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 28

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 28
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 28
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 28

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).

A native of the metropolis of Illinois, Mr. Dar- row was born Aug. 7, 1841, and was also reared in Chicago, making his home there until 1870. In the meantime he had enlisted, in 1862, as a private in the Illinois Independent Battery of Light Artillery. The battery served with the Army of the Cumber- land, participating in Burnside's expedition, and in many of the engagements fought by the regiment. Mr. Darrow was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and after a faithful service was mustered out at Chicago, July 18, 1865.

After the close of the war our subject was en- gaged in the mercantile business and eame to Kan- sas, where, after a residence of a year each in Washington and Vermillion, he removed to White Rock, Republie County. Thence he went to Beattie, next to Doniphan, and a year later to Bethany, Mo. After a year's sojourn at the latter place he visited for the same length of time in Guilford, Conn. He afterward sold goods in Hudson. Mich., and at Chicago, Ill., and in 1882 returned to Wash- ington. The following year he removed to Green-

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leaf, and has resided in that place most of the time since his arrival, having been employed as clerk for J. R. Pruden. By dint of energy and business qualifications he has become the owner of a fine farm comprising eighty acres in Greenleaf Town- ship, and gives considerable attention to the breed- ing of Holstein cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is also engaged in the successful prosecution of the stock business on his farm in Marshall County.

Sidney L. Darrow, the father of our subject, was born in New London, Conn., Sept. 22, 1810, and was by occupation a ship carpenter, working at that business in his native town until 1835. He then removed to Chicago, where he followed the same trade for a number of years, although after- ward he was engaged in the real estate business. In 1864 he returned to New London, Conn., and afterward became manager of the Nantucket ship yards. attaining considerable prominence among ship builders. Later he removed to Guilford, Conn., where he is yet living, making his home on a farm, although he has since retired from active life. He is a man of means, and the owner of con- siderable real estate in Chicago. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican. He was a son of Nicholas Darrow, a native of New Lon- don, Conn., and a man of prominence in his gen- eration. The Darrow family traces its descent from one of three brothers who emigrated from England to America at an early day, and settled in New England.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Emiline Howard, and was born in New London, Conn., Sept. 23, 1810. She was reared to woman- hood and married in the city where she first saw the light. Her father was a sea captain and the family are of English extraction. Her union with Sidney Darrow resulted in the birth of nine chil- dren, five sons and four daughters, named respect- ively, Wolcott II., Charles H., Leonard S., Emiline. George Il., Mary A., Alanson F., Martha H .. , and Caroline A.

The marriage of our subject was celebrated Jan. 22. 1872, the bride being Miss Addie P. Wells, a resident of Chicago and the daughter of Edwin E. and Agnes J. (Sutor) Wells. both natives of the Empire State. The union of Mr, and Mrs. Darrow

has been blessed by the birth of three children- Carrie, Gracie A., and Fred D.

Mr. Darrow is a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, with whose platform he is in hearty sympathy. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M. Lodge, No. 232, at Greenleaf, and to the G. A. . R Post No. 134, of which he has been Commander. He is a man of fine business qualifications, of strict- est morality, and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He is possessed of considerable means, and is a leading and influential citizen of Greenleaf, while his wife shares with him in the hearty respect of the community.

OSES ATWOOD, M. D., is the inventor of the celebrated "Atwood's Medicines" which have been so well and favorably known for the past thirty years. The Doctor, though a man of advanced years, is as thoroughly interested now as in his earlier life, in behalf of suffering humanity. The millions of people to whom his remedies have given relief from pain and a new lease of life, may well look upon him in the light of a public benefactor.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was James Atwood, a native of Hampstead, N. H., and a farmer by occupation. The maternal grandfather was Levi Francis, of New Hampshire, and of French descent. The parents of our subject were Levi and Betsey (Francis) Atwood, natives of Rockingham County, N. H., the father having been born in the town of Hampstead. They were mar- ried in their native State. Levi Atwood was a Baptist minister, and like all pioneer preachers hard-working and self-denying. After a residence in several New Hampshire towns he finally settled at Nashua, where he died at the age of ninety-three years. The parental family consisted of nine chil- dren, four of whom are now living.

