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 35
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In his marriage with Miss Sallie Ann Richart,
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which was consummated in Danville, Columbia Co., Pa., June 27, 1847, Mr. Spealman was so fort- unate as to secure the faithful co-operation of a good wife, one who has been a genuine helpmate, and has greatly aided him in the upbuilding of his pleasant home. Though she has been an invalid for a year, a patient and cheerful sufferer. yet she is still the household guide. She is a native of Penn- sylvania, one of a large family of children born to John and Rachel (Funston) Richart, farmers of that State. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of nine children, seven of whom are living, and two deceased: John R .. James, William, Mary, Andrew. Clara and Marquis, The children have been all given good educations, and and are well established in life.
In his career as a farmer, Mr. Spealman has shown himself to be a man of sound practicality, an excellent manager, and a good worker, and these traits have been important aids to him in the ac- quirement of his substantial property. He stands well in this community as a man and a citizen, and has been true to all the relations of life that he has sustained toward others, as a husband, father, neighbor and friend. He has always interested himself in public matters, especially in polities, and the Republican party finds in him an active sup- porter. Ile was formerly connected with the Ma- sonic fraternity. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Church, which has no more consistent members within its folds than they.
G EORGE JESTER THOMPSON DILLE. The career of Mr. Dille. one of the leading citizens of Noble Township, presents an array of interesting facts which are in the main as follows: He was cradled at the 'modest home of his parents in the vicinity of Wheeling, Belmont Co .. Ohio, where his birth took place Jan. 18, 1826, Two years later his parents removed to Indiana, where, when of suitable years, the boy conned his lessons in the primitive log school-house, with slab seats and puncheon floor, and window panes of greased paper. From a building of this descrip-
tion he was graduated at an early age, but im- proved his opportunities for gaining useful information by reading evenings, by the light of a tallow candle. When a youth of twenty- one years he started out for himself, leaving the farm and commencing his apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, in Eckmansville, in his native State, at which he served three years. Afterward he worked as a journeyman six months, then returned to his parents in Indiana. In the meantime he had employed his leisure hours with his books, and after passing the requisite examina- tion entered upon his first term as a school teacher, at the age of twenty- two years, in Hancock County. He followed teaching winters thereafter, and em- ployed himself at his trade in the summer until 1855.
In the meantime our subject, on the 3d of March, 1852, was married in Madison County, Ohio, to Miss Amanda, daughter of William Creath, the latter of whom was a native of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, William Creath, a native of Scotland, emigrated to America and located in South Carolina, where he employed himself as a general mechanic. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and later removed to Ken- tucky and followed wheelwrighting in the Blue Grass region for some time. Finally he went to Madison County, Ohio, where he followed his trade and died.
The father of our subject until reaching his ma- jority was employed in farming pursuits. Then repairing to London, Ohio, he learned blacksmith- ing, which he prosecuted in connection with farm- ing in Madison County, and became owner of a fine estate. He died at the old homestead in Madi- son County, in 1871. He was a prominent man in his community, and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. Grandmother Creath was in her girlhood Miss Margaret Douglas, a native of South Carolina, and the daughter of James Douglas, a cousin of Stephen A. Douglas. She is now deceased. The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Dille was Mary Monahan, a native of New Jersey, and the daughter of Peter Monahan, who was born in Ire- land and emigrated to America when a lad of ten years. Ile first lived in New Jersey and worked
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on a farm. Later he removed to Ohio and located in Madison County, where he lived until joining his children in Indiaua, where he spent his last days. He was in sympathy, religiously. with the doctrines of the Friends' Church. The wife and mother died at the old homestead in Ohio, June 16, 1889, at the age of eighty-five years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Of the fourteen chil- dren born to her and her husband ten grew to mature years: Owen is deceased; Amanda, Mrs. Dille, is the eldest living; Silence is a resident of Oregon: Margaret S. lives in Rooks County, Kan., Mary A. continues a resident of Madison County, Ohio; William A. lives in Ross County, that State; John, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, lives in Phoenix, Ariz .; Abigail, Martha and Hannah continue their residence in Madison County, Ohio. Owen. during the first year of the Civil War. en- listed in the 13th Iowa Infantry, and fell at the battle of Pittsburg Landing mortally wounded.
