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 72
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Mr. Locke has been a member of the I. O. O. F., and is at present connected with the Masonic fra- ternity and the Grange. He is Road Overseer in his Township, Treasurer of the School District, and has been for many years a member of the School Board. He votes the Republican ticket and takes an active interest in political affairs. Though not at present identified with any congregation, Mrs. Locke holds a letter of commendation from the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Locke is an in- telligent and reliable citizen, interested in the ad- vancement and growth of the county and State,
HI STOVER
RESIDENCE OF DANIEL LOCKE, SEC. 29. BALDERSON TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN CHAMBERS, SEC. 21. OKETO TOWNSHIP.
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honorable in his business relations, and a favorite in the community where his worth is unquestioned and his ability acknowledged.
A view of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Locke, appears elsewhere in this ALBUM.
OHN CHAMBERS, an honored resident of Oketo Township, where he is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, is a pioneer of this locality, and since settling in Marshall County, several years ago, has been an important factor in developing its resources and advancing its prosperity. He is of English birth and antecedents, but the most of his life since at- taining man's estate has been passed in this country, and the United States has no more patriotic or loyal citizen than he. Ile was the seventh child in the family of nine children born to William and Mary (Gorham) Chambers, natives of England, where the mother spent her entire life, dying at the age of fifty-one. The father, who was a farmer, also passed the most of his life there, not coming to America till the fall of 1841, and dying in Illi- nois in 1850.
Our subject was born June 30, 1814, in the par- ish of Bonnington, County Kent, England, and has a copy of the certificate of his baptism, issued seventy-five years ago. His boyhood days went by uneventfully in his old English home, where he assisted his father in the farm labors. When he was twenty years old, just merging into a sturdy, manly, vigorous manhood, he ambitiously resolved to seek in the United States of America, the fine opportunity to build up a comfortable home offered by this Government to whomsoever dared to brave the dangers and trials of settlement on the wild, lone prairies of its western possessions. Crossing the ocean, he landed in New York, and for about two years followed farming in Oneida County, and with the money that e thus secured, he then made his way to Illinois 5 1835, and settled on the Fox River, near Aurora. He thus became an early pioneer of that region, which then gave little or no indication of becoming the populous and wealthy
community that it is to-day. White settlements were few and far between, and the Indians still lingered around their old haunts, while deer, prairie wolves, wild turkeys and other kinds of game were plenti- ful. In a few years he married and established a home, and from the virgin soil developed a desir- able farm, on which he made many valuable im- provements. In 1852 Mr. Chambers resolved to try his chances in California, where fortunes were in those days so easily won and lost, and emigrating to the Pacific Coast, he bought a ranch, and for the ensuing four years was profitably engaged in trading with the miners. In 1856, with the wealth thus acquired, he started to return to his old home in Illinois, making the tedious journey over the desolate plains and mountains that intervened. While crossing a river, all his possessions were swept away by the rapid and swollen current, and as he was unable to recover them, he arrived in 111- inois in a destitute condition. Fortunately he had his farm there to depend on for support, so that he was still independent.
Our subject came to Kansas in 1872, and bought 160 acres, part of his present possessions, but his family remained in Illinois till 1877, when they came to Kansas, and the re-united family settled on his present farm, on sections 15. 21 and 22, Oketo Township. This comprises 480 acres of fertile, highly productive land, all in a body and well im- proved, with substantial buildings and one of the finest orchards of choice fruit in this section. His residence is a convenient and cozy one, where friends are always heartily welcomed and agreeably entertained. A fine view of it appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Chambers has devoted much time to raising stock of good grades, and now has sixty head, all in excellent condition. In all these years that Mr. Chambers has been accumulating this property, he has had the valuable assistance of a capable, cheerful wife, a home-maker and helpmate in truth. They were united in marriage in 1838, and thus for more than fifty years have walked life's road together, sharing its joys as well as its sorrows. Six of the eight children that have been born to them. are living. namely: Gustavus G., Dr. John W., Thomas G., Myra K., S. Douglas and M. Zeno. They have been given the benefit of a
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liberal education, and four of them are graduates of some literary institution. John, a physician, is a graduate of the l'niversity at Ann Arbor, Mich .; Thomas was graduated from the seminary at Au- rora, Ill .; Myra from the academy at Cainville, 111. ; and Zeno from a school at Sedalia, Mo. Mrs. Chambers, whose maiden name was Lydia Williams. comes of sterling New England ancestry, and is herself a native of Massachusetts, born April 28. 1821, the second of the seven children of George and Keziah (Eldridge) Williams, who were likewise natives of the old Bay State. They removed to Illinois, becoming pioneers of the State, and there the father carried on farming. The mother died in 1854. The father lived to the venerable age of eighty-four years.
