USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 67
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OHN A. JAMISON, a highly respected agriculturist of Labette county, Kan- sas, living in Mound Valley township, in the northwest quarter of section 23, township 32, range 18, was born in Kentucky, in 1845, in the town of Clay Village, Shelby county. He is a son of Allen and Jane (Cline) Jamison.
Allen Jamison is now eighty-four years old. In 1850 he moved to Missouri, where he worked at his trade, that of a blacksmith, while his sons took care of the farm. Mr. Jamison was wedded to Jane Cline, who was a native of Kentucky, and whose death occurred in Mis- souri, in 1900, at the age of seventy-four years. They reared eight children, namely: E. T., who lives in the northeast corner of Mound Valley township; John A., the subject of this sketch; Samuel, who is a farmer in Washing- ton; Mary E. (Holmes), who lives in Mis- souri ; J. T., who is engaged in mercantile busi- ness in that state; Charles and George, both residents of Missouri ; and Theodosia, who died in Missouri.
John A. Jamison, whose name heads this sketch, attended the common schools of Mis- souri. He and his brother, E. T., served in the state home guard for three years, spending one and one-half years in camp. Mr. Jamison fol- lowed farming in Missouri until his removal to Labette county, Kansas. In the fall of 1869, Mr. Jamison took a claim in section 12, town- ship 32, range 18, in Osage township. He re- turned to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he spent the winter of 1870, and since that time has permanently resided in Labette county. He located on his present farm in Mound Valley township, in 1891, and has expended over $1,500 in improvements on the place. When he bought it, it was in the hands of a mort- gage company, and had been settled by Frank Harper. The soil is rich and compact, being underlaid by strata of water-bearing gravel. A creek and springs supply water in the corral, near the barn, and there are also cisterns and wells on the place. Mr. Jamison has two acres of orchard, and about 100 acres of wheat. He raises grain and stock, mainly. He breeds Poland-China hogs, and white-faced cattle, and also raises horses for general use. Mr. Jamison is a practical business man, and has a thorough knowledge of farming matters. He takes a great interest in the affairs of the county, and the township, and is now serving as road master of the township.
Mr. Jamison married Eliza Tallman, who- was born in Ohio in 1857. They have been blessed with five children, namely: Ella, who is at home; T. W., who lives in Oklahoma, and is engaged with the Carbon Light Company, of Wichita, Kansas; George L., who is em- ployed in the steel works at Pueblo, Colorado; Arthur, who is home; and Jane, who died at the age of two years.
Mr. Jamison is a Republican in politics ..
JAMES McKENNAN.
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He has served as trustee of his township. He attends the Methodist church at Hopewell, in Labette township. Mr. Jamison is a loyal and upright citizen, and his friends in Labette county are many.
J AMES McKENNAN. a prosperous farmer of Howard township, Labette county, Kansas, lives in section 24, township 34, range 17. He was born in Herkimer county, New York, April 30. 1837, and is a son of Ezekiel and Sophia ( War- ner ) McKennan.
Ezekiel McKennan was of Scotch-Irish de- scent. He came to America when eighteen years of age, and located in New York State, where he engaged in farming. He became quite an extensive land owner, and at the time of his death left considerable valuable real estate. In religious belief he was at first a Presbyterian and later a Congregationalist. He and his wife became parents of II children, as follows: Rachel; Hugh; Oliver; Sophia; Sarah; James; George; Jennie; Mary; and two who died in infancy. Mr. McKennan re- mained in his native state until November 15. 1869, when he decided to go west. After making a visit to friends in Michigan and Iowa, he started for Kansas. Arriving at Kansas City, he purchased a mule-team and proceeded to Montgomery county, Kansas, whence he went to Parker, Linn county, March 2, 1870. There he remained a short time when he moved to Labette county, and purchased his present farm June 8, 1872. Upon this but few improvements had been made. A claim house liad been built, and about 20 acres of land had been broken. Mr. Mc- Kennan has made many improvements, and 33
now has one of the finest farmis in the town- ship. About 50 acres are under a high state of cultivation, and the remainder is used for grazing purposes. In 1882 he built a cottage of seven rooms, which adds greatly to the ap- pearance of the property.
