USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 85
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Our subject was a son of Mark Wilson who was born in Tennessee, but passed his active life in Indiana and Illinois. Ilis death occurred in Montgomery county, Kansas, in 1895 at the age of 71 years. He served under Gen. Taylor and Gen. Scott in the Mexican war and fought at Buena Vista. When the war of the Rebellion came on, he enlisted in August, 1862, as a private in Company "A," 129th., Ill., Vol., Inf., under Capt. Culver. He participated in every engagement of his com- pany during the service and was neither wounded nor captured. He was mustered out in Chicago in June, 1865, a veteran of two wars.
The grandfather of James M. Wilson was Samuel, also a native of Tennessee. His children were: John, Mrs. Elizabeth Whalen, Mrs. Mary Hulbert, Mark and James. Mark married Anna Hedden, of Lawrence Co., Indiana, a daughter of Jerrad and Olive (Spratt) Hedden. The issue of this marriage were: Mrs. Sarah E. Moulton, James M., our subject; Mrs. Olive Scrivens. of Livingston county. III .; Mrs. Nancy J. Hodges, of Montgomery Co., Kansas; John H., Emma G., Furry, Mark, D. William, of Montgomery county, Kansas, and Neatus of Illinois.
In his citizen relations, Mr. Wilson owes fealty to the Democratic party. He was allied with the Fusionists in opposition to the Repub- licans in the closing decade of the ninetenth century and has done public service in the capacity of constable and member of the school board.
W. A. CURTIS, jeweler and optician of Cherryvale, was born in Geneseo county, New York, Feb. 28. 1868. His parents are George A. and Elizabeth Curtis, the latter of whom died in 1871, aged 35 years. She was a native of New York, and was a consistent and devont member of the Methodist church. The father is now seventy years old and lives in Newberg. N. Y. He was a farmer in early life, but in later years has followed other business.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
W. A. Curtis was an only child, and while still a boy, removed with his parents to Dakota, where he attended the common schools and assist- ed his father on the farm. He graduated in 1888, from the Winona Horological School and has since worked at his trade. He is also au optician, holding diplomas in both lines of work. He came to Cherry- vale in 1896, and was at first connected with his father-in-law in the hardware business under the name of the "Cash Hardware Company." After two years, he sold out and then opened his present business under the name of the "Watch Hospital." He keeps a full line of watches, clocks and musical instruments. In one of the worst fires the city has known. his business place was destroyed, with many others. This occurred in 1901, and the property was only partially cov- ered by insurance.
Mr. Curtis is a self-made man in the truest sense of that oft-used term, having begun life with nothing but his trade as his capital. He is a practical workman and takes pride in giving his customers the best there is in finished work at reasonable prices. He is one of the enter. prising business men of the city. His work is of a good grade and he is thoroughly identified with his adopted county, and is numbered among her most worthy citizens.
Mr. Curtis' marriage occurred in 1895, his wife having been Alice Odil, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of J. B. and S. E. Odil, who are residents of Cherryvale. To them have been born Erma Ursula and Irene Elizabeth. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and members of the choir. Mr. Curtis is a member of the Ma- sonic order, also the A. O. U. W. and the Modern Woodmen of America. In political matters he uses his judgment in the selection of the best men on the ticket, regardless of party.
GEORGE W. WAGGONER-One of the busiest men in Montgom- ery, the gentleman to whom the reader is here introduced, is a dealer in horses and mules, farmer and general contractor. Not to know George W. Waggoner is to argue one's self unknown in the county, for there is not a nook or eranny within its corporate bounds with which he is not perfectly familiar. Since 1875, he has been carrying on business in the county, and much of that time he has lived in Independence.
Dipping somewhat into the Waggoner family history, the birth of our subjeet occurred in Cumberland county, Pa., in 1845. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (Strohm) Waggoner, both of whom were natives of that state, and were for long years prominent and influential in the affairs of Cumberland county, especially along religious lines. They were devont Christians, members of the Evangelical Association church, in whose interests they were constant workers, and to whom that or- ganization owes much for the substantial character of their support.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
The earliest recollection of our subjeet is of the itinerant preacher and his hearty welcome at all times in the Waggoner home, where, in the earlier days, services were always held. Later, a church was built by the family and a few neighbors. The parents lived to a ripe old age, the father dying at sixty-tive, and the mother at seventy seven years. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom now survive.
