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 95

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 95
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 95
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 95

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).

Thomas P. Wells was married three times. His first wife and the mother of our subject, was Sarah E. Clarke, who was born in Rhode Island, June 10, 1814, and was, like her husband, of English de- scent. She died June 16, 1834, being but a few days past twenty years of age, and leaving two children, our subject, who was but two years old, being the first born ; Frances E. is living in Roch- ester, Pa .; she has been married twice, her first husband, Samuel J. Cross, having died a number of years ago, and her second husband, John Davis, quite recently. She is the mother of six living children.

The second wife of Mr. Wells, with whom he was united March 22, 1836, was Miss Clarissa C. Sher- man. She died in 1845, leaving two children : George II., born April 21, 1837, and Theodore B., born Feb. 2, 1840. George is a member of the wholesale grocery firm of John S. Gould & Co., Chicago. He married Miss Dora Wright. and they have five living children. Theodore is Secretary of the Chicago Gas Trust Company. He married Miss Mary Johnson and they have one son.

The third wife of T. P. Wells was Miss Julia E. Johnson, a native of Connecticut, and the rites of wedlock were celebrated between them Sept. 31, 1848. The union resulted in the birth of two chil- dren: Ilerbert J., born July 13, 1850, and Helen M., born Nov. 3, 1861. Herbert resides in King- ston, R. I., and is President of the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company. He married Miss Emily Perry; they have five children. Helen is unmarried and lives with her mother in Kingston, R. I.

The subject of this sketeh was born in Hopkinton, R. I., April 26, 1832, his early years being spent in South Kingston, where he received a good com- mon-school education, which was supplemented by . a two-years' course at the East Greenwich Acad- emy. With an excellent English education Mr. Wells has kept pace with his opportunities in in

For Mr. White

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tellectual development. After leaving school he worked in a printing office two years, at the ex- piration of that time leaving his native State for Kansas. As has been before noted, he spent a few months in Pottawatomie County, and then identified himself with the citizens of Riley County. Ile took up 160 acres of land in Manhattan Town- ship, upon which he remained ten years, and then selling out bought fifty acres on section 1, three miles northwest of the town of Manhattan, which he has since operated as a fruit and dairy farm. The place is carefully and profitably cultivated, and contains adequate improvements. The resi- dence is a pleasant and comfortable one, where genial hospitality, good cheer, and refined pleas- ures abound. A carefully selected library of sev- eral hundred volumes furnish Mr. and Mrs. Wells an intercourse with the master minds of several centuries, while the best of current literature affords them a broad outlook over the world's affairs, and an understanding of the latest theories and devel- opments in science and art.

The marriage of Mr. Wells was celebrated in Manhattan Township, Oct. 30, 1856, the bride be- ing Miss Eleanor S. Bemis, daughter of Ezra and Lavinia (Woolson) Bemis.

Of anti-slavery principles, Mr. Wells has been and is a stanch Republican, though not an office- holder nor a seeker for public honors. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, and he, like three generations of ancestors, is a Deacon and is actively identified with church and Sunday-school work.

D R. MARSENAS WHITE. This gentleman has been for nearly twenty years a suc- cessful practitioner in the Eclectic School of medicine, and is well-known in Riley County, not only as a physician but as a land owner, having been possessor of as much as 1,400 acres. llaving given to each of his married chil- dren farms of from eighty to 120 acres each, the same extending up and down the Mill Creek Valley for six miles, he has now but 320 acres in his per- sonal possession. Increasing age has led Dr. White

to seek a more quiet life than his practice for many years allowed him, and he now answers only urgent day calls, endeavoring to entirely abandon profes- sional work. Having many years ago to handle a great many horses and cattle, Dr. White made a study of their diseases and for some time practiced as a veterinary surgeon. He afterward began reading medicine with a view to caring for the health of his own family, and being the only man for miles about who had any knowledge of that science he was called upon by those whose friends were ill, and in this way drifted into the work which he followed successfully for many years.

