Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 84

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 84
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 84
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 84

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R OBERT N. UTZ. The career of this gen- tleman affords an example of persevering industry, frugality, good management and an honorable life, and it is pleasant to note that success has attended his efforts, and that he is now possessed of sufficient means to surround him- self and family with the comforts and even with many of the luxuries of life, and to free him from anxiety regarding his declining years. His life has been well spent, and he can confidently look for- ward to even more extended usefulness in the future, as his independent monetary standing will give him greater leisure than his earlier labors al- lowed.

In Boone County, Ky., Oct. 19, 1831, the eyes of our subject first opened to the light, and re- joiced the hearts of Jonathan and Lavina (Yager)

Utz. Both parents were natives of Virginia, the father born in Madison County, and they settled in the Blue Grass State about the year 1800. The mother departed this life in 1833, and the father survived until October, 1878. The family consists of the following children: George, Jackson, Rob- ert. Emily (Mrs. Berkshire), William H., Calvin O., Missouri J. (now Mrs. Weaver). Mary E. (Mrs. Kendall), Thomas O., Jonathan J., Mrs. Martha E. Aylor and James B. B.

The gentleman of whom we write was reared upon a farm, and pursued his early education in the primitive log schoolhouse, which has been so frequently described, where the desks were formed of a board laid on pins stuck in the wall. the seats were of slabs, the floor of puncheon, and a single row of lights gave admission to sunshine, while a huge fireplace in the end of the room was the source of heat during cold and inclement weather. The tuition was paid by subscriptions, and the teachers preserved order and discipline by means of a rod, which was frequently and thoroughly wielded. Notwithstanding what we of this gen- eration would consider great disadvantages, the pupils were generally thoroughly grounded in the studies which were on the curriculum, and fre- quently obtained a considerable knowledge of higher branches.

Leaving the parental roof at the age of sixteen years, young Utz went to Texas, returning to his native place after an absence of three years, farm- ing there till the fall of 1855. He then made a trip in a wagon to Davis County, Mo., but re- turned the same fall, married, and took his bride to that Western country, where they located upon a farm, which they made their home until 1859. At that time they came to Jefferson County. Kan., lo- cating on section 27, Delaware Township, where they have since lived, undergoing toil and priva- tion in their efforts to secure a competence, and earning the hearty respect of their neighbors and fellow-citizens.

The farm of which Mr. Utz took possession was a part of the Delaware Trust Lands, and was in a nearly primitive condition, its only improve- ment being a cabin, a little inferior fencing, and a small amount of broken ground, Indians were all

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around them, but they never committed any mis- demeanors. The estate of Mr. Utz now comprises 340 acres, all fenced and well-improved. The dwelling is of frame, the main building being 20x14 feet in dimensions and one 'and one-half stories high, with an addition of an equal height, 16x20 feet, forming a T, and an L 14x14 feet one story high. It was erected at a cost of $1.000. The barn is also of frame, is 24x48 feet, with fourteen- foot posts, and was built in June, 1884, at a cost of $500. Mr. Utz devotes his attention to farming and stock-raising, keeping Poland-China hogs and Short-horn cattle.

The lady who has so ably assisted Mr. Utz dur- ing a married life of over thirty years, and with whom he was united in Switzerland County, Ind., Dec. 9, 1855, bore the maiden name of Susan M. C'offman. She is a daughter of Elias S. Coffman, deceased, who was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in 1797, and Jenetta (Shaver) Coffman, a native of Boone County, Ky. Mrs. Utz was born in Covington, Ky., Feb. 22, 1834, and is the third of nine children and the oldest of the seven that grew to maturity and yet survive. Her brothers and sisters are: Lafayette M., Mrs. Eliza J. Keim, Henry I., William H., Noah W., and Mrs. Marri- etta Hosler. LaFayette lives in Fremont County, Colo .; Noah in Los Angeles County, Cal .; and the others in Mitchell County, Kan.

Mr. and Mrs. Utz have been blessed by the birth of eleven children, and have been bereaved of four. The deceased are: L. Jenetta, Ira R., Katie and Owen; the survivors are: Mary J., Harvey P., Olive A., Edwin C., Carrie M., Arthur E. and Irbie Belle. Both parents are members in good standing of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Utz belongs to the Farmers' Alliance.

