USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 23
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Thomas J. Brown was born October 30, 1870, in Platte County, Mis- souri, son of Felix C. and Jincy A. (Bleakley) Brown. They are both natives of Platte County, Missouri, and make their home in Leavenworth, Kansas, where Mr. Felix C. Brown, since 1883, has conducted a hospital for the insane and elderly people.
Mr. Felix C. Brown is the son of Gideon A. Brown, who came from North Carolina and Tennessee to Platte County, Missouri, about 1840. He settled on a farm, where he tilled the soil until his death in 1856. Mrs. Felix C. Brown is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Bleakley, who were pioneers of Platte County, Missouri. They came from Tennessee in 1840. They are both deceased. Felix C. Brown was in the Confeder- ate Army under "Fighting Joe Shelby" during the entire Civil War. He, with his son, L. F. Brown, conduct the business of the Elmwood Hospital, which Mr. Brown opened in the early eighties. Despite his seventy-seven years he is still active in the management of its affairs. This institution has been instrumental in relieving many a hopeless insane and caring for many other helpless people.
Mr. and Mrs. Felix C. Brown are the parents of eight children, all residing at Leavenworth, Kansas, as follows: Thomas J., the subject of this sketch; L. F., with his father at Elmwood Hospital; Gideon A., super- intendent at the Leavenworth County Hospital; J. C., engaged in the mercantile business at Twelfth and Spruce streets; James E .; E. Kirby, in business at 619 Cherokee street; Cora. wife of Arthur Laird; Maude, wife of C. H. Masterson, of the Leavenworth Motor Company.
Thomas J. Brown was educated in the public schools of Leavenworth and also attended the Central Business College, now known as the Leaven- worth Commercial Training School. He then attended Professor Skel- ton's School of Telegraphy at Salina, Kansas. The next four years were
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spent in the employ of the Burlington Railroad as telegraph operator and station agent. He was then in the dairy business with his brother, L. F. Brown, in Leavenworth, for two years. In 1898 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Peter Everhardy, serving under him for five years, then for four years he served under Sheriff Stance Meyers. He was then elected to the office of sheriff in 1907 and was re-elected in 1909, and at the expira- tion of this term he acted as deputy sheriff under Thomas Larkin.
In February, 1915, Mr. Brown bought an interest in the Hippodrome from Frank J. Warren, who continued as his partner. They have two shows every afternoon and evening of the week with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays, when the show is continuous.
Thomas J. Brown was married to Anna K. Taschetta, April 17, 1899. She is the daughter of Peter Taschetta and wife, both of whom are de- ceased. Mrs. Brown was born in Leavenworth, Kansas. Two children have been born to this union, Felix P., a graduate of the Leavenworth High School, and Thomas J., Jr., a junior in the Leavenworth High School.
Mr. Brown, through his many years of residence and public life, has many friends and loyal supporters.
Mrs. Grace J. Fisher Potter, the capable clerk of the District Court of Leavenworth County, Kansas, is a native of this county and a daugh- ter of George A. and Anna B. (Klaus) Fisher, pioneers of Leavenworth County. Mr. George A. Fisher and his wife, Anna (Klaus) Fisher, were born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and were married in 1862 and immedi- ately after their marriage left the paternal roof and went to Dakota, but as they were not pleased with the outlook of a home in this state they came to Leavenworth County, Kansas, and established their home. They celebrated their golden wedding in 1912. Mr. Fisher died January 2, 1914, and was buried in Mt. Muncie Cemetery. Mrs. Anna Fisher lives at 1018 South Third street, Leavenworth.
George Fisher was a mechanical engineer and established the Fisher Machine Works. In this business Mr. Fisher earned a reputation of hon- esty and great business ability. This business was founded on the needs of a country newly opened to business and the need for ice machines and refrigerators was met by the Fisher Machine Works. For thirty years Mr. Fisher labored to build up a business and it stands high in industrial ranks in Kansas today. His sons, George H., Arthur J. and Richard W.,
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are now the owners of the machine works and conducting the business with the same business acumen as their father.
Mr. and Mrs. George Fisher were the parents of fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy: Walter A., died at the age of twenty- three years; Dora, died in 1907, and Harry G., died in 1914. The follow- ing children are living : Mrs. Emma E. Gist; Mrs. Minnie C. Biddle; George H .; Arthur J .; Ernest F .; Mrs. Grace J. Potter, of this sketch; Clara F., a nurse who served with the Red Cross one year in France and is now at the Research Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, and Richard W.
