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 143

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 143
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 143
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 143


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167


Mr. Woodbury was born in Ames Township, Athens Co., Ohio, July 14, 1833, coming of an honorable New England ancestry, one of whose descendants was an early pioneer of Ohio. Nathan P. Woodbury, the father of our subject. was born


1086


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.


in the same place as himself, while his father, also named Nathan, was born in the town of Beverly, Essex Co .. Mass., where his father, Robert Wood- bury. is supposed to have spent his entire life. The grandfather of our subject left his New England home when a young man and went to Pennsylvania, where he married, and in 1797 he started for the North western Territory with his family and settled in that part of it now included in the State of Ohio. He had previously bought twelve shares, calling for one hundred acres of land, each in the Yankee Purchase, and located in Ames Township. He thus became one of the early settlers of Ohio be- fore its admission into the Union as a State. His son William was the first white child born in Athens County, and his mother gave birth to him while she was en route from her home to their near- est neighbor, eight miles distant.


After he had his family comfortably settled in their new quarters, the grandfather of our subject went back to Pennsylvania, leaving his wife and child in charge of her uncle. One Sunday during the absence of the head of the house they thought they would go to "preaching" eight miles away through the wilderness, and they made their way thither on foot. On their return they lost their way, and wandering around. bewildered, the mother and child became separated from the man-of-all- work who had accompanied them, and were obliged to stay in the dense. awesome. primeval forests all night, disturbed by prowling beasts and the fear of Indians. The man found his way home, and the watch dog taking his back track hunted the lost ones up and remained with them during the night. The family suffered the privations and hardships of life in a pioneer country, and by hard work succeeded in eliminating a good farm from the wilderness. In those early days there were no markets, and the pioneers were home-livers, that is they had to content themselves to maintain life with the prodnce they could raise, and to dispense with all Inxuries, and the wives, moth- ers, and daughters of the settlers, spun. wove and made all the clothing used. The grandparents of our subject died on the old homestead. The grandsire was a hero of the Revolution, and our subject has some of the Continental money with


which he was paid for his services as a soldier. He died in 1838.


The father of our subject was one of six children, three sons and three daughters. and he was reared in his native county under the influence of its pioneer life. He was married in Perry County to Miss Susanna Jennings, a native of Pennsylvania. Her father, James Jennings, also a native of the Keystone State, was a pioneer of Perry County. In 1839, imbned with the fearless, enterprising, hardy pioneer spirit of his father, Mr. Woodbury moved to the wilds of Indiana, and became a pioneer of Randolph County. He bought 800 acres of timbered land in the primeval forests of Wayne Township. and building a log house in the wilderness, commenced the hard task of clearing his land and preparing it for cultivation. HIe and his wife were far from the centers of civilization, there being no railways in that part of the country, and the nearest market was many miles distant, in Pickaway, Ohio. The family had to live in the most primitive way, depending upon what they could raise and the game killed by father and sons for the food they ate, which was cooked over a fire in a rude open fireplace, and mother and danghters used to weave the cloth used in the family. Mr. Woodbury, by many years of downright hard toil, improved a large tract of land, planted orchards, and at the time of his death had one of the finest farms in Randolph County. He died on his home- stead in 1878. and his wife followed him in 1884, her death also occurring there. They were sub- stantial, whole hearted people, of genuine worth, and were held in high respect by all in the com- munity where so many years of their lives were spent. They were the parents of nine children, whom they trained to be useful and honorable members of society.


He of whom we write was six years old when the family removed to Indiana, where he attended school in a rude log house. the seats for the schol- ars being made by splitting saplings, hewing one side smooth, and inserting pins for legs. Early in life onr subject learned the trade of a plasterer, and followed it until he entered the army. The pioneer spirit of his sire and grandsire, and of more remote ancestors seemed to have descended to him,


1087


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.