Dr. White is of English descent through both his paternal and maternal line. His father, Josiah White, was born in North Carolina and at an early day settled in Indiana among the Indians, follow- ing farming until about forty years old, and being engaged in shoe making the balance of his life. He married Miss Hannah Marshall of Tennessee, who bore him six children. Isaac M. died in Indiana about thirty-five years ago, leaving a widow, formerly Miss Mary Thomas, and three children. lle was an engineer and followed build- ing and repairing saw-mills. His widow subse- quently married again. Emily died at the age of twenty years unmarried. Phineas A., died in Marshall County, Ind., on Christmas Day, 1888, his wife, Miss Debby Robinson, having departed this life several years previously, and eight chil- dren were left to mourn their loss. lle was an engineer in the earlier years of his life and during his later years was a farmer. Lavina is the wife of E. B. Stevens and the mother of seven children, her home being in Los Angeles, Cal. Minerva A. died in Grant Township, this county, in 1881; she was the wife of Zachariah Williams, and left five children. The maternal grandparents of Dr. White died before his birth, while his paternal grand- mother lived to be nearly ninety years of age.

Dr. White was the recipient of the advantages which could be obtained at subscription schools in his boyhood, and his early education was somewhat limited, he being reared on a farm and having the usual experience of a farmer's son in a new coun- try. llis boyhood's home was in Jackson County, Ind., where his birth had taken place on Christmas

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Day, 1830. His mother died in 1847, and he shortly afterward left home and started in life for himself with a money capital of twenty-five cents. He worked by the month as a farm hand until his marriage in 1851, three years after which he re- moved from Indiana to Clay County, Ill., where he purchased 160 acres of land and cultivated the same until 1856, when he sold and the spring fol- lowing came to this county. He settled on Mill Creek in Grant Township, there being but three families besides his own in Mill Creek Valley. These were the families of Messrs. Condray, Cress, and Jesse White, the latter of whom had arrived just a week before our subject.

The removal of Dr. White's family had been by ox team from the Hoosier State and by the same medium, supplies were hanled from Leavenworth. To the west of his home lay the unsettled wilder- ness with Indians roaming over its surface, and there was no assurance that they would remain peaceful. The first location of the Doctor was sold by him a year after the settlement and bie then bought 160 acres on section 64, which forms a part of his present estate, at the same time purchasing a quarter section in Pottawatomie County, which he soon afterward sold, since which time he has by various purchases, increased his landed estate to the acreage above noted, from which he has been enabled to present his children with comfortable holdings. He had two visitations of grasshoppers during his first season in Kansas, all his growing corn being destroyed by them, but success has at- tended his efforts in life notwithstanding bis carly discouragements. His fine two-story stone resi- dence is attractively located on Mill Creek, three miles above Stockdale, and the 320 acres which sur- round it are thoroughly and intelligently cultivated and cared for, the management of the same being now in the hands of his son, Alexander.

At the home of the bride in Jackson County, Ind., Aug. 17, 1851, Dr. White was united in mar- riage with Miss Rachael, daughter of William and Susan Stanfield, who were natives of North Caro- lina and Kentucky respectively. The estimable bride was born in the Hoosier State, where she was reared and educated, growing to a useful and hon- ored womanhood. Nine children have been born

to Dr. and Mrs. White. three still remaining under the parental roof and the others having homes within a few miles. Mordecai W. married Helen Shumway and they have one child. Joseph A. mar- ried Anna A. Gaten and has three children. Perry O. married Emily Anderson, and has three children. George W. married Elizabeth Summer and is the father of one child. Mary A. married Francis E. Crowell, and is the mother of three children. Alexander is unmarried and has active supervision of the home farm, besides making regular trips to Kansas City, where he buys cattle for feeding and fattening on the farm. He is now feeding over 200 head. He has a fair English education and fine business capacity, and at the age of twenty-one ranks among the successful stockmen of the section, having bought, fed, and sold cattle since sixteen years of age. Elizabeth, aged sixteen, and Emma J. aged eleven, are at home and attending school.

Dr. White served for many years as a Justice of the Peace, and has been Township Trustee and a member of the School Board. He has for many years been a Republican and in National affairs still casts his vote with that party, while in local matters he votes for the candidate whom he con- siders fittest for the position, irrespective of party lines. He has frequently served as Delegate to County Conventions. Both Dr. White and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and have high standing in that society. Dr. White is the possessor of keen business qualities as well as marked intelligence and an upright character, and for all these traits is entitled to the respect which he receives from his associates. His portrait oc- cupies another page of this volume.

