USA > Kansas > Jackson County > Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 18
USA > Kansas > Jefferson County > Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 18
USA > Kansas > Pottawatomie County > Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104
197
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
the railroad running out of Atlanta, thus forcing the Confederates who were within the city to de- stroy eighty carloads of ammunition and supplies. Later he was under the command of General Thomas during his campaign in Tennessee, taking part in the two engagements at Nashville and the bloody fight at Franklin. Young Sherman was always to be found at his post and on the 1st of May, 1865, was promoted to Corporal. Prior to this, July 4, 1864, he was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga. but soon recovered and re- joined his regiment. After the close of the war he received his honorable discharge, being mustered out June 10, 1865.
After leaving the army Mr, Sherman settled in Winnebago County, Ill., where he engaged in farm- ing and sojourned until 1870. In November of that year he came to Kansas and secured the land which he now owns and occupies. He was accom- pied by his young wife, to whom he had been married in Winnebago County, Ill., June 20, 1869. She was formerly Miss Betsey, daughter of Ben- jamin Allen, who has for some years been a resi- dent of Pottawatomie County, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were reared together from childhood and of their congenial union there have been born eight children, namely : Ella, Edward, Elmer, Eli, Mary Jane, Asa, Gladys and Letitia. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman with their two eldest children are mem - bers in good standing of the Baptist Church. Politically, Mr. Sherman supports the principles of the Republican Party.
G EORGE W. BRASSBRIDGE. One of the fine farms of Franklin Township is owned by the subject of this sketch, who settled upon it in 1870, shortly after his marriage. 1Ie was reared on a farm, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He brought to the cultiva- tion of his own place the experience gained in early life, and added to it the enthusiasm that usually urges a man to do his best for that which is to be his home and the dwelling-place of those who are dependent upon him. Energy, industry and wise economy have transformed the wild prai-
rie where the Indian roamed in search of game, lo the fields of waving corn, with plumy banners tossed aloft to catch the golden sunlight or nod a friendly welcome to every passing breeze, and acres of yellow grain hanging their heavy heads as though mindful of the duty of providing sus- tenance for the master, man.
Mr. Brassbridge is the owner of 206 acres of land on section 26, upon which he has made good improvements and erected a fine lot of buildings, enough to shelter his stock and farm productions, and has also a handsome; well-built modern house for the dwelling-place of himself and family. In addition to fruit trees, he has a fair amount of land devoted to the purpose of tree culture, which serves the double purpose of affording shelter to the stock of the farm and of furnishing fuel for domestic uses.
Our subject was born Nov. 11, 1848, in Lee County, Iowa, on the farm of his father, George W. Brassbridge. The latter was a native of New York. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Gibeson, a native of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Brassbridge, Sr., first settled in Lee County, Iowa, where they remained some years, then removed to Kansas, and located on section 26 in what was then Calhoun County, but is now Jackson County. Their home was in what is now Franklin Township, and they passed the remainder of their lives in that place. The death of Mr. Brassbridge took place in the fall of 1864, and that of Mrs. Brass- bridge Dec. 24, 1888. They had only two children, of whom our subject was the elder.
When the parents of Mr. Brassbridge removed to Kansas in July, 1856. he accompanied them, and. as before stated, remained at home until his marriage, when he started in life for himself. On the 21st of December, 1870. onr subject and Miss IIarriet Jones were united in the bonds of matri- mony. She is a daughter of Harlan C. and Ruth H. (Zell) Jones and was born in Indiana, Nov. 20, 1852. The parents of Mrs. Brassbridge were na- tives of Alabama and Virginia respectively. They first located in Warren County, Ohio, and then re- moved to Pike County, Ind. In the fall of 1855 they emigrated to what is now Jackson County, Kan., and settled in Cedar Township, where he died April
198
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
12, 1870. Mrs. Jones survives, at an advanced age. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Brassbridge was the ninth.
Mr. and Mrs. Brassbridge are the parents of seven children, of whom one, George Lorin, is in heaven. Their names in order of birth are here given as follows: Bertha A., born Oct. 27, 1871 ; Lenna E., Jan. 12, 1873; Ruth L., Sept 8, 1874; Myrtle M., Oct. 7, 1876; George Lorin, born May 27, 1879, died Feb. 5, 1889; Harriet E., born Jan. 22, 1881; and Clyde F., April 2, 1884. In politics Mr. Brass- bridge is a stalwart Republican. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and Mrs. Brassbridge is a conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As a family, they stand high in the esteem of the community, and their influence is al- ways felt for good.