AMUEL STRAWN, an old and highly re- spected settler of Jefferson County, was born on the waters of Ten Mile Creek, Greene Co, Pa., June 13, 1822. His father, Isaiah Strawn, was born in Bucks County, l'a., while his mother, Susan Rinehart, was a na- tive of the county in which her son was born. The

occupation of the father was that of a farmer, and his death took place many years ago. The pa- rental family comprised Jacob, Ruth, Mary, Nancy. Levi, John, Louisa, Ellis, Ellen and our subject. Of these, only John, Ellis, Ellen and Samuel are now living.

The gentleman whose history we are briefly out- lining was reared upon his father's farm and re- ceived his schooling under the advantages afforded in that carly day, when tuition was paid by sub- scription, and the temple of learning was a rude log cabin with a puncheon floor, slab seats, desks formed of a board laid on pins in the wall, and heat supplied by means of a fireplace with a stick and clay chimney. He adopted the occupation to which he had been bred. and which he has followed from his early years.

Bureau County, III., became the home of Mr. Strawn in 1851, and from it he removed to Jeffer- son County, this State, in 1860. At that early day he settled in Delaware Township, but six years later changed his neighborhood, becoming the oc- cupant of 160 acres of land on section 27. Sixty acres is timber land, making the estate unusually valuable. It is well improved, devoted to farming and stock-raising. and is managed in a manner cred- itable to its owner, who has ever been a hard- working and industrious man.

Mr. Strawn joined with his fellow-citizens in de- fence of their homes during Price's raid. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, never seeks office or notoriety of any kind, being one of the . most unassuming of men. His sterling qualities and his upright life have, however, given him a prominent place among the citizens of the county, throughout which he is held in high esteem.

In Greene County, Pa., Ang. 22, 1844, an inter- esting ceremony took place which transformed Miss Hannah M. L. Roberts into Mrs. Samuel Strawn. The bride is a native of the county in which her marriage took place and a daughter of James Roberts, now deceased. She has borne her husband twelve children, of whom two died when quite small, James and Clara at the age of nine years, and two daughters after having reached ma- turity. Of the latter, Caroline was the wife of Will- iam H. Posey, and left five children; Ada (Mrs,

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Gregg) left one motherless child. Of the sur- viving members of the family, Samuel M., the youngest, is still with his parents; John H. married Rebecca Tosh, and has five children; Levi R. is the husband of Agnes Shire and the father of four children; Joseph B. married Jane Copas, who has borne him seven children ; Lenora is the wife of Eu- gene Hosler, and the mother of five children; Mary married John Henry Tosh and has two children. All are living in the same township in which their parents reside.

ON. VALOROUS BROWN. There is not a more popular man within the precincts of Jefferson County than Mr. Brown, who was elected to the State Legislature during the second year of his residence within its limits. His course lias been signalized by liberality and disinter- estedness in all public enterprises tending to the gen- eral good of the people, socially, morally and finan- cially. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Perry, having been one of those most active in organizing the society and erecting the church edifice. It is hardly necessary to say that he occupies a high position, both in so- cial and business circles. He has been for years engaged in general farming and stock-raising, his estate occupying a portion of section 8, Kentucky Township.

A native of Hamilton County, Ohio, Mr. Brown was born near the town of Venice, on the Miami River, April 11, 1825. He attended the common school during his boyhood, the temple of learning being a log cabin, with slab seats and desks, and the chimney built outside, of earth and sticks. The system of instruction was in keeping with the fin- ishing and furnishing of the building. When Mr. Brown was a lad of fourteen years his father died, and he was forced to assume the responsibility of carrying on a farm. Not long afterward he was doubly orphaned by the death of his mother. Subsequently he made his home with his paternal grandmother, and worked out to support himself and assist the other children.

Remaining in the Buckeye State until a man of

thirty years, Mr. Brown, in 1855, went into Indi- ana, and purchasing land, engaged in speculating, and in dealing in live stock. He improved a good farm of seventy acres, and sojourned there until after the outbreak of the Civil War. He volon- teered his services as a Union soldier, but was re- jected, although, in 1863 he assisted in driving the raider, John Morgan, from the soil of the Free States. Morgan and his men passed within fonr miles of Mr. Brown's farm.

