USA > Kansas > Reno County > History of Reno County, Kansas; its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 72
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After the war Mr. Crawley went to Clark county, Illinois, where he spent some time in regaining his health, after which time he moved to the eastern part of Kansas where he lived three years. In the spring of 1872 he came to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he bought four lots on Sherman street, and took up a soldier's homestead in Salt Creek township. The homestead was located in the northeast quarter of section 12. township 23, range 7 west. In May, of the same year, he sent for his wife and her mother, who lived for a time in the home built by Mr. Crawley on Sherman
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street. Later the family moved to the farm. During the grasshopper plague which visited the western part of the county in 1874, the subject of this sketch was not to be conquered by disappointment and despair but took charge of a train of freight wagons from Leadville, Colorado, to Canyon City, Colorado, where a mining town was in the first stage of its develop- ment. Mr. Crawley was employed by Mr. Myton of Hutchinson, Kansas. This occupation was not destined to last long as the sudden death of Mr. Crawley brought the work to a close on May 20, 1879, when he was found · unconscious at the feet of his horses near Canyon City, Colorado. He was taken to a hospital where he died after one day. He was buried in Canon City, Colorado, and on account of a railroad strike was deprived of a burial at his own home. In political affairs the subject of this sketch was prominent in Republican circles, and in the interest of his party made a number of poli- tical speeches in Reno county.
After the death of Mr. Crawley, Congressman Ryan, of the seventh district, Kansas, obtained a position for the widow of the subject of this sketch in the postmaster-general's office at Washington, D. C. She became a clerk in the office there and in March, 1880, brought her family to Wash- ington, where she held the position until 1907, when she resigned to move back to the Crawley homestead in Salt Creek township, Reno county, Kansas, where she resides at the present time. Among those who assisted Mrs. Crawley in securing the position in Washington was J. V. Clymer. The children of the subject of this sketch received the advantages of a fine edu- cation in Washington, D. C.
The marriage of William P. Crawley to Caroline Tennant, a native of Otsego county, New York, where she was born on October 3, 1841, was solemnized on September 20, 1865. She is the daughter of Colonel Cavallo and Harriet (Morrison) Tennant. the former of whom was a native of Columbia county, New York, and the latter of Otsego county, in the same state. Mr. Tennant, who followed the occupation of a farmer in New York, moved with his family to Fairfax county, Virginia, in 1845, where he bought two hundred acres of land belonging to the old Jackson place. Aside from his interests as a farmer he was a colonel of the militia of Otsego county, New York. Besides his daughter, who became the wife of the subject of this sketch, Mr. and Mrs. Tennant had a son, Albert F., who was a member of the Union army during the Civil War, when he served in Colonel Mott's Artillery. Albert Tennant was wounded in the war and died in one of the Union hospitals at Georgetown, near Washington, D. C. Mr. Tennant died
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in 1861 at the age of fifty-seven years and his wife passed away in 1897, at the age of seventy-five years.
Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crawley the following information is given: Etta M., who was born on October 3, 1868, first became the wife of Morton M. Libby, of Reno county. Her second husband was Edmund 1. Wells, of Reno county. She has attained marked distinction as an artist since completing her education at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D. C. Verna M., born on March 25, 1871, and resides in Washington, married Fred A. Palmer, who is employed in the Navy department of that place, and they have one son, Acker T. William P., who was born on January 12, 1873. married Lillian Champion, and they have four children, Clarence W., Mar- garet, John C. and Ruth E., who live on the old Crawley homestead in Salt . Creek township. Arthur, who was born on January 27, 1876, served in the police department of Washington, D. C., about five years. His health failed and he was granted a pension. Going West to regain his health, he finally pre-empted a claim in Utah, receiving a deed and clear title from the gov- ernment shortly before his death, May 4, 1908. He was never married. Clar- ence, born on August 28, 1879, who has never married, is employed as a machinist in the department of agriculture, Washington, D. C.
BYRON A. EASTMAN.
