USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 87
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Luther H. Wise was united in marriage with Omah Able, who was born in Illinois. Her mother died when she was quite young, and Mrs. Wise was reared by her grandfa-
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ther in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are the parents of three children, namely : Lloyd V .; Byron; and Luther Henry, Jr. They own a fine home in Mound Valley.
J. Albert Wise married Lena Riff, a daugh- ter of Joseph Riff, Sr., who was an early set- tler of Mound Valley, and for many years was engaged in business there. Mr. Wise and his wife have two children living,-Lyman A. and Helen E. Another, Irene, died recently. Mr. Wise was lately elected mayor of Mound Valley. In politics, he is a Republican. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and the M. W. of A.
Luther H. Wise is also a Republican, and has served on the school board and in the city council. He is a member of the M. W. of A. lodge, and his wife belongs to the Fraternal Aid. Mr. Wise is secretary of the Mound Valley Natural Gas & Mineral Company. His brother, J. Albert Wise, is treasurer of the company. Both Luther H. and J. Albert Wise are members of the Presbyterian church.
AMES BEGGS, of the firm of Beggs & Wilson, was for a long time the proprietor of the only furniture and undertaking establishment in Mound Valley, Kansas. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1832, and is a son of Will- iam and Martha Beggs.
William and Martha Beggs, were natives of Ireland. They reared four children, as fol- lows: William, Jr., deceased; Mary (Rich- ardson), who lives in Ohio, aged eighty-four years : Rachael, deceased ; and James, the sub- ject of this sketch.
James Beggs received his early mental training in Ireland, and at the age of sixteen
years came to America, in company with his parents. . They located in Mercer county, Penn- sylvania, where the father carried on farming. James attended school for six months in Penn- sylvania. He learned the cabinetmaking trade at Mercer, in Mercer county, where he worked under Henry Heasley three years. He also learned the undertaking business. Soon after he left Mr. Heasley's employ, he went to Plain- field, Illinois, where he worked at his trade. In March, 1871, Mr. Beggs removed to La- bette county, Kansas, where he bought a claim. He now owns a half of section 30, township 32, range 19. He improved this and carried on farming for thirteen years, when he moved to Mound Valley, and was engaged in the hardware business for one year. Then, in part- nership with Rev. E. A. Graham, he conducted a furniture and undertaking establishment, under the firm name of Graham & Beggs. In April, 1899. he bought Rev. Mr. Graham's interest, and conducted the business alone until the spring of 1901, when he sold a half interest to W. W. Wilson. They occupy a building 50 by 60 feet in dimensions, and carry a full line of furniture with undertaking sup- plies in the rear. There is no competition and the concern does a large amount of business. Mr. Beggs is a thorough business man, and has been very succesful.
Mr. Beggs was married, in Illinois, to Harriet Knapp, who was born in Montpelier, Vermont. She is now sixty-seven years old. They have had four children, three of whom are deceased. The other, Wilson T., is a part- ner in the Mound Valley Mill Company, with Messrs. Kirk and Allen, and acts as engineer ; he married Miss Stotts, and they have two children, Archie M. and Ruth. Mrs. Ella Mahar, a daughter of Mr. Beggs, died in Colo- rado several years ago, and Mr. Beggs has
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reared her three children, one of whom is now teaching in the Mound Valley schools. Mrs. Carrie N. Perkins, another daughter, died a short time ago at Guthrie, Oklahoma, where she was chief clerk in the postoffice. A son of Mr. Beggs died while young.
Mr. Beggs was a Republican until recently, and he now votes the Prohibition ticket. He was a member of the school board, and has been a member of the city council of Mound Valley. Mr. Beggs formerly belonged to the Anti- Horsethief Association, and Select Friends. His ancestors were Presbyterians, but he is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Beggs has erected a comfortable home in Mound Valley, where he is respected by all as a loyal and upright citizen.
ILLIAM G. CRUZAN, of the firm of Graham & Cruzan, dealers in general merchandise, in Mound Valley, has been a resident of La- bette county since 1883. He is a native of Hamilton county, Indiana, and was born in 1859. He is a son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Good) Cruzan.
Alfred Cruzan lived in Indiana a number of years, and from there moved to Cherokee, Kansas. In 1869, he moved to the old town of Parker, Kansas, where he carried on farming. After his death, the mother having died some years before, the children returned to Indiana, where those surviving now live, with the ex- ception of W. G. Their names are: Mary A. ( Sowers), who is a widow; William G .; Al- fred J. and Serena Beatrice, deceased; and David D.
