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 39
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and slabs for seats and desks. Light was admitted through window panes of greased paper, and heat was furnished from a large fireplace extending across nearly one end of the building. 'The smoke was coaxed up a chimney built outside of earth and sticks. Young Williams did not attend school after he was fourteen years old, being required thereafter to make himself useful on the farm. He began learning the blacksmith trade in 1840, which he has followed up to the present time, including his term of service in the army.
After the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Will- iams enlisted Aug. 1, 1862, in the 27th lowa In- fantry which was assigned to the 16th Corps, Army of the West, under command of Gen. A. J. Smith. They were in detached service and Mr. Williams operated as a blacksmith. He enlisted at Dubuque as regimental blacksmith and finished up as fore- man at headquarters. He remained in the ranks until August, 1865, and then received his honora- ble discharge.
In the meantime, while a resident of his native State Mr. Williams was married April 8, 1847, to Miss Mary A. Walters, who was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1828, and is the daughter of Samuel and Catherine Walters. To our subject and his estimable wife there has been born a large family of children, nine of whom are living, viz .: Clarissa, Mrs. Anton Weeks, of Noble Township, this county; Olivia, the wife of William Greve, living near Los Angeles. Cal .; Alvaretta, Mrs. Peter Cline, of this county; Lovina, the wife of Martin Goldsberry of this county; Oliver, a resi- dent of Osborn County; Josiah. St. Clair, MeGrew, and Hattie are at home with their parents.
Mr. Williams has served as a School Director in his district a number of terms, but aside from this has invariably declined the responsibilities of office. He usually votes the straight Republican ticket and has contributed his full share in developing the best interests of Marshall County. llis integ- rity has never been questioned and both as a farmer and a citizen he occupies no secondary place in his community. Together with his estimable wife he has labored many years in the establishment of a home and the accumulation of a competence, and they are traveling down the hill together, feeling a
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degree of satisfaction in the knowledge of lives well spent, and reaping solace from the friends with whose esteem and confidence they are blest as a part of their reward for well doing.
R ICHARD MORTON. The results of per- severance under difficulties and adverse circumstances, are admirably illustrated in the career of Mr. Morton, one of the early homesteaders of Kansas. who came to the frontier during the time which tried men's souls. From a tract of wild, uncultivated land, he has constructed a valuable homestead, 160 aeres in extent, and finely located on section 26, Roek Township. Ile has, in addition to this, eighty acres on section 35. The whole has been brought to a productive condi- tion, and the buildings of the home farm, although making no pretensions to elegance, are all that is required for the comfort and convenience of the family. In and around the dwelling are the evi- dences of refined taste, chiefly the result of the la- bors of Mrs. Morton, who is a very intelligent lady, and delights in beautifying her home. Their chil- dren have been given the best advantages, and the family stands second to none within the limits of Rock Township.
The subject of this sketeh was born near Sea- forth, Huron Co., Canada, Dec. 13, 1840, and lived with his parents on a farm until a youth of sixteen years. He in the meantime received only limited school advantages, and now, starting out for him- self, began an apprenticeship at the earpenter's trade, which he has since followed the greater part of the time, although likewise prosecuting agricul- tural pursuits. Ile proved handy with tools, and at an early age developed the business talents which have been the secret of his sucecss through life. At the age of nineteen he commenced as a builder and contraetor, which he followed thereafter for a period of twelve years, in the meantime making his home with his parents.
In the spring of 1869, Mr. Morton decided upon seeing something of the Great West, and journeyed across the Mississippi to Colorado. He sojourned
in that region only a short time, then coming to this county, homesteaded eighty acres of his pre- sent farm, which has since been his abiding-place. For two years thereafter he worked principally as a carpenter, but in the meantime labored at the improvement of his farm as he had opportunity. In 1871 he located upon it permanently, and grad- ually made farming his principal business, although doing carpenter work as opportunity permitted. He made very good headway until 1873, when a fire destroyed his buildings and grain, and in the fall of 1874, the maxim that misfortune never comes singly, was verified, as his team ran away, and Mr. Morton suffered the fracture of an arm and leg, by reason of which he was laid up for some time. He had come here to stay. however, and there was nothing to do but make the best of cir- eumstanees. In 1876 his homestead was proved up, and since that time he has been prosperous.
