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 49
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Concerning the personal history of our subject, it is recorded that his birth occurred March 1, 1810, in Northumberland County, Pa., then the residence of his parents, William and Margaret (Cauldwell) Auld, the former a native of County Antrim, Ire- land, and of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. William Auld left the Emerald Isle when a youth of sixteen years, and coming directly to Philadelphia, followed the trade of shoe-making in Northumberland County, Pa., where he also engaged in farming. Below we give the names of the twelve children born to the father of our subject: Elinor, who died when only three years old; John C., James, Jane, Elinor, Grace, Samuel, Margaret, Elizabeth, Dan. C., our subject, William H. and Lazarus. John C. died in 1834 in Harrison County, Ohio. He left a widow and one child, who have since followed him to the grave. James died in 1832, leaving no family. Jane be- came the wife of Nathan Johnson, and passed away in 1839, leaving five children, two of whom re- main, Nathan and Margaret. Elinor married Philip Donahey, and died in 1830, leaving five children. Grace was nnited in marriage with James Wilson, (See sketch of J. Bird Wilson). Samuel and Mar- garet died unmarried, the former in 1827, the lat- ter in 1824. Elizabeth remained single, and passed
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to her rest in 1832. The two youngest, William H, and Lazarus, died in 1834, both unmarried.
Few recollections of the home of his infancy cluster around the childhood reminiscences of our subject, for at the age of four years he accompa- nied his parents to Ilarrison County. Ohio, where they settled near Cadiz. in 1814. They thus bid a final adieu to their eastern home, and entered the ranks as pioneer settlers of the West. as Ohio was then considered. The father made a home in the wilderness, and there our subject passed his youth. His father was a farmer, and taught his children to put their shoulders to the wheel when young. and by his example of industry and honorable dealing with all men, led his sons and daughters aright through the years of youth. With others of this large family, Mr. Dan. C. Auld devoted the short winter days to the pursuit of knowledge in the primitive schools, conducted on the subscription plan, and shared in the fortunes and misfortunes of the boys and girls, who were as fun-loving then as now. But the bright dreams of youth were dis- pelled by the stern reality of labor. Early or- phaned, our subject had to fight all alone with the world. His mother died in 1826, and his father two years later. With the death of his parents commenced a new era in his life. Thrown upon his own resources he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed ten years, and until after his marriage. Ilaving no parental home around which to center his affections, his thoughts very naturally turned to the founding of a home of his own. He chose as his wife a cousin, Jane Auld, with whom he was united in marriage in 1840. This lady was a native of the same county as ber husband, and was born to John and Elizabeth Auld, the former born in Ireland, and the latter in Northumberland County, Pa.
Engaging in the peaceful pursuits of the farm for about fifteen years, our subject and his wife then decided to remove to Kansas, which was done in 1855. He settled on his present farm and, as before stated, pre-empted 160 acres of government land, When he first settled here. St. Joseph, Mo., was the nearest town and postoffice, but the year after his arrival a postoffice was established in Ma- rysville. The second postoffice in the county was
at the residence of our subject, established in 1857 and called Nottingham. Mr. Auld was made post- master and continued as such until 1867, when the postoffice was removed to Frankfort. Mr. Auld had the honor to be the first Justice of the Peace in Marshall County, holding that office three years. In 1861 he was elected by the Republican party as Representative of Marshall County in the first State Legislature. In his political attiliations our subject has changed somewhat, having been originally a Democrat, but afterward, during war times, joined the ranks of the Republican party, voting with them up to the time of the candidacy of Peter Cooper for the Presidency. Since then he has been a Union La- bor man. He says. " I joined and voted with the Republican party to free the slaves; then joined and voted with the Union Labor party to free myself." Both as a Republican and as a member of the Union Labor party, he has served as delegate to various congressional, county and township conventions, and was a member of the Union Labor county Central Committee. Religiously he is a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, and has assisted that cause as well as all other worthy religious and benevolent movements by financial aid, cheerfully and liberally given.
