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 64
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The wife of Mr. Meinecke was. like himself, a native of Germany, having been born near Berlin. Iler maiden name was Augusta Stauss, and when a mere child she came to America with her parents, Gustave and Minnie ( Angle) Stauss, who still live
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in Marysville. She was reared to domestic ways. and taught to provide for the comfort and happi- ness of the household. so that she was well fitted to make a thoughtful. industrious, housekeeper. Mr. and Mrs. Meinecke were united in marriage Dec. 14, 1875, and since their union have resided on their present farm, which they have improved to its fine condition. They are the parents of eight children, five living: Minnie, born Sept. 28, 1876; Rosa, July 31, 1878; Willie, Dec. 8, 1880; Henry, born Jan. 2, 1882, died in infancy ; Charley, born May 27, 1883; Henrietta, April 10, 1885; Mary, May 31, 1887; and Frank, born April 10, 1889, deceased.
Both reared in the Lutheran Church, our subject and his wife remain faithful to the training of their childhood, and are among the active and earnest workers in their home church. He is one of the Building Committee, and has been largely instru- mental, both by financial aid, encouraging words and timely action, in the erection of the new church edifice in Herkimer Township. Politically, he is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
G EORGE B. STOCKS. a well-known citizen of the county. has been a resident of Kansas for a period of seventeen years, having his home in Blue Rapids the entire time. He was born in Derbyshire, England. July 3, 1835, and when twelve years of age came to America with his parents. The latter, Joseph and Ann (Storer) Stocks, were likewise natives of Derbyshire. The maternal grandfather, Benjamin Storer. was a lead- ing public carrier, who before the days of rail- roads did a large business, transporting freight on the canals. The advent of railways ruined his business, and he, undertaking to compete with them, lost all his property but his freehold. His wife was Ann Cowlisher, who was in her younger days personally acquainted with Richard Ark- wright, the inventor of the spinning jenny.
On the paternal side the grandparents of Mr.
Stocks, were William and Ann (Radford) Stocks, the former being a road contractor, making State roads. The latter was the daughter of a gentle- man of wealth and position, and the match was a runaway one. Grandfather Stoeks was a man of fine character, and had the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He and his wife were well- educated people for that day. Both grandfathers took part in the Chartist War, in which Grandfather Storer was especially active. William Stocks died suddenly of apoplexy while on the road superin- tending his men, at the age of forty-seven years. His wife lived to be sixty-five years old. Their remains were laid to rest in Pentridge burial ground, in Derbyshire. Benjamin Storer died at the age of seventy ; his wife lived to be seventy-six years old, and both were interred at Duffield.
The family name of the subject of this sketch was originally spelled S-t-o.k-e-s, but the peculiar pro- nunciation of the Derbyshire folk made it sound as if spelled S-t-o-c-k-s, to which it was made to conform. Joseph Stocks in his native land was a machinist and engineer. In 1847 he, with his wife and six children, came to America to take advan- tage of the better opportunities for acquiring a home for himself and his family. He was born in 1810, and died Feb. 28. 1886, when a few days past seventy-six years of age. His wife, Ann, died Feb. 22. 1888. lacking just five days of being sev. enty-six years old also.
Upon coming to this country Joseph Stocks landed in Philadelphia, and thence made his way to Lycoming County. Pa., where he engaged in lime burning for a year and a half. He then pur- chased a team, and with his family set out for the West. Ile stopped at Freeport, Ill., and later pur- chased a farm within seven miles of that place. where he spent the remainder of his life. Ile was a man of unblemished character and unimpeachable honesty, and was held in the highest regard by all who knew him. Ile had strong religious convie- tions, and lived up to his professions. Ilis death was deeply mourned not only by his relatives, but by a large circle of friends, to whom his sterling character had greatly endeared him. He took a great interest in everything pertaining to the well- being of his adopted country. He became an
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Abolitionist from conviction, and was naturally a supporter of the Republican party, advocating vigorously the prosecution of the War for the Union. Quick and ready in speech, his witty answers to questions propounded by his disloyal neighbors often turned the laugh against them and encouraged the friends of the Union. He never held public office other than that of School Director, which position he filled for nearly twenty years, having a great interest in educational matters.
