USA > Kansas > Reno County > History of Reno County, Kansas; its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 35
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Charles W. Peckham was five years old when his mother died and he was cared for in childhood by Mrs. Elizabeth Spencer, a widow who lived near Adrian. Michigan. Later he rejoined his father at Jackson. Michigan, and was educated in the schools. of that city, completing the course in the high school. In 1867 Mrs. Spencer married and moved to Lockport, New York. Later, Mr. Peckham was called to Lockport to teach a refractory country school. He "made good" and afterward attended Lockport high school. In 1869, following a resolution he had made in his boyhood, he came West and settled in Colorado county. Texas, where he conducted a subscription school for one year, after which he went onto a ranch and became an expert cowboy and very competent cattleman. In 1871 he came through to Kansas with a herd of cattle des- tined for Abilene, and was so much pleased with the appearance of things in the Arkansas valley that he determined to locate here. In August of that year he homesteaded the southwest quarter of section 2, township 25, range 4 west, in what is now Haven township, this county, two miles east of the present flourishing little city of Haven, and there built a sod shanty and entered upon the task of developing his claim. This shanty was twelve by (23a)
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fourteen feet, inside measurement, with two windows and one door; was covered with boards hauled from Newton and was plastered on the inside with the clay from the well which he dug nearby. That was the first dwell- ing erected in what is now Haven township and marked the farthest western habitation in Reno county south of the river. Soon after the sod shanty was completed a party of Texas cattlemen came along with three thousand head of cattle and that fall and winter Mr. Peckham herded cattle for them. In 1872 he and Doctor Durand went over on the Ninnescah, where he lassoed twelve buffalo and captured them alive, two of the creatures being sent East to a circus in which a brother of Doctor Durand was associated. When a school was organized in district 39, Haven township, not long after he settled there, Mr. Peckham became the first school teacher and for four years was thus engaged. In 1873, when the Grange became organized in that section of the county, Mr. Peckham was elected first master of the same and in that capacity did much for the advancement of the interests of the early agricultur- ists and cattlemen thereabout.
Charles W. Peckham is the pioneer among the cattlemen of Reno county, having ben the first man to feed cattle in any considerable quantity. Hutch- inson, the nearest grain market, was twenty miles away and Mr. Peckham early came to the conclusion that it would be far more profitable to feed the corn he raised on the ranch instead of hauling it to market. He now is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of choice land, comprising "Gem Stock Farm." long regarded as a model place. The latest farm house on the place was erected in !900, a large, modern frame house with a cupola and generous verandas. One of the features of the ranch is a reinforced con- crete silo, sixteen feet in diameter and fifty feet high, with a capacity of two hundred and twenty-five tons. Mr. Peckham made his home at "Gem Stock Farm" until 1909. in which year he moved to Haven, where he built a steel- framed. hollow-walled cement house. modern in every respect, generally regarded as the finest house in Haven, and there he since has made his home. Mr. Peckham has patented the process by which his house was constructed and the system of construction promises to become general and popular. The house has metal studding and lath. It is, of course, fire proof and the hollow walls are designed to render the house warm in winter and cool in stimmer.
Charles W. Peckham is a Democrat and ever since locating in this county has taken an earnest interest in local politics. He was the first trustee of Haven township and in that official capacity was enabled to render valuable public
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service. In 1886 he was one of a committee of two appointed to go East to bring before capitalists the expediency of running the projected Wichita, Colorado & Western railroad, now a part of the Missouri Pacific system, through the town of Haven, he also having been a member of the original Haven Town Company, organized for the purpose of creating a town on the site selected, and the efforts of himself and his fellow committeemen proved effectual, the railroad presently connecting Haven with the outside world. Mr. Peckham was one of the prime promoters of the Citizens Bank of Haven, the first bank established in that town, and was elected vice-president of the same at the time of its organization. L. O. Smith, F. W. Ash and Mr. Peck- ham organized the Haven Milling Company in 1887 and erected the flour- mill at the new town, Mr. Peckham for three years being the active manager of the same. He was one of the organizers of the popular Farmers Grain Company of Haven, a concern which has done much to establish better prices for farm products in that neighborhood, and is now the president of the same. When the Haven Commercial Club was organized in 1911 Mr. Peckham was elected secretary of the same and for three years served in that capacity, doing much in the way of giving the club a proper start. In other ways he has demonstrated his fine public spirit and occupies a very high place in finan- cial and commercial circles throughout this part of the state.
