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 15

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 15
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 15
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 15

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).

Mr. Caywood was married in his native State, Kentucky, Sept. 30, 1869, to Miss Susan Emma Power. This lady was born in Mason County, Ky., and spent her childhood and youth there and in Fleming County, making her home with her parents until her marriage. Of this union there have been born seven children, four of whom are deceased. Blanche M. died when eighteen months old; Benjamin M. died in infaney; Edward P. Jr., at the age of six years was accidentally killed, having an iron rod thrown at him by another boy while playing which struck him in the head. Lo- renzo died when eight months old. The survivors are Mary L., Carroll H. and Roff P. Mr. Caywood, politically, is a member of the Democratic party. He has served as a member of the City Council in Clifton and as a member of the School Board. llc does not mix very much in politics although keep- ing himself well posted therein, preferring to give his time to his business affairs.

The father of our subject was Mason Cay wood, a native of Mt. Sterling, Ky., and whose parents were natives of Hagerstown and Baltimore, Md.

The paternal grandfather, Thomas Caywood, mar- ried a Maryland lady, Miss Marsteller, who was re- lated to George Washington by marriage. They removed to Kentucky early in the present century and spent their last years on a farm in Fleming County, dying when quite aged. They first settled among the pioneers of Montgomery County when the country was inhabited chiefly by Indians and wild animals. Grandfather Caywood for a number of years kept a public house in Fleming County, which was the stopping place for most of the tray- elers through that State.

Mason Caywood was married in Kentucky to Miss Mary Roff and afterward they settled in Fleming County on a farm. Thence they came to Kansas in 1878, and Mason Caywood departed this life Dec. 25, 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. having been born Aug. 20, 1815. Ile was a hale and hearty old gentleman to the last as the result of correct habits and a temperate life. He was successful, financially, and in his religious belief was a Baptist. Politically, he, was a Democrat of decided views. The wife and mother is still living in Vining, Kan., with her sons, being sixty-eight years old ; she is also a Baptist. Only five of the ten children comprising the parental family arc living, namely: Edward P., John L., and Emery W., the latter being a partner in the grain trade; the second member of the firm is married to Miss Della Colt; Ernest, cashier of the Lombard Invest- ment Company at St. Paul; and William T., book- keeper and clerk for his brothers, the grain dealers. William T. was graduated from the Kansas State Medical University, in June 1889.

Mrs. Edward Caywood's uncle, John C. Power, is the custodian of the Lincoln monument at Springfield, Ill.

E NOS F. DOLMAN. Kansas has become the home of many veterans of the Civil War and pioneer of other States, who have sought and obtained from its fertile soil and balmy air a degree of health, prosperity and happiness which they failed to secure elsewhere. Among these not the least conspicuous is the subject of this biographical

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review, a resident of section 33, Clifton Town- ship, and a prominent business man of Vining, where he is engaged in the blacksmith trade. He purchased his present farm in 1871, when it was un- improved and in almost the primitive condition of nature, and since 1878 has made all its present im- provements, effecting great changes in the appear- ance of the landscape, and erecting good farm buildings, a substantial barn and a neat, commodious and comfortable residence, wherein he is passing this life contented and prosperous, surrounded by a devoted family.

Mr. Dolman was for twenty-two years a resident of Kirkwood, Warren Co., Ill., where he was in the blacksmith business. During all this time, between the year of 1856 and 1878, he was in partnership with Robert Everett, who was not only his friend in times of peace but served with him during the war, they being faithful comrades. Coming to Kansas in 1856 our subject was highly pleased with the soil and climate, but such was the tumult and fierce excitement of war discussions, that he remained only three months, being most of the time at Law- rence, and then returned to less turbulent districts of the country. However, before he left this State he had formed the acqnintance of John Brown, the slave freer, James Lane, Gov. Reader, Gov. Shannon, and the acting Free State Governor Roh- inson. Of these men, famous in the annals of the Rebellion, he cherishes bright recollections.

A native of Burks County, Pa., and born July 25, 1828 to Peter and Anna ( Miller ) Dolman, our subject was the third in their family of five child- ren. His parents were both of Pennsylvania birth, the father born in Burks County, and a farmer by occupation. He passed the greater portion of his life in the home of his childhood and youth, but in later life he removed to Columbia County, where his life was brought to a close when eighty-five years old. His wife died in the same county when more than three score years of age. Of their five children all are living with one exception.