Mrs. Grace J. Potter was reared in Leavenworth and attended the public schools. She was employed by the "Kansas City Star" for a year and a half and after severing her connections with this newspaper she was employed by the Bell Telephone Company. In the fall of 1914, Mrs. Potter was elected clerk of the District Court of Leavenworth County and has filled the position so capably that she was re-elected in 1916 and 1920 without opposition. She has won many friends during her term of office and is always courteous and efficient. She was married March 3, 1921, to Mr. O. J. Potter. Mrs. Potter is secretary and treasurer of the Woman's Auxiliary to the American Legion and is a member of the Business Women's Club. She is also an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Henry C. Arring, of the Arring Cigar Company, is a native of Leav- enworth, Kansas, born March 11, 1887. He is the son of August and Mary (Hokaup) Arring, of Leavenworth, the former a native of Germany and the latter a daughter of Henry Hokaup, an early pioneer tailor, who located in Leavenworth when the Indians were here. Among Mary Hokaup's childhood remembrances were the Indians, with whom she played. When Henry Hokaup first came to Leavenworth, there was little or no tailoring to do, and so he cut wood for fifty cents per day for a livelihood. Henry Hokaup is buried at Mt. Muncie cemetery.
The Arring children are: Henry C., the subject of this sketch; Carl, who is with his father in a bakery at 606 South Fifth street; Henrietta, the wife of Edward L. Mason, of Armourdale, Kansas; Alma, the wife of Anthony Jellinek, of Leavenworth; Mary Belle, a clerk in her father's store.
Henry C. Arring was educated in the Leavenworth, Kansas, schools
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and also attended the Leavenworth Business College, and then entered the business that he is engaged in at present. The Arring Cigar Company is located at 325 Delaware street and was established by Henry C. Arring on South Fifth street, February, 1917, and later moved to 208 South Fourth street, where he sold out his business. He again established it at its present location. The building is 20x100 feet, and, in addition to handling cigars, tobacco and candy, Mr. Arring operates a billiard parlor with five tables. This is one of the most popular places in the city. He has all modern, up-to-date fixtures, and his place of business is kept clean and inviting.
Henry C. Arring was married in 1910 to Albertha Schuller, who is deceased. They had one son, Henry. Mr. Arring again married in 1920 to Mrs. Mabel E. Thomas, of Leavenworth, a daughter of Harry and Margaret Schmidt. Mrs. Arring has a daughter by her first marriage, Dorothy.
Mr. and Mrs. Arring reside at 510 Chestnut street. Mr. Arring is a young and prosperous business man. He is building an excellent busi- ness in his new location.
Cassius M. Barnes, governor of Oklahoma from 1897 to 1901, now manager of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company of Leavenworth, Kansas, which position he has very capably filled for the past three years, was born in Livingston County, New York, August 25, 1845. He is the son of Henry H. and Samantha (Boyd) Barnes, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Massachusetts. Henry H. Barnes was a farmer and mer- chant. He and his wife were living in Calhoun County, Michigan, at the time of their death.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barnes were the parents of the following chil- dren: D. H., now deceased, who served in the Quartermaster Corps dur- ing the Civil War; Major Lucien J., who was Assistant Adjutant General in the Union Army during the Civil War, and who is also deceased; Cas- sius M., the subject of this review; Julius A., who lives in Duluth, Minne- sota, and Miss Mary L. Barnes, of O'Fallon, Illinois.
Cassius M. Barnes was educated in the public schools and Wesleyan Seminary at Albion, Michigan. In 1861 he enlisted at Battle Creek, Mich- igan, in the Battle Creek Engineers, an independent company, which served under John C. Fremont in Missouri for 105 days, and was mus-
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C. M. BARNES
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tered out by reason of the organization of the United States Signal Corps, and, during the remainder of the war, he served as military telegrapher, and clerk in the Quartermaster department.
About the year 1857 the Western Union Telegraph Company was extended from St. Louis via Jefferson City, Lexington and Independence, Missouri over a country road to Leavenworth, Kansas, and Mr. Barnes came with Mr. Clowry, who was superintendent of the western division, to Leavenworth and opened up the first telegraph office at that place, near the Planters Hotel. Owing to ill health, Mr. Barnes returned to Michigan and later went to Galena, Illinois, and then to St. Louis and was engaged in telegraph service and accompanied General Lyon on his trip to South- western Missouri as telegrapher and private secretary, and was at the Battle of Wilson Creek, where General Lyon was killed. Mr. Barnes afterward went to St. Louis on military telegraphic service and was at- tached to General Grant's Headquarters, also General Sherman's Head- quarters in Tennessee, returning to St. Louis at General Holleck's Head- quarters. From there he went to Little Rock, Arkansas, to settle up the Quartermaster business with various military organizations that had gone south under General Reynolds.
