USA > Kansas > Marshall County > Portrait and biographical album of Marshall County, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 25
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For two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas lived on their farm in Ohio, then selling out, our subject engaged in the grocery and grain trade at London, for a period of twenty-four years and until coming to Kansas. The farm which he now owns was then a tract of wild land and which has been brought to its present condi- tion only by the most persevering industry and good management. He has erected a handsome frame residence and the necessary outbuildings; has a flourishing orchard of apple trees and besides shrubbery, planted 1,000 black walnut trees in the shape of a grove. In front of the residence is a smoothly shaven lawn and the dwelling both within and without gives evidence of cultivated tastes and ample means. The refinements of modern life are plainly discernable in the attractive home, whose inmates are people of more than ordinary intelligence and who are surrounded with every- thing to make existence pleasant and desirable.
While a resident of Ohio, Mr. Thomas was con- nected with the School Board of London and rep- resented his ward in the town council for six years. He was also appointed Sheriff to fill a vacancy. For a period of ten years he was the City Treasurer, and filled many other positions of trust and re- sponsibility. In Guittard Township he has served as Treasurer and is the Road Supervisor of his distriet and Treasurer of the School Board. Po- litically, he votes with the Democratic party. In
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Ohio he identified himself with the Masonic fra- ternity, of which he is still a member.
Mr. Thomas is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Jeremiah Thomas, the father of our subjeet, was born and reared in Virginia, where he was married to Miss Nancy Leach. They emigrated to Fayette Connty. Ohio, during its pioneer days and opened up a farm in the wilderness where they reared a family of four sons and four daughters. About 1855, they re- moved to within five miles of London, where the father lived until being called hence. The widowed mother later took up her residence in London and died there not long after the decease of her hus- band.
ERDINAND JOHN WALTER. In the midst of the world-renowned seenery of Switzerland, the eyes of our subjeet first saw the light Oet. 30, 1849. He is a son of John and Lizzie Walter. He grew to manhood upon a farm in his native land and at the age of twenty- three with his young wife emigrated to America. Landing in New York, they remained in Long Island about twenty months, Mr. Walter engaging in different occupations there. Ile then came to Adams County, Neb., where he bought a farm on which he lived for nine years. In May, 1883, he came to this county and bought a farm on section 33, Franklin Township. This farm consists of 160 aeres of land which is brought to a high state of cultivation and productiveness, and upon which he has erected substantial and adequate buildings. Here Mr. Walter devotes his attention to farming and stoek-raising. in both of which occupations he is successful.
Previous to his departure from Switzerland, on March 15, 1872, he was married to Miss Barbara Duttweiler. a praiseworthy young lady. whose birth had taken place in Switzerland. Nov. 4, 1849. She is a daughter of llenry and Anna Duttweiler. She has become the mother of three children- Ernest, Amelia and Roy.
Mr. Walter takes great interest in educational affairs and his fellow citizens have made use of his
ability by electing him a member of the School Board, of which he has been Treasurer three years. He served three years as Township Treasurer pre- vious to his present position. Though formerly a Democrat he now advocates and supports the prin- ciples of the Union Labor party. He is one of the substantial citizens of the township, and with his wife commands the respect of all its citizens.
6 IIOMPSON SMITH. Holding a prominent position among the fine farms of this man. county. is that of the above-named gentle- It consists of 9313 acres, all in a body on seetions 16 and 21. Balderson Township. and is all under thorough cultivation. On it are 100 bear- ing apple trees, together with various other fruits. The farm is well supplied with buildings needful for the carrying on of farming and stock-raising. There are now two dwellings upon it, and its own- er purposes to erect another this fall. The dwell- ing which he oeenpies is comfortable and well furnished, though presenting a modest appearance on the exterior. lle is abundantly able, however, to build a mansion, if his tastes inclined in that di- reetion. Mr. Smith handles a great deal of stoek, now having 100 head of cattle, thirteen of horses, seventy-five of hogs, and forty of sheep. He is also interested in bee eulture, and now has five hives.