Our subject was reared on a Pennsylvania farm and in 1868, came out to Decatur, Ill., where for a number of years he was engaged in the grocery business and other lines. His father having been a large dealer in stock, Mr. Waggoner had learned much concerning the business, and upon his coming to the county found the knowledge of much service in connection with his farming interests. The county has no better judge of horses or mules than our subject. He owns and operates two fine farms in Drum Creek Twp., and is also engaged in furnishing shale to the brickyard.
Mr. Waggoner's ideas of citizenship do not carry him into the field of politics, though he takes delight in furthering the interests of the Republican party, an organization which has received his support since he began exercising the franchise. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, and he and his family are active members of the M. E. church. His family consists of wife and two children: Gertrude C. is at present with her parents, while Earl Donald is a sophomore at Baker University, where he has made a most. enviable and creditable record as a public speaker, having won several prizes in debate and oratory. His future has much of promise in it. Mrs. Waggoner is a native of Decatur, IN. Prior to September 29, 1874, the date of her mar- riage to Mr. Waggoner, she was Miss Kate M. Stickle, daughter of John Stickle, who reared and educated her most carefully. She was gradu- ated at Jacksonville Female College and for years was a successful teacher in the schools of Decatur. In the social and church life of Inde- pendence she is a potent factor, hor early training being such as to make her competent to fill any position to which she is called.
SIDNEY A. PRATT-For the past two decades the soil of Mont- gomery county has been the richer and the moral tone of her society strengthened by the presence within her borders of the family whose honored head is here mentioned. In an unobtrusive and quiet, but none the less effective manner, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt and their family have exerted a most wholsome influence along lines of good citizenship, and deserve, as they receive, the hearty good will and esteem of their many friends in the county.
Kansas is indebted to the old "Hoosier State" for this contribution to her population, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt both being natives of Parke coun- ty. Mr. Pratt was born there on the 28th of December, 1835, and is the
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
son of James and Olive (Pratt) Pratt, the parents being first cousins. There were seven children in their family-Sidney A., Myron J., of In- dependence, and Emily, Hannah, Lorinda, Phoebe and an infant, deceased. The parents of this family were of the thrifty farmer class of Indiana and passed their entire lives at tilling of the soil, the father dying on the old homestead at seventy-six years, and the mother at the age of fifty- six.
Sidney Pratt followed the occupation of his father until 1884. 1 Parke county. In that year he purchased the farm where he now re- sides, three miles east of Independence, and has since participated act- ively, not only in the enttivation of Montgomery's soit, but in sustaining her educational and religious institutions, and in every movement cal- enlated to elevate the tone of society about him.
The maiden name of Mrs. Pratt was Hetty A. Conner. Samuel and Elizabeth (Deal) Conner, her parents, were pioneers of Parke county, the father having been a carpenter and farmer by occupation. Their family consisted of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are : Susan, who married David Stever, and now lives in Georgia ; Lonisa, wife of James Davis, of Coal City. Ind .; Mrs. Pratt, Allen, of Bedford. Ind .: Mary, dereased, was the wife of George Carson, of Mo- mence. Ils. ; Naney Jane, died at 18 years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have been born seven children, now men and women taking their places creditably in the society of the different com- munities where they reside. Myron Allen is the eldest ; a carpenter in the employ of the C. & E. I. railroad in Illinois. He married Josephine Pilkington, who has borne him four children-Goldie, Cloe. Alma and Herman : Edson A. is an engineer on the C. & E. I., living at Dalton, Il. His wife was Emma Rhodenbangh and his children are : Clyde and Hattie Ellen ; Zina A. is a carpenter living at Kansas City. He married Dora B. Wilson, a native of Ohio, whose four children are : George C., Clara. Mabel and Charles L .; Miram. Wilson, a stenographer in the National Bank of Commerce in Kansas City, married Mattie Cordes, of Inde- pendence, of German parentage; his boy's name is Merwin W .: John S. chose the occupation of his ancestry and lives on the home farm; James is stenographer and assistant cashier in the Union National Bank of Manhattan, Kan. The youngest is Olive W., who married Fred Bru- ington and resides on the home farm with their one son, George Sidney.
