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 96
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 96
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 96
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their children having left them for homes of . their own.
Mr. Orendorf is a native of the Shenandoalı Valley, Va., where his eyes first opened to the light in 1827. He remained in that country until 1853, and in his early manhood was the mainstay of the paternal family, relieving them of indebtedness, and finally persuading his father to remove to Ohio, which was done before the war, and spared them the experiences which would otherwise have been their's in a section so overrun by troops and the scene of such conflicts, as was the Shenandoah Valley. While still living in his native State, Mr. Orendorf was married to Miss Catherine Barr, also a Virginian, who lived but eighteen months after their marriage. She left a daughter, Philoma, who is now the wife of William Keys, of Ohio, and is the mother of seven children.
After the death of his wife our subject removed to Delaware County, Ohio, where he lived until 1860, during that period of time contracting a second matrimonial alliance, his chosen companion being Miss Amanda Banserman, who was born in Virginia, but had lived in Ohio from childhood. Her parents were James and Mary (Oglevie) Ban- serman, and her maternal grandparents, James and Sarah (Parr) Oglevie. The grandmother was a daughter of Stephen Barr, of Ireland, and was sister to the father of her husband's first wife.
When Mr. Orendorf removed from Ohio he took up his abode in Jefferson County, Kan., on his farm, which was then but a wild piece of country, comprising 160 acres. He improved the estate and put it under thorough cultivation, adding to it by purchase until it amounted to 240 acres, and was so managed as to be a very valuable piece of prop- erty. It was well adapted for use as a stock farm, and to that branch of farm life much attention was paid by its owner. In 1888 he traded his farm for property in Leavenworth, and removed to that city, where he and his wife can enjoy the friendly associations and the religious privileges which are more easily obtained in town than in the country, when people are growing old.
During the war Mr. Orendorf lived in Leaven- worth about three years, with the exception of which time the farm was his home from 1860, as
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before stated. He was drafted, but owing -to de- feetive speech was rejected. This misfortune was his from his birth, and for two weeks he was unable to partake of sustenance, and came near starving. His mother says she put him in a quart eup, he was so small. He was measured and greased by an old German doetress, and afterward began to improve, becoming quite a hearty man.
To Mr. Orendorf and his present companion three children have been born, of whom we note thie following: Martha Ellen Oglevie is now the wife of John G. Rockefeller, a ranchman of Rawlins County, and the owner of 560 aeres of land there; Ida Belle married Jolin C. Curry, of Nortonville, and they live on a farm near that village; Josie C. is the wife of W. W. Day, a merchant in Talmo, Republie County, and is the mother of one child. Mr. and Mrs. Orendorf are members of the Chris- tian Church, and are highly regarded by those who know them, their lives having been usefully spent in accordance with the principles of the Gospel.
R ICHARD J. TOLIN. Among those who cast their lot with the early settlers of Northern Kansas came Mr. Tolin, establish- ing himself as a resident of Jackson County in June, 1863. Like his brother pioneers he came hither with a limited capital and has worked his way up. step by step, until he has surrounded him- self and his family with all the comforts of life. Ile was born in Bath County, Ky., Aug. 15, 1824, and is the son of Alexander B. and Mary (Stokes) Tolin, who were natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Virginia.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was James Tolin, who was born in the Old Dominion. Grandfather Berryman Stokes was a native of Vir- ginia and of Seoteh-Irish parentage. Ile spent his last years in Indiana. Alexander Tolin was bred to farming pursuits, which he followed mostly through life, and for years he was also engaged as a butcher. The family left the Blue Grass State in 1829, emi- grating to Putnam County, Ind., taking up their abode among its earliest settlers. The father im- proved a farm from the wilderness, remaining there
until his death, which occurred in 1880. after he had arrived at the advanced age of eighty years. The mother passed away in 1854, prior to the decease of her husband, at the age of sixty-three. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The elder Tolin was a conscientious worker and a liberal supporter of his church, in which he was one of the chief pillars, officiating as Class . Leader, and frequently filling the pulpit as an exhorter. In politics he was a member of the old Whig party, and later identified himself with the Republicans. Of his first marriage there were born two children, Richard J. and his sister Elizabeth, Mrs. Proctor, who is a resident of Pottawatomie County, this State.