Byron A. Eastman, trustee of Reno township, this county, and a well- known and progressive farmer of that township, living on rural route No. 5, out of Hutchinson, is a native of Massachusetts, having been born in the village of South Bramtree, a few miles from Boston, in that state, on August 22, 1872, son of George A. and Louisa ( Foster) Eastman, the former of whom was born in July, 1840, and the latter, April 17, 1850.
George A. Eastman, who died at his home in this county on August S. 1883, was born on a farm at the foot of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont, son of Amos and Sophronia Eastman, both natives of the Green Mountain state. Amos Eastman was a farmer for many years in Vermont, but upon his retirement from the active duties of the farm came to this county in 1888 and located in Hutchinson, where his death occurred in 1903. at the age of ninety- four years. His widow is still living in that city, at the age of eighty-five. George A. Eastman received an excellent education in his youth and for years was a school teacher, first in Vermont and later in Missouri. In the
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latter state his pronounced views on the abolition question in the days preced- ing the Civil War rendered him so unpopular in the district in which he was teaching that he was obliged to leave there. He then went to Massachusetts, where for a time he was engaged in mercantile businss, and there married Louisa Foster, who was born in Ohio, daughter of John Foster and wife, the former of whom was a native of England, who came to this country as a young man and settled in Ohio, where he became a farmer. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Union army, although over age for military service, and served as chaplain of the Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Later George A. Eastman went to Chicago, where for a time he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and there his health began to fail him. Seeking the benefit of a change of climate and attracted by the salubrity of the climate hereabout, Mr. Eastman moved, with his family, to Reno county in 1882. He bought the northeast quarter of section 27 in Reno township and there established a new home, but his quest of health was in vain, for he died a few months later. He was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. They were the parents of three children. Jennie, who died in infancy; Byron A., the imme- diate subject of this sketch, and Linnie F., who married E. W. Moore and lives in Reno township, this county. In 1898 the Widow Eastman married her deceased husband's brother. Wilbur B. Eastman, and both are still living on the home farm in Reno township.
Byron .\. Eastman was eighteen years of age when his parents came to this county and his schooling was completed in district school No. 65, in Reno township, and one year in the Hutchinson high school. He then taught school for one term, after which he rented a part of his mother's farm and entered actively upon the life of a farmer, which he since has followed with success. In 1906 he bought a fifty-acre farm west of South Hutchinson and has been living there ever since. Mr. Eastman is a Republican and ever has taken a warm interest in public affairs. In 1912 he was elected trustee of Reno township and so satisfactory did his administration of that important office prove to the people of that township that he was re-elected in 1914. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and takes much interest in that society.
On January 16, 1901, Byron A. Eastman was united in marriage to Myrtle M. Siegrist, who was born in Salt Creek township, this county, daughter of Jacob and Libbie AA. Siegrist, pioneers of this county, the former of whom now is deceased, but the latter of whom is still living, and to this
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union one child has been born, a daughter. Elizabeth, who was born on October 22, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at South Hutchinson and are properly interested in all good works thereabout.
HARLOW B. BROWN.
Harlow B. Brown, one of the best-known young men of Hutchinson, this county, proprietor of the Gasette job-printing plant, is a native son of Reno county, having been born on the fine Brown ranch in Roscoe town- ship, April 10, 1889, son of Major Willis L. and Sarah (Blake ) Brown, pioneers of that section, who are now living at Kingman, where they have made their home for years, though still retaining their large interests in this county.
