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 117

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 117
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 117
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 117

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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M INOR CLEAVENGER, proprietor of the O. K. Livery, Feed & Sale Stable at Han- over, has the largest establishment for this purpose in the city, and is doing a thriving business. We first find him in Washington County, Kan., in the fall of 1870, when he settled on Mill Creek, in what is now Charleston Township, enter- ing a tract of land six miles west of the present site of Hanover, where he operated as a tiller of the soil, and made the usual improvements sug- gested to the enterprising agriculturist. He ereeted buildings, planted fruit and shade trees, and ocen- pied the comfortable home which he had thus es tablished until November, 1881. He then invested a part of his capital in the livery outfit, of which he is now the owner, and in this line, as in farming, has been very successful. He is a man looked up to in his community, as representing its best ele- ments, both in a social and business point of view.

Jeraph Pierce

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A native of the Old Dominion, Mr. Cleavenger was born in Ritchie County, Oet. 27, 1837, and a few years later was taken by his parents to Wirt County, that State. they settling on a farm. When he was a lad of thirteen years, the family emigrated to Iowa, settling in Madison County among its earliest pioneers. Later Minor accompanied his family to Missouri, and we next find them in Henry County, Ill. After this young Cleavenger looked out for himself,and lived in different States, working on a farm. U'pon the outbreak of the Civil War. he, on the 1st of September, 1861, enlisted in Com- pany B, 9th Illinois Cavalry, and served in the Western and Southern armies, mainly scouting down the Mississippi, and engaging in skirmishes with the confederates. Later the regiment was at Nashville, and Mr. Cleavenger remained in the service four years and two months, managing to escape both the rebels and their bullets, although frequently receiving close calls from both. He re- ceived his honorable discharge in 1865, at Selma, Ala., and returning to Illinois, engaged in farming near Gencseo for five years and until coming to to Kansas.

In Washington County, this State, Minor Clea- venger was wedded to Miss F. Holbert, Sept. 5. 1875. Mrs. Cleavenger was born in Richardson County, Neb., in 1858. and came with her parents to Kansas when a small child. Her father was A. J. Holbert, and both parents died many years ago. Of this union there have been born four children, three of whom are living, Mary Myrtle, William S., and Nancy J. Mr. Cleavenger, while a resident of Charleston Township, officiated as Township Clerk, Constable and Clerk of the School Board. He supports the principles of the Democratic party. but has no aspirations for office, being content to cast his influence on the side of sobriety and moral- ity, and lives quietly, attending to his business affairs.

The father of our subject was Samuel C'leaven- ger. likewise a native of Virginia, and born Nov. 20, 1813. He was reared to farming pursuits, and remained a resident of his native State until the spring of 1850. That year he emigrated to Iowa, and prosecuted farming in Mahaska County until removing to Missouri. Ile lived in the two States

until 1867, then came to Washington County, Kan., and took up his abode among the pioneer farmers of Charleston Township. Ile operated as a tiller of the soil until November, 1886, then wisely retiring from active labor, left the farm and removed into the town of Hanover, where he has since lived, surrounded by all the comforts of life. He was married in October, 1835, in early manhood to Miss Jane Randall, who was born in 1811. Mrs. Cleav- enger died in February, about 1845. Mr. Cleav- enger was subsequently married to Miss Iluldah Morgan, who also died some years ago. His third wife was Miss Temperance White of Missouri, who is still living, and is the mother of four children. one of whom is living.

OSEPH PIERCE. This gentleman, whose portrait appears on another page, came to Kansas in time to assist in making it a free State, aud is justly proud of this fact. Being a member of the Masonic fraternity, he was saved from having presented him the choice of "leaving the Territory or taking the consequences" on ae- count of his Abolition sentiments. He ranks among the oldest and most highly-respected citi- zens of Manhattan Township, but has a farm in Wild Cat Township to which he proposes in the near future to remove. Ile has witnessed many thrilling scenes since taking up his residence in the Sunflower State, and during the time which tried men's souls, determined to stand his ground, a re- solution in which he persevered and which he has never regretted. In his prime he was a man of rugged strength, and is still active and capable of doing more than many younger men. He acquired a fair education in his youth, and being genial and friendly in his intercourse with his fellowmen, is a universal favorite.

