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 161

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 161
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 161
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 161

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OHN UNDERWOOD, Justice of the Peace in Sherman Township, Riley County, and a lo- cal preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is likewise a farmer in good circum- stances, and finds his chief satisfaction in following agricultural pursuits. He came to this State in 1871, and first purchased 160 acres of land, which he afterward sold, then secured that which he now owns and occupies and which is pleasantly located on sec- tion 10. Through his careful cultivation the soil has become fertile and yields in abundance the rich crops of Northern Kansas. Mr. Underwood is numbered among the respected men of his com- munity-a man whose word is considered as good as his bond, and who in his political views endorses the principles of the Republican party.

The native place of Mr. Underwood was in Leicestershire, England, and the date of his birth, April 7, 1828. His father. William Underwood, was born in Leicestershire. in 1797, and there spent his entire life, operating as a dairyman, and resting from his earthly labors at the age of fifty-three years. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Underwood who followed the trade of a butcher and who was born, reared, married and died in Leicestershire.

William Underwood in early manhood was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Berry, a native of his own shire and born in 1788. She passed away some years after the decease of her husband at the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of two children only-John, our subject, and William C .; the latter is still living in England. The boys were reared upon a farm and William was content

to remain in his native shire. John, however, de- cided to see the Western Hemisphere and accord- ingly about the time of reaching his majority. crossed the Atlantic. He located first in Schuylkill County, Pa., where he was employed as a farm la- borer for a time and then obtained a situation in a mill, where he occupied himself until about 1861. That year he went to Chicago, Ill., and was va . rionsly employed for the following ten years. At the expiration of this time he pushed on further westward across the Mississippi and into the State of Kansas, of which he has since been a resident.

On the 18th of July, 1857, Mr. Underwood was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Chadwick, the wedding taking place in St. Clair, Pa. Mrs. Under- wood is a native of the same country as her hus- band and was born in Lancashire. July 25, 1838. Her parents were Samuel and Ann ( Watson) Chad- wick, who came to America in 1852 and settled in Schuylkill County. Pa., where Mr. Chadwick op- erated as a miner and died when about fifty-four years old. Mrs. Chadwick after the death of her husband came to Riley County. Kan., and died at the age of sixty-four years.

There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Under- wood twelve children, namely: Elizabeth A., the wife of George Carswell, a prosperous farmer of Riley County ; Emma J., Mrs. S. C. Swagerty. living in California; William C., who died when three months old ; John H .. who is in California; Ben- jamin T. ; William C., (second), who died when one year old ; George W., Mary B., Lucy M., Alice A., Naney M. and Laura C. The seven last mentioned are all at home with their parents.

W ILLIAM C. BEMSTED. Among the many highly cultivated and attractive farms of Clay County, that of the above named gentleman ranks among the best in the part of the county where it is located. It comprises 120 acres of thoroughly and intelligently cultivated land, and is the home of an enterprising farmer, a worthy citizen and a Christian gentleman. It is located on sections 13 and 24 of Blaine Township, and upon

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its fertile expanse are all necessary farm buildings, well constructed, and conveniently disposed for the purposes of farming and stock-raising in which the owner is engaged.

The parents of our subject, James and Mary Bumsted, are natives of England, from which coun- try they came to America when our subject was but five years of age, he having been born in Sus- sexshire, Dee. 17. 1846. Passage was taken at Liverpool on a sailing vessel which arrived at New York City after a voyage of twenty-eight days. From the American metropolis the family went directly to Kane County, Ill., being among the early settlers of that county. The parents now re- side in Carpentersville, the father being sixty-seven years of age and the mother sixty-five. Surrounded by children and friends, they are now enjoy- ing the fruit of lives spent in usefulness and well-doing. Both are members of the Baptist Church, and the father is a Republican in politics. They are the parents of eight children, one of whom is deceased. The survivors are: Stephen; William ; Eliza, wife of J. D. Wolver; George; Sarah J., wife of George Read; Charles; and Mary, wife of Henry Adams. All are living in Kane County, Ill., ex- cept George, whose home is in MeHenry County of that State; Charles, who lives in Harrison, Iowa: and our subject.