Willis L. Brown was born on a farm in Steuben county, New York, January 28, 1854, son of Solomon and Ruth E. (Carpenter) Brown, the former a member of one of the old American families, of Scottish descent. and the latter a daughter of James Carpenter and wife, pioneers of western New York. Solomon Brown died when his son, Willis L., was only twenty months old and the latter was not long afterward orphaned. indeed, by the death of his mother. . Thus handicapped his youth was one of struggle, but he was imbued from earliest childhood with a desire for an education and he bravely worked his way through school, being graduated from Woodhull Academy, now known as the Western New York AAcademy, at the age of fourteen and duly licensed to teach school, a profession upon which he early had set his heart. The laws of the state of New York, however. did not permit anyone under eighteen years of age to teach in the schools of that state and young Brown, nothing daunted by this setback to his youthful ambition. presently pushed out West, where teachers were then in greater demand, and for three years was engaged in teaching at Lynn and at Charlton, Missouri, his service in that connection having begun when he was sixteen years old. With added age and -acquired experience. Mr. Brown then returned to New York and was there engaged in teaching and con- tinuing his studies until 1876, in which year, becoming dissatisfied with the East after having had experience in the West. he returned West, coming to Kansas. In that year he entered a claim in Pawnee county, but did not "prove up" the same, soon thereafter going to McPherson county, where he
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remained for a time, hunting over the buffalo range, and while there mar- ried. He then entered a homestead claim in Kingman county, but presently relinquished the same and in 1883 entered a half section of school land over the line in Roscoe township, Reno county, which he still owns and which is regarded as one of the best-kept stock farms in Reno county or central Kansas. For several years after locating in this county Mr. Brown taught school during the winters, riding six miles, back and forth every day to school and taking his pay for such service in anything of value the resi- dents thereabout could give, which was not much. As he prospered in his cattle business Mr. Brown added to his land holdings, buying a quarter of a section nearby his Reno county place and a half section over the line in Kingman county and has for years been regarded as one of the most pro- gressive and substantial ranchers in central Kansas. He was one of the first men in this county to see the possibility of planting the plains with trees and the veritable forest of transplanted trees and the fine orchards on his several farms attest the wisdom of his decision back in 1886, when other farmers thereabout scoffed at his enterprise, declaring that the soil of this region was not adapted to tree culture. Mr. Brown specializes in Short- horn cattle and Poland China hogs and prospered largely.
In 1893 Willis L. Brown retired from the farm and with his family moved to Kingman, where he ever since has made his home and where he has become one of the most conspicuous figures in the political life of the state. Though still retaining the active oversight of his extensive ranch interests Mr. Brown has found time for activities of another character and his famous sobriquet, "Iron Jaw," was won not long after he moved to Kingman, where, in a city campaign, he was chiefly responsible for the movement which resulted in the effectual ousting of the "tough bunch." Upon moving to Kingman, Mr. Brown. in association with H. H. Isley, started the Kingman Journal and was editor of that vigorous newspaper until 1900, during which time he became one of the best-known men in Kansas. As an ardent Democrat he took an active and prominent part in the councils of that party and his paper ever was one of the most effective and vigorous exponents of the principles of the party in this state. He was clerk of the Kansas state Senate during the sessions of 1893-95 and in 1897 was appointed under the Leedy administration president of the state board of charities, in control of the state's charitable and correctional insti- tutions, a position which he resigned in 1898, in order to take part in the Spanish-American War. He recruited men for that service throughout all
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central Kansas and was commissioned major of the Twenty-first Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, although the regiment did not get into the thick of things, being encamped at Chattanooga, when peace was declared. In 1908 Major Brown was elected representative in the Legislature from his district and was twice re-elected, serving with much efficiency during the sessions of 1909-11-13. being speaker of the House during the latter session. Under the Hodges administration in 1913 he was appointed a member of the board in charge of the state's penal and benevolent institutions and in 1913 was a candidate for the nomination for United States senator from Kansas in the Demo- cratic primaries, but failed of the nomination. For years Major Brown has been the acknowledged leader of his party in Kingman county and has wielded a strong influence in the party throughout the state. Major Brown is also one of the leading Odd Fellows in the country. For two years he was grand master of the Kansas grand lodge of that order and for two years was representative of that order from Kansas in the sovereign grand lodge. He also has represented the Kansas Woodmen in several national meetings of the Modern Woodmen and in the affairs of both of these popular orders takes a warm interest. At the encampment of the Kansas depart- ment of the United Spanish War Veterans in July, 1915, Major Brown was honored by his comrades by election to the office of commander of that department and is giving his most active and intelligent attention to the affairs of that society.
