USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 69
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John N. Humphrey was reared on the home farm of the family in Kentucky and began as clerk in a general store in 1901 at Plummer's Landing, in Kentucky. He resigned his situation after a service of four years and four months, and, in partnership with his brothers, Edgar and
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Huff, purchased a lumber mill in Rowan county, Kentucky. They op- erated this mill for four years, and in 1910, sold out and came to Wood- lawn, Kans., and purchased the general store, which they are now con- ducting with signal success. Mr. Humphery is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
James Wallace Foster .- The Foster family, of Capioma township, is one of the most prominent and one of the real pioneer families of Nemaha county, Kansas. The late James Foster, of this township, was a useful and enterprising citizen, who lived a very industrious life, and accumulated a considerable estate as the result of his endeavors in the county. He also reared a fine family of sons and daughters, who are good citizens in the civic life of their home county and township.
James Foster, late of Capioma township, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1832, and was a son of James and Eliza (George) Foster, natives of Westmoreland county, and who were members of old American families descended from Scotch Covenanters, who fled from Scotland to the north of Ireland to escape religions per- secution in the seventeenth century. The name of the family had its origin in Scotland from the fact that the original founder of the family of Fosters was chief forester to a king of Scotland, and the name, in the course of time, was naturally abbreviated to "Foster." This is the cus- tomary origin of practically all of the names of the English-speaking race, and developed from the use of practically a single name to the custom of the past several centuries of using a Christian and sur-name. From the north of Ireland the family, or several of its members, immi- grated to America, probably some time early in the eighteenth century, and made settlements in Pennsylvania. The present generation can, therefore, lay just claim to being of pure American ancestry.
James W. Foster was reared amid the hills of his native county of Westmoreland, in Pennsylvania, and when the call came from President Lincoln for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States, he responded to the first call and enlisted in 1861 in company with his brother, William, who was later killed at the great battle of Spottysylvania Court House, Pa. The brothers enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Pennsylvania infantry, and served for three months in their native State. June 25, 1861, James W. re-enlisted in Company E, First battalion, Eleventh Pennsylvania infantry, and for a time his command was engaged on scout duty and rounding up deserters from the Union army. He was discharged from the service in 1863. Previous to his en- listment, he made a trip to the great West in 1859, and traveled overland with a freighting outfit, which left Kansas City, Mo., in charge of James Allison enroute to San Francisco. Mr. Foster was one of the outriders of the expedition and rode a mule the entire distance across the conti- nent. He was accompanied by a boyhood friend named Jefferson Dun- lap, whose father owned a farm adjoining that of the Fosters in Penn- sylvania. The boys made the trip without mishap and returned home
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by way of the ocean route to New York City. They did not find their fortune, however, and it is a matter of record that the two young ad- venturers had but twenty-five cents apiece when they arrived home.
Mr. Foster was married in 1865 and after farming in his home county for some years he came West to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1879, and made a purchase of 160 acres of land. His first act was to build a small house, 16x16 feet in dimension, with a height of twelve feet. He then broke up eighty acres of his land during the first season and sowed it to crops. One month after his arrival in Kansas he was joined by his wife and five small children, who made the long trip to the new home in Nemaha county without mishap. Mr. Foster prospered in this county and at the time of his death he owned 280 acres, the home place of the Fosters being located in section 5 of Capioma township. James Foster died September 2, 1908. He was a stanch Republican, and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
James W. Foster was married in February, 1865, to Mrs. Miranda, ' widow of James McCaddon, and to this union have been born the fol- lowing children : James G., a resident of Pittsburg, Pa .; Effie, at home with her mother ; Frank H., at home ; Harry W .; Gaylor,, died in infancy. Mrs. Miranda Foster was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1830, and is a daughter of John M. and Phoebe (Doty) Hartley, of Scotch-Irish descent, and who came of old American families. Na- thaniel Hartley, grandfather of Mrs. Foster, was a soldier of the Revo- lution and her father, John Hartley, fought in the War of 1812. She is undoubtedly the oldest living pioneer woman in Capioma township.
