USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 75
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ATHANIEL D. STURM, a well- known farmer living in Neosho township, Labette county, Kansas, was born in Barbour county, West Virginia, in 1852, and is a son of William Sturm. William Sturm was born in Virginia, and was a miller by trade. In 1866, he lo- cated in Kansas, where he lived until the time of his death.
Nathaniel D. Sturm, the subject of this sketch, moved with his parents to Illinois, when he was but a child. There he received
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his schooling, and remained until May 31, 1866, when his father moved to Kansas. Mr. Sturm lived with his parents until 1882, when he located in sections 22 and 23, Neoslo town- ship, Labette county. He has resided there since that time, being engaged in the tilling of the soil. He has always followed the occupa- tion of a farmer, and his career in Kansas has been marked with success. He is a man of honest, upright character, and is always willing to assist in any movement which is for the good of the community. By his gen- ial, friendly manners he has won many friends.
Mr. Sturm married Donia Dunn, and they. have reared three children : William; May, de- ceased; and Ruth. Mr. Sturm built a nine- room frame house in 1900, and made several improvements on the farm. He also owns 80 acres of land in section 26, the part known as the old Duinn farm. In addition to this, he owns 30 acres south of his present home. In politics, Mr. Sturm is an independent voter. He has served on the school board for the past nineteen years. He belongs to the A. O. U. W., McCune Lodge, No. 70, and to the Anti-Horsethief Association. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist church.
OHN P. CARES. Among the well- known agriculturists residing in La- bette county is the gentleman whose name heads this biography. He is one of the foremost farmers in the county, and is a progressive, public-spirited man. Mr. Cares was born in Pennsylvania, in 1841, and is a son of Daniel and Nancy (Baker) Cares.
Daniel Cares was born in Pennsylvania, and was a butcher by trade. He married Nancy Baker, who was also a native of Penn-
sylvania, and they were the parents of 10 children : William; Conard; John P., the sub- ject of this sketch; James; Daniel; Charles; Catherine; Christiana; Susan; and Sarah.
John P. Cares, the subject of this sketch, was reared and schooled in Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He moved to Kansas in 1872, and located on his present farm in Neosho township, the northeast quarter of section 30. Mr. Cares has a thorough knowledge of farming mat- ters, and is an energetic, thrifty man. He married Anna Powell, who was born in Vir- ginia, but was reared in Ohio. Her father was Jacob Powell. Four children have re- sulted from this union, and their names are: Wilbur; Willard; Glenn; and Carrie M. Mr. Cares is a member of the Democratic party. He belongs to the Home Builders' Union, Montana Lodge, No 4.
ILLIAM O'HERIN, the popular and efficient superintendent of the machinery and equipment depart- ment of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, has ably filled that position since 1896, with headquarters at Parsons, Kansas. Mr. O'Herin has followed railroad- ing since early boyhood. He is a native of Wyoming county, New York, where he was born in 1848. In adopting a railroad career, he followed in the footsteps of his father, who was also a railroader.
Mr. O'Herin located at Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, in 1873. He was there em- ployed as a locomotive engineer on the "Katy," and ran at that time over the entire system on specials, pay cars, etc. He con- tinued as engineer until 1886. when promo-
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tion followed and he became master mechanic, a position now held by W. H. Brehm. He continued to serve in that capacity for ten consecutive years, when further honors were bestowed upon him in the form of the super- intendence of the machinery and equipment department.
Mr. O'Herin is a thorough railroader, be- sides being a most skilled machinist. He fully comprehends the responsibilities and manifold duties connected with his position, which is of vital importance, as the mechani- cal operation of the entire system depends upon his action. Having worked his way from the bottom of the ladder, he readily un- derstands the requirements of every branch of the work under his control, and gives his personal attention to even the smallest details. He is a favorite among his men, and is es- teemed by his employers, who appreciate his fidelity to the system.
H. TERWILLEGER, one of the pio- neer settlers of Labette county, Kan- sas, is at present living in section 36, township 32, range 17, in Mound Val- ley township. He is a native of Hamilton coun- ty, Ohio, and was born in 1820.
Matthias Terwilleger, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania. He located in Hamil- ton county, Ohio, very early in life, and during the War of 1812 served as a drum-major, un- der Gen. William Henry Harrison, participat- ing in all his battles except the one at Tippe- canoe. Mr. Terwilleger worked on the river, built his own boats, and made nine trips on a flatboat to New Orleans. This was before steamboats were used. He was a judge of the court, for twelve years, during his residence in
Indiana, and was reelected the year of his death. He died in that state, October 9, 1843, at the age of fifty-two years. He married Letitia Shanklin, who died when the subject hereof was an infant.
