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 23
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The father of our subject, William Phebus, was a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and was there reared to manhood. There, also, he married Miss Maria Baggs, who was born in Virginia in July, 1811, their union being solemnized on the 15th of March, 1837. Shortly after his marriage he located on a farm in Kosciusko County, Ind., where he resided many years. His death occurred in December, 1864, at the age of fifty-nine years, lie having been born March 3. 1805. Ilis wife survived him eighteen years and passed away . 1882. She had become the mother of five (? " 9,1" ...
dren, of whom Milton was the only one who tained manhood.
In the district schools of the Hoosier State our subject gained the rudiments of his education,
which was afterward supplemented by self-culture and observation. In 1864 he left the peaceful pursuit of agriculture and took up arms in his country's defense. He was mustered into service as a member of Company M, Forty-first Indiana Cavalry, and served for seventeen months, when he was mustered out under general order. In the engagement at Resaca he took an active part, also in all the battles to the evacuation of Atlanta. Returning to Nashville, the command went from there on a campaign to Eastport, Miss., the last engagement being at Franklin, Tenn.
After the close of the war Mr. Phebus returned to Indiana and resided on the old homestead, caring for his mother, who had been recently widowed. On New Year's Eve, 1866, he married Miss Catherine Bowman, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, December 30, 1845. Iler parents, Jacob and Susanna (Weaver) Bowman, were na- tives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ohio, and from there in 1854 went to Indiana, where they settled on a farm in Elkhart.County. The father was born in 1814, and the mother in 1817. They still reside on the home " ... 1 k- hart County and enjoy good health : . ustail.) ing their advanced years.
There were twelve children in ily, ten of whom survived to
`te the following concerning them: samuel
was a member of Company ֏ Forty-ei. ..
ana Infantry, during .
resident of Oklahoma; ,' '
Company I, Sever .
died at Nash ... John Greena- walt and . 'ates in Lagrange Cour
erine is the wife of our subject
Noble Coul. Ind .; Susan matriks sanaly' Rhein- smith and live in Lagrange County, Ind .; Sarah became the wife'of Homer Pors. 'n Tind in La grange County, I.d .; Jacob r .Tesuis home in Lagrange County, where David also resides.
."mber of vears afte, his marriage atinued to seside in Indiana, al: uve years was engaged in the livery busines Syracuse, that state. In 1880 he came to no.
and after a sojourn of six mor+ - at For. ne settled where he now resides. Prev.Jus to com-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw land, which he now has well improved. At the present time he is the owner of eighty acres, on which he engages extensively in the live-stock business. In addition to this he has given each of his children an eighty-acre tract. When the vil- lage of Parker was founded he became a silent partner in a mercantile business, with which he was connected for some time.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Phebus was com- pleted by the birth of three children, namely: William, who married Mina Bundy and has one son, Raymond; Celestia, the wife of Erastus Cle- mans and the mother of one son, Lester; and Ey- man, who is at home. The family occupies a high position in social circles, and its various members are highly regarded both in Parker and the sur- rounding country. Mr. Phebus is not identified with any secret or religious organization, but has devoted his attention exclusively to the details of his business. Ile is not actively interested in pol- ities, a' hough his ballot is in variably cast for the candidates and principles of the Democratic party.
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OIINI. , . "scontative general Enlturist, successful stor .. zaiser and in_ (LA. J. citizen, cultivates og fine farm Jeated in Miami ,ownship, Mi-
ami County, and has fos over & Quarter of a cen- ., tury beer dentified with the rapid growth and upwar . , "ngress of his home locality, where, widely known, he enjoys the respect of many . Griends. Our subject is a Jative of, County
50, Ireland, and was born in the y
Lament the days of his, boyhood in his birthipl ..
angy reared to a self-reliant manhood in the
.Country there received his education in the
common hools, and was trained to habits of
thrifty and energetic industry, which well fitted him to make his way in life. The father, Thomas Elliott, likewise a native of County Antrim, was a son of Robert Elliott, the ancestors of the family having for many generations past been numbered among the intelligent and enterprising dwellers of thic Emerald Isle. The mother of our subject, Jane (McLane) Elliott, daughter of John McLane, and likewise born in County Antrim, Ireland, was a woman of ability and culture. The parents spent their entire lives amid the familiar scenes of their childhood days, and, useful, con- tented and industrions, lived and died in County Antrim.
Soon after attaining to his majority Mr. Elliott determined to try his fortune in the land beyond the sea, but it was not until lic was about twenty- four years of age that he finally embarked for America. After a safe and pleasant voyage our subject landed in New York. He remained but a brief time in the metropolis of the east, but jour- neying to Greene County found ready employment upon a farm, and for the succeeding three years made his home in the Empire State. At the ex- piration of this length of time he followed the tide of emigration to the farther west, and locat- ing in Illinois, lived for about a twelvemonth in Grundy County. From Illinois Mr. Elliott passed over into Missouri, and settling in Bates County, continued to