USA > Kansas > Shawnee County > History of Shawnee County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 36
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ALBERT PARKER.
ALBERT PARKER, formerly mayor of Topeka and for many years a very prominent business man and political factor here, is now practically retired from business activity but still continues interested in all that concerns the capital city. Mr. Parker was born at Lisbon, New Hampshire, June 28, 1846, and is a son of Levi P. and Sally ( Forsaith) Parker.
The parents of Mr. Parker were farming people of Grafton County, New Hampshire, and their lives were spent in that vicinity. Of their five chil- dren, our subject and one sister still survive. The mother died in 1872, but the father survived until 1891. Many residents of Topeka became acquainted with him during several enjoyable visits he made here, finding in him many of the admirable characteristics notable in those of New England birth and residence.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of Lisbon. In 1866 he went to Littleton, New Hampshire, and spent seven years there in the drug business. In 1873 he came to Topeka and opened a drug-store at No. 621 Kansas avenue, where he remained for five years. After selling his store, he entered into the real estate and loan business under the firm name of A. Parker & Company and continued to be active in this line for about 10 years. To this day he still continues a slight interest in real estate and oil lands.
In 1883 he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, register of deeds, re- ceiving 1,000 more votes than there were Democrats, showing a large meas- ure of personal popularity. He served one term in this office. In 1891 his party chose him as candidate for mayor, the Republican candidate being Col. J. W. F. Hughes, of Topeka. The result of the election was a majority of II votes for Mr. Parker. There was a recount ordered on account of sus- pected irregularity and the result was that Colonel Hughes was declared
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elected by a majority of nine votes. In order to vindicate his friends, Mr. Parker carried the contest to the District Court and later to the Superior Court, where the latter body, a Republican court with a Republican judge, decided that Mr. Parker was mayor by a majority of 17 votes. He served the remainder of the term of 15 months and was renominated but declined to serve again. While always ready to do a citizen's duty, he has never been eager enough for political rewards to ask a man for a vote. Honors have come to him but they have been through the work of his friends. In addition to the offices mentioned, in 1881 he was appointed city assessor and has served two terms as deputy assessor.
Mr. Parker was married May 24, 1873, to Cyrena Giles, of Topeka, who is a daughter of Nelson and Cyrena (Dean) Giles. Mr. Giles was born in 1815 at Bethlehem, New Hampshire, and is spending the evening of life with Mr. and Mrs. Parker. The latter have one son, Albert G. Parker. He graduated from the Topeka High School and is now a student at Washburn College. He is very fond of athletics as the modern, manly American youth is apt to be, and has won distinction as a very clever pitcher. Mr. and Mrs. Parker reside in a beautiful home at No. 312 West Eighth avenue facing the Capitol Building.
DANIEL DUCK.
Among the early settlers in Kansas who became men of means and prominence was Daniel Duck, who died while on a visit to his old home in Illinois, on November 30, 1896. He was born in Center County, Pennsyl- vania, August 23, 1826, and grew up on his brother's farm, his father having died when our subject was nine years of age, and was educated in the dis- trict schools.
In 1846 he enlisted for service in the Mexican War, entering Company E, Third Ohio Regiment, and was honorably discharged in 1847 on account of disability. He moved to Stephenson County, Illinois, and after his mar- riage and the birth of one child came to Kansas in 1857. He settled in Clin- ton township, Douglas County, too poor at that time to enter a claim. He soon found work as a carpenter and then secured a tract of wild land on which there was a log cabin, in which the family lived for a long time. He was a man of great energy and industry as well as business judgment. The time came when he owned 700 acres of fine land. About 1892 he moved to Richland and built a fine home and lived retired from active farming for about four years before his death. In the Civil War he took part in the
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famous battle of the Blue, when the Kansas Home Guards checked Price's invasion of the State.
