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 33

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 33
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 33
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 33

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).

mon in time effected good improvements. He has good buildings with fences and has planted forest and fruit trees and added all the other embellish- ments naturally suggested to the enterprising man. -

During all his roaming and soldiering, Mr. Har- mon remained unmarried. After taking up his last homestead he, in 1873, was united in matrimony with Miss Ann Phebus, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's uncle in Swede Point, Boone County, Jowa, Mrs. Harmon was born March 9, 1842 in Arkansas and is a daughter of William Phebus, a native of Indiana, who died when she was quite small. The family subsequently removed to Texas, then to Arkansas, from there to Iowa. thence to Missouri and finally came to Kansas. This union resulted in the birth of six children, viz: Pearl, Annie, Ernest, Elmer and Oscar and babe un- named. The father of our subject was Fisk Har- mon, likewise a native of Vermont, and who after his removal to Wisconsin came to Kansas, but only remained a short time west of the Mississippi. Hle finally emigrated back to his old home in Vermont where he still remains. He traces his ancestry to Ethan Allen of historic fame. The wife and mother was in her girlhood Miss Samantha Austin, likewise a native of Vermont and of Irish descent. Charles H. was their only cbild; the mother is now deceased.

E DMOND W. HARRELL is the owner and occupant of a pleasant rural home in Wash- ington County. It is located in Coleman Township, on section 34. The estate was purchased by Mr. Harrell in 1882. Forty acres had been broken, and a log house with sod roof was on the place. Now the entire acreage is improved and fenced, a good orchard has been planted, and ade- quate farm buildings erected. In its present con- dition it forms a comfortable home, indeed.

Edmond W. Harrell was born in Driftwood Township, Jackson Co., Ind., Nov. 22, 1828. There he was reared and remained until 1852. He then moved with ox team to Illinois. He landed in Win- nebago County after four weeks' travel, and he- came a pioneer of that county. Ile rented a farm

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near Pecatonica and operated it for a time. In 1858 he moved into the town and engaged in clerk- ing until 1864. He then enlisted in Company (', 146th Illinois Infantry and served until the close of the war. He was on detached duty in different parts of the South. The regiment was discharged at Camp Butler, Ill., in June, 1865, and Mr. Harrell returned to his home and the duties of civil life. Soon after be removed by rail to Iowa and located eighteen miles from Maquoketa, where he remained a short time and then returned to P'ecatonica where he remained until 1882, when he came to this county and settled as above stated.

On Christmas Day, 1849, Mr. Harrell celebrated his marriage to Polly Ann Poole. She was born in Jackson Co., Ind., March 14, 1821, and is a daugh- ter of John and Eliza A. (Grantham) Poole. Her parents were natives respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina, and pioneer settlers in Jackson County, Ind. Mr. Harrell and his estimable wife are the parents of the following children: Rosa. Marga- ret E., Martha M., James, Ida I., and Silas W. The latter died in 1885, aged nineteen years, ten months and ten days. Rosa married John Mclaughlin and lives near Wymore, Neb .; Margaret E, married James Fannan and lives in this township. Martha M. was the wife of Edson E. Orton. She departed this life July 14, 1889. Ida I. married William McLaughlin and lives in Orleans, Neb.

The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was Isaac Harrell. He was a farmer in Washington County. Ky., for some years. In 1812 he removed to the Northwest Territory, in which he was one of the early settlers. Ile entered a large traet of land on the White River (now in Indiana). This he cleared and on it resided until his death. llis wife bore the maiden name of Polly Watkins. Their son James, the father of our subject, was born in Washington County, Ky., in January. 1803.

James Harrell was a lad of nine years when his parents moved to the Northwest Territory. There he was reared. For many years Louisville, Ky., was the principal market for farm produce, and he used to take produce there with teams. A great deal of the corn and pork was taken to New Orleans on flat boats. James Harrell inherited a tract of land from his father, and on it resided until 1853.

