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 76
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 76
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 76
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On October 14. 1852, Dr. Cowan was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of the Rev. William Patterson, now deceased. The union was blessed by the birth of five children, three of whom still survive. The oldest is his father's assistant and coadjutor in the medical profession here; he married Miss Hattie Hayworth, and they have three children-Musa. Austin M. and Lenore. Mary E. is the wife of Samuel Maginnis, of Colorado Springs,
Col., and the mother of one son -- Harry, now de- ceased. Cora M. is unmarried, and is engaged as a teacher in the schools of Valley Falls. The wife and mother departed this life in the spring of 1871, and on May 16, 1872, Dr. Cowan contracted a second matrimonial alliance, his present companion being Carrie M. Robinson, also a native of Penn- sylvania. She taught the first colored school. The second union has resulted in the birth of two chil- dren-Austa Musa and Carl Robinson.
Dr. Cowan belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F. and the I. O. G. T. Ile is serving on the School Board, and has filled the office of School Director for fifteen years. He is a member of the Congregational Church, has served as Trustee in the same, and is now Superintendent of the Sun- day-school, as he has been for many years past. He has ever been greatly interested in Sunday- school work, and has been an efficient laborer in that field.
LBERT DAWSON, M. D., a prominent member of the medical profession at Meri- den, came to this place in November, 1872, and put up the first residence in the vil- lage. He conducted a successful practice until 1877 and then, repairing to St. Louis, attended the East Missouri Medical College, from which he was graduated the following spring. Then returning to Meriden he resumed his professional duties and bas practically grown up with the town, being closely identified with its most important interests. He has a ride of from fifteen to twenty miles, and for several years after locating here had an almost exclusive practice. At that time there were no roads or bridges, the country being mostly an open prairie and wild animals abundant. The skill and ability of Dr. Dawson, together with his conscien - tious attention to the duties of his profession, have made him a popular physician in Jefferson County. He belongs to the State Medical Society, and is an efficient member.
The first marriage of Mr. Dawson occured in the spring of 1863 with Miss Dantie, daughter of Jacob and Lavinia (Grable) Graden. This lady
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was born in Jackson County, this State, to which her parents came about 1857. Mr. Graden died in Meriden in 1884. He was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge in that city ; the mother is still living there. Mrs. Dantie Dawson departed this life at her home in De- cember, 1887, leaving one child, Aidie A., who was the first child born in the town of Meriden.
On June 23, 1879, Dr. Dawson contracted a sec- ond marriage with Miss Minnie P., daughter of Rev. Mr. Harrington, of Topeka. Of this union there have been born three children-Albert M., Leona D. and Irene. He was at one time the Post- master of Mt. Florence, and has held the office of Township Treasurer. Mrs. Dawson is a member of the Disciples Church.
ORGAN M. MAXWELL. The main points in the career of this highly respected resi- dent of Ozawkie Township. Jefferson County, are as follows: He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1842, and in the fall of 1844 his parents, Bazzil and Amy (Guion) Maxwell, removed to Marion County, Ind. There Morgan M. was reared upon a farm, receiving his early education in the district school. His boy- hood and youth were passed quietly and unevent- fully, he in the meantime assisting to clear the farm.
When ready to establish a fireside of his own Mr. Maxwell was married Ang. 17, 1864, to Miss Cynthia A. Kirkpatrick, daughter of James and Mary Kirkpatrick. She was born in Rush County, Ind., and was married in Marion County, the same State. No children were born of this union. Mrs. Maxwell died in Marion County, Ind., in May, 1867.
Mr. Maxwell was afterward married to Miss Ma- tilda J., daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Jones) Lambert, the wedding ceremony being solemnized in Tipton County, Ind. In September, 1871, he came to this State and purchased 197 acres of his pres- ent farm. To this he subsequently added until it now embraces 365 acres. It is located on section
1, and was originally an open prairie, as was most of the country around. The first dwelling of Mr. Maxwell was a small frame house, 16x32 feet in dimensions and one and one-half stories in height. He occupied this several years and then built an addition, so that he now has a substantial and com- modious dwelling. He endured in common with his neighbors the usual vicissitudes of life on the frontier. The first barrel of salt which he pur- chased cost him $4.50. He labored early and late in the improvement of his property and has now brought his land to a high state of cultivation and erected thereon, beside the dwelling, all the other buildings required for his comfort and convenience.