William G. Cruzan was but thirteen years old when his father died. After that he was
obliged to earn his own living, and this he has continued to do ever since. He attended the common schools in Indiana, and in 1883 worked out as a farm hand for one year. Dur- ing the grain and corn season, he bought grain for F. P. Dicus & Company, and also worked in their lumber yard at different times. In 1888, he began clerking for Wise Brothers, and remained with them until 1897. In March, 1897. Mr. Cruzan, in partnership with Rev. E. A. Graham, entered the dry goods business, under the firm name of Graham & Cruzan. They bought out the business of E. A. Steele. The building which they occupy is 24 by 80 feet in dimensions, and was originally used for the hardware store of Moore & Bushnell. The firm carries a large stock of goods, and the store is well patronized. Mr. Cruzan is a thorough business man, is enterprising and progressive, and is regarded as a merchant of firm principles and integrity.
Mr. Cruzan was united in marriage with Eva Sheller, who is a native of Indiana, but who was reared in Kansas. They are the par- ents of three children, whose names are : Ruth E .; Merle W. ; and Esther E. In politics, Mr. Cruzan is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of the M. W. of A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cruzan are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Cruzan is highly respected in Mound Valley, where he takes an active in- terest in all matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the community.
R EUBEN W. SMITH, a well known farmer, residing in section 15, town- ship 32, range 18, in Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kansas, is a native of Fayette county, Illinois, and was
MR. AND MRS. D. C. CONSTANT.
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born in 1860. He is a son of John R. and Martha (Scott) Smith.
John R. Smith lived for a number of years in Shelby county, Illinois, whence he moved to Labette county, in 1870. He took up a claim which adjoins the northern part of the city of Mound Valley. This he improved, and culti- vated until his death, which occurred in 1876. His wife died six months before him. They reared six children, namely : Reuben W., the subject of this sketch; G. B., who is a railroad man at Salida, Colorado; Margaret (Mc- Carty ), of Wellington, Kansas, whose husband is an employee of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company; John D., who is a bridge man on that road, at Guthrie, Okla- homa; Lizzie (Clark), who lives in Iowa; and Mary ( Reeves), of Cherryvale, Kansas. The three first named were born in Illinois, and the others in Labette county, Kansas.
Reuben W. Smith was ten years old when his parents moved to Labette county, Kansas. He has lived here ever since that time, with the exception of two years,-from 1880 to 1882,-which he spent as a miner in Colorado. In 1890, he bought his present home farm of 160 acres, which was owned by John Rogers, who had improved it considerably. Mr Smith has added a good orchard, and has made many minor improvements. He carries on general farming, and stock raising. He favors Durham cattle, and recently bought some thoroughbreds at a sale in Kansas City. His intention is to raise high-grade stock. Mr. Smith is a man of good business principles, and has a thorough knowledge of agricultural affairs. He is a good neighbor, and always willing to lend assistance to any one in need.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Alice Stotts, a daughter of J. O. Stotts. They have six children, namely : Herbert R .; Mag-
gie ; James O .; Georgia ; Mabel; and Roy W. Mr. Smith is a member of the People's party. He has served as township treasurer, and has also been on the school board of Globe Dis- trict, No. 65. Fraternally, he is a member of the M. W. of A. lodge, of Mound Valley. Religiously, he is liberal in his views, while his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Smith is well known in Labette county.
D C. CONSTANT. This gentleman has been identified with the growth and development of Labette county for the past thirty-two years. He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1834, and is a son of Jacob and Levinia (Crocker) Constant. Jacob Constant was born near Crab Orchard, Kentucky, and fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer. His wife was a native of Kentucky. Their children are named: James; D. C .; Simpson ; Mary ; Boyd; and Thomas, deceased.
D. C. Constant lived in Illinois until he at- tained the age of twenty-four years. After finishing college, he taught school for two or three years. He served in the army during the Civil War, under General Grant, and Captain Ferry. He taught school at St. Louis, Mis- souri, until 1867, when he located in Grayton county, Texas, where he taught school at Pilot Grove Academy for five years. In 1868-69, Mr. Constant was elected a member of the constitutional convention, from Fannin and Hunt counties, Texas. In 1869, he drove with General Talbot from Texas to Labette county, Kansas. He located in Hackberry township, where he took up a claim, on which he lived until 1873. He was then sent by the govern- ment to the Indian Territory, where he taught
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the Indians for seven years. Mr. Constant built the first house in the south half of Hack- herry township. In 1881, he settled on his present farm in Elm Grove township, which is the southwest quarter of section 12, town- ship 34, range 19. Mr. Constant takes much interest in the progress of this township. and also of Labette county, and is always ready to assist in any enterprise which is for the good of the community. He is widely known in the county, and is a man of firm principles, and good business ability.
