USA > Kansas > Sedgwick County > History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas, past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county, Vol. II > Part 40
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a strong admirer of Abraham Lincoln, and has since affiliated with the Republican party.
S. D. Shaw, head of the S. D. Shaw Barber Supply Company, of Wichita, Kan., is an excellent type of the men who have made Wichita the city that it is from a commercial standpoint. With little capital but plenty of grit, Mr. Shaw has built up one of the largest businesses in his special line that there is in the Southwest. Mr. Shaw is a native of Ohio, having been born at Columbus, the capital of the state, on January 9, 1856. His parents were Samuel and Virginia (Lane) Shaw, natives of Ohio and West Virginia, respectively. His early education was ac- quired in district schools. He came to Kansas in 1871, when a young man, and engaged in herding cattle on the plains in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, being in the employ of Perry Wilson. After following this occupation for some years he returned to Ohio and to Columbus in 1877, where he took up the barber's trade. In 1889 he came back to Wichita and engaged in the barber business and later in the grocery business. He then took up the barber and barbers' supply business, which he has since continued with success. His first location was at No. 317 East Douglas avenue, Wichita, in 1898, and he started with a capital of $200. The business continued to thrive and grow, until in 1907 the need of more spacious quarters became impera- tive, and in that year the business was removed to the quar- ters it now occupies, at No. 333 North Main street. It is now the largest of its kind to be found in southern Kansas, employing traveling salesmen throughout the Southwest and doing an annual business of nearly $60,000. Mr. Shaw was married on April 3, 1881, to Miss Racy Ingalls, of Morrisonville, Ill. From this union two children have been born, Zura and Lottie, the former being the secretary of the Barber Supply Company and active in the operations of the store.
Dr. S. T. Shelly, of Mulvane, Kan., is a native of Missouri, having been born at Memphis, in that state, on May 4, 1856. He is a son of Addison and Lucinda (Hoover) Shelly, both his parents being natives of Virginia. The father was born in October, 1826, and the mother was born in October, 1828. They were married in Virginia, and went to Missouri in the pioneer days, and still reside there. They were the parents of eight children, the five still living being Marcellus, of Montana; Mrs. Susan Leach, of Missouri; Mrs. Lottie Fullen, of Memphis, Mo .; Mrs. Alice Mc-
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Lain, of Des Moines, Ia., and Dr. S. T. Shelly, of Mulvane. The latter received his education at the State Normal School at Kirks- ville, Mo., and the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, from which he was graduated in the class of 1883. He came to Kansas on January 22, 1880, and located at Mulvane, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since. On Septem- ber 4, 1879, the doctor was married to Miss Callie C. Stone, who was born in Sacramento Valley on January 23, 1856, a daughter of Lewis and Catharine Stone. Dr. and Mrs. Shelly have been the parents of seven children, viz .: Gertrude, born August 16, 1880, died February 16, 1881; Gerald H., born November 18, 1881, and now a practicing physician in Mulvane; Mrs. Jennie Nessly, born February 16, 1884; Christine, born March 25, 1888, and died May 12, 1893; Paul, born March 28, 1890, and died October 29, 1891; Carroll S., born December 26, 1894, and Dorris M., born May 11, 1897. Dr. Shelly, in addition to his practice, owns a ranch of 320 acres in Rockford township, one-half mile east of Mulvane, which is devoted to alfalfa and stock. His cattle are of the Holstein strain. The doctor is also interested in the alfalfa mill, the ice and cold storage plant and the Mulvane Mutual Telephone Com- pany. Fraternally he is a member of Mulvane Lodge, No. 201, A. F. and A. M .; the ancient Order of United Workmen, the Fra- ternal Aid, and he has been the local surgeon of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad for a quarter of a century. The doctor is also a member of the American Medical Association, the Kansas state society, is ex-president of the South Kansas Medical Society and ex-president of the Sumner County Medical Society. He is also medical examiner for a number of the old line life in- surance companies. In politics the doctor is a Democrat and a Presbyterian in religious faith.