Having been twice married and twice bereaved by death of the one nearest and dearest to him, Mr. Auld walks the downward path of life in soli- tude and loneliness, save for the loving devotion of children and friends. Their thoughtful care and ever watchful attentions will smooth the latter part of his life, and make his existence a happy one even into the " valley of the shadow of death." The first wife was his cousin, Jane Auld,and she was taken from the midst of the family circle in 1860, leaving eight children, whose names are as follows : William Hamilton, Margaret Elizabeth, John, Mary J., Elinor, Dan. Hale, Grace and Albert. William H. was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bradford, and resides abont one fourth of a mile west of the parental homestead. To him and his wife have been born seven children. He is a well-to-do farmer and a very popular citizen. Margaret E. became the wife of W. T. Dwinnell, the mother of six children, five of whom are now living, and died in February, 1874, at the age of thirty-two. Mr.
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Dwinnell is one of the early settlers of the county, and resides in Frankfort, where he has held the of- fice of Justice of the Peace for about twenty-five years. Mary J. married Luther Moore, who is en- gaged in minlng in Colorado. where they live with their family of four living children. Elinor died at her father's home in 1875. She was the wife of Finlay McDonald, and left one child. John and Dan. II. are unmarried, and are now carrying on the home farm, which yields plentifully of all kinds of grain under their wise management. Grace married George N. Holmes, now in the Land Department of the Sante Fe Railroad, and located in Topeka ; they have three children. The youngest of this family, Albert, died when two years old.
The second union of our subject was eonsum- mated in 1865, when he became the husband of Mrs. Elinor Ilyde, widow of Dr. Edward Hyde. Iler maiden name was Elinor Foster, and she was married to our subjeet in Topeka. By her first marriage she had one child, a daughter, Flora, who died when she was twenty-four years of age. No children were born of her second marriage. Mrs. Auld was taken away by death in 1887. She was an amiable woman, a kind friend and a loving wife. Ever charitable toward those in want, sympathizing with those in trouble, comforting those in sorrow, she was mourned and regretted by all in her com- munity.
Not the least interesting period in the life of Mr. Auld was during the Civil War. He enlisted du- ring the first part of the conflict in 1862, being mustered in with Company G, 13th Kansas In- fantry of which he was Second Lieutenant. Among the battles in which he took part were Prairie Grove, Cain Ilill and Little Rock. He escaped without receiving any serions injuries and was mustered out at Springfield. Mo .. in 1863.
It is with pleasure that Mr. Auld notes the many changes the hand of time is everywhere making in his vicinity. and it is a favorite pastime of his to dwell on pioneer days, and compare them with our present advanced civilization. Those days of toil and care are sweet to look baek upon. although fraught with many discomforts and even perils. Indians had not yet left the county when he came here, while goods and supplies had to be hauled
from St. Joseph, Mo., nearly 100 miles distant. Mail also was received from that remote town, and as may be imagined letters were few and far be- tween, while news traveled slowly. In making these trips to and from St. Joseph, it was the custom to cross the Missouri on the ice, and Mr. Auld says he often crossed it when life was periled by the at- tempt. On one occasion he and Mr. A. G. Barrett were lost in the prairie in mid-winter, and only those who have passed through similar experiences, can conceive of the sufferings they endured before shelter was gained. This happened in 1858 when they were returning from a trip to St. Joseph. Our subject froze his feet badly, but was thankful to escape alive. The first school-house and also the first mill in the neighborhood were located at Barrett, four miles southwest. Mr. Auld aimed to build up a town on his land, but the location was not suitable. Ilis first home was a log cabin, which was afterward replaced by the present commodious residence.
Now in the advanced period of life. when we are disposed to look backward with feelings of either pleasure or pain at opportunities grasped or or lost, Mr. Auld can say that he has willingly in- jured no man, but has always endeavored to live up to his standard as a Christian and a man. As a citizen he has been popular, conservative and pub- lie-spirited; as a neighbor obliging, generous and hospitable, and as a Christian, consistent, upright and charitable.