J. H. Terwilleger, the subject of this sketch, was reared by his grandmother, after his moth- er's death. He had one sister,-Martha Jane, -who died in Marion county, Indiana, in 1886. In 1848 the subject hereof moved to Warren county, Iowa, where he ran a steam grist-mill at Hartford. In the spring of 1856 he moved to Marion county, Iowa, where he farmed until 1869. Previous to that, in 1857, Mr. Terwilleger had made a trip to Kansas, where he had voted for the Free State con- stitution. In 1869 he located in the northwest quarter of section 9, township 33, range 18, southwest of Mound Valley. He lived there until 1878. There were but two other families near, the Roberts and Wells. In 1878 Mr. Terwilleger bought his present home in Mound Valley township. His son and stepdaughter own 160 acres of this farm. Mr. Terwilleger made all of the improvements on the property. When he located there, there was but a shell of a house, a shed stable and a hedge. Parker, Oswego and Parsons were the first towns of the county, and Parker was considered the best. There were many Indians about at that time. Mr. Terwilleger paid 30 cents per pound for meat, and from 50 to 60 cents a bushel for turnips. Beets were $1.00 per bushel, while butter brought 40 cents per pound. Mr. Ter- willeger has a large gourd, which holds three pecks. The seeds of this gourd were sold for IO cents apiece. He has one of the best im- proved farms in the county, and is highly spoken of as a farmer of much ability and knowledge.
In September, 1845, Mr. Terwilleger was
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married, in Indiana, to Mary Griffin. She died in 1856, leaving three children,-Margaret C. (Shields) ; Mary E. (Steele), who lives near the state line, on a farm; and Harvey, who lives across the road, east of his father's farm. Mr. Terwilleger married, secondly, Mrs. La- vina Smith (nee Haigler). She was born in Pendleton county, West Virginia, in 1843, and is a daughter of John and Phœbe (Skidmore) Haigler. She was reared in Virginia, and there married Mr. Smith, who died in 1871 ; they had one daughter,-Phoebe,-now the wife of Mr. Terwilleger's son, Harvey. Har- vey Terwilleger and his wife are the parents of five children : Charles M .; Leora B .; John H .; Leota Marie; and James Morl. Mr. Ter- willeger's wife came to Labette county in 1873, and resided with her sister, Mrs. Kile, until her marriage with Mr. Terwilleger. They had one daughter,-Anna Rebecca, who died, Oc- tober 20, 1895, at the age of fifteen years.
Politically, Mr. Terwilleger is a Republican. He has served as school treasurer, and his son, Harvey, has been treasurer of School District No. 68 for twelve years. Mr. Terwilleger be- longs to the German Brethren church, although he and his wife were raised in the Dunkard faith.
m RS. SARAH T. WALCOTT, widow of Wallace Walcott, has displayed superior business ability in the management of her farm in sec- tion 28, North township, Labette county, Kan- sas. She has a neat and well cultivated prop- erty, and is engaged in general farming.
Mrs. Walcott was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1846, and is a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Yocum) Wynn. Her fa- ther was born in Dauphin county, Pennsyl-
vania, and her mother was also a native of that state. They were parents of the following children: Azariah, deceased; Margaret; To- bias, deceased; Josiah, Susanna, Joseph, all deceased; John; Isaac, deceased; Rachel; Amos; and Sarah T.
Sarah T. Wynn lived in Pennsylvania un- til she reached the age of seventeen years, when she moved to Washington county, Ohio. There she resided until 1884, when she came to Labette county, Kansas, with her husband. She was united in marriage with Wallace Wal- cott, who was born in Washington county, Ohio, in 1834, and was a son of E. and Caro- line (McClure) Walcott, both natives of Ohio. He was one of 13 children, as follows : Oscar; Wallace; Louis; Amanda; Salome; Vesta; Rollin; Edmond; Corwin ; Helen ; Mary ; Katie; and Ida. Wallace Walcott operated a sawmill in Ohio for many years. When the Civil War. broke out he enlisted, in 1864, as a captain in Company K, 148th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He came west to Labette county, Kansas, in 1884, and for a number of years was a contractor in Parsons. He was a trustee of North township one term, and was also school director and treasurer. He died on February 2, 1894. Mrs. Walcott is located in the east half of the south- east quarter of section 28, North township, and has just completed a handsome new home on the old farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Walcott became parents of the following children : Addie (Huling), who lives at Dewey, Indian Territory; Addison, a student at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa; Elmer, who now lives in Ohio; Carrie, who is living at home and teaches school at South Mound, Neosho county; Louis D., a carpenter at Parsons, Kansas; Olive, who re- sides in Parsons; William H., a mail car- rier at Parsons; and Belle, who is at
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home. Religiously Mrs. Walcott is a member of the Society of Friends, but as there is no organization of that denomination in the county she attends the M. E. church.
