USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 55
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expounded by Liebeault, Bernheim, Moll, Hud- son, Pitzer, and others. The psychological treatment of diseases and the production of anesthesia for surgical operations through hypnotic influence, are thoroughly elucidated by didactic lectures and practical demonstra- tions upon subjects before the classes.
Dr. Tinder was united in marriage, Decem- ber 22, 1897, to Lottie M. Horr, of Parsons, and they have two children: Oneta F. and Jean K. The Doctor has been secretary of the board of health for a period of six years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; Modern Woodmen of America; Modern Tontines; Endowment. Rank, K. of P .; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
EORGE K. RATLIFF, who has been a prominent citizen of Parsons. La- bette county, Kansas, since 1878, is - the leading real estate dealer of the. city. He is an excellent business man, and possesses much shrewdness and foresight, as is evidenced by his many important transac- tions. He was born in Princeton, Caldwell. county, Kentucky, in 1851, and is a son of R. B. Ratliff, president of the First National Bank of Princeton, Kentucky.
R. B. Ratliff was born in Meade county, Kentucky, in 1818, and was reared and edu- cated in Bullitt county. He later became a banker of Princeton, and owned and operated a 'private bank for some years. He then or- ganized the First National Bank of Princeton, of which he is president. He is a prominent Republican, and in early life was very active- in politics.
George K. Ratliff attended the public-
DR. PORTER W. BARBE.
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schools and Forest Home Academy, and took a course in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. In 1871 he became cashier in his fa- ther's bank at Princeton, where he continued until 1878, and then located at Parsons, Kan- sas. He first engaged in the hardware busi- ness and followed it with good results until 1882. In 1886, he opened a real estate office, and has continued in that line ever since. He is a man of strict integrity and reliable in every particular, and the citizens of the community have unhesitatingly reposed their confidence in him.
Mr. Ratliff was united in marriage, in 1877, with Miss T. L. Walker, of Alton, Illinois, and they have one daughter, Laura Alberta. The subject of this sketch is an active worker in the interests of the Republican party, and while not desirous of holding office, he attends the various conventions and assists in shaping the policies of his party. He served some years in the city council. Fraternally, he is a member of the B. P. O. E .; Knights of Pythias ; I. O. O. F .; I. O. R. M .; A. O. U. W .; and a number of other societies.
D R. PORTER W. BARBE, a gentleman who has been eminently successful as a practitioner of medicine, is lo- cated at Oswego, Labette county, Kansas, where he commands a large and lucra- tive practice. He is well qualified for his pro- fession both by nature and by years of study in schools of recognized standing in this coun- try, and his wide experience has given him a skill in diagnosing and treating complex cases such as but few men in the county possess. Dr. Barbe was born in Bristol, Trumbull coun-
ty, Ohio, in 1846, and is a son of Abraham and Lydia A. (Carlin) Barbe, and grandson of William Barbe.
William Barbe was born in Metz, Germany, and after his marriage came to this country. He settled in the Shenandoalı Valley, Vir- ginia, and later moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he was one of the earliest settlers. He died at the age of seventy-six years. His union with Mary Hammon, who died at the age of eighty-eight years, was productive of the following offspring: Jacob; William; Gabriel; Abraham; Peter; and Mary.
Abraham Barbe was born, reared and lived on the old family homestead in Trumbull county, Ohio. He was born September 17, 1809, and died January 7, 1868. He was a farmer and stock raiser, by occupation, and was a very successful man. He married Lydia A. Carlin, who was born February 5, 1813, and died March 25, 1884, and they became the par- ents of the following children : Mahala J. (Ives) ; William D .; Hannah M. (Shank) ; Walter T .; Sophia D. (Simpson) ; Joseph W .; Anna E. (Burton) ; Martin J .; Porter W .; Freeman D .; Celia A. (Nelson) ; Phoebe A. (Kibee) ; and Ida (Burton). He was an old- line Democrat, in politics, and a Universalist, in religious belief.