Mr. McKennan was united in matrimony, March 24. 1873, with Mae Kempton, who was born in Orleans county, New York, February 12, 1854, and is a daughter of Chauncy and Marion D. (Billings) Kempton. They had two children: Edith, born in July, 1875, who Idied at the age of four months, and Bret, now a lad of sixteen years. Politically, Mr. Mc- Kennan is a stanch Republican, but does not aspire to office. Mrs. McKennan is a member of the Congregational church. A portrait of Mr. McKennan is shown on a foregoing page.
SAAC D. ELLISON, a highly respected farmer living in Mound Valley town- ship, Labette county, Kansas, in section 21, township 32, range 18, was born in Stark county, Ohio, January 24, 1833, in the village of Marlboro, and is a son of Samuel and Anna (Jones) Ellison, who were of Scotch- Irish descent.
Samuel Ellison was a native of Virginia, and his death occurred in Ohio, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife was a native of Georgia, and died, in Ohio, at the age of sixty- five years. They had nine children, namely : Elizabeth (Allmon), who died in 1885, aged eighty-two years; Anna (Pennock), whose death took place in 1898, at the age of eighty- two years ; John, who died in 1860, in Alliance, Stark county, Ohio, aged fifty years ; William, deceased at the age of fifty years, in Janesville, Wisconsin; Samuel, aged eighty-seven years,
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who lives at Greenleaf, Kansas; Dempsey, aged eighty-one years, of Yukon, Oklahoma; Mar- garet (Fulton), who died in Dayton, Ohio, aged sixty years; Deborah (Fulton), who died in 1889, aged sixty years; and Isaac D., the subject of this sketch.
Isaac D. Ellison was reared in the town of Marlboro, Ohio, where he remained until his marriage, in 1854. He married Martha Orr, who died in 1864, leaving five children, three of whom died in childhood. The others were: Flora (Hcover), of Cleveland, Ohio; and Mrs. Cora Brown, who died in Denver, Colorado, in the fall of 1900, leaving five children. Mr. Ellison and his wife were engaged in the hotel business at Alliance, Ohio, for a period of three years. He was, next, in the railroad business for two years, after which he removed, with his family, to Chicago, in the fall of 1865. There he conducted the hotel known as the Cen- tral House, at Nos. 82 and 84 East Randolph street. This was a five-story building, and was destroyed by fire in 1871. In 1870 Mr. Ellison sold this hotel, and concluded to try his for- tune in the West. He bought a stock of fine whiskies, brandies, and other liquors, and went to Utah, intent upon making his fortune. In this he was greatly disappointed. He settled at Promontory Point, Utah, where the golden spike of the Union Pacific Railroad was driven. Mr. Ellison was obliged to sell his stock at a great loss, as he found competition was too great. He then went to Texas, where he bought a herd of cattle, which he brought to Labette county, thinking he would take a claim in Mound Valley, where he would have abundant range for the cattle to graze in the vicinity. But in this he was also disappointed, as the country very soon became settled. Thus he was obliged to begin life over, as a poor man, comparatively, but, nothing daunted, he set out
with renewed energy, and is now one of the most prosperous and successful farmers in his section of Labette county.
Mr. Ellison bought the northwest quarter of section 21, township 32, range 18, in the spring of 1871, for the small amount of $400. Then, after six years of litigation with the railroad company, he finally acquired title to" the farm. He first broke eight acres of the land, and planted sod-corn, and later broke all of the home quarter-section. He now has 300 trees bearing fruit, these trees having been bought from Mr. North, who kept a nursery in this part of the county, and supplied all of the orchards in the vicinity. When Mr. Ellison settled on this land, there was only a shanty, 10 by 12 feet in size. This he soon replaced by a modern house, which sits on a mound, some distance back from the road, and thus af- fords a splendid view. He also bought 80 acres of land on the west side of the road, and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 16, township 32, range 18, making a farm of 280 acres. This he deeded to his sons. Mr. Ellison carries on general farming. He raises corn, hogs and cattle, and last year sold $1,800 worth in one season. He prefers thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, and has several of them. Mr. Ellison is a self made man, and deserves great credit for the manner in which he confronted adversity and struggled on until success was again his.
Mr. Ellison formed a second marital union, in Illinois, by wedding Sarah E. Howe, who was born in Akron, Ohio. She is now fifty- eight years old. Six children have been the result of this marriage, whose names are as follows: John, who married Pearl Stevens, and who lives near his father; Charles, who is at home; Lorena (Larrabee), who lives in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and has one daughter,
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Bessie; Hattie (Norton), who lives on a farm in Osage township, and has one son, Harry; Maude, who is at home; and Walter, aged sev- enteen years, who is also at home. Mr. Ellison was formerly a member of the Old Settlers' League, and relates many interesting experi- ences of the happenings incident to the settling of this county.