D A. ALEXANDER, deceased, was for many years a prominent citizen of Chetopa, Labette county, Kansas. He was born in Pennsylvania, and was a son of William and Elizabeth Alexander, who were also natives of that state.
When Mr. Alexander was but one year old his parents moved to Ohio, and his early life was spent on his father's farm. He at- tended the common schools of the county. In 1877 he removed to Chetopa, Kansas, where he acted as general agent for the Standard Oil Company, and supplied Chetopa and several other surrounding towns with oil. He also conducted the Ohio Hotel at Chetopa for sev- eral years. In 1890 he bought a farm in Hackberry township, which his widow re- cently sold. He also owned some town property in Chetopa. This Mrs. Alexander has traded for her present home in Richland township, on which she has made many improvements. The barns and house are new, and the place is one of the most desirable in the county. Mrs. Alexander -has successfully carried on general farming since her husband's death, and has shown superior management and good execu- tive ability in so doing. Her husband's death was greatly mourned in Chetopa and the vi- cinity, as he was a man of genial and pleasing personality, and had many friends in the county.
Mr. Alexander was united in marriage with Caroline A. Haines, who was born in Logan county, Ohio. in 1837. She is a daughter of
Hutson and Sarah (Foster) Haines, and is one of six children, the others being: Wesley; John Nelson; Thomas; Jedaiah; and Annie (Carter), who lives in Ohio. Mr. Haines fol- lowed farming all his life, and was very suc- cessful.
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander's union was blessed with four daughters, whose names are : Sarah Elizabeth; Mary Ann; Minta; and Blanche. Sarah Elizabeth (Chatman) was born in Ohio; her husband is in the milling business in Colorado, and they have four boys. Mary Ann ( Pace) lives in Parsons, Kansas, and has one son and one daughter. Minta ( Williams) lives seven miles west of her mother's farm. Blanche (Buckley) lives with her mother, and has one son,-William.
Mr. Alexander was a Democrat, in poli- tics. Fraternally, he was a Mason and be- longed to the lodge at Chetopa. Mrs. Alex- ander attends the Methodist church at Che- topa. She is well known in that city, and has many warm friends throughout the county.
ESSE W. MARLEY, cashier of the Oswego State Bank from its organi- zation, is one of the foremost business men of Labette county, Kansas, where he has resided since 1878. He is a man of recognized ability, and of broad and liberal views, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens to a marked degree. He was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, Jan- uary 31, 1853, and is a son of Henry A. and Elizabeth (Stout) Marley. He is a grandson of Alfred Marley, of North Carolina, who moved to Indiana.
Henry A. Marley was born in North Caro- lina in 1830, and was a small boy when he
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moved with his father to Morgan county, In- diana, where he spent his early days. He has followed farming all his days and owned 600 acres of land in Hendricks county, Indiana, which he sold when he moved to Oswego, Kan- sas, where he now lives in retirement. He was a member of the firm of Marley & Marley, who operated a private bank which was merged into the Oswego State Bank, in 1887. He was married to Elizabeth Stout, a daughter of Jesse and Malinda (Hobson) Stout. Mrs. Marley's mother came from the same ancestry as Lieutenant Hobson, one of the heroes of the Spanish-American War. Jesse Stout and Alfred Marley were both early settlers of Hen- dricks county, Indiana. Mrs. Marley died in 1864 at the age of thirty years, leaving two children, namely : Jesse W .; and Luther W., who now resides in Kansas City, Kansas.
