USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 68
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Mrs. Meagher was, also, of Irish extraction, having been born in County Tipperary, in the year 1824. She was a daughter of Patrick Mc- Cormick and removed, with her parents, to the United States, in 1841, and located in New York City, where they lived for the succeeding four years. Mrs. Meagher was joined in marriage, February 2, 1852, with Thomas Meagher, in Iowa. They lived there until 1873, when they set- tled in Montgomery county. To Mrs. Meagher were born: Kate-Jan- nary 5, 1853-who married William Maekle, hotel proprietor, in Caney, Kansas; she is the mother of eight children, five of whom are living
JUDGE DANIEL CLINE.
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as follows : Thomas J., James W., Edward, Lulu and Annie. Elizabeth, the second, was born October 24, 1876, and is the wife of Patrick Kel- ley, and lives near Caney. Her children are: James, Annie, Agnes, Maggie, Katie, William, Frank and John. Frank, the third child, is a farmer of Rutland township and is married to Carry Garr and has three children : Dora, Nora and Olive. James is the fourth child, lives in Oklahoma, and his wife is Nelliie Ashland. Thomas, the fifth child, resides in Los Angeles, California. Daniel, the youngest son, resides with his mother on the home farm. These children were all born in Clinton county, Iowa, where the family resided, prior to their coming to Kansas.
DANIEL CLINE-Daniel Cline is one of the old guard of pioneer farmers who came to Montgomery county in the early day, braved the hardships incident to life at that period, reared a large family, served his township and county in offices of both trust and profit, and now lives in a comfortable home in Independence, enjoying the fruits of his hard labor and careful management.
He was born in Carroll county, Indiana, February 22, 1835, the son of Jacob and Mary ( Shirar) Cline. The parents were both born in Ger- many, the father in 1806, the mother in 1795. Jacob Cline came to this country, in early youth, and settled in Corroll county, Indiana, where he passed his life, engaged in the saw-mill business and in tilling the soil. He was of a family of six children: Michael, Leonard, George, Daniel, John and Phoebe.
Daniel Cline was reared on the farm and remained at home until his marriage, in November of 1857. The first event of importance, after this, was the breaking out of the Civil war, which found him ready to do and die for his country. June 18, 1862, he enlisted, as a private, in Company "A," of the Seventy-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry. This company formed a part of Wilder's Brigade of Mounted Infantry and went through the war in that position, participating in the battles and marches accredited to that celebrated corps. Mr. Cline served, faith- fully, during three years of the war and then retired to the walks of peace, conscious of having done his full duty. He continued to reside in Indiana, until 1868, and then joined the tide of emigration, westward bound, for the new State of Kansas. He first located in Douglas county, but, the following year, came on to Montgomery, where he settled on a farm, seven miles southwest of Independence. This farm he continued to cultivate, with success, until his retirement and subsequent removal to the city, in 1890.
Mr. Cline always took a keen interest in public affairs and was se- lected, at different times, to fill offices of public trust. In 1873 and 1874,
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he was elected township trustee; in 1875. treasurer; again, trustee, in 1876, and treasurer, in 1877. He then continued to administer this of- fire, until his election, as justice of the peace. in 1882. which he held two years. In 1890, he was honored with election to the office of Probate Judge of the county, and, again, in 1892. serving four years in the office.
Fraternally, Mr. Cline is a member of the I. O. O. F. and. also, has a membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.
The maiden name of the wife of Daniel Cline was Sarah J. Boyer. She was born, April. 3. 1836. near Fredrick. Maryland. In girlhood, she removed, with her family, to Burlington. Carroll county. Indiana, where she, later, married Mr. Cline, as stated above.
Mr. and Mrs. Cline reared the following family: Rosanna, married W. F. McConnell, blacksmith and farmer, of Bolton, Montgomery county; children : J. W .. Edna. Taylor and Lessie: Isaac Newton, deceased at eighteen months; Elizabeth J., wife of William T. Hockett. She is now deceased, leaving three children : Mary. Clyde and Wardie. Mahala Margaret, married Henry Sanders: four children: Lillie, Fred, Edgar and Ernie; Mary Caroline, wife of S. H. Conner. a farmer. seven miles southwest of Independence; children: Olie, Nellie, Esther, Leslie and Daniel. Rebecca A., wife of Isaac D. Oberholtzer, of Independence ; children : Edith, Ralph. Harold and Paul; Ida Belle, wife of Philip Near, a plumber of Erie. Kansas; one child: Elsie. By her first marriage, to 1. W. Betts, there were the following children : Roy. Carl. deceased, and Fern : Charles Thomas died at the age of sixteen years; Olive May, wife of M. L. Finley, an employee of the glass works in Independence, has one child. Cline.