'The gentleman of whom we write was the third child of his parents, and was born April 24, 1810, at Thornton Gore, Grafton Co., N. II. He had but a limited education in his boyhood, but at the age of sixteen began the study of medicine with Dr.

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Symmes Sawyer, of Grafton County. At the age of nineteen he began life for himself in a small way and slowly improved his financial condition. The Atwood medicines were, previous to the year 1855, manufactured at Georgetown, Mass., and during the last three years of their manufacture there, their sale amounted to over $20,000 per annum. In June, 1855, the Doctor came West to attend to some business affairs not connected with his pro- prietary medicines and settled in Iowa, where his remedies are now manufactured. Dr. Atwood sub- sequently removed to this State, and is now living on section 8. Independence Township, Washington County, where he owns forty acres of land.

May 28, 1833, Dr. Atwood was united in mar- riage with his cousin Mary, daughter of Ezra At- wood. She died Sept. 25, 1881. A few years later the Doctor took to himself a second wife in the person of Mrs. Lydia Knepper. The ceremony which united them took place Nov. 25, 1884. By his first marriage Dr. Atwood became the father of eight children, five of whom are now living, but all have left the parental fireside.

Dr. Atwood is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Churel, as is also his wife. While a resident of New Sharon, Iowa, he was for twelve years a member of the official board of the church, and active in the duties connected therewith. Now at the age of seventy-nine years he is retired from the active practice in which he has been engaged for threescore years. Ile is a devout Christian and has been more anxious to do good in his day and generation than to accumulate a large amount of this world's goods.

ON. JOHNSON THOMPSON. Among the many attractive rural homes of Wash- ington County, that of the above named gentleman is by no means least so. It is located on section 30, Farmington Township, and comprises 160 acres of fertile land, the great beauty of the place consisting not so much in the high state of cultivation to which the ground has been brought, as in the improvements which have been

made upon the land. The residence and other buildings are well-built and commodions, and are represented on another page of this volume by a fine lithographie engraving. Numerous shade and fruit trees embellish the ground, and an aere of land is devoted to a vineyard, which yields its owner good returns for the time and labor expended upon it and at the same time forms a very import- ant feature in the landscape.

The parents of our subjeet were James and Jane (Burwell) Thompson, the former born in Mus- kingum County. Ohio, May 15. 1810, and the latter in New Jersey, July 5, 1813. They first settled near Zanesville, Ohio, and in 1844 changed their residence to Mahaska County, Iowa. subse- quently removing to Clark County. The father died in Leon, Iowa, March 30, 1869, and afterward the widow came to Kansas, where she died at the home of our subject Oct. 30, 1884.

The parental family consisted of ten children, of whom our subject was the second, and was born on the Thompson homestead near Zanesville. Ohio, where his father also first saw the light, and where his grandfather had settled in 1801, arriving from Pennsylvania. The natal day of our subject was Oct. 26, 1835, and when about nine years of age he accompanied his parents to Iowa. His youth was passed in Mahaska County. and later he went with the other members of the family to Clark County, Iowa, leaving there two years afterward to locate in Dakota County, Neb. In that county and vi- cinity he remained until 1861, when returning to his home after an absence of four years, he became his father's assistant for a few months. In the spring of 1862 he emigrated to Oregon, and at first engaged in teaming and trading. In the summer of 1865 he secured some land under the Homestead Act, and made it his home until 1872. He then traded his Oregon farm for the one which he now owns in Farmington, and since the winter of that year has been a resident of Washington County.

In Walla Walla, State of Washington, Nov. 18. 1872, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Zerelda J. Rankin. This estimable lady was born in Marion County, lowa, Oct. 31, 1843. Her father, John L. Rankin, was a native of North Carolina and her mother, Sarah (Poulson ) Rankin,

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a native of Indiana. They are now residents of Eugene City, Ore. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born seven children: Walter E., Frankie W., Carrie R., George H., Gracie, John B. and Pearley. Frankie died June 11, 1878, when nearly three years old. Mrs. Thompson departed this life July 21, 1887, and her death was deeply deplored by all who knew her.

Mr. Thompson is a believer in and supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He was elected Representative of Umatilla County, Ore., to the Legislature in 1870, and served two years to the entire satisfaction of the people. At the time he was representing that county it was very large and he was effective in securing the consideration and passage of some important bills, and in other ways aided his district. He is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, genial manners, irreproach- able character, and is very justly held in high es . teem by those who know him.

