USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 67
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Albert J. Broadbent was united in marriage, December 31, 1879, at nine o'clock p. m., with Cornelia L. Kinne. a daughter of Levi L. and Arvilla Kinne. Mrs. Broadbent was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in 1859, and, in 1867, her parents moved out to Iowa, where the father soon died. The mother enjoys the comforts of the home of her daughter, Mrs. Broadbent. From a small tract of eighty acres, Mr. Broadbent has added to his landed dominion, until he owns two hundred and twenty acres. beantified with handsome new residence, large roomy barn and at-
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tractive landscape and lawn. Everything is in perfect order around the. prenses and the convenience of natural gas, add to the domestic com- forts of the household. On his farm, Mr. Broadbent keeps a quantity of stock to consume his surplus grain and a few registered animals for the improvement of his grades. His farm adjoins the town site of the village of Jefferson, whose name was taken in his honor-A. Jefferson Broadbent being his full name.
Two children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Broad- bent, namely: Arthur C .. a student in Baker University, and Milan W., still with the domestic circle. Mr. Broadbent has filled the office of trustee of Fawn Creek township and is now its justice of the peace. He is a Republican and a Workman, of the Independence Lodge.
ANDREW HAWKINS-Retired from the activities of a long and useful career and taking a well-earned rest from the harder labors of his youth and early manhood, is this worthy gentleman, Andrew Hawkins, who resides at 1204 Beach street, Coffeyville.
It was March 2, 1831, in Clark county, Ohio, that the birth of Mr. Hawkins occurred, he being the son of Jomm and Jane (Pinneo) Haw- kins, the father being a native of Yorkshire, England, the mother of Ver- mont.
At thirty years of age. John Hawkins came to the United States, the year being 1817. He was a blacksmith and followed that trade, in connection with farming. in Clark county, Ohio. Here he became quite well-to-do, being the possessor of a valuable four Imndred-acre farm, where he died, in May of 1869. His wife ontlived him a number of years, dying at the age of seventy-five years, in October of 1881. The mother was a member of the Baptist church and was the parent of ten children, the two surviving being: our subject and Rachael J. Craig, a resident of Clark county, Ohio.
Andrew Hawkins received a good education, having attended Wurt- emburg College of Springfield, Ohio, for a season. In 1883, he left home and made the trip overland to California, where he engaged in mining, for a period of five years. He afterward went over into Nevada, and, later, to Montana, where he succeeded quite well in the mining business. In 1869, he returned to the states and located in Iroquois county, Illi- nois, which was his home until he came to Labette county, Kansas, in 1871. Ilere he purchased government land near the state line, and over the line in the Cherokee Strip, all of which he still owns, aggregating some four hundred and sixteen acres. Since his location in the county, he has operated extensively in stock. He resided in the lower part of the county until 1888 and then moved in to Coffeyville, where he is exten- sively interested in real estate, owning some seventeen acres within the
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corporate limits. Though not as actively engaged as formerly, Mr. Hawkins still looks after his farm property, resolved to "wear out" rather than "rust out." The years of his residence in this county have been marked by usefulness as a citizen.
The home life of Mr. Hawkins was initiated on February 8, 1874, when he was joined in marriage with Mary L. Geyer. Mrs. Hawkins is a native of Iowa, a daughter of A. and Rebecca Jane (Tarr) Geyer, both parents natives of Ohio. They lived in Ohio for a time and then removed to Indiana, some time in the fifties, later to Iowa and, in 1870, located in Montgomery county, Kansas, The occupation of the father was farming and he passed his life in that peaceful avocation, his death, oc- enrring August 26, 1876, at the age of fifty years. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife, who is now a resi- dent of Coffeyville, and aged seventy-eight years. Mrs. Hawkins is a member of a family of six children : William R., Mrs. Martha A. Fuller, Elizabeth A. Shultz, Isaac L. and Mrs. Ella Blackwell. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins there have been born five children : Jennie S., who married Clair Wilson and resides on a farm in this county with her daughter, Mary Olive; Joe R. is a clerk in Coffeyville; Andrew resides on the farm; Oliver and George are school children.
