USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 73
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Illinois by wagon. He was accompanied by John and Thomas Potter. Mr. Wingfield lived in Labette City until 1887, during which time he worked at his trade of a stone-mason, and also engaged in the merchandise business for a time. His store was burned in 1884, after which he went to Parsons. He removed thence to Kansas City, where he lived for four years. He then went to Johnson county, Kan- sas, where he lived two years, and thence to the Indian Territory, where he farmed for eight years, and once more returnd to Labette county. In 1901 he opened a general store in Valeda, where he has since conducted business. He carries a full line of general merchandise, and his store is very well patronized.
Mr. Wingfield married Lizzie Baker, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, in 1864. They have four children, namely: Mabel; Claude; and Ross and Roy, the last two being twins.
Mr. Wingfield is a Republican in political affiliations. He belongs to the Christian church. He is a man of good business prin- ciples, and his dealings with all men are hon- est and upright.
M. PRESSEY, a well-known farmer E of Hackberry township, has been a resident of Labette county, Kansas, since 1870. He has lived a very in- dustrious and frugal life, and has laid by a handsome competency. He was born in Mich- igan, in 1842, and is a son of E. B. and Julia (Cleland) Pressey.
E. B. Pressey and his wife had seven chil- dren, of whom two are now living, namely : Emma; and E. M., the subject of this bio- graphical record.
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E. M. Pressey resided in his native state until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He enlisted in the army in 1861, and served four years in Company B, 9th Reg., Mich. Vol. Inf. He drove through by wagon from South Bend, Indiana, to Labette county, in 1870, and located in Elm Grove township, where he staked out a claim. He built a cabin, 12 by 14 feet in size, on his claim, made many other improvements, and lived upon it for three years. In 1883 he moved on his present farm in Hackberry township, section 4, township 35, range 20. It was owned by A. J. Barnes. He has resided on this property ever since, and carries on general farming with much success. He brought the second threshing ma- chine ever taken into Labette county, and has run a thresher for the past thirty-eight years. He is a Republican in politics, and served as constable of Elm Grove township for two years, and on the school board of Hackberry town- ship for three years.
Mr. Pressey was united in marriage with Sarah Bailey, who was born in Fulton coun- ty, Indiana, in 1848, and they have reared three children, as follows: Nina E .; Irma V .; and Julia C. Religiously, he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
M. MASSA. This gentleman has been prominent in agricultural circles in Labette county, Kansas, since 1872. He resides on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 13, in Elm Grove township, and was born in Illinois, in 1837. He is a son of James Massa.
James Massa was born in Tennessee, and followed the occupation of a farmer all. his life. He married Margaret Pryor, who was
also a native of Tennessee, and they reared nine children, three of whom are now living, name- ly : Thomas; F. M., the subject of this sketch; and Polly Ann.
F. M. Massa was reared in Illinois, where he attended the common schools of his native county, and later assisted his father in farm- ing. He remained in that state until 1872, when he removed to Kansas. In the fall of that year, he bought the east half of the southeast quarter of section 13, town- ship 34, range 19, and has lived there since that time. He built a cabin, 16 feet square, and later added a shed to it, for a kitchen. Since that time he has made ex- tensive improvements, and in 1877 entered his claim at Independence, Kansas. His present house was built in 1885. Mr. Massa made the trip from Illinois to Kansas by wagon, the journey taking eighteen days. He is a self-made man, and his success is due entirely to his own efforts. Mr. Massa has worked unceasingly, and with untiring energy, and he has one of the best farms in the township.
Mr. Massa married Polly Sharp, who was born in Illinois, in 1840. They have reared four children: Mollie; Chloe; George; and Oscar. Mr. Massa has always been a mem- ber of the Democratic party, and has taken an active interest in local politics. He has served on the school board one term. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
RS. SAMANTHA H. BISHOP, widow of the late A. Bishop, whose death occurred in 1897, is one of the early settlers of Labette
county. She was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1840, and is a daughter of Joseph
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and Charlotte (Cox) Rogers. She is one of seven children, six of whom are now living. Most of the children live in Ohio, but Mrs. Bishop has one brother who lives in Michigan.
