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 20

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 20
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 20
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 20

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The records of the children born to Nathaniel Brockway and his wife is as follows: Dorcas, born Aug. 25, 1769; Stephen, Jan. 21, 1772; Wolston, March 31, 1775 ; Jeremiah, Dec. 17, 1777 ; Nathan- iel, in 1779; David, Dec. 21, 1782; Sylvia, May 6, 1785 ; Jesse, Jan. 30, 1788, and Lydia, Oct. 27, 1793. Doreas Brockway afterwards became Dorcas Hall and was the mother of five sons and two daughters. She died Feb. 25, 1861. Stephen mar- ried, was the father of four sons and three daugh- ters, and passed to rest Dec. 27, 1860. Wolston also established family ties of his own, having two sons and nine daughters. He died Dec. 27, 1868. Jeremiah died Mav 2, 1837, in the prime of life. To him and his wife a family of four sons and six daughters had been born. David elosed his eyes to the scenes of earth June 24, 1848. Besides his

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wife, his family comprised two sons and three daughters. Sylvia married a Mr. Porter, and they had two sons and seven danghters. Mrs. Porter died June 15, 1874. Jesse had one son and ten daughters, and passed from earth July 12. 1869.

It is in Jesse Broekway that we are partienlarly interested, as he is the grandfather of our subject. He was born and reared in Rensselaer County, N. Y .. and became heir of a part of the old home- stead. ITe served for a short time in the War of 1812. He added to the property given him and died in good circumstances, July 12. 1869, after having reached his eighty-first year. With the ex- ception of two years passed with his father in Chat- ham. Columbia Co., N. Y., Jesse Brockway spent his entire life on three adjoining farms. He mar- ried a Pennsylvania lady, Miss Content Buffington. who was born April 3, 1786, and passed from earthly scenes March 15, 1857. The following is their family reeord: Chauncey P .. horn June 24. 1807; Lydia Maria. born Aug. 9, 1808, and died Ang. 15,1888; Sylvia.born May 25, 1810, lived only about two months; Sally Eliza, born July 8, 1811, and lived to the age of more than seventy-three years; Phebe. born Mareh 10, 1813. but lived only a few weeks; Orpha T., born March 10, 1814, died Oct. 25, 1867; Olive Ann, born Dee. 21, 1815, and passed to rest Aug. 28, 1883; Deidamia E., born July 22, 1818; Doreas Ann, Dec. 22, 1821; Mary Jane, Feb. 8, 1824; Cynthia E., born Mareh 9, 1826, died Jan. 31, 1845. Lydia M. married a Mr. Rosaback, and their family comprised the following children: Jane Eliza, Jesse B., James H., Orpha T. Conklin. Matthew M., Mary Jane, Jesse B., Emily F., Henrietta E., and George B. Conklin. Deidamia E.(Brockway) Fosmire, was the mother of five children. namely : Charles II., Doreas Ann Strever, Esther Content Strever, Mary Jane Wade, Deidamia E. B. Wade.

The only son of Jesse Broekway and his wife was Chauncey P., who was born, reared and married in Sehodaek. his wife being Miss Ruth A. Manning, a native of Ilyde Park, Dutchess Co., N. Y. This lady was the nineteenth child of her father by his third wife. After marriage the young people set- tled down upon the old farm in Sehodack County, and some years later. in 1836, removed to Clifton

Park. Saratoga County, where they sojourned a number of years. They had ten children, namely : Elcea, born Nov. 27, 1827. and the wife of Abram Flagler: Jesse R., born Dec. 11, 1829, and died Mareb 13, 1881; Sylvia, born June 12, 1831, and the wife of Henry M. Best; John P., the subject of this sketch, was born March 1. 1833; Content, born Sept. 6, 1834. became the wife of H. G. Peck, and passed to her final rest in 1888: Charles S., born April 21, 1837, died in infancy; Cynthia E., born Jnly 27. 1839. married S. W. Pearsall; Albert L., born Sept. 11, 1841, married Mary Simpson; Arzelia. born Feb. 11. 1815, died July 11, 1845; Dora, born May 30, 1851, is now the wife of Philetus Brown.

