USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 78
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
The life of William L. Prather was influenced by rural environ- ment when he grew up. The common schools provided his education and he remained with the parential home till twenty-four years old. He began an independent career as a farm hand and for five years ho earned a monthly wage as such. He grew into independent farming gradually and the larger portion of his modest accumulations in the Hoosier State was achieved in this way.
November 9, 1884, he was married, being united with Armina Krien- hagen, a daughter of a German settler, Henry Krienhagen, a lifetime farmer. Two sons have been born of their marriage, one of whom, Ora, survives. The latter was born January 8, 1895, and is a promising boy in the second grade in school. Mrs. Prather has performed no small part in the achievements of the family on the prairies of Kansas and the mutual confidence which she and Mr. Prather enjoy is a potent force toward promoting the family welfare.
Mr. Prather has, of late years, participated in Peoples Party poli- ties, is a member of the Modern Woodmen and is a director of school district No. 4, Pleasant Valley. He is a member of the A. II. T. A.
GRANT HAINLINE. Among the younger element of the business men of Cherryvale and a gentleman who has shown his spirit and in- terest in his town is Grant Hainline, the gentleman mentioned in the introduction to this notice. The east side feed-mill knows him as its proprietor and he has been so connected since he succeeded Henry A. Lowman, its founder, in 1899.
MeDonough county. Illinois, was the native place of Mr. Hainline
686
ITISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
and his birth occurred January 2, 1864. His father, George W. Hain- line, was a pioneer to that locality and is now living within five miles of his original place of settlement. He was born in Kentucky in 1825, and in 1830, his father became a settler of MeDonough county in the Prairie State. The latter was a farmer, as were his posterity, and passed away in the vicinity of where he made his last settlement.
George W. Hainline passed his life in pursuits of the field and can be said to have made a success of life. He was a plain quiet citi- zen and reared a large family of children by his marriage with Mary J. Keithley, an Indiana lady, born in 1828, and died in 1892. Their issue were: Nathan T., of Hutchinson, Kansas; Thomas, of MeDonongh county, Illinois; Frank, of Knox county, Missouri; Jacob, of lowa; Seth, of Knox county, Missouri; Oliver, of the home county in Illinois; Grant, our subject; Sherman, of Davisville, California, and Ida, who has ro- cently married.
Grant Hainline learned the ways and the work of the farm under parental guidance and at twenty-one years took up the responsibili- ties of life. His edneation was acquired in the country school and when he established himself and took np life's serious affairs, it was as a farmer in Knox county, Missouri. Later, he went to Neosho county where he became the owner of a farm, which he sold to come to Kan- sas. in 1899. In April of that year, he located in Cherryvale and has since been actively engaged in manufacturing and handling feed. He owns other property than his mill and is one of the promoters of one of the promising oil and gas companies of the community. The Farmers' Oil, Gas and Mineral Company, in which he is interested, has done some effective and valuable development work and gives much promise of good returns to its proprietors and investors.
December 24, 1885, Mr. Hainline married Lona Lee Benner, a daughter of David Benner, who settled in Knox county, Missouri, From Virginia. Mrs. Hainline was born in Knox county in 1868 and is the mother of six children, namely: Willis V., Clarence and Elza, deceased; Lena, George W. and Theodore R.
Mr. Hainline's people are Republicans, as he is himself. taking a good citizen's interest in the welfare of his party and his town.
PERRY F. BROWN, a farmer six miles from Elk City, is a son of James and Nancy (Herrell) Brown and a grandson of Turner Brown of Virginia. The parents of Mr. Brown were born and reared in the Old Dominion State and later moved out to Illinois, where they resided during the remainder of their lives, the father having died while on a visit to our subject in 1874.