Aaron L. Shew, of Cheney, Kan., veteran of the Civil War, was born September 27, 1837, in Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- vania. His parents were Cornelius L. and Sarah (Benedict) Shew. The father was a native of New York and the mother of Pennsylvania. Mr. Shew traces his ancestry on the paternal side to Holland. Gen. Israel Putnam was a distant relative on the paternal side. On the mother's side his ancestors also partici- pated in the Revolutionary War. The father of Mr. Shew, with his family, moved from Pennsylvania to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1862, his wife having died in 1865 at Wilton Junction, Iowa. The elder Shew died in Harvey county, Kansas, in 1883. The
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education of A. L. Shew was limited to the public schools of Penn- sylvania. In early life he learned the trade of a millwright, which he followed off and on for several years. After engaging in farming at the age of twenty-two he abandoned this to go to the defense of his country, and on June 19, 1863, he enlisted for three months in Company F, Twenty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, of Pennsylvania. The regiment was on patrol duty nearly all the time he was in the service. Mr. Shew was discharged on August 1, 1863, and in September of the same year re-enlisted as a private in Company H, First New York Veteran Cavalry, and went to Camp Stoneman, near Alexandria, Va., where they remained until February, when they went to Halltown and re- mained until April, 1864. When the regiment was stationed at Martinsburgh, W. Va., where General Sigel took charge, they did picket duty near Harpers Ferry, Va. Mr. Shew was detached from his regiment at Waterloo early in May to do special recon- noitering work. After the engagement at Mount Jackson, May 16 and 17, 1864, the army retreated to Martinsburgh and General Hunter took charge. Mr. Shew participated in the battle of Piedmont, W. Va., where 1,700 prisoners were taken, and his regiment took charge of the prisoners, taking them across the Allegheny mountains, being four days without retions, and deliv- ered the prisoners at Beverly. So varied were the movements of Mr. Shew while in line of duty that it would be impossible to do more than generalize upon them. He participated in Sheri- dan's raid in the Shenandoah valley, and went into winter quar- ters at Camp Piatte on the Big Kanawa run. Mr. Shew was dis- charged at Rochester, N. Y., July 20, 1865. After the close of the war he returned to Wilton Junction, Iowa, on a visit to his parents, and afterwards went to Galva, Ill., and managed a large stock farm for his brother-in-law until 1869. He then returned to Wilton Junction, where he engaged in bridge building on the Rock Island railroad. He resided with his family at several different places in Iowa and Kansas. In 1872, with headquarters at Topeka, Kan., was assistant foreman of the bridge and building department of the eastern division. In 1875 he took charge of the bridge and building department of the Santa Fe railroad from Newton to Pueblo, with headquarters at Newton. In 1879 he resigned his position on the Santa Fe and engaged in the produce and commission business in Newton. After a short time he traded his Newton business for a farm in Harvey, where he
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remained until 1884, when he moved to Cheney, where he has practically retired from a busy life. Mr. Shew and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been a class leader and steward for twenty-two years. In politics Mr. Shew is independent. He was married on December 27, 1870, at Sus- quehanna, Pa., to Miss Lizzie McLoughlin, of Iowa City, Iowa. One child has been born of this union, Lenora L., married to H. G. Warwick, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and she has a daughter eighteen years old.
Charles E. Shreve, proprietor of the Cash Meat Market, No. 825 West Douglas avenue, Wichita, Kan., is a native of Ohio, in which state he was born in Mahoning county on October 16, 1868. His parents were Ezra D. and Celia (Petett) Shreve, who moved to Kansas over a quarter of a century ago, first locating in Sedg- wick county and a short time thereafter moving to Sumner county. In 1896 the family moved to Wichita, where the father started in the meat business under the firm name of Shreve & Son, Charles E. being the partner. After five years the firm changed to the cattle business, and for seven years carried on an extensive trade in buying, trading and selling cattle. In 1903 Charles E. Shreve opened his present place of business on the West Side, and has since enjoyed a prosperous trade. Charles E. Shreve had only a limited opportunity for schooling, and has obtained his education in the practical business life which he has followed. He is a member of the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, the West Side Commercial League and the Fraternal Aid. On September 27, 1891, Mr. Shreve was married to Miss Lucy Spencer, daughter of Calvin and Julia Spencer, of Eldorado, Kan. Two children have been born of this union, Blanche H. and Homer Shreve.
