USA > Kansas > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Kansas > Part 92
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In the Spring of 1889. in connection with W. A. Lang, he established a bindery in connection with the Star and Kansan office. and engaged in the publication of city directories. This institution was removed to Pueblo, Colorado, in the fall of the same year, and in June. 1890, owing to impaired health, Mr. Young also removed. with his family, to Colorado, where he became president of the Caetus Printing Company at Pueblo. Ile remained there until September, 1892, when he sold the Star and Kansan property to Charles T. Errett, who had been conduct- ing it for him since he left Independence. He then removed to Cali- fornia, but remained there only until January, 1893, when he returned to Independence and repurchased the Star and Kansan of Mr. Errett.
In 1894, Mr. Young became a convert to the doctrines of socialism, and he has ever since advocated the public ownership of the means of production and distribution, to the end that they may no longer be used to enrich the idler at the expense of the toiler. Convinced that capitalism, or the private ownership of the wealth which is so largely the creation of the community and which would be impossible of attain- ment by the solitary individual, ought to be abolished, in order that those who ereate wealth may have the privilege of enjoying it, and that a system which enables the few to live in unearned luxury, while the masses toil for a bare living, is indefensible and ought to be sup- planted by something better he entered the ranks of the Populist party. and became an active advocate of the most radieal reforms in government. His articles along economie lines have had a wider cir- enlation than almost any others that have been written in Kansas, and have been republished from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The Star and Kansan at once took rank as one of the leading reform papers of the state, and in 1896 its editor was not only made a delegate to the state and district conventions of the Populist party, but was sent
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to St. Louis as a delegate in the National convention. Subsequent- ly, in August of the same year, he was nominated for the state sen- ate by the Populists and endorsed by the Bryan Democrats. He engaged actively in the campaign, speaking all over the county and was elected by a majority of 356.
In the legislative session of 1897, he formulated an initiative and referendum amendment to the state constitution, which he championed so successfully that it received the necessary two-thirds vote in the senate, although it was defeated in the house. He also revised the Australian ballot law, as chairman of the senate elections committee, and secured the enactment of a new law which saved fifty thousand dol- lars to the taxpayers in a single election-albeit some of that money would have found its way into his own pocket as a ballot printer, had the old law stood.
Every measure in line with the principles for which the Populist party had been contending received his hearty support, and he was especially strenuous in his advocacy of a maximum-rate railroad bill, and of the law which was enacted to promote city ownership of water and lighting plants.
In 1898, owing to an uncongenial partnership formed the previous year with A. T. Cox, in the publication of the Star and Kansan, he was compelled to appeal to the courts for the appointment of a receiver for that institution, and the division of the property. At the sale, the office was bid in by Mr. Cox, and a month later, on June 1st, 1898, Mr. Young established The Kansas Populist at Independence, which he has since conducted.
At the special session of the legislature in December, 1898, just at the close of Governor Leedy's term, he introduced a bill to establish a local initiative and referendum for cities and counties, but the measure failed to secure the support of the members of the Populist party, who a year before, had been solidly lined up for the initiative and referen- dum amendment. At the regular session in 1899, he drew up and championed a law for a graduated inheritance fax, which passed the senate almost unanimously, but was killed by a committee of the house, which was then Republican.
In 1900, he was a delegate to both the state conventions of the Populist party, and to the national convention at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was a member of the platform committee at both the state conventions that year, and its chairman at Fort Scott. The plat- forms adopted were largely the work of his pen, both at Ft. Scott in 1900, and at Topeka in 1902.
In the spring of 1902, he was elected a member of the Board of Education of Independence city, having been nominated on the Republi- ran ticket in the first ward and but a single dissenting vote was cast in the entire poll. His nomination by that party was a compliment from
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
his political adversaries that testifies to the estimation in which he is held by his nearest neighbors.
WALTER JJ. REARDON-Among the leading representatives of the agricultural class in Liberty township, the biographer found the gentleman above mentioned. He has already made for himself a per- manent place in the esteem of the community in which he resides. He lives on a farm of 160 acres located one mile from the town of Liberty.