On February 19, 1874, Charles W. Peckham was united in marriage to Sarah C. Hess, who was born in Hartford City, Indiana, daughter of Abran and Elizabeth (Gadberry) Hess, both of whom died in Indiana, and to this union ten children have been born, as follow: John, who lives in Wichita, this state; Minnie, who married Everett Bishop, a farmer of Wauketa, Okla- homa : Bertha, who married Ralph Williams and is now mistress of the big house at "Gem Stock Farm;" Arthur Leroy, who lives at Wichita; Cora. who married Guy Van Buren and lives on a farm two miles north of Haven: Edward, a farmer, of Caldwell, this state; Ira, who lives near Burton, this state: Laura, who married Guy Astle, a well-known merchant of Haven : Flora, who died on November 15, 1885, and Ella, who died on February 14. 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Peckham are members of the Universalist church and Mr. Peckham is a member of the lodge of Ancient Order of United Work- mon at Haven, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
In 1905, the national organizer of the American Society of Equity came to Kansas to instruct western farmers in an improved system for the market- ing of farm products. He soon came in contact with Mr. Peckham, who became impressed with the importance and feasibility of the plan. Together, they laid the plan of this great organization before the farmers and Kansas
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soon took a front rank in the new organization. After the required number of local unions was formed, a state union was organized. and C. W. Peckham was elected state secretary. Senator L. P. King, of Winfield. was elected state president. Mr. Peckham gave much of his time for two years to the growth of the organization and attended its national conventions, and was tendered the presidency of the national organization, but declined to serve. Much good was accomplished, but the required cohesiveness among farmers was lacking, and the effort languishes. In June. 1907, the organization held a three days' session called the National Grain Growers Convention, at Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. J. A. Everitt, president and founder of the move- ment, was elected president of the convention. Upon taking the chair and making the opening address, he craved the privilege of nominating as secre- tary of the convention, one whom he assured them had, out of the twenty- three states represented. made the best record for his state. Mr. Peckham was elected secretary of the convention.
Charles W. Peckham has one accomplishment regarding which he is accustomed to speak somewhat self-deprecatingly, but regarding which is friends are in no doubt whatever, and that is his ability as a poet. When the members of the Reno County Old Settlers Association asked Mr. Peckham to prepare a poem relating to pioneer days, the same to be read at the next annual meeting of the association. Mr. Peckham rose to the occasion and the following production of his pen was warmly applauded :
THE PIONEER
Oh, how well do I remember When our present work begun. And we settled here in Kansas- Pioneers of seventy-one.
With our habitation finished. We began to till the sod ; What the future held before us, No one knew except our God.
How our house loomed up in mirage. Al the rising of the sun! How it spurred our every effort- Pioneers of seventy-one !
How we broke the bucking broncho : How we tamed the Texas steers. Could not pass beyond our memory If we lived a thousand years.
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Our meager stock of food stuff, Like the widow's cruse of oil. Would just sustain our bodies, In our constant round of toil.
Oh, the taxes were prodigious ! It would give your nerves a shock -- We had no realty at that time; It was levied on our stoek.
The sheriff once made a visit, And I doubt his good intents; Ilis mileage was sixteen dollars For a tax of fifty cents.
I hadn't any money, And was also shy of brass; So, to save my seanty bacon, I hunted taller grass.
One lesson was enough for me- I'd end the unequal strife- I'd profit by the exemption, And go hunting for a wife,
The plan worked to perfection. I had often heard it said, That. "If man would bring the water. The wife would make the bread."
At first we had to hustle To get our bread and meat ; But now it's no nse to rustle- We live on "Easy street."
Then, there were those horrid 'hoppers; They would come and eat our crops- They would get as thick as coppers In a contribution box.
They'd upset our calculations. They would eat up all we had ; And we'd come out in the springtime Just as poor as any shad.
But is was not all starvation, For. sometimes, we'd have a feast ; This was when we'd get a great big box From our friends, who lived down East.