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell five children, namely : Minnie M., George Earl and Pearl, twins, the latter now deceased; Mary J. and Amy. Our subject and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, at Blue Mound, in which Mr. Max- well has been Steward for many years and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He votes the straight Republican ticket and in the fall of 1882 was elected Justice of the Peace, serving at that time two years. In the fall of 1888 he was re-elected and still holds the office. He has been the Clerk of his school district for a period of fifteen years and a Director of the County Fair for ten years. Possessing considerable literary taste, he has for many years been a correspondent of the local papers, treating mainly upon farming matters, and he frequently attends the meetings of the State Board of Agriculture. Socially he belongs to the A. O. U. W., Acme Lodge No. 42, at Valley Falls, in which he has held some of the offices. He is also a member of the Farmers' Alliance at Blue Mound and the Sub-Alliance No. 154, of his neighborhood, officiating as Secretary.
The parents of Mr. Maxwell were also natives of Morgan County, Ohio, and the father died at the homestead in Indiana, in March, 1887. The mother is still living at the old home farm. Both were prominently connected with the Christian Church. The paternal grandfather was born in Ireland, whence he emigrated to the United States early in life, settling in Ohio where he was married to Miss Nancy Marshall, a native of that State, They
OLD HOME
1872.
" HOPEFUL FARM" RESIDENCE OF M. M. MAXWELL, SEC. 1 .- 9-17. OSAWKIETP., JEFFERSON CO. KAN.
SPRING
RESIDENCE AND MINERAL SPRINGS OF H. HOOVER, SEC.22. MILL CREEK TP., POTTAWATOMIE Co. KAN.
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spent the remainder of their lives there, dying at a ripe old age. Fifteen children were born to them of whom Bazzil, the father of Morgan M., was the youngest. On the mother's side Grandfather George Guion, was a native of New York State and likewise removed to Ohio when young in years. He married Miss Elizabeth Knox, who was born there. They removed to Marion County, Ind .. where they opened up a farm from the heavy timber and spent their last days. They died at the ages of seventy-one and eighty-seven respectively. Their family numbered eight children. The Guions were of English ancestry. Mr. Guion died in the faith of the United Brethren Church, while his wife belonged to the Methodist. The paternal grand- father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and of German ancestry. The mother's people came from England.
The father of Mrs. Maxwell was a native of Vir- ginia and horn in 1803, and the mother was born in 1806, in Tennessee. They removed with their respective parents to Indiana, where they were reared and married. They likewise constructed a homestead from the wilderness and died there. Be- side their daughter. Mrs. Maxwell, the following children were born to them: Thomas Lambert, de- ceased; John R., a farmer in Rural Township, Jefferson County ; Mary E., wife of Capt. L. H. Gest, and a resident of Ozawkie Township, this county.
A lithographie view of the home and surround- ings on the farm of our subject is presented on an- other page.
ENRY HOOVER has made his home in Pottawatomie County since 1856, when .he secured a claim on Mill Creek, in what is now Mill Creek Township. He was quite a young man when he came to this section of coun- try, where he has shared in pioneer labors, endured privations, developed his own manly energies, and secured a merited degree of worldly success, to- gether with the respect of a wide circle of ac-
quaintances. The prudence, thrift and sturdy perseverance of his Holland ancestry have been shown in his own life, and proves that though blood may not always "improve with age," yet worthy traits are transmitted to generation after generation, and when coupled with good training will shed an added luster on a family name.
Henry and Jacob Hoover, who were the first of that name to settle in America, came from Holland prior to the Revolutionary War, and located in Pennsylvania, near the colonies of William Penn. They spent the remainder of their lives in the Keystone State, and from them most of the name of Hoover now living in this country have de- scended. The great-grandfather of our subject. Peter Hoover, was a native of North Carolina. The grandfather of our subject, Leason Hoover, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, must have been of the second or third generation in this. country. He married Miss Lucy Webb, of an old and respectable Pennsylvania family, and soon afterward went to Wayne County, Ind., while that country was still a wilderness, and before it was yet a State. There they lived for many years, im- proving a farm in the wilds, on which the father of our subject, Lewis Hoover, was born about 1815. In 1852 Leason Hoover and his family moved to Madison County, Ind., and there be and his wife subsequently died when about four-score years old. They were well known in the sections where they had lived, and were classed among the most worthy citizens. and consistent members of the United Brethren Church.