He then sold and removed to Winnebago County, Ill., where he bought a tract of land eight miles southwest of Pecatonica. His first purchase was partly improved. lle sold it and bought a piece of wild land near by. The second purchase was im- proved by him and was his home until a few months before his death. He then moved into Pecatonica, where he died in January, 1863, aged sixty years.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elsa J. Harrod. She was born near Charleston. Scott County, Ind., in 1801. and was one of the first white children born in that Terri- tory. Her father, William Harrod, was either born in Kentucky or was very young when his parents removed to that State, His father also bore the name of William, and was one of the earliest settlers of Kentucky, and a friend of Daniel Boone. William Harrod, Sr., settled at or near the site of Harrods- burg and took up land there. He resided there until his death. William Harrod. Jr. (grandfather of our subject) was reared at his father's home near llarrodsburg. Previous to the year 1801, he removed to that part of the Northwest Territory, now called Indiana. He took up a tract of land in what is now Scott County, and there improved a farm. He remained there until quite old, and then went to Muncie County, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their days with a daughter. He married Letitia Combes, whose par- ents were Quakers. Mrs. Elsa (Harrod; Harrell, the mother of our subject, died in Pecatonica in the fall of 1867. She had reared six children, namely: Polly, Letitia, Milton, Edmond Waller, (our subject), John A., and Caroline,

The subject of this sketch is an energetic and thrifty farmer, a reliable citizen and a man of firm principles and good morals.

G EORGE A. NICHOLS. The subject of this notice, in common with many of his neigh- bors, pitched his tent in Grant Township, Washington County, during . the days of its early settlement and experienced all the hardships and

FARM RESIDENCE OF G. A . NICHOLS, SEC. 30. GRANTTP.WASHINGTON CO.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN SHUTT , SEC. 5. GREENLEAF TP, WASHINGTON CO.

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privations of life on the frontier. During the times which tried men's souls he stood firmly at his post, allowing nothing to drive him from his pur- pose of establishing a permanent home in this re- gion. The result of his perseverance and his toils is apparent in his present surroundings, which in- dicate plenty and comfort in a marked degree. IIe occupies a position among the solid men of his township, not only as a member of the agricult- ural community but as a citizen who has ever had in view the best interests of those around him. Ilis example of industry and economy has proved a stimulus to men of perhaps less courage, and he has thus contributed his quota to the development of his adopted county.

A Pennsylvanian by birth, Mr. Nichols spent his early days in the city of Reading, Berks County, where his birth occurred May 2, 1849. When he was a child four years of age, his parents emi- grated to Illinois and settled on some of the last lands which were taken up near the present site of Tonica. They lived there ten years, then, desirous of a change of location, disposed of their interests in the Prairie State, and in February, 1864, took up their line of march across the Mississippi, set- tling in Jefferson County, this State, near what is known as Grasshopper Falls. There the father of our subject opened up a fine farm, where he spent his last days and where the mother is still living.

Young Nichols developed into manhood on the new farm in Jefferson County, this State, where the monotony of his comparatively nneventful life was mostly undisturbed except by the wagon trains which crawled slowly along the Santa Fe trail. as the tide of emigration swept onward to the farther West. Sometimes in the spring of the year as many as six or eight trains a day would thus pass along, comprising frequently fifty-two teams with extra men and cattle. The school privileges of those days were extremely limited. and the educa- tion of our subject was mostly received from a friend who boarded at his father's house.

Employed in farming pursuits, young Nichols remained a member of the parental household until within a few weeks of reaching his majority, and was then married, March 7. 1870, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Dewy) Hill-

mon. Mr. Niehols then began working his father's place on shares (he had worked for him two years for wages). In the spring of 1874 he purchased the homestead claim of J. E. Waterman. upon which was a dugout and about eight acres broken. giving a team of horses, a wagon and $270 in exchange for the land and a few rude farm imple- ments. The young people took possession, and Mr. Nichols thus sang upon the occasion of the frequent rains:

The roof was always leaking and the rain came pouring in,

And we traveled round the dugout all the night ; The water still kept raising, and the bedclothes did the same.

And both of us were in a wretched plight.

'Then, while we eussed the country and cussed our · wretehed selves.

And we cussed there, at the roof and at the rain: And we eussed the team for bringing us to such a hole as this

And the little old sod dugout on the claim.