William C. Bumsted spent his boyhood and youth in Kane County, Ill., being educated in the public schools, and supplementing the training which he there received by the more practical knowledge which he obtained from reading and contact with his fellow-men. Ile early gained an insight into the management of a farm, and during his entire life has followed the occupation of an agriculturist.

After his marriage Mr. Bumsted farmed on rented land in Illinois for several years, and in the fall of 1880, came to this State, purchasing a farm in Re- publiean Township, Clay County, which he made his home during the following six years. at the ex- piration of which time he settled on the estate which he now occupies. His property has been ac- cumulated by his own energy and industrions habits, aided by the good management of his wife.

The marriage of Mr. Bumsted took place in Illi- nois, April 25, 1872, the bride being Miss E. Fran-

cese, daughter of Cyrus and Asenath Hoxie. She was born in Massachusetts, and is a finely educated lady and possessed of many noble traits of charac- ter. Prior to her marriage she had been engaged in teaching. The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Bumsted bas been blessed by the birth of four children : Lettie B., born March 17, 1873; Susie O., Sept. 21, 1876; Pearl E., April 4, 1883: and an in- fant son, Roy Earl, March 1, 1889.

Mr. Bumsted is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and active in society, their intelligence and uprightness well. fit- ting them for a leading position therein.

W ILLIAM F. ALLEN. Among those who pressed the soil of Kansas during its earliest settlement was Mr. Allen, who deserves more than a passing notice. He was then a young man and has practically grown up with the country, and he has watched its prosperity with the interest felt only by the intelligent citizen. His native place was Roxbury, Mass., and the date of his birth March 7, 1835.

The parents of our subject, were Asahel G. and Christina (Bowker) Allen, who are represented in the sketch of John A. Allen. on another page in this volume. William F. Allen was the eldest son, and received his early education in the public schools of Roxbury. Later he attended the acad . emy at East Lyme. In 1854, when a youth of nineteen years, he set out for Kansas with his father's family. They came later to Pottawatomie County, and William F. located a claim in Blue Township. Fle built a log cabin, fenced the greater portion of his land and worked it until 1862. He then started for the more western country, traveling overland with an ox team to Colorado, and after a journey of six weeks arrived iu Central City. Denver was then a town of 4,000 inhabitants. Mr. Allen so- journed two years at Central City, and then for five years was a contractor and builder in that region.

In 1869 Mr. Allen returned to Blue Township and conducted the old homestead until 1884. Next he sought the Pacific slope, sojourning two months

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in California, and then returned to his old haunts in Pottawatomie County. In March, 1886, he em- barked in the grocery business. wbiel he prose- cuted until April, 1889, and then retired.

On the 1st of January, 1880, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Allen with Miss Florence Ingraham. Mrs. Allen was born in Riley County, this State, and is the daughter of .Jesse Ingraham, a native of New York State, who was taken by his parents when quite young to Indiana. He there developed into manhood and came to Kansas in the fall of 1856, settling among the earliest pioneers in Grant Township. He purchased a claim and entered land, from which he improved a good farm and resided upon it until his death, in January, 1889. The maiden name of his wife was Patience Shum- way, who was born in Michigan and is now living in Manhattan Township, Kan. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen there were born three children-Marion, Amy L. and Jessie P.

LFRED C. BUTLER. Among those who have been the privileged witnesses of the phenomenal growth and development of Northern Kansas, Mr. Butler holds an honored position. Ile is acknowledged to be one of the earliest settlers of Exeter Township and is the present Postmaster of Exeter, to which office he was appointed by the President in 1872. His ca- reer as a man and a citizen has been creditable in the extreme and one which has firmly established him in the esteem and confidence of all who know him. He owns and occupies a good homestead on section 24, where he built up a productive farm from what was but a wild prairie at the time of his settlement upon it. The birthplace of our subject was in Tompkins County, N. Y., and the date thereof Ang. 25, 1821. His parents were Harry and Fanny (Huntington ) Butler who were likewise natives of the Empire State and who traced their ancestry to England originally, while later the But- ler family flourished in Ireland. Both the grand- fathers of our subject served in the Revolutionary War and two uncles later distinguished themselves as patriots in the War of 1812. To Harry and

Fanny Butler there was born a family of nine children and the survivors are recorded as follows : Alfred C. is the eldest; Reuben is a resident of Allen County, this State; Maria lives in Wilming- ton, Ill .; Keturah is the wife of S. R. Randall of Clay County, this State; John resides at Braid- wood. Ill.

