USA > Kansas > Shawnee County > History of Shawnee County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 25
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The section devoted to American history includes all the best works on all pertinent subjects, by the best acknowledged writers, and a very interest- ing corner is entirely given over to works on the great Napoleon. A smaller room on the east adjoins the apartment given to history, and this contains about 1,500 volumes of fiction, many of these being in rare and costly bind- ings. Even the casual visitor with uneducated taste can appreciate the beauti- ful, leather-bound sets of Barbauld's English novels, and the choice bindings which add to the value of complete sets of Dickens, Thackeray and Reade. A very expensive edition of the original "Arabian Nights," for which he has been offered $700, occupies a prominent place. Another apartment is de- voted entirely to essays and travels, and here is found the choicest of litera- ture. Only a catalogue could enumerate them all, but we may mention a rare edition of Montraye's "Travels," in three large octavo volumes, published in 1732; Swinburn's "Travels in Spain," published in 1779; Wilson's "Pelew Islands," published in 1789; Bruce's "Travels to Discover the Source of the
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Nile," in five large volumes, published in 1790; Polehapton's "Gallery of Art," in six volumes, published in 1818, and also a complete set of Buffon,- nine volumes on the natural history of birds, nine on the natural history of beasts, and one on the natural history of insects. These are treasures indeed, being the original editions published in 1791, 1792 and 1793, and their value is beyond price.
While every volume in the library has intrinsic financial, as well as literary, value, there are two little volumes which are held in higher regard by their discriminating owner than any other of the rare collection. These, bound in tree calf and as perfect as the book-binder's art can achieve, are the two volumes of Osborn's "Monumental History of Egypt," published in 1854. Mr. McFarland has been offered as high as $400 a volume for them, but no price can tempt him to part with them.
The luxuriously appointed room in which Mr. McFarland does his own literary work, is also the one which he has devoted to philosophical works and to his reference library, this collection including volumes of inestimable value to the student and writer. Surrounded by this great aggregation of printed thought, and encompassed, as it were, by an inspiring atmosphere, Mr. McFarland spends many happy hours, and scarcely could more con- genial environment be imagined. In his accomplished wife he finds a com- panion whose tastes and aims are in harmony with his own. His literary work has been mainly on economic subjects and displays depth of thought and logi- cal reasoning. From collegiate days he has been a traveler and has leisurely visited almost every part of the United States, on many occasions lecturing before educated bodies, his favorite subject being history. Although his studious life has made him acquainted with almost every line of thought, his- tory has appealed most strongly to his taste and has given him the most en- joyment.
Mr. McFarland was connected with the State Board of Agriculture from its inception until 1886, during a part of this time being its assistant secretary, and for a long period has been State statistician for the Department of Agri- culture. Recently he has become a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Many of Mr. McFarland's rare and valuable books have been imported, some of these by himself from London, and others by a Chicago firm in his employ, who exhaust all their resources in his behalf. He keeps in constant communication with those who handle choice literature of any time or age, the price being no object, the mere possession of a rare volume bringing to him its own reward. Essentially a bibliophilist, Mr. McFarland is also a connoisseur as to bindings, taking delight in the beautiful enveloping fabrics,
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combinations of color and intricate designs. These satisfy his artistic sense, while still another sense notes the contents and rejoices in the date on the title page, which proves the volume's antiquarian worth.
WILLIAM A. NEISWANGER.
WILLIAM A. NEISWANGER, one of Topeka's leading business men, mas- ager of The Capitol Real Estate Company, was born at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1858, and is a son of David and Nancy J. ( West- fall) Neiswanger.
David Neiswanger, father of our subject, was born September 3, 1825, at Mechanicsburg, coming of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. He is one of a large family and the only survivor, and now lives retired at Osborne, Kansas. The mother was born in 1833 and died March 8, 1905, at Osborne, Kansas,' where her burial took place. She was a strict member of the German Baptist Church, a religious body to which her surviving husband also belongs. Their children were: Edgar M., deceased, who married Lizzie Mumma and left one daughter,-Anna; William A., of this sketch; H. W. and Laura A., residents of Osborne, Kansas; John K., a residest of East Bethlehem, Penn- sylvania ; and Charles G., of Osborne, Kansas.
