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 52
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 52
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 52
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The parents of our subject were Lancaster and Mary A. (Smith) Weeks, who were natives of Tennessee and North Carolina. They removed to Illinois at an early date, and the father died in Madison County about 1871; the mother is still living and makes her home in Missouri. Their family consisted of seven sons and four daughters. of whom our subject was the second born. Of this large family six are living. The parents of Mrs. Weeks were Edward and Permelia (Ensley) Butler, Mr. Butler died in Madison County, Ill.,
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about 1854. The mother is still living there. Their family consisted of seven children, four sons and three daughters, and Mrs. Weeks was the fourth child. She spent the years of her childhood and youth quietly and uneventfully under the home roof, attending the common school and ac- quiring those habits of industry and economy which have made of her a prime honsekeeper, a devoted wife and a faithful mother.
E DWARD P. JONES, a Southern gentleman of the old school, chivalrous and refined, is a man of high standing in the community of Cedar Township, to which he came Nov. 17, 1863. He was born in Grayson County, Va., Oct. 28, 1826, and when thirteen years old accompanied his parents to Missouri, they settling first in Clin- ton County, and removing afterward to Vernon County. There our subject was living at the time of the late war. Although a Union man in his sympathies, and entirely surrounded by Confeder- ates, he suffered no loss of property or life, as his quiet manner and irreproachable character won for him the respect alike of the blue and the gray. While known as an ardent Republican he yet had many strong friends in the rebel ranks. He was twice drafted into the Federal service, but did not enter on account of ill health. The Confeder- ate army camped near his home, and his friends advised him to leave while he could; so in the spring of 1861 he and his family removed from Southern Missouri to Jefferson County, Kan., near Ft. Leavenworth. Later he traded his improved farm in Southern Missouri for raw land in Jackson County, Kan., whither he removed Nov. 17, 1863, as above stated.
The county was then thinly settled, and the places of worship few and far between, services being held in the log school-houses or at the homes of the farmers. Nevertheless, the hearts of those early settlers were loyal to their country and their God. The minister in charge of the circuit preached every four weeks in the log school-house near our subject's home,and usually visited under his hospita- ble roof, Soon after moving to Jackson County
Mr. Jones was appointed Sunday-school Superin - tendent and Class-Leader of the South Cedar Class. About one year afterward he received license from the Conference as local preacher, and from that time has been one of the most faithful in the Con- ference. He was at all times, and is now, as far as able, the minister's co-worker in all revival efforts, and his true assistant in the labors of the church, and in everything tending to advance the cause of Christianity.
Those in sorrow or distress found in Mr. Jones a counselor and comforter. When the Reaper, Death, entered the family of any of his acquaintances and carried away some precious blossom, or when a father or mother was called from earthly labor, there he could be found speaking words of comfort to the mourning ones from the Holy Bible. With God's aid he would try to point them to the silver lining of the cloud of sorrow, which then so darkly enveloped them, showing them that God, the all- wise Father, was ever near them, and would give them grace for every trial. During the week he would labor on the farm as diligently as any of his neighbors, and on Sunday would mount his horse, ride fifteen miles, preach both morning and after- noon, then ride home, perform his evening work there, and often preach again at night. Every four weeks for ten years he made the round trip of thirty miles in one day, and delivered from two to three discourses. On other Sundays he had appointments near home.
Mr. Jones has now a well-regulated farm of 220 acres, upon which he has erected good buildings, and is gathering around him all the comforts of life. He has been particularly fortunate, never having suffered a total failure of crops any year. He further improved his laud by planting a large orchard and a beautiful grove. In August, 1873, while driving through Holton, his team became frightened and ran away, throwing him from the wagon and severely injuring him. For several * months after this painful accident he was in poor health. In the spring of 1874 he removed to Canon City, Fremont Co., Colo., where he soon regained his wonted strength. While there he filled several appointments and aided in every movement for good that his physical ability would permit. In the
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fall of 1876 he returned to his farm in Jackson County, and again resumed his lahors as a farmer and local preacher.