That first year the grasshoppers visited this re- gion and destroyed everything except the wheat. Mr. Nichols was fortunate in raising 300 bushels of this, upon which he fed his horses and hogs. like- wise his family. On their table was wheat bread. wheat coffee and wheat gravy. They often longed for a piece of corn-bread and bacon, but it did not come that year. There was one little ash tree on the place, where are now several thousand fruit and ornamental trees, including catalpa, walnut. soft maple, cottonwood. mulberry, willow and elin, besides 175 apple trees of fine varieties and a part of them in good bearing condition. They have also peaches, cherries and grapes, with a variety of the smaller fruits. About 110 aeres of the farm are under the plow and all is enclosed with sub- stantial fencing. The dugout was abandoned long years ago and the family now occupy a neat stone dwelling which was erected in 1880. A good barn followed in 1884, and Mr. Nichols has all the other structures necessary for his comfort and con- venience. Ile is well supplied with farm machin - ery, including a large windmill. Of late years he has made a specialty of cattle raising and feeding and utilizes the most of his grain in this manner. In this connection we direct the readers' attention

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to a fine engraving elsewhere in this work, of the estate of our subjeet with the commodious resi- dence and principal buildings surrounding it.

The parents of Mrs. Nichols before coming to Kansas, about 1857, were residents of Montgom- cry County, Ind., where Miss Mary Elizabeth was born Aug. 14, 1849. They are now deeaased. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born eight children, comprising an interesting fam- ily group unbroken as yet by the destroying angel. The eldest, Jessie A., is preparing herself for a teacher and attending an excellent school in Cuba, together with her sister, Maggie E. Mattie Mande, the next daughter, is attending school near home; Benjamin Franklin, the only son, is a bright lad of thirteen years. The others are Molly, Cora, Hen- rietta Ambrozine (an old Scotch name), and Flor- ence, a baby.

The parents of our subject were Samuel and Jes- sie A. (Nixon) Nichols, and they were married in Pennsylvania. Grandfather George Nixon was born in Dumfries, Scotland, the native place of the poet Robert Burns, and which was also the birth- place of his daughter, Jessie A. Nixon. Samuel Nichols was born in County Antrim. Ireland. of Seoteh-Presbyterian parents, the latter born in Scotland. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject was William Nichols, likewise of Scotch birth and parentage. George A. politically is a sound Republican and for twelve years has been a mem- ber of the School Board. Ile served as Township Trustee two terms and the same length of time as Clerk of the Board.

OHN SHUTT. Washington County has many farmers and stock men who carry on an extensive business. Among the prominent men of this class in Greenleaf Township, is the gentleman whose name heads this notice. He owns 280 acres on section 5, and has the estate well improved and cultivated, It is adequately supplied with farm buildings and is altogether a very fine farm. Not the least attractive feature of this estate is the commodious residence, which is represented

on another page of the ALBUM by a lithographie en- graving, and which is in many respects an ideal country home.

Mr. Shutt keeps a good grade of stock, and is an enterprising and progressive farmer. He is one of those who began life for themselves on a small capital, and by dint of good management and hard work, has raised himself to a good financial standing.

Mr. Shutt was born in Morgan County, Ohio, May 25, 1828, and was the eldest child of Nathan and Eliza ( Mauck) Shutt. He was reared npon his father's farms in Hoeking and Morgan counties, and attended the public schools of his home only a few months, but he received a practical knowledge of agriculture. In 1855 he went to Logan County. Ill., and there followed farming until 1865. He then removed to Lucas County, Iowa, where he remained until 1869, at which date he removed to Pettis County, Mo. In the latter State he continued to reside until August, 1881, when he changed his residence to Riley County, Kan. In 1884 he again changed his location and became a resident of this county, where he bought the land which he now owns.

Nathan Shutt, the father of our subject, was born in Chester County, Pa., in November 1805. At the age of eleven he went with his parents to Mor- gan County, Ohio, where the rest of his youth was passed, and where he lived until 1839. He then removed to Hoeking County, Ohio, and resided there until 1854, thence he removed to Logan County Ill., where he died in July, 1861. He was a farmer and a minister, devoting much of his time to the latter work. From early manhood he was connected with the Church of Christ, to which he devoted his time and talents. Ile was a man much thought of, and in every respect a gentleman. For many years he was Justice of the Peace. His finances were only moderate. The grandfather of our subject was John Shutt, a native of Chester County, Pa., who served in the War of 1812. The family is of German extraction, and early settlers in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Eliza ( Manck) Shutt was born in Virginia, as was her father, Anthony Mauck, a man of German descent. Iler birth took place in November, 1806. and she still survives at

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a ripe old age. She is the mother of six children: John, Anthony, Sarah A., Mary J., Susannah, and Caroline.