GEORGE H. DUCKWORTH-A gentleman who has thoroughly identified himself with Coffeyville and has been responsible for much of the spirit of restless energy which characterizes the business element there, is George Il. Dnekworth, since 1888, engaged in the real estate business, at that point.
Mr. Duckworth is of Kentucky birth. Bath county the place, and January 2, 1834, the time. He is a son of John and Catherine ( Moore) Duckworth, who were well-to-do farmers in the "Blue Grass State." living nnostentatious, but useful lives, and passing to their rest with the love and respect of family and friends. They were deeply devont and active members of the Methodist church, and their home was always open to the men of God, who took upon themselves the hard life of the itinerant minister. The father lived to be sixty years of age, dying in 1848, the mother surviving him twelve years, her age, at death, being fifty-seven. Their three living children are: George H., James J., a re- tired farmer, of North Salem, Indiana; and Juelda. widow of Jacob
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Buchannon, residing in Sharpesville, Indiana. Those deceased, are: Presley Sanford, Mrs. Ann Eliza Adair, Mrs. Susan Claypool, Sarah and William W. The latter was a corporal in the Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, and was killed, instantly, at the battle of Stone River, at twenty years of age.
George Duckworth received his early training in a Christian home and amid rural scenes, securing a primary training in the district schools. A boy of independent spirit, he began life for himself, as a farm laborer. at the age of sixteen, and, later, look up carpentry. About the date of his majority, he engaged in the grocery business, in North Salem. Indiana. For this, in time, was substituted a general stock bnsi- ness, dealing largely in mules and horses. He came to Montgomery coun- ty, Kansas, in 1888, and has since been engaged, chielly, in the real estate business.
Mr. Duckworth married. December 24, 1864. Ilis wife was Endotia Page, a native of the "Hoosier State," and a daughter of Chesley and Martha II. Page. Mr. and Mrs. Duckworth have no children of their own, but have, as an inmate of their home, Miss Cloret Jones, whom they reared, an only daughter. She is a student of the high school and of great promise, showing unusual gifts in the line of vocal and instru- mentol music.
The family of Mrs. Duckworth was from old Virginia, her father and mother being natives of Lee county. They married, in that county, about the year 1824, and, soon after, went out to the, then, new State of Indiana. Here, they entered land, in Hendricks county, where they died. Mr. Page was born January 2, 1801, and died December 22, 1862. The wife was born November 7, 1804, and died September 1. 1885. They were prominent and active members of the Methodist church and their lives were passed in accord with the teachings of the Master, whom they loved to serve. Their nine children were: Sarah R., Mrs. Riley Benefiel. now decaesed ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Lyman Herrington, of Coffey- ville; Peter M., deceased; David, who died in infancy; Eppie J., de. ceased wife of Samuel Hypes; Mary M., wife of Andrew J. Page, of Hendricks county, Indiana ; Eliza, deceased; Mrs. Duckworth and Emily A., Mrs. John Buchannon, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Duckworth follow the early teaching and example of their parents, and are active and worthy members of the Methodist church. Indeed, the whole connection is devoutly Methodistic and have been, since the rise of that noble sect. In a fraternal way, Mr. Duek- worth affiliates with the I. O. O. F., and in politics, exercises his judg- ment in the selection of men and principles, regardless of party name.
VAN C. HAMILTON-It is gratifying to note the success of the young men of the county, who have resisted the wiles of city life and
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are giving their attention to the cultivation of the soil. No occupation, in life, is more honorable. and none other will so certainly bring finan- cial returns for intelligent and persistent effort. The success of V. C. Hamilton is all the more gratifying. because he has his individual efforts to thank, having started at the very bottom of the financial ladder, and having acquired one of the prettiest rural homes in the south part of the county, two miles from the village of Tyro, and situated back from the road, amid a beautiful native oak grove.