Perry was given a good common school education in his home school and continued to help his parents on the farm until he was nineteen
637
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
years of age. He then started out to see the world for himself and having become acquainted with the cooper's trade at home, pursued that in getting a start in life. In 1847. he was joined in marriage to Elizabeth Cottrell. They are the parents of twelve children, ten of whom were born in fowa, where they settled shortly after marriage, and two were born in Missouri. Nancy, the eldest, was born October 9, 1848, married Daniel Jones and resides in Missouri; their children are: Anna, Bertha, Francis, Daniel, Myrtle and Gracie; William F., born October 15, 1849, married Genevieve Moorhead and their six chil- dren are-Mary, Ethie, Marian, Lavetta, Walter and Carrie; Robert, born February 20, 1851, died February 15, 1872; Elizabeth, born Jan- uary 30, 1852, died Jannary 7, 1853; David W., born July 15, 1851, mar- ried Jane Lockett. and resides in the Indian Territory with their chil- dren-Elmer, Duard, Andrew, Earl, Roxy, Angie and Clarence; Addi- son P., born April 24, 1856, married Lucy Hayward and lives in Okla- homa with their children-Robert, Cyrus. Nora and Bessie; Susannah, born June 1, 1858, is the wife of John Jeter; Mary A., born February 29, 1860, died October 11, following; Stephen A. Douglass, born July 31, 1861. died November 3, 1882: Sidney M., born July 15. 1863. married Frankie Donghtry; they live in the Indian Territory with their two children, Alice and Ernie; John, married Susie Gastineau and lives on the old home place with their two children-Vada and Verna; Alfretta, born January 1. 1870, married J. Samuel Orr, and resides at Havana, this county. They have one child. Elsie May.
After a long life of splendid helpfulness in the home, the mother of these children passed to her rest, on Novembre 2, 1902, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. She was a woman of many beautiful qualities, had a kind, sympathetic disposition and was a true mother to the large family of children who now, together with the husband, mourn her most sincerely.
After a residence of eighteen years in Davis county, Iowa, and six years in Schuyler Co., Mo., Mr. Brown removed with his large family. in 1872, to Montgomery county, Kansas, where he has since been one of the solid men in the community in which he lives. Ife and his family have been very helpful in the educational and religious life of the different communities where they resided, having been life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In political matters, Mr. Brown has been a supporter of the Dom- ocratie party, but has not aspired at any time to office. The high char- acter of his citizenship makes him a man worthy .of representation in this volume, devoted as it is to the mention of the worthy class of citi- zens of the county.
ARTHUR E. PAGE. The subject of this brief notice has per- formed an honorable part in the up-building and development of the
688
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
domestic affairs of Montgomery county. He has passed nineteen years within its borders and a second homestead is yielding to his magie touch and in a new township he is establishing his good name.
Arthur E. Page is descended from American antecedents but for many years the family lived under another dag and owed allegiance to another nation. During the early years of the century just passed Josiah Page, father of our subject, was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada. His father settled there from the State of New York and had other children, as follows: John, Timothy, Mrs. Melvina Robinson and Mrs. Annie Reed. Josiah E. Page married Salina Robinson, a native of Joliet county, Canada, and a daughter of James Robinson and wife, of Scottish and Canadian birth, respectively.
Josiah E. and Salina Page passed their lives in the Queen's Amer- ican dominions and reared nine children, namely: John E., of Ore- gon; Emeline, deceased; Arthur E., our subject; Mrs. Emily J. Eng- land. of Canada East; Mrs. Emma A. Stephens, of Boston. Massachu- setts; William H., of Norton county, Kansas; Mrs. Ency E. Glenney, of Fall River, Massachusetts; Herbert, of Canada. and Benjamin, of Boston, Massachusetts. The parents of this family of children were of the Episcopal faith and in his active and more vigorous life the father was a lumber-camp foreman and was also Deputy Sheriff of Joliet county, Canada East.
July 17, 1848, Arthur E. Page was born in Joliet county, Quebec. lle remained with the parental home till past his majority, when he left Canada and sought the United States. He went out into the world with a country school education and learned to work while doing duty on the farm of his boyhood. He first stopped in the United States at Dubuque, Iowa, and did farm work there till he had earned sufficient means to carry him to Poweshick county, lowa, where, at Deep River, he took up farm work and continued it as a farm hand for four years. in the spring of 1873, he went to Clay county, Nebraska, purchased a claim right, entered the land and was occupied with its cultivation and improvement till 1884, when he left that semi-frontier region and songht the fertile and more reliable country of eastern Kansas. He purchased a quarter section of land in Rutland township, Montgomery county, -and, during the next eighteen years, doubled its area and sold one of the "desirable farms in the township, when he disposed of his place in October, 1902. In this time he had also acquired a tract of land in West Cherry township, which he still owns, thus marking his as one of the successful careers among Montgomery county farmers. In March. 1903, he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Independence township, in section 6, township 32, range 15, which he is converting into a desira- ble home.