In 1851 our subjeet was married, in Missouri, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Minor and Sarab Dan- iels, natives of Ohio. The mother of Mrs. Jones was a distant relative of Aaron Burr. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born three children: Edward M. who died in 1863 at the age of eight years; Sarah Margaret, who on the 12th of January, 1876, became the wife of S. R. Macklin, and Naney Luella, who was united in marriage with J. V. Recd, July 31, 1889. Mr. Jones has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for forty-four years, and a local preacher thereof for twenty-five years. His estimable wife and their children are likewise de- voted members of that church. Politieally, Mr. Jones is a Republican with prohibition tendencies. His father, Edward Jones, Sr., was likewise a native of the Old Dominion and a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in Missouri Dec. 9, 1848. He accepted very little eompensa- tion for his labors in the ministry, making a living by farming. The mother, Mrs. Sally ( Wheeler) Jones, was a daughter of Vincent and Rebecca Wheeler, of North Carolina.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Jones, likewise a native of Virginia, and the son of a native of Wales, who emigrated to Amer- ica at an early date. To Edward and Sally Jones there were born nine children, four of whom are living and residents of Missouri and Kansas. Ed- ward, Jr., was the sixth child, and was reared on a farm in Missouri. In 1850 he was seized with the California gold fever and went with a company across the plains to the Pacific Slope, where he fol- lowed mining for probably eighteen months. Then greatly disliking the wild life of those regions and the companions with whom he was necessarily thrown, he returned in 1851 by the water route and has since been content to sojourn within. the bounds of civilization. This trip was made a short time before his marriage.
Mr. Jones has lived to see the fruits of some of his labors. Places where he used to preach in log school-houses, and where there were not more than one or two religious families, now have neat church
edifices and a growing membership of prosperous people. The seed sown in his weakness has been aided by God's hand, and the results of his toil may be seen many days hence. He is not only kind and affectionate to his own children, but has given a father's care to many orphan children, all of whom have become honorable men and women. His work at home and abroad has been a labor of love-love for God, love for his friends, and love for his family. The advancement of years and the improvement of the country have narrowed his field of labor, yet at the age of sixty-four years he preaches two or three times a monthi and attends several funeral serviees during the year. It can be truly said of him that his influence has always been for good, and no man in the county has been more self-sacrificing or energetic in his endeavors to ele- vate the moral and religious standard of society.
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S AMUEL EARLY. Among the citizens of Jackson County, none show greater inter- est in the advancement of every good work therein, or are more highly respected by their neighbors and fellow-citizens than Col. Early, of Cireleville. His birth took place in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1822, and he is a descendant of honored families. His father, James Early, was born in Franklin County, Pa., and was among the early settlers of the section in which our subject was born. His trade was that of an edge-tool maker. He was a Colonel in the War of 1812, and quite a politician, belonging to the Whig party. and was several times elected to the Ohio Legislature. His death occurred in the Buckeye State at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Blackburn, was born in the same county and State as himself, and was a devoted Christian, being a member of the Presbyterian Church. She lived to the age of seventy-three years.
The paternal family comprised seven brothers and sisters. The eldest, John, is deceased; Eliza, who is also deceased, was the wife of William Mar- shall, of Lawrence County, Pa .; Maria J. is the wife of Samuel Hooper, of Pittsburg, Pa .; Louisa, who is now deceased, was the wife of Jacob Ileck,
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of Ohio; Sarah was the wife of Jacob Maxwell, of Stark County, Ohio, and she is also deceased; Margaret M. is the wife of Joseph Sprott, of Sum- mit County, Ohio. The subject of this biography is the youngest member of the family. His ma- ternal grandfather, Moses Blackburn, a native of Pennsylvania, won an honorable record as a Major during the Revolutionary War. John Early, the paternal grandfather of the Colonel, was born in Virginia, and was a member of a well-known fam- ily in that State.
Col. Early was reared on a farm, and was the recipient of such educational advantages as were to be obtained in the common schools of the place and time. He left his home and his native State in 1857, and went to Harrison County, Mo., where he bought 440 acres of land, upon which he began improvements, and also owned one half of a saw- mill. When the war troubles began the unsettled and unsafe condition of the section compelled his removal, and in the fall of 1860 he took up his abode in Clark County, Iowa. The first call for volunteers found him ready to respond, and he en- listed in Company F. 6th Iowa Infantry, as a musi- cian, serving until the following December, when he was discharged for disability. Going back to Ohio, he remained there a few months, when, his strength being renewed, he again volunteered, on this occasion being enrolled in Company C, 104th Ohio Infantry, in which he served until 1863, when he was transferred to the 23d United States Heavy Artillery, in which he remained until the close of the war. He participated in numerous skirmishes and some heavy engagements, together with the more monotonous duties of campaign life, among the battles in which he took part being that at Ft. Mitchell, Ky.