Born in Randolph county, Illinois. February 1. 1866. Mr. Hamilton was brought to Crawford county. Kansas, by his parents, William Baker .and Eleanor ( VanSickle) Hamilton, at four years of age. His mother died in 1875, and Mr. Hamilton was, thenceforth. an inmate of the home of A. D. Nance. His father left Crawford and settled in Doniphan county, Kansas, but died at Joplin. Missouri. March 31. 1901, at the age of sixty-seven years.
William B. Hamilton was a man of fine impulses and of intense patriotism, having served four full years during the war of the Rebel- lion. His early service was as a private soldier in an Ilinois regiment, and comprised active work in the field. He contracted a severe case of measles, however, which put an end to work of such a character, but with sight badly impaired. he did duty in the hospitals during the re- mainder of the struggle. He was the father of nine children, those who grew up being : Nettie, Dora, George and Van C.
Our subject came to the state with his parents. in 1869, and was reared to man's estate in Crawford county. receiving but a limited edu- cation. In 1883, he came to Montgomery county and began life for him- self, as a farmer. l'pon his marriage, three years later, he removed to the Indian Territory, where he went into the stock business, which he followed, successfully, for the next thirteen years. Having laid by enough to buy a farm. he came back to Montgomery county and pur- chased his present location, two miles west of Tyro. He has. here, a fine body of four hundred and eighty acres, supplied with all the neces- sary paraphernalia for the conduct of a modern stock farm. Since his coming into possession, he has added a number of substantial improve- ments and is rapidly bringing the farm up to a high state of cultivation. If one thing more than another is responsible for the snecess he is mak- ing, it is his penchant for work. He buys up and feeds stock, and no weather is too inclement for him to be in the saddle. if there is business in the air. Ile is a man of iron constitution and takes a delight in the active outdoor labor of the farm. lle gives promise of becoming one of Montgomery's most affluent citizens.
On the 10th of November, 1886, Mr. Hamilton was joined in mar- riage with Mollie, a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Franklin) An- derson. Mrs. Hamilton was born in Crawford county. Kansas, Febru-
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ary 10, 1867. Her parents came to the state from Jowa, in 1860, and died young, the father at forty-two, and the mother at twenty-eight years. The father served the full period of the war, as First Lieutenant of Com- pany "C," Fourteenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry. There were four children born to the parents, those now living being: Jennie, who mar- ried A. C. Ward; William, and Mrs. Hamilton. To Mrs. Hamilton has been born a son, Clande, his birth occurring September 24, 1887.
BENJAMIN F. RITTER-Benjamin F. Ritter was born in Stark county. Ohio, on the 10th day of September, 1837. His father was Henry Ritter, a native of Adams county, Pennsylvania, who went to Ohio in 1812 and, in 1852, went to Indiana, at which time Indians were plenti- ful in Ohio. He settled in Allen county, near Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he died. in 1871, at seventy-four years of age. His wife died at the age of sixty-six. There were eight children in this family, of whom only two are living, viz: Benjamin F. and Adeline MeDowell, the latter a resident of Texas.
Mr. Ritter was only fifteen years old when his father moved to In- diana. Here, he received a common school education and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. On the 22d of August, 1861, when twenty-four years old, he enlisted in Company "D," Thir- tieth Indiana Infantry. He served till the 9th of September, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disability, caused by sunstroke. He was in the battle of Shiloh and several smaller engagements. After his dis- charge, he returned home and married, January 1, 1863, Mary E. Petty- john. Mr. Ritter lived in Allen county and followed the occupation of a farmer until 1885, when he came to Kansas and bought the farm where he now resides. He owns one hundred and twenty acres, which he has improved and on which stands a substantial stone residence. Mrs. Mary E. Ritter died at the age of fifty-two years, on the twenty-eighth day of July, 1894, leaving eight children : JJohn, Charles, George, Henry, Frank, Ella, Jessie J. and Deborah. Mr. Ritter was married, the second time, to Alice Parker, in 1899.
Mr. Ritter has taken some interest in politics and has served as trus- tee of the township. He is a man of honesty, of great integrity, and has all tle qualities that go to make him a desirable resident of the county.
0. EVANS-Well and widely known and respected, among the farmers and stockraisers of Montgomery county, is O. Evans, the sub- ject of this article.
Mr. Evans is a son of Sammel Evans, a native of Virginia, but who moved to Indiana when a boy. After some years, he met and mar-
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ried Miss Hannah Michael, also a Virginian. and who was. also, brought to Indiana, as a child.