The early life of him of whom we write did not differ from that of other lads of the time. The years passed in the eager pursuits of pleasure or the active labors of farm life, until he arrived at manhood's estate. He learned his trade in Col-

umbia County, under Juda Boone, a nephew of Daniel Boone, one of Kentucky's most gallant pioneers, and afterward was occupied in making it pecuniarily profitable.

The union of our subject with Miss Ellen Jones was consummated in Northumberland County, Pa. Mrs. Dolman was a native of Baltimore, Md., and was deprived of a father's tender care when only four years of age. Her parents were William and Nancy ( Miller ) Jones, the former a partner in a wholesale grocery store on the corner of Gay and Market streets, Baltimore. He was a very suc- cessful tradesman, but was taken away from life very suddenly, having been seized by a severe at- tack of cholera which soon terminated fatally. The mother died before she had reached the six- tieth year of her age. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dohnan settled in 1856 in Kirkwood, 111., and gradually there came to their home and fireside eleven children, three of whom, however, are now gone to rest. The deceased are-Alice, Oliver and Katie. Those living are-George, Ella, Elmer, Eva M., Frank, Ada, Carrie and Minnie. The four last mentioned are under the parental roof, and Frank manages the home farm. George is a resident of Superior, Neb., where he is a railroad agent. He and his wife, who was formerly Miss Minnie Whitey, have a pleasant home in that city. Ella is the wife of Joseph Sager, a freight agent at Daniels, Kansas. Elmer is at present on a homestead in Gra- ham County, Kan. Eva M. is the wife of William Fillies, and lives at Bancroft, Iowa, and is an agent for the Northwestern Railroad.

The Dolman family occupy a prominent position socially, being active members of the Universalist Church, and participants in every good work. Our subject is a Republican in his political sympathies, and for the faith that in him he was prepared to offer his life a willing sacrifice at the altar of his country. The record of important events in the life of Mr. Dolman would be glaringly incomplete without considerable reference to his war record. While a resident of Kirkwood, Ill., the great national con- flict was begun, and he enlisted in Company G., 84th Illinois Infantry, under the captaincy of Fred- rick Gardenicht, while the Colonel was L. N. Waters, then of Macomb and now of Kansas City, Mo. I'n-

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der their brave and gallant leaders the regiment to which our subject belonged participated in many important engagements, among them being the battles of Perryville, Ky., Stony River, Chicka- mnagna, Tenn., and later he was with Hooker and Gen. Howard after the engagement of Kelly's Ferry. He was also in the battles at Lookout Mountains, and Missionary Ridge, and in the At- lanta campaign. When Sherman began his world renowned march to the sea, Mr. Dolman falling back, joined Capt. Thomas, and under the brave Gen. Stanley fought the enemy at Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., entirely routing the army of Hood. The military career of our subject was brought to a close by his honorable discharge at Springfield, Ill., after serving nearly three years in active war- fare. He was fortunate enough to escape unhurt, suffering only from the wear and tear necessitated by a vigorous campaign. Mr. Dolman is justly proud of his career as a soldier, and deserves and receives the admiration and regard of all patriotic citizens for his share in his country's defense.

W ILLIAM M. MERCER. The Kansas pio- oneer of thirty-one years ago looked upon a wild scene as he ventured out into this section of country, which was at that time peopled principally by Indians and wild animals. He who then made up his mind to locate here, and while laboring was content to wait for developments de- serves more than a passing notice. Mr. Mercer is numbered among the earliest pioneers of Washing- ton County, arriving within its limits on the 12th of May, 1858, having been a resident of Kansas one year previous. Only two or three men had come to this section and taken up claims. Mr. Mercer took up a claim of 160 acres, but only pre- empted 120 of this, it lying on the northeast quar- ter of section 35, Little Blue Township. llis nearest neighbor was over the line in Marshall County, two and one-half miles distant.

