Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state, Part 115

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 1258

USA > Kansas > Clay County > Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state > Part 115
USA > Kansas > Riley County > Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state > Part 115
USA > Kansas > Washington County > Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state > Part 115

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL ALBUM.

one now living, was born in March 1879. The re- cord of the others is as follows: Kate, born in March, 1869, died in May, 1888; Georgiana, born in March, 1872, died in February, 1876; Fanny D., born in February, 1876, died in March, 1878.

Mr. Huntress was married to his present wife in June, 1885. A true home-maker, under her super- vision their dwelling is a pleasant retreat to him from the cares of business and public life. She is a wise mother to the little daughter so early bereft of her own mother, and is carefully training her to a noble womanhood.

Coming here when a young lad when Manhattan was but a small collection of rudely constructed houses, with no pretensions to its present size and importance as a metropolis, Mr. Huntress grew up with the city, and since attaining manhood has been an active agent in extending its business and commercial interests, and has been an encourager of all enterprises tending to its moral, social or financial advancement. He and his wife are influ- ential members of the Presbyterian Church, and are people of exceeding liberality in contributing to charitable or benevolent objects. The mantle of his father seems to have fallen on our subject, for he too is prominent in the administration of the public affairs of Riley County, having been elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 1887, and his course in office shows him to be guided by the purest, most disinterested and patriotic of mo- tives, the desire to benefit the county. Since he attained his majority he has steadily and consist- ently given his support to the Republican party.

AMES WHITNEY, farmer and stock-man on section 1, Ilighland Township, Washington County, makes a specialty of raising Short- horn cattle. His estate comprises 320 acres on which he has put adequate and substantial im- provements. The pleasant home is presided over by an intelligent and capable woman, who gener- ously dispenses hospitality to all who cross the threshold.

Jacob Whitney, the father of our subject, was

born in Connecticut, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Nellie Freeman, was also a native New England. They first settled in Delaware County. N. Y., where they continued to make their home and where they died. They had a family of thirteen children, our subject being one of the younger members.

The subject of this sketch was born in the Town- ship of Andes, Delaware Co., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1835. He was about nine years old when he came to Ogle County, Ill., with an acquaintance of his father. With this gentleman, Hiram Dustin Wood, he lived over fifteen years. He then engaged in farming for himself in Ogle County. When eigh- teen years old he went to Buchanan County, Iowa, and bought a tract of Government land. This he afterward sold and with its proceeds purchased a farm in Flagg Township, Ogle County, where he lived about four years. He then sold and bought a cheaper farm in Pine Rock Township, where he also lived about four years. At the expiration of this time he sold the Pine Rock farm and bought a larger one in Dement Township. On the latter he resided until 1879, when he came to Osborn County, Kan. Ilere he spent about a year, after which he located in Jefferson County. Neb. After a sojourn there of about eighteen months, he rented the farm on which he was living, and removed to the estate which he is now occupying, it having been purchased by him before he left Illinois.

In Ogle County, Ill., May 27. 1857, Miss Emily A. Haynes became the wife of our subject. Miss Ilaynes was born in Andes Township, Delaware Co., N. Y., Dec. 22, 1836. Her parents were William and Nancy ( Wood) Haynes, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of New York. The parents first settled in Ulster County. N. Y., and afterwards removed to Delaware County, where Mr. Haynes died Dec. 8, 1840. Ilis widow re- moved to Illinois and died Jan. 27, 1870. in Ogle County. Their family consisted of five children, Mrs. Whitney being the youngest.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are the parents of eight children. Emily L. died when about four years old ; James C. married Laura I. Pickering; Calvin T. married Miss Ida Southworth; Rosetta B. is the wife of J. C. Lee; George II, and Florence I., died

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when quite young ; Frances M. is unmarried; Ar- thur F. died when ten years old.

Mr. Whitney is a Republican and never fails to cast his vote in the interests of the party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has filled many offices. Both take an active part in all church work. and are in. terested in every enterprise that will add to the prosperity and best interests of their community. Both the Whitney "and IIaynes families are of Eng- glish ancestry, and the great grandfather of Mrs. Whitney was a member of the Continental Con- gress.

