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 97
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 97
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 97
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ON. GEORGE VAN GAASBEEK, who settled in Jefferson County in 1856, and who still ocenpies the land upon section 24, Delaware Township, where he then located, is well-known for his efforts in behalf of Valley Falls, and for his general intelligence and energetic life. His father, Peter VanGaasbeek, was a na- tive of Ulster County, N. Y., was a tiller of the soil, and was a soldier of the war of 1812. This gentleman married Miss Phoebe Dunham of the same county, whose father, William Dunham, was a privateersman for the Colonists in the Revolu- tionary War, and whose mother was from Con-
necticut and firmly believed in the existence of the Salem witchcraft.
Of the eleven children born to Peter VanGaa- sbeck, our subject is the oldest of those who now survive. Of the others, Lewis lives in Wabannsee County, Kan .; Frank in Delaware Township, Jef- ferson County : Mrs. Salome Masters in Jackson County ; Mrs. Catherine Shepherd and Mrs. Lovina Woodard in Wabaunsee County. The mother died in Dane County, Wis., in 1858, the father having preceded her to the silent land, the date of his demise being 1854.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ulysses, Tompkins County, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1816, and the following year his parents removed to Chautanqua County, where they lived until 1830. They then took up their residence in Ashtabula County, Ohio, where they remained until 1853, when they fol- lowed their son George to Dane County, Wis- Young Van Gaasbeek attended the subscription schools but is principally self-educated, having ae- quired the most of his book lore by hard study at home, often pouring over the pages of his text books from three o'clock in the morning until eleven o'clock at night. When old enough to do so he began teaching during the winter, farming in summers, spending one winter in Pennsylvania and eleven in Ohio and Wisconsin as an instructor. He settled twenty miles northeast of Madison, Wis., in 1850, and farmed there until 1856, when he became a citizen of Kansas.
The first house of Mr. VanGaasbeek after com- ing to Jefferson County, was a log cabin built in the timber by a man of whom he bought the claim, on which ten acres were broken and fenced, and where corn, potatoes, pumpkins, etc., were growing. He paid $400 for the land, improvements and crops, and settled among the wild animals and pro-slavery men, with whom, however, he had no trouble. He now owns 365 acres of land all under fence and otherwise improved.
While still a young man and living in Ohio, Mr. VanGaasbeek was Township Trustee, and for two years was a member of the County Board of Supervisors in Wisconsin. In 1859 he was Super- visor of Delaware Township, this county, and in 1865, was elected to the State Legislature in which
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he served one term. While there he introduced a bill giving to the people of Valley Falls the grounds left for a court house, on which to build a school house, and another bill allowing the district to issue bonds for $10,000 with which to erect the building. There were many bills ahead of these but when the time had almost arrived for adjourn- ment of the Legislative body, by hard manip- ulation Mr. VanGaasbeek got both before the house and both were passed, The school house which now stands on the grounds mentioned is a constant reminder to the citizens of the efforts of our subject. In his religious views Mr. VanGaa- sbeek is liberal, allowing every man the same privi- lege of freedom of opinion.
The marriage of Mr. VanGaasbeek and Miss Mary A. Cripps was celebrated in the fall of 1854, and the happy union has resulted in the birth of three children. The first born, Melissa, married George MeNorton of this county and has four children; the second child Otto, married Miss Alice Brunts, has a family of seven sons and danglı- ters and also lives in the township wherein his par- ents reside; the youngest daughter, Sedora, became the wife of A. B. Scranton, of Lorain County, Ohio, to whom she has borne four children. Mrs. VanGaasbeek is a daughter of William Cripps, de- ceased, was born in Worcestershire, England, reared to her sixteenth year in Oxfordshire, and then accompanied her parents to the United States.
W ARREN C. ROSE is a well-known resident of Jefferson County, and a nurseryman and fruit grower of experience. His home is in Valley Falls, and among the citizens of that thriving town he holds high rank as a worthy co- laborer in every good cause, and as a faithful Christian gentleman. Mr. Rose is descended from Puritan ancestry, his grandfather, Lemuel Rose, having been a resident of Granville, Mass., in which town the father of our subject was born. Lemuel Rose was a Revolutionary soldier, and was a mem- ber of a colony of thirty-three families who started the town of Granville, Ohio. The colonists drove through from Massachusetts with ox-teams,
cutting portions of their road through the woods, and settling in a forest surrounded by wild ani- mals and Indians. They were accompanied by their minister, and while resting from their journey each Sunday, held their customary services. They reached their destination on Saturday, and cut down a tree, the stump of which served for the pulpit, and the log for seats the next day. This journey was accomplished when the father of our subject was but a boy, and in Granville, Ohio, the second Lemuel Rose spent the remainder of liis life, and there his son, our subject, was born, June 30, 1836.
