USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 71
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John C. Fields received a common school education and, at the age of twenty-one, came to Kansas, stopping, first, in Brown county, from where, in the fall of that same year, 1869, he came to Montgomery county, Here, he camped about, in different portions of the county, during the winter, seeking the right place to locate a claim. He, finally, settled on the location he now owns and filed upon it in 1870. Here, he has held a continuons residence to this date, and has added a great number of fine improvements and, at different times, added to its area, until he owns a body of six hundred and fifty acres.
Mr. Fields landed in the county, a very poor man, having little mon- ey and less property. His splendid success is due to his energy and intel- ligent grasp of the subject of agriculture, he being, in its various branches, a master workman. He is one of the best judges of fine stock in southern Kansas, and has engaged, for a unmber of years, most exten. sively, in their raising. He is a lover of good horses, and, while he never trains for the track, has raised, on his farm, some speedy animals which he delights to drive to his own turn-ont, and is never happier than when "drawing the ribbons" over a pair of his best horses.
In 1875, Mr. Fields took to himself a wife, in the person of Rachel Ellis, a daughter of Christopher T. Ellis, of Montgomery county, Teun- essee, where the father was born on the 26th day of January, 1828. The latter married Mary Uttley, whose birth occurred October 21, 1835. These parents came to Kansas the same year in which Mr. Fields settled on his farm, and took a claim, one-half mile south of Tyro, where they now reside. Of the family, Rachel D. is the wife of Mr. Fields; Lucinda F. is Mrs. Albert May, of Nowata, Indian Territory ; Lydia V. married Thomas E. Dunbar and lives in Fawn Creek township; Mary W. is Mrs. John Messersmith and resides in Fawn Creek; James A. is the youngest child and lives in Oklahoma.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fields have been born five children, as follows : Theodore C., Perry A., Elfa, John and Frankie, all of whom are yet at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fields know what it is to endure the hardships of pioneer life, and it was only by frugality and industry, in those early days, that they have come to a position of comfort in their latter days.
Mr. Fields has always been foremost in any attempt made by his community to better conditions, in the matter of educational facilities. and in securing the best local government. He has, at times, served in the different unpaid offices of the township, and has always evinced a personal interest in those about him. In matters of political concern,
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he is favorable to Democratic principles, and supports that ticket by his vote. In social life, he is known as a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge. and gives his influence to the furtherance and spread of the principles of fraternity.
JOSEPH RICHARD HALL-The pioneer tailor and early settler of Coffeyville, mentioned in the introduction to this review, has passed thirty-one years within the limits of the county's metropolis and has maintained himself in active business here, almost continuously since. Ilis life has been modest and unassuming and the simple details of his every-day business have marked, largely, the events of his career.
He wasborn near Fruisburg, Chautauqua county, New York, January 14, 1841, and was reared in Catarraugus county, till 185]. when his father immigrated to the State of Iowa, in Linn county, in which state our subject reached mature years. His father was Joseph Hall and his mother, Elsie Akin, a daughter of Phoebe ( Kronkite) Akin. Joseph Hall was one of five sons, viz: David and Solomon, who died at Rochester and Newcastle, Pennsylvania, respectively ; John, who died at Rochester. Pennsylvania ; Richard, who died near New Brighton, Pennsylvania ; and Joseph, who passed away at Onaville, New York, in 1863, at fifty-six years of age.
Joseph Hall, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and became a carpenter and mill-wright and plied his trade in both the east and west. His wife, who died in 1848, left him : James A., of Palo, lowa ; Joseph Richard, of Coffeyville, Kansas; John A, of Miami, Florida. Elsie and Joseph D. died in infancy. For his second wife, he married Betsy Palmer, who passed away the mother of: Mary. wife of William Aldridge, of Cleveland, Ohio; Prusia, who married Benjamin Brown. of Onaville, New York , and Frank A., of Jamestown. New York.
