Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 57

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 788


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 57
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 57
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 57


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was Captain of Company M, 18th Kansas Regi- ment, serving one year. In the meantime he pur- chased and improved 160 acres of land and subsequently added largely to this amount, so that he now has 500 acres, all in a productive condi- tion, but devoted to stock-raising.


Mr. Bayne was married in 1858 to Miss Susan Hatton, a native of Missouri and the daughter of Henry Hatton, of Kentucky. This union resulted in the birth of five children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Maude, is the wife of John Morin, who is represented elsewhere in this work; Fanny mar- ried Ben Wilson and lives in Jefferson County ; Sarah, Betty and Jessie are at home with their pa- rents. Mr. Bayne votes the straight Democratic ticket and has been prominent in political affairs, serving as a member of the Legislature two years. He has held the offices of Township Trustee and Treasurer two years each, and was County Com- missioner the same length of time. His children have been well educated and Mr. Bayne has always signalized himself as a public-spirited and liberal- minded citizen, maintaining a uniform interest in the welfare of both Kansas and Jefferson County.


E RNEST A. WELLER is editor and proprie- tor of the Kansas Agriculturist, a weekly journal, published at Wamego, and de- voted, as its name indicates, to the interests of the farmers of Kansas.


Mr. Weller is of English birth and descent, and was born at Hollingbourne, County Kent, Feb. 17, 1857, being a son of George Adams and Sarah(Jane) Weller; the father a miller and baker by trade. In 1858 George Weller became dissatisfied with his prospects in England, and leaving his family there came to America in search of a home, and for a time was engaged with J. B. Enos & Co., prominent millers, of Waterford, N. Y. Returning to the shores of Albion, in the same year, he prepared to bring his family to the United States with him. In company with his wife, two sons and one daugh- ter, he came to New York, in 1866, and again en- tered the employ of J. B. Enos & Co., making a home for those dependent upon him, in the pleasant


town of Waterford. They formed many dear friend- ships there, where the body of the wife and mother lies buried, she having passed to rest Dec. 24. 1869. Three children survived her. two having previously died in childhood: The survivors were: Ernest A., our subject; George A., and Thirza. George A. died in Washington, D. C .. Jan. 17, 1889, at which time he was employed in the Government Printing Office. Prior to his ae- ceptance of that position he had been publisher of the Granville (N Y.) Sentinel. Thirza, the sister of our subject, became the wife of Orie E. Sanner, of Waukesha, Wis., in 1881.


George Weller, after the death of his wife, con- tinued as salesman for J. B. Enos & Co., until 1580, when he came to Kansas and purchased land in Wabaunsee County. Here he labored success- fully for about three years, when, on account of ill health, in the spring of 1883 he went to Califor- nia, hoping with the influence of her genial clime and balmy air, to regain his former physical con- dition. After remaining there several months, he began to long for the familiar scenes of his Kansas home, and in the fall of 1883 returned to the Sun- flower State, and assumed the editorial charge of the Kansas Agriculturist, which is now being pub- lished by his son, our subject. In 1885 he went to Granville, where he assisted his son George in conducting a paper at that place. The Prohibition- ist, a weekly paper, was established by George Weller at Granville, in 1885, and continued with good patronage until the bursting of the water- work's reservoir, in October, of that year, when the type and presses were washed out of the office, the building very badly injured, and the Prohibitionist silenced. After continuing to aid his son George in the publication of the Sentinel for a few years, Mr. Weller again sought his Western home. In 1888 he came to Kansas, and is now living at Rossville, being editor and publisher of the Rossville Times, which was established by him in September, of the same year.


Our subject received a good primary education in the schools of his father's district at Waterford, N. Y., and afterward added to his fund of knowl- edge by a faithful attendance at the High School in the same city. He was later a student at the


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Business College of Troy, N. Y. In 1871 he en- tered the office of the Waterford Sentinel, and performed the arduous duties incumbent upon the printer's "devil," his salary being $2 per week for one year. During his second year in the business he was promoted to be foreman in the office of the Gazette, at Lansingburgh, N. Y., and for compensa- tion received $6 a week, remaining in that place nearly two years. Later he was employed on the force of the Saratoga Sentinel, at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. He first worked as a compositor, but as soon as his skill was displayed to the notice of his employ- ers, the latter promoted him to be foreman in the job office. His next move was to New York, where he worked on Demorest's Magazine about six months. At Troy, N. Y., he was engaged on the Troy Whig for nearly two years. He was after- ward employed on the Troy daily Press, and con- tinued in the service of that paper until 1880.