Mr. Mercer improved his land and lived upon it

until 1875. In the fall of that year he purchased that which he now owns and occupies and which is located on section 27, Logan Township. During the fifteen years which he has been a resident of this township he has contributed his full quota toward its development and progress. He is a thorough and skillful farmer, and has been re- warded for his toil and sacrifices by a competence sufficient to insure him against want in his old age. His well-tilled fields yield him a handsome income, while his buildings, live stock, machinery and all other modern appliances present a picture of plenty and content which it is pleasant to look upon.

A native of the Buckeye State, Mr. Mercer was born in the town of Newark, Licking County, Nov. 16, 1833. His parents were Aaron and Mahala (Oliver) Mercer, the former a native of Rocking- ham County, Va., and the latter born in Maryland. The Mercer family was originally from Ireland, and the first representative in the United States was one Edward, who crossed the Atlantic about 1756 and settled in what is now New York City near Thirteenth street. He was the father of a large family, who as they grew up became scattered, and from them descended the Mereers who may now be found in almost every State of the Union. The genealogy of the family has been faithfully pre- served, they being people of more than ordinary intelligence and realizing the importance of such a record. The paternal great-great-grandfather of our subject was Moses Mercer, who settled at an early date in the Colony of Virginia. He was a son of Edward Mercer, one of the early settlers of the old Colony of Virginia, and a copy of his will, dated Sept. 20, 1762. is still preserved by some of the family. Later, Grandfather Gideon Mercer, served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

Aaron Mercer, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in Rockingham County, (now West) Va., and also resided in Rockbridge County until 1816. His father had died prior to this, and afterward the mother and her children removed to Licking County, Ohio, settling among its earliest pioneers. Aaron was married there in 1824, and ten years later removed to Putnam County. In August, 1845, he moved to Wabash County, Ind., but later re- moved to and settled in Miami County, Ind .. where

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his death took place April 25, 1887, after he had arrived at the advanced age of eighty-four years and ten months.

To Aaron Mercer and his estimable wife.there was born a family of seven children. Moses, the eldest, is a resident of Peru, Miami Co., Ind .; Ed- ward lives at Mason, Wabash Co., Ind. ; John re- sides in Marion, Minn .; William M., of this sketchı, was the next in order of birth; Mary A. became the wife of Lemuel Bruner, and died in Wabash County, Ind., in April, 1876; Susan married A. T. Warwick and resides in Ohio; Mahala F. became the wife of James Bruce and they lived at Chetopa, this State.

William M. Mercer spent his early years amid the pursuits of farm life, attended the common schools and accompanied the family in their various re- movals, being in Wabash County, Ind., at the time of reaching his majority. Then starting out on his own account, he crossed the Mississippi and took up his abode in the Territory of Kansas. Many and great have been the changes which he has wit- nessed during the transformation of the wilderness into the abode of a civilized and intelligent people. He came to this section a single man and remained so a number of years. He was finally captured by Eliza A. Bonsteel, to whom he was married in Wolf River Township, Doniphan County, Feb. 15, 1866.

Mrs. Mercer was born in Grafton, N. Y., Ang. 14, 1847, and is the daughter of Sylvester and Mary E. (Lamb) Bonsteel, who were natives of New York, and came from Wisconsin to Kansas in 1856. They settled first in Highland, Doniphan County, where Mrs. Mercer remained with them until her marriage. This union resulted in the birth of four children, viz : Edward F.,Sylvester W., Mary E. and Alpha W. The second son is a teacher in the public schools of Washington County; Edward is in Iowa. The others are at home with their parents.

Mr. Mercer upon leaving the school-room did not by any means abandon his studies but availed himself of every opportunity for gaining useful information. He has always been a reader, and having a retentive memory, especially of dates, is more than ordinarily well informed. There are few who can remember the date of important events as well as himself, a faculty which is of great value.

Mr. Mercer cast his first Presidential vote for J. C. Fremont, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He was appointed the Assessor of Washington County in November, 1858, being the first official to act in this capacity in the county. He gave such good satisfaction that he was re- elected and served another term. He has since been Treasurer of Little Blue Township three years and was Trustee of this township from 1876 to 1881. Since removing to Logan Township he has been Trustee one year. He was appointed a delegate to the Republican County Convention for ten con- secutive years. This is a sufficient indication of his efficiency as a public official and as a member of his party. Religionsly, he is a member of the Christian Church, attending services at Greenleaf.