At the age of twelve years, Joseph R. Hall had the misfortune to lose his left leg, having it mashed between a tree and a log, while work- ing in the timber. This accident did not sap him of his energy or his courage and he went about his work of their Catarrangns county farm with remarkable convenience to himself. He was about thirteen years old when he was taken to lowa and, in Marion, that state, he was put to the tailor's trade. He worked with William Kingon three years and for John B. West, for a time. He was employed with William Dumont. in Cedar Rapids, and, in Lyons, he hired to a government contractor. From this point, he went to Chicago and, soon after, to Newcastle, Penn- sylvania. Here and at Warren, Ohio, he spent some months. At Sharon. Pennsylvania, he was in the service of Goldstein & Bohaws for three years. Returning toward the west, he worked in Chicago, for his old employer, for a time, and, thence, to Marion, Iowa, where he first en-
JOS. R. HALL.
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gaged in business on his own account. In the mouth of December, 1872, he came to Coffeyville and located his first shop at the northwest corner of the plaza, for which ground he paid $325. He purchased what was known as the Eby corner, paying $700 for it, and, subsequently, erected upon the site, a three-story brick building. This building burned in lan- vary, 1895, and he became the owner of the lot on the south and erected a two-story brick over both Jots, a part of the upper floor of which he occupies as a place of business. He. also, built a modern and commodi- ons residence at 211 West Eleventh street, in which his happy family is installed.
On the 28th of March. 1872, Mr. Hall married, at Marshalltown, lowa, Mattie E. Compton, a daughter, and only child. of S. R. Compton. Mr. Compton married Sarah Inks, who resides and makes her home with her daughter in Coffeyville. Mr. Compton was a native of Ohio, was once a merchant in Indiana. and served in Sherman's army in the Civil war. Compton R. Hall is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Hall. He was born near Coffeyville, was educated in the Coffeyville high school. and is a graduate of a Kansas City school of typewriting and stenogra- phy. Gabrielle, wife of Harry J. Bomar, completes the family of Mr. Hall. Richard JJ. Gladstone Bomar is the only grandchild.
In politics, Mr. Hall is a Republican, with Prohibition proclivities. He is an active member of the Methodist church and is class leader. trustee and one of the stewards of the congregation.
JOHN E. WAGNER-As an illustration of what the American vonth of energy and resolute purpose can do. John E. Wagner, farmer and stockraiser of Fawn Creek township. furnishes an excellent example. Beginning life at the tender age of thirteen, with his natural powers as his capital. he is now one of the solid and full-handed men of his town- ship, and a strong moral force in the community. There is no secret to his success. Every American boy can do the same thing. in the course of a short life. if he so wills. But it takes stick-to-it-iveness and consistent and persistent effort.
Henry Wagner and Hannah Martin were man and maid, in their native State of Pennsylvania, in the early part of the nineteenth con- tury. They plighted troth, and, a few years later. with their small fam- ily, joined the increasing stream of emigration toward the northwest. The year 1845 found them pioneers of Louisa county, lowa. where they built them a home and passed the remainder of their days. Their six children were: Jesse, now of Fredonia, lowa; Solomon. of Joplin, Mis- souri : John E., the subject of this article, and three who are deceased.
The parents of this family possessed all the sterling qualities of the pioneer class, and reared their family to regard labor as honorable and
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honesty as a virtue. Their years numbered eighty and seventy, respect- ivelv.
John E. Wagner was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on the 31st of March, 1840. Amid the harsh conditions of life, found in the homes of the agricultural class of limited means, he was, early, taught the value and dignity of labor and the need of economy. With a very primitive education, he, at thirteen, left home and apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade. After a five-year period, he began journey work, and continued, for a number of years, with success, working at his trade, in Hancock county, Illinois. He remained in Illinois until 1870, when, having, by thrift, accumulated some $800, he came, with his family, to Montgomery county. He purchased the claim on which he now resides. and has put in three decades in improving and beautifying it. The board shack, after while, gave way to a substantial residence, which he had the ill-luck to lose by fire, but which was replaced by the present commodious modern house. Pole stables, in like manner, were supplanted by com- fortable barns for his stock; orchard and shade trees, planted by his hand, soon yielded their fruit and spread their generous branches for shade. And now. in the evening of a life spent in honest toil. this yeo- man and his loved helpmeet sit under their own vine and fig tree, as it were, and enjoy what is theirs, by the only right which ought to govern -that of honest labor and an honest recompense.
