USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 53
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member of the Baptist church for a number of years. He is widely known in the county, where he has a host of warm friends.
UTHER W. WELCH, who has had a remarkably successful career in rail- roading, has worked his way up fron the position of water boy to that of superintendent of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. He is located in the city of Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, where he is well and favorably known as a man of upright principles and sterling qualities.
Mr. Welch was born in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1841. Becoming an orphan at the age of thirteen years, he at once set out to support himself, and from that period he has been his own supporter and the architect of his own fortunes. Entering the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, he carried water for a time for the service and construction gangs on that road. Subsequently, he entered the transportation de- partment of the road, and at various times served as fireman, engineer, dispatcher and con- ductor. He was in the employ of the company sixteen years, with the exception of two years spent in the Civil Service of the Government during the War of the Rebellion. He was then for a short time trainmaster on the Ithaca & Athens Railway, after which he was advanced to the position of assistant superintendent. In 1876, he came west to enter the service of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, with which he has since continued, with the exception of two years passed in the service of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, as roadmaster. He entered the service of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Com-
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pany as a train man and was gradually promot- ed, until in 1886, he was made superintendent of the Cherokee, Neosho and Parsons divisions, with office at Parsons, Kansas. He has been successful in his position, and is in high favor with the officials of the road.
In 1890, Mr. Welch was united in mar- riage with Lelia Smith, a daughter of Robert B. Smith, of Parsons, and they have two chil- dren : Lute T. and James Norman. The sub- ject of this sketch has been a member of the different railway orders, and formerly took an active part in their work, which the pressure of official duties has compelled him to relin- quish. Fraternally, he is a Mason and Knight Templar, and a member of the B. P. O. E.
HOMAS H. CHILES. This gentle- man is a farmer living in Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kansas, on section 14, township 32, range 18. He was born in Indiana, and is a son of Rollin Allison and Virginia A. E. Chiles. His parents lived in Indiana, where they reared five children, of whom Thomas H. and his sister, Minerva, alone survive. The others were Phoebe L., Francis and Margaret. Minerva lives in Montgomery county, Kansas.
Thomas H. Chiles received his mental train- ing in the common schools of his native county. and at the age of sixteen years began to work on his father's farm. When he was twenty- two years old,-on August 9, 1861,-he en- listed in the army, and saw active service for three years. He was mustered out Septem- ber 15, 1864, after which he returned to Indi- ana, where he was married. He lived in Indi- ana until 1871, when with his wife and family he moved to Labette county, Kansas, where he
has since resided. He is engaged in general farming and dairying, and is very prosperous. He has had a thorough training in the tilling of the soil, and is considered one of the best farmers in the township. His farm is kept in good condition, being well managed and cared for.
Mr. Chiles married Barbara Ledgerwood, a native of Indiana, and they have been blessed with five children, namely: Alzira, who is married, and lives near her father's farm; Jen- nie and James, who are at home; Laura, who lives in Mound Valley township; and Omar, who also lives at home. Mr. Chiles is a Re- publican, in politics, and has served on the school board of Mound Valley township. He has been a member of the Hopewell church for the past eighteen years. Mr. Chiles is well known in Labette county, where he is highly respected by all.
HARLES A. LAMBERT, the popu- lar and expert tailor at Parsons, Kansas, where he has one of the largest and best stocked tailor shops in the city, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in April, 1869. He is a son of S. J. and Kate (Hartzell) Lambert. His parents and one sister reside in Parsons, where his father is a wholesale flour and feed dealer, on Central avenue. One sister is married and resides in Kansas City, and a brother lives in California.
In 1878, the Lambert family, including Charles A., moved west to Parsons, Kansas, where the subject hereof obtained his primary education. He attended school three months in the old frame building on South Twenty- first street, and afterwards pursued his studies in the East building. He was subsequently
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sent to Girard, Ohio, where he also attended school, making his home during that time with a sister.
