Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 75

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 75
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 75
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 75

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).

The subject of this notice was the fifth in the parental family, and was born Jan. 21, 1835, in Guernsey County, Ohio. He was but five years old when his parents removed to Washington County, where he grew to manhood under the care- ful bome training of his progenitors and in the re- ceipt of excellent advantages in the way of school- ing. The academie studies were taken up by him at Albany, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-three years lie began the study of the profession of his choice.

In all the threatenings of the coming war-cloud prior to and immediately following the first elec- tion of the martyred Lincoln, the young student took a thoughtful interest, and the "shot heard round the world" had not ceased its reverberations ere he was considering the share which he should take in the coming conflict. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company G., 63d Ohio Infantry, and served in the same as a private and non-commis- sioned officer for three years. He was then promoted to a Second Lieutenaney and took command of Company D., in the same regiment, and when sub- sequently promoted to a First Lieutenancy assumed the command of Company F., in which he con- tinued until his discharge on July 8, 1865. The young man was in vigorous health and was one of the fortunate number who escaped without injury ; dur- ing his years of service, he was able to fulfill every duty, never missing an engagement or even a skir- misli, in which his eommand took part. During the Grand Review at Washington in 1865, he rode a half day in an ambulance, for the only time in his life. Among the numerous bloody contests in which the Doctor took part, were those at Island No. 10, Corinth, Resaca and all of the battles of Sherman's campaign in the glorious march to the sea. Returning with the force from Savannah, Dr. Brill was present at the surrender of Gen. John-

588

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

ston near Raleigh, N. C., and after Lee's surrender went on to the eapitol to participate in the Grand Review and receive a merited discharge.

There being no further need of his services in the Union army, Dr. Brill returned to his home and again took up his studies which had been interrup- ted by the call to arms. His first course of lec- tures was taken in 1866, and he practiced as an un- der graduate until the winter of 1871, when he was graduated and upon receiving his diploma began an active practice which was continued thirteen years in his native State. This has been followed by eleven years of professional labor in this State, during which he has added to the reputation al - ready attained as a skillful physician.

An important step was taken by Dr. Brill, Sept. 18, 1856, on which day he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy E., the second child of Oliver and Mary Miller of Washington County, Ohio. Her parents had but two children, and Mrs. Brill was born Jan. 6, 1839, in the Buckeye State. She re- ceived a common-school education. Five children . have come to bless the Doctor and his worthy wife. Osto M. is now Postmaster at Louisville. Ella is the wife of S. L. Nelson, and their home is in To- peka, where Mrs. Nelson is employed as steno- grapher for the banking firm of J. D. Knox & Co. Flora is the wife of . Daniel Gerwig of Topeka. Two sons, Charles M. and Frank Rex, complete the family cirele.

The activity of Dr. Brill is not confined to his profession, but in polities, social orders, and church, he is an able worker. He cast his first vote for J. C. Fremont and has ever since voted the Republican tieket. Ile is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and the I. O. O. F. In the former he has held all the offices except that of Master Mason; in the lat- ter he has served through all the Chairs and is now Past Grand, and is serving as District Deputy Grand Master. He is a member of O. P. Morton Post, G. A. R., at Wamego, of which he has been chosen Surgeon ; he is also a member of the Pen- sion Board of Pottawatomie County. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, in which he is a Trustee and Assistant Superinten- dent of the Sunday-school. He owns a half seetion of well cultivated and valuable land in Louisville

Township, and considerable city property in addi- tion. It is needless to say that he has a high stand- ing among his fellow citizens, who will be pleased to find on another page of this work. portraits of himself and wife. Their Christian character has won the regard of all, and their useful lives deepen that regard into warmest admiration.

E LIAS C. ENGLE. The results of thrift and persevering industry are exhibited in the career of the above named gentleman, and especially during the last decade, in which he has been a resident of Jefferson County, as he had just prior to that period met with such reverses that he had but little means with whieh to come to this section of the West. He had lived in this county but a few years ere he was able to pur- chase a quarter of section 2, Norton Township, where he now has a very attractive home, a special feature of the estate being a large number of apple, peach and other trees, and over 1,000 stands of grapes, in the eulture of which Mr. Engle finds both pleasure and profit.