In 1880 Mr. Morton invested a portion of his surplus capital in 100 acres of school land on see- tion 35. Rock Township, for which he paid $4 per acre. Three years later he sold this and purchased eiglity aeres adjoining on section 35, at $8 per acre. Many of his fields are enclosed with hedge- feneing, which being nicely trimmed, is ornamental as well as useful. Among the other attractions of the place is a fish-pond and a never-failing spring by which it is fed. Mr. Morton makes a specialty of stock-raising as well as feeding, and ships an- nually several ear-loads of cattle and swine. He keeps seven head of graded Norman horses, utiliz- ing two teams in his farming operations. The homestead lies about five miles from Frankfort. In addition to his other labors, Mr. Morton planted forest and fruit trees, having a fine apple orchard, and maple and cottonwood groves, which serve as a protection from the summer sun and the wintry blasts.
In Centralia, Kan., on the 28th of July. 1871, a marriage ceremony performed by the Rev. T. B. Gray, united the destinies of our subject with Miss Susan, daughter of G. E. Ewing, the latter a na- tive of Maryland. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Morton was William J. Ewing, likewise a na- tive of Maryland, and who occupied himself as a farmer and wagon-maker. The great grandfather,
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James Ewing, served as a private in the Revolu- tionary War, and his son, William, was in the War of 1812, in a cavalry regiment, and furnished his own equipments; both died in Maryland. The father of Mrs. Morton was a well-educated man. and during his younger years engaged in school teaching. Ile likewise studied medicine under the instruction of Dr. Andrew, of Westerville, Ohio, and began the practice of his profession in Han- cock County, that State. After living in various other places, he finally crossed the Mississippi in 1865, locating in Centralia, Kan., where he was in- strumental in the organization of a college. Later he came to this county, and homesteaded a tract of land in Rock Township. Five years later he re- moved to Beattie, and embarked in the drug busi- ness. Next he removed to Council Grove, this State, where he followed his profession. He was a Republican. politically, and a member of the Church of God.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Peters) Ewing, the mother of Mrs. Morton was born in Licking County, Ohio, and was the daughter of William Peters, a native of Maryland, who emigrated to the Buckeye State at an early day, settling in Licking County. He married Miss Sarah Bashford, of Virginia, whose father was born in Ireland. This lady died in Beattie, this county, on the 19th of February, 1883; she had been a member of the United Brethren Church for the long period of forty years. Mrs. Morton was the eldest child of her parents, whose family consisted of four daughters and two sons. Her younger sister. S. Jennie, Mrs. Cook, is a resident of Ellsworth County, this State; Jerry R. is a resident of the same county; Mattie. Mrs. Storm, resides in Pawnee County, Neb .; Daniel L. acquired a good education, and became Principal of the Wyandotte School, where he died in 1885; Mary, Mrs. Ott, is a resident of Rock Township.
Mrs. Morton was born near Johnstown. Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 23, 1844. She was reared in her native town, and received a good education. fitting herself for a teacher, and conducting the first school in Wyandot County, when a maiden of eighteen years. She came to this State in 1865. and fol- lowed her profession six terms, and until her mar-
riage. Of this union there have been born three children-Ida H., Clara E., and George W. The eldest daughter is preparing for teaching. Miss Clara is musically inclined, and is studying the art at Frankfort, with the intention of fitting herself for a teacher.
Mr. Morton, politically. is a sound Republican, and one of the leading lights of his party in this region, frequently being sent as a delegate to the County conventions. He has served as Township Trustee and Assessor three years each. and has been a School Director in his distriet for the past fifteen years. le assisted materially in the building of the first school-house in his district, donating the work. lle has also officiated as Road Supervisor. Both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Frankfort, in which Mr. Morton is a Trustee.
The father of our subject was Elisha Morton, a native of Vermont, and the son of Silas Morton, who, during his younger years carried on farming in the Green Mountain State, then removed to the Provinee of Ontario, Canada, and settled on a farm near Toronto, where he became well-to-do, and spent his last days. He was of Scotch deseent. Elisha Morton was a boy when his parents removed to Canada, and he lived there until reaching man's estate, becoming owner of a 100-acre farm, which he operated together with a steam sawmill. Dur- ing the Canadian Rebellion he was forced into the serviee, handcuffed, and hauled on a sled with oth- ers to the seat of war. He finally made his escape, and remaining a resident of the Dominion, died there in 1876. He was a believer in the Christian religion.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject, was Samantha Gager, and she was born in the Pro- vince of Ontario, Canada, in 1818. Grandfather Gager was a native of Massachusetts, where he was educated. and taught school during his younger years. Later he removed to Canada. and followed farming in the Dominion until his death. He mar- ried a Miss Huntley, whose father was a native of Wales. The latter upon emigrating to America, settled in Massachusetts on a farm, and later served in the Revolutionary War. Finally he removed to Canada, where he died. The mother of our
Respectfuly Jours.