On the 8th of May, 1852, Channeey Brockway and his sons, Jesse R. and John P. set sail at New York for San Francisco, Cal., going via Cape Horn, and landed at their destination October 19, following. They were accompanied by a Mr. Slater, and after their arrival on the Pacifie Slope went into the mines and engaged in searching for the yellow ore, meeting with many thrilling experi- ences. The father of our subjeet remained in that region until 1881, then returned to his old haunts. Subsequently he eame West and is now living with his children at Junction City, this State. being fourscore years of age. He was very sueeessful as a miner and ean tell many interesting tales of life in the Wild West.

The subject of this sketch likewise sought the Golden State prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, and on the 5th of October, 1861, enlisted in Company E., 5th California Infantry, under Capt. Silas P. Ford and Col. Kellogg. Later the regiment was in command of Col. Bowie. They were as- signed mostly to duty in Arizona, operating among the Indians, guarding certain seetions of the eoun- try and the overland stage route, also seouting in New Mexico and Texas. They were thus actively engaged in keeping the Indians in subjeetion and gaining the better of the rebel element in that sec- tion, frequently having fights and skirmishes. Mr. Broekway eseaped unharmed after a service of four years and two months.

After his discharge at Santa Fe, New Mexico, Jan. 6, 1866, Mr. Brockway returned to his native

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State overland, and thence the same year set ont for the Northwest, and going to Watana, Minn., engaged in buying grain for a year. It will thus be seen that he has had a wide experience on the frontier, meeting all kinds of men and frequently having to exercise all his ingenuity in order to keep out of trouble. For one year he was Indian Agent at Fort Buford, at the mouth of the Yellow- stone River and for a few months was at Fort Peck, Mont.

After coming to Kansas in 1869, Mr. Brockway took unto himself a wife and helpmate, being mar- ried in Mulberry Township, Clay County, to Mrs. Jane E. (Sorden) Blue. This lady was born in Han- coek County, Ohio, whence she removed to lowa with her parents and was there married to Orange Blue, who died a year later in Iowa County, Iowa, af- ter having made a settlement in Mulberry Township. Of her union with Mr. Broekway there were born seven children, one of whom, Carrie R., died when seventeen months old. The survivors are Hattie J., Albert L., John C., Ellsworth B., Lilian R. C., and Alpha M. They are all at home with their parents.

Mr. Brockway is an active local politician, but not an office-seeker. He was first a Whig, later a strong Republican until the presidential contest of 1876, after which he gave his support to the Dem- ocratie party. He now uniformly labors with that organization. He has been an extensive reader and is thoroughly well informed-one of those men with whom an hour may be spent pleasantly and profitably. He has decided views in regard to questions of general interest and is held in high esteem in the community where he has so long resided.

NDREW BRODEN. The attention of the passing_traveler is invariably attracted by the beautiful country home of this gentle- man, which is located in Sherman Township, Clay County, and which, tastefully finished without and cosily furnished within, reflects great credit upon the master hand that contrived it. The residence is commodious and conveniently arranged, adapted

to the wants of a large family, and surrounded by a well-kept lawn, while in the rear are the granaries, a good, large barn, corn eribs, poultry house and other outbuildings that contribute to the material prosperity of a farm and a farmer. The estate is neatly fenced, chiefly with hedge and wire, while the homestead is subdivided into nine lots for the stock, of which he feeds quite a number, making a specialty of hogs and cattle, though he also owns some good lorses.

Mr. Broden is the son of Andrew and Christina Anderson, who were residents of the county of Bol- nas in the northwestern part of Sweden, where their son, our subject, was born, on the 24th of June, 1830. In the keen, invigorating air of that clime, and among the rocky cliffs and moun- tains, he passed the years of youth and grew to a sturdy, robust manhood. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, to which organiza- tion his parents adhered, and likewise their pro- genitors as far as known.

Feeling that the New World contained more for him than the over-cultivated soil and over-crowded cities of the Old World, Mr. Broden, in 1853, de- termined to emigrate to America. Accordingly in the fall of that year he set sail from the harbor of Christiana, the capital of Sweden, on a sailing-ves- sel, which soon became disabled and drifted by the wind, while the crew gazed helplessly around, unable to manage or guide it. After a time it floated to the vicinity of Londonderry, Ireland, where the passengers were transferred to a steamer which conveyed them to Liverpool, whence they took passage by packet ship for New York. In that city they landed in safety, and our subject then proceeded to Victoria, Ill., where he arrived eight- een weeks after he had embarked at Christiana. Upon his arrival his worldly possessions consisted of only $1, which amount he owed to a man who accompanied him.