The gentleman of whom we write has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1846, was Miss Mary A. Lowery, of Hocking County, Ohio. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1827, and died in Tazewell County, Ill., in September, 1854. She was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Lowery, and bore her husband four children, namely: Eliza, Elizabeth E., Martha A., and an infant son. The second marriage of our subject took place in 1855, the bride being Miss Utica Keefer, of Tazewell County. Ill. She was born near Ceylon's Grove, Pa., in 1836, being a daughter of William and Mary Keefer, also natives of the Keystone State. Mrs. Utica Shutt has borne her husband twelve children: Mary A., Lucy E., Emma, Prudie J., Jessie, Josephine, Ben- jamin F., Gertude, Anna, Millie, John R., and William L.

Mr. Shutt is independent in politics, and has always declined office. He has been identified with the Church of Christ since twenty years of age. A good citizen, a kind neighbor, a loving husband and father, and a Christian gentleman, Mr. Shutt is well entitled to the respect in which he is held.

G EORGE BYFIELD is one of the best citi- zens of Iladdam Township, Washington County, where he has been a resident for four years. His farm is located on section 6. and consists of eighty acres fertilized by the living waters of Spring Creek. The land has been re- claimed from its raw and primitive condition, and is now neatly fenced, carefully tilled, and furnished with dwelling house, stables, ete. An excellent orchard and pleasant grove add to the attractive- ness of the fine estate.

Mr. Byfield was born in Jennings County, Ind .. June 20, 1851, and is a son of George W., and Eleanor A., (Griffis) Byfield. The father was born in Ohio, but when a boy accompanied his

parents to the Hoosier State. They located in Jennings County, where he followed farming until 1857. Ile then removed to Benton County, in which he entered 160 acres of government land. The land was improved and was the family home until 1881, when its owner removed to this State. In Smith County, he took up a homestead of 160 aeres, which he improved and made his home until 1888. Ile then rented his place and lived for a time in Lincoln County, Mo. He is now making his home again in Smith County. His wife was born in Baltimore, and is of Welsh descent. Her father was born in Wales, from which country he came to Baltimore. Ile subsequently removed to Indiana. Ilis trade was that of a carpenter. To Mr. and Mrs. George Byfield, eight children have been born : Simon C., Mary, George. Charles, Lincoln, Lewis. Ollie and William. Both parents were members of the German Baptist Church, and the father is a Republican in politics.

The gentleman of whom we write, came to Iowa with his parents, the journey being made by team. He grew up in Benton County. llis educational advantages were rather limited. as he was early set to work upon the farm. Ile was eager to learn, and spent all the time possible during the winter in attendance at school. Ile remained under the parental roof until the age of twenty years, when he rented a farm near Brandon. and began life for himself. In 1881, he decided to try his fortune farther West, and therefore set out for Kansas. traveling by team. He crossed the Missouri River at Nebraska City, and journeyed westward as far as Republic County. There he rented land for four years, at the expiration of which time, he pur- chased the land which he now occupies, and be- came a resident of this county. He devotes his attention mainly to the cultivation of corn and the raising of stock. Ile cultivates seventy-five acres adjoining his own land, and plants the whole to corn. He raises graded cattle, Poland-China hogs and mules. Ile keeps eighteen head of eattle, five of mules, and three head of horses in addition to the two teams which he works.

In Benton County, Iowa, in the year 1874, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between our suh- ject and Miss Sarah A. Sherman. This estimable

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young lady was born in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Byfield have been blessed by the birth of eight in- teresting children : Frank, Freddie, William, Ro- setta, Gertie M., Nettie, Lillie B., and Charles.

Mr. Byfield is numbered in the ranks of the Re- publican party, whose principles he believes best adapted to the npbuilding of our great Nation. He belongs to the Society of Friends at Pleasant View, and is Treasurer of the Sunday school. A man of high principles and kindly manners, Mr. Byfield is entitled to the place he holds in the esteem of the community.