From Troy our subject came to Kansas, in March, 1880, and purchased a farm in Wabaunsee County. It comprised 280 acres, and adjoined that belonging to his father. It was their inten- tion to run a sheep farm, but our subject concluded after a short trial that farm life was not congenial to his tastes, and accordingly went to Topeka and worked in the State printing office under George W. Martin's and T. D. Thatcher's terms as State printers, where he received invaluable instruction in the "art preservative" from that master printer, E. P. Harris. In the year 1881 he returned to Granville, N. Y., and worked as solicitor for the Sentinel. Returning to Kansas he found that his sister had been united in marriage with Mr. Sanner, and in his company had removed to Wisconsin, while his father had gone to California. Our subject, in April, 1883, became interested in the Kansas Agriculturist, and in November, became its sole proprictor. In 1887 he founded the Wa- megan, which was published first as a daily, and afterward as a weekly paper, and gained a sub- stantial circulation, while the job office enjoys a large and increasing business.


Mr. Weller is not only prominently identified with the Republican party, but is also a member of the Presbyterian Church at Wamego, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His wife, with whom


he was united in marriage May 15, 1884, was Della J. McMillan, daughter of Lucien and Josephine McMillan, and was born in Athens, Pa., Jan. 12, 1864. They have become the parents of two chil- dren, namely: Walter and Jessie. Mrs. Weller is a lady of refinement and culture, and possesses many and varied accomplishments. She is a de- voted wife and affectionate mother, while among her friends she is universally admired and loved for her beauty of character and depth of intellect.


HARLES B. HAYES. Among the men who settled in Whiting Township, Jackson County, in the spring of 1869, came Mr. Hayes, on the 19th of April, and soon afterward secured a tract of land on section 29, where lie hastily erected a dwelling, and after placing his family within it set about the improvement of his property. The story of pioneer life has been too often recounted in this volume to need a repetition here, but suffice it to say that Mr. Ilayes encoun- tered the usual hardships and difficulties which beset the people of that time and locality. He possessed, however, the requisite courage and perseverance, and now has a comfortable homestead where, sitting under his own vine and fig tree, he enjoys all the comforts of life. His land is in a highly product- ive condition, all under the plow and fenced. He has an orchard of 125 apple trees in good bearing condition, a grove of maples five acres in extent, the trees standing a rod apart and being in diam- eter about eight inches. He has planted a variety of grapevines, and trees of the smaller fruits, which yield to the family all the luxuries in their season. Mr. Hayes, however, left the farm in 1882, removing to Whiting, where he operates as an insurance and real estate agent, representing the Phoenix, of Hartford, and the Anglo-Nevada. Ile still retains possession of his farm, which is operated by a renter.


Mr. Hayes is a native of Illinois, and was born in Griggsville, Pike County, June 1, 1842. He spent his boyhood and youth in his native town, atttending the common school-in which he was one of the most agile and dauntless spirits, always


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getting into trouble, and always able to get out of it. He prided himself upon his muscular strength, and at the outbreak of the Civil War was one of the first volunteers to enter the service, enlisting with the three months' men in the 8th Illinois Infantry. This regiment was commanded by Richard Oglesby, who has twice been Governor of the Prairie State. They were first ordered to Ken- tucky, but saw no active fighting, simply taking by force the rebel flag from where it was floating in the breeze.


Upon his return home Mr. Hayes enlisted in the army for three years, as a member of the 33rd Illinois Infantry, which was first ordered to Mis- souri after the rebel, Gen. Price, and where they spent the winter of 1862. Thence they went into Arkansas, operating around Helena, and from there marched to Vicksburg, and assisting in the charge on the fortifications, May 22, 1863. They re- mained in that vicinity until the fall of the year; then going to New Orleans, spent several months in Western Louisiana, and from there went to Texas. In the latter State they captured Ft. Es- peranza, and shortly afterward were consolidated with the 99th Illinois, as most of that regiment had re-enlisted and gone home on a furlough.