But at last things went to turning. And our blues were changed to mirth ; And now the things we can produce. Are not equalled on this earth.
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Search the world for growing nature ! Get earth's products where you can ! Kansas leads, in every feature! I can prove it. to a man !
I've read how knights and cavaliers Sought for the golden fleece : Hlad they but come to Kansas. They'd have settled down in peace.
Those ancient. learned doctors. Who were hunting fount of youth. Might have found it. here in Kansas. And that's the naked truth.
No matter what you're hunting. Or of what you may be fond ; You can find it here in Kansas: There's no use to go beyond.
There was Mr. C. Columbus- He claimed to have found us : But that would not go in Kansas- Not without a dreadful fuss.
No. we never stoop, or follow : And we do not lose a race; We are sure a hot tamale, And we always set the pace.
You have read of Spanish conquests How Balboa found the sea : But he never did a thing in life. Compared to you and me.
Instead of courting glory, With a cruel, loaded gun- He might have had some standing With pioneers of seventy-one.
We came out here to Kansas: We opened wide the door ! We made two blades of grass to grow, Where one blade grew before !
We've plowed up the desert. We've conquered its foes : Where the cactus once grew. Now blossoms the rose.
We've brought the horseless carriage. We've reared the telephone : We've schooled our sons and daughters. Till they can go alone.
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We've driven back the buffalo, We've framed a noble plan ; Which gives a boy protection Till he becomes a man. The bonds of our creation Always bring the highest rates ; We're the grandest constellation In this galaxy of states.
We've had the sockless Jerry. And we've had our Mary Lease; Carrie Nation swings her hatchet And declares that rum shall cease.
We have captured Aguinaldo, And we've scaled old Pekin's wall ; When it comes to nerve and daring- Then's when Kansas leads them all.
For climate and for scenery. Like you read of on the Rhine; Come out here to sunny Kansas- This is where we always shine.
With hearts full of gladness. No one need repent, That early toward Kansas His footsteps were bent.
And now, my friends, we're coming To the parting of the ways; There'll be a time when you and I Will end these happy days.
I'm sure I've no misgivings- No, I haven't a single fear ; I know no evil can betide The honest pioneer.
Another pronounced "hit" made by Mr. Peckham in the poetic way was his famous onslaught on the "trusts," first published in the Kansas Farmer, entitled :
THE OCTOPUS
I've often read how Captain Kidd So gracefully his honors did. How merchant's gains and banker's wealth Were forced to help adorn his shelf. Ah, well for him he died in time. For now his fame would soon decline.
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I've also read how Robin Hood, Held court in England's famous wood. He'd rob the rich to help the poor, No hungry man e'er left his door. He finally came to disgrace, His checks untaken at their face.
Who has not read how privateers, Kept seamen filled with constant fears? Their flag was black, their hearts as well, They'd dare not do such deeds in hell. Who ever thought. in our fair land. Such deeds as theirs would ever stand?
But now, we're seeing face to face, A game that throws them from the race. The grain combine. the packers' trust, Are forcing honest men to bust. Small merchant now must close his door, Because of the department store.
The merebant now who deals in coal, Had better pack his grip and roll, Unless he's in the great combine, As merchant prince, he cannot shine. Alone he gains by little nips, Combined it comes in larger chips.
You turn whichever way you will, Trusts there are large, and larger still. They're forcing man to come their way. To drop upon his knees and pay, A Moloch, of remorseless greed. How break their ranks, how slack their speed?
But of all combines, grafts, or fakes, The railroad combine takes the cakes. For all the lands that gave them start, They've never paid one million'th part. They shift their burdens, shun their taxes, Their grip, on Iere ne'er relaxes.
Since man began to let you live. You've made the map look like a sieve. You've run your lines in, out and down. With sidetracks broad in every town. Trains dash into our midst, pell-mell. With snorting whistle, clanging bell.
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Through farmers' lands they build their tracks, They seare his cattle, burn his stacks. He had one farm, he's now got two, This credit all belongs to you Of straight lines you were ever shy, Ilis fields look like a piece of pie.
