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 135

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 135
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 135
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 135

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).

In Huron County. Ohio, on the 11th of February. 1857, occurred the marriage of our subjeet with Miss Helen, daughter of Rev. Austin and Susan (Benedict) Taft. The parents of Mrs. Stratton were natives of New York State, and the father a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died at Bowling Green, Wood Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1888. The wife and mother died in Ripley, Ohio, in July, 1850. Mrs. Stratton was the second child of the family and was born in Ripley, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1832. She was given an ex-

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cellent education and followed the profession of a teacher for many years prior to her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born two children: Archie D., Sept. 18, 1859, in Enter- prise, Erie Co., Ohio; he married Miss Mary Black- stone, Feb. 19/ 1885. and they reside on a farm in Farmington Township, Washington County, this State. The daughter, Cora M., was born in Nor- walk, Ohio, July 15, 1866, and is the wife of Frank E. Gwin, to whom she was married March 10, 1887. They reside in Lowe Township, Washington County. Mr. Stratton has served as Clerk of the Board of Education, also as Justice of the Peace.

The eldest sister's husband, with two sons and five sons-in-law, served in the Union army. The next eldest sister's husband, with two sons and seven sons-in-law, also volunteered in the good cause. His brother, David. enlisted as a private in the 10th Ohio Cavalry and was mustered out of the service as a Major. IIis brother. Daniel, was mus- tered into service as Captain of a company in the 112th Ohio Infantry. The family was thus well represented on the side of Union and freedom, and their war record is one worthy of preservation among the family archives.

ON. CHARLES WILLIAMSON, M.D., a prominent physician and pioneer of Kansas, was one of the leaders in securing its ad- mission to the Union as a free State, and has ever since played a distinguished part in ad- vancing its highest material, educational and social interests, using his great influence to promote all public enterprises. Ile has long been a prominent figure in the civic life of the State and has held several responsible offices, and his professional knowledge as a skillful surgeon and physician were of great service to the army during the war. He was an early settler of Washington County and has ever since actively practiced his profession here. and, besides. has a drug-store in Washington, where he makes his home. He has a fine farm not far from the city and several other farms in the county, and is greatly interested in agriculture and horticulture, devoting much of his spare time to

those branches, in which he is considered one of the highest authorities in the State.

Dr. Williamson was born in London, England, Feb. 8, 1825, a son of Charles B. and Mary Ann (Arcott) Williamson, The mother was a fine woman, and was descended from a hardy race of fishermen, whose home was at Shereness, in Kent. The Williamson family originated in Bristol, and many of them were distinguished as men of learn- ing, at the bar, in the pulpit and in military life. Some members of the family were proprietors of Summer Hill Academy, and were at the head of that noted school many years. For some reason the fortunes of the Williamsons seem to have been reduced in later years, and the father of our sub- ject, though given a fine education in which to start out in life, entered London with no other capital, excepting a small sum of money equal to twenty-five cents. But by pluck and the force of an indomitable will, that poor boy rose to be one of the leading merchants of London, with a large establishment on Bond Street, the most prominent business street of that great city. He was a man of great talent and of large enterprise and financial ability, and for thirty years he occupied a very im- portant place in the mercantile circles of the great- est metropolis of the world.

Onr subject passed his early years in the great London merchant's mansion, surrounded by wealthi and luxury, and was given every advantage that money could buy. When a boy he was sent to St. Marguerite's Academy, three miles from Dover. England, and there he studied English, French. Latin, drawing, and polite literature in general, and was drilled in military tactics. He chose the medical profession as his life-work and devoted several years' study to it, in the best medical col- leges of London and Paris. But while he was yet a student his father met with heavy financial re- verses whereby he lost the greater part of his fortune, owing to the severe losses entailed in manufactured goods on account of the colonial re- bellion. The son was thus thrown on his own re- sources, which only served to show his stamina and call out his native courage and force of char- acter. He was compelled to work a part of the time to secure money to pay his school expenses