In February following Mr. Hayes went with his regiment to Brazos City, La., to guard the rail- roads. and sojourned there three months, when, his term of enlistment having expired. he with three of his comrades took a steamer at New Orleans for New York City, and passed Cape Hatteras dur- ing the equinoctial storm. They we hered this in safety, although it was very severe, and landed at their destination in September. Thence they pro- ceeded home by the Lake Shore ronte. After spending one night in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Hayes received his honorable discharge at Camp Butler. Ill., about the 21st of October.


Upon returning home, Mr. Hayes took charge of the commission property of his brother at Griggs- ville Landing, and also conducted an hotel. In 1866 he was there married to Miss Mary Thackery. The wedding took place at six o'clock in the morn- ing, and the young couple that same day embarked on board an Illinois river steamer for Peoria. There was also another newly-married pair in the


party and they formed a very lively group. Upon their return the boat struck a snag and sank below her boiler deeks. The passengers were transferred to another boat. very thankful for their escape from drowning. This event occurred Nov. 13, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes lived a few years at Griggsville Landing, and iu the spring of 1869, with a party of eleven, took their hoat at Griggs- ville Landing and disembarked at Atchison, Kan., at which place they boarded the train for Whiting, and in the township of this name have since made their home. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are the parents of two daughters-Bernice and Eva.


Mr. Hayes, politically, is a sound Republican. and is quite prominent in party politics. He was at one time a candidate for Sheriff, but the voters of Holton had pledged themselves to another man, in order to gain a point for their town, and he was thus defeated. He is a member in good standing of the G. A. R.


The father of our subject was Stephen Hayes, and the maiden name of his mother was Maria Hoyt. The latter was of old Massachusetts stock. Stephen Hayes was a Vermonter by birth, and de- scended from the Scotch-Irish. He emigrated to Illinois in 1835, being one of the earliest settlers of Griggsville, and at one time was one of the wealthiest residents of Pike County. On account of illness and other misfortunes, however, he died a poor man. Mrs. Hayes is the daughter of Will- iam and Hannah (Sweeting) Thackery, of English ancestry. They lived for a time in Philadelphia, Pa., where Mr. Thackery occupied himself as a general mechanic, and whence he removed with his family to Illinois in 1835, the same year in which the Hayes family settled in the Prairie State.


OSHUA BANKS is one of the early settlers on the Kickapoo Reservation, and the most of his life has been spent on the frontier. as he was but three years old when his parents took up their abode in Fulton County, Ill., which was at that time considered "away out West." Mr. Banks was born near Ashland, Ohio, Jau. 2. 1831, and is a son of Nathaniel B. and Anna Bar-


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bara (Artman) Banks. Ilis father was a son of John Banks, of Connecticut, and was reared in New York. His wife was born in Kentucky and their marriage took place in the Buckeye State. The mother is still living near Canton, Fulton Co., Ill., and is now over eighty years of age.


During the boyhood and youth of our subject, the family lived in the style common in the sparsely settled sections of our land, raising their own sheep, clipping them, and spinning and weaving the wool into cloth from which their clothing was made. Attending the rude schools of the day, our subject learned to read and write and became quite proficient in arithmetic, little beside the "three R's" being taught except in the scattered academies. This was in the days when the "master" "boarded round" and was the most honored guest in each family represented among his pupils, his coming often bringing into the homes a breath from the world beyond, which was almost as fresh as if from another planet.


On the 3rd of November, 1850, Mr. Banks was married to Miss Salina Caroline, daughter of Isaac and Chloe S. ( Baker) Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Isaiah Baker, whose father, when a boy in England, was decoyed on board a vessel and carried away from his home after which he followed the sea for a number of years and finally settled in Ohio, where he married Miss Eunice Smith. After the marriage of our subject he bought a farm near Canton, where he and his wife resided for many years and where twelve children were born to them. When in 1867, Mr. Banks made a trip to the recently opened Reservation he deter- mined to settle in the new township of Whiting, Jackson County, and there purchased 320 acres of land for himself and a son-in-law.