The above will serve to note briefly the essential ponts in the history of this excellent family. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are members and liberal supporters of the Methodist church. While our subject has never sought office, he has at times filled positions of trust in his local community. and is a loyal supporter of the principles of government taught by JJeffer- son, the sage of Monticello.
JACOB E. MENSCH.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
JACOB E. MENSCHL-Our attention is directed in the introduction to this sketch to one of the recent settlers and successful farmers of Independence township, Montgomery county. He owns a body of four hundred and forty-seven acres of land, situated on both sides of the Independence and Fawn Creek township line, and his residence is on section 33, township 33, range 15. In February, 1894, this substantial farmer identified himself with this county by actual settlement and im- mediately began a career of usefulness and honor. He was a seffer from Whiteside county, Hlinois, where his birth occurred Sept. 14, 1864. His father, William Mensch, settled in that Illinois locality among the first and was an active and successful tiller of the soil until advancing age forced his retirement to private life. The latter was born in Lan- easter county, Pa., in 1826, and is of German extraction. He married Catherine Leibe, who died in 1893, at the age of sixty seven years. The issue of this union are: Martin J., of Oklahoma; Alfred, of Illinois; Eva, of Omaha, Neb., wife of "Hig" Yates; John, of Whiteside county, Ill .; Alice, who married Milton Miller, of Carroll county, Ill .; Harriet, wife of Royal Pitman, of the home county in Illinois; JJacob E., of this notice; Clarence, of Mason City, Ia .; Laura, now Mrs. John Chalmers, of White- side county, Ill., and Ida, wife of Caleb Shultz, of the same county and state.
Jacob E. Menseb has known no work bit that of the farm. His early training for it was efficient and his energy and industry stand sponsor for its successful continuation. He was schooled fairly in the rural school and began life independently at about eighteen years of age. Ilis first efforts at farming were put forth on "live dollar land," rented from a farmer in his native county. He left Illinois after abont a dozen years of independent effort there and with the requisite means he pur- «based his holdings in Montgomery county, Kansas. Grain and stock raising constitute his farm operations, and his success in these have war- ranted his position as one of the substantial and reliable farmers of his township. His improvements are convenient, commodions and comfort- able and were partially made at his own bebest.
August 21, 1883, Mr. Mensch married Carrie E. Kingsbury, a daugh- tre of Silyus and Alice (Pond) Kingsbury, the father from New York state and The mother a native of Ohio. Mr. Kingsbury died in 1890, at sixty-two years of age and his wife passed away in 1878. at the age of forty-two. Their children were: May, wife of George Edson, of Mont- gomery county, Kansas; Mrs. Mensch, born on the 2d day of December. 1862; Emma, who married Charles Kennedy, and resides in Montgomery county, Kansas, and Joseph C., of West Plains, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Mensch's children are: Cady C., born Jan. 1, 1886; Lester F., born Oct. 4, 1887: Ray S., born Feb. 7. 1893, and Lanren H., born Ort. 23, 1899. The Modern Woodmen holds our subject as a member and he and his wife have certificates in the Royal Neighbors. He is also a member of
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
the A. Il. T. A. He and wife are members of the M. E. church at Jeffer- son, Kansas, and he is a member of school board No. 28.
REV. SAMUEL HENRY-The venerable subject of this review rep resents a calling, the efforts of which are destined to evangelize the workl. Its sacredness and its poteney for good are universally conceded and the tower of our civilization become the agencies for the propaga- tion of the seed. Worthily bestowed was the mantle which fell upon our subject and consecrated him to the cause of the Master, for the harvest time has gathered much fruit from his vineyard and great good has been accomplished in the name of the Lord.
After forty-five years spent in the ministry and with health im- paired, Rev. Henry retired to the quiet of his country home and became a citizen of Montgomery county, Kansas. On his son's homestead of eighty acres, in sections 1 and 32, township 33, range 14, he has passed the years since 1886, ocenpied with the varied duties of active citizenship and with the more commonplace, yet serious, duties of the farm. For five years pastor of the Cedarvale Mission church in Chautauqua county and for two years a representative to the legislature from his own coun- ty, constitute. in substance, his variation from the routine of monotony. on the farm. He owns 160 acres adjoining his son's farm.