In July, 1881. Willis L. Brown was united in marriage to Sadie J. Blake, who was born near Rockford, Indiana, August 17, 1860, daughter of Madison and Martha Blake, natives of Indiana, who came to Kansas at an early date in the settlement of this section, locating for a time in McPher- son county, where they remained until 1878, in which year the family came to Reno county, homesteading a tract in Roscoe township and becoming prominent residents of that section. Madison Blake, who was a veteran of the Civil War, died at the home of Major Brown, and his widow, who was born on June 4, 1841, is now living at Germantown, Nebraska. To Willis L. and Sarah J. (Blake) Brown three children have been born, Maud, who married Bert Walter and lives at Kingman, this state: Wayne S., who lives on one of his father's farms in Kingman county, and Harlow B., the imme- diate subject of this biographical sketch. Major and Mrs. Brown are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church and their children were reared in that faith.
Harlow B. Brown was four years old when his parents moved from
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the farm in this county to Kingman and he was reared at the latter place, receiving his education in the public schools there, which course he pursued through the second year of high school. At the age of thirteen he began learning the printer's trade in the office of his father's paper, the Kingman Journal, and in 1908 bought a half interest in the paper, which he sold four years later and then moved to Pratt, this state, where he opened a job- printing office. A year and a half later he moved his plant to Hutchinson and consolidated the same with the job-printing department of the Hutchin- son Gazette, and ever since has operated that plant with much success, enjoy- ing a flourishing business and long recognized as one of the leading printers in central Kansas.
In August, 1911, Harlow B. Brown was united in marriage at Coffey- ville, this state, to Amanda C. Poff, who was born in Missouri, daughter of Robert H. and Simona Poff, the former of whom died in New Mexico, his widow now residing in Columbus, that state. To this union one child has been born, a son, Robert Willis, born on November 17, 1914.
LOUIS P. DANFORD.
Louis P. Danford was born in Noble county, Ohio, January 9, 1874, the son of Isaiah and Eliza E. (Groves) Danford, both of whom were natives of Ohio.
Isaiah Danford was born on June 27, 1841, in Noble county, Ohio, where he grew up and was reared to be a farmer. He was among the "Home Guards" during the Civil War. On June 15, 1864, he was mar- ried to Eliza E. Grooves, who was born on August 16, 1846. Isaiah Dan- ford was a prosperous farmer and stock raiser and owned three hundred acres of land in Stock township, Noble county, Ohio, one of the best farms in that county in its day. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Danford is a Republican and held local office while living in Ohio.
In 1886, Isaiah Danford sold his farm in Ohio and came with his wife and family, then consisting of eight children, to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he bought the southwest quarter of section 2, township 24, range 6 west, in Lincoln township, this county. Mr. Danford managed the farm and also conducted the Noble hotel in Hutchinson, the hotel being named for his home county in Ohio, and was located where the Star Clothing
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store now stands. He carried on the hotel business for three years, driv- ing in from the farm each morning and returning home at night. It was during the boom days and the business was quite profitable. Mr. Dan- ford sold the hotel and devoted his entire time to the farm for a number of years, finally retiring from active work and removing to Hutchinson, where, in 1908, he established the South Hutchinson dairy, which is now being conducted by his son-in-law, Ben Myers.
Isaiah and Eliza (Grooves) Danford were the parents of ten children, as follow: Lincoln, Annie, Eli Franklin, William Collins, Lavina Della, Louis P., Mary Alice, Carrie May, Rosanna and Ella. Lincoln was born on July 11, 1866, and now lives on a ranch in Edwards county, this state. Annie, born on July 8, 1868, married Ben Myers and lives in South Hutchinson. Eli Franklin, born on September 9, 1869, lives on a large farm in Reno township, this county. William Collins, born on May 25. 1871, is an extensive farmer in Oklahoma. Lavina Della, born on October 19. 1872, married L. S. Kent, an auctioneer at Hutchinson. Mary Alice, born on January 31, 1876, married A. T. Moffin, proprietor of the Sun- flower dairy, of South Hutchinson. Carrie May, born on January 27, 1878, married Robert Carlisle, who has a general store at Stafford, Kansas. Ro- sanna, born on August 17, 1880, married Patrick Hamilton and lives in South Hutchinson. Ella, born on October 30, 1881, married Richard Ken- nedy and lives in Haven, Kansas. Mrs. Eliza Danford died on October 6, 1910. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which her husband is still a member.