Mrs. Dille was born near Mt. Sterling, Madison Co .. Ohio, May 20, 1827, and was the eldest (laughter of her parents' large family. She was at an early age trained to habits of industry, and assisted her mother in spinning, weaving, bleach- ing cloth and making the garments for the house- hold. She remained under the home roof until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Dille began their wedded life together in Elizabeth City, Ind., where our subject followed teaching and also worked at his trade until 1855. Then, deciding to seek the far- ther West, he gathered together his family and household effects and started by team overland to Washington County, Iowa. They crossed the Wa- bash River at LaFayette, Ind., the Illinois at Spring- field, and the Mississippi at Burlington, Iowa, and Mr. Dille purchased land and began the improve- ment of a farm. Ilis plans were interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War, as under the first call for three-years men lie enlisted, at the age of thirty-five years, in Company C, 8th Iowa Infantry, and was mustered in at Camp Mcclellan. near Davenport. Soon afterward he went with his regi- ment to Springfield, Mo., and engaged in various skirmishes with bushwhackers. At Sedalia he was seized with a disease which the following year compelled him to accept his honorable discharge.
After his nine months' service in the army Mr. Dille joined his family in Ohio and later they re- moved to Henry County, Ind. In 1863 he joined a company of home guards which was sent after the raider, Gen. Morgau, and followed him to the Big Miami. In February, 1865, seeing little pros- pect of peace, our subject enlisted once more as a Union soldier, in the 147 Indiana Infantry. He was mustered in at Richmond, and with his regi- ment assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and held as Gen. Hancock's reserve. Mr. Dille states that the declaration of peace between the North and the South was the happiest event of his life, but upon him, as upon thousands of others, there fell a great cloud soon afterward, in the assassina- tion of President Lincoln. Mr. Dille enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence of his superior offi- cers, and among others soon after the war was re- tained to guard property in the Shenandoah Val- ley, where he remained until Aug. 17, 1865. and was then mustered out and received his honorable discharge August 25.
Our subject now returning to Indiana. com- menced again at the bottom of the ladder, having not only lost his Iowa property but being $500 in debt. He established himself upon a small farm in Henry County, which he rented and made a spe- cialty of live stock. In the fall of 1872 he deter- mined upon a change of location, and coming to this county, purchased his present homestead-160 acres. He has made all the improvements which are upon it, setting out forest and fruit trees, the latter including some of the choicest products of this region. He has 600 grape vines, which are already the source of a snug income. Ile has deeded eighty acres of his farm to his son, Joseph W. The balance is operated by other parties.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dille there have been born seven children, the eldest of whom was Mary Ann, who is deceased; David C. occupies himself as a farmer and school teacher in Nemaha County. He owns forty acres of land at America City, where he is Principal of the High School; Joseph W. operates the land spoken of; C. M. Clay, de- ceased; Orinda S. has been a teacher for the past ten years; Lulu M. is the wife of Mr. McCreary, formerly of Kansas, now living in Portland. Ore .;
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Vinnie remains at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Dille are connected with the Presbyterian Church at Vermillion, which our subject assisted in organizing, and in which he has been a Ruling Elder for ten years. He has been active in the Sunday-school, and in fact has filled all the church offices, excepting officiating as minister. He has done a large amount of mission work throughout the Presbytery of Ilighland and Topeka. Politi- cally, he was in early days a Free Soiler, but is now one of the warmest adherents of the Repub- lican party. He was ever the opponent of slavery, and while in the army procured a piece of the gal- lows upon which John Brown was hung, which was eut in the shape of a heart, and which is now in the possession of his son,
The father of our subjeet was the Rev. Joseph Dille, a native of Washington County, Pa., and the son of Caleb Dille, who was born in New Jersey. The latter was by occupation a farmer and stock- raiser. He served in the Revolutionary War under the direct command of Washington from the begin- ning to the end of the struggle. Afterward he es- tablished himself on a farm in Washington County, Pa., but later removing to the wilderness of Bel- mont County, Ohio, entered a tract of land from the Government and improved a farm. Finally he removed to Henry County, Ind., where he spent his last days. He was a Whig, politically, and a Presbyterian in his religious views.
