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 63

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 63
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 63
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 63

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eure the money to pay his tuition in that institution of learning. He was then twenty-four years old, well gifted with a clear brain and a good physique. But these constituted his only capital, aside from the sum of $11 dollars in his pocket, and to one less ambitious and sanguine his prospects for ob- taining a higher education would have seemed like a forlorn hope. Not so to him, however, he put his trust in Providence to provide the means, and soon an advantageous partnership in a book store was offered him, and friends lent him the money with which to buy it. He spent a part of each day in the store, and devoted the remainder of the time to hard study and recitation, and thus thor- oughly equipped himself for college, and was en- abled to pursue the course in a short time, having at the end of three years sold his interest in the store, paid all his debts, and had $140 left, with which to defray his expenses at school. Ile was gradnated the following year with high honors, and entered the theological department of the college, and while studying for the ministry, he taught in the grammar school. In 1862 he was graduated from the theological department, and was ordained minister and deacon in the Episcopal Church, and was appointed assistant to the rector of St. Paul's Church at Steubenville, Ohio. Ile entered with zeal upon his duties, which were many and arduous, as each alternate Sunday he preached in the morn- ing at Steubenville and in the afternoon at Cherry Hill. and the following Sunday preached at Wells- ville, Ohio, and besides had much parish work to attend to. Two years later he went to La Porte, Ind., as rector of St. Paul's Church in that city. In 1866, after a successful pastorate there. he came to Manhattan to accept the position of rector of St. Paul's Church in this city and also the Chair of Classics and English Literature in the Kansas State Agricultural College, occupying the latter position nine years, and for the greater part of the time ful- lilling the duties of rector of the Episcopal Church mentioned. His career as a professor marked him as a deep thinker, an able instructor, and a pro- found scholar, and he has but added fresh laurels to his reputation as an educator since his appoint- ment to the high and important office that he holds as Superintendent of Schools of Riley County.

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He has done a great work here since he entered upon the duties of his position, has brought about many needed reforms, and has raised the standard of education. He was first appointed to the su . perintendency in the spring of 1880, was elected to the office in the fall of the same year, and has re- ceived the compliment of a re-election every two years since, the citizens of this county thus testi- fying to their appreciation of his eminent services in the cause of education and to the high estima- tion in which he is regarded personally. Our sub- ject is no less distinguished in the pulpit, from which he has wielded a great influence for good. and his steadfast zeal for the honor of the cause of religion is seconded by valuable service in its behalf, and he never hesitates to Iend his best en- ergies to the advancement of the church. In poli- ties, he is a firm Republican, and has been since the party was organized, casting his first Presidential vote for Gen. Fremont.

Mr. Lee was married June 25, 1866 to Miss Laura C. Canfield, a native of Medina, the county seat of Medina County. Ohio. Five children have been born to them: William Canfield, Mary Cor- nelia. J. MeIlvaine, Harry N., and Robert M.

Mrs. Lee is a daughter of the late Hon. William Canfield, formerly a distinguished member of the judiciary of Kansas. Ile was a native of Ohio, of New England antecedents. His father, Herman Canfield, who was born in Connecticut, was a promi- nent pioneer of Mahoning County. Ohio, where he bought a large tract of land, and the village of Canfield was named in his honor. He cleared a good deal of his land, and improved an extensive farm before his death in that county. Mrs. Lee's father was reared in his native county, and was a student of law with the well-known Hon. Benjamin Wade in the office of Judge Whitelsy. After ad- mission to the bar Mr. Canfield located in Medina, and practiced there several years, and was elected Judge of the District Court, which office he held two terms. In 1867 he came to Kansas and opened an office in Junction City. One year later he was appointed Judge for the judicial district embracing the country from Manhattan on the east to the western line of the State. He served in that oflice wiih distinction till his death, which occurred at

the home of our subject in 1874. Thus dying while at the height of his fame, and while still in the midst of an honorable career, his death was regarded as a loss to our citizenship and to bis pro- fession, and was mourned by a large circle of friends and neighbors who knew his great worth and his sterling social qualities. lle practiced law with the utmost success and rose to the head of his profes- sion, his legal ability being of superior order. As a judge he won a high reputation for his probity, uniform fairness, and for the carefulness of his de- cisions. The maiden name of his wife was Mary King Hanchett. She was born in Connecticut and died in Medina, Ohio, in 1855. Mrs. Lee was the only child of her parents, and she resided with her father till her marriage. receiving every advantage for a superior education, that has fitted her to sym- pathize with her husband in his work.