Harry W. Foster, farmer and stockman, of Capioma township, and son of James W. Foster, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, August 10, 1872. Seven years later he accompanied his parents to Nemaha county, and was educated in the Maple Ridge school and Campbell University, at Holton, Kans. When nineteen years old he began working as a farm hand on his own account. For two years lie rented land and in 1908 he bought a forty-acre tract in Capioma town- ship. In addition to farming this tract, he is cultivating 120 acres of the home place.
Harry W. Foster was married in 1901 to Miss Ida S. Johnson, who was born in Capioma township, April 1, 1874, and is a daughter of William and Mary Lafferty Johnson, whose biographies are given elsewhere in this volume. Three children have been born to this union, namely : Hartley, born July 9, 1904; Helen, born December 23, 1909; 'Lois G., born July II, 1914.
Harry W. Foster is a Republican in politics and is now serving as clerk of his township and is school director of his district. He and Mrs. Foster are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Foster is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Mystic Shriner and Scottish Rite Mason of high degree.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Dennis McFall, of Capioma township, was born on a farm near Peoria, Ill., December 11, 1865, and the eldest of four children born to his parents, John and Mary (McCann) McFall, who were natives of Ireland. John McFall, his father, was born in 1843, and settled in Illi- nois soon after immigrating to this country. In 1872, he came to Ne- maha county, Kansas, and bought a farm of eighty acres in section 8, Capioma township. One year later, while cleaning out a well on his neighbor's place he was overcome with foul air, which had accumulated in the bottom of the well, and died before help could reach him. Mrs. Mary McFall, mother of Dennis, was born in Ireland in 1854, and after her first husband's death, she married John McCoy, a native of Ireland, who in his day was a great traveler and a gold miner, and is now de- ceased. Mrs. McCoy died in 1893.
Dennis McFall began farming on his own account in 1893, and bought his first farm of eighty acres in 1894, and has since increased his acreage to 160 acres, located in section 7, Capioma township.
Mr. McFall was married at Woodlawn, Kans., to Mary Ann Henry, June 26, 1889, and to this marriage have been born four children, as fol- lows: George E., born October 16, 1890, and died September 17, 1892; Henry E., born August 27, 1892 ; Melvin C., born May 8, 1897, and Ethel L., born August 18, 1905.
The mother of the foregoing children was born near Ripley, Ohio, August 8, 1870, and is a daughter of Samuel W. and Margaret A. (Williams) Henry, natives of the Buckeye State. Her parents immi- grated to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1871, and followed farming pur- suits until Mr. Henry's death. His widow is now making her home at Sabetha, Kans.
Mr. McFall votes independently at election time, and does not bother his mind much with political affairs. He has served as constable of his township. He and Mrs. McFall are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and are likable and agreeable people, who thoroughly enjoy living.
John McCoy .- A well-kept place and a neat appearing farm is that managed by John McCoy, of Capioma township, who is one of the most successful farmers in Nemaha county and a large feeder of cattle and hogs. Mr. McCoy is essentially a live stock man and works his acreage on the theory of marketing his farm products on the hoof as the most economical and affording the best means of maintaining the fertility of the soil. He is a son of James McCoy, a pioneer resident of Nemaha county, and late of Capioma township.
James McCoy was born in County Antrim, Ireland. in July 1835, and in his youth became a sailor. His was an adventurous life, and he. in the course of his wanderings while sailing the high seas, located in Australia and worked in the gold mines. Upon his return to Ireland, after an absence of several years, he married the sweetheart of his boy- hood days, Miss Jane Glass, who was born April 22, 1840. Not long
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after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McCoy set sail for America in Febril- ary, 1863, and landed at New York in May, 1863. The voyage across the broad Atlantic consumed six weeks and three days in the making. Upon his arrival here Mr. McCoy was employed as boss "blower" in a stone quarry in Pennsylvania, and was thus employed until March of 1877, when he migrated westward to Kansas in search of a permanent home on the cheap lands of Nemaha county. The family were all of seven days in making the long journey to the promised land, and after his arrival in this county, Mr. McCoy rented land in different localities while casting about for a good location for his homestead. He bought a quarter section in section 6 of Capioma township in 1883, erected a home and farm buildings and made his home thereon until his death, September 22, 1900. He became well-to-do as the inevitable reward of industry and thrift, and owned 180 acres of good land at the time of his death. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, namely: Archie G., a farmer in Capioma township; James, Los An- geles, Cal .; Mrs. Jennie McFall, living in Capioma township; Anna A., a graduate of the State Normal School, and a teacher in the public schools of Syracuse, Kans .; Charlotte, wife of Richard Ford, and a former teacher, lives at Madison, Kans .; Eliza M., educated in the State Normal, and teaching in the public schools of Seattle, Wash.
