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 37
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The subject of our sketch was one of the early and active members of St. Gregory's Catholic Church, and has been instrumental in bringing it up to its present high standing financially, being one of the building committee, and an earnest worker all of the time he has been here, as men- tioned in the sketch of the Rev. Father Schmiekler and the Church. He votes the Democratic ticket, and, though not an office-seeker, is now serving lis fourth term as Alderman of the third ward.
E LEE MILLER. A cursory view of the business portion of a town, gives the stranger a better idea of its prosperity than any other adjunet. So the visitor to Marysville notes with surprise and pleasure the large number of business houses engaged in the successful pur-
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suit of their legitimate objeet. Prominent among these business houses is that of Mr. Miller, who oc- cupies a large store in the Koester Block, with a stock of drugs and stationery, and every article that goes with the first-class prescription and gen- eral drug store.
The father of our subject, Jotham P. Miller, was born in Westehester County, N. Y., near Sing Sing, in the year 1818. There he passed his early life engaging in business in Sing Sing and New York City. About 1849 he came to Wisconsin, traveling by lake and settled in York, Dane County, where he took up a new farm. This farm he im- proved and on it he lived for many years, and at last retired to Columbus, Wis., and afterward came to Marysville, this county.
Our subject was married to Miss Sarah M. John- son in 1849. fle is the father of three children, all still living, our subject being the eldest. The second child, Joette, now Mrs. T. J. Morse, of Be- loit, Kan .; Alla, who is still at home. For many years before coming to Kansas he suffered with asthma, but is now a hale and hearty man. He belongs to the Republican party and is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
Mrs. Sarah M. (Johnson) Miller was born near Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y. When a young lady she, with her parents, moved to Dane County, Wis .. where she lived until her marriage. She was the daughter of Elias O. and Phoba Johnson. Our subject was born in Dane County, Wis., Dee. 22, 1851. When he was six years old his father moved to Columbus, where he was educated. After leaving school he entered the drug store of Frank Huggins, remaining for three years. He then went to Sing Sing, N. Y., and for eight years was with an unele who was in the drug business. He then came to Beloit, Kan.,and established a drug store for himself, carrying on a successful business for two years. He then sold out and came to Marysville, and buying out a drug store which had been es- tablished three months, he has by strict business methods and an agreeable manner built up a pros- perous trade and a popular reputation.
Mr. Miller was married at Albany, N. Y., in January, 1880, to Miss Stella Richtmeyer. The
result of this union is one child-Earl. While re- siding in Beloit, Mr. Miller was elected Coroner of Mitchell County, but moved away before qualify- ing for the office. While not an active politician. he has accepted an opportunity to serve the eity as member of the City Council, representing the Fourth Ward. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and a man very highly spoken of, honest and honorable in all his transactions.
OSEPH GORBUTT. Among those who took part in the labors ineident to the opening up of Wells Township, and whose success is due wholly to their own uneeasing industry and
practical ability, is the gentleman above named, who owns and occupies a fine farm on sec- tions 14 and 15. His first settlement in Marshall County was made on section 14, where he home- steaded eighty acres of Government land. Deer, coyotes and other wild animals roamed over the prairies when he took possession of his claim. Their haunts have now become a highly productive and attractive estate. Since his first settlement, Mr. Gorbutt has added eighty acres by purchase of railroad lands, making his present acreage 160.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Woodford County, Ky., Jan. 10, 1836. He is a son of Joseph and Johann Gorbutt. The father was a native of Manchester, England, and the mother of Paisley, Scotland. They emigrated to America when young, and finally married and settled in the Blue Grass State, where the father died in 1869. The mother is now living in this county.
Our subjeet was reared to manhood in his native county and received his education in the common schools, which at that time did not afford such ad- vantages as at present. llis father being a woolen manufacturer, he was reared to that business, which he followed until about thirty-five years of age. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 5th Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, which was first at- tached to the command of Gen. A. Buford, and later was transferred to that of Gen. Morgan. Mr.
