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 48
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 48
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 48
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July 17, 1828, and when two years old was taken to Boston, Erie Co., N. Y., and grew to maturity on his father's farm. He secured a good practical edueation in the common school, and pursned the occupation of farming. working with his father till 1844, when he served an apprenticeship to the trade of a millwright and joiner. After completing the required term of service at the trade, he fol- lowed it until 1861, working at it during most of the time.
September 19, 1857, Mr. Knapp and Miss Polly A. Darby were united in the bonds of matrimony a id took up housekeeping near Oshkosh, Wis., o) the Fox River. While a resident of that place he followed his trade for two years, and then moved to Chicago, where he was engaged in the business of contracting and building. He was em- ployed on the old Custom-house and also on the old Post-office. He remained in that locality till 1860. then moved to Rock Island County, Illinois, where he made his home till 1862. In that year he enlisted in Company A, 93 Illinois Infantry. The regiment was sent to the Army of the Tennessee and our subjeet was in the engagements at Ray- mond, Jackson, Champion Ilill, Vieksburg, and many smaller skirmishes. While gallantly fighting in the action before Vicksburg. he was wounded in the foot and sent to Missouri, then to Quincy, Ill., where he was discharged in order to be pro- moted for distinguished bravery, and was made First Lieutenant of Company A, 29th United States Troops. He was with them through the Pe- tersburg and Ft. Harrison engagements, where he was wounded on July 30, 1864, and, not recover- ing sufficiently to again join his command, he re- signed, but not before he had been promoted to a captain's position for heroism in the field. His commission as Captain dates from August, 1864.
Immediately upon receiving the welcome news that his resignation was accepted, he started for home and was delighted to find his family, consist- ing of his wife and five children, all in good health and eagerly awaiting his eoming. He continued to reside in Illinois till the fall of 1870, when he removed to Kansas and located on his present place, taking up a homestead of 160 aeres of untilled land. His first act was to build a house for shel-
ter. making it 12x18 feet and one story in height. In this small dwelling he lived till he was able to build a better and larger one. His second care was to break np the stiff sod and make it fit to plant a crop, and after turning up the few aeres which he could do by himself, the boys being too young to help much, he worked at his trade to secure money to live while the sun and air were preparing the upturned sod for the seed which would by-and-by yield arieh harvest. From such a small beginning he has gone on year by year and developed the capabilities of his place, and by his own energy, assisted only by his own family, he has produced the present fine results which are to be seen in the large, tastefully designed and well built house which is the home of his family - the hedge, rock and wire feneing, large orchards, grove of shade trees, windmill, and all other improvements made by the most enterprising farmers. He is one of the substantial and highly-esteemed citizens of Shannon Township. He is a man of striet busi- ness integrity and thoroughly honorable in all his dealings; he is a member of the Westmoreland Post, No. 151, G.A.R., and also a member of the Congregational Church.
Mrs. Knapp was born in Erie County, N. Y., Jan. 30, 1830, to Nathan and Harriet (Beardsley) Darby, and was reared on her father's farm, where she received, in addition to the usual branches taught in the common school, a good practical education in all departments of domestic economy. She remained at home under the parental eare until her marriage to Mr. Knapp removed her to a home of her own. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have had seven children to eement their union, of whom six survive to the present, named respectively : Seth L .; Cornelia E. is now the wife of William Ralph, and lives in Nebraska; Olive A. is the wife of A. Hopkins, and resides in Grove County, Kansas; Everett D .; Carrie, now Mrs. John S. Cox, of Rock Creek, Kansas; and George I., who is in Kan- sas City. Nathan Darby, the father of Mrs. Knapp, was born in Vermont, where he was united in mar- riage to Miss Harriet Beardsley, and shortly after removed to Erie County, New York, being one of the first families to settle in that loeality. They both remained there during the rest of their lives,
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passing contentedly away on the old homestead. Comfort Knapp, the father of Abner C. Knapp, was a native of New Lebanon, Conn., and was married to Miss Naomi Chase. They removed to Pennsylvania, where they reared a family of eleven children, and in the latter years of their life removed to Erie, N. Y., where they passed from earth when old and full of days.
