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 66

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 66
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 66
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 66

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).

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

traits of character, honesty, thrift, foresight, and sterling sense, that are so essential to make life in any degree successful. In him his community finds a worthy citizen, his neighbors an obliging friend, and his wife a good husband; thus in all the relations of life that he sustains towards others, he bas ever been true to himself and to them, and no higher praise ean be bestowed on any man. In early life Mr. Moses was a Whig in polities. He joined the Republican party on its formation, and after coming here affiliated with the Free-State men, ardently upholding the eause, and voted for the adoption of the Wyandotte Constitution.

ETER YOUNG. A detailed history of the life of this gentleman would he inter- esting reading for one who wished to learn what can be accomplished in the field of agriculture without speeulation, by a man who is industrious, prudent and energetic. A score of years ago, he came to the West a poor man and now owns some of the most valuable property in North- ern Kansas. His farm is situated in Clay County, and comprises land on seetions 29, 30, 31 and 32 of Mulberry Township. It is located on the first and second bottoms of the Republican River Valley and is one of the finest farms in that valley or in- deed in the State.

Mr. Young was born in Ilesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many. Nov. 1, 1844, being a member of an old German family. Ile lived on his father's farm un- til fifteen years of age, when, with an older sister, Christina, he came to the United States. They took passage at Hamburg, Germany, in April. 1861, and landed in the American metropolis after a short and pleasant voyage. They went directly to .Jo Daviess County, Ill., where our subjeet made his home for nine years, working around as a laborer most of the time, except when he was serving Uncle Sam as a soldier.

In the fall of 1863, being then but seventeen years old, Mr. Young enlisted in Company 1., 8th Illinois Cavalry, in which he served as a private until the close of the war. Ilis army life extended

over a period of about two years, during which time lie was able to report for duty every day. He saw little hard fighting, being out mostly on scout duty. He passed through the stirring and often solitary scenes, without receiving a wound, and also escaped capture. He was honorably discharged at Chicago, Ill., in June, 1865, and returned to the county in which he had previously lived, and where a few months later he attained his majority.

Mr. Young remained in Illinois until September, 1869, when he came with his family to this State. Ile took a homestead claim of 160 acres, which forms a part of his present estate, located on section 32, and upon which he proceeded to make improve- ments. Ile subsequently purchased the other three quarters, which he has improved mostly himself. His present residence is on section 31, and is a com- modious and well designed structure. Mr. Young has fed and fatted large droves of swine and herds of cattle, and in the business of farming and stock- raising has become very wealthy. The most of lis 640 acre estate is highly improved, and lie boasts of never having had a failure of erops on his land.

Mr. Young has been twice married. His first wife bore the maiden name of Caroline Webber and was born in Wurtemburg, Germany. She came to the United States alone in 1866, and settled in Jo Daviess County, Ill., where she and Mr. Young were subsequently married. Her death oe- eurred at their home in this county in 1881, she being thirty-seven years of age. Her nnion with Mr. Young had resulted in the birth of three chil- dren, Henry, Sophia, and Louisa, all now at home.

The second matrimonial alliance of Mr. Young, also took place in Jo Daviess County, Ill. The bride was Miss Rachael Bahr, a native of that county, her birth having taken place in 1859. Her father, Henry Bahr, was born and grew to man- hood in Saxony, Germany, whenee he came to the United States. He made his home in Illinois, and was there married to Margaret Winter, who was also a German. When a young woman she came to the United States, and is yet living in Jo Daviess County, being now ripe in years. Mr. Bahr died in that county in 1886, having passed the age of sixty-six years. Mrs. Rachael Young was reared

of Form 640 Acres. Sec's. 29 31.& 32 T.G. R 2

-E.V SEC. 31.

S.W. /4 SEC: 32

W. 1/2 N.W. 74 SEC.32

1. 2.5.W.A. SEC. 29

RESIDENCE OF PETER YOUNG , SEC. 31. ( R.2. E.) MULBERRY TP. CLAY CO.

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in her native county, and remained with her pa- rents until her marriage. She is the mother of four children, George, John, Philip, and Margaret.

