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 92

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 92
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 92
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 92

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Our subject was born in Washington, D. C., Oct. 15, 1825, and is the son of David Smallwood, who was a native of Loudoun County, Va .. where he was reared on a farm. In 1824 he took up his abode in Washington, D. C., where he rented a tract of land, which he farmed till 1845. In that year he moved to Ohio, and casting in his lot with the pioneers of Marion County, he bought a tract of 120 acres of timber land, paying therefor $3 an acre. The village of Bloomington was afterward laid out near by and a quarter of his land was inelnded in the town site. Ile first erected a story and a half log house on the place for a dwelling and then pro- ceededto clear his land. The country abont there was sparsely settled, and there were no railroads nearer than Kenton, Ilardin County, which was also the nearest market and depot for supplies. He put eighty acres of his farm under excellent cultivation and fenced it, and had built up a comfortable home when death elosed his busy career, he being killed by being thrown from a horse, in 1860. The maiden name of the mother of subject was Sarah Montgomery. She was born in Loudoun County, Va., and is a daughter of James Montgomery. who was born in Ireland, of Scotch parentage. He was a farmer and spent his last years in Loudoun County, engaged at his occupation. The mother of our sub- ject did not long survive the father, dying in Marion

County, Ohio, one year after his demise. They were the parents of eight sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to maturity.

The Rev. William Smallwood was the fourth child and third son of his parents. He was reared in the District of Columbia. and being naturally of a thoughtful, studious turn of mind, he was am- bitious to obtain an education, and by hard work attained his object. After his removal to Ohio. he utilized his education by entering the teacher's pro- fession, and was successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools for many years. In 1867 he turned his attention to the mercantile business in Bloomington, Ohio, and while conduct- ing that, taught a select school, besides acting as station agent. In 1872 he sold his interests in that city, and coming to Kansas, located in Washington Township, he and his brother Isaac buying 400 acres of land in what is now Charlestown Township. 240 acres of it being school land, for which they paid 83 an acre, and the remainder was bought as a homestead claim. Since coming to Kansas, Mr. Smallwood taught eight terms of school, some of them being six months in length. In 1887 he sold the last of his interest in the farm in Charlestown Township, which he and his brother had placed under excellent cultivation, and he then bought the farm where he now resides on sec- tion 34, Washington Township. This is well im- proved, admirably tilled, and is the seat of a pleas- ant home. Mr. Smallwood also owns a good farm of 320 acres three miles southeast of Oberlin, in Decatur County, Kan.

Our subject was converted at the age of fifteen and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He became an exhorter at that youthful age, and when but nineteen became a licensed preacher. After marriage his religious views underwent a change in some respects, and he joined the Baptist Church, and entered the ministry of that denomi- nation, and was regularly ordained after his re- moval to Washington County. Ilis first pastorate was with the Blue Valley and Republican As- sociation. Hle subsequently organized the Eureka Baptist Society, which was consolidated with the Washington Society. Ile is very zealous in the cause of religion and has done much good work in

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his endeavors to elevate the social and moral status of the communities with which he has been connected.

The Rev. Mr. Smallwood and Miss Mary Carren were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, Oct. 30, 1845. and she has been to him a true helper, deeply sympathizing with him in his work. She born in Delaware County, Ohio, a daughter of Robert and Susan (Willey) Carren. Of her happy wedded life with our subject three children have been born: Hannah R., who married W. W Lea- them of Charlestown Township, and has two child_ ren-Dennis E. and Dallas ; Mary E., wife of An- drew Beach, who died, leaving one child, Mary, who is also dead ; Alice S., who is the wife of Philip Arnold of Charlestown, and is the mother of three children-William D., Adella and Isaac.

Our subject is the true type of the self-made, self-educated men of our country, possessing much natural ability. Ile has taken advantage of every opportunity to make his way upward, and no one in this community has a higher standing as a man and as a citizen than he. A man of earnest piety. and of personal force, his manner and words are convincing to the hearts of his hearers and he is therefore very successful in his pulpit ministrations and as a pastor generally, as in his relation with his people and with all who come under his influence, he is sympathetic and tender, and is ever ready to respond to any call for his services, and in him the suffering and the sorrowing find a true friend : his life is an example of his teachings.