Porter W. Barbe received his primary edu- cation in the Western Reserve Seminary, at West Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio, after which he attended Hiram College, in Portage county, Ohio. He first entered upon the study of medicine, in 1874, at West Farm- ington, with Dr. O. A. Palmer, now of Cleve- land. In the fall of 1876 he entered the Co- lumbus Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, where he spent one year. He spent the two following years in the Cleveland Medical Col- lege, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated
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on March 6, 1880. He immediately began practice at Burg Hill, Ohio, where he contin- ued for five years. At the end of this period he took a special course of study in the medical department of the Western Reserve University, of Cleveland, Ohio. In the spring of 1885 he located in Oswego, Kansas, where he has since practiced with great success. He soon estab- lished an enviable reputation as a physician, in addition to which he is looked upon, in private life, as one of Oswego's most worthy citizens.
On March 10, 1870, Dr. Barbee was united in wedlock with Florence G. Gordon, of Trum- bull county, Ohio, and they have a daughter, Lulu Pearl. Fraternally, the Doctor is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias; Odd Fellows; Pyramids ; Modern Woodmen of America; and the Rebekahs,-being medical examiner of all these orders. He is also examiner for six old- line insurance companies. He has represented each of the above named lodges at their re- spective state grand lodges. He is an honor- ary member of Trumbull County Medical So- ciety ; and of the Ohio State Medical Society ; a member of the Kansas State Medical So- ciety ; and the Southeast Kansas Medical So- ciety, of which he is ex-president. He is a Republican, in politics, and was appointed pensioner examiner in 1897,-having since served as secretary of the board. He has been a member of the local board of health for twelve years, and was a member of the board of education from 1886 to 1890. He served in the city council in 1891 and 1892,-being president of the council and chairman of the ordinance committee, for the revision of the ordinances under which the city now works. In the spring of 1900 he was again elected to the board of education, for a term of two years. He has been a member of the Christian church for thirty-three years, and of the official church
board for fifteen years. A portrait of Dr. Barbe accompanies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.
R OBERT B. GAY, who owns and con- ducts a fine farm in Mount Pleasant township, Labette county, Kansas, is a resident of the city of Altamont, where he has lived since 1883. He has been very successful in a business way, and is one of the foremost citizens of the town.
Mr. Gay was born in Clark county, Ken- tucky, December II, 1834, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Bratton) Gay. John Gay was born in Virginia, and was a boy when he moved to Clark county, Kentucky, with his father, James Gay. There he was reared and schooled and followed farming for several years. He married Rebecca Bratton, and in 1837 they removed to Boone county, Missouri, where he died. They reared the following children : Ann D. (Youger), deceased; Sarah J. (Vaghn), of Monroe county, Missouri ; Robert B .; Lu- cinda (Newman), Margaret (Christman), David and William, deceased; and Nancy (Shock), of Boone county, Missouri. John Gay was a Democrat, in politics. Religiously, he was a member of the Church of Christ, and' was an active church worker.
Robert B. Gay received his mental training in the schools of Boone county, Missouri, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1883. In that year he moved to Altamont, Labette county, Kansas, and has since made his residence in that city. He purchased a farm near Altamont, in Mount Pleasant town- ship, which he has been occupied in cultivating .. The farin is well improved, equipped with good substantial buildings, and has been very pro-
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ductive. In politics, Mr. Gay is a prominent Democrat and an active worker for party suc- cess. He has served in the city council and was mayor of the city in 1890.
December 25, 1861, Mr. Gay was joined in matrimony with Miss L. F. Christman, who died in 1869, leaving two children: John R., of St. Louis, Missouri; and English A., of Centralia, Missouri. In 1883, the subject of this sketch was wedded to his second wife,- Mrs. E. F. (Coons) Morning. Religiously, he favors the Church of Christ.
ALTER S. FISHER, a prominent young liveryman of Oswego, Kan- sas, and a native of that town, was born October 21, 1880, and is a son of Samuel Fisher.
Samuel Fisher was a native of Ohio, and in 1870, located at Oswego, where he died in May, 1890. His brother, I. R. Fisher, accompanied him to Kansas, where they conducted a grocery store together. They freighted their goods from Kansas City, until the railroads were built. Mr. Fisher married Josie Scott, who after her husband's death, married J. M. Hart. who died in 1893. Samuel Fisher was a Re- publican, and an active worker in the party.