Lewis Hoover, the father of our subject, was reared to the occupation of farming, and in his na - tive county married Miss Mary Shafer, who was born and grew to womanhood in his own neighbor- hood. She was a daughter of Jacob and Lucy (Hoover) Shafer, natives of Pennsylvania and of prominent families of Holland descent. Her par- ents had come to Indiana soon after the war of 1812 and improved a farm from the untrodden wil- derness, where the father died when about seventy years old. The mother subsequently went to Henry County, and died there in 1879, having at- tained to the age of four-score years. This worthy couple were also members of the United Brethien
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Church. After their marriage, Lewis Hoover and his wife moved to Henry County, and located eight miles east of Newcastle, this being in 1837, while that section of country was still quite new. There they lived until 1854, when with their six children, they started West with teams, camping by the way under the blue canopy of heaven, and after a journey of twenty-eight days reached Jef- ferson County, Kan., settling near Ozawkee.
There Lewis Hoover took a claim which he held for two years, when the Border Ruffians made it so unpleasant that he deserted it, and with the family which still remained under the parental roof, came in the fall of 1857, to this county, to which his son, our subjeet, had come some eighteen months pre- vious. He took a claim on section 14, Mill Creek Township, where the country at that time was new and unbroken. There the mother of our subject died in the fall of 1865, when about fifty-two years old. She was a devoted Christian all her life and a mem- ber of the United Brethren Church, and her noble traits of character secured her many warm friends. Her sympathy and assistance were ever ready at the call of need, and to her own family her loss was ir- reparable. Her husband survived her about six years his death taking place in 1871. Like her he was a member of the United Brethren Church and was held in high repute by his neighbors. Ile was an Abolitionist and a Republican, and as has been intimated passed through some trying seenes during the anti-and pro-slavery contest on the border. He married a second wife, Mrs. Naney Booth, who is still living.
Henry Hoover, the subject of this biography, is the second child and eldest son in a family of six sons and three daughters born to his parents. Of these two daughters and five sons lived to years of maturity, and one daughter and four sons are yet living, all residents of this State. Three brothers, Jacob, William and Lewis, live in James- town, Cloud Co., Kan; Mary E., ( Mrs. William R. Taylor) lives in Onago, Kan. During the late Civil War, Henry Hoover and his brother John en- listed in Company K., 11th Kansas Cavalry, under the command of Capt. John M. Allen and Col. Moonlight. The company was raised in this county, and on being attached to the 11th, went at once
to the South. The brothers took part in the battle of Ft. Wayne, Ark., where John was taken sick of pneumonia, his death taken place at Camp Solomon in the spring of 1863. Our subject was also ill for a time after the battle, but recovered and rejoined his regiment in time to assist them during Priee's Raid. He remained with them until the battle of the Little Blne in Jackson County, Mo., where an enemy's bullet entered the left arm near the shoul- der and compelled his withdrawal from active cam- paign duties. For two months he was absent from the command, a part of the time being spent at his own home, and he then rejoined the regiment re- maining with them until honorably discharged at Ft. Leavenworth, on the 1st of September, 1865.
After doing good service in the cause of his country and receiving his honorable discharge, Mr. Hoover came back to this township, where he has sinee lived. Henow owns 160 aeres of land on section 22, which forms his home farm, and 155 aeres in another part of the township. The Grand Mineral Spring is on his home estate. Its waters possess some fine mineral properties-iron, magnesia, and soda -- and have a good local reputation, having made some important eures.