When fifteen years old he returned to Par- sons, and attended private school, taking a complete course in mathematics and book- keeping. Mr. Lambert began his active career when sixteen years old, working at first as clerk in a grocery store, and driving the delivery wagon. He has made his own way ever since, without any financial aid whatever. In Oc- tober, 1890, he became apprenticed to learn the tailor trade, working two years at "An- thony's," in Cleveland, Ohio, where he com- pletely mastered the cutter's trade, and became quite an expert in that line. Accepting a po- sition at Youngstown, Ohio, he served as cut- ter for ten months. He followed the same line of work at various places afterward. Among these was Chicago, Illinois, where he was cut- ter for "Reynolds;" Wichita, Kansas, whither he went in 1893; and St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Lambert then became a traveling sales- man, and for several months sold woolens and fine cloths to different tailoring establishments throughout Texas. Since then he traveled in that capacity a great deal, but was finally taken sick with typhoid fever, and returned home. After recuperating, he entered into partnership with J. M. Haller, and conducted a tailor shop in Parsons, until May, 1896. He then sold his interest and immediately engaged as cut- ter in the establishment of Mr. Johnson, where he remained several months.
In August, 1896, Mr. Lambert embarked in business for himself at his present location, 210 South Central avenue, where he now has a tailoring establishment second to none in the city. Hís building is 60 by 22 feet, in dimen- sions, and contains an exceptionally large and fine stock, which he also retails as occasion de-
mands. He employs seven workmen but takes pride in doing all his own cutting, and turns out a large number of first class, up to date and stylish garments.
Mr. Lambert is unmarried. He is a valued member of the B. P. O. E., A. F. & A. M., and K. of P. He entertains broad, liberal ideas on religious subjects, without allying himself with any church denomination. In his political ac- tion he votes a straight Democratic ticket, and exerts all his influence in behalf of his favorite party. He does not, however, allow politics to interfere with business, and it is his constant aim to give his many patrons thorough satis- faction and good workmanship. He is indeed a hustler, and is rightly considered one of the most thrifty and progressive business men of Parsons.
P HINDENACH, who resides at his comfortable home at No. 2200 Briggs avenue, is a true type of a self made man. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Catherine (Goodekuntz) Hinden- ach, who gave their attention to agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Hindenach is one of II children,-nine sons and two daughters,-all but two of whom are living. The record follows: Frederick, of Allentown, Pennsylvania; George, of Am- bler, Pennsylvania; J. P .; Mary (Funk), of Quakertown, Pennsylvania ; Charles, deceased, who was the owner of a fine farm at Ambler, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia ; John, a mill- wright; Christ. and Peter, partners in a store at Durham, Pennsylvania ; William, a farmer living near Durham, Pennsylvania; Louise (Bowman), of Easton, Pennsylvania; and
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Harry, deceased, whose widow and two chil- dren reside near Durham, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Hindenach attended the commoii schools of his native state, and remained at home on the farm until he attained his major ity. He then worked at different lines of em- ployment until the fall of 1869, when he went west, to Boone county, Iowa, whence, after working on a farm a few months, he went to Humboldt, Kansas. From Humboldt Mı. Hindenach came to Labette county, Kansas, and began work on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, first as wiper, then as fireman, switching engineer, and later as road engineer, -pulling trains to Cherokee and Neosho. He retired from railroad service and moved to Par- sons, where he had formerly purchased an 18- acre tract of land, and then built his present home. It was in 1870 that he became a resi- dent of Parsons, and at first boarded in the tents of which the town at that time was com- posed.
Mr. Hindenach was twice married. His first wife was Lavina Journot, of Parsons. She died in 1882, leaving two children, Eva and Pearl, to the care of her husband. Some time afterward he was united in marriage with Rose E. Smith. Four children have blessed this union, viz: Raymond, Beatrice, Leo and Ralph.
Mr. Hindenach deserves to be ranked among the leading business men of Parsons. His efforts through life have been crowned with success. Aside from the elegant home resi- dence, he also owns the fine brick block at 2112 Johnson avenue, occupied by Saylor Brothers, grocers. He has also other properties, and spends his time looking after his various in- terests, raising some stock, and caring for the large amount of fruit grown on the home place.
In politics, Mr. Hindenach affiliates with the Democrats, and usually attends his party caucuses. He is a member of Lodge No. I. A. O. U. W., of Parsons, and of the Sons and Daughters of Justice. Mrs. Hindenach is also a member of the latter society. In religious views, they embrace the Catholic faith.