The parents of our subject were Jacob . and Elizabeth (Fauth ) Young, both of whom were na- tives of Hesse-Darmstadt. The father was engaged in farming. The mother died in her native land about the year 1877, being then seventy years of age. The father survived ten years, and was gathered to his fathers when a little past four-score years. Their family was made up of four sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living. are married and have families. Three of them now reside in the United States. The gentleman whose name heads this notice was the third child in the parental family.

Mr. Young belongs to MeClellan Post No. 386, G. A. R. of Morganville. He is a Republican of the most decided character, never failing to sup- port the party by his vote and voice. He has been Township Treasurer for several years and has held various other local offices, performing the duties of the same in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the Presbyterian Church. with which denomination the former wife of Mr. Young was also identified.

A view of Mr. Young's residence embellishes another page and with its surroundings indicates to what good purpose the proprietor has labored to provide himself and family with all the comforts of life.

SAAC T. GOODNOW. In December, 1854, Eli Thayer, whose name and memory are ven- erated by every true Kansan, delivered a lec- ture in Providence, R. I., in which, in earnest and eloquent language, he depicted the struggle then going on in the recently-opened Territory of Kan- sas, between the friends of freedom and the slave- holding power of the South. He told how the lat- ter, having secured the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the passage of the Kansas-Neb- raska Bill, were determined to make Kansas a slave State, and to that end were forcing over the Mis-

ouri borders a horde of ruffians who by force, fraud and even murder were overawing the actual settlers of this fair domain. and making it perilons for any but the friends and champions of slavery to settle or attempt to establishi homes for themselves and their families in the new Territory.

Among his auditors was a gentleman, at that time Professor of Natural Sciences in the Provi- dence Seminary at East Greenwich, R. I. He was of New England ancestry, the son of Christ- ian parents, a member of a Christian Church and an anti-slavery man in principle. In addition to all these he possessed a high courage, deep convictions and a cultured and scholarly mind. The lecturer and the lecture served to mark a crisis in his career. With him the old life was at an end and a newer and larger life about to begin. His face was to be turned in a new direction and his efforts put forth in a new field.

After the lecture this man, with Rev. Dr. Joseph Denison and others, met the lecturer and they con- versed together until after midnight. The decision was for emigration, and Prof. Isaac T. Goodnow, for it was he of whom we write, immediately re- signed his professorship and set about organizing a colony to leave for Kansas the following spring. Rhode Island thus lost an able and experienced ed- ucator, and Kansas gained a settler and citizen, who during the more than thirty-four years he has re- sided within her borders, has to his eredit an ac- tive, useful and honorable career, both in public and private life.

This man, who for so long a time has been identi- fied with the history of Kansas, both as a Territory and as a State, deserves more space for the telling of the story of his life than we have at command. We can therefore give only a few of the leading faets connected with his personal history. and they are as follows: Isaac T. Goodnow, the third son and fourth child of William and Sybil (Arms) Goodnow was born in Whitingham, Windham Co., Vt., Jan. 17, 1814. lle is of old New England stock and of English descent, on both his father's and mother's side. William Goodnow, his father, was born in Petersham, Mass., and was a descendant of one of three brothers who came to Massachusetts Colony at an early day. When a young man he

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went to Vermont, and for many years was a suc- cessful merchant in Whitingham. There, in 1806, he married Miss Sybil Arms, a school teacher and daughter of John Arms. one of the early settlers of Brattleboro, Vt. John Arms was likewise one of the Green Mountain boys who assisted in the cap- ture of Burgoyne, at Saratoga, and officiated as captain in the Vermont militia of minutemen.

The father having lost his property by endorsing a note, Isaac T., at the age of fourteen years, as- sisted his mother in the support of the family. He was four years behind the counter as a merchant's clerk in Colerain, Mass., and in Marlboro, Vt., and spent his leisure hours and evenings in reading and study, determining to secure for himself the benefits of an academic education. He had in the meantime united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was firmly grounded in its Christian precepts. Thus prepared for sincere and earnest work as a student, he left home and walked fifty miles to Wilbraham, near Springfield, Mass., and entered the Acadamy in 1834. He remained in in this institution until 1848, first as a student and then as an instructor in the primary and English departments, and in due time became Professor of Natural Sciences. This latter position he held for ten years. While connected with this institution the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn .. conferred upon him the degree of A. M.