Having borne his part as a soldier should in defense of the Union, and having received an hon- orable discharge at the cessation of hostilities, Col. Early settled in Whiteside County, Ill., where he purchased a farm. upon which he lived until 1870. Ile then came to this State and county, and for about three years was a resident of Netawaka, after which he changed his location to his present place of abode. The title by which our subject is com- monly known, was obtained through his enlistment
at the time of the Mexican War, and his election as Colonel of the 2d Ohio Cavalry. During that conflict he saw no active campaign life, as the war was ended before his regiment had reached the front.
At the age of twenty-two, Col. Early was united in marriage with Miss Almira A. Harrah, a native of Ohio, who bore him five children, all of whom are still living: Rosseltha T. is the wife of George F. Goodell, an editor in Lyons, Neb .; Austa MI. is the wife of W. B. Roberts, of Tekamah, Neb .; Elma E. is the wife of Thomas A. Thorley, a drug- gist in Harrisburg, Pa .; James G. is a merchant in Ft. Dodge, Iowa; Willie II. is foreman of a canning factory in Waverly, Iowa. The mother of this family was removed from them by the hand of death Oct. 26, 1872, and her loss was deeply re- gretted by a large circle of friends. After having remained a widower for a number of years, Col. Early was again married, the date of this event being Feb. 12, 1888, and the bride being Mrs. Mary P. Smith, a widow.
Col. Early is not only deeply interested in the political issues of the day, but takes an active part in the work of the Republican party, and is now a member of the County Central Committee. He is a working member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is liberal in every good cause, anxious for the mental and moral advancement of the citi- zens of the State, as well as for the development of her vast physical resources.
E DSON WOLVERTON. After thirty-five years spent in industrious toil, which has met with its legitimate reward, the subject of this biographical outline is now retired from the active labors of life, and in a pleasant home at Holton is surrounded by the comforts with which a man's declining years should always be blessed. Mr. Wolverton was one of the pioneer settlers of Liberty Township, and is one of its largest land- owners, having 185 acres in the homestead which he has recently left, and 440 elsewhere in the county. His farm buildings are first class in every respect, and he has all the machinery. necessary for the
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successful prosecution of agriculture. There has been spared to him his devoted wife, a lady in every way the equal of her husband, and one who has been his efficient helpmate in the accumulation of their property, and in establishing the reputa- tion of the family, which is second to none in the township.
The descendant of substantial ancestry, Mr. Wolverton was born in Northumberland County, Pa., March 28, 1836, and when a boy of eight years removed with his parents to Erie County, Ohio. He grew to manhood on a farm in the vicinity of Cincinnati, and lived there until March, 1865. He then made his way to the new State of Kansas, of which he has since been a resident.
In the meantime Mr. Wolverton was married, in his native county, Aug. 29, 1858, to Miss Mary A. Iloover. Mrs. Wolverton is a native of the same county in Pennsylvania as her husband, and was born Jan. 10, 1840, being thus nearly four years his junior. After their marriage the newly- wedded pair settled in a snug home in Erie County, Ohio, where they lived until their removal to the West. There had been born to them eight chil- dren, the eldest of whom, a son, Edwin, married Miss Lorena Adams; Burton married Miss Lillie Brown; Samuel H. married Miss Alice Hill; Cora E., William W., Alice, Emma and Hattie are at home with their parents.
Mr. Wolverton upon becoming a voting citizen identified himself with the Republican party, and keeps himself posted upon events of general inter- est. He, however, has avoided the responsibilities of official life as far as possible, simply serving as Trustee of Liberty Township. He and his wife are prominent members of the United Brethren Church, and attend services at Pleasant Grove. His father was Jonathan Wolverton, a native of New Jersey, who married Miss Mary Ann Boone, and is supposed to have been born in Pennsylvania. They settled in Northumberland County, the latter State, where they lived for many years. Thence they removed to Erie County, Ohio, where Jona- than Wolverton departed this life, Jan. 9, 1851. The mother subsequently went to Berrien County, Mich., on a visit to one of her children, and died there about 1874. The parental household con-
sisted of twelve children, of whom Edson was the sixth in order of birth.
