USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 22
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The abberation of mind was attributed to various causes, but little is definitely known. He supported the president's veto of the civil rights bill and for this his friends had deserted him. Threats had been made
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to expose his conduct in regard to government contracts in which he is alleged to have had a personal interest.
Millwood Raid .- One of the most sensational armed raids to take place in the county after the passing of the days of border warfare oc- curred at the little village of Millwood, which is situated in the north central part of Easton Township, February 19, 1901. On that night the Lackner saloon at Millwood was raided by citizens who are said to have marched from Easton, a small village which is situated a short distance south of the scene of the tragedy. Two parties by the name of John Wil- burn and Joe Turner are said to have entered the saloon first and ordered a round of drinks. The other members of the raiding party remained outside. After finishing his drink Wilburn is alleged to have rapped three times upon the bar with his glass. This was apparently a signal to the members of the party outside, as they immediately crowded in. Two of the parties who entered the saloon first were carrying shotguns. One of the members of the Lackner family immediately seized the shotguns and in the scuffle that followed either one or both of the guns were discharged. Rose Hudson, one of the members of the Lackner family, happened at the instant to be entering the room a short distance away and the entire charge of shot from the gun struck her in the head, killing her instantly. With the discharge of the shotgun, the concussion extinguished all lights within the room. A fusilade of shots from the attacking party followed and was answered by members of the Lackner family and friends who happened to be there. William Webb, one of the members of the defend- ing party, was wounded twice in the affray. A number of the members of the raiding parties was wounded. It is reported that at least one of the raiding members never recovered from his wounds, but died some time later. It is an established fact that several of the most prominent citizens of the Easton community left shortly after this and never returned.
The real purpose of the raid has for years been a matter of more or less speculation on the part of citizens living in those above mentioned communities. It occurred at a time when Carrie Nation was very active in the State of Kansas and some believe that the motive which animated the movement was that of suppressing the saloon evil. Others have con- tended that it was for the purpose of putting the owners in fear-possibly in flight and then plundering the stock of liquors on hand. The Lackner saloon, like many others, had been operating in violation of the Kansas prohibitory law for a number of years and was in bad repute. When four of the members of the raiding party were tried in the Leavenworth Dis- trict Court for the murder of Rose Lackner they were acquitted.
CHAPTER XXI
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Capt. John T. Taylor, who is recorder of the Military Order of Loyal Legion with office in Room 4, Wulfekuhler Building, and who is one of the best known men in Leavenworth, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 7, 1841. He is the son of Col. W. H. H. Taylor, a native of Richmond, Vir- ginia, and who, when young, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he after- ward married Anna T. H. Harrison, a daughter of William Henry Har- rison, who later became the President of the United States. Colonel Taylor was state librarian of Minnesota for eighteen years, and died in office at St. Paul at the age of eighty years. He is buried in Minneapolis and his wife is buried in the home burying ground at North Bend, Ohio. She was fifty years of age at the time of her death.
Colonel Taylor commanded the Fifth Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, during the Civil War. The regiment was organized at Camp Dick Corwin, Sep- tember, 1861. On March 1, 1861, the regiment left for Paducah, Kentucky, reporting to Brigadier General W. T. Sherman. The regiment was con- sidered one of the best cavalry regiments in the service from start to finish, as a partial list of the battles in which it bore a conspicuous part will show. They were as follows: Black Jack, Tennessee, sometimes re- ferred to as Black Jack Forest; Pittsburgh Landing; Crumps Landing; Shiloh; all in Tennessee; Metamora, Mississippi; Little Bear Creek, Mis- sissippi, Lexington, Tennessee and Davis Mills, Mississippi; Moscow, Ten- nessee; Hernando, Mississippi; Coldwater, Mississippi; Rockey Crossing, Mississippi ; Hernando, Mississippi; Clear Creek, Alabama; Guntown, Ala- bama; Reenzi, Mississippi; Lebanon, Alabama; Red Oak, Georgia; Jones- boro, Georgia; Rockey Creek Church, Georgia; Fayetteville, North Caro- lina and Averysboro, North Carolina.
While stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, General Sherman appointed
CAPT. JOHN T. TAYLOR
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Colonel Taylor president of a military commission to try the traitors who were charged with offenses against the rules of civilized war, and while the colonel was fair and just in all his rulings, he had no sympathy or patience with the treacherous and disloyal who came before him.