AMUEL F. TERRIL, a prosperous farmner and stock raiser residing in section 22, Mount Pleasant township, Labette county, Kansas, is also a sur- veyor by profession, and served one term as surveyor of this county. He was born in Mus- kingum county, Ohio, in 1829, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth ( Marling) Terril.
Daniel Terril, grandfather of Samuel F., was born at Tidewater, New Jersey, in 1758, and died in Ohio county, West Virginia, in 1831. He married Jane Giffin, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1765, and died in Ohio county, West Virginia, in 1843.
Adam Terril, father of Samuel F., was born in Ohio county, West Virginia, in 1797, and died in 1865, in Muskingum county, Ohio. He married Elizabeth Marling, who was born in 1798, in Ohio county. West Virginia, and died in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1871. They reared nine children, as follows: Dan- iel, John M., Mary, Robert and Isabel, de- ceased ; Samuel F .; James W. and William, deceased; and Josiah, of Muskingum, Ohio.
Samuel F. Terril resided in his native county with his parents and worked upon the farm until he was twenty-three years of age, when he moved to Clay county, Indiana. Here he remained until 1871, when he removed to Labette county, Kansas, locating in section 22, Mount Pleasant township, where he has since
JAMES W. GALYEN.
MRS. LUCRETIA L. GALYEN.
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resided and applied himself to general farm- ing and stock raising. He has also followed the profession of a surveyor, and served one term as county surveyor of Clay county. Indi- ana, and one term in Labette county, Kansas. He is a man of the strictest integrity, and of shrewd business ability, and has attained a 'high degree of success.
Mr. Terril was united in marriage with Margaret Laughlin, who was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1835, and is a daughter of William and Sarah ( Nesbitt) Laughlin. Her father was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, in 1809, and died in 1885, in Clay county, Indiana. Her mother was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and died in Clay county, Indiana, in 1866. Samuel F. Terril and his wife are the parents of five children, namely: William; Ezra ; James, who has a son, Howard; Eli U .; and Sarah (Rayburn), of Champaign, Illinois. All of the children but the last named are resi- dents of Labette county. Mr. Terril lias al- ways been a zealous Republican, in politics, until the last few years ; he is an active mem- ber of the I. O. O. F.
AMES W. GALYEN, who was for many years one of the most promi- nent agriculturists located along the Neosho river, in Labette county, Kansas, died February 15, 1899. Always in- terested in public improvements and the de- velopment of his community, he was one of its best citizens, and his death was deeply mourned by his fellow citizens with whom he had been associated for so many years. Mrs. Galyen is now located comfortably in Parsons, Kansas, where she has many friends.
James W. Galyen was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, October 16, 1837. At the age of twelve years he was taken by his parents to Barry county, Missouri, where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. Believing the South was making a fight for its just rights, he sided with that section, and enlisted in the IIth Regiment. Missouri Infantry, and served in Price's Division until 1862, when he was discharged. He then moved to Greene county, Illinois, where he resided until 1865, when he decided to establish a home in the west, and journeyed to Labette county, Kansas. Arriving at Trotter's ford on December 19, 1865, he took up a claim on the Neosho river, which he cleared, and cultivated during the rest of his life. His last days were spent at his son's home. whither he had moved one month prior to his death. He was a very success- ful farmer, and laid up a handsome competency. He was a man of many excellent qualities, was honest and upright in all of his dealings, and his townsmen lamented his death as a loss to the community.
December 6, 1860, Mr. Galyen was united in matrimony with Lucretia J. Lovelace, who was born December 7. 1844, in Benton county, Missouri, and is a daughter of Isaac and Maria J. (Ashley) Lovelace. Her father. a promi- nent farmer by occupation, was born in Mc- Cracken county, Kentucky, and her mother in Ballard county, Kentucky. This old and re- spected family moved to Missouri in 1839, where they lived until 1862, and then went to Greene county, Illinois. Five years later they moved to Miami county, Kansas, where they continued to live for some time. Isaac Love- lace died October 19, 1890, at the age of sev- enty-one years, while on a visit to Arkansas. Mrs. Lovelace died March 10, 1890, at the age of seventy years. They were parents of four
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children, as follows: Elizabeth; James E .; America ; and Lucretia J. Elizabeth, deceased, married John Ellis, by whom she had one son, Lafayette. James E. married Melinda Mor- gan, by whom he had four children: Lenora, John, Lucy, and Edna. America, who resides in Cherokee county, Kansas, married Ivy Ir- win, by whom she had four children, Frank, Perry, Henry, and Mary; being left a widow, she became the wife of Lewis Westervelt. Lucretia J., the youngest member of the fam- ily, is the widow of the subject of this sketch. In religious belief, the family were Baptists.