OSEPH HILL, a native of Missouri, was born in Andrew County, April 2, 1843. His parents, William C. and Melinda (Wells) Hill, were born in Tennessee. They were married, and made their first home in Pettis County, Mo., whence they removed to Andrew County, the same State. Their third and last removal was to Doniphan County, Kan., in which place Mrs. Hill died, in November, 1862. Mr. Hill is still a resident of that county, his home being on section 30, Burr Oak Township. Mr. and Mrs. William C. Hill were the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters. Joseph was the second child of the family, and lived with his parents on the farm, in Andrew County, Mo., until April, 1855, when he accompanied them to Doniphan County, Kan.
Our subject remained under the parental roof until Aug. 2, 1862. That most terrible scourge of our nation, the Civil War,had then been raging through- ont the land for more than a year, and the friends of the Union were greatly depressed at the prospect of a much less speedy termination of the struggle than had been hoped for a year before. On the date given above, which was, perhaps, the most gloomy period of the war for the Northern army, our sub-
ject, believing that duty called him to the assist- ance of his patriotic brethren, who were striving to maintain the honor of the old flag against the hordes who would have gladly trailed it in the dust, enlisted in Company A, 13th Kansas Infantry, and served from that time forward to the close of the war. He was mustered out of service, June 26, 1865, at Little Rock, Ark., and returned shortly afterward to the farm in Doniphan County, Kan.
Mr. Ilill has many interesting experiences to re- late of the conflict when "Greek met Greck," but only one can be given here. During the time that the contending forces were disputing possesssion of the soil of Arkansas, alternately fighting and re- treating, our subject was unfortunately attacked with malarial fever, and sent to the hospital at Cane Hill. A sudden sortie of the Confederate troops surprised the Union wing stationed there, and compelled them to retreat without being ahle to carry off their sick, who thus fell into the hands of the enemy and were claimed as prisoners. A few hours, however, sufficed to rally the Union forces, and they, in turn, fell on the Confederates and drove them from their position, rescuing the prisoners before they had experienced much of the unpleasantness of their condition.
Upon the return of Mr. Hill to Doniphan County, he resumed the business of farming, remaining there until 1879, when he removed to Jackson County, Kan., and settled in Soldier Township, in which place he rented a farm for four years. At the ex- piration of that time he went to Liberty Town- ship, and located on section 26, where he has since resided. He owns 160 acres of land, under good cultivation, and otherwise improved.
Mr. Hill and Miss Annie E. Majors were mar- ried. Oct. 7. 1881, in St. Joseph, Mo. Mrs. Hill was born in Doniphan County, Kan., Sept. 4, 1860, and is a sweet, loveable woman, who has hosts of friends. The union has been fruitful in the birth of four children, who are named respectively: John C., Jesse R., Gracie and Joseph O. Jesse R. died when about one year old. Mr. 1lill was elected Township Trustee in 1886, and has served ever since that time. He also filled the same office for three years while a resident of Burr Oak Town- ship. He is a member of Will Mendell Post, No.
199
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
46, G. A. R., also of the A. O. U. W., and was a member of the Farmers' Alliance while a resident of Doniphan County. Our subject is highly es- teemed by his neighbors and friends, both in his capacity as a public servant, and in his private re- lations as a citizen and gentleman.
-
OSEPH DEGRAW. This gentleman is a member of the well-known Degraw family which came to Pottawatomie County, twenty years before the building of a railroad in this region, and before the present flourishing town of Onaga had an existence. He removed thither with his family from Clayton County, Iowa, where he had lived for twenty years, and improved a farm from a tract of school land. Since coming to Kan- sas, he has been greatly prospered, being now the owner of 400 broad acres, lying on either side of the Vermilion River, well-stocked and in a high state of cultivation. There is probably not a finer estate in Mill Creek Township, lying as it does in the vicinity of Onaga, on section 35, and being well-watered by the Vermilion River.