Joseph and Ann Stocks were the parents of ten children, six of whom were born in England and four in this country. George B., the subject of this sketch, was the eldest child. The second one, David, during the Rebellion enlisted in Company 1, 15th Illinois Infantry, and was killed at Altoona Gap, Ga. Joseph was also a Union soldier, enlist- ing in Company H, 4th Illinois Infantry, and was wounded at Jackson, Miss., from the effects of which he died about a year afterward. Maria is the widow of William Fotherby, a butcher at Free- port, Ill., where she is now living. Sarah Ann married Abraham Houser. a stock dealer of Lena, Ill; Eliza is the wite of Lorenzo Rosensteel, a farmer of Stephenson County, Ill .; William, a plas- terer and frescoer by trade, makes his home at Eau Claire, Wis .; James is a lumberman at the same place; Samuel is a farmer and real-estate agent in California; Fanny is the wife of William Wagoner, a farmer and school teacher in Stephen- son County, Ill.
George B. Stocks, the subject of this notice, re- ceived his early education in his native land. Upon the emigration of the family to America, being the eldest child, he was obliged to assist in the support of the younger children, consequently his schooling was extremely limited. In Illinois he learned the bricklayer's trade, at which he worked for fifteen years, and hved with his parents until he was married at the age of twenty-five. He then removed to Lena, where he lived five years, and thence crossed the Mississippi into Shelby County, Mo., where he embarked in the lumber and grain business, and was agent for the Amer- ican Merchants' Union Express Company. After several years he sold out his business and real estate, and in the spring of 1872 came to Blue
Rapids, this county, where he commenced dealing in lumber, grain and cattle. He disposed of his lumber business, and in 1884 purchased the Bank of Blue Rapids and the buildings in which its busi- ness was carried on. He took into partnership his son, Fred A., who continues as Cashier and man- ages its affairs very successfully.
In 1885 Mr. Stocks built the elevator at the depot of the central branch of the Missouri Pacific, which is said to be the finest country elevator in Kansas. It is furnished with many labor-saving appliances of Mr. Stocks' own invention, and its best features have been copied by many others since built. By an ingenious use of power, hand labor has been greatly lessened, all the heavy work being done by steam. In disposing of his lumber business in Blue Rapids, Mr. Stocks, in 1887, ex- changed it for valuable property in Kansas City. He is the owner of two valuable farms, one of 480 acres and another of 320 acres, both in Blue Rap- ids Township, all under fence and in a state of thorough cultivation. He also has twenty acres within the city limits of Blue Rapids. Upon one of his farms is a fine gypsum quarry, about two miles from the city. His son, the only boy of the family, has many interests in common with his father.
On the 3d of July, 1860, Mr. Stocks was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide Julia Culver, a daughter of Asa and Julia (Armstrong) Culver, who were natives respectively of Canada and Ver- mont. At that time they were living in Stephen- son County, Ill .. where Mr. Culver was engaged in farming. Later they removed to Shelby County, Mo., where Mrs. Culver died, and where her hus- band still resides, being now eighty years old. Mrs. Stocks was born in Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Oct. 8, 1844. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Stocks has been blessed by the birth of three chil- dren, viz .: Carrie Ann, the wife of Charles Holmes, of Blue Rapids; Fred A., of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this work, and Mina Creta. They also have an adopted daughter-Cora May Butler-a niece of Mrs. Stocks.
Mr. Stocks has been connected with many bene- ficiary orders, but is now only an active member of the Knights of Honor. He is heartily in favor
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of temperance, and has been Vice President of the Temperance Society of Marshall County. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Blue Rapids. In politics, Mr. Stocks is a Republican, but he has never sought public office, although he has served as a member of the Blue Rapids City Council, and is at present Chairman of the School Board of the city. Ilis energy and good business judgment have borne their legitimate fruit. and he is now a wealthy man. Possessing a sturdy honesty, plain and unassuming in manner, he enjoys in a marked degree the confidence of his community, and is numbered among the rep- resentative men who have had its best interests under their fostering care.
C APT. JAMES HEMPHILL, now Postmaster of Summerfield, earned his military title by nearly four years of faithful service to his country during the late Civil War. He is a gen- tleman of unusually modest bearing and retiring disposition, and although receiving injuries from which he has suffered much since the close of the war, he has never asked for or received a pension, although fairly entitled to it. Ile is a man highly esteemed in his community, being possessed of those sterling qualities which have gained him the confidence and good will of all who know him.
