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 78
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 78
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 78
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As soon as he was able to resume active occupa- tions, Mr. McCoy took up farming in his native State, which he left in the fall of 1868 for a home in the West, coming to Jefferson County, Kan., with his family, and spending the winter in Valley Falls. He bought 160 acres on section 26, Norton Township, which was improved to the extent of having the sod turned on fifteen acres, and a small shanty erected upon it. He has since added 320 acres, which, with the exception of the tract in Atchison County, adjoins his original purchase. The most of it is now in a good state of cultiva- tion, and there are about three miles of hedge upon it, although Mr. McCoy uses wire fencing al- most exclusively at the present time. An or- chard and some fine trees were destroyed by a storm May 11, 1887, since which time he has planted others. Stoek breeding and feeding are made a specialty by Mr. McCoy, and he raises large droves of hogs, Short-horn cattle and many fine horses. He keeps a thorough-bred Short-horn bull, and dehorns all his cattle, of which he is now feeding 100 head.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. McCoy was married to Mrs. Clara A. Hayes, widow of Ezra Hlayes, of Valley Falls. She had one son, Alvin B. Hayes, who is now married and living near Val- ley Falls, his family comprising one child. Mr. McCoy is the father of six children, born to his first wife. The second of these, and the only daughter,
was Jennie E., who died in early childhood; the oldest son, Charles E., owns and operates a farm near Meriden, Jefferson County, is married and has four children; Joseph M. is the agent and tele- graph operator of the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Gasconade, Mo .; William B. is at home, and taking kindly to agricultural pursuits; George W. is attending school at Nortonville; James E. is at home.
Mr. McCoy is a member of the A. O. U. W., in which he carries $2,000 insurance. He is a Repub- lican, and never fails to support the candidates of the party and the principles set down in the party platform. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and helped to build the edifice at Norton- ville, in which that congregation worships. He is regarded as one of the most progressive and enter- prising farmers of the section of country in which he lives, as a reliable citizen, and as a neighbor and friend whose companionship is agreeable and whose heart is kind.
R. UFUS H. CROSBY. Among the business men of Valley Falls, Mr. Crosby occupies a prominent position, being proprietor of the Valley Falls Deposit, successor to the Valley Bank & Savings Institution. He assumed proprietorship of this enterprise eleven years ago, and under his able and wise management it has become almost indispensable to the people in this part of the county. Valley Falls has quite a rep- resentation of New Englanders -- among them Mr. Crosby-who was born in Penobscot County, Me., Oct. 5, 1834.
The immediate progenitors of the subject of this notice were Samuel N. and Mary A. (Halliburton) Crosby, likewise natives of the Pine Tree State, and who spent their last years in Iowa. The pa- ternal grandfather was Ebenezer Crosby, an honest New England farmer, who died many years ago in Hampden, Me. Grandfather George Halliburton descended from substantial Scotch ancestry. He was a native of Frankfort, Me., and died in that place.
To Samnel and Mary Crosby there was born a
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family of five children, four of whom are living, namely: William, a resident of Delaware Town- ship, Kan .: Rufus II., the subject of this sketch ; George H., of Denver, Col., and Mary ( Mrs. Shep- herd), of Delaware Township, this county and State. The parents became residents of Grinnell, Iowa. several years ago, the mother dying in 1875 and the father in 1877. Rufus H. completed his education in Hampden Academy, in his native county, and subsequently taught two terms of the common school, one in his native town. In 1855 he and his brother William came to Kansas and established the first store of general merchandise in Valley Falls. From that time on he has prospered ; becoming not only a man of note in his community, but accumulating a competence,
The marriage of Rufus H. Crosby and Miss Nettie Kendall was celebrated at the bride's home in Hampden, April 13, 1862. Mrs. Crosby was born in Penobscot County, Me., and is the daughter of Jonathan and Dollie Kendall, who are represented elsewhere in this volume. This union resulted in the birth of one child, Lottie. Mr. Crosby is an intelligent and well-informed man, somewhat inclining toward literary pursuits, and in 1863 was employed as editor of the Kansas Jeffer- sonian. He votes the straight Republican ticket, and served as County Commissioner in 1872-73, and was Mayor of Valley Falls in 1887. Previous to this in 1855, he was a member of the Topeka Constitutional Convention. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M.