for in 1857 he, too, ventured forth from his com- fortable home to try life on the frontier, coming all the way from Indiana to Kansas with a team, He had a wide experience of life on the border in the four years that he remained here, in those trying times when the anti-slavery and pro-slavery men were disputing every inch of ground in the fierce struggle that arose when the question was pending, as to whether Kansas should be admitted as a free State or as a slave State. In the meantime settlers were pouring in, and our subject found plenty of employment at his trade, which he followed in Doniphan, Atchison. Brown, Leavenworth, Jeffer- son and Douglas counties, thus having a fine oppor- tunity to traverse a vast extent of country in this great State, and of witnessing the early stages of its growth towards civilization from a wild, sparsely-settled region. Ile returned to Indiana in 1861, and in August, 1862, east his lot with the brave defenders of the Stars and Stripes, enlisting in Company H, 84th Indiana Infantry, and serving with faithfulness and ability until after the terrible war was over. He was in the battle of Chick- amauga, was with Sherman in his famous march to Atlanta, fighting with characteristic valor in the engagement at Jonesboro, and in all the battles of the campaign. He was disabled in the engagement mentioned, and was not fit for duty after that, and was honorably discharged in May, 1865. In those trying years of hardship, privation and misery he sacrifieed his health while fighting for his country, and has not been able to do any manual labor sinee. After his discharge, Mr. Woodbury returned to his old home in Indiana, and under the watchful care of his parents and friends slowly re- cuperated sufficiently so take up the duties of life onee more. lle was soon honored by his fellow- citizens by an election to the office of Justice of the Peace of Wayne Township. About that time he commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in Randolph County. He served as Jus- tice of the l'eace eight years, and in 1878. coming to Kansas, bought the Eureka Mills, which he managed with financial success four years, and then sold a half interest in it to another. Soon after locating here he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has since served continuously, evincing in |


the discharge of the duties of his office, a thor. ough knowledge of the law as applicable to the cases under his jurisdiction, and in his decisions, which are conceded to be wise, just and impar- tial. giving general satisfaction. Ile is a sound Republican in politics. In his intercourse with others he is frank and sincere in his manner. and always courteons and kind.


Mr. Woodbury was married in 1876 to Miss Susan A. Bolen, a native of Xenia. Greene Co., Ohio, and to her good management and tact he is greatly indebted for the comforts of his cozy home. Two children, Oma and Lettie, complete their happy household circle.


OHN M. BARKER, senior member of the firm of Barker & Yoey, dealers in flour and feed, is, with his partner, conducting a good business in Clifton, which was first purchased by Mr. Barker in 1886, having been es- tablished the year previous. The present firm was organized in 1889. Mr. Barker formerly had been engaged in the grocery trade some time at Clifton, Washington County, and he has been a resident of Clay County since 1869. His early years were spent in farming in Sherman Township, that county, where he homesteaded 153 acres of land on sections 17 and 18.


Mr. Barker made good improvements on his farm, then finally sold out, and invested his capital in the city of Clifton, where he now owns a good residence and his business house. He was born in Monroe County, Ill., Feb. 5, 1834. and after arriv- ing at man's estate, engaged as a merchant in Car- linville, Macoupin County. He is of New England descent, his father, Asa Barker, having been a native of Vermont. The latter was reared on a farm in the Green Mountain State, and when a young man set out, in 1818, for Illinois, making the journey part of the way on a flatboat on the Ohio River. Among the passengers was a lady, Mrs. Cynthia (Duval) Phillips, whose husband was drowned dur- ing the voyage, having fallen overboard from the boat. Mr. Barker reseued the body from the water after life was extinct. After the little colony had


1088


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.


landed in Kaskaskia, Ill., Mr. Barker became inter- ested in the young widow with her six children, and in due time they were married in Monroe County, Ill., and began life together on a farm.


Later Mr. and Mrs. Barker removed to Edwards- ville, Ill., where the father died after the birth of nine children. The mother later removed with her family to Macoupin County, and there her death took place in 1869, when she was about seventy- three years old. She, like her husband, was a Baptist in religion. John M. was one of the elder children of his father, and a twin, one of three pairs of twins born to his mother, two pairs being the children of his father, and one pair by the former husband of Mrs. Barker. The children all received good home training, and John M. remained under the parental roof until approaching his majority. He received his principal education under the instruction of his mother, who in her girlhood had been a teacher, and who was an intelligent woman, as well as strong in bodily health.


