USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 69
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The birth of F. N. Bender occurred August 11, 1860. His education was acquired in the llinois public schools and, at the youthful age of thirteen, began to learn his trade. He continued it, zealously, till he had acquired a wide knowledge of carpenter and cabinet work and then became a journeyman carpenter. He took up planing-mill work. in 1886, in Kansas City, where he went that year, remaining some ten years. As a builder in Independence, he has filled contracts on some of the good structures of the city, dwellings and business houses, and his work has shown him to be master of the trade he follows.
July 3, 1884, Mr. Bender married Emma Belle Mills, a daughter of Elisha and Margaret (Burns) Mills, native, respectively, of New York and Pennsylvania. Mr. Mills was a hotel man in Davenport and Buffalo, Iowa, and, from 1873 to 1883, in Independence, Kansas. He was born October 24, 1818, and died December 4, 1901, in Independence. llis first wife was Miss Parker, who bore him six children, of which number three
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vet live, viz : Mark, of Colorado; George, of Renwick, Iowa; and Charles, of Ida Falls, Idaho. Three of the seven children, born of his second mar- riage, survive Mr. Mills, namely: Mrs. Bender, Lyle L., of Salt Lake, Utah, and Ernest, of Independence. Kansas. Mrs. Bender's mother was first married to Thomas Walker and has four children living by that union, as follows: Thomas, of Joplin, Missiouri; David, of Coffeyville, Kansas; Josephine, widow of John S. James, of Davenport. Iowa; and Laura, widow of C. W. Middleton, resides in Independence. Mr. and Mrs. Bender's children are Clyde M., deceased at ten years; Hazel Urma, Lila Marie, Oscar N. and Harry.
Mr. Bender has passed all the chairs in local Oddfellowship. He is a member of the Woodmen, Red Men and Elks. He was elected a mem- ber of the Board of Education of Independence. in 1902, and is a Repub- lican in politics.
Mr. Bender is a musician of some note and is a member of the Inde- pendence Concert Band, of which he is president, and is an alto player.
JOSEPH R. JONES-Joseph R. Jones was born in Tippecanoe county. Indiana, October 5, 1838, and is a son of Joseph Jones, born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1802. His mother's maiden name was Mary Cass. a native of Kentucky, but who moved to Indiana, at an early day, and, in 1839, moved to Illinois and settled in Vermillion county, where her husband died, in 1868, at the age of sixty-six years. She died in 1876, at the age of sixty-five years. There were nine children in this Jones family, as follows: James W. and Eliza Jane, deceased ; Robert A., living in Chicago; Caroline, who died at fifty-four years of age; Marinemna, who died in 1863; Joseph R., our subject ; Mary, wife of W. H. Harris, of Der ver ; Sarah and Lewis C., deceased.
Joseph R. Jones was reared in Vermillion county, Ilinois, where he was educated in the district schools. In 1872, he came to Kansas and bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, one and one-half miles west of Coffeyville. At first, he occupied a small house on the farm, until he could build a home. lle soon launched into the cattle business, in connection with farming, continuing each year to increase his stock, always feeding a large unmber through the winter. The farm. lying on Onion creek, furnishes plenty of good bottom land for cultivation. To the perseverance of its owner, is due the high state of cultivation which this land has reached, and the many improvements which make it so de- sirable a home.
In 1880, Mr. Jones was married, in the month of May, to Emma M. Davis. His wife is a native of Boone county, Kentucky, where she was born on the 4th day of September, 1855. Her father, John E. Davis, was a native of Kentucky, and married, in Indiana, Martha O. Paul, a
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native of that state. They came 10 Kansas in 1869, and settled in Cof- feyville, where Mr. Davis's death occurred, March 21, 1902, at the age of sixty-nine. His wife still survives him, and is a resident of Coffey- ville.
To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born nine children: Emma M .. Laura E., Amanda M., deceased; Charles J., of Coffeyville ; Myrtle L., of Wich- ita; John H., of Coffeyville; Mattie O., deceased; Mand O. and Holden P., of Coffeyville.
Mr. Jones came to Kansas with only a small sum of money, but by hard work and close application to business, he has acquired a compe- tency sufficient to enable him to live a retired life. llis home is a large and commodious one, located in the best part of the city of Coffeyville. He ard his wife, after many years of hard work, left the farm and moved to this home, October 18, 1893. He owns a number of valuable residences in the city, which he rents, besides several lots still vacant, in good loeations, in the city.
