mr. Ondler and his wife had 13 children, as follows: William, the subject of this sketch; Leroy; Ira E .; Madison ; John ; Lewis, deceased ; Harley ; Fred ; Matilda ; Ma- hala ; Cora; Rhoda; and Grace, deceased.
William C. Ondler moved with his parents to Linn county, Iowa, in 1864, and there ob- tained an elementary primary education. He was married in 1876, and continued to live in Linn county until 1891, when he moved to Wright county, and remained there one year. From Wright county he went to Osceola coun- ty, Iowa, where he was engaged in the livery
business four years. During all this time, how- ever, he was also occupied in farming and stock raising. In 1896 Mr. Ondler sold out all his in- terests in Iowa, and moved to Labette county, Kansas, where he bought his present home in the southwest quarter of section 9, Oswego township. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is very successful.
Mr. Ondler was united in marriage with Maria Fairchild, who was born in Linn county, Iowa, in 1853, and is a daughter of John and Sarah (Ellis) Fairchild. John Fairchild was born in 1832, and is still living in Iowa. His wife was born in 1846, and died in 1883. Mrs. Ondler, whose death occurred March 26, 1897, was the mother of nine children, namely : Charles, deceased; Ella; Elsie ; Effie; Eva; Ethel; Eula; Cecil; and Cloyd. On April 29, 1900, Mr. Ondler married, for his second wife, Mrs. Nora Smith, of Indiana, who by a former marriage with James Smith had become the mother of five children, as follows: Bruce C., Samuel C., James F., Michael, and Rosa. Mr. Ondler is a stanch Republican in politics, and an active worker in his party.
D R. WILLIAM H. BELT, one of the progressive farmers of Labette coun- ty, Kansas, has for many years been a leading physician of the county, where he is known as a gentleman of high standing. Prior to moving on his present farm, on section 5, Oswego township, north of the city, Dr. Belt had been practicing medi- cine and was engaged in the drug business in Labette county, for eighteen years. His repu- tation is well established, and he has been very successful in all his undertakings. Dr. Belt was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, in
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1846, and is a son of John F. and Mary H. (Wilson) Belt.
John F. Belt was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1821, and lived on the old home- stead until his death, which occurred in 1891. He owned the Upper Blue Lick Springs, one of the finest mineral springs in the South. Mary (Wilson) Belt, his wife, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1830, and died on the home place at Blue Lick Springs, in 1885. Her children were: William H .; Sally (Shrout), of Oswego; Annie (Maguire), of Oswego; Elizabeth, deceased; Amelia (Wil- son), of Covington, Kentucky; Joseph, de- ceased; Maggie (Marley), of Oswego; and Ada (Smith), of Iola, Kansas.
Dr. William H. Belt attended the schools of his native county, and from 1863 to 1865 was a student in Flemingsburg College. The following two years were spent at the Medical University, of Louisville, from which he was graduated in 1870. Dr. Belt practiced medi- cine at Blue Lick Springs for three years, and in 1873 located in Labette county, Kansas, where he continued his practice in Oswego. There, for eighteen years, he also conducted a drug business. He had a large and lucrative practice, and readily won the confidence of all in the community. Dr. Belt bought his present farm in section 5, a mile and a half north of Oswego, in 1891, and since that time has been engaged in general farming and stock raising.
Dr. Belt was united in marriage with Laura J. Carpenter, who was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, in 1856, and is a graduate of Ward's Seminary, in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated at the early age of sixteen years. Dr. Belt and his wife are the parents of four children, namely: Robert F., of Coffeyville, Kansas; and Carl S., Wallace H., and Mary, of Oswego. Dr. Belt is a Democrat, in pol-
itics. He and his wife are attendants of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally, the Doctor belongs to the A. F. & A. M., Adams Lodge, No. 63, of Oswego; and also to the chapter.
