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 33
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Ill. Mrs. McMillan died April 10, 1863, aged about forty years, and our subject later married Anna Van Volkenburg, a native of Fulton County N. Y. She has borne him three children: Burton A., who died at the age of sixteen; Grace E., who died in infancy; and Cora B.
On Sep. 12, 1861, our subject enlisted as a pri- vate in Company I, 8th Ilinois Cavalry, and served gallantly until Feb. 28, 1863, when he re- ceived an honorable discharge on the surgeon's cer- tificate of failing eyesight. During his period of service he had taken part in the battles of Will- iamsburg, Mechanicsville, South Mountain (Md.). Antietam, Fredericksburg, and others. In April. 1877. he removed to this county. and located upon the farm which he now occupies.
Jonathan Hinsdell, father of our subject's first wife, spent several years in the lumber business at Mecklenburg, N. Y., and thence removed to Illi- nois. in which State he spent his last days as a re- tired farmer in Elgin. The father of Mr. McMillan's present wife was a soldier in the War of 1812. Both he and her mother died when she was about ten years old, in New York State.
Mr. and Mrs. McMillan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having high standing in that society. Mr. McMillan is an enterprising farmer, a reliable citizen, and justly respected for his many fine traits of character,
OSEPH SMERCHECK. The interests of a cosmopolitan population have blended finely together in the settlement of Northern Kan- sas, there having emigrated to it people from nearly all countries, seeking the one common purpose, usually of financial advancement. Many of them are well educated people, and have exer- cised no small influence upon the moral and social welfare of their county. The subject of this notice is one of the most intelligent men of his neighbor- hood-well-educated and well-read, one who has given more than ordinary thought to the "problem of life," and is progressive in his ideas. Mr. Smercheck has chosen farming for his calling, in
which he has been uniformly successful, making a specialty of fine stock, including graded horses, and has about forty head of Hereford cattle and 150 head of swine. Ile is also an apairist of consider- able note, having thirty colonies of bees which he cultivates as much for pleasure as the profit. Around the homestead are fruits of all kinds, fur- nishing the family with the luxuries of the season. The dwelling is built of stone, surrounded with ornamental and shade trees, while the barn and other outbuildings are neat and substantial, and fully adapted to the shelter of stock and the sto- rage of grain. The farm is 160 acres in extent, and included in the estate is another quarter-sec- tion a half mile south, occupied by one of the sons.
The subject of this notice was born in the Aus- trian province of Moravia, Feb. 2, 1839. His father, Joseph Smercheck, Sr., was also a Moravian and born in 1808. Ile was married in early man- hood to Miss Theresa Ondrachek, who was a native of the same province as her husband and son, and born in 1818. They owned a large amount of land in the old country and were the parents of six chil- dren, three of whom are living.
Our subject remained a resident of his native province until 1858, and then, in company with his parents and the three children living, set out for America on the ocean steamer "Austria." When out about thirteen days and in mid ocean the vessel caught fire and was burned to a complete wreck, only the iron work remaining. She had started with 700 souls on board, and of this large number only seventy-two were saved, forty-one of these being picked up by a French bark. The par- ents and three sisters of our subject perished, hav- ing east themselves overboard, preferring to meet death by water rather than fire. Nine of the pas- sengers got away in a boat belonging to the steamer. Twenty-two others, including our sub- ject, were rescued by a Norwegian vessel, the "Catherina," after many hours spent on the burn- ing ship. Our subject was ten hours in the water, clinging to spars, ropes, and whatever he could hold to. They were taken to Quebec, Canada. All this time our subject had about his person the snm of $800 in money, which his father had given him
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to take care of before starting. The dreadful ex- perience can never pass from his recollection. His bodily suffering was great, but bore no comparison the affliction he suffered in the loss of those who were most dear to him on earth.