ATRICK CAMPBELL was born in County Dublin, Ireland, though his ancestors were Scotch. His mother, Mary Carney was of Irish birth, and his father, Richard Camp- bell from Edinburg, Scotland. The parental fam- ily consisted of ten children, six boys and four girls, our subject being the youngest. While he was still young he came to America with his mother, who desired to join her family. Owing to the eir- cumstances of his youth and removal, our subject had no educational advantages, and the knowledge
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which he possesess has been obtained outside of the schools. The family settled at Revere, near Bos- ton, Mass. When a young man of about twenty- five our subject went to the city of Chicago, Ill .. where he remained about ten years, being employed in the oldest packing house in that city. There he was married, in May, 1878, to Miss Bridget Hines, of that eity. She was a native of Texas, Md., and was a daughter of Phillip and Ann (Jones) Hines. Her mother was a native of County Clare, Ireland, and her father of County Dublin, as had been his father. In 1880 our subject came to Kansas and settled on section 33, St. Bridget Township. on the quarter section where he now resides. At the time of his taking possession, there were but thirty acres of the land broken, and the only improvement was a small frame shanty. There are now 130 acres under thorough cultivation, thirty acres being kept in wild grass, and a substantial house, together with good and adequate stables, have been put upon the place by its owner.
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been blessed by the Irth of six children, five of whom survive: Rich- ard, Mary, Bridget Ann, Katie and Margaret.
Mr. Campbell is a very liberal Democrat in his polities. He is a member of the St. Bridget Catho lic Church. He is an industrious and enterprising farmer, an honorable and upright man and a re- spected member of the community where he resides.
W ILLIAM II. GRANT, a prominent agricul- turist of Murray Township, is located on a finely improved farm of 240 acres on sec- tion 28, where he has made his home since Sep- tember. 1887, bringing the place to its present state of cultivation and improvement since that time.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of England, where he married and where his wife died. He then with his children came to America, locating in White County, Ill., where he died at the age of sixty-three. He was not a mem- ber of any church in this country. though probably a communicant of the Church of England in his
native land. His son Richard, the father of our subject, remained with his father for some time, but was living in Wayne County, Ill., when he at- tained his majority. In that county he was mar- ried to Mary Wood, a native of Kentucky, who had come to Illinois sometime before her marriage. After marriage Mr. Grant and wife settled upon a farm in Wayne County, Big Mound Township, afterward removing to Avington Township the same county, where the wife died in middle age, and the husband attained to the age of sixty-three. Mr. Richard Grant was a member of the Old Bap- tist Church from an early period in his life. Mrs. Grant was an excellent woman and worthy wife and mother, though she did not consider member- ship in the church necessary to religious life.
Our subject was a boy of about twelve years when he lost his mother. He had been born in Wayne County, Ill., Dec. 16, 1831. Ile was reared under his father's charge, and remained in his na- tive county until his removal to Kansas. Ile was married near his childhood's home to Miss Louvi- nia Smith, a member of an Ohio family of good blood. She has borne her husband thirteen chil- dren, six of whom are now passed from earth- Loretta, Nora and Etta died while quite young; William S. at the age of seven years; Charles R., at the age of twenty-six; Thomas A. at the age of twenty-one. The living children are: Emma C. D., wife of D. A. Gallant, who resides in Has- kell County, Kan .; Mary is the wife of O. B. Det- weiler, residing in St. Bridget Township; Robert, who married Phoebe Daniels, and resides in this township, and IIerman, Elmer, Lou O, and Myrtle M., who are still at home. All of the married chil- dren live upon farms.
Mrs. Lonvinia (Smith) Grant is the daughter of Spencer Smith, a farmer who was married in Ohio to Miss Catherine Yarl, the wife dying when in the prime of life and when her daughter Louvinia was very young. Sometime after her death Mr. Smith took a second wife, Miss Rachael McCoy,con- tinuing to reside in Ohio, where he died at Somer- ton when past eighty years of age. He was a member of the Christian Church, and his second wife was by birthright a Quaker. Mrs. Grant was reared in Ohio, until her sixteenth year, when she came to
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Illinois with her brother-in-law and sister, and lo- cated in Wayne County, where she grew to woman- hood and was married.
Mr. Grant is a successful farmer, an honored citizen, a man of sterling integrity of character, sound intelligence and genial manners. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. Both he and his wife have for many years been active members of the Christian Church, in which Mr. Grant has for some- time occupied the position of Elder.