You've peeled his bacon to the bone ! Ile has to walk or stay at home. When he goes to town to pay his tax, He cannot ride, so walks your tracks. Not having eyes both sides his head, He's often now picked up quite dead.
If he, perchance, must ship some stock, You straightway lay him on your block. You filch his sirloin, pound his steak, Now on your gridiron he must bake. No thanks to him that he puts in, The largest part of all your "tin."
You raise your rates, withdraw your passes, (Except to legislative asses) You lose much sleep to make your ends, You do not recognize your friends. You've kicked the tramp, and fired the bum,
Until you think you're somewhat some.
You play your game with loaded dice, You carry preachers at half the price.
When gamblers fleece a nice fat duck, They hand him back a dime for luck, But you would throw him to the floor, And throttle him, and yell for more.
If I was hunting for a jay, Who'd sell his soul for meager pay, I'd find in you a willing tool. With conscience that befits a ghoul You bring bad liquor to our state. Your ticket reads "To Brimstone Lake."
CHARLES O. HITCHCOCK.
Charles O. Hitchcock, a well-known and progressive merchant of Hutch- inson, this county, president of the Hutchinson Commercial Club and long recognized as one of the "live wires" in the commercial life of this com-
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munity, is a native of Missouri, but has been a resident of Kansas ever since 1888. He was born in St. Louis, April 6, 1871, son of Charles O. and Anna Virginia ( Newcomer) Hitchcock, the former a native of Alabama and the latter of Maryland.
The senior Charles O. Hitchcock was born in the city of Mobile in 1842 and when a young man went to St. Louis, where he presently married Anna Virginia Newcomer, who was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1 848 and who located in St. Louis with her parents when a girl. Charles O. Hitchcock became a commission merchant in St. Louis and was engaged in that business at the time of his death, in 1880, he then being thirty-eight years of age. His widow continues to make her home in St. Louis. She is the mother of two sons, the subject of this biographical sketch having a brother, Z. A. Hitchcock, who is assistant cashier of the Bank of Commerce at St. Louis.
The junior Charles O. Hitchcock was about eight years of age when his father died. He received his education in the public schools of his native city and was graduated from the St. Louis high school in 1888, after which he went to Wichita, this state, in the neighborhood of which he began farm- ing. Starting in as a farmer on a rented farm, he presently bought a place of his own and was there engaged in farming for six years, at the end of which time he sold his place and entered the employ of an agricultural-im- plement firm at Wichita. That was in 1898 and he remained with that firm for ten years, during which time he became thoroughly familiar with the details of the implement business. In 1908 he transferred his services to the Hutchinson Implement Company, at Hutchinson, and became so deeply im- pressed with the possibilities of the business in this county that he opened up his business at his present site, 17-19 East Sherman street, which is a two- story building, fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, and carries all lines of farming implements, farm machinery, automobiles and fencing, his place leing the largest of its kind in Hutchinson. Mr. Hitchcock takes an active part in the general commercial activities of his home town and is now the president of the Hutchinson Commercial Club, this being the fourth term he has served as head of that enterprising body, though not consecutive terms.
On November 21, 1896, Charles O. Hitchcock was united in marriage to Elizabeth D. Krack, who was born in Illinois, daughter of W. L. and F. D. Krack, who came to Kansas when their daughter, Elizabeth, was three years old, and who now live at Wichita. Mr. Krack being a well-to-do re- tired farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock two children have been born,
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Hazel, born in 1897, and Marion, 1899. Mr. Hitchcock is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Wichita, and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Wood- men and of the Hutchinson Country Club, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
GEORGE T. GRAY.
George T. Gray, an enterprising and progressive young merchant of Turon, this county, proprietor of an up-to-date furniture store at that place, is a Missourian by birth, but his home has been in Reno county since he was seven years old and he is a thorough-going Kansan. He was born in Grundy county, Missouri, August 8, 1884, son of James and Emily J. (Allen) Gray, the former a native of that same county and the latter of Kentucky, she having been born in Jefferson county, near the city of Louis- ville.