Mr. Engle is a native of the Buckeye State, his eyes having first opened to the light in Warren County, Dec. 9, 1838. Ilis parents removed to Randolph County, Ind., when he was a child of four years, and he was reared on a farm in the Hoosier State, remaining under the parental roof until the age of twenty-four years. He was then united in marriage with Miss Ruth A. Thornbury, a native of the Hoosier State and daughter of Edward and Hannah J. (Cook) Thornbury. Her father was a son of Joseph Thornbury, of North Carolina. The marriage ceremony of Mr. Engle and Miss Thornbury took place Feb. 1, 1863, and they settled upon a farm which he had purchased in the vieinity of his former home. After residing there for a couple of years he sold and removed to Rice County, Minn., in which he tilled the soil for ten years.

In 1875 Mr. Engle sold the farm which he had improved from the Minnesota prairies, and going to Dallas County, Iowa, developed another farm from the unbroken sod, upon which he remained

589

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

four years, during that time meeting with serious reverses of fortune. In the fall of 1879, collecting what little capital he could, he came to Jefferson County, Kan., and settled north of his present place, where he farmed for seven years and where he did so exceedingly well as to be able to pur- chase his present estate and begin its marked im- provement. He is a progressive farmer and his estate is carefully and intelligently conducted and proves the source of a comfortable income.

The family of Mr. Engle comprises seven chil- dren, who as they arrive at years of maturity are filling useful positions in life and proving a credit to the name which they bear. James A. is now living in Nortonville, where he runs the mill and in the fall he also runs a steam threshing machine through the country adjacent; he is married and has two children. Mary E., a young lady who has learned the dressmaker's trade, now presides over the house-keeping in the paternal home and is fill- ing a mother's place as far as possible to the younger members of the family. Orpha A. is. also grown and is working at dressmaking in Nortonville. William E., a young man, is his father's mainstay in the conduet of the estate. The others of the family are Carrie Water, Addie Belle and Samuel Kelly. Mrs. Engle departed this life, Aug. 1, 1887. She had been possessed of excellent health until a few years before her death, and had nobly performed her duties as a loving mother and wife, and she is held in reverent remembrance by the family from whose midst she was removed. The parents of our subject were William and Lucretia (Cabe) Engle and his mother was a daughter of Elias and Sarah Cabe. Our subject was named for his grandfather " Elias Cabe." The paternal grand- parents of E. C. Engle were Isaac and Sarah ( Price) Engle, both of whom were of English descent and natives of New Jersey. In the early colonial days three Engles came from England to America and settled in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Del- aware respectively, and all reared large families. Our subject is a descendant of the New Jersey branch. .

During the Civil War Mr. Engle of our sketch belonged to the Indiana militia and he had four brothers in the service. In politics he is a Republi-

can and on the ticket of that party was twice elected Trustee of Norton Township. He is now serving his third term in that position, his friends having insisted on making him a candidate on the Independent ticket. His election was contested by the Democrats, but was finally settled in his favor. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the Farmers' Alliance, and the Home Protection Association.

S AMUEL STEPHENSON, at present a resi_ dent of Ozawkie, was one of the earliest pioneers of Jackson County, having settled on Soldier Creek about four miles south- west of Holton, in 1862. He purchased a tract of land and was engaged in its cultivation and im- provement until April, 1886. Then, selling out here, he removed to the village of Ozawkie and embarked in the hardware trade, which he has since prosecuted very successfully. He is numbered among the solid business men of the place.

A native of Mercer County, Ohio, Mr. Stephen . son was born in February, 1834, and was there reared upon a farm, acquiring a practical education in the district school. He sojourned in his native State until a young man of twenty-five years; then, in 1859, set out for the far West. crossing the plains to Pike's Peak with a wagon train, and so- journing in that region abont one year. He then returned to Ohio, and from there came to Kansas. He was married in Washington, in January, 1870, to Miss Katie, daughter of Augustus and Mary Burr. This lady was born in Ohio. Iler parents spent their last days in Indiana. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson, all living, and named respectively : Nellie B., Mary May, Lizzie, L.ttic, John S. and Francis A. Mr. and Mrs. Burr were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson belong to the German Baptist Church. Mr. Stephenson votes the straight Repub- lican ticket, and served as Trustee of Grant Town- ship, Jackson County, from abont 1877 to 1883.