ENRY KELLER, JR., Mayor of Holton, Jackson Co., Kan., stands among the fore- most of the young men of brain, energy and enterprise, who by their progressive and far-sighted business methods are infusing new life into the city, and within the last decade have ma terially advanced its interests in various directions. Mr. Keller is successfully carrying on business as a manufacturer of harness in partnership with his consin, J. G. Hinnen, and they have built up an extensive and flourishing trade in this industry.
Our subject was born Feb. 28, 1861, in Tell City,
Perry Co., Ind., a son of Henry Keller, Sr., who was one of the founders of that city, which was named in honor of the Swiss hero, William Tell. He was a native of the Canton of Zurich, in Switzer- land, coming of an honorable Swiss family. His father came to America when he was quite aged and spent his last days in Indiana. The father of our subject was a young man when he came to this country to make a home and establish himself in life. He located first in Ohio, where he learned and carried on the trades of bellows-maker and carpenter. From Ohio he went to Indiana, and be- came one of the first settlers of Tell City, in Perry County, which he helped to organize. He bought property, erected a comfortable dwelling, and in following his trade there has become quite prosper- ous, and in his pleasant home is well fortified against want and poverty. His wife, who aided him in its upbuilding, shares its comforts with him. Her maiden name was Louisa Tell, and she was born in Wurtemberg, Prussia, coming to this country when she was young. She is the mother of nine children.
When our subject was ten years old he came to Kansas to live with his uncle. Casper Hinnen, a resident of Jackson County, living three miles from Holton. He attended school and gained a substantial education, and assisted his unele in the labors of the farm. At the expiration of three years he came to the city to learn the trade of harness-maker of his cousin, and after serving an ap- prenticeship of three years he did journeyman work till 1882, when he formed a partnership with his cousin and has been engaged in business with him since then. They have a neat and attractive estab- lishment, and their manufactures are of a fine quality and rank with the best thrown on the mar- ket and command a large sale. They also carry on a business at Onaga, Kansas.
Although a young man to have been so early in- ducted into so important an office as the one that places him at the head of the government of this municipality, to which position he was elected in 1889, Mayor Keller has proved himself to possess fine qualifications for the mayoralty, and his fellow citizens, satisfied with his just, equitable and busi- ness-like administration of city affairs, feel that in
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giving him their suffrages they have selected one who will look sharply and carefully after the inter- ests of this metropolis of Jackson County, and do all that he can to advance its welfare. Ile pos- sesses a cool head, well-balanced mind, firmness and force of character, is straightforward and manly in his dealings, and his pleasant disposition and his friendly, courteous manner render him very popu- lar with all. He is a member of Holton Lodge, No. 42, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to Holton Camp, M. W. A. He is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, and has voted for its candi- dates ever since he attained his majority, casting his first ballot for James G. Blaine.
AMES A. STATLER, a leading druggist of Ozawkie, is numbered among the substantial business men of the place, and is contributing his full quota to its material interests. He carries a well-selected stock of goods in this line; also books, stationery, wall paper, paints, fancy goods, etc. The annual business aggregates from $1,000 to $2,000. Mr. Statler has been quite pro- minent in local affairs, holding the office of Town- ship Clerk and Trustee; also serving as Constable and Justice of the Peace.
The subject of this sketch was born in Roanoke County, Va., July 26, 1840, and lived there on a farm until a lad of fourteen years. In December, 1853. he went to Woodford County, Ill., and there- after for three years made his home with his brother Charles and sister Sarah, the latter Mrs. William Gish. In the meantime he attended school during the winter seasons and worked on the farm in the summer. When leaving there he took np his abode in Wabash County, Ind., where was employed as a farm laborer until 1864. He was married in that county in November, 1861, to Miss Magdalen ", daughter of James and Susan (Puderbaugh) M. . Farland.
Upon coming to Ozawkie Mr. Statler worked at wagon making probably two years. Ile then pur- chased eighty acres of wild land, which later he sold and bought another eighty acres, moving upon the latter and carrying on its improvement and
cultivation until the death of his wife, in August, 1874. Thereafter he employed himself at sawmill- ing. until 1884, when he embarked in the drug business in partnership with Dr. Aaron Puderbaugh, with whom he is still associated.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Statler six children, only one of whom is living, a daughter, Ella, who obtained a good education, and employs herself as a teacher in the village school. The de . ceased children were James, Herman, Marietta and two infants who died unnamed. Mrs. Statler- was a member of the German Baptist Church, in the faith of which she passed away.