Colonel Taylor's oldest son, W. H. H., Jr., responded to the first call of President Lincoln for three month troops, and he went immediately with his regiment to Washington. Shortly afterwards he was given a commission in the Eighteenth United States Regulars, in which he served, reaching the rank of captain.
Capt. John T. Taylor was married to Amelia M. Wilson of Blooming- ton, Illinois, December 21, 1880. She is a daughter of Samuel and Mar- garet Wilson, natives of Illinois. Captain Taylor and wife reside at 710 South Seventh Street, Leavenworth.
During the Civil War, Captain Taylor was in the Battle of Shiloli and was within four feet of Major Anderson when he restored the flag staff to Ft. Sumter in 1865, which was restored by order of President Lincoln with elaborate ceremonies. When the flag rose above the parapet, hun- dreds of cannons roared a salute from Morris Island, Castle Pinckney and other forts. Thousands of people attended the ceremony. Captain Taylor served four years in the army. He has a sword which General William T. Sherman presented to him on September 15, 1862, at Memphis, Ten- nessee.
Benjamin Harrison, great grandfather of Captain Taylor, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and ex-President William Henry Har- rison was the father of the mother of Captain John Taylor and ex-Presi- dent Benjamin Harrison was a son of the brother of Anna T. H. Taylor, the mother of Captain Taylor, so it can readily be seen that Captain Tay- lor comes from an illustrious family.
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion, of which Captain Taylor is recorder, is confined to the commissioned officers of the Civil War, their sons and grandsons. The commandery of the state of Kansas was organ- ized in 1886 at Ft. Leavenworth. The present headquarters are in Phila- delphia and Col. John P. Nicholson has been its recorded in chief since the organiaztion. Only one commandery in a state is permitted. The member- ship of the Kansas Commandery is about 150 at present, and Captain Taylor has been its honored recorder since 1911. Captain Taylor has many old friends and is honored and revered in the city of Leavenworth.
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Miss Lucy V. Hook, treasurer of Leavenworth County, is a daughter of Enos and Elizabeth (Inghram) Hook. Enos Hook was born in 1838 in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, which was also the birthplace of his wife, Elizabeth (Inghram) Hook. Mr. and Mrs. Enos Hook came to Kansas shortly after their marriage. They were engaged in farming until they retired to live in Leavenworth, Kansas. Mr. Hook died October 8, 1910, and his wife in 1904. They are both buried in Mt. Muncie Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Enos Hook were the parents of seven children, as fol- lows: Cora, widow of H. Feagan, Kansas City, Missouri; W. C. Hook, judge of the Circuit Court of Leavenworth, Kansas; Elizabeth H., wife of F. Yohe, Leavenworth, Kansas; Anna H., wife of Henry Helmers, Jr., Leavenworth; Lucy V., subject of this sketch; Edward E., in the oil busi- ness, Wichita, Kansas; Helen H., wife of Victor Cain, Leavenworth, Kansas.
Miss Lucy Hook was educated in the Leavenworth public school and graduated in the class of 1899. For many years Miss Hook was employed as assistant treasurer and learned all the details and responsibilities of the work before she was honored by election, November 2, 1918, to the office of county treasurer. She is now serving her second term, to which she was elected without opposition. H. V. Reilly is deputy treasurer and during the rush season Miss Hook is assisted by two others.
Miss Hook has endeared herself to her associates and is worthy of the high esteem in which the people of the county hold her. She was the first woman treasurer of Leavenworth County.
Sherman Medill, the well known president of the State Savings Bank of Leavenworth, Kansas, is from a prominent pioneer family. He was born at Springdale, Leavenworth County, December 27, 1865, the son of James and Lydia A. (Redburn) Medill; his father was born in Steuben- ville, Ohio, in 1824, and his mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1839. She died in 1873 at the age of thirty-four years.
James Medill came to Leavenworth County, Kansas, in 1857 and settled in High Prairie Township, and later bought land and moved to Alexandria Township in 1864. He was a large land holder and stockman, and, at one time, owned thirteen quarter sections of land near Effingham, Kansas. A few years before his death in 1894 he located in Leaven- worth. He and his wife are buried at Mt. Muncie Cemetery.
1
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
James Medill specialized in the breeding and raising of Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Besides his large land and stock interests, he engaged extensively in loaning money and for safekeeping in prefer- ence to depositing with the banks, which showed the confidence and trust they placed in him. He was a public spirited man also and served his county as representative in the Legislature for four terms, and was rail- road assessor for two years.
