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 68

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 68
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 68
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 68

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).

standing of the Congregational Church. Her death was mourned not only by her own family but by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Marshall, in his religious views, is a Congre- gationalist, and during the early years of his resi- dence in Kansas, served as a Commissioner when Riley was a part of Davis County. Ile was elected Justice of the Peace, but not desiring the office, failed to qualify. He was in Lawrence during the bogus election which was held in the spring of 1855, and witnessed the stirring incidents which followed. He has always been recognized as a lib- eral-minded and public-spirited citizen, and as a member of the agricultural community he occu- pies a position second to none in the county. Ile has been greatly prospered as a tiller of the soil, and gradually added to his landed possessions until he is now the owner of 480 acres of land which is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. - His dwelling is a substantial stone structure, adjacent to which is the barn and various other outbuildings re- quired for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. The whole career of Mr. Marshall is one worthy of record in a work designed to perpetuate the names and deeds of those men who ventured upon the frontier during the early days, and to whose courage and perseverance Kansas is indebted for her present position among the prosperous com- mon wealths of the great West.

OHN C. MCCANDLESS. They were men of hardihood and courage who made their way to the Kansas frontier during its terri- torial days and amid the political troubles and the scourge of grasshoppers, drouth and chinch bugs, set themselves about the task of building up a homestead. Among them the subject of this sketch bore no unimportant part. He came to Don- iphan County and "squatted" on a quarter section of land, which, however, he occupied only one year. Then selling out he went to Galveston. Tex .. and in 1858 left there for Memphis. Tenn In 1861 he was accepted as a recruiting officer in the Northern army and he followed the fortunes of war as a bridge mechanic and in other capacities until

558

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

after the national conflict had ended. Then return- ing to Washington County. Kan., he on the 10th of July, 1868, homesteaded a quarter section of land in Lincoln Township. He occupied that ten years, then selling out, came, in 1878, to Riley County, of which he has since been a resident. He purchased 160 acres of land in May Day Township, occupying a portion of sections 13 and 24 and makes his home on the latter. IIe has been greatly prospered in his labors and is now the owner of 440 acres of land which is largely devoted to graded stock.

A native of Butler County, Pa., our subject was born Nov. 26, 1831. His father, Robert B. Mc- Candless, was likewise a native of that county and born Feb. 9, 1811. He there spent his entire life engaged in farming pursuits. He was an honest and upright man and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he voted with the old Whig party and was prom- inent in political affairs. He became well-to-do and departed this life Oct. 5, 1852. The paternal grandfather was John McCandless who was born June 1, 1760, on the English Channel, during the passage of his parents from Scotland. The latter was the son of Robert McCandless who was born in Scotland in 1736 and emigrated to America with three brothers in 1760. They settled in Butler County, Pa., where the father of John was mar- ried and where John was reared and educated. Robert McCandless did good service in the Revo- lutionary War as a Second Lieutenant.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Jane Cranmer. She was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1809, and was the daughter of Asaph and Annie (IIill) Cranmer, who were likewise natives of the Empire State. Mr. Cranmer was a farmer by occupation and served in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Cranmer was of English extraction and lived to be eighty-four years old. Both were mem- bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The great-grandfather Cranmer was among the earliest settlers of New York State and traced his ancestry to England. Grandfather Cranmer died at the age of seventy-five years.

To the parents of our subjects there were born nine children, viz .: John; Margaret, who died at the age of fifty-six years; Elizabeth, a resident of

Venango County, Pa .; Israel A .; Robert C .; Mary J .; Minnie, who died at the age of thirty-five; George, who died when three months old and Asaph, who died when six years old. John, like his brothers and sisters, was reared in his native county, receiving the benefits of a common-school education. When approaching the thirty-second year of his age he was married April 23, 1863, to Miss Caroline M. Moore. This lady was born in Seymour, Ind., Aug. 1, 1844, and is the daughter of Charles and Ruth (Doan) Moore, who were like- wise natives of the Hoosier State. Mr. Moore was a farmer and became quite wealthy. He died at the age of forty-nine years. Mrs. Moore survived her husband many years, dying at the age of sev- enty-two. She was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. and Mrs. MeCandless are the parents of five children, viz .: Alvah C., Jolin C .. Joshua, Guy E. and Adelbert G .; they are all liv- ing and at home with their parents.