In 1848 Mr. Goodnow was called to the Chair of Natural Sciences in Providence Seminary, at East Greenwich, R. I., which he filled until the begin- ing of 1855. when he resigned, having determined upon coming to Kansas and assisting in making it a free State. He was a successful educator besides being an enthusiastic student, and took pleasure in imparting knowledge to those committed to his care. As a disciplinarian he was firm yet gentle, and won the confidence and respect of his pupils. During the score of years he sat at the teacher's desk he gave instruction to more than 5000 stu- dents, each of whom witnessed his worth as a man and his ability as a tutor.

On the 28th of Angust. 1838, shortly after com- pleting his course in Wilbraham Academy, and while an instructor in that institution, Mr. Good- now was married to Miss Ellen D., daughter of Ma-

jor David and Lucy ( Avery ) Denison, and sister of Rev. Joseph Denison, D. D., whose name is closely and prominently identified with the early history of Kansas. Mrs. Goodnow was born in Colerain, Mass., and came to her new position fully prepared to prove by her affection and sympathy a help- mate and companion to her young husband. For fifty-one years she has walked by his side, fulfilling in love and affection every wifely duty, and mak- ing her life beautiful by daily deeds of kindness and charity. She had grown old gracefully and time, who spares neither beauty nor strength, has gently laid his touch upon her. Hers has been a pure, prayerful life, a life of giving, of doing and of living according to the teachings of Ilim, to whom since her early youth she has looked for comfort, consolation, guidance and blessings.

Ilaving no children, this couple after having passed the fifty-first milestone of their wedded career are living a quiet, retired life in their pleas- ant home about two miles northwest of Manhattan. They have been members of the Methodist Church for over fifty years.

For three months after having resigned his Pro- fessorship in Providence Seminary, Mr. Goodnow devoted himself to the work of preparing for his departure to Kansas. He wrote for Zion's Herald, at Boston, Mass., and for the Providence and other New England papers, urging the lovers of freedom to join the colony, then getting ready under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, for their long journey to the far West.

Finally a colony of 200 were gotten together, and the day of starting fixed for March 13, 1855, On the 6th of the month Mr. Goodnow set out in order to select a town site with good farm claims around it, so as to be ready at their coming and thus save the unpleasantness of waiting. On the way he fell in with Rev. C. H. Lovejoy, of New Hampshire. also bound Kansasward, having been inspired to join the free State forces by reading one of Mr. Goodnow's letters in a Boston paper. Ile was ac- companied by his wife and family. They reached Kansas City, Mo .. Sunday, March 18. Here Mr. Goodnow first met Gen. S. C. Pomeroy, who had just returned from an exploring trip up the Smoky

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llill, 100 miles above Ft. Riley, a trip which he made with a horse and buggy, entirely alone.

On Tuesday a committee of seven started from Kansas City as the advance guard of the immi- grants. This committee consisted of Isaac T. Goodnow, Luke P. Lincoln, Charles H. Lovejoy. N. R. Wright, C. N. Wilson, A. Browning and Joseph Wintermute. On Saturday, March 24, just as the sun was setting, they ascended Blue- mont from the north, and from its summit looked down upon what is now the site of the beautiful and prosperous little city of Manhattan.

This committee soon learned that there were prior occupants and claimants to the land they sought. In the fall of 1854 Col. George S. Park. of Parkville, Mo., had located a town site on the Kansas River, in the southwestern part of the pre- sent site. and named it Poliska. He had built a log cabin upon it for a blacksmith shop and a big Virginian, one of the Juniata outfit, had jumped his claim by breaking into the cabin and nominally living there. At the northeast part of the town site upon the Big Blue. that same fall S. D. Houston, of Illinois; Judge S. W. Johnson, of Ohio; Judge J. M. Russell, of Iowa; Dr. H. A. Wilcox, of Rhode Island and E. M. Thurston, of Maine, five college graduates from five different States, met and located the town of Canton. A dugout at the foot of Bluemont marked their only improvement.

