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 22
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rest in Linn County; De Kalb, living on the old homestead; and Morrison, who lives with his mother and brother on the old farm. The mother is in faith a Presbyterian and is a devout Christian woman. The father was independent in politics, and, a man of earnest thought and sincerity, gave his vote and influence to the best man for the place.
Our subject, reared upon his father's farm, at- tended the distriet schools of Indiana, and while a boy received a thorough training in agricultural duties. Arrived at manhood, he came with his parents to Kansas in 1866, and at first worked out as a farm hand. In 1870 Peter S. Paddoek was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Isabelle Mc- Grew, daughter of Elder Samuel B. MeGrew, one of the pioneer settlers of Kansas. He was a man of strong character and high position, widely known throughout the state, and was universally honored for his qualities of head and heart. Mrs. Paddock, a lady of worth and culture, possessed of great natural ability, was born July 4, 1850, in Henry County, Iowa. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Paddoek settled on seetion 32, near the village of Blue Mound, oceupying a claim then in dispute.
Our subject entered with energy into the culti- vation of the wild land, and finally homesteading the same, continued his residence there for a num- ber of years. During this period the husband and wife experienced many privations, but with eour- age struggled on. In 1882 Mr. Paddock sold this land and moved to his present farm of one hun- dred and twenty valuable acres, highly cultivated and annually yielding an abundant harvest. Fi- naneially prospered, he has made substantial im- provements and erected a comfortable and com- modious residence, and, although he carries on mixed farming, he devotes himself principal- ly to stock-raising. Five of the six children who blessed the home are yet surviving. Nathan A., the eldest, was horn November 3, 1871; Delbert A., May 8, 1873; llerhert S., November 18, 1876; Franklin W., October 1, 1878; Addison G. died in infaney; and Bessie R. was born Octo- ber 3, 1886.
The Paddock family are of a long-lived ancestry,
the paternal grandfather of our subject having lived to reach the age of one hundred and three years. Grandfather Thomas Paddock, a native of the Empire State, emigrated to Indiana when advaneed in years, and died in his western home. Ilis children were: David; Morrison, father of our subjeet; Thomas, who died unmarried; Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, Matilda, Ann and Cornelia. Mrs. Paddoek is a devout member of the United Brethren Church and is active in good work. In political affiliation Mr. Paddock is a Repub- hean, and, never an office-seeker, is yet intelli- gently interested in both local and national man- agement of public affairs. In all matters pertaining to the advancement and progress of his locality, he is ever ready to extend a helping hand, and is one of the representative men of Blue Mound Township.
AVID V. REED. Labette County is peenl- iarly fortunate in having been settled by intelligent and enterprising men, who from the first evidently "came to stay," and at once identified themselves with the interests and progress of this seetion of the country. They brought with them their capital and their families, and have formed the bone and sinew which have amid dangers and difficulties set in motion the car of progress and insured the prosperity of one of the most valuable traets of country on the western continent. These thoughts are involuntarily sug- gested in contemplating the career of the subject of this sketeh.
Mr. Reed is a farmer and stoek-raiser of this county, and resides on seetion 18, Liberty Town- ship. Ile was born Union County, Ohio, in 1843, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to James and Fannie (McWilliams) Reed, both natives of Ohio. When David was but a ehild his parents removed to the west, locating in Lueas County, Iowa, and there David grew to manhood.
At the breaking out of the late war, in August,
yours Truly
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1862, Mr. Reed enlisted in the army, and was en- rolled as a member of Company K, Thirty-fourth lowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, taking part in the battles of Vicksburg and Blakely, Ala. Ile was under the command of Grant and Sherman, and participated in the engagements at Ft. Donelson and Ft. Gaines, besides taking part in many other battles of a lesser nature. Mr. Reed served valiantly and was mustered out of service in Texas in 1865.
Returning to Iowa, our subject remained there until 1867, when, desiring to try the broader op- portunities of Kansas, he came to Labette County, and settled the claim where he now resides, it being the first claim taken up on the prairie. He is the owner of one section of land, and at one time dealt extensively in stock, but now devotes almost his entire attention to farming. Mr. Reed came to the county a poor man, but by close at- tention to business he has amassed what he now has.