Returning to his home, Mr. Banks made his ar- rangements for a removal to the West and brought his family and most needful household goods in wagons, having two teams and wagons, one of the latter, Mrs. Banks says, being needed to haul the children. They had the misfortune to lose one of their horses by theft the night after they crossed the Missouri River. They reached their new place of abode, west of where Whiting now stands, on Oct. 12, 1868, and proceeded at once to con-


struct a rude house of cottonwood boards, which were simply nailed on cottonwood poles set in the ground, with others placed on them for crown pieces and roof pole. In this simple shed, 14x18 feet, made of boards which would warp so that a hand could be passed through many of the cracks between them, the family lived. Soon after their arrival they had the misfortune to lose their three cows, which was a serious loss especially to the large family of growing children, who notwith- standing, or perhaps because of, their primitive surroundings, kept in good health, the only trouble they gave their parents, being the effort to procure for them enough to eat. The mother, however, did not fare so well, but was taken ill and for about a year was unable to do anything.


Since these days, Mr. Banks has brought the land which he then purchased to a fine state of cultiva- tion and productiveness, having broken the ground and fenced the entire acreage, set out a fine or- chard and numerous other trees, and built a sub- stantial and comfortable residence. In 1881, he bought 120 acres in Netawaka Township, which had fine buildings upon it, and to which he at once removed, making his home there until the spring of 1888, when he bought a residence in the town of Whiting and there took up his abode. The success which he has attained in life, his geniality and whole-heartedness, and his principles of honor and uprightness, are well-known to his fellow citizens, by whom he is respected and liked. Mr. Banks was formerly identified with the Republican party but now affiliates with the Union Labor party. Mrs. Banks is a member of the United Brethren Church, and none of its members have better standing in the community than she.


Of the large family of Mr. and Mrs. Banks the greater number are married, but are living not many miles distant from their parents, and the family circle is virtually unbroken. Sarah P., married Mr. P. S. Snider of Fulton County, but their present home is in Whiting, where Mrs. Sni- der carries on a millinery business, having a fine line of goods. Their family is made up of three children. N. B. is married and has two children, his home being on a farm which he owns adjoin- ing that of his father. Isaac, with his wife and


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two children, operates his own farm near his fath- er's. Ella is now the wife of J. S. Dykeman of Netawaka Township, and has two children by a former marriage. Chloe Elizabeth married Mr. William Spencer of Fulton County, but now a far- mer of Whiting, and has five children. Anna B. is the wife of Peter Johnson of Whiting, and they have two children. Mr. Johnson is a native of Denmark. Mary is the wife of T. F. Parrott, a farmer of Whiting and a native of Ohio; their family consists of four sons. A. Lincoln is mar- ried and has two daughters, his home being on a farm near his father's place. Ruth Jeanette is the wife of M. P. MeLaughlin, postmaster and one of the leading merchants at Bigelow; they have two children. William Grant is married and has one child, and lives on his father's farm. H. P., a young man, is now at home, and fitting himself for future usefulness through the prosecution of studies at Lecompton. J. N. is also studying at Leeomp- ton and will fit himself himself for a teacher; he is a eripple from a eut on his knee made with a corn knife. George E. is married and lives on the homestead. Julia Caroline married D. Williams of Netawaka, their home being near the rest of the family. Mr. Williams was formerly at Atchison. Lollie L. is a miss at school and John A. Smith a lad at home.


ANS JENSEN. The subject of this notice, one of the most thrifty farmers of Whiting Township, may be properly classed with its self-made men, as he began life at the foot the ladder and is now well-to-do. lle is in the prime of life, having been born July 12, 1842, in Denmark, where he spent his early years and ae- quired as good an education as his native place afforded. He was reared to farm pursuits and trained to habits of industry which have followed him all through life. His boyhood and youth passed in a comparatively nneventful manner and in the twenty-fifth year of his age he was married, May 4, 1867. to Miss Cecelia Charlotte Sophia Ericksen.