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner were married, in 1861, in Hancock county, Illinois. Mary E. Brent was ber maiden name, and she was the daughter of John J. and Mary E. ( Avis) Brent, natives of Maryland and New Jersey, respectively. Mrs. Wagner's birth occurred in Hancock county, Illinois, April 25, 1848. Her father died at forty-two, the mother reach- ing the good old age of seventy-three. Their three living children are: Albert, of Galesburg; Maria, Mrs. Allen, of Missouri, and Mrs. Wagner. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wagner were born : Albert J., Jay F., Mollie, Mrs. Ira Moore ; Minnie, wife of James Myres; William H., Coun- ty Attorney of Russell county; Goldie, wife of Arthur Smith, of Parker township, this county.
JOHN E. MeCLOUD-John E. MeCloud, an old soldier and farmer of Montgomery county, was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, Oeto- ber 4. 1844. His father, George McCloud, a native of Virginia, married Miss Eunice Bray, a native of Pennsylvania, and moved to Indiana, in an early day. He died in Hendricks county, by accidental drowning, at the age of ninety-two. His wife died many years before, when only thirty five years of age. Their family consisted of nine children : Rob- ert, Bashabee, William, Henry, John A. and Nancy, all living. Those dead are : Elizabeth, Sally and George.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
Our subject was born and reared on a farm in his native state, where he attended the country school, until the opening of the Civil war. At the age of sixteen, he answered the call of his country for volunteers, and enlisted, in July, 1861, in Company "A," Thirty-third Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry. He was in many hard-fought battles, among them be- ing Ft. Donelson, Perryville, Wildeat, Resaca, Peachtree Creek and Ken- nesaw Mountain. He marched with Sherman to the sea, and participated in the last battle. at Columbus. South Carolina. He was one of the sol- diers who were left to pass in the Grand Review, at Washington, D. C., afterward being sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was discharged, August 25, 1865, after four years of bard service.
Mr. MeCloud was married. December 25, 1865, to Elizabeth Barker, a native of Hendricks county, Indiana. She was born June 16, 1845. Her father, Samuel Barker, was a native of North Carolina, and her mother. Dorothy Rushton, a native of Indiana.
Samuel Barker came to Kansas in 1880, and settled in Phillips county, where he died, his wife having died in Indiana. The family con- sisted of nine children : JJesse C., Elizabeth, William, Ellen, Ellsworth, Emma, John W .. James, and one who died in infancy. Mr. MeClond came to Kansas in 1874, and located in Osborn county, where he lived one year. In 1891, after twenty years' residence in Marshall county, he came to Montgomery county, locating east of Coffeyville. One year later, he came to his present farm of fifty acres. Here, he made a nice home for himself and family, all the improvements on the farm being due to his untiring efforts.
To Mr. and Mrs. McCloud have been born sixteen children. fourteen of whom are living : Eunice Moore, Ada MeKelip and Ida Bartley, twins; Martha Reedy. Rosa White. Lum Fransne, Mary Noble, William, Maggie, Grant, who died in the Philippines, a member of the Fortieth U. S. Regulars in the Spanish-American war; Adelia Noble. George, Addie, Sally, Edith, deceased, and JJohn. Mr. McCloud is a Republican in politics.
PRENTICE SMYTH-The leading merchant of the rural village of Jefferson, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania. December 16. 1851. His father, Henry Smyth, was born, of Irish parentage. in the "Keystone State." September 20, 1822. He married Margaret J. Wimer, also a native of Pennsylvania, born August 4. 1831. They lived in the "Keystone State" until 1866, when they came out to Crawford conuty. Missouri. In 1881, they settled in Fawn Creek township, Montgomery county, Kansas, where the father now resides, at the age of eighty-one years, the mother having died. December 11. 1895, at the age of sixty- four. They reared nine children, all of whom are now living, viz: Pren-
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tice, the subject of this sketch ; Zillah A., Mrs. Ringeisen; Elzena, John H., Sarah, Mrs. Demaree; Hannah, Mrs. Cory; William S., Gilbert, and Mrs. Idla Fisher.
Prentice Smyth, whose honored name heads this review, was the eldest son of this family. He was a lad of fourteen years when they re- moved to Missouri. and he had received a fair education in the schools of his native state. After coming to Missouri, he added sufficient knowl- edge to enable him to enter the school room, as a teacher, which consti- tuted the first work he engaged in for himself. He taught two years, suc- cessfully, and, in 1882, came to Kansas and engaged in farming. He first rented land, but, by careful economy, was enabled, in a few years. to accumulate sufficient to purchase a farm of eighty acres, near the town of Jefferson. He continued, actively, in the work of the farm, until September of 1896, when he started a general mercantile business in the village. By close attention to business and judicious management, he has succeeded, admirably, he having, at this time, a fine country trade. In connection with his mercantile business, he is, also, the owner of a nice hotel property in the village, and has other property interests.