RANCIS WILLOUGHBY. The main points in the history of the subject of this notice, who has recently become a resident of Clay Center, Clay County, are as follows: He was born April 6, 1842, in Hagerstown, Ohio, and is the son of lfenry and Susan (Ferrier) Willoughby, whose family consisted of eight children, Francis being next to the youngest. The eldest, a daugh- ter, Elizabeth, is the wife of William Sickles, a farmer of Steuben County, Ind .; William, a resi- dent of Hardin County, Iowa, is married and the father of nine children; Andrew married Ellen

Carlin and lives in Steuben County, Ind .; James during the Civil War enlisted 'in Company C, 100th Indiana Infantry, and was fatally wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro. Tenn .; he left a widow-Mrs. May (Arnold) Willoughby-and one child. Henry, nnmarried was a member of Com- pany C. 34th Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro; Jane married Charles Lewis and they live on a farm in Grand Rapids County. Mich .; Cassie was first married to Jeremiah Dilling- ham, who belonged to the 29th Indiana Infantry. and died from the effects of exposure while in the service. She was then married a second time, and is now a second time a widow.

Mr. Willoughby was ten months old, when his parents removed from his native place and settled in Williams County, Ohio. A few years afterward they again changed their location. going to Steuben County, Ind., where they sojourned several years and until their son Francis had developed into man- hood, the father died there.

In July, 1861, under the first call for two year's men, Mr. Willoughby enlisted in Company A, 29th Indiana Infantry, and participated in a number of important battles, being at Shiloh, Pittsburg Land- ing. the siege of Corinth and the battle of Stone River. He served until the expiration of his term of enlistment, then receiving an honorable discharge returned to Indiana. During the winter of 1863, while the 129th Indiana Regiment was being or- ganized, he re-enlisted in Company A, and remained with his regiment until it was mustered out of service in September, 1865. While a inember of this regiment he participated in the Atlanta campaign, beginning at Buzzard's Roost and Rock Face Ridge, Ga .. and ending with the fall of Atlanta. He fought during the second day of the battle at Resaca and was at Kenesaw and Lost mountains and in the trenches at the Chatta- hoochie River. He was in and around Atlanta until its evacuation by Gen. Hood. Subsequently he started with Sherman to the sea, his regiment being assigned to the command of Gen. Thomas, and did some hard fighting at Franklin, November 30. In the two day's battle there, Thomas drove Hood from before Nashville. December 15 and 16. The reg- iment was then transferred via Washington, D. C ..

I& Hhoward

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to North Carolina and participated in the battle of Bentonville where the Federal forces defeated the rebels under Gen. Bragg. Upon the close of the war Mr. Willoughby received his honorable dis- charge and returned to Steuben County, Ind.

The marriage of Francis Willoughby and Miss Theresa Wisner was celebrated at the bride's home Nov. 3, 1866. The father of Mrs. Willoughby was Samuel Wisner who, with his wife Elizabeth, is now dead. This union resulted in the birth of four children, viz; Archie, Jennie and Callie, who are at home with their parents and one who died in infaney unnamed. In the spring of 1871 Mr. Willoughby set out for Kansas with his family, arriving in Riley County, April 18, and settling on a tract of land two and one-half miles north of Riley Center. This comprised 160 aeres upon which he lived eight years. Hc then removed to Wild Cat Township, of which he was a resi- dent three years. About 1881 Mr. Willoughby went to what was then Washington Territory, and settled west of the Cascade Range where he op- erated a sawmill until he sold out. Ile returned to Kansas in April, 1886, and subsequently operated on rented land. In the early part of 1889 he pur- chased a livery stable in Clay Center, which he is now conducting. Politically, Mr. Willoughby was formerly a Republican, but is now in sympathy with the Union Labor party. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. at Washington. Al- though not enjoying the advantages of a collegiate education, Mr. Willoughby is well informed, keep- ing himself posted upon the leading events of the day. He is a man respected by his neighbors, and one who has made his own way in the world with- out assistance.