OHN C. McKELVY In noting the enter- prising agriculturists of Belvue Township, the list would by no means be complete without mention of the subject of this sketch. He came to Kansas in 1878, locating in Pottawato- mie County, and purchased 190 acres of land on section 6, Belvue Township. Later he sold this property, and purchased eighty acres on section 4, where he has sinee made his home. He also has some Wamego property. He is astanch Democrat, politically, and for a number of years, held the office of Township Treasurer, besides being otherwise prominent in local affairs. He keeps himself posted upon current events, and will at once be recognized as a man of more than ordinary intelligence.
The native place of Mr. McKelvy, was in Jeffer- son County, Ohio. and the date of his birth April 26, 1839. His father, Crawford McKelvy, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1812. When a mere lad he went to Ohio with his parents, and from there, in 1864, emigrated to Indiana, where he engaged in farming, and died at the age of seventy-two years. He was a man respected in his community, and a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. The MeKelvys trace their ancestry to Seotland.
The mother of Mr. McKelvy bore the name of Charity Vangilder. She was born near the city of Harrisburg, Pa., and is now living at Plymouth, Ind., having arrived at the advanced age of sev- enty-five years. Her father, Michael Vangilder, a native of New Jersey, was a farmer by occupation, and spent his last days in Ohio. Ile had the honor of being a soldier in the Revolutionary War. To Crawford MeKelvy and his estimable wife there was born a family of nine children-John, Mary E.,
William, Malinda A., Samuel, Jane, Michael, Levi and Eli; the last two were twins. Four of these are living-two in Indiana, one in Ohio, and one in Kansas. William died in Missouri Valley, Iowa, when a promising young man of twenty-two years.
Sojourning in Ohio during his boyhood and youth, John McKelvy, about 1868, went to Marsh- all County, Ind., where he lived ten years, and then cast his lot with the people of Northern Kansas. In the meantime he was married in Ohio, May 26, 1864, to Miss Mary Ileury. This lady was born Jan, 31, 1844, in Hancock County, Ohio, and died at her home in Indiana, Feb. 9, 1873. Of this union there were born four children -- Jasper L., Hiram R .. Jenettie, and Henrietta. Mr. MeKelvy, on the 1st of April, 1875, contraeted a second mar- riage with Miss Catherine E. Carrell. She was born in Indiana, May 15, 1850, and is the daughter of Charles and Naney Carrell, who were natives re- speetively of Virginia and Ohio. They removed to Indiana at an early day, where Mr. Carrell fol- lowed the tailor's trade, and died at the early age of forty years. Mrs. Carrell is still living, making her home in Wamego, this State. To Mr. and Mrs. MeKelvy there have been born two children, a son, Ross, Dec. 11, 1875, and Francis Murphy, March 25, 1878. The latter died Sept. 29, 1878.
E LISHA F. MARKS, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, and Postmaster of Garrison, is also engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business, and is looked upon as one of the representative business men of ais community. He was born in Franklin County, Ohio. May 18, 1852, and was reared upon a farm, attending the dis- triet school during the winter, and making himself useful around the homestead in the summer. When reaching his majority, he started for the farther West, paid a brief visit to Michigan, and then com- ing to Kansas, locating in Beattie, Marshall County, and for a time was oeeupied as a clerk in a store. In 1883 he changed his residence to Pottawatomie County, and was clerk in a store at Garrison until 1886. That year he was appointed Postmaster. which office he has since held. Without making
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any great stir in the world, he is looked upon as a solid and reliable citizen, intelligent and well-in- formed, and one whose opinions are generally re- spected.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Eli Marks, who was born in Loudoun County, Va., in 1817. He left the Dominion when quite young, removing to Ohio, and thence, in the fall of 1860 crossed the Mississippi into Missouri. We next find him in Grandy County, Ill., where he sojourned until 1885. That year he came to Kansas, locating in Marshall County, of which he is still a resident. He is now wealthy. owning three large farms in Marsh- all County, and makes a specialty of fruit-growing. Politically, he is a sound Republican, and in re- ligious matters, a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. The paternal grandfather of our sub- jeet was John Marks, likewise a native of Virginia, and a farmer by occupation. He served as a pri- vate in the War of 1812, and later settled in Illi- nois, where he spent his last days.