G EORGE N. COLLISTER. In the subject of this notice we have one of the rising men of Manhattan Township, Riley County, who is rapidly assuming a leading position in his commu- nity. lle is a thorough and skillful farmer, a good business manager and personally is of that frank. open and pleasing manner which makes him a gen- eral favorite wherever known, He was born in Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio, July 5, 1856, and is the son of Nelson and Maria (Russell) Collister, the former a native of the Isle of Man and a black- smith by trade. Mrs. Collister was born in New York State. The parental household consisted of four children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Louise. is the wife of W. (. Babcock, a stove mounter by trade, They have two children and reside in Painesville; Harriet died when two years of age; William married Miss Lena Taylor, is the father of two children, and lives in Painesville; George N., the next to the oldest of the family, re- ceived a common-school education and learned butchering but subsequently was employed as a clerk in Painesville. His father died when he was a lad of seven years; his mother is still living and a resident of Painesville.

Mr. Collister came to Kansas in April, 1881,

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worked in Manhattan Township one year and sub- sequently was employed as a farm laborer on the place which he now manages and occupies, until Jan. 1, 1889, when he assumed control for the pro- prietor, Gen. J. S. Casement, of Painesville. He has charge of 3,500 acres, 640 of which are under the plow. There is a large orchard and a two story stone residence, besides tenement houses and other requisite buildings. This is looked upon as one of the best equipped stock farms in Riley Coun- ty. The land is situated on section 31 along the Blue River, three miles north of Manhattan and there is a fine stretch of pasture across the river in Potta- watomie County.

Mr. Collister was married Nov. 17, 1886, to Miss Mary C., daughter of Patrick Burke, in Kansas City. Mrs. Collister was likewise born in Painesville, Ohio, in 1861, and her father still resides there. Of her union with our subject there have been born two children-George and Blanche.

OHN C. JACKSON. Among the quiet and comfortable homes of Clifton Township may be numbered that of Mr. Jackson, who is successfully engaged in general farming, operating 245 acres of land on section 32. His land is well watered and fertile, and improved with the necessary buildings. Ile purchased this prop- erty in April, 1882. and on the 22d of September following moved upon it and has since given to it his undivided attention. Without making any great stir in the world, Mr. Jackson is contributing his quota to the general welfare of his community, being a peaceable and law-abiding citizen and pay- ing into the county treasury a snug sum on ac- count of taxable property.

Mr. Jackson came to Kansas from lowa with his family, they having been residents of Lee County. that State, since the 4th of July. 1840. Later they removed to Jefferson County, settling four miles west of Birmingham. where they lived three years and then changed their residence to Van Buren County. In 1856 they removed to Wayne County, settling in Union Township, where the father. David Jackson, died. lle was born in Randolph

County, N. C., and came of Irish stock, being a distant relative of Gen. Andrew Jackson. Upon attaining to manhood he was married, in his native county, to Miss Sarah Silas, who was born and reared in the same locality, of Southern parents who lived and died in North Carolina.

Mrs. Jackson, after the death of her husband, came to Crawford County, this State, and died in the winter of 1883, at the age of eighty-seven years, of paralysis. Both she and her husband be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal Church. David Jackson, politically, was a Whig until the aband- onment of the old party and then became a stanch Republican. John C., our subject, lived with his parents until reaching his majority, and was then married, in Wayne County, Iowa, to Miss Sarah Farris. This lady was born in Scott County, Ind., March 29, 1838. and was quite young when her father, Dudley Ferris, removed to Wapello County, Iowa. He improved a farm from the wilderness, but later changed his residence to Appanoose County, that State, where he died when quite well advanced in years; he had been three times mar- ried.

Mrs. Jackson was educated chiefly in the Hawk- eye State, where she became of age. Her childhood and youth passed uneventfully under the home roof, and she received her education in the com- mon school. She is now the mother of five chil- dren, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Jane, is the wife of Frank Miller, a farmer of Wayne County, lowa; Albert II. married Miss Lilly Foster, and they live on a farm in Cloud County, Kan. ; Charles W., Willis C. and F. Verner are at home with their parents.