In the year 1874, Mr. Page married Sarah E. Garr, whose parents were Robert L. and Louisa Y: (Snyder) Garr, natives of Virginia and
M. ASHBY AND WIFE.
689
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
Kentucky, respectively. Mrs. Page was born in Johnson county, In- diana, Sept. 28, 1850, and is the mother of Robert J., who married Cora A. Mills and has a child, Helen B .; Elmer E., who married Minnie V. Higgins, is a clerk in Scott's store at Independence. Kansas; Homer W., and Oren E., who married Tula F. Greer, are both with the parental home.
As an instance of what determination and perseverance, coupled with ample physical vigor, will accomplish, it is in place to state that when Mr. Page reached Poweshick county, lowa, he had but "fifty cents to his name." His property acquirements have all resulted from the individual efforts of himself and his devoted wife and modestly stand as an achievement worthy to be emulated. In politics Mr. Page was first a Democrat and then a Populist. He was township Treas- urer two terms in Rutland and member of the school board twelve years. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
MILTON ASHBY is a leading farmer and old soldier of Chero- kee township and was born in Vermillion county, 11., on the 27th of October, 1846. His father's name was James Ashby, a native of Bour- bon county, Kentucky, and his mother was Sarah 1. Blakeney of the same state. When small children, their parents moved to Ilinois-in 1829-where James lived and died in Georgetown township, Vermillion county, within half a mile of where they first settled. His death of- curred at the age of seventy-two, but his wife is still living and is sey- enty-six years old.
Five of the children of James and Sarah Ashby are living. Pleas- ant Ashby, traveling agent; Eliza Milner, resident of Indiana: Martha Doop and Emma Smith, both of Montgomery county, and Milton, the subject of this sketch, who is the first born. Milton Ashby was reared in Vermillion county, Ill., and his education was received in the old fashioned log school house. In this school house there were not the new patent seats of today, but those made of split logs, whose polish was not attained at the factory, but by contact with "jeans and homespum" for many years.
When the war was on he enlisted. February 4th, 1865, in Company E, 150th Ill. Vol. Inft., and served till after the close of the war. Ile would have entered the army sooner, but his age prevented, and he was held over until the 2nd of February, 1866. After the war Was over he returned home, and stayed with his parents on the farm.
His marriage occurred August 28, 1870. His wife was Mary M. Graves, a native of Vermillion county, Il .. and a daughter of Levi Il. and Matilda (Cook) Graves. After his marriage, he bought eighty acres of land and cultivated it for ten years. In 1884, he sold his farm and .came to Kansas, and bought eighty acres, three miles northeast of Cof-
690
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
feyville, where he now resides. There was only a small frame house on the farm where they lived till the new house was erected, which they now occupy. This is large and commodious, with modern conveniences and contains eleven rooms, heated and lighted with natural gas. Be- sides this beautiful home, there is a large barn and good out buildings, also lighted by gas. This whole farm is an up-to-date one, everything being kept in good repair. Land has been added to the original eighty, until now the estate comprises three hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Ashby has in his possession the first tax receipt he ever re- ceived, which amounted to sixty cents, a sum somewhat less than his present annual tax. On the farm he keeps a variety of stock-cattle. horses and hogs.
In polities Mr. Ashby is a Republican, and has served successively as treasurer of the township two terms, and trustee one term.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashby have four children living: Lillie 1., wife of D. A. Jones, of Coffeyville; James L., a farmer; Alva M., also a farmer in the county; Maud, the wife of Edwin Peterson, living at home with her parents, and Bertie, who died at three years of age.
JOSEPH S. HAMER, manager of the Cherryvale Grain and Live Stock Association, and one of the energetic and enterprising citizens of that progressive borough, is a native of the "Buckeye State," born in Logan county, October 7, 1854. His father, Joseph Hamer, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania and at maturity married Elizabeth Clingerman, a native of the Keystone State. The father was, during life, a well-to-do and successful farmer and stock shipper. He passed the greater portion of his life in Ohio, but in 1889, came to Kansas and settled in Wilson counts, near Lafontain. Here he resided and engaged in farming un- til 1896, when he became an inmate of the home of our subjeet in Cherryvale, and during a visit to a son in Ohio, sickened and died at the age of sixty nine years. His wife still resides with our subject and is a woman of strength and spirit at seventy-three years of age. To these parents were born six children, but two of whom are now liv- ing; a son, Daniel A., residing in Ohio, and Joseph S., of this sketch.