Mr. Chambers possesses in a large degree the sound intelligence, ripe wisdom and discretion so necessary to full success in any walk in life, and he is regarded as one of our best citizens, none being more public-spirited or more desirous to promote the welfare of the township than he. Every scheme for its improvement in any direction, and especially all plans for making good highways, if feasible, meet with his hearty approbation and material as- sistance. Ile is earnestly interested in educational matters, and has done all in his power to secure good school advantages for the youth of this place, understanding fully the importance of an educa- tion in moulding the character of a child and in contributing to its success in after life. He and his wife are sincere Christians and devoted members of the Episcopal Church, and he has been Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, and now has a class in the same. In politics he is a faithful adherent of the Democratic party. He supports the temper- ance cause, and was at one time a member of the Sons of Temperance.
SHOMAS HOWES. No member of the farm- ing community of Marshall County, is more worthy of honorable mention in this BIO- GRAPHICAL ALBUM than this gentleman. He has been identified with the farming and stock-raising
interests of this part of the country for more than twenty years, and his farm on section 28, is consid- ered one of the finest cultivated and best improved in Oketo Township, and under his able management is the source of a good income.
Our subject is of English birth and ancestry. his native place being Northamptonshire, England, where he first saw the light of day Oct 10, 1839. His father, Lazarus Howes. was born in the same shire, and on his native sod, early commenced the struggle of life for himself as a laborer, and he is still living there at the venerable age of seventy- five years. The maiden name of his wife. the mother of our subject, was Mary Nightingale. She was born in Buckinghamshire, England. and died in her native land in 1866. Three of the six children born of her marriage are now living.
Thomas Howes was the fourth child born to his parents, and in the land of his birth he grew to a stalwart, energetic manhood, and at the age of eighteen he left the parental roof to make his own way in the world, unassisted by fortune or favor of another, his clear brain and sturdy strength. be- ing his only capital. Yet. notwithstanding, he was placed at a disadvantage by having his right hand crippled in childhood, his success in life has been such that he and his may well feel proud of it, and others may be encouraged who are starting out in the same way. to patiently persevere in their work as he did. and toil on till the desired end is attained. Ile worked on a farm in England till 1866, when he resolved to better his condition if he could by emigration to the United States .. Hle came hither with Mr. Cockerill's family. (See sketch of that gentleman on another page of this volume). Land- ing at New York with his companions. Mr. Ilowes came to Kansas to build up a home on this soil. lIe at that time entered his present land from the Government, and at once commenced the pioneer work of improving it. lle erected his present sub- stantial residence, and has a neat set of outbuild- ings, and everything about the place gives evidence of a skillful, practical man at the head of affairs. Mr. Howes deals to some extent in stock, and has thirty-seven head of cattle, eleven head of horses and thirty-two head of logs, all of excellent grade and blood. One of the most important events in the
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life of our subject was his marriage with Miss Eliza Loveridge, a daughter of Moses and Mary Love- ridge, natives of Northamptonshire, England. Mrs. Howes was the eldest of their eight children, and she was born July 10, 1839. Her marriage with our subjeet has resulted in the birth of a like number of children, namely: Charles W., Mary A .. John T., Sarah E., Charlotte J., Esther, Louie and Wal- ter.
We have seen that our subjeet is a self-made man, and we may add, what seems to be the united testimony of the entire community, that he is a strictly honest, straightforward man, a most desir- able citizen, a kind husband and father. He has built up a fine home for himself and family. which is the center of true-hearted hospitality. He inter- ests himself in publie, social and political matters, and has been connected with the Grange. He affiliates with the Republican party, but reserves the right to vote for whom he pleases, supporting the man whom he deems best fitted for office, re- gardless of his political views.