While living in Ohio, the subject of this sketch was married to O. E. Hartman, who was a native of Pennsylvania. When young, he removed to Ohio, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He died in Labette county, in May, 1871, aged fifty years. Two children were the result of this union: Minnie, who died at the age of eight years; and Inez, who is living with her mother. In the fall of 1867, they removed to Labette county, Kan- sas, where they took up in Hackberry town- ship the present home farm,-the northeast quarter of section 16, township 34, range 20. There she has lived since that time, with the exception of six years' residence with her daughter in Oswego. In 1896, she returned to the farm, and made extensive improvements on the place. Lake Creek flows through this farm, and there is a great deal of natural tim- ber along the creek. The first crops raised on this farm were sod-corn and pumpkins, and later, wheat.
Mrs. Bishop married, secondly, James Sloan, who died in 1884, leaving one son : Er- nest, who graduated in the class of 1901, at the County High School at Altamont. Mrs. Bishop married A. Bishop, who was also an early resident of Labette county. He died in 1897. In politics, he was a Republican, and served as justice of the peace for many years. He belonged to the A. F. & A. M. lodge at Chetopa. Religiously, both he and his wife were Methodists.
Mrs. Bishop is a woman of many good qualities, and is well known and liked in the county. She manages her farm well, and
everything is kept in good condition. She is a kind neighbor, and is always ready to help those in need.
RS. MARY A. ROBERTS, a well- known resident of Howard town- ship, Labette county, Kansas, is the wife of Marion Roberts, a car- penter and farmer by occupation. Mrs. Rob- erts was born in the western part of Virginia, in 1857, and is a daughter of Elmer and Re- becca (Cooper) Daniels.
Elmer Daniels was a farmer, and was born in Virginia. He married Rebecca Cooper, and they had the following children: Eugene; John; Mary A., the subject of this sketch; Jennie; Elizabeth; Laura; Charles; Anna; Grace; Frank; and Edward, who is now at- tending Baker University, and is studying for the Gospel ministry.
Mrs. Mary A. Roberts went to Illinois when she was fifteen years old. She lived there until she reached the age of twenty-one years, when she married Samuel Lewman, in 1877. He was born in Illinois, and his death occurred in 1884. He was a farmer by occupation. One child resulted from this union, namely : Stella M., who is a graduate of the County High School at Altamont, of the class of 1898, and is now principal of the Valeda public schools. Mrs. Roberts came to Labette county in 1881, and located near Chetopa. In 1882 she bought a farm in Howard township,-the southeast quarter of section 32, township 34, range 18,-which has since been her home.
. In 1887, our subject married Marion Rob- erts, who was born in Iowa, in 1858. They have one child,-Frankie. Mr. Roberts is a
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Democrat, in politics. He belongs to the Va- leda Lodge of Modern Woodmen of America.
Mrs. Roberts is highly esteemed in Howard township, and is well known for her frequent charitable acts. She is a woman of many es- timable qualities, and has a large number of friends in the county.
D. STURGIS, for many years a prominent agriculturist of Elm Grove township, Labette county, Kansas, has been a resident of the city of Edna since October, 1900, and is now devoting the greater part of his attention to stock dealing. He has dealt in stock since his boyhood days, and, being a man of good busi- ness ability, has met with great success. He was born in Illinois, in 1854, and is a son of J. H. Sturgis.
J. H. Sturgis was born in. Fairfield, Ohio, in 1829, and became a plasterer. He followed farming most of his life, however, and now lives in retirement, in Illinois. He married Ann Hendershot, who was born in Staunton, Illinois, and they had two children: W. D., the subject of this sketch; and Sarah, deceased.
W. D. Sturgis spent his early life in Illi- nois, and at the age of twelve years began dealing in stock by buying eight pigs. He came to Kansas in the spring of 1890, and located in the north half of section 7, township 34, range 19, in Elm Grove township, Labette county, and engaged in general farming and stock raising. He made great improvements on his farm in every respect. In order to give more attention to his stock business, he rented his farm in October, 1900, and moved to the town of Edna. He also owns 160 acres of land east of Edna, which he devoted to pas- turing purposes.
Mr. Sturgis was united in wedlock with Celia E. Smith, who was born in Illinois, in 1862, and they reared two children,-Florence E., a graduate of the County High School at Altamont, in 1899, who is now a teacher in the schools at Edna, and resides at home; and F. E., who also lives with his parents. In politics Mr. Sturgis is a Republican, and served as clerk of Elm Grove township in 1900. He is now in the town council. Fraternally, he belongs to Edna Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Florence E. is an active member.