Mr. Jones is, politically, a Democrat, but he has never given much time to politics.
ROBERT N. SELBY-One of the live and progressive men of Cof- feyville is Robert N. Selby, vice-president of the Coffeyville Mercantile Company, and treasurer and manager of the Coffeyville Implement and Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Selby came to the city with his parents, in 1871, a nine-year-old boy, and has passed the greater portion of his life within its bounds. He is a son of George W. and Esther (Randall) Selby, and was born in Knox county, Illinois, October 19. 1865. George W. Selby was a native of Kentucky, which state he left in the early 40's and located in Illinois. Here. he married and continued to reside, until 1871, when he removed his family to Kansas, taking up a claim in Montgomery county. In 1874, he came to Coffeyville and, for a number of years, was one of her well-known and enterprising citizens. He was, for a time, connected with the mercantile interests of the city, and, later, became "mine host" of the Eldridge hotel, where he died. October 10, 1889. aged fifty years. He was a man of substantial qualities and, at several different times dur- ing his residence here, was honored by election to such offices as justice of the peace and mayor of the city. The wife and mother survived him some years, passing away, March 29, 1903. They were devont members of the Presbyterian church. Their family consisted of but three chil- dren . Dora 1., who married Jacob Guthrie and resides in Coffeyville ; Robert N., and Bessie, who married Frank M. Stillwell, and died in Sel- ma, Alabama, in October of 1888.
Robert N. Selby is a product of the Coffeyville schools, in education.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
After he left school, he entered the employ of Reed Bros., as a elerk, and, subsequently, went on the road, as traveling salesman, for the T. Green Grocery Company, of Kansas City. After fourteen years of service with this firm, he became connected with a Chicago brokerage house, Reed, Murdock & Co., with whom he continued until the date of his return to Coffeyville, in 1898, he being one of the organizers of the Coffeyville Mer- cantile Company, wholesale grocers. He was active in building up this institution, for five years, and is still connected with it, though the greater portion of his time is given to a new venture. organized March 1, 1903-the Coffeyville Implement and Manufacturing Company. This company was organized for the purpose of placing on the market, a plow, invented by E. B. Winters. The officers of the company are : H. A. Brew- ster, president ; W. P. Brown, vice-president; E. E. Wilson, secretary ; R. N. Selby, treasurer and manager; and E. B. Winters, superintendent of the factory. The concern employs some twelve or fifteen operatives and has purchased tive aeres, near town, on which it will, in the near fu- ture, erect a large plant.
Mr. Selby is also largely interested in the grain and hay business, in the Territory, owning five elevators and warehouses, on different lines of railroad, and it will thus be seen that Coffeyville has, in him, a live, energetic and helpful citizen, and one whose influence is wide-spread for good. Hle and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian church, and are prominent in the different movements, set on foot for the ame- lioration of the ills of the body politie, both local and general. The I. O. O. F. meets the views of Mr. Selby, as to the fraternal principle, while the Republican platform suits him in matters of politics.
Marriage was an event of April 2, 1897, with Mr. Selby. Miss Eleanor Mcclintock, whom he led to the altar, is a native Kansas girl, born in 1873. a daughter of John and Annette Mcclintock, both now de- ceased. To their home have come two daughters: Bessie A. and Esther.
HENRY W. DUCKETT-Henry W. Duckett. a contractor and builder of Coffeyville, and one of the worthy and enterprising citizens of that live town. is a native of Butler county, Ohio. Ilis birth occurred December 15, 1839, his parents being Caleb M. and Ruth ( Stull) Duckett. The Duckett family came up into Ohio from Kentucky and are of Irish extraction : the Stulls are of Pennsylvania-Dutch lineage.