Mrs. Hawkins is a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hawkins has never joined any of the secret orders and in political belief, favors the Republican party. He is a most genial and companionable gentleman, and his observant nature has been such as to gain much valuable knowledge in the line of his travels throughout the western country. His mind is well stored with many interesting anec- dotes, scenes and ineidenis relating to his journey. Possessed of excel- lent judgment and untiring energy, he has prospered in his business af- fairs and has the good will and regard of all those with whom he has been associated. Mrs. Hawkins, though of late years an invalid, is of obvious gentleness and refinement, and both she and her husband are held in uni- form esteem in the best circles of Coffeyville.
JOHN S. ORR-One of the leading citizens of Montgomery county and a gentleman prominent in both civil and religious matters, is the honored bearer of the name which precedes this sketch, a man whom to know is to revere for his many noble attributes of character. Mr. Orr has been a resident of the county but a few years, but in that time he has become a permanent citizen. He lives in a handsome new cottage on his farm of one linndred and sixty acres, one mile cast of the village of Ilavana, where he is successfully engaged in stock raising and general farming.
John S. Orr is a native of Missouri, where he was born, in Davis
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county, March 29, 1860, the son of John II. and Dorcas ( Koger) Orr. the latter now an imate of the son's home, at the advanced age of seventy- eight years. The father was a native of Kentucky, but who, early in life, went over into Indiana, where he came to man's estate, being given a good education in the schools of Terre Haute. Ile was a teacher in the schools of that place, for a period, in his young manhood and then went to Davis county, Missouri, where, in 1858, he was married to the lady mentioned above. They continued their residence in that county until 1866. To them were born eleven children, all of whom are living but one. Their names follow: Martha A., wife of Gideon Gilreath; Hannah J .. Mrs. S. W. Prewett ; Mary D., wife of James Koger; Margaret. now Mrs. Lee Sharp: Catherine M., wife of William Gilreath; Lettie. wife of Charles A. Burke; Thomas, Robert and Hattie, wife of W. H. Freeman.
John S. Orr was the eldest of this large family. He was reared in Davis and Jackson counties, Missouri, and given a good common school education. At the age of eighteen, he left home and came to Montgomery county Kansas, securing work on a farm, near Independence. Ile re- mained a citizen of the county until after his marriage, February 7, 1889. when he removed to the Territory and spent the succeeding twelve years there, engaged in stock raising, making it a most profitable business. In 1901. he came back to Montgomery county and has remained here since.
The maiden name of Mrs. Orr was Alfa Brown. She was the daughter of Perry and Elizabeth Brown and was born in Jackson county, Missouri, on the 1st of JJaunary, 1870. Her parents came to Kansas in 1872 and settled in Montgomery county. There were eight children in the family.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Orr, was born, Elsie May. a beauti- ful little daughter, now five years old.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Orr are active in religions affairs, having been members of the Christian church many years, and given liberally in time and money to the support of that organization. At different periods, Mr. Orr has served in the offices of deacon and elder. In political atliil- iation. he is a supporter of the party of Jefferson and takes an active in- terest in advancing its principles. He is now serving his second term as township clerk. Fraternally, he is an active member of the Modern Woodmen and the A. H. T. A.
ADAM B. FEIL-Of the substantial farmers who have made a sue- cess of their occupation in Montgomery county, none is more worthy of special commendation than Adam Feil, a stockman residing on a four hundred and eighty acre tract, near the state line, five miles southeast of Coffeyville. Mr. Feil has been in the county since 1878 and has ac- cumulated a valuable property in that time, by hard work and careful
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management. He stands deservedly high in the estimation of his neigh- bors, and is a citizen whose presence within the county's bounds adds strength.
Adam Feil is a German, born and bred. The date of his birth was the 26th of December, 1839, the place Baden, Germany. IIe was reared on a farm in the Fatherland, receiving a fair education, and, like all German yonths, gave three of the best years of his life to the service of his country in the army. At the age of twenty-five he began to think of establishing himself in a home, and thus found his thoughts turned toward the great republie where homes were to be had for the asking. He landed in St. Louis in 1864 and soon went to Monitean county, Missouri, where he worked at farm labor and rented land until 1870. He spent the following eight years in Marshall county, Kansas, and in Texas, from which state he returned, in 1878, and located on one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm. Up to this period, Mr. Feil had not made nmch headway, for, although he had brought $500'with him from the old country, his losses had abont equalled his gains. From the date of his settlement in Montgomery, however, matters began to "pick up" with him, and he has steadily kept on the np-grade. His farm is considered one of the best stock farms in the county, he having placed many valna- ble improvements on it and brought it to a high state of cultivation.