OHN McCLARNEN. The Emerald Isle has contributed to the United States, a large proportion of the men who have been in- strumental in the development of the Great West. Among these may be properly classed the subject of this notice, who has his homestead, em- bracing eighty aeres of fine farming land, on section 5 in Richland Township. Besides this, he rents and cultivates other land, and employs modern machinery and the best known methods in pursu- ing his chosen calling.
Mr. MeClarnen was born in the city of Belfast. Ireland, Aug. 26, 1833. and lived there until about twenty years of age. Then, unaccompanied by any of his kindred, he set out for America, and until 1855 was a resident of Philadelphia, Pa. He then resolved upon seeking the Farther West, and crossing the Mississippi, settled in Monroe County, Iowa, where he performed his first day's work on a farm. The business was entirely new to him, and after a year thus employed he pre-
empted 160 acres in Page County, which he im- proved into a good farm, and upon which he lived until about 1879, then selling out, he, in 1881, came to this county, of which he has since been a resident.
With the exception of the time spent in the army, our subject was a resident of lowa for a period of twenty-five years. On the 28th of Sep- tember, 1861, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company C, 5thi Iowa Cavalry, which was assigned to the Western army, and fought at Fts. Ilenry and and Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. Subsequently they were sent back to Cumberland, Tenn., and along the Tennessee River to do pieket duty, which involved much travel up and down both sides of the river. Subsequently they entered upon the Atlanta campaign, and our subjeet was engaged as a scout, being almost constantly in the saddle, and upon one occasion rode sixteen days and nights, wearing out three horses. Later he was sent on the Cook raid and, with 300 others, was captured by the Rebels, all losing their borses in swimming the Chattahoochee River. There they were seventy-five miles south of the Union lines and in the enemy's country. They took to the woods, where they wandered five days and six nights, sustaining themselves by eating black- berries and green corn, and in the meantime being tracked with bloodhounds. Our subject was finally captured, and about Aug. 10, 1864, thrown into Andersonville prison. Such were his sufferings and privations that to this day he is unable to recall them without a sensation of horror. Finally. he was sent to Savannah, and thence to Milan, and after an imprisonment of four and one-half months finally escaped by being selected as one of the worst eases picked out by the Rebel doctors. He was carried out by four men, and after being sent to Annapolis lay insensible for five days. At the time of his capture he was a strong, robust man, weighing 185 pounds. At the time of bis release he was a skeleton of ninety-seven pounds.
Mr. McClarnen states that no language is ade- quate to describe the sufferings which he and his comrades endured in their imprisonment, and that the half has not yet been told. Ile remained in the hospital at Annapolis until convalescent, and was
.
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given transportation home, after which he received his honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa. After leaving the army, Mr. McClarnen returned to his wife in Page County, and soon afterward eame to Kansas. During his residence in Iowa our subject was for fifteen years engaged in the buying and shipping of live-stock.
While a resident of Iowa, our subject was mar- ried, March 13, 1861, to Miss Sarah E .. daughter of R. C. Murphy, who is still a prominent man in Page County, where he established himself in the pioneer days. He occupied himself at farming during his younger days, but is now living re- tired in Clarinda. Of this union there have been born eight children, four of whom are living : Mar- garet J., the wife of S. W. Black, of Furnas County, Neb .; John W., A. Wilson and Henry M. Mrs. MeClarnen was born in Ohio in 1844, and was a child of ten years when her parents emigrated from the Buckeye State to Southwestern Iowa. Both Mr. and Mrs. MeClarnen, with their children, attend regularly the United Presbyterian Church, of Mission Creek, to which they all give a liberal support.