E LIJAII WOOLBERT. This gentleman came to Washington County, while Kansas was a territory," and has been an eye witness to the gradual growth of the county and the development of her resources. He has shared in the trials of the early settler, and assisted in the [improvement and upbuilding of this section of the State. In July, 1860, he located in the county and built the first house on the site where Washington now stands. There he made his home for about three years. He then changed his location to section 33. Farmington Township, where he has since lived.

The parents of our subject were Mathias and Ly- dia (Lester) Woolbert, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. The father died in Tompkins County, N. Y., and the mother in Steuben County. The paternal family consisted of eight children, of whom our subject was the sixth. He was born in Northampton County, Pa,, March 1. 1820. When he was quite young his father removed to Tompkins County, N. Y., where he died. When our subjeet was about eight years old his mother remarried and removed to Bradford County, Pa. When about eleven years of age, they removed to Tioga County, N. Y .. where he remained until he was seventeen. The family then removed to Chautau- qua Connty, N. Y. About two years later onr sub- ject came to Illinois, where he spent a few months, and then returned to the family home. A short time afterward he went to Steuben County, N. Y., where he lived for seventeen years, being employed the most of the time in lumbering on the Susque-

hanna River. At the expiration of the period mentioned he started for the West, and upon reach- Michigan spent a short time there. In 1859, he came to the southern part of Kansas, and the fol- lowing summer, as before stated, settled in this county. Since his arrival in this State he has given his attention to farming and stock-raising which he has carried on successfully. The 160 acres of land which he took up on section 33, have been well im- proved, and now present a very different appear- ance from what they did when he filed his claim.

Mr. Woolbert was married in Steuben County, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1846, to Hannah Van Norman, who was born in Albany County, N. Y., in 1823. The union has resulted in the birth of five children. One daughter, Cora, died when about four years old. The others have grown to an honored and useful manhood and womanhood, and are bearing well their part in the battle of life. They are: Nancy. the wife of Thomas Ferguson; Warren P. who mar- ried Miss Augusta Percival; Lester E., who mar- ried Miss Mollie Bourquin ; and William N., who married Miss Maggie Holland.

Mr. Woolbert has filled the office of County As- sessor two terms and shown himself a competent judge of property valuation. In politics he is a Republican.

AMUEL K. HECK. Occasionally in his travels the biographier encounters an old partiot who cherishes the record of his army life during the Civil War, as one of the most precious relics connected with his career, and Mr. Ileek may properly be numbered among these. He had a full experience of a soldier's life, and spent a season in Andersonville prison, which has become historical on account of its terrors. Ile has been quite an extensive traveler, having looked upon a large portion of the United States, and be- ing a man who has kept his eyes open to what was going on around him in the world. His later years have been occupied with farming pursuits, and his homestead lies on section 2, Strawberry Township. Washington County.

Pennsylvania, which has furnished so many men toward the development of the Great West, is the

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native State of Mr. Heck, his birth occurring in Westmoreland County, Oct. 10, 1840. His father, Jacob Heek, died when a young man, when Sam- nel K. was two years old. The mother lived until about 1881, spending her last years in Missouri. Until twenty-one years old Samuel K. remained a resident of his native county, then in 1861 went into the oil regions, but only sojourned there a short time, returning in the fall of that year. He took a job of mowing clover, but after working a few days repented of his bargain and, sticking his scythe under the swath set out for Pittsburg, and within a few days entered the Union army as a member of Company I, 10th Pennsylvania Infan- try, his Captain being George W. Bowers. At the expiration of his first term of enlistment, he veter- anized and served in all over three years.

Mr. Heck experienced all the hardships of life in the army and participated in some of the most im- portant battles of the war. He was at the siege of Yorktown and met the enemy at Williamsburg. Fair Oaks, and in the seven days' fight in front of Richmond. At Plymouth, N. C., he was captured April 20, 1864, and taken to Andersonville. where he remained until April 23, 1865. He was one of the men belonging to the ever-memorable chain- gang wearing a chain seven weeks, himself and eleven of his comrades being chained together with two 96-pound balls attached to the chains and each man with a 12-pound ball chained to the outside leg. This punishment was inflicted upon them on account of escaping at one time, after which they were kept outside of the stockade under guard. Although many accounts have been written of the horrors of Andersonville, this incident has been entirely left out, as far as known. One of this chain gang, Mr. Burns (who was called by the boys "Skeezicks") became afflicted with dropsy and the flesh upon his legs swelled to such an extent that it covered the iron bands around them, these bands being one-inch wide and one-fourth of an inch thick. The boys sent a petition to the noto rious Wirz, their jailer, imploring him to have Burns removed from the chain until he recovered, and they vouched for his security with their own lives. Wirz came down and cursed them, telling them that he meant to keep them in chains until