C ALVIN M. DYCHE. Few men in Riley County are more widely or favorably known than the subject of this notice who has opened up one of the finest farms in Ogden Town- ship, and in connection with this operates a slaughter house in which he has recently placed expensive machinery for making tallow and lard.

Ilis enterprise and industry are proverbial and he has been no nnimportant factor in promoting the business and agricultural interests of this part of the county. His well-improved farm of 1800 acres lies on section 12, and invariably attracts the attention of the passing traveler as one of the finest monuments which could be erected to the diligence and perseverance of its proprietor.

In reverting to the family history of Mr. Dyche, we find that his father, Edwin C. Dyche, was a native of Greene County, Tenn., and a prominent farmer and stock man. He married Miss Harriet W. Wil- son, likewise a native of that State, which they left and removed to Missouri at an early day, settling in the vicinity of Independence. At that time the Mormons were quite numerous in that region and

Moses and Thomas Wilson, the brothers of Mrs. Dyche figured prominently in driving them out of the country, Moses being commissioned captain of a company raised for this purpose.

To the parents of our subject there was born a family of nine children, five of whom are living. One son, George, was killed at the battle of Pea Ridge where he stood as a spectator. The mother passed away in 1872 ; the father is still living, making his home with his son, Calvin M. and is seventy-six years old. The latter was the second born and first opened his eyes to the light at Inde- pendence, Mo., Oct. 26, 1836. His early advan- tages were very limited and at one time when attend- ing school, he had for his mates the famons Dick Younger, Dick Yeager and the Vaughan boys. Edwin Dyche and Thomas Pope put up the first sawmill in Kansas City.

Calvin M. Dyche commenced his business career at the age of thirteen years, freighting between Uniontown and Kansas City in 1848-49. In 1852 he drove six yoke of oxen through to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was upon the site of Ft. Union before the timbers were eut to constrnet the fort. In 1855 he broke 320 acres of land for Alex Ma- jors in Jackson County, Mo. In the fall of that year he came to Kansas Territory, during the sea- son of the cholera epidemic and when occurred the death of Maj. Ogden from this dread disease. That season eighty men died with cholera at Ft. Riley. Young Dyche drove a team for Messrs. Majors and Russell, making hay for the Government.

During that season likewise, among many other stirring incidents, Pawnee City was destroyed at the command of Jefferson Davis, who was then Secretary of War, and the Kaw Indians were en- camped in the vicinity of Ogden. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Dyche started in business for himself with a capital of $70, securing land, putting up a log cabin and breaking prairie. The next impor- tant event in his life was his marriage in Deeem- ber, 1856 with Miss Bridget A. O'Malley. This lady was the sister of Dan and Pat O'Malley who were among the earliest settlers of this region.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Dyche began freighting on his own account. He hauled lumber to Ft. Larned for the building of a sutler's

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store for Theodore Weichselbaum ; and grain to Ft. Lyon. He continued freighting to Dodge and Ft. Larned until 1864. During that year he put up 600 tons of hay at Zara, thirty-five miles east of Ft. Larned for $23 per ton. In 1865 he filled a contraet for 5,000 tons of hay for the Govern- ment.

When in eamp his outfit eost him $550 per day. lIe delivered over sixty tons of hay per day at the price above mentioned. There were about seventy- five men in his party who finally "struck" and Mr. Dyche quelled the rebellion alone, by discharg- ing the leaders.

In 1865 Mr. Dyche set out on horseback with a companion, William Ashton, now of Wild Cat Township, from the Colorado line to Zara Town- ship, about 240 miles through a hostile Indian country for the purpose of settling for his hay. His companion's mule gave out and Mr. Dyehe traveled alone thereafter for eighty miles, going two nights and a day with only one hour's rest. In 1866 he lost 107 head of cattle which had cost him $82.50 per head from. Texas fever. In 1867 he took a contract from the Government to furnish 1000 cords of wood for Ft. Larned at $16 per cord. Ile and his men were frequently troubled by Indians and during a skirmish one man was killed and an- other wounded. At the elose of his contract he had gotten out 1,000 eords of wood.