The marriage of Mr. Jackson occurred Feb. 20, 1856. In 1862 he enlisted as a U'nion soldier in Company F, 34th lowa Infantry, and went with his regiment into the Western Army. He partici- pated in the battles of Chickasaw Bluff, Arkansas Post, Ft. Gaines and Ft. Morgan, and later was under Gen. Banks through the compaign in Texas. He escaped without a scratch and returned home after a service of three years less eight days. Witlı the exception of suffering from a sunstroke liis health was excellent during this whole time. Mr. Jackson, politically, is a sound Democrat and is a

RESIDENCE OF PETER ANDERSON , SEC.24. MULBERRY TP, CLAY Co.

RESIDENCE OF J. C. JACKSON, SEC. 32. CLIFTON TP, WASHINGTON CO.

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member of Sedgwick Post 24, G. A. R., at Clifton, in which he has held the office of Senior Vice Com- mander.

A view of the homestead which has been built up by Mr. Jackson, and which has added largely to the value of the taxable property of Clifton Township, will be found on another page.

ETER ANDERSON, one of the most suc- cessful farmers of the Republican Valley, owns and operates 160 acres of highly im- proved land, on section 24. Mulberry Township, Clay County, which he purchased in 1881. When coming to Kansas, ten years prev- ious, he had homesteaded land in Strawberry Township, Washington County, which he improved, then selling out removed to his present farm. Prior to this he had improved a farm from a tract of wild land in Hardin County, Iowa. He had re- moved to lowa from Wisconsin, in which State he settled upon emigrating to America from his native Kingdom of Denmark.

Mr. Anderson was born Jan. 21, 1839, and came of pure Danish ancestry for generations back. llis father, Andrew Ilanson. a farmer in good cireum- stances, spent his entire life upon the soil of Den- mark, dying in the spring of 1887. at the age of seventy-six years. He married a maiden of his own province, Miss Mary Peterson, who died in 1862 at the age of forty-eight years. The parents of our subject were members of the Lutheran Church. Their family consisted of fourteen chil- dren. of whom Peter was the eldest, and nine of whom lived to mature years. Seven of them came to the United States and five are married.

The subject of this sketch was twenty-seven years of age when coming to this country. He made the voyage on a steamer, landing at Quebec, Canada, in 1866, and at once came over to the States and settled in Wisconsin. He came to Wash- ington County, Kan., a single man and was married in Clifton Township Feb. 15, 1880, to Miss Crissie Hanson. This lady was born in Denmark May 17. . 1862, and was ten years old when she came to

America with her parents. In the biography of her father, Hans Hanson. which will be found on another page in this ALBUM, are recorded the main points in the family history.

Mrs. Anderson received excellent home training and attended the common school, living with her parents until her marriage. To her and her hus- band there have been born six children, of whom, a son, Charles, died when two years and nine months old. The survivors are: Stella. Walter. Mary, Clinton and Clayton, the two latter, twins. Mr. Anderson. upon becoming a voting citizen, allied himself with the Republican party, of whose prin- ciples he is a stanch supporter. Hle and his estima- ble wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his own country Mr. Anderson served as a soldier during the Ger- man-Danish War. and was in a number of battles. being in the last one taken prisoner and held six weeks. when he was paroled. He was with the Dan- ish troops when they surrounded the Grand Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein and experienced many hair- breadth escapes, coming out, however, unharmed. Ile has thus seen considerable of life, both in peace and war, but is a man quiet and unostentatious in manner, while at the same time keeping his eyes open to what is going on around him in the world. A handsome lithographie view of Mr. Anderson's residence is shown on another page of this ALBUM.

LEXANDER J. C. GOFF. This young gentleman has amassed quite a snug little fortune in a short time and has accomplished it without any outside help financially. He is naturally shrewd and a good business man, being endowed with more than ordinary intelligence, is well educated and possesses the energy and persist- ance which are bound to win. Ile had been a resi- dent of Haddam Township, Washington County, since 1885 and is already numbered among its lead- ing citizens.