The subject of this sketeh was reared on a farm. and received his education in the publie school. He remained a member of his father's household until a young man of twenty-two years, and then in 1846 was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Mark. Mrs. Tolin is a native of Kentucky. Soon after their marriage they located on a farm in In- diana, where they lived until 1863. That year they came to Kansas and settled on 160 acres of wild land, occupying a portion of section 10 in Soldier Township. Mr. Tolin built up a good farm from the wilderness, cultivating the soil success- fully and effecting modern improvements. In 1884 he retired from aetive labor, and now makes his home near the village of Soldier, which is on sec- tions 8 and 9.
To Mr. and Mrs. Tolin there have been born seven children, the eldest of whom, a son, Leonard B., died at their home in Soldier Township in 1870; John A. is farming in Parke County, Ind .; George T., Henry C. and James T. are residents of Soldier Township; Mary C., Mrs. Stephenson, lives in Grant Township; Laura A. became the wife of the Rev. R. B. Francis, the present Sheriff of Jackson County, and is now deceased.
When in their youth Mr. and Mrs. Tolin became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, since which time they have continnonsly retained their membership. Mr. Tolin has taken an active part in church work, officiating as Class. Leader and Steward, and has been a liberal contributor. He maintains a deep solicitude in connection with the
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training and education of his children, it being the leading desire of his heart that they should be Christian men and women, and useful members of the community. In politics Mr. Tolin votes the straight Republican ticket. He has served as Township Assessor one term, and several terms as the Treasurer of Soldier Township. During the Civil War he was a Captain of the State Militia, and was out twenty days after the rebel Gen. Price during his raid across the frontier. He has watched with the warmest interest the growth and development of his adopted county, and may justly feel that he has contributed his quota to her pros- perity.
C HARLES HOFFMAN. There is not a more skillful or thorough farmer, or a more pop- nlar citizen within the limits of Kentucky Township, Jefferson County, than he with whose name we initiate this sketch. He owns and ope- rates a fine body of land, 190 acres in extent, comprising a portion of section 16, where he has substantial improvements, the whole making a model homestead. He is a man looked up to in his community, and one whose name will be held in remembrance long after he has departed hence.
The first thirteen years of the life of Mr. Hoff- man were spent in the town of Hamilton, Ohio, where he was born Aug. '24, 1848. From a little lad up to this time he had enjoyed excellent school advantages, but now leaving school he went to work on a farm by the month, and was thus occu- pied until after the outbreak of the Civil War. Then, in 1863, although but a lad of fifteen years, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company F, 35th Ohio Infantry, being mustered in at Hamilton. While on his way to join his regiment in Kentucky his father went after him, and by persuasion and command compelled him to leave the army and re. turn home. Very much against his inclination the young man then returned to work on the farm, but on the 20th of September, the following year, again entered the army, enlisting in Company F, 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was mustered in at Dayton. He succeeded this time in his endeavor, and accom- panied his regiment South to Louisville, Nashville
and Chattanooga, and participated in the battle of Strawberry Plains, Tenn., as a gunner. He was also in the battle of Sweetwater and Cleveland. The winter of 1864-65 was spent mostly in skir- mishing and doing garrison duty. At the close of the war he was mustered out, June 28, 1865, at Knoxville, Tenn., receiving his honorable discharge. Much of the time his regiment had operated as in- fantry.
Upon leaving the army Mr. Hoffman returned to his old haunts in Hamilton, Ohio, and engaged in farming and threshing in Butler County until the spring of 1870. Then coming to Kansas, he lo- cated in Jefferson County and worked at farming by the month for about six years. In 1876 he purchased 160 acres of land, which he secured at a low figure-$10 per acre-on account of the grass- hoppers, which that year were committing great ravages in this region. He located npon his prop- erty, cultivating the soil as best he could and en- gaged considerably in hunting. He effected good improvements and in due time purchased thirty acres adjoining, sojourning there until 1884. Then renting his farm he removed into Perry and en- gaged as a clerk in a lumber yard until the spring of 1888, when he returned to the farm, where he feels the most contented of any place in the world. He makes a specialty of live stock-cattle and swine-having of the latter about 180 head of full-blooded Poland-Chinas, in the breeding of which he has been very successful. He keeps two teams of good work horses.