From the city of Quebec our subject repaired to Racine, Wis, where he found relatives, and there- after for a time attended school and worked for his board on a farm. In the spring of 1860 be pur- chased forty-five acres of land, upon which he worked two years alone. He lived in Wisconsin until 1865, then selling out, removed to Linn County, lowa, and purchased 100 acres, where he sojourned until the spring of 1870, which wit- nessed his advent to this county. He had in the meantime been married, Nov. 21, 1861, to Miss Ellen Smercheck, his cousin, and the daughter of Frank Smercheek, who is now a resident of Blue Rapids Township. Mrs. Smercheck was born June 10, 1844, in Moravia, and came with her parents to America in 1856, they settling in the vicinity of Racine, Wis. They are now residents of this county.
To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born two sons, the eldest of whom, Albin, married Miss Emma Dvorachek, and operates the other farm above described; they have one child, Ella, now (1889) four years of age. The younger son, William, is unmarried and remains with his parents. Mr. Smercheck has made his mark in the community, being a man of more than ordinary intelligence and thoroughly posted upon leading events. He has served as School Director in his district, was at one time Clerk of the Board, and in the fall of 1888 was elected Township Clerk of Blue Rapids. Upon becoming a voting citizen he identified himself with the Republican party, and is fully in sympathy with the Union Labor move- ment. In local politics he exercises a sensible in- fluence.
Frank Smercheck, a brother of Mrs. Smercheck, enlisted during the Civil War in the 26th Wiscon- sin Infantry, and was severely wounded in the lower limbs at the battle of Resaca, Ga .; he died in 1871. Three cousins of our subjeet also served in the Union army as members of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry. One, Joseph Sbytousky, was wounded
at the battle of Gettysburg and died in the hospital. Another, Joseph Smercheek, served his full term of three years, and although participating in all the battles in which his regiment engaged, was never wounded. The third, Vincent Smercheck, died in a hospital near the city of Washington from the effects of disease contracted in the army. Mr. Smercheck has accumulated a good property, and is a man generally respected in his community.
R ICHARD B. MOORE, an honored citizen and valued civic official of Marshall County, which he represents as County Commis- sioner, is a resident of Oketo, where he holds the position of Postmaster. Ile is a fine type of the noble heroes that composed the Union army in the late Civil War, through whose valor our grand Republic was saved from disunion and dis- honor. Ile fought in many battles, and won a fine military record, and by his gallant conduct gained merited promotion from the ranks to be an officer of his company. It gives us great pleasure to be able to present a sketch of the life of this veteran to his many friends through the pages of this volume.
lle is a native of Chester County, l'a., and was born July 4, 1839, on the anniversary of the Na- tional holiday of our country, whose dearest in- stitutions he was called on to aid in defending in less than a quarter of a century thereafter. He was of Quaker ancestry, and still clings to the faith of his fathers. His parents, Ziba and Mary (Bell) Moore, were natives of Maryland. After marriage they took up their abode in Chester County, P'a., and there dwelt in peace and comfort until death called them hence. They were engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. In their pleasant household seven children, three sons and four daughters, completed the family circle.
Our subject was the fifth child born to them, and he was reared to the life of a farmer on the old homestead in Chester County, and remained under the parental roof until he was nineteen years of age, Then a self-reliant, self-helpful, ambitious
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youth, eager to see something of the world beyond the bounds of his native county, he set ont to travel in the West, visited Ohio and Indiana, and even pressed on until the Rocky Mountains reared their imposing heights across the plains before him. At the end of two years he retraced his steps to his old Pennsylvania home, and there the breaking out of the Rebellion found him quietly pursuing the vo- cation to which he had been reared. He eagerly watched the course of events in the South, and not- withstanding he was a Quaker by birth and breed- ing, and the peaceful doctrines of that faith had been early instilled into his mind, he cast aside all such considerations. animated by a holy love of country, the date of his birth perhaps being an in- spiration to patriotism, and resolving to cast in his lot with the brave fellows who had already rushed to the defense of the stars and stripes, he enlisted Sept. 1, 1861, in Company C. 97th Pennsylvania Infantry, and did faithful service at the front for three long and weary years. For his good soldierly qualities and his bravery in action, he was pro- moted to be corporal of his company, and later was commissioned sergeant. He took an active part with his regiment in the following battles: Fernandina, Fla .; Ft. Clinch; Jacksonville, Fla .; Ft. Wagner, Ft. Gregg. and Ft. Sumter; accompanied the But- ler expedition up the James River. Va .; faced the enemy at Drury's Bluff; fought with them at Green Plains, Va., and was a participator in other import- ant engagements with the Confederates. lle did not escape unscathed from the heat of battle, but was wounded at one time in the right shoulder by a gunshot, and again in the left hip, and once more in the right thigh. He was thus unfitted for active service for nearly four months. He was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, and was mustered out at Philadelphia, Pa.
