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 142

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 142
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 142
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 142

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Our subject is of Massachusetts birth, born in Roxbury (now Boston Highlands), June 11, 1842, coming of well known New England stock, the Al- lens tracing their lineage back to the Pilgrim foun- ders of Plymouth. The great grandfather of our subject, William Allen, was born in 1726, a son of Josiah Allen, who was born in 1677, who was in turn a son of Samuel Allen, Jr., born in 1632, a son of that. Samuel Allen, who was born in England in 1607 or 1608, and was the first of the family to lo- cate in America. John Allen, the grandfather of our subject, is supposed to have been born in Mas- sachusetts, but he subsequently removed from that State to New Hampshire, and located in the town

of Lyme, where he followed his occupation of farming till death closed his mortal career. His son, Asahiel G., father of our subject, was born at the old homestead in Lyme, Aug. 16, 1804, and was reared amid the granite hills of his native State to a strong, self-helpful manhood. Ile early learned that which was known as the clothier's trade, the art of earding, weaving and finishing cloth.

Mr. Allen worked in Lyme, and removed from New Hampshire about 1840 to Roxbury, Mass., and he was employed by the Goodyear Rubber Com- pany, in Boston and also in New Haven and New York City. He also worked for the Boston Belting Company in Roxbury. In 1849 he was seized with the gold fever that led so many to seek their for- tunes in California, and he went thither by the way of Cape Horn, and arrived at San Francisco after a voyage of nearly seven months. He was engaged in mining there for a time, but finally returned to his home in Roxbury after an absence of about two years. Ile continued to reside in Roxbury till 1854, when he joined a colony sent out under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Society to Kan- sas, journeying thither by rail to Buffalo, thence by steamer to Detroit, from there by rail to Chicago, and thence to St. Louis, where the company em- barked on a steamer and were conveyed to Kansas City, then a small hamlet. There the colony dele- gated five persons to precede them to select a suit- able location for settlement, and then report to the remainder of the party at Lawrence. The father of our subject, and his sons, William and Charles B. went to that city to meet the committee on their return. Those gentlemen reported in favor of the colony locating in Pottawatomie County, and Mr. Allen and his son, Charles, went on to see the se- lected site, while William returned for the other members of the family, who after his arrival made arrangements with the Wyandotte Indians to take their goods up the Kansas River on a flat boat, while the family went to their destination with a team, starting from Kansas City Nov. 16, and ar- riving at Rock Creek on the 25th of that month.

At Lawrence the family was met by other mem- bers of the colony, who guided them to Wild Cat Creek, where the father had made a claim to a tract of land in what is now Grant Township, the settlement

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being then one of the farthest west on the plains of Kansas, and Riley County, which then contained but very few families, Jad not been surveyed or organized. On the 17th of October, 1854, the day on which the family left Roxbury for the frontier, the mother of our subject commenced a diary, which is a clear and neatly written chronicle of their journey thither and of the interesting incidents of pioneer life here, and we gladly incorporate a few of the notes in this sketch, that give one a good idea of the primitive surroundings of the inhabit- ants and of the privations that they suffered in laying the foundations of this Commonwealth. She states that while in Lawrence she attended church, which was held in a rude building, constructed of poles slanting from the ground to a high ridge pole, and covered with straw and turf, with windows in the end; and the pulpit was made of bunks placed one above another and covered with a buffalo skin. On the 22nd of December, she writes: "Out of pro- visions. Bought a turkey of a squaw for twenty- five cents and borrowed flour from a neighbor two miles away." In another place she writes: "We are baking boiled corn and pork to take the place nsu- ally assigned to beans and pork for a Sabbath meal." In the month of March, 1855, she writes that "two men came along and wanted to stop all night. They were from Maine, and were on their return. They had a sack of flour they wanted to sell, which we were very glad to buy, as none could be procured at Juniata." In another place, writing of going to a meeting, she says that she rode in an ox cart. One day she and her son of whom we write were left alone in the cabin, when three hungry looking wolves came roaming around. With the intrepid courage of a true frontiers-woman, the mother pro- cured the gun, and resting it on her son's shoulder, fired at the wild beasts, and one went limping away, while the others fled as fast as their legs could carry them.

