USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 72
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stock. He carries on general farming in addi- tion to stock raising. He is thoroughly in- formed on all matters pertaining to agriculture and is considered one of the best farmers in the county.
Mr. Leap was married, in Labette coun- ty, in 1868, to Matilda Quinby, who was born in Laporte, Indiana. She accompanied her two brothers to Labette county. Mrs. Quinby, aged ninety-two years,-the mother of Mrs. Leap,-resides with her daughter. Mr. Leap and his wife have five sons and one daughter, namely: Arthur, who works on the Santa Fe road, and lives at Newton; Ernest, who lives a mile and a half from his father, and who is married to Della Holman, and has three chil- dren,-Leah, Harold and Glenn; Walter, who is a farmer in Wyoming; Fred, who is min- ing in Alaska; Quinby; and Alice, who is at home.
Mr. Leap is a Democrat in politics, and has served several terms as treasurer of the town- ship. He has been a member of the school board of District No. 70. Fraternally, he is a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge, of Che- topa. Mr. Leap is a public-spirited man, and takes an active interest in all local affairs.
F. PRESTON, a well known livery man located in Edna, Labette coun- ty, Kansas, has been a resident of the county since 1881. He was born in Monroe county, New York, in 1850. His father was J. Preston, also a native of that state.
J. Preston was a farmer by occupation, and married Sarah Eldridge, who was also a native of New York. This union resulted in the birth of the following children: Frank; C. F.,
the subject of this sketch; Emma and Nelson, deceased; William, who is a music teacher at Edna, Kansas; Josephine; Mary; and Henry.
C. F. Preston was reared in his native state, where he attended the common schools of Monroe county. He spent a good deal of his time on the water, while young, and in 1872 removed to Michigan, where he was en- gaged in the lumber business for a period of eight years. In 1881 Mr. Preston moved to Edna, Kansas, where he was engaged in the stock business until 1888, when he built the livery stable which he now conducts. He has carried on this business ever since, and is well known in Elm Grove township and the vicinity. Mr. Preston is a thorough business man, and devotes all his time to his work. He has nu- merous patrons, and to these he gives prompt and ready attention. He has a number of good horses, and does a large business.
Mr. Preston first married Mary Dennison, of Coldwater, Michigan. She died, leaving one son, Arley H. Mr. Preston wedded, as his second wife, Mrs. Katie Bennett, who is a native of Kentucky, where she was born in 1858. They have reared the following chil- dren, namely: Earl; Oscar; Ernest; and Jes- sie. Mr. Preston belongs to Edna Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 345; and also to the M. W. of A., Edna Lodge, No. 1636. He is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Preston is a loyal and upright citizen, and is highly respected as such.
RS. MARY M. (MISER) WHITE, C. an old and highly respected resi- dent of Montana township, Labette county, Kansas, was born in Will- iams county, Ohio, in January, 1849.
Mrs. White is a daughter of John Miser,
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who was born in Pennsylvania, and followed farming throughout his entire life. He mar- ried Mary Fetters, who was born in Ohio. and they reared the following children : Emily and Sarah, deceased; Henry; John, deceased ; Mary M., the subject of this sketch; and Thomas and Jacob, who are engaged in farm- ing.
Mary M. Miser was an infant when her father located in Iowa, and she lived there for seven years. The following two years were spent in Illinois, after which she returned to Ohio, where she resided until she came to Kan- sas. She located in Labette county with her father, in 1871. She was joined in matrimony with H. F. White, who is now deceased.
H. F. White was born in Illinois in 1848, and became a farmer. He came to Kansas in 1866, and located in Montana township, La- bette county, on the farm now owned by Mrs. White. He resided upon this until his death, in 1890. He was a very successful business man, and one who commanded the respect of every one with whom he was acquainted. He was a Republican in politics, and served as trustee of Montana township for two terms. Mr. and Mrs. White became parents of the fol- lowing children: Walter, who conducts the affairs of the farm for his mother, and who married Ada Clark, and has one daughter, Lillian M .; Nora; and Ruhema. Mrs. White has been a resident of the community for more than thirty years, and has many friends.
F. LIVESAY, a prominent and influential farmer of Montana township, Labette county, Kansas, is located in the southwest quarter of section 14, and has a well improved farm,
most of the improvements being the result of his own efforts.