E. MASON, a farmer of Howard township, Labette county, Kansas, living in section 28, township 34, range 18, was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, March 17, 1837. He is a son of W. H. and Eliza (McGuire) Mason. W. H. Mason was born in Kentucky, and mar- ried Eliza McGuire. They had six children : WV. E., the subject of this sketch; John P .; George R .; Jane D .; Eliza B .; and Nancy, deceased.
W. E. Mason was reared in Shelby county, Kentucky, until he was seventeen years old. During his early years he followed the trade of a carpenter. He was a slave owner, but when the Civil war broke out he enlisted on the Union side, and served in Company F, 6th Reg., Ky. Vol. Inf. He saw much active service, and took part in the battles of Stone River, Perryville and Shiloh; he served in the army for three years. After the war he re- turned to Kentucky, where he lived for a num- ber of years. In 1876, he went to Illinois, where he remained one year, and then returned to Kentucky. There he followed the trade of
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a carpenter. Mr. Mason located in Howard township, Labette county, Kansas, in January, 1885. He first spent a short time in Oswego, and then moved upon the Neville farm, where he carries on general farming. He is a man of firm, honest and upright principles, and is greatly esteemed by all who know him.
Mr. Mason married Mrs. Sarah Neville, in 1886. She had by her first marriage the fol- lowing children, namely: John, who married Mattie Opdyke, and resides in Coffeyville, Kan- sas; Charles, who married Mina Sweet, and has two children,-Leona and Gladys; Carrie, who married A. J. Brown, a farmer of Canada township, and has one child,-Laura; and Al- bert H. Mr. Mason is a member of the Popu- list party. He belongs to the G. A. R., Edna Post, No. 160; and to the M. W. of A. Lodge, of Valeda. He is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Mason has many warm friends in the county.
F. LERCH, deceased. This gen- tleman was one of the well-known farmers residing in Elm Grove township, Labette county, Kansas. He was born near Paris, Illinois, in 1862.
Mr. Lerch removed to Kansas in 1876, and settled in Elm Grove township, Labette county, where he began farming. In 1892, he located on the farm which his wife now con- ducts, and there he carried on general farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1901. Mr. Lerch was a man of splendid qualities, and upright principles, and his death was sin- cerely mourned by all who knew him. He was well known and universally esteemed in the township in which he lived, and was always among the first to lend a helping hand in any
public enterprise which tended toward the welfare of the community. Mr. Lerch was a Republican in politics, and took an active interest in local affairs. He was a member of the M. W. of A.
Mr. Lerch was united in marriage with Nellie G. Stewart. She came to Labette coun- ty with her parents, in 1878. William Stewart, her father, was born in Illinois, and now lives near Joplin, Missouri, where he follows the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Stewart married Margaret Johnson, who was a native of Ohio. They were the parents of two children, namely : Nellie, who married Mr. Lerch; and A. T., who now lives in California. Mr. Stewart bought the farm which is now owned by his- daughter, and lived on it until 1893.
Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Lerch has been assisted in conducting the farm by her two sons, Carl B. and Albert L. Mrs. Lerch is a woman of many estimable qualities, and is a kind and charitable neighbor. She is- a member of the Presbyterian church, in which she is an active worker.
TIS BILLINGS HOLMAN, living in the west half of section 24, town- ship 34, range 20, in Hackberry township, Labette county, Kansas, has been prominently identified with the- growth and development of that county since 1879. He was born in Kosciusko county, In- diana, in 1845, and is a son of C. W. and' Delilah (Burns) Holman.
C. W. Holman was born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1822. He was a farmer and stock- man, and in 1878 removed to Labette county,. where his death occurred, in November, 1899. He married Delilah Burns, who was born in
E. W. HOPKINS.
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Indiana, in 1820, and died in Labette county, in 1880. They reared five children, namely : Otis Billings, the subject of this sketch; G. WV., who is an attorney at Rochester, Indiana; Amelia, who married Daniel Jones, and who died in Fulton county, Indiana, in 1900; John D., a boot and shoe merchant of Rochester, Indiana; and J. Frank, who is an electrician of Neosho, Missouri.
