USA > Kansas > Portrait and biographical record of southeastern Kansas, containing biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States and the governors of the state of Kansas > Part 13
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
The capital stock of the bank is $50,000, and the surplus $10,000, the entire capital being intact. The location of the bank is central, the building occupying the southwest corner of the public square. The interior furnishings are appropriate and substantial, and the safe is one of the most modern styles, having a time lock and all the latest improvements. To an unusual degree the bank enjoys the confidence of its enstomers, and
170
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
during the financial stringency of 1893, when in every part of the United States banks were sus- pending business, the First National of Girard honored every demand made upon it. This was the first National bank organized in Crawford County, and although others have been established since, none have gained the popularity and the substantial success of this.
The Cashier of the bank, J. T. Leonard, was born in Beardstown, Ill., January 12, 1854. llis father, E. B. Leonard, likewise a native of Cass County, Ill., is at present engaged in the mercan- tile business at Joplin, Mo. In his boyhood our subject was a student in the common schools of Beardstown, where he acquired a fair education. At the age of fifteen he became a surveyor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and con- tinued thus engaged for two years. In 1872 he came to Kansas, and locating in Girard, became a clerk in the employ of H. P. Grund, with whom he remained until the fall of 1878. He then formed a partnership with G. D. Kincaid, and for a time conducted a general mercantile business.
In 1877 Mr. Leonard became Casher of the Merchants' & Farmers' Bank, and continued in that capacity for one year. He did not, however, abandon his mercantile enterprise, but continued in that business until the fall of 1891, when his store was burned to the ground, causing a total loss of stock and building. In February, 1882, Mr. Leonard, together with II. P. Grund and J. D. Barker, purchased the private bank of Mr. Booth, which they conducted under the name of the Citi- zens' Bank, our subject being Cashier. In July, 1884, this institution was merged into the First National Bank, of which Mr. Leonard has been Cashier since its establishment.
In 1878 Mr. Leonard married Miss Anna M., daughter of Ira D. Carpenter, a prominent and wealthy farmer residing near Toronto, Canada. Mrs. Leonard was born and reared in Canada, and is a cultured and amiable lady, occupying a promi- nent position in social circles. Mr. and Mrs. Leon- ard are the parents of two children, Iloward and Alice. Politically a Democrat, our subject lias been influential in the councils of his party, and has served as a member of the State Central Com-
mittee, the Congressional Committee, and has been Chairman of the County Central Committee. For a number of years he has ofliciated as Treasurer of the Board of Education and Treasurer of the city of Girard, and is at present a member of the City Council. In his social relations he is identified with the Masonic fraternity.
OHN W. HOLT, a successful general agri- enlturist and stock-raiser of section 36, Centreville Township, Linn County, is a self-made man and representative American citizen, and from small beginnings lias with natu- ral ability and unswerving industry steadily won his upward way to a comfortable competence and position of usefulness and influence. Mr. Ilolt is by birth an Ohio man, a native of Knox County, and was born September 16, 1838. ITis parents, Jonah and Betsy Elizabeth (Mathews) llolt, were the descendants of long lines of thrifty and hard- working ancestors. The father was born in Penn- sylvania, and the mother, a native of the Buckeye State, was born, reared, educated and married in Knox County, where the parents continued to re- side for a number of years. Finally they joined the steady stream of emigration to the further west and journeyed to Tazewell County, Ill., where after lives of care and busy toil they passed away mourned by many friends and relatives. Eight children had blessed their fireside and been cared for tenderly through the early years of infancy and childhood. The sons and daughters wbo clus- tered in the old home were: William, Sarah A., Fidelia, Jolın W., Thomas, Jesse, Jonah and Carrie.
John W., reared to twelve years of age in the old Knox County home, attended the district school of his birthplace, and was a sturdy lad when le ac- companied his parents to Illinois, where he attained to manhood. When the Government issued its appeal for troops in the disastrous days of tlie Civil War, our subject patriotically responded, and
171
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
with courage enlisted in August, 1862, in Company B, Seventy-third Illinois Infantry, serving with brave fidelity until the close of the war. At the fierce battle of Franklin, Tenn., he was twice knocked down, once by the concussion of a shell, and at another time by his gun being struck. Among the engagements in which Mr. Holt active- ly participated were the battles at Perryville, Ky., Stone River, Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga., Resaca, Ga., Kenesaw Mountain, the Atlanta campaign, Dal- las, Ga., Peach Tree Creek, Ga., Atlanta and Jones- boro. Our subject also took part in the campaign after Generals Bragg, Johnston and Hood, and al- though constantly exposed to death and capture, escaped without any serious wound and, mustered out of service in Springfield, Ill., at the close of the war, returned at once to his home in Tazewell County.