The parents of our subject were John and Nancy, (Riley) Stephenson, natives of Virginia, who re- moved when quite young with their respective

500

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

parents to Ohio. They were married in Muskingum County, that State. and settled in Mercer County, among its earliest pioneers. The father hewed out a farm from the heavy timber, and there the ten children born to him and his estimable wife were reared. Of these, Samuel. our subject, was the fifth in order of birth. The mother died at the old Ohio homestead about 1845, aged about forty-five years. John Stephenson died about 1863, in Jackson County, this State, when about fifty-six years old.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, who also bore the name of Samuel, was a native of West Virginia, and died in Mercer County, Ohio, when seventy-five years old. Ilis wife. Catherine Pool, a native of his own State, died on the same farm as her husband, at the age of seventy-five. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Grandfather Stephenson served as a private in the War of 1812. There are living only two of the ten children of John and Nancy Stephenson, namely, Samuel and his brother, Lorenzo D., the latter a resident of Kansas. Mr. Stephenson has two half- brothers and one half-sister, living in Kansas and Ohio.

OHN C. HAINES, one of the flourishing farm- ers of Norton Township, Jefferson County, is a native of Carlisle, Pa., where his eyes first opened to the light, Feb. 22, 1841. His carly life until the age of eighteen years, was passed in Columbia City, and he acquired a fair education. Going to Bloserville, Cumberland County, he learned the trade of carriage making, and after working two years for an employer, started a shop of his own, which he carried on for twelve years. During this time he was united in marriage with Miss Lovina Oiler, a lady of worthy character and domestic virtues well fitting her for the position of wife and mother.

Mr. Haines worked at his trade, and with his wife's assistance built up a nice home on 118 acres of land which he owned, and which he sold in 1873, some time after he had removed to Kansas, , and purchased the place where he now lives. For the first two years after coming West, he followed his trade, and in 1864 removed onto his farm,

which was then in a wild condition, and which has since been brought up to a fine state of cultivation and improvement. The dwelling is one of the finest houses on the prairie, and all of the outbuild- ings are well-built and commodious; an excellent orchard, and a number of fine shade trees are an attractive and valuable feature of the estate. Much attention is given to the raising of high-grade cat- tle, to which the corn raised upon the estate is fed. Mr. Haines breeds Short-horns, and his herd is among the finest in the county, all his male stock being sold for breeding purposes. He paid $2.300 for an 80-acre tract adjoining his original purchase on the south, and the entire quarter-section could have been bought a few years before for $800. In addition to his fine farm and its equipments. he holds stock in the Nortonville Bank, of which he is one of the Directors.

During the first few years of Mr. Haines' resi- dence in Kansas, the winds were continual and steady, and they were later superceded by periods of calm, and cyclones. In 1886 his barn was torn down by a cyclone, but in the last few years there have been none in his section.

Mrs. Haines is a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Shover) Oiler, and her paternal grandfather, An- drew Oiler, was the son of a Revolutionary sol- dier of German descent. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Haines were John and Susan (Barrick) Shover, and her grandfather, who was of Scotch ancestry, lost his life in the War of 1812. Mr. Haines is a son of John and Annie (Louis) Haines, the Haines family being of English, and the Louis of German stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Haines nine children have been born, and seven still gladden their parents' hearts by their presence around the family fireside: Mattie is a young lady, and follow- ing her on the family roll, are George A., Jolm E., Frank M., Grace, Cora Belle, and baby Ralph. The children of whom the parents were bereaved, were: Anna Mary, who died at the age of three years, and Sarah E., who departed this life at the same time, the sad event occurring just after the family arrived in Kansas, and resulting from measles which they contracted on the way.

During the Civil War Mr. Haines enlisted at Chambersburg. Pa., in the 158th Pennsylvania In-

591

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

fantry, and served as a private in Company C, for a year. his army duties taking him to North Caro- lina as a member of Gen. Foster's division during the Peninsular campaign. At the expiration of his term of service, he was honorably discharged, and mustered out at Chambersburg, Pa., and resumed the arts of peace. In politics, he votes the straight Republican ticket. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 118, at Nortonville, and has been through the Chairs. He belongs to the Preshy- terian Church, and helped build the new e lifice at Nortonville. An enterprising agriculturist, a reli- able citizen, exhibiting a kindly spirit and strict integrity in bis associations with mankind, he is favorably regarded by all with whom he comes in contact, and, with his wife, has many friends in the community.