As intimated above, Mr. Feil's citizenship has been of a high order, the respect in which he is held being atiested by the fact that he has served a number of terms on the school board and in various positions of trust. In matters of political moment, he aets with the Populist party, contenting himself with helping such of his friends as aspire to office.
Mr. Feil was in no haste to enter the married state, being what might be regarded as a confirmed bachelor when he met the lady whose presence in his home now makes life worth the living. The marriage was consummated in 1880, in Montgomery county. Mrs. Feil was Miss Win- nie Morgan, who came to Kansas from her native State of Indiana, in 1871. To the marriage have been born five children: John and Susie (twins) died in infancy; those living are: Bernhardt, Minnie and Gus- tavns.
Rich in the qualities which go to make up a solid character, and well-to-do in the material things of this life, Mr. Feil has every reason to congratulate himself on having achieved a snecess which is all the more gratifying since it is the result of his own unaided efforts.
GEORGE BURGHART-On a splendid farm of two hundred acres, four miles northeast of Coffeyville, lives George Burghart, who has, since 1875, been prominently identified with the development of Mont- gomery county. He came to the county in straightened circumstances
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and by thrift and economy, has become the owner of one of the best farm properties in his section.
Mr. Burghart is a native of the "Buckeye State," born near Cleve- land. on the 21st of April, 1843. He was of German descent, the son of Lawience and Catherine ( Myers) Burghart, both of whom were natives of Germany. The parents came to America as children and were mar- ried, in Ohio, in 1845. They moved out to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the father abandoned his trade of jeweler and took up farming. He died in that state, at the age of eighty-three, his wife having passed away many years previous. Only three of their eight children are now living : Daniel. Heury and George.
George Burghart was but two years old when the family moved to Wisconsin. Here, he was reared to farm life and received but an ordi- nary education. He was busily engaged on the home farm when the toc- sin of war resounded through the land. He was not of military age until 1862. in which year he enlisted as a private in Company "K." Twenty- fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Ile served in this regiment for one year and was then discharged on account of disability. The period of his service was one of great activity and he saw some of the severest battles of the war; at Perryville and Stone River, and in many smaller skirmishes in the middle west.
After the war, Mr. Burghart continued farm life and, in 1869, was married to Mary E., daughter of Isaac A. and Elizabeth ( Richard) Simpson. Mrs. Burghart was born in Danville, Ilinois, on the 18th of May, 1819. Her father was a native of Chambersville, Indiana. and her mother of Jonesboro, Tennessee. They were married in Danville, where the father still resides, at the advanced age of eighty, his wife having died many years before. Their eight children were: John S .. of Hoopes- fon, Ilinois; Benjamin I., of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Mrs. Jane Me- Corkle, of Chicago; Mrs. Anna Wallon, of Los Angeles, California; Lillie B. Simpson, of same place; and Mrs. Sne Stadler, of Nevada, Missouri.
After six years of hard, grinding labor, in an attempt to get a home in Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. Burghart turned their faces toward the "Sun- flower State." The journey was made overland, in 1875, with an outfit which was composed of a horse, a mule and a wagon, all of "uncertian" age. The company consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Burghart and their three children. Mr. Burghart had traded for a "paper" farm while in Illi- nois, and when he arrived in Kansas, found it to be a worthless piece of land, thus losing what money he had advanced. Uudiscouraged, how- over. they rented a farm in Montgomery county, on which they resided for five years, a period attended with the greatest hardships; but by persistent effort and. the exercise of strictest economy they, at last, she- reeded in making the first payment on their present farm.
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This farm was virgin priarie and it was many years before the com- fortable home in which they now reside was built. Every fence and tree and building on it indicates the labor which they have expended, and shows what persistent and consistent effort will do in southern Kansas. To the original forty acres, another one hundred and sixty has been added and many substantial improvements have been placed on the farm.