Mr. Ellison has always voted the straight Republican ticket. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. lodge, of Cherryvale, al- though he joined this organization in Ohio. His family attends the Methodist church. They are well and favorably known in the county, and Mr. Ellison has the respect and esteem of all his fellow citizens.
ILLIAM ALLMON, a prosperous and well known farmer living in Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kansas, is a native of Stark county, Ohio, and was born March 8, 1845, and is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Ellison) Allmon.
Isaac Allmon was a native of Ohio, and was descended from an old Pennsylvania fam- ily. He followed the trades of carpenter and machinist, and died at the age of sixty-five years, in 1872. Elizabeth Ellison Allmon, the mother of William, was descended from a well known Virginia family, and died in Ohio in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Allmon reared five chil- dren, namely: Mary A. (James), of North Lewisburg, Ohio; Samuel E., of Toledo, Ohio, a canal superintendent, who, in the Civil war, was a member of Company C, 45th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., served as adjutant of the regiment, and was commissioned captain; Hiram W., who was a member of Company K, 42d Reg.,
Ohio Vol. Inf., and died in the army ; Ezra J., who was also a member of that regiment, and who was accidentally shot and killed while cleaning a gun, in the fall of 1900; and Will- iam, the subject of this sketch.
William Allmon was reared and schooled in his native state, and at the age of eighteen years, in the spring of 1864, enlisted as a 100- day man in Company B, 132d Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., in the 10th Army Corps, under General Butler. He was with the Army of the Po- tomac, was under fire, and did guard duty on the James River and at Petersburg. He was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, in the fall of 1864.
When a boy, Mr. Allmon was handy with tools, and this fact led him to become a ma- chinist and carpenter on the Bellefontaine & Indiana Railroad, which is now the "Big 4." He followed this occupation until the fall of 1872, and was then engaged in the lumber business until the fall of 1885. He had charge of the stair, machinery, scroll work, and mold- ing departments of a large lumber and planing mill, at Bellefontaine, Ohio. When this factory burned, Mr. Allmon was a very heavy loser. In 1885 he decided to try his luck in the West, and accordingly set out for Kansas, and lo- cated in Mound Valley township, Labette coun- ty. He bought his present farm in section 22, township 32, range 18, from A. McGinnis, for $4,000, paying $2,500 down and assuming a mortgage of $1,500. Mr. Allmon has always been a conscientious and thrifty worker, and his success has been due entirely to his own ability and industry. He has built a substantial barn, set out a new orchard, and made many other minor improvements. He cleared the farm of debt, and in addition bought 80 acres of land near Altamont, and 80 acres in Mound Valley township. He has a fine well, which,
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though but 14 feet deep, never fails to give a goodly supply of water. He also has a 240- barrel cistern on the farm, and a good spring running through the northern part of it. Mr. Allmon has one of the finest farms in the coun- ty, and has just cause to be proud of his well earned success in agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Allmon was wedded to Dulcie McCol- ley, who is a native of Ohio. They have three children,-Emma (Morain), who lives on a farm in Osage township; Edwin M., who mar- ried Eva Daniels, and owns a farm near his father's; and Carrie (Tedstrom), of Mound Valley township, who also bought a farm near her father's place. Mr. Allmon is a member of the Republican party. Fraternally, he be- longs to the I. O. O. F., which order he joined in Ohio. His wife is a member of the Re- bekahs. Mr. Allmon was raised a Quaker, and his wife is a member of the Christian church.
HARLES WATSON. This gentle- man is one of the successful farm- ers of Mound Valley township, La- bette county, Kansas. He is a native of Pike county, Illinois, and was born July 24, 1850. He is a son of J. C. and Serena Watson.
J. C. Watson moved to Montgomery coun- ty, Illinois, in 1852, and lived there until 1867, when he located in Kansas. He was a promi- nent farmer and stock raiser, and his death occurred in Labette county. He and his wife reared six boys and three girls. Three chil- dren are now living in Labette county, two, in California, and one, in Colorado.