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Gorbutt participated in the battles of Perrysville, Stone River, and numerous others of minor im- portance. He took part in the celebrated Morgan Raid in Ohio, and with the brigade was captured at Buffington. He was confined at Camp Douglas, Ohio. for about eighteen months. Receiving a pa- role at the expiration of that time, he returned to Kentucky and resumed the duties of a civilian.
On November, 1865. Mr. Gorbutt was united in marriage with Sallie W. Dougherty, who was a na- tive of Franklin County, Ky. The union has been blessed by the birth of five children. Annie and Kittie are engaged in public school teaching, while William J., Rose and John still reside under the parental roof. In 1870 Mr. Gorbutt left his Ken- tucky home and settled in this county. He has not only shared in the privations of pioneer life, but has also suffered from the elements. During what is known as the "Irving cyclone," that caused so much destruction a few years ago, Mr. Gorbutt lost all of his personal property, including bouse, barn, etc. This clean sweep put him at quite a disadvantage, but he has overcome his obstacles and now stands upon a firm financial basis.
The gentleman of whom we write has served for several years as a member of the School Board of his district. He is a member of the Christian Church. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. As a man of upright character, and a citizen interested in the upbuilding of the locality where he has made his home, he merits and receives the respect of his fellow citizens.
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E LBRIDGE G. WILLIAMS. The kindly Christian countenance of Mr. Williams is known to a large portion of the people of Noble Township, among whom be has sojourned pleasantly for many years. His life career bas been interesting and varied, during which he served as a soldier in the Union Army while the late Civil War was in progress, and endured more than the usual amount of hardship and privation, which resulted in permanent injury to a naturally robust constitution. He will not own, however,
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that he has ever regretted offering his life to the service of his country. which sacrifice he esteemed no more than his duty. He is a prominent figure in the G. A. R., and a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Providence has blessed him, financially, and we find him pleasantly located on a good farm of 160 acres, occupying the southwest quarter of section 23, in Noble Townsbip.
A native of the Buckeye State, our subject was born at the modest homestead of his parents, near Adamsville, Muskingum County, Feb. 19, 1837. Three years later his parents removed to Hocking County, making the journey overland with a team. Elbridge was there icared to man's estate, receiv- ing three months' schooling each year in the prim- itive log school house, which has been so often described in this volume. In the meantime be learned the arts of plowing, sowing and reaping. and chose farming for his vocation in life. 1Ie re- mained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, at which time his father gave him eighty acres of land. Upon this he went to work with the ambition inspired by ownership, put up a log house and in due time installed within it a wife and help- mate. He was wedded in Hocking County, Aug. 5, 1858. to Miss Rachel MeKitrick, who was born in Vinton County, Ohio. They lived upon this farm until August, 1862, when our subjeet laid aside his personal plans and interests and enlisted in Company G, 90th Ohio Infantry. He was mustered into service at Camp Chase, and soon ac- companied his regiment to the front. He partici- pated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and went with Sher- man on the march through Georgia. Later he was in the fight at Buzzards' Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, and in fact in most of the important battles of the war which followed.
Mr. Williams, although experiencing many hair- breadth escapes, was fortunately neither wounded or captured by the enemy, and at the close of the war received his honorable discharge at Circleville, Ohio, after a service of nearly three years. Fre- quently in battle his clothes were perforated by bullets while his comrades were falling around him,
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and frequently he felt the wind from the balls as they rushed past his face. He was in sixteen reg- ular battles besides skirmishes, which were some- times equally dangerons. Upon retiring from the service he returned to his farm in Ohio, which had been managed by his wife during his absence. He lived there until 1871, then selling out in the fall of that year, came with his family to this county and located where he now resides, purchasing a tract of wild land from the Chicago, Burlington & Union Pacific Railroad Company, for $8.50 per acre. There were no improvements. and it is hardly necessary to say that in order to bring it to its present condition there has been expended a large amount of time, labor and hard cash. Mr. Williams broke the ground, fenced his fields, set out forest and fruit trees, erected the buildings and has now one of the most attractive homesteads in this region. He raises corn in large quantities and keeps considerable live stock, including cattie, draft horses and swine. He has been, since leaving the army, unfitted for manual labor, but his mind remains vigorous and unimpaired, and he has dis- charged the important duties of superintending his farm in a most admirable manner.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of two children only-Lizzie and Clark. Their daughter is the wife of E. A. Coulter, a dairyman in Pawnee City, Neb. Clark remains with his parents at the homestead. It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. Williams is a warm adherent of the Republican party. lle serves as School Director in his dis- triet and has been School Treasurer for two years; he is also Road Supervisor. Ile was one of the most efficient members of the building committee during the erection of the Methodist Episcopal Church edifice, and has officiated as Steward in the church.