Mr. Livesay was born in Pulaski county, Illinois, in 1865, and is a son of John W. Live- say. The latter was born in Washington county, Illinois, in 1833, and was a carpenter by trade. He enlisted, in 1861, in Company C, 60th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and served for three years, losing an arm while in the service. After the war he spent two years in Illinois, came to Labette county, Kansas, in 1867, and located in the southeast quarter of section 3, Montana township. He entered the claim and lived upon it until his death, in 1877. He mar- ried Lucinda Finch, who was born in Illinois in 1834, and they reared five children: Susan, deceased; Agnes, deceased; Florence (Stew- art) ; W. F., subject of this biographical rec- ord; Thomas, who resides with his mother in Labette county; Delinda; and John H., who has just served twenty months in the Philip- pines in Company G, 40th Kans. Reg., U. S, Volunteers.
W. F. Livesay was brought to Labette county, Kansas, by his parents, in 1867, mak- ing the trip by wagon. He resided on his fa- ther's farm until 1888, when he bought his present property,-the southwest quarter of section 14, Montana township. He has just completed a new, two-story, eight-room house, and has his outbuildings and barns in keep- ing with it. He carries on general farming and is meeting with deserved success.
Mr. Livesay married Mary Wilson, who was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1876, and is a daughter of A. B. Wilson, of Labette county. The latter married Anna Kammeyer, of Indiana, by whom he had the following children : Mary, wife of Mr. Livesay ; Thomas, deceased; Clyde; Maggie; William ; Eva ; John; Albert ; and Elmira. Mr. and Mrs.
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Livesay have four children : James F .; Thom- as V .; Lucinda B .; and Paul W. He is a Republican in politics, and served as justice of the peace one term. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
B ENJAMIN F. BOUTON, a prosper- ous farmer of Elm Grove township, Labette county, Kansas, has one of the finest and most valuable farms in his section of the county. He has been lo- cated upon it since 1883, and has built a hand- some residence, and made many improvements. As a business man, he has been a success, dis- playing unusual shrewdness and foresight in all his transactions. Upright and thoroughly honest, he treats all with fairness, and thereby has gained the respect and friendship of all who know him. He was born in Albany county, New York, in 1840, and is a son of Erastus and Mary (Abrams) Bouton.
Erastus Bouton was born in Albany coun- ty, New York, and became a farmer. He mar- ried Mary Abrams, also a native of Albany county, New York, and they reared the follow- ing children: Joannah A .; Benjamin F .; James; David S .; Theodore O .; Augusta; Mary ; Charles ; and Martha.
B. F. Bouton resided in his native county until he reached the age of twenty-six years, when with his wife he moved to Marshall county, Illinois, in 1866. After working out for six years, previous to his marriage, he pur- chased 80 acres of land, and on this resided for a period of fifteen years. He then came to Labette county, Kansas, in the spring of 1883, and located on his present farm, which consists of the north half of section 21, the southwest quarter of section 16, and the west
half of the southeast quarter of section 16, township 34, range 19, in Elm Grove town- ship. In 1892 he built his present handsome and commodious home, which is of two stories, and contains 14 rooms. He carries on general farming and stock raising, having 320 acres devoted to raising grain, and 10 acres of or- chard. He employs modern methods in farm- ing, and has met with unusual success.
While a resident of Albany county, New York, he was united in marital bonds with Harriet Zelie, who was born in that county in 1845. They have one daughter, Alice, who is the wife of Charles Smith. Mrs. Smith has a son, Leslie Shoefeltt, by her former hus- band, Edward Shoefeltt. In politics, the sub- ject of this sketch is a Republican, and in religious belief he is a Methodist.
D A. JONES, a veteran of the Civil War, is a prominent resident of Montana township, Labette county, Kansas, where he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years.
Mr. Jones was born in Williamson county, Illinois, in 1837, and is a son of John Jones. The latter was born in North Carolina, and was a farmer by occupation. He was united in marriage with Keturah Mosely, who was born in Tennessee, and they reared six chil- dren, as follows: Lena; D. A .; John; Jona- than; Levi; and Sarah.
D. A. Jones lived in his native county un- til 1861, when he enlisted, in November, in Company F, 49th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf. He fought in the battles of Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing ; he took part in the Oxford expedition ; was engaged at Hollow Springs ; and participated in the Red River compaign,
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
-fighting for forty-one consecutive days. He followed Price to Kansas. He was honorably discharged in January, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois, and thence went to Washington coun- ty, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for one year. He went from Illinois to St. Louis, by wagon, then to Kansas City, by boat, and thence to Labette county, Kansas, by wagon,-arriving at his destination in April, 1868; the trip consumed seventeen days Mr. Jones located on his present farm in the north- west quarter of section 14, and in the east half of the southeast quarter of section 15, Montana township; he entered his claim at Humboldt, Kansas. He has made all the im- provements upon his place, and is successfully engaged in general farming.