The father of our subject was Abram Statler, who was born on a farm in Virginia and on that farm spent his entire life. The maiden name of his wife was Magdalene Secat, also a native of the Old Dominion, and whose paternal grandfather was born in Scotland. The latter emigrated to the United States and died in Virginia. The parental family consisted of twelve children. of whom James A. was the youngest born. Abram Statler departed this life at his home in Virginia in 1848. His wife preceded him about four years, dying in 1844. Both were members of the Lutheran Church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jacob Statler, who was either a native of Germany or of direct German ancestry. He spent the greater part of his life in Virginia, where he reared his family and died. He was also a member of the Lutheran Church. Abram Statler served as a Cap- tain in the War of 1812 and was a Justice of the Peace several years. He was a man well liked in his community, honest and upright in his dealings, and a citizen in whom the people had confidence.
OHN T. CARTER is conducting a livery establishment and engaged in buying and selling horses at Nortonville, and is one of those young men of whom Jefferson County has so many, who are exhibiting practical business ability of no mean order, and who are ably assist- ing in the development of all its resources.
The eyes of our subject first opened to the light in Greenbrier County, W. Va., the date of his
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birth being June 20, 1850, and the first ten years of his life being spent in his native county. His parents, W. P. and Catherine (MeCannon ) Carter, then moved to Atchison County, Kan., locating not far from the spot where Nortonville now stands. The father was well supplied with money, but loaned it out to his neighbors in 1861, and in 1862 there was great suffering throughout this section, and under these circumstances the family sustained life and built up their strength on a corn diet with a change in styles. In 1863 the elder Carter fitted out a train of ox teams to cross the plains to Denver, and in 1864 took a train there for another party. The same year he rigged out another train of his own and went to Ft. Smith, Mont., on the Big Ilorn River. The Indians in that section of the West were then on the war path and travel was hazardous and exciting. Before their party reached Ft. Smith the train was made up of about 120 wagons and accompanied by 110 mounted soldiers. They were met by savages between Ft. Kearney and Ft. Smith, and the train fired into, the Indians, who numbered probably 1,000, riding around the corrall several times. They finally rode up and offered to compromise for something to eat, and being given a box of crackers and a few sacks of flour, took their departure.
In 1865 Mr. Carter returned to Kansas and at- tended school in Lancaster, which town he made his home until April, 1882, when he moved to Nortonville. In 1877 he bought a wild farm four miles west, which he has placed under an excellent state of cultivation and upon which he has made good improvements. The dwelling is two stories in height, 16x26 feet in the main body, with a wing 14x14; the barn is a well-built structure, 26x36 feet, with sixteen-foot posts. The estate bears about seventy-five apple trees, with grapes and small fruits in variety.
In the year 1882 Mr. Carter bought out the liv- ery business of Mr. Dorr and that of Mr. Morris, at Nortonville, and consolidated the two, selling out the establishment in 1884 to Mr. Lambert Clark. During the summer he built the large barn where he now carries on his business, and which is 50 x 60 feet, with sheds 80 feet long, the hay-mow being capable of holding 20 tons of hay. He
bought out Mr. Lambert Clark the same year, and two years later sold out to O. L. Dowd, buying back again in 1887. Since that time he has not only carried on the business successfully, but has been buying horses throughout the county and shipping by the carload to Denver and Pueblo, Colo. He and W. L. Layson now own the Ken- tucky jack, Billy Flint; Black Nick, Warrior, Mo- hawk, and three other fine jacks, and the fine stal- hon Roderick Jr., of Hambletonian trotting stock.
The marriage of Mr. Carter took place at the home of the bride in 1872, his chosen companion being Miss Angie, daughter of C. B. Tuley, of Atchison, and formerly of Ohio, in which State Mrs. Carter was born. Three of the children whom Mrs. Carter has borne died in their infancy, and five bright faces cluster about the family hearth- stone: these belong to Ella, Jesse (a lad of ten years), Mary, Rubie, and baby Edith.
Mr. Carter belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is Secretary of Mount Zion Lodge, No. 266. He also belongs to the A. O. U. W. at Nortonville. He has served as Trustee of Norton Township for a term, having been elected to the position on the Democratic ticket.