The gentleman whose name initiates this sketch was reared on a farm, and acquired his schooling in Granville Academy, Granville College, and Mari- etta College, being a member of the Freshman Class in the last-named institution when he aban- doned his studies to take up arms in defense of the Union. Becoming a member of Company D, 113th Ohio Infantry, he served three years, taking part in the famous battle of Chickamanga, and other hard fought fields, and bearing a gallant part in skirmishes, marches, and the more monotonous duties of camp life.
Mr. Rose was captured at Chickamauga and was taken first to Libby Prison, where he was confined two montlis. The following six months were spent in Danville, Va., after which came an Anderson- ville experience of three months, a month at Charles- ton, S. C., and three monthis at Florence, after which he was paroled. He stood prison life better than many of his comrades, and saved many lives hy his cheerfulness and the manly manner in which he underwent the privations of captivity. One of the means which he employed to keep the minds of his comrades from thoughts of home and loved ones and their own hunger, was to make checker blocks in the sand and play checkers with peh- bles. During the August of his imprisonment 3,100 of his comrades in captivity died, the aver- age mortality of 100 per day being due almost wholly to starvation. Although he never succeed- ed in escaping, Mr. Rose helped dig several tun nels with that purpose in view. He was disabled in the service and now draws a pension.
In the fall of 1865 our subject took up his resi-
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dence in Chillicothe, Mo., where he lived ten years, engaged in the nursery business and also teaching some. He moved to Valley Falls in August, 1875, and has since carried on the nursery business here, having a good trade, and a reputation for honor and reliability in his dealings. He is a thorough- going Republican and a strong advocate of tem- perance. He has been a member of the G. A. R. Post in Valley Falls since its organization about eight years ago, and is its Chaplain. For several years he was a Deacon in the Congregational Church, in the faith of which denomination he had been reared, but he now belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, as does his wife also. He is respected and loved by all who know him, and in every department of life earnestly endeavors to carry out the precepts of the Gospel.
At Utica, Ohio, May 30, 1866, Mr. Rose was united in marriage with Miss Juliette Lamson, in whose companionship he rejoiced only until Nov. 14, 1867, when she was removed from him by the hand of death. She left a son, Franklin T., now a resident of San Francisco, Cal. Mr. Rose con- tracted another matrimonial alliance, his bride on this occasion being Mrs. Mary E. Jones, daughter of Joseph Barnes (deceased). and widow of Daniel H. Jones. Mrs. Rose had two children by her first husband. One of them, a daughter, Julia H., died at the age of five years; the other, Lyman R. Jones, married Miss Emma Catt, and lives in Val- ley Falls.
AMES R. MITCHELL is the proprietor of a meat market and pork-packing establish- ment in Valley Falls, and displays great energy and careful oversight in his business, and is doing much for the prosperity of the city. He puts up none but the best meat, selecting all young hogs, sees that all is carefully trimmed, and his packed meats are nicer than those in the large packing houses. He keeps five hands constantly at work, hiring additional help frequently, and has his own ice-house, smoke-house, and other conven- iences.
Mr. Mitebell was born in Switzerland County, Ind., Dec. 17, 1834, and is a son of Henry H. and
Almira (Wilson) Mitchell. His father was a native of Rhode Island, and went to Indiana with his parents when a boy .. In 1841 he emigrated to DesMoines County, Iowa, settling twelve miles north of Burlington, and there continuing his oc- cupations of cooper and farmer. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War. The mother of our sub- ject is a native of New York, and the mother of nine children, of whom fonr are now living. Of these, John T., our subject, and Paleman, live in Valley Falls; and Esther, now Mrs. Thompson, in Clay Center. The mother also lives in Valley Falls, and is now seventy-six years old.