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and he practiced his profession in different parts of England and France, and at one time he acted as interpreter and book keeper for the French Government in the construction of railways in Southern France. The ardent young doctor very early became interested in the views of those who upheld a republican form of government, and pleased with its spirit of liberty and independence, he determined to emigrate to Ameriea to make his home in a country so governed, and study its in- stitutions and principles. Ile sailed for these shores in 1855, landing in New York; and of course, 1 as might be expected of a man of his disposition. he was attracted to the scene of the great contro- versy then going on, as to whether Kansas. should be admitted as a free or slave State, and he soon found his way hither. Arriving in April, 1856, and locating in Mt. Pleasant, Atchison County, he threw himself heart and soul into the struggle then going on and became a compeer of Lane and other leaders. His position as a physician enabled him to gain a great deal of valnable information from the pro-slavery leaders, as they were obliged to em- ploy his services, and he learned much of their methods and plots that was of use to his party. It is said of him that " he frequently went into the pro-slavery camps, generally unarmed, learned all the plans of the border ruffians and rescued many of the friends of freedom from difficulty and even from death." And it is related of him that " when Mr. Iler, a noted obnoxious free state man, was in danger, he led him safely through the border ruf- fian camp, Mr. ller following a Government herd of cattle and under the Doctor's directions play- ing the part of a cattle driver."

The Doetor has collected many reminiscences of border times, which when published will be a valu- able addition to the history of those times that tried men's souls. When he came to Kansas he traveled to Leavenworth, by the river, finding it but a small hamlet, and then made his way aeross the country to Atchison County and established himself in his profession in Mt. Pleasant, nine miles south of Atchison, and praetieed there till 1859, and then located in St. Nicholas, also nine miles from Atchison and a rival with that city for the county seat. He practiced there till after the

war. While that was in progress he was appointed by the Governor, Surgeon of the 12th Regiment of Kansas Militia, and during the Price raid he was transferred to the ambulanee corps of Gen. Curtis' command (this by order of Dr. Davis, Medical Director of Ft. Leavenworth), and had charge of wounded soldiers in the battles of Westport, Big and Little Blue, Mine Creek, and the other engage- ments of that eampaign. When he retired from the army at the close of the rebellion. he practiced medicine in Tecumseh, Kan., six months and was then stationed in Perdee till 1867. In that year he eame to Washington County, which was then on the frontier and had but few inhabitants within its borders. Washington was but the mere nucleus of a town, with its half dozen houses, sixty miles dis- tant from the nearest railway station. The Doctor took up a homestead elaim two and one-half miles south of the village and near the big spring where the Mormons used to camp when they were on their way aeross the plains, and from time to time he has found relics there. Deer. antelopes and wild turkeys were plentiful, and a few miles away buffaloes roamed at will, and our subject has frequently been called upon to set or amputate the broken limbs of buffalo hunters who had been in- dulging in the exciting pleasures of the chase near his home. In 1868 he and one of his neighbors went to Junction City to file their claims, and night overtook them on their way and they lay down on the snow-covered prairie sod, wrapped in blankets. When the morning broke they applied at a cabin for shelter and food, which were refused, but the man of the house finally explained that he had no provisions whatever. The Doctor and his companion had plenty, and they gladly shared with the starving family, and the next day while in Junetion City they solicited aid for the poor people and on their return carried an abundant supply of food to them.

The Doctor resided on his homestead six years and then removed to the city, and bringing with him the stock of drugs that he had kept at his for- mer home, opened a drug-store, which he still manages. Ile was appointed United States Pen- sion Surgeon in 1871, and served till 1887. While residing in Atchison County he accepted the office

