USA > Kansas > Reno County > History of Reno County, Kansas; its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 27
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To Alpheus E. and Myra M. ( Bowers) Elliott two children were born. Charles, who died at the age of two years, and Myra Gertrude, born in 1877, who married Jonas Geyer, manual training instructor in the Hutchinson high school, and has two children, both sons, Alpheus Edward and Sheffey Elliott. Mr. and Mrs. Geyer live at the mother's old home, at 21 Sixth avenue, east, in Hutchinson, which has been the Elliott residence for the past quarter of a century.
(18a)
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JOSIAH WATSON ABEL.
Josiah Watson Abel, the son of William Theodore and Nancy ( Watson) Abel, was born at Shoals, Martin county, Indiana, the early home and the birthplace of both of his parents. His grandparents, on both sides, were pioneer settlers in the county. His maternal grandfather lost his life fight- ing the Indians.
William Theodore Abel has devoted his life to farming. At the age of sixteen, he enlisted in an Indiana company, in 1864, and served in the ranks until the close of the Civil War, having taken part in the sieges of Nashville and Atlanta. He and his wife now live at Belle, Missouri.
To William T. and Nancy Abel have been born the following children : Christopher, a contractor at Festus, Missouri; George N., a farmer at Byron, Missouri : Henry W., in the produce business at Belle; Isola May, at home with the parents; Ida, the wife of John Kite, a farmer at South DeSoto, Missouri : Claudia, the wife of Henry Kausler, a dairyman at Fes- tus, Missouri: Emma, the wife of Amos Nicholson, a merchant at Moun- tain View. Missouri, and Josiah Watson.
Josiah Watson Abel received his education in the district schools of Martin county, and was graduated from the high school at Shoals. He then took two and one-half years work at the Normal school at Shoals, and taught in the grades of his home town, until he entered McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois. After completing his college work he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Andrews, now deceased, and at Alton, Illinois, he was ordained an elder by Bishop Fitzgerald, also deceased.
The first charge of Reverend Abel was at Decker Station, Indiana, where he remained for some time, after which he engaged in evangelistic work in the Indiana Methodist conference. He was later transferred to the South- ern Illinois conference and for four years was pastor of the Methodist church at Alton, Illinois. From Alton he was transferred to Granite City, where he built Niedringhaus Memorial Methodist Episcopal church. He then entered the Des Moines conference and served in succession at Council Bluffs, Carroll. Clarinda and Des Moines. In the latter city he was pastor of the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church. In 1912 he entered the south- western Kansas conference and on September 19, 1912, he was assigned to the First church at Hutchinson, where he preached his first sermon on Sep- tember 20. 1912. In three years he has received into the church one thousand members. the membership now numbering about eighteen hundred. The
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Sunday school has had a gradual growth and last year the average attend- ance was seven hundred and forty-six, the total enrollment being fourteen hundred. The prayer meetings are well attended, the Epworth League and the Young People's League have an attendance of two hundred. On August 10, 1915, the First church, as a foster parent, took over the Stewart hospital for the Methodist Episcopal church. The church contributes twenty-two hundred dollars to home and foreign missions, besides maintaining a repre- sentative in India, who is the superintendent of the Hingwah district. Three thousand two hundred dollars are given annually for benevolences. The Ladies' Aid Society is an important factor in the life of the church, the pastor's wife taking an active part in the work, as well as in all the other church societies. The church is located at the southeast corner of First avenue, East, and Walnut street. The society also owns a large and hand- some parsonage at 322 First avenue. East.
Reverend Abel is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Work- men. He is prominent in the activities of the various orders. He has done much lyceum work with the Jeffries-Wicks Chautauqua System of Des Moines.
On December 27, 1900, Josiah Watson Abel was united in marriage at St. Joseph, Missouri, to Lillian May, the daughter of Frederick and Kath- erine ( Dersch) May. She is a native of Brunswick, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Abel have been born two children: Katherine May, born at. Carrol. Iowa, and Margaret Emma, born at Des Moines.
FRED H. CARPENTER.