The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was Caleb Dille, Sr., a French Huguenot, who fled from his native country on account of religious persecution, and upon arriving in America settled in New Jersey. He was a man of marked force of character, and a leader in his community, by whom he was held in high esteem. His son Joseph, the father of our subject, lived on the farm until twenty-two years of age, then entered the ministry . of the Baptist Church, and became one of its most prominent and efficient laborers. He entered land in Ohio, and later emigrated to Indiana, in the meantime laboring in the Master's vineyard, as his strength permitted until his death, which took place in Hancock County, Ind., in 1875. He had attained the ripe old age of eighty-four years. He belonged to the old Free Soil party in the early
days, and later was a Republican. During the Civil War he kept himself thoroughly posted, and maintained a lively interest in the suecess of the Union eanse.
The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Elizabeth Thompson ; she was born in Virginia and was the daughter of Jester Thompson, a na- tive of Delaware and a farmer by occupation. Grandfather Thompson participated in the War of 1812, and spent his last days in Ohio. Mrs. Dille died in 1855, at the age of fifty-four years. The parental family included fourteen children, of whom Mary, Daniel, Barbara, Hugh, Richard, Caleb, Cinderella. David and Reuben are deceased. The survivors are: Joseph, Nancy and Elizabeth Ann, residents of Indiana; George, our subject; Squire, living in Indiana. Caleb during the Civil War enlisted, in 1862, in the 16th Indiana Infantry, and served until the close. Squire enlisted in 1861, in the 47th Indiana Infantry, and served until re- ceiving his discharge for disability. Subsequently, however, he was drafted and served until the close of the war.
S TEPHEN GREEN, who owns and occupies a farm on section 8, Wells Township, has been a resident here since 1871. lle is a native of Rushville, Schuyler Co., Ill., and was born May 19, 1841. His parents. John and Ann Green, were residents of Delaware, and the former is said to have been a relative of Gen. Green of Revolutionary fame. John Green re- moved from his native State, Clark County, Ky., at an early day, and later to Schuyler County, Ill., at an early period in the history of the latter. The family subsequently removed to Fulton, Ill., where the parents resided many years. William Green, a brother of our subject, was a private in the 84th Illinois Infantry during the late war. A half brother, Hinman Rhodes, enlisted in the 28th Illinois Infantry. was elected captain, promoted to colonel and finally became a brigade commander.
Stephen Green had but limited advantages in his youth, as his father having become disabled, he, at the age of twelve, was obliged to assist in the sup-
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port of the family. He was about ten years of age when they removed to Fulton County. For a number of years he had the main responsibility of the family fortunes, and for a time was his parents sole support. On Jan. 4, 1869. he was united in marriage with Hettie Smith. The following year he came to Kansas and for a short time made his home in Nemaha County.
On entering Marshall County in 1871. he home- steaded eighty acres of land on the section where he now resides. There was an old log cabin on the place and a few acres had been broken, but it was principally in the primitive condition of the Western prairie. Mr. Green had $27.50 in money when he settled there, so, like all pioneers he has had experience in the hardships and privations in- cident to getting a start in a new country. lle has been energetic and persevering and has won a merited success. He is now the owner of 160 acres, well improved and cultivated and compris- ing a comfortable liome.
Mrs. Green was born in Pike County, Ill., and was a daughter of Thaddeus O. and Abigail Smith. She has borne her husband seven children: Fred. Abigail, Anne. William, and an infant daughter unnamed, are living; Maggie and Thaddeus are deceased.
Mr. Green is a U'nion Labor man. He has served as School Treasurer of his district. Not only in the conduct of his own business but in the affairs of the section, Mr. Green is a man of enterprise and as such is held in esteem by his neighbors.
W ILLIAM MURPHY. This gentleman first looked upon the country west of the Mis- sissippi as early as 1839. when a young man twenty-two years old. He thereafter spent about four years in travel, and the fact that he finally took up his abode in this county is sufficient evidence that he found here advantages less equaled by those of any other section. At least he was contented to pitch his tent here in 1871 and has since made his home within its borders. We find him pleasantly situated and the owner of a
good farm on section 27 in Clear Fork Township. where he has transformed a portion of what was once an uncultivated waste. into one of the best farms to be found in this region.