Frank W. Shuler, of the firm of Shuler Bros., contractors and builders, No. 118 East Third street, Wichita, Kan., is a native of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, where he was born on August 13, 1863. His parents were Mandes and Mariana (Dubbs) Shuler, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The parents moved to Kansas in 1879, locating at Topeka, where the father was engaged in general contracting work. The mother died in 1882 and the father in 1902. Frank W. Shuler is the third child of a family of five. He was educated in the public schools of Hamilton, Ohio, and began work as an apprentice at the car- penter's trade at the age of thirteen, which occupation he has
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since followed in the general contracting and building line. The first firm organized was with his brothers, and was made up as follows: B. M. Shuler, H. E. Shuler and F. W. Shuler, under the firm name of Shuler Bros. This was later changed to F. W. & H. E. Shuler, and is now composed of B. M. & F. W. Shuler. These brothers have operated in various towns in Kansas, coming first to Sedgwick county in the fall of 1884, later to Clark county, then to Topeka, and locating in Wichita in the fall of 1890, where they have since conducted a good business. The firm has been established at Fairmount since 1896. It has built all classes of structures, from farm residences to churches, Fairmount Col- lege dormitory and city residences. Mr. Shuler was married in November, 1889, to Miss Jessie B. Williams, of Columbus, Kan. Four children have been born of this union, viz .: Harry E. and Elgie M., twins, and Alston W. and Algerine.
Hiram W. Silknitter is a prosperous farmer of Sedgwick county, Kansas. A native of Indiana, he was born in 1849, and is a son of Soloman and Catharine (Carter) Silknitter, the former a native of Pennsylvania and of Hollandish ancestry. They moved to Iowa in 1849 and settled on a farm and died there, the father in 1865 and the mother in 1899. Our subject passed his youth and early manhood in Iowa, but in 1872 removed to Sedgwick county, Kansas, and pre-empted and settled on a quarter section of land in Gypsum township, which he has improved and con- verted into a model farm, carrying on general farming.
In 1883 Mr. Silknitter married Miss Anna McNeal, a daughter of Mr. Worthington MeNeal, of Iowa, who died in 1885, leaving one child, Myrtle, who was born in 1884. She is now married and lives in Wichita, and has one child named Montana Lillian Russell.
In political opinion, Mr. Silknitter is a Democrat.
Charles W. Simmons, of Wichita, Kan., ex-sheriff of Sedgwick county, is a native of Wisconsin, having been born in Monroe, Green county, on December 17, 1847. He is a son of C. J. and Mary (Allison) Simmons, natives of North Carolina and Illinois, respectively. The parents of Mr. Simmons removed to Wisconsin from Illinois in the spring of 1847, where the father purchased land and followed the occupation of farming. Here he reared a family of fourteen children, thirteen of whom are living. Charles W. Simmons was their third child. The education of the lad was obtained in the public schools of his native town, and after finish-
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ing school he remained on the home farm until he attained his majority, when he left the parental roof and began for himself in Buchanan county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. It was in October, 1870, that he came to Sedgwick county, Kansas, and camped on land which he now owns in Kechi township. He made the trip from Iowa to Kansas in a wagon, first going to Linn county, Kansas, and then continuing to Sedgwick county, where he proved up a claim in Minneha township, which he afterward sold. He then went to Caldwell for a short time, but soon after- ward returned to his first choice, Kechi township, where he secured a homestead which he improved. The period known as the "grasshopper year" came as a discouragement, and he re- turned to his native state on a visit. After the plague had ceased he made the return trip to Kansas by wagon, and found that his farm then gave every indication of fertility. He began once more with renewed vigor to surmount all obstacles, believing that Sedgwick county had a future for the farmer. Mr. Simmons later bought a farm in Valley Center township, and first became a resident of Wichita in 1880, where he bought and sold hay for a time, when he again returned after two years to Kechi town- ship, and farming, as the boom period had made conditions rather uncertain. He engaged in farming for a period of four years, when he was made undersheriff of Sedgwick county under B. R. Royce, resigning after having held the position fourteen months. He then purchased the Mammoth Livery business in Wichita, which he conducted until November, 1902, when he sold it to fill the office of sheriff of Sedgwick county, to which he was elected by a large majority that year on the Republican ticket. Mr. Simmons served in the office for five years. Since his retirement from office he has been engaged in the hay and real estate busi- ness. One of the important things during his term of office as sheriff was his efficiency in the celebrated Jester case. The only other political office held by Mr. Simmons was that of township clerk in Kechi township. Mr. Simmons is a member of Valley Center Lodge, No. 364, A. F. and A. M., of the Consistory, Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Fra- ternal Aid. He was married in 1873 to Miss Parilee Dadisman, of Sedgwick county. Of this union there has been issue Daisy E., Lilly P., Durward C., Georgia and Charles D., the latter dying at the age of two years.