Noting briefly the points in the ancestral history of Mr. Reardon, he is the son of Jolm and Ellen (Ryland) Reardon. John Reardon was born near Oswego, New York, in 1821, and died on the 9th of March, 1875. Ilis wife was born in Shelby county, Tenn., in 1829, and died in Lafayette county. Mo., in May. 1882. They were married in Iowa and farmed in that state until 1859, when they removed to JJackson county, Missouri. The fierce political turmoil of that time was such as to make it an undesirable place of residence and they returned to lowa, where they settled at Dubuque, and where they lived until the close of the war. They then, again, came to Missouri and took up their residence in Saline county. After two years they removed to Lafayette county in the same state, where the husband died as stated.
There are four children now living: Ellen, the wife of James Wil- liver, residing in Lafayette county, Missouri; the second child was our subject; the next youngest is John M., who lives in Ray county, Mis- souri; the youngest is Maggie, who married J. W. Button, a farmer living in Oklahoma.
Walter J. Reardon was born in Mills county, Iowa, on the 27th of March, 1859. He made the different moves with the family as noted above, receiving his education for the most part in Lafayette county, Mo. Hle came to Montgomery county in 1878, and in 1887, married Min- nie M., daughter of James H. and Harriet (Richards) Tole, farmers of the township. The family which our subject has reared consists of six children: Walter Granville, born February 10, 1889; James Donald, born October 17th, 1891; AAllie Ruth, born February 2nd, 1894; Minnie Beatrice, born April 22nd, 1897; Chester II., born May 26th, 1900. and Velma, born February 2nd, 1903. Mr. Reardon aided his mother in the cultivation of the home farm until April, 1878, when he came to Kansas and, in 1897. purchased the farm on which he now resides, containing one hundred and sixty acres. He devotes this land to general farming and stock raising and is fast becoming one of the leading farmers of his section of the county. He is regarded as an authority on matters of agriculture and is especially noted for his knowledge of good stock. While a large number of his neighbors have yielded to the solicitation of the oil and gas companies and have leased their farms for long periods for gas and oil purposes, Mr. Reardon has thought it to be
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good policy to withstand such temptations, reasoning that if it is worth so much to these companies it is certainly worth more to him. Mr. Reardon has never taken any very active part in the public life of the community but can always be counted on to support by his vote the policy of the Democratic party. The standing of himself and family in the community is of the best and the esteem in which they are held is uniform.
HOMER OVERHEISER-The gentleman whose name precedes this paragraph is one of the younger element doing business in the county seat town of Independence. A teacher of marked ability for a unmber of years prior to his engaging in mercantile life, his present flattering success is all the more creditable, for it is said that the rather hum-drum existence of the teacher's life unfits one for business. As a member of the large dry goods house known as The Overheiser-Anderson Mercantile Company, our subject is making rapid strides toward a leading position in the business world.
Mr. Overheiser is a Hoosier by nativity, having been born in Rush county, April 15, 1865, the son of Charles and Mary J. (Bates) Overheiser. Both of these parents are natives of Indiana, from which state they removed in 1885, to a farm in Montgomery county. After cultivating this farm for a number of years, Mr. Overheiser moved his family into town and began a mercantile business. This not proving to his liking, he sold out and took up the occupation of his youth, that of earpentering, and in which he is now engaged in the eity. Mr. Overheiser is a gentleman of rugged traits of character which secure him in a high degree the esteem of his fellow citizens. Ile and his wife are both members of the church, he of the Advent and she of the Christian. Besides our subject, the only other child is a sister, now living with them in their home. Mrs. Cora Jones.
Homer Overheiser was educated in the schools of Indiana and Kan- sas, and after securing all that the district schools were able to give him, he went for several terms to the State Normal at Emporia. Here he became enthused with the idea of becoming a teacher and for three years succeeding, taught successfully in the schools of the state. Hix father desiring to quit the mercantile business, it afforded him an opportunity of leaving the schoolroom, though it can be said with truth that he left the profession with sincere regrets, having found it a field much suited to his tastes, and one of which he will ever have pleasant remembrances. This change in Mr. Overheiser's life occurred in 1893, and the decade that has passed has opened up a new and enlarged views of life to him. For two years the father continued to hold an interest in the business, then the firm name was changed to that of Overheiser & Anderson by the admission of Mr. Anderson. The present
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
style of the firm dates from the year 1895. The house carries a very large stock of dry goods and notions, shoes and millinery goods and enjoys a trade second to none in the city. Prompt and obliging service, together with a full guarantee as to the high character of their goods, has built up a business in which the gentlemen who compose the firm have a just pride, and to which they are giving their best energies.