Fred H. Carpenter, son of George W. and Diana ( Howard) Carpen- ter, was born in West Stephenson, New York, September 20. 1857. His father came to Reno county in 1871 and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, and afterward bought a railroad quarter. This land he culti- vated until 1880, when he removed to Hutchinson and went into the livery business, the livery barn being located where the postoffice is now. He continued in that busmess until his death, which occurred on June 28, 1903. George W. Carpenter was born in West Stephentown, New York, August 23. 1834. He was one of the first trustees of Clay township, in Reno county. where he first settled; was a charter members of the Baptist church : a char-
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ter member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; a Mason and a Knight Templar. His political affiliations were with the Republican party. Diana ( Howard ) Carpenter was born in Rensselaer county, New York, November 7. 1838. and died November 17. 1868. In 1877 George W. Car- penter was married. secondly, to Amanda M. Bly, at Waterloo, Iowa. She is still living in Hutchinson. Fred H. Carpenter had two sisters: Minnie, widow of Benjamin F. Montgomery, a lawyer of Denver, Colorado; Flor- ence, born in Reno county, in 1878, died in Hutchinson in 1894.
Fred H. Carpenter was educated in the district schools of Reno county and at the State Normal at Emporia, Kansas, and then took a course in civil engineering in the state university, at Lawrence, Kansas, completing the course in three years. In 1880 he entered the service of the Sante Fe rail- road, in the civil engineering department, in the town of McPherson, on the line between Florence and Ellinwood. Later he was transferred to old Mexico and then to Arizona. These positions he held until 1884, when he was elected county surveyor of Reno county. He held this position for ten years. In November, 1884, he was appointed city engineer of Hutchinson, which position he held for seventeen years. He was the first engineer of Hutchinson and established all the street grades, laid out the sewer system and built the bridges. He was also the surveyor for the Arkansas Valley Town and Land Company-the townsite department of the Sante Fe rail- road-from 1890 to 1898. He has been roadmaster for the Sante Fe rail- road for twenty years, and now has headquarters in Hutchinson. He is a bluc lodge. chapter and commandery Mason, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political affiliation is with the Republican party; his church relationship is with the Presbyterian denomination.
Mr. Carpenter was married. October 13, 1886, in Seward county, Kansas, to Amanda M. Saunders, who was born in Waterloo, lowa, Octo- ber 10, 1865. She is the daughter of Hosea A. and Sarah J. (Bly) Saun- ders, who were born near West Stephentown. New York: the former July 7. 1826. and the latter, March 7. 1831. Mr. Saunders was a blacksmith by trade. and was superintendent of the shops of the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Waterloo, lowa, for a number of years, about 1870. He died in 1806. His wife died at the home of her daughter in Hutchinson. Febru- ary 17, 1916.
Mrs. Carpenter's brothers and sisters are: William B., a farmer near Rolfe, Iowa, died in 1901; Herbert D., a piano tuner, Portland, Oregon : Allen H .. a farmer, Princeton, Oregon : Frank, a photographer. Woodward. Oklahoma: Kate B .. who married Stuart F. Brady, a lawyer of Caruthers-
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ville. Missouri, was superintendent of schools in Seward county, Kansas, from 1895 to 1901. A brother of Mrs. Carpenter, James I., died at the age of three years, in Waterloo, lowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have no children of their own, but Lelia M. Saunders, a danghter of Herbert D. Saunders, came to live with them, March 9, 1895, as their daughter, and has lived with them ever since. Her mother died on December 27, 1894. She graduated at Hutchinson high school, and at Forest Park University, St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Saunders has a handsome residence at 329 Fourth avenue, East.
GEORGE LUTHER CROW.
Among the prominent agriculturists of Reno county, Kansas, is George Luther Crow, who has been a resident of this section of the state for twenty- seven years. He was born in Noble county, Ohio, on March 25, 1874, and came to this county with his parents, Isaac and Mary (Calvert) Crow, at the age of fifteen years. The family traces its origin in this country to Frederick Crow, the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was a native of Pennsylvania and a son of German parents. He married Rachel Enochs, of English descent, who accompanied him on his journey to the Middle West, in a covered wagon. The couple settled in Monroe county, Ohio, where Mr. Crow built a large log cabin in the center of a forest tract he had obtained through a grant from the government. The cabin is still standing today and is a monument to the early struggles of the pioneers of that section of Ohio in which it was erected. The surrounding land is owned at the present time by George Reed, a descendant of Frederick Crow. Before his death, Frederick Crow had become an extensive land- owner and was known throughout the community as a prominent Democrat of that locality.