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James M. Simmons, head of the J. M. Simmons Plumbing Company, of Wichita, Kan., is a native of West Virginia, having been born in Roane county, that state, on April 14, 1884. His parents were M. F. and Nellie (Daniels) Simmons, natives of West Virginia and England, respectively. The elder Simmons was a timberman, but has now retired from business and is still living in West Virginia. His wife and the mother of James M. died in 1895. James M. Simmons was the second child of a family of four children, all of whom are living. He was educated in the public schools of West Virginia, the Spencer High school and
the Mountain State Business College, Parkersburg, W. Va. He began his business career in the wholesale and retail grocery business, in which he continued for two years. He early learned the plumber's trade, and came West in 1902, locating first in Independence, Kan., and moving next to Winfield, where for eighteen months he was engaged in plumbing work, at the end of which time he came to Wichita. Here he obtained employ- ment with the R. R. Moore Plumbing Company and remained with it until 1905, when he established the J. M. Simmons Plumb- ing Company, which he has conducted with more than average success. The establishment of the company is located at No. 428 North Main street. Fraternally, Mr. Simmons is a member of Sunflower Lodge, No. 86, A. F. and A. M., and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was married on December 25, 1905, to Miss Bessie Sigler, daughter of William Sigler, of Floral, Kan. From this union one child has been born, Millard William Simmons.
Henry H. Snyder,* of Mulvane, Kan., a prosperous retired farmer, and a prominent citizen of Sedgwick county, was born in Whitley county, Kentucky, on February 15, 1845. His parents were William and Jane (Martin) Snyder, both natives of Ken- tucky. The elder Snyder was born in 1808, and his wife in 1816. They were married at Cumberland Gap and in 1851 moved to Missouri, near the Iowa line, where they remained until 1863, when they came to Salina, Kan. Mr. Snyder, Sr., was a farmer and only lived about one year after coming to Kansas, his death occurring in 1864. His widow lived until 1879. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom lived to maturity. The children were: Mrs. Nancy Gierschand, deceased ; John, who died when young; Sidney, who married Perry Eaton, and is deceased ; Sarah Morrison, deceased; Mrs. Amanda Giersch, deceased; Mrs.
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Lucinda Beard, deceased; Henry H., of Mulvane; George, of Salina; Mrs. Mary Osmond, deceased; Quince, of Udahl, Kan .; Mrs. Julia Parsons, deceased; Mrs. Susan Pitman, of Rockford township. Henry H. Snyder came to Kansas in 1862 and stopped at Salina. In 1869 he came to Sedgwick county, but returned to Salina. In August, 1870, he removed to Sedgwick county and preempted 160 acres in Section 8, Rockford township. He brought about 300 head of catle with him, but they all died of Texas fever except eleven. Mr. Snyder improved his claim and held it until 1882, when he sold it and bought 160 acres in Section 27, Rockford township, which he still owns and has added to until he now owns 300 acres, all in Rockford township. August 1, 1867, Mr. Snyder married Miss Elizabeth Farris, who was born in Kentucky on January 6, 1852, a daughter of Lindsey and Nancy Farris. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have been the parents of five chil- dren. They are: William, who owns a farm adjoining his fa- ther's; Charles, deceased; Amy, deceased; Fred, who is living on the old home place, and Mrs. Ray Shafer, of Sumner county. Mr. Snyder for many years bought and sold cattle and did diversified farming. He served as township treasurer, but was averse to holding office. In 1909 he built him a pleasant home in Mulvane and retired from active life. He and his wife are members of the Christian church at Mulvane.
Edwin I. Spencer is recognized as one of the successful men of Wichita, Kan. He is a native of Wisconsin and was born in 1856 to B. and Philena Spencer. He passed his early life in his native state, but in 1879 went to Colorado and for two years was employed sawmilling, mining and freighting with a six-mule team, jerk-line and tail-wagon. Returning to Wisconsin, he turned his attention to farming some three years, and in 1884 went to Russell, Kan., and began his career as a real estate dealer, handling Union Pacific railway lands. While thus employed he was several times called to Wichita, and finally, in 1887, settled here, opening his office at No. 144 North Main street. Mr. Spencer, during the twenty-three years of his residence in Wichita, has had varied experience and his full share of ups and downs in business; but always hopeful, he kept steadily at it, with the result that he has been able to meet and overcome difficulties and achieve, on the whole, most gratify- ing success. Among the enterprises with which he has been connected is the Wichita Land and Abstract Company, which
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he helped to organize and with which he was for a time identified. At the present time-1910-he is identified with the Tampatal Land Company, of which the officers are: E. I. Spencer, presi- dent; R. H. Hutchinson, vice-president ; W. A. Rankins, secretary, and M. D. Hatch, assistant secretary and treasurer, and which is engaged in colonizing a tract if 23,000 acres of land it owns, located some seventy-five miles west of Tampico, Mexico.