EORGE W. MOLLENHOUR, one of the leading agriculturists of Richland township, Labette county, Kansas, has been a resident of the county since the spring of 1869. He owns 418 acres of land, and is a prosperous and influential man. He was born in Kosciusko coun- ty, Indiana, in 1843, and is a son of John and Margaret (Tester) Mollenhour. John Mollenhour settled in Indiana at a very early day, having been born in Ohio. His father was a native of Germany, and his mother, although of German parentage, was born in Virginia, in 1807, and died at the age of eighty-six years. One brother and three sisters of George W. settled in Labette county. His parents followed him to this county about five years after his arrival, and his father died here in 1875, at the age of sixty-eight years. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mollen- hour, besides the subject of this sketch, Fred- erick, who died about 1885, was a farmer of Cherokee county, Kansas, but was living at Chetopa, Labette county, at the time of his death; Rebecca (Gordon) is deceased; Sarah (Busick) resides in Richland township; Cath- erine, a widow, resides in Colorado; and two remained in Indiana, one of whom is deceased.
George W. Mollenhour was reared in In- diana, and in 1863, at the age of twenty years, enlisted in Company E, 138th Reg., Ind. Vol. Inf., and served several months, after which he returned to Indiana and there remained until he removed to Kansas. He was not again in
JOHN J PIERSON.
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his native state until 1898, when he visited it, and again in 1900, when he attended the G. A. R. National Encampment at Chicago. He was accompanied to Kansas by a brother-in- law, Mr. Gordon, and when they arrived at the state line, they flipped a coin to see whether they should continue to their destination, or return and go up into Wisconsin, and the toss was in favor of the former course. They located in Labette county in the spring of 1869, hav- ing stopped at Oswego in 1868. Mr. Mol- lenhour located near Chetopa, on his present home farm, in section 32, Richland township, and now owns 418 acres in Labette county, and 178 acres in Cherokee county. His claim was originally acquired by Samuel Quinby. He has a finely improved property, a large house, barns and fine shade trees. He has a good orchard of four acres, and the pines in front of the house were set out by him, being at first covered with gallon crocks to protect them from the sun. When he and his wife com- menced housekeeping it was in a small house at the edge of Cherokee county, on the farm where their son, E. L., now lives. He then had two ponies and about $25, and what he now possesses has been gained by his own in- dustry and careful management. He is one of the prominent farmers of the county, and has a large circle of acquaintances and friends.
Mr. Mollenhour was united in marriage, in Labette county, with Hannah Creekbaum, who was born in Indiana in 1854, and is a daugh- ter of William and Salome Creekbaum. Her father is deceased and her mother still lives; Mr. and Mrs. Creekbaum had eight children, all of whom reside in Labette county, except one, who is in Colorado. Three children were the offspring of Mr. Mollenhour and his wife, namely: Edward L., John W., and Myrtle May. Edward L. was born in Labette county,
in 1873, married Georgia Watson, a daughter of Charles Watson, of Mound Valley, and has one son, George Earl. John W. was born in Cherokee county, in 1874, married Molly Pear- son, and has a son, Frederick; they reside on a farm near Floral Hill. Myrtle May was born in 1880, and died at the age of three months. In politics, Mr. Mollenhour has always been a Republican until recent years, and now favors bimetalism. He has been called upon to serve in numerous township offices. He is a member of the G. A. R., Pea Ridge Post, No. 118; and he and his wife are members of the Sons and Daughters of Justice. His son, Edward L., is a member of the A. O. U. W. Religiously, the family are Methodists.
OHN J. PIERSON, a well-known citi- zen of Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, a portrait of whom is shown on the opposite page, is the proprietor of a large wholesale grocery establishment located on North Central street. He is one of the foremost business men of the city, and is also largely identified with other enterprises.
Mr. Pierson was born in Hancock county, Illinois, in 1846, and at an early age went to Iowa, where his early manhood was mostly spent in Keokuk county on a farm. He moved west May 25, 1869, and staked out a claim in Labette county, near Altamont. The follow- ing winter he worked in Steele Bros.' sawmill, and in the spring of 1870 became associated in the mercantile pursuits with W. K. Hayes. Their store building was 14 by 16 feet in di- mensions, and their stock was hauled from Fort Scott. The firm name continued as Hayes & Pierson until 1873, and then became Hayes, Pierson & Dinsmore. In 1875 Mr.