The past has been one of severe labor for Mr. Burghart and his family, but they can rest secure in the possession of sufficient property to carry them comfortably through their declining years. His family consists of six children : Lula J., wife of Theodore Jordon, of Parsons; Gordon S., who lives in Oklahoma; Lillie, wife of Ed. Brown, of Coffey- ville ; Gwynne, Loyal and Nina are children at home.
While giving his undivided attention to the improvement of his farm, Mr. Burghart has taken a citizen's interest in the institutions of society about him, and has always given his influence to the betterment of local conditions, in matters of education and religion. He is a staunch Republican in politics, and both he and his family are among the coun- ty's best citizens.
LUCIUS T. BARBOUR-May the days never come when the glo- rious deeds of the boys in blue, during the sixties, shall be less potent in the teaching of patriotism to the youth of our country. Their fame is deathless-their honor should be lasting, and when the last one shall respond to "taps," a grateful nation should cherish their memory in marble shaft and "storied urn."
One of the most respected of the old soldier element. in Montgomery county. is the gentleman whose name precedes this paragraph. He is one of the oldest settlers of the county, and, during his residence here, has made for himself and family, a warm place in the hearts of a wide ac- quaintance.
The family of which Mr. Barbour is a descendent, settled in Windsor. Connecticut, in the person of Thomas Barbour, early in the seventeenth century. Dr. Barbour, one of his posterity, settled in Limesburg. Con- necticut, and became the progenitor of the branch of the family of which our subject is a member. A distinguishing characteristic of the family, is its productiveness and extreme longevity, a small family of children rarely being found in the list.
Lucius T. Barbour was born in Ft. Wayne, Allen county, Indiana. September 2. 1841. Ile is a son of Myram S. Barbour. a native of New York. and Jane Sutenfield, who was noted as being the first white child born in Ft. Wayne. Myram Barbour was a pioneer school teacher in that town. and taught school for a number of years, following 1835. He
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was a prominent factor in the growth of that city, and went to Califor- nia, at the time of the gold excitement of 1849, but returned and lived out his last years in Ft. Wayne, dying at the extreme age of ninety-three years. He was a strong supporter of the government during the days of the Civil war, and did munch to encourage loyal sentiment in his com- munity. The Sutenfields were also pioneers of that portion of Indiana. Mrs. Barbour's father having built the first house in Ft. Wayne. The latter was prominent in the military life of that section, and was com- mander of the Fort at that point, for a number of years, under General Wayne.
Mr. Barbour was reared in Ft. Wayne, receiving a good primary education, and was in the midst of a collegiate course at Antioch College, Low Springs, Ohio, when the war cloud burst with such fury as to carry all patriotic young men into the service. The Barbour blood was not such as to withstand the temptations of an army experience, especially when an undivided country was at stake. Our subject made several attempis to enlist, running away from school several times, but each time being balked in his efforts, by his father. However, in 1862, he suc- ceeded in enlisting in Company "H," Twelfth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry. lle had not long to wait for the smell of powder, for, in five hours after he took the oath, he was under fire, in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky. Here, he was severely wounded in the left leg, the wounding bullet being in his possession, as a memento of that incident. After a period in the hospital, he rejoined his regiment, and, during the years that followed, participated in seventeen hard-fought battles of the war. He was wounded, again, at the battle of Missionary Ridge, receiving a ball through his jaw, losing the left side of the upper jaw, and five of his teeth. This wound was more serious than the former one, and he returned home, on an extended furlongh. Besides being wounded twice, Mr. Barbour was captured by the enemy, on the 22d day of July, 1863. He was sent to Andersonville prison, later being transferred to Flor- ence, and, again, to Charleston, South Carolina, spending, in all, nine months and twenty days in the foul prison pens of the South. At the time of his exchange, he had become so emaciated, that he weighed but seventy-two pounds, and was so weak that he could not stand alone.
Mr. Barbour was with the regiment in that greatest spectacle of the age, the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., where he received his dis- charge, in June of 1865. He had given four years of earnest and loyal service to secure the perpetnity of the Republic, founded by our fathers, and returned home with the consciousness of duty well and faithfully done.