The subject of this sketch was born in York County, Pa., Oct. 29, 1816, and is the son of James and Mary (Smith) Murphy, who were likewise na- tives of the Keystone State. Ilis paternal ances- tors were of Irish origin, and his grandfathers on both sides of the house did good service in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary War. William was the third son of his parents and was reared on a farm in his native county, receiving a limited education, but being trained to those habits of industry and sentiments of honor which have formed the basis of a strong and reliable character and enabled him to become a man among men. As before stated, he emigrated to the West soon after reaching his majority. lle remained a bachelor until approaching the thirty-third year of his age, and was then married in 1849 in Penn- sylvania to Sarah A. Blaney, who bore him several children of whom only one is living: James C. S., who is now living in Irving. The mother died in 1861. In 1863 Mr. Murphy contracted a second marriage. with Mrs. Caroline Aikens, widow of John Aikens, of York County, Pa., and the daugh- ter of Levi and Margaret Schenk, of Pennsylvania. Six children were born of this union. three of whom survive, William, Belle and Valentine.
Mr. Murphy, after first visiting the West, re- turned to his native State and came to this county for permanent settlement in 1871. He preempted 160 acres of land on section 34, Clear Fork Town- ship and at once engaged in its cultivation and im- provement. Not long afterward. however, he made an exchange of property, coming to his pres- ent farm. Upon this likewise not a furrow had been turned. and now looking around over his fertile fields and his convenient buildings, with the other pleasing accessories of farm life, it is hardly neces- sary to say that he must have made good use of his time since settling here. In due time he was enabled to extend his possessions, and is now the owner of 400 acres altogether. Ile has accumu- lated his property by his own industry and good management, not having received any financial as-
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sistance from any source. Among the many self- made men of Marshall County, there are few who have made a better record.
Mr. Murphy politically is a sound Democrat. Ile has served on the School Board in his district, and as a peaceable and law-abiding citizen is the encourager of those projects tending to improve the county and elevate society.
G EORGE R. FULTON, a man of much sound business ability, occupies a high place among the practical, successful farmers and stock- raisers of Marshall County, of which he was a pioneer, and in the improvement of a fine farm he has materially contributed to its upbuilding. This valuable piece of property is very pleasantly lo- cated on section 34, Oketo Township, and here he and his family enjoy life in a beautiful home, re- plete with all the modern comforts and conve- niences, his residence being the finest in this part of the county, and with its tastefully laid out, pic- turesque grounds, forms a pleasing feature in the landscape.
Mr. Fulton is a descendant of sterling New York ancestry, both his parents, John and Sally M. (Greene) Fulton, being natives of the Empire State, the former born near Syracuse. The father was a farmer by occupation, and became a pioneer of two States, as subsequent to his marriage he moved to Ohio, and thence to Ogle County, Ill. There he and his wife rounded out long and useful lives, and united in life, were not long divided in death, he dying in February, 1887, and she three months later. They had five children, four of whom are now living.
Our subject was the second child in the family, and he was born in Ohio, Ang. 18, 1839. He was quite young when his parents removed to Ogle County, Ill., and there he was reared to a strong, manly manhood amid the pioneer scenes that ob- tained there in those days. His parents early in- stilled into him those principles of honor and integrity that have been his guides in after years, and from them he inherited traits of thrift and
shrewd common sense that have contributed much to his success in his career as a business man and as an agriculturist. IIe gleaned a solid education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty- one established himself in business as a merchant in Ashton, III. Hle was so prospered in that venture that at the age of twenty-three he bought in a partnership with C. W. Barber in a general mer- chandise store in Ogle County. In 1865 he severed his connection with Mr. Barber, and formed a partnership with C. E. Adams in Dement, now Creston, Ill., continuing in business with him till 1868. With characteristic foresight and shrewd- ness, he saw the fine chance that an energetic busi- ness man had for making money in the great and growing young State ofKansas, and he wisely de- termined to invest some of his capital here, and turn his attention to agricultural pursuits on this rich, productive soil, and in 1869 we find him located in Marshall County, where with excellent judgment he had selected his present farm as possessing many advantages over other sites. It was then merely a tract of wild prairie land, devoid of cultivation or im- provement. It comprises 377 acres of choice, highly productive land, all in a body and under admirable tillage, and supplied with a substantial, roomy set of buildings and every convenience for carrying on farming advantageously, for in the busy years that have intervened since his settlement here, he has wrought a great change by the persistent force of steadfast and well-directed labor. Four years ago he erected his present handsome, commodious resi- dence, the finest house in Oketo, at a cost of $3,000. Ile devotes much of his time to raising stock, and handles about sixty-eight head of cattle, thirty horses and two car-loads of hogs.