Mr. Duck was married in Stephenson County, Illinois, October 24, 1850, to Polina E. Wells, who was born May 22, 1827, in Ohio, and accompanied her parents to Illinois when eight years of age. She is a daughter of Warner and Mary (Rimy) Wells, natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Duck had three daughters, namely: Mary Angeline, who died aged 17 months; the eldest daughter, who died unmarried; and Ellen S., who married Curtis Lamb and died in Richland in 1895, aged 40 years, leaving six children,- Polina E., wife of Joseph Daily, of Richland; Daniel C., of Douglas County ; William C., of Oklahoma; Eva S., wife of Anthony Coyne of Douglas County ; Myrtle E., who lives with her grandmother; and Frederick O. There are 12 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Duck was a Republican in his early voting days but in the latter part of his life was a Populist. He was a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He was a devoted husband, a kind and loving father, a true friend as many can testify and an upright, honest man. He became possessed of worldly goods in large amount but gained them through years of hard work. He left a large circle of friends by whom he was much respected as is also his widow who continues to live in the comfortable home at Richland. With her husband she saw many early hardships but has lived to enjoy rest and ease in her declining years.
TIMOTHY R. JOHNSON.
TIMOTHY R. JOHNSON, one of the representative citizens and promi- nent farmers of Silver Lake township, Shawnee County, owning 160 acres in section 22, township II, range 14, was born January 28, 1832, in Chau- tauqua County, New York, and is a son of John B. and Lucy (Merwin) Johnson.
The father of our subject was born at Keene, New Hampshire, and the mother was a native of Connecticut. They removed from New England to New York and from there, in 1836, to Washtenaw County, Michigan. Mr. Johnson bought a farm of 80 acres which he operated for 10 years and then sold. In June, 1846, he removed to Porter County, Indiana, purchasing a farm of 80 acres, on which he lived for 45 years. For the last 25 years of his life he made his home with our subject, accompanying him to Kansas in 1891, where he died on December 18th of that year, aged 84 years. Of the eight children, three survive, namely: Timothy R., of this sketch; Armena,
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married James Disbrow, a cooper, a resident of Michigan, and has two chil- dren,-Rose and Mary; and Hiram, of Basin, Montana, whose wife, Martha Olinger, died April 1, 1901, leaving two daughters,-Elsie, who resides at Spokane, Washington, with her husband and two children, and Florence, who is the wife of J. B. Felts, of Basin, Montana, and has two children.
Our subject acquired the greater part of his education in Michigan and when his school days were over he learned the carpenter's trade. During his two years of apprenticeship, he received $8 a month for the first year and $14 a month for the second year and then went into business for himself. For the next 10 years he worked at the carpenter's trade and then bought a farm, which he subsequently sold when he came to Kansas. On March 2, 1891, he bought his present farm in Silver Lake township. A stone house stood on the place and about the only other improvement was a very poor fence. These conditions did not at all meet with the approval of Mr. Johnson and the stone house was soon demolished and a handsome, modern, comfortable residence took its place. Mr. Johnson has put all his land under cultivation and he raises corn, wheat, potatoes and fruit, while his apple and peach orchards of 60 acres yield generously. He is a man of practical ideas, one who has been accustomed to industry all his life and he has proven himself as good a farmer as he was formerly considered a competent craftsman.
Mr. Johnson has also an honorable army record. He enlisted for service in the Civil War, in April, 1864, in Company C, 138th Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf., a 100-day regiment, and was mustered in at Indianapolis for garrison duty. Upon the expiration of his term he reenlisted in the 15Ist Regiment, Indiana Vol. Inf., for a year, and was honorably discharged September 9, 1865. He is a member of Silver Lake Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Johnson was married February 2, 1852, to Mary H. Dille, who is a daughter of Hiram and Nancy (Reasoner) Dille, natives of Ohio, who re- moved to Indiana and there reared a family of 16 children, all of whom reached maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had these children : Floretta, who died October 14, 1855, aged two years, and was buried in Indiana; Celestia, who married Eri Hansford, a farmer and sorghum manufacturer, at Menoken, and has nine children,-John, of Topeka, Clara, wife of Arthur Ensminger, of Silver Lake, Mary, wife of Harry Shetrone, of Menoken, Allen, Hiram, Effie, Terry, Eri, Jr., and Lester; Malinda, deceased, who was the wife of J. C. Freer, of Silver Lake township; Minard, residing with his father who married Rosa Ritenour and has these children,-Oscar D., Bessie M., Floyd T. and Mary H .; Augusta, who married C. J. McCoid, a farmer of Silver Lake township, and has three children,-Ruth and Reuben (twins), and Harley; Effie, who married Riley D. Johnson, a farmer of Silver Lake township, and has one son, Nelson; and an infant who died aged four days.