Otis Billings Holman was reared in his native county, and learned the tilling of the soil on his father's farm. After his marriage he removed to Ohio, where he lived for two and a half years, and then returned to Fulton county, Indiana, where he remained five years. In February, 1879, he bought the southwest quarter of section 24, township 34, range 20, in Hackberry township, Labette county, Kan- sas, and this has been his home since that date. The farm had been preempted by A. C. in the county. The northwest quarter of this Tullis, and part of the land was broken and two acres of orchard had been set out, when Mr. Holman bought the place. He has added to this extensively, made many important im- provements, and his farm is one of the finest section had been bought by Mr. Holman's father-in-law, and was later deeded to Mrs. Holman. This gives them half of the section, and it is kept in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Holman built a large, nine-room house, in 1888, and in 1898, he erected a barn 60 by 42 feet in size, and 20 feet high, above the base- ment, which is of stone. This barn is one of the largest and most substantial in Labette county. Mr. Holman now has five acres of orchard, and has set out hedge about the farm. He has dealt largely in stock,-buying and feeding hogs, mainly. Mr. Holman is a man of much executive ability, and the careful man- agement of his farm shows the natural ability
of its owner. He started with less than $1,000 and by thrift and perseverance has become one of the most prosperous farmers in the town- ship.
Mr. Holman was married, in Ohio, to. Nancy A. Bloomer. She was born in Ohio, in 1850, and is a daughter of Elijalı Bloomer .. She was the youngest of a large family of children, and her mother died when she was. very young. She removed with her father to. Indiana, where she lived with a sister until her marriage to Mr. Holman. They have two children : Della Delilah, who married Ernest Leap, of Hackberry township, and has three children,-Alice L., Harold H. and Otis G .; and Elijah B., who was born in Labette coun- ty in 1880, and is living at home.
Politically, Mr. Holman was a Democrat until Cleveland's administration, and since that time has been a Populist. He has held various township offices, and was treasurer of District No. 70. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was formerly connected with the Grangers. He is a member of the Anti- Horsethief Association. Religiously, he pre- fers the Christian church.
E W. HOPKINS, deceased, whose por- trait accompanies this sketch, was for many years one of the influential farmers living in Hackberry town- ship, Labette county, Kansas. His home farm was in section 15, township 34, range 20, and consisted of a quarter section. He also owned 40 acres in section 9, and eighty acres in section 3, township 34, range 20. Mr. Hopkins was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1846, and is a son of Horace and Eunice (Puffer) Hop- kins. Horace Hopkins died in Labette county,
36
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while visiting his son. Mrs. Hopkins is still living in Ohio; a daughter, Ida also lives in Ohio.
E. W. Hopkins was reared and schooled in Ohio, and grew to manhood in that state. He was very fond of hunting and trapping, and this proved a favorite sport with him during his younger days. Mr. Hopkins removed to Labette county, Kansas, in 1870, and in the spring of 1872 settled in Hackberry township On a farm in section 15, township 34, range 20. In 1862 he placed the cabin which had stood on the land for a number of years, by a comfortable frame structure, and later added large barns and outbuildings. He set out a fine orchard, and made many valuable im- provements in general, until the farm became known as one of the finest in the county. A high grade of cattle is raised, and every- thing grown on the place is of the best. Since Mr. Hopkins' death, which occurred in Feb- ruary, 1899, at the age of fifty-two years, his son, Clarence, has managed the farm. Mr. Hopkins won the confidence of all who met him, and there was no better man in his section of the county. He taught the first district school in Hackberry township, which was where District No. 26 is now located. He was universally respected and esteemed, and his death was sincerely mourned by his fellow citizens.
Mr. Hopkins was united in marriage with Anna Downing, in the state of Arkan- sas. She is a daughter of George S. and Caroline (Davis) Downing, and the latter still lives in Colorado. George Downing was an early settler of Labette county, but re- moved to Arkansas, where he farmed for three years. Thence he went to Colorado, where he was engaged in farming until his death, in the winter of 1900-01. On his ar-
rival in Labette county, Mr. Downing organ- ized a Sunday-school in District No. 26, Hack- berry township. He also preached the Gos- pel, but never accepted pay for his services. He was known far and near as a very devout Christian. He had seven girls and five boys, namely: Marietta; Nathan; William; Laura; John; Anna, the wife of Mr. Hopkins; Ellen; Kate; Abraham; Victoria; Alice; and George S. Most of the children live in Colorado. Mrs. Hopkins was born in Fulton county, Illinois, in 1853, and in 1861 removed to Miami county, Kansas, where her parents lived for a short time. When she was six- teen years old, her parents removed to La- bette county, and thence to Arkansas, where she remained until her marriage, and then re- turned to Labette county.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins was blessed by the birth of two sons and four daughters, as follows: Clarence, who is man- ager of the farm since his father's demise; May; Carrie E .; Ethel; Edna; and George. The two last named are dead. Politically, Mr. Hopkins was a Republican for a number of years, but later in life became a Populist. He was a man of strong convictions, and took an active interest in local politics. In religious views he was liberal, giving his sup- port to all denominations. He was very well known in Labette county, and was always a public-spirited and useful citizen.