For the next few years Mr. Holt continued to till the soil of Illinois, but in 1870, in the spring of the year, located in Kansas, and renting land on Lost Creek, remained in that locality for two years. Hle then worked out by the month at farming dur- ing the busy seasons and in the winter labored at anything his hands could find to do. Carefully and prudently our subject managed to accumulate a small capital, which he invested in his present farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres, now under fine cultivation and one of the most productive homesteads in the township. Mr. Holt has added improvements from time to time and owns good stock of a high grade.
Before leaving Tazewell County, Ill., John W. Ilolt and Miss Louisa Kellog were united in marriage. This excellent lady, a native of Taze- well County, did not long survive, but lived to become the mother of one child, who died in infancy. The young mother also passed to her rest in the home of her youth. A second time entering the bonds of wedlock, our subject married in Centreville Township Miss Sarah Vinton. She was a native of the sunny south and was born in ` Mississippi. Of the large family which brighten- ed the Kansas home seven children now survive. Macy is the only son; then follow in the order of their birth, Blanche, Mary, Bertha, Jessie, Maud, Ella and Elsie. The latter is now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Holt are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and together with their family are active in the social and benev- olent enterprises of their denomination and home neighborhood. Our subject, interested in both local and national issues, has hield with efficient discharge of duty the position of Road Overseer. His record as a citizen, a soldier and business man is untarnished, and, possessed of sterling integrity of character, John W. Holt receives the deserved confidence of his fellow-townsmen.
M ORRIS CUNNINGIIAM, a thoroughly practical and enterprising general agricult- urist and a pioneer settler of Kansas, culti- vating a valuable and extensive farm, de- sirably located upon section 20, Osage Township, Miami County, Kan., handles upon his broad acre- age some of the best stock in the state. Mr. Cun- ningham is, in the fullest sense of the word, a self- made man, who has with earnest purpose, untiring industry and sterling integrity made his way up- ward to a position of useful influence, commanding universal respect and esteem. Born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1835, our subject was the son of honest, hard-working and upright ancestors, who, generation after generation, had lived and died in their native land, Old Erin. He received his educa- tion in the common schools of Ireland, and being in humble circumstances in life, early began to earn his livelihood. Although young in years, he de- veloped ambition and a determination to rise in the world. America. the land of promise, was drawing to her shores the energetic and enter- prising sons and daughters of old Ireland, and when Mr. Cunningham was only about fifteen years of age he, in 1850, embarked for the land beyond the sea. Safely crossing the broad Atlantic, our subject was in due time landed upon the shores of the Canadian Dominion.
After spending about two weeks in Quebec, Mr. Cunningham determined to make his way speedily
172
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to the United States, and crossing over into New York, remained in Ogdensburgh for some six months, finding ready employment in that locality. . Continuing for about three years in the Empire State, our subject removed from Ogdensburgh to Elmira, where he worked as a laborer for a rail- road corporation during the remainder of his so- journ in New York. In 1853, journeying to In- diana in the hope of receiving more profitable em- ployment, Mr. Cunningham worked as a section hand upon a railroad and made his home in New Castle, Henry County, until October, 1857, when he emigrated to the farther west and located in Miami County, Kan. For some length of time he lived in Osawatomie Township and worked at any employment which he could find. With frugality and industry he managed to accumulate a small capital, and in 1857, buying a claim in Osage Township for the sum of $30, laid the foun- dation of his future success. In 1858 our subject settled npon his claim and with zeal entered into the cultivation and improvement of his land. After bringing a portion of the land under profit- able cultivation, Mr. Cunningham sold one-half of his homestead for the eighty-acre tract where he now resides.