Jacob Crow, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania in 1790, and as a boy traveled with his parents in the most primitive manner from the East to Monroe county, Ohio. He was reared to the discipline of farm life and at the age of twenty-seven, after he had become successful as a farmer, married Mary Laisure, a native of Monroe county, Ohio, and the daughter of Jeremiah Laisure, a pioneer settler of Ohio. Soon after his marriage, Jacob Crow moved to what is now called Noble county, where he entered a government claim on one hundred and
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sixty acres of land. located on the east branch of Duck creek, between the towns of Stafford and Harrietsville. Before his death, Mr. Crow added one hundred and sixty acres to his farm, which gave him profitable returns. At the age of fifty-six years. in 1846, Mr. Crow passed away. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also held a high place in Democratic politics.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Crow are as follow: Eliza- beth, who died in Noble county, Ohio; George, who passed away in 1889 in Reno county, Kansas; Anne, who died in Washington county, Ohio; Nancy, who passed away in 1809 in Wyandott county, Ohio; Isaac, who became the father of the subject of this sketch: Jacob, who was killed in the Civil War while serving in the Union army; Mary, who passed away while still a child; Rhoda and Cynthia, both of whom died in Noble county; Mar- tin, who died in Hutchinson, Kansas; Robert, who died in Ohio, and Dianthe, who makes her home in Wyandot county, Ohio.
In the district schools of Noble county, Ohio, Isaac Crow received the rudimentary branches of education. At the age of fourteen his father died and the boy was thrown upon his own resources with little or no chance of going to school. He followed the simple lines of farming until he reached the age of manhood, when he began to assume management of the farm of his father, and after a short time was able to buy out his mother's share in the estate. From year to year he added to his possessions by buying out the shares of each heir until he became, through firm purpose of achievement and untiring energy, sole owner of the original homestead. He erected a beautiful residence and built one of the finest barns in that section of the county, a structure large enough to shelter three hundred head of cattle. Through constant care and applied labor his farm became one of the most cultivated in the state. In 1889 he sold the farm for the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, and moved to Reno county, Kansas, where he bought the west half of section 17, in Reno township, to which he later added seventy acres to the southern boundary. In 1895 he moved to Hutchinson, where he resided for two years. At the end of that time he decided to return once more to farm life. which had always appealed to him, and bought a home in section 19. of Reno township, where he lived until his death, which occurred on March 3, 1903. His wife, who is a native of Monroe county. Ohio, still desicies on the farm, at the age of eighty years. At one time Mr. Crow was owner of eight hundred and ten acres of land, most of which he divided among his children before his death. He was elected county com- missioner in 1886 and filled the duties of his office in a manner deserving
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of the highest praise. During his three years of service he made a brilliant record and made more improvements in Noble county, Ohio, than that sec- tion of the state had experienced in twenty-five years. Among the institu- tions established by him at this time were the county infirmary and the chil- drens' home.
The marriage of Isaac Crow to Mary A. Calvert took place on August 1, 1859. Mrs. Crow is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, spent most of her girlhood in Monroe county, of the same state. She is the daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Powell) Calvert, the former of whom was a Virginian, of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born of Welsh parents. Mr. Calvert enlisted in the War of 1812, but never entered active service. To the union of Isaac and Mary Calvert Crow the following children were born: Adalaska, who died in infancy; Leola Dell, an artist, who resides in Hutchinson, Kansas; Edward Gordon, who follows the occupation of a farmer in Salt Creek township, Reno county; Charles R., who died in infancy; Cornelia, who is also dead; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Frank Danford and who resides in Reno county, Kansas; W. R., a resident of Hutchinson; George, the subject of this sketch; Roswell Hol- land, who died in infancy, and Otis, a farmer of Colorado.
George Luther Crow attended the public schools of Noble county, Ohio, and came West with his parents, who settled in Reno county, Kansas, about 1889. On his father's farm the subject of this sketch learned some of his most valuable lessons regarding agricultural life. After reaching the age of manhood he assumed management of his father's farm and continued at this occupation until he was able to buy a farm of his own. He bought a quarter of a section of land in Reno township, of this county, where he lives at the present time. The farm is located in section 19, township 23, range 6 west. From time to time he has continued to buy small tracts of land until he is now considered an extensive landowner. He owns eighty acres in section 18, and half a section of pasture land near the vicinity of Hutchinson, the exact location of which is in the north half of section 13, township 23, range 6 west. Mr. Crow makes a specialty of raising fine cattle and mules and has one hundred and fifty young mules on hand annually. He gives much time to the breeding of cattle and keeps a herd of two hundred and fifty head of full-bred Galloway cattle. He has kept the farm in the best state of improvement and has built, aside from other buildings, a large cement barn.