A man who is willing and capable will seldom lack work, for quick, willing and clear-headed workers are everywhere needed. Thus it was that our subject experienced little or no difficulty in seeuring labor on a farm, where he worked by the day for a short period, and afterward was employed on a railroad in Illinois; in Iowa he was engaged

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until the spring of 1854 in chopping wood, and then, returning to Illinois he was again a railroad employee during the summer months, and in the winter was a teamster and drove a coal wagon. The summer of 1855 found him employed on a farm, while his varied fortunes led him the ensu- ing year to labor in a coal mine.

In the spring of 1859 our subject started out with a party of men for Pike's Peak, but only pro- ceeded as far as Ft. Kearney, Neb .; then turning backward they stopped for a time in St. Joseph, Mo., where Mr. Broden worked on a farm until the fol- lowing autumu. He did not, however, remain in the West but retraced his steps to his former home in Illinois, where he was a miner until 1862.

In the meantime the great national conflict was exciting popular feeling, and even foreigners joined in the warfare with an enthusiasm and determina- tion second not even to that felt by native-born citizens. Sharing the excitement of the day, Mr. Broden, August 14, 1862, enlisted in Company I., 102d Illinois Infantry, in which he served two years and a half. When participating in the battle of Resaca he was wounded in the right foot by a gunshot, and on this account was discharged Feb. 7, 1865. After the cessation of hostilities he re- turned to Knox County, Ill., which was his home until June, 1869. Not being entirely satisfied with prospects in Illinois, he determined to seek a home in the growing West, and accordingly, in that year, he came to Kansas and homesteaded eighty acres of his present farm, and later gained possession of another 80-acre tract of land on his soldier right. He has since purchased 160 additional acres, so that he now owns 320 acres in this farm, all being fertile and yielding bountiful harvests to the careful labor of the husbandman. His first residence was a log cabin, which he bought in Clay Center and hauled up to his farm,in which he lived for three years; finding it lonely, however, he persuaded Miss Anna Ed- ling, a native of Sweden to share it with him. They were united in marriage Ang. 13, 1871, and she has been his faithful helpmate ever since. Mrs. Broden was a resident of an adjoining county in Sweden to that in which our subject was reared, and was a member of the Lutheran Church. A few years after their marriage Mr. Borden built a

frame addition to the log cabin, and this was their home until the summer of 1886. Then feeling the necessity of a more commodious and convenient residence he erected his present large and attractive home, it being one of the finest in the township. Their family consists of eight children, namely : Edward, Albertina, John P., William P., Mattie, Minnie, Mabel and Alex. All are living and are receiving the benefits of good, practical educations. They are regular attendants of the Methodist Church and Sunday-school, in which our subject is one of the Trustees. Ile has been an efficient mem- ber of the School Board of his district during almost all the period of his residence here, and po- litically votes with the Republican party. As a man of untiring energy, perseverance, benevolence and devotion to his family, Mr. Borden merits and receives the respect of the entire community.

RTEMAS C. McKENNEY came in the spring of 1884 to Grant Township. Wash- ington County, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 14, where he now has one of the finest stock farms along the western line of the county. Prior to settling on his farm he kept hotel at Haddam. It is likewise an attractive homestead with everything convenient and com- fortable, a variety of fruit trees, a good frame house and a substantial barn. The fields are all well-fenced and the soil is very fertile. Mr. Mc- Kenney came to this State in the fall of 1869, and homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 12, in Little Blue Township, where he improved a good farm, which he sold in 1884, changing then his residence to his present quarters. He is thor- ough and skillful as an agriculturist, and as a member of the community, has signalized himself as a man liberal and public-spirited, giving his encouragement to the enterprises calculated for the advancement of the people around him.

The subject of this sketch was born in Batavia, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1842, two months and nine days after the death of his father. Subsequently his mother removed to Orleans County, that State,

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where she lived five years, and where Artemas C. attended the common school. Mrs. McKenney was then married to Mr. S. Webster, and they re- moved to Niagara County, where Artemas C. re- mained until thirteen years old. He then struck out for himself, going first to Lockport, where he entered the employ of H. S. Sherwood to learn the trade of a painter. He followed this in Lockport and Rochester until 1860, then went to Wisconsin and on account of ill-health abandoned active labor and attended school at Sauk City for a short time.