After his bitter experience of life on Southern battlefields, our subject returned to his home in Chester County, Pa., and continued to reside there until 1874, being engaged for the most of the time as agent for the Baltimore Central Railroad, at Avon- dale, and the Wilmington, Western & Pennsylvania . Railway at Landenburgh. From 1874 to 1876 he re- sided in Philadelphia, and during the Centennial he was employed as money elianger for the Centennial
National Bank, at the entrance to the gates. In January. 1877, he came as far westward as Elmore, Ottawa Co., Ohio, and in the following spring made his appearance in Hodgeman County, this State, where he took up 160 acres of land under the pro- visions of the Homestead Act. Ile remained there until the fall of 1880, and then removed to Em- poria, where he lived but a few months, when he again changed his place of residence, and coming to Oketo in the spring of 1881. has ever since made his home in this county. In the spring of 1882 he purchased a farm in Balderson Township, which is still in his possession. and which is under excellent cultivation, and is fairly well improved. Ile gave his attention to agriculture, continuing to live on his Balderson farm until the spring of 1889, when he removed into the village of Oketo. he having been appointed to the position of Postmaster by Post- master General Wannamaker to succeed B. B. Tatman, receiving his appointment in April, 1889, and taking charge of his office in the following May. In the fall of 1887, he was elected County Commis- sioner for this county, and is still serving in that capacity.
May 15, 1869 Mr. Moore's marriage with Miss Celina S. Moore, was celebrated near Elmo, Ottawa Co., Ohio. Mrs. Moore is a daughter of the late Cyrus and Esther (Knight) Moore, and she was born in Ottawa County, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1844. She is a woman of pleasant, amiable disposition, and infinite tact, and knows well how to make home cozy and attractive to husband and children, and their numerous friends. Two sons have been born to her and our subject, David I., and Clinton J.
Mr. Moore is a man of progressive views and liberal spirit, with a frank, kindly nature that has gained him a warm place in the hearts of a large circle of friends, and he is an influence for good in the community. He is scrupulously honest and just in his dealings, and is regarded as the soul of honor, and his fellow-citizens seeing in him one who is in every way admirably fitted for public life, have often called him to responsible positions, and besides the office of County Commissioner, which we have before mentioned, he has held a variety of township offices, and has particularly in- terested himself in educational matters. His pub-
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lic career has been without blemish, as he has always conducted himself so as to promote the highest interests of the town or county, and remembering his course as a soldier, we may add, and of his country. He is a valned member of Oketo Post No. 477, G. A. R .; and also of Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M. of Marysville, and of Chapter No. 222, Westchester, Pa. Politically. he is a stanch Republican ; religiously, he belongs to the Friends, and is a true disciple of that faith.
C HARLES G. SCRAFFORD is the pioneer banker of Summerfield, where he has erected a fine bank building, 24 x 40 feet, which is fitted up with a large fire-proof vault and burglar- proof safe. The business was opened up the 9th of May, 1889, with the following officers: J. A. Gilchrist, President; S. L. Davis, Vice-president; C. G. Serafford. Cashier, and Ed. R. Felt, Assistant Cashier. The Board of Directors consists of Frank Thoman, D. E. Swartout, C. G. Scrafford, A. J. Felt, R. M. Emory, Walter Spurling, J. E. Taylor, J. E. Gilchrist, and S. L. Davis. They do a gen- eral banking business and make a specialty of loan- ing money, of which they have always plenty on hand.
Before entering upon the sketch of our subject, a few lines regarding his ancestors will not be amiss. The first of whom we have knowledge, is Charles Scrafford, who early in the last century ran away from his home in Germany and came to America, having bound himself out to pay his fare. Next in order is his son George, a Revolu- tionary soldier under Washington, and later a par- ticipant in the war of 1812. Next came Charles, and following him George, who is the father of our subject. To George Serafford were born twelve children, our subject being the eldest. Three of the boys served in the Union army during the late Civil War, and their father also offered his services to the Nation.