Cassius M. Barnes was married in 1868 at Little Rock, Arkansas, to Mary E. Bartlett, a daughter of Judge Liberty Bartlett. Mrs. Barnes died in 1908 at Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Mr. Barnes, in 1910, married Rebecca Forney, a native of Tennessee. By his first marriage, Mr. Barnes had the following children: Cassius Bartlett, a retired commander in the United States Navy, and a broker in New York at present; Henry Cooper, a Colonel in the United States Coast Artillery at Washington, D. C .; Eliza Louise, wife of Carl R. Havighorst, of Spokane, Washington.
Cassius Barnes served eight years as chief deputy United States mar- shal at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and intelligently discharged the duties of that office. He went to Oklahoma in April, 1889, and was receiver of the United States land office at Guthrie, having been appointed by President Harrison. While performing the duties of this position, he took a leading part in the organization of the territory, then known as Indian Territory. He served in the Third and Fourth Legislative Assembly as representative from the Guthrie District, and was speaker of the House of Representa- tives in the Third Legislative Assembly. Because of the work he had done, he was honored by President Mckinley who appointed him governor of the Territory, in 1897, and served in that capacity for four years. After
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retiring as governor, he organized the Logan County Bank at Guthrie, and was its president for several years. He was also mayor of Guthrie three terms. Mr. Barnes spent two winters in Washington in an endeavor ยท to get the Statehood Bill passed, and this bill was passed in 1906. He also spent one winter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, returning to Oklahoma. He moved to Emporia, Kansas, in 1914, and to Leavenworth in 1917, where he has purchased a home and intends to live the remainder of his life. He resides at 212 Second Avenue.
Although Mr. Barnes is seventy-five years of age, he is very active. He has lived a long and useful life and still exercises the vim that he possessed in the early days. Mr. Barnes has a keen memory and recalls many incidents of pioneer days of Leavenworth. The wonderful change of this city is appreciated by him more than by those who have not seen both pioneer and modern Leavenworth. He has an extensive acquaintance and many friends, not only in Leavenworth but throughout the state and country.
Mr. Barnes' grandson, Capt. Harry Cooper Barnes, served very notably in the World War and was wounded at Argonne Forest. He received the Distinguished Service medal for bravery. He is now in the United States Army. Captain Barnes' father also served about two years in France. He is now a colonel in the Coast Artillery, and also received a medal for distinguished service. The Barnes family have won many honors, both in military and private life.
F. M. Potter, vice-president of the State Savings Bank of Leaven- worth, has been an official of this bank since October, 1913. He is a native Kansan and has been identified with the line of stock buying for many years.
F. M. Potter succeeded T. M. Mains as cashier of the State Savings Bank and retained this position until he was promoted to the vice-presi- dency. Mr. O. J. Potter succeeded him as cashier October 1, 1920. The bank has been a growing institution under the able hand of Mr. Potter. The deposits in October, 1913, were $105,777.26 and in August, 1920, they had increased to $1,229,962.93.
F. M. Potter was born September 14, 1883, on the home farm in Walnut Township, Atchison County, Kansas. He is the only child and son of Tinsley and Fannie (Faulconer) Potter. Tinsley Potter was born
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in 1851 in Buchanan County, Missouri, and in 1856 came to Kansas with his parents. They settled in Walnut Township, Atchison County. His wife Fannie (Faulconer) Potter was born in Missouri the daughter of John M. and Lorinda Faulconer. They came to Atchison County, Kansas, when their daughter was three years old They were among the early settlers and farmers of that locality. Tinsley Potter died April 15, 1921. The following is from a local newspaper at the time of his death: "The late Tinsley Potter, of Potter, was one of the most widely known cattle- men of this section. He began buying cattle in the early days when this county was an unfenced range and continued in the business until recently. It is doubtful if any man in Atchison County has handled more cattle than Tinsley Potter. He was in the saddle most of his life and in point of service he might be termed Atchison County's oldest 'cowboy.' He preferred horseback riding to any other method of travel, even after the automobile came in use, and made most of his buying trips on horseback. Of course, in rounding up and driving in the herd, the horse was essential, and Mr. Potter was as expert in horsemanship and herding as any cowboy on the job. In his big cattle deals he has ridden over much of the terri- tory in northeastern Kansas, and on many of his trips would be away from home for several days at a time, often exposing himself to the se- vere weather. As a cattleman Mr. Potter was very successful. Several years ago he retired, and moved to the city, but his long years as a cattle buyer had so inured him in the love of the great outdoors, that it was no time until it was back to the farm and in the saddle for him. Tinsley Potter was descended from a long line of pioneers who helped to conquer the wilderness and build an empire on the western continent, and he was imbued with the same sturdy qualities that characterized his ancestors. He did much for the development of the community in which he lived for sixty-five years. He was a good, substantial citizen and will be missed by a wide circle of friends."
