USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 66
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W. A. CORMACK-Next in importance to the physician of the soul is the physician of the body. No one who has sat with tense nerves and bated breath, as the physician diagnosed the case of a smitten loved one, but will agree that the man who holds the issues of life and death in his hand, should be sober and sincere, of absolute honesty and thoroughly versed in his profession. Many times it is not so much a case of medi- eine. as of implicit confidence in the dispenser of the medicine. Among the many physicians of high character in Montgomery county, none is more deserving of the truths uttered above, than the gentleman whose name precedes this review, a general practitioner of medicine in Cherry- vale for the past eighteen years.
Dr. Cormack came to Cherryvale from Carthage, Missouri, where he had lived for five years, prior to which he had practiced some nine years in Illinois. He is a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincin- nati, andis a thorough student of his profession, keeping his knowledge of medical therapenties up to date, by a close reading of the best medical journals of the day, and by association with his fellow practitioners in the different medical societies of the county and state.
The nativity of Dr. Cormack dates in Macoupin county, Illinois, October 1, 1839. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Cormack, both now deceased. The father died at fifty-two, while the mother lived to the extreme old age of ninety-four years. They were both devout and life- long members of the Methodist Episcopal church and much respected for their many noble qualities. Of the family of ten children which they reared, tive sons are still living.
The domestic life of our subject was entered upon in 1876. Mrs. Cormack was a native of Illinois, her maiden name was Miss L. E. Ran- dall. She was a daughter of Woodson B. and Cameron Randall. To Dr. and Mrs. Cormack have been born two children. The eldest, Zoe E., grew to lovely girlhood, but the flower faded ere it had reached its full beauty ; she died at thirteen. Eva L., the second daughter, is vet a men- ber of the home circle.
The Doctor and his family are active members of the Methodist church, while he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, having passed through the Blue Lodge. Chapter and Commandery. Though taking lit-
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
tle interest in politics, the Doctor is always pleased to aid, by his vote, the interests of the party of Lincoln and Garfield.
ALLISON C. DARROW-September 24, 1870, there settled in Fawn Creek township, Montgomery county, one whose history has been prominently connected with the farming interests of that locality since. He began life there, as many others did at that time, by taking up a claim. and his beginning was about as primitive as the record of any pioneer settler will reveal. But time and the energy of man has worked wonders in this portion of the west, the past third of a century, and A. C. Darrow has reaped a bountiful portion, as a reward for his share in the work of transformation.
Chantauqua county, New York, was the birthplace of Allison C. Dar- row. April 16, 1839, were his natal day and year and his parents were Cornelins and Lneinda (Tillotson) Darrow, both native New York peo- ple. The parents had seven children and the mother died in her native state. The father migrated to Minnesota, in later life, and near Lan- sing lies buried. Their children, surviving, are three: James E., Cather- ine Augusta and Allison C.
The subject of this notice came to mature years on the farm and acquired a fair education in the country school. He went down into Vir- ginia in September, 1861, and there, joined the Ninth New York Cavalry, Company "F," with which he served till the end of the Civil war. He was in the second Bull Run fight, was captured on the retreat and held in parole camp, three months, when he was exchanged and at once re- joined his regiment. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Fisher's Ilill, Winchester and many smaller ones, and was shot through the arm, at the battle of Trevillion Station. He veteranized at the expiration of his first enlistment and was dis- charged at Buffalo, New York, July 17, 1865. He took up farming, on discarding his military uniform and remained in his native state till 1867, when he went to Michigan, where. in lonia county, he was married, September 7, of that year. Directly after his marriage, he came west to Newton county, Missouri, from which point the young soldier-veteran brought his little family to Kansas.
"The Darrows in Montgomery county" would be an appropriate and interesting chapter of itself, if space permitted the details of their strug- gles, in their climb from financial obscurity to a high plain of financial independence. With an apology for its brevity, we offer the simple, but trite statement that "a long and strong pull" is explanatory of their suc- cess. As the dimensions of their estate have increased and its area has approached the acreage of a section of land, it has been kept well stocked with grades and the products of the farm, grains and cereals, have been
A. C. DARROW AND WIFE.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
converted into cash largely through the marketed animals of the same. From his original quarter, patented from the goverment, to an estate of six hundred and forty acres, shows the growth of Mr. Darrow. From simple cabin to splendid farm house, and from a "Kansas stable" to mod- ern and commodious barns, conveys the lesson of industry and presents an example to posterity, worthy of emulation.