A native of Westmoreland County, Pa., our sub- ject was born on the Conemaugh River, Dec. 11, 1816, and is the son of Thomas and Jane ( Hieks) Pierce, who were likewise natives of the Keystone State and the father of German descent. The pa- ternal grandfather, Thomas Pierce, Sr., was a native

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of New Jersey. He weighed but a little over 100 pounds in his prime, and lived to be over one hun- dred years old. He fought in the Continental Army all through the Revolutionary War, participating in the battles of Brandywine and Yorktown, be- sides many other important engagements during that memorable struggle.

The maternal grandfather of our subject was Joseph Hicks, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America in time to assist the Colonists in main- taining their independence. Thomas Pierce was a farmer by occupation and the father of eleven children, the record of whom is as follows: John married Susan Townfelter, and died at the age of fifty years in Mercer County, Ohio, leaving four children : Phebe A. died in infancy; Elizabeth married Samuel Daniels, a farmer and they reside in Iowa; James was married, and died in Ohio when about thirty years old. leaving a family ; Susan is the widow of John Gregg, and lives in Nebraska; Sarah Jane, Mrs. Hunter, died in Ohio when about thirty years old, leaving one child; Archibald settled near Springfield, Mo., where he died several years ago, leaving a wife and family ; Samuel was married, and died in Ohio when about thirty years old, leaving a family; Jacob married a Miss Merrill, by whom he became the father of six children, and they live on a farm in Riley County, this State; Thomas married Miss Annie Craig, and lives in Pottawatomie County, being the father of one child.

When their son, Joseph, was one year old Mr. and Mrs. Pierce removed with their family from Pennsylvania to Richland County, Ohio, settling near Mansfield during the pioneer days. The father took up a tract of land which he trans- formed into a good homestead, and with his wife lived there until a short time before their decease, when they removed to Mereer County where they died. The early education of Joseph was con- dueted in subscription schools, which he attended about three months in each year, and the balance of the time he assisted his father and brothers on the farm. At the early age of fifteen years he be- gan life for himself, working out on the farm un- til he was twenty years old and then commenced learning the trade of a carpenter. Later he was

employed in a sawmill on the Miami Canal, near Defiance, Ohio. He followed saw-milling in vari- ous places in Ohio until the fall of 1855, then started for Kansas Territory. He spent the follow- ing winter at Quiney, Ill., operating a planing-mill for the firm of Crockett & Simmons. The follow- ing spring found him west of the Mississippi, and he spent that season among the Wyandotte Indi- ans upon the present site of the city of that name.

The border ruffians at this time were in the height of their operations, and the pro-slavery ele- ment flourished along the Missouri line, endeavor- ing to enter Kansas and to prevent the entrance of any others who were in favor of making it a free State. Mr. Pierce found that he could safely re- main, finding a friend in one Armstrong, the head man of the Wyandottes, a brother Mason and a Methodist. In the meantime, however, the border ruffian element sent a Mr. Barrett as a committee of one to Mr. Pierce to ascertain his politics,and to learn how he intended to vote upon the question of mak- ing Kansas a free or slave State. Mr.Pierce replied at once that having been born and reared in a free State he was in favor first and last of making Kansas free. Ile gave them to understand that he had come tostay, and it is probable that his courage more than his affiliations enabled him to maintain his resolu- tion.

In 1857 Mr. Pierce removed to Manhattan Township, and shortly afterward entered land in Pottawatomie County, on the Blue River, where he took up his abode and lived ten years. He then moved to the vicinity of Blue Mound College. During the progress of the Civil War, and although past the age of military duty, he went with the troops when they were called out to repel the rebel General Price. Mr. Pierce was married in 1838, while a resident of Ohio, to Miss Calista V. Barker. daughter of Isaac Barker, and a native of Miegs County, that State. She became the mother of six children, and departed this life at the homestead in Manhattan Township, in March 1887, at the age of sixty-seven years. Their eldest daughter Salina, died in early childhood. Nathan died when four years old ; Rhoda married William Webster, a min- ister residing in Kentucky, and is the mother of four children; Edward; Emma, Mrs. Frank Wood-

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ward, lives at home and has three children; Frank- lin, who married Miss Lou Templar, is the father of one child living, and resides at Junction City.