Caleb Duckett was a carpenter, by occupation, and a good and loyal citizen. After he had given two of his sons to his country he, in 1863, himself. enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry. At the battle of Nash- ville, he was taken prisoner and was never again seen by friends. The family made every effort to trace his whereabouts, and our subject was especially active in the search, but no information could be obtained,
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however, more than that he had been an inmate of a Confederate prison at Cahaba, Alabama, and it is believed, he died at that place. Wherever his burial place, the gratitude of a reunited country gathers, as a halo, over his unknown grave. His wife survived him many years, dying in June of 1887, at the age of sixty-eight years. The children born to her were : Mrs. Mary Hole, of Montgomery county. Indiana ; Henry W. , Mrs. Martha Wilson, Mrs. Mahala J. Hutzler; Amos L .. of Portland, Indiana, who enlisted in 1862, in Company "Il," Que Hundredth Indiana Vohm- leer Infantry, and served three years; Mrs. Nancy Horner, of Jay conn- ty, Indiana, is the youngest and is deceased. The husbands of Martha and Nancy were, also, gallant defenders of the flag.
The education of our subject was seenred in the district schools of Indiana, where the family had removed, in his early boyhood. He learned the trade of his father and was engaged at it when the forsin of war sounded its dread alarm. He had been nurtured in a patriotic home and, when the second call was made, enlisted in Company "B." Thirty- fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. A good deal of his ser- vice was rendered in the use of tools. His first enlistment expired in December of 1863, and he immediately reenlisted and served to the close of the war. His service was, for the most part, in the southwest. He was present at the siege of Vicksburg. Port Gibson, Champion Hills, and in numerous actions west of the river, and was in one of the very last brushes of the enemy, at Brownsville, Texas, neither side being aware of Lee's surrender. Mr. Duckett came ont of the service nuseath- ed, and was sick, during the four years, but a short period. He was sent to the Louisville hospital and, after partially recovering. asked release, that he might rejoin his regiment. Being refused, he wrote ont his own pass, blutfed the steamboat people, and reached his regiment at Helena, Arkansas, an incident which shows the patriotism which actuated him. in the discharge of his military duty. He was discharged in February of 1866.
On the 30th of June, 1866. Mr. Duckett was happily joined in mar- riage with Priscilla A. Evilsizer. Mrs. Dnekett is a native of Champaign county, Ohio, and a daughter of Leonard and Frances ( Dye) Evilsizer. Leonard Evilsizer came up into Ohio from North Carolina, when a boy of thirteen, became a farmer and. after marriage, moved to day connty, Indiana, where he died, in 1884. His wife ouflived him two years. They were devont members of the Methodist church. Their children were: Minor. deceased, served three years in Company "E." Eighty-ninth In- diana : Priscilla , Margaret A .. deceased wife of John Mason; Lewis M., of Portland, Indiana: Mrs. Mary Holmes, of Lenepah, Indian Territory; Albert W., of Chicago; Kipher, who died at four years; James, and two mmamed, died in infancy; Sarah M., the youngest child living, is the wife of D. C. Vincent, of Brazil, Indiana.
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Mr. Duckett followed his trade in Indiana, until the spring of 1887, when he came to Coffeyville. Here, he has figured prominently, as a builder, monuments of his handiwork being seen in many residences, and several public buildings. He has taken an active interest in affairs, hay- ing served as a member of the school board several terms. He is an hon- ored member of the Grand Army and a staunch friend of organized labor, being a member of the Carpenter's Union. His interest in politics is simply that of the good citizen, voting, on election day. the Republican ticket. Both he and his good wife are much esteemed in the city of their adoption, and where they expect to pass the remainder of their days.
JOHN GASKILL-In the year 1871, a date which marks the year of his majority, John Gaskill, one of the leading farmers of Caney town- ship, came to Montgomery county, in company with his parents. Mr. Gaskill immediately filed on a claim, and he has, since, been one of the sturdy yeoman of the country. He now resides on a farm of three hundred and thirty acres, two miles from the town of Tyro, where he engages in stock raising, giving some aftention to raising the Wilkes stock of horses. Of these animals, Mr. Gaskill is a great lover and 'delights in driving the finest horse in his stable.
Mr. Gaskill eame to the county, from the Atlantic coast, the family having been residents of the far eastern State of New Jersey. where he was born, in Burlington county, on the 20th of March, 1850. When he was five years old, the family moved to Michigan, spent five years, and then spent one year in Missouri, when they went to Iowa. They resided there, until the date of our subject's settlement in Montgomery county; He received an elementary education in the country schools. For the first few years, he found it close figuring to meet his payments on his dlaim, and, at the same time, extend needed help to the support of his father and his family. I was through such trials and tribulations that Mr. Gaskill passed, during the carlier periods of his existence in the county, but it had the effect of teaching him the value of money, and the necessity of making the dollar go as far as possible. He, however, emerged from this extreme and has, for a number of years, been looked upon as one of the successful farmers of the county. His farm is one of the most highly improved in the township, its improvements being of a most substantial character. His barn is a model of size and excellent arrangement for stock, being built against the bluff, and in such a man- ner as to thoroughly profeet bis animals from the cold, sweeping winds of winter. Besides this barn, there are well-built granaries, and other ont buildings for stock, while his residence is of the most commodions and comfortable character.