Jesse WV. Marley obtained his primary edu- cation in the district schools of his native coun- ty, after which he took a preparatory course at De Pauw University, and a two years col- legiate course in the same institution. In 1877 lie went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but, ow- ing to the prevalence of yellow fever, in the fall of 1878 came to Oswego, Kansas. In 1880 the private bank of Marley & Marley was established, consisting of himself and father. In 1887 the bank was incorporated, and has since been known as the Oswego State Bank,- Mr. Marley having served as cashier from its beginning. He has a thorough understand- ing of the banking business and has discharged the duties of his office in a highly satisfactory manner.
In 1883 Jesse W. Marley was married to Julia Weir, who was a daughter of Dr. Weir. She died in 1884, leaving one child, Louise. In 1887 he formed a second marital union, the bride being Margaret B. Belt, who was born
in Fleming county, Kentucky, and is a daugh- ter of John F. and Mary Belt. She received her early education at North Middletown, Kentucky, and then became a student in the Boston Conservatory of Music, from which institution she was graduated. She has the reputation of being the finest pianist in South- ern Kansas. She taught somewhat while at the conservatory, and also after her gradua- tion. In 1886 she accepted a position as in- structress of music in the Holden Conservatory of Music, at Holden, Kansas. She has con- tinued her work since marriage, and has al- ways had a large class of students from the surounding towns, her accomplishments as an instructress equaling her brilliancy as a pianist. Mr. Marley is a Republican in poli- tics, and served in the city council for several years. He was mayor of the city one term, and has been a member of the board of educa- tion, and of the county central committee sev- eral terms; he was chairman of the latter body during one term. He was the nominee of the. Republican party for the state legislature in 1900.
D AVID URIAH WATSON, a well. known farmer, and old settler of La- bette county, Kansas, has lived in Richland township, in the southwest quarter of section 21, township 34, range 21, since 1866. He was born in Pike county, Illi- nois, August 1, 1845, and is a son of J. C. and Serena (Thomas) Watson.
J. C. Watson was born in Ohio, where he followed the occupation of a farmer, and after- ward moved to Illinois. He lived there some- time and then journeyed to Labette county, in 1867. He took up a claim near that of his- son's, where he lived until the time of his death.
J. F. RUSSELL.
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in 1888, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife died in 1885, aged sixty-two years. They reared nine children, namely: J. N., a widower, who went to California in 1872, and is now a stockman, with headquarters at San Francisco; David Uriah, of whom this nar- rative treats; Charles, a farmer living near Mound Valley; Milton, who lives in Shasta county, California, and is a stockman ; George, a resident of Richland township; L. D., a stockman, of Colorado; Mary C. (Craig), who died in 1875; Ida J. (McGraw), a resident of Los Angeles, California ; and Ella M. (Dixon). of Oswego township, Labette county.
David U. Watson attended the common schools of his native county, in Illinois, and in 1864 entered the army, serving in the 143d Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf. He offered his services at the outbreak of the war, but was rejected on account of his age. He served one year, and was mustered out at Mattoon, Illinois, in 1865. Mr. Watson then removed to Labette county. Kansas, in 1866, and entered the land on which he now resides. He built a log house 14 feet square, and lived in it until he erected a com- fortable home, which was burned in 1894. The family were obliged to live in the granary until their new home was completed, April 15, 1895. The house is a large, nine-room struc- ture, and adds greatly to the attractive ap- pearance of the place. Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri, were the only settled towns in this section of the country when Mr. Watson located in Labette county, and all the products raised on the farm were sold to new comers. David U. Watson also owns lands in Cherokee county. He carries on diversified farming, and is very successful. Mr. Wat- son's brother, J. N., was the first sheriff elected in the county.
Mr. Watson was united in marriage with
Elizabeth Henry, in Illinois, and this union has been blessed with four children, namely : Gertie (Harre), of Cherokee county, Kansas, who has two children,-Wayne and Lenet; Ivan C., who lives at home; and Ethel and Arthur, who are also at home. The school- house of District No. 5 is on the corner of Mr. Watson's farm. He is one of the directors, and has never missed attending a meeting since its organization in 1867, which is a record of which to be proud.
Politically, Mr. Watson is a stanch Repub- lican, and has served as township trustee at two different times. He was elected county commissioner in 1892, to succeed Mr. Cooper. and served one term. He has been a member of the school board for eighteen years. Fra- ternally, Mr. Watson is a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge, at Chetopa, and of the G. A. R. In religious views, he is a Methodist, and was one of the original 13 who organized the church society at Chetopa. Mr. Watson has a large number of friends in Chetopa and the town- ship. and is an active worker in matters per- taining to the good of the county.