Mr. Spencer is the inventor and patentee of the Wichita Auto Jack, which he expects soon to place on the market. He has his office at No. 312 Barnes building.
In December, 1880, Mr. Spencer married Miss Eva M. Felch, of Wisconsin. Of seven children born to them, three died in early childhood. Those surviving are De La Mater, who is employed in his father's office; Lucile, now in her third year in the high school, and Maxine and Kenneth, who are pupils in the grammar school.
Mr. Spencer is somewhat active in fraternal orders, being a Mason and a member of the Wichita Consistory, and belonging to the Mystic Shrine at Mexico City, Mexico. He also belongs to the Wichita Chamber of Commerce.
John E. Stanley, concrete block manufacturer of Cheney, Kan., was born February 29, 1848, at Benington, Wyoming county, New York. His parents were Edwin and Eliza Stanley, both natives of Connecticut. On the paternal side the ancestry of the family is traced to Wales and on the maternal to Germany. The early education of John E. Stanley was acquired in the public schools of Wyoming county, and he attended for two years the Wyoming Academy at Wyoming. At the age of nineteen he learned the trade of a painter. He came West after he had finished his edu- cation and worked at his trade in Vinton, Iowa, one year. He then moved to Manhattan, Kan., in 1869, and the following year to Wichita, which he made his headquarters for a number of years while he herded cattle in Kansas. Mr. Stanley made several moves before he managed to find the exact spot that was to his liking. For a time he conducted a livery business in McPherson county, Kansas. He was married on May 27, 1877, to Miss Amanda Pinkerton, of McPherson county. The parents of the bride came from Missouri. Three children have been born of this union, Thomas, Carrie and Mary. Thomas married Miss Jeannette Wing and has three children. Carrie was married to W. H. McCue of Cheney and has three children. Mary was
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married to George Bertrand and has two children. In 1873 Mr. Stanley served as deputy sheriff of Sedgwick county under William Smith. His father's oldest brother was killed in the battle of Black Rock in the War of 1812. His home was in Buffalo, N. Y. In 1908 Mr. Stanley took up his residence in Cheney and has resided there ever since. Mr. Stanley, politically, is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
Joseph W. Steiert, of the firm of Steiert & Co., Nos. 122-124 South Market street, Wichita, Kan., is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born at Erie, Erie county, that state, on July 25, 1867. His parents were August and Mary Steiert, natives of Germany, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Steiert was educated at the public schools of Erie, and at the age of seventeen entered upon railroad work, advancing from brakeman to conductor. He was employed upon various leading railroad lines, among others the New York Central and Santa Fe, until 1905, when he resigned his position to devote himself to the manufacturing business, in which he had been interested some time before abandoning railroad work. Mr. Steiert went to Kansas in 1903 and first located his plant at Medicine Lodge, where the firm began the manufacture of a fine line of men's and women's underwear. In 1904 the plant was moved to Wichita and was located in the Cone-Cornell building, where the business has since been con- tinued successfully, employing from fifteen to twenty hands. The firm manufactures the finest grade of goods, fine silk underwear, and first grades of all kinds, which find a ready sale throughout the southwestern states, California and Old Mexico. The same superior workmanship is given to all goods produced by the establishment. Mr. Steiert is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Court of Honor. The Chicago salesroom of the firm is at No. 34 East Monroe street. Mr. Steiert was married on February 17, 1897, to Miss Elizabeth Miller, of Albany, N. Y.
Zachary H. Stevens, banker, of Clearwater, Sedgwick county, Kansas, was born at Quogue, Long Island, New York, on Decem- ber 10, 1848. His parents were Halsey and Elizabeth H. (Hal- lack) Stevens, both natives of New York. The Stevens family came from England in 1638 and settled on Long Island. The Hallacks came in 1640 and settled in the same county. Zachary H. Stevens received a high school education and remained at home until about 1868, when he moved to Bates county, Missouri,
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