William A. Neiswanger was reared at Mechanicsburg, where his father was a substantial citizen, engaged in a mercantile business. His education was secured in the public schools and the Cumberland Valley Institute. In 1879 he came to Kansas and entered into the wool growing busisess in Osborne and Russell counties and continued as long as it was profitable, some seven years. Previous to coming to Topeka, he was engaged one year in a real estate business at Luray, Kansas, and then spent two years in Topeka in the office of the State Board of Agriculture. His attention was engaged for the 12 succeeding years with the Investment Trust Company, the City Real Estate Trust Company and the receivers of the Investment Trust Company. He then went into a real estate business at Kansas City, Missouri, remaining there two and a half years, and then settled permanently at Topeka. His present position as manager of The Capitol Real Estate Company is one of importance and prominence. This company is one of the largest handlers of farm lands and city property in this part of the State and is also interested in realty in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Neiswanger was married in Osborne County, Kansas, to Margaret L. Mohler, who is a daughter of the late Martin Mohler, whose sketch will be found in this volume. Our subject and wife have four children, namely :
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Donald M., David (his grandfather's namesake), Laura and William A., Jr. The beautiful family home is situated at No. 1601 Mulvane street. Mr. Neiswanger belongs to the Westminster Presbyterian Church in which he is one of the deacons. For the past 16 years he has been on the official board of the church. He is a member of the Sons and Daughters of Justice.
Mr. Neiswanger has always been a good citizen and has taken a deep interest in civic improvements. He was a liberal contributor in time to the improvement of College Hill. He belongs to the Commercial Club of Topeka and is always willing to assist in pushing matters pertaining to the city's improvement and commercial development.
ELBRIDGE HIGGINS.
ELBRIDGE HIGGINS, one of the esteemed residents of Topeka, a retired farmer, was born in 1831 in Massachusetts, and is a son of Josiah and Han- nah (Snow) Higgins.
The ancestry of Mr. Higgins includes members of the Plymouth colony, soldiers of the Revolution and of the War of 1812, and old established resi- dents of Cape Cod, many of these having been sea-faring men. The family has also been noted as one of unusual longevity. The paternal grandfather, Ephraim Higgins, lived to the age of 99 years and his son Josiah was a hale, hearty man up to the age of 89 years. The latter followed the sea during his early years and then became a farmer. Of his six children, the two survivors are Elbridge and Russell-the latter still resides on the old home place in Massachusetts.
Elbridge Higgins was reared on his father's farm, but, like all coast boys, had a fondness for the sea, and by the age of 14 years he had gained his family's permission and shipped for a voyage. For 14 successive years he followed this life, visiting many strange lands and having many wonder- ful experiences. In 1859 he went to the Pacific Coast and engaged in mining in Eastern Oregon and in Idaho, remaining in Oregon until 1872.
Mr. Higgins then came to Kansas and located on a raw prairie farm of 160 acres, which he purchased from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail- way Company. It was located in Mission township, Shawnee County. Mr. Higgins developed this into a fine property and later purchased a second 160-acre tract for meadow purposes. He carried on extensive farming and handled considerable stock, enough to consume all the corn he raised. About 1901 he sold his first farm, but still retains the second. He had erected a very handsome modern residence at No. 1509 College avenue, Topeka, and
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took possession upon retiring from agricultural work. This beautiful home is a model of modern building and is appropriately furnished with all to please the eye and render comfort and ease to its occupants.
Mr. Higgins was married at Topeka, in 1872, to Hepsa Holway. They adopted a child of five years, Hettie M. Bassett, in whom they centered paren- tal affection. She grew to be a beautiful maiden of 16 years, when her inno- cent young life ended, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Higgins sorely bereft.
Mr. Higgins takes no very active interest in politics, merely attending to the duties of a good citizen. For 35 years he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON.
REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON, pastor of the Central Congregational Church of Topeka, is a man whose name and fame probably extends around the world and one whose manly, consistent Christian character has won for him the unbounded esteem and admiration of his fellow-citizens. Rev. Mr. Sheldon was born in New York, February 26, 1857, and is one of a family of six children born to Rev. Stewart asd Sarah (Ward) Sheldon.