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of Superintendent of Publie Instruction, and dur- ng the two years that he was an inenmbent of that office he did a great deal toward advancing the ed- ncational facilities of the county. He has greatly interested himself in agriculture and horticulture, and as a learned and practical man he has pro- moted those interests in the highest degree through- out Kansas, making a careful study of them. Knowing well the constituents of the different kinds of soil and what they will produce, he has done much to enlighten people in regard to different produets to be raised and the manner of cultivation. Ile was the first leeturer of the first Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry organized in Washington County,and was instrumental in the for- mation of the society. Ile served as a member of the State Board of Horticulture six years, and as Silk Commissioner two years. He was elected Representative to the State Legislature in 1886, and it was through his influence while a member of that body that the State appropriation was made in the interests of silk culture. For several years he has been monthly reporter for the agricultural Department of the Government at Washington, D. C. He has always been a stanch Republican, a leader in the party, and the United States has no more loyal citizen. A man of fine conversational powers, and a ready and talented speaker, he has often lectured on agriculture, religion, temperance, -always an earnest supporter of all moral reforms -and he is in particular request as an orator on the Fourth of July, and such publie occasions, which are not considered complete by his admiring fel- low-citizens without his genial presence. The Doctor has been a member of the Odd-fellow and Masonie fraternities many years. He is Director of the State Historical Society and has compiled for it a valuable and complete history of Washing- ton County from the earliest days of its settle- ment down to the present time. He is Vestryman in the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Williamson affili- ates with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The marriage of Doetor Williamson with Miss Sarah Ann Dougan was consummated in Mt. Pleas- ant, Atchison County, May 14. 1856, and has been productive of great happiness to both. Their union has been blessed to them by the birth of

eight children, Mary Ann, Amelia, Laura, Eliza- beth, Lois, Charles, Robert and James, all of whom have received every advantage to be gained by a liberal education, and have been carefully trained under wholesome influences to a true man- hood and womanhood. Mrs. Williamson is a daughter of Mr. James Dougan, a well-known pio- neer and an honored citizen of Atchison County, now living in Atchison. She is a lady of marked force of character and of superior mental powers, which she has sedulously cultivated, being a great lover of books and a keen observer. She is well versed in scientific, moral and religious subjeets and has often lectured very ably on them to large audiences.

S QUIRE CASPER LESHER. The main points in the history of this well-known resident of Grant Township, Washington County, are essentially as follows : Ile was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Sept. 27, 1828, and is the son of David and Mary (Ober) Lesher, the former of whom was the son of Casper Lesher, who emigrated from Germany when a young man and lived for a number of years in Lancaster County, Pa. Soon after marriage he removed to Cumberland County, where he spent his last days, passing away at the advanced age of ninety-two years.

The subject of this sketch acquired a common- school education in his native county, where he lived until a man of thirty-one years. Upon reach- ing his majority he was married, March 22, 1849, to Miss Margaret A .. daughter of James and Eliza- beth (Reeder) Cook. of Perry County. In 1859, accompanied by his family, he set out for Illinois, locating in Morris and embarking in the grocery trade. A year later, however, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1864. They then gathered together their household goods for the third time, and emigrated to Northern Wiscon- sin, settling in St. Croix County, where they so- journed nine years, and where Mr. Lesher engaged in raising wheat, for which there was a good mar- ket and a never-failing crop. He harvested usu- ally nearly 3,000 bushels annually, and sold it

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from $1.50 to $1.75 per bushel. The work of harvesting was done by himself and his sons. In Wisconsin he became the owner of eighty acres of land, which he sold in 1873, and removing to Sac County, Iowa, purchased 400 acres.

The Lesher family remained residents of the Hawkeye State until 1881, our subject in the mean- time bringing his land to a good state of cultiva- tion until he sold that which he had purchased at $5 per acre for $25 per acre. Thence he removed to Gage County, Neb., remaining there until the fall of 1883. He purchased three farms in that region at $10 to $12 per acre, and sold at $20 per acre. In the year above mentioned Mr. Lesher decided upon another removal, and coming to Kan- sas, purchased 160 acres of land on section 2, in Grant Township, Washington County, where he has since made his home.