LVIN D. KENDALL, Mayor of Valley Falls, is likewise occupied as a general merchant, and is numbered among the leading citizens of the place. A native New Englander, he was born in Penobscot County, Me., July 15, 1847, and is the son of Jonathan and Dolly (Phillips) Kendall, who were likewise natives of the Pine Tree State. The family is of English ancestry, and the father of our subject was a life- long farmer of good repute. The household circle was completed by the birth of seven children, four only of whom are living: Nettie ( Mrs. Crosby), Alvin D., Abbie (Mrs. Brown), and Inez. The two latter are residents of Maine. Mrs. Crosby lives in Valley Falls.

The common school afforded to young Kendall his chief education during his early years, while later, as a reader, he has kept himself posted upon matters of general interest, He came to Kansas in 1866, and, locating in Valley Falls, was for three years engaged as a clerk in the employ of Crosby Bros. He then purchased an interest in the busi- ness, continuing with it until 1877, when he became sole proprietor. and has since conducted it with even more than its old-time success. He carries a capital stock of $22,000, and enjoys an annual business of from $30,000 to $35,000. His well-

appointed store contains everything kept in the dry-goods line, with the addition of groceries and general merchandise. Hle owns the store building, a fine stone structure, with brick front, erected at a cost of $7,500. A self-made man in the broadest sense of the term, the career of Mr. Kendall illustrates in a remarkable manner the results of enterprise and perseverance. Since becoming a resident of Valley Falls, he has maintained a warm interest in its ma- terial welfare. He was prominent as a member of the city council for several years, and is now serv- ing his second term as Mayor. He was the clerk of Delaware Township for probably sixteen years, not because he sought the office, but because he dis_ charged its duties in that acceptable manner which commended him to his fellow-citizens as about the best incumbent whom they could select.

The first day of January, 1875, was appropriately celebrated by Mr. Kendall by his marriage with Miss Ella, daughter of George MeDonald, then of Washington County, lowa. Mrs. Ella Kendall de- parted this life at her home in Valley Falls in 1882. On the 22nd of June, 1886, Mr. Kendall was mar- ried the second time to Miss Kate, daughter of George Goodrich, of Valley Falls. Of this union there is one child, a daughter. Lyda, born Jan. 5. 1889.

ENRY M. DOOLITTLE, dealer in hard- ware, agricultural implements, tinware, etc., at Valley Falls, is one of the most active business men in Jefferson County, and the possessor of business tact of a high order. He has a large trade, his annual sales amounting to $18,000. He carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, cutlery, stoves, tinware, wagon material, irons, gas pipe, pumps, wagons. carriages and carts, farm implements and machinery, and sewing ma- chines, the stock reaching $7.000 or $8,000 in val- uation.

Mr. Doolittle was born in North East, Erie Co., Pa .. Feb. 19, 1844, and is the son of the Rev. Miles Doolittle, D. D., who was a native of Oneida County, N. Y., and during his life was engaged in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. The wife of the Rev. Miles Doolittle, and mother of ou.

592

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

subject, was Almira R. Morse, daughter of William Morse, who kept an hotel that was built on the line between New York and Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Doo- little enjoyed the distinction of being born in New York State and dressed in Pennsylvania. Of the five children whom she bore her husband, two only are now living, our subject, and his sister, Almira R. The latter is the wife of Arthur T. Averill, of Cedar Rapids, lowa, who owns the controlling in- terest in the gas works of that city, and is Presi- dent of the Cedar Rapids National Bank. Of the de- ceased members of the family, a daughter, Mary, died at the age of twenty-two years and a son, Frederick W., at the age of thirty-two, his death being caused by consumption and taking place at Cedar Rapids. Iowa. The subject of this sketch was educated in the city schools of his native place and other towns in which the family lived during his boyhood and youth. While he was quite a lad they moved to New York State, return- ing later to Pennsylvania, going thence to Roches- ter, Racine Co., Wis., in 1857, and to Troy, Wis. two years later. The next removal was to Darling- ton, in the same State, where they remained till 1865. Young Doolittle was desirons of entering the Union army, but his father would not allow him to do so during his minority. On Sunday, Feb. 19, 1865, he came of age, and on Monday he was enrolled in Company G, 9th Illinois Cavalry, going at once to the front and helping repulse Forrest's attack on Eastport, Tenn.