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subject is still living at the old homestead in Can- ada, and sympathizes with the doctrines of the Christian Church. The parental household con- sisted of eight children, the eldest of whom, Enos, is a farmer of Williams County, Ohio; Huldah, Mrs. Hilborn, is a resident of Horton, this State; Rebecca, Mrs. Abby, lives in Michigan; Richard, our subject, was the fourth in order of birth; Sid- ney is a farmer in Rock Township, this county; Alonzo is a carpenter by trade, and makes his head- quarters at Frankfort; Alfred, deceased; Wealthy lives with her mother in Canada.
R EV. JOHN M. BROWN, whose portrait is presented on another page of the ALBUM, was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Axtell, and was looked upon as one of its ablest and most efficient men. During the early years of his ministry he organized seventcen churches in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. He was born in Moscow, Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 18, 1827, and departed this life at his home in Ax- tell, Nov. 2, 1888. Ile came to this county in the spring of 1879 and at once located in the town which ever afterward remained the object of his solicitude and affection.
Mr. Brown was sent to this community to or- ganize a Presbyterian church, which he successfully accomplished with a membership of twenty-one persons. Ile remained associated with this until his decease, building it up to a strong and flourish- ing organization. He was a ceaseless worker, both within the church and without, and at the same time accumulated a snug property including seven acres of ground within the city limits, where he built up a fine home and operated as a fruit grower and horticulturist. He loved nature in all her forms, and nothing gave him more pleasure than to witness the development of bud and flower and finally the perfect fruit.
Mr. Brown in 1885 organized Fair View Churel, five miles northwest of Axtell, of which he was pas- tor for two years. lle also presided over a congre-
gation which held its meetings in the Star school- house south of Axtell. During the period of his pastorate in Axtell, he organized the Presbyterian Church in Oneida, Kansas, and it was chiefly through his efforts that the church edifice in that city was erected. llis labors were uniformly blessed with success. Prior to his establishment at Axtell, he had been the pastor of a congregation at Ilays City, Ellis County, where he was stationed a little over two years and at the same time preached at Ft. Hayes, which was then a Govern- ment post. He completed his ministerial studies at Collinsville and Galesburg, Ill., and began preaching when a young man of twenty-five years.
The father of our subject was Rev. Amos Philips Brown, who was likewise a minister of the Presby- terian Church, and a native of Thornton, N.Il. He spent his boyhood and youth among the Green Mountain hills and was married in Boscawen, Mer- rimack County, to Miss Jane Little, likewise a native of that State and one of a family which pro- duced a large number of ministers and men of note. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown lived for a time in New Hampshire, and then removed to New York State where they sojourned until 1834, then emigrated to Illinois and were among the earliest pioneers in Jersey County. The father commenced his pious work among a seattered people and la- bored without faltering until his health failed. Hle was never content except when laboring for the Master. and died at the age of sixty-seven years. after having spent all of his active life as pastor and teacher. His first wife died when compara- tively a young woman and he was a second time married.
The subject of this sketch was only seven years of age when his father removed to Illinois, and he there obtained a practical education in the com- mon school and was carefully trained by his excel- lent parents. About the time of reaching his majority he was married in Galesburg, to Miss Eliz- abeth Bartlett, who was born and reared there. She became the mother of eight children, and died in Ilay's City, this State, in 1876. Of these chil- dren only four are living, four having died prior to, the decease of the mother. Lizzie is the wife
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of Prof. Richard Leman. and resides in Columbus, Ohio, where Mr. Leman is engaged as a teacher of music and German; Hattie L. married E. E. Caps, and they are residents of Hastings, Neb., where Mr. Caps is engaged in the drug business; Lottie C. is the wife of S. E. Butt, and they live in Leav- enworth, where Mr. Butt is connected with a gen- tlemen's furnishing house; Alfred L. married Miss Georgia Wood, and they live in Denver. Col.