In 1868 Mr. Dyche sub-contracted for wood at Ft. Dodge ; he also furnished the government with hay and 1,000 bushels of lime at $1.50 per bushel. He built the sutler's store at Ft. Dodge, that year, and then contracted to haul freight for the Govern- ment, working thirty days with men and wagons, utilizing twelve teams and receiving therefor $120 per day and rations for the men between Ft's. Dodge and Hayes. After completing this contraet he sold his outfit for $7,000 and returned home, making sixteen years in the business. He made only one trip thereafter to the farther West, in 1870. He has now the beef contract for Ft. Riley.

During the years of 1859-60 Mr. Dyche furnished the first dressed beef to Ft. Riley. Ile also filled the first beef contraet at Ft's. Wallace and Ilayes. In 1873 he handled $98,000 worth of beef, furnish- ing Ft's. Riley, Ilayes, Wallace, Larned, Dodge and

Camp Supply. That year he lost 100 head of eattle with Texas fever which had cost him $40 per head. He put up his present residence during 1866-67 at a cost of $10,000. It is an elegant stone structure and the finest house in Riley County outside of the eities. He is the owner of 1800 acres of land, a third of which is under good cultivation. During the season of 1889 he let out the eropping by eon- traet. He keeps 350 head of eattle and thirty-five head of horses.

As may be supposed, a level head is required to manage these various interests successfully, but Mr. Dyche has proved himself equal to the emergency. Liberal and public spirited, he has always been warmly interested in promoting the interests of bis adopted county and has been very prominent in local and political affairs. He votes the straight Democratie tieket and was appointed first Sheriff of Riley County by Gov. Geary. He served as County Commissioner three years and has been Trustee of his township several terms. He and his family belong to the Catholic Church in which Mr. Dyche has held the office of of Treasurer twelve years.

The subject of this sketch is the father of eight children. The eldest daughter, Martha W., is the wife of W. Leonard R. Dixon. They live in Texas and have three children. Mary married Thomas Shumate and they live in Junction City, Kan. ; Ed- ward C. makes his home in Junction City ; Catherine is the wife of Thomas Jacox ; they live in Texas and have three children. Calvin M., Jr., married in Texas ; Daniel, John and George remain with their parents.

OSEPH F. DAGUE. Kansas was admitted into the I'nion as a State in 1861, and five years later Mr. Dague established himself within its borders. Ile located in Brantford Township, Washington County, in 1873, of which he has since been a resident. Ile has had a full experience of life on the frontier, and is a self-made man, having been thrown upon his own resources early in life and working his way up to a compet- ence. U'pon first coming to Kansas he settled near

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Valley Falls, Jefferson County, where he was em- ployed as a farm laborer five years and during that time accumulated the little capital required to con- stitute himself a homesteader.

Mr. Dague was born in Putnam County, Ohio, Dec. 21, 1846, and is consequently in the prime of life. He was bred to farming pursuits from his boyhood. After coming to Kansas he was mar- ried in Jefferson County, Feb. 11, 1873, to Miss Alice, daughter of Reuben Benedict, and that same year the young couple settled in Washington County, on their farm of 160 acres, which they constructed into a comfortable homestead and where they still live. Mr. Dague commenced oper- ations with a team of not very valuable horses and four cows. He had no money and was obliged to labor and wait for returns from his land, enduring many hardships and privations before obtaining a foothold financially. Those days. however, have long passed away and he is now surrounded by all the comforts of life. To him and his estimable wife there. have been born seven children, viz: Mary E., Theodore B., Arthur A., Alice E., Charles L., Laura D., Leo A. Mr. and Mrs. Dague are members in good standing of the Dunkard Church, and in politics our subject is a staneh Republican, but believes in prohibition.