We next find young MeKenney in Sycamore, Ill., where he followed his trade until September, 1861, then enlisted in Company L, 8th Illinois Cavalry, to follow the fortunes of war. He went with . his regiment directly to Washington City, and within sixty days from the time of enlistment was facing the enemy at Fairfax, Va., and took part in the campaign before Richmond, being under the com- mand of Gens. Stoneman, Averill, Beaufort and Kilpatrick. His regiment had the honor of making seven Brigadier Generals. Mr. McKenney was with his regiment until the last year of the service, when he was detailed for detached duty as a scout and given a position, ranking as Lieutenant. He took part in the battles of Mechanicsville and Williams- burg, Gaines Mills, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, South Mountain, Antietam, and was under fire for twenty-one days from Knox- ville into Virginia. Ile participated in many other important engagements, and at the expiration of his first term of enlistment veteranized, and after going home on a furlough, returned to service in Washington City, being assigned to provost duty. Later he was sent into the field to operate against Mosby. On the 11th of October, 1864, at White Plains, Va., he was shot through the joint of the right arm by a navy revolver in the hands of a rebel, and in such close quarters as to set his coat on fire. He returned the attack and killed his adversary. Later he was in the battle of Gettys- burg, when for three hours his regiment held the front and lost heavily. At Muddy Run he was one of 400 who were surrounded, and had to charge directly through the ranks of the enemy. After the battle of Gettysburg the Union troops cut off

Lee's army, and the regiment in which our subject was engaged had a severe fight at Falling Water, and Mr. MeKenney engaged in the fights at Chan- cellorsville and Fredericksburg. While on detached service at Fairfax Court-house, in April, 1865, he received the following order:

"Headquarters 8th Illinois Cavalry, Bryanton, Md .. April 26, 1865. Capt. A. C. MeKenney, Company L, 8th Illinois Cavalry :

"You are directed to take two men and sconr the country within a circle of twenty miles of this place in search of the assassin Booth and his accom- plices-Surratt and Harold-giving all informa- tion to negroes that will induce them to give intelligence and assist in their apprehension. You will procure forage from the inhabitants, taking their names in writing and the amount of forage furnished and report any information promptly, which is reliable and which may require the action of an additional force.

By order of

D. R. CLENDENIN. Lieutenant Colonel. A. MCRIDDLER. Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant.

Acting on this order, Mr. MeKenney with his men followed Booth to Port Tobacco, where they arrived in less than an hour after he had crossed, tracing him to Dr. Mudd's house, and thence to Port Tobacco. Forced to relinquish the chase, his command being on the Maryland side, a squad of men on the Virginia side of the river succeeded in completing the capture. At the close of the war Mr. Mckinney with the remaining boys of his regiment was ordered to St. Louis, where they were mustered out July 17, 1865, and thence going to Chi- cago, Ill., received their honorable discharge. July 22, of that year, Mr. McKenney returned to Syca- more and worked at his trade until 1869. In the meantime he was married in February, 1866, to Miss Vesta A., daughter of John and Nancy Atkin- son, the former of whom died two months before the birth of his daughter. The mother was sub- sequently married to George M. Kinyon.

Mr. and Mr. MeKenney have become the par- ents of six children, two of whom died in infancy. The eldest living is a daughter, Blanche, now

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the wife of J. B. Rowe, of Sedalia, Mo. Mrs. Rowe is well-known throughout Missouri and ad- joining States as an expert horsewoman, riding and driving in some of the longest races of from two to twenty miles, and taking many premiums. She is also a fine scholar and a school teacher. W. Belmont is a young man at home with his par- ents; Earl W. is one of the best judges of live- stock in Washington Connty; Artemas C., Jr., remains under the parental roof. Mr. McKenney has always made a business of shipping stock, and for one year kept the hotel at Haddam, which he still owns. Politically, he is a thorough Repub- lican, and takes an active part in local affairs.

Upon returning from the army Mr. McKenney embarked on the steamer "Olive," with his company and about 11 o'clock at night the boat struck a snag and sank in thirty-five feet of water. She had on board 104 horses, which were lost together with twelve men. Mr. McKenney jumped over- board and swam three and one-fourth miles from Tea Table Bar to Vaseit's Landing before he could reach terra firma. His bunk mate, Lient. A. W. Rundell, went down after leaving the boat. His last words were, "good bye Art."