Samuel Evans was a farmer. He moved from Indiana to Mercer county, Missouri, in the fall of 1857, living there until his death, at sixty-five years of age. He was survived by his wife, Hannah (who died at the age of seventy-seven), and seven children, viz: John Evans, now in Idaho ; Catherine IIuff, deceased; William Evans, in Idaho; Dudley W., of Kirksville, Missouri; O. Evans, our subject ; Mary Holt, living near Hermitage. South Missouri; Daniel Evans, youngest child. now living in Kansas with his brother, the stockraiser.
Our subject was born on April 15, 1843, in Decatur county. Indiana, where he lived until he was fifteen years old, receiving very little edu- eation, save that which he got from the great book of nature. At this time, his parents moved into Missouri, taking their children with them. Our subject lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-six years old, when he was married, on April 8. 1869, to Sarilda Pickett, who was born in Mercer county, Missouri, in 1848. When Mr. Evans married, he went into debt for eighty acres of land, which be improved. and by hard work, thrift and the help of his young wife, cleared the same of debt, and on which they lived until 1881. He then sold out and moved to Idaho, thinking to do yet better for his increasing family. Idaho, not being to the liking of the man of the prairie, in one year, he, again, moved to Kansas, where they purchased four hundred acres of land in Fawn Creek township. This land Mr. Evans improved and lived upon for a number of years. In addition to farming. he now raised fine stock. In 1895, he bought more land, three hundred and thitry-six acres on Onion creek, three miles west of Coffeyville, where he is now living.
That perseverance and industry count for much, is readily seen in the life and aceumulated wealth of Mr. Evans, who, by these qualities. combined with a shrewd capacity for business, has made a very sub- stantial fortune, part of which consists of a valuable farm of eight hun- dred and ninety-six acres, in the gas and oil belt of Parker township, besides he owns one hundred and fifty-six acres in Chautauqua county, Kansas.
It is well known that his unswerving honesty and genial personality have contributed not a little toward making Mr. Evans' business life a success, but he, himself. attributes it to his strict attention to all busi- ness matters and never allowing trivialities to interfere with the more importaut affairs of life.
During his business career, Mr. Evans has handled very large num- bers of cattle, but he is now contemplating a retirement from business, and so is, gradually, reducing the number of cattle until, now, he has only one hundred and fifty head. He has, also, retired from farming and now rents most of the numerous acres he owns.
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Mr. Evans' lot in life has been similar to that of most farmers, much work and little play, but still unlike many farmers, it has yielded a grand profit and he can, now, take a well-earned resi.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans have had ten children born to them: Nathaniel P., a graduate of the State Normal at Emporia, but who died in 1902, aged thirty-two; Hannah Hatchen, of Tyro; Ida, a graduate of the Eni- poria normal school and now teaching in the State of Washington; William O., farmer, near Tyro; Sarah S. Dunbar, deceased ; Nellie, now attending the State Normal (class of 1904) ; Abbie, Birkley, Edna and Ol- iver still at home.
Politically, Mr. Evans is a Democrat, and takes an interest in the politics of the county, of which he is so prominent a resident, but, in his home polities, it is the man, not the party, which rules his vote.
FRANK CARL-In the spring of 1869, a young German boy found himself settled on the prairies, nine miles northeast of where Coffeyville is now located. This young man, Frank Carl, was thousands of miles away from his native country and without friends or acquaintances. He was born in Germany, October 15, 1832. His parents died when he was a small child and he was taken by his relatives, who brought him to years of maturity. When he was about twenty-four years of age, he learned of the country across the sea, and, gathering together his all, he set sail for America, where he landed, in 1856.
For a short time, he worked in New Jersey, on a farm, and then went to Cincinnati, near where he followed the same work for five years. He was married, in 1858, to Mary Eich, a native of Germany. In 1861, they moved to Ilinois and settled in Woodford county. When the great war came on, he enlisted, in August of 1861, in Company "K," Forty- fourth Illinois Infantry. He served three years and was in many hard- fought battles, receiving a painful wound at the battle of Chickamauga. In 1864, after three long years of hard service, he was discharged and returned home to linois, where, for some time, he was engaged in the saw-mill business.