Sherman Medill was educated in the public schools and Lawrence Business College. After finishing his education, he engaged extensively in farming in Alexandria Township until 1906. He specialized in feed- ing and shipping stock. In 1899 he represented Leavenworth County in the State Legislature, and has always worked for the improvement and betterment of local conditions. He became connected with the State Sav- ings Bank from the start first as stockholder, then director, vice-presi- dent, and since 1912 has been president. Mr. Medill and his associates are capable financiers and have shown constructive ability and foresight, as the remarkable growth of the bank since 1912 will testify, as follows : The deposits August 31, 1912, were $105,778.26; August 31, 1913, $182,- 643.46; August 30, 1914, $260,691.00; August 31, 1915, $303,750.25; Au- gust 31, 1916, $496,788.56; August 31, 1917, $648,432.29; August 31, 1918, $972,406.85; August 31, 1919, $1,081,375.07; August 28, 1920, $1, 229,962.93.
The State Savings Bank was organized in 1902 with a capital stock of $25,000.00 and its first officers were: A. A. Fenn, president ; J. C. Stone, vice-president; E. A. Kelly, cashier; and F. D. Bolman and Arthur M. Jackson, directors. Its present officers are: Sherman Medill, president; F. M. Potter, first vice-president; John G. Barnes, second vice-president ; O. J. Potter, cashier; W. J. Bransfield, assistant cashier; Laurayne Medill, assistant cashier; Frank Hines, assistant cashier; W. G. Leavel, W. T. Hines, John Schwalker, Jr., Dr. A. R. Adams and F. D. Webster, directors.
June 4, 1890, Mr. Medill was married to Monica Morgan, who was a prominent teacher here before her marriage. She is a native of Leaven- worth and daughter of Capt. J. W. and Katherine (Keogh) Morgan. Her mother now lives in the old home where she has lived for sixty years at 815 Cherokee Street. Capt. J. W. Morgan was a captain in the navy, plying first on the Great Lakes, then to the Mississippi, and he also had the distinction of once sailing around the world. He was of Scotch de-
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
scent, born in Glasgow, and his wife was born in Dublin, Ireland, but of Welch and English extraction. Captain Morgan died in 1913 and is buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. He was a thirty-second degree Mason.
Mr. and Mrs. Medill have three sons living and one deceased. They are as follows: First Lieutenant James Sherman Medill, who was born at Springdale, Kansas, September 4, 1893, and who was the youngest lawyer in Kansas when he passed the bar examination in 1915. He at- tended the public schools of Leavenworth, Ann Arbor, and finished his law course at Kansas City, Missouri. He was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity. He practiced law for two years, when war was de- clared, and he went to the first officer's training camp at Fort Riley, Kan- sas, where he was admitted, and was the only Leavenworth boy that passed the regular army examinations at the close of the officer's training camp. He was attached to the 43d Infantry, sent to Fort Douglas, Utah, then to Camp Pike, Arkansas, was sent to Louisiana to guard the oil fields and later to New Orleans, to guard the piers and the gulf. He was then sent to Ft. Sill for special training, and was placed at the head of the gun division of the 43rd Infantry, and was also made judge advocate of the regiment, and two weeks prior to his death, March 12, 1919, he was made intelligence officer of his regiment. From New Orleans, he was sent to Ft. Logan, Texas, where he died. He is buried at Mt. Muncie Cemetery. He had a bright future and his early passing is to be re- gretted. The second son, Harold Medill, was born at Springdale, October 17, 1895. He was educated in the grade and high schools and the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kansas, and has been admitted to the bar in Kansas and Missouri. During the late war he attended the officer's training camp and was made second lieutenant in the Reserves. He was sent to Deming, New Mexico. and from there to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and then to Camp Perry, on Lake Erie, for special instruction. He returned to Camp Funston and was sent twice to the coast with troops, and the third time overseas with the 816 Pioneer Infantry. He was in France for ten months, when he returned to Camp Funston, where he was mus- tered out. He is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity.
The third son, George Tabor, was born at Springdale, May 15, 1897. He received his education in the Leavenworth schools and Kansas Uni- versity, where he studied medicine. He is a member of the Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Beta Pi fraternities. He entered the United States service at Camp Funston and was made a corporal. He was ready for the offi-
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
cer's training camp when the war closed. He is now with the Stanton Construction Company, of Leavenworth.