The parents of Mrs. Wolverton were Samuel and Sarah (Leese) Hoover, who were likewise natives of Pennsylvania, and who spent nearly their entire lives in Northumberland County, dying there. Both passed away in the spring of 1872, within a month of each other. Mr. Hoover was a tanner by trade. and also engaged in farming. The parental household included ten children, of whom Mrs. Wolverton was the fifth in order of birth. She spent her girlhood years under the home roof, ob- taining a common-school education, and becoming familiar with all household duties. The Wolver- ton family occupy a high position, socially, in Lib- erty Township, being numbered among its best elements.
W ILLIAM J. IIURD. Although Jackson County has been the home of this gentle- man hut a decade, and his practical expe- rience in a farm life covers only the same number of years, he is regarded as one of the most success- ful and enterprising agriculturists in the county. His estate comprises 640 acres on section 23, Gar- field Township, and excellent buildings and other marked improvements make the place noticeable among the many fine estates which Jackson County contains. The fortunate owner of this fine property devotes his attention to farming and stock-raising, and makes a specialty of Galloway cattle, having some fine specimens of that breed in his herd.
The parents of our subject were Abijah and Caro- line E. (Stowell) Hurd, both natives of the Green Mountain State. In Woltham. Addison County, our subject was born Dec. 28. 1840. His parents lived in his native place, in Bridgeport, and in Middlebury until 1855, when they left the State and took their abode in Whiteside County, Ill. There they remained about six years, and then re- moved to Colorado, first locating in Clear Creek County, and afterward moving to Lake, where Leadville is now located. There the mother died in 1864. The father still survives and now lives in Denver. They were among the very earliest set-
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tlers in the Centennial State and the hardships they endured during their first years there can hardly be described, and can only be fully realized by those who have been amid similar surroundings. Their family comprised three sons and one daugh- ter, the subject of this sketch being the third in order of birth.
William J. Hurd, after having accompanied his parents in their various removals, continued to live in Colorado until 1863, when he returned to White- side County, Ill., and there enlisted in Company B., 140th Illinois Infantry, and served somewhat more than six months in the Union Army. Upon leaving the service he learned telegraphy in the county from which he had enlisted, and then acted in the capacity of a clerk in a hotel in Morrison for two years. Following this came a sojourn in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where his marriage „took place Jan. 17, 1868.
The bride of Mr. Hurd was Miss Amanda M. Bacon, whose eyes had opened to the light in Jef- ferson County, N. Y., Aug. 15, 1843. Her parents, M. W. and Relief (Parks) Bacon, are residents of Gouverneur, N. Y. They had four children, of whom Mrs. Hurd was the second. She is a refined and intelligent lady, is an excellent housewife and possesses many of the virtues which belong to the true women. Her children are two in number, and bear the names respectively of Abijah and Robert Ingersoll.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hurd they resided for a time in Whiteside County, Ill., the husband being employed as a clerk in a dry-goods store for a few weeks when he accepted the ap- pointment of Steward in the State Penitentiary at Joliet and served in that capacity for four years. Upon leaving the institution, Mr. Hurd engaged in the furnishing-goods trade in the same city, and after carrying on this business for three years, sold and took his family to Colorado, carrying on a real- estate, insurance, and mining brokerage business in Georgetown for five years and in Leadville for one year. On account of ill health he came to this county in July, 1879, and after spending a few months in Holton, in the winter of 1880 settled on the farm which he still occupies.
Mr. Hurd has been Clerk of Garfield Township,
and has held some of the school offices. He has taken quite an active part in political affairs and is identided with the Republican party. He is enter- prising and public spirited, genial and intelligent, and of a high moral character.
RMER P. SHAW, editor and proprietor of the Soldier Tribune, is conducting a live newspaper devoted to the interests of Jack- son County. He came to Kansas in 1860 with his father who settled on a tract of land in Pottawatomie County, where he operated success- fully for a period of eight years. The latter died at the early age of thirty-six years. The mother is still living, making her home in Louisville, Kan.