they all died. Mr. Heck believes, however, that notwithstanding the cruel treatment he received among others, that being outside the stockade was the means of saving his life, as the paroled prison- ers stole provisions and conveyed to them.

When this chain-gang was sent to the black- smith to have the bands riveted around their necks and ankles, one of the twelve managed to pick up a file or other useful instrument, which he carefully concealed in his clothing. This they buried in the sand where they could lay their hands on it in the darkest night. One night they filed the bands off from two of the boys, while some would sing in order to drown the noise of filing. When free they ealled for a guard to conduct them to the rear for recreation, and then the two made good their escape, but only for a short time. They were caught by blood hounds the next day and returned. One night they filed all their bands in two and marched up in front of Capt. Wirz's office in com- mand of "the little Frenchman." This so enraged the keeper that he came near shooting the leader. This same Frenchman at one time, when being marched under guard with the others from one point to another, suddenly stepped to one side, whirled half way around, stood erect like a sta- tioned guard, and being dressed in a gray suit, the trick was not discovered until the prisoners of the chain gang were counted as they passed Wirz's office.

The chain-gang played many other pranks to annoy their keeper, who did not dare to vent upon them his full vengeance. After the war was over. Mr. Heck, being paroled returned to Pennsylvania, then emigrated to West Virginia, but went back to the oil regions of the Keystone State in 1866. In the spring of 1867 he set out for the West and crossed the Mississippi into Johnson County. Mo. For nine years thereafter he was engaged in farm- ing, then, in 1876, went into Texas, locating in Stevens County. Ile only staid there until the fol- lowing year, returning to Missouri, whence he came to Washington County, Kan .. in March, 1884. Ile located in Strawberry Township, where he has since lived.

In Johnson County, Mo., Mr. Heck was married, Nov. 8, 1868, to Miss Larrissa M .. daughter of

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Thomas Williams, who spent his last days in Mis- souri, and died about 1857. Mrs. Heek was born in Robinson County, Tenn., May 10, 1849, and emigrated with her parents to Missouri when a young child. She received her education in the district school and remained under the home roof until her marriage. Eight children have been born of her union with our subject, viz: Franklin E .. Rebecca J. (deceased), Maude E., Bettie L .. Orion L., Lavad a M., Larissa U. and Stella K .; they are all at home with their parents. Mr. Heck is the owner of 160 acres of good land, which is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. Politieally, he affiliates with the Republican party. He lias served as Clerk of his school district, and as Town- ship Clerk most of the time since becoming a resi- ident here. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R. He and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the C'umber- land Presbyterian Church.

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G EORGE WINSWORTH. By a happy dis- pensation of Providence, one portion of a community is interested in its moral, edu- cational and religious welfare and another portion looks after its business and industrial resources, all of equal importance, and none of which can be neglected in order to the good of the whole. The subject of this notice, a man possessed largely of a kind and benevolent disposition, is one of those men naturally looking after the schools, churches and other enterprises tending to elevate society. Ile has been a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, together with his es- timable wife, for a period of more than fifty years during which time he has labored actively as Class- Leader, Steward and Superintendent of the Sunday- school. Ile has uniformly been the friend of edu- eation, being most of the time a member of the School Board and always taking an interest in the mental and moral progress of the young. Since becoming a resident of Goshen Township he has held the office of Justice of the Peace and was the first Road Overseer in his distriet. There are few worthy enterprises which have not received his

cordial endorsement and his more substantial aid. His career in fact has been that of an honest man and a good citizen who enjoys in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of those around him. He also bears the distinction of being one of the earliest pioneers of Clay County.