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WILLIAM C. TRAPP
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Mr. Johnson has been identified with the Republican party since its forma- tion, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. John C. Fremont. While he resided in Indiana he filled the office of justice of the peace and also served as school director. While not accepting office since coming to Kansas, he has taken a good citizen's interest in public affairs and his fellow-citizens always know just where to find him on any important matter concerning public utilities. For many years he has been an Odd Fellow, belonging to the En- campment in Indiana, and is a member of Ohio Lodge, No. 136, I. O. O. F., of Silver Lake. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Silver Lake, and in this body he is a deacon and trustee, and is also the leader of the Bible class. He is a man respected and esteemed wherever known.
WILLIAM C. TRAPP.
WILLIAM C. TRAPP, deceased, was one of the best known merchant tailors of Topeka, the establishment founded by him still being conducted by his estate. He was a man of prominence in business circles and enjoyed a high degree of popularity among his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Trapp was born in Prussia, Germany, March 3, 1845, and was one of a family of nine children born to his parents. His father was born in Prussia and in 1859 came to this continent, locating in Waterloo, Canada. Our subject was a lad of 14 years when he accompanied his parents across the water and settled in Waterloo. There he learned the trade of a tailor and worked until he was 17 years old, when he started for himself. Leav- ing his Canadian home, he was located at various places until 1867, when he came West to Topeka, Kansas. Here he accepted employment at his trade, and in 1872 embarked in business for hinself. He placed his estab- lishment on a firm business basis and became one of the prosperous men of the city. He established a reputation as a merchant tailor second to none and commanded the highest class of trade. His death occurred July 24, 1892, and since that time the business has been conducted by his estate, being under the management of W. T. Beerbohm at the present time. Mr. Trapp was a member of the Topeka Club and had a large circle of intimate friends who mourned his death as a personal loss.
On October 7, 1875. Mr. Trapp was joined in marriage with Christina Holmes, a daugliter of the late Hon. George B. Holmes, who was a pioneer citizen of Topeka, deceased in 1879. Four children were born to this union, namely : William H., who married Lavinia Briscoe, has one child, Lillian
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Earnestine, and resides at Miami, Indian Territory; Lillian ; Ruth, who died at the age of 18 years ; and Carl W. Mrs. Trapp and Lillian and Carl W. Trapp reside in a comfortable home at No. 215 West IIth street, Topeka. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. A portrait of Mr. Trapp accompanies this sketch.
A. P. TONE WILSON, JR.
A. P. TONE WILSON, JR., attorney-at-law and real estate specialist, at Topeka, with offices at No. 413 Kansas avenue, is one of the city's progres- sive, enterprising and successful business men. Mr. Wilson was born in Ne- braska, June 26, 1874, and is a son of Anthony P. and Mary E (Boldon) Wilson.
Anthony P. Wilson, father of our subject, is one of the leading attor- neys of Topeka and is largely also interested in farm loans and insurance, together with the publishing of a very valuable and important journal known as the Kansas Collection Agency Legal Directory. He was born at Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1846, and completed his law studies at Milwaukee. During three years of the Civil War he honorably wore the Union blue, serving as a member of Company I. 33rd Reg., Wisconsin Vol. Inf. In 1867 he took a homestead in Southeastern Nebraska, and in 1904 located at Topeka. His beautiful residence is located at No. 1220 Logan street, North Topeka. Mr. Wilson married Mary E. Boldon, formerly a school teacher of Alden, Iowa. They have a family of five sons and two daughters, all of the sons adopting law as their profession. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are associated with the Christian Church.
A. P. Tone Wilson, Jr., completed his early education in the Nebraska schools and then graduated from the Western Business College, at Lincoln, subsequently entering the Kansas City Law School, at Kansas City, Missouri, where he was graduated with the class of 1898 and was admitted to the bar in the same year. For the next five years he practiced law at Colby, Kansas, removing then to Topeka where he has continued in successful practice, hav- ing numerous cases before the Supreme Court. In addition to his large legal business, he is extensively interested with his father and three brothers in Kansas real estate, this private syndicate owning over 15,000 acres of some of the best land in the "Sunflower" State. Mr. Wilson has made so close a study of land values and conditions that he has become an expert and is known under the modern title of real estate specialist. His personal experi- ences have been so many and his means of observation and investigation so
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perfect, that few are better calculated to advise as to land investments. He believes thoroughly in printer's ink and his name confronts the reader in fully 2,500 different papers, magazines and journals. He is also interested with his able father in the publication of the Legal Directory, its aim being to provide a medium by which merchants may safely and quickly secure the co-operation of reliable attorneys, who will give prompt attention to their wants. The Kansas Collection Agency, which publishes this directory, is controlled by Anthony P. Wilson and A. P. Tone Wilson, Jr. It was organized for the purpose of making collections throughout the United States and supplying high-class credit reports. The business of the agency is conducted at No. 413 Kansas avenue.