Charles Watson, the subject of this sketch, was reared and schooled in his native county. In June, 1867, he moved to Labette county, and took a claim in Richland township,-the
southwest quarter of section 29, township 34, range 21. In 1872 he removed to Hackberry township, where he bought 80 acres of land in section 31, township 34, range 20. There he lived for twenty years. He made extensive improvements on the place and then sold it and. moved to Richland township, where he lived for four years. In 1896 Mr. Watson bought his present home farm in Mound Valley town- ship, the southeast quarter of section 23, town- ship 32, range 18,-from the Deming Invest- ment Company, of Oswego. Many of the im- provements were made on the farm when Mr_ Watson bought it, but he has set out a young orchard. Mr. Watson has a brother in Rich- land township, whose name is D. U. Watson. Charles Watson is a thrifty and steady worker and has been very successful since coming to Kansas.
In January, 1874, Mr. Watson married Angeline Powers, who was born in Adair coun- ty, Missouri, in 1854. She is a daughter of Moses and Lucy A. (Cayon) Powers. Mr. Powers died in 1898, and his wife in 1895. When Mrs. Watson was six years old her par- ents moved to Cooke county, Texas, and in 1867 they came to Labette county, and settleď near Labette Creek, in Richland township. They reared seven children, namely: Eliza- beth; Sarah (Kinney) and George, of Coffey- ville, Kansas; Mrs. Keith, who lives in Texas ;. Angeline, the wife of Mr. Watson; and John and William, who live in Texas.
The marriage of Mr. Watson and his wife- has been blessed with eight children, namely: John A., who is a machinist in Colorado; Georgie May, the wife of Ed Mollenhour, of Richland township; Nellie, who is at home; William, deceased ; Frank, who is home; Olive- Minnie, deceased ; and Leslie Estelle and Bessie, who are at home. Mr. Watson has always-
R. D. LEAVITT.
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been a member of the Republican party. Re- ligiously, he is a Presbyterian, although he was raised a Methodist.
R D. LEAVITT, a farmer living in section 16, township 31, range 18, in Osage township, Labette county, Kansas, whose portrait is herewith shown, was born in Pennsylvania, and is a son of Loirett and Elizabeth (Harned) Leavitt.
Loirett Leavitt was born in Vermont, in 1799, and lived in New York, and later in Pennsylvania. His wife was born in 1801. They were the parents of two children, namely : Lydia, who lives in Pennsylvania; and R. D., the subject of this sketch. Both of Mr. Leav- itt's parents had been previously married, and eaclı had reared children. By a former mar- riage, his father reared: Leander, Harmon and Mary; and his mother bore her first hus- band, whose name was Syers, the following children : Alexander, Sarah and Margaret. Mary Leavitt lives in Wisconsin. Alexander Syers lives in Michigan. Sarah, Margaret, Leander and Harmon are deceased.
R. D. Leavitt attended the common and select schools of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, until he reached the age of sixteen years. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, 55th Reg., state militia,-serving but three months. After leaving the army, he did various kinds of work, and finally decided to engage in farm- ing. He accordingly purchased land until 1.e had secured 102 acres. He lived in Pennsyl- vania a number of years. In 1893 he moved to Labette county, Kansas, and located on the farm where he now lives. He bought the prop- erty with what money he had earned in Penn- sylvania, with the exception of $100, and since
settling in Kansas has been very successful. Although he has not lived very long in Kan- sas, he has made many friends, and is highly respected by all who know him.
In 1872 Mr. Leavitt was married, and his wife bore him three children, who are living in Silver Creek, New York. Their names are: Cora, whose husband has a large har- ness shop in Silver Creek; Viola; and Mary. Mr. Leavitt is a member of the Republican party. He is a Christian man, but at present is not a member of any church.
ACOB HEINKEY, one of the most sub- stantial and progressive farmers re- siding in Osage township, Labette county, Kansas, was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1837. He is a son of Jacob and Sophia (Frank) Heinkey.
Jacob Heinkey was born in Germany, and came to America in 1837. In 1841 he located in St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he lived until his son, Jacob, was about three years old. He then moved to Labette county, Kansas, where his death occurred, in 1894. His wife died in Indiana in 1873. They reared several children, four of whom died while young. When Mr. Heinkey came over from Germany there was smallpox on the vessel, and he lost two children. The three children now living are: Sophia, a widow who lives at Misha- waka, Indiana; Malchus, a successful farmer who lives near Bremen, Marshall county, In- diana; and Jacob.