Mr. Reed was married in this county in 1871, to Miss Mary, daughter of Theron Collins, who came to Kansas from New York in the spring of 1868, but has since died. A brother and sister of Mr. Reed are now residents of this county. Mr. Reed, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, but has never aspired to office. Socially he is not connected with secret societies.
W ILLIAM H. MURRAY, an enterprising agriculturist, successful stock-raiser and pioneer citizen of Linn County, Kan., now pleasantly located upon section 29, Paris Township, arrived in this neighborhood August 8, 1854, and is the oldest surviving settler in the county. For nearly two-score years intimately associated with the vicissitudes and history of his adopted state, he has won his way to a position of honored usefulness and influence. llis father, Caleb Murray, a native Virginian, was married in 5
the Old Dominion to Amelia Davis, a cousin of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, and also a native of Virginia. After their marriage the parents lived for some time in the home of their childhood, but finally removed to West Vir- ginia and thence departed to Ohio, where they re- mained but a short time. Journeying to Indiana, they resided in that state for two or three years. They subsequently settled in Knox County, Ill., and in the fall of 1837 went to Polk County, Mo. Ten years later, having again changed his resi- dence, the father died near Des Moines, Iowa, in 1847. The mother survived about fifteen years and passed away March 20, 1862, in Paris Town- ship, Linn County, Kan.
Of the large family of thirteen children born unto Caleb and Amelia (Davis) Murray, five were daughters and eight sons. William H., our sub- ject, the fifth in order of birth, was born in Lafay- ette County, Ind., August 14, 1832, and was only five years of age when with his parents he re- moved to Missouri. There he continued to live un- til twenty-two years old, when, in 1854, he emigrated from Polk County to Kansas. Up- on August 10 of the same year he staked out a claim in Linn County, where he has since continuously resided. In these changing years he has been an eye-witness of and participant in the struggles and triumphs which have fallen to the share of the citizens who weathered the past thirty-eight years of diversified Kansas experiences. Possessed of executive ability, excellent judg- ment and tireless industry, he has achieved a hand- some competence, and is an extensive land-owner. Aside from his magnificent stock farm of one thousand acres in Paris Township, he is also the owner of five hundred and sixty valuable acres in Centreville Township. Having solely through his self-reliant efforts accumulated this fine estate, he may justly congratulate himself upon his well earned success in life.
In Paris Township, January 18, 1857, William II. Murray and Miss Agnes D. Rowe were united in marriage. The estimable wife of our subject was born in Illinois, March 20, 1836, and is the mother of nine children. These sons and daugh- ters of our subject are: Mary E., wife of William
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Kimball; C. H .; Sarah, wife of Iliram Smith; Jane, wife of Archibald Carroll; George, who married Ida Ilumphrey; William, a promising young man, who died when about twenty-two years of age; Henry; Myrtie, the wife of John Humphrey, and Kate. Mr. Murray, whose time has been mainly employed in the numerous duties connected with his extensive interests, is ever ready to assist in all local enterprises of merit, and is known as one of the substantial and liberal-spirited citizens of Linn County, being fully in sympathy with the progressive movements and educational advance- ments of to-day.
L
UDGE J. W. ANDERSON, Probate Judge of Neosho County, makes his home in Erie, Kan. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Pickaway County October 23, 1840, and is a son of John R. Anderson, who was born in eastern Maryland, whence he came to Ohio when a boy with his father, James Anderson. The latter served in the War of 1812. John R. grew to manhood in Pickaway County, and there mar- ried Miss Susan, daughter of Jacob Shepherd. He " then engaged in farming until 1858, when he re- moved to Piatt County, Ill., where he purchased a small tract of land, and engaged in its cultiva- tion until 1869. In that year he went to Barton County, Mo., where his death occurred in 1871. He had lost his first wife, and afterward mar- ried Elizabeth Asher, who was called to her final rest in 1889. By the first marriage were born ten children, nine of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, while five are still living.