The gentleman of whom we write was reared on a farm. and educated in the common schools, working at the cooper's trade when young. He came to Bourbon County, Kan., in 1857, and spent the most of the time until the fall of 1860 in the State, at that date returning to Iowa. In the spring of 1862 be went to Colorado, and during the entire summer lay in Georgia Gulch, suffering with mountain fever. Returning to Iowa in the fall, be enlisted in Company C, 30th Iowa Infantry, and participated in the battles of the Atlanta cam- paign, making one of the 60,000 who accompanied Sherman on his grand march to the sea, and the return toward the North. An empty sleeve is a mute witness to Mr. Mitchell's loyalty to the flag, a wound received at the battle of Bentonville, N. C., having necessitated the amputation of his left arm at the shoulder joint. He now draws a pension of $45 a month as a partial compensation for his missing member.
Mr. Mitchell came to Leavenworth County, Kan., in the fall of 1865, and the following spring took up his residence in Valley Falls. with the bus- iness interests of which he has since been identified. For two years he carried on the stock business, and he then added the meat market, in which he has a large trade. During the last year he shipped 7,000 bogs and 800 cattle. He has twice been a member of the City Council, and, while he never seeks office, is an efficient public servant when called upou by his fellow-citizens. He filled the office of constable two years. In politics, he is a thorough Republican, and of the social orders, he belongs to the G. A. R. and the A. O. U. W.
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The marriage of Mr. Mitchell took place in lowa, in April, 1863, the lady with whom he was united being Rebecca A. Berger, a native of Ohio, and the possessor of many womanly virtues. Of the nine children born to this union, six are now living, and are still under the parental roof. They bear the names, respectively, of Ulysses S., Hiram II., Maria J., Andrew J., Everett, and James. As a loyal citizen, an honorable business man, a genial neighbor, and an affectionate husband and parent, Mr. Mitchell is highly regarded by his fellow- citizens.
ILTON JONES. Kentucky Township, Jef- ferson Connty, probably has not a more respected citizen than Mr. Jones, who made his way unaided to a good position among his fellowmen. He came to this township in 1878 and purchased first eighty acres of land, to which he subsequently added until he has now 200 acres, comprising some of the best soil in this re- gion. The greater part of this is under cultivation, and Mr. Jones has a substantial dwelling, a good barn, orchards, groves, and in fact all the applian- ces of a modern rural homestead. It is located five miles north of the town of Perry. During the season of 1889 Mr. Jones raised 5,500 bushels of corn from 100 aeres of ground, and fed over a car- load of cattle, besides from seventy to 100 head of swine, doing his own shipping. He is considera- bly interested also in good road horses.
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The subject of this sketch was born near Lexing- ton, Montgomery Co., Ky., in August, 1825, and is the son of Thomas and Elsa Jones, who were natives of Clarke County, that State. Ilis father was a free man, but his mother was a slave, being the property of his Grandmother Jones. Milton was likewise the property of Mrs. Jones. Thomas Jones was a farmer in Montgomery County, until selling out, when he removed to Pilot County. There he also engaged in farming, but he was likewise a sportsman und fond of the hunt, very brave and killing bears and panthers. He died in Clarke County, where he had been connected with the Baptist Church. He was said to be partly of Cherokee-Indian blood. The mother was also a
Baptist in religious belief, and died in Montgomery County in 1865.
Mr. Jones was brought up on a farm as his grandmother's slave and was not allowed any chance for education, although he managed to learn to read, and picked up considerable information. He was ex- ceedingly bright and especially handy with all kind of tools, learning shoe-making, stone-masonry and carpentering. His duties were varied by driv- ing hogs over the mountains to Atlanta and Charles- ton, 750 miles away, making nsnally twelve miles in a day. Such was his good judgment in the handling of these, that when arriving at their des- tination they were fatter and heavier than when they started. He was considered, in fact, the boss hog driver in all that region. Two men were usn- ally employed for every lot of 200 hogs. The mountain roads were narrow, and sometimes a bear would tumble down the sides among the animals, some of whom would go nearly wild with fright, and it was difficult to keep them from escaping their drivers. They could only be controlled by being blinded by a coat or something of the kind, and sometimes the men would sew their eyelids to- gether, when they would again take the road. On the return trip Mr. Jones would many a time walk fifty-five miles in a day, arriving home far in ad- vance of his comrades.