In 1869, Mr. Carl moved his family to Kansas and settled on a claim. nine miles northeast of Coffeyville, where he has since remained. His farm consists of four hundred and eighty acres of the best land in the county, and, on it, has been created a good residence, a large barn and good substantial out-buildings. The place is well shaded with native trees, which Mr. Carl himself planted. At the beginning of his residence in this state, the place was wild, being over-run with Indians, and it was hard to get provisions and other needed articles from Humboldt, as all these had to be hauled by wagon. After overcoming all obstacles- grass-hoppers, chinch bugs, etc .- he finally reached a position where he
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could rest, and turn the farm over to his sons. Until later years, Mr. Carl has handled large herds of stock, but dropped this industry, also, with his retirement from the farm.
Mrs. Carl died, in 1888, at the age of fifty years, leaving six children : William, Matthias, Joseph, Clara, wife of Herbert Dixon; Annie, de- ceased ; and Ella, at home and the house-keeper for her father and broth- ers; Annie was the wife of Jacob Staats and lived in Coffeyville until she died, leaving one child. Carl Staats.
J. C. PICKERING-Coffeyville is essentially a home town. Few lines of business but are represented and well patronized. within its limits. This is the secret of her prosperity and is worthy of emulation by other municipalities in the county. One of the lines which is of inter- est to all, is that engaged in by the gentleman whose name appears above. he being a member of the marble and granite firm of Sellers & Pickering. This firm was organized in 1891. and has established a large trade in all kinds of marble and stone work. Both members of the firm are skilled workmen and turn out a product which is not surpassed in style and finish.
Pickering is an honored English name, Thomas, the father of our subject, having been born and reared in Northampton. England. He was educated for the ministry of the Church of England, but circum- stances changed the trend of his thought, and, with his young wife, who was Elizabeth Leek, he crossed the seas, to the gold fields of Australia. Here, he did quite well, but was not willing to sacrifice the conveniences of civilization, though that sacrifice might. more rapidly. bring wealth. He, therefore, embarked for the States and, abont 1870, settled in Miami county, Kansas, where he engaged in farming until the date of his death. in 1881. The mother survived him some eight years, dying on board the steamship Zelandia, while returning from a visit to her old home, in Australia. Her age was sixty-two, while that of Mr. Pickering was fifty- eight years. There were four children: Harry, a farmer of Fontana, Kansas; F. G., a banker at Mt. Vernon, Washington : J. C., and Lillie E., Mrs, Albert Folks, of Fontana, Kansas.
J. C. Pickering was born in England. in 1865, and came to the United States, alone, at the age of fifteen years. He was reared and educated in England, and, on arriving at the age of eighteen, took service with a marble-eutter in Paola, Kansas, D. O. Sellers, and. in 1891. he went into business for himself, in Coffeyville, as above related.
The home life of Mr. Pickering was initiated, on Christmas day of 1890, when he was joined in marriage with Mattie E. Scothorne. Mrs. Piekering is an Ohio lady, a daughter of F. A. and Josephine Seothorne, who removed to Paola, in 1880. To Mr. Pickering's home have come
F. N. BENDER.
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three bright children : Benjamin E., Alene E. and Josephine E. Mrs. Pickering holds membership in the Congregational church, while he is a Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of which he is Past Chancellor, having filled all the chairs subordinate to that one. Mr. Pickering, also, holds membership in the Elks, and, in political mat- ters, votes with the Republican party.
F. N. BENDER-Well and most favorably known to the building trades of Independence and esteemed as a citizen, we present F. N. Ben- der's life work, in brief, as a factor in the internal development of the county seat. Comparatively young in years, but old and trained in ex- perience in the craft, his efforts have accomplished much, as a more detiled account of his career would reveal.
He was born in Fulton county, Illinois, of parents, Tobias and Eliz- abeth (Sinclair) Bender, the father a retired cabinet-maker, of Kansas City, and a leading member of the M. E. church. Tobias Bender was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in 1830, and began his wander- ings toward the setting sun, before the era of railways, some time in the 40's. Ilis trip carried him down the Ohio river, up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, to Peoria, where he settled and resided till about 1856, when he moved to Fulton county, Illinois. In 1882, he came to Kansas and resided on a farm, near Independence, till 1897, when he removed to the city which is now his home. His wife was born in the State of Penn- sylvania, in 1836, and is a devoted mother and Christian lady. She is the mother of ten children, four of whom yet survive, as follows: Mary, wife of Robert Swartz, of Kansas City, Kansas; F. N., of this article ; Jacob S., of Kansas City, a plate-glass worker and an inventor of some note; Edward, in the same business with Jacob, in Kansas City.
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