USA > Kansas > Reno County > History of Reno County, Kansas; its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 22
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At the close of the war, John A. Myers returned home and resumed his vocation in the school room and for two years taught school in the neighbor- hood of his home, during his vacations working on the home farm. In 1867 he came to Kansas and for a year was engaged in teaching at White Cloud, after which he returned to Ohio. He was married in 1871 and went to Urbana, Champaign county, Illinois, where he opened a brick factory and also operated a private grain elevator. In 1879 he returned to Kansas and for a time stopped at Hutchinson, but did not then make that place his permanent place of abode, instead going on to Doniphan county, where for three years he conducted a general store in the village of Leona. In 1882 he returned to Hutchinson and there he has resided ever since. Upon his arrival in Hutchinson, Mr. Myers at once became a prominent factor in the development of the cattle business hereabout. He engaged extensively in the buying and selling of cattle and was one of the first men to ship cattle from this section. In 1884 he bought a farm in Reno township, where he lived until 1907, in which year he returned to Hutchinson and retired from the more active pursuits, though still continuing, more or less, his activities in the real-estate market in which he had been engaged from the time of his arrival in this county. Mr. Myers has bought and sold a great deal of real estate in his time and has been a heavy investor, coming to be regarded as one of the leading capitalists hereabout. He also has given considerable attention to various other local enterprises and some of these interests he still retains, being now vice-president of the Haines-Miller Wholesale Paint Company and a director of the Mutual Building and Loan Association of Hutchinson.
On May 4, 1871, John A. Myers was united in marriage to Mary L. Frediebur, who was born in Ohio, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Rev. Howard Myers, a minister of the Christian church at Clyde, Kansas; Josephine, who died at the age of thirteen months; Jessie,
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who married Arthur Dade and lives in Hutchinson; Frank, a farmer, of Reno township, this county; Ernest, a civil engineer at Dallas, Texas, and Raymond, of Hutchinson, a well-known traveling salesman. The Myers family resides at 113 Avenue B, west, in Hutchinson, a very pleasant and hospitable home.
Mr. Myers is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and for years has taken an active interest in the affairs of the local post. He also has given much of his attention to the political affairs of the county and for seven years served as a member of the board of county commissioners, first having been elected on the Populist ticket and then on the Democratic ticket. He was a member of the board which directed the erection of the present Reno county court house and in such a business-like and economical manner were the details of that transaction managed by the board that it was unnecessary for the county to float a bond issue to provide for the same, a most unusual record of efficiency in the management of the public business.
FRANK D. HAMILTON.
Frank D. Hamilton, one of the most progressive farmers of the Part- ridge neighborhood in Center township, this county, as well as one of the most popular and best-informed men in that section, is a Hoosier, having been born in Washington county, Indiana, February II, 1874, son of Benja- min and Miranda (Bryant ) Hamilton, both natives of that same county, members of pioneer families in southern Indiana, both of whom now are (leccasedi.
Benjamin Hamilton was the son of David Hamilton, one of the early settlers of Washington county, Indiana, his parents having come from Ire- land and settled there at an early day in the settlement of that section of the Hoosier state. Benjamin Hamilton grew up on the home farm in the hills of southern Indiana and, upon reaching manhood's estate, married and bought a farm of his own, on which he and his family lived until 1885, in which year he sold the place, and with his family came to Kansas, home- Steading a farm in Finney county. Not long after homesteading in Finney county. Mr. Hamilton sold a relinquishment of his right and came to Reno county, buying a quarter section of land in Center township, a mile west and a mile north of the village of Partridge, where he lived until his wife's death in June. 1901, at the age of fifty-six years, after which he made his home
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with his son, the subject of this sketch, the remainder of his life, his death occurring on November 9, 1907. Benjamin Hamilton was an excellent carpenter and during his residence in this county spent most of his time as a building contractor, leaving the cultivation of the farm to his sons. He did a great deal of carpenter work in Hutchinson and among the buildings erected by him in the more immediate neighborhood of his established home was the fine school building at Partridge. He was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Congregational church, in which faith their children were reared. Four children were born to them as follow: John, who resides on the old home place in Center township; Addie, now deceased, who married David Brown; Frank D., the subject of this sketch, and Zella, who married George Coffey and lives in Jackson county, Indiana.