C YRUS G. HOWARD. This gentleman was a resident of Kansas during the troublous days of the '50's, when Anti and Pro- slavery men contested hotly with voice, and often with physical force, for the control of the territory within its bounds. As an Anti-slavery man and a friend of John Brown, Mr. Howard's knowledge and experience are much wider than could be given within the limits of our sketch, even were he one of

those who dilate upon their own exploits. Though not so fluent in narrating his personal share in those stirring events as many would be, enough is known to show that he bore a prominent part in making of Kansas a free State, and that the blood of patriotic ancestors which flows through his veins, has in no wise deteriorated since " We the people of the United States" set up our own Government.

Mr. Howard is a son of Joel and Luey ( Marsh) Howard, natives of Vermont, and his ancestry were among the early English settlers of Massachu- setts, where his grandfathers-Solomon Howard and John Marsh-were born. His paternal grand- father entered the Revolutionary army at the age of fifteen, serving as a drummer boy. He lived to to be eighty-five years of age, dying in 1840.

Joel Howard, the father of our subjeet, partici- pated in the War of 1812, being engaged in the service on the border and in Canada. He made one of the land force that participated in the battle of Lake Champlain, when Commodore MeDonough won his victory over the British. He died in Wallingford. Vt., in 1873, at the age of seventy-five years, and his second wife, who was born in 1811, is still sur- viving in that city. As the widow of a soldier of the War of 1812, she now draws a pension from the United States Government. Mr. Howard was a stone and brick mason, and assisted in building the stone work of the bridges on the line of the railroad running from Boston to Quincy, Mass., that heing the first railroad construeted in the United States.

Mrs. Lucy Howard, the mother of our subject, died at the age of twenty-seven years, having borne three children. Luey married Jacob Hale, who died in 1870. The widow departed this life in 1888, in Manhattan, Kan., being then sixty-nine years of age. Joel died at the age of fifty-three years, at Athol, Mass., where he had been engaged at his trade of a tanner; he was twice married but left no children. Cyrus H. completes the trio.

The union of Joel Howard with Dulcinea Rhodes, his second wife, resulted in the birth of four chil- dren, Lafayette, Jonathan, Hollis and Charles. Lafayette resides with his wife and family in Bos- ton, Mass., and is engaged in the livery business. Jonathan is a special policeman in the same city, is

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married, but has no children. Hollis, who enjoys the distinction of being over six feet tall, and weighing nearly 400 pounds, is engaged in the dry goods commission business in the Hub.

The subject of this sketch was born in Andover, Vt., May 5, 1823, and after the death of his mother, which took place in Londonderry, when he was but four years old, he with his brother and sister were put out for their youthful rearing. Young Cyrus went to school about two months in the winter, and worked on a farm the remainder of each year, from the time when his age would allow until he was twenty-one. He then spent two years at tanning, after which he went to Boston and clerked three years in a dry goods jobbing house. The succeeding five years were spent by him as a clerk in a wholesale dry goods establishment.

In 1855, Mr. Howard came to Kansas under the auspices of the New England Aid Society, being a member of Dr. Robinson's second company. He took up 160 acres of land two miles southeast of Topeka, it being now the site of Highland Park, and there remained sixteen years. In 1872 he moved to Manhattan, on account of the college here, that he might better educate his children. He purchased ten acres of land south of the Agricul- tural College grounds, where he still resides, cul- tivating his acres as an orchard farm. He has over 400 fruit trees, principally apple, cherry and pear, and has also a large number of bearing grape- vines.

The Free-State men used to meet at the home of Mr. Howard for conference, and frequent cancuses were held there. The place, overlooking Topeka, afforded an excellent post of observation in the days when border ruffians were abroad in the land, and Anti-slavery sentiments were promulgated at great risk to the personal safety of their holders. During the session of the first Free-State Legisla- ture, John Brown made his headquarters at Mr. Howard's home, and he and his followers held fre- quent consultations under his roof. In the fall of 1855. when the border ruffians made a raid on the city of Lawrence, Mr. Howard went to the assist- ance of the Anti-slavery residents there. During the late Civil War, when the Kansas militia was or- ganized. he became a member of the second regi-

ment, and participated in the batttle of the Big Blue, or Westport, Mo., where he was taken pri- soner by Price's men. and carried to the south- western part of Missouri, where he was paroled.