Mr. Overheiser is as yet a single man. He holds membership in the Christian church, in which organization he is an active worker, being at the present time one of the Deacons of the church. In fraternal affiliation he meets with the Modern Woodmen, and politically, aims to support the best man and the best measures regardless of party. The esteem in which he is held by all classes in the community is uniformly high, and judged by the solid character of his past, the future is indeed one which seems to hold naught but good in store for him.
H. H. HARE-Among the representative citizens of Montgomery county the author of this volume takes pleasure in presenting the name of Mr. H. II. Hare, stock buyer and farmer, with residence at Elk City. He is widely and favorably known in every part of the county and is justly regarded as one of the most substantial of its citizens.
In passing briefly over the history of the Hare family we note that it was found in North Carolina, covering an indefinite period up to the beginning of the 19th century, at which date the father of our subject, B. F. Hare, moved over into Kentucky, where he was joined in marriage to Mary DeBard. He was a farmer by occupation and con- tinned to till the soil of that state until 1839, when he removed his family to Illinois, and, later, to Johnson county. Mo. Here Mother Hare died in 1871, at fifty-one years of age, and a few years later the father came to reside with our subject ; his death occurring in 1894, at seventy-eight years. These parents are held in blessed memory by their large family of children, they having been splendid examples of the proverbial pioneer, upon whose honesty, integrity and patriotism were built the institutions which are the glory and wonder of the civilized world. They were both active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their home was always open to the itinerant brothern of that faith. Nothing could surpass the intense feeling of patriotism exhibited by them during the long struggle over slavery, both prior to and during the war. They were ready at all times to make any sacrifice or to hear any burden which might weaken its hold on the country. When the dread echoes of "war's harsh tocsin" reverberated from hill to dale they freely gave of their life's blood to their country, no less than five sons and two sons-in-law going to the front in defense of "Old Glory." They were the parents of thirteen children-George W .. of Pittsburg, Kansas, who served four years in the 45th th .: Elizabeth,
.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
Mrs. Alexander MeCowen, now deceased; Marmaduke. a farmer in Mis- souri, who served eighteen months in the same regiment as our subject ; Jurella, Mrs. Casper Glotfelder, of this county, whose husband served four years in the same regiment; Catherine, widow of David Glotfelder, this county, who also served in the 86th Ill. Inf., and died of sickness at Nashville in 1863; H. H., our subject; Jefferson, a farmer in Missouri, who served three years in the 86th Ill. regiment; JJames, of Bloom- ington, Il., served in the 11th., IH .; Margaret, widow of Irvin Come, of Clinton, Mo .; derusha, Mrs. David Patton, of Sedalia, Mo .; Mary, deacesed wife of John Foreman; Angusta of Caney, Kan .. and Thomas deceased in childhood.
IJ. H. Hare was born in Peoria county, ID., March 9, 1842. ITe attended school and worked on the home farm until his enlistment in AAugust of 1862, in Co. "K," 86th TH. Inf. He served through the entire war, his discharge at Chicago, dating in June. 1865. The S6th became a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and it was first under fire at the battle of Perryville. Beginning then with Chickamauga, the regiment followed the fortunes of war through the Atlanta campaign to the sea, thence up through the Carolinas. It was present when Col. Anderson put "Old Glory" back on Fi. Sumpter, and was in line of battle when Johnston surrendered. It participated in the Grand Review at Wash- ington and then its members, conseions of having done their whole duty to their country, turned their faces toward "home, sweet home."