Mr. Pierce united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when a youth of eighteen years, and for over thirty years has held a license as a local preacher. At the time of his wife's death both had been members of this church for the long period of forty-eight years. Mr. Pierce identified himself with the Masonie fraternity at Defiance, Obio, in 1830, and is still a member of the brotherhood, be- longing to Manhattan Lodge. No. 100. Ile east his lirst Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, in Mau- mee City, Ohio. Since 1861 he has been a member of the Republican party.

D UNCAN C. FRASER. Attracted to the West by the flattering prospects which fortune seemed to graciously extend to him within her boundaries, the gentleman with whose name we introduce this biographieal review first sought the fair fields and genial climate of Kansas in the year 1870. He homesteaded 160 acres on sections 4 and 5, Sherman Township and thereon made improvements and lived until 1879. He still owns this pioneer home, as well as three other farms, one of which is in Washington County. his landed property aggregating 640 acres. nearly all under the plow. These farms are all supplied with good buildings, and besides this land he owns ten acres and two improved lots in the city of ('lifton, where he resides, and also five lots in Vining, where he is actively engaged in the prose- cution of his business.

It is generally conceded that Mr. Fraser is very successful in his business as a lumberman, in which he has been employed ever since 1879, when he became manager of the Chicago Lumber Company, which established a lumber yard in Vining. Later it was known as the Iowa Lumber Company, and in June 1879 was purchased by our subject. who has sinee had it under his control. Ile is one of the most energetic men in the city of Vining, being an active supporter of all worthy enterprises. By the most arduous endeavor and strenuous exertion

he has worked his way up from poverty to afflu- ence, although for many years he could scareely make both ends meet. Now he has not only gained independence. but ean reasonably hope that his old age is provided for against the necessity of toil.

A native of rugged and wave-washed Nova Scotia, our subject was born in Picton County, July 16, 1842. His father, Alexander Fraser, was born in Invernesshire, Scotland, of Scotch parents, who, however, died when the father of our subject was a small child. At the age of eight years, in 1802, he came to America with an uncle and located in Nova Scotia, where he grew to years of maturity. In Pictou County he engaged as a farmer, living a comparatively uneventful life and dying when seventy-two years of age. Religiously be was a member of the Presbyterian Church, the religion of his parents. His wife, the mother of our subject, was in years of girlhood Miss Margaret MeDonald, a native of Nova Scotia, and the daughter of Evan and Jane (Grant) McDonald, the former of whom passed to his final rest when he lacked only four years of rounding out a century, while the latter died when eighty-four. They were likewise Pres- byterians. Mrs. Margaret Fraser lived to be sixty- eight years of age, dying in Pictou County, where her entire life had been quietly passed.

A family of twelve children was born to Alex- ander Fraser and his wife, four of whom were sons and eight daughters. Of these, ten lived to man- hood and womanhood, while eight are now living. all being married. Our subject received a good education in the schools of Nova Scotia. and was carefully trained under the home roof, so that he early learned lessons of thrift and prosperity. Feeling that the "States" held out to him brighter prospects than those offered by his native peninsula, he set out for the United States in 1870, coming first to Boston, thence to Providence, and New York City, and afterward removing to Kansas. For more than four years after coming here he occupied his homestead alone, "baching" it with true pioneer fortitude. Finally becoming weary of this solitary life. he chose as a helpmate and companion Miss Ida %. Haynes, with whom he was united in ma riage in Clay County, March 11, 1875.

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Mrs. Fraser was born in Illinois, Dec. 22, 1854, to Oliver and Mary (Barker) Haynes, who came to Kansas in 1865 and took up a homestead in Sher- man Township, Clay County, which has since been their home. Mrs Fraser was reared under her father's roof, and educated in Manhattan, Kan. After completing her studies she was employed as a teacher for several years before her marriage. Unto her and her husband have been born three children, namely: Katie G., Albert A., and Claude L.

Following the belief of their ancestors, Mr. and Mrs. Fraser are active members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an Elder. Politically he is a strong Republican, and aids his party in every honorable way possible. He has been Trustee of Sherman Township. and is in other respects identi- fied with the political interests of his township and county. He is a member of Clifton Lodge, 1. O. O. F., No. 181, and has occupied all the offices in this order. He is a charter member of the A. O. U. W., No. 40, of Clifton, and was first Master Workman. Their pleasant home is the frequent resort of neighbors and friends, who there pass many hours happily with Mr. and Mrs. Fraser. The latter is a refined and amiable lady, a devoted wife, and intelligent companion to her husband, whose interests, with those of their children, are ever foremost in her mind.