It will be seen that the career of Mr. Mercer has been one of unusual activity during which time he has rendered excellent service for the common welfare of his fellow-men. After the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as a Union soldier, Nov. 13, 1861, in Company H, 2d Kansas Cavalry, and was assigned to Provost duty at Leavenworth. In the spring of 1863 he was sent to a camp of instruc- tion, Camp Blair, Johnson County, Kan. Next he went to Ft. Riley with the expectation of following up the enemy to New Mexico, but as they had left the Territory the expedition was abandoned. The cavalry then turned south and repaired to Ft. Scott. Their next destination was to Southwestern Mis- souri and Northwestern Arkansas, during which they met the enemy in several engagements, one of them being at old Ft. Wayne in the Indian Terri- tory and another at Perry Grove. Returning to Southwestern Missouri, Mr. Mercer, at Springfield, received his honorable discharge from the cavalry and was commissioned a Second Licutenant of the 83d United States Colored Infantry. The regiment was ordered to Ft. Smith, Ark., where they spent the winter of 1863-64, then entered on the Cam- den expedition which occupied two months and two days, and during which they marched the long distance of 900 miles and participated in nine en- gagements. They went into camp at Ft. Smith, which was their headquarters although they were absent at times on various expeditions. In February, 1865, they were ordered to Little Rock, Ark., and Mr.

RESIDENCE OF ULRICH G. PANNBACKER, SEC.36. FRANKLIN TP. WASHINGTON CO.

RESIDENCE OF JACOB F. GUNDELFINGER, SEC.5. HANOVER TP. WASHINGTON CO.

RESIDENCE OF J. H. SCHUTTE, SEC. 21. INDEPENDENCE TP. WASHINGTON CO.

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Mercer soon afterward was made First Lieutenant of Company H, July 31, 1865. The war having now come to a close the regiment repaired to Cam- den, Ark., and Lieut. Mercer was mustered out Oct. 9, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge, after having been in the service of the Government and under pay for four years and seven days.

Lieut. Mercer now sought his old haunts in Washington County, and since that time has given his attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm. He is widely and favorably known to the people of this region whom he has served faith- fully in an official capacity, and among whom he is a general favorite on account of his sterling worth and those traits of character which have distin- guished him as an honest man and a good citizen.

C OL. WILLIAM D. BANNER. One of the most flourishing establishments in the town of Vining, is that owned and managed by the above-named gentleman, who opened it as a general mercantile store in 1878, and a year later merged the business into that of a drug and station- ery store, and has since operated it as such. In all the intervening years he has been very successful, being the only man who has remained in active business all that time. A consideration of his life, and particularly that portion of it referring to his war record, will be highly interesting to our readers.

Coming to Clay County in March, 1870, Col. Banner took up a homestead on sections 11 and 10 of Mulberry Township, and after this was im- proved, he sold it and purchased another farm in the same township, and later started a general store in Clay County, at Riverdale (a town long since defunct), and was there a merchant and Postmaster for two years. About this time the town of Vining was started, and he changed his location to that point, being one of the first to engage in business at that place.

Stokes County, N. C., was the native place of our subject, and the date of his birth was Oct. 11, 1838. His parents were Southern people, but his ancestry is Welsh and English. On one side of the

family, his ancestors emigrated to America from Albion about the time of the Revolutionary War, and became early settlers in Stokes County. The grandfather of our subject was Joshua Banner, who was born in Stokes County, N. C., and was by occu- pation a farmer, and also operated a tannery near Germantown, in that county. Joshua Banner was reared and married in Stokes County, where he passed the remainder of his life, and also died, when he had attained a great age. He had married Nancy Bitting, who also lived and died in North Carolina, being about four score years old at the time of her decease. A large family of children was born to her and her husband, five sons and three daughters growing to manhood and woman- hood. Among these Louis, father of our subject, was the second child and the first son. He was reared in Stokes County, occupying his time in the same manner as his father did, namely, as a farmer and tanner. A very important event in his life took place about 1837, when he married Miss Nancy Flippin, their union being consummated in Ger- mantown, Stokes County. Mrs. Louis Banner was born in Virginia, her parents being natives of the Old Dominion. and when still very young she accompa- nied them to Stokes County. The Banner family were mostly loyal to the Union, and earnest in their advocacy against human slavery. While a resident of Watanga County, Louis Banner represented his county in the North Carolina Legislature two terms, and passed the remainder of his life in that county, where he died in 1885, at the age of seventy-two years. He was, politically, an old-line Whig, and later a Republican. Religiously, he was in sym- pathy with the doctrines of the Methodist Church, with which organization he was actively identified. His widow yet lives, making her home in Watanga County, being more than seventy years old. She was for many years a member of the Baptist Church.