Mr. Hoover was married in this township, to Miss Malinda Eytchison, who was born in Madi- son County, Ind., Mareh 23, 1841, and is a daugh- ter of William P. Eytchison, (For her family his- tory see sketch of S. A. Eytehison). Mrs. Hoover was about seventeen years old when her parents came to Kansas and she has since lived in this township. She is a woman of intelligence and many womanly virtues, and her kindness of heart and unfailing goodness have won her many friends throughout the county. She is the mother of eleven children .-- Seth C., and George W., died when two years old; Laura is the wife of James Taylor, and lives on a farm in this township; Naney E. is the wife of Francis Teeter and their home is in Onaga; William Merritt married Miss Mary Peruse and they live on a farm in this town- ship; Charles H., James A., Edwin E., Bessie M .. Sarah B., and Cicely P., are still at home.
Mr. Hoover is a sound Republican in his politi- cal views and practices. He is a charter meinber of Custer Post, No. 29. G. A. R., in Onaga. He
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and his wife are active in all local and social af- fairs, and are also working members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, Mr. Hoover being Treasu rer of the Board of Trustees in that body.
Elsewhere in this volume appears a lithographic view of the residence of Mr. Hoover, and its sur- roundings, including the Grand Mineral Spring.
S HELBY CHITWOOD. This name will be recognized as belonging to one of the most worthy pioneers of Jefferson County, to which he came as early as 1864. He was a native of Tennessee, born in 1815, and the son of William and Sarah Chitwood, who were probably also of Southern antecedents. He departed this life at his home in Rural Township, April 14, 1870, aged fifty-five years, two months and six days.
Mr. Chitwood spent his early years in a com- paratively uneventful manner, amid the quiet pur- suits of farm life in his native State, acquiring such education as he could obtain in the common school. Upon reaching manhood he was married to Miss Charity Elswick, a native of Tennessee, and they removed to Pulaski County, Ky., where they resided six years. They decided then to seek their fortunes west of the Mississippi, and took up their abode in Jefferson County, Kan., locating on section 8, and there made their home until their deccase. The wife and mother survived her hus- band for a period of nineteen years, being called hence May 28, 1889, at the age of seventy. There were born to them twelve children, eight of whom lived to mature years. Lucinda is the wife of Thomas Chambers of Tennessee; Andrew, during the Civil War, enlisted in a Tennessee regiment and met his death in the army; John is a resident of Cowley County, this State; Joel, who was born in Kentucky in 1851, is the leading representative of the family in Kansas ; llenry is a resident of Cow- ley County; S. Elizabeth is the wife of D. J. Doughty of Jefferson County; Pleasant resides in Oregon; Polly is the wife of J. G. Hunter of Jeffer- son County. The mother was a devoted member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
Joel Chitwood was reared to manhood on the
home farm in Jefferson County, this State, and was married in 1870 to Miss Phebe Doughty a native of Jasper County, Mo .; there were born to them four children, three of whom are living-Charles, Pleasant and Walter R. Mrs. Phebe Chitwood de- parted this life Sept. 2, 1882. Mr. Chitwood on the 14th of November, 1884, was married a second time to Miss Mary Bullock of Kentucky and to them there have been born three children-Pearl Ellen, Mattie who died when nine months old, and an infant unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Chitwood are members in good standing of the Christian Church in Williamstown. They occupy a comfortable home and Mr. Chitwood is successfully tilling fifty acres of land.
OHN MORIN. The live stock interests of Jefferson County have been materially ad- vanced by this gentleman, who makes a specialty of trotting horses (the Almont stock) and Short-horn cattle. He has his head- quarters at a snug farm of 180 acres, on section 23, Rural Township, to which he came in 1882, and completed the development of a partially improved tract of land. He is a true Westerner, having been born in Platte County, Mo., and is a gentleman in the prime of life, his birth occurring March 16, 1843.
The subject of this sketch comes from Southern stock, being the son of Jesse and Zerelda V. (Hughs) Morin, the former a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and the latter of Howard County, Mo. Jesse Morin emigrated to the Platte Purchase in 1837; later he served as a Major in the Mexican War. He took an active part in politics after be- coming a resident of Missouri, arose first to the position of District Clerk, next was Sheriff of Platte County, and finally was elected to the State Legislature, first to the Lower House and then as a Senator. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and departed this life at his home in Platte City, Mo., in August, 1853, at the age of seventy-five years, having been born in 1808. The mother preceded her husband. dying in 1877. She was a lady of many estimable qualities, and a consistent
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member of the Christian Church. The parental household included four children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Matilda, became the wife of N. R. Green, of Platte County, Mo., and is now deceased; Martha is the wife of Thomas Moran, of that State; John is the third ehild; William is a resident of Platte County, Mo. The paternal grandfather was Jonah Morin, a native of France, who emigrated to America in time to serve in the War of 1812.