ACOB WERNER, SR. This fine old Swiss gentleman, well educated and very polite, is one of those whom once met is not soon forgotten. He is taking life easily at a fine farm on section 16, Hanover Township, Washing- ton County, this comprising 160 acres of land under a thorough state of cultivation and embel- lished with modern buildings. The residence and barn are solid structures built of stone, the former in 1879 at a cost of $1,000 and the latter in 1884 at an ontlay of $600. There is an orchard of 400 trees, including apple, cherry, and peach, and a vineyard of 500 vines, besides the smaller fruits. The farm accommodates sixtcen head of eattle, thirty-five head of swine and a team of good horses.

The entire premises are indicative at all points of the thrift and industry of the proprietor.

The subject of this sketch was the second child of his father's first marriage, and was born Feb. 2, 1829, in the Canton of Schauffhausen, Switzerland. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Werner, were also natives of Switzerland, where they lived until after the death of the mother, which occurred in 1842, when Jacob was a lad of thirteen years. The father was subsequently married again in the old country and emigrated to America in 1864, settling in Chippewa County, Wis. He departed this life there in 1869. The second wife came to Kansas that same year and settled in Hanover Township, after which she was married to August Thiele. She died Dec. 19, 1878.

Of the first marriage of the father of our snb- ject there were born four children. Jacob received a good education, and learned gardening, which he followed until coming to America. He erossed the Atlantic in 1851, and for a number of years there- after made his home in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. Thence he emigrated to Chippewa County, Wis., where he carried on a farm for about fourteen years. In 1869 he came to Kansas and settled upon the land which he now owns and occupies. The task of bringing it to its present condition involved no small amount of labor and the expenditure of considerable hard cash, but it would seem that the result has fully justified the means employed.

Mr. Werner, while a resident in Wisconsin, was married in May, 1858, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Carl and Catherine (Wesner) Denker. The parents of Mrs. Werner were natives of Holstein, Germany, where the mother spent her entire life. Mr. Denker subsequently, in 1857, came to America and settled in Chippewa County, Wis .; he died there in 1875. The parental household in- cluded five children, of whom Mrs. Werner is next to the youngest. She was born in Schleswig, Ger- many, Dec. 24, 1835, and was a young lady of twenty years when she came with her parents to America. Of her nnion with onr subject there was born a large family of children, ten of whom are living, viz: Jacob, Amelia, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Henry, Conrad, John, Herman, Charles, and Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Werner are members of the Evangeli-

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cal Church, with which our subject has been con- nected for the past thirty years, frequently officiating as Class-Leader, Superintendent of the Sunday School and Trustee. Some of his children have likewise officiated as teachers. In Wisconsin Mr. Werner was Clerk of his school district for many years, and has also been a Road Overseer. 1Ie takes an active interest in politics and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. Ilis whole course has been such as to establish him in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, by whom he is looked up to as a man of more than ordinary ability and one whose opinions are held in univer- sal respect.

M ELVIN J. WILSEY. This gentleman is the owner and occupant of a thoroughly cultivated farm on section 4, Farmington Township, Washington County, where he devotes his attention to farming and bee culture. He is a son of Jonathan and Harriet ( Rice ) Wilsey, of Otsego County, N. Y., where they were born and have resided during their entire lives. Our subject was third in a family of four children born to his parents. His birth took place in the town of Westford, Sept. 27, 1853. He grew to man's estate in his native State and county and received the best education possible in the common schools there. The knowledge thus obtained he supple- mented by an attendance of one term at the State Normal School. He made his home under the parental roof until he became of age, and until 1879 his home was in his native village. At that date he came to Kansas, and for two years made his home in Brown County. During a portion of this time he was engaged in teaching. In 1881 he came to this county and settled upon the eighty acres where he now resides.

In his native county Mr. Wilsey found a lady who united in her person all the qualities he de- sired in a life companion. This lady was Miss Mary Wilson, and to her he was married in West- ford, N. Y., Nov. 7, 1877. The bride was the daughter of Hiram and Lonisa ( Bennett) Wilson and the youngest in a family of three children. Her birth had taken place in Milford, Otsego

County, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1857. Her mother died in Westford. and there her father still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Wilsey are the parents of two children- Lloyd H. and Blanche.