The subject of this sketch when a youth of six- teen years removed with his parents to Bradford County. Pa., where he sojourned until reaching manhood and until after his marriage, which oc- curred June 28, 1843. About 1848. accompanied by his wife and three children, he emigrated to Will County. Ill., where he sojourned a number of years and then changed his residence to Kankakee County. He only lived there a short time, how- ever. In 1871 he came to Kansas, settling in Wa- baunsee County. but soon removed to Clay County, of which he has been a resident since 1873.

In Clay County, Mr. Butler homesteaded 160 acres of land that which he now owns and occupies. The country was then wild and new and he labored early and late for a number of years in bringing his land to a state of cultivation and gathering around himself and his family the comforts and convenience of modern life. He has been the architect of his own fortune, making his way on- aided and enduring the usual hardships and diffi- culties of life on the frontier.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Hannah Swart, was celebrated at the bride's home in Pennsylvania, June 28, 1843. Of this union there have been born twelve children, ten of whom are living. Francis is a resident of Exeter Township. Clay County : Mary is the wife of Levi Echel. of Fayette County. Il .; Fanny married E. M. Davis of Clay County, this State; Henry is a resident of Clay Center, as are also Dorrance and Reuben D .: John lives in Clay County ; Charles ,R. and Clara are at home with their parents.

During the seventeen years in which Mr. Butler has served as Postmaster he has discharged the duties of his office with credit to himself and satis- faction to all concerned. Ile was the second man to occupy this office in Exeter Township. He has ctherwise been prominent in local affairs, serving on the School Board of his district and occupying

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various positions of trust and responsibility. When becoming a voter he identified himself with the old Whig party, but upon its abandonment cordially endorsed Republican principles to which he has given his unqualified support. Both he and his estimable wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Butler was born in Dela- ware County, N. Y., April 8. 1826 and is the daugh- ter of Simon and Polly ( Blanchard) Swart who were also natives of the Empire State and who were respectively of German and English aneestry. When their daughter was a maiden of sixteen years they removed to Pennsylvania and she re- mained under the parental roof until her marriage. Mrs. Butler has been a devoted wife and mother, giving her whole time and attention to the com- fort and welfare of her family and assisting her husband in the accumulation of their property by her studious economy and wise management of her household affairs. She deserves a place in the front ranks among the pioneer women of Clay County.

F6 REDERICK OVERBURY. The farming communities of Washington County include many men who were born aeross the sea, and who are not only worthy representatives of the class to which they belong, but who as citizens take great interest in the institutions of their adopted country. Among these is the gentleman above named, who is located on section 3, Kimeo Township, and whose estate there is as thoroughly cultivated as any in the county.

Mr. Overbury is a native of England, hus birth having taken place in Warwickshire, Aug. 10, 1842. He was reared and educated in his native shire, re- maining with his father, who kept an hotel, until 1857. He then, being about fifteen years of age, went to Birmingham and learned the drug trade. He remained in Birmingham, engaged in the drug business until 1870, when he crossed the Atlantic to become a citizen of the United States. He came West, and deciding upon this county for his home, took up a homestead of 160 acres, where he is now living, and which he has brought to its present fine state.

Thomas Overbury, the grandfather of our sub- jeet, was a direct descendant of one Sir Thomas Overbury, of an earlier period in English history. In his latter years. Thomas Overbury kept an hotel and post-house, which was afterward managed by his son Joseph, the father of our subject. Joseph Overbury was born about 1811, and in early life was engaged in mercantile business. He subse- quently took charge of the hotel, retaining its management till the time of his death, which occurred in 1878. He married Miss Harriet Rose, also of English birth and a daughter of Richard Rose. Her parents were members of the Church of England. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Overbury were blessed by the birth of twelve children. Two died in infancy and of the others, six only survive at the present time. Those who arrived at years of maturity were named respectively: Mary A., Joseph, Emily, Richard, Frederick, Edwin, Fannie, Rose, Louisa H. and Thomas.