A year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jensen


emigrated to America and proceeding to Chicago, Ill., landed in that city on the 15th of June. They resided there one year and there their eldest daughter, Hannah Amelia, was born. Mr. Jansen in Chicago was employed in a steam-heating estab- lishment. He finally decided upon seeking the far- ther West and coming to Kansas located in Silver Lake where he secured a section job and remained about one year. At the expiration of this time he moved to Pottawatomie County, upon a homestead elaim having upon it a small house which he occu- pied about three years. In the meantime he bought a couple of ponies and in the fall of the year had everything prepared for a comfortable winter, when a prairie fire, from which they were unable to defend themselves, swept everything away with the exception of a little bedding and the few things which they carried to a potatoe patch. After these were placed there Mr. Jensen and his wife returned to the house, endeavoring to fight the fire but found that their efforts were fruitless. In the meantime before they reached it the straw tick upon which their three children lay was on fire. By almost superhuman efforts they saved the children and the ponies.


The Jensen family now went into Whiting Township, Jackson County, where there was a colony of their countrymen who assisted them to live through the winter. In the spring Mr. Jensen rented forty aeres of ground which he planted with corn and this the grasshoppers destroyed, leaving them with dreary prospects for another long win- ter. Mr. Jensen, however, had a steer which he sold for $20, taking his pay in cornmeal and old clothes. He continued renting thereafter until able to purchase eighty acres of land from the railroad company for which he paid about $900. In five years he sold it for $2,300 and then pur- chased 160 acres east of Whiting.


This property, however, was not satisfactory and Mr. Jensen sold out the first year for just what he paid and purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies, for $3,500. This lies on section 6 and is one of the finest bodies of land in Whiting Township. Mr. Jensen has effected good improve- ments, greatly enhancing its value since taking possession of it. Hle has planted a large number


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of apple and other fruit trees, besides building fen- ces, and has all the land under a good state of cul- tivation.


There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jensen seven children, one of whom Jennie Cecelia, was taken from the home circle at the age of eleven years, ten months and twenty-one days. Her re- mains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Netawaka. The surviving children are Hannah Amelia, Mar- tin, Ella Christina, Mary, Peter Christian and Clara. They have each been given a good education and are an interesting and intelligent group. Mr. Jen- sen and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church. Politically, Mr. Jensen is a sound Republican.


Mrs. Jensen is the daughter of Erick Christian Mortenson, who was the son of Morten Erickson. She comes of a race of intelligent and well-educa- ted people, her paternal grandfather having been a successful teacher and spending his entire life in his native land. Her father was a tailor by trade, well read and well informed; he died in Denmark.


S AMUEL BROWN. The pioneer element of Jefferson Township, Jackson County, recognizes in Mr. Brown one of its most worthy representatives. He came to what was then Kansas Territory, as early as 1858, and after a sojourn in Leavenworth of three months, emigrated thence to Platte County, Mo. There for two years he worked at his trade of a carpenter, then returning to Kansas purchased eighty acres of wild land in Franklin Township, on Straight Creek, where he lived until 1862. In 1865 he took pos- session of his present farm on section 25, Jefferson Township, building this up also from land which lay as the Indians had left it. He has been an in- terested witness of the great transformation which has taken place since Kansas was made a free State and has contributed his full quota to her growth and development.


A native of Allegheny County, Pa., the subject of this sketch was born in 1835, and is the son of John and Mary ( Hloustan) Brown, who were born in Scotland. They emigrated to America in 1833,


and settled in Pennsylvania where the death of the mother occurred in 1849. John Brown was a brewer by trade which he followed until coming to America. He survived his wife for a period of seventeen years, passing away in 1866. Both pa- rents were members of the Presbyterian Church in which the father officiated as an Elder. He was a prominent man in his adopted county, serving as Assessor and in other positions of responsibility.


To John Brown and his excellent wife there was born a family of eleven children. Samuel is the only one residing in Kansas. His early years was spent under the parental roof and his education was conducted in the district school. He left home when a youth of sixteen years and began serving an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade in Pitts- burg, Pa., sojourning there about nine years. At the expiration of this time he set out for the far West. He possessed habits of industry and the quality of perseverance and is now the owner of one of the most valuable farms in Jefferson Town- ship.




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