In politics Mr. Wilsey is a Democrat. Mrs. Wilsey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A man of intelligence and good princi- ples, Mr. Wilsey commands the respect of his fellow-citizens.

G EORGE W. McCORMICK. This gentle- man bears the distinction of having been born in Riley County, Kan., April 1, 1860, while Kansas was still under Territorial Govern- ment. His father, John M. McCormick, was the very first settler west of the Pottawatomie Reserve, pitching his tent there as early as 1854. He is still living, and a resident of Zcandale Township, Riley County, and is represented on another page in this work. lle is one of the old land-marks, and a man who has had a large experience of pioneer life, coming to the frontier when it was peopled solely by wild animals and Indians.

The early years of our subject were spent at the homestead which his father opened up from the wilderness, and where he lived until coming to Clay County and establishing himself at Clay Center, of which he has since been a resident. He is now one of the most prosperous grocers in the town, possessing the business ability requisite to success. He was given a good education, complet- ing his studies in the Agricultural College at Man- hattan, after which he worked on the farm with his father until embarking in his present enter- prise.

In his native county, Mr. McCormick was mar- ried, Sept. 30, 1880, to Miss Ella Vincent, a few months his junior, and who was born in Marshall County, Mo., Nov. 26, 1860. Mrs. MeCormick is the daughter of W. J. Vincent, and the sister of W. D. Vincent, who is represented elsewhere in this work. She was taken by her parents to Man- hattan when a child of two years, and lived there until her marriage. She likewise was graduated from the Agricultural College with the degree of B. S. Mr. and Mrs. MeCormick are the parents

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of one child only, Nola, who was born Aug. 30, 1883. They are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and Mr. McCormick, politically, affiliates with the Union Labor party. While a resident of Riley County, he was quite prominent in local affairs, serving as Township and School Clerk a number of years. Ile occupies a good so- cial position. and is a favorite among his business acquaintances. Ile occupies, with his little family, a neat home in the northern part of the city, and enjoys the friendship of its leading residents.

S AMUEL K. STONEBACK is the owner and occupant of a fine farm in Bloom Town- ship. Clay County. It is located on section 24, and consists of 164 acres, which were purchased by him in 1876. The estate is well watered, and is well adapted for both grain and stock-raising. It is well stocked, improved and carefully cultivated. All the improvements have been made by its present owner since his occu- pancy of it, which dates from March 12, 1878.

Mr. Stoneback is of German ancestry, and was born in Chester County, Pa., Nov. 26, 1847. Ile is the youngest but one in a family comprising three sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to maturity, though one has since departed this life. His father, George Stoneback, spent his en- tire life in the Keystone State, where be was en- gaged at the trade of a blacksmith. (For full history see biography of John and Jacob Stone- back.)

The subject of this biography was educated in his native county, and learned the trade which his father followed. Later. he learned the trade of a plater in Chicago, Ill., and followed the same from 1866 until 1871 in that city. Ile was then engaged in the same occupation in Philadelphia, Pa., for a year, after which he turned his attention to black- smithing, locating at Harmonyville, Chester Co., Pa., where he continued to reside until coming to this State.

In Philadelphia the interesting ceremony took place which transformed Miss Anna S. Keim into Mrs. Samnel K. Stoneback, She comes of a

long line of German ancestry, and has inherited the housewifely ability and kindly nature which are so characteristic of the women of her race. She has borne her husband four children, one, Bessie !. , having died in infancy. The living children. George W., Elsie E. and Samuel I., yet linger about the home fireside.

Mrs. Stoneback was the eldest in a family of eight children, all her brothers and sisters yet sur- viving, four of them being married. She was born in Warwick Township, Chester Co., Pa., Aug. 1, 1853, and is a daughter of Samuel and Adeline (Keen) Keim, who had been born, were educated and married, and for many years resided there. There Mr. Keim followed his trade until 1880, when he located in Reading, Pa., where he and his wife are now living, having passed the age of threescore years. Both are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Stoneback was carefully reared by her parents, with whom she resided until the time of her marriage.

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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 117

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

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