The venerable father of our subject resides with him in Topeka. For many years Rev. Stewart Sheldon was a minister of the Gospel in New York, but some years since gave up his last charge and came to this city.
Charles M. Sheldon was reared in New York through his early boyhood and passed the remainder of that impressionable period in South Dakota. His education was of a very ample character, pursued is Eastern institutions of learning. In 1879 he was graduated from Andover Academy, in Massa- chusetts, and then entered Brown University, at Providence, Rhode Island, which has been the alma mater of so many illustrious men. He was gradu- ated from Brown in 1883 and three years later was graduated from the Andover Theological Seminary.
Rev. Mr. Sheldon's first charge was at Waterbury, Vermont, where he served from 1886 to 1888. In January, 1889, he accepted the call to his present charge, the Central Congregational Church of Topeka. Here his labors have been continued ever since. The great love and high esteem which he has inspired, in his congregation of 500 members, tell of fidelity to duty, consistent Christian living and the close following of the Master hie aims to serve. When Rev. Mr. Sheldon took charge, he found many difficulties in his path, one of these being the immediate need for a new place of worship. The completed church edifice, which tourists come far to see, on account of
HON. GEORGE A. HURON
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the reputation of its noted pastor, is a handsome, substantial structure to which an addition has recently been made, through the generous gift of $4,500 by the widow of the late T. E. Bowman, and is known as the Bowman Memorial Annex. A sketch of Mr. Bowman will be found elsewhere in this volume.
In 1891 Rev. Mr. Sheldon was married to Mary Merriam, who is a daughter of Everett B. Merriam. They have one son,-Merriam W. Their pleasant home is located at No. 1515 West 15th street.
To speak extensively of either Rev. Mr. Sheldon's spiritual work or of his many successes in authorship, would be almost superfluous, in a work prepared for circulation in a locality where his name is almost a household word. He is the author of a number of very popular books, among these being : "His Brother's Keeper," "In His Steps," "Malcolm Kirk," "Ed- ward Blake" and "Born to Serve."
Rev. Mr. Sheldon's influence on public men and measures has been great. He is constantly concerned with great philanthropic ideas and is gratified many times to find them adopted by those who have the financial resources to carry them out. He is a man who has spent the best of his energies, the gifts of his intellect and the deepest resources of his nature in aid of his fel- low-men. He does not convert the whole world to his way of thinking, but abundant success testifies to the sympathy which he has kindled and which will perpetuate the work as well as the name of one of the most retiring and unostentatious public men of the century.
HON. GEORGE A. HURON.
The substantial citizenship of Topeka is largely made up of those who lay claim to other and more Eastern States as to places of birth, and not a few of these came upon the arena of life in the noble old State of Indiana. Such is the fact concerning one of Topeka's leading professional men, Hon. George A. Huron, who was born March 29, 1838, in Hendricks County, Indiana, 12 miles west of the beautiful city of Indianapolis. He is a son of Benjamin Abbott and Katherine (Harding) Huron.
The ancestral records of Judge Huron's family are easily obtainable and are of unquestionable reliability. The family is of Scotch extraction, and it is learned from volume entitled "Littell's Genealogies, First Settlers of the Passaic Valley," that our subject's great-grandfather, Seth MacHuron, was born November 11, 1729, in New England, married Mary Hazen and in 1753 removed to Morristown, New Jersey, where all their children were
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iborn. The family belonged to the First Presbyterian Church at Morris- town, from which city they removed in 1787, to Ulster County, New York. After the death of Seth MacHuron, it is chronicled that his four sons, Oth- niel, Enos, Eli and Silas, were persuaded to drop the old Scotch prefix and be real "American boys," and since that time the family name has been written either Hurin or Huron. Othniel MacHuron, who was the grand- father of our subject, was born January 10, 1759, married Bethiah St. John and later settled in Warren County, Ohio.