Shortly after taking possession of his property, Mr. Lesher made a trade for an hotel in the town of Haddam, two miles distant from his farm, and into which he removed with his family, operating as "mine host" for three years. In the meantime the railroad was completed through the town. Since his return to Grant Township, Mr. Lesher has been elected Justice of the Peace on the Repub- lican ticket, and he is quite prominent in party politics, distinguishing himself decidedly as a high- tariff man. He had sufficient experience, passing through the low tariff era as a laborer, and under the high tariff regime was able to become his own land- lord. He is a frequent contributor to the county press, tariff being his favorite topic, and it is a sub- ject to which he has given much thought and atten- tion.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lesher there have been born nine children, all of whom are living. The eldest. Mary Elizabeth, has been a great sufferer from rheumatism, and is confined at home. David S. is married and lives on a farm three miles northwest of Haddam; he is the father of three children. Clara J. is the wife of John Kenny, and the mother of three children; they live on a farm one mile north of Haddam. Jacob, who is married and the father of three children, lives on his own farm near Hladdam, just east of his father; William llayes is married and lives on a farm northwest of

Haddam; Elmer Ellsworth is married, is the father of two children, and owns and occupies a farm near Haddam; John lives with his father and operates the homestead ; Philip Sheridan, the youngest son. is a type-setter in the Clipper office at Haddam, and a young man of considerable promise; Ella May is the wife of William Tebo. and they live on a farm five miles from the Leshier homestead. The four- teen grandchildren of our subject and his worthy wife occupy a large place in their affections. Mr. and Mrs. Lesher are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin, having been unable to place their membership since leaving there.

Mrs. Lesher's grandfather was born in London. England. He was a coachmaker by trade.

AMES E. FREEMAN. Among those men who by their industry and frugality have been enabled to surround themselves with all the comforts of life, may;be properly men tioned Mr. Freeman, whom we find settled on a snug farm of 200 acres, on section 21, Sherman Township, Riley County. Here he has all the conveniences of modern farm life, a substantial residence, good barn and outbuildings, forest and fruit trees and the various appurtenances naturally suggested to the enterprising agriculturist. He also owns property in the vicinity of Manhattan. Ile is largely inter- ested in dairying, and gives his attention to stock- raising, handling blooded animals.

Mr. Freeman is a man of considerable education, largely self-acquired, and is quite prominent in-lo- cal affairs, having held the various minor offices. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and in his religious views coincides with the doctrines of the Universalists. A native of Crawford County. Pa., he was born Jan. 6. 1840. His father. Edgar Freeman, was a native of New Jersey, and born in 1795. The latter in early life emigrated to Penn- sylvania, where he spent the remainder of his days. dying in 1848, when James E. was only eight years old. During his later years he was engaged as a miller. Ile was a man quite prominent in his

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community. officiating as Tax Collector several years, and holding other positions of trust and re- sponsibility. He traced his ancestry to England.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Johanna Heard; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1798, and came with her son to Kansas, making ber home with him in Wild Cat Township until her death, which occurred at the age of seventy-four years. The maternal grandfather of our subject was George Heard, a native of New Jersey and a farmer by occupation; he spent his last years in Pennsylvania. To Edgar and Johanna Freeman there were born eleven children, only four of whom are living-Manning, Mary, Sarah and James E.

The subject of this sketch was the youngest child of his parents, and spent his boyhood and youth in his native Pennsylvania. When seventeen years old he crossed the Mississippi while Kansas was yet a Territory, and for a short time thereafter so- journed in the then unimportant town of Lawrence. The West at that time did not strike him as a par- ticularly desirable place to locate in, so he returned to his native State, and attended school that winter. In the spring of 1858, however, he came back to the West and rented a farm in Riley County, Kan., upon which he lived until 1862. The outbreak of the Civil War then called into action all his patri- otic impulses, and that year he enlisted as a private in Company G, 11th Kansas Cavalry, and in Sep- tember was mustered into service at Ft. Leaven- worth. His regiment was assigned to the depart- ment of the Missouri, and he met the enemy in battle at Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Maysville, Little Blue, and in various other minor engagements. Ile also went over the plains with the Indian expedi- tion in the fall of 1864. While in the army he purchased a farm in Grant (now Wild Cat) Town- ship, Kan., and after returning to the ranks of civil life, occupied this until 1884; then selling out he purchased his present property.