Henry Dague, the father of the subject of this notice, was born in Pennsylvania, and was of Ger- man descent. He learned the miller's trade and in early life emigrated to Ohio, where he owned and operated various mills and worked at cabinet-mak- ing which he had also learned in his youth. Ile came to Kansas in 1866, the same year as his son, settling likewise in Jefferson County. Eight years later he removed to Phillips County, where he sojourned until 1888, then took up his line of march further westward to Washington, where he still sojourns. His first wife, the mother of our subject, was in her girlhood Miss Sarah, daughter of Joseph Harsh, who was of Welsh ancestry and died in Ohio. She passed away in middle life and the elder Dague was a second time married. Mrs. Sarah (Harsh) Dague became the mother of seven children, three of whom died young. The surviv- ors were: Frederick H., Catherine, Caroline and Joseph, but Caroline and Catherine are since de-

ceased. In addition to general farming and fruit- raising, Mr. Dague keeps a goodly assortment of live stock and has all the conveniences for prose- cuting agriculture in a profitable manner. His buildings are neat and substantial and everything about the premises indicates the enterprise of the proprietor. On another page will be found a fine view of the home place.

AMES A. WHITE. In driving about Clay County, a well kept farm located on section 29, Blaine Township, would at once be noted and would impress the observer as the home of a man of energy, good taste and judgment. The 160 acres which comprise it are not only carefully tilled and bear such improvements as are usually made by a progressive farmer, but numerous trees have been planted around it and five acres are de- voted to the culture of fruits of various kinds. All this beauty and productiveness has been accon- plished by the efforts of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, since the year 1872, at which date he became the owner of the property, or, more properly speaking filed a claim for the same under the Homestead Act.

Mr. White is a native of Georgetown, D. C., where his eyes opened to the light April 23, 1839. The paternal ancestry is of old and honored Vir- ginia stock and of English descent, Robert White, the father of our subject having been born in Loudoun County, in the Old Dominion. His mother, Ann Eliza Hardy, was also of English de- seent and was born either in Virginia or Maryland. She departed this life when her son, of whom we write, was a babe of some two years, but the fa- ther subsequently marrying again, the child was reared under the paternal roof until he bad at- tained almost to his majority.

In earlier years Mr. White attended the select schools, the educational facilities of that time be- ing mostly secured by subscription. He also at- tended a private academy in his native city, and from these sources obtained a very good education. After reaching his majority, Mr. White went to

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Mansfield Ohio, where, on Jan. 2. 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Pearson. Shortly after that event he located in Fairmont, W. Va., where he followed the jewelry business for a number of years, being a practical workman at that trade. From that place he removed to this county at the date before mentioned and set about improving the raw land which he had obtained from Uncle Sam. In connection with the work of a farmer, for several years he carried on the jewelry business at Clay Center, the family meanwhile living in the country and Mr. White driving to town and back, mornings and evenings.

The worthy wife of Mr. White is a native of the same city as himself, and is a daughter of Henry and Asenath Pearson; both of whom were born in the Old Dominion. She has borne her hus- band ten children : William R. is engaged in teaching in the public schools; Alice V. is similarly employed at Clay Center; Mary C. teaches at Wake- field, Kan .; Ella is also engaged in pedagogical labors in this county ; James A., Clara L., Charles deceased, Everard C., Lottie L., and Charles T., complete the list.

Mr. White is a Prohibitionist in politics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church at Clay Center. and Mr. White has officiated as chorister for many years. 'Both are popular members of society, active in good works, and interested in everything which pertains to the improvement and right enjoyment of their fellow- citizens. by whom they are highly respected.

ARTIN SCHIROPP. The enterprismg German citizen is to be found all over the West, as in other parts of the United States, pushing his way ahead and being almost uniformly industrious and well-to-do. The subject of this biography, a true child of the Fath- erland, and one who has built up a good farm in Charleston Township, on section 23, settled here in 1878. He was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria. Jan. 8, 1845, and is the son of Leonard and Mary

Sehropp, who came to the I'nited States in 1854. The family took up their abode on a farm in West- moreland County, Pa., but a year later crossed the Mississippi and settled in Burlington, Iowa. In 1869 they returned as far East as Ford County, Ill., and thence, in 1878, came to this State.

In the meantime the mother of our subject had died at West Point, Iowa, about 1863. The father subsequently accompanied his son, Martin, to this county and died in 1885. The parental household consisted of ten children, eight of whom were born in Bavaria and two in America, Six of these lived to mature years. Martin was the eldest child. Janet is the wife of John IIelman, and they are living in Franklin Township, this county ; Leonard died in Hanover, Kan., June 8, 1884, at the age of thirty-five years ; Alice is the wife of Henry Helman, of Hanover ; Thomas is a resident of California ; William lives in Hanover.

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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 28

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

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