F. RUSSELL, a popular passenger engineer on the Junction City divis- ion of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas. Railway, with headquarters at Par- sons, Kansas, is a veteran on that system, and has the distinction of being, in years of service, next to the oldest engineer now sta- tioned in Parsons. In this respect David Dunham claims first honors.
Mr. Russell was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1843. He is a son of R. S. and Sarah (Johnson) Russell, both of whom were natives of London, Eng- land. His father, who was a blacksmith, late
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in life went west to the home of J. F. Russell, in Parsons, where he spent his last days, and peacefully passed away in 1887, at the ad- vanced age of seventy-six years. Mr. Rus- sell's mother died at his home, January 7, 1887, when seventy-eight years of age. This aged couple reared five sons and one daughter. Those besides J. F. were: George, of Frank- lin, Pennsylvania; Robert H., a merchant of Hillyard, Washington; Mrs. Sophia McCune, of Pennsylvania, and M. M., of Pueblo, Col- ·orado, both deceased; and Frank B., an en- gineer on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- way, at Parsons, Kansas.
Mr. Russell attended the common schools of Pennsylvania. His first manual labor was performed in the oil regions, where he as- sisted in drilling and working about oil wells. In 1867, he decided upon a railroad life, and immediately entered the service of the At- lantic & Great Western Railroad Company as a fireman on locomotives, at Meadville, Penn- sylvania. He worked as a fireman until 1869, when he was promoted to be an engineer, and ran different engines on that system for two years.
In January, 1872, he came west to La- bette county, Kansas, having but $20 with him upon his arrival at Parsons. On January 20th, of the same year, he entered the em- ploy of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- way Company, whose interests are still iden- tified with his own. After serving several years in the freight department, he was pro- moted to the passenger service in 1875, on the Cherokee Division, and is now a passenger engineer, pulling trains between Parsons and Junction City. He makes three trips one week, and two the following week, running opposite Engineers John Reilly and David Dunham. Mr. Dunham has served as engin-
eer on the system ever since June 20, 1869.
Mr. Russell has been very successful in his career, both financially and otherwise. He is quite an extensive property owner in Par- sons. He erected the brick block on Johnson avenue, which is now occupied by the Flynn & Morris Clothing Company, and is one of the finest blocks in the city. He also pur- chased a fine residence property at 2211 Wash- ington avenue, where he still resides. He owns a similar house at the corner of Craw- ford avenue and Twenty-third street, which he leases.
Mr. Russell has been twice married. His first union was with Margaret Guisler, of Pennsylvania, who died February 1, 1875. An infant son, Alfred, followed her to the grave, six months later. They had previously lost their first two children, namely: Thomas, who died when eighteen months old; and Harriet, who lived but six months. All are buried at Parsons. The second marriage of our subject was contracted at Meadville, Pennsylvania, with Elizabeth Clemson. They have one child, Helen, born in August, 1891.
In political preferences, Mr. Russell is a Republican, and has frequently refused the requests of his friends to run for office, his time being fully occupied by his business. He is a valued member of Division No. 179, B. of L. E., of Parsons, and has served as its chief. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, which he joined in Pennsylvania. He is now a member of both the blue lodge and commandery, of Parsons. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lodge No. I, of Parsons. The family attend the M. E. church.
Although Mr. Russell has had a very suc- cessful and fortunate career, he has experi- enced a few frights and accidents. On one oc-
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casion he was held up at Leliaetta, Indian Territory, by the "Dalton gang," who "went through" the express car. He had a head- end collision at Oswego, and was once slightly injured at Chetopa. Neither accident was at- tributable to him, and no one was killed. A portrait of Mr. Russell accompanies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.
F. FOSTER. The gentleman whose name heads this record is a highly esteemed and respected citizen of La- bette county, Kansas, and stands in the front rank of the representative agricultur- ists of Labette township, of which he is a pio- neer settler. He is an ideal farmer, and owns a fine farm. It consists of the north half of the southeast quarter of section 23, Labette township. Mr. Foster has been a farmer all his life, with the exception of a short time spent at railroad work. Mr. Foster is one of three children born to O. H. and Laura (Bob- bitt) Foster.
O. H. Foster, who is a farmer, was born in Virginia in 1826, and came from a promi- nent Virginia family. His wife is also a na- tive of the same state. Their children are George B., F. F. and Emma. George B. is a minister of the Gospel and is at the present writing connected with the University of Chi- cago.
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