C APT. JOHN M. ALLEN. After a vigorous manhood spent in accumulating a compe- tency, Capt. Allen is now enjoying the fruits of his labors, living retired from active business at a well-developed homestead on section 17, Zeandale Township, Riley County. IIe is numbered among the solid meu of his community, where he has been no unimportant factor in contributing to its welfare and prosperity. Ile comes of excellent stock, being

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the son of David and Cynthia (MeClung) Allen, natives of Columbiana County, Ohio. The parents, were reared and married in their native county, and there the mother died about 1823. David Allen subsequently took up his abode in Athens County, Ohio, where he spent his last days.

Two children only were born to David and Cyn- thia Allen, John M., being the younger. He is a uative of the same county as his parents and first opened his eyes to the light on the 6th of June, 1824. He was a mere boy at the time of his mother's death, and ten or twelve years old when his father changed his residence from Columbiana to Athens County. He sojourned in the latter until a youth of eighteen years, then returning to his old haunts was employed as a carpenter about seven years. In 1847 he set out for the farther West, and crossing the Mississippi, located in Clark County, Iowa. Ile followed his trade in the Hlawk- eye State one year, then returning to Ohio was married to a maiden of his own township, Miss Mary Ann Armstrong, the wedding taking place at the bride's home, Feb. 24, 1848. Mrs. Allen was born Feb. 12, 1824, and reared not far from the home of her husband. They lived there eight years after their marriage, then, in 1856, Mr. Allen returned to lowa, and settled in Louisa County. A few months later, however, they removed to Clark County, Mo., sojourning there about eleven months.

It will thus be seen that Mr. Allen traveled about considerably and had not yet found a place where he could make up his inind to locate permanently. In the fall of 1858 he came into the Territory of Kansas and took up 160 acres of land on section 17, Zeandale Township, in what is now Riley County, and set about the establishment of a home- stead. Notwithstanding the many drawbacks and diflienlties which he experienced in common with all the early settlers of this region, he has main- tained his residence here until the present time.

The farming operations of Mr. Allen were inter- rupted by the outbreak of the Civil War, and in August, 1862, laying aside his personal plans and interests he determined to have a hand in the pre- servation of the Union. Accordingly he enlisted in Company K, 11th Kansas Infantry, and after

serving a little over one year returned to his home in safety. In the meantime he was commissioned Captain of Company K, and was complimented with the commission of Major although not mus- tered in as such, He took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., and also encountered the com- mand of the confederate Gen. Price, on the Price raid, with whom they had a number of skirmishes, and was mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. Returning then to his farm he proceeded with its improve- ment and cultivation, and with the exception of three and one-half years. (when he officiated as I'nited States Pension Agent at Topeka) has since resided upon it. Politically, he affiliates with the Union Labor party. and with his good wife is prom- inently connected with the Christian Church. He belongs to Lew Gove Post, No. 100, G. A. R., and is also identified with LaFayette Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and the Chapter at Manhattan.

There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, three children, William O., Emma E. and Bennett A. Emma is the wife of Joseph E. Crowel, of Manhattan. The sons are at home with their parents. Capt. Allen rents his farm and receives therefrom a comfortable income.

ILLIAM DOUGLAS SKINNER is the owner of one of the best farms in Washing- ton County. It is located on sections 27 and 34, Haddam Township. It is supplied with native timber and the running water of Ilay Hol- low Branch. A comfortable dwelling 16x24 feet, together with stables and other outbuildings and neat fences, show the place to be under the man- agement of one ambitious to rank with the best of his class. Fifty of the eighty acres which comprise the estate, are kept under the plow. and an addi- tional forty is run by Mr. Skinner. His home is adorned by a grove and orchard, which afford a grateful shade to his flocks and herds, and palata- ble fruits for its owner's use. Mr. Skinner is en- gaged in stock-raising as well as farming, his principal erop being corn. He raises Clydesdale and Norman horses and Poland-China hogs.