Walter S. Fisher attended the public and high schools of Oswego, and graduated from the Emporia Business College, in 1899. Dur- ing 1896, 1897 and 1898, he was in Kansas City, at the O. N. Hunt stables, where he was engaged in racing. In the spring of 1899, he was occupied in St. Louis, and in October of that year returned to Oswego, and engaged in the livery business. He has a perfect knowl- edge of horses. having made a study of their habits, and having been among them for many
years. His partner in business was Mr. Holmes, but in March, 1900, Mr. Fisher bought out Mr. Holmes' interest. His livery- stable is first class in every respect, and is large- ly patronized.
Mr. Fisher is a member of the M. W. of A .; A. O. U. W .; and A. O. P.
D R. J. M. KLEISER, a physician and surgeon of high repute throughout Labette county. is enjoying a very fine practice in Parsons, Kansas, where he is located. He was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1849.
The early boyhood days of Mr. Kleiser were spent in Northern California, whither his parents had moved during the gold excitement. They returned to Kentucky in 1860. After obtaining his primary schooling he entered Washington & Lee University, which he at- tended for two years, and then continued his studies at the University of Virginia. He studied medicine at the University of New York in New York City, and graduated from the medical department, with the class of 1871. After a short rest, he began his practice at Parsons, Kansas, where he located January 9, 1872, and has resided ever since. His patron- age is mainly from a high class of citizens, and his patients are also numbered as his friends. He enjoys their greatest confidence, and his ability is recognized wherever he is known. He has been local surgeon for the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railway ever since he located in Parsons. He is a member of the Southeastern Kansas Medical Society; the State Medical Society of Kansas; and the International So- ciety of Railway Surgeons.
Dr. Kleiser was united in matrimony with
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Elizabeth H. Reynolds, who died March 10, 1896, leaving four children : Max, Karl, Fritz and Hugh. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, as far advanced as the Shrine. In politics, he is a stanch and un- wavering supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He has served as city phy- sician, and on the board of health. During President Hayes' administration, he was U. S. pension examiner. This position he held for 16 consecutive years.
P ERRY S. WHITE, who has large business interests in Labette county, Kansas, is located at Parsons, where he has the oldest lumber yard in the city. In addition to this, he conducts a branch lumber yard at Dennis, and also a hardware store. He is possessed of exceptional business ability, and his different ventures have been attended with the greatest success.
Mr. White was born in Warrick county, In- diana, in 1859, and is a son of James P. and Rachael (Gwaltney) White, and a grandson of John and Catherine (McCard) White. Cath- erine (McCard) White died in 1832, leaving but one child, James P. John White formed a second union, February 19, 1833, by wedding Elizabeth Eckles, who was a daughter of Sam- uel and Nancy (White) Eckles. This union resulted in the following offspring: Samuel M., Catherine M., Nancy, Martha, John G., and Thomas B. The family moved to War- rick county, in 1849.
James P. White was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, and moved to Indiana, before his marriage. His early life was spent in teaching school, after which he followed farm- ing in his native county. He was born in
1832, and died in 1896. He married Rachael Gwaltney, who was born in Ohio in 1834, and died in 1899. She was a daughter of John and Mary (Moore) Gwaltney, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter, of Pennsyl- vania. John Gwaltney left his native state and went to Ohio, when young. In 1857, he went to Spencer county, Indiana, and there reared a family of 15 children. He lived to reach the age of eighty-five years, and his wife reached a greater age. James P. White and his worthy wife became the parents of the fol- lowing children: Rose B. (Heim), deceased ; George W., who resides on the old home- stead in Warrick county, Indiana; Perry S .; Sarah, deceased; and Jesse, deceased. He fa- vored the Whig and Republican parties, and was a Presbyterian in religious belief.
Perry S. White was reared and schooled in his native county and followed farming until 1881. He came west in February, 1881, and was employed by C. F. Hodgman, who con- ducted a lumber yard at the present place of business of Mr. White. Mr. White was yard manager, and in 1886 bought out his employer, having purchased the land on which the busi- ness is located, in 1891. He has the first es- tablished lumber concern in Parsons, and does a very extensive business. He has a branch lumber yard at Dennis, Labette county, which he started in February, 1896, when he began his hardware trade there, also. He was one of the organizers of the State Bank of Par- sons, in 1898, and has since been a director, and served as secretary of the board of di- rectors. He is a member of the Missouri and Kansas Association of Lumber Dealers.