The gentleman of whom we write celebrated his marriage in Birmingham, England, Feh. 13, 1866. The bride was Miss Jane Timmis, a native of that place. where she was born in 1837. Iler father was Ebenezer Timmis, now deceased. Her mother, Jane ( Barnett) Timmis, is still living at a ripe old age.

Mr. Overbury and his estimable wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He takes great interest in educational affairs, and has been connected with the School Board of Kimeo Town- ship. The principles of Democracy most nearly coincide with his judgment, and he therefore easts his vote with the Democratic party.

0 LE HALVORSON is a practical farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 12, Mulberry Township, Clay County. He owns a fertile farm of about 160 acres which he took up under the Homestead Act in 1870. It has ever since been his home, and is carefully eultivated, and fur- nished with necessary and adequate buildings. Mr. Halvorson is a good type of the Norwegian, being a large man, of stout build and rugged, healthful appearance. Ile is not only an industrious and

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enterprising farmer, but is a man of strict honor in his social relations, of kindly domestic tastes, and of upright moral character.

Mr. Halvorson was born in the southern part of Norway, thirty-five miles from Christianstadt on April 23, 1820. He is of pure Norwegian blood, and comes of an ancient lineage. llis father Halvor Olson was a farmer, and lived and died in his native land. He reached the age of seventy- nine years, his wife having died some years pre- viously in middle life. Both were members of the Lutheran Church. Three children were born to them, of whom our subject is the only one who caine to the United States, and is probably the only one now living.

The gentleman of whom we write was reared as a farmer, and was engaged in that occupation in his native land until after his marriage and the birth of one child. He then determined to make for himself a home in the New World. He there- fore set out from Grimstad, Norway, in November. . 1846, and went thence to Havre, France. Ile there took passage on a sailing vessel and crossed the Atlantie to New Orleans, La., landing after a passage of sixteen weeks and three days. In the spring of 1847 he came up the Mississippi River. and located at St. Joseph, Mo., where his family lived for several years.

In the spring of 1850. Mr. Halvorson started overland for California and after traveling some four months, came upon the mining region around Ilangtown. Ile mined in the Golden State for several years, and for nearly two years worked in the lumber regions of Puget Sound, Wash. Ile had a varied experience in the Western States and Territories, and made but little that he could take home with him. Ile was sick for a time, a fact which to some extent, interfered with his finan- cial success. IIe profited, however, by his trip to the coast. From the lumber regions he returned to San Francisco, and thence by water to his home, going first to New Orleans, thence up the Missis- sippi River to St. Louis, and thenee to his family near St. Joseph. In 1861, he came to this State, ; and spent about nine years in Brown and Atchison counties. Thenee he removed to this county, locating upon the land which still forms his home.

At the home of the bride in Ramstad, Norway. Mr. Halvorson was united in marriage with Karan Clemens. She was born and reared in Southern Norway, and was a descendant of an old and hon- ored Norwegian family. Her parents were mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. They died at quite an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Halvorson are the parents of three children. The first born, Gunnil, died in St. Joseph, Mo., when two and a half years old. Alletta. is the wife of Nathan Kinkannen of Clifton. Ile was a soldier and is living on his pension. IIenry, after he reached the years of maturity, went South, and has not been heard of since the fall of 1868.

Mr. Halvorson is a Republican and never fails to east his vote in support of his party principles. He and Mrs. Halvorson are communicants of the Lutheran Church. Both are highly esteemed by their neighbors and fellow-citizens.

G EORGE F. THOMPSON, junior member of the firm of Parker & Thompson, editors and proprietors of the Nationalist, published at Manhattan, is one of those who have made their mark in this section of the country. He is essen- tially a Westerner, having been born in San Joaquin County, Cal., Nov. 8, 1860, and is still in his early manhood with the prospects of a successful career. He is the offspring of an excellent family, his pa- rents being Rev. Rufus S. and Clara ( Baker) Thompson, the former a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio, born Aug. 1. 1831, and the latter born in Searey County, Ark .. June 29. 1836.