The marriage of Charles Hoffman with Miss Alice Fowler was celebrated at the bride's home, in Kentucky Township, Nov. 25, 1879. Mrs. Hoff- man was born near Bowling Green, Ky., and was the daughter of A. M. Fowler, a prominent resi- dent of Kentucky Township, and who is repre- sented elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Alice Hoffman departed this life at the homestead in Kentucky Township, May 10, 1882. Mr. Hoffman, politically, is a Republican of the first water, and prominent in Grand Army circles, belonging to Corinth Post, No. 288, at Perry, in which he has been Quartermaster for many years. He intro- duced the first steam thresher into Kentucky Town- ship, and has operated a machine for several years,
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beginning with horse-power. IIe is a man liberal- minded and progressive in his ideas, and is looked upon as a valuable member of the community.
In noting the parental history of the subject of this sketch we find that his father, Michael Hoff- man, was a native of Prussia and emigrated to America when a boy, locating in Butler County, Ohio, where he prosecuted the trade of a baker and afterward embarked in the grocery business. Finally he engaged in brick-making, and was very prosperous, but lost heavily by taking stock in the Four Mile Valley Railroad, which proved a failure. He died in Butler County about 1874. Ile was a veteran in the ranks of the I. O. O. F.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Rosanna Hipp. She was born in the Prov- ince of Alsace Lorraine, now belonging to Ger- many, and emigrated to America at an early age with her parents, they settling in Crawford County, Ohio. Grandfather Hipp purchased a tract of Government land, from which he improved a good farm. Later he removed to Wyandot County, where he spent his last days. His daughter, Ro- sanna, was reared and educated in Crawford County, and is still living, being now a resident of Wash- ington, D. C., and making her home with a daugh- ter. The parental household was completed by the birth of eight children, viz .: Caroline, who died when about thirty years old; Jacob, Charles, Maria. Kate, Christian, Louis and Ida. Jacob served three months in the 3d Ohio Infantry dur- ing the late Civil War.
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OHN L. SHIRLEY. This gentleman, although still on the sunny side of forty, is one of the oldest settlers of Kansas, to which State he was brought by his parents in 1853. His early recollections are of the wild and uncultivated prairies where buffalo, deer, wild turkeys, and other animals abounded, and of a home life under all the primitive conditions of the frontier. He now owns and operates 300 acres of land, all loca- ted in Kaw Township, except eleven acres, which are included in Kentucky Township. His home is on survey 14 and his farm bears marked improve.
ments, such as a windmill, adequate and commo- dious farm buildings, two feed yards, etc. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and in feeding both cattle and hogs. The horses which are to be found upon his place are good grades of Clydesdales.
The Shirley family is of English lineage. Isaac Shirley, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Tennessee, and in the early settlement of Illi- nois located in Shelby County, from which he af- terward moved to a location near Mattoon in order to obtain better land. Some years later he went to Lynn County, Mo., of which he was a very early settler and where he opened up a fine farm. In 1853 he came to Douglas County, Kan., pre empted a farm near Lecompton, and became a well-to do farmer there. He was a strong Free State advocate and on numerous occasions his personal safety com- pelled him to hide in brush heaps from the ill treat- ment of the border ruthans. He did not live to see the territory which he had chosen for his home peaceful and prosperous and taking a front rank in education and other civilization, but departed this life in the midst of troublous times, breathing his last in 1858.
Wilburn Shirley, son of the above mentioned, and father of our subject, was born in Shelby County, Ill., but passed the greater part of his early life in Missouri. In 1849, he became imbued with the excitement which then raged regarding the discovery of precious metal on the Western coast, and joining a train with his own ox team he went to California. There he engaged in mining for two years and proved quite successful, return- ing to his home at the expiration of that period. The following year (1852) he came to Eastern Kan- sas on horseback and spent some time prospecting, and, being favorably impressed with the country, the following year brought his family and located near Lecomption. Like his father he was a Free State man and was a radical Abolitionist. As a member of the State Militia he participated in the conflicts incident to Price's raid. In 1860, he sold the 160 acres of land which he had pre-empted near Lecomption, and coming to Jefferson County, located in Kaw Township. Here he was successful in his agricultural pursuits, accumlating a comfort-
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able amount of this world's goods, and here he be- came prominent among the citizens. For many years he was a Justice of the Peace, and in politics was a useful member of the Republican party. His religious belief coincided with that of the Baptist Church, but there being no organization of that kind in the community he united with the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. His death took place in the fall of 1880, his wife having died three weeks prior to his own demise.