November 6, 1882, Mr. White was joined in matrimony with Mattie A. Barker. of Par- sons, by whom he has had five children, as follows: Herbert, deceased ; Walter G .; Fay;
FRANKLIN D. HOWE.
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Helen ; and Laura, deceased. He is a Republi- can in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, of which he was formerly a commander; and of the Knights of Pythias, of which he served as treasurer for six years.
Mr. White and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of Parsons. The former was a delegate to the grand lodge which was held in Kansas City, May 21, 1901. He was also a delegate to the grand lodges held at Pittsburg, Kansas, and Iola, Kansas.
RANKLIN D. HOWE, a highly re- spected citizen and farmer residing in section 23, Oswego township, Labette county, Kansas, whose portrait is here- with shown, is one of the leading agriculturists of the county. He was born in Brighton, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, October I, 1839, and is a son of Stillman Howe, and grandson of William S. Howe. The latter was a Revolutionary soldier.
Stillman Howe was born in Brighton, Mas- sachusetts, in 1806, and followed the trade of a stone-mason all his life. He built several stone buildings in Boston. His death, which occurred at the age of forty-five years, was caused by the falling of a stone, while he was at work on a bridge pier. He married Har- riet Perry, of Boston, and she also died at the age of forty-five years. They reared the fol- lowing offspring : Henry H .; Hollis; Harriet, deceased; and Franklin D., the subject of this sketch.
Franklin D. Howe spent his boyhood days in his native town, and at the age of twelve years was thrown upon his own resources. He first worked in a boot and shoe factory at
Milford, from 1852 to 1859, and in the latter year went to Chicago. There he obtained work in a boot and shoe factory, in which he re- mained until 1866. Desiring a more suitable climate, as he was not strong, and concluding to try the West, he finally settled in Labette county, and bought a farm in section 23, Os- wego township, where he is successfully car- rying on general farming.
Mr. Howe was united in marriage, in 1870, with Eliza Hogoboom, who died in 1873. In 1878, he married Mary F. Roe, a native of Greene county, New York. She is a daugh- ter of Gideon Roe. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have two children,-Allura and Alma,-both stu- dents. Mr. Howe is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Republican, and although he is actively interested in the work of his party, he will not accept public office. He has served in various township offices, and was, at one time, sheriff of the county, in which he has a host of warm friends.
€ LIJAH T. READ, a prominent busi- ness man of Oswego, Labette county, Kansas, is vice-president of the Os- wego State Bank, and has served as such, and also as a director, since its inception, having been one of its organizers. He is, be- sides, the leading hardware merchant of the city, and has been engaged in that line there continuously since 1868, when he first settled in Kansas.
Mr. Read was born in Vernon, Jennings county, Indiana, in 1841, and is a son of Sam- uel and Nancy (Threlkeld) Read. Samuel Read was a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1801; journeying thence, he became an early settler of Owen county, Kentucky.
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While residing there, he was married and soon after settled at Vernon, Jennings county, In- diana. He followed contracting and building during his early career, and constructed nearly all of the first buildings in Vernon. He after- ward engaged in mercantile business, which he followed with much success for many years. The last years of his life were spent in retire- ment. He crossed the plains in 1850, and was engaged for five years in mining and mer- chandising in California. He was originally a Whig, in politics, and later, a Republican,- at one time serving as judge of Jennings county. He was a member of the Baptist church, in which he was a regular attendant and active worker. He died in 1875, aged sev- enty-four years. His wife was born in 1801, and died in 1848. They were parents of nine children (of whom the subject hereof is the only one now living), namely: William, who died in 1868; Hiram T., who died in 1900; James S., who died in 1897; Wilson M., who died in California ; Virginia (Wells), who died in 1895; Merrit, who died in 1892; John S., who died in 1880; Elijah T .; and Martha, who died young.
Elijah T. Read was reared and schooled in Vernon, Indiana, and in 1868, journeyed west to Oswego, Labette county, Kansas, where he became associated with his brothers, John S. and Merrit, in the hardware, stove and implement business. The firm name was originally Read Brothers, and continued thus after the withdrawal of Merrit Read from the partnership, in 1879. John S. continued as a member of the firm until his death in 1880. since when the subject of this sketch has con- ducted the business under the name of the E. T. Read Hardware Company. He has always had a thriving trade and the store, fully stocked with a general line of hardware and complete in
all its appointments, commands the patronage of the leading citizens of Oswego and vicinity. He was one of the original stockholders of the Oswego State Bank, and, as before mentioned, has been a director and vice-president since its incorporation.
