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 26
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In the summer of 1861 Mr. Jones enlisted in Company C. 42d Illinois Infantry, and immediately following his enlistment was actively engaged iu various parts of Missouri, looking after Gen. Price. The command wintered at Tipton, in Moniteau County, and the following season took part in the engagements at Columbus, Ky., Island No. 10, and at New Madrid, when Col. Roberts spiked the stone battery and so enabled gun boats to proceed down the river. Our subject arrived on the field of Pittsburg Landing at the'close of that memorable battle. He was at Farmington Miss., with Gen. Palmer at luka, also at Tuscumbia, Ala., Portland, Decatur, and during the latter part of 1862 at Nashville. In the latter city he remained about three months, being subsequently engaged in the battles of Stone River, Tullahoma, Tenn., Bridge- port, Ala., Chickamanga and Mission Ridge. After the last named battle liis company was sent to the relief of Burnsides at Knoxville. They next went to Dandridge, Tenn., and then crossed into North Carolina.
Mr. Jones' term of service having expired, he re enlisted at -Stone Mills, East Tenn., and was given a thirty days veteran furlough. After this period of rest and recuperation he again entered actively into the life of a soldier. and took part in the conflicts at Buzzard's Roost, Rocky Faced Ridge, Resaca, Calhoun, Kenesaw and Lost Monn- tains, New Hope Church, Atlanta aud Jonesboro, in Georgia. When the army was divided and Sherman started for the sea, our subject's command was sent back to Chattanooga. They were at Cc - lumbia, Tenn., Spring Hill., as well as at the bat- lles of Frankfort and Nashville, which resulted in the defeat of Hood by Gen. Thomas. From there they were sent to East Tennessee, near the home of Andrew Johnson, and were thence ordered to Texas, remaining in that State until mustered out.
Mr. Jones was honorably discharged from service at Springfield, IH., in 1866, after a service of four
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years and five months, and was among the last of the members of the Union army to be mustered out. IJe returned to the quiet pursuits of agricul- ture, and rented a farm in Illinois until 1869. He then came to Kansas and settled in this county, where he continued to reside two years. Remov- ing to Gage County, Neb., he settled on land which now forms the site of Wymore. After a residence there of about eight years he sold out and removed to hiis present homestead. He is the owner of 385 acres of land on the Blue River, near the mouth of the Vermillion.
Mr. Jones was married May 20, 1866, to Miss Amy Sage. Ile has an interesting family of nine children, named respectively: Joseph E., Julia, Archibald, Horace, Owen W., Edith, Ellen, Jacob and Elma.
Mr. Jones is a member of llenderson Post No. 143. G. A. R., at Frankfort; also of Frankfort Lodge No.,67, A. F. & A. M. He belongs to the Republican party, giving to its principles the same sturdy support which he gave to the Nation in her time of need. He has been and is at present School Director. an office which he fills in an acceptable manner. He has been a very hard-working man, and well deserves the success that has crowned his efforts. As a man of kindly nature, upright char- acter, a competent agriculturist and stockman, and a reliable citizen, he commands the respect of the people, who will welcome his portrait, which may be found elsewhere in this work, as a valuable and interesting feature thereof.
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ON. J. T. WATKINS. Emerson says "All history is only biography."" We find this especially exemplified in the community in which Mr. Watkins resides. Its history is only the biography of a few men. chief among whom is our subject, Mayor of Beattie, and also a large aud prominent farmer and stock-raiser.
Our subject now owns 210 acres of fine farming land adjoining the city on the cast. The east half of the town of Beattie lies on his original half section, Mr. Watkins having purchased it of the
Government in 1860, while still in Indiana. The railroad coming through, the town was platted be- tween Mr. James Fitzgerald, our subject and the railroad, which formed the station here. Our sub- ject gave the alternate lots to the railroad to locate a depot, and has disposed of the balance, his land originally running up to the center of sections 21 and 22, on which Center street now runs.