The subject of this sketch was born near the city of Rochester, N. Y., May 13, 1822, and is the son of Samuel Degraw, a native of Delaware. The lat- ter descended from Holland-Dutch stock, and was the son of Cornelius Degraw, who was likewise a native of Holland, and whose ancestry flourished in the Netherlands generations ago. After emigrating to America, Cornelius Degraw was married, and spent the greater part of his life thereafter in the State of Delaware. Prior to his death, however, he removed aeross the border into Canada, and there died in the Province of Ontario, together with his estimable wife, when ripe in years.
in the London district, Province of Ontario, and where the mother died when about sixty years old. Samuel Degraw, after the death of his wife went to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wealthy Whiting, in Michigan, and died there when past eighty years of age. Both he and his estimable wife had been lifelong members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
After his father's removal to Canada, Joseph De- graw sojourned with the family until his marriage to Miss Jane Gregg. This lady was born near Lancashire, Lower Canada, Ang, 15, 1825, and was the daughter of Reuben and Mary (Bruce) Gregg, who were natives of Vermont. Reuben Gregg was of Irish extraction, and his wife of Scotch descent, and American parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg went to Canada when young people, and were married in the city of Montreal, where Mr. Gregg began life as a carpenter. Later they removed to Upper Canada, settling in the London district, where they sojourned until 1847. They then came over into the States with their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Degraw of this sketch. They died in Clayton County, Iowa, both having passed their fourscore years. Mr. Gregg, religiously, was a stanch Presbyterian, while his wife held to the doc- trines of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
To the parents of Mrs. Degraw there was born a large family. She likewise is the mother of eleven children, two of whom, Clarinda and Walter, died young ; Jonas married an Iowa lady, and is living in Kossuth County, that State, following his trade of a blacksmith at Whittemore; Renben married Miss Mary Williams, and they live on a farm in Stafford County, this State; Glendore married Miss Mary Wise, and they reside on a farm in Oregon; George W. married Eliza J. Thomas, and is a pros- perous farmer of Mill Creek Township; he is repre- sented elsewhere in this work. Samuel Byron married Miss Anna Bothel, and they live in IIen- nesay, Indian Ter .; Mary G. is the wife of Eugene Gillett, a farmer of Mill Creek Township; Sanford A. married Miss Renca Schroder, and lived on a farm in Saguache County. Colo; he was a large cattle farmer until his death, which occurred Dec. 21. 1889. Etta E. is the wife of E. C. Dower, a
Samnel Degraw was one of a large family born to his parents, and spent his boyhood and youth in Delaware. There he was also married to Miss Eliza- beth Utley, who was of ancestry similar to himself, and born in the same State. After they became the parents of two children, they removed to the vicinity of Rochester, N. Y., where their son, Jo- seph was added to the household circle. A few years later they went into the Dominion, settling ; groceryman of Pueblo, Colo; Warren O, married
200
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Miss E. Guffa, and was in the cattle business with his brother Sanford in Colorado, until the death of the latter.
Mrs. Degraw is a member of the Congregational Church, and Mr. Degraw politically, votes the straight Republican tieket, and is considered one of the representative men of his township. With re- ference to the death of their son, Sanford, we in- sert the following clipping from one of the local papers: "Joseph Degraw and wife returned from their trip to Saguache, Colo., last Friday, accom- panied by the two eldest daughters of their son, Sanford, who recently died at that place, and the news of whose critical illness was the cause of their trip. They started immediately upon the receipt of the sad news, but arrived only to find that their beloved son had passed away, and his re- mains consigned to their last resting place. It was a sore affliction to these aged people to be thus suddenly bereft of a beloved son, and the more that they were denied the sad satisfaction of hold- ing him by the hand, and whispering words of hope and cheer as his feet neared the dark river. His death was calm and peaceful, with no fears of the great hereafter to oppress his dying moments. In answer to a question in regard to his soul's welfare, he replied: "I build my hopes on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." The many friends of the deceased in this city and vicinity, express and truly feel, the liveliest sympathy for the be- reaved family, and deeply regret the untimely de- cease of this worthy young man."
ESSE E. ELLIOTT. The pioneer history of Jackson County would be wholly incom- plete without due mention of Mr. Elliott, a veteran of nearly sixty-two years, whose foot pressed the soil of Kansas Territory as early as 1856. In the spring of that year he came, with his wife and three children, to what is now Jack- son, but was then known as Calhoun County. lle entered a claim from the Government in the north- east corner of section 8, in what is now Liberty Township, put up a log cabin and set about the improvement of his property. The country around
him was in its primitive state, abounding in wild animals and Indians, and gave little evidence of its future greatness. The sturdy pioneer saw be- fore him hardship, labor and privation, but he proved equal to the emergency and came off with flying colors.