To the original acres of his valnable farm our subject, financially prospered, has since added un- til he now owns two hundred and thirty-three acres of some of the best land in Kansas, whose fertile soil annually returns him an abundant har- vest. The farm has been liberally improved with excellent buildings, a comfortable and attractive dwelling, large and substantial barns and granary. While in New Castle, Morris Cunningham married Miss Mary Collins, a native of County Limerick, Ireland. Five children have blessed the union. George was the oldest born; Emma J. is the wife of John Chamberlain; William . II., Annie and Kate complete the list of sons and daughters who gathered in the pleasant home. Independent in politics, our subject gives his vote to the best man, and although never an office-seeker is well posted in both local and national affairs. A participant in the struggles and privations of the early days in Kansas, Mr. Cunningham has lived to realize prosperity and to behold the rapid advancement of
his adopted country and home state. Together with his good wife and intelligent family our sub- ject enjoys the regard of the surrounding com- munity, and is widely known as an excellent busi- ness man, a kind neighbor, sincere friend and loyal citizen.
NDREW H. CHAMBERS, a leading citi- zen of Kansas since 1855, and for many years a representative general agricultur- ist, prosperously tilling a valuable farm located on section 31, Mound Township, Miami County, is a native of Pike County, Ind., and was born January 25, 1844. Ilis father, born March 15, 1815, was likewise a native of Pike County, and was the son of John Chambers, who passed away near Petersburgh, having spent nearly all of his life within the borders of the state. Here he shared the privations and experiences of fron- tier days in the then wilderness of the territory, the scene of many terrible conflicts between the redmen and the pioneer citizens. When the fa- ther of our subject was a boy, wild game was abundant within rifle range of the old homestead, and wagons were the only vehicles of travel cross- ing the broad prairies. The mother, Catherine (Grubb) Chambers, was born in North Carolina in March, 1816. Her parents, emigrating from North Carolina in a very early day, made their home in Pike County, Ind., where they later died. The father, Andrew B. Chambers, married his wife in Pike County in the year 1836, and the parents at once locating upon a farm gained their living from the fertile soil of Indiana until 1855, when in the month of April they journeyed by wagon to Kansas, and in Osawatomie Township, three miles southwest of the village of Osawatomie, lo- cated a Government claim.
The hard-working and energetic father died Jan- nary 8, 1858, and the devoted mother passed away February 16, 1875. The nine children who gathered in their home were Margaret, John, George, An
173
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
drew Henderson, Elizabeth, Rachael, Maria, Na- thaniel and Susan. Margaret and Maria are now deceased. Our subject, accompanying his parents to Kansas, remained with his mother until twenty years of age assisting in the conduct of the farm. Upon the 1st of January, 1864, answering to the appeal of the Government, Andrew H. Chambers enlisted in Company G, Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, and served with courage until December 16, 1865, when he was mustered out at Ft. Leavenworth. Our subject spent almost a year of service near Ft. Leavenworth and took part in the Price raids, and for almost nine months was on duty in the Black Hills country. Prior to his enlistment Mr. Chambers was in the employ of the Government as teamster and cook. When he was mustered out of service, our subject returned at once to his old home and engaged industriously in the pursuit of agriculture.
In Osawatomie Township, November 24, 1867, were united in marriage Andrew H. Chambers and Miss Sarah C. Veach, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, near Chillicothe, March 29, 1848. Her father, Harrison Veach, was a native of Virginia and was born near Petersburglı in No- vember, 1816. Her mother, Matilda (Shafer) Veach, was likewise a native of Ross County, Ohio, and was born April 1, 1829.
The grandparents of Mrs. Chambers were among the pioneer settlers of Ross County, where the grandfather entered into rest while the mother was very young and left a large family with but extremely limited means of support. Mr. and Mrs. Veach were married in Ross County June 10, 1846. They remained for about two years in their early home, then journeyed by boat to Iowa, locating in Van Buren County in 1848. In June, 1857, they removed to Kansas and settled upon a Government claim in Osawatomie Town- ship, where the father died, lamented by all who knew him, February 15, 1879.
The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Veach were: Sarah C., Elmira, Winfield S., Annette and Will- iam R. Winfield S., a bright, promising young man, was drowned in the Indian Territory while herding cattle. Immediately after his marriage our subject settled on a farm in Osawatomie
Township, and having purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land entered with energy into its cultivation and improvement. He remained npon this homestead until January, 1886, when he sold the property and invested in his present valuable farm in Mound Township, one hundred and twenty-one acres desirably located on section 31. The farm, now highly improved with excellent buildings, and annually yielding an abundant harvest, is one of the best in the township.