Mr. Crow has a personality which has gained for him a wide popu- larity in the community in which he lives. As a member of the Republican
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party he has been elected to serve on the township school board. He takes an active interest in educational affairs and talks as an authority on school questions of the township. Fraternally, Mr. Crow is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Since the building of the first Methodist church in Reno township, when he acted as a member of the building committee, the subject of this sketch has taken an active interest in church welfare.
The marriage of George I. Crow and Katie Jackson took place on January 23. 1895. Mrs. Crow, who is the daughter of James Jackson, is a native of Saline county, Missouri. Her father, who was a farmer and a stockman, lived with his daughter during the four years preceding his death, which occurred after he had reached the age of seventy-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Crow have one daughter, Oberia, who was born on December 27, 1897, and an adopted son, Gilbert, who, though not legally adopted, has made his home with the Crow family since he was three years old, or since 1905. They also raised Golden Hall from early childhood until her marriage to Ira Baldwin, a traveling man of Medford, Oklahoma.
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T. R. MCLAUGHLIN.
T. R. Mclaughlin, a retired farmer of Hutchinson, Reno county, Kan- sas, was born in Henry county, Illinois, January 26, 1855, the son of Dr. Josiah B. and Harriett ( McMillan) Mclaughlin, both of whom were born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and are now deceased. Dr. Josiah B. Mc- Laughlin was a doctor of medicine and practiced for many years in Illinois. He was a stanch Republican in politics and was always more or less active in political affairs. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Methodist church and brought their family up in that faith. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom are living except one. The children are as follow: T. R., the subject of this sketch: Catherine, who married C. J. Myers, a grocer of Davenport, lowa; Henry, a fruit farmer near Seattle, Washington: Frank, a barber of Geddes, South Dakota; Lizzie, who married Richard Stults, a merchant of Oronogo, Missouri; Harriett, who married a Mr. Yergin and died in February, 1913, at Sterling, Illinois, where she was a doctor known as H. A. Yergin, M. D .; Minnie, who mar- ried Harry Beaumont, of Chicago, Illinois, and is a teacher of vocal music at Drake's University: Anna, who is the wife of Thomas Morton, a real-
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estate dealer of Mitchell, South Dakota; James, a barber of Webb City, Mis- souri; and Grace, who is the wife of Ves Parker, a contractor and builder of Portland, Oregon.
T. R. Mclaughlin received his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood, in Henry county, Illinois, and later attended the graded schools of Woodhull, Henry county. He followed farming during all of his active life, beginning this occupation in Henry county, from which he moved to Marshall county, Illinois, where he remained for eight years, and then went to Finney county, Kansas. On January 20, 1884, Mr. MeLaugh- lin came to Reno county, settling first in Reno township, later in Grant town- ship and finally in Salt Creek township, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, part of which is situated in section 26 and part in section 27. Besides this land, he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Hodgeman county, Kansas, which he sold. He resided in Partridge, Reno county, for four years or until August 30, 1915, when he moved to Hutchinson, where he owns a beautiful residence at 404 Twelfth avenue, East, and other property.
Mr. Mclaughlin was married on December 31, 1889, in Oronogo, Missouri, to lantha Hendrickson, who was born on March 27, 1863, in Fay- ette county, Iowa, and is the daughter of Ulysses and Mary J. (Cochran) Hendrickson, both natives of Holmes county, Ohio, the former born on April 24, 1832, and the latter on February 28, 1837. Ulysses Hendrickson was a farmer by occupation and moved to Jasper county, Missouri, in 1866, where he later engaged in lead and zinc mining. In 1874 he was elected sheriff of Jasper county, serving in this office for two years, and in 1888 was elected to the state Senate, where he served for four years. In 1908 he came to Reno county, settling in Center township, where he lived until his death, which occurred while he was on a trip to Jasper county, May 19. 1912. He was a prominent members of the Masonic fraternity in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson were the parents of six children, whose names, besides Mrs. McLaughlin, are as follow: C. Perry, a retired farmer of Hutchinson; John P., a retired farmer of Hutchinson; Minerva, the widow of Harvey Davies, a farmer of Reno county, and Cole, a commercial traveler of Hutchinson. To Mr. and Mrs. T. R. MeLaughlin have been born two daughters, Freda and Katherine. Freda, who was born in Reno county, August 9. 1893, is a graduate of the Partridge high school, attended Mt. Carmel Academy at Wichita for one year, and is now attending business college at Hutchinson. Katherine, who is generally known as Cassie, was
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born on April 7. 1907, and is now attending the north side grade school at Hutchinson.