Being the eldest of all the children in his father's family, which consisted of five sons and three daughters, Col. Banner was early initiated in the cares and responsibilities of farm life, and made himself useful in various ways when still very young. Of his brothers and sisters all are living now, and, with one exception, are married. Our subject and a brother, A. J. Banner, are the only

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ones residing in Kansas, the others being in North Carolina, where one of his brothers, Louis, is now representing his county of Mitchell in the State Legislature, Col. Banner worked for many years in the tobacco business, and represented the trade in South Carolina, Georgia, and through Florida. In 1858, he accompanied his father's family in their removal to Watauga County, at which time he was about twenty years old.

After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Ban- ner enlisted in the service of the Union, leaving his home in North Carolina March 1, 1862, and it was not until July 10 of the same year that he was able to get a regiment in which he could enlist, he being obliged to walk until he could find Federal troops, aud finally found them at Cumberland Gap, Ky., where he enlisted in the 4th Tennessee Regiment, Company B, in which he served as First Sergeant during the entire war. At the close of the conflict he was honorably discharged, at Nashville, Tenn., July 10. 1865. He was a very modest soldier and a good man.

In 1868, Mr. Banner was made Colonel of the 98th Regiment, North Carolina Militia, and at that time there were not enough loyal Union men in his whole regiment to fill the offices in the different com- panies, and very little dependence could be placed upon the rank and file, notwithstanding which the Colonel kept his commission and managed the regi- ment for two years, when he gave it up to come to Kansas.

While a resident of Watauga County, our sub- ject was united in marriage with Sallie Vuncannon, a native of Randolph County, N. C., where she spent her youth. Her father, Jacob Vuncannon, was likewise reared and married in his native county of Randolph, his wife being Sallie Hammon, who was born in that county of Quaker parents. After the birth of their children, Jacob and Sallie Vuncannon removed to Watauga County, in 1860, and there the father engaged in farming and also as a millwright. He died there after he had reached a very old age, while his wife yet survives, at the the age of seventy years, living in Watauga County with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Martha Culver. Religiously, Mr. Vuncannon was a firm Methodist. Mrs. Banner was almost grown to womanhood when

she accompanied her parents to Watauga County, where she was married. After three children had been born to lier and her husband, they came to Kansas, where their family circle was enlarged by the birth of another child. One of their children, a daughter, named Alice, married Dr. Taylor, and a few short weeks after her marriage was taken to her final rest. The living are : Ulysses S., who is with his father in the drug store, where he is a very efficient clerk ; J. Louis, who is at home, is engaged at the Vining depot as telegraph operator; and Edna G., who is at home, attending the schools of Vining. Mrs. Banner is a consistent member of the I'nited Brethren Church, which the family at- tend. Col. Banner has been Justice of the Peace for a period of eleven years; he was Postmaster of Vining for several years, and is now Justice of the Peace and Councilman of Vining. He has also served with characteristic ability as Police Magis- trate, and is a strong Republican and an active worker within the ranks of his party.

LVARADO TANSEL, Postmaster of Ilad- dam, established the first drug-store, and was Postmaster in 1879, in that place. He at that time continued in the drug business until 1882, then selling ont, removed to Milton- wood, where he was engaged in the same business one year. Then returning to Haddam, he began dealing in real estate, but the year following, pur- chased a stock of goods, and commenced building up the lucrative trade which he now enjoys. Ile is likewise the oldest general merchant in the place, and has been a liberal and public-spirited citizen, contributing to its growth and prosperity.

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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 15

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

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