Mr. Darrow married Elvira Woodin. She was a daughter of George and Sarah (Stewart) Woodin, native of New York and Maine, respect- ively. Mrs. Darrow was born in West Virginia, and is the mother of George N., agent of an lowa railroad and doing station work; and Lu- cinda V., wife of C. L. Adams, of Wilson county, Kansas. After the death of his first wife. Mr. Darrow was married, October 15, 1899, to Mary E. Bolte, widow of Lonis Bolte. Her parents were Frederick Brock- elman and Mary Wineberg. Her father is dead, while the mother resides in Nebraska.
Born in a modest home, with respectable antecedents, and reared to industry and without luxury, giving the very essence of his vigorons life to the service of his country and, in the end, achieving distinction in one of the great industrial vocations of an agricultural country, pre- sents a concise summary of events in the career of Allison C. Darrow.
SARAH J. HECKERT-Sarah J. Heckert, an old settler in Kansas, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on the 21st day of June, 1842. She was a daughter of John and Ruth Brandon, natives of the same Pennsylvania county. Her mother's maiden name was Ruth A. C. Beighle. a lady of German descent, two of her grandparents having come from the Fatherland. She is now eighty-three years old, and is living on the old homestead in Pennsylvania. John Brandon died at the age of seventy-two, having a family of ten children, seven of whom are liv- ing, as follows: Sarah J. Heckert, Martha E. Wright, Susan C. Bran- don, William W., who served in Company "L," Ninth Pennsylvania Cav- alry, for four years; Jacob C., a soldier in the One Hundred and Thirty- fourth Pennsylvania Infantry; Washington D. and James E.
Mrs. Heckert, the subject of this sketch. was married, January 1, 1868, to Peter H. Heckert. a native of Butler county. Pennsylvania. Mr. Heckert was born April 11, 1835, and grew up on a farm in his native county. The schools of that region afforded him the opportunities of a common school education and, after he became of age, he went to Iowa to make his start in life. He had scarcely begun active participation in the affairs of the new state, when the war cloud burst over the conn- try, and, yielding to the patriotic impulses with which he had been im- bued in the old "Keystone State," he placed his name on the roll of he- roes who gave their lives to their country. His enlistment was in the
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
year 1861, in Company "B." Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and in which organization he served faithfully for over four years. He carried the flag, through many a hard-fought battle, from Ft. Donelson down the Mississippi, and through the center of the Confederacy. Such was his conduct, on the field of battle, that he was promoted, through the differ- ent grades, until he was made captain of his company, which he com- manded during the latter two years of his service. He escaped without wounds and, was not taken a prisoner, but returned, broken in health and finally died from the effects of his service.
Upon his return from the war, he left the "Keystone State," in 1866, and purchased a farm in Atchison county, Kansas, upon which he lived two years, and which he prepared for the reception of the bride he then brought from the home neighborhood in Pennsylvania, and who now sur- vives him. In 1869, he sold this farm and moved west to Washington county. where he homesteaded and improved one hundred and sixty acres, and, in 1883, came to Montgomery county. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres, five miles west, and two miles north of Coffey- ville, and adjoining the hamlet of Dearing. He here erected a handsome residence and made many substantial improvements and continued to reside until his death, October 3. 1897.
Mr. Heckert was a gentleman of splendid capacities and of a kind, genereus disposition. respected by all, and greatly loved by his family. The children of his household are: Mina F., who died at fifteen years of age; Matthew L., who, like his lamented father, entered the army and became a member of Company "E," Ninth U. S. Infantry, in which com- pany he served three years in the Philippine Islands and in China, being promoted for gallant condnet, to quartermaster-sergeant ; Washington L., the second son, was also a soldier of the Spanish-American war, enlisting in Company "E." Twelfth U. S. Infantry. These boys are "true chips off the old block," and do credit to their father's sollier memory; Letty Elmira, the eldest daughter, is at home; John W., married Miss Fannie Bates, and has two children : John T. and Henry Curtis; Clara S., mar- ried JI. F. Messersmith, and died July 27, 1902, at the age of twenty-two years.