Jeremiah Watkins, father of onr subject, was born in New Jersey, and moved to Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Anna Pugh. They reared a family of seven children. Removing to Dear- born County, Ind .. he died on the old farm, in Octo- ber, 1846. Our subject was born Feb. 17, 1834 in Washington County, Pa., where he lived until seven years of age, and with his parents removed to Indiana. There he finished his school education and worked on his father's farm until reaching his majority, when he took up farming for himself.
Hannah Heustis, daughter of Elias and Sarah HIeustis, was born in Dearborn County, Ind., where she lived until after her marriage to the subject of our sketch. Mr. Watkins continued farming in Indiana until the year 1876. He was also engaged in the sawmill and lumber business and also in the culture of bees, dealing in honey quite extensively, and being well known all over that section of the country as a successful apiarist, breeding and pro- pagating Italian bees. In the spring of 1877, he with his family removed to this State, settling in the town of Beattie. His farm was simply used for grazing purposes and he soon set about improving it. So successful was he in this undertaking that his farm is now considered one of the finest in Guit- tard Township. Mr. Watkins engaged in general stock raising, including fine grades of horses, cattle and hogs. He has also been interested in village real-estate, and still owns more or less town lands.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have become the parents of five children-Clara Elvira, John E. Anna Florence. Ada M. and Paul C., all of whom are at home and enjoying thorough school advantages.
The town of Beattie being incorporated in 1884, Mr. Watkins was chosen as a memberof its first Coun- cil, and has held city office continuously since that time; he is now serving his second term as Mayor. He has also been a member of the School Board for
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the last six years, and is now serving as Clerk in that body. IIe has never been an office-seeking pol- itician, but serves his townsmen to the best of his ability when chosen by them to represent their in- terests in local affairs.
Until the time of the Civil War, Mr. Watkins was a member of the Democratic party. At that time he found reason to change his political views and turned squarely to Republicanism, where he has ever since remained. Our subject has been a lead- ing man in organizing the Baptist Church and building the edifice of that society. Every matter pertaining to the building was left to his care and faithfully has he discharged the duties that de- volved upon him. He is now a Deacon of the church and one of its chief supporters. All in all, Mr. Watkins is a man without whom Beattie would not be what it now is, in a commercial, moral or social way.
ON. MILO A. TUCKER. A stirring and successful business man and farmer, Mr. Tucker retired from the active labors of farm life in 1880, and established himself as a grocer and proprietor of a meat-market in Beattie. He sold out this latter enterprise in 1888, and since that time has been taking life easy amid the comforts of a pleasant home in the central part of the city. He is familiarly known to most of the people of this region as one of its most reliable men and praiseworthy citizens.
In briefly reviewing the life history of Mr. Tucker, we find he was born in Mercer County, Pa., Sept. 11, 1833. When he was a boy of three years his parents removed to Ripley County, Ind .. where he developed into manhood, and resided until 1856, engaged in farming pursuits. That year, pushing still further Westward, he established himself in Marshall County, Iowa, where he prose- cuted agriculture until after the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted as a Union sol- dier in Company K, 23d Iowa Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, 13th Army Corps, and operated around Vicksburg and other
important points in the South. During his service of nearly three years he took part in the battles of Ft. Gibson, May 1, 1860; Champion Hills, May 16; Black River Bridge, May 17; and was in the siege of Vicksburg, after which he assisted in guarding the prisoners during their transportation from the captured city to Memphis. In the mean- time, on account of exposure, he had contracted rheumatism, from which he suffered severely, and just before the expiration of his term of enlistment was obliged to accept his honorable discharge on account of disability. llis army record will bear fair comparison with that of thousands of others, who took their lives in their hands and went to fight the battles of their country.
Upon retiring from the army, Mr. Tucker re- turned to Marshall County, Iowa, where he lived one year, and then proceeded further westward to Paw- nee County, Neb. There, taking up a tract of wild land, he proceeded with its improvement and cul- tivation, and lived upon the farm which he thus opened until 1872. Then, selling out, he came to this county, of which he has since been a resident. In the meantime he was married, Nov. 22, 1855, to Miss Sarah Small, a native of Indiana and the daughter of Samuel Small, who was of English de- scent, and whose parents were natives of Kent County, England. He emigrated to Pawnee County, Neb., and died there in 1868. His widow is still living, and a resident of Pawnee City.