Mr. McCandless cast his first Presidential rote for Stephen A. Douglas but since the organization of the Republican party has been a stanch sup- porter of its principles. 'He keeps himself posted upon matters of leading interest and is consider- ably interested in politics. He has filled various positions of trust and responsibility and is an in- telligent and well-informed man -- one whose opin- ions are generally respected.

RS. MARTHA (HUEY) MAILS and her husband, the late John Mails, were among the earliest settlers of Pottawatomie Coun- ty. and were active factors in developing its agricultural interests and advancing its social and moral status. They were people who for prin- ciple's sake left relatives and friends, and a pleas- ant home with all its comforts in the East, to seek the wild, uncivilized Western frontier that they might identify themselves with the noble, high- sprited, self-sacrificing pioneers of the Territory of Kansas, who were struggling to consecrate its soil to liberty and gain its admission into the Union as a Free State. Years of hardship and trial followed their settlement here, though not of actual privation

559

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

as they were not without means when they came here. By judicious management they added to their capital and were numbered among the mon- eyed people of their community. For the better education of their children they spent a few years in Manhattan when the city was in its infancy, and aided in its upbuilding. In order to stimulate en- terprise and to attract outside capital, the proprie- tors of the site of the city offered the lot on the southeast corner of Third street and Poyntz ave- nue, to any one who would build a good house on the spot and Mr. Mails accepting the offer, erected a commodious, substantial stone house that still stands there. A short time before his death Mr. Mails moved into the city again with his family and Mrs. Mails is still residing here, widely known and respected for her many fine qualities of head and heart, and a noble type of pioneer wo- manhood.

She was born Jan. 9, 1821, in Boalsburg, Pa., a small village on the State Road between Pittsburg and Philadelphia. Her father, James IIney, was also a native'of the Keystone State, and he was the son of William and Agnes (Newell) Hney, natives of Ireland, who came to America before marriage and settled in Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer and spent the last years of his life in Mifflin County. Mrs. Mails' father was a pioneer of Cen- ter County. He followed the trade of a blacksmith in Boalsburg till 1830, and then moved to Clarion County, and buying an improved farm engaged in farming for many years, till death rounded out his life in 1874 at the advanced age of seventy-nine. The maiden name of Mrs. Mails' mother was Eliza- betli Everhart, and she was a native of C'enter County, Pa. Her father, Samuel Everhart, was a farmer and spent his entire life in Pennsylvania. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Thomas; she was born in Wales and died in Center County on the old homestead.

Our subject remained an inmate of the parental household till her marriage, and from her good mother received careful instructions in spinning. knitting and in all work pertaining to the proper management of a house, and thus when she had a home of her own she went to it, well fitted to care for it properly and make it a cheery and cosy abid-

ing place for her husband. Jan. 26, 1841, she was wedded to John Mails, and for more than forty years they traveled life's road together, giving an example of a true union, and mindful not only of their duties to one another but to the community at large.

Mr. Mails was a native of Clarion County, Pa .. a son of William Mails, who was born one mile from Gettysburg, and spent his entire life as a farmer in Pennsylvania. The husband of our sub- jeet was reared in his native county, and in early life learned the blacksmith's trade. Soon after mar- riage, however, he turned his attention to farming, and buying timbered land in Clarion County, with characteristic energy immediately commeneed to clear it. He was very industrious, and in a few years the forest trees had fallen before his vigor- ously wielded axe, the land was placed under fine tillage, and he had erected comfortable, well-finished buildings, and had his farm well stocked. But while they were thus prospering, our subject and her husband were not unmindful of what was going on in the outside world, but kept themselves well- informed as to public affairs. Thus their sympa- thies were aroused at the accounts of the sufferings of the Free-State people in Kansas, and after much earnest and deliberate conversation on the subject they thought it their duty to come here and aid the cause of freedom. They then sold the pleasant home where the happy years of their wedded life had been spent till that time, and went forth with their children alone to their destination, starting from Pennsylvania on the 21st of March, 1855, and journeying thither by way of the Alleghany, Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Kansas City, then a small hamlet. Mr. Mails rented a room for his family, and as he could not buy a wagon there, he went to Independence where he bought one and purchased two yoke of oxen beside, and on his re- turn to Kansas City he bought two cows. Mrs. Mails made a wagon cover of cotton cloth, and with the wagon ladened with a cooking stove. bed- dling, 200 pounds of flour. 100 pounds of corn meal and a supply of bacon, they started on their jour- ney to the promised land. Mr. Mails was taken sick while in camp near Lawrence, and they re- mained there a week, and obtained some idea of