OHN F. DICK. Among those who have made an art and a science of agriculture may properly be mentioned Mr. Diek, who came to Jefferson County in 1864, during the period of its early settlement. Having now maintained a residence here of over a quarter of a century, and having distinguished himself as an honest man and a good citizen, he is thus worthy of a more than passing . notice among those men through whose industry and enterprise Jefferson County has attained to its present position.
A native of Pulaski County, Ky., Mr. Dick was born, Nov. 29, 1832, and is the son of William and Fanny (Speers) Dick, who were natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Kentucky. William Dick was taken by his parents to the Blue Grass State when but a child, and there met the lady whom he afterward married, and who was born there. The Speers family was of Irish descent. The
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paternal grandfather of our subject was Jobn Dick, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America in time to take a hand in the Revolutionary War. Afterward, he followed farming pursuits in Ken- tucky, to which he had removed from South Caro- lina. His son, William, the father of our subject, was reared to manhood in Kentucky, and there spent the remainder of his life, departing hence in 1863, at the age of sixty-five years. He had sur- vived his wife for a period of twenty years, her death having taken place in 1843. Mrs. Fanny Dick was a member of the Baptist Church. The children of the parental family are recorded as follows: William S, is farming in Jefferson County, this State; Jerusha died when past fifty years old; Hezekiah is a lumber dealer of Platte County, Mo .; Samuel A. is a farmer of Jefferson County ; John F., our subject, was next in order of birth ; Terrel K., is a resident of Missouri; Rachel is the wife of James Stevens, of Rural Township, Jeffer- son County ; Polly, Mrs. Green Dick, lives in Pu- laski County, Ky .; Valentine, during the late war, enlisted in the 1st Kentucky Infantry and died in the army. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Dick contracted a second marriage and there were born to him two sons-James Marion, deceased, and Thomas W., who lives on the home farm in Kentucky.
John F. Dick spent his carly years at the old homestead in his native county, and when reaching his majority, set out for the West, crossing the Mississippi into Appanoose County, Iowa. He only remained there a short time, however; then returned to Kentucky and sojourned there until 1864. In the meantime, in 1856, he was wedded to Miss Bethenie Stewart, a native of his own county, and the daughter of Golman Stewart, who was also born in that State, and who spent his last years in Kansas, dying at the age of eighty- one years. The young people commenced the journey of life together on their own farm, which they occupied until their removal to the West. They came directly to Jefferson County, and Mr. Dick purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies. It bore little resemblance then to its present condition, being a wild uncultivated tract of 115 acres, located on section 7, Rural Township.
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He was prospered in his labors as a tiller of the soil, and added to his landed possessions until he is now the owner of 265 acres, all of which he has brought to a productive condition. There lias been no small amount of time and money expended in building up the homestead, which is complete with all the requirements of modern farm life.
In connection with sowing and reaping, Mr. Dick makes a specialty of fine stock, especially mules and jacks, in the sale of which he realizes usually 82,000 annually. One of these animals, in 1889, he parted with for the snug sum of 8800. He is a self-made man in the strictest sense of the word, having started in life a poor boy, without influential friends or assistance of any sort. He consequently enjoyed only the advantages of a limited education. but has kept his eyes open to the events passing around him, and by a course of reading keeps himself posted upon the leading topics of the day. He is independent in politics, aiming to support principles rather than men. He and his estimable wife have been faithful members of the Christian Church for the long period of thirty-two years. They are the parents of eleven children, one of whom, Cyrena, who was born, Dec. 25, 1857, became the wife of James Butler, of this township, and died July 31, 1888. Isaiah, their eldest son, is farming in Rural Township; Nelson also operates a farm in this township; Mel- vina. Mary, Alonzo, Walton, Rufus, Lewis, Luther, and Charles, remain with their parents.
ACOB MILLER. Mr. Miller rents and op- erates a fine country estate, embracing 320 acres of as fine land as is to be found on the Kansas bottom. He gives his attention to the raising of grain and stock, and avails himself of modern machinery in the cultivation of his land, using three teams in his farming operations. He settled in Kaw Township, in the spring of 1887, and occupies the place familiarly known as " the old Rushmore farm," now the property of J. C. Grinter, of Perry.