John McCoy, the fourth child of his parents, was born September 17, 1869, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was reared to young manhood on the McCoy home place, and since his father's death has looked after the family estate. He is cultivating 300 acres of land this year (1916) and maintains from fifty to one hundred head of cattle each year, and about thirty head of mules. He has planted 100 acres of corn, and is raising over 180 head of hogs for the markets. Mr. McCoy has made good as a farmer and owns 360 acres of land on his own ac- count in Capioma township, eighty acres of which he farms himself and rents out the remainder to a tenant.
Like his father before him, he votes the Republican ticket and is a member of the same church to which his father and mother gave their allegiance and in which they worshipped according to the Methodist faith. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oneida, Kans.
Charles H. Jonach .- "Jonach Brothers."-Charles H. Jonach, with his brothers, Thomas and Matthew, are among the most enterprising farmers of Capioma township, and are native born in Nemaha county, Kansas. The Jonach farm is one of the oldest settled tracts of land in Nemaha county and this section of Kansas. Mr. Jonach is farming 160 acres of land in the most progressive and up-to-date manner possible, and uses the latest traction drawn machinery in the farm work that can be purchased. Mr. Jonach has out fifty acres of corn, which is unques- tionably the finest tract of growing corn in this section of Kansas and very possibly the State. All of the plowing on the place is done by means
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of a gas tractor, "The Yuba Ball Tread Tractor," for which the Jonacli Brothers have the exclusive agency in the county. A six plow rig which they are using, a model 18, costing $3,000, and their model 12, which cost $2,250, are destined to revolutionize farming methods in this vicinity in the course of time, as the new labor saving machines are placed in more general use among the farmers. The best and most advanced methods of farming are followed by these progressive farmers and the condition of the crops on the Jonach farms shows the results of the latest methods of practical farming .
Emil Jonach, father of the Jonach Brothers, and a pioneer settler of Nemaha county is one of the oldest living old settlers of Capioma township and Nemaha county. He was born in Germany, February 25, 1833, and is a son of Charles and Fredricka (Schreiber) Jonach, who were the parents of two children, Karl, deceased, and Emil. Charles Jonach was a tailor in his native land and died when Emil was a child. His widow immigrated to America in 1859, and later joined her son, Emil, in Nemaha county, where she died in 1861, aged seventy-two years. Emil Jonach immigrated to this country in 1851 and first located . at Brooklyn, N. Y., and worked at his trade of barber until 1855. In- that year he accompanied Jolin Sharon, a banker to Leavenworth, Kans., on a trading expedition. They loaded up with a stock of tobacco and other luxuries, which were denied Uncle Sam's soldiers by the Govern- ment, and drove to Fort Kearney and disposed of their stock of goods to the soldiers stationed at Fort Kearney. In 1856, Mr. Jonach made a set- tlement in Capioma township, this county, and pre-empted a quarter section of land. He erected a log cabin and broke up his land with oxen, using from three to six yoke in the breaking process. He is now owner of 400 acres of land and makes his home among his children.
Emil Jonach was married in July, 1865, to Martha Laughlin, who was born in Indiana, December 1, 1855, and resides on the home place of the Jonachs. Fourteen children were born to Emil and Martha Jonach, as follows: Mary, wife of H. P. Livings, Capioma township; Thomas, born April 9, 1868, and Matthew, born January 19, 1871, farm- ing the home place in section 9, Capioma township; Mrs. Nellie Gharst, a widow, residing with her brothers; Mrs. Jane Baumgartner, living on a farm west of Woodlawn, Kans .; Mrs. Effie Davidson, living in western Nebraska; Charles H., subject of this review; Emil, Jr., merchant of Kelly, Kans .; Oliver, on that part of the Jonach estate located in section 17, Capioma township. The remaining children died in infancy.