Judge Anderson acquired his education in the common schools of Ohio and Illinois, and was reared to farm life. He followed agricultural pur- suits until entering the army in July, 1861. Prompted by patriotic impulses, he joined the
boys in blue of Company F, Second Illinois Cav- alry, and became First Sergeant. He was mus- tered out November 22, 1865. He had partici- pated in the battle and siege of Vicksburg, the engagements at Holly Springs and Jackson, and altogether was in thirty-two battles and skirmishes. He was wounded at Holly Springs and also in the battle of Middlebury, Tenn.
After the war Mr. Anderson returned to Illinois, and on the 11th of October, 1866, removed to Barton County, Mo., where he purchased eighty acres of land. Later he extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised one hundred and sixty acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. He was married on the 9th of March, 1864, to Sarah, daughter of James B. Morain, of Piatt County, Ill., and a native of Pickaway Coun- ty. Ohio. They became the parents of five clul- dren, but two died in infancy. Those living are: Cora; Olive, wife of B. C. Degarmo; and Emma, wife of C. J. Burrows, proprietor of the Star Grocery, of Parsons, Kan. The mother of this family died, and in 1873 Judge Anderson wedded Miss Sarah, daughter of Josiah Hoor, and a native of McLean County, Ill.
In 1874 our subject removed to McLean Coun- ty, where he followed farming for five years, and then came to Neosho County. He first purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, partially improved. This he placed under a high state of cultivation, and made of it a valuable and desir- able place. Ile also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Erie Township, which yields to him a good income. Both farms are now rented. while the Judge devotes his attention to his of- ficial duties. In the fall of 1890 he was elected Probate Judge, and entered upon the duties of that office January 12. 1891. So acceptably did he fill the position that he was re-elected, and en- tered upon his second term in 1893. He was one of the organizers of his party in this county, and is one of its active workers. For four years he has been identified with the Populist party.
Socially, our subject is connected with the Farmers' Alliance, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having served as Com- mander of the local post for two years. His wife
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is a very prominent worker in the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union, and both the Judge and Mrs. Anderson are consistent members and lead- ing workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Prominent in benevolent and social interests, they give their support to everything calculated to prove of publie benefit or to advanee the general welfare. Their lives are indeed exemplary, having been well and wortlily passed. The Judge has been true to every trust reposed in him, whether publie or private. Hle is held in universal confi- denee and esteem, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life.
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M. ALLEN is the senior member of the firm of Allen & Allen, bankers of Erie, and is a worthy representative of the business interests of this place. A native of Indi- ana, he was born in Putnam County, January 31, 1842, and is a son of R. N. and Elizabeth (Tal- bott) Allen. The father was born in Virginia, and about 1827 emigrated to Putnam County, Ind., where he entered land from the Government. IIe made the trip in company with William Talbott, the father of his intended wife. There he opened up a farm, transforming the wild land into rich and fertile fields. Devoting his energies to its cultivation until 1865, he then removed to Bloom- ington, Ind., where he died on the 12th of Oeto- ber, 1876. His wife passed away in 1860. While in Indiana he served as Associate Judge of Put- nam County. He held membership with the Methi- odist Episcopal Church. The maternal great- great-grandfather of our subjeet was one of the heroes of the Revolution.
J. M. Allen belongs to a family of eleven children, eight of whom grew to mature years, while four sons and two daughters are yet living, all of whom graduated at De Pauw University. The sons are: A. P., residing in this county; R. N., who is President of the First National Bank
of Chanute, Kan .; Il. C., a prominent lawyer of Indianapolis, Ind., who is now serving as attor- ney for the street railroad company and an in- suranee company; and our subjeet.
Mr. Allen whose name heads this record at- tended the publie schools of Putnam County, Ind., and then spent one year in De Pauw University, where we find him at the breaking out of the war, in April, 1861. He immediately left the school- room, and when Lincoln issued the first call for troops he joined Company K, Sixteenth Indiana Infantry. He became First Lieutenant, and was mustered out July 20, 1865. At Snaggy Point, on the Red River, he was taken prisoner May 1, 1864, and was incarcerated for five months and twenty days at Tyler, Tex. He was wounded at the battle of Arkansas Post, and again at Vicks- burg. He participated in the entire siege of that eity, and was also in many other hotly contested engagements.