C HARLES A. (KOCII) COOK, one of the younger members of the farming commu- nity of Wells Township. may be usually found attending strictly to his own concerns at a well regulated homestead on section 29. He is a Western man in his interests and sympathies, a native of Clinton County, Iowa, and born Oct. 20, 1851. His parents were Lewis and Mary ( Restler) Cook, both natives of Pennsylvania and of Ger- man descent. They crossed the Mississippi at an early day and settled in Clinton County, Iowa, among its earliest pioneers. Sojourning there until 1860 they then came to Northern Kansas, and the father took up a tract of Government land on a soldier's warrant and paid $1 25 per acre. This in the course of time was transformed into the farm which is now occupied by his son, Samuel, and which lies on sections 4 and 5. There the father sojourned until his death, which occurred June 22, 1866. Ilc was a man admirably adapted to the duties and struggles of life in a new country, and in his death thic county lost one of her best citizens. Ile was a Democrat politically, liberal and public spirited, and a strong advocate of the establish- ment of schools, being the originator of a petition the result of which was the organization of the first school in District No. 7. The mother is de- ceased; her death occurred on the homestead, Jan. 11, 1885.
To the parents of our subject there were born the following children, the eldest of whom, George, is a resident of Idaho; Adeline is the wife of William Steele, and lives in Oregon; Samuel has been al-
ready mentioned as occupying the old farm; Willis sojourns in Colorado and Frank in California; Luther, of this county; Charles and Albert are residents of this county; Joseph is in Colorado; Jennie is the wife of Stephen Inman, of this county. The elder Cook was a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church, and held some of the minor offices in his township.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, having come to this county when but a boy. Ile has watched its growth and development with that interest which can only be felt by an intelligent man, and has contributed in no small degree in bringing it to its present condition. His early ed- ucation was proscuted in the common schools, and later he attended Irving Seminary. He chose farming for his vocation early in life and before attaining his majority began making preparations for a home of his own, being married Sept. 30, 1871, to Miss Lilly Farrant. Of this union there have been born five children, four of whom are living, viz: Walter. Viola died when fourteen months old, Jesse, George and Harry H.
Mrs. Cook was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill .. April 20, 1856, and is the daughter of John and Lilly Farrant, who came to this county in 1869 from Philadelphia, Pa., and settled in Wells Town- ship among its earliest pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Farrant were natives of England. They left Iili- nois for Pennsylvania when Mrs. Cook was a mere child, and she resided there until her thirteenth year, coming then to this State. John Farrant homesteadcd eighty acres of land on section 20, Wells Township, where he turned the first furrow, and he was about the first settler in his neighbor- hood. Ile resided there with his family a number of years, then removed to Barrett, and finally to Bine Rapids where he now resides.
To the parents of Mrs. Cook there were born the following children: Wesley, a resident of the State of Texas; Lilly, the wife of our subject; Alfred, living in Clear Fork Township, this county ; Laura, Mrs. Frank Allen, of Oketo; Frank, likewise of Oketo; Frederick and William, both residents of Blue Rapids. Mr. and Mrs. Farrant are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal
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Church, and frequently engaged in local ministerial work. In politics he is a sound Republican, and for a number of years has been the Postmaster at Barrett. He enjoys a large acquaintance in the county, and with his estimable wife is passing his declining years amid the comforts of a pleasant home, reaping the rewards of his early toils and sacrifices.
Mr. Cook's farm embraces 200 acres of well-de- veloped land, where he has erected a handsome, modern residence, which with its surroundings forms one of the most attractive homes in the township. Like his father before him, he is prominent in his community, serving as Township Clerk and School Treasurer; and in politics he is independent, aim- ing to support the men best qualified for office, irrespective of party.