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Pierson bought out his partners and became the sole owner. He continued in the retail busi- ness until January, 1894, and since that time has conducted a wholesale business in groceries and notions. In 1893 he built a three-story building on North Central street,-the dimen- sions being 60 by 90 feet. The entire three stories and basement are used for his business, with the exception of a part of the second floor, which is used for offices. Mr. Pierson employs a corps of 10 men, three of whom are kept constantly on the road soliciting trade. He carries a complete line of goods and sells in five counties, his business being continually on the increase.
Mr. Pierson was united in marriage, in 1880. with Augusta Braunsdorf, of Parsons, and they have reared one son, Lloyd J., who travels in the interest of his father. In poli- tics the subject of this sketch is a Republican, and has been a delegate to two congressional conventions. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was one of the original stock- holders in the old Parsons Savings Bank, and when this institution was reorganized as the Parsons Commercial Bank, in 1878, he was made a director. He has served as secretary of the board of directors since 1880. He is, and has been, a director in the Inter-state Mort- gage & Trust Company since its organization, in 1888.
E E. LIGGETT, M. D., is one of the most successful physicians and sur- geons in Labette county, Kansas, and is located in Oswego, where he has practiced continuously since 1884.
Dr. Liggett was born in Marysville, Ohio, in 1861, and was but nine years of age when his parents moved to Chetopa, Labette county,
Kansas. He received a good mental training in the public schools of Chetopa, and then de- termined upon the practice of medicine as his life work. He first studied under a preceptor, Dr. G. D. Boon, at Chetopa, and then took a course of instruction in the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa. He graduated with the class of 1884, and immedi- ately thereafter began practice in Oswego, Kan- sas. He soon acquired a paying practice and established an enviable reputation as a skillful physician,-successfully coping with the most complicated cases. He has always been a close student, and has kept thoroughly informed as to the great advancement being made in med- ical science. In 1893, he took a post-graduate course in Bellevue Hospital, New York City. He has a very large general practice, and makes a specialty of surgery.
Dr. Liggett was united in matrimony with Mrs. Mary Maynard, and they are parents of . two children,-Margaret and Ruth. He is a member of the Southeast Kansas Medical So- ciety, of which he is now vice-president. Fra- ternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a sturdy supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
R OBERT D. TALBOT, a veteran of the Civil War, who has an excellent record for service in the army, is a prominent citizen of Parsons, Kan- sas, and is chairman of the board of county commissioners of Labette county.
Mr. Talbot was born August 3, 1836, in Lisbon, St. Lawrence county, New York, and learned the trade of a wagon-maker at an early age, which he followed for several years. In.
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1856, he went on the Great Lakes as steward on the Northern Transportation Company's line of boats, and continued thus until 1859, when he went to Fond du Lac county, Wiscon- sin. He spent the winter of 1860-61 in lum- bering in Michigan north of Green Bay, and in the spring returned to New York State. In the summer of 1861, he visited in Whiteside county, Illinois, and on August 7, 1862, en- tered the Union army. He enlisted in Company C. 75th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and first served under Gen. Don Carlos Buell. The regiment was transferred to the Army of the Cumber- land, with which he participated in 4I battles and skirmishes. He was mustered out June 12, 1865, and returned to his former home in Illi- nois. He spent one summer as steward on the lakes, and then worked for the Union Pa- cific Railroad Company, as a carpenter. In 1867, he went to Bates county, Missouri, and in the spring of 1868 took a homestead claim in Woodson county, Kansas. He resided there until 1872, when he located in Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, of which he has since been a resident. He entered the wood work- ing department of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, and continued with it until 1883. He was elected justice of the peace in 1883, and served as such until 1889. He also served six years in the city council, and was a member of the board of education, of which he was president. In the spring of 1889, he was appointed city clerk,-serving two years, and in 1891 he was appointed city assessor. The following spring, he was elected police judge for a term of two years, and was reelected to that office, his term expiring in 1897. In 1899, he was elected county com- missioner, and was made chairman of the board; his term expires in 1902. He has been a notary public for sixteen years.