Mr. and Mrs. Galyen were the parents of one son, Isaac W., a record of whose life ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Galyen has lived in Parsons since the death of her husband, and has a comfortable home at No. 1327 Johnson avenue, where she is surrounded by many friends. She still owns two valuable farms, which she rents. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Galyen accompany this sketch.
B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN DIENST, a prominent stock dealer of Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, has also fol- lowed auctioneering for a number of years, and is considered quite an expert in cry- ing public sales. Mr. Dienst is a son of J. H. and Henrietta (Gatze) Dienst, who in former years were influential citizens of the Hoosier State. J. H. Dienst is deceased, but his widow is still living. They left Indiana and came west to Labette county, Kansas, where they" located in April, 1868, and erected the second house built on the prairie. There were then only about half a dozen families in that section, and they were located along Big Hill Creek. The elder Dienst took up a claim in Osage
township,-the southwest quarter of section 20, township 31, range 18. This land is still in the possession of the family, and still re- mains the home of the beloved mother. Four- teen children were born to this worthy couple. They were: J. L., formerly of Kansas, who died in 1872, leaving a widow and one child; Caroline (Paul), who died in 1878; Henry, who died before the family left Indiana; Ben- jamin Franklin, the subject of this biography ; Theodore, a farmer near Idenbro. Kansas; three, who died in infancy; George E., who. was an Evangelical minister in Japan for many years, but is now a physician of Chicago, mak- ing a specialty of eye, ear, nose and throat diseases; Dan W., of Coffeyville, Kansas; two, who were twins and died in infancy; Lola (Miller), who resides with her mother on the farm; and Monroe, who is shipping clerk for a tinplate factory at Atlanta, Indiana.
Benjamin F. Dienst was born January 9, 1851, in the state of Indiana. He went to school in his native state, and also in Labette county, after the family came west, and re- mained at home until the spring of 1872. He spent the following season as a cowboy on a range, and returned home in July, 1873. In company with Mr. Carson, he left home again and went north in search of the Benders, ar- riving, some time later, in the state of Wiscon- sin. While there he engaged in lumbering, rafting, etc., and while working in that ca- pacity was enabled to explore different islands in the Mississippi river. After a fruitless search, he returned home in 1874, and soon afterward his marriage took place. He mar- ried Elida J. Monyhon, a daughter of David Monyhon. It is a strange coincidence that Mrs. Dienst is also one of a family of 14 chil- dren. She was born in Indiana in 1854. Three of her sisters are Mrs. D. M. Markley,
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of Parsons; Mrs. Koho, of Arkansas City; and Mrs. O. L. Coleman, of Beloit, Kansas. Their father, who was familiarly known as "Uncle" David Monyhon, left Southern Indi- ana and went west to Kansas in 1869. He located in Labette county near the Bender mound, and it was he who first discovered the mysterious disappearance of that family. In 1882 he removed from that location to Cher- ryvale, where his death took place in 1897, and where his widow and two of his sons still re- side.
Seven children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dienst, as follows; Hattie E .; Grace; Mattie; William H .; Theodore; David H .; and George E. Hattie E., or Mrs. Rich, resides in Labette county, and has one child, Kenneth. Grace was born in 1876. Mattie, or Mrs. Widup, was born in 1878, and resides on a farm in Liberty township. William H. was born in 1880, and is an employee of the American Express Company, at Parsons. Kansas. Theodore was born in 1882, and is now employed by a telephone company. Da- vid H. was born in 1884, and is a student, as is also the youngest son, who was born in 1886.
In the early "seventies" Mr. Dienst pre- empted the northwest quarter of section 20, township 31, range 18, in Osage township, La- bette county, Kansas, which land was located directly north of his father's place. After farming for several years, he sold that tract and purchased another farm, where he contin- ued agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1880. He then moved into Johnson county, Missouri, where he followed a like occupation for four years. In the fall of 1884 he returned to Kansas, and rented his mother's farm, which he conducted very successfully for the next three years. He then purchased another farm for himself, where he lived until 1893, and
then sold out, and removed to Parsons. After living for about one year in the city, he re- turned to the country, and farmed for several additional years. He again located in Parsons, upon the completion of his present comfortable residence on the corner of Morgan avenue and Twenty-first street.