560

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

life in a rough frontier town, and they observed that the land which was not then surveyed, was held mostly by squatters. They resumed their travels when Mr. Mail's health was re-established and pushing on to the Blue River found a white family on Sargent's Creek, and obtained lodgings with them, it being the first house in which they had slept since leaving Kansas City. The following day Mr. Mails selected a claim in was is now Blue Township, Pottawatomie County, and then re- turned for his family. When nearing their future home, while crossing Elbow Creek, one of the wagon wheels broke, and they had to traverse the remaining two miles with three wheels. The first night on the claim was spent in the wagon, and the next day Mr. Mails cut some poles, and standing them on one end, slanting toward the top, covered them with carpet and wagon cover, and that rude structure was the home of the family for six weeks. During that time Mr. Mails cut some cottonwood logs and built a hewed log house. The shingles were rived by hand, and as nails were not procur- able, were held down by poles. There were no saw mills here then, but two Englishmen coming along with a whip saw, Mr. Mails engaged the first 1,000 feet of boards that they sawed for a floor, which was the nicest floor in that region for some months, and Mrs. Mails was so proud of it that she did not put down the carpet till cold weather. It was too late to plant a erop that year, so Mr. Mails made several trips to Kansas City with his oxen, and while he was away Mrs. Mails lived alone with her children in her cabin far from neighbors. Fortunately for her she was a woman of strong nerve and was in no wise timid. There was no store in Manhattan at that time and Mr. Mails used to bring home groceries and such articles on his return from Kansas City, and as his wife used to sell them she may well be considered the pioneer merchant of this section of the country. In 1856 Mr. Mails bought a pair of fine horses, and commenced to improve his land. In May, 1859, a severe storm raged in this region and the roof was blown from the house of Mr. and Mrs. Mails'. and as it was in the night the children sleeping up stairs were left without shelter from the open air. Luckily none of them were hurt, but their clothing was strewn all

over the farm. and the erops were nearly ruined. There were no schools near where they lived so our subject and her husband moved into Manhattan, Mr. Mails building the afore-mentioned house. He still continued to improve lis land, however, and in 1865 again took up his residence there, and did not leave it permanently till a few months before his death. when he again made his home in Manhat- tan, and here his honorable, well-spent life was brought to a close in February, 1884. IIc was a man of strong, intelligent convictions, whose reeti- tude of purpose and aet, and innate manliness of character commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact, and as a citizen, husband, fa- ther, neighbor and friend, his life-record is without a blot, and he has left to his children the precious legacy of an untarnished name.

Mrs. Mails still occupies the home from which her husband passed away. She is a bright and intelligent woman, whose mind and memory do not seem to be at all impaired by approaching age, and her genuine worth and kind heart have gained her a warm place in the affections of all about her. She has a keen remembrance of pioneer life and times in the early settlement of Kansas, and can give many interesting facts concerning them. As well- known pioneers, the history of this part of the State would be incomplete without a record of the lives of herself and husband, and it is with pleasure that we introduce this brief sketch in this volume. She and her husband joined the Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania, and she is still a devoted member, he remaining true to the faith till death. Mrs. Mails is the mother of five children: John J., who resides in Manhattan; Celia, wife of J. S. Corbett, of whom see sketeh; Jennie, wife of William Orr, of Manhattan; Charles, who resides in Arkansas City, and Mattie E., wife ofJ. W. Coens.

SIDORE R. GILBERT. This gentleman is the owner of a half-interest in the grain elevator at Linn, Washington County, by whose citizens he is highly respected. He has suffered many afflic- tions, having been called to part with a number of his nearest and dearest friends, including his loved

561

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

companion; but his griefs have not made him mo- rose or caused him to lose interest in what is still left to brighten life. On the contrary, they have added an element to his character, which renders it more noble than before.