The parents of the elder Thompson were origi- nally from Pennsylvania and on both sides were of German descent. At an early day they emigrated to Ohio, and in that then heavily-timbered country constructed a farm after much arduous labor. On this place they lived until 1836, when they removed still farther West, settling at St. Charles, Kane Co., Ill There the grandfather George Washington Thompson died in 1870, at the age of seventy-five years. The grandmother, whose maiden name was Polly Bartholomew, subsequently removed to Bel- mond, Wright Co .. Iowa, where three of her children

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were living, and there she died in 1875 at the age of seventy-eight years.

The maternal grandfather of our subject was William Baker, a resident of Arkansas. He went to California in 1854, but in 1871 returned East as far as Missouri on a visit and died in Dade County, that State, in 1872. The mother of Mrs. Thomp- son died in Arkansas when the latter was but five years of age. The grandparents Thompson had nine children. one of whom died in infancy and eight are yet living. George Allen is a miller of Belmond, Iowa; Cordelia is the wife of llenry Davis, a painter at the same place; Rufus S. was the next in order of birth; Eliza is a resident of Wis- consin; William H. H. is sojourning in Sacramento, Cal., where he occupies the office of Superintendent of the painting department of the Southern Pacific Railroad; Malinda is the widow of William Cum- mings, and lives in Belmond, Iowa; Charles O., is a liveryman of St. Charles, Ill .; Fayette is a moulder by trade, also living in St. Charles.

Rufus Sheldon Thompson, the father of our sub- ject, was five years old when the family removed to Illinois, and in that State he was reared and edu- cated and also learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1852 he removed to Missouri and in the spring of 1853 made the overland journey to California in charge of a drove of 500 head of cattle. Upon arriving there he engaged in mining for a year or two, but his health not permitting him to continue it, being afflicted with the rheumatism, he resumed his trade at which he worked for thirty years. In 1871 the family returned East as far as lowa and lived at Belmond for the following three years, Mr. Thompson prosecuting his trade. In 1874 they came to Kansas where he began preaching in the Missionary Baptist Church. To this cause he has since devoted his life. He removed to Los Angeles County, Cal., in 1883, and in the fall of that year changed his residence to Stanislaus County. In the spring of 1884 he removed to Butte County, and in the spring of 1889 took up his residence in Kern County, where he now lives. He was always strictly temperate and moral but did not identify himself with any church until he was nearly thirty vears of age. His interest in Christian work. how- ever, grew and increased until he resolved to

devote himself entirely to the Master's cause. He is a man of strong convictions, but quiet and re- served in deportment and earnest in all he under- takes, doing thoroughly whatever he once begins. He takes a warmı interest in the cause of education for which he is a tireless worker. In politics, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party but has never sought for public office. He is also a radical . friend of temperance, believing thoroughly in pro- hibition. Where best known he is most liked and he is thoroughly esteemed for his sterling character and npright life.

In 1856, in San Joaquin County, Cal., R. S. Thompson was married to Clara Baker, who is of German descent. Mrs. Thompson is notably a pious woman and a fit helpmate for her husband in his chosen work. She is an invalid, caused by too hard labor in her youth when she worked out to procure the means of educating the younger chil- dren. The family born to this worthy conple is recorded as follows : Andrew is a farmer in Yakima County, Wash .; George F. was the second born; William Orator is also a farmer of Yakima County. Wash .; Anna is unmarried and lives with her parents; Elsie is the wife of John Coult- hard, a carpenter, of Kern County, Cal .; Henry is a resident of Manhattan, where he is completing his education ; Bertha and Walter remain with their parents ; James Spencer and an unnamed infant are deceased.

George F. Thompson, the subject of this sketch, spent the first ten years of his life in California and the next three in lowa. He then lived four years in Southern Kansas, and after going through the district schools came, in 1878, to Manhattan, where he completed his education in the Kansas State Ag- rieultural College. While a student in the last year of the course he was elected Superintendent of the printing department of the college before he was twenty-one years of age. In that position he remained until the latter part of the year 1886. During that time the department was so built up under his management that it became an office of the first-class in the State, the value of its plant being increased from less than $1,000 to over $3,000 before Mr. Thompson resigned. Upon leaving the college he and his present partner, Mr. Parker, pur-

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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 161

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

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