Mr. Talbot is a charter member of An- tietam Post, No. 64, G. A. R. He is past commander,-was adjutant ten years, and is now quartermaster. He has always been an active worker in the interests of old soldiers, and has done more for them than any other one man in Labette county. He was one of the originators of the G. A. R. cemetery, of Parsons, and has gratuitously secured head- stones for soldiers' graves, from the Govern- ment. He has been a pension attorney since 1891. He is also a charter member of Lodge No. I, A. O. U. W., of Parsons, the first lodge established in the state of Kansas. He served eight years as an officer of the lodge, and was a delegate to the grand lodge, five years. He is also a member of the Select Knights and La- dies, being the recording treasurer in the lodge. He is a member of Mohawk Tribe, No. 6. I. O. R. M., in which he is chief of records. In politics, he is an ardent Republican. Mr. Tal- bot was united in Hymen's bonds in 1871, with Louisa J. Preston, and they have two children : John P. and Robert F.
ILFORD COOPER, deceased, one of the early settlers of Kansas, was the founder of Labette City, La- bette county, Kansas. A man of honest, upright character, actively interested in all that pertained to the development of the county, in which he lived, his death was sin- cerely regretted by all. Mr. Cooper was born in Belleville, Indiana, in 1841, and was a son of Robert and Sarah (Joseph) Cooper.
Robert Cooper, the father of Wilford, was. born in 1798, in Virginia, and died in Labette county, Kansas, in 1873. His wife, who was born in North Carolina, in 1805, and died in
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Labette county in 1870, was the first person buried in Liberty township. They reared the following offspring : Frank, James, Jane (Galliger), and Harrison, deceased; Emma (Graham), of Des Moines, Iowa; Hale ( Met- calf), of Carthage, Missouri; Wilford, Levi, Mary and Jessup, deceased.
Wilford Cooper was six years of age when his parents moved to Hendricks county, Indi- ana, where he lived for five years. The family then moved to Andrew county, Missouri, where he received his primary education. He assisted his father on the farm until 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, 4th Reg., Mo. Vol. Cav., and was attached to the Army of the Tennessee. He was mustered out at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, in 1865. He returned to Andrew county, Missouri, where he was am- bushed by guerrillas, and was badly wounded. In 1869, he moved to Labette county, Kan- sas, and filed and settled upon a claim where the city of Labette now stands, which was then the southwest quarter of section 25, Liberty township. He proved up the land, laid out the town, and lived there until his death, which occurred February 5, 1901, on the homestead. He was well known throughout the county, and this section of the state, where he was con- sidered one of the best of farmers. Mr. Cooper acted with the Populist party. At the time of his decease, he was a member of the G. A. R., of Oswego, Kansas, and of the M. W. of A. He had previously belonged to the I. O. O. F.
Mr. Cooper was united in marriage with Miriam Piper, who was born in Nicholas coun- ty, Kentucky, in 1851. Her father was John F. Piper, who was also a native of Nicholas county, Kentucky, and was born in 1801. He clied in Labette county, in 1875. Her mother was Margaret Brown, who was born in 1822. in Nicholas county, Kentucky, and died in
Mason county, Kentucky, in 1863. They reared the following offspring: Angeline (Summers), of Oswego, Kansas; Miriam (Cooper) ; Ella, deceased; Addie (Christian), of Riverside, California; Matilda (Bell), of Scott county, Kansas; and John, of Labette county.
Mr. Cooper and his wife were the parents of six children, namely: Maggie and Mary, deceased; John, of Labette county; Elizabeth ; Mabel, deceased; and Ivan I., of Labette coun- ty. Mrs. Cooper lives on the homestead, and is a charitable woman, who is loved for her many estimable qualities. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.