Mr. Skinner is by birth a Hoosier, having first

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seen the light near Albion, Ind .. Feb. 10, 1859. His early boyhood was passed in that county from which the family removed when he was about eight years old, his father then settling in Nemaha County, Kan. Our subject remained on the home farm until the age of seventeen. From the time he was ten years old he did a man's work with a team, and in intervals of farm work improved the advantages offered by the common schools. When seventeen years old he began working out by the month. He remained in the employ of one man for three years, receiving from 82 to 86 a monthi more than other hands, and during the latter part of the time being left to run the business. After working three years he took the money which he had saved and attended Baker University for one year, after which he taught the district school for two years in Nemaha County, Kan. He then bought a farm of eighty acres in Nemaha County and en- gaged in farming. In the spring of 1881 be sold, and coming to this county located in Haddam City, in the butcher business. He conducted that business until the fall, when he traded for eighty acres of raw land. which he has cultivated and im- proved and brought to its present state of product- iveness. His own industry and prudence have been the levers by which he has made his way to so comfortable a financial standing.

The father of our subject is a prominent citizen of Nemaha County, where he is now living at the age of fifty-eight. He has held several offices since his residence there, and is now Township Clerk and Treasurer. He is a Union Labor man and active in the party ranks. He is identified with the Church of God, in which he is a prominent mem- ber. Ile was born in Ohio, and owned a small place there, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. lle removed from there to Noble County, Ind., where he was engaged in farming until the late war. In 1864 he enlisted in an Indi- ana regiment and served until the close of the con- fliet. In 1867 he came West and purchased 160 acres of raw land near Centralia, Nemaha County. There he has since resided, thoroughly improving his land, and is now quite well to do. His wife bore the maiden name of Antonett Soliday, and was a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was

born in the same State, but became one of the pio- neer settlers in Noble County, Ind. There he im- proved a farm, which he cultivated until 1882, at which date he removed to Labette County, this State. There he lived, in Oswego, retired from active life, until Aug. 21, 1889, when he departed this life at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. An- tonett Skinner died in Indiana, having borne her husband five children, as follows: Eva, now Mrs. McCutcheon, of Washington; Wealthy, now Mrs. Kilmer, living near Arnold, Neb .; Belle, now Mrs. Jacobs, of Ames, Kan .; W. D., of whom we write, and Anna, now Mrs. Kager, of Colorado.

William Douglas Skinner was married at the home of the bride, near Centralia, Nemaha County, March 22, 1881, to Miss Emma llawk. She was born in Iowa, her parents being Elias and Sarah (Lininger) Hawk, of whom and their ancestry, a brief sketch is appended below. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Skinner has been blessed by the birth of two interesting children, Floy and Ethel.

The paternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Skinner was Christian Hawk, a native of Canada and of German descent. Ile removed from his native country to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising, and where he died. During the war of 1812 he was a soldier in the American Army. Following him in the direct line came Jonathan, who was born in Dauphin County, Pa. He was engaged in farming in his native State, and was also a preacher in the Church of God. In 1847 he removed to Iowa by wagon, He entered land in Johnson County and there en- gaged in farming and preaching. He became quite well to do before his death, which took place in the fall of 1875. His wife was Catherine Marsh, a native of York County, Pa., and daughter of Jo- seph Marsh, a farmer of the Keystone State and of German descent. She died in Iowa, having borne thirteen children, seven of whom lived to years of maturity. Of them Anna passed from earth in 1875. Those still surviving are, Elias, Eliza, Catherine, Martha, Susannah and David.

Elias Hawk was born in Dauphin County, Pa., near Harrisburg, July 21, 1831. He was reared upon a farm and received the educational advant- ages of the common schools. He removed with

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his parents to Johnson County, lowa, when about sixteen years old, and remained under the parental roof until the age of twenty-four. Ile then en- gaged in farming for himself in Iowa and contin- ueed in that occupation until 1862. In August of that year he followed the promptings of his patri- otie spirit, and enlisted in Company E, 28th Iowa Infantry. He was mustered into service at Iowa City and immediately sent to the front. He took a gallant part in the battles of Port Gibson and Champion Hills, the siege of Vicksburg, and at Sabine Cross Roads, in 1864, together with numerous minor engagements and various hard marches. At the last-named battle he was wounded by a minie ball, which broke his left leg. Being left upon the field he was taken prisoner hy the Rebels and taken to Mansfield, where he re- mained until paroled. Ile was in the hospital un- til September, 1864, when he went home on a sick furlough. At the expiration of his leave he re- ported at Iowa City, and was discharged at Daven- port, in the winter of 1865.