After the war, Mr. Allen removed to this eoun- ty and entered from the Government one hundred and sixty aeres of land in Erie Township. He afterward purchased eighty acres and began the development of his farm, the boundaries of which he extended from time to time until he had seven hundred aeres. This he sold in 1883. He was married in Baldwin, Kan., August 27, 1867, to Miss Eva, daughter of Henry Foster, of Putnam County, Ind. They began their domestie life upon the farm where they lived until 1883, when they came to Erie.
Mr. Allen is numbered among the pioneers of Neosho County, which was very sparsely settled by white people at the time of his arrival, and Indians still lived in the neighborhood. He has seen as many as twenty-two deer from his eabin door at one time. On coming to Erie in 1883, he formed a partnership with his nephew, W. T. Allen, in the banking business, in which he has since continued. It has become one of the leading financial institutions of the county, business being condueted on a safe and conservative basis. He has led a busy and useful hfe, yet has found time to serve in publie office. In 1867 he was elected County Commissioner for a two-years term, then was re-elected, and served as Chairman of the
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Board during the time of the trouble concerning the county seat. In the fall of 1873 he was elected to the State Legislature upon the Republican ticket, being a stanch advocate of Republican principles until 1877, at which time he espoused what was known as the Greenback cause. In 1878 he was a candidate for State Senator, but was de- feated by one hundred and forty-four votes. So- cially, he is a member of Erie Post No. 311,G. A. R., which he joined at its organization, and in 1892 was elected as a delegate to the National Encamp- ment in Washington. lIe belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Wood- men, and holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters: J. F., who is serving as book-keeper in the bank in Erie; Clay, who has just been appointed a cadet at West Point; Sne and Ada, who are at home. The family is widely and favorably known in the county, its members holding an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Allen has borne all the experiences of frontier life in this locality, and is familiar with the history of its troublous times. On the side of right and order he has ever been found, and his hearty support and co-operation have ever been given to those enterprises tending to ad- vance the best interests of the community.
AMES B. STURDIVAN, a farmer residing on section 3, Westphalia Township, is num- bered among the early settlers of Anderson County of 1859. His residence in the state dates from 1857. lle was born in Wayne County, Ill., October 23, 1834, and is a son of William and Mary Ann (Fulton) Sturdivan. His grandfather, Stephen Sturdivan, was a native of Vermont, but removed to Tennessee and there reared his family. The father of our subject was born in the latter
state, but attained his majority in Indiana. When a young man he went to Wayne County, Ill., where he married Miss Fulton, and with his wife removed to Rock Island County, becoming one of its early settlers and the owner of a fine farm. His death occurred there March 7, 1858, and his wife passed away in March, 1868. Their family numbered eight children, of whom James is the eldest; Steph- en resides in Iowa; Mary Ann is the wife of Peter Noah, of Grinnell, lowa; Martha is now Mrs. Van Metcalf, of Poweshiek County, Iowa; William is living in Sheldon, Iowa; John T. makes his home in Pocahontas, Iowa; Jane was the wife of Elias Clifton and died in Rock Island County, Ill., and Eliza is the wife of Nathan Sparks, of Pocahontas County, Iowa.
In taking up the sketch of our subjeet we pre- sent our readers the life record of one of Anderson County's prominent agriculturists. He was reared upon his father's farm and remained in Illinois until 1857, when he accompanied his uncle, David Sturdivan, to Kansas, locating in Jefferson County, where he followed any means of livelihood where- by he could earn an honest dollar. In 1858, he married Ellen Jones, daughter of Vincent and Lot- tie Jones, and a native of Missouri. The follow- ing year he took up a claim, the farm upon whichi he now resides, and as soon as the land came into market entered it from the Government. In 1860, he returned to Illinois, and for some time made his home in Rock Island County. In 1865, he en- listed in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served for seven months as a defender of the Union.
In 1882, Mr. Sturdivan was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died leaving seven children, William, Marion, Oliver, Elmer, Stephen, Emma and Anna. In 1884, our subjeet was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Starkey. She was born in Germany, August 15, 1839, and is a daughter of Hiram and Mary Angeline Bolson. Her mother died in Ger- many, leaving five children, Charles, John, Ed- ward, Henry and Mary. Mr. Bolson was again married, and in 1843 emigrated to the United States. He settled in Philadelphia, and thence removed to Jersey City. By trade he was a black-
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smith. In 1858 the family came to Kansas, locat- ing in Anderson County, where Mary Bolson be- came the wife of William Starkey, who died in 1872. They had two daughters: Nancy, wife of Frank Kellogg, and Ida.