Benjamin Abbott Huron, father of our subject, was born near Lebanon, Ohio, December 31, 1811, and removed to Hendricks County, Indiana, in 1832. On December 10, 1835, he married Katherine Harding, who was born August 4, 1815, at Campbellsville, Kentucky, and removed to Indiana in 1833. After marriage the young couple settled in the Indiana forest, where they developed a farm, reared a creditable family and became the worthy leaders and promoters of the various agencies and enterprises which go to the founding of a happy and stable community.
George A. Huron grew up under the home roof and his experiences were those which naturally came to a boy who was commendably assisting his parents in making a productive farm out of the unbroken forest, and while they were not notably different from those of many others, the ex- perienced man can recognize that each had its value in the development of self-reliance and physical endurance. From 18 to 23 years of age, he alter- nately attended and taught school, enjoying the advantages afforded by the public schools in his locality, supplemented by an academic training at Dan- ville, Indiana, where a Methodist academy was supported. His ambitions were in the direction of educational work and he proposed making special preparation for the position of teacher, but on the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in the service of his country.
In August, 1861, Mr. Huron enlisted in Company I, 7th Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf., was promoted to the rank of quartermaster sergeant and was mustered out with his regiment, September 20, 1864. He saw much hard ·service and with his comrades participated in innumerable skirmishes and in these battles : Winchester, Front Royal, Slaughter Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Ashby's Gap, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, Po River, North Anna River, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg and Yellow Tavern. After he was mustered out of a service in which he had made an honorable record. Mr. Huron was commissioned by Governor Oliver P. Morton as Indiana State sanitary agent for the armies of the Potomac and James, with his headquarters at City Point, Virginia, in which duty he re- mained until the close of the war. He arrived at the front, at Appomattox
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Court House, the day after the surrender, with the first sanitary supplies to reach the Union Army.
In December, 1865, Mr. Huron was appointed clerk in the Third Audi- tor's office, United States Treasury Department, Washington, D. C., where he remained until June, 1868, when he graduated from the law school of Columbian (now George Washington) University. In August, 1868, he re- moved to Valley Falls, Kansas, and practiced law in Jefferson County until the spring of 1883, when he removed to Topeka, which has remained his home ever since and where he has been prominent in his profession. In 1868 he was elected probate judge of Jefferson County and held the office two terms.
Judge Huron was married July 31, 1861, in Hendricks County, Indiana, to Mary Frances Freeman, who is a daughter of Blackstone and Sarah J. (Bennett) Freeman. The surviving children of this union are: Horace, born May 10, 1862, who resides at Rock Island, Illinois; Mary H. (Hale), of Topeka, Kansas; and George B., of Galveston, Texas.
In politics Judge Huron has always been a Republican and is an able advocate of the principles of his party and has done much effective speech- making in various campaigns. He has identified himself with all public enterprises and in various ways has aided much in the development of the State. Since March, 1872, he has been an active Odd Fellow and for several years was grand treasurer of the Grand Encampment of that order; he is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Knights and Ladies of Security, of which last-named society he has been the head of the law department since its organization. He is also an active member of Lincoln Post and a worker in the Grand Army of the Republic. Since his 16th year he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a popular citizen of Shawnee County and in his profession ranks with its leaders. His portrait is shown on a preceding page.
HON. RICHARD F. HAYDEN.
HON. RICHARD F. HAYDEN, judge of the Probate Court of Shawnee County, has been a well-known citizen of Topeka for some years past. He is a native of Kansas, the date of his birth being June 24, 1872, and is one of nine children born to Patrick M. and Bridget (Cavanaugh) Hayden. His parents were both born and raised in Ireland, coming to this country after their marriage.
Richard F. Hayden was reared in Westmore, Kansas, and there com- pleted the prescribed course of study in the High School. He then attended
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Campbell College and subsequently completed the course in the law depart- ment of the University of Kansas at Lawrence. After his graduation from the latter institution in 1898, he came to Topeka and for several years served as United States commissioner in addition to practicing law. He resigned this position in 1902 to accept the appointment of probate judge, in which capacity he has served continuously since that time, having been elected on the Republican ticket November 8, 1904, by the overwhelming majority of 5,000 votes. He has a clerk and a stenographer, and has so conducted the affairs of the office as to gain the respect and good-will of the bar and the people regardless of their political affiliation. He has always been enthusi- astic in his support of Republican principles and a hardworker for the success of his party.