It was several years before Mr. Barbour was able to engage actively in the battle of life, but, after a time, he engaged in the drug business in Warsaw. In 1885, he came out to the "Soldier State," first settling
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în Lawrence, where he engaged in the grocery business. After a period, he accepted a position in the Santa Fe railway shops at Topeka, and. in 1887, came to Montgomery county. Here, he purchased a farm of three hundred and sixty-five acres, upon which he has since resided. It is sit- uated seven miles northwest of Coffeyville. in Fawn Creek township. From the comfortable farm house to the substantial bnidings for his stock, and to the well-kept fields, there is that air of thrift and enter- prise. which bespeaks the master hand of the intelligent agriculturist. He makes a specialty of thoroughbred Hereford stock, and, also, gives much attention to the raising of registered trotting horses, some of which, in past years, have made very good records on the track. There is a good gas well on the farm, and his house and barns are all furnished with light and heat from this medium. Mr. Barbour takes an intelligent and patriotic interest in the affairs of local government, and has served as trustee of Fawn Creek township. In politics, he is a staunch Repub- lican.
Marriage was contracted by our subject on the 14th of October. 1881, his wife's maiden name having been Alice Hoover, by whom there were born four children : Edna. Harry. Jesse and Mckinley. By a former marriage, to Peter Hoover. Mrs. Barbour had three children: Charles. Clara, and Myron, deceased. ( Mr. Barbour passed away, April 22. 1903.)
JOHN W. WALKER-One of the old-time settlers of the county and one who is honorably associated with its history, is the subject of this notice. He was born in Ohio, March 8, 1845. and is a son of Wil- liam Walker, a native Scotchman, who left home when a boy and went aboard a ship. as a sailor. He remained in this capacity for ten years, during which time he sailed all over the world, landing in America about 1835. ITere, he was employed at steamboating on the Mississippi river. and was one of the crew on the boat sent up the Arkansas river, by the Government, to pay off the Indians at Fort Gibson.
William Walker married Martha Work and came to Missouri. in 1868, and settled near Joplin, where he died. in 1891. at the age of eighty- one years, his wife dying, in 1886, at sixty-four years old. They were the parents of eight children. four of whom are living.
The subject of this sketch is the oldest of his father's family. Ile was leared in Ohio, on a farm, and lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. His education was received in the common schools and he graduated, in penmanship and bookkeeping. from Duff's Business College, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He came to Missouri, in 1868, and settled in Jasper county, where he remained two years. In 1868, he married Mary Rothanbargar, a native of Missouri, and, in the same year, moved to Kansas and located in Old Parker, where he spent
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a year in the grocery business. He then bought a claim, and furnished the money to prove up on the one where he now resides. This he improved until it is one of the fine farms of his neighborhood, with substantial buildings, among which are a large barn with stone basement. There is also a large cellar, built by Mr. Walker himself. He is engaged in fruit farming and hog raising, for the market. He has one hundred and fifty acres on Onion creek, six miles west of Coffeyville, devoted largely to alfalfa and kindred products of the farm.
Mr. Walker was a resident of this county before the treaty was made with the Indians and saw plenty of them in camp on his farm.
After the death of his wife, in 1884, he spent the time, till 1892, in Texas and Oklahoma. After four years more, spent in his old home in Missouri, where he went to settle his father's estate, he returned, in 1896, to his Kansas home. There were five children in the family, viz : Willian .. who died in 1902, at thirty-two years of age; Laura, who died at six months old; Albert and Clara, still at home; Benjamin, who was, upon the death of his mother, adopted and reared by J. R. Jones.
In politics, Mr. Walker is a Democrat, but prefers to support the man, regardless of politics. He has served several terms in minor of- fires, having been clerk of the township for some time. He is an in- dustrions and honored citizen.
BRIDGET MEAGHER-For the past thirty years the lady whose name appears above, has been an honored resident of Montgomery county, together with her husband and children ; his death having ocenr- red on the home farm, on the 15th of March, 1888. She is the widow of Thomas Meagher, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, where he was born, in 1815. Mr. Meagher was a gentleman who possessed, in a happy degree, the sturdy characteristics of his race and was mourned by a large circle of friends, at his death. He was a devout communicant of the Roman Catholic church, and, in political belief, was a Democrat. At the breaking out of the Mexican war, he volunteered for service, and was a member of the body guard of General Taylor, during his campaign in Mexico.
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