Young Barker, after the death of his father. which occurred when he was sixteen years old, be- came the head of the family, and assisted his mother in the care of the younger children. After becom- ing of age he was married to Miss Margaret E. Gordon, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 1, 1840. Mrs. Barker was reared and educated by a Baptist minister, Rev. Elijah Dodson, having lost her mother at the time of her birth. Iler father was accidentally killed while she was still au infant. She thus knows very little of the parental history. She was treated as a daughter in the Dodson fam- ily, receiving the advantages which they would have given an own child. She has been in delicate health for some years, having suffered a paralytic stroke. Mr. and Mrs. Barker have no children of their own, but adopted a little girl, Laura Bost- wick, who is now the wife of John Ilarding, a resi- dent of Cloud County, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Harding are the parents of four children.


In their religious views Mr. and Mrs. Barker harmonize with the doctrines of the Baptist Church, of which they are charter members at Peach Creek, Clay County, known now as the Clifton Baptist Church. Mr. Barker upon coming to Clifton iden- tified himself with the same denomination, and has


officiated as Deacon for a period of twenty years. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company C. 32d Illinois Infantry, under command of Capt. Ilarding, Col. T. Richardson and Gen. John A. Logan. He entered the ranks in February, 1865, joining the regiment at Goldsboro, N. C., when near the elose of the war, and saw no active service.


OSEPH TOMLINSON. Among the repre- sentative pioneers of Blaine Township, may be properly mentioned Mr. Tomlinson, who owns a good farm on section 35. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, Feb. 29, 1828, and is the son of Jonathan and Eliza (Sheppard) Tom - linson, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Virginia. Jonathan Tomlinson, when a youth, left his native State, emigrating to Ohio, and settling among the pioneers of Greene County. There in due time he was married and remained a resident of the Buckeye State a number of years. He finally removed to Indiana and died in Dela- ware County, that State, in 1845. The mother survived her husband until after the close of the civil war.


To the parents of our subject there were born eight ehildren, only three of whom are living, namely: Joseph, our subject; Allen, a resident of Grant County, Ind. : Ilannah M., the wife of L. Robinson, in Jay County, that State. Joseph when a lad of fourteen years removed with his parents and other members of the family to Dela- ware County, Ind., where he was reared to man- hood and learned the trade of a plasterer. He followed this several years in connection with farm- ing and remained a resident of the Hoosier State until 1855. That year he removed to Grant County, Wis., where he remained nearly two years. Then going into Iowa he sojourned there one year. Thence he returned to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in Grant County, where he re- mained until 1869.


Mr. Tomlinson, while a resident of Wisconsin was married May 31, 1855, to Miss Eliza A. Strat- ton. This lady was born July 8, 1838, to Stacy L. and Margaret (Grimesy) Stratton, who were


1089


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM.


natives respectively of New Jersey and Ireland. The Stratton family was well and favorably known in New Jersey for several generations,and emigrated from that State to Ohio in the pioneer days. The parents of Mrs. Tomlinson are still living, making their home now in Clay Center, this State. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stratton eight children. of whom the following survive, namely: Hannah A., the wife of John Martin, of Clay County; An- nis, Mrs. J. W. Reed, of Clay Center; Eliza 1., Mrs. Tomlinson; Alcinous and Gilmore M., of Clay Center. Mr. and Mrs. Stratton are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are now quite aged, the father having been born in 1811 and the mother in 1808. They are quite well preserved and people who are highly respected by all who know them.


!


There are living only two of the five children born to Mr. and Tomlinson, viz: Albertus and Mary E. The deceased were named respectively: Ann E., who died when three years old; Lauretta L., who died in infancy, and Esther A.