Mr. Hamer, being the son of well-to-do parents, was given a lib- eral education. After the country school he attended the Ada Normal School and from there went to the National Normal School of Lebanon, O. To this literary training was then added a course at a commercial college in St. Louis. Mr. Hamer did not, as is too often the case with young men who are favored in matters of education, con- neet himself with city life, but returned to Ohio and engaged in farm- ing, an occupation which he followed with success in that state until 1883, when he came out to southern Missouri and continued there quite extensively in the raising of stock. In 1889, he accompanied the fam-
691
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
ily to Wilson county, as before given, and was there engaged until the fall of 1893. This date marks his coming to Cherryvale, where he engaged in the buying and shipping of grain, a business in which he has made a great success.
In 1902. Mr. Hamer interested himself in the formation of the present stock company, which is organized and chartered under the laws of Kansas. They purchased a large elevator near the "Frisco" depot and are now extensively engaged in handling all kinds of grain. The company has a capital of $6,000 which is held in 600 shares, paid up in full. The officers of this association are: S. D. Oliphant, Presi- dent : W. H. Crowl. Vice President ; Jobn Givens, Treasurer, and Joseph S. Hamer, Secretary and Manager. The enterprise was instituted June 7 of 1902, and, fifteen days later, the stock was all paid in and the association was ready for business. Being a home enterprise by home people, it is gratifying to note that its stock advanced since its issuance some 100 per cent. This is largely due to the earnest work of The efficient secretary and manager of the association, whose stand- ing in business circles and whose business sagacity are of the highest order.
The marriage of Mr. Hamer was a happy event. occurring Feb- ruary 8, 1883, af Reading, Mich. The maiden name of Mrs. Hamer was Agnes Comestock. She was a native of the Empire State and was a oughter of Samuel and Amanda Comestock, both now deceased. She brame the mother of a daughter, Edna O., and at the age of thirty- fie years, October 22. 1897, passed to her rest. She was a woman of sterior attainments and a consistent member of the M. E. church. In May of 1901, Mr. Hamer again entered the matrimonial state, be- ingjoined to Miss Blanche Baughman. Mrs. Hamer is a native of the Hooier Stafe, but was reared in Topeka, Kansas, whither her parents move during her childhood. Thomas and Catherine Baughman, of To- peka, Kansas, are her parents.
WILLIAM H. COLEMAN, one of the pioneers of Montgomery l'e., and oneof its largest land owners, was born in Marion county, Ohio, May 31. 24S. His parents were James and Nancy (Davis) Coleman, the father drig in lowa in 1868, at the age of sixty-two.
Jameswas the son of John Coleman and the second of three chil. dren : Harron, James and Nathaniel. The family of James Coleman con- sists of fontchildren: Joab, who died at the age of twenty-two: Sarah A. Shuler, absident of California ; Thomas J., who died in the army, and William H., te subject of this sketch.
William } Coleman lived in Marion county, O., until he was nine years of age, hen he moved with his parents to Van Buren county, Ta. Here he remained until his nineteenth year. when, in January, 1864,
692
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
he enlisted in Co. "G," 3rd Ia. Cav., under Col. John W. Noble, Gen. Wilson's Div. of Sherman's army on the Mississippi. During his service he was most of the time doing scout duty and hunting Bushwhackers. He participated in the following battles: Selma, Alabama, and Colom- bus, Georgia. Ile was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., in 1865, and re- turned to his Iowa home, where he remained for a number of years.
On the 22nd of August, 1866, Mr. Coleman married Sarah .1. Hill, a daughter of John and Armilda (Harper) Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Cole- man came to Crawford county, thence to Labette county, and after- ward to Montgomery county, Kans .. in 1870. They came overland, their mode of travel being a wagon drawn by an ox team, which Mrs. Cole- man drove. Mr. Coleman rode a saddle pony and gave his attention to a herd of nine head of Texas steers which he drove through to their new home. His original purchase of land consisted of 80 acres near Elk City.
Nino children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Coleman: William F., of California, who married Emmaretta Hansford and whose chil- dren are: Ira M., Anna M., Olive C., William, Herbert. Jessie and Josie. twins, and Alfred; the second child. Armilda A. Harley, has three chil- dren: James, Perey and Gertrude; George S., who married Cora Mil- ler, resides in Montgomery county, and his children are : Gertrude. Mabel and John; Mrs. Clara B. Williams, whose children number four: Wil liam, Emery C., Ola P. and Isaac O .; Mrs. Emma Hutchinson, whos: only son is William A .; Cland IT., married Ethel Cook and resides u California, with three children : Edith, Ruey and Russell; Stanley, wio died at the age of sixteen ; Gordon H., at home; and Mrs. Flossie Slaer, who resides in Summer county. Kans .. and has one child, Sarah A.