The subject of this sketch was born in Fulton County, Pa., Oct. 31, 1858, and is the son of An- drew and Henrietta (Dunbar) Shaw, who were like- wise natives of the Keystone State and the father a carpenter by trade. Armer P. Shaw was reared in the town of Louisville, pursuing his early studies in the common school. Afterward he entered a printing office, learning the "art preservative." and later, after the family came to Kansas, was employed in offices at Leavenworth, Topeka, Atchison and St. Joseph, Mo. He established the Tribune in the early part of 1888, the first issue being dated January, 26. It is a weekly, published every Thursday.
Mr. Shaw was married May 12, 1882, to Miss Anna A. Woodruff, a native of New York State. There has been born to them one child, a daughter. Frankie M. Aside from holding the office of School Clerk. Mr. Shaw has given his attention mostly to his business interests.
W ILLIAM BRENEMAN, one of the younger members of the farming community of Franklin Township and numbered among its most praiseworthy citizens, came to Kansas with his parents in the spring of 1879 and occupies the old homestead which the family built up from the primitive soil. This comprises eighty acres of
L.L. Van Brunt
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land with good improvements where the proprietor, with his little family, lives in a modest and com- fortable style, at peace with his neighbors and en- joying the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lancaster County, Pa., April 5, 1862, and is the son of Henry B. and Anna (Nissley) Breneman, who were natives of the same county as their son. They lived there until the spring of 1879, then set out for the Far West and located first in Douglas County, this State. Six months later they removed to Holton, and the following spring secured the present homestead on section 36, Franklin Township. It bore little re- semblance to its present condition and was built up slowly by the exercise of honest toil and good management. The father died there July 4, 1883. The mother also departed this life, under the home roof, Sept. 19, 1889. There has been born to them a family of nine children, of whom William N. was the youngest.
Mr. Breneman was married Nov. 5, 1885, at the bride's home in Cedar Township, Jackson County, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Samnel and Barbara (Nissley ) Garber. Mrs. Breneman was likewise born in Lancaster County, Pa., June 17, 1866, and came to Kansas with her parents in 1879. Of her union with our subject there have been born two children, daughters, Blanche and Theda.
Le EONORA L. VAN BRUNT, one of the oldest settlers of Kansas, and the proprietor of a large dry-goods and general mercantile store in Westmoreland, is an illustration of what can be accomplished by a woman who has the req- uisite nerve and pluck to enable her to succeed in a business enterprise. She has gone through many hardships since beginning her career in this State, but through them all she has kept a good heart, and has won the respect and good will of all the community. Not only is she a stockholder in the First National Bank of this city, but she also owns property both on Main and State Streets. With the exception of the farm, which was the joint property of herself and husband, her entire
estate represents her nnaided exertions in the Sun- flower State, or what was brought with her from the East.
Leonora L. Bigelow was born Dec. 7, 1812, at Brandon, Vt., and was the daughter of Henry and Lucy (Barnes) Bigelow. With them she removed to Western New York, when seven years of age, and located on a farm near Amherst, Erie County. There the parents passed the remainder of their lives. Leonora grew to womanhood on her father's farm, and in 1855 was married to Jacob Van Brunt. Two years after their marriage, they decided to locate in the farther West, and accordingly gave up the comfortable surroundings of their own home to encounter the hardships of a frontier land. They first settled in Pottawatomie County twenty miles north of Manhattan, and taking up a claim, began to break and cultivate the soil.
In their new home, our subject worked unremit- tingly and untiringly, and not only did she aid in the usual work of a farm, but assisted financially with the money she brought with her to the then Territory of Kansas. Her land comprised 177 acres of raw prairie soil, and during the first sum- mer of their residence in this county, while they were breaking the soil and preparing to plant a crop, they lived in a tent. At length they were able to put up a log cabin, which was their home during the period of their residence on that farm, some seven years. The floor of this primitive resi- dence was of puncheon, and the roof of shakes. Their provisions had to be conveyed from Leaven- worth in wagons, the journey being made twice a year with an ox-team. Two weeks were consumed in making the trip, and at these times Mrs. Van Brunt was left alone in a district where there was not a white person for miles around. About the most cheerful event that ever happened, and the only break in the unvarying monotony of pioneer life, was the weekly visit of the mail carrier, whose route took him in the near vicinity of the humble home of the Van Brunts. If, perchance, he stopped at their place and delivered a letter and paper with news of the outside world, it was an incident long to be remembered and talked of.
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