Mr. Constant was wedded to Antoinette Snow, who was born in Illinois in 1841. She was a nurse at Leavenworth, Kansas, during the Civil War. They have one son, D. C., Jr., who is in the lumber business in Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Constant have also reared Al- bert C. McIntyre, who lives with them on the farm.
Mr. Constant is a Republican, and voted for John C. Fremont. He was the first justice of the peace in Hackberry township. He is now serving in that office in Elm Grove town- ship. He represented his district in the state legislature during 1872-73. Religiously, both Mr. Constant and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in which they are active workers. They are well known in La- bette county, and are highly esteemed by all. Their portraits are presented on a foregoing page in connection with this sketch.
Mrs. Constant's sister, Celia, whose home was in Carlinville, Illinois, married Daniel McIntyre, who was born in Missouri of Scotch parentage. Mr. McIntyre moved to Kansas and settled on a farm in Labette county in the fall of 1869. He was the first trustee of Elm Grove township, where he lived. Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre had six children, namely : William, Lorena, John, Hugh, Daniel and Al-
bert. Mrs. McIntyre passed away in March, 1873, and her husband died five years later, in 1878.
EREMIAH B. COOK, who has been a prominent resident of Labette coun- ty, Kansas, since 1871, is extensively engaged in the real estate and loan business, and is operating in several counties. He is one of the substantial citizens of Che- topa, is a man of high character, and enjoys the esteem and friendship of all with whom he has been brought into contact. He was born at Pleasant Grove, Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, June 22, 1834, and is a son of Allen and Rachel ( Brown) Cook.
Allen Cook and his wife came of English Quaker families. He was a farmer by occu- pation, and died in Pennsylvania. She lies buried in Labette county, Kansas. They reared seven children, namely: Edward, who died in California; Jeremiah B., the subject of this sketch; Anna Mary (Slaughter), living near Altamont, Kansas; William, of Oswego; Charles A., of Parker, Kansas; Henry C., who died and was buried at Oswego; and Julia, who who died in Pennsylvania.
Jeremiah B. Cook attended the common schools of Pennsylvania, and then left home at the age of fifteen years. He traveled through the South and West, and visited New Orleans, Memphis, and many other Southern cities. He returned home when eighteen years old, where he remained one year, and then went to California, and engaged in mining and herd- ing cattle. He was a miner in Santa Clara county until 1856. He witnessed the stirring times that called into action the great vigi- lance committee at San Francisco, and saw the beam on which the leading criminals were
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hung. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1856, and in the spring of 1857 located at Kansas City, Missouri, where he remained until March, 1860, and invested in property there. In 1860, he went to Illinois to 'visit some rela- tives near Delavan, Tazewell county, who had come west from Pennsylvania. He located upon some unimproved land which he had pur- chased near Delavan, and lived there until the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1861, he en- listed as a private in Company H, 4th Reg., Il1. Vol. Cav. In this regiment he served as private, corporal, sergeant and second lieuten- ant, until October 1, 1863, when he was made major of the 3d Reg., U. S. Colored Cavalry, and afterward lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, which he commanded for over a year. When the war closed, he commanded a cavalry brigade of 2,300 men, composed of the 3d U. S., 4th Illinois and 2d Wisconsin regiments. In 1866, he cultivated 800 acres of cotton in Arkansas, near Memphis, and then went to his old home near Delavan, Illinois, where he finished improving his farm. He came to Labette county, Kansas, in April, 1871, and improved a large farm, 10 miles west of Chetopa. He took as a claim the northeast quarter of section 25, township 34, range 19, in Elm Grove township, and some years later traded it for the Cook Building. which had been built by Stephen Marsh, at the corner of Fourth and Maple streets, Che- topa, and which Mr. Cook still owns. From 1874 to 1885, he was extensively engaged in the land and loan business, and sold during that period more than 100 farms and loaned over one million dollars, without the loss of a single dollar to the Eastern capitalists whom he represented. He advertised the country large- ly, in the East and North, by means of print- ed matter. In 1885 and 1886, he was a mem-
ber of the Kansas legislature, and was mayor of Chetopa for seven consecutive years. Dur- ing 1885 and 1886, he was one of the pro- jectors of the Denver, Memphis & Atlantic Railroad, and was first vice-president at the time of its completion. It now forms a part of the Missouri Pacific system. Mr. Cook re- tired from business in 1885, and was suc- ceeded by the Neosho Valley Investment Com- pany. In 1886, he erected his fine home of veneered brick, which is one of the most at- tractive in the city. In 1895, he reopened a loan and real estate office in order to dispose of some of his holdings, and has since done a general loan, real estate, insurance and rent- ing business, in his fine offices in the Cook Building.