In Erie County, Pa .. on the 9th of November. 1873, occurred the marriage of James E. Freeman with Miss Martha Graves. This lady was born in Cuba, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1842, and is a daughter of William Graves, a native of Vermont, who emi- grated to the Empire State in his youth, but sub- sequently removed to Pennsylvania. In the latter

he engaged in the foundry business until about 1879, then came to Kansas and now makes his home with Mr. Freeman. He is a well-preserved man of eighty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Freeman there have been born three children-Johanna, Grace and Ada. Grace died when four years old.

C LARENCE E. RUNEY, senior member of the firm of G. Runey & Son, is operating successfully as a real estate, loan and insur- ance agent, while also prosecuting a thriving trade in pumps and wind-mills. The firm opened its office in 1886, and under skillful management the business has assumed paying proportions. They represent some of the best insurance companies in existence, including the Phoenix of Brooklyn, the Continental of New York City, and the North British and Mercantile of London, England-the firm holds a leading position among the business in- terests of Clifton.

Mr. Runey is essentially a Western man, having been born in Oregon, Wis., Sept. 9, 1866. Ilis father, Garret Runey, is a New Englander by birth and removed with his parents when a child to Wis- consin, they being among the first settlers in the vicinity of Oregon. Garret there spent his boy- hood and youth, assisting his father on the farm, and later, securing 200 acres of land, engaged in the culture of tobacco. He thus operated success- fully in the Badger State until 1884, aeenmulating some property. Then selling out he came to Kan- sas and has since inade Clifton, Washington County, his home.

The subject of this sketch received a good edu- cation, completing his studies in the High School of Oregon, Wis., from which he was graduated be- fore reaching his eighteenth year. He came to Kansas with his parents, and in 1884 became an employe of the Pacific House, which later was de- stroyed by fire. He then purchased an interest in the Local News office, with which he remained until joining his father in their present enterprise. Ile was commissioned a Notary Public on the 6th of October, 1887, which offiee he still holds, and he belongs to the Northern Kansas Real Estate Asso-

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ciation of which he is a charter member. Mr. Runey is also special agent for the Duplex Wind- mill Company of Brooklyn, Wis .. for Northwestern Kansas. The demands of his business give him little time to mix in politics, although he is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. No young man in Clifton has more genuine business enterprise and push, and the prospect is that in the near future he will be on the high road to a competence.

Le EWIS HAWKINSON, Justice of the Peace in Swede Creek Township, Riley County, is likewise one of its leading farmers, a man in good circumstances and the owner of 240 acres of land. This is located as follows: eighty acres on section 10; 160 acres on section 11, the resi- dence being on section 10. This property has been gotten together by a man of more than ordinary industry and perseverance -- one who has made his own way unaided in the world, and whose example should be an encouragement to every young man starting out in life without means.

Mr. Hawkinson was born in Christianstadland, Sweden, Jan. 1, 1841. and received very good school advantages during his younger years, at the saine time becoming familiar with the art and science of farming. When a youth of eighteen years he started out for himself, working for farm- ers in his neighborhood, and was thus employed two years. At the expiration of that time he en- gaged with the State Railroal as a brakeman, and followed this until 1865. Then going to the northern part of Sweden, he engaged there on a railroad likewise and formed the acquaintance of a gentleman who had visited America and could speak the English language. Young Hawkinson began learning the latter with his newly-found friend, learning to speak quite fluently and talked with him much about this far-off country. The result was that he resolved to see it and accord- ingly in the spring of 1866 sailed from Gotten- burg on the steamer "Mauritius." an old man-of- war, which had been fitted up as an emigrant ship. U'pon reaching the coast of England it was found that cholera was raging, and the ship was accord-

ingly headed for Edinburg, Scotland, and at Got- tenburg was quarantined four weeks. When start- ing out again they encountered a severe storm in mid ocean and both passengers and crew were called up at midnight to assist in pumping water. They finally arrived in New York City twenty- four days from the last time of starting.

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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 135

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

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