Thomas Laurayne is the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Medill and was born at Springdale, Kansas, July 18, 1900. He received his education in the Leavenworth grade and high schools, and was in the S. A. T. C. at Kansas University, and was made first sergeant. Prior to going to the university, he was captain of the Leavenworth High School Cadets. He is now assistant cashier of the State Savings Bank of Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mrs. Medill is quite active in club work and well known in social circles, having a host of friends. She is now president of the First Con- gressional District of Woman's Federated Clubs, vice-president of the State of Kansas Woman's Auxiliary of the American Legion, and vice- president of the Kansas Order of the Gold Star, an organization of mothers who lost sons during the World War, a member of the Kansas State Board of Woman's Federated Clubs, president of the Byron H. Mehl Post, Woman's Auxiliary of the American Legion of Leavenworth, Kansas, is past regent of the Daughters of Isabella, past president of the Civic League, also Art League and Catholic Literary Society. Mrs. Medill is also a member of the Republican County Central Committee, and has the distinction of being the first woman from Leavenworth who attended a state Republican meeting.
The Medill family is among the most substantial and enterprising families of Leavenworth.
A. G. Dunnuck, president of the Dunnuck Manufacturing Company, of Leavenworth, Kansas, is an enterprising business man who is meeting with well merited success and conducts a thriving manufacturing plant.
The Dunnuck Manufacturing Company was established in 1916 in Concordia, Kansas, and on September 1, 1917, it was moved to Leaven- worth, Kansas, where it is located at the corner of Shawnee and Main streets. This firm manufactures the inventions of its founder and presi- dent, Mr. Dunnuck. The different articles are a combination two, three and four horse wagon evener, a four and five horse plow evener, tractor hitches, second binder hitches, radiator screens for tractor and road sur- facing machines.
A. G. Dunnuck was born in Fairbury, Nebraska, November 16, 1866, (18)
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
a son of George F. and Eunice (Timmons) Dunnuck, both natives of In- diana. Eunice (Timmons) Dunnuck by a former marriage to John H. Crowell has one son, John Henry Crowell, who now lives in Indiana. Mrs. Dunnock died in 1880, when thirty-eight years of age.
George F. Dunnuck was a veteran of the Civil War, serving through- out the last year of the war. He came to Kansas in 1866, stopping a short time in Washington County, Kansas, then he went on to Fairbury, Nebraska, locating on the ground that is now the townsite of Fairbury. In 1867, he returned to Kansas on account of the Indian scare. He lo- cated near Fort Sneadajohn, where he would receive its protection. He homesteaded land and built a log cabin; he hewing the shingles from the cottonwood trees growing along the Little Blue River. The blocks were boiled in water to remove the sap and make them pliable for cutting into shingles. This homestead was their home until 1901, when it was sold and a farm was purchased near the county seat in Washington County. He died in January, 1917, at Morrowville, Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. George Dunnuck were the parents of eleven children, as follows: W. J., Washington, Kansas; S. K., deceased; George M., de- ceased; Franklin J., deceased; A. G., the subject of this review; Mrs. Margaret Smethers, deceased; Minnie L. Kemper, Washington, Kansas; E. A., Atchison, Kansas; Mrs. Eunice V. Hide, Flagler, Colorado ; Harvey H., deceased; Nora M., deceased.
A. G. Dunnuck was reared on his father's homestead in Washington County, Kansas, and attended school in the log cabin of his day. The means of transportation and labor was the sturdy oxen and Mr. Dunnuck mastered the art of driving ox teams. He handled four yoke of oxen hitched to a twenty-four inch breaking plow and turned the virgin soil. When he was twenty years of age he followed farming for himself, two years later engaged in the livery business at Oketo, Kansas. He then returned to Washington County and bought grain at a side track known as Spencer's Switch on his father's farm. Later, Mr. Dunnuck was em- ployed by the Dempster Mill Manufacturing Company of Beatrice, Ne- braska. He remained there for eight years, commencing as a common laborer, promoted to foremanship and the last two years as traveling salesman. He left their employ in 1908 and took up a claim in western Kansas. While here he perfected some of his patents and began their manufacture in a blacksmith shop. He organized the Dunnuck Manu-
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
facturing Company and its business has increased year by year. So far they have been unable to supply the demand for their goods.
A. G. Dunnuck was first married December 4, 1890, to Lillian Smethers, a daughter of Jonas and Mary Smethers. Mrs. Dunnuck died in Beatrice, Nebraska, December 10, 1905. To this union two daughters were born: Gladys L., wife of Joseph Dawes, of Thomas County, Kansas, and Bertha N., wife of A. M. Lukens, Melbourne, Florida.