Samuel Henry was born in Abbotistown, Adams county, Pa., May 3, 1828. Ile remained a citizen of that county till he was twenty-two years of age. He attended the New Oxford Collegiate and Medical Insti- tute and afterward took the degree of A. M. in the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg. He then took up theological work in the Seminary of the General Synod of the Lutheran church, where he graduated in the full two years course in 1850. Entering the ministry, his first pastorate was at Dillsburg, Pa., where he was in charge of the work of the Luth- eran church. Three years later he was transferred to the same church in Westminster, Carroll county, Maryland. where he labored six years, and was then commissioned to the church at Littlestown. Adams county, Pa. At this point he served the people for ten years, and his efforts re- sulted in the erection of St. Paul's Lutheran church at a cost of $15.000. His next call was to Phillipsburg, New Jersey, as pastor of St. James Lutheran church, and in this field he remained twelve years, going thence to Miflinsburg, Pa., and being four years in charge there. At the request of the Board of Home Missions of the denomination he was sent to Ottawa, Kansas, where he established St. Paul's Lutheran church in 1883, and built the house of worship there. His efforts in this field continued successfully for three years, when, owing to failing health. he resigned his pastorate and retired to his Montgomery county farm.
Having relinquished the work of the ministry, largely. except as a supply and in the Mission church, as above stated, his mind naturally
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
diverted to the serious affairs of citizenship and he became interested in the new policies of government as proposed and advocated by the Farm- ers' Alliance. He esponsed the cause of the reformers and became their standard-bearer for the legislature in 1890, and was easily elected. lle served one form in the lower house and was named for the State Senate, but was defeated by a Republican.
While filling his pastorate at Littlestown, Pa., the battle of Gettys- burg was fonghi and he acted as chaplain of the 145th Pa. troops, spend- ing much of his time for some days in the field hospital there and in adjacent territory under the auspices of the Christian Commission.
Rev. Henry was a son of Joseph R. Henry, of Adams county, Pa., who passed his life largely in the drug business. His father was George Henry, with German and Scotch-Irish blood coursing through his veins. The grandfather married Julia N. Rosenmiller, a blood relative of Com- modore Porter. She was a native of Adams county. Pa., and was the mother of an only child, Joseph R. Henry.
Mary lekes became the wife of Joseph R. Henry. She was a daugh- ter of Peter and Dorothy lekes, Adams county people. Two children resulted from the union of JJoseph R. and Mary Heury, viz: Smauel and Mrs. Dorothy Graff, now deceased.
Nov. 2d. 1850. Roy. Henry married Elizabeth S. Weaver, of Gettys- burg, Pa., a native born Pennsylvanian and a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Eyster) Weaver. The children of this marriage were Mrs. Mary E. Shimer, of Easton, Pa. ; Joseph R., deceased, and William, Mrs. Shimer's children are: Elizabeth, Alberta, Emma, Henry, Lida and John. The children of Joseph, deceased, were: William, Sarah E., Cath- erine M., Ellen M. and Samuel.
By a singular coincidence Rev. and Mrs. Henry were born on the same day, May 3d, 1828, he being eight hours the older. They have passed fifty-three years together under the most sacred vow and the wife has been an over-present aid to her husband in his labors in active. as well as in retired. life. Rev. Henry was prominent in the administra- tive affairs of his church while in the vigor of life and beld the offices of President and Secretary of the East Pennsylvania Synod of the Luth- eran church four years, was President of the Central Synod of Pennsyl- vania for one year and was a delegate to the General Synod al Harris- burg, in 1867.
JOHN F. RINGLE- One of the valnable farms of Cherry township is owned and operated by John F. Ringle of this review. It lies less than three miles from the city of Cherryvale and is, in appearance and pro- Quetiveness, a resultant from the efforts of its dual owners. John F. and Charlotte Ringle. These worthy settlers came to Montgomery county in ISTS, and purchased a farm, paying out nearly all their means for a
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
title to the land. In their circumstances it required some ingennity to keep their little craft afloat, but the combined efforts of husband and wife weathered the storms of drouth and flood and chinch bugs and ac- complished the task of improving their home. This is the farm they have passed twenty-five years of their life on, and it is one of the desir- able and commercially valuable ones of the county.