EORGE S. LIGGETT, M. D., is one of the most prominent physicians and surgeons of Labette county, Kansas, and resides in the city of Oswego. He was born in Williston, Chittenden county, Vermont, in 1853, and at an early age was taken by his parents to live at Lebanon, Illi- nois.
Dr. Liggett received his primary education in the public schools of Lebanon, after which he took a course of study in McKendree Col- lege, of that town, where he graduated in 1872. .He then entered upon the study of medicine under a preceptor, at St. Louis, and subse- quently attended a course of lectures in the St. Louis Medical College. He graduated there with the class of 1876, and in consequence of being the successful candidate in the competi- tive examination of the board of health, he re- ceived an appointment in the St. Louis Hos- pital. In 1878, he began private practice at Mount Vernon, Illinois, where he remained but a short time. He then became company physi-
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cian for the famous Iron Mountain Mining Company, in which capacity he continued for a period of four years. In 1884, he located in Oswego, Labette county, Kansas, where he has since practiced in a very successful man- ner. He has a large general practice, but makes a specialty of microscopic work. On this sub- ject he has written many lengthy articles for leading medical magazines, and has prepared and read treatises before medical societies, indi- cating a knowledge of microscopy not possessed by most physicians. He is a member of the Southeast Kansas Medical Society, of which he has been the secretary for several years. He is a Democrat, in politics, and was pension examiner under President Cleveland. He has served as county health officer and county physician, and for several years past, has been on the city board of health. Fraternally, he is a member of the blue lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he is secretary; of Oswego Chapter, R. A. M., of which he is at present high priest ; and Oswego Commandery, K. T. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica; and the Ancient Order of United Work- men. Dr. Liggett served as mayor of Oswego from April, 1899, to April, 1901.
R A. WEIR, the subject of this biog- raphy, is a prominent and well known real estate man of Parsons, Kansas. Since 1894, Mr. Weir has had his of- fice with the firm of Webb & Iden and handles all kinds of farm and city real estate.
Mr. Weir was born in Sullivan county, In- diana, in 1836, and is a son of James and Salina (McKee) Weir. His grandparents were natives of Ireland. His father, James Weir, was born in Eastern Tennessee about
1798; his mother was born in Virginia. Both are long since deceased. R. A. Weir was one of a family of II children, of whom one is. in Western Kansas, two are in Missouri, and two in Indiana. He remained at home and at- tended school at New Lebanon. In 1863, when the Civil War had reached its height, Mr. Weir enlisted in Company G, IIth Reg., Ind. Vol. Cav., as a private. He was with Wilson's cavalry corps in the South and West, and was a valiant soldier, as was fully attested by his promotion from the grade of private to that of first lieutenant, as mustered out in 1865.
After the close of the war, Mr. Weir re- turned to Indiana, where he followed farming for five years, and then moved to Neosho county, Kansas, in 1870, and purchased a claim on the Labette county line. He worked his new claim till 1876, when he removed to Par- sons, and was engaged at his trade as a stone- mason until 1884. In March, 1884, Mr. Weir became interested in the real estate business and has successfully managed all business tran- sactions placed in his care. At first he was lo- cated with Foster & Duzan, but his present. office is with Webb & Iden.
Mr. Weir was married to Mary E. Marts, who died some years since, leaving two chil- dren, Clara E. and R. K. The former is at home. R. K. Weir is a fireman on the Mis- souri Pacific Ry. and runs out of Wichita. In 1888, Mr. Weir married, for his second wife, Mrs. May E. Crumrin. For twenty years Mr. Weir resided on Gabriel avenue, but now owns a home at No. 1715 Washington avenue. Attention to business has not made Mr. Weir indifferent to outside duties, as he has served two terms as a member of the school board, and has been active in fraternal soci- eties. He was first a member of the G. A. R. in Indiana, and now belongs to Post No. 81,.
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