In choosing a partner for his life's journey, Mr. Gaskill selected
D. M. ADDINGTON, WIFE AND DAUCHTER.
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Miss Myra Bradley, a native of Missouri. The marriage was an event of New Year's day, 1882. Mrs. Gaskill came to Kansas, with her parents, Joseph and Myra Bradley, in 1870. Mrs. Gaskill died at the early age of thirty, February 9, 1889, leaving three children, viz: Charles W., Perry L. and Bertha. In 1890, Mr. Gaskill married Mrs. Jane Overpeck, a native of Rockville, Parke county, Indiana, where she was born, June 10, 1859. She was the widow of Charles A. Overpeck, who died March 30, 1881. leaving a son. Harvey. The following year, she came to Kan- sas, and resided near Tyro, until the date of her marriage. By their last marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gaskill have two children : Lytle and Carl.
The years which have passed since Mr. Gaskill came to Montgomery connty. have been years of busy toil, but however busy with his own affairs, he has never refused to devote what time seemed necessary to the advancement of the welfare of his particular community. Much of the splendid reputation which Caney township has in the county. as to school and educational facilities, is due to the constant and earnest efforts of our subject in this line. He has served as clerk of his town- ship and is a member of the Odd Fellow's Lodge of Tyro. In matters of politics, he takes but a voting interest, the Populist ticket receiving bis suffrage. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian church. he having been a valuable member of the church board since 1895.
is he looks out upon his broad aeres, and line thoroughbred stock, Mr. Gaskill does so with the knowledge that it is all the result of his individual effort and his determination. his close application to the busi- ness in hand, that of building a home. De is highly regarded by his acquaintances, and is most worthy of representation in a volume dovoted to the best citizens of the county.
D. M. ADDINGTON-The biographer presents here one of the sub- stantial citizens of Independence, proprietor of the north side planing mill, and general contractor in wood. Mr. Addington has been identified with the interests of Montgomery county since 1879, though not contin- uously, having left the county, at different periods, for short intervals.
The Addington family is of English Quaker extraction. coming to South Carolina in early Colonial days, where they were thrifty planters and large slavehollers, as was the custom of that section and time. Grandfather William A. Addington became dissatisfied with the condi- tions in South Carolina and, freeing all the slaves the law would permit, came up to Indiana, bringing with him the remaining sixteen. This was in the year 1804. He settled in a new country, between Richmond and Newport, and there carved out a farm from the virgin forest. He was a man of fine character and did much to initiate correct living in that early day, in that section.
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Our subject's father, Joshua, was a young man of twenty, when the family came to Indiana. He learned the trade of miller, an occupation which he followed much of his life. He married Rebecca Morgan, a na- tive of Virginia, and settled two miles north of Richmond. Remaining here until 1840, he, with his father and several others, laid out the town of Ridgeville, where he continued to live until his death, engaged in the milling business.
In many respects, he was a remarkable man. His energy was some- thing phenomenal, though it was of the kind needed in those pioneer days. He was an ardent believer in the Quaker faith and gave, liberally, of his means and time, to establish it in Indiana, building the first Friends church in the state, at the point where he first settled, known for long years, as "Chester Friends Church." In political faith, he was a Whig. He died, in 1848, at the rather early age of fifty-six, his father dying but two years before, but having lived to the age of seventy. His wife was a woman of like mould of character, and was a fitting help- meet. in those formative days of society, when sternness of morals was an absolute necessity. She died, in 1851, at the age of fifty-six years. They were the parents of the following children : William. who died at two years; Jonathan, who died in 1864; Elizabeth, Mrs. J. R. West, of Davis county, łowa; Maria, Mrs. Charles Wilmot, who died in 1SS0; Nancy, widow of Benjamin Anderson, living at Eureka, Kansas; Minerva .J., widow of William Alexander, of Winchester, Indiana ; D. M., our sub- ject ; Lorena, deceased, was the wife of the late Milton Caty.