Mr. Jones was joined in wedlock with Martha A. Stovalle, who was born in Ken- tucky, in 1843, and they were the parents of the following children: Elihu; John; Sher- man, deceased; Frank; Nicholas; Mary; Drury ; and William. In politics Mr. Jones is a Republican, and has served as trustee of Montana township for six years. He has also served on the school board for about twenty- five years, and as justice of the peace for fif- teen years. He was county commissioner six years,-from 1884 to 1890. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
n RS. AGNES A. BUTTS, widow of the late J. F. Butts, who died in 1896, resides on a large farm in Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kansas, in section 21, township 32, range 18. Mr. and Mrs. Butts located in this county April 2, 1871.
J. F. Butts, deceased, the husband of the subject hereof, was born April 20, 1837, in
Shelby county, Ohio, and came of an old Ohio family. The deed to the home farm in Ohio was signed by President Andrew Jackson. One brother, J. A. Butts, has a farm near Mrs. Butts' place, and lives in Mound Valley. George Butts lives in Darke county, Ohio. The children were all reared on the old home- stead in Ohio, and J. F. Butts remained in that state until he located in Kansas. He had a good common-school education, and when a young man followed the occupation of a miller and farmer.
April 2, 1871, J. F. Butts removed to La- bette county, and in Mound. Valley township bought a claim in section 21, township 32, range 18, from Thad McGinnis. Mr. Mc- Ginnis had broken five acres of the land and had built a claim-house. Mr. Butts brought $3,000 with him from Ohio, and built a large frame house after buying his farm. This house was destroyed by fire in 1900, and Mrs. Butts had the present six-room house erected. She built the barn and outbuildings in 1897. Mr. Butts brought maple seeds from the woods, which he planted on the place, and he also planted a fine orchard. He bought 80 acres of land, south, across the road, and the farm now contains 240 acres of finely improved land. There are about 15 acres of timber along Big Hill Creek, which flows through the land. All of the many valuable improvements on the farm have been made by Mr. and Mrs. Butts, and the tract is one of the most valuable in the county. A high grade of stock is raised, and general farming is carried on. Mr. Butts died May 31, 1896, and his death was sincerely mourned by all, as he was a kind neighbor and public-spirited man. Since his death, Mrs. Butts has managed the farm in a manner which would do credit to anyone, and has been very successful.
BENJAMIN D. ROBERTS.
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Agnes A. (Mayginnes) Butts, the subject of this sketch, was born in Madison county, Ohie, March 14, 1836. She is a daughter of A. Mayginnes, who was of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and an early settler of Ohio. He was an elder in the church at Sidney for a number of years, and the family were Presbyterians. Mr. and Mrs. Mayginnes were the parents of 12 children. Francis M., familiarly called "Uncle Doc," lives in Missouri on a farm, and was in the Civil War. The subject of this sketch married Mr. Butts while living in Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Butts' union was blessed by the birth of nine children, namely: Effie and Walker, deceased; Ulysses, who married Ida Farmer, lives near his mother, and has four children,-Otis, Earl, Lois and Joel; Ella, who married a Mr. Shafer, who teaches school in Oklahoma, and has four children,-John Neice, Hugh Cecil, Alta G. and Agnes; Bertha and Jennie, deceased; John, who is at home on the farm; Minnie (Robinson), of Osage township. who has one daughter,-Hazel; and Rosa (Moore), who lives six miles northeast of our subject, and has one child,-Opal May.
Mr. Butts was a Republican in politics. He was a member of the school board .- Excelsior District, No. 88. The family attend the Christian church.
B ENJAMIN D. ROBERTS, a pioneer settler of Labette county, Kansas, lives in Richland township, in sec- tion 9, township 34, range 21. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1830, and is a son of J. T. Roberts.