F. M. Potter was educated in the public schools and the Campbell College at Holton, Kansas. After leaving school he taught two years in the rural schools. He then associated himself with his father, Tinsley Potter, in the stock buying business until he accepted the position as cashier of the State Savings Bank in 1920.
In 1912 F. M. Potter and Miss Alice Ingles were united in marriage. She is a daughter of J. K. and Lina (Dooley) Ingles, the former deceased and the latter living at Atchison, Kansas. J. K. Ingles was an early
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settler and farmer of Brown County, Kansas, and spent his latter days in Atchison County. His death occurred in December, 1919, at the ad- vanced age of seventy years. Mrs. Alice (Ingles) Potter was born in Atchison County, Kansas.
F. M. Potter was only nine years old when he first helped to drive cattle into the Broadway Stock Yards at Leavenworth. His father, Tins- ley Potter, was an extensive stockbuyer and his trips on "Old Roaney," his favorite riding horse, would take him as far west as Concordia, Kan- sas. This horse was as well known as its rider to the farmers of the prairie. Tinsley Potter and his son, F. M., have the reputation of hav- ing driven more cattle in the Broadway Stock Yards of Leavenworth than any other firm of buyers in this part of the country. They would drive large herds in each week for months at a time. These buying trips were extended over many months, requiring many days and weeks in the saddle constantly.
Before bank checks were used, Tinsley Potter would carry his money in the saddle bags in large rolls, often going long distances with a large sum of money, with never a fear of being robbed.
Herbert L. Justus, well known and successful photographer located on the fourth floor of the Wulfekuhler Bank Building, is a native Kansan. He was born August 6, 1882, at Minneapolis, Kansas, the son of George H. and Jennie S. (Sutton) Justus. The former died at Minneapolis, Kan- sas, in 1913, and the latter now lives at Charlevoix, Michigan.
George H. Justus was born in Erie, New York, and came to Kansas in the fifties. He was a boot and shoemaker and followed his trade at Junction City, Kansas. While there he made a pair of boots for the famous Col. W. J. Cody and other well known plainsmen. Mr. and Mrs. George Justus had two children, as follows: Ethel, wife of O. D. Lott, Minneapolis, Kansas; and Herbert L., the subject of this review.
Herbert L. Justus was educated in the public schools of Minneapolis and attended the high school for two years. He began the study of photography in 1897 and continued his work until he enlisted from Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1901. He was placed in Company D, Twenty-eighth Regular Infantry, and for two years and two months was stationed in the Philippines. When he was discharged at Fort Scott he held the rank of quartermaster sergeant.
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After his discharge from the army, Mr. Justus again took up his work in photography. He was then employed in a studio in San Francisco, California, for one year. He was at Minneapolis, Kansas, for a short time and spent six years at Emporia, Kansas. At the latter place he did photographic work for William Allen White and Walt Mason. In 1915 Herbert Justus purchased the P. H. Bauers Studio at Leavenworth, Kan- sas. This studio consists of five rooms, equipped with the finest and most modern appliances of any studio in the state. The scope of the business reaches far beyond the confines of the county.
December 9, 1907, Herbert L. Justus and Verna Hartzell DeVinny were united in marriage. She is a daughter of William and Annette Hol- comb, of Lincoln, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Justus have one daughter, Eva Jeannette.
Mr. Justus is a Knights Templar Mason and a Shriner, also a mem- ber of the Rotary Club, in which he takes an active part.
Charles D. Townsend, manager of the Lyceum Moving Picture Show for the C. F. Mensing Amusement Company, was born in Georgetown, Virginia, December 15, 1883.