To Mr. and Mrs. Tucker there have been born seven children, and the family circle remains un- broken by death. The eldest, Martha E., is now the wife of William Hatton, of Richland Township; Theron W. occupies himself at railroading, and is a resident of East Norway; Samuel D. employs himself as a butcher in Wallace, Kan .; Thomas C. is an employe of the Grand Island Railroad, and lives in Beattie; Sarah E., Lena M. and Milo A., remain at home with their parents. Mr. Tucker, with his wife and five of their children, are mem- bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Tucker, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, and gives his unqualified support to the principles of this party.
David Tucker, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1805. In Mercer County,
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about 1826, he was married to Miss Eleanor Hazen, who was born in that county, March 7, 1807. They remained residents of the Keystone State until 1836. The father followed farming all his life, and died in Indiana. The widowed mother then removed to the vicinity of Albion, Marshall Co., Iowa, where she died in 1862. They were the pal- ents of seven children, all of whom lived to mature years. The youngest son and child, Haden L., was the first to be called hence. having died in the army.
Samuel and Elizabeth (Clark) Small, the parents of Mrs. Tucker, emigrated from Kent County, England, prior to their marriage, and after this event were residents of Indiana until 1856. Then, removing to Marshall County, Iowa, they lived there until 1864. Thence they went to Pawnee County, Neb., and the father improved a farm in the vieinity of West Branch, where he sojourned until his death, which occurred in 1868.
Mr. Tucker has been a prominent man in his community, representing his ward in the City Council, and likewise officiating as Mayor of Beat- tie. He owns a farm in the vicinity of Frankfort, and his a neat and comfortable home on Center street, in the central part of the city. A life of honesty and uprightness has gained him the esteem and confidence of his fellow-men, while his indus- try, economy and good judgment have enabled him to fortify himself against want in his old age.
ONATIIAN BISHOP. If the amazed old- world traveler seeks to know the reason of the wonderful growth of the Far West, es- pecially of that young giant Kansas, he must look for it not so much in the character of the soil or climate, although they are favorable, as in the disposition of the early settlers. The usual freedom aeeorded all classes of people and all legit- imate enterprises in this noble and progressive State is due, no doubt to the fact that all, or nearly all the original settlers were native Americans. It is not here asserted that Americans are a more liberty loving race than the people of any other
nation, but they have had a longer experience of its blessings than almost any others, and have ex- perimented more largely with the various theories of freedom offered for their acceptance by different classes and conditions of people, and are there- fore better fitted to put into practical operation those principles of true freedom which have best stood the tests of actual practice.
The father of the subject of this sketch was George Bishop, a native of the State founded by that sedate old lover of freedom and equal and exact justice-William Penn. The mother was Ellen Smith, also a native of the Keystone State. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. George Bishop re- moved from Pennsylvania and settled in Greene County, Ohio, where they continued to reside the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of nine children, of whom our subject was the third.
Jonathan Bishop was born in Greene County, Ohio, May 7, 1838. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and remained at home until his mar- riage. Nov. 14, 1861, he took for a life partner Miss Lucinda Rakestraw, the event being celebrated in Clarke County, Ohio. Mrs. Bishop is a daugh- ter of Joseph and Isabella (Goudy) Rakestraw, na- tives respectively of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Immediately after marriage they journeyed to Illinois and located in Mason County, where they made their home for some time, subsequently re- turning to Clarke County, Ohio, where they lived until the close of life. Their family comprised four children, of whom Mrs. Bishop is the eldest. She was born in Clarke County Oct. 8, 1840, and remained in the parental care until her marriage. She received a good education in her youth, which she has kept constantly polished by extensive read- ing of standard works. and by social intercourse and keen observation of the powers and phenomena of nature, by which she is surrounded.
Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are the parents of nine children, four of whom are living. They are: George A. married Miss Blinn; Joseph M., Mary E. and Albertus R. The deceased are Mary E. who died when fourteen years old; Flora E. died when seven; Ocie M. also fell asleep at the interesting age of seven years; Albert R. crossed his little hands in the dreamless sleep of innocence when a
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promising babe of fourteen months; one other little "bud of hope" was placked by the angel of death, and transplanted to the Father's garden of immortality to bloom in perpetual beauty beside the crystal River of Life.
The first home of our subject after his marriage was made in Clarke County, Ohio, where he resided four years on a farm which he operated. Hoping to improve his fortunes, he removed to DeKalb County, Ind., and resided there until 1878, when he removed to Marshall County Kan., and settled in Center Township, on section 28, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Bishop enjoys the confidence of the commu- nity in which he lives, which is attested by the fact that he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and re-elected to the same position when his - term had expired in the fall of 1888. He takes a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the politi- cal welfare of the country, and is active in further- ing the interests of the party with which he affiliates in his own district. His abilities in managing a campaign have been recognized and his services utilized in placing him in a responsible position on the township Central Committee. The educational interests of the township, in which he takes a pronounced interest, will never suffer so long as he is kept in his present position as a mem- ber of the School Board, an office which he has filled for several years. Any enterprise having for its object the furthering of the public welfare can depend upon the help and counsel of Mr. Bishop. His numerous public and private benefactions have endeared him to a large circle of friends, and have won for him a deserved popularity among the masses.
AN S. WHITE is a son of Judge Robert White, of Marysville, Marshall Co., Kan., a sketch of whom may be seen in another part of this work. Ile was born in Carter County, Ky., May 5, 1845, where he passed the early years of his life of his childhood's home surrounded by the lov- ing care of his parents, and the devoted ministra- tions of the sable tenants of his father's estate.
When young Van was thirteen years old, his parents removed to Miami County, Kan., and he remained with them in their new home for about five years. ITis education was not carried on very systemati- cally, but the stirring events transpiring in the State of his adoption, supplied to a great extent. the lack of a more bookish stoek of knowledge.
About the year 1863, our subject went to Colo- rado, and engaged in the stirring and sometimes dangerous, but always fascinating occupation of mining. His success was not remarkable, but his labors were productive of a fair degree of remun- eration, and he returned to Kansas with capital enough to set up in a business, which, if less excit- ing than the one he had abandoned. promised surer and more steady returns, and permitted its followers to enjoy all the comforts and elegancies of civilized life. The mining experience of Mr. White extended over a period of about six years, and upon his return he located in Marshall County, Kan., in the vicinity of Marysville, where he con- tinued to reside until 1886, when he purchased 160 acres of land in Center Township, on section 13. and erecting commodious and handsome build- ings, engaged in the business of general farming and stock-raising. His strong common sense prompts him without neglecting any other duty, to confine his attention to a special department of the general occupation mentioned above, and so thinking, he has chosen to make a specialty of raising fine horses and cattle. The success attending his efforts, has amply justified his wisdom and foresight in so doing.
Mr. White and Miss Mary J. Grimes, daughter of the late James H. and Susan Grimes, deceased in Marshall County, were united in marriage in Cen- ter Township, Feb. 22, 1870, and have been blessed with six children, namely: Silas H., Margaret E., Susan M., Van S., Jr., Ann E., and Mand. Mrs. Mary J. White was born in Virginia, Sept. 16, 1849, and is a fine, handsome lady, well calculated to grace a palace, but serenely content to fulfill the more important, if less outwardly lofty duty of training the children of her household, that they may worthily fill honorable stations in the future of this great Nation.
Mr. White is not much of a politician, as he says
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he has no time to attend to the minute details of party management, but he keeps his eyes open to take careful note of all great questions agitating the public mind. Being a firm believer in the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, he supports it with his freeman's right of suffrage. The deep interest lie has always taken in educational matters, has re- sulted in placing him in the position of School Director, which he has held for some time with great credit.