W ILLIAM L. SOUDERS. The most eur- sory view of the business part of Frank- fort, would reveal one establishment as preeminent among the many thriving business houses. It is a two-story stone building of truly palatial appearance, wherein is carried on the most extensive merchandising business in this county. The establishment consists of three departments, each in a separate room, and with an interior ar- rangement at once attractive and convenient. A gas machine manufactures the gas by which the entire establishment is lighted. Business is con- dueted in a systematic manner, with a view to ac- curacy, rapidity and thoroughness. Cash carriers lead from the various counters to the cashier's desk, and a corps of courteous and competent ladies and gentlemen serve the customers in the various de- partments. The grocery department; clothing, boot and shoe department; and dry goods and no-
notion department, are each supplied with a well- assorted and heavy stock of goods. The proprietor of this appropriately named "Trade Palace," is the gentleman whose name heads this notice. The de- tails of the immense establishment are given his close attention, and the snecess which attends his efforts proves him to be a man of the finest business tact and executive ability. He occupies a large and beautiful residence in the north part of the city. The site is high and healthful, and commands a wide view overlooking the city and many miles of picturesque country on the east, south and west.
Mr. Souders paternal ancestry are German. The grandfather of our subject removed from the Key- stone State to Zanesville, Ohio, where he operated a farm of over 1,000 acres.
Noah, the father of our subject, remained at home until his marriage. He soon afterward set- tled on a farm in Hocking County. The mother of our subject was Clara Spring, who died in 1864. The father after remaining a widower ten years, married again, his second wife being Miss Lucy Sanderson. He is a Republican in politics and a Lutheran in religion. To his first wife were born seven children, of whom our subject was the second.
William L. Souders was born July 7, 1849, near Logan, Hoeking County, Ohio. 1Ie was reared on a farm and attended the public schools until he was eighteen years of age, when he began life for him- self. He first found employment as a clerk in a grocery house in Cireleville, where he remained for two and a half years. Believing that the West afforded a better field for the employment of his energies, in 1870 he came to Kansas. Arriving in Frankfort, he engaged as clerk for J. J. Weisbaugh, who at that time was engaged in the sale of general merchandise, lumber, farm implements and machin- ery. Mr. Souders remained in this employment until August 1874. On the 5th day of that month he opened a general store in a one-story frame bnild- ing. 14 x 16, which stood in the middle of the bloek east of his present quarters, Ile began with a capital of $1.500. He remained in that location for six years, though his space had been enlarged. In 1880 he bought the lot which is now occupied by his splendid building. In that year he erected
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a two-story stone building 28 x 100 feet, which was then a very commodious edifice. It soon proved too small for his rapidly increasing business, and three years later he added on the west another building 30 x 100. the whole forming a convenient and attractive structure, 58 x 100. Expanding trade again proved the quarters to be inadequate, and in 1887 he again added on the west a large building, 33 x 100.
Our subject was married April 3, 1872. to Miss Amy E. Howe, daughter of James and Mary A. Howe. (See sketch of her brother, J. II. Howe). The ceremony took place at the residence of the bride's parents at Cedar Grove, Ohio. Mrs. Sou- der's parents were natives of the Buekeye State. She was one of a family of twelve children. To Mr. and Mrs. Souders have been born four children: Waldo B., William Tucker. Charles E. and Ethel. Waldo B. died Dec. 5, 1886, at the age of eight years, seven months and fifteen days. Charles E. died ten days later, being four months and twenty- nine days old. Mr. Souders is a member of Frank - fort Lodge, No. 31, K. of P., and of Frankfort Lodge, No. 67, A. F. & A. M. He is a Republican in politics.