The owner of this splendid place is of Canadian birth, having first seen the light Nov. 29, 1836. While still in early childhood his parents removed to Ogle County, Ill., where he grew to manhood. Ile was reared npon a farm, and until the age of twenty-three assisted in the cultivation of the home acres. Ile had received a common-sehool educa- tion. making good use of the opportunities afforded him. On Jan. 3, 1860, he took to himself a wife in the person of Rebecca Rowe. who resided with her parents in Ogle County. She is a lady of fine education and manners. one of those noble characters well fitted to make a happy home. The young people continued for a few years their resi- dence in the county, where their marriage took
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place, and then removed to DeKalb County, where they remained for eight years. In 1875 they went to Cedar County, Iowa, where they passed five years. At the expiration of this time they emigrated to Kansas, where they have since re- mained.
The parents of our subject were Thomas and Jane (Thompson ) Smith, both natives of Yorkshire, England. Their marriage took place in Canada. The father had taken part in the Canadian Re- bellion. In 1846 they emigrated to Ogle County. Ill., where the father died Jan. 25, 1882. The mother still lives on the old homestead at Creston. at the age of seventy-six. The parental family consisted of seven children, of whom our subject was the third. Six of the family are still living.
Mrs. Smith is the daughter of John and Jane (Hancock) Rowe, natives of Devonshire. England. The family came to America in 1853. After so- journing a year at Buffalo, N. Y., they came to Illinois, where they still live. The family consisted of five children, three of whom are now living. Mrs. Smith was the fourth in order of birth, her natal day being Nov. 7, 1838, and her birthplace Devonshire, England. She has borne six children : Ezra T., married to Ella Phinney. lives on the northeast quarter of section 16, and is the parent of one child-Blanch; William E. married Effie M. Delair, and resides with his parents; Ella J., wife of Clarence D. White, lives nine miles south- east of Oketo. and is the mother of two children- Lavinia and Harley; Walter J., Minnie R., and Nellie M., still remain under the parental roof. All the children are well educated and accomplished. Minnie is fitted for teaching, and she and her sister Nellie are fine performers upon the organ, as is the wife of their brother William. Four are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in Sunday-school work. William and Minnie have each been Secretary for several terms, and Minnie is now a teacher in the school. Mr. Smith has taken great interest in the education of his children, and is justly proud of their ability, and the use to which their talents are put.
During our subject's residence in Illinois, he was for a long time Assistant Postmaster at Creston, Ogle County, also Assessor one year in that county,
and served three terms as Township Commissioner in DeKalb County. Since coming to Kansas he has held the office of Township Treasurer. He is Director of the School Board, of which body he has been a member many years. lle was a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, both Blue Lodge and Chapter, in Illinois, and also identified with the I. O. O. F. in the same State. He takes a very active part in political movements of his section, has for many years been a member of the County Central Committee, and frequently a delegate to political conventions of various grades. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and from that day he has remained in the ranks of the Republican party. He is a man possessed of sterling traits of character, a good citizen and a kind neighbor, a fond husband and father, and an honorable busi- ness man. The entire family occupy a high posi- tion in the respect and esteem of the citizens of that section.
OHIN S. BLAKEWAY. The farming inter- ests of Richland Township are worthily rep- resented by the subject of this sketch, who is a man prominent in his community, and the owner of the northwest quarter of section 3. He makes a specialty of grain raising, and conducts his operations with that good judgment and indus- try which are usually accompanied by success.
The first twenty-five years of the life of our sub- ject were spent in Worcestershire, England, where he was born in June, 1829. Upon emigrating to America, he established himself upon a farm near Freeport. Ill., where he sojourned until crossing the Mississippi. In the Prairie State he was mar- ried, Jan. 16, 1862, to Miss Sarah Jane Rea. Of this union there were born five children, all of whom are living, namely : John, Edith, Minnie, Charles, and Herbert. In 1872, Mr. Blakeway leaving Illinois, came to this county, and purchased the tract of wild land. from which he constructed his present comfortable and valuable homestead. There were then upon it no improvements what. ever, and for years. in addition to the cultivation
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of the ground, he was busily employed in building fences, setting out trees, erecting the various struc- tures necessary for his comfort and convenience, and gathering together the necessary farm machin- ery. There is now presented the picture of a well- regulated homestead, which yields to the proprietor handsome returns for his labors, and from which he has fortified himself against want in his declin- ing years. Mr. Blakeway has been a Director in his school district for a period of nine years, being elected in the fall of 1889 for the tenth term. He votes the straight Republican ticket, and is an active member of the Grange. He reads his weekly newspapers and other instructive literature, and thus keeps himself posted upon matters of general interest.