The subject of our sketch was born in Cumber- land County. Pa., Jan. 29, 1839, and was there reared to manhood on a farm. When twenty-two years of age he enlisted as a private in Company B, 107th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was first promoted to Second Sergeant, then to Second Lieutenant, later to First Lieutenant, and finally was presented with a Captain's commission. At the close of the war he was brevetted as Major. Ile received his promotions for meritorious conduet in the field, and participated in many of the impor- tant battles of the war, being present at South Mountain, Rappahannock, Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania. Betlisaida Church, Cold Ilarbor, Gettysburg, Stony Creek, and other minor engagements and skirmishes.
At Gettysburg he was knocked over by the explo- sion of a shell, and rendered unconscious for some time. One of his sergeants was killed by his side. He received a slight wound at Antietam, and at Petersburg, while charging on the works, received a ball in the calf of the right leg. At the expira- tion of his term of enlistment he received his hon- orable discharge at Petersburg, and upon returning home was proffered the Majorship of the regiment. His father, however, lay at the point of death and he was obliged to remain at home.
The Captain after leaving the army followed farming in his native county, and dealt consider- ably in live stock. In the meantime lie was mar- ried and lived there until 1873, during which year he removed with his family to Holt County, Mo. He remained there two years engaged in farming, then returning eastward as far as Livingston County, Ill., settled in the vicinity of Pontiac, where now is located the town of Sannemin. Ile effected some improvements, then sold out, eight years later. and coming to this county settled upon land one mile south of his present place, which he had leased, and where he made good improvements. Ile then purchased eighty aeres upon which he has effected many improvements. After being ap- pointed Postmaster in May, 1889, he erected a building for the business in which he is assisted by his son. He has since purchased a residence in the south part of Summerfield, where he expects to make his future home.
The parents of our subject were Moses and Margery (Clark) Hemphill. The paternal grand- parents were James and Cynthia Jane (Jack) Hemphill. The great-grandfather was Moses Hemp- hill, who was a native of Scotland, and came to America probably during the Colonial days. The maiden name of the wife of our subject was Sarah Belle Mickey. She is the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (McCulloch) Miekey. Her paternal grandparents were James and Lucetta (Cruthers) Mickey, and the great-grandfather was Robert Mickey, Jr., the son of Robert, Sr. The family came originally from Ireland at a very early day. Grandfather John McCulloch married Elizabeth Clark. and they were both from Pennsylvania. Our subject was married in his native county Dec.
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25, 1867. Of this union there has been born one child ouly, a son, Robert Warren, who is now a promising young man of more than ordinary in- telligence. IIe took kindly to his books and ob- tained a good practical education, after which he taught school three terms before reaching his eight- eenth year; he is now with his father in the post- office.
Socially, Captain Hemphill belongs to Axtell Lodge, No. 253, A. F. & A. M., with which organ- ization he became identified in the Cumberland Valley in his native State. He is also a member of Axtell Post, No. 253, G. A. R., and in religious matters is identified with the Presbyterian Church at Axtell. It is hardly necessary to state that he belongs to the Republican party and is always ready to work for the good of the cause.
ON. JAMES BILLINGSLEY, has had a varied experience in the West, and proves a very entertaining companion to one who is interested in life beyond the Mississippi, more especially as it was among the pioneers of the section between the Father of Waters and the Rockies. He has also had much to do with the early history of this county, having been a resident here for nearly twenty years.
Our subject was born in St. Clairville, Belmont Co., Ohio, in the year 1839. His father was a car- penter, who gave his son all the advantages possible in the schools of his native city, during his boy - hood. At the age of fifteen our subject determined to begin life for himself, and left home for the West, where he became a stage driver. He had the route from Ft. Smith, Ark., to Sherman, Tex., at one time, and later was messenger from Little Rock to Ft. Sinith. He was a voter in Arkansas at the time of the vote on the question of secession, and voted against the secession ordinance. He was present at Little Rock when the United States arse- nal there was surrendered to the State Government. He was in the employ of what was known as the Holliday Company, and as the route of travel changed to the northward, he came with the com-
pany to Kansas. This was in the spring of 1861, and during the next five years he continued in the same service, keeping a station on the route at Point of Rock, on Bitter Creek, near the Utah line in Wyoming. While at Lone Tree, a band of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians made a night raid upon the station, but Mr. Billingsley and wife, with the help of a hired man, repulsed quite a large force. The United States troops came up the next day, and the red men left. The route was abandoned in 1866, and our subject returned to this State, and bought a farm in Nemaha County. There he lived for two years, when he removed to this county. In 1871 he settled upon the place which he now occupies, on section 36, St. Bridget Township, and upon which he has made adequate and substantial improve- ments.