The first pioneer work of the father of our subject was to erect a log cabin, in which his fam- ily took shelter before it had either door, floor or -windows. The country was so sparsely settled and in such a wild condition, that Mr. Allen concluded to abandon his claim and remove to Juniata, a set- tlement on the Blue River. He there took posses-

sion of a double log house, and made a claim to a tract of land in Riley County, opposite to Juniata. The land at that time had not been surveyed, and after he had made some improvements, the Wyan- dotte Indians claimed that they had rights to the land, and rather than have litigation with them, he vacated it, and made another claim in what is now Blue Township, one and one-half miles east of the present site of Manhattan. He improved that tract of wild, uncultivated land into a valuable, highly tilled farm, on which he made his home till his death at a ripe old age in November, 1879, and all that was mortal of him now lies buried in Manhat- tan cemetery. He was a straightforward, true- hearted man, well dowered mentally and physically, one whom his neighbors and friends found to be a wise and ready helper, and his memory is held in reverence as one of the earliest pioneers in Riley County, who bore an honorable part in its upbuild- ing. His wife, who cheerfully left the comforts of their pleasant New England home to share with him the trials and hardships of life on the frontier. and who was an important factor in its prosperity, survived him till Aug. 4, 1886, when she, too, passed away. Her maiden name was Chestina Bow- ker, and she was born in Fitzwilliam, N. H. being a daughter of Charles Bowker. She was the mother of seven children-Elzina, William F., Charles B., Henrietta C., John A .. Mary and Abbie.

John Allen, the subject of this sketch, was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to Kan- sas. He received his early education in the public schools of Roxbury, and later attended the pioneer schools of Kansas, and then he took a course of study at Bluemont College. When not attending school he assisted his father in the improvement of his farm, and was a member of the parental house- hold till 1862. In August of that year, at twenty years of age, with a promising future before him of a successful life, he put aside all personal consider- ations to take an active part in the War, whose course he had been watching with patriotic interest. enlisting in Company G, 11th Kansas Volunteer Infantry. He served in Arkansas under Gen. Blount, and fought at Cane Hill and Prairie Girove. In June, 1863, his company was detached from the regiment and sent to Ft. Riley, and while there the

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whole regiment was transformed into cavalry. It was stationed at Ft. Riley ten months, and was then sent to Ft. Leavenworth to serve as body-guard to Gen. Curtis, and went with him to the frontier to suppress the belligerent Indians, and afterward drove Price from Kansas into Missouri, taking part in several engagements. Mr. Allen served with his company till after the close of the War and was honorably discharged on the 13th of June, 1865, having proved himself to be possessed of fine sol- dierly qualities that gained him the esteem of his commanding officers and the respect of his comrades in arms. After leaving the army he returned to his Kansas home, and the next year resumed farming on the homestead, continuing in that employment till 1871, when he came to Manhattan to enter the employ of the Kansas Pacific Railway at the station in this city. He was thus engaged two years, and then for one year he traveled over the State in the in- terest of the Sons of Temperance, and during that time succeeded in organizing thirty-eight different divisions. In the fall of 1878 he accepted the po- sition of agent for the Grange Store in Manhattan, and acted in that capacity five and one-half years. At the expiration of that time he established him- self in business as a grocer, and has built up a large and paying trade, having a good store well stocked with the best of groceries that can be procured in any market to suit the demands of his customers. He is now conducting his business alone, although he has had partners at different times.

Mr. Allen and Miss Belle Perry were united in marriage Dec. 13, 1879. Mrs. Allen is a native of Connecticut, and inheriting from a sterling ancestry true tact, capability and discretion, she understands well how to make home cheery and attractive, and that of herself and husband is conceded by their many friends to be the abode of genuine hospitality. She is a consistent Christian and an estimable mem- ber of the Congregational Church.