C. G. Scrafford, of whom we write, came to Kansas in the year 1856. At Osawatamie, fifty miles southwest of Kansas City, he seenred a quar-
ter section of land and built a large log cabin. He then brought his family, consisting of his wife and one child, as far as Kansas City, where the boat was boarded by border ruffians, who would not allow them to land, saying that there were too many Ohioans in the State already. Mr. Serafford found an opportunity, however, to land his family, in the upper corner of the State among men of his own views who would act the part of friends. Since coming to the State he has spent three years in Doniphan County and thirty years in Nemaha County. His family resides at Seneca in the latter county, and all his business interests, except the State Bank of Summerfield, are there.
Our subject was married to Justianna Lappin, daughter of Finley Lappin, the pioneer of Nemaha County. Mr. Lappin was the first white man to settle on the town site of Seneca, which place he named and where he is now living at the ripe old age of eighty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Scrafford have reared three children, having lost their second son by deatlı. They are named respectively Josephine, Frank, Fred, and Grace.
Mr. Scrafford received but a limited education in his youth, but in later years obtained a practical one, becoming very well informed. In his boy- hood he was a chum of General McPherson, who made so gallant a record during the late war. He is a stanch Republican, in the principles of which party he was bred. Religiously he is a Universal- ist. He is a man of upright character, fine busi- ness ability and one whose interest in Summerfield will be to the advantage of that young city. Our subject has been County Treasurer of Nemaha County, and has been Mayor of Seneca several terms.
AMES M. DAVIS. One of the first stock- raisers and most prominent farmers of St. Bridget Township, is the above-named gen- gentleman who resides on section 28, where he owns 320 acres, 200 of which are thoroughly cultivated. In addition to general farming Mr. . Davis makes sorghum sugar, for which he raises from six to eight acres of eane. He has from
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fifty to sixty head of cattle, seven to ten horses, and about thirty-five head of hogs each year. He occupies a well built and comfortable house and has erected adequate farm buildings. He is a na- tive of North Carolina, having been born in Hay- wood County, that State, in 1850, and is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Curtis) Davis. IIis father was a planter, and our subject was reared upon the farm. He received a common school education and when a small boy went three miles to school. At about the age of twenty-one, he left his home intending to go to New York, in- stead of which he journeycd to Illinois. He stopped in Champaign County and engaged in farming, making his home there about nine years. In 1876 he was attacked by the Western fever and departed for the Black Hills, Dak., where he en- gaged in mining. Those were troublesome times in that section, where the sallies of the Indians made life outside the forts and settlements, very precarious. Gen. Custer and his gallant followers, were engaged in daring service against the preda- tory red men, whom they drove westward, but at the expense of the bloody massacre upon the Little Big Horn. Our subject spent a few months in the Hills without striking pay dirt in any quantity, and not being content with a " grub stake," he started eastward. He arrived in Brown County, Kan., in July, 1876 without a dollar in his pocket. He went energetically to work farming and em- ployed with a threshing machine, in which business he has been very successful. In a short time lie was enabled to purchase a third interest, and two years later was sole owner of a fine new steam thresher.
In that county our subject became acquainted with Miss Linda F. Webster, a school teacher from Meigs County, Ohio. She was a very energetic and intelligent lady, and he justly thought her sympathy and presence would round ont and com- plete his life. Ile won the lady's consent to be- come his bride, and after their engagement she returned to her home in Ohio. Eighteen months later at the home of her father, Abraham Webster, the marriage was solemnized, taking place on the 29th day of Nov. 1879. The young couple re- mained in Brown County, for three years after
their marriage, and then bought a farm in Nehama County. They improved the place and occupied it for three years, when it was sold and the present home purchased.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been blessed with four children : Frank Lee, Pearl Elton, Eva Mabel, and Cora.
Mr. Davis is liberal in his political views, though he generally votes the Democratic ticket. He is an enterprising and progressive business man, an intelligent and reliable citizen, and a man of up- right character, who commands the respect of the community.