After due deliberation Mr. Goodnow pitched his tent upon Parkstown site, with the design of neu- tralizing any legal claim the Virginian might have. He and Mr. Wintermute slept there the first night. Martin, the Virginian soon made an attempt. backed by a montley crowd armed with rifles, shot guns, bowie knives and pistols, all ready for use, to drive Mr. Goodnow from the claim. The lat- ter, however, aided by some of his friends, sue- ceeded in persnading them to refer the disputed title to a committee of five. This committee unan- imously reported that he should have until next day to vacate. Ile replied that as they had the physical power to remove him he would remove himself but under protest.

" Your protest " said their spokesman, " I sup- pose has reference to the settlement of the case be- fore some legal tribunal." "Certainly," replied

Mr. Goodnow, and they saw that he had the ad- vantage. Martin. after blustering around a few days, made a very reasonable proposition to sell. which was accepted, and within a week or so Mr. Goodnow carried him to the Missouri River on his way to old Virginia. The two camped out together. slept side by side and parted good friends. This was one of the rare instances in those days when the title to a disputed claim was settled without bloodshed.

Soon afterward the members of the Boston C'ol- ony arrived ; and about the last of May a company of about seventy-five settlers, headed by John Pipher and Andrew J. Meade came up in the steamer " Ilartford" with the intention of found- ing a town where Junction City now stands. They were offered half the town site if they would stop and help build up the town at the mouth of the Blue, in conjunction with Mr. Goodnow and his fellow-colonists. They accepted and the name of the town was changed from Boston to Manhattan. because of a clause in the constitution of the Cin- cinnati & Kansas Land Company, which required that the town where they settled should be called Manhattan. " Shake " houses, eight in number, were built from clapboard split from oak timber in different parts of the town site to protect the set- tlers from jumpers.

Mr. Goodnow entered a claim of 160 acres of land on Wildcat Creek, two miles above Manhat- tan, and which is now occupied by Mr. J. T. Swingle, who purchased it about six years ago of Mr. Goodnow. The latter lived on this place long enough to preempt it. In 1860 he bought the ten acres two miles northwest of Manhattan, where his present residenec is situated. During the first two years of his sojourn in Kansas he was engaged in farming, and as one of the Directors of the Town Site Company, found his time occupied with the matters pertaining to the interests, welfare and progress of the infant city. In 1857 he returned East and spent the summer in the New England States, in the meantime raising $4000 for the building of the first Methodist Church edifice west of Lawrence.

Next. Mr. Goodnow in connection with Joseph Denison and Washington Marlatt, conceived the

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idea of establishing in Manhattan a great educa- tional institution and making it the nucleus of learning in the new Territory. He accordingly spent the years 1858-59-60 in the East, raising money to build Bluemont College, which was to be conducted under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ile seenred $15,000 in cash, a library of 2000 volumes, and a valuable set of philosophical and chemical apparatus. Ile like- wise secured for the college site 160 aeres of land. almost west and within a quarter of a mile of his re- sidence. In due time a substantial stone building was erected. In these labors he was assisted by the Rev. Joseph Denison and Rev. Washington Mar- latt and under the last-mentioned gentleman as principal, assisted by Miss Julia A. Bailey, of Con- necticut, to whom he was shortly afterward mar- ried, the college was opened for students in the winter of 1859-60.

Mr. Goodnow naturally became one of the Trus- tees of the college, and was elected its first President in 1862. He officiated as teacher a term and a half, and was then elected a Representative to the State Legislature, with the express object of securing a location of the proposed State University in Man- hattan, in consideration of giving to the State all the property that the Bluemont College Company had accumulated. He secured the passage of the bill but failed to secure the university by reason of Gov. Robinson's vetoe.

In the fall of 1862 Mr. Goodnow was elected State Superintendent of public instruction and re-elected in 1864. This office was one for which he was eminently fitted, and he discharged its duties in an able and most acceptable manner. He traveled the first year over 4000 miles, and delivered lec- tures in twenty-nine counties, besides visiting schools of every grade, consulting with officers and teachers, and familiarizing the people with their public school system. On the 2nd of July, 1862, the National Congress passed an aet for endowing State Agricultural Colleges.