Frank D. Hamilton was eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Reno county and completed the course in the schools at Part- ridge. Until his marriage in 1896 he made his home on his father's farm, assisting in the labors of the same, and then for four years rented the Oscar Wespe farm in Center township, making his home there. In the spring of 1904 he bought the farm he had been renting, erected a new house and barn and otherwise improved the same and has since made his home there, hav- ing one of the best-kept and most effectively cultivated farms in the neigh- borhood, among the many improvements being an excellent orchard. In 1913 Mr. Hamilton bought an "eighty" adjoining his place on the east and is now recognized as one of the most substantial farmers in that section. He is a Democrat, though somewhat independent in his political views regarding local affairs, voting for the candidates he regards as better fitted for the duties of the office sought, rather than because of their particular party affiliation, and ever has taken a good citizen's interest in local civic affairs, though not himself an office seeker.
On October 14, 1896, Frank D. Hamilton was united in marriage to Addie Sims, who was born in Jackson county, Indiana, daughter of John C. and Sarah Sims, who left Indiana about 1885 and came to Kansas, locating on a farm in Center township, this county, where Mr. Sims died in 1910 and where his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton take an earnest interest in the general affairs of the neighborhood and are held in high regard by their many friends thereabout. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Partridge and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and Ladies Aid Society.
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JAMES WILLIAM SMITH.
James William Smith, better known to his friends throughout this county as "Will" Smith, a well-known and progressive farmer of Sumner township and proprietor of a fine farm in the Haven neighborhood, is a native-born Hoosier, but has lived in Reno county since he was eighteen years old and is very properly regarded as one of the pioneers of this county. He was born on a farm in Grant county, Indiana, December 31, 1859, only son of Ichabod and Mary (Simpson) Smith, both natives of that same state, the latter born in the city of Terre Haute.
Ichabod Smith grew up on an Indiana farm and after his marriage bought a farm in Grant county and was engaged in farming when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service in Company C, Eighty-ninth Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years in the Army of the Mississippi, seeing much hard service, particularly during the Red River campaign. and was wounded twice. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to his farm and later moved to the nearby town of Jonesboro, where his wife died in 1874, at the age of thirty-three years. Mr. Smith did not remarry and the next year, in November, 1875, he and his son, Will, then a sturdy lad of sixteen years, drove through from their home in Indiana to Kansas, locating for a time in Sedgewick county. In 1877 they came over into Reno county and the elder Smith homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 18 in Sumner township, where he and his son threw up a sod house, half dug-out, and began to "bach." Both worked side by side in the labor of developing the homestead and prospered from the very beginning of their operations. When Will Smith reached his majority he bought the relinquishment of a homestead claim to a quarter of a section adjoining that of his father and the two thus had in that one tract a full half section. In 1883 they began to engage extensively in the cattle business, renting additional lands for grazing purposes, and prospered largely in this line, continuing in the cattle business until 1895, in which year they sold their farms to advantage. Ichabod Smith continued making his home in Reno county until 1907, in which year he moved to San Diego, California, where he is now living in comfortable retirement at the age of seventy-eight. During his residence in this county he was active in local affairs and was one of the leading pioneers of his part of the county. He is a Republican and took a prominent part in the councils of his party in this county. For eight years he was trustee of Sumner township and in various
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ways gave the full strength of his influence and energy to the advancement of the common good. He is a member of the Methodist church.
After selling his farm in 1895 Will Smith rented other lands and con- tinued his farming operations. He married in 1896 and in 1900 bought the northwest quarter of section 3 in Sumner township, which he has greatly improved and where he ever since has made his home, being regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood. He has not gone in much for cattle raising of late, but gives considerable attention to the rais- ing of Poland China hogs. Mr. Smith takes an earnest interest in neighbor- hood affairs and is serving very efficiently as vice-president of the Sumner Telephone Association, an organization of farmers in that part of the county. He is a Republican and takes a warm interest in civic affairs, but has never been included in the office-sceking class.