The subject of this notice was born in Alabama, Dec. 5, 1827. When he was but an infant his par- ents removed to Marion County, Mo., where he lived until a youth of sixteen years. Then starting out for himself he emigrated to Memphis, Tenn., where he spent one winter, working with his father, who was a carpenter. In the spring of 1844 the family all removed to Mississippi, where young Elliott remained about one year, and then went back to Missouri and located in Platte County. In the spring of 1845 he commenced farming for him- self, and sojourned there for a period of ten years.
In the meantime, when eighteen and one-half years old, Mr. Elliott was married, on the 3d of May, 1846, to Miss Elmira Cook. This lady was born in Tennessee, Sept. 21, 1826. In the spring of 1856, Mr. Elliott, with his wife and family, set out for Kansas, and his subsequent movements we have already indicated. They have been pros- pered in their labors, and have now a snug home- stead of 110 acres, where they live comfortably and enjoy the respect of all who know them. Mr. Elliott at one time was the owner of 360 aeres of land. Their first humble dwelling long since gave way to a more modern residence, and the rude sheds which he first erected have been supplanted by other structures, better adapted to the shelter of stock and the storage of grain.
There were born to this worthy couple eight children, only four of whom lived to mature years: Josiah J. is farming in Jefferson Township; Charles A. operates a good farm in Liberty Township; Laura J. is the wife of David Keyser, of Nemaha County, Kan .; Jesse E. is a blacksmith by trade, and cast his lot with the new settlement in Okla- homa. Mr. Elliott cast his first Presidential vote for Cass, and has always maintained his allegiance to the Democratic party. In former years he was a Constable in Liberty Township, and also held the offices of Trustee and School Director. Both he and his estimable wife are prominently connected
201
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
with the United Brethren Church. During their residence of thirty-three years in the Sunflower State they have witnessed scenes, and undergone experiences which, if properly detailed, would fill a good-sized volume. While enduring the hard- ships and privations of life on the frontier, they also assisted in the growth and development of their adopted State, and their names will be held in kindly remembrance long after they have been gathered to their fathers.
ENRY PITCHER, now deceased, became a resident of Pottawatomie County in April, 1865, settling in what is now Grant Town- ship when it was an almost unbroken prairie, and when Indians were frequent callers at the few seattered homes in this vicinity. He first procured eighty acres of fine prairie land for which he was obliged to go in debt, but being thrifty and hard working, he was ere long enabled to pay his indebt- edness and seeure an additional eighty acres, finally adding another forty aeres, and putting the whole under improvement, supplying it with good stock in sufficient numbers, and erecting upon it a suit- able set of buildings. The place is well watered and its soil is capable of producing most excellent erops. While enduring the trials which fall to the lot of a poor man in a new country, Mr. Pitcher lived not for himself alone, but for the future good of his family, taking an intelligent interest in the growth and development of the county and rejoie- ing in the prosperity which he saw about him.
The birth of Mr. Pitcher took place in Saxony, Germany, and his natal day was Feb. 20, 1823. The family of which he was a descendant is an old and honorable one in that Kingdom. His father, John Pitcher, was a tailor by trade and died in Saxony when thirty-five years old. his death being caused by that dread disease, consumption. He had ; married Effie Magdalina Fox, of Schleswig Hol- stein, who survived him thirty-four years, her death taking place March 2, 1865, when she had reached the age of sixty-nine years. Both parents were life-long members of the Lutheran Church.