Our subject and his estimable wife have been blessed by the birth of four children. Ida M. re- sides in Boise City, Idaho; Irma B. is the wife of Harvey Ball, of Boise City, and was married De- cember 1, 1892. William Scott and Clarence II., the two brothers, are intelligent youths attaining to manhood. Our subject is politically a reformer and advocates progress and needed changes for the better. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers are both lib- eral in their religious belief and are foremost in kindly words and generous deeds. In March, 1892, our subject rented his farm and spent six months in Idaho, but returned to his home fully satisfied with the outlook in Kansas. A man of superior ability, and recognized as a practical ag- riculturist thoroughly posted in the details of farming, Mr. Chambers enjoys the esteem and con- fidence of old-time friends and neighbors with whom he shared the perils of long ago and has since rejoiced in the prosperity of to-day.
NDREW RUSSELL LEE. Early in Janu- ary of 1882, Mr. Lee came to Linn County from Cowley County, Kan., and has since resided on section 2, Liberty Township, where he owns a finely improved farm of two bun- dred and forty acres. He is a descendant of Irish ancestors, his paternal grandfather, JJames Lee, having been a native of the Emerald Isle. In an early day he left the land of his birth in company with the other members of his father's family, but while crossing the Atlantic en route to America
174
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the vessel was wreeked on Delaware Bay and he was the only member of the family who was saved. Upon arriving in this country, he settled in Wash- ington County, Pa., where he died at an advanced age.
The parents of our subject, Samuel and Jane (Russell) Lee, were natives of Washington County, Pa., the former born in 1807, and the latter in 1805. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Andrew Russell, was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and after his marriage settled in Washington County, Pa., where both he and his wife died. Samuel Lee married and settled in Washington County, Pa., and afterward removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he was bereaved by the death of his wife in 1880. He still survives, having attained to an advanced age. His six chil- dren were named: Ann I., Elizabeth, Nancy C., Mary J., Andrew R. and Maria E.
Born in Guernsey County, Ohio, January 8, 1839, our subject was reared to manhood upon his father's farm, receiving his education in the com- mon sehools. In that county on the 28th of Jan- uary, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma R. Johnston, who was born there March 10, 1848. The Johnston family is of Scotch origin, and for one hundred years or more they have been represented in Carlisle, Pa. The grandfather of Mrs. Lee, James Johnston, was a native of the Keystone State, and a son of Alexander Johnston. The father of Mrs. Lee was also named Alexander, and was born in Noblestown, Pa., September 21, 1821. Ile married Mary Jane Mason, who was born in Ireland in January, 1823. Her father, William Mason, emigrated to America in 1835, and soon afterward settled in Guernsey County, Ohio, where he died June 13, 1884.
In the Johnston family there were nine children, namely: Emma R., Anna M., Alice A., James M., Charles S., Susan J., Marietta, Myrtle and Laura B. The mother of these children still survives. Our subject, after his marriage, continued to reside in Guernsey County, Ohio, until 1874, when he removed to Cowley County, Kan., and there en- gaged extensively in agricultural pursuits until his removal to Linn County, in 1882. Here he has valuable and large property interests and is num-
bered among the progressive and enterprising farmers of the township of Liberty. He and his wife have one child, a daughter, Jessie E., whose birth occurred in Cowley County, Kan., December 23, 1878.
Prior to the Civil War Mr. Lee was a strong Abolitionist and used his influence for the cause of the Union. Since that time he has supported with his ballot and influence the principles of the Republican party. In his religious connections, he is identified with the United Presbyterian Church. in which he is an Elder. Mrs. Lee is also a member of that denomination and is an earnest worker in all religious enterprises.
S AMUEL CURTIS, an extensive stock-raiser and successful agriculturist, prosperously cultivating a fine farm of two hundred and seventy aeres located upon section 15, town 22, range 22, Blue Mound Township, Linn County. Kan., has been intimately associated with the growth of the county for about twenty-three years. Born in Steuben County, N. Y., February 26, 1842, our subject is the son of Thomas M. and Martha C. (Scott) Curtis, long-time residents of the Empire State, who early emigrating to Michi- gan, located in St. Joseph County in 1844, then making their home on a farm near Constantine. Later the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cleared, cultivated and improved, the family remaining in Michigan until 1865. At this latter date the parents journeyed to Iowa, and engaged in farming in both Muscatine and Louisa Counties, and are residing in Letts- ville.