Jacob Heinkey, whose name heads this sketch, was reared and schooled in Indiana, where he remained until 1880. He carried on farming while there, and in 1880 removed to Labette county, Kansas. He settled in Osage
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township, where he bought, of Jarvis Martin, his first 160 acres,-the southwest quarter of section 2, township 31, range 17. Mr. Martin had lived on the claim eight years, and had acquired the title. Mr. Heinkey had but a shanty for a dwelling, and he at once began to make improvements on the place. He had con- siderable capital, and several head of horses, on locating in Labette county. In 1895 he built a fine barn, 40 by 60 feet in size, which was struck by lightning, and burned, four years later. At that time he was planning a new house, and had a large quantity of dimension stuff and finishing lumber stored in the barn. This also was destroyed. Nothing daunted, Mr. Heinkey at once had the old house torn to pieces, and while the family made them- selves as comfortable as possible in a tent, he began the building of a two-story brick house, which was completed in 1900. The main part is 24 by 26 feet, in dimensions, and the addi- tion is 18 by 28 feet. In 1901 he built a sum- mer kitchen, 12 by 16 feet in size, of solid brick. He then built the present ample barn, measuring 40 by 68 feet, which is 31 feet to the gable. He also has a fine cave near the house. He set out an orchard, which is in vigorous condition. Corn and hay are the staple crops, although he carries on general farming and stock raising. He now owns about half of a section, 124 acres of which is near Brooks, Wilson county, Kansas. The railroad runs through Mr. Heinkey's farm, which is one of the finest in the county.
Mr. Heinkey was united in marriage with Mary Ann Smith, who was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1843. Nine children were born to them, three of whom reached maturity, namely : Caroline (Coleman), who lives with her father, and has two children,-Esther, and- John Edward; Henry, a successful grain buyer
and business man, who is postmaster at More- head; and Lydia, who died of consumption, at the age of nineteen years. Politically, Mr. Heinkey is a strong Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a mem- ber of the Evangelical Association,-the church being located in Montgomery county, on the same circuit as Dennis.
Mr. Heinkey is widely known in Labette county, where he takes an active interest in all measures which tend to benefit the county.
D AVID H. MARTIN, a successful merchant living in Edna, Labette county, Kansas, came to this county in October, 1873. He was born at Saint Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio, in 1866, and is a son of F. G. and Abigail (Har- ris) Martin.
F. G. Martin was born in Pennsylvania, and later moved to Ohio, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. He also carried on farming, and held various county offices. Upon coming to Labette county, he located in Elmi Grove township, one mile north of Edna, where he bought the southeast quarter of section 17, township 34, range 19. Later he retired, his last active work being in 1892-93, when he served as deputy county clerk under his son. During that time he lived in Oswego. His sight has been failing in the past few years, but notwithstanding that he is hale and hearty. He married Abigail Harris, who was reared in Ohio. She is also living in Edna. Six children were born to them: David H .; Fran- cis W., who lives in Edna; and Claude, Wil- bur, Annie and Minnie, deceased.
Francis W. Martin, the brother of our sub- ject, was born at St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1855,
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and assisted his father on the farm until he reached the age of sixteen years. He attended school, and later taught school in Labette coun- ty two or three years. He assisted considerably in clerical work at the court house in Oswego, having served as deputy county treasurer. He was postmaster at Edna from 1889 till 1894. He married Ida Keeler, September 23, 1877, in Labette county. She was born in New York, but reared in Illinois, and located in Labette county in 1873. She is a daughter of Charles M. Keeler, who is also a resident of this coun- ty. Mrs. Martin served as county superintend- ent of schools during 1895-96, while they were living at Oswego.
David H. Martin, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Labette county, where he taught school three or four years. In 1888-89 he was deputy county clerk under W. J. Millikin, and also served as clerk during 1892-93. During 1890-91 he taught school at Altamont, and elsewhere, until elected county clerk. He then was the editor of the Parsons Independent un- til June, 1894, when he accepted the position of assistant chief clerk at the state penitentiary at Lansing, Kansas, under Warden S. W. Chase. He was there thirteen months, when he returned to Labette county, and worked for four months in the county treasurer's office. Being affected with rheumatism, he gave up the position and recuperated until February, 1897. He then resumed the old position at the penitentiary under Warden Landis, remaining there until January 1, 1900. He then began his present business at Edna, dealing in dry goods, groceries, shoes, queensware, etc. He has an entirely new stock of goods, and occu- pies a building 60 by 22 feet. He employs one assistant, and does a large business. Mr. Mar- tin owns 160 acres of farm land near Edna, and some town lots. He is very prosperous, and is
a superior business man, being honest and up- right in his dealings with all.
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