J. T. Roberts was born in 1800, in Penn- sylvania, where he lived some years, and fol- lowed the trade of a cabinetmaker. He died
in 1889, in Ohio, whither he had removed when a boy. His wife died in 1846. They had the following children: One who died in infancy; Adolphus D., a retired carpenter, who lives in Chicago, Illinois; E. Jane, who lives in Ohio; C. D., deceased ; Benjamin D .: M. A., the wife of A. Sutton, who lives in Ohio; E. D., who also lives in Ohio; M. F., deceased; and John A. G., who for years has been cashier of the Adams Express Company in Chicago.
Benjamin D. Roberts remained at home until he reached the age of nineteen years. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and fol- lowed this occupation until he came to Kan- sas. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 23d Reg., Ky. Vol. Inf., and after one year's service was discharged on account of dis- ability. He reenlisted, in January, 1864, in the Ist Kentucky Independent Light Artillery, and served until the close of the war. In 1868 Mr. Roberts removed to Kansas, and took up a claim in Richland township, Labette county, in sections 9 and 16, township 34. range 21. He gradually added to this until hie owned 640 acres of finely improved land. In 1892 he sold three quarter-sections, and has fitted up homes for his children. He is at present living with his son, J. Q. Roberts, who will inherit the home when his father dies. When Mr. Roberts left Ohio, he had about $600 in money, but this was quickly used for payments on the claim which he bought, and for general expenses. He well remembers the time when he was obliged to spend his last 50 cents for quinine,-money being scarce and sickness threatening. Mr. Roberts set out over seven miles of hedge, and also fruit and shade trees. He has built three houses on the sec- tion, and has lived in two of them at different times.
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
Mr. Roberts was united in marriage with Mary A. Southern, in Ohio, in 1852. She was born in England, and died in 1884, having had four children, namely: M. F .; J. Q .; B. F .; and A. E. M. F. died in infancy ; J. Q. married Sarah Tibbetts, and has three chil- dren,-Maud, Alma and Benjamin; and B. F. and A. E., twins, are engaged in the grain business in Nebraska. All of the children were born in Ohio. Mr. Roberts has always voted the straight Republican ticket. He was town- ship treasurer for seven years, and was treas- urer of the school board, District No. 25, for twenty years. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, of Chetopa. Mr. Roberts' mother was a Quakeress, but he is a Universalist. Mr. Roberts has the record of having never tasted a drop of liquor, or used tobacco in any form. He is one of the most highly respected men in the county, and has done much to improve the township in which he lives. He has ever been a public-spirited citizen and trustworthy neigh- bor, and has many friends in the community. His portrait accompanies this sketch.
M. ROCKAFELLER, who drove through, in 1867, from Illinois to Cherokee county, Kansas, is a worthy representative of the hardy pioneers of this state. He has been a resident of La- bette county since 1895, and is located in Mound Valley township, in the southwest quar- ter of section 1, township 33, range 18. He was born near Connersville, Indiana, in 1844.
Agsilaus Rockafeller, father of F. M., mar- ried Pamelia Young. Both were born, reared and married in New Jersey. He moved to Indiana, and then, in 1854, to Illinois. He moved to Cherokee county, Kansas, in 1869,
and died there in 1892, at the age of eighty- seven years. He was an active Republican in politics. He and his wife became the parents of 10 children, eight of whom arrived at ma- turity. Six are now living and are located in Cherokee and Labette counties, Kansas, Illi- nois, Oklahoma and Arizona.
F. M. Rockafeller was reared partly in In- diana, and partly in Bureau county, Illinois, of which Princeton is the county-seat. At the age of eighteen years, in 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 65th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and served a period of three years. He was. wounded at the siege of Knoxville in the fall of 1863. A bullet dislocated his jaw, and in- capacitated him for service for seven months. He then served eighteen months longer as a noncommissioned officer, and was mustered out at Chicago in 1865. He returned to Bureau county, Illinois, and in 1867 drove through to Cherokee county, Kansas, with a span of mules, which were afterward exchanged for oxen. Kansas City, Missouri, and Sedalia, were then the nearest railroad points. He met with hard experiences for some years, for no crops were raised in 1868. He took a claim a little east of Sherman City, and resided there until 1895, with the exception of the year 1886, which was spent in California. In 1895 he sold his farm, which was valuable for min- ing purposes. His land was underlaid with coal, some of which was so close to the surface that he frequently dug it. He came to Labette county where land was cheaper and served his purpose equally well, as it was more adapted to farming purposes. He acquired of Mr. Maudlin the southwest quarter of section I, township 33, range 18, in Mound Valley town- ship, which had been first conveyed to Mr. Ice, now deceased. He and Mr. Maudlin made great improvements upon the place, and now
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Mr. Rockafeller owns a very valuable piece of property. He is engaged in general farming, and raises corn, oats and wheat. He also raises stock, and favors Durham cattle, and Poland-China hogs. He has an orchard of 200 apple trees, which are bearing well. He has an excellent water supply, for Pumpkin Creek flows through his property.