D. M. Addington was born in Wayne county, Indiana, July 9, 1835. The erude state of society in that early day and section, prevented him from receiving much in the way of book education, but, with the advan- tages of an excellent Christian home, he came to years of responsibility with training sufficient to fight the battles of- life. His brother, Jona- than, being a blacksmith, he took up that trade and followed it, in Lagro and on the Wabash canal, until 1851, when his eyes became af- fected, by reason of so much night work. He did outdoor work, for a time, until he recovered the use of his sight, and then learned the trade of mill-wright, which he followed, for seven years. Again, he changed his occupation, this time learning the trade of carpenter. He now re- moved to Richmond and did contraet work, during the period of the war, his eyes preventing his being accepted in the service, although he volun- teered three different times. He, however, did splendid service at home, in holding in check the Copperhead element of that section, which was quite strong in localities. He became the leader of a band of loyal spit- its who made it their especial business to ferret out the Rebel sympa- thizers and either make them take the oath, or move on to some more congenial clime.
After the war, our subject removed to a farm, near Bunker Hill,
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS. 613
Indiana, where he continued to reside, until the date of his coming to Kansas. In 1879, he had the misfortune to lose all his farm buildings, by fire, together with much valuable stock.
Soon after his arrival in Montgomery county, Mr. Addington settled on a farm in Rutland township, where he remained until 1882. He then moved into Independence and, for four years,, followed contracting. In 1886, he went to Wichita, but, on the hursting of the boom, a year later, went to Kansas City. For a period of nine years, he did an extensive contract business there, and. in 1897. returned to Independence, where he has since been a resident.
With his characteristic energy. Mr. Addington has forged to the front in Independence, and, for several years, has been the leading cou- traeting carpenter in the city. His handiwork is seen on all sides, in the many artistic store-fronts, and in many of the better class residences and public buildings, whose stately proportions reflect credit, alike, ou builder and eity.
The family life of our subject began in Richmond, Indiana, on the 26th of June, 1859, the date of his marriage, to Miss Eliza J. Thompson, a native of that city. She became the mother of: William, now in his father's employ, married Ella Hosmer, and had six children : Edith, Wal- ter, Mabel, David, Martha, deceased ; and Minerva, died in infancy. The mother of William died in December, 1863, at twenty-one years of age, and, two years later, on the 3d of September, on subject was joined in marriage to Martha MeBroom. This lady proved a faithful helpnieet to our subject, for thirty-six years, her death occurring Feb- ruary 20, 1901. She was a woman of many beautiful traits of character. a home-maker and a home-lover, whose children rise up to call her blessed. Their names are: James A., stone-cutter of the city, married Elizabeth Dison, and their children are: Theodore and Gertie; Oliver, a painter, of Kansas City ; Francis M., foreman of his father's mill. mar- ried Nellie Powers; Ehner E., a well-driller, of Bartlesville, Indian Ter- ritory ; Mary P., Mrs. W. A. Logan, of Kansas City.
Mr. Addington is a firm supporter of the principles of the party of Lincoln and Roosevelt. In fraternal affiliation, he, very early, chose one of the best, the 1. 0. O. F., and has been prominent in the work of that order for many years. He has filled all the chairs of the order and its higher adjunct, the Encampment, and has served, as delegate, in the Grand Lodge, a number of times.
GEORGE P. DALBY-George P. Dalby, although a young man, is an old settler of Montgomery county, and of Caney township. He was born in Edwards county, Illinois, on the 14th of September. 1859. He is the youngest child of the late David and Lucy Dalby, and lived in Illi-
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nois, till eleven years of age, and attended the district school. In Ang- nst, 1870, his father removed, with his family, to Kansas, stopping at Independence until they could find a location. After looking around for some time, Mr. Dalby, Sr., bought a claim, on which was a small store, twenty-two miles southwest of Independence, which was owned by Myres & Coloo, and called Havana. This store was located in a beau- tiful valley, with rich land, and Mr. Dalby was infatuated with the comtry and, especially. this particular spot. He, then, brought his family, and ocenpied the rough native Iumber store building, and made his farm one of the finest in the county.
The old store building still stands, in the same spot where it was built, and does duty as a cow stable. From this store, Havana derived its name; the town being laid out, one and one-half miles southeast of where Havana now stands.
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