R UFUS S. CRAFT, M.D. This gentleman has long been a resident of Kansas, having come to the Territory first in 1859 and lo- cated at Holton, Jackson County. There he engaged in the practice of his profession and was also interested in a sawmill, afterward build- ing the gristmill which is still being operated there. He was born in Winchester, Va., Feb. 11, 1831, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth (Hines) Craft. The family is probably of Welsh ancestry. The great-grandfather of Dr. Craft emigrated to America before the middle of the last century, in company with a brother, the latter settling in New York and the former in Maryland, where he was married and died. His son, Benjamin, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born in Maryland, and when grown to manhood located in New Jersey, going from there to Ohio. He settled
near Zanesville, which was then the Far West, and engaged in farming, spending the rest of his life there. His son Samuel was born in New Jersey in 1802 and went to Ohio with his father. He learned the trade of a shoemaker with David Anson at Zanesville. He worked at his trade at various places, and while in Georgetown, D.C., became ac- quainted with Elizabeth Hines, to whom he was married. Shortly after he went to Winchester, Va., where he lived a few years, going thence to Lawrenceburg, Ind., in 1833. Ile stayed there until 1870, when he came to Kansas, where his son was living. He finally located in Topeka, and at that place was in the service of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, only leaving his business a week before his death, which took place in January, 1888, when he was eighty-six years of age. Ilis wife Elizabeth was born in the District of Columbia, and died in Lawrenceburg, Ind., in 1844. Several years after her decease, Mr. Craft was married to Jane Boice, who died a year before her husband. in Topeka, Kan. Mr. Craft was always an industrious man, working at his trade until after he had taken up his residence in Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he first engaged in railroading in the employ of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. He was an independent man, upright, honorable and straightforward in his dealings. At the time of his death he was said to be the oldest Freemason and Odd-Fellow in Kan- sas. Such was the esteem in which he was held that at his funeral, which was on the coldest day of the winter, an imposing cortege composed of his Masonie and Odd-Fellow associates, his fellow rail- road employes and a large concourse of friends, followed his remains to the grave. Elizabeth (Hines) Craft was the mother of three children who lived to the years of maturity and several who died in infancy. Besides our subject, there was Samuel A., who is a farmer near Osborn City, Osborn County, this State, and Julia, who became the wife of George W. Bemis, a resident of Cincin- nati, Ohio.
R. S. Craft was reared in Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he was educated, finishing in the Lawrence- burg Institute. While attending the Institute he had taken up the study of medicine, but all his stndies were interrupted by the breaking ont of
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the Mexican War, and he volunteered at the age of sixteen. passing himself off as eighteen. however. He enlisted in the 4th Indiana Infantry, and served first under General Taylor. and was afterward transferred to General Scott's army. The regi- ment took part in the battles of Hnanautla and Atalixco; the raising of the siege of Pueblo, and in numerous skirmishes with the Mexican troops. After having served about fourteen months. Mr. Craft in 1848 again took up his medical studies and also finished his course in the Institute. He was then employed as a teacher in one of the depart- ments of the Institute, and later attended medical lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1852, on reaching his maturity he emigrated to Missouri, and in Putnam County began the practice of medicine with his uncle, Dr. John Ilines. There he re- mained about four years, and thence removed to Harrison County, Mo., where he practiced until he came to Kansas, as stated at the beginning of this notice.
In 1865 Dr. Craft, who was interested consider- ably in mill enterprises, heard of the water-power on the Blue River, and came to Blue Rapids to inspect it. His brother examined the water-powers in the southwestern part of the State and a partner those in the southeastern. the Doctor taking this section. The three afterward met and compared notes and unanimously agreed that this was the best water-power in the State. They accordingly made a proposition to the persons then owning it, and bought in partnership 287 acres including the power farther up the river. Dr. Craft also bought seventy acres on his individual account, which now adjoins Blue Rapids on the west and borders on the land bought in connection with the water- power. This property the partners held until 1870. when they sold to the Genesee Colony. which laid ont Blue Rapids. The Doctor had bought other lands in the meantime. some of which he still retains. He now owns 190 acres in the county. besides his village property and land in Pottawato- mie County aud elsewhere.
At the time he sold the water-power the Doctor was still a resident of Holton, but after the laying out of the new city of Blue Rapids, he removed to that place. He engaged in practice and opened
up a drug-store on the southwest corner of the square, afterward buying the building in which he is now located. Always interested in milling, the Doctor became a partner in the firm which built the fine stone flouring-mill on the east side of the Blue, next the dam. This mill was carried on under the name of Olmsted Bros. until 1876. the style of the firm being then changed to J. S. Wright & Co .. the Doctor still retaining his interest. In 1882 the firm was again changed, becoming Upham, Son & Co., who carried on the mill until August, 1887. when it was sold to the present proprietor, P. II. McHale. Dr. Craft finally retired from the milling business, having but a short time before disposed of his interest in Jackson County. His experience in this branch of trade was varied, but the mill which he first assisted in building and putting in operation, did much to assist in building up the city of Blue Rapids, and was an important factor in its advancement.
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