John Morin spent his early life at the parental homestead in Missouri, attending the common school, and completed his studies in Pleasant Ridge College. At the age of twenty-two years he emigrated further Southwest, and for three years was engaged in the eattle business. Then re- turning to his native county, he established himself in the livery business at Platte City, residing there until his removal to this State in 1882.
In the meantime Mr. Morin was married Oet. 10, 1878, to Miss Maude, daughter of of T. R. and Susan (Hatton) Bayne, of Jefferson County, Kan. Of this union there have been born two children- Zerelda S. and Mary Maude. Mr. Morin votes the straight Democratic tieket, and has held the minor offices. His religious views coincide with the doctrines of the Christian Church, of which he and his wife are members.
E DWIN W. ROGERS is the owner and oceu- pant of a pleasant and remunerative estate in Jefferson Township, and ranks well among the progressive and enterprising farmers of Jeffer- son County. He is a man of intelligence, upright- ness and ability, and one with whom an hour ean always be pleasantly spent, his experience of life in different parts of the West having given him an excellent fund from which to draw entertaining and instructive incidents and opinions.
Mr. Rogers was born in Platte County, Mo. Nov. 12, 1844, to John and Sarah Rogers, who were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom lived to maturity. The Rogers family were residents of Eastern Tennessee, and the father of our subject
removed West at quite an early day. He was a son of Major Rogers, who lived to be above ninety years of age, and who was the father of twelve sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to maturity and were alive at the beginning of the war. Dur- ing that eivil strife members of the family partiei- pated on both sides. The wife of Major Rogers also lived to be above fourscore and ten years old.
The gentleman of whom we write was reared on a farm in his native State, which he left at the time of the gold excitement in the Northwest to search for the precious metals in Montana, where he made mining his business. He was located at Virginia City. Helena and the great mining center of Ban - nock, and was able to make $8 per day and to se- cure some property. He has paid as high as $2 per meal for his board, and when boarding himself bought flour at $1.10 per pound. While at the mines he was an eye-witness to a hanging, when a man was taken from a saloon by a mob and sum- marily executed by being hung to a beef post.
Returning from the mines, Mr. Rogers staid with his mother until they broke up housekeeping, and in 1869 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna, daughter of W. H. and Eleanor Witt, who were among the first settlers in Platte County, whenee they had come from Kentucky. After his marriage Mr. Rogers remained in Missouri a year, and then removed to Leavenworth County, Kan., settling on the western line, where he bought and opened up a good farm. He had brought it to an excellent state of cultivation, when, in 1881, he sold it, and a few months later bought the place which he now occupies. It is one of the finest lo- cations along the road, is three and a half miles from Winchester and about eight miles from Nor- tonville, occupying parts of section 12, 8, and 19, and comprising 145 aeres. The Hull Cemetery joins his place on the southwest corner. The dwell- ing in which the family now live is a well-built frame structure, 16x34 feet, with an L 14x18 feet, and porches on the front and rear. It was erected in 1883, and the commodious barn which is now in use was built in 1889.
The progeny of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers comprises four sons and two daughters : Edwin is a young man of nineteen; Jennie, a young lady ; Turner is fifteen;
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James, thirteen : Charley, eleven, and May four years old. Mr. Rogers was elected to the office of Town- ship Trustee on the Democratie ticket, and filled the position so acceptably that his friends urged him to accept it again, but he positively declined. He belongs to the Home Protection Society. He is a member of the Christian Church at Winchester, and it is needless to say is highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens.
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E LIJAH HARDING. The thrifty farming community of Ozawkie Township, Jefferson County, recognizes in Mr. Harding one of its most thorough and skillful agriculturists, operating 245 acres of choice land. A goodly portion of this is under cultivation and the balance in timber and pasture. The corn raised on the farm is chiefly fed to swine, of which Mr. Harding makes a spe- cialty. He has an orchard of five acres and a set of good frame buildings together with the machinery necessary to the successful prosecution of his calling.
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