Mr. Dienst commenced auctioneering in 1884. He cried his first public sale in Osage township, for E. B. Eberhart. Since then he has followed that business extensively. He is quite an artist in his profession, and has cried sales in seven different townships. He also deals in stock,-buying and selling hogs and cattle. Mr. Dienst is a self made man in every sense of the word, and deserves great credit for his industry and his ability to make a success of everything he undertakes. He is a Repub- lican, in politics, and has served as trustee of Osage township. He has also filled the posi- tion of city marshal of Parsons, having been appointed to fill a vacancy. In their religious views, the family favor the M. E. churc
R. JAMES HEACOCK, president of the board of United States pension examiners, is a highly esteemed citi- zen of Parsons. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 29, 1842. and is a son of Willin Heacock, and grandson of Jacob Heacock, the latter a native of Phila- delphia.
Willin Heacock was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and was reared a farmer. He followed farming and sheep raising until his death, which occurred in Meigs county, Ohio, at the age of thirty-five years. He married Maria Edmundson, both being of the Quaker faith. She died in Kansas at the age of fifty-
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two years. They reared two sons: James H. and Howard P., a mining engineer of Spo- kane, Washington.
Dr. James Heacock received his elementary education in Meigs county, Ohio, and at the age of fourteen years began the study of medi- cine under Dr. Elben, of Pomeroy, Ohio. During the Civil war he enlisted in the 7th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., but the state's quota hav- ing been filled, that company was prevented from going to the front. After a period of three months, he re-enlisted in the 15th Reg .. Ohio Vol. Inf., and was transferred to the 7th Ohio Battery of Light Artillery. He went out in 1863 and served two years and one month, being discharged August 11, 1865. He was in the First Division of the 17th Army Corps, and participated in the engagement at Island No. 10 and in the siege of Vicksburg. He was clerk of the battery during the entire period of his service. After the war, he engaged in the practice of his profession. He settled in Kansas in 1869, and on October 16th of that year took up a claim in North township, La- bette county, upon which claim he lived. In 1871 and 1872 he took a course of lectures in the St. Louis Homeopathic Medical College, and received a degree. He resided upon his farm in Labette county, which he improved, and engaged also in the practice of medicine until 1882, when he accepted a position with the Northern Pacific Railway Company, as sur- geon. He remained with this company two and a half years, and then located in the city of Parsons. In 1885 he sold his farm of 320 acres, at that time the best improved farm in the county. He had a good orchard of 40 acres and a fine three-story brick house; the consideration of the sale was $20.000. The Doctor has since resided in Parsons, and en-
joys a lucrative practice, in addition to his official position.
March 17, 1867, Dr. Heacock was united in marriage with Anna Gaston, of Meigs coun- ty, Ohio, and they have the following children : Eva M., wife of C. W. Ryan, of Parsons; Myrta M., wife of E. A. Wallon, of Parsons; Ida M., a teacher in the Parsons schools ; Nina D., wife of Luther Ryan, of Parsons; and J. Howard, who attends the Parsons High School, and is a member of the class of 1902. Dr. Heacock is a member of Post No. 81, G. A. R., and is post surgeon. He is also a member of the Select Knights and the Ancient Order of United Workmen,-in both of which he is surgeon. In politics, he is a Republican, and has been presi- dent of the board of pension examiners since 1897. Mrs. Heacock established the Floral Park Greenhouse in 1895, and has. since conducted it .- handling all kinds of flowers. She is possessed of exceptional business abil- ity and has met with success in her undertak- ing. She edited the Searchlight, under the auspices of the W. R. C., for three years. It was a monthly journal devoted to the interest of the old soldiers and their widows.
E BENEZER H. MCCREERY is the owner and manager of a large lum- beryard at Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, and does an extensive busi- ness throughout his section of the county. He is a native of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he was born January 22, 1856, and is a son of Robert McCreery. His grandfather was born in Scotland and was the first repre- sentative of the family in this country.
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