Mrs. Mary (Irvin) Marks, the mother of our sub. jeet, was born in Ohio, in 1825, and is still living. Her parents were Richard and Elizabeth Irvin. na- tives of Ohio, and the father a farmer by occupa- tion. To her and her husband there was born a family of ten children, viz: Elisha F., Benjamin F., Olvin, Elizabeth A., Eliza J., Levina, James P., Almira M., Charles M. and Irvin; Olvin is de- ceased.
IRAM BRONSON. Many of the pioneer settlers of Jefferson Township are still per- mitted to sojourn within its borders. To this township came Mr. Bronson as early as 1858, during the territorial days of Kansas, when this section of country was peopled mostly by In- dians and wild animals. He was then a young man of twenty years, having been born in 1839 in Lake County, Ill. His parents were E. Allen and Elvira (Dewelly) Bronson, who were natives of Syra- cuse, N. Y. The paternal grandfather distinguished himself as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The elder Bronson was a farmer by occupation and emi- grated from the Empire State to Illinois in 1835. He entered land from the Government from which
he improved a farm, making his home until 1839 in Lake County. Thence he removed to MeHenry County, where he proceeded as before, improving another farm and lived there until 1846. We next find him in Dodge County, Wis., where he again took up land and established a home which he oc- cupied a number of years. His next removal was to Washara County, that State, where the family sojourned several years. They then returned to Lake County, Ill., where they lived until 1858. Not yet satisfied with their surroundings they pulled up once more and coming to Kansas Territory, located in Jefferson Township. The father seleeted a tract of land on section 33, where he erected buildings and tilled the soil, then removed to Circleville and died on the 8th of September, 1887. The mother had passed away prior to the decease of her hus- band, her death occurring Nov. 26, 1881; both were devoted members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Bronson, politically, was an old-time Whig, a man of decided ideas, well informed, and took an active interest in politics.
The Bronson family included ten children, the eldest of whom, a son, Horace, is farming in Jack- son County, this State; Hiram, our subject, was the second born ; Dewelly is in the vicinity of Pendle- ton, Ore ; Elizabethi married Mitchell Roark of Alma, and is now deceased; Elmira is the wife of George Cave of Jackson County; Emily is the wife of G. R. Sharp, the Postmaster of Circleville; Charles Franklin is farming in Oregon; Eliza is the wife of Henry Heathman of Jackson County ; Ella. Mrs. Samuel Seagrist, died in Republic County, Nov. 25, 1889; Mary A., died in childhood.
The subject of this sketch accompanied his father's family in their different removals, remain- ing under the parental roof until a man of thirty- five years. He was then married, Nov. 22, 1874, to Miss Mary Hinton. This lady was born in Ateh- ison County, Kan., Nov. 8, 1857, and is the daugh- ter of Zachariah Hinton, who was born in Kentucky and who emigrated to Kansas during its early set- tlement. He served as a Union soldier in the 13th Kansas Infantry during the late war and died in the army. The mother of Mrs. Bronson is also dead.
After his marriage Mr, Bronson purchased eighty
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acres of land on section 9, Jefferson Township and improved one of the finest farms within its limits. He has a blooming family of children, all of whom are living and named respectively, Frank, Olive, Burton, Lyda and Corra. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Bronson, Godfrey Dewelly by name, served in the War of 1812. Ile was of German aneestry, while the Bronsons trace their aneestry to Scot- land.
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E LIJAH B. CLOWE, a pioneer of '68, is now numbered among the well-to-do farmers of Jackson County, where he has a song home- stead on section 14, in Jefferson Township. He was born in Loudoun County, Va., March 10, 1825. and was the son of Craven and Sarah (Beveridge) C'lowe, who were both likewise natives of the Old Dominion. The paternal grandfather was born in Scotland and spent his last years in Virginia. Craven Clowe was reared to farming pursuits, which he followed all his life. After his marriage he removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, and im- proving a farm from the wilderness there spent the remainder of his days, passing away in September, 1830.