July 21, 1861, Mr. Fulton was united in mar- riage with Miss Eliza Woodcock, a daughter of Sanford and Susan (Black) Woodcock. Her father was a native of New Hampshire, and was a manu- facturer of cards for woolen mills. Her mother was a native of New Braintree, Mass. They had nine children, five of whom are now living. Mrs. Fulton was the youngest of the family, and she was born in Leicester, Mass., March 22, 1840. She is a true lady of superior culture and refinement, and her education, which was begun in the public
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schools of Worcester, Mass., was finished in an ex- cellent private seminary in that city. She came West to visit her sister in Illinois, and there met and married our subject. Their union has been blessed to them by the birth of seven children, of whom three are living, as follows: Lena, Charles and Myrtie. Lena has a decided talent for music, which has been cultivated.
Mr. and Mrs. Fulton are people whose social status is of the highest, and their pleasant, cour- teous manners win them hosts of warm friends, and their inviting home is the center of the most charming hospitality, its inmates vying with each other to contribute to the pleasure and comfort of guests who may happen beneath its roof. They are sincere Christians, and are earnestly interested in the work of the Presbyterian Church of which they are prominent members. A man of Mr. Fulton's well-known force of character, influence and capac- ity. cannot and ought not to be allowed wholly to escape the responsibilities of public life, and he has done his duty in that direction, devoting some of his time to aiding his fellow-citizens in carrying on the local government, has done serviceable work as a member of the School Board, and has held the office of Township Treasurer. He formerly affil- iated with the Republican party, but the policy of the I'nion Labor party more nearly meeting his views, he has latterly given his allegiance to that party, is prominent in its councils, and has been a delegate to county conventions.
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ENRY HUND, Treasurer of Richland Town- ship, and a prominent man in his commu- nity, owns and operates one of the best regulated farms in that region, comprising 140 acres finely located on sections 1,9 and 18. In connection with general farming, he makes a speci- cialty of stock-raising, and by his industry and good management has become well-to-do.
Mr. Hund came to Kansas as early as 1869, and located upon a traet of land near the present site of Beattie. A year later. however, he removed to his present place, first purchasing eighty acres.
After bringing this to a good state of cultivation, he purchased sixty acres more. He has one of the oldest and finest orchards in this part of the county, the trees being of his own planting. He also has an abundance of the smaller fruits, includ- ing grapes, cherries and plums, with peaches and pears. llis homestead in all its appointments indi- cates the supervision of an intelligent and enter- prising man, who keeps abreast of the times, and is not willing to occupy any secondary position. His possessions are the result of his own industry and perseverance. as he began life without means, and his career is a fine illustration of what a man may accomplish by industry and frugality. In his busi- ness transactions he has conducted himself in such a manner as to secure the esteem and confidence of . all who know him.
The early years of our subject were spent in Germany, where he was born Dec. 31, 1835. His father died when he was a mere lad, and when llenry was a youth of seventeen years, the widowed mother with her five children set out for America. Coming directly to the West, they located in Logan County, Ill., where Henry worked on a farm until after the outbreak of the Civil War. On the 9th of August. 1862. he enlisted as a U'nion soldier in Company B, 106th Illinois Infantry, which was as- signed to the army of the Tennessee. Hle was present at the siege of Vicksburg, and after the surrender of the city repaired with his regiment to Little Rock, Ark., and was engaged in scouting and skirmishing with the enemy. He was pres- ent at the battle of Jacksonville, and during his entire service of three years was neither wounded nor captured by the enemy. After the close of the war he was given an honorable discharge, Aug. 1,1865.
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