The father of our subjeet was Gorden D. Will- iams, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and the son of Jesse Williams, who was born in Mary- land. The latter emigrated to Ohio during the earliest settlement of Muskingum County, where he entered land and cleared a farm of over 300 aeres. There he spent his last years, dying in the faith of the Baptist Church; he traced his ancestry to England. Gurden Williams was reared to man's
estate in his native county, but in 1840 removed to Hocking County, Ohio, where he cleared a farm from the wilderness and became owner of 380 aeres of land in the vicinity of Logan, Ohio, where he died Oct. 12, 1868, at the age of fifty-seven years. He was a Republican, politically, and a member of the Baptist Church
Mrs. Charlotte (Williams) Williams, the mother of our subject, was the offspring of a different family from that of her husband, but supposed not to be related in any way. She was like . wise a native of Maryland. born near Baltimore, and was the daughter of Stephen Williams, like- wise a native of that State and one of the earliest pioneers of Muskingum County, Ohio, where he died. Mrs. Williams departed this life in Hocking County, Ohio, in 1887, when nearly seventy-six years old. The seven children of the parental fam- ily, of whom our subject is the eldest, were named respectively : Elbridge G., Harriet and Jesse, who live in Hocking County, Ohio; Lucy, Mrs. Hone, of Noble Township, this county; Caroline, of Ohio; Gurden and William; the two latter are deceased.
HIOMAS J. PLUNKETT. This honored old pioneer ventured into the wilds of Kan- sas as early as the spring of 1858. The ap- pearance of the country at that time can better be imagined than described. The settlers were few and far between, and the ground was mostly trod- den by wild animals. The outlook was certainly anything but prepossessing ; but the men who came to this region at that time were possessed of more than ordinary courage and were prepared for what- ever emergency might arise. Our subject was no exception to the rule, and "came to stay."
Upon arriving in this county, Mr. Plunkett se- lected a piece of wild land and settled upon it. and here he has since remained. This preemption claim occupied the southeast quarter of section 8 in St. Bridget Township, and under the careful cultiva- tion of years has been made to assume a widely different appearance from that which it presented
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when the present proprietor first looked upon it. He has now brought the land to a state of good cultivation, and planted an abundance of fruit trees, including several orchards of apples, peaches, pears, cherries and the smaller fruits. of different varieties. Mr. Plunkett was prospered in his early efforts. being successful financially. and has added to his real estate until he is now the owner of 400 acres. all in a productive condition. In the early days there was not even grass upon the land. Now there is a rich growth of this green covering, under the trees and about the home. For many years the nearest market was at Marysville. In order to get grass for his live stock Mr. Plunkett was obliged to travel some distance to a slough. Now there is an abundance of this kind of feed growing of its own free will. One winter. a few years after his settlement here, the snow fell to such a depth that it covered a shed where Mr. Plunkett sheltered his calves, and he dug a tunnel through to them and led them out under the arch to water. Later he encountered the grasshopper plague, and in his own fields has seen them so thick that they com- pletely covered the blades of corn upon which they would feed and leave not a vestige of when taking their leave. In this manner they would go through the whole field.
Mr. Plunkett has been a witness of many won- derful changes since coming to this section of country, during which time occurred the Pike's Peak excitement, when on the trail just south of his home there passed hundreds of tears in a single caravan. each usually drawn by four yoke of oxen, and seeming to travel day and night. As settlers came in and it became necessary to establish lines and boundaries. and organize townships and school districts, Mr. Plunkett performed his share in the good work. lle was one of the original founders of St. Bridget's Church, organized in 1859; he as- sisted in the erection of the church edifice, and has freely contributed in supporting the society.