The parental family was made up of five sons
and three daughters, and our subjeet was the third in order of birth. The family was reduced to the widowed mother and four sons in 1848, when the survivors set out for the United States on a sailing vessel, which was six weeks making the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. After landing in the American metropolis, the sons seeured a home for their mother and then all found work in the ad- joining country as farm laborers, in this way sup- poting their mother and maintaining themselves until all were grown and married. The mother was never forgotten by her dutiful sons, but was elieerfully and comfortably maintained by them until her death which occurred in Indiana,
Henry Pitcher, in 1848, in Rensselaer County, N. Y., met and married Miss Louisa Wagner, a daughter of George and C. Elizabeth (Graft) Wag- ner. The bride was born in Hesse-Darmstadt in May, 1830, and was a child of but six years when her parents came to the United States, where she was reared, remaining with her mother until her marriage, when she and her husband settled on a farm in the county in which their marriage took place, remaining there until 1852. They then re- moved to Williamsport, Warren Co., Ind., where they lived until 1865, when they became residents of this township, as before stated. Mrs. Pitcher is the mother of ten children, all still living except Louis, who was accidentally drowned in a cistern in the cellar of the house, when he was three years old. Three of the children who survive are now married and living in homes of their own. Charles became the husband of Miss Hannah Higgins; Adam married Miss Mary S. Shaw ; and John, Miss Mary De Witt; and all are farming in this town- ship. William and Fred are at home and assist in carrying on the farm. Carrie, Matilda, Catherine R., and Henry, Jr .. complete the home circle.
The father of Mrs. Pitcher was born in Hesse- Darmstadt and her mother in the Rhine Provinees. They were married in Hesse, and there Mr. Wag- ner followed the trade of a wagon-maker until 1836, when with his wife and three children he took passage for America. One son, George .Jr .. remained with a wealthy unele in Germany, while Jacob, John and Louisa accompanied their parents to the I'nited States, The voyage was made on a
202
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
sailer, and three months was consumed in the pas sage from Bremer Haven to New York City. After landing Mr. Wagner settled on a farm in Rensse- laer County, N. Y., and continued his agrienltural pursuits there until his death, which occurred in 1841, he being then forty years of age. One son- Peter-was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wagner in that county. The widow eontinned to reside there until 1877, when she was called from earth at the ripe age of seventy-five years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wagner were members of the Lutheran Church and highly respected people, who learned to love Ameriea and placed it side by side with their na- tive Empire in their affections.
.
Mr. Piteher, the subject of this sketel, was a Democrat in his political faith and praetiee. He was a worthy and respected citizen of this eounty, and his death, which took place at his home, March 10, 1888, was deeply regretted by his fel- low-citizens, who recognized in him an uprightness and Christian manhood which won their lasting es- teem. He died in the faith of the Methodist Church, of which his widow is also a member, the comforts of her religion affording her great eon- solation in her sad bereavement.
OHN KELLY. Prominent among the self- made men of Cedar Township, Jackson County, is Mr. Kelly, who came to Kansas poor in purse, and who by a course of per- severing industry has become well-to-do. He has been quite prominent in local affairs, serving as Township Treasurer eight years, and has also filled the offices of Trustee and Assessor, serving in the latter capacity his second term at the present time. Socially, he belongs to the G. A. R., while he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politieally, Mr. Kelly is a sound Republiean.
The subject of this sketch was born in West- moreland County, Pa., Oct 14, 1840, and was reared in the town of Donegal, being edneated in its common schools. In 1859, when a youth of nineteen years, he emigrated to Ohio, and followed the occupation of a shoemaker until the outbreak
of the Civil War. lle enlisted the first year, 1861, in Company F, 19th Ohio Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and served until the close. Most of the members of the regiment then veteranized, Mr. Kelly among the rest, and he participated in some very hotly eon- tested battles, namely: Pittsburg Landing, Stone River and others. He suffered considerably from illness, and was confined for a time in the hospital. Altliongh experieneing some hair-breadth eseapes, he was neither wounded nor captured, coming out without a serateh after a service of four years and three months. He was mustered out at San An- tonio, Tex, then returned to Columbus, Ohio, where he received his pay and an honorable dis- charge.
Returning now to Stark County. Ohio, Mr. Kelly engaged in farming, and after his marriage, in 1868, removed to LaGrange County, Ind. Four years later he pushed on further Westward into Illi- nois. living in Vermillion County one year. In 1872 he crossed the Mississippi into Northern Kan- sas, and was a resident of this eounty one year. In 1873 he purehased 120 aeres of land on seetion 24, Cedar Township, which constitutes his present farm. Here he has ereeted good buildings, planted an orehard, and effected other improvements, and now has a very fertile farm, with plenty of timber and well watered. He has been usually sueeessful, only suffering from a failure of erops in 1874, although then his wheat was fairly good.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.