Marriage was solelmized by Mr. Smyth, as an event quite late in life, be having lived in bachelorhood until the 17th of April, 1901. The lady who became his wife was Laura B. Lashley, daughter of Henry and Tabitha Lashley, all of whom are natives of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Smyth having been born in Bedford county, November 3, 1866.
Mr. Smyth is a man of intelligence and good judgment, and is re- garded as one of the solid men of his part of the county. He has, for a number of years, been active in participation in political affairs, being a strong supporter of Republican principles. He was one of the original Mckinley men in the state, and was greatly pleased when the conven- tion. at St. Louis, named him as the head of the Republican ticket. Under his administration, Mr. Smyth served, as postmaster, in the village of Jefferson. The death of Mckinley was deeply felt by our subject, who regarded it as a distinct publie calamity, scarcely to be retrieved. The esteem in which Mr. Smyth and his good wife are held in the community of Jefferson, is most uniform and just.
JAMES F. PATTERSON-There is no county in Kansas whose ag- ricultural population is of a higher character than that of Montgomery county. The county became the Mecca, immediately after the war, of a large number of the "Boys in Blue." who had given four years of their life to the perpetuation of the institutions formed by our fathers. Their experience in the war had made them excellent judges of human nature, and had impressed them with the value of republican institutions. To be a good citizen, it is necessary to love one's country and be ready to
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
"do and die" for it, and, for that reason, the soldier boys of 1861-65 made excellent material out of which to form a state. Montgomery county was peculiarly fortunate in securing a large body of these soldier- citizens.
In 1870, there came to the county, the gentleman mentioned in the introduction to this sketch. He was born in Marshall county, West Virginia, in 1847, and was a son of JJames Patterson, who was the son of John. They settled in Marshall county, from Maryland, at a very early date, and have many descendants there. Our subject's mother was Sarah. daughter of Michael Crow. James Patterson was born on Wheel- ing creek. in Pennsylvania, and was a noted Indian fighter of that sec. tion, and an intimate friend of Lewis Wetzel, famed in history as one of the most courageous frontiersmen in that section of the state.
Michael Crow was an avowed enemy of the Red Man. This enmity resulted from the cruel massacre of two beautiful daughters by them; during his temporary absence from home, and he was, over afterward, bitter and unsparing in his efforts to avenge the death of his daughters. A portion of the land which he preempted from the government, is still in the possession of the Crow family.
James F. Patterson was reared at Moundville, West Virginia, where he received his primary education, and, later, attended school in Guernsey county, Ohio. His father died when he was abont fifteen years of age. upon which event he returned to his home and, for a number of years. worked on the home farm. In the year 1869, he came west, to Kansas. and spent a short period at Topeka. In March of 1870. he came to Mont- gomery county. where he located on the quarter section which now con- stitutes his farm and which he paid a squatter $60 to quitelaim. He has reselded here all the intervening years and is regarded with high favor by all of the early residents of the county, as well as a large circle of friends and neighbors of later years.
In the year 1882. Mr. Patterson was, happily, joined in marriage with Matilda, daughter of Jonas and Martha ( Phillips) Groves, of Noble coun. ty, Ohio, where her parents were leading citizens and farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living. as follows: Lewis, Elizabeth May, Isabelle. Frank, Raymond, George E., and Charles. Mr. Patterson is a man of sterling worth and high character and he and his family are regarded with great favor by those who are fortunate with their acquaintance. In political matters, he favors the Populist party, but previous to its birth, be affiliated with the Democratic party. In matters of religion, he is a member of the Lutheran church.
THOMAS A. STEVENS, M. D .- Materia medica is a field which has attracted some of the brightest minds in the history of the race. And
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IHISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
well it may. The problem of "life and death" is one whose solution is of vast importance. The "snapping of the silver thread" is fraught with such tremendous consequences to the individual, that he is feign to draw back from taking the final step, as long as possible. And second only in importance, is the boon of health, to secure which, once lost. fortunes are as feathers in the balance. The physician thus has a field of endeavor boundless as life itself, and whose grave responsibilities challenge his most thoughtful consideration. To this profession, belongs the gentle- man mentioned above, and whose snecess, in his chosen field, has been of the highest order.