Sojourning in Indiana until 1866, Mr. Brown then resolved to seek his fortunes west of the Mis- sissippi. Setting out for Kansas, he, after reaching Warrensburgh, Mo., was taken ill and forced to return. Three years later, however, he made an- other attempt, and settled upon a part of the land which he now owns and occupies, and which he had purchased in the spring of 1868 from ex-Gov. Crawford. He has now 600 acres in the Kaw bottoms, occupying a portion of sections 11, 17 and 18. He has effected good improvements, having all the conveniences for general agriculture. Altogether, Mr. Brown owns 1,000 acres on the bottoms, besides eighty acres in Fairview Town- ship. The marriage of our subject with Miss Olive Willey oceurred in Hamilton County, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1845. This lady was born in that county, and was the daughter of Richard Willey, who moved from Connecticut in 1802, and taking up land in Ohio, prosecuted farming until his decease, which occurred March 1, 1887. Mr. Willey, hav- ing in his younger years obtained a good educa- tion, employed himself as a teacher. He was an intelligent man, prominent in his community, and held the office of Justice of the Peace.

There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown eight children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Aurelia, is the wife of W. P. McClure, a druggist, of Thomp- sonville. M. N. is farming in Kentucky Township; Louisa E. is the wife of T. W. Tracy, a business man of Topeka; Marietta is the wife of John Tracy, a farmer near Topeka; R. F. is farming in Ken- tucky Township, Kan .; V. F. was graduated from the Biblical Institute, at Chicago, and is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Dayton, Ohio; I. B., who is represented elsewhere in this volume, is in business at Perry; W. R. who is mu-

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sically inclined, will graduate from the Conservatory at Boston, in the class of 1890. After filling other positions of trust and responsibility, Mr. Brown, in 1872, was elected by the Republicans of Jefferson to represent them in the Kansas Legislature, and was re-elected in 1873. He served as a member of the Committee of Ways and Means, and upon other important committees. He has been a mem- ber of the School Board of his district, and assisted in building the school-house. He is numbered among the charter members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has officiated as Class-Leader for many years, and is now Superin- tendent of the Sunday school. He contributed liberally toward the erection of the church edifice, and was Recording Secretary and Steward in Ohio for a period of seventeen years. In politics, he is a strong Prohibitionist, and is frequently sent as a delegate to the county and State conventions. He has been Chairman of the County Central Commit- tee, and otherwise prominent in the councils of his party. Socially, he is identified with the Masonic fraternity.

C HAUNCY J. COWELL, familiarly known as Judge Cowell, has been a prominent man in Jackson County for the last quarter of a century. Ile is hale and hearty, although approach- ing the sixty-eighth year of his age, having been born June 24, 1822. He is a native of Tompkins County, N. Y., the son of a Baptist preacher, but. was reared on a farm and early in life trained to habits of industry, while his natural energy has never permitted him to be idle as long as he was able to labor either with hands or brain. He has held many positions of trust and responsibility and made for himself a career which he should look upon with pride and satisfaction.

Young Cowell, until twenty years of age, re- inained a resident of his native county. He then emigrated first to Ohio and later to Michigan, so- journing in the latter State two and one-half years, and during the Indian troubles, acting as scont for Gen. Cass. Upon leaving Michigan he repaired to Milwaukee, Wis., where he was variously occupied and finally entered the employ of the American Fur

Company. We next find him in Winnebago County, Ill., as the employe of the lumber firm of Gregory & Daniels. Next he tried railroading, and was a resident of the city of Rockford about six years. From there he emigrated across the Mississippi into Iowa, but finally retraced his steps to Wisconsin and settled in the vicinity of West Bend, Wash- ington County. At that point he engaged in farm- ing and merchandising about six years, then selling out, in March, 1857, came to Kansas and pre-empted land one and one-half miles west of Holton, in what was then Calhoun but is now Jackson County. In June following he was joined by his family. They remained there one and one-half years, then removed to section 10, in Franklin Township, and thereafter Mr. Cowell confined his attention to the practice of law in Holton for about twelve years. Afterward he returned to farming and became quite extensively interested in stock-raising.