OHN M. WATSON is not only one of the representative citizens of Marshall County, but one of the leading and successful busi- ness men of Frankfort, and an account of his career from his childhood to the present time finds an appropriate place in a work of this charac- ter. His father. Thomas Watson, was the son of Irish parents, while his mother traced her ancestry to the sturdy Scotch. The father was for many years a boat builder and carpenter, at Saltsburg, in the Conemaugh Valley, where he built boats for nse on the Pennsylvania canal. He afterward en- gaged in farming near Elder's Ridge, Pa., where he remained until 1870, when he removed to Salts- burg. where he resided until his death, which took place in June 1888, he having reached the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight. Our subject is the eldest of a family which embraced five boys and three girls. Thomas C., who is a farmer, lives on the old home place at Elder's Ridge with his wife. Mary J. is the wife of the Rev. A. T. Bell, a Pres- byterian minister at Home, Indiana Co., Pa .; they have one child, a girl of seventeen years. M. H. is a banker in Greenville, Mercer Co., Pa., is married and has two sons. Martha married G. P. McCart- ney, who operates the gas works, a paper mill and
a tannery in Indiana, Pa. Emma resides in Cam- den, N. J .; she is the wife of George W. Creigh- ton, a civil engineer, and Division Superintendent on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. William died in August, 1863, at the age of nine years. James P. is single and resides on the old home place.
Our subject, like the great majority of the suc- eessful citizens of Kansas, was reared upon a farm and early became acquainted with farm work. His early education was received in the common schools, and was supplemented by an academic course at Elder's Ridge Academy. Shortly after the breaking out of the war, Mr. Watson enlisted as a private in Company D, 62d Pennsylvania Infantry. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and during the next three years participated in the campaigns against Richmond, and against Lee and "Stonewall " Jackson in Vir- ginia. Maryland and Pennsylvania. Among the more important engagements in which our sub- ject took part may be mentioned Yorktown, Gaines Mills, Malvern Hill, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancelorsville, Gettys- burg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Ann River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. Although present with his regiment in the above battles, as well as a number of sharp skirmishes, Mr. Watson had the good fortune to escape unhurt. A number of bullet holes received in his clothing at various times, however, bore eloquent testimony to un- comfortably close calls. The three years for which Mr. Watson enlisted, expired on the 4th of July, 1874, and he was soon after honorably discharged from the service. Ile returned to Pennsylvania and attended the Elder's Ridge College until the spring of 1865, when he was attacked by the Western fever and came to this county. Ile purchased 320 acres of land in Wells Township, about five miles west of Frankfort. Shortly after he filed on an adjoining 160 acres under the homestead act. He has since purchased an additional eighty, making his present estate consist of 560 acres, all improved and under cultivation. From the year he arrived in Kansas until 1870 Mr. Watson followed farm- ing. In that year he was elected Register of Deeds of Marshall County, an office which he filled
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for two years. At the expiration of his term he returned to liis farm. on which he remained until 1880. In that year he came to Frankfort, and en- gaged in the business of buying, shipping and sell- ing live-stock. Ile continued in this business about three years, when he went into the lumber business, becoming the junior member of the firm of Brown & Watson. In 1888 he bought out his partner, and has since been running the business alone. Ile now owns the principal lumber yard in Frankfort, and his annual sales aggregate a large amount. ITis farm, which is rented, also yields him a satisfactory annual income.
On Feb. 4, 1872, our subject was married to Miss Emma MeDougal, a native of Missouri. Her parents died when she was a little girl, and she made her home with her sister, Mrs. May Mar- shall in Maysville, which city had been named after her. Mrs. Marshall now resides in Denver. Miss McDougal was educated at the convent schools of St. Marys, in Pottawatomie County, Kan., and of St. Joseph, Mo., and is a cultured, refined and ac- complished lady. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson-Frank W., Thomas 11 .. Ida, and Wiley HI., all of whom are living except Ida, who died at the age of seven years.
Mr. Watson is a member of Frankfort Lodge No. 67, A. F. & A. M., and has been Secretary of his Lodge for a number of years. Ile is also a member of Henderson Post No. 53, G. A. R., and is the Post Quartermaster. For the past seven years he has been a member and Treasurer of the Frank- fort School Board. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has been prominent in the coun- cils and active in the work of his party. Hle has served repeatedly as a delegate to County, Judi- cial, Congressional, and State conventions, and as a member of the County, Judicial and Congressional Central committees. It will thus be seen that Mr. Watson is not only an active and energetic busi- ness man, but a prominent and popular citizen. During his residence in Frankfort he has engaged heartily and earnestly in every enterprise having for its object the prosperity and welfare of the city.
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