OHN McKEE. The eye of the passing traveler, weary with the rays of a summer noonday sun, beholds with pleasure and longing, the inviting shade furnished by seemingly innumerable trees. nestling in a valley, and throwing their branches out in strong relief against the surrounding landscape. while the foli- age seems to rest upon the clouds hovering in the distance, and green and blue are intermingled in bright yet restful contrast. Coming gradually nearer, soon the landscape enlarges, and an orchard of perhaps 1.000 trees presents itself to view. Clusters of ripe, tempting fruit hang suspended, which appears to have been kissed lovingly and lingeringly by the morning light, and to have caught the glow of the orb of day, reflecting his blushes over the world. Twenty acres of fine land are devoted to the culture of fruit, while one- half acre is devoted to grape culture. Here are cultivated various kinds of grapes, which hang pendant from the vines. and purple and sweet, are beautiful as well as tempting.
He to whom this, one of the finest orchards in all the State of Kansas, is due, and of whom we write this biographical notice. is John McKee, owner and proprietor of section 17, in Center Township. Ireland is the land of his birth. and the date thereof Oct. 23, 1828. But no recollections of the lakelets, moorlands, and heaths of the green isle of Inisfail, hover around his childhood days, for when only one year old he was taken by his parents to the township of Smith, near Peterborough,
Canada. Under such diverse circumstances from the beginning of his life, he grew through the joys and sorrows ineident to childhood, and became familiar with the duties devolving upon a farmer. Naturally upon reaching manhood he chose that as his calling, 'and engaged in agricultural pursuits until January, 1871, when he removed further South, leaving the possessions of the English, and forever more casting his lot amid the heterogeneons surroundings of a new land. He settled on his present land, which he had purchased two years prior to his removal to Kansas.
Marshall County had by this time become quite an agricultural center, and was developing from its primitive wildness, so our subject did not participate in the first opening up of the land, but bis farm was in appearance totally different from its present condition. His earnest, unremitting labor has brought about this change, for he has erected a commodious, comfortable home, attract- ive without, and within cosily furnished, exhibit- ing everywhere the presence of refined tastes. The entire estate is fenced by hedge, which looks es- pecially pretty during the summer season, and is always well trimmed and neatly kept.
Prior to his removal to this county, Mr. McKee was united in marriage, June 11, 1852, in his old home in Peterborough, Upper Canada, with Miss Mary Finlay, a native of Wicklow, Ireland, and born March 3, 1835. The Emerald Isle was her childhood home, but when a maiden of twelve or thirteen years she came with her parents to Canada, and under the parental roof continued to reside until she went to make a home for her husband. Quite a number of years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. McKee came to make their home in the United States. Their family consisted of five chil- dren, of whom the eldest is a son, William L., who is at home; Susan, the second born, is the wife of Allen Reed, and resides in Center Township, Kan .; Tempie and Nina remain to enliven the home, while Flora is the wife of Theodore Pollock, and lives in Marysville.
Notwithstanding his devotion to general farm- ing. Mr. McKee is interested in cattle raising, and buys and feeds them in large numbers annually. He does not work in political circles with any act-
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ive partisanship, but is firmly "dyed in the wool " of Republican principles, casting his ballot for its nominees. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. McKee are members of the Baptist Church, and are particu- larly charitable toward those in want, whether the need be one of the soul or body, and are emi- nently worthy of the proud position they occupy in the esteem of their neighbors.
W ILLIAM C. THOMPSON, who occupies a farm on section 26, Balderson Township. is a native of Branch County, Mich. Ilis birth took place Dec. 15. 1843, and in his native county he grew to manliood. Though quite young at the breaking ont of the Civil War, he entered into the patriotic enthusiasm which swept over the North, and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company G, 4th Michigan Cavalry. He took a gallant share in the regimental work in the terrible contests at Murfreesboro and Stone River, and through the Thomas campaign. Receiving his discharge in September, 1863, he returned to Michigan and be- gan farming.
In the spring of 1869 was celebrated the mar- riage of our subject to Olive Hamilton, a native of New York State, where she was born July 10, 1847. She is the daughter of James and Bath- sheba (Neal) Hamilton, natives of Scotland and New Jersey, both deceased. Mrs. Thompson was the youngest of two children, though each of her parents had been married before. Her father had been a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Thomp- son has become the mother of four children. three of whom are living: Justin H., Bertha May and Myrtle L.
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