Upon the death of Mrs. Jones, our subject be- came the property of her granddaughter, who had married Thomas Pointer; the latter thus became the master of Mr. Jones, whom he ever treated kindly. After the death of Mrs. Jones, our subject, with several others, was taken possession of by one Jackson Toll, who kept them until the law gave them to their rightful owner. Mr. Jones was then hired out to Dr. Hood, of Kentucky for $90. The following four years he was permitted by Mr. Pointer to work for Mrs. Toll, in exchange for an- other man who was unable to attend to her work properly. Later, he remained with Mr. Pointer one month, then went to Missouri to his wife, there to remain until sent for.
Mr. Jones was married in Clarke County, Ky., in 1845, to Miss Mary J. Allison. Mrs. Jones was born in Montgomery County and went with her master to Missouri in the spring of 1856, locating
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in Platte County. In the fall Mr. Pointer allowed Mr. Jones to join his wife and make what money he could for himself in Missouri. Toward spring his Kentucky master wrote him to select a future master and he was sold to one Landy Barnet, who afterward sold him to Mr. Allison, the owner of his wife. Upon this occasion he paid $200 of his own money to keep from being thrown into the hands of New Orleans traders.
About 1862 Mr. Allison returned to Mr. Jones his $200 in order to try to keep him on the place, fearful that the slaves would be driven away by the Union soldiers. The last time that Mr. Jones was sold he brought the good round sum of $1,400. In 1863, Mr. Allison, having become addicted to strong drink, was very imprudent and hurrahed for Jefferson Davis in hearing of some of the Union troops, when he was taken charge of and his chat- tles driven away. Mr. Jones, who had saved up $300 and a team of horses by working extra hours, then embraced the opportunity to leave the coun- try and came, with his family to Kansas, locating near Oskaloosa. He bought six acres of ground to start with, to which he gradually added and besides engaging in farming and stock-raising, chop- ping wood and clearing land for others in order to increase his cash income. In due time he became the owner of 170 acres near Oskaloosa. He began raising hemp and was the first man in the State of Kansas to produce this commodity. Upon one occasion he shipped a car-load from Lawrence, which bronght him very large profits. He also drove hogs through to the packing houses at Leavenworth. Thus he has been uniformly suc- cessful with the exception of at one time loaning $300 and on account of its non-payment became involved in a lawsuit which cost him 8960.
To Mr. and Mrs. Jones there have been born twelve children. George. the eldest, owns and operates a farm of 235 acres in Oskaloosa Town- ship; Henry has a farm of eighty acres near Junc- tion City; Julia is the wife of J. S. Carter and resides near North Topeka; Greene now owns & farm of eighty acres near Junction City; Samuel is a real-estate man and contractor, transferring wood from Okalahoma to Texas and other points, and owns ten acres of land adjoining North Topeka;
Thomas, one of the best cooks in the West, is em- ployed in a hotel at Salt Lake City; John B., is a mail-carrier in Topeka; Lincoln is a cook in an hotel in Salt Lake City; Moses S. works his father's farm on shares; Dora is in Oakland, Cal .; Mil- ton, Jr., is working in partnership with his brother, Moses S .; Sarah ( Mrs. Lewis) is a resident of Val- ley Falls. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Jones has a letter from the Christian Church in Kentucky. Politi- cally, he is a sound Republican.
When Mr. Jones first arrived in Kansas there was considerable agitation on the subject of negro citizenship, and, consequently, their right to the elective franchise. He was one of the delegates to the State Convention, held at Lawrence, Doug- las County, from which place he went from Jefferson County. During the convention an amendment to the Freedmen's Bureau Bill was offered, and after two days' discussion was adopted. Three delegates were elected and sent to the National Convention to present to that body the papers of the Kansas convention, declaring the rights of the negro to citi- zenship. These papers were accepted by the National Convention and forwarded to Washington, D. C., where they were ratified. To Mr. Jones much eredit is due for the deep and intelligent interest he has always taken in these great and important issues, and the good he has done the colored race.
M RS. REBECCA BRUTON, an old settler of Jefferson County. among whose pio- neers she is well known, and by them and all who know her held in good repute, was born in Jackson County, Tenn., May 16, 1839. Her father, Campbell Shaw, died a short time before her birth, and her mother, Martha (Hogan) Shaw, brought ber four daughters to Buchanan County, Mo., in 1843. There, some years later, she became the wife of George W. Taylor, and in 1852 they removed to Holt County, settling on a farm at Jackson's Point (now Mound City.)