In Springfield, Vt., March 10, 1847, Mr. Howard celebrated his marriage with Miss Nancy, daughter of Silas Kneeland, a noble-hearted lady, who has been his encouraging and helpful companion during his more exciting life, and his chief joy in quiet hours. The following children were born to them: Darius, Walter C., Jasper M., Arthur and Giles P. Darius was born in Boston, Mass., and died when two and a half years old. Walter C. married Miss Catherine Moore, and is now located at Harvard, Ill., being a minister of the Methodist Church and a member of the Rock River Confer- ence. Jasper is principal of the College Hill Pub- lic School, in Topeka. He married Miss Vernelia Yarrington and they have three children. Giles P. is a physician, and resides in Herington, Kan .; he married Miss Laura Gregg who has borne him one child.

Mr. Howard served as a school Director while a resident of Shawnee County. In his earlier life he was an Anti-slavery Whig, and cast his vote for James G. Birney, for President in 1844. After the organization of the Republican party he entered its ranks, but is now a Prohibitionist. He and his wife are honored members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

0 LOF FRANK, Treasurer of Ilayes Town- ship, Clay County, is now serving his third term in that office. He has also served as School Treasurer of district No. 38, for eleven years, and both he and his wife are active mem- bers of society, and widely respected for their many virtues and sterling qualities.

Mr. Frank is the second eldest son in a family born to Olof and Christina Frank, of Sweden, where his mother is still living, his father having been gathered to his fathers some years since. He served in the Swedish Army for thirty years as an officer. The natal day of our subject was Jan. 15, 1848, and he grew to manliood on a farm in

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Sweden, receiving a good education in his native tongue, and since coming to America has acquired a sufficient knowledge of English, to enable him to transact his business affairs with the English- speaking citizens and to keep himself well informed regarding the affairs of his adopted country. Soon after becoming of age. Mr. Frank took passage at Stockholm for Copenhagen, thence embarking on a steamer for America, and twenty days after leav- ing the first named city, arrived in the American metropolis.

This was in the spring of 1869, and going at once to Henry County, Ill., he labored as a farm hand for two months, and then came to this county, where, with the exception of two years spent in Colorado, he has since resided. He homesteaded a quarter of section 7, Hayes Township, when deer and antelope were plenty in the vicinity, and the land has been reclaimed from its primitive condi- tion to one of excellent cultivation and improve- ment. As early pioneers of the township, Mr. and Mrs. Frank have borne their share in the scenes of its development, and since their marriage she has ever assisted him with her counsel and in her own department of the labors of life.

The wife of Mr. Frank bore the maiden name of Carrie Danielson, and was born in Knox County, Ill., Dec. 10. 1856. She had scarcely more than entered her teens when her parents removed to this State, and her education was completed princi- pally at Clay Center, after which, for a time, she engaged in school teaching. She is a daughter of Daniel and Martha Danielson, who emigrated to America from Sweden in 1845, making their first settlement in Illinois, whence in 1870 they re- moved to this county. Ilere they resided until 1881, when they changed their residence to Repub- lie County, where they are now living. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are well-known as pioneers in this section of Kansas and as worthy members of society. The marriage rites were celebrated between Mr. and Mrs. Frank, April 19, 1874, and two children have been born of their union. Frederick E. was born Dec. 30. 1874, and Centennial, May 19, 1876.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church and bear a prominent part in the

good works of society. Intelligent and public- spirited, as well as enterprising in the accumulation and management of their property, and possessing the cordial spirit and hospitality of their ancestral race, they are justly deserving the reputation they bear.

L AWRENCE SEWELL, who is now serving his third term as Trustee in Hayes Town- ship, Clay County, is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, and was born Dec. 24, 1846. He is a son of Aaron and Tamson (Lawrence) Sewell, his mother being now deceased and his father liv- ing in Huntington County, Ind. Aaron Sewell was a native of Ohio. to which State his parents removed from Virginia, and the family is supposed to be of English descent. When our subjeet was an infant two years old, his parents moved to the Hoosier State, being among the early settlers in Huntington County, and Indians have frequently remained over night under their roof. The father purehased one-half of section 9 of Indian land, of the White Loon Reservation, where our subject was reared to manhood amid the scenes of pioneer life. The parental family comprised eleven chil- dren, six being now alive. Amanda is the widow of John Wallace, of Marshall County, Ind .; Samantha is the wife of William Kyle, of the same county; the home of Priscilla is in Huntington County, Ind .; Edwin lives in this State; Mulford is a passenger conductor on the Chicago & Atlantie Railroad, between Chicago and Marion, Ohio.