Mrs. Sarah Jane ( Rca) Blakeway, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., Aug. 22, 1834, and is the daughter of Samnel and Rachael (Stout) Rea, who emigrated to the vicinity of Freeport, Ill., at an early date. Mrs. Blakeway there spent her child- hood and youth, remaining under the parental roof until her marriage. She is on both sides of the house of Scotch descent. The mother died in Illi- nois about 1846. Subsequently the father sought the Pacific Slope, and spent his last days in Cali- fornia. John Blakeway was married to Miss Sadie Beckett, of Richland Township, and they live in Washington; Edith is the wife of Lewis Hutchin- son, of Liberty, Neb .; they have one child, a daughter, Lura.
DDISON R. BARBOUR. It is a strange fact that comparatively few men take any active interest in educational affairs. They cast their vote for school officers, and if their interest goes beyond this. it is at most shown in the building of a good school-house, one which they can point out to a stranger with some degree of pride. They leave to the School Board the hir- ing of the teacher, taking it for granted that those officers will select a capable one. A few men there are whose interest extends beyond this-who con- sider it their duty, as well as pleasure, to learn
something of the internal workings of the school system; giving the teachers their cordial support and sympathy in their efforts to develop the youth- ful minds in their care. Among the latter class is the subject of this sketch, who, though a farmer. yet finds time to manifest his interest in the educa- tional affairs of his township. It could scarcely be otherwise, descending as he did from natives of those sections of our country where school-houses were among the first buildings erected in a new set- tlement.
His father, Charles W. Barbour, was a native of New England. His mother, whose maiden name was Helen Woodcock, was a native of Massachusetts. They were married in the latter State, and removed to New York City, where Mr. Barbour engaged in the mercantile business for nine years. He then removed to Illinois, engaging in business first at Rochelle, and later in Ashton, thence removing to Geneva Lake, Wis., and leaving the latter place for Chicago, in September, 1880. He is now engaged in business on Cottage Grove Avenue, in the last named city. The mother died in Ashton, Ill., leaving five children, four sons and one daughter. Our subject is the eldest of the family, having been born in New York City, March 24, 1855. Ile was quite young when his father came to Illinois, where he remained until the age of twenty-two. At this age, March, 1878, he came to Marshall County, Kan., where he first found employment on a farm by the month. Ile then engaged in teaching for seven years, and then rented land in Oketo Town- ship, and engaged in farming. In the fall of 1888 he bought 120 acres on section 2, where he now resides, being also the owner of 160 acres in Ellis County. this State. Since giving up teaching, Mr. Barbour has given his attention to farming and stock-raising, which he is carrying on very sue- cessfully.
In Oketo Township, Oct. 25, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Barbour to Miss Ella Benson, daughter of Henry P. and Maria (Travelute) Ben-" son, who are residents of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Benson have four sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Barbour is the eldest. She was born in Cook County, Ill., May 25, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Barbour are the parents of two children, Gilbert H.,
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and Arthur Richmond. Our subject is a member of the Union Labor party. His record as a teacher, as well as his active interest in educational affairs, indicates that he is a man of intelligence and pub- lic worth.
SHOMAS J. WOLVERTON. A pioneer of 1869. the subject of this notice coming to Walnut Township, this eounty, in the spring of that year, homesteaded 160 acres of land where he now lives, and upon which he has effected mod- ern improvements. We find him the occupant of a fine, large, frame house, neatly painted and com- fortably furnished, and adjacent to it, a commodi- ous frame barn and the other structures required by the enterprising agriculturist. The greater part of his land has been brought to a good state of cul- tivation, including forty acres which he subse- quently purchased. The evidences of thrift and industry are apparent on every hand, and the Wol- verton homestead presents the picture of plenty and content which is delightful to contemplate.