The subsequent life of our subject has been that of the straight-for- ward representative citizen, faithful to every trust reposed in him and bearing his share of the burdens which society imposes upon its mem- bers. Be farmed in Johnson county, Mo., for three years after the war, then came to Montgomery county, and after cultivating a claim for several years, went to buying stock. He has, for twenty years, been one of the largest shippers in the county and is also interested in farming.
Mary C., daughter of Willis and Achsah (Kinsley) Ball, and a native of Hamilton county, became the wife of our subject September 2. 1866. Her people were farmers, the father a native of Kentucky, the mother of New York State. Both are now deceased, the father dying at 54 years in Illinois, in 1863, the mother coming out to Kansas, where she died at the home of her daughter in 1895, at seventy-six years of age. The par- ents were both highly respected residents of Illinois, and were consistent members of and workers in the M. E. church. Of their ten children, but five still survive: Emma, Mrs. John Jackson, of Washington; Amanda, widow of James Turner, of Denver; Mrs. Hare, John, Ames and Abra- ham, now a resident of California.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hare were born 5 children, as follows: William, of Elk City, married Rosa Dristill-her child, JJames Henry; Herbert HI., a clerk in Elk City; J. W. D., a student; Junie, died young, and Enid, who died in infancy.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS.
Mr. and Mrs. Hare are helpful members of society in their com- munity. always ready to engage in any service looking to the uplifting of humanity. Mrs. Hare is a member of the M. E. church, while Mr. Hare affiliates with the Woodmen, and is, of course, an honored member of the (. A. R. In political faith he supports the policies of the Republican party.
BENJAMIN M. KENDALL-To the enterprising spirit of the busi- ness men of Elk City, is due, in a large measure, the splendid progress made by that municipality, and it is not hard to divine its future if the same men continue to shape its affairs. Though not a member of this business circle many years, the gentlemen above named has proved his right to be numbered among the most enterprising, and the drug birsi- ness which he conducts so ably, reflects its share of credit on the busi- ness section.
Mr. Kendall is a native Kansan, born in Mitchell county, August 4, 1879, the son of Edwin N. and L. C. Kendall. The parents were na- tives of New Hampshire, coming to Kansas with the tide of Free State men who threw themselves into the struggle for freedom with such zest in the fifties, and who lived to see the state the first to enter the I'nion free-born by the suffrages of her own people. They settled on a farm in Mitchell county, where they were, for many years, prominent in the development of that county in both a moral and material senso.
During the war, Mr. Kendall served in the 19th Kan., Cav., the regiment which was formed to bunt down the abductors of Mrs. Morgan and Miss White, an outrage which caused profound excitement at the time. After a two years' chase. they were finally rescued from their brutal captors.
Mr. and Mrs. Kendall reared a family of five children, the mother dying in Beloit in September of 1901. After her death, the father came to Elk City, where he now resides. They were both consistent adherents of the Christian Science faith. The names of the children follow : Mary, Mrs. John Hunter, of Scottsburg, Kansas, children-Crystal, Carl, Cora and Helen; Herman, of Beloit, Kansas, married Floy Hillman ; one child, Harold; Earl, also of Scottsville, Kansas. He married Martha Carlton, one child resulting, Carlton; Benj. M., the subject of this sketch, and Henry, a grocer at Beloit.
The excellent common school system of the state furnished the foun- dation for the later educational training of Benjamin M. Kendall, which was continued at the State University at Lawrence; where he took the course in pharmacy. After his school days, he embarked in the drug business at Independence and continued there until July of 1902, when he bought the stock of C. H. Kerr. of Elk City and has since done busi- ness here. Under the name of The Eagle Drug Store, he conducts one
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of the best pharmacies in the county, his yearly sales showing a healthy increase.
Mr. Kendall is wide-awake to the best interests of his city, and is always found ready to take part in any work that has for its object its advancement, either in the line of better government or material wel- fare. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, Lodge No. 107, Inde- pendence. With his present popularity with all classes in his com- munity and his soundness in business principle, it is not hard to prog- nosticate the future of this young man.
Mr. Kendall was happily married July 9, 1902, to Ida, daughter of James P. and Mollie Stradley; both daughter and parents natives of Illinois: the latter now deceased.