Mr. Allen is possessed of a well balanced mind, being a deep thinker, a keen observer, and passion- ately fond of reading, and is exceptionally well in- formed on all subjects. He is exceeding interested in public affairs, and casting his first Presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864, he has been a firm Repub- lican ever since. A man of fine character and noble

principles, he has always exerted his influence on the side of the right and in favor of reform where- ever reform is needed. Especially is this so in re- gard to the temperance movement, in which he is one of the most prominent and enthusiastic workers in the State. After leaving the army he joined the Western Star Division of the Sons of Temperance. No. 1, and in 1880 was a delegate to the conven- tion of the National Division of that order, held at Cincinnati, and was there elected National Con- ductor for a term of two years. He took part in the State Convention in 1882 that nominated St. John for a third term, he being Chairman of the Riley County Delegation. He is identified with the A. F. and A. M. as a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 14, and he is one of the leaders of the G. A. R. in this county, being Past Commander of the Lew Gove Post. Religiously, he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church as one of its most active members.

OBERT MCLAUGHLIN. In the career of this representative citizen of Blaine Town- ship, is illustrated that of the self-made man who began in life dependent upon his own resources and who has by his own industry and perseverance arisen to an enviable position among his fellow-men. We find him comfortably situated on a well improved farm, embracing a portion of section 33 and which, with its well-tilled fields and substantial buildings does credit to the good judg- ment and forethought of the proprietor. Blaine Township has been fortunate in the men who came at an early date within its limits, and among its most worthy citizens may be mentioned him with whose name we introduce this sketch.

A native of County Antrim, Ireland, Mr. Mc- Laughlin was born July 14, 1825, and is the son of James and Jane MeLaughlin, who were likewise natives of Ireland and of Scotch descent. Robert was the eldest son of his parents and was reared to manhood in his native county, acquiring his educa- tion in the common schools and becoming familiar with agricultural pursuits as carried on in that part of the world. Ile also learned linen weaving which he followed in the winter seasons and at

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other times when not engaged in work on the farm. What he lacked in school advantages, he has made up by reading and observation and is well posted npon the general topics of the day.

A lad ambitious beyond his years, Mr. Me- Laughlin began laying his plans for the future early in life and after a few years discovered that he was not likely to realize his hopes upon his native soil. Accordingly, soon after reaching his majority he decided upon emigrating to America. After bidding adieu to the friends and associates of his childhood he repaired to the city of Liverpool, England, and secured passage on a sailing vessel. which, after a voyage of five weeks and three days, landed him in the city of Quebec, Canada. Thence he proceeded to Montreal, where he remained about three months. We next find him in Philadelphia, Pa., where he procured employment as a weaver of ingrain carpeting. He sojourned in the City of Brotherly Love for a period of ten years, and a part of the time was in business for himself. Sub- sequently for over thirty years he followed draying and general teaming, having sometimes two wagons and a cart in operation.

In the meantime, in Philadelphia Mr. MeLaughlin was married, in November, 1847, to Miss Rose A. Donaghy. This lady is likewise a native of the North of Ireland and the daughter of Alexander and Jane Donaghy. Of this union there were born five children, only two of whom are living. viz: Jennie, the wife of Rev. G. W. Brownell, a minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Pennsyl- vania; and Margaret the wife of Alexander Coryballe, a Notary Public and conveyancer in Philadelphia. The deceased children were named respectively, James A., Mary E. and Robert S.

Leaving Pennsylvania with his family in 1879, Mr. Mclaughlin sought the Far West, coming to Clay County, this State, and decided to turn his attention to agriculture. He purchased 160 acres of land, which is included in his present farm and which lay at that time in its primitive state. Ile labored in true pioneer style in the improvement and cultivation of his farm, and in due time his labors met with their legitimate reward. He has made many friends during his sojourn in Kansas and is looked upon as a liberal-minded and public-

spirited gentleman-one who has ever been willing to contribute his quota to the general welfare of the community. lle is an active member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, in whose prosperity he has always maintained a warm interest. Politic- ally, he affiliated with the old Whig party until its abandonment. but is now practically independ- ent, aiming to support the men whom he considers best qualified for office, irrespective of party. Hle still owns his house and lot in Philadelphia.