On Feb. 22, 1855, at the place above named, Miss Rebecca Slaw was united in marriage to Henry Gragg, who was born in Clay County, Mo.,
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Feb. 29, 1832, and was the son of William Gragg, now deceased. Early in the month of May follow- ing their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gragg came to Jefferson County, Kan., locating on Cedar Creek, six miles west of the site of Valley Falls. They secured 240 acres of the Delaware purchase, and, surrounded by Indians and wild animals, on wild land, where the sod was unbroken and no dwelling yet erected, they began their pioneer work. In the improvement of the property and the upbuilding of their fortunes, Mrs. Gragg ably assisted her husband, looking well to the ways of her household, and proving herself an efficient helpmate. She still owns the estate, which now bears a very different appearance from that in which she first saw it.
To Henry Gragg. the subject of our sketch bore three children, two of whom are now living. D. Franklin is a veterinary surgeon and farmer, and Henry O. is roaming around, both being yet un- married. The husband and father departed this life, Dec. 29, 1862. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. After spending several years in widowhood, Mrs. Gragg became the wife of Qualls Bruton, the marriage ceremony being cele- brated, Feb. 6, 1867. The result of this union has been the birth of three children, of whom two daughters, Lauretta and Maude, still survive.
W ILLIAM S. WEATHERFORD, a member of the firm of Weatherford & Son, dealers in general merchandise at Winchester, is one of the prominent business men of Jefferson County and displays marked ability and a strict in- tegrity in all his affairs. The firm began business in September, 1885, for two years previous to which time our subject had been engaged in farm- ing. The establishment of Weatherford & Son employs five clerks, carries a stock valned at $18,000, and their sales run from $35,000 to $40,000 during the year. Business is carried on in a main room 40x70 feet, and three outside rooms, the general storage department being 20x60 fect, the oil room 18x24 feet, and the flour room also 18x24; a cellar is under one-half of the structure.
The senior member of the above firm is W. S. Weatherford, who was born near Lexington, Ky., and who was a practical farmer. He married Miss Mary Beldon and lived in Kentucky until 1859, when with his family, consisting of a wife and four children, including our subject, who was the eldest and was then a lad of about nine years, he settled on a Kansas farm. His location was in Jefferson County, east of Winchester, and he afterward bought the place known as the "Uncle Billy Gardi- ner Farm," one mile south of the town, and lived upon it until he moved into Winchester to take an interest with his son in the mercantile business.
Since coming to Kansa, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Weatherford have had four children born to them and their entire household still survives. The oldest daughter, Lue, is the wife of T. V. Varner of Jefferson, Colo., and they have two children. Ella married A. L. McDermot, who carries on his trade of harness-making in Winchester; their family comprises three children. Emma is the wife of C. S. McConnell, a contractor and builder of Topeka, Kan., and is the mother of two children. W. F .. who is book-keeper for the firm, is a graduate of the business department of Holton University; he recently married Miss Nanny Meredith of Win- chester. Laura, a young lady, is quite proficient with the artist's brush, her specialty being land- scape painting; Idona has charge of the dry-goods department in the store and has become expert in her department of business; Dora is a young miss still at school.
J. H. Weatherford, the son of the subject of this biography, married Miss Sallie, daughter of Albert Pemberton, one of the early pioneers of Leaven- worth County, in which Mrs. Weatherford was born. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of four bright boys: Frank. Walter, Albert and J. H. Jr. Mrs. Weatherford is cultured and refined, and her chief anxiety is to make her home happy for her husband and her children, and to train her boys for usefulness in life.
Mr. J. H. Weatherford belongs to the I. O. O. F, and the Knights of Pythias, has passed the Chairs in each lodge, and is at present Deputy Grand Chancellor of the State of Kansas for this district. He is a supporter of the principles of the Republi-
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can party. He belongs to the Christian Church and endeavors to take his religion with him into his fields of labor in every department of life. He consequently wins the respect of all with whom he comes in contact, and exerts an influence for good throughout the community.
ON. WILLIAM C. BUTTS. The history of Valley Falls would be sadly incomplete if, in a volume containing sketches of her citizens, mention were not made of the gentleman above named, who has been prominently identified with the history of the place for a num- ber of years, and who has represented Jefferson County several terms in the Legislature. He is at present station agent for the Sante Fe Railroad, in the town which has so long been his home, and by whose citizens he is so highly esteemed.
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