The immediate ancestors of Mr. Goff were among the F. F. V's, and flourished in the Old Dominion in Revolutionary times. On his mother's side he traces his ancestry back to Lord Buchanan. of

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England, and his descendants after crossing the At- lantic, held some of the most prominent and respon- sible offices in the United States. Mr. Goff himself was the principal man in the organization of the Western Exchange Bank, in which he is a leading stock-holder. In all his business interests he oper- ates with the regularity of clock-work.

Mr. Goff was born thirty-two years ago in St. Louis, Mo., on the 6th of September, 1857. When a child of three years his parents removed to St. Joseph, that State, when it was but a small town. The boy received ordinary school advantages and in due time entered Bryant's Business College, from which he was graduated. In 1872, leaving his native State he came to Washington, Kan., and for a few months was engaged as a clerk in a store. He then returned to St. Joseph and remained at home till after his father's death. which occurred a year later. In 1884 he was tendered a position as book-keeper in the Washington National Bank, but the following year he came to Haddam and took the position of assistant cashier and book-keeper in the Hladdam State Bank. In April, 1887, he or- ganized the bank with which he is now connected, under the State law and is one of its principal stock-holders. He is also a Director and officiates as Vice President. Ile commenced life dependent on his own resources, never having received a dol- lar from any source. He keeps himself well posted upon matters of general interest and votes the straight Democratie tieket. He is contributing his full quota toward the building up of his adopted town. No man is more popular in its business and social circles.

The subject of this sketch is the son of Abbott P. Goff, who was born in Clarksburg, W. Va., and in 1852 removed to Missouri, engaging in the banking business in St. Joseph during the days of its earliest settlement. He became one of its most prominent citizens and was the encourager of its most worthy enterprises. He was a well educated man, and well versed in common law although never practicing. He was at one time solicited to become the candidate of his party for the Legisla- ture, but he firmly declined. Ile supported the Democratic party and maintained his religious home in the Episcopal Church, The paternal

grandfather was a prominent member of the United States Senate at the time of his death. Nathan Goff, a member of Congress, is an own cousin to the sul)- ject of this sketch.

The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Susan Williams, and she was born in the city of Wheeling, W. Va., being the daughter of Cecil Williams, a native of England, and who traced his lineage from Lord Buchanan, heretofore mentioned. Mrs. Goff is still living and resides in St. Joseph, Mo. She likewise is a member of the Episcopal Church.

To the parents of our subject there were born eight children: Charles W. owns a ranch and makes his headquarters in St. Joseph. Mo .; John W. resides in Macon City, that State; Nathan D., is a merchant in St. Joseph ; Waldo also lives there; the subject of this sketeh was the fifth child in the family; Fanny, (Mrs. Maxwell) and Ada V. are residents of St. Joseph; Robert L. is a wholesale dealer in books and stationery at St. Joseph. Few men have had more to do with the building up of Haddam Township than Mr. Goff, whose very ex- ample is a stimulus to those less energetic and en- terprising. Personally, he possesses that well-bred cordiality which has. drawn around him hosts of friends who watch his career with kindly interest and prediet for him a brilliant future.

LFRED G. CRESS, Registrar of Deeds for Riley County, is held to be one of its most intelligent and efficient officers. He is a resident of Manhattan, where his genial, social qualities and courteous, considerate manner, have gained him many warm friends. He is one of the noble army of veterans who fought in the war, though he had nearly attained to manhood when he entered the army, and who since that time have ren- dered as valuable service to their country in devel- oping its marvelous resources to a greater extent than had previously been done, in extending its agriculture, commerce and manufactures, and in otherwise promoting its growth.

Our subjeet was born Sept. 5, 1843, two and one- half miles east of Gettysburg, Pa., on the old fam-