Mr. Rockafeller was united in marriage, in. 1866, with Rebecca Darnell, who was born in Kentucky, in 1842, and was reared in Illi- nois. They have three children: Henry, a farmer in Cherokee county; A. M .; and Zella (Gay), who lives four miles north of her fa- ther's place. In politics Mr. Rockafeller was a Republican, but is now a member of the Peo- ple's party. He is a trustee of Mound Val- ley township, and for two years held the same office in Cherokee township. He is a member of the G. A. R., is district deputy of the Odd Fellows lodge, and belongs to the A. O. U. W. He and his wife are members of the Sons and Daughters of Justice, and she is president of the order at Mound Valley. Their son, A. M. Rockafeller, is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Sons and Daughters of Justice. Relig- iously, the family entertains liberal views. Mr. Rockafeller is a relative of the Standard Oil magnate bearing the same name.
h W. SAVAGE, an extensive land own- er, and well known farmer of Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kan- sas, is a native of Portage county, Ohio, and was born in 1840. He has lived in Labette county since 1870, and since 1883 his home farm has been in section 2, township 33, range 18.
Porter Savage, the father of H. W., was a native of Vermont, and during his active busi- ness career followed the occupation of a farm- er, and also that of a merchant. Early in life he located in Ohio, where he was captain of a militia company. He removed to Garrett, In- diana, where he lived many years, and where his death occurred. He married Emily Ray- mond, and she also died in Indiana. They reared five children, namely: F. P., who died in Ohio, in 1898; H. W., the subject of this sketch; G. W., who is a liveryman at Mound Valley, and who was formerly engaged in the furniture business with Mr. Beggs; F. R., who is in Lansing, Michigan; and Mrs. Gibbs, who died in Michigan several years ago.
H. W. Savage received his primary educa- tion in Ohio, and at the age of fourteen years moved to Jennings county, Indiana, where he remained until his final move to Labette county, Kansas. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Savage lo- cated south of Mound Valley, taking a claim in section 22, township 33, range 18. After improving this, he lived there until 1883, when he sold the farm, and bought one in section 9, township 33, range 18, in the northwest quarter. This farm had been deeded to J. H. Terwilleger. Mr. Savage "bached" there with his brothers-in-law until ready to send for his wife and family. In the fall of 1883 he bought his present home farm, which had been settled as a claim by A. L. Bushnell, a hard- ware merchant of Mound Valley. Mr. Savage also recently purchased the Black farm of 80 acres, and is now the owner of 360 acres of land, all of which is finely improved. Pump- kin Creek flows through his farm, thus sup- plying the land and stock with water. An eight-room house affords ample living room, and the outbuildings are all substantial and commodious. Mr. Savage set out a large or-
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chard, which yields a good supply of fruit each year. He carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of raising Clydesdale draft horses. Mr. Savage is thoroughly competent to manage a large farm, as his early training in agricultural matters has well equipped him for such work. He is a man of much thrift, and there is no better kept farm in the county than the one on which he lives.
Mr. Savage was united in marriage with Allison Wilson, who was born and reared in Olio. They have two children,-Letitia E., who is a post-graduate of the Ottawa (Kan- sas) schools; and H. H., who is at home. The subject of this sketch is a Republican in poli- tics, and votes the straight ticket. He has served six terms as treasurer of his township, thus showing the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. In religious views he is a Baptist. Mr. Savage was a comparatively poor man when he settled in Labette county, and his success speaks well for his ability and perseverance.
G. WINGFIELD, a prominent mer- chant of Valeda, Labette county, Kan- sas, was born in Adams county, Illi- nois, in 1856. He is a son of Thomas F. and Mary (Hickerson) Wingfield.
Thomas Wingfield was born in North Caro- lina in 1830, and followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. He married Mary Hick- erson, who was also a native of North Caro- lina, and they reared three children: Jaley ; Mary; and J. G.
J. G. Wingfield, whose name heads this sketch, resided in his native state until he set- tled in Kansas, in September, 1878. He located in Liberty township, Labette county, it having taken him six weeks to make the trip from
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