Fraternally, Judge Hayden is an Elk, a Woodman and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is unmarried and makes his home at the Blower House.
SAMUEL HINDMAN.
For many years the late Samuel Hindman was prominent in the business circles of Topeka, for some 30 years leading in the grocery interests of the city. Mr. Hindman was born at Dayton, Ohio, April 29, 1834, and died at his home, No. 633 Polk street, Topeka, October 3, 1904.
Mr. Hindman grew to young manhood in his native city and when the Civil War broke out was early in the field to proffer his services. He became lieutenant of Company B, 19th Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf., and served with fidelity and bravery until the close of the war.
In 1866 Mr. Hindman removed to Missouri, but did not settle in a per- manent business until he came to Topeka. Here he established himself in a grocery business at Eighth and Kansas avenues, and the business was ex- panded until a company was formed, the Samuel Hindman Grocery Com- pany, of which Mr. Hindman's eldest son is manager.
Through the whole of his long business career, Mr. Hindman was known for his business integrity, a reputation which extends to his sons. In the early days he was a promoter of many of the enterprises which have con- tributed to Topeka's subsequent development.
Mr. Hindman is survived by his widow, who resides at No. 633 Polk street, and three sons : Edmond L., of Topeka, who is manager of the Samuel Hindman Grocery Company, and resides at No. 523 Madison street ; William C., who is in the grocery business and resides at No. 710 West Seventh street ; and Claude C., who is also in the grocery business at Topeka, and
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resides with his mother at No. 633 Polk street. These sons of the late Mr. Hindman are all enterprising, progressive, public-spirited men, prominently identified with all that concerns the business life of Topeka.
WILLIAM J. ALLEN.
WILLIAM J. ALLEN, one of the prosperous farmers and highly respected citizens of Williamsport township, Shawnee County, was born February 21, 1858, in this county, and is a son of Samuel and Susanna (Baxter) Allen.
Both parents of Mr. Allen were born in County Down, Ireland. The father came to America in 1852 and the mother in 1853. Both lived at Oberlin, Ohio, several years and then came to Shawnee County, Kansas, where they were married on January 20, 1857. The father had followed the stone-mason's trade in Ohio, but when he came to this county in 1855 he preempted 80 acres of land in section 8, township 13, range 15, in Auburn township, which he had much improved at the time of his death. He had always been a Free-State man and had taken part in a number of the early demonstrations against the Pro-Slavery men that make up so large a part of the early history of Kansas. He was loyal to the government and State and when the State militia were called out to repel Price's invasion, he was one of the brave soldiers of Col. George W. Veale's regiment who perished at the battle of the Blue. Of the children in the parental family, our subject was the oldest of three. Robert Samuel, born May 12, 1860, died October 14, 1860; Anna Elizabeth, who was 14 months old when her father was killed, is the wife of W. A. C. Moore, of Auburn township. In 1865 our subject's mother married James Whitten, a fellow countryman, who died October 30, 1903, at the age of 77 years, leaving his widow and three sons.
Our subject has devoted his whole life to farming. His present farm of 160 acres in section 9, township 13, range 15, in Williamsport township, was but unbroken prairie land when he took possession. Hard work and good management have converted it into a valuable farm where Mr. Allen has car- ried on general farming and stock-raising for a number of years. He has witnessed many changes since he has come to years of discretion, and condi- tions no longer exist in his native State which confronted his father and caused his early death.
On January 1, 1880, Mr. Allen was married to Mary Mitchell, who was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, December 18, 1861 and came to Kansas with her parents, Robert and Mary Jane (Boyd) Mitchell, in 1870. They have had five children, namely: Rosa Irene Lillian; Jennie Ellen Estella; Nellie
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R., deceased at the age of seven years; William, deceased in infancy ; and John, who also died in infancy.
Like his father, Mr. Allen has always been a strong Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was his father, and stands very high in the estimation of the community.
CROSBY ROLLER MILLING COMPANY.
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