SEALY L. BROWN-The above will be recognized as the name of one of Montgomery's most enterprising citizens, and whose success in the poultry business has called favorable attention to the county from all over the United States. He is also favorably known as a breeder of a fine strain of Poland-China hogs, and, in both of these lines, he holds prizes from many of the best stock shows in the west.
Sealy L. Brown is of English descent and birth, that event occur- ring March 30. 1862. in Devonshire, England. His father was Sealy L. Brown, his mother, Mary Lavis, he being their only child. The father
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
died in England, December 25, 1865, at the age of seventy-five years. The mother, soon after, came to this country and settled in Chicago, where Sealy L. was reared until he had entered his 'teens. He spent four years in Canada, then returned to the Lake City and remained until 1878. Circumstances combined, at this time, to turn his thoughts toward the Great West, and, at sixteen, he started out to test the stories which had so charmed his ear. He stopped in Montgomery, and finding employ- ment on a farm, resolved to here make his future home. Carefully hus- banding his resources, he, in time, had saved sufficient to make the first payment on the present farm of one hundred and thirty acres. Home buiding has been a most pleasant and profitable pastime for Mr. Brown. HIe is one of those optimistic citizens who, like the great hard of his na. tive heath, sees "good in everything." He loves to help his friends, and they delight to return it in kind. In business. he is most diligent. As stated above, he has, for years, given careful attention to hogs and poul- try and has had most flattering snecess. At the Kansas City Convention Hall stock show, in 1902, he entered a cockerel which scored 9415 points, taking first prize among three hundred birds. This bird sold for more money than was ever before paid for a single cockerel. Within the past year, Mr. Brown has sold $1,167.50 worth of eggs from his yards, ship- ping them to all points in the United States.
Marriage, with Mr. Brown, was an event of January 30, 1884. Jo- hanna Ragan, his wife, was born in Jackson county, Missouri, on the 29th of August, 1864, the daughter of Joseph W. Ragan, a native of Ken- tueky, and of Mary Edgington. of Iowa. Soon after marriage, the Ra- gans settled in Kansas City, the father, in his earlier life, being a teacher. In 1869, the family came down into the then "wilds" of Montgomery county. Kansas, and filed on a claim, two and a half miles east of Coffey- ville, where, later, the town of Claymore was built, and where Mr. Ragan conducted the first hotel thrown open to the public in the county. He died at this place, in 1875, aged forty five. His wife survived him sev- eral years, her age at death being fifty-one. Two of their six children are now living: Mrs. Brown and Emily C. Bonilly. of Coffeyville. Mrs. Brown was at that age, when the family settled in the county, when events are deeply impressed on the mind, and she, yet. holds in distinct memory, many of the thrilling occurrences of that early day. The coun- try was full of thieving Indians and worse white men. who kept her father in a constant state of alertness, lost he should lose everything portable, in the way of stock and property. The security and peaceful- ness of the present is in marked contrast to those days of lawlessness.
To the home of Mr. and Mrs. Brown have come three bright children : Thomas L., Joseph A. and Edwin MeKinley. The latter name is an index of the political faith of our subject, this boy being named after that noble martyr president, William MeKinley. Mr. Brown has no political aspi-
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
rations of his own, but delights in furthering the interests of his friends. He has developed into a fine worker in the different conventions of his party, and is a member of the County Central Committee, and of the Congressional Committee, as well.
JAMES C. SLAYBAUGH-In 1879, there landed on the town site of Independence, a seventeen-year-oldl "Buckeye" boy, full of the hopes of young manhood and willing to dare and to do in the race of life. Without waiting for something to turn up, he immediately got his lever under that "something," turned it up and went to making clothes for the people. He did this with such success that, fifteen years ago, he was able to buy a nice farm and has since been living the independent life of a tiller of the soil.
That boy was the gentleman whose honored name initiates this re- view. He will be recognized by a large number of the best citizens of the county as a man whose integrity is unsullied and whose citizenship is of that high order which lifts the general level to the exalted plane found in Montgomery Co. Jas. C. Slaybaugh was born in Richland conn- ty, Ohio, in 1862; the son of John F. and Margaret (Rodgers) Slay- baugh. The father was a worker in iron and also a farmer. He passed the earlier part of his life in Richland county, in the "Buckeye State," and moved, thence, to Hillsdale county, Michigan, where he died, Feb- mary 15, 1902, his wife having passed away at an earlier date, at forty- three years of age. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living: David lives in Michigan; Nettie married Eugene Dahlam and lives in Jackson, Michigan ; the third child was our subject; Isaac lives in Michigan : Frank enlisted in the Spanish war and has not since been heard from.