On January 8, 1903, Mr. Wilson was married at Panama, Iowa, to Lula Smith. They belong to the First Presbyterian Church. Their beautiful home at No. 1535 Topeka avenue is the scene of many delightful social functions.
SAMUEL G. STEWART, A. M., M. D.
SAMUEL G. STEWART, A. M., M. D., who for 32 years has been in active medical practice, has been a resident of Topeka since 1887. Dr. Stewart was born October 1, 1845, at Oxford, Butler County, Ohio, and is a son of Dr. Robert and Mary Elizabeth (White) Stewart.
Our subject's ancestors, traced as far back as the great-great-grand- parents, were of North of Ireland, Londonderry, stock on the paternal side and of Scotch-Irish on the maternal. Dr. Robert Stewart, his father, was a graduate of a medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio and practiced in that State for many years.
Samuel G. Stewart obtained his academical training at Xenia, Ohio, and graduated at the Miami University at Oxford with the degree of B. S. He then entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, where he was graduated with his medical degree in 1873. Two years later he came to Kansas, on horseback, in order to look the country over with the idea in view of later locating here. He had an honorable war record, having served from 1861 until the close of hostilities as a member of Company D, 74th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., with the 14th Army Corps, under General Thomas, and he was a fully equipped physician and surgeon. But at this time the prospects did not sufficiently please Dr. Stewart to induce him to settle at Topeka, and for the next 12 years he practiced in Montgomery County, Ohio.
In 1887 Dr. Stewart settled at Topeka and this city has been the central
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point of his interests ever since. During his previous years of practice, he had added to his professional knowledge by post-graduate work in New York, and he subsequently accepted a place on the faculty of the Kansas Medical College at Topeka, as professor of the principles and practice of medicine, his duties including three lectures a week to the students and one to the nurses under training. He is chief of the medical staff of Christ's Hospital, Topeka.
Dr. Stewart was first married, in 1876, to Margaret Bigger, of Ohio, who died in February, 1891, leaving three sons, namely : Robert, now a senior in the Kansas Medical College, who will graduate next year; James and William. Dr. Stewart married, second, Isabel Gibson, who was born in the North of Ireland, and they have three children, namely : Samuel G., Jr., Isabel and Margaret. Dr. Stewart is a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Topeka.
Dr. Stewart is a member of the Shawnee County and Kansas State medical societies, American Medical Association and the Clinical Medical Society, of New York City. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association at Topeka. His long residence here, his eminent professional services and standing, his interest in public measures and his unblemished personal character have all served to make him a repre- sentative citizen in all the term implies.
RT. REV. FRANK ROSEBROOK MILLSPAUGH, D. D.
RT. REV. FRANK ROSEBROOK MILLSPAUGH, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and member of the board of trustees and president of the faculty of the Kansas Theological School, is one of Topeka's most distinguished citizens. He was born in New York State, April 12, 1848, and is one of three children born to Cornelius M. and Elvira (Rosebrook) Millspaugh.
Frank Rosebrook Millspaugh was nine years of age when he moved with his parents to Faribault, Minnesota, and there he received his early educational training. He attended Shattuck Military School from which he graduated in 1870, and in 1873 he was graduated from Seabury Divinity School. The first church work he performed was when he was in charge of a number of missions in Minnesota, with headquarters at Brainerd. He was made dean of Trinity Cathedral, Omaha, Nebraska, in 1876 and thereafter held that charge for a period of 10 years. In cooperation with Rev. Robert Clark- son, D. D., LL. D., he built a cathedral at a cost of $100,000. In 1886 he
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took charge of St. Paul's Church at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was rector there for eight years, the church discharging a large indebtedness under his management. In 1894 he took charge of Grace Cathedral at Topeka, Kansas, and on September 9, 1895, was consecrated as Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas, succeeding Bishop Thomas. Under his care and direction the church has had a good growth in numbers and usefulness, making its imprint upon affairs of magnitude and working for the betterment of social and moral conditions in the State of Kansas. Taking up the work of his pre- decessors in connection with the Kansas Theological School, that institution has prospered and been of incalculable value in the improvement of the services rendered by the representatives of the church.