Charles H. Jonach was born in Capioma township, October 19, 1879, and has become owner of a quarter section of land, which he is cultivat- ing. A few years ago he and his brother became interested in tractors as a means of lightening the farm labor and introduced the late model, "Yuba Ball Tread" tractor, on his farm, and has since used the new machine with gratifying success. He and his brothers have undertaken the sale of this time and labor saving machine and are achieving success
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as salesmen for the gas tractors. The "Yuba Ball Tread" tractor, to- gether with a six plow rig, is a wonderful implement for use on the farm and is destined to take the place of many horses in the near future, as farmers become enthused over the possibilitis of tractor power on the farm.
Jefferson Brownlee .- The late Jefferson Brownlee, of Capioma township, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, September 10, 1847, and was a son of Samuel and Mary (O'Connor) Brownlee, who were the parents of four sons and three daughters. Samuel Brownlee was born near Monmouth, Ill., followed the vocation of farmer during his entire life, and died in October, 1888, aged seventy years. Mrs. Mary Brownlee was born in Virginia in 1823, and departed this life in 1914. During the great gold rush of the late forties, Samuel Brownlee made a trip West to the gold fields, and during his outward trip he camped on the Ne- maha river banks, near where the city of Seneca now stands. He ob- served at the time that a dead Indian had been laid away in a tree, the body being encased in a woven basket and placed in the forks of a tree, according to the Indian custom of burial.
Jefferson Brownlee was reared in Hancock county, Illinois, and was there married. In 1879, he drove across the intervening country with his possessions loaded on three wagons, with other men in the expedition in search of a homestead. The party located in Osborn county, Kansas, but Mr. Brownlee remained there but three years, and came to Nemaha county in 1882. He bought a quarter section of land in section 15, Cap- ioma township, which was practically unimproved at the time of his purchase. He built a small house and barn and gradually improved his place. Mr. Brownlee was noted as a successful breeder of Clydesdale horses, which he exhibited at the county fairs with great success. His exhibit of fine horses won first prize at Sabetha, Kans., in 1886.
Mr. Brownlee was married January 22, 1874, in Hancock county, Illi- hois, to Delia Durant, and four children were born to this marriage, as follows: Snow, a traveling salesman of Junction City, Kans .; Jessie, at home with her mother; Harry, a veterinary of Capioma township; Gale, at home. Mrs. Brownlee was born on a farm in Adams county, Illinois, September 25, 1849, and is a daughter of Henry S. and Mary (Nichols) Durant, and is the eldest of four children. Henry Durant, her father, was born in Tennessee in 1828, and died in 1855. His wife, Mary, was born in Kentucky in 1828, and makes her home in Hancock county, Illinois. Mrs. Delia Brownlee is managing the home farm of 120 acres, which she improved in 1915 with a new barn, 36x38 feet in dimensions.
Jefferson Brownlee departed this life October 16, 1887, and his death marked the passing of a useful and industrious citizen, who had the respect of all who knew him. He was a member of the Christian Church, with which denomination Mrs. Brownlee is also affiliated.
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Charles A. Partridge .- Although Charles \ Partridge, of Capioma township, is one of the younger farmers of Nemaha county, he has achieved a success but little short of remarkable during the years in which he has been farming on his own account. Starting with a quarter section of land, which was bequeathed to him and his sister from the family estate, he has increased his land holdings to the great total of (Wer hoo acres in less than a decade, by wise management and tireless industry. He is descended from one of the oldest American families of Scotch descent and his birthright probably explains his aptitude for successful achievement in his adopted State, of which his people were the second group of pioneers. The Partridge family located in Nemaha county, Kansas, in the eighties, and have been intimately identified with the civic and constructive activities of the county since their first advent into the county.