After his return to the ranks of civil life Mr. Hawk again engaged in farming. He came to Nemaha County, Kan., in 1866, and homesteaded eighty acres near Centralia, which he improved and cultivated nutil 1888. He then sold and removed to this county, locating in Haddam City, where he purchased the property that he now occupies. He is now retired from active life. He is a straight Republican, a member of the G.A.R. in Haddam, and has served upon the petit jury. He was mar- ried in Johnson County, Iowa, to Miss Sarah A. Lininger, who was born in Cumberland County, Pa., of which county her father, Jacob Lininger, was also a native. She passed from earth in February. 1885. Her union with Elias Hawk resulted in the birth of seven children: Mary C., now Mrs. Jennings, of Ottawa County, Kan. ; Elizabeth A., now Mrs. Chick, of Haddam Township; Frances Emma, now Mrs. Skinner; Samuel D .; Grace L., now Mrs. Parker, of Colorado; Jonathan, of Haddam, and Cora V., who is yet at home.

Mr. Skinner holds high standing in the Protest- tant Methodist Church, of which he is an active member. He is a Steward and one of its Trustees, and assisted in the building of the church. At the

annual conference, held at Haddam, he was a dele- gate. For three years he held the office of Sunday- school Superintendent and is at present Assistant Superintendent. He votes the straight Republican tieket, and has been a delegate to County Conven- tions. He was formerly a member of the A.O.U.W. at Centralia. For three years he held the position of School Clerk. Ile stands well in the commu- nity and bids fair to become one of the leading citizens of the county.

ENRY KOHLMEIER. Among the prosper- ous and successful residents of Washing- ton County, high rank should be given to the gentleman above named, who is the owner of 265 acres on section 22, Strawberry Township. He and his wife have spent years in hard work and rigid economy. Their industry and frugality have been rewarded, and they are now possessed, not only of a fine landed estate well sup- plied with barns and other outbuildings, but of live stock and a good bank account.

Mr. Koblmeier was born in Hanover, Germany, Jan. 26, 1835, being a son of Joaquin Kohlmeier, who died in the Rhineland several years ago. In 1869, our subject with his family emigrated to the United States. He settled near Beecher, in Will Co., Ill., where he worked for a time as a hired hand. He then did ditching on highways and farms, working by contract. In May, 1872, he re- moved from that section to Kansas, and selected a location in this county. He filed on an abandoned homestead claim of 160 acres, which forms a part of his present estate. The land was raw prairie, with the exception of five acres that had been broken. A shed, consisting of poles set in the ground, and sided up with cottowood boards was on the place. Mr. Kohlmeier fixed up this "shack" and lived in it seven years. He had no money for building, or in any way improving his place, and for two years had neitlier team nor tools. He sod- ded the little house on the outside and papered it within, and it was neat as well as habitable. The third year of his residence he bought a yoke of oxen on time. The grasshoppers destroyed the first erop

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he raised with the team. In the fall he sowed twenty acres of wheat which yielded well, but again his corn was destroyed by the grasshoppers. Through such discouragements as this. he and his wife struggled on, and eventually overcame the hardships of their life. They were careful not to run in debt much, choosing present economy rather than future discomfort.

The wife of Mr. Kohlmeier is, like himself, a native of Hanover, Germany, where their marriage took place Jan. 25, 1853. They have been blessed by the birth of five children-Henry, Mary, Will- iam, Herman and Anna. Henry married Mary Fulker, and lives in this county, they have one child named Ernst; Mary married Charles Berk- mann, of this township, and they had one son, Ilerman, who is now deceased; the three remaining children of our subject, are living at home.

Mr. Kohlmeier and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and of high standing in that body. He never seeks office, but in a quiet way pursues his duties as a citizen. Among the citizens of the community, and especially those of their own nationality, Mr. and Mrs. Kolilmeier are re- garded with respect.

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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 95

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

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