In the meantime Mr. Cowell kept himself thor- oughly informed upon the social and political issues of the day, and after holding other offices was elected Probate Judge of Jackson County, in the fall of 1864. 1Ie was the first Free State County Commissioner elected in Jackson County, serving three terms and being Chairman of the Board dur- ing that time. Later he was elected County Attor- ney, being also the first Free State man in this position in Jackson County. During those stirring times he took an active part in politics, giving his unqualified support to the Democratic party. He placed himself on record as one of those progress- ive and liberal-minded citizens who have elevated Kansas to her present proud position, as one of the most prosperous commonwealths west of the Mis- sissippi.

Nearly thirty-five years ago Judge Cowell was married, in Barton, Washington Co., Wis., Jan. 10, 1855, to Miss Eliza Stork. This lady was born in Germany, June 10, 1835, and came to America in early life. Of her union with Judge Cowell there were born seven children, the eldest of whom, Libby A., became the wife of Robert Canfield and died in Franklin Township, Kan., June 12, 1885; Clara L. married Joseph Seek, and lives in Frank- lin Township; Emma, Mrs. J. Purdue, lives in Franklin Township; Flavia C. and Agnes are at

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home with their parents; Laura and Ella died when young. Judge Cowell is a member in good stand- ing of the Masonie fraternity, and with his estima- ble wife, belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Their valuable homestead embraces 681 acres of prime land, embellished with fine modern buildings and other extensive improvements. The Judge is a favorite both in social and business circles, a genial and companionable man with whom an hour may always be spent in a pleasant and profitable manner.

P REDERICK H. ELLERMAN. The farm in Norton Township, which is owned and occupied by this gentleman, is a valuable piece of property, bearing first-class improvements and conducted in a manner which reflects credit upon him who has it in charge. The family resi- dence is of stone, well-built and conveniently de- signed, and commodious barns and other outhouses furnish adequate housing for grain and stock. There is a fine apple orchard and much other fruit upon the place, and about six miles of fencing en- close and divide it. It is especially adapted for stock raising, to which branch of agriculture Mr. Ellerman has paid much attention, and running water and an abundance of timber add to the value of the farm.

The natal day of our subject was Feb. 7, 1818, and the place of his nativity, Hanover, Germany. He is a son of John Frederick and Maria (Vend) Ellerman, who were the parents of six children, one of whom died in childhood, and one, a son. Henry, at the age of fifteen years. The surviving members of the family are Engery, Elizabeth, our subject and Louisa, and all except him of whom we write, still live in their native land.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and acquired a good common-school education under the excellent system of the land of his birth, and remained with his parents until he was in his twenty-eighth year. Ile then bade adieu to the Old World, and taking passage at Bremen on the ship "Johannas," after a voyage of eight weeks, landed in America. He took up his abode in Hanging Rock, where he spent some time in dig-

ging ore, and for a time worked in the Union Furnace, his entire residence in the town covering a period of about three years. While there he be- came the husband of Miss Ingomar Vernon. daugh- ter of Frank Vernon.

The young couple moved to Lee County, Iowa, where Mr. Ellerman rented a farm. upon which they lived about five years. In 1854, which was the year of the land sale at Leavenworth, they fitted up an outfit of two yoke of oxen, and driving their stock, which comprised about twenty head, they set their faces toward the Territory of Kansas. They slept in the wagon and cooked their meals on the road, the hread having been previously pre- pared by Mrs. Ellerman. The journey occupied about three weeks, and they fortunately had fine weather all of the time except the second night out, during which it rained. Their family consisted of five in all.

Mr. Ellerman bought out a squatter's right on a claim that bore considerable timber, and for which he afterward paid the Government $50 or $1.25 per acre. He also bought the quarter section where he now makes his home, and took up his residence on it the following spring, moving the little log shanty, 12 x 14 feet, which was without flooring and had one small window. Here their youngest son was born, and the family lived for several years, their only table being a little hair trunk that Mr. Eller- man had brought from Germany, and which also answered as a cupboard; around this the family would gather on small stools or low benches, all of home manufacture. Butter was about the only marketable artiele they had or could get, and this they sold in Leavenworth.