The wife of Mr. Billingsley bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Kelsey. She is a native of Mis- souri, and daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Bowers) Kelsey. At the time of her marriage she was a resident of Nebraska. She has become the mother of ten children, four of whom died in infancy. the survivors being reared upon the farm, which their parents now occupy. The eldest surviving child is a daughter-Ida Belle-who is now the wife of J. J. Lackland, a prominent educator of Axtell. Mr. and Mrs. Lackland are the parents of one child. The other children are: Charles, James N., Nellie May, Jennie E. and Edward F., all of whom are still under the parental roof.
Among the many incidents occurring in this sec- tion, during Mr. Billingsley's connection with the Holliday Company, we note the following. which show some of the phases of life in the stage days. In 1863 the stage road ran through Marysville. It was then re-located running ten miles north of that place. After the re-location, the stage company was harrassed by many petty depredations, such as hav- ing their prairie boats ent loose, or ditches made across the road, into which stages would plunge in the darkness. At a place called Ash Point, in Nc- maha County, the route was changed to go south from that place. The new route passed through Marysville, the citizens of which place employed a man to stand at the point of changed direction and send the traffic to town. The route had previously
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passed by the ranch of a Mr. Wilson, who now went to the road to work for travel by his ranch, as it was profitable trading with travelers. Ile was drawn into an altercation with the party from Marysville, and was shot and killed. An emigrant coming to his ranch near Oketo had his harness stolen, and being out in a severe storm over night had his limbs frozen. Mr. Billingsley and a squad found him the following morning. brought him to the station, and thawed him out in cold water. A month later he was able to get out, and hearing where his harness was, he went in search of it. He found a man with the harness on his horses. Being accused of having stolen it, the man drew a revol- ver on the owner. The latter was too quick, how- ever. and fired the first shot, which passing through the man's breast. killed him. The owner took his harness. and returned the horses to the widow of the man whom he had shot.
Mr. Billingsley is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, affiliating with Blue Lodge, No. 228, of Ax- tell. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W. He possesses great influence in his township, where he has held the office of Trustee for two terms, Clerk of the town of St. Bridget, and School Trustec for a number of terms, which latter offiee he now holds. In 1885 he was elected to the State Legislature on the Democratic ticket, and during his term was Chairman on the Committee on emigration. He is a man of excellent character, of extended observa- tion and intelligence, and an influential and public- spirited citizen.
R ICHARD H. TILLEY. The genial coun- tenance of Mr. Tilley is familiar to a large portion of the citizens of Rock Township, of which he is considered one of its most stirring and enterprising farmers, and has distin- guished himself by the excellent result of his la- bors on his farm of 160 acres, occupying a portion of sections 30 and 31. Aside from his qualities of industry and his thorough understanding of agriculture, he is one of those genial and com-
panionable characters who make friends wherever they are known. He is considerably interested in stock-raising, and lives comfortably upon the in- come derived from his farm. besides having a prospect of a competence for his old age.
Until a lad of twelve years, the subject of this notice lived on a farm near the city of Perth, Mitchell County, Canada, where he first opened his eyes to the light Dec. 27, 1857. In the meantime he had received good school advantages and care- ful parental training. His parents in 1869 left the Dominion, and coming to Northern Kansas, the father homesteaded a tract of land. and Richard H. was soon invited to make himself useful in break- ing the ground with an ox-team. Ile attended school during the winter term until eighteen years old, and remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority. During his younger years he herded cattle on the prairie, when wolves and other wild animals were plentiful.