The subject of this sketch was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, Aug. 7, 1842, and lived there until a lad of thirteen years. His parents, Thomas and Catherine (Scout) Wolverton, then removed with their little family to Iowa County. Mich., and thence, in 1859, to Lee County, Ill., where the death of the mother occurred about 1865. The father of our subjeet spent his last days with the latter in this eounty, departing hence in 1875. Both parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where the paternal grandparents. who were of Welsh and English ancestry, reared their family and spent their last days. Upon the mother's side, the grand- parents of our subject were from Germany, and died in Pennsylvania.
In 1865. while a resident of Illinois, Mr. Wolver- ton was united in marriage with Ellen M., daugh- ter of Charles and Nancy ( Bassett) Darby, who were natives of Ohio. They emigrated to Michi- gan when their daughter, Ellen, was a child of about eight years, and the mother died there in 1865. Mr. Darby is still living in Michigan, and
has now reached the ripe old age of eighty-four years. Our subject and his wife began the jour- ney of life together in Illinois, and his subsequent movements we have already indicated. They are the parents of three children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Ella, is the wife of Albert Neider, of Greenleaf, Kan .; Anna became the wife of Charles Neider, and they live on a farm in Walnut Town- ship, this county ; Verne, remains at home with ber parents.
Mr. Wolverton keeps a goodly assortment of live-stock, just enough to be sustained comfort- ably on his farm. In politics, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has held the office of Town- ship Clerk. llis estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have a pleasant home, and live in the midst of plenty, enjoying the esteem and confidence of their neighbors.
OSEPH TOTTEN. This gentleman enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest settlers of Guittard Township, having come to this region when there were only five or six families within the present limits of the town- ship. He had a full experience of pioneer life, and opened up a farm from the wilderness, which he still owns and oeeupies. Ile settled upon it June 3, 1858, and has made all the improvements which have transformed it from a tract of raw prairie into a valuable and well-regulated farm. It is finely located on section 9, and is embellished with a substantial stone dwelling, which has stood the storms of twenty years, and remains as firm as ever. In addition to this there is a substantial barn and the various other buildings which are required for the successful prosecution of agri- culture.
Upon the arrival of Mr. Totten in this region he found plenty of wild game and Indians. Iiis white neighbors were few and far between. The out- look for the first few years was at times very du- bious, but he was possessed of a sturdy courage and resolution essential to the demands of the occasion,
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and had prepared himself for every emergency. He was prospered in his labors, and while proceed- ing with the cultivation of his land and the construc- tion of his homestead. became a prominent man in his community, serving as Township Trustee four years, and for the last twenty years has been a member of the School Board in his district (No. 19), which he assisted in organizing. Ile was also instrumental in putting up the school buildings in this and other districts. A stanch Republican, politically, he is warmly devoted to the interests of his party, and has since its organization been a firm supporter of its principles.
The subject of this sketch was born in Blanford, Mass., March 22, 1825, but three years later his par- ents removed to Albany, N. Y., where they sojourned for a period of eight years. They next emigrated to New Orleans, La., where they lived one year, and then set out for the North and located in Rock Island County, Ill. There our subject completed a practical education in the common school, and chose farming for his life occupation. When ready to establish domestic ties he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Postin, Nov. 17, 1844. Soon afterward he removed to Minnesota, and in 1858 to this county. For some years after his settle- ment here he was obliged to journey to St. Joseph. for the family provisions and the necessary house- hold articles. Among the latter were a number of cats, for which he paid $1 each, to catch the mice which infested the premises, and all of his produce had to be transported to the same point. Thus he labored and managed until his industry met its legitimate reward, and he found himself upon solid ground financially. It took years of labor and an ontlay of hundreds of dollars to bring his land to its present condition, and ereet upon it the nec- cessary buildings. We find him now in the midst of plenty, with a sufficiency for his declining years. He has watched the development of Marshall County with a warm interest, and by redeeming a portion of its soil from its primitive state has con- tributed his quota toward the upbuilding of his township.