The mother of our subject was Louisa Prather, a native of Kentucky, in which State her father, John Prather, had also been born. During the early settlement of Missouri, Mr. Prather located in that State, where he followed hunting and farming and became well to-do. Ile spent the latter part of his life at the home of his daughter in this State. The parents of our subject had ten children, he of whom we write being the second in order of birth. The oldest, Margaret, is the wife of Moses Shirley of Morris County: M. M., G. T., and E. P. live in Kaw Township; I. M. resides in Morris County; Mrs. Annie Givens also lives in Morris County. Sarah, now Mrs, Willits, lives in Missouri; the home of William is in Kansas City; Belle lives in Morris County.
The subject of this biography was born in Lynn County, Mo., Nov. 9, 1850, and in 1853 accom- panied his parents to this State, their journey be- ing made overland with an ox-team. Until nearly ten years of age young Shirley lived in Douglas County and attended school in the old fashioned log school houses where the tuition was made up by subscriptions. After the family removed to this county, he still remained with his parents, working for his father until he reached his majority, when he took charge of the home farm and con- ducted it until 1877. He then began with forty acres of raw, uncleared land, and by strict attention to business, energy, industry, and perseverance he has added to his first possessions and made up the fine acreage which he now possesses, and placed his farm and his general finances in the good condi- tion which they bear to-day.
In Topeka, March 4, 1876, the interesting cere- mony was performed which transformed Miss Plutina Hodges into Mrs. J. L. Shirley. The esti-
mable bride was a native of Surrey County, N. C., and her happy union with our subject has been blessed by the birth of four children, who bear the names respectively, of Nora, Lue Belle, Garfield L., and Rolla.
Mr. Shirley is a straight Republican and at vari- ous times has been chosen delegate to County Con- ventions. He does not aspire to, nor will he accept public office, his time being taken up with his farming pursuits and his home life. As a citi- zen, however, he is interested in whatever will ad- vance the interests of the community; as a farmer he is painstaking, intelligent and discriminating; and as a private individual is upright, honorable, and agreeable.
AMES R. JOHNSON. Among the success- ful men of Kentucky Township, Mr. Johnson holds a leading position. He is the owner of 300 acres of well developed land, his homestead embracing eighty acres on section 13, this township, while he has 220 acres in Kaw Town- ship. He came to Kansas in 1865 and as a man of more than ordinary ability, has been prominent in the growth and development of this part of the State. His birthplace was on the other side of the Atlantic in County Fermanagh, Ireland, where he first opened his eyes to the light Jan. 10, 1837.
Mr. Johnson remained a resident of his native country until a lad of ten years, in the meantime attending the district school. The succeeding four years were spent in farming. At the age of four- teen he set out alone for America, going by way of Londonderry to Liverpool, and there embarked on the sailing vessel, "John Gorrow," which landed him six weeks later in the city of New Orleans. Thence he proceeded up the Mississippi to Rock Island, Ill., and located in a then thinly settled country, and later added to his store of knowledge by attendance at a subscription school. He also assisted in paying for the land purchased hy his father, working out at seven dollars per month.
The country. at this time, abounded with wild game, and young Johnson hunted deer, turkeys and wolves. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he,
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in September, 1862, enlisted as a Union soldier in Company H, 84th Illinois Infantry, being mustered in at Quincy, Ill., and soon afterward went with his regiment to Louisville, Ky. Ile participated in the battles at Stone River, went on the Tallahoma cam- paign, and fought at Chattanooga, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain. At Chickamauga, a ball cut across his nose and cheek, and while on his way from Louisville to Nashville he was shot by a bushwacker through the wrist, badly shattering the bone. He was confined in the hospital six weeks, but becoming impatient of the confinement, he ran away and boarded a train which took him to Nash- ville. le was reported as a deserter, but joined his company at the latter place before he was able to handle a gun.