C ASPER W. HASSEBROEK. The subject of this sketch is one of the few men who have made a suecess, finaneially, in mercantile pursuits. He is one of the pioneers in the busi- ness at Riley, Riley County, and is not only eapable and efficient as a finaneier, but a man whose strict integrity has established him in the esteem and confidenee of all who know him. Of German birth and parentage, his native place was in Older- sum, Prussia, and he first opened his eyes to the light Aug. 23, 1836. In accordance with the laws and customs of his native land. he was placed in school at an early age and given a thorough edu- cation in the German tongue. When a youth of seventeen years he emigrated, with his parents, to America and settled in Ogle County, Ill., where he followed farming until 1874.

During the above-mentioned year, Mr. Ilasse- broek crossed the Mississippi and established him- self in Riley County, Kan., purchasing 160 acres of land on section 2, Madison Township. He carried on the cultivation and improvement of this land until 1877, then abandoning farm pursuits and going to Riley Centre, engaged in general merchan- dising, at which he continued until 1887, at that place. Then he changed his residence to Riley and continued business as before.

While a resident of Illinois, Mr. Hassebroek was married to a lady whose maiden name was Ida Groenhagen, of Ogle County. Ill. Mrs. ITasse- broek was born in Sickwerrum, Ostfriesland, in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, Nov. 17, 1838. and came to America with her parents in 1857, Of her

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umion with our subject there have been born ten children, viz: William, Grytie, Anna, Hermina, William, Henoch, Maria, Lidea, .Johanas and Ida.

The parents of our subject were William and Anna (Freerks) Hassebroek, both of whom were natives of Germany, and who spent their last years in Ogle County, Ill. Their family consisted of nine children, viz : Fentje, Freerk, .Ianna, Wiemke, Casper W., Albretje, David, Grytie and Wilkea.

G WV. BIRD, a prosperous and enterprising business man of Washington, where he is engaged in the sale of agricultural imple- ments comes from a family of pioneers, his father and grandfather having been useful factors in de- veloping the agricultural resources and promoting the growth of at least four of our Western States. He is himself a pioneer, having been an early settler of Washington County, and he has aided in extending its great farming interests, taking up a homestead claim of wild prairie land in what is now Mill Creek Township, and improving it into as good a farm as any in that locality.

Our subjeet was born in Monroe Township, Grant Co., Ind., March 24, 1832. His father. James Bird, was born in Preble County, Ohio. in the early days of its settlement, his father, bearing the same name as himself and a native of New Jer- sey, having been a pioneer of that section of the country. He was a son of Ralph Bird, who is sup- posed to have been born in England. The grand- father of our subject moving to Ohio when the greater part of it was a wilderness given up to beasts of prey and savage Indians, bought a tract of land in the primeval forests and lived there some years. About 1830, he made a move further westward and found his way through a wild, sparsely settled region to Indiana, going thither with wagons, and there he once more began the life of a pioneer. He located in Grant County and was one of the first settlers in that part of the country. He bought a large tract of timber land, built a log house for a dwelling, and at once set about the hard task of eliminating a farm from the forest covered land. He cleared an extensive

tract, planted orchards, and otherwise greatly im- proved the place, on which he resided many years. But he finally sold it, and moving to Rensselaer, Jasper County, in the same State, he bought an- other farm which he made his home till death called him hence in 1850. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth S. Summers, died about 1856.