Mr. Dunnuck and Mrs. Alice McReynolds were united in marriage and they had two children born to them: Fern, at home, and Spencer A., who died at the age of eighteen months, and is buried at Stockton, Kansas. Mr. Dunnuck has a granddaughter, Bessie Lillian Dawes. Mrs. Alice (McReynolds) Dunnuck is the daughter of Spencer and Lydia Davis, na- tives of Iowa, whose home is near Moulton.
In the many years of a busy life Mr. Dunnuck has also been engaged in the grocery and implement business. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Concordia, Kansas.
O. J. Potter, cashier of the State Savings Bank of Leavenworth, Leav- enworth, Kansas, is a native Kansan. He was born January 13, 1875, at Potter, Kansas, on his father's farm in Walnut Township, Atchison County, Kansas. He is a son of Moses and Mary (Womach) Potter, the former a native of Kentucky, who, with his brother, Joseph Potter, settled joined and the brothers were intimately associated in their work during in Walnut Township, Atchison County, Kansas, in 1856. Their farms their long and useful lives. During the Mexican War, they enlisted from Fort Leavenworth and crossed the plains to Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the old trail. The town of Potter, Kansas, was named in honor of these brothers. Moses Potter died in 1902 and was buried on the Womach farm. Joseph Potter, was born in 1819 and died in 1912, aged ninety- three years and six months.
Mrs. Mary (Womach) Potter was the daughter of Abraham Womach, who was one of the earliest settlers of Atchison County. He came from Buchanan County, Missouri. Mrs. Mary Potter died in 1913 and was buried by the side of the remains of her husband.
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Potter were the parents of the following chil- dren: Thomas, deceased; Tinsley, of Atchison County, Kansas, formerly lived at Leavenworth, now deceased-see history; Marcillious, deceased;
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Belle, wife of Milton Hebbard, Alaska; Newmarious, deceased; Frances Marion, deceased; Martha, deceased; Bela, of Easton, Kansas; Melissa, wife of William B. Mitchell, of California; Vienna, married James M. Logue, cashier of the Lansing Bank, Lansing, Kansas; Mollie, wife of James Robertson, Springfield, Missouri; O. J., the subject of this sketch ; Flora, wife of Simeon Horn, College Grove, Oregon.
O. J. Potter was educated in the public schools of Leavenworth County, Kansas. He then attended the Campbell University at Holton, Kansas, and the Stanberry, Missouri, College. This school building burn- ing he went to the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri. Fin- ishing his course at this institution, he taught school in Leavenworth County for eight years. When J. M. Gilman was superintendent of public instruction, Mr. Potter was on the board of examiners for teachers and held this position when he gave up the teaching profession. For two years Mr. O. J. Potter was in the lumber business with O. P. Lambert, when he accepted the position of cashier of the Easton State Bank, which position he held for fifteen years, and resigned to accept the position as cashier of the State Savings Bank.
O. J. Potter was married August 24, 1898, to Norah Hawes, of Stan- berry, Missouri. She died October 21, 1918, leaving one daughter, Letha. He was married the second time, March 3, 1921, to Grace Jane Fisher, who is at the present time clerk of the District Court of this county.
Mr. Potter is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Scottish Rite, Shriners and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The Easton State Bank, Easton, Kansas, was organized in August, 1902, with $5,000 capital. It had the following officers : William T. Hines, president; R. Mayer, vice-president; F. M. Seward, cashier; John Nieman, Dr. W. A. Adams, Thomas J. Hennessey, Samuel Watson, Henry Holt- meyer and Samuel Hulett, directors. O. J. Potter became cashier of this bank January 1, 1906 and was in that position until October 1, 1920, when he accepted his present position as cashier of the State Savings Bank of Leavenworth, Kansas.
The present officers of the Easton State Bank are as follows: R. Mayer, president; W. T. Hines, vice-president; R. W. Stafford, cashier; directors, C. W. Corson, T. J. Hennessey, Samuel Watson, Henry Holt- meyer, Dr. A. R. Adams and O. J. Potter.
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The Easton State Bank started with a $5,000 capital, which has been increased to $30,000. Its deposits at the time of Mr. Potter's resignation were $250,000.
Thomas J. Brown, the manager of the Hippodrome of Leavenworth, Kansas, is a well known business man and very successful in his present line of work. The Hippodrome Theater, with Thomas J. Brown and Frank J. Warren as owners, has a reputation of giving clean, high class pictures. This theater is located at 526-528 Delaware Street.
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