The Kansas Theological School was conceived in the mind of Bishop Vail as early as 1869, when in his address to the diocesan convention he said : "We should provide for our candidates for orders such a theological school as shall secure the appropriate ministerial training." In furtherance of this pur- pose, he purchased the property occupied by the Diocesan Seminary for Girls, paying to the parish of Grace Church $3,000 for its rectoral rights. In 1874 the trustees of the College of the Sisters of Bethany gave a warranty deed of this property to the trustees of the Kansas Theological School for the considera- tion of $30,000, an amount which Bishop Vail had raised and expended in the building of the College of the Sisters of Bethany. The original plan of Bishop Vail was to have the school under the management of one professor, who was himself to do missionary work as well as theological studies. The school was opened in 1876 with two students, and Rev. Henry H. Loring, rector of Grace Church, was elected professor. In 1879, Rev. Mr. Loring removed from the diocese, and the candidates received private instruction from Rev. Dr. Beatty, who came at stated times to Topeka and, with other clergy who were appointed, held examinations in the building, and thereby kept it in use until a change was made in the plan of conducting the school. This change was made by Bishop Thomas in 1892, the charter being so changed as to give the trustees the power to confer upon graduates the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and a full corps of professors and lecturers were se- cured. The working plan was so changed that the students for the most part were able to support themselves while attending the institution. The plans outlined by Bishop Thomas were carried out successfully until his death, and then under the fostering care of Bishop Millspaugh and of Bishop Brooke of Oklahoma, the school continued to prosper. The board of trustees of this institution is constituted as follows: Rt. Rev. Frank Rosebrook Millspaugh, D. D., Topeka, president ; Rev. Nathaniel Seymour Thomas, Philadelphia ; Rev. J. P. de Beavers Kaye, Topeka; Charles Blood Smith, Topeka ; John W. Farnsworth, Topeka; Hiram C. Root, Topeka; and William Henderson,
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Topeka, secretary. The faculty includes the following: Rt. Rev. Frank Rosebrook Millspaugh, president; Rt. Rev. Francis Key Brooke, S. T. D .; Very Rev. J. P. de Beavers Kaye; Rev. DeLou Burke; Rev. Irving E. Bax- ter; and Rev. Charles B. Crawford.
Under Bishop Millspaugh's episcopate of 10 years, a debt of about $40,000 on the College of the Sisters of Bethany has been paid and $30,000 added to the endowment fund. To Christ's Hospital, valued at $80,000, two large wings of brick have been added at a cost of over $30,000 and five acres added to the already large property. For the Kansas Theological School he has secured an endowment of $20,000. In the 10 years 30 new churches have been built in the diocese, and less than $5,000 will cover all the debts of the Diocese of Kansas.
At Omaha, Nebraska, Bishop Millspaugh was united in marriage with Mary McPherson Clarkson, a daughter of Rt. Rev. Robert Clarkson, Bishop of Nebraska. They have a very comfortable home in Topeka.
JOHN MCNULTY CLUGSTON.
JOHN MCNULTY CLUGSTON, deceased, for many years one of the most prominent business men and citizens of Topeka, was engaged in the insurance business. He met with remarkable success in this line and at the time of his death was prominently known over the State of Kansas.
Mr. Clugston was born at Mansfield, Ohio, February 23, 1842, and was one of six children born to Matthew and Margaret ( McNulty) Clugston. He was reared in his native State and there received a good educational train- ing, leaving school to enlist in the service of his country. In June, 1861, when a young man of 18 years, he enlisted in Company G, 23rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served throughout the Civil War, being honorably discharged at its close.
In 1870 Mr. Clugston left Ohio for the West and, after making a thorough investigation of many counties and cities in Kansas, located perma- nently in Topeka in July of that year. On July 28, 1870, there appeared in the Times, a paper published at his old home in Ohio, a letter from him descriptive of his trip and prophetic of the future greatness of Kansas, the adaptability of different localities for different enterprises being shown with remarkable foresight. The following extract from his letter reveals Topeka as it was at that time: "Leaving Lawrence, well impressed, I took a train
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