The first year of his residence in Kansas, Mr. Ellerman rented an acre of land, put it into potatoes. and raised a good crop. The next year he got ten acres of his own ground broken and planted it to corn, potatoes and other garden truck, and each year thereafter he added to the amount of culti. vated soil. The second year he boughta breaking plow and broke land for his neighbors at $2 per acre. For three years he was without horses, and he then bought a span of colts, which he worked two years later. He had brought a span of horses with him from Iowa, but they were stolen from

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him the first year by some of the pro-slavery ele- ment. Further than the loss of the horses, he suf- fered very little during the Kansas troubles, taking no part on either side, and being left unmolested as he was taken sick and lay ill for several months. In 1868, Mr. Ellerman had reached such a degree of prosperity as would warrant him in building the house, barns and other structures which he now uses, and the labors of himself and wife have been crowned with merited success, enabling them to spend their declining years in a well earned rest, and in the enjoyment of all the comforts of a happy and prosperous home.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ellerman five children have been horn. The eldest, a son Frederick, was born in Ohio and died in Iowa; Lena is the wife of Dr. Webb, whose sketch occupies another page in this volume; Anna is the wife of Alex Fergenne, a miller in Salem, Neb .. and is the mother of three children; Samuel is still unmarried and remains with his parents, attending to the farm. Mr. Eller- man belongs to the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Their cheerful en- durance of the hardships of pioneer life, the thrift and energy which they have] displayed, their friendly natures and their upright lives, give them a high place in the esteem of their fellow citizens. Mr. Ellerman had the misfortune to lose his right eye while he was at Linn, Iowa, On one Fourth of July a man fired a gun off close to him, and the cap flew, and striking the eye, completely destroyed it.

AMES R. HEMPHILL. This gentleman is one of the progressive farmers of Kentucky Township, Jefferson County, being now en- gaged in operating a farm of 140 acres near Medina, which is devoted principally to the rais- ing of corn and wheat, though Mr. Hemphill gives some attention to stock. He was for several years Station Agent at Medina for the Union Pacific Railroad, and his intelligence and affability made him popular and won him friends.

Edward Hemphill the grandfather of our sub. ject, was born in Pennsylvania, and located in

Cincinnati [quite [early in life. [There; Thomas Hemphill, father of our subject, was born, and his life was spent in Butler County, where he engaged in farming after reaching years of maturity, and where he died in 1857. He owned 120 acres of land which formed a valuable and attractive home- stead. Thomas Hemphill married Roxanna Brown, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, and is a di- rect descendant of John Brown, a native of Penn- sylvania and one of the first settlers in Hamilton County, Ohio. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and was a Revolutionary soldier. His son, Mathew, who was born in Pennsylvania, became a promi .. ment and prosperous farmer in Ohio, and was en- gaged in buying and driving stock to Cincinnati. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hemphill com- prised four children, our subject being the first born. Mathew E. is now deceased ; Orville S. lives on the old homestead in Ohio; and Mary E. resides at Sprinfield, Ind. After the death of our subject's father, Mrs. Hemphill married John O. Morgan, who was also a native of Ohio. He served in Company F., 93rd Ohio Infantry, until discharged for disa- bility, and afterward enlisted in the 5th Ohio Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war. He is a physician and a graduate of the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, He and his wife are now living at Springfield, Ind.

The subject of this brief sketch was born near Venice, Butler Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1848, and until the age of twelve years enjoyed the advantages of the common schools from his home upon the farm. He then began working out on a farm and when twenty-one years old learned the trade of a carpenter, four years later engaging in contracting and building, in which he continued two years. He then became clerk in a general store, and followed that occupation for three years, doing all the buy- ing for the firm before he severed his connection with it.

Abandoning his clerkship, Mr. Hemphill spent a season in work at his trade, and then, in 1880. started a general store in New London, under the firm name of Wade & Hemphill. Ile was also Postmaster under Postmaster-General Timothy Howe until October, 1883, when he resigned his position, sold out his business and came to Kansas

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on a prospecting tour. He returned to his home, and in February, 1884, accompanied by his wife came to Medina and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad. Just four years after be- ginning his duties as Station Agent, he left the office and engaged in farming in this township, having purchased fifty-two acres of land on seetion 17. The November following he sold his farm and rented the place which he now occupies, believing it more profitable to rent than to own a small place. He is in good eircumstances and prospering in his present employment. to which he has brought an observing mind, an enterprising spirit, and indus- trious habits. Ile keeps two teams employed on the place, which he conduets according to the most approved methods.

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Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 84

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

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