The mother of our subject in her widowhood was left with five children. The eldest born, John Thomas, served as a Union soldier in an Ohio regi- ment during the late war and is now farming in Knox County, that State. Charles William is dead; Elijah B., our subjeet, was next in order of birth; Mary is the wife of John Williams of Hocking County, Ohio; Craven Webster served three years during the late war as Captain of Company C. 62d Ohio Infantry, and is now a resident of Hoeking County, Ohio. The mother lived to be eighty- seven years old, and died in Hoeking County, Ohio. She was an :etive member of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church, conscientiously devoted to her relig- ious duties. When her eldest son was a lad of twelve years she purchased a small farm in Mus- kingum County, Ohio, and with the assistance of her children built up a comfortable home.
Mr. Clowe was reared to habits of industry and economy and being required to assist his mother in the maintenance of the family, enjoyed only very
limited educational advantages. Ilis studies were prosecuted in the subscription schools, about three months in the year. He lived with his mother un- til twenty years of age and then spent the follow- ing four years as a farm laborer. In 1850 he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Elizabeth Whitcraft, a native of Ohio, whose father, George Whiteraft, was also born in that State and was of Irish parentage. Immediately after marriage the young couple established themselves on a rented farm in Fairfield County, Ohio, and Mr. Clowe ear- ried on farming thus for three years. He then pur- chased land in Hoeking County, Ohio. and lived there until 1868. That year he came to Kansas and has since been a resident of Jackson County. Ilere also he farmed on rented land several years, when be purchased the forty-three aeres which he now owns and occupies.
Six children now living have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clowe, the eldest of whom, a son, George C., sojourns in the farther West. Sarah E., is the wife of Edward Bateman of Jackson County; John Warren and Francis M. are farming in Pottawato- mie County; Mary Matilda is the wife of George Kerr of Jefferson Township; Thomas E. remains at home with his parents. Moses Alva is deceased. having died at the age of four years; he was the third child. Mr. and Mrs. Clowe, are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Clowe officiates as Class Leader and to which he contributes a liberal support.
Mr. Clowe, politically, is a Republican, and is an earnest adherent of that party. During the progress of the Civil War he enlisted for 100 days, having the rank of Lieutenant and afterward served twelve months in the 151st Ohio National Guards. but with the exception of being in several skir- mishes, was assigned chiefly to guard duty.
ERMANN F. HARTWICH. Though still a young man, this gentleman is one of the old residents of Pottawatomie County, to which he came with his parents in the sum- mer of 1857. He is a practical and successful far- mer and stock-raiser, and his fine estate which is 1
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located on sections 7, 28, 32, 33, 31, Mill Creek Township, comprises 880 acres of well watered land, excellently adapted for the purposes to which it is devoted. It is supplied with a fine stone resi- dence and other fine buildings and is well stocked, and being under the management of an energetic and intelligent owner, is the source of a comfort- able income.
Mr. Hartwich is a native of Prussia and was born about twenty-five miles from Berlin, April 19, 1854. He was about two years old when his parents came to America, their voyage across the Atlantic being made on a sailing vessel. They at once settled near Monroc, Wis., where they re- mained until July, 1857, when they came to this State, traveling over the unbroken country where Indian trails were the only by-ways, the father's earthly possessions consisting of $150 in money, two ox-teams, two cows and a small store of house- hold goods which their wagon contained. As a family the members of the little party have suc- ceeded in acquiring a good share of this world's goods, and all now own good farms and fine homes. (A fuller history of the family will be found in the biography of Frederick Hartwich.)
Our subject, though quite young when he came to this county, can well remember the hard times of 1860, as well as those fourteen years later, when the people had to appeal to their sister States and to the National Government for aid owing to the total failure of their own crops: and many scenes of frontier life can be related by him in a manner at once entertaining and instructive. Mr. Hart- wich remained under the parental roof until he had reached man's estate, and a short time previ- ous to his majority he purchased a part of the land on which he now lives. He afterward added to the acreage and took possession of the farm where with wife and children he spends many happy hours.
The lady whose management and tact makes a home of what would otherwise be only a stopping place, bore the maiden name of Hanna Buchholz, and the rites of wedlock were celebrated between herself and Mr. Hartwich in this township Dec. 4, 1876. She was born in Prussia in 1856, and was less than ten years old when she came with her
parents to the United States and to this township, where they purchased land upon which they are still residing. The parents, Christian and Johannah Buchholz, are now quite well-to-do, although like many other residents of this county, they were poor when they arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Hartwich are the parents of seven children. Edgar and Emma were taken from them when quite young; the living are, Otto, Albert, Matilda, John and Martha, who form an interesting group around the hearthstone.