The subject of this sketch was born April 3, 1829, ten miles from the eity of Dublin, Ireland, and was there reared almost under the shadow of the famous College of Meynooth, four miles dis- tant. although he did not have the privilege of at- tending the institution. To this the British Gov-
ernment contributed £30,000, and it arose to such importance that it is now named among the prinei- pal educational institutions of the world. Many eminent men have been graduated from its halls, and taken high positions among the noted charac- ters of the nineteenth century.
The parents of our subject were Alexander and Bridget (Smith) Plunkett, natives of County Meath, Ireland, adjoining County Dublin. Their family consisted of six sons and four daughters. The father was a farmer by occupation and in moderate circumstances, but managed to give his children a fair education. One of his sons, James. was unusually bright, took readily to his books and became a fine scholar. He emigrated to America, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. where he operated first as a stone mason and later as a contractor. Thomas J. Plunkett, our subject, left the old country when a young man and settled first in Connecticut. Later he, too, emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived several years and occupied himself as a gardener. In that city he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of James Laird, an Irish gentleman who spent his entire life upon his native soil. The young people soon moved to Kentucky, and Mr. Plunkett was em- ployed in building stone fences. About 1857 he set out with his little family for the West. crossed the Mississippi, and located in the vicinity of Da- venport, lowa. This now flourishing city at that time consisted of one unfinished hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Plunkett were then the parents of one child. Upon leaving Davenport, they sojourned in Leav- enworth City, this State, a short time and soon afterwards established themselves in this county, where they have since remained.
Our subject and his estimable wife are now the parents of nine children, eight of whom were born in Kansas. Their eldest daughter, Mary Ann. (Mrs. Dyke) is married and the mother of three children; she lives in Wymore, Neb. Josephine obtained a thorough education and upon leaving school qualified herself as a teacher, but failing health compelled her to abandon this profession; she is now an invalid. John, Thomas, James and William, are at home with their parents. Maggie is the wife of Mr. McCafferty, of Wymore, Neb.,
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where Mr. McCafferty is engaged as a painter; they have one child. Kate is the wife of Nicholas Kriley, of Pawnee County, Neb .; they live on a farm and have two children; Sarah is unmarried and remains at home with her parents. Our sub- jeet, politieally, is a Democrat and religiously is a member of the Catholic Church.
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ORATIO N. FARRAR. Among the many progressive and intelligent farmers of Mur- ray Township, none take higher rank than the subject of this sketch, who is one of the old homesteaders of the county, having added to his original 160 acres another quarter on section 5, and the same amount on section 8. all adjoining and making up a fine farm.
Our subject was born in Madison County, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1841, and was reared and educated in bis native county, receiving the best advantages af- forded there. He was of English descent, being the son of Henry Farrar, whose biography occu- pies another page in this work. When about twenty years of age our subject went to Kentucky, where he enlisted in the Ist Kentucky Infantry, his en- rollment taking place Feb. 9, 1862, at Bowling Green. The regiment to which he belonged was organized in Ohio, but not being able to obtain a place in the army as an Ohio regiment, it trans- ferred its enrollment to the adjoining State, Ken- tucky. The regiment was under the command of Col. Eryant, and later of Col. Gutbrey, and com- pany C, to which our subjeet belonged, was under the leadership of Capt. Ralph Ilunt. Twenty- seven months after Mr. Farrar's enlistment his regi- ment was discharged, the time of regimental enlistment having expired, and our subject served on detached duty for the succeeding nine months of his own term. While with his regiment he par- ticipated in the battle of Shiloh, being in the thick est of the fight, and receiving a flesh wound only, though twenty of his company were wounded and a number fell. His second engagement with the enemy was at Stone River. He also participated in the battles of Corinth and Chickamauga, in the
latter of which he saw hot shot and cannister to his entire satisfaction. Mr. Farrar was a private dur- ing the entire term of service, and is justly proud of his military record in the ranks of those who bore the brunt of the great conflict. While on de- tached duty Mr. Farrar was for five months clerk of Union Prison No. 3. of Lexington, Ky., and there became familiarized with clerkly duties. At the expiration of his three years' service he re- ceived an honorable discharge, and returned to his home. After a short sojourn there he went to New York City, and for two years served as clerk for a stock man. He returned again to the Buckeye State, in which sometime later he was married to Miss Martha Minter.