Mr. Cook was first married at Decatur, Illinois, to Mrs. Hannah Prosser, nce Pitts, a native of Salem, Indiana, who died in 1892. He formed a second union by marrying Rose Dorland, of Bartlett, Kansas, and they have two children: Harry D., and J. B., Jr. In politics, he has always been a Republican, and is a very strong Prohibitionist. Fraternally. lie is a member of Chetopa Post, G. A. R .; the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias, of Chetopa. Relig- iously, he is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
J. COLEMAN, familiarly known as Prof. Coleman, has been a resident of Labette county, Kansas, since 1870. He is of the seventh genera- tion from Thomas Coleman, who came from England, and settled at Newburyport, Massa- chusetts, in 1637. G. J. Coleman was born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1826, and is .
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a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Dean) Cole- man.
Jethro Coleman, grandfather of G. J., was born on Nantucket Island, in 1755, and died September 17, 1817. He was a sea captain for many years. Benjamin Coleman, the fa- ther of G. J., was born on Nantucket Island, December 8, 1788, and his death occurred May 20, 1845. He was a wealthy stockman. He married Sarah Dean, who was a native of New York. She died when G. J. was quite young. Seven children resulted from this union, among whom were the following: Henry, who was born September 9. 1816, and died in De- cember, 1816; Mary, who died in 1839; Ed- win, who died in 1830; Joseph D., who was born July 14. 1820, at Stanfordville, Dutchess county, New York, and is a farmer in that county; G. J., the subject of this sketch ; and Robert R., who was horn May 31, 1828, and died January 3, 1882,-his family resides in Mound Valley. William C., a son of Robert R., is manager of the Carbon Light Company, with headquarters at Wichita.
G. J. Coleman, the subject of this sketch, was reared and schooled in his native county. He graduated from the Quaker boarding school in the town of Nine Partners, and be- gan lecturing on chemistry, astronomy and philosophy, at the age of nineteen years. Un- til his removal to Kansas, he traveled constant- ly, and lectured in all the states east of the Mississippi river, with the exception of Maine, Michigan and Louisiana. His name was in a lecture hurean's book in New York City. and he was sent to different cities, and was paid by the night.
Mr. Coleman, in company with his son, K. B. Coleman, left New York in 1870, with the determination of driving west, to Kansas. He lectured en route, and when he reached
Kansas, in the fall of 1870, he had $80 more in money than he had when he left New York. Mr. Coleman met his brother at Kansas City, and came to Labette county. They bought land from two men who had located claims in the north half of section 26, township 32, range 18. Mr. Coleman secured the north- west quarter, and his brother took the north- east quarter. They built frame houses, which were located on opposite sides of the main road to Mound Valley. Mr. Coleman has a finely improved farm. About fifteen years ago, he set out 15 acres of trees, and his orchard bears fine fruit. Mr. Coleman lectured sev- eral years, to pay for the farm, and his wife taught school three years in their own house. Subsequently, when the schoolhouse was built north of this farm, she taught two years longer. Mr. Coleman is a very intelligent man, and is thoroughly conversant with agricultural matters, as well as with those topics which were the source of his income in earlier years. He has always been prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of Mound Valley township, and gives his support to all public enterprises.
Mr. Coleman was united in marriage, in New York, with Harriet A. Bushnell. She was born November 14, 1830. at Hunter, Greene county, New York. She is a daugh- ter of Alvin and Fannie (Shepherd) Bushnell. Alvin Bushnell was born in Massachusetts, and his death took place in Labette county. Kansas, in 1875. His wife was a native of Connecticut, and died in Chicago, Illinois, while on a visit there. Seven children, of ten that were born to them, reached maturity, namely : Aaron, who died in 1889: Gideon E., who died in 1900; A. Bigelow, who lives in Mound Valley: George, who died April 7, 1900; Harriet .A., the wife of Mr. Coleman;
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Fannie, deceased; and Sarah, who is now in Oklahoma. Mrs. Coleman was reared and educated in New York. She graduated from the State Normal School, at Albany, in 1848, and taught school for a number of years.
Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have been blessed with four children, namely: Nettie, who married Clarence Lown, who died at Pough- keepsie, New York; Kay B. married Emma McGregory, who died at Mound Valley, Oc- tober 19. 1893, having had three daughters,- one of whom, Ethel S., lives with Prof. Cole- man,-and Bessie and May, who are deceased ; Dean S. ; and Fannie, the wife of W. B. Covalt, of Wichita, who has one child, George, Jr., named after the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Coleman is a member of the Populist party. He has served as township clerk, and clerk of the school board, and has filled both offices in an able manner. He was formerly a member of the Good Templars lodge. He has always been a Quaker, but the other members in his family are Baptists. Mr. Coleman is a very popular man, and has always been a loyal and upright citizen. He has many warm friends in Labette county.
RS. MARY OAKLEAF, widow of the late Benjamin Oakleaf, is liv- ing in the northeast quarter of sec- tion 20, township 33, range 18, in Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kan- sas. She is a native of Sweden, and was born in 1830. In Sweden she married Benjamin Oakleaf, who was also a native of that country.
Benjamin Oakleaf's Swedish name was Christianson, but before coming to America he took his wife's maiden name,-Oakleaf,- it being more easily spoken. He was born in
1827, and his death occurred, February I, 1893. While a resident of his native country, he was united in marriage with Mary Oakleaf, and they came to America in 1857, settling in Moline, Illinois. There Mr. Oakleaf worked in a paper factory.
In the fall of 1869, Mr. Oakleaf, in com- pany with his family, removed to Labette county, Kansas. They took up the present home farm which is the northeast quarter of section 20, township 33, range 18, in Mound Valley township. The first towns in that vicinity were Neosho and Oswego. Mr. Oak- leaf at once began to make improvements on the farm, setting out a number of trees which were obtained in Montgomery county. He bought 80 acres of land south of his place, thus becoming the owner of 240 acres of fine farming land. He also bought each of his sons a quarter section, and they are prosperous farmers and good business men. Mr. Oakleaf made wheat his staple crop, and was very suc- cessful in all his undertakings. His death, which took place in 1893, was greatly lamented as he was one of the most loyal citizens, and progressive workers in the township. He was a man of good principles, and fine business abil- ity, and was very popular in the community.
Mr. Oakleaf and his wife were the parents of two children, born in Sweden. One died, en route to this country, and the other child died but two weeks after landing. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Oakleaf, in America, namely: Charles P., who lives near the old homestead, and is one of the suc- cessful farmers of the county; Joseph, an at- torney at Moline, Illinois; Emanuel, who mar- ried a daughter of Israel Johnson, and owns a fine farm near his former home; and Stephen, who is managing the home farm for his mother.
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Stephen Oakleaf married Iola Wallace, who was born in Clinton county, Illinois, in 1866, and is the second of a family of seven children, namely: Silas, who lives in Oklahoma; Iola; Arthur, who is engaged in a sawmill in the Indian Territory; Gillam, who went to the Philippines in 1899, and is serving in the army ; Minnie ( Nelson), who lives a mile and a half west of Mound Valley; Rose, the wife of Ed Stotts, of Mound Valley township; and Vic- toria, the wife of William Humphrey, a hard- ware dealer in Mound Valley. The Wallace family settled in this county in 1881. Stephen Oakleaf and his wife have four children, whose names are : Wintress ; Lillian ; Gertrude ; and Marcus.
Benjamin Oakleaf was a Democrat, in pol- itics, and served several terms as justice of the peace. The family attend the Methodist church, the services of which are held in the Richland school-house. Mrs. Oakleaf is a woman of many estimable qualities, and is greatly esteemed by all.
m ADISON SHARP, a pioneer settler of Labette county, Kansas, is liv- ing in the southwest quarter of section 18, township 34, range 20, in Hackberry township. He was born in Claiborne county, in Eastern Tennessee, in 1834, and is a son of Isaac and Chloe (Berry) Sharp.
Isaac Sharp was a native of Tennessee, as . was his wife. He served in the Black Hawk War, and died en route to California, in 1849. He and his wife had the following children. namely: John J .; Madison; Betsy Ann; Jef- ferson: Joseph; George; Emery; Easter and Polly, twins; Amanda; and William.
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