On February 27, 1896. Will Smith was united in marriage to Miranda Eabling, who was born in Mandato, Marshall county, Indiana, in 1871. daughter of John F. and Catherine Eabling. who came to Kansas in 1872, ยท settling in Harvey county, later coming to Reno county and settling on a farm in section 6. Sumner township, where Mr. Eabling spent the remainder of his life and where his widow is now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith five children have been born, namely: Harold D., born in 1898, now a student in the county high school at Nickerson: Ralph E., 1899: Lloyd F., 1901 : Mary C., 1904. and Opal May, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the United Brethren church and take an active interest in all neighbor- hood wood works.
ADELBERT M. NETTLETON.
Adelbert M. Nettleton, well-known printer at Hutchinson. former editor and proprietor of the Hutchinson Gasette and for years actively identified with the printing-trades industry in this state, is a native of Illi- nois, born near the town of Woodstock, in McHenry county, that state, July 27, 1859, son of Henry T. and Jane ( Rogers) Nettleton, the former of whom was born in Middlesex county, Connecticut, and the latter at Chardon, in Geauga county, Ohio.
Henry T. Nettleton was reared in his native state and learned the trade of carpenter and cabinet-maker. When a young man he came West and in the early fifties located in the neighborhood of Woodstock, the county seat of McHenry county, in the northern part of Illinois, northwest of Chicago,
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and there remained until October of 1878, when, with his family he came to Kansas and settled in Pawnee county, northwest of Larned, where he home- steaded the southwest quarter of section 12, township 20, range 19, and there established his home, becoming one of the most substantial pioneers of that section. . On that homestead farm Henry T. Nettleton spent some years, and upon retiring from the active labors of the farm moved to Earned, where his death occurred on December 26, 1893. His widow, who still survives, is now making her home at Hutchinson, where she has lived for some years. She and her husband were the parents of six children.
Adelbert M. Nettleton received his schooling in the schools of Wood- stock, Illinois, and in the printing office in that town learned the rudiments of "the art preservative of all arts," working at the printer's case there until he came with his parents to Kansas in the fall of 1878, he then being about nineteen years of age. Shortly after locating in Pawnee county he homesteaded a quarter of a section adjoining his father's homestead and also entered a claim to a quarter of a section, under the provisions of the timber act, and there he engaged in general farming and cattle raising. In 1892 he and his brother went to Stafford, where they established the Peoples Paper, which, in February, 1896, they traded for the Gasette, at Hutchin- son, and moved to the latter city. Upon taking charge of the office of the Gasette they made numerous improvements in the equipment of the plant, making it one of the most modern and up-to-date printing plants in central Kansas. It was the Nettleton brothers who installed in Hutchinson the first type-setting machine seen in that city. The new building which they erected for the plant of the Gazette was the first cement-block building constructed in Hutchinson and is still standing at 121 Sherman avenue, east. In 1907 the Nettleton brothers sold the Gasette and since that time Adelbert M. Nettleton has continued his active connection with the printing trades in Hutchinson, with the Hutchinson News Company. Earl G. Nettleton died on July 11, 1907.
During his long connection with the printing business in this state, Mr. Nettleton has come into contact with many of the interesting figures of this section of Kansas. Among these may be mentioned Henry Inman, for whom Mr. Nettleton worked at Larned. Henry Inman, who will be remem- Lered as a writer of stories of the Santa Fe trail, was succeeded in his work by Col. Dick Ballinger, whose son, Richard Achilles Ballinger, became President Taft's secretary of the interior. While living at Dodge City. Mr. Nettleton became acquainted with "Bat" Masterson and his brothers and with "Mysterious" Dave Mather and D. M. Frost, the latter of whom
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was the proprietor of the first newspaper at that place and afterward was register of the land office at Garden City. Mr. Nettleton was an acquaint- ance of Mayor Webster, of Dodge City, who became celebrated throughout this section for the summary manner with which he dealt with the crooks and ruffians within his jurisdiction. One of the men in whom Mr. Nettle- ton was much interested in those days was "Jim" Kelly, an old government scout and the owner of the first opera house at Dodge City, known in the early days as "Kelly's Opera House"; also Chalk (Chalkley) Beeson, another old government scout and for many years leader of the famous Dodge City Cowboy Band. Perhaps the earliest pioneer of Ft. Dodge was R. M. Wright, who was a post trader at that point and who operated a big out- fitting store there before the town was established. Capt. W. H. Strick- ler, more commonly known by his pen name of "Julian de Llano," a cele- brated writer of Western poetry and songs, was one of the interesting men of those early days at Dodge City, whom Mr. Nettleton recalls with pleasure.