AMES W. HAM, the well-known grocer at the corner of Court and Fifth streets, Clay Center, came to Kansas and Clay County, three and one-half years since, and is con- tributing his quota to the business interests of his adopted town. He is an Illinoisan, having been born in Jacksonville, that State, Oct. 27, 1845. Seven years later his parents removed to Decatur, III., where he completed his education in the High School, and at the age of seventeen became the traveling salesman of Benedict, Hall & Co., of New York City.

Later, Mr. Ham operated in the interest of vari- ous leading business houses, including Dodd, Brown & Co., of St. Louis, A. T. Stewart & Co., and Spencer Bros. & Co., of Cincinnati. In January, 1886, having accumulated some capital, he de- cided to establish in business for himself. Ile carries a well-selected stock of all articles in his line of trade. and enjoy's the patronage of the best people of the city of Clay Center. He is the owner of a fine farm in Clay County, and also has farming lands in other counties of Kansas, besides city real estate. Ile has never meddled much in political affairs, preferring to give his time and attention to his legitimate calling.

In Jacksonville. Ill., on the 7th of March, 1867, before reaching the twenty-second year of his age, Mr. llam was joined in wedlock with Miss S. E. Mansfield, of that city. They are now the parents of one son, Albert M., who is the chief assistant of his father in the store. Mrs. Ham, like her hus-

band, is a native of Jacksonville, Ill., and was born July 13, 1849. Her parents were J. B. and M. Mansfield, natives of Kentucky, and now living in Franklin, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Ham are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which the former has been connected for nearly twenty-five years, and in which he is Presi- dent of the Board of Stewards. Since becoming a voting citizen, Mr. Ilam has supported the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He is a member in good standing of the 1. O. O. F., being Colonel of the first regiment of Kansas. This is the highest office in Odd Fellowship in the State. He is also a K. of P.

The father of our subject was Jolm H. Ham, a native of Franklin County, Ky., and born Dec. 4, ' 1810. He emigrated to Illinois when about twenty- one years old, and settled among the pioneers in the southeastern part of Morgan County, taking up and improving a tract of new land. In the meantime, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Scott, and subsequently they removed to Decatur, where the mother died, in 1880, at the age of sixty-eight years. John H. Ham departed this life Aug. 8, 1885. He was a man prominent in his community, and one of the early officials of Morgan County, Ill. Both he and his estimable wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

B AYARD T. SPRADLING. It is conceded by the people of Greenleaf generally. that this rising young business man is one of the most popular members of their social circles, and he also stands high in mercantile circles, in which he has obtained a foothold solely by his own industry and enterprise. He is remark- ably careful and accurate in his business trans- actions, and, personally, has that agreeable and courteous bearing which commends him to both friend and stranger alike as a gentlemen in the best sense of the term. Ile has worked his way up from a modest position in life, and has hosts of friends who are watching his career with kindly interest. The subject of this sketch was born in Gardner,

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Ill., Aug. 28, 1858, and is the son of Levi Sprad- ling, a native of Indiana. The latter left the Iloosier State when quite young and removed to Gardner, Ill., when it was little more than a ham- let. Ile sojourned there until 1860, then removed to La Salle County, Ill., where he resided until 1879 and followed farming, then crossing the Mis- sissippi, established himself in Greenleaf Township, Washington County, this State, where he still re- sides. Although having met with some reverses, he has accumulated a good property and is a promi- nent man in his community, being identified with its best interests. In religious belief he is a Uni- versalist, and, politieally, supports the Republican party.

Mrs. Amelia (Rowe) Spradling, the mother of our subject, was born in Illinois, and is still living. Seven children comprise the parental family, and they were named respectively: William F., Bayard T., Emory, Robert (., Norah I., Florence I. and Louie. Bayard. the second child, was reared on the farm in his native county until a lad of fifteen years. and then he began clerking in the drug store of C. F. Weston & Son, at Sheridan, Ill. Hle re- mained with this firm two years, and then enter- ing the State University, at Champaign, III., took a regular course in pharmacy, and afterward, going to Chicago, attended the College of Pharmacy. Ile also engaged as a clerk in that city. We next find him in Greenleaf. Kan., pursuing his chosen ealling in an establishment of his own, which he has sue- cessfully conducted sinee 1881.

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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 33

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

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