Mr. Sturdivan returned to Kansas in 1866, and has since lived upon his present farm, where he now has two hundred and eighty-five acres of valuable land. Ile follows general farming and stock-raising, having dealt extensively in stock for many years. He is a man of good business ability. sagacious and enterprising, and has acquired a handsome property. Himself and wife are well known throughout this community, and it is with pleasure that we present the record of this worthy couple to our readers.
UGUSTUS V. CROSBY. Among the suc- cessful and efficient agriculturists of Linn County whose labors have contributed to the material advancement of their various communities prominent mention belongs to the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, and who for many years has resided on section 36, township 20, range 21. ITis farm is located about three miles southwest of Goodrich, in Centreville Township, and consists of one hundred and twenty acres, containing all the modern conveniences, and embellished with a substantial set of buildings.
Mr. Crosby came to Kansas in 1866, and has re- sided in Linn County ever since that year. He was the first member of his father's family to come to the Sunflower State, but he was soon followed by his parents, who made permanent settlement here. He was born in Huron County, Ohio, Feb- ruary 15, 1851, and is a descendant in the second generation of William Crosby, a soldier in the War of 1812, who came to Ohio in an early day, and settling in Huron County, resided there until about
1873. Then, accompanied by his wife, he removed to Kansas and passed his declining years in Craw- ford County with a son, in whose home he died at the age of eighty-six.
James Crosby, father of cur subject, was prob- ably a native of Massachusetts, and was born in 1821. In his youth he learned the trade of a cooper, and also engaged in wagon-making. He removed to Ohio in early life, and there married Miss Rachel Ann Dailey, who was born in the state of New York, being a daughter of Thomas Dailey. Pursuing his trade in Huron County until 1867, James Crosby then came to Kansas, and for one year resided in Anderson County, whence he came to Linn County. Ile died in Centreville Town- ship in the spring of 1873; his wife is still living. They were the parents of four children: Sarah, who married Henry Gardner and resides in Craw- ford County, Kan .; Jessie, who became the wife of Charles Flora, and is now a widow, making her home with our subject; Pickett, a farmer residing in Centreville Township; and Augustus V., our subjeet, who is the eldest of the children. The fa- ther was a Republican in politics and a stanch supporter of its principles.
In the distriet schools of Huron County, Ohio, our subject received a fair education. In his six- teenth year he came to Kansas, in company with another man, and driving a flock of sheep. The trip occupied one hundred and ten days, and was made on foot. Arriving in the Sunflower State, he secured a situation on a farm in the employ of the gentleman whom he had accompanied to this state. During 1867 his parents settled in Kansas, after which he resided with them and tilled the soil of the home farm. In the spring of 1873 he located on the farm where he now resides. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and embellished with good buildings.
In September, 1872, Mr. Crosby married Miss Mary Hurst, who was born in Illinois on the 9th of August, 1852. She accompanied her mother, Clarissa Hurst, to Kansas, and has since made her home in this state. She is the mother of four chil- dren, Anna, Osie, Clara and Rachel. The family is highly respected in social circles, and its various
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members enjoy the esteem of a large circle of as- sociates. In his political belief, Mr. Crosby is a true-blue Republican, and always votes the party ticket.
M ILTON PHEBUS is numbered among the principal stockmen of Linn County and resides one mile north of Parker, on sec- tion 5, Liberty Township. His residence in Kansas dates from 1880. He is a native of In- diana, and was born in Kosciusko County on the 1st of July, 1843. The ancestry of the family is traced to England, but its representa- tives have long been numbered among the influ- ential people of the United States. Grandfather George Phebus was born in Maryland and became an early settler of Ohio, whither he removed on horseback. During the Revolutionary War he served in the defense of the Colonies, and several of lus sons were soldiers in the War of 1812. His occupation was that of farming, in which he en- gaged throughout the entire period of his activity. He married, and reared a family of thirteen chil- dren.
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