On October 27, 1910, at Kansas City, Missouri, Adelbert M. Nettleton was united in marriage to Myrtle Dillon, who was born near the city of Wheeling, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Nettleton have a very pleasant home at 517 North Jackson street, where they are very comfortably situ- ated. They are members of the Christian church and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same. Mr. Nettleton is "independent" in his political views and has never been a seeker after public office.
ARTHUR L. SIEGRIST.
Arthur L. Siegrist, an energetic and progressive young farmer of Salt Creek township, this county, and one of the best-known men in that section of the county, is the third of his generation successfully to engage in agri- culture in Reno county, his grandfather, the late John Siegrist, who was accounted one of the best farmers in the county, having become a large landowner here in 1876, and his father, Jacob L. Siegrist, who also has lived here since pioneer days, is still one of the leading agriculturists of Reno township. In a sketch relating to the latter, presented elsewhere in this volume, there is set out the history of the well-known Siegrist family in Reno county.
Arthur L. Siegrist was born on the farm on which he still makes his home, July 3. 1880, son of Jacob L. and Abbie A. (Biggs) Siegrist, who
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came to this county immediately after their marriage in Tazewell county, Illinois, in February, 1877. Mr. Siegrist was reared on the home farm in Salt Creek township, receiving his education in the district school in that neighborhood, which he supplemented by a course in a business college at Great Bend, this state. He remained at home until his marriage, in the spring of 1905. after which he rented the paternal acres in Salt Creek town- ship, a fine tract of two hundred and forty acres, his father meanwhile having moved to the farm of his venerable grandfather in Reno township, in order to take over the direction of the latter's extensive affairs, and there he has lived ever since, doing very well. having been quite successful both as a general framer and as a stock raiser. One hundred and sixty acres of his home farm lies in Reno township, the remainder in Salt Creek township, and it is in the latter portion that he has his residence, a very comfortable and pleasant home, where he and his family live in quiet comfort. In addi- tion to this tract, which he rents from his father, he is the owner of an adjoining tract of eighty acres in Salt Creek township, which is also profit- ably cultivated by him.
On February 22, 1905, Arthur L. Siegrist was united in marriage to Ora Mollie Wildin, who also was born in this county, daughter of William and Celia Wildin, Reno county pioneers, now living retired in the city of Hutchinson, and to this union four children have been born, as follow : Florence, born in 1906; Marie, 1908: Helen, 1910, and Russell, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Siegrist are earnest members of the Poplar Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in all good works thereabout. Mr. Siegrist is a Republican, as were his father and his grandfather before him, and gives his thoughtful attention to the political affairs of the county. He is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm personal interest in the affairs of that popular fraternal organization.
GEORGE BARRETT.
The late George Barrett, one of Reno county's pioneers and an early merchant of Hutchinson, who died at his pleasant home in that city on November 18, 1910, was a native of the great Empire state. He was born at Utica, New York. August 20, 1835, son of Joseph and Mercy (Miller) Barrett, whose last days were spent in Utica. Joseph Barrett was a manu- facturer of combs. He was twice married. His first wife died when the
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subject of this sketch was a child, leaving two sons, George and Daniel S., both now deceased, the latter of whoni became a well-known artist at Utica. By his second union Joseph Barrett was the father of three sons. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their children were reared in that faith.