Young Johnson now entered upon the Atlanta campaign, and was present in the various battles which followed, namely: Dalton, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca and many other engagements, including the siege of Atlanta. At Louisville l.e had been pro- motedįto be Sergeint. His regiment joined the army of Gen. Grant in Virginia where he was at the time of Lee's surrender. Subsequently his regiment re- mained for a while in eamp at Nashville and was then mustered out, Mr. Johnson receiving his honorable discharge at Springfield, Ill., June 1, 1865. He had participated in twenty-two hard fought battles, besides many skirmishes. Out of 1,000 men composing his regiment, only 350 were present to be mustered out, their ranks having been thus decimated by death, illness and disability.
Upon leaving the army, Mr. Johnson returned to Mercer County, Ill., and thence, in July, 1865, struck out for the Sunflower State. He journeyed by rail to Lawrence, and for two years thereafter, was in the employ of the Kansas Pacific Railroad as foreman of excavation. Subsequently he oper- ated as a contractor in partnership with L. D. King, giving employment to 100 men. When his con- tract was filled he left the road, and established himself in Jefferson County, this State.
While a resident of Dickinson County, Kan., Mr. Johnson spent many days hunting, there being then large quantities of buffaloes and other game. Ile became expert in dressing meat, and can now. with a pocket knife, do as neat a job at cutting up
a beef as is often seen. Mr. Johnson purchased his present farm of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at $7.50 per acre. It lay in its primitive condition, and all the improvements have been effected by the present proprietor. He has planted 700 apple trees comprising three orchards, and has a good house and barn, besides the other requisite outbuildings. The land is amply watered by a never-failing spring, and is largely devoted to corn and stock raising. Mr. Johnson makes a specialty of Polled-Angus eattle, and ships annually numbers of swine. He has about twenty head of graded Clydesdale horses, using about four teams in his farming operations. Some of his land is operated by other parties.
At Lecompton in 1866, Mr. Johnson was mar- ried to Miss Delia. A. Purdy. This lady was born in New York State May 10, 1844, and is the daughter of Eri and Hester Ann (Gilbert) Purdy, who came to Kansas in 1865, locating on a farm in Kentucky Township. Upon leaving New York State they first settled in Mercer County, Ill., where Mrs. Johnson was reared to womanhood. The mother died at the home of Mrs. Johnson Feb. 2, 1888. Mr. Purdy now makes his home with his son-in-law Mr. Johnson.
Mrs. Johnson received a good education, and while in Mercer County, Ill., occupied herself as a teacher. Of her union with our subject, there have been born the following children: Gilbert, Arthur, George, who died when seventeen years old; Rose, Mead and Edith. The survivors are all at home with their parents. Mr. Johnson votes the straight Republican ticket, and is quite promi- nent in local politics, frequently serving as a dele- gate to the county conventions. He was Road Supervisor a number of years, and a member of the School Board of his district four years. He is one of the pillars of the M. E. Church at Thompson- ville and gave substantial aid in the erection of the church edifice. Ile has held the office of Ste.v. ard and is at present a Trustee. The family occu- pies a high social position, numbering their friends and acquaintances among the best people of the county.
The father of our subject was Isaac Johnson, likewise a native of County Fermanagh, Ireland,
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and his paternal grandfather, Joseph Johnson, was reared and spent his entire life on his native isle. Isaac Jolinson owned a small farm there, which he operated until 1845, then emigrated to America. He located in Mercer County, Ill., and engaged in farming and stock raising, becom- ing the owner of 240 acres of land, and well to do. He left Illinois, however, in 1872, and coming to Kansas, purchased land in this Township, where he sojourned until his death, in May, 1886. He was then seventy-nine years old. In religion, he was a stanch Episcopalian. He was married in his na- tive Ireland to Miss Jane Fairburn. who died at the home of her daughter in Mercer County, Ill., in November, 1888, at the age of seventy-six years. The parental family numbered seven children, namely, Thomas, a resident of Kentucky Township; Joseph and John, deceased; James R., the subject of this sketch; William, of Springfield, Ill .; Eliza- beth, Mrs. Adams of Mercer County, that State, and Mary A., who died when three years old. William, during the Civil War, served as a Sergeant in Company H, enlisting in 1862. He was shot in the ankle near Resaca, Ga., which resulted in the amputation of his leg three times below the knee. James R. being with him, accompanied him to the field hospital, then to Nashville and Louisville, in each of which places he suffered amputation, while the third operation was performed in the hospital at Rock Island, Ill.
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