Lawrence, of whom we write, lost his mother when eight years old. He received his education in the public and High-school of Roanoke, Ind., and subsequently taught three terms. He remained in the Hoosier State until 1880, in which year he moved to this county and settled on section 14, Hayes Township, where he has ever since resided. He owns 144 acres of land which are under most excellent cultivation, and the buildings upon which are adequate and substantial. There were virtually no improvements upon the land when he took possession of it, and it has been brought to its present state by his energy and perseverance.

The marriage of Mr. Sewell took place in Indi-

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ana. June 23, 1870, the lady whom he had chosen for his companion being Miss Maggie, daughter of James and Delila MeCoy. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children: Otis, who was born May 25, 1871; Carrie T., Feb. 6, 1873; and Myrtle G., Sept. 4, 1883. They are being reared to useful maturity and receiving all the edu- tional advantages possible.

Mr. Sewell is of Republican politics, firmly be- lieving the principles of that party to be best adapted to the needs of the country. That he fills the office of Trustee with credit to himself and his constituents, is proven by his continuance in that position. He is a man of upright character, a reliable and public-spirited citizen, a kind husband, father and neighbor, and as such holds an honored position in the regard of his fellow-citizens, his wife being, like himself, highly esteemed by them.

E UGENE F. FAULK. The life history of the subject of this notice is one abounding with incidents of more than ordinary interest. He has long been a resident of Grant Township, Wash- ington County, and is one of its best known and most highly respected citizens. At the outset we find that he was born in Wayne County, Mich., June 14, 1852, and is the son of Lorenzo and Charity (Smith) Faulk. When but two years old Eugene went with his mother to Fayette County, Iowa, where he lived for sixteen years, receiving such education as was afforded by the common schools of that time and place. In the meantime he had lived with his grandfather until a lad of ten and was then thrown upon his own resources and obliged to look out for himself. He worked on a farm and clerked in his uncle's store in Iowa and was variously employed until reaching man's estate and thereafter followed farming principally. He re- mained a resident of lowa until the spring of 1871. and on the 7th of April, that year, was married to Miss Ellen A., daughter of Silas and Antoinette (Shoemaker) Chapman. Mr. Chapman was a native of New York State, while his wife was born in Pennsylvania. The father died in Iowa; the mother is yet living in that State. In May following, the |

newly wedded pair started for Kansas. coming through with neighbors, not having any team of their own. Mr. Faulk drove a herd of cattle and his wife drove a team. They arrived in Washing- ton County on the 16th of June, following the birthday of Mr. Faulk, who was then eighteen years old. They stopped the first week with G. W. Bird, of Washington, paying 84 per week for board. Mr. Faulk had then only $4.50 and had nothing with which to carry on a farm, as he desired. 'The next best thing he could do was to go to work, which he did on a farm in the employ of Frank Pursley.

The second week after his arrival in Washington County Mr. Faulk homesteaded his present farın, paying out $2.50 of his capital. With the balance he and his wife commenced housekeeping. After a time he hired some breaking. In the latter part of July, six months after filing his claim, being about to lose it on account of having no money, a friend loaned him $20 at a time when money was so scarce that it took two years to earn enough by his labor so that he could pay it back. Most every- body at that time paid their debts in produce.

The first dwelling occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Faulk was a dugout, a hole in the ground, which was covered over with dirt and had no doors or windows. In this they lived five years. They spent the winter of 1855 in lowa. Upon the spot where their old dugout once was, there is now a cotton- wood tree with a circumference of five feet and four inches eighteen inches from he ground It was about two inches in diameter when set out twelve years ago and was planted in the bottom of the dugout which was about six feet deep.

The first farming which Mr. Faulk attempted to do for himself, was in 1873 with a yoke of Cherokee steers, which he had secured in exchange for a yoke of oxen obtained the year before in order to have twenty acres broken. Owing to the irresponsibility of the man employed, however, he only had seven- teen acres broken. During the first three or four years he was obliged to work out, and during the whole of the first winter was withont boots or shoes. Ile and his young wife, then a girl of seventeen and he a young man of nineteen, lived in their dugout when their first chikl was born, and upon

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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 92

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

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