George Barrett lived with his father until he was twenty-one years old and then went to New York City, where he entered the employ of the D. S. Arnold Wholesale Notion Company and was thus engaged for a couple of years. He then, in 1859, married and went to Middletown, New York. where he established a dry-goods store, which he conducted until 1862, in which year he went to Newburg, same state, and was there engaged in the grocery business until he sold out in 1873. The next year, in the summer of 1874, he and his family came to Kansas and settled in Reno county, arriving here on September 15, of that year. Mr. Barrett homesteaded a quarter of a section in Lincoln township, his wife's brother, Wilson Purdy, having homesteaded a quarter of a section in the same township a few months previously. He remained on the farm until he had "proved up" his claim and then, in 1877, moved to Hutchinson, where he re-entered the mercan- tile business. He put in a stock of groceries in a building on Main street, the present site of Zinn's jewelry store, and was engaged in business there for a couple of years, at the end of which time, in 1879, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and established a grocery store there, at 803 Main street. where he continued in business until 1884, in which year he sold out there and went to Albuquerque, New Mexico. There he engaged in the retail pro- duce business, but two years later the state of his health compelled his retire- ment from'business and in 1888 he returned to Hutchinson, built a house at 225 A avenue, east, one of the first houses erected on that street, and there lived retired until his death in 1910. His widow is still living there, enjoy- ing many evidences of the high regard in which she is held throughout the entire community. Mrs. Barrett is a member of the Methodist church and for years her husband was a deacon in the same.
Mrs. Barrett was born Elizabeth Jane Purdy. She is a native of New York, having been born in Ulster county, that state, May 10, 1836, daugh- ter of John S. and Loretta ( Rhodes) Purdy, both natives of New York state. John S. Purdy was a wagon- and carriage-maker and moved from Ulster county to Newburg, New York, where he carried on his vocation until his death in 1863. Elizabeth J. Purdy was given excellent educational advan- tages and became a teacher in the New York state school for the blind in New York City, where she was thus engaged for three years, or until her
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marriage, and during which time she was closely associated with the famous blind hymn writer, Fannie Crosby, with whom she roomed for one year. It was on April 30, 1859. that she was united in marriage to George Barrett and to this union six children were born, as follow: Nelson T., a well- known florist at Hutchinson, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume ; Ida M., who married Charles Pellette. of Hutchin- son, deputy county treasurer of Reno county; Carrie, who married Homer Myers, former treasurer of Reno county, now a banker at Sylvia, this county ; Grace, who married Henry Zinn, proprietor of a jewelry store at Hutchin- son : Minnie, who married M. J. Hosmer, a traveling salesman. of Hutchin- son, and Florence, who married Ernest Eastman, who is connected with the operations of the Carey Salt Company at Hutchinson.
WILLIAM JOHNSTON VAN EMAN.
No history of Reno county would be complete without fitting mention of the part William Johnston Van Eman and wife took in the early settle- ment of that part of Grove township now comprised in Bell township, which latter township was named in honor of the late Mrs. Van Eman, whose name, Isabella, ever was better known among her friends as "Belle." Will- iam J. Van Eman was one of the pioneers of this county and had begun to make his impress upon the early life of this section when he fell a victim to one of the destructive cyclones which swept this region in the latter seventies. His widow and her children kept the home place going and Mrs. V'an Eman continued to reside on the homestead, a most useful and influen- tial member of that community, until her retirement and removal to Hutchin- son, where she spent the remainder of her life, a prominent figure in the good works of that city.
William Johnston Van Eman was born in Stark county, Ohio, on July 5, 1825, son of Abraham and Mary ( Johnston) Van Eman. He was a business man in early life, a farmer after he came west. He married Isa- belle Davis, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, March 8. 1831, daughter of Robert and Hannah ( Jameson) Davis. In 1852 he moved to Richland county, Ohio, where he lived until 1857. in which year he moved to Ogle county, Illinois, where he remained ten years, moving thence, in 1867. to Stephenson county, same state, where he remainder until he came to Kansas and settled in Reno county in 1874. It was on February 27,
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