The early advantages given Mr. Tomlinson in an educational point of view were somewhat lim- ited, he attending the subscription schools in Ohio and Indiana, which, as may he supposed, were conducted in a manner far different from that of the present day. He has, however, made the most of his opportunities for useful information and keeps well abreast of the times by reading the weekly newspaper. He lived in Wisconsin until the fall of 1869, then disposing of his interests in the Badger State, crossed the Father of Waters and settled on his present farm in Clay County, Kan. He assumed possession of this as a home- steader, taking up 160 acres of wild prairie upon which not a furrow had been turned. The improve- ments which the passing traveler beholds with in- terest. furnish a fine illustration of industry and perseverance. In his labors and toils Mr. Tomlin- linson has received great assistance from his excel- lent wife, whose wise management and economical housekeeping have greatly aided in the accumula- tion of their property. Together they have watched the growth and development of their adopted township and may justly feel that they have aided in bringing it to its present condition by the


building up of one of its most desirable home- steads.


Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they have given a liberal support. They have a large ac- quaintance in Clay County and are recognized as among its most esteemed citizens. Mr. Tomlinson during the late civil war signified his patriotism by enlisting as a Union soldier Aug. 21, 1862, in Company G, 33d Wisconsin Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. Ile partici- pated in the sieges of Vicksburg and Atlanta, and fought at Spanish Fort, besides meeting the enemy in minor engagements. At the close of the war he received his honorable discharge, Aug. 9, 1865. and returning to Wisconsin lived there until his removal to Kansas.


C HARLES ROWLAND. The comfortable and attractive home of this gentleman is lo- cated on section 22. Farmington Township, Washington County. The estate comprises 240 acres, which have been well improved and upon which have been erected excellent farm buildings. Numerous shade and fruit trees embellish the place. and supply the family with choice fruits.


The gentleman of whom we write was born in Chester County, Pa., in June, 1822. His parents. Joseph and Hannah (Parker) Rowland, were natives of the same county, in which they were married and settled. While on a visit to one of the Western States at an early day, Joseph Rowland was taken sick and died. His widow survived until the spring of 1889, when she departed this life in Philadel- phia, Pa. Their family comprised two sons, of whom our subject was the younger. He passed his early life mostly in Delaware County, l'a. At the age of sixteen he went to Philadelphia to learn the trade of a blacksmith, which he finished in Schnykill County. He returned to Philadelphia and there followed his trade until June, 1849. He then changed his location to Milwaukee County, Wis .. where he remained about two and a half years. He then removed to Sheboygan County, and settling in the town of Scott, remained there until March,


1090


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.


1870. At that date he came to Kansas and settled where he has since been a resident. Since coming to this State, he has given his attention almost wholly to his farm, and has shown himself as thorough in its management as he was at his trade.


The marriage of Mr. Rowland took place in Philadelphia, April 13, 1844, the bride being Miss Rachael Benson Price. She was born in Delaware County, Pa., on New Year's Day, 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland are the parents of seven children: Joseph S., Mary E., Sarah R., Anna J., Emeline H., Charles P. and John P. Joseph married Miss Mary Kurtz; Mary is the wife of George W. Smith; Sarah is the wife of George E. Ross; Anna is the wife of Henry H. Smith; Emeline died when eight years old; Charles married Sarah A. Patrie.


Mr. Rowland casts his vote and influence with the Republican party. He was formerly a member of the l'nited Brethren Church, but is not at pres- ent identified with any religious body. An honor- able man, and trustworthy citizen, he is respected by his neighbors and fellow-citizens.


RESTON S. LOOFBOURROW, editor and proprietor of the Leonardville Monitor, is an old resident of Kansas, first coming here July 4. 1869, on which day he crossed the river at St. Joseph. He is a native of Adams County, Ind., and was born March 11, 1838. On the paternal side the family is of English extrac- tion. but for several generations have been na- tives of America. John Wade Loofbourrow, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a resident of Clarksburg, Ilarrison Co., Va., in which State he lived until of mature years. Afterward, abont 1797, he removed to Pickaway Plains, Ohio, where he spent his last days. He was a minister of the Baptist Church and also a farmer. Wade Loof- bourrow, father of John Wade and great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch came over from England and settled at or near Amboy, N.J., afterward removing to Virginia. He was a cooper by trade.