Mrs. Totten was born in Ohio Feb, 6, 1829, and when quite young was taken by her parents to Scott County, lowa. She attended the common
school, assisted in the household duties, and re- mained under the parental roof until her marriage. She is now the mother of twelve children. eight of whom are living: The eldest, a dangliter, Eliza- beth, is the wife of G. W. Thorn, and the mother of eleven children; Emeroy is the wife of Peter Jones, of Guittard Township, and they have five children ; John L. is married and the father of fonr children; Florence, Mrs. Sharp, died leaving a family of seven children; Henry T. is married and is the father of eight children; Eliza became the wife of J. T. Newton, who is now deceased; Frank H. is married and lives near Axtel; Nora, wife of R. S. Pauley, is the mother of two children; Will- iam J. is married and the father of one child; Cora is the wife of HI. Weaver, of Balderson Township. Mr and Mrs. Totten rejoice in the possession of three great-grandchildren.
Henry M. Totten, father of our subject, was born in Rhode Island in March, 1795. He spent the most of his early life in his native State, and when reaching manhood was married to Miss Mi- riam Carpenter, who was born Jan. 4, 1804. They came to lowa at an carly date and the father died in 1864. The mother subsequently removed to this county, and died at the home of II. T. Totten in 1878. at the age of seventy-seven years.
Could Mr. Totten recite in detail the story of his pioneer life and his experiences on the frontier. there would be given to posterity an extensive and readable volume. There was very little hard cash in circulation, and none of the conveniences of modern life. The nearest mill was on the Missouri River, and sometimes they were obliged to go to Iowa Point. In the summer of 1863 Mr. Totten started out to explore the farther West, his objective point being Denver, Col .. to which he made the journey in seven months. He put up the first hotel in Marysville, and was concerned in the erection of the first three houses built in Frank- fort. In the fall of that year he worked 105 days, receiving therefor $315. Ile also officiated as Assessor that year, and was thus enabled to raise sufficient money to reach his necessary expenses. Each year added something to the fertility of the soil and the value of his property, and in due time there was little cause for anxiety as to how
Owen Ro. Jones
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he should make both ends meet. Those days have long passed away, and sitting under his own vine and fig tree, Mr. Totten reviews the past with the satisfactory feeling that he has done what he could, and that his years have not been spent in vain.
0 WEN R. JONES, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 31, Vermillion Township, where he operates a farm of 500 acres be- longing to his father-in-law, Horace L. Sage. The two gentlemen live in the same house, which is a large stone building, pleasantly situated a short distance from Barretts Station. Mr. Jones is of Welsh ancestry, being the son of Owen and Mar- garet Jones, of Anglesea, North Wales, where our subject was born May 20, 1835. His parents had eleven children-John, Elizabeth, William, Dora- thea, Jacob, Owen R., Cadwallader, Hugh, Miriam, David ,and one who died in infancy. John is a far- mer living in Wales near the old home, is married - and has a large family. Elizabeth is the wife of Owen Jones, who is a farmer and has five children. William is pursuing agriculture near Lake Crystal. Blue Earth Co., Minn., is married and has six children. Dorathea died in Wales when about fif- teen years old. Jacob is a retired farmer living in Emporia, Kan., and is married and has three chil- dren. Cadwallader lives in Wales and has a family of twelve children. Ilugh died in infancy. Miriam was the wife of John Hughes, but was taken from her earthly home in Wales at the early age of twenty-five years. David was a farmer, and died in Wales in June, 1880, leaving a wife and four children.
Our subject was reared upon a farm, where he remained until nineteen years of age. He then came to America, landing in New York, whence he went direct to Waukesha County, Wis. He at- tended school one winter, and afterward worked a month on a farm. Proceeding to Milwaukee he apprenticed himself to a carpenter, with whom he worked six months. Concluding that he preferred country to city life, he departed for Rochester, Minn., where he was employed upon a farm for
two years. During a brief sojourn in New Orleans, he enjoyed an insight into Southern life, but was not induced to make that his permanent home. In 1859 he came to Knox County, Ill., and there worked upon a farm, continuing at that occupation until the breaking out of the Civil War.
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