Mr. Hartwich is a supporter of the Republican party. He has held the office of County Commis- sioner three years, discharging his public duties with the same intelligence and good judgment that he exhibits in the conduct of his private affairs. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Hartwich is a Trustee.
R EV. JOEL W. SIMKINS. More than eight years have elapsed since this gentleman reached the age which is considered the al- lotted period of the life of man, and now although time has silvered his hair and bowed his once erect form, he is hale and hearty, in the en- joyment of all the faculties of mind and body. By his side for many years, through trouble or re- joicing, has walked his faithful wife, a veritable "mother in Israel." Her life has been devoted to the interests of her family, and she has just reason to be proud of her children, for they are now worthy members of society, and occupy prominent positions wherever their lots are cast.
The golden wedding of this excellent couple was appropriately celebrated Oct. 28, 1880, in Pottawatomie County, when nearly the entire family gathered under the parental roof, and with gifts and kind words made the day a never-to-be for- gotten one in the memories of the happy bride and groom. Mr. Simkins has been a member of the Christian Church since the year 1829, while his wife dates her membership from 1832. During this long period their lives have been an exemplifi- cation of their religious belief, and have been characterized by purity of speech and conduct. He is not only a man of positive convictions, but also
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has the courage to stand by these opinions, and battle for what he considers the right, even though he gains it through hardships incredible. He has been a minister of the Gospel since 1854, and in his younger days was very eloquent and foreible in his arguments. He is eminently fitted for the du ties of a preacher both by life and native ability, but of later years, his strengtli has been unequal to the task of continued efforts, so he officiates only occasionally. He has served as Clerk, Deacon and Elder in the church.
Politically, Mr. Simkins was originally a Whig, afterward a Republican, and finally a Prohibitionist. He is a strong advocate of temperance and has been a total abstainer for over sixty years. He has also the proud satisfaction of knowing that his sons and sons-in-law are men of temperate habits and are, like himself, abstainers. As a natural consequence, they hold positions of responsibility and honor. Our subject was connected with the Masonic order in Ohio, also belonged to the Order of Sons of Temperance under three rituals. He has held the office of County Assessor in Potta- watomie County for two years, also was County Commissioner for two years, and Justice of the Peace for seven years.
The father of Mr. Simkins was Daniel Simkins, a native of New Jersey, and by trade a miller and cooper, though in later life, he became a farmer. He married Jane West, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Thomas West, who left his native country, England, and came to the United States during the Revolutionary War. In this con- flict he participated, taking part with the Colonists, and receiving injuries from the effect of which he died years afterward, about 1823. The union of Daniel Simkins and Jane West in the bonds of wed- lock was celebrated in the Keystone State in 1806. Ten years later they left Pennsylvania, and located in Ohio, where for five years they sojourned in Columbiana County. Thenee they removed to a farm three miles west, and there made a permanent home. She died in March, 1840, while he survived her about eight years.
At the time of his marriage with Jane West, Mr. Simkins was a widower with five children, and by this second marriage he became the father of thir-
teen children, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth. Of the thirteen members of this family, only three survive, namely: Joel W., our subject; Allan G. who lives in Iowa; West, a resi- dent of the Buckeye State. He of whom we write was born Nov. 29, 1811, in Fayette County, Pa., and accompanied his parents in their removal to Ohio, when he was five years old. He received a common-school education, but at the age of sixteen years, began to work on his own account. There- after he was independent. Ile learned the trade of saddlery and harness-making, and worked at it for six years.
Mention has already been made of the wife of Mr. Simkins, with whom he was united in marriage when nineteen years old. Her maiden name was Prudence Blackburn, and she was born in Ohio on the 7th of May, 1812. Her parents were Samuel and Margaret ( Kountz) Blackburn, natives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Mr. Blackburn followed the trade of a blacksmith, and served in the war of 1812. He moved in 1824 to Columbiana County, Ohio, having lived in other counties of that State since 1811. IIe and his wife had a family of eight children, of whom Mrs. Simkins was the third. Both Mr. Blackburn and his wife lived to a good old age, he dying in 1855, at the age of threescore and ten years, she in 1873 when eighty-seven years old.
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