Wade Loofbourrow, the father of our subject, was born in Harrison, Co., Va., in 1787, and was


a boy of ten or twelve years when the family emigrated to Ohio. He did his share of the hard labor which ensued and encountered the dangers incident to the early pioneers of that region, of which his parents were among the foremost. He was reared at the homestead, and in later years re- moved to Adams County, Ind., where he spent the remainder of his life. dying in 1857 at the age of seventy years. Ile became a prominent man in the place where he finally settled, and although often solicited to hold office, he only accepted that of Associate Judge, which he filled for several years, occupying the Bench with the Hon. David Kil- gore, presiding Judge. In his day he became well known. Ile was a Whig in politics, and although a Virginian by birth and ancestry was an Aboli- tionist from principle. Although not living to see it, he predicted that slavery would be abolished through a civil war. How sound his judgment and how prophetic his utterances, events afterward proved.


Judge Loofbourrow was not only well known in this section of country, but was highly respected by all. He was a man with strong convictions of right and wrong, fearless in his expression, but his evident sincerity compelled the respect even of those who radically differed from him; and during the exciting times of a few years prior to his death many also hated him for his strong love of free- dom. He was greatly interested in the struggle to make Kansas a free State, although he died before the issue was finally determined. Ile was eminently a moral and upright man but never connected himself with any religious body.


In Ohio. during his early manhood, Judge Loofbourrow was married to Miss Rachel Hall, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1795. She died at Liberty, in Jay County, Ind., in 1859, two years after the decease of her husband, aged sixty- four. This worthy couple were the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom five died in childhood. Mary died in Indi- ana, at the age of eighteen years; Martha was the wife of David Walter, and died in Republic Connty, Kan .; Elias was also married, and died in Sonoma County, C'al., where he was a prominent teacher; Emily, the wife of William P. Shepherd,


1091


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.


died in Neosho County, this State. Besides our subjeet, the two living are: John, who was the eld- est son of the family, and now at the age of sev- enty is a resident of Darke County, Ohio; and Sophronia, widow of Charles Kelly, living in Mo- line, Elk County, this State.


The subject of this sketch was reared at the home farm in Indiana, and after attending the common schools for only about one year before he was eighteen years of age, acquired his principal edu- cation in Liber College, Jay County, Ind. In or- der to obtain the means for pursuing his studies he taught school in the winter and attended the eol- lege in summer, and in this way he spent his time nutil a young man of twenty-three years. He was then married and began farming on the old home- stead, where his parents had both died.


After one year thus occupied Mr. Loofbourrow embarked in the newspaper business, purchasing the office and good-will of the Jay Torchlight, pub- lished at Jay court-house, Indiana, its first issue being dated Oet. 9, 1862. He conducted that pa- per a little over two years, and during five months of this time was in the Union army as a member of Company E, 139th Indiana Infantry. During his absence the paper was edited and published by his wife and her sister. Selling the paper in Novem- ber, 1864, he next engaged in the boot and shoe trade for a year; then disposing of that busi- ness, he came to Kansas, and located first in Leavenworth. Next he settled on a tract of land in the vicinity of Omaha. Neb., where he raised a crop, but that same fall went back to Indiana and taught school a few terms while also engaging in lime-burning. Selling this out in the spring of 1869. he determined to make his permanent home in this State, arriving here at the time stated. 1Ie sojourned in Doniphan County one year, teaching school, and in the spring of 1870 came to Clay County and homesteaded a claim in Grant Town- ship.


There Mr. Loofbourrow made his home for five years, when he purchased another farm near by, on which he lived for two years. At the expira- tion of this time he removed to Clay Centre and there engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, and was also a Justice of the Peace, ap-


pointed by Gov. St. John to fill a vacaney. Twice he was re-elected, but resigned during his last term in April, 1884, in order to remove to Leonardville. which has sinee been his home.


The Monitor was first established in Clay Centre by Mr. Loofbourrow, but inducements being of- fered him, he removed it to Leonardville. The pa- per is an eight-page of five columns and is a power in the community. It is aggressively Republican in polities, a eleanly-edited family sheet, devoting much attention to home news and working for the best interests of the section of country in which it is published. It has been truly said of it by a prominent contemporary that " it is the best paper in the State of its size and opportunity "- which is praise from a competent souree. The office is well supplied with facilities for good job printing and turns out some ereditable work of all kinds - commercial, poster, ete.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.