The parents of our subjeet were Truman and Jane (McKelvey) Gilbert, both of whom are deccased, the mother having died when our subject was three or four years of age. The father was a native of Litchfield County, Conn. He was a farmer, and during the War of 1812 bore a part in his coun- try's defense. He departed this life in 1865. The parental family consisted of ten children, our sub- ject being the youngest. Only three of the family are now living: Warren resides in Lenawee County, Mich., and Matthew M. in Clayton County, Iowa. Six of the others died after arriving at years of maturity. Their names were William, Truman, Perry, Milton, Lucinda, and Eliza. The other child, Eunice, died at the age of five years, and prior to the birth of our subject.

The gentleman of whom we write, was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1831. He was reared upon a farm. and received his fundamental education in the common sehools. Ilis higher edu- cation was obtained in the college at Hillsdale, Mich. In 1865 he went to St. Joseph County, Mich. Some time was spent in Three Rivers, and thence he removed to Webster County, lowa, in the spring of 1866, and was there engaged in agri- culture until 1869. He then changed his residence to Jefferson County, Neb., settling near where Steele City now is, at a place then known as Jenkin's Mills.' There he entered a homestead of 160 acres, and added to his land by purchase. He was en- gaged in farming and stock-raising there until 1879, at which date he became an occupant of a farm in Linn Township, this county. There was no town here then, the place being laid out in June, 1882. Our subject left his farm in 1884, and has since been a resident of the town, and has been engaged principally in the grain business. On the 1st of August, 1889, the firm of Gilbert & Weeke rented their elevator for one year to Miller, Douglas & Co., of Clifton, this county.

Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage, Dec. 23, 1859, with Miss Lovina Swarts, She was a daugh-

ter of John and Catherine (Cline) Swarts. ller father is deceased, and her mother is now living in Sandusky County, Ohio, at the advanced age of seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Cline were the parents of ten children, of whom the following seven survive: May A., Inez J., Lulu B., LeRoy, Alftruda, Marvin, and Edna. Of the other chil- dren, John died in San Diego County, Cal., at the age of twenty-four; Talba M. died at the age of eighteen ; and William T. in his fourteenth year. Mrs. Gilbert departed this life April 5, 1887.

During the late Civil War, Mr. Gilbert was en- rolled in the 100 days' service as a member of Com- pany B, 169th Ohio Infantry, and spent most of his time on guard duty. He takes but little interest in politics, but is a stanch Republican in his belief. He never seeks office, but has been induced to ac- cept that of Justice of the Peace, in which he is serving acceptahly. Mr. Gilbert is one of the most prominent citizens of Linn, where he is much es- teemed for his business abilities, intelligence and excellent principles.

ILLIAM MCFADDEN, late of Sherman Township, came to Riley County in 1870, and homesteaded eighty acres of land on section 4, which he doubled in due time and labored thereon until his decease, which occurred on the 25th of June, 1886. He was a peaceable and law- abiding citizen, honest and upright, a stanch Demo- crat, politically, and a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity.

The subject of this sketch was born in Cecil County, Md., Feb. 7, 1821, and is the son of John McFadden, who was of Irish extraction. The lat- ter, after coming to America, settled in Maryland, but subsequently removed to Ohio during its pio- neer days, opened up a farm from the wilderness, and there spent the remainder of his life. He was a man respected by his fellow-citizens, and a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. His wife Martha was a native of Maryland, who died in Ohio when ripe in years. There were born to them eight chil . dren-Hugh. John, Robert, Joseph, Ann, Margaret, William, and George,

562

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

William McFadden was the seventh child of his parents, and lived with them on the farm in Ohio until a lad of fourteen years. From that time un- til twenty years old, he was employed in freighting mostly on his own account. About 1842, soon af- ter reaching his majority, he engaged in mercan- tile business at Dundee, Ohio, which he followed twenty-eight years, and until his removal to Kan- sas. In the meantime he was married March 9, 1848, to Miss Susanna Shanks. This lady was born in Ohio, July 25, 1826. and is a daughter of .James and Christina (Helwig) Shanks, who were respec- tively, of French and Scotch extraction. Mr. Shanks was one of the early settlers of the Buckeye State, where he pursued his trade of tanner, and died at the advanced age of seventy-five years; his estimable wife was a member of the Lutheran Church, and lived to be eighty-six years old. To Mr. and Mrs. McFadden were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, named respectively : Oliver, C. Roberts, William Frank, Emma. (Mrs. Alfred Randolph). living in California; Flora, Jolin, Edward, and Harry. All the boys are living in California, except Harry, who resides with his mother.