R. M. SHAFFER-Among the prominent and representative citi- zens of Elk City, is R. M. Shaffer, grain and coal dealer. His connec- tion with the business interests of the town dates back to 1892, and prior to that he had been one of the leading farmers of the county for thirteen voars. Three decades of circumspect living in a community gives a man a most powerful influence in shaping its moral and civic life, and thus the biographer found Mr. Shaffer a most proper subject for a volume de- voted to the history of the men who have made Montgomery what she is to-day-among the best counties in the state.
Athens county, Ohio, was the place of the birth of Mr. Shaffer and July 11, 1846, the date. He had not yet finished his school days when the roll of the drum fired his young and courageons heart to volunteer for the defense of Old Glory, and right valiantly did he carry himself during the four long years of that sanguinary conflict. He enlisted three different times and served in all, three years and three months. llis first enlistment was in Co. "1}," 87th O. V. L., May 25. 1862. This regiment became a part of the Army of the Potomac, and was stationed at Harper's Ferry. I had scarcely got its bearings when the Confeder- ates appeared in force and captured the whole post. The munitions of war seemed the only part of their capture they cared to keep, and the regiment was paroled en masse on the 17th of September. Resolved to see more of the war, our subject, in October, once more enlisted. this time in Co. "A," 129th O. V. I., a regiment which was part of Burnside's corps and whose first engagement was at Cumberland Gap, Tenn. llis form of service expiring March 18, 1864, Mr. Shaffer again enlisted, Co., "A," of the 38th O. V. I., enrolling him as a private soldier. He served in the supply department of Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign until the fall of that city, and then joining the victorious legions of that general, made the march to the sea, and up to the scene of the final sur- render. With his battle-scarred companions, he participated in that Grand Review which has never ceased to be the subject of pen and story,
R. M. SHAFFER.
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and then took part in that ofher sublime spectacle which has been the wonder of the ages-the peaceful disintegration of a victorious army and its quiet return to civic life.
A farmer for three years, a section foreman on a railroad for four, a husbandman on his own land for seven more. all in Ohio, brought our subject to 1879, the date of his coming to Montgomery county. He bought land near Elk City and engaged in farming until 1892, when he removed to town and entered upon the business he now conducts.
During his residence in the county. Mr. Shaffer has been zealous in forwarding its interests, serving in different offices of trust in his school district, and since his residence in town has been continuously a member of the common council. Ile and his family are active workers in the Christian church, of which he is an Elder. Fraternally he affiliates with the Masonic order, and is a prominent member of the G. A. R .. of the local post of which organization he has been Commander continuously for nine years. Politically, he supports the policies of the Republican party.
Noting family history briefly, Mr. Shaffer is a son of William H., and Ann MeNeal Shaffer, natives of the Keystone State. After their mar- riage they moved to Ohio, settling in Athens county, where the father passed the remainder of his life. He was a farmer and ovenpied a lead- ing position in the community. He died Angust 7. 1866. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist church; the wife is a member of the Christian church and now resides in Elk City. a much venerated and loved woman, at the advanced age of eighty years.
The family is as follows: Our subject. R. M .; David W., of Salem, Ohio: Martha J .. Mrs. William P. Berry, of Lampasas, Texas; John H., of Elk City; Asbury II., of Marseilles. Ill .; Rox Celenda, of Elk City; Ami C .. of Chauncey, O .; Andrew M., of Oakland. Ill .; George W., of Brushy Fork, Ill.
On the 20th of May. 1866, Mr. Shaffer was joined in marriage with Miss Mary L .. a daughter of Wm. H. and Elizabeth (Roach) Powell, of Morgan county, Ohio. Mrs. Shaffer's father was killed at the battle of the Wilderness, the mother dying in 1856. There were two children be- sides R. M. : Riley E., of Chauncey, Ohio, and Maxwell G., of Burton, Ks. To the marriage of our subject have been born : Azra W., a minister and singing evangelist of the Christian church; Charles B., deceased : Flora M., deceased : Lizzie, deceased ; Ollie I., Mrs. Ora Fitzgerald, of Elk City ; Mamie M .. Mrs. C. D. Close. of Neal Kan .; Nannie, deceased. and Elza R., of Elk City.
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