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ily homestead, which was located on the State road leading from that town to Hanover. John Cress. his father, was born in Loudoun County, Va. Aug. 17, 1805, and his father, Jacob Cress, was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., in 1763. He was a son of Jacob Cress, who came to this country from his native Germany in Colonial times. He was a descendant of good Teutonic stock, and the initial letter of the family name was formerly K. but when and by whom it was changed to C is not known by the writer. This great-grandfather of our subject took up a tract of land in Germantown, which is now a part of the city of Philadelphia, and there he spent the remainder of his natural life, until death removed him from the scenes with which he had so long been familiar, at the remarka- bly advanced age of one hundred and two years. Ilis wife was also a native of Germany. She lived to a venerable age in their Germantown home, dy- ing but a few years before her husband, and they are now sleeping quietly side by side in the pretty Germantown cemetery. They reared fourteen chil- dren. of whom the grandfather of our subjeet was the youngest. He was bred to man's estate in his native town, and when a young man he settled in Loudoun County, Va., where he bought a tract of land, which he was engaged in improving and enl- tivating until 1816. In that year he removed to Emmetsburg. Md., and a few months later from there to Gettysburg, Pa., and bought property in that city. A few years later he purchased a farm two and one-half miles to the east from there, and engaged in farming until death elosed his useful career in 1848, and he now lies buried in the Li- theran churchyard at Gettysburg. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Adams, and she was a native of Loudonville, Loudoun Co., Va. She died on the home farm in 1866 at the ripe old age of ninety-eight years.

The father of our subject was the fourth of six children. He was reared in Virginia, removed with his parents to Pennsylvania, and was never sepa- rated from them until their demise, and he now owns and occupies the old homestead. He inherits the family vigor of constitution, and though well advanced in years is active and well preserved in mind, memory and bodily strength, and bids fair

to go beyond the century mark, as his grandfather did. As an instance of his muscular activity the Star and Sentinel. a weekly paper published at Gettysburg, recently chronicled the fact that on his eighty-fourth birthday he built a large stack of hay on his farm. He is a man of steadfast and upright character, and is greatly respected by the entire community where so many years of his life have been passed. He is a sincere and conscientious Christian, and though reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church he has been a consistent member of the Methodist Church upwards of twenty years. In his early years he was an Old Line Whig, but ou the formation of the Republican party he joined that and has held to it ever since.

Mr. John Cress has been twice married. His first wife, Eliza Ecker, the mother of our subject, was born in Gettysburg; she died in her husband's home at the age of forty-four. She was the mother of seven children-James, Mary, Louisa. Jacob, David. William and Alfred G. James, who served as a Surgeon in the 51st Pennsylvania Regiment during the late war, is now a successful physician in Steubenville, Ohio; Mary married Daniel Bruner and lives in Adams County ; Louisa died at the age of five years; David and Jacob both served in the 138th Pennsylvania Regiment, the former as Ad- jutant of the regiment from his enlistment until his discharge, and he now lives in Omaha, Neb., David living in Warren County, Iowa; William died at the age of nineteen. Mr. Cress's second wife, who is still living, was formerly Eliza Forrest. She has has borne him six children. as follows: Emery a resident of Baltimore ; Laura, wife of D. M. Drais. of Fairfield. Pa .; John H .. a resident of Philadel- phia; Clara, C'ovil and Edward. who live at home with their parents. Emery left school at the age of sixteen and enlisted in 77th Pennsylvania Regi- ment, and after being wounded at Shiloh was dis- charged on account of disability. He re-enlisted in 1862 in the 138th Pennsylvania Regiment. and served in the ranks one year, and then as a musician until the close of the war.

Alfred G. Cress, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the old homestead which had been his birthplace, and was given a good education in his native county. He witnessed the battle of Gettys-

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burg as a private citizen, though he was burning with the ardent longing of youth and with a patri- otic love of country to take his place among the soldiers who were so bravely fighting for the dear old flag. But his father was opposed to his enlist- ment, as all his other sons were in the service and he felt that he could not spare him. However, our subject obtained his permission to enlist as soon as he reached his majority, and his name was soon enrolled among the volunteers of Company G, 209th Pen- sylvania Infantry, and he served with credit until the close of the war. Ile joined the Army of the Potomae in September, 1864, and fought in the various battles in and around Richmond and Pe- tersburg. At the battle of Ft. Steadman he was struck by a piece of shell, but fortunately was not hurt sufficiently to incapacitate him from duty. From October, 1864. until his discharge June 7, 1865. he was detailed as hospital steward, and did efficient service in that capacity. After his return from the South, Mr. Cress remained with his father until September, when he became a student at Millersville Normal School, and pursued an excel- lent course of study there until January, 1866. In that month he returned to the old home in Gettys- burg, and in April he went to Putnam County, Ind., and buying a hotel at Putnamville, managed it with good financial success until 1887, when he lost all his property by fire.

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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 63

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

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