James Gray left his farm in Missouri in February, 1891, and with his family came to Kansas. He bought a farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Miami township, this county, and made his home there until in October, 1915, when he returned to Missouri and he and his wife are now making their home in Trenton, that state. James Gray. is a veteran of the Civil War, having done valiant service in behalf of the Union cause during the struggle between the states. During his residence in this county he served for some time as trustee of Miami township and also served on the school board. He is an ardent Republican, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Baptist church. To him and his wife seven children have been born, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: Enos T., a farmer of Grundy county, Missouri; Edward S., a barber, of Turon, this county ; Myrtle, deceased; Laura B., who married D. D. Downing, general storekeeper for the Chicago & Alton railroad at Chicago: Henry W., a farmer, of Grundy county, Missouri, and Lora, who married B. Allison, a retired liveryman, of Hutchinson.
George T. Gray was about seven years old when he came to this county with his parents and he was educated in the grade schools at Turon and the high school at Hutchinson. In 1901, he then being seventeen years of
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age, he enlisted, at Wichita, for service in the United States army and for three years served as a non-commissioned officer in the First United States Cavalry, during twenty-one months of which time he was stationed in the Philippines. He was mustered out at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, in 1904, after which he went to Kansas City, where for four years he was engaged in the service of the Adams Express Company. He then returned to this county and for five years was engaged as a clerk in the store of the Ander- son Furniture Company at Hutchinson, after which, in 1913, he opened a furniture store of his own at Turon and has ever since been very success- fully engaged in business in that thriving little city.
On January 5, 1909, at Burrton, this state, George T. Gray was united in marriage to Edith M. Gardinier, who was born in Harvey county, this state, March 16, 1885. daughter of Henry F. Gardinier and wife, the for- mer a native of Indiana and the latter of Pennsylvania. Henry F. Gardin- ier is a veteran of the Civil War and to him and his wife five children were born, those besides Mrs. Gray being as follow: William, a barber, of Pratt, Kansas: Ella, wife of H. L. Osborn, a hotel keeper of Burrton; Ethel, widow of H. F. Dykeman, a one-time telegraph operator at Hutchin- son. and Ray, a barber of Greensburg, Kansas.
To George T. and Edith M. (Gardinier) Gray two children have been born, George, born on November 16, 1911, and Darius, March 5, 1913. Mr. Gray is a member of the Hutchinson encampment of the Spanish- American War Veterans' Association and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.
GEORGE MADISON KOONTZ.
The late George Madison Koontz, who was one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Summer township, prominent in civic affairs thereabout. a leader in church work and a good citizen, was a native of Illinois, born in Jasper county, that state, July 28, 1860, son of Andrew Jackson and Julia Ann Koontz, natives of Pennsylvania, both of whom are still living on their old home farm in Illinois, the former at the age of eighty-seven and the latter at the age of eighty-six. Nine children were born to them, of whom only one is a resident of Reno county, David Koontz, a well-known carpenter at Hutchinson.
George M. Koontz was reared on the home farm in Illinois, obtaining
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his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and early learned the carpenter's trade, becoming a proficient craftsman in that line. Upon reaching manhood he came to Kansas and settled in Greeley county, where he homesteaded a farm, which he proceeded to develop, at the same time continuing his work as a carpenter. He also spent a year in Colorado, working at his trade in Denver. In the fall of 1891 he married a daughter of Tobias Moore, a prominent farmer of Sumner township, this county, and located for a time on his father-in-law's place in that township, later buying the southeast quarter of section 3, in the same township. Upon taking possession of that farm, Mr. Koontz began the development of the same and greatly improved it and brought it to a high state of cultivation. In 1906 he erected the present comfortable farm house which marks the place. He had come to a position in life where he could begin to relax some of the more active duties of his calling, when death stopped his earthly labors, on September 11, 1912.
George M. Koontz was a good citizen and was ever mindful of the common good. Ile was a Democrat and served the public of Sumner town- ship both as a school director and as a constable and in other ways did his part in civic affairs. He helped organize the Farmers Telephone Company in that part of the county and took an active part in the affairs of the same. Mr. Koontz was a class leader, one of the trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school of the United Brethren church and for years was devoted to church work, both he and his wife being regarded as among the leaders in good works throughout their neighborhood. Since his death, Mr. Koontz's widow and her sons are continuing the management of the farm, and the family is very well situated.
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