Politically. Mr. Mclaughlin is a Democrat and has always taken a very active interest in politics, having filled several offices in this county. While a resident of Grant township he served as clerk for two years and had been elected to the office of trustee, but did not get to fill this office on account of his removal to Salt Creek township. He also served as a member and clerk of the school board of Salt Creek township for twelve years, and as a member and treasurer of the school board of Partridge for four years.
THURMAN J. BIXLER.
Thurman J. Bixler, son of James W. and Josephine E. (Frone) Bixler, was born in Americus, Kansas, March 21, 1888. His father was born on October 21, 1858, and is now a retired groceryman, living in Hutchinson, Kansas; he is a member of the Baptist church. His mother was born in New York, October 28, 1862, and died in Hutchinson, March 20, 1914. She was a member of the Episcopal church. The brothers and sisters of Thurman J. Bixler are: Carrie E., who married Albert Harmon, a creamery man in Hutchinson; Sarah A., married George Schultz, a grocer in Hutchin- son; Earl F., a clerk in the employ of the D. J. Farr Lumber Company, in Hutchinson : John A., a grocer in Hutchinson; Nellie O., bookkeeper at San Diego, California, in the employ of the Home Telephone Company; Gould F., chemist with Swift Company, died on July 21, 1914; Helen G., steno- grapher with Guymon-Peters Mercantile Company, in Hutchinson.
Thurman J. Bixler was educated at the Maple street school, in Hutchin- son, passing through the eighth grade. On October 8, 1906, he went into the coal business, which he continued for three years. In 1909 he engaged in the elevator business, at 911-913-915 South Main street : this, in connection with a feed business, he conducted for about two years. In 1911 he embarked in the bottling business, manufacturing a beverage known as "Bixler's Fa- mous Soda Water." and he is engaged in that line of business, as sole pro- prietor and owner at the present time. He manufactures all flavors of soda water and fruit drinks. He is also the inventor of the T. J. Bixler Automa- tic Bottle Feed, which is a great time and labor-saving machine in a bottling plant.
Mr. Bixler was married. April 3, 1907. in Hutchinson, Kansas, to
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Orlena Rabner, daughter of Edward L. and Rachel (Horn) Rabner; she was born in Hutchinson, September 4, 1893. Her father was born in Rus- sell county, Kansas, February 20, 1868; he is a steam-fitter in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania, March 29, 1868; both are members of the Presbyterian church.
John A. Bixley, besides being a successful business man, is also an aviator of some note. He studied aviation with the Benoist Aircraft Com- pany, of St. Louis, Missouri, and with the Wright Brothers, of Dayton, Ohio, and was graduated at both places. He has made successful flights at St. Louis, Dayton and Hutchinson, at exhibitions. He holds international license No. 246, received from the Aero Club of America. He was born in Americus, Kansas, October 2, 1885: married Mattie C. Sames, daughter of William J. and Isabel Sames, in Hutchinson, February 14, 1906; the daugh- ter was born in Hutchinson, October 10, 1887. They have four children : Dorothy Marie, born on December 17, 1906; John Albert, February 22. 1908; Dallas D., February 17, 1910: Helen M., May 7, 1912.
For two years John A. Bixler was in the poultry and egg business with his brother, Earl F., and has since been engaged in the grocery business by himself, at 909 South Main street, in Hutchinson. William J. Sames died in Hutchinson, July 25, 1908; his wife is still living in Hutchinson.
The Bixlers have taken much interest in navigation. They were the only persons in Hutchinson who had a boat during the flood of 1903 and 1904, available for rescue purposes. They made good use of their boat in saving persons and property threatened with the raging flood, and made no charge for their services. James W., Earl F. and Gould F. Bixler made a trip from Hutchinson, Kansas, to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, on the Arkansas river.
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