In due time our subject contracted a second marriage in Cleveland, Ohio, with Miss Emma M. Root, who was born in Mantua in 1832, and is the daughter of Jeremiah and Huldah ( Harmon ) Root. The parents of Mrs. Brown were natives of Massa- chusetts and Connecticut respectively, and in early life when twelve and five years old removed with their parents to Portage County, Ohio, and were married in Aurora. They afterward removed to Mantua, Ohio, where Mr. Root accumulated a large property. He made a specialty of farming, al- though he was officially connected with township and eounty affairs. He had an excellent knowl- edge of common law, and was frequently called upon to operate as arbitrator in settling estates and other matters. He exerted a decided influence in his community and was numbered among its most useful men. Ile departed this life at his home in Aurora in 1873, aged seventy-eight years. The wife and mother survived her husband three years, dying in 1876, at the age of seventy-five. Both were members of the Congregational Church, and Mr. Root politically was a sound Republican. lle was onee solicited by his party to become their eandidate for the State Legislature, but declined the honor.
Mrs. Emma M. Brown was one of the younger members of her father's family, and like the others received a good edueation which she completed in the Female Seminary at Hudson. and at the West- ern Reserve College in Lake County, Ohio. She pos- sessed considerable musical talent and was a very successful teacher of this art for some time prior to her marriage. She is a member in good stand- ing of the Presbyterian Church and occupies a high social position.
During the progress of the Civil War, Mr. Brown who had been a resident of Minonk, Ill., for
eight years as pastor of the church there, consid- ered that he had a sterner duty to perform, and on the 11th of August, 1862, enlisted in Company H. 77th Illinois Infantry as First Sergeant. Ile re- paired at once to the front with his regiment and participated in many of the important battles which followed, including the fight at Arkansas Post, the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and other less important engagements. His health in time beeame greatly impaired. and on the 3d of June. 1863, he was obliged to accept his honorable discharge for disability. Upon retiring from the service he located in Pierce City, Mo.
Mr. Brown was a charter member of Axtell Post, G. A. R .. No. 253, at Axtell, which was organized chiefly through his instrumentality, and in connec- tion with which he officiated as Chaplain most of the time till his death. Ile leaves a record of a long and useful life, and his name is held in kindly remembrance by all who knew him. An earnest advocate of the cause of temperance, he seemed many times to stand alone in the face of fierce op- position, yet he never wavered but always stood firm in his convictions. He never sacrificed prin- ciple for party or for the sake of gaining the good- will of the public. Truly applicable to Mr. Brown are the words. " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work in the grave, whither thon goest." He believed and acted upon the belief that he must work now, work while the day lasts, work till He comes, then will be rest, blessed. eternal rest.
UDGE WILLIAM P. MADDEN, The dis- comforts now felt by settlers in a newly opened section, are not to be compared to those endured by the pioneers of civiliza- tion. Except in a few mountain regions of the West, the frontiersman is a thing of the past. How much we of the present age owe to those who en- dured hardships and great dangers a few years ago. is inestimable. High honor should be given our old settlers, even if they succeeded only in opening up the country, and much more if they, through such
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discouraging surroundings, have raised themselves to comfort or affluence. Among those of this county who have experieneed all the hardships of pioneer life, is the subject of this sketch, now a successful farmer and stock-raiser on seetion 1, St. Bridget Township, where he owns and occupies a finely improved farm of 640 aeres. He is one of the oldest permanent settlers, not only of this connty, but of the State, having been a resident since 1851. On coming to this county he obtained 160 acres of Government land, being on the north- west quarter of seetion 12, in what is now St. Bridget Township. The entire county was a wild waste of unbroken prairie, and Mr. Madden had no neighbors, and Indians were the only human beings within miles. He did not possess much of this world's goods, and it was only by hard work and privation that he was enabled to accomplish his purpose of making for himself a good home. That he has succeeded well, the large addition which he has. made to his original purchase, and the excel- lent improvements made, are the best evidence, His experience during his earlier years in this eounty would have discouraged many, but with the true pioneer spirit he labored on, undismayed by aceidents, even the great misfortune by fire making him but the more determined to continue.