John F. Ringle was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22, 1845. John and Sophia (Boarts) Ringle were his parents, the father of Westmoreland county, Pa., and the mother of Ohio birth. After their removal to Stark county. Ohio, in 1848, the father learned the stone entter's trade, at which he worked for some years, but becon- ing ultimately, a farmer. He died in Stark county at fifty-three years of age, while his wife still survives, there, and is aged seventy-nine years. Nine of their family of ten children were: Albert, John F., Daniel, Amos, Obediah, who died at four years; Elizabeth, Emma, who also died unmarried ; Mary A. and William.
The district schools of the country provided our subject with the rudiments of an education and he made his home with his parents till he was past his majority. Jannary 4, 1870, he married Charlotte Kep- linger, a native of Stark county, Ohio, and a daughter of Jesse and Re- becca ( Heim) Keplinger, both natives of the Keystone State. The Kep- lingers went to Ohio as children and were married there; Mr. Keplinger being a miller in early life but later a farmer. He was born in 1799 and died in 1855, while his widow survives him in DeKalb county, Indiana, at seventy-three years old. Mrs. Ringle was born Nov. 4. 1848, and is one of four children : Priscilla, who died in infancy ; Charlotte. Rebecca, who died at eleven years, and Josephine.
Mrs. Keplinger married, the second time, Charles Banghman, who died leaving nine children, namely: Mrs. Caroline Panton, Sarah C., Mary A. and Florence E., deceased; Charles, Allen, Marion, Tabitha, de- ceased, and Magdalena.
After the marriage of John F. Ringle he purchased a sixty acre farm in Stark county, Ohio, and was employed with its cultivation till he set ont for Kansas. In their climb upward in Montgomery county Mrs. Ringle's efforts were as valuable in the field as in the home. The misfortunes of the early years added greatly to her distress of mind and such real home-sickness as she experienced never afflicted mortal man. But she nerved herself to the inevitable and in the end found much pleasure in the sacrifices she made.
The Ringle home comprises 160 acres, is adorned with beautiful trees surrounding a commodious two-story residence. Gas serves the household for fuel and it comes from the bowels of the earth just be- neath their own possessions.
Two of their three children Mr. and Mrs. Ringle still have with them ; the other having died in infancy. Those living are : William Edgar,
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
a student of the Baptist College at Ottawa, Kansas, for two years, and a graduate of the State l'uiversity of Kansas. He is now Supt. of the Coffeyville schools and is married to Lillian Newton. Ida Josephine is the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Ringle and is the wife of Pearl Austin Darling and resides on the Ringle homestead. She is a graduate of the Cherryvale high school and was a teacher for four years before she mar- ried. Emma Sophia is the deceased child and was the first bor !.
A. G. MCCORMICK-In the phenomenal development which has been going on in the southern Kansas gas belt, the town of Cherryvale has been a potent factor. It has kept pace with events and, thanks to her enterprising citizens, has reaped a golden harvest. To none more than the gentleman herein named is due a greater degree of credit for this advancement. Mr. McCormick, as President of the Cherryvale Gas Company, and a stockholder in the brick plant, has been instrumental in building up many enterprises in the city, and has shown in numerous ways that he has Cherryvale's interests at heart.
He was born in Perry county, Ohio, April 7, 1844, a son of William and Elizabeth (Johnson) McCormick. The father was a native of Penn- sylvania, the mother of Virginia. He was a farmer and limeburner, and started the town of Maxville, it being built on his land in Perry county. He was widely and favorably known over his part of the state, and died in 1855, at the age of fifty-two years, his wife preceding him. They were members of the Methodist church, and one of the oldest families in the state, being related to the "Harvester" McCormick.
A. G. McCormick is one of nine children. six of whom are living. He was educated in the common schools of the Buckeye State. but his edu- cation was cut short, as in the case of many other loyal boys, by his en- listment in Company "C." 62d O. V. I. He, later, became a member of Company "G," 184th O. V. I., serving two years in the two enlistments. He was discharged at Nashville in 1865.
At the close of the war Mr. Mccormick came to Coffey county. Kan- sas, where he worked on a farm for two years, then took up a claim ou Elk river. After fifteen years residence on this claim he came to Cherry- vale, and engaged in shipping stock, also operating a coal and lumber vard. He sold out in 1886, and then-1889-became connected with the Cherryvale Gas Company, since when he has devoted his energies to the conduct of that company's affairs. Mr. Mccormick is one of the leading business men of the city and takes an active interest in any enterprise which has for its object the building up of Cherryvale. He is a leading member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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