Young Tilley was more than ordinarily ambi- tious, and when eighteen years old purchased a farm with the proceeds of his labors prior to 'this time. In dne time he began buying cattle, from the sale of which he realized handsome profits. He investea his property in additional land, purchas- ing eighty acres in Wells Township, and lived there until 1880. Then, selling out, he purchased his present place, which was partially improved, al- though the buildings which had been erected upon it were blown away by a cyclone. He put up a house and barn, the latter 20x40 feet in dimen- sions, set out an orchard and instituted the other improvements required for the successful prose- cntion of farming, and the comfort of himself and family. The farm embraces forty-five acres of native timber, and is amply watered by three streams, the Snipe, Vermillion and Mosquito creeks. It is well adapted to stock-raising, of which Mr. Tilley makes a specialty, having a good breed of cattle, thorough-bred, Poland-China swine and two teams of roadster horses.
In Frankfort, on the 4th of June. 1879, our sub- ject was united in marriage with Mrs. Emma Jackson, daughter of A. J. Ockerman, one of the oldest settlers of Marshall County, who located in Vermillion Township at a time when few people
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had ventured into Northern Kansas. (Further notice of the family of Mrs. Tilley will be found in the sketeh of Dr. Andrew Ockerman, on another page of this volume.) Mrs. Tilley had by her first marriage one child, a daughter, Myra, who employs herself as a teacher and makes her home with her mother. Mrs. Tilley received a good education, and also taught school prior to her marriage. Of this union there have been born three children- Pearl, Osear H. and Clyde R.
Mr. Tilley has been a School Director in his dis- trict for several years, and has also officiated as Township Clerk and Road Supervisor. Politically, his sympathies are with the Union Labor party, in which he is quite prominent, and he has served as a member of the County Central Committee. IIe is also one of the District Commissioners, and has been frequently sent as a delegate to the county conventions. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Little Tim- ber, in which Mr. Tilley has been Steward and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mrs. Tilley is Clerk of the School Board.
The father of our subject was James Tilley, a native of England, and the son of James Tilley, who was also born there, and carried on farming until emigrating to America. Hle first located near the city of Toronto, Canada. where he farmed a a few years, then changed his residence to the county of Perth, of which he was a pioneer settler, and opened up three different farms, one embrac- ing 300 acres of land. He is still living, and is about ninety years old. In politics he is conserva- tive, and in religion is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has long officiated as Class-Leader.
The father of our subject was only three years old when the family came to America, and he de- veloped into manhood in the County of Perth, Canada. In due time he became the owner of 200 acres of land in that county, where he prosecuted farming and stock-raising until the spring of 1869. Then, coming to Northern Kansas, he located in Wells Township, this county, where he purchased and improved eighty acres of land, and was uni_ formly prosperous. Ile is now the owner of 240 aeres, which are all improved and valuable, and is
a man generally well-to-do. He was in former years a Republican, but is now identified with the Union Labor party. Like his father before him, he finds his religious home in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he offieiates as Class-Leader, and has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school.
Mrs. Margaret ( Watt) Tilley, the mother of our subject, was born in the Province of Ontario, Can- ada, and is now residing in Wells Township, Kan. Grandfather Watt was a native of England, and after coming to America, engaged in farming and stock-raising, besides conducting a lumber business. He met his death accidentally by the falling of a tree.
R ENJAMIN F. LONG was born in Licking County, Ohio, April 12, 1854. He was reared on a farm and received the benefit of the district schools of his native county, they being of the best. At the age of eighteen he entered the business college of Leon, Iowa, from which he was gradnated at the age of twenty years. Ile became a very proficient penman, and now has in liis residence some fine specimens of his skill. Soon after his graduation he was married and rented a farm in lowa for a few years. Ile then bought a place near Kellerton, where he remained several years. He afterward sold out and removed to this county with his family, which then consisted of the wife and three children. He settled near Frankfort, but after a year's residence there, sold out and removed to his present location on section 19, St. Bridget Township. He has here opened up 160 aeres of land, 120 acres being now under thor- ough cultivation, and has built himself a nice home. He has over 200 fruit-trees, including apri- cots. peaches, cherries and crab-apples, and most of the trees are bearing. He also has a variety of small fruits. He has recently bought a well-im- proved tract of eighty acres near Frankfort, where he expects to make his home in the near future.
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