Judge Madden is of pure Irish blood, his par- ents, Patrick and Honora Maddeu, having been born, reared and married in Galway County, Ire- land, where both died at an advanced age. The father was a carpenter and farmer, and both par- ents were members of the Roman Catholic Church. Our subject was the youngest but one of the parental family, and was born in Galway, Galway County, Ireland, in the year 1831. Ile was a bright boy, and while at school wou merit for his scholarship. Ile obtained a very good educa- tion before coming to this country, which he did while yet quite young. He landed in New York, and continued his schooling there for sometime. In Albany, N. Y., he enlisted in the United States regular army. He served five years, during which time he formed part of the command at all the forts from Leavenworth to the Pacific Slope, though the regimental headquarters was much of the time at Ft. Kearney. He took part in many,
Indian engagements, the most notable being the Sioux expedition, when his regiment. the 6th In- fantry, had some hard fighting. Company I, to which he belonged, was in more than a half dozen battles. and engaged in skirmishies, but besides a slight flesh wound, Judge Madden escaped un- hurt. He became well acquainted with the West, and with the modes of Indian warfare, during his army life. At the expiration of his term of ser- vice, in 1856, he located in Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., where he remained until coming to this county.
Judge Madden was married, in St. Bridget Town- ship, to Miss Catherine Rogers, a native of Ireland, who was born about 1849. Iler parents Barney and Mary (Dillon) Rogers, emigrated to the United States when she was but a few months old. They first settled in Ripley, Ohio, and later removed to Maysville, Ky. In 1860 they came to Kansas, set- tling in what is now St. Bridget Township, where the father improved a new farm, which he had preempted. In 1867 Mr. and Mrs Rogers removed to Washing- ton County. Kan., where Mr. Rogers improved 160 acres, and where he died at the age of one hundred and four years. Mrs. Rogers also died in Wash- ington County, when about seventy years of age. Both were communieants of the Catholic Church.
Mrs. Madden was reared and educated by her parents, remaining with them antil her marriage. She is the mother of eleven children, of whom four are deceased. Two died in infaney, and two boys. Thomas and Jerome, died while young. The living children are all at home. forming a bright and in- teresting circle; they are William, lohn, Terry. Minora, Mary, Thomas and Maggie.
Mr. Madden was the first Probate Judge for this county after the adoption of the State Constitu- tion, and held the office for two years. He has since held most of the local offices, especially that of Justice of the Peace. in which he has served for a number of terms. He has made his politieal in . fluence felt in his township, and has all his life been a booming Republiean. Both he and his wife are dissenters from the Roman Catholic Church. in which faith they were bred, and have no established religious belief. Mr. Madden is a man of fine natural abilities, which have been well improved by training and observation, is enterprising and
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honorable in his business relations. kindly in his home and social life, and possesses the wit and cor- dial manners which are so general among his coun- trymen. Both he and his wife command the hearty respect of the community.
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P ETER. H. PETERS. In the life of the gentleman of whom we write, we have a fine example of what may be accomplished by energy and perseverance, coupled with good habits. He began life for himself at the early age of fourteen, and with no capital except his na- tive ability and a knowledge of the printer's trade, attained before middle life to a high position in the community where he dwelt.
Mr. Peters was born in St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 16. 1840, and there learned his trade. working until the age of eighteen in his native city. At this early period in the history of Marshall County, he came to Marysville and engaged on the Palmeto Kansan, of this city. He had worked but a few months when the paper was discontinued. Having been ill at the time of the suspension of the paper, he was taken to a farm northwest of the city by its owner. Mr. Magill, whose sketch occupies another page in this ALBUM. After a few months spent at the home of Mr. Magill. our subject started the Marysville Democrat, having as his associate R. S. Mills. The publication of this paper was discontinued July 31, 1860. when the office was destroyed by a cyclone. In 1862, in company with Mr. Magill, he started the Constitutional Ga- zetteer. The eighth issue of this paper containing some strictures on the character of Gen. James H. Lane, then a member of the United States Senate, the plant was destroyed by a company of soldiers. With the usual pluck of a newspaper man. Mr. Peters paid little heed to the discouragements which beset his way, and in 1864 he started the Marysville Enterprise, of which he was sole editor and proprietor. He continued its publication un- til 1868, when he sold to George W. Crowthers, who moved the paper to Irvine, this county. The following year he started the Marysville Loromotire
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