Mr. Read was joined in matrimony in 1864, with Sarah Vawter, a daughter of Smith Vaw- ter, of Vernon, Indiana, and they have had the following children: Virginia; Alice; Smith H .; Daisy B .; and Bert W. Virginia (Reamer) resides at Oswego, and has two children : Roscoe R. and Virginia K .; Alice died at the age of two years. Smith H., who attended the Oswego High School and the State University of Indiana, and who is now with the Union National Bank of Kansas City, Missouri, married Mabel Adams. Daisy B. (Sprague) lives in Gashland, Missouri. Bert W., who was educated in the Oswego High School and in Ottawa University, is now in business with his father. Mr. Read is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics, he is a stanch Republican ; religiously, he is a member of the Baptist church.
N. BARROWS has been engaged for many years in the real estate business in Parsons, Kansas, where he is the leading dealer in city property.
Mr. Barrows was born near Batavia, Gen- esee county, New York, where he was reared and received his primary intellectual training. At an early age, he became identified with mer- cantile pursuits in connection with his father, William H. Barrows, at Attica, New York. In 1875 he relinquished this business and went
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west to Hannibal, Missouri, where he entered the auditor's office of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. In 1878 he severed his re- lations with that company, and located at Par- sons, Kansas, where he was employed in the office of the Osage Coal & Mining Company. With that company he remained until it was sold to the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, in 1885. He then formed a mercantile part- nership with B. R. Van Meter. In addition to this, the firm dealt quite extensively in real estate. In 1890 Mr. Barrows purchased his partner's interest in both branches of the busi- ness. He sold the mercantile interest, in 1891, to N. Weil & Company, and retained the real estate department. To this and insurance matters he applied himself, and purchased large tracts of land and blocks of city property. January 1, 1899, in company with E. B. Stevens, cashier of the First National Bank, he purchased the entire interests of the original town company. The town company of Par- sons was, at the outset, promoted by Col. R. S. Stevens, now deceased, and H. D. Mirick, now vice-president of the First National Bank. Although there were other stockholders, these gentlemen held a controlling interest and finally acquired all the stock. The company was formed in 1871, and the town site was laid out the same year. It comprised four sec- tions, the extent of the present city limits. Mr. Barrows manages the business of the com- pany, and also the real estate and insurance business of the firm of Stevens & Barrows. He has always been interested in the develop- ment of the city, and has assisted in the estab- lishment of business enterprises tending toward that end. He was active in promoting the M. F. Smith Manufacturing Company, in 1886, established for the manufacture of hick- ory handles of all kinds. In 1898 he was as-
sociated with E. B. Stevens and D. H. Bran- non in organizing the Parsons Novelty Com- pany, which manufactured the Brannon Com- bined Meat-Block and Bowl, of which Mr. Brannon is the patentee. Mr. Barrows is treasurer of the company. Fraternally, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M .; R. A. M .; and the B. P. O. E. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, and has made friends of all with whom he has been brought into contact, both in business and social relations. Mr. Barrows was joined in matrimony, in 1870, to Kate E. Briggs, of Attica, New York, a daughter of Rufus and Caroline Briggs. They have had three children, as follows: Allan S., Mary S. and Rufus N. Allan S. is now in New York City, with the Riker Motor Vehicle Company ; he married Ella Smith, of Parsons, Kansas, and they have one child, Caroline O. Mary S. is attending college in Buffalo, New York. Rufus N. is purchasing agent for the Washington, D. C., City Street Railroad Com- pany. In religious belief, the family are mem- bers of the Episcopal church.
ABEZ ZINK, a retired farmer, residing in Oswego, Labette county, Kansas, was born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1843. He was a son of John Zink, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1793. The latter farmed in that county until his death, which occurred in 1843. He had a family of seven children, namely: Jolın, de- ceased; Wilson; Allen; Mary (Brown) ; Will- iam, deceased ; Robison, deceased ; and Jabez. the subject of this sketch.
Jabez Zink was reared and schooled in Greene county, Illinois, having gone to that county in 1855. He lived there until 1862,
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