The father and mother reared a family of ten children, all now living. Samuel, our subjeet, is the eldest in order of birth; Shepherd R. is a mechanic employed in Chicago; Jolin is an en- terprising farmer of Louisa County, Iowa; Mary Ann is the wife of Madison Hutchinson, of But- ler County, Kan .; Albert is in Iowa, engaged
175
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in the tile drainage business; Thomas lives in Lettsville; Ellen married Mark Furnas, a resident of Lettsville; Ollie, the wife of David Parsons, makes her home in the same place; Minerva, Mrs. Harrison, resides with her husband and family in Muscatine County, Iowa; Hattie is yet with her parents in Lettsville.
The father of our subject, aside from the pur- suit of agriculture, was while in Michigan also engaged in contracting and building railroad grades, and worked on the Illinois Central Rail- road. He likewise furnished large timber for building purposes, and through some extensive contracts lost heavily, but in his farming ventures was successful. Thoroughly posted on the ques- tions of the day, and interested both in local and national issues, Thomas M. Curtis has been from the formation of the party an active Republican, and has held with ability the official position of Justice of the Peace. The parents, now over three-score years and ten, are both earnest mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have ever been distinguished by their Christian char- acter. Our subject arrived in Michigan a little child of two years, and in the Wolverine State at- tained to manhood, receiving an excellent educa- tion in the schools of his home district. In 1862, answering the call of the Government, he enlisted in Company D, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, and served with faithful courage until the close of the war, in April, 1865. The regiment was stationed near Nashville for some time, during which period Mr. Curtis, being taken very ill, was sent to the hospital, where he remained for six months.
Rejoining his regiment as soon as he was able, our subject participated in the following engagements: Stone River Bridge, where he was captured, but only held for a few hours, then being released; Res- aca, Peach Tree Creek, Goldsboro, Big Shanty and Atlanta. Mr. Curtis was with the command which marched with Sherman to the sea, and took part in the Grand Review in Washington, soon after which he was mustered out and returned to Michi- gan. In a brief time he accompanied his parents to Louisa County, Iowa, and renting land, en-
gaged in farming in the Hawkeye State until he emigrated to Kansas, in 1870.
April 12, 1867, were united in marriage Samuel Curtis and Miss Alice, daughter of Amos and Julia (Eubanks) Harrison. Mrs. Curtis, a most estima- ble lady and a native of North Carolina, was born in Jones County, July 10, 1848. Her parents, also born in the Tar State, removed with their family in 1855 to Louisa County, Iowa, where the father, first engaging in farming, subsequently entered into the mercantile business in Lettsville. Mrs. Harrison died in Iowa, and afterward her hus- band, who was a man of enterprise and native ability, removed in 1870 to Kansas, where he had previously owned a large tract of land. Ile had at one time, prior to the latter date, given to liis children a half-section of Kansas land. Pros- pered financially, he spent his declining years in Blue Mound Township, Linn County.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison welcomed to their hearts and home ten children, of whom nine, surviving the perils of infancy, lived to adult age. They were in the order of their birth, Harriet, Eugene, Christiana, Saralı, Alice, Allen, Wyche, Rovella and Thompson. Mr. Harrison, a second time entering matrimonial bonds, became the father of three children, Fred, Colyer and Blanche. Amos Harrison was a man of strong character, universally re- spected, and in political affiliation was a Democrat. He was a valued member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and one of its most liberal sup- porters. His death was mourned as a public loss.
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have resided constantly in Blue Mound Township since 1870, and beginning with eighty acres, a gift from Mr. Harrison, our subject has steadily made his way upward. His highly cultivated homestead of two hundred and seventy acres, well improved with excellent build- ings and stocked with graded cattle and horses, attests to the energetic thrift and excellent management of the owner of one of the best farms in the township. Of the four children who bright- ened the home, Ellen, a most promising daughter, born June 10, 1869, died on June 16, 1881. The three surviving arc: Charles, born October 5, 1872; Mabel, born May 15, 1878; and Leo, born February
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.