Louis P. Danford attended the public schools in Ohio and later at- tended the Lincoln district school. in Lincoln township, when he came to Kansas, with his parents, at the age of thirteen years. He was reared on his father's farm and after his school days assisted with the work of the home place. He was married in 1894 and continued with his father for two years. In 1896 Louis P. Danford entered into a partnership with the Fernie Brothers, with whom he was associated for eight years, on their ranch in Lincoln township. This proved to be a profitable connection and Mr. Danford accumulated sufficient capital to purchase a farm of his own. In 1905 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of the old Sweetzer place in section 2, in Lincoln township. Later he added eighty acres to the original tract. He now has a fine farm, which is devoted mainly to wheat farming and stock raising. Mr. Danford feeds out a carload of cattle every year. and also keeps a number of dairy cows, selling the milk at wholesale. He
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keeps Durham cattle. The place is improved with good barns and a silo.
On February 8, 1894. Louis P. Danford was married to Sarah B. Wheeler, who was born in Washington county, Kentucky, the daughter of David and Martha (Shoemaker) Wheeler, both of whom were natives of that county. David Wheeler was a farmer and came to Kansas in 1885, buying a farm near Winfield, Cowley county, where he lived until his death on December 22, 1903. Mrs. Martha Wheeler still lives on the Cowley county farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis P. Danford have no children of their own, but they have one adopted son, Cleo W., who was born on December 19, 1896. Mr. Danford is a Republican, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Danford are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and take an interest in all good works in this community. Their comfortable farm home is the center of much genial hospitality and they are held in high esteem by their many friends.
GEORGE A. ERKER.
George A. Erker, a well-known and prosperous farmer of Sumner town- ship, this county, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of Reno county since the spring of 1879 and therefore may very properly be regarded as one of the pioneers of this county. He was born at Frankfort-on-the- Maine, then a free city, but since 1866 a dependency of Prussia, November 27. 1846, son of Casimir and Christina (Somer) Erker, both natives of Frankfort, who spent all their lives in their native land.
Casimir Erker was a bandmaster and director of an orchestra, a com- poser of music and a violinist of note, who for many years was a widely- recognized teacher of instrumental music. He was born in 1817 and died in 1881, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife, born in 1819, died in 1898. They were earnest members of the Catholic church and their chil- dren were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the second in order of birth, and four of whom survive, Mr. Erker having a brother, Henry, and a sister, Eve, living in Germany and a brother, Adolph, residing in this country, a well- known optician of St. Louis.
George A. Erker received his early schooling in the Catholic parochial schools of his native city and when fourteen years of age entered a three-
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years apprenticeship to the machinist's trade, at the end of which he worked for two years as a journeymån machinist. In the fall of 1866, he then being twenty years old, Mr. Erker came to the United States and joined his eller brother, Joseph, who some time before that had located in New York City. There George A. Erker entered the employ of the Singer Sew- ing Machine Company and for twelve years was thus engaged in New York City. In January, 1870, he married there and in the spring of 1879, attracted by the stories of the success attending the efforts of the energetic homesteaders in Kansas, came with his wife and little children to this state and settled in Reno county. He bought the southeast quarter of section 22 in Sumner township and there established his home in a dug-out and pro- ceeded to develop his place and bring it under cultivation. He and his wife are earnest Catholics and they were prompted in making their selection of a homestead by the announcement of the church that parishes would be established in the new country at points every ten miles west of Wichita. They therefore selected a place of residence twenty miles west of Wichita. knowing that in good time a church would be established thereabout, and this proved to be the case, for in 1881 St. Joseph's church was erected within a mile and a half of the Erker home. St. Joseph's has been twice rebuilt since then, as the growing needs of the parish demanded a larger and finer house of worship, and Mr. Erker has on each occasion been a liberal and willing contributor to the building fund.
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