A native of Northamptonshire. England, our subject was born Jan. 18, 1821, and when a boy of nine years crossed the Atlantic with his parents, George and Rhoda (Heighton) Winsworth. For two years thercafter they lived in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pa., and then removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, where the school days of their son George were chiefly spent. The family was in limited circumstances, living upon rented land, and sometimes the father would work out by the day as a farm laborer. George assisted his father in summer and attended the district school in winter, and when of suitable years began learning the ear- penter's trade at which he worked until 1864. The father spent his last days in Ohio, the mother died in Wisconsin.

In 1864 Mr. Winsworth met with an accident by the falling of a scaffold, which resulted in the loss of his right leg and he was then obliged to abandon his business of carpenter and builder. Before leaving Ohio he was married in September, 1848, to Miss Anna E., daughter of John and Ann Grimesey. This lady was born in Ireland and came to America with her parents when a child. The year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs Wins- worth removed to Grant County, Wis., where our subjeet followed his trade until 1864 and occupied his farm there until the fall of 1869. His next removal was to Clay County, Kan., when he home- steaded 160 acres of land comprising his present farm.

When taking possession of his property Mr. Winsworth bebeld around him an open prairie on which there was not a tree or a shrub, merely long, prairie grass through which Indians were occasion- ally seen threading their way on hunting tours. while deer, wild turkey's and antelope were plentiful. The nearest mill was at Clay Center where he did most of his trading. He went to Manhattan for his lumber and farm implements. His first dwell- ing was a hewed log house, When he took up his

RESIDENCE OF FREDERICK BECK, SEC. 1. (T.G.R.7.) RILEY CO.

RESIDENCE OF GEORGE WINSWORTH, SEC.11. GOSHEN TP, CLAY CO.

RESIDENCE OF M. L. QUINN, SEC. 4. (T.8.R.6.) RILEY CO.

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homestead he had less than $15 in money, but was owner of a team and plow. The outlook was any- thing but cheerful, but he was not a man to give way to discouragement. and set about the task before him with characteristic energy. The result is that he now has a finely cultivated farm, enclosed with good fencing and embellished with comfort- able buildings. He has an orchard of about 250 apple trees and six acres of timber from which he gathers his fuel and obtains his building lumber.

'The following children were born to our subject, and his estimable wife, the eldest being Mary. now the wife of James Horesfall and whose eld- est daughter, Mattie, was married Oct. 9, 1889. John lives in Clay Center, George lives in 'Texas, William C. is at home with his parents. Rhoda, the third child, is the wife of Wakefield Newton and they live in Goshen Township. At the second hirth there were triplets who died in infancy. While a resident of Wisconsin Mr. Winsworth held the office of Justice of the Peace several years and Township Treasurer four years. He is a man who has always enjoyed the esteem and confidence of those who knew him, and is of that kindly and genial disposition which draws around him warm friends wherever he goes.

As a representative of the homes of Clay County, we present a lithographie view of the residence of our subject, who is justly proud of his eozy home.

F6 REDERICK BECK, a man of large experi- ence, both in military and eivil life, and well known to the people of Swede Creek Township, may usually he found at his well-regu- lated homestead occupying a part of sections 1 and 35. He has been successful financially and is a man of cultured tastes as is indicated in his daily surroundings. No man is more worthy of repre- sentation in a work designed to perpetuate the names and record of the leading residents of Riley County.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Beck was born June 2, 1847. and is the son of Jacob Beek who was born In the province of Alburu, Germany. The latter emigrated to America when a young man, in

1820, locating upon the present site of the city of Cincinnati, when it was a hamlet of a few houses. Ile occupied himself there as a gardiner until 1853, then removed to Wine Street Hill, which is now incorporated within the city limits and there his decease took place in 1863. The elder Beck was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a member of the Presbyterian Church, a strong Abolitionist and a stanch supporter of the Republican party from the time of its organization.