A native of Monroe City, Ohio, Mr. Miller was born, Feb. 25, 1859, spending his boyhood and
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youth amid the peaceful pursuits of farm life. He attended the district school in his native township until a youth of fifteen years, mostly during the winter season ; then, the family having decided to seek the farther West, he accompanied them to this State. They located in Norton County, where the father took up land at a time when wild animals were plentiful. Young Miller hunted considerably, going out on the plains near by after buffaloes, and when a youth of sixteen years, has killed as many as three in one day.
At the age of eighteen years Mr. Miller began doing for himself, leaving the farm and securing a situation in the repair yards of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, at Brookville. He obtained the confi- dence of his employers by his strict attention to his duties, and in due time was made foreman of a track-laying gang and remained in the employ of the company until 1881. That year he came to Jeff- erson County and entered the employ of John Montague, in Kaw Township. with whom he re- mained two years. He then worked as a farm lab- orer in Kentucky Township three years. At the expiration of this time he began renting land in Kentucky Township, operating thus until the spring of 1887. His next removal was to the farm which he now occupies.
At Thompsonville, on the 13th of August, 1885, Mr. Miller contracted marriage ties with Miss Sadie Moore. This lady is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Moore, who were natives of Indiana, whence they removed to Iowa during its pioneer days. The father took up land from which he constructed a good homestead, where he died. Mrs. Moore resides on her farm of eighty acres, near Harris, Sullivan Co., Mo. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller all died in infancy. Mr. Miller, politically, is a stanch Democrat and belongs to the Farmers' Alliance at Grantville.
The father of our subject was Christian Miller, a native of Germany, and who emigrated to Amer- ica when a young man twenty-five years old. Ile was a carpenter by trade, and followed this in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, for several years. Later, he removed to Monroe County, Mich., where, in connection with carpentering, he took up land and improved a farm, He also operated as a con-
tractor and builder. Finally in 1874, desirous of a change, he disposed of his interests in Michigan, and, coming to Kansas, homesteaded 160 acres of land in Norton County. He was prospered in his labors as a pioneer farmer, and is now well-to-do, having good improvements on his farm, and with a sufficiency of this world's goods to insure him against want in his declining years. Before leaving the Fatherland he served eleven years in the army. He participated in the German Revolution, and the adherents of this cause being defeated, Mr. Miller concluded that America would furnish to him a more satisfactory field of operation than his native country. He is a respected citizen, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Church.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Catherine Keller. She was a native of the same province as her husband, and departed this life at their home in Monroe County, Mich.
The five children of the parental household were named, respectively: Libbie, now a resident of Kansas City ; Peter, who is wandering somewhere over the West; Jacob, the subject of this sketch; William, a resident of Thompsonville, this State, and John, who sojourns in Norton County.
BRAHAM GISH. One of the neatest farms in Rock Creek Township, Jefferson County, is owned and operated by Mr. Gish, who is numbered among its most thrifty and prosperous citizens. He was born in Botetourt County, Va., Aug. 25, 1843, and is the son of Will- iam and Julia Ann (Sell) Gish, who in the summer of 1847, leaving the Old Dominion, emigrated to Montgomery County, Ind. They put up a log cabin in the woods and the father began to clear a farm.
The Gish family sojourned in Montgomery County, Ind., until 1856, then pushing on still farther Westward into Cedar County, Mo., the father purchased over 1,000 acres of land, partially improved. Sojourning there until 1861 they again took up their line of march for Franklin County, this State. In the fall of that year they removed to Henry County, Iowa, and in the spring of 1862,
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returning to Kansas, the father of the subject of this notice located in Rock Creek Township, pur- chasing 480 acres on section 24. Here he improved another farm npon which he-lived until near the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 8, 1888. He was then aged seventy-seven years, eight months and ten days. The mother had been called away June 22, 1884, at the age of seventy-two. Of the seven children born to them six lived to mature years, Abraham being the fourth in order of birth. The parents were life-long members of the German Baptist Church, in which the father had officiated as a minister for a period of nearly fifty years. He was a man of marked ability and thoroughly devoted to the Master's cause, He organized the present church at Ozawkie, and the Western District, comprising Kansas and a part of Iowa, was for many years under his jurisdiction. Although not highly educated by any means, he was carefully trained by an exemplary mother and his career was that of a man respected and beloved by all who knew him. His father had died when he was four years old.
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