He is the son of T. T. and Margaret Townsend, the former being dead. Mrs. Townsend later married A. L. Foster and lives at Scott, Ohio.
Charles D. Townsend was educated in the public schools of Ohio. He left home at the age of thirteen years and made his way until seventeen years of age, when he entered the United States Army, January 31, 1900. He was sent to the Philippine Islands with Company M, Thirtieth Infantry, and later he was with Company M, Eighteenth Infantry, and Company I, Engineers. Mr. Townsend was in the Philippine service three years and ten months, during which time he went around the world. He was serv- ing his fourth enlistment when discharged, December 4, 1909. He wanted to enlist in the late World War, but, on account of his excess weight, he was prevented from doing so.
Shortly after leaving the army Mr. Townsend located at Leaven- worth, and was employed as operator of a moving picture show by Ed Lampson, the first successful show in the town. The Lyceum, of which he has been manager since 1914, is one of the most popular show houses of the city, and has a seating capacity of 796. He has a thorough knowl- edge of the picture show business, which, together with his energetic disposition, has made him very successful.
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Mr. Townsend was married June 17, 1913, to Mabel Fewing, a daugh- ter of Mrs. Emma Fewing, of Leavenworth, Kansas. Mrs. Fewing was born in Atchison, Kansas.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Townsend: Charles D., Jr., born on his father's birthday, December 15, 1914, and Margaret Emma. The family reside at 314 Main street.
John G. Barnes, an efficient and enterprising contractor of Fourth and Walnut streets, Leavenworth, Kansas, was born at Mt. Union, Penn- sylvania, May 17, 1870, a son of Joseph and Anna (Graham) Barnes, who came to Leavenworth in 1870, Mr. Barnes dying in 1872. Mrs. Barnes now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Bott, in Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes were the parents of five children: Robert Barnes, a stove molder who died at Hannibal, Missouri, in 1920; Joseph and William, farmers of Lawton, Oklahoma; Jennie, wife of Frank Bott, of Lawton, Oklahoma; and John Gayton Barnes, the subject of this sketch.
John G. Barnes was educated in the public schools of Leavenworth, Kansas, and learned his trade as a contractor and builder in Kansas City, Missouri, with John L. Smith, and for a number of years followed his trade in Louisiana. He was superintendent of the Leavenworth Oil Works from 1892 to 1896, and at the age of twenty-eight years began contracting. He has constructed the Signal Corps Barracks at Fort Leav- enworth; Hospital Power Plant, Quartermaster Store, Quartermaster Shops, Engineer Shops, Engineers' Barracks and kitchens, forty-six of the Signal Corps Cantonment buildings, which, by the way, were built in forty-five days in 1917. He put in seventy-four officers' apartments in the Barracks buildings in 1919, and built the thirteen buildings at the Disciplinary Barracks, which were constructed to be used as detention barracks for conscientious objectors. He has done work at Fort Russell and built numerous buildings around the city of Leavenworth, among them being the plant for the Schalker Packing Company, Evans' Garage, L. Wulfekuhler residence, O. P. Lambert residence, The Leavenworth Motor Company building (in 1918) which he owns. This building is 96x120 feet, three stories, and of concrete construction and is considered one of the best in the state. Mr. Barnes has also worked on or remodeled many of the buildings in Fort Leavenworth, and has done much con- struction work at the National Military Home south of Leavenworth. Mr. Barnes is considered one of the best contractors in the state.
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He was married in 1906 to Jessie Forbes, and maintained his resi- dence on the old homestead, south of the city. Mrs. Barnes died October 1, 1910. One son, John Gayton Barnes, Jr., was born to them, April 1, 1910.
Mr. Barnes was again married October 14, 1916, to Hazel Shoemaker, of Leavenworth, a daughter of William and Annie D. Shoemaker, the former with the Samuel Dodsworth Book Company during his lifetime. He and his wife are now deceased. Hazel Elizabeth, born February 8, 1918, and Charlotte Jane, born January 10, 1920, are daughters, and the family resides at Fourth and Walnut streets, Leavenworth, Kansas, and are among the city's most substantial citizens.
Mr. Barnes is a director and an active member of the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, a member of the A. F. & A. M. Blue Lodge, a member of Abdallah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and a member of the building committee of the Abdallah Shrine. He is a director and vice- president of the State Savings Bank, and is now in charge of the remodel- ing of their new home at the northeast corner of Fifth avenue and Dela- ware street. He was one of the organizers of the Leavenworth Motor Company, and is its president.
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