James secured a fair education and early discovered an independ- ence of character which has become his distinguishing feature. In 1879, he left home and set out for the far west, resolved to test what hard work would do for a man in Kansas. When he landed in the state, he was without capital save a stout heart and a willing mind, two elements, however, which must necessarily predominate, whether one has financial backing or not. Ile at once apprenticed himself to a tailor in Independ- ence and thoroughly learned that trade. Ile still works at it, at times, though he has, for a number of years, occupied himself, in large part, with farming. In 1888, he purchased a farm, four miles east of Inde- pendence, where he has since continued to reside. He has here a fine farm of eighty acres, under a good state of cultivation. Its value is en- hanced by the fact that it is in the gas belt, and Mr. Slaybaugh has it leased for a number of years.
The married life of our subject has been one of much felicity, begin-
ISAAC LINDLEY AND ELIZABETH LINDLEY.
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS. 585
ning in 1895, the lady now his wife having been Miss Rose Linton. She is the daughter of W. H. and Susan ( Bickett) Linton, a miller and stockman of Cherryvale, Kansas. The Lintons are also Ohio people. Mrs. Slaybaugh is one of a family of four living children : William J., Francis and Henry being the other members.
In political belief. Mr. Slaybangh affiliates with the Republican par- ty, though not given much to politics.
REV. ISAAC LINDLEY-The history of Kansas, as well as that of the nation. may not be written without prominent mention of the sect known as Quakers, or Friends. From the days of their public whipping in the streets of Boston, for the sake of their religion, to these piping times of peace, is a long stretch in time, but not greater than the change which has taken place in the hearts of Christendom concerning this pure- minded, holy-living people. While opposed to war, the Quaker was in honorable evidence in the strennous days of the fifties, in Kansas, and when freedom's debt was paid and the floodgates of the eastern tide of emigration were thrown open. he was found in goodly numbers, in the advancing throng. Montgomery county, early, became the center of a Quaker community, whose splendid influence on the county's moral de- velopment cannot be estimated, and is still felt in ever-widening circles. The pastor of this denomination in Independence is the gentleman whom the biographer will sketch below. and whose name precedes this review.
Rev. Lindley was born in Parke county, Indiana, August 5, 1833, of southern Quaker stock; his father. David Lindley, being a native of North Carolina, and his mother, Nancy Staleup, of Tennessee. The father was but sixteen years of age when his parents, actuated by a growing repugnance to the institution of slavery, removed to Orange county, Indiana. They. later. removed to Green county, where David and Nancy were married and resided until 1832, thence to Parke county, which remained their home to the time of their death. The wife died in 1852, at the age of forty-six, the husband in 1881, at seventy-six years. David Lindley was a strong Abolitionist, and was active in furthering the effectiveness of the "underground railroad," a branch of which passed but a few miles from his home. Their family consisted of eight children, three of whom are still living : George, a farmer of this county; Cather- ine. widow of Monroe Elmore and. later, widow of William Ray, the former a gallant soldier, who gave up his life at the battle of Peach Or- chard.
Rev. Lindley was reared 'mid the refining influences of a good home, his primary education being carefully attended to in a Friends' school. Having advanced far enough to enter the school room as a teacher, he alternately taught and went to school, paying his own expenses at an
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
academy at Bloomingdale, Indiana. In 1859, he was elected Surveyor of Parke county, being, subsequently, reelected twice and appointed once. He then inherited a farm from his father and gave his attention to that until his coming to Kansas in 1881. llere he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-three aeres, in Independence township, which he culti- vated for several years, when he removed to Independence and assumed the pastorate of the Friends' church, a work which he has continued since.