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R. WILLARD O. PACKARD. The famil- iar form of this gentleman is well known to the people living around Mina Station and vicinity, among whom he has discharged the duties of his profession in that manner which has gained him their esteem and confidence. A native of Bridgewater, Mass., he was born March 14, 1820, and is the son of Willard and Hannal (Smith) Packard. The parents, leaving New Eng- land when Willard O. was but a child, emigrated to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and settling on a tract of new land sojourned there until our subject was a man of twenty-five years. They then pushed on further westward to Illinois, settling near Syra- cuse, in DeKalb County, where they lived until re- moving to Iowa and taking up their abode with their son, Albert P. There they spent their last years, dying at an advanced age.
The subject of this sketeli was given a practical education in the common school, and not long after completing his studies, having chosen medicine for his profession. he entered the office of Dr. Wm. N. Langmade, of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and in due time commenced practice in Illinois. He re- mained there until after the outbreak of the late Civil War, and then on the Ist of January, 1862, proffered his services to his country by enlisting in Company A, 58th Illinois Infantry, under command of Capt. R. W. Ilealy and Col. W. F. Lynch. The company joined the regiment at Paducah, Ky.,
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and our subject took part in the battles of Ft. Donelson, Ft. Henry and Shiloh. At the latter place his brother was killed by his side on the first day of the fight and Willard O. narrowly escaped, several balls having passed through his clothing and one through the front of his cap, and twice the cartridges were knocked out of his cartridge- box. Later he was one of those detailed to re- move forage from a boat which was the first to arrive after the fight. Mr. Packard, in carrying large sacks of corn up the hill from the boat, missed his footing and was doubled back and down so that it caused partial paralysis, from the effects of which he still suffers. The sight of his right eye is also affected. On account of these injuries he receives a pension of $12 per month. He re- ceived his discharge for disability at the Marine Hospital, located at that time in Chicago, Oct. 28, 1862.
Upon leaving the army Mr. Packard returned to Conrtland, in the vicinity of his old home, where he remained until his recovery, which was effected by his own treatment, including a galvanic bat- tery. Ile suffered much with his left limb, which became withered to the extent that it could be spanned by the fingers. His ordinary weight prior to entering the army was 230 pounds, but the re sult of his injuries was to reduce this to less than 110 pounds. He finally brought his limb to its natural size.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Nancy E. Croff was celebrated Feb. 22, 1852, in Belvidere, Ill. This lady was the daughter of Ezra and Marie 'Croff, of Belvidere, the former of whom died in Courtland, Ill., about 1875. Our subject in 1877 removed to Montgomery County, Iowa, where he lived on a farm and practiced medicine when able four years. Then selling out he came to this county and settled upon the eighty acres which constitutes his present homestead. This is pleasantly situated near the little station of Mina. The Doctor makes a specialty of chronic ailments, in which he has been remarkably successful, and frequently in the course of his practice drives out in the country to the distance of twenty miles.
To the Doctor and his wife there have been born six children, four sons and two daughters. Wil-
lard E. is married and the father of three daugh- ters and one son. Ile lives on a farm of his own two miles north and one mile west of Mina. Jacob is married and the father of two children; he lives on his own farm a quarter of a mile west of his father. John W. is married and has three children; he likewise operates his own farm a quarter of a mile east of his father. Lucy Adell is the wife of Wilbur Nash, who is engaged in the lumber business in Toledo. Washington; they are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters. Sidney O. married Miss Emma J. Ford, daughter of John H. Ford of this county, and they have two children, a son and daughter. Pauline Diana is the wife of C. C. Spiker; they have two daughters and a son and live on a farm near the Doctor. Our subject is thus pleasantly situated, having the most of his children around him. In politics he votes the straight Republican ticket and socially belongs to Cortland Lodge, No. 229. I. O. O. F., with which he has heen identi- fied for a period of twenty-eight years. He is also a member of Axtell Post, No. 253, G. A. R., and with his wife belongs to the Baptist Church of Marysville. His motto has been to do unto his neighbors as he would be done by; and he has never figured as defendant in a magistrate's court or been involved in any trouble with his neighbors. He has a comfortable property, sufficient to insure him against want in his declining years.
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