James Partridge, father of Charles .A., was born in Licking county. Ohio, May to. 1839, and was a son of Ebenezer and Lucretia ( Wilder) Partridge, both of whom were natives of Vermont They. Ebenezer and Lucretia Partridge, probably settled in Ohio with their individual par- ents at an early date in the history of the Buckeye State, where they were reared to maturity and were married. They lived in Ohio until death called them. James Partridge was reared to young manhood in Licking county, Ohio, and responded to the President's call for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States in 1861. He enlisted in Company D. One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio infantry, and fought in many great battles during the Civil war. Among the notable engage- ments in which his regiment took an active part were the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Kenesaw Moun- tain. He marched with General Sherman's grand army in its victorious "March from Atlanta to the Sea." and during the latter part of the cam- paign was taken prisoner by the Rebels and inured in Libby Prison for forty-eight hours. Mr. Partridge served until the close of the war and was honorably discharged from the service in 1865. In 1873 he made a settlement in Piatt county, Illinois, and resided there until 1882, at which time he came west to Kansas and bought a quarter section of land in Capioma township. Nemaha county. This farm was partly im- proved at the time of his purchase and he added other improvements during the course of his residence in Kansas and created a very fine homestead. Mr. Partridge was allied with the Republican party and took an active part in political affairs in Nemaha county, serving as treasurer of Capioma township. His death occurred January 13. 1911. He was married in 1861 to Sarah Jones, born in Licking county. Ohio, April 4. 1840, and who departed this life in 1803. Mr and Mrs. Par- tridge were members of the Presbyterian Church and are interred in the Capioma cemetery. They were the parents of the following children : Mrs. Nellie Shipman. Highland, Kans : Elias T . deceased: Clara, house- keeper for Charles A., on the old home place : Charles A., subject of this review.
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Charles A. Partridge was born on a farm in Piatt county, Illinois, September 18, 1876, and was reared to become a farmer. When he be- came of age, and even before he attained his majority, he took active charge of the family farm in Capioma township with his brother, Elias, and sister, Clara. Upon his father's demise, they inherited the home place of 160 acres, and have since increased their holdings to 645 acres of good Kansas land. Mr. Partridge has recently remodeled the old home into a more attractive and modern house by additions and the installation of a steam heating plant, together with a water sysem and an acetylene lighting system. Mr. and Miss Partridge are comfortably situated and through industry and good management have risen to become substantial and well-to-do farmers of the county.
Mr. Partridge is a Republican in politics, but finds little time aside from his farming pursuits to take much part in political matters. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and he and Miss Par- tridge are well and favorably known to a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances, who esteem them for their many good qualities.
George W. Phillips .- The reviewer in writing the life story of a pioneer who has passed the age of four score years, easily finds a great amount of interesting matter to record; so much, in fact, that lack of space forbids very extended mention of the deeds and activities of such a citizen as George W. Phillips, Kansas pioneer, Union veteran and grand old man of Capioma township. When Mr. Phillips came to Ne- maha county forty-seven years ago there were few houses on the road to Seneca, and the way of travel was across the unfenced prairie lands. Indians were numerous and wild game was plentiful, as well as bull snakes and rattlesnakes, of which the early settler was compelled to be ever wary. Mr. Phillips recalls having killed an immense bull snake over eight feet in length. Wild gooseberries were plentiful and Indian squaws were wont to pick them and sell them to the settlers, and Mr. Phillips bought many quarts of the delicious fruit.
George W. Phillips, retired farmer of Capioma township, was born at Nassau, Rensselear county, New York, July 2, 1836. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Boughton) Phillips, who were the parents of nine children, of whom George W. is the youngest and only living child. Joseph Phillips, his father, was born in New York City, in December of 1797, and became a farmer. He died in 1879. George W. Phillips' mother was born in Albany county, New York, in January, 1798, and died in 1879. Both parents were members of the Congregational Church and were descended from old American families.
Mr. Phillips received his schooling in a little log school house near his home in Rensselaer county, New York, and grew up sturdy and strong amid the primitive surroundings of his boyhood home. When the Civil war began he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty- first New York infantry, and saw a great deal of service in West Vir- ginia. His regiment had much to do with winning West Virginia for
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the Union, and his company gained the name of the "Flying Squadron" of the One Hundred and Fifty-first regiment because of their dare- deviltry when in action and when chasing Imboden's cavalry. He was wounded in the head at Fort Harrison, but was never sent to the army hospital. During 1864 he passed an examination at Washington, D. C., for the post of second lieutenant and received his commission in July, 1864, as second lieutenant of Company D, One Hundred and Ninth Ken- tucky infantry. At this time he had the honor of being shaken warmly by the hand by the great Lincoln and has never forgotten the incident. The President congratulated him on his successful promotion and made an impression upon the young soldier which has never been forgotten. During the remainder of Lieutenant Phillips' war service his command took part in many skirmishes and were kept busy in running down de- tachments of Rebels in the border States and the South.
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