Rev. Lindley is an earnest worker in the Master's vineyard, and his labors have not been withont fruitage. He has passed several years in the service, having begun in 1873, to speak for his Master. Mrs. Lindley has also been an excellent worker, and is superintendent of evangelistic and pastoral work of the Elk River Conference. Prior to March 1, 1860, the date of her marriage to Rev. Lindley, she was Elizabeth Woody, danghter of James and Margaret Woody, of Indiana. These parents were also southern Qnakers from North Carolina, coming to Indiana in 1829, where the father was a blacksmith and farmer. They continued to reside in the state until their demise, which occurred, father, November 30, 1893, and the mother, September 2, 1897. They reared a family of ten children, as follows: Jehu H., of Kingman, Indiana; John W., farmer of Montgomery county; Mary A., deceased wife of Thomas Hadley; Brice, who died in young manhood; Levi, of Kingman, Indiana; Eliza- beth, Sarah, Mrs. George M. Lindley, of Parke county, Indiana; Han- nalı. Mrs. Hiram Lindley, of Parke county, Indiana; Lot E., of Berkley, California ; and Jane, deceased in childhood.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lindley have been born eleven children, as follows : Ruth J., Mrs. C. E. Morgan, whose children are mentioned herein ; Pat- rick H., referred toon another page in this volume; Hannah C., whose first Imsband was W. Adkinson and who is now Mrs. William Baker, has chil- dren : Laura, Nettie, Byron and Opha ; David J., married Flora Robert- son and has children : Lessie E. and Fay J .; Mary S., Mrs. A. E. Harvey, with children : lola B., Hazel, deceased, James A., Isaac L., Martha E. and Ruth G .; Levi G., who married Eva Neel, has a child, Ralph; Barna- bas Hobbs, married Idla Mason and has one child, Rex; Elwood S., mar- ried Millie Parkhurst, with children : Carl and Osee B .; Howard M., a base ball player, of Leavenworth, Kansas; William F., a teacher; and Hattie J., high school student. All of these children live within the con- fines of the county and are upright and useful citizens. Rev. and Mrs. Lindley are passing, serenely, along the latter part of life's journey, hap- py in the esteem of a large circle of friends, and blessed by the love of their children and grandchildren. Their influence is as an ever widen- ing wavelet, whose onward journey shall not cease until it laps the shores of eternity.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
ALBERT J. BROADBENT-It is fitting and appropriate to pre- sent in this article the career of one who has been an active factor in the rural development of Montgomery county and whose efforts, intelligently directed, have been liberally and substantially rewarded, one who has been twice an early settler in the same state and whose financial achieve. ments have come to him as a reward for persistent and determined effort. In this connection. we refer to Albert JJ. Broadbent, of Jefferson, the sub- ject of this review.
Coming to the "Sunflower State" from Wisconsin, in 1866. he settled with his parents, in Neosho county. where, three miles north of Erie, their homestead lies, still in possession of the Broadbent estate and oc enpied by the mother of our subject. For nine years he aided in the im- provement of this homestead and then, when twenty years old. he sepa- rated from the old home, eame to Montgomery county, and began his use. ful and honorable eareer.
Albert J. Broadbent was born in LaCross county, Wisconsin, JJan- uary 28, 1855. His parents. Andrew and Elizabeth (Turner) Broadbent, were English people. from near the city of Manchester, and both came to the United States on the same vessel. in 1843. when yet children. Albert J. Broadbent's great-grandfather. Hilton, was apprenticed, in ear- Iv life. to learn the machinist's trade. In those days apprentices were forced to carry out the terms of their contract and any one endeavoring to leave the country to evade it, was subjeet to arrest and punishment. Young Hilton became dissatisfied. decided to emigrate and went aboard a vessel in the harbor, bound for the United States. Officers came aboard in search of him, but, in disguise. he ehided his pursners, boarded anoth- er ship and made his way back to Ireland. In after years, he was par- doned of the offense, returned to England and there died.
Andrew Broadbent was born in 1825. He married in the State of Wisconsin and wore himself out on his farm in Neosho county, Kansas. He was one of the prominent men of the community, was a successful business man and left a good estate at his death, at the age of seventy- three. He was the father of ten children, as follows: Jolin. J. Frank, Thomas A., Roderick, Albert J., Miranda, wife of George Wheeler; M. Elizabeth, wife of Richard, Purviance, of Neosho county; Clara, now Mrs. E. M. Wheeler; Inlia, who married John Hooker, and Fred D.
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