In 1870 Mr. Farrar came to this State and took up a soldier's claim on the fractional part of Mur- ray Township. At that time much of the town- ship was unbroken. There was no post-office or marketing place nearer than Frankfort. Mr. Far. rar was a poor man when he came to the county. and endured many hardships in the improvement of his homestead. Undiscouraged by them he labored on, and being energetic, economical and industrious he has succeeded, and now owns one of the most highly cultivated and attractive farms in the county. Since his marriage he has found an able second in his wife, who is a very smart, active and intelligent lady.
Mrs. Farrar was born in Adams County, l'a., April 19, 1850, being the daughter of Samuel and and Mary ( Hutchinson) Minter, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were reared. educated and married. Her father, Samuel Minter, was of German extraction, and her mother a native of New Jersey, and of New England parentage. The daughter, Mrs. Farrar, was but a small child when her parents moved to Salem, Ohio, where they lived for some years, from thence removing to London, Madison Co., Ohio, where the father died in 1862, at the age of forty-six. The mother survived him until 1871. when she died at the age of forty. Mr. Minter was a stonemason, and a very skillful work- man. Both he and his wife were, in their latter years, members of the Presbyterian Church. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters, of whom one son, Oscar, died at the age of twenty-
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two. The other son, Charles S. Minter, is with his wife residing at Cortez. Col., where he follows the trade of a blacksmith. One daughter, Flora, is now a teacher in the public schools of Lancaster, Ohio, being the widow of T. V. Clover. Mrs. Farrar re- ceived the best of training in her early years. She was educated in London, Ohio, and became a teacher, ranking high in her profession. She is the mother of eleven bright and interesting children, named respectively: Robert K., Edwin O., Neil, Pearl. Flora, Minter, Lena, Henry H., Homer T., Dale and Georgie, all of whom still cluster about the home fireside.
Mr. and Mrs. Farrar are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Farrar has held official place. He is a member of Axtell Post. No. 252 G. A. R. ITe is a stanch Republican, and takes an active interest in local politics, though not in an office-seeking capacity. He is warmly interested in educational affairs, as is his wife, who occupies a position upon the School Board, where she exhibits excellent judgment in her decisions.
E DGAR R. FULTON has been prominently connected with the First National Bank of Marysville. since its establishment in 1882, occupying with ability the important position of cashier. Ile became a resident of Marysville, in July, 1882. The above mentioned bank was organized August 1. 1882, and succeeded to the business of the Marshall County Bank. The doors were opened Oct. 15, 1882. with the following officers: M. S. Smalley, President; S. A. Fulton, subsequently be- came President: Perry Hutchinson. Vice-president ; E. R. Fulton, cashier. They commenced business with a capital of $50,000, now increased to $75,000, and are doing well. having met with uniform and unvarying success.
Born in Clearfield County, Pa., Feb. 10, 1856. Mr. Fulton there lived during the days of his boy- hood, and received a good, practical education, becoming well fitted for the responsibilities of an active life. At the age of seventeen years. he fol- lowed the march of human progress Westward, and
located at Falls City, Neb. While residing in Falls City, he read law in the office of his brother S. A. Fulton. Subsequently he was graduated in the class of '77, from the Law Department of the University of Iowa, and commenced the practice of his profession in Western Kansas, locating in Hodgeman County. where he was a successful attor- ney for some time. Since he engaged in banking, he has quit the practice of law.
The 20th day of May, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie A. Schmidt, a daughter of Frank Schmidt, a banker of this city, whose sketch also appears in this volume. Two bright and interesting children have come to bless the home circle, a son, Edgar R., Jr., and a daughter, Jennie L. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Fulton is also iden- tified with the Masonic fraternity, having passed the chapter degrees. Politically. he is strongly in sympathy with the Republican party, and votes that ticket.
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