Dr. Stevens is a native of Indiana, having been born in the village of Corydon, on the 14th of March, 1856. He comes of a family which is distinguished in the medical world, his father. Dr. Joseph D. Stevens, having been a successful practitioner for the past forty-five years, located at the present time, at Peru. Kansas, He. also, is a native of the "Hoos- ier State" where he married Margaret A. Johnson, of Viconnes. He located in that classic old town. for the practice of his profession, and remained there till 1875. In that year, he came to Kansas, and, select- ing Peru as an available point, has been prominently and helpfully identitied with its municipal life since that time. The parents reared a family of seven children, the mother dying int876. at the age of thirty- seven years. Of this family. Joseph C. was educated to the medical pro- fession and now practices in the Cherokee Nation. Edward M., another son, lives in Pern, with his father and four sisters.
Thomas A. Stevens was the eldest son of this family. His education was that of an ordinary village boy, to which was added the refining influence of a cultured home, and within whose sacred precincts the entire period of adolesence was passed. He preceded the family removal to Kansas, by, a year, arriving at Independence in 1874. He soon went to Sedan, where he taught school. the following three years. Deciding on the medical profession. for his life work. he took courses at the St. Lonis medical school and, also, at the Kansas City Medical College. He received his degree from this latter institution, in 1892, and began the practice, immediately, at Caney, where he has since resided.
Dr. Stevens is a man of varied activities and has been a powerful factor in the development of Caney and the surrounding territory. He has been connected with many of its best enterprises, his latest venture being the establishment of the Caney Sanitarium and Hospital, an insti- tution which bids fair to eclipse anything, in its line, in southern Kansas.
Dr. Stevens has honored himself and the city, by serving two terms -1899-1900-in the office of mayor, and, for the last seven years, has been on the board of education. In political belief. he supports the Democratic party, and is, at present, the clerk of the township, in which he resides.
T. A. STEVENS, M. D
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS. 631
In medical circles, Dr. Stevens holds high rank. He keeps in close touch with his profession, in his own locality, and is a deep student of medical jurisprudence, in its constantly advancing progress. In 1899, he took post-graduate work at the New York Polyclinic, giving especial attention to surgery. He is a valued member of all the different associa- tions of the fraternity, in the state and county, is vice-president of the Caney Valley Medical Society, and holds appointments from the follow- ing old line life-insurance companies: New York Life, Mutual of New York, Home Life of New York, Washington Life of New York, Bankers' Life of Lincoln, Phoenix, Mutual Life of Hartford, Equitable Life, North- western Life of Milwaukee. Dr. Stevens is, also, secretary and was one of the organizers of the American Association of Life Insurance Examin- ing Surgeons, a member of the International Association of Railway Sur. geons, and holds local appointments as surgeon of the A. T. & S. Fe R. R. and K. O. C. & Sw. Ry. As a delegate to the American Medical Associa- tion at St. Paul, in 1901, and at Saratoga, in 1902, he efficiently repre- sented the great west in those bodies.
In May, of 1880, Miss Lnella Sams came to preside over the home of Dr. Stevens. Mrs. Stevens is a native of Illinois, the daughter of Wylie and Lucy Sams, and came to Kansas, with her parents, in girlhood. A family of seven children make the home circle one of cheer and con- tentment. Orto V. is manager of the Truskett Lumber Company of Caney. The other children are: Nora K., Mabel C., Mand A., Frances, Lita and Thomas A.
Possessing the noble attributes of a noble manhood, in a high de- gree, cultured and broadminded, jealous of the good name of his city and its progress, contributing liberally of his time and means to every movement which looks to the uplift of society, Dr. Thomas Stevens has an assured place in the hearts of the people to whom he is giving the best years of his life.
CHARLES SCHAKE-On an elevation, over-looking the country west of Coffeyville, stands the beautiful rural home of Charles Schake. This is one of the finest residence properties within the precincts of Fawn Creek township, and its existence is due to the thrift and enter. prise of the gentleman here named, a self-made man, in the best and truest sense of that term.
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