TEPHEN DOUGLASS, junior member of the firm of Miller, Douglass & Co., is, with his partners, conducting an extensive grain business in Clifton and vicinity, operating two elevators at this place-the Clifton and the Central Branch. The firm takes the lead among the business interests of this section, all the mem- bers being men of enterprise and ability. Besides those at Clifton they have other elevators and pur- chase grain at four different points, namely : Dayton, . Palmer, Lyons and Morrow. Having control of the grain business in this section, they are very sue- cessful and realize handsome profits. Through their extensive and well directed transactions Clif- ton has become an important shipping point and probably takes the lead in this connection of any town in this part of the State.

Mr. Douglass has been a resident of Clifton,

since 1881 and has been continuously occupied as a grain dealer. In former years he operated a farm over the line in Sherman Township, Clay County, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land. He improved this and then traded it off for another farm in Strawberry Township, Washington County. Of this he still remains in possession. IFe came to Kansas when this part of Washington County was quite new and he has had the pleasure of seeing it develop into the homes of a prosperous and intelli- gent people. He first occupied himself as a school teacher until taking up his residence in Clifton. His native place was Urbana, Steuben Co., N. Y., and the date of his birth March 2, 1842. His fa- ther, Albert Douglass, was likewise a native of the Empire State, born in its western portion and was the son of Stephen A. Douglass, a native of Scot- land.

The paternal grandfather of our subject came to this country early in life and settled in Steuben County, N. Y., where he spent the remainder of his days. He followed the peaceful pursuits of farm life and it is believed, lived to be quite aged. His son, Albert, after reaching manhood was married in his native county, to Miss Jane E., daughter of Jona- than Taylor, who lived to the age of ninety-eight years. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and later engaged in farming pursuits. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Albert Douglass took up their abode on a farm where the father died at the age of forty-eight years. He was a man, honest and upright in his dealings and a highily esteemed member of the community. The mother is yet liv- ing on the old homestead and is aged about seventy years. Both she and her husband united with the Baptist Church while in their prime.

The subject of this sketch remained a member of the parental household which included three sons and three daughters. lle was given a practical ed- ucation in the common schools of his native county and being attentive to his books, fitted himself for teaching, which profession he followed while still under the home roof. He was married in his na- tive county to Miss Josephine Smith, who was born in Western New York in 1838. Mrs. Donglass was the daughter of James and Sarah ( Smith ) Smith who came to Kansas in 1884 and taking up a tract

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of new land improved a farm upon which they lived until the death of Mr. Smith in the spring of 1889. Mrs. Smith is still living in the city of Clif- ton and is now well advanced in years.

Mrs. Douglass was earefully reared by her excel- lent mother, becoming versed in all housewifely duties and attending the common school until ap- proaching womanhood. Of her union with our subject there have been born three children-Ar- bell, James A. and Stephen C. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass are members in good standing of the Bap- tist Chureli, in which Mr. Douglass offieiates as Clerk and is one of the chief pillars. Politically, he is a sound Republican, but beyond discharging the duties of some of the local offices, has no desire for the cares and responsibilities of public life.

W ILLIAM M. PITMAN. Among those things which make the world of men inter- esting, is the fact that every individual possesses some marked trait of character. Some are ambitious of gain, some sighi for honors and pre- ferment, while others have a peculiar affection for home and country. One of the marked qualities in the character of Mr. Pitman, is his patriotism which seems to have been born within him, and which there is no doubt will cling to him as long as he has a being. During the progress of the Civil War he saw service of the most rugged ehar- acter as a soldier of the United States army. He lived in a section of country favorable to secession, but he had from his cradle imbibed those principles which compelled him to favor the preservation of the Union, and during the early part of the war he was a marked man in his community, and suffered much because of his openly-avowed sentiments. lle has happily lived to witness the triumph of the principles for which he fought, and no man living takes more solid satisfaction from this condition of affairs.

The subject of this sketch was a native of Jackson County, Ala., but was from his youth a resident of Tennessee. He was born March 29, 1836, and is the

son of Moses and Sarah (Clark) Pitman, who were likewise natives of that State. They were there reared and married, and there the mother died about fifty years ago. The father subsequently was remarried in Alabama, but remained a resident of Tennessee until after the outbreak of the Civil War. He then removed to Washington County, Mo., where he continued during the agitation, and the fighting in the Southwest, and died there in September, 1888. Prior to his removal west of the Mississippi, he had served under Gen. Jessup in the Seminole War. Of his first marriage there were born four children, and William M. is the only survivor.

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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 20

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

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