Under this act Kansas received 90,000 acres of land. Having failed to get the State University, the people of Manhattan united in an effort to se- cure the Agricultural College. Mr. Goodnow en- tered heart and soul into the work, securing the

object in view, and as a consideration Bluemont College and 100 acres of land were donated to the State. As superintendent of public instruction he was ex-officio, a regent of this institution and also of the State University at Lawrence, together with the State Normal School at Emporia, and he parti- cipitated in the organization of each. The Agricul- tural College began its existence in July, 1863, and was the first State educational institution in Kan- sas.

In 1867 Mr. Goodnow was selected agent for the disposal of the 90,000 acres of agricultural college lands. He held this position until 1873, and sold enough lands to create an income of $18,000 an- nually. In 1869 he was appointed Land Comis- sioner of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company. and during the seven years in which he held this position he sold land amounting in valne to over $1,500,000. Since 1876 he has held no public position but has lived quietly in the retire- ment of his home, giving his attention to his own private business and travels a great deal. He has been a liberal and cheerful giver of bis means to religious, educational and charitable purposes. In early life he adopted a rule of devoting one-tenth of his annual income in aid of worthy charities, and to this rule he has ever adhered, being seconded and assisted by his estimable wife. In the autumn of his years he can look back upon a well-spent life, with the feeling that whatever may have been his errors in judgment, his aim and purpose has been to perform every duty as it presented itself and besides earning and enjoying the respect and esteem of his fellowmen, to gain that most desirable of all earthly rewards-the verdict of an approving conscience.

Mr. Goodnow is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Patrons of Husbandry and the Sons of Temperance. After the death of his father his mother was married to Solomon Whitney, of Marl- boro, Vt., by whom she had two children-Solo- mon. Jr. and Ann Ross. The son now resides near Manhattan, Kan., and is represented elsewhere in this work. The daughter is the wife of Stephen French, of Orange, Mass. Mrs. Whitney in 1871 joined her son in Kansas, and died at his home July 12, 1873, aged eighty-five years.

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In early life Mr. Goodnow was a Whig, then an anti-slavery man, and latter became a Republican. He was a delegate to the first Free State Convention at Lawrence, Aug. 16, 1855, and was an active and earnest worker in the Free State cause. In 1840, himself and his brother, William E., manifested their anti-slavery principles by voting for James G. Birney for President. During the many years of his residence in the vicinity of Manhattan, Mr. Gooodnow has identified himself with the moral, the Christian, the patriotic and progressive element of the Sunflower State. In July, 1889, at its last commencement, Baker University, near Lawrence, conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D., an honor entirely unsolicited and unexpected on his part. He has been not only a student but a writer, and is the fortunate possessor of a fine private library to which he is constantly making additions. On his reading-table are to be found the leading newspa- pers and magazines of the day. He has lived an active, honorable and useful life of seventy-six years. Though of slender build, he has by tem- perate habits, and a right use of his mental and phy- sical powers, preserved unimpaired his strength of body and mind, and is full of energy, and still ca- pable of enduring much physical and intellectual labor. He gives his personal attention to his private business.

ILLIAM E. GOODNOW was born in Whit- ingham, Vt., June 17, 1807. He was a re- markably studious and industrious boy. His educational advantages were those of the common school, but he improved them to the utmost. At a very early age he became a print- er's apprentice to a Mr. Putnam, the publisher of a weekly newspaper in Brattleboro. Soon after- ward Mr. Putnam removed to Saco, Me., where for several years he published the Palladium. In 1828, when twenty-one years of age, William E., moved to Norway, Me., and became editor and publisher of the Oxford Observer and other papers. He continued in this business for a num- ber of years. To him, as in the case of Franklin

and many other celebrated men. the printing office was a school of preparation, and a stepping stone to the higher and more responsible duties and "de- mands of practical knowledge.

William E. Goodnow was married Nov. 7, 1829, to Miss Harriet W. Paddleford, of Colerain, Mass., and formerly of Marlboro, Vt .; she was a woman of culture and refinement and of marked ability. She and her husband were said to be the finest looking couple who attended the Congregational Church at Norway, of which both were honored and devout members. They had two children, both of whom died young. The eldest, a daughter, lived to be nearly fourteen years old. She was very precocious and a remarkable singer, and when only seven years old was a member of the church choir. She was also a fine performner on the piano and a great favorite in the village with both young and old; she died a happy Christian.

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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 66

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

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