OSEPII BOWMAKER, SR. The subject of this notice owns and occupies one of the finest farms within the limits of Washington County. It comprises 230 acres of well- improved land located on sections 13 and 18. well watered and very fertile. Of this, 160 acres was a preemption claim, taken in 1860, and joined to a homestead claim taken in 1864. Under the careful management of Mr. Bowmaker it has been brought to a high state of cultivation and is embellished with substantial buildings, together with fruit and forest trees. An orchard of 200 apple trees in good bearing condition is among not the least of its attractions. An idcal home has here been built up which, without ostentation, forms a most pleas- ant retreat, the family heing surrounded with all the conveniencies and comforts of modern life.

The subject of this sketch came to Kansas as early as 1860, while it was still a territory, from Stevenson County, Ill. He had located in the

Prairie State in 1846, taking up a tract of Govern- ment land, from which he improved a farm, which he sold upon resolving to seek the farther West. Ile made the journey to this State with two yoke of oxen, being two months on the way, camping out wherever night overtook him and cooking by the way-side. He made it a point to halt on the Sabbath-day, resting himself and his cattle. Ar- riving in Kansas, he began life amid a country iu- fested with Indians and wild animals, his farm being a favorite camping-ground for the red man. They were usually friendly until after the outbreak of the war, and Mr. Bowmaker claims that even then the whites provoked them to a state of hostil- ity. Herds of buffaloes still roamed over the plains. and Mr. Bowmaker killed a great many of these. drying the first year more than 3,000 pounds of buffalo meat. Ile killed a part of these on his own farm. He was obliged to go to Ft. Riley, fifty miles away, for his mail, and to St. Joseph, 160 miles away, to market his produce. He has thus been the witness of the extraordinary change which has passed over the country since first coming here, and forms one of those interesting links between the past and the present, from whom both old and young may learn.

A native of the kingdom of Prussia, our subject was born Dec. 24, 1819, and comes of pure German ancestry. Ilis father, Henry Bowmaker, spent his entire life upon his native soil of Prussia and died at the age of fifty-six years. The mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Blossberry, died when past threescore years. The paternal grandfather, Peter Bowmaker, lived to the great age of one hun- dred and nine years and six months. He was for thirty years a soldier of the German army.

Joseph Bowmaker was the second child of his parents, whose family consisted of two sons and one daughter. His sister, Christina, is now the wife of Frank llerman and lives on a farm in her native province. His brother Jacob from early manhood has been a railroad official and now re- ceives a pension for services rendered. Joseph was reared to man's estate in his birthplace, and is the only one of the family who came to America. Prior to making the voyage he was married to Miss Elizabeth Funk, who was born and reared not

FARM RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH BOWMAKER SR. , SEC.13. CLIFTON TP, WASHINGTON CO.

TENANT HOUSE ON SEC. 9.

FARM RESIDENCE OF I. C. SHERMAN, SEC. 19.& 30, CLIFTON TP, WASHINGTON CO

565

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

far from the early home of her husband and who became the mother of one child in Germany. Later the household circle was enlarged by the birth of seven more children. Joseph. the eldest of these, is married and lives on a farm in Sheridan Township, Kan .; Mattie is the wife of Matthew Kingsley, a farmer of Sheridan Township; Eliza- beth is the wife of James Kingsley, likewise of that township; Jacob, Frank, Peter and Henry are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Bowmaker and all their children are members of the German Catholic Church at Clifton, which Mr. Bowmaker assisted in organizing. Politically our subject belongs to the Democratic party, while his sons are all Republicans. He has very little to do with public affairs, being content to follow his le- gitimate business and leave the offices to some one who would probably be less successful than himself as a farmer.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 68

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

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