ARY D. BIGHAM, for many years a prominent resident of Montana township, Labette county, Kansas, was born in New York state, in 1829, and is a daughter of Aaron and Hannah (Ashton) Sisum. When she was nine years
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of age, her parents moved to Pickaway coun- ty, Ohio, where she lived until she was twenty- two years old.
Her father, Aaron Sisum, was born in Germany, and came to America when but a youth, He learned the shoemaker's trade, and became a useful man in the community in which he resided. He married Hannah Ash- ton, who was born in England, and came to the United States when a girl of fifteen years. They reared a family of three children : Mary D., the subject of this sketch; and John and Derrick, deceased.
Mary D. was united in marriage with John Bigham. He was a native of Ohio, and was born in 1828. He was engaged in farming until the time of his death, which occurred i11 1867. Soon after the death of her hus- band, Mrs. Bigham moved to Kansas, and located in the southeast quarter of section 31, Montana township, where she has resided ever since. Mrs. Bigham has reared six children, five of whom are living. They are all promi- nent farmers. James is a farmer in Oklahoma. Aaron is a prosperous farmer in Montana township, Labette county, Kansas. Solomon is a tiller of the soil in the Indian Territory. George and Marshall are looking after the interests of their mother on the home farm, most of which is rented. Mrs. Bigham is a woman of considerable thrift and energy, and occupies a very high place in the estimation of her friends and neighbors.
ERRY BERENTZ, who arrived in Labette county, in 1869, is one of the leading agriculturists of Hackberry township, where he is located in sec- tion 22, township 34, range 20. He was born
in Washington county, Ohio, in 1842, and is a son of Rev. C. W. Berentz.
Rev. C. W. Berentz, for many years a minister in the Reformed church, is deceased. He was a native of Germany, and was a child when he came to America. He married Hen- rietta Oakes, who was born and married in Pennsylvania. Six sons and four daughters were born to them, one of the sons being located at Oswego, Labette county, Kansas.
Jerry Berentz was reared in Ohio until 1859, when, at the age of · seventeen years, he went to Illinois. In 1861, he enlisted in Company C, 12th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and participated in all but one of the engagements of his company. He was in the service four years, and was mustered out at Springfield, Vermilion county, Illinois. He was then engaged in farming and sheep raising there until he moved to Kansas, in August, 1869, and located in Labette county, in Elm Grove township, a few miles southwest of Edna. He brought with him some fine rams, valued at $200 each, and expected to engage in sheep raising. His ani- mals died, however, and he turned his attention to general farming. He took as a claim the farm now owned by Ed. Clark, improved it, and resided upon it, until the fall of 1890, when he sold out and went to the "Nation." Returning to Labette county in the spring of 1898, he purchased the Dorland farm of 120 acres in Hackberry township, in section 22, township 34, range 20, which was a finely improved piece of property. He has a six-acre orchard, which is bearing well, and fine, large maple shade trees. The farm is fenced off in 20-acre lots, by hedge, which is kept well trimmed, and it presents a very fine appear- ance. He follows diversified farming, makes corn his principal crop, and has also 60 acres
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in clover. At first he did his trading at Kingston, where he helped in the erection of the Presbyterian church, which was subse- quently moved to Edna.
Mr. Berentz was united in marriage, in Illinois, with Emma Jane Olmsted, who was born in Washington county, Ohio, and reared in Illinois, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Maude; Mabel; and WV. T., who is a prominent hardware merchant of Bartlesville, Indian Territory, associated with R. H. Muzzy, of Edna. In politics, Mr. Berentz is a Republican. Fraternally, he has been a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen for the past twenty years. He is a member of the G. A. R., Knoxville Post, of · Edna, Kansas. In religious views, he is a Presbyterian.
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