The father of our subject grew to man's estate in his native State, and was there married, Rebecca Summers, a native of Logan County, Ohio, becom- ing his wife. Her parents, William and Sarah Summers, were natives of New York and Scotland, and were English, of Scotch parentage. Mr. Bird and his wife moved to Indiana with his parents, and became pioneers of Monroe Township, he buying a tract of timber land, on which he erected a log house, and in that humble dwelling our subject was horn. Mr. Bird cleared a farm from the wilder- ness where deer, bears and wolves were plentiful and often annoying; he made his home there some years. There were no railways in those days, and Wabash Town, on the Wabash River, was the near- est market for some years. In 1855 Mr. Bird sold his Indiana farm, and again started westward. traveling with teams, to Clayton County.lowa,his destination, and he again entered upon the life of a pioneer in another new town, buying a farm in Volga Town- ship. He resided there until 1869, when his rest- less spirit again drove him forth, and traveling in wagons towards the setting sun he and his family at last came to this fair land, and selecting what is now Mill Creek Township as a suitable location, Mr. Bird took up a homestead there. Building a log house for a habitation for his family, from that time till the day of his death in 1874, he was busily engaged in improving his land and developing it into a fine farm. His wife died on the homestead in 1877, and thus passed away from the scenes of their labors, two who were happy in their domestic relations, who were good neighbors, and who com- manded the respect of all who knew them. They were the parents of eight children. of whom the following seven grew to maturity; Benjamin. James, G. W., William, Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth. Edward died at the age of twelve years. The mother was a hard-working woman in her day, with none of the conveniences of modern times, she

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having to cook over the open fireplace, and she had to spin wool and flax and employ a weaver to make the cloth in her home.

He of whom we write, received good educational advantages, as the people who settled that section of Indiana where he was born and bred, were mostly from Ohio, and were intelligent and wide-awake, were free soilers and were in favor of free schools, and the free school system was early adopted by them. The first school that our subject attended was held in a hewed log house, which was the best school building in that part of the country at the time. As soon as large enough to be of use he be- gan to assist his father in the farm work, and the spring that he was eighteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of six years. At the expiration of that time, having a thorough knowledge of the trade, and being an ex- pert at it, he became a contractor in Hartford and Marion, and in 1856 went to Rockford City, Ill., and engaged in that capacity there one year. In 1857 he returned to Indiana, intent on matrimonial purposes and in the month of August, that year, his marriage with Miss Charlotte J. Benedict, was celebrated. In 1858 he went with his wife to Clayton County, Iowa, and locating in Volga City, carried on busi- ness as a contractor there until 1869. He then came to this county, and taking up a homestead in Mill Creek Township, began the life of a pioneer farmer on the then wild prairies of this section of the country, where deer and antelopes were still plenty. and where the settlements were few and far between, most of the settlers who had preceded him living in the timber along the streams, not realizing the value of the open prairies for cultiva- tion, and Waterville, twenty-five miles distant, was the nearest railway station. Mr. Bird's first work was to build a frame house, and he afterwards pre- pared his land for cultivation, improving the entire quarter section, planting a fine orchard of about 240 choice apple trees, and doing many other things in the busy years that his farm was under his man- agement to increase its value. He made his home on it till 1885, when he came to Washington and established himself in his present business the sale of agricultural implements. He is doing well at this and has already built up a large trade among

the farmers in this part of the county by whom he is well known and liked, as he is always kind and genial in his intercourse and perfectly honest and upright in his dealings. He is a man of strong and conscientious principles, and has a mind of his own and is independent and fearless in the expression of his opinions, though considerate in his utterances. In ante-bellum times he was a firm abolitionist, and he was among the first to join the Republican party at the time of its formation, casting his first vote for Gen. Fremont, the first Presidential candi- date of the party. Ile and his wife, and four of his children are among the leading members of the Christian Church.

We must add a brief account of the birth and parentage of Mrs. Bird to this biography of her husband. She was born in Monroe Township, Grant Co., Ind., a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Casterline) Benedict, natives of Connecticut, Her paternal grandfather, Wallace Benedict, was also a native of that New England State, and was an early settler of Rush County, Ind., moving thence to Grant County and improving a farm in Monroe Township, on which he lived till his death. Mrs. Bird's father also improved a desirable farm in that locality, and he and his wife passed their re- maining years thereon. Mr. and Mrs. Bird have been happy in their married life, and six children have been born to them, namely: Rebecca, Win- field S., Dora, Willie, Sadie and Bennie.

ATHAN WOODBURY, EsQ., a lawyer of ability, serving as Justice of the Peace in Washington, is one of its most thoroughly respected citizens. He is part owner of the Eureka Mills, in this city, and has from that source a com- fortable income, aside from his professional earn- ings. He is a representative of the noble veterans, survivors of the Civil War, who have since done so much toward upbuilding the Great West.

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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 142

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

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