The.maiden name of the mother of our subject was Willibine Beck, likewise a native of Germany and who died when her son Frederick was a lad of twelve years. The latter was the youngest of four children, viz. : William and Jacob who are residents of Dearborn County, Ind .; Lizzie, deceased, and Frederick. William and Jacob during the Civil War enlisted as Union soldiers in the 105th Ohio Infantry and served three years. Frederick was six years old when the family removed to the suburbs and acquired a good edneation, remaining under the home roof until a youth of fourteen. The Civil War was now in progress and he deter- mined to enter the army. He knew that his parents would oppose this scheme so he erawled out of tlie window one night, Sept. 16, 1861, and enlisted in Company E, 37th Indiana Infantry. He was mus- tered into service at Lawrenceburg, whence the regiment was soon sent to Nashville. Young Beck two weeks later, having attracted the favorable at- tention of his officers, was promoted to Corporal and three months afterward to Sergeant. He par- tieipated at Bowling Green, Ky., in the engagement there and the first battle of Murfreesboro. under Gen. Mitchell. Thence going to Huntsville, Ala., his company was sent to guard a bridge on Elk River and was attacked by the Rebels which re- sulted in sixteen being killed and fourteen wounded. Among the latter was Sergeant Beek, who was shot in the hip and struck on the head with a bullet. He was likewise taken prisoner with the others. This occurred May 10. 1862. They were marched across the 'Tennessee River and then taken by a team over the Sandy Mountains to Tuscaloosa. Ala .. and treated very roughly by their captors, the wound of Mr. Beck being still unattended.

L pon arriving at their destination Sergeant Beck

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and his comrades were put into a building and nearly starved to death, receiving only a corn dodger about once in two days. They remained in that condition for six weeks and were then sent down the Black Warrior and Tombigbee rivers to Mobile, and afterward to Montgomery, where they were confined again and starved in an old cotton shed for three months. From their prison they could see the headquarters of Jefferson Davis, who, seated on his veranda was surrounded by every luxury. Finally the prisoners were sent to Macon, Ga., whence they went to Libby Prison two or three times and back. Their quarters here were the old Macon Fair grounds, where they sometimes spent days without food. In consequence of this treat- ment they were attacked with scurvy, a natural result. In June, 1863, they were sent to Aikens, landing on the Potomac, where they were paroled and placed on board a Union vessel and their appetites appeased.

Sergeant Beck and his comrades were now sent to Washington and placed in a hospital where they were visited by President Lincoln, who shook hands with every one of them, commiserating them upon their sad condition. Mr. Beck when suffi- ciently able to travel, obtained a furlough of thirty days, visiting his home, and then rejoined his regi- ment in time for the second and principal battle of Stone River, where they fought in the water, and remained in that vicinity for some time. In the meanwhile they hung a couple of spies.

The battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga followed, in which Sergeant Beck participated and he was also at Missionary Ridge, and in many other important engagements of the war. In January, 1864 he veteranized and after another furlough of thirty days joined Sherman's army, and participated in the siege of Atlanta, being under steady fire for one month. Then followed the battle of Jones- boro, and they went through Savannah. destroy- ing railroads on the way to Raleigh, and thence marched thirty to forty miles a day until reaching Washington, where they took part in the grand review. This was a magnificent sight, which Ser- geant Beck particularly enjoyed. Soon afterward he was mustered out and received his honorable discharge July 15, 1865.

When returning home from the army in which he had served nearly from the beginning to the elose, Sergeant Beck was a little over eighteen years old. lle traveled over Ohio and Indiana until the following September, and then at Newport, Ky., enlisted in the regular army in Company E. 3d United States Infantry. He was again promoted to Sergeant and sent West, first to Leavenworth and thenee to Manhattan, Kan., where he arrived May 5. 1866. Later he was at Ft. Riley and Ft. Dodge, spending the time at different Government forts and on the plains skirmishing with the Indians, and engaging in various buffalo hunts until the expira- tion of his term of enlistment.

Again entering the army Mr. Beek enlisted the third time for five years in Company F, 5th United States Infantry, remaining at Ft. Gibson until Cus- ter's massacre. The regiment was then sent to the Black Hills after Crazy Horse and his band and re- mained at Camp Cantonment, now Ft. Keogh, until Feb. 2, 1877. He then received his final and hon- orable discharge with the thermometer at thirty- nine degrees below zero. He spent some time in hunting and fishing thereafter and has the claws of a bear which he and three companions killed. He also obtained the sealp of an Indian. but some one got that away from him.

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Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state, Part 115

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Brothers Number of Pages: 1258

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 1258