William H. Coleman, having been reared in the great middle vest, has done much to aid in the development of the far west in an arly day. He traveled in the most primitive way from California to Alabama. Following the flag of the north, he fought for the extermination if ou greatest national evil and the preservation of his country. Now, at an advanced age, he is content to pass the remainder of his days with his wife in their comfortable home, and in the evening of life, an look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
WILLIAM B. PARSONS, Cherryyale, Yard Master for the Santa Fe railroad, was born in Allen county, Kansas, near Iola, Jay 5. 1859. His father was Henry D. Parsons, his mother Harriet Todd, the for- mer a native of Texas and the latter of Missouri. The father was a representative farmer and stock dealer, lived here whie the country was yet a territory, was a trader among the Indians, and thus saw the state in its primitive condition. He was a Lieutenant ina volunteer reg-
693
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
iment during the Civil War, and had served as a private in the Mexican War. He was a member of the Christian church, his wife of the Meth- odist; both are now deceased. Their family consisted of three sons and four daughters, all of whom are living.
William B. Parsons was educated in the Jola schools. After leav- ing school he worked on the farm until 1880, when he engaged as a brakeman on the St. L., Ft. S. & W. Ry., in which position he served for one and one-half years. He then seenred a position as conductor on the same raitroad, retaining the run for two years. He then changed from this road to the Southern Kansas, accepting a brake- man's place, but soon receiving promotion to conductor. Tiring of the road service, Mr. Parsons entered the shops as a carpenter, and for three years was thus engaged. The "singing of the rails," however, was music that could not be forgotten, and again he got nearer the track, this time as a switchman on the same road. His present responsible position came to him in 1896.
Mr. Parsons has been a resident of Cherryvale since 1887, and has been a popular and helpful citizen, being at the present writing a mem- ber of the school board.
Marriage was an event of 1881, with our subject. when he was hap- pily joined with Miss M. J. Coulter, a native of Ohio and a daughter of W. I. Coulter, of Chanute, Kan. To Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have been born three children, namely: Raymond F., Floyd D. and Fred F. For a number of years prior to her marriage, Mrs. Parsons was one of the efficient and popular teachers in the schools of Neosho county.
Mr. Parsons is a member of the Masonic order, of the A. O. N. W .. and of the Order of Railway Conductors. The above record shows him to have been in the employ of the Santa Fe for some seventeen years. a period, the length of which, attests the measure of his value. He is a worthy citizen and has a lively interest in all enterprises which prom- ise outcome for the community in which he lives.
GEORGE HARRISON. A pioneer resident of Elk City and rep- resentative citizen of the county is the gentleman whom we here men- tion, and who has been one of the wheel-horses in the development of both. Of late years he has been engaged in the tin-smithing business Mr. Harrison is a gentleman of undoubted integrity and has always held a high place in the esteem of his many friends. He has served the city in the Mayor's chair and in the common council and in many ways has proved his right to the title of "representative citizen."
Mr. Harrison is a native of Overton county, Tenn., born on the 25th of November, 1848. Ilis parents were William C. and Sarah C. (Hopkins) Harrison, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Kentucky. They were farmers by occupation and resided their entire lives on the
694
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
farm where Mr. Harrison was born on the 7th of June, 1813. His death occurred May 15, 1891. The mother was born October 26, 1836, and died November 26, 1863. They were the parents of four children, our subject being the eldest. Polly married J. M. Clark and is now deceased. J. H. resides in Newark, Texas. Pleasant is a farmer, cultivating the home farm.
George Harrison was reared to hard labor on the farm, using his winters in the acquirement of a good education. By the time he was of suitable age, he was well enough equipped to enter the school room as an instructor, and for several years followed that occupation success- fully in Tennessee and Kentucky, his last work of that nature having been done after his coming to Montgomery county, teaching two terms in the 100th district. He then followed farming until 1881. in which year he came to Elk City and engaged with the elevator people for three years. He then changed the character of his occupation and learned the finner's trade, which he has followed successfully since that time. He is an excellent workman and adds to the dignity of labor by the character which he sustains in the community. He takes a lead- ing part in the social and religious life of the city, he and his wife being active members of the Christian and Baptist churches respectively, in which he is an Elder and has served acceptably as Superintendent of the Sabbath School. He is Secretary of the Masonic lodge and is also a member of the Woodmen. His political preferences lie with the Demo- cratie party.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.