The young soldier was mustered out of the serv- ice, November 22, at Springfield, Ill. During his ab- sence from home his parents had removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and to that place he went, making it his home for about fourteen years. From the spring of 1866 to the spring of 1880, he was en- gaged in the fire and life insurance business there, coming thence to Valley Falls. He bought a stock of hardware at Centralia, which he brought to the Falls in July following, and since that time has increased his custom and stock and worked up the fine trade he has to-day.

The first marriage of Mr. Doolittle occurred in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 4, 1869, his bride being Miss Allie. daughter of John Stewart, of that city. Mrs. Doolittle was spared to her family until March

5, 1873, when death claimed her. She had borne two children, one of whom. Frank M., is now liv- ing. After remaining a widower until May, 1881, Mr. Doolittle was again married, the bride whom he chose being Mrs. Zura Bowling, widow of Frank Bowling. Mrs. Zura Doolittle had one child by her first husband, but lost it in its infancy; her present union has been childless. Mr. Doolittle belongs to the A. O. U. W., and the Select Knights. Possessing a fine character and pleasant manners, he is very popular among his fellow-citizens.

USTIN M. COWAN, M. D. The profes- sional interests of Jefferson County would be but partially represented did not this volume contain mention of Dr. Cowan, a prominent physician and surgeon of Valley Falls, where he has for a number of years been engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. At pres- ent he has associated with him his son, McClure W. Cowan, and they exercise their skill chiefly in the Homeopathic School of Medicine, having a large practice, which is constantly increasing. Dr. Cowan is thoroughly versed in the principles of the Allopathic school, as well as that which he now advocates, and in which he is eminently successful.

Dr. Cowan is a native of Greenville, Mercer Co., Pa., and was born Nov. 25, 1828. ITis father, Col. McClure Cowan (now deceased), was a native of the same connty, and for seven years held com- mand of a militia regiment, and during the Mexi- can war tendered his services to the United States Government, although the shortness of that struggle precluded the need of his presence. The father of Colonel Cowan was born in the North of Ireland, and was an early settler of the county in which his son and grandson were born; his occupation was that of a farmer. The mother of our subject was also a native of that county, and bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Brown. Her father, Hugh Brown, was a Scotch-Irishman, who came to Bal- timore when quite young, and was one of the first settlers in Mercer County, Pa. The gentleman of whom we write was the first born in a family of nine children; Mrs, Sarah Blair lives near Valley

593

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

Falls; John W., a resident of Kansas City, was a Union soldier during the late war, and now draws a pension on account of a wound received at Gaines Mills; Mary J. is unmarried; Hugh was a teacher, and died during the late war; Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. Frank Huron, of Danville, Ind., who was color bearer in Gen. Harrison's regiment during the Civil War; Esther is the wife of John Stewart, of this county; Mrs. Lavina M. Patterson is a resident of Center Point, lowa; MeClure lives in San Francisco, Cal.

The subject of this sketch received his early edu . cation and training in his native place, and at- tended Jefferson College in Washington County, Pa. After finishing his collegiate studies he read medicine under Dr. John Martin, of Meadville, a year, and then, upon the death of his instructor, spent two years in the office of Dr. F. H. Judd, of Greenville. The yonng student then attended lectures in the Eclectic Medical College at Cincin- nati, and after two terms at that institution was graduated, in June, 1852, and the following Octo- ber began practice at Springvale.

After two years of professional work there Dr. Cowan returned to his native place where he con- tinned his practice until the spring of 1857, when he became a citizen of Iowa, and in 1866 became a citizen of Kansas. He first located at New Oregon (now Cresco), Howard Co., lowa, where, in the fall of 1860, he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, and being twice re-elected, served three successive terms, covering a period of six years. In October, 1866, the Doctor came to this place, which has since been his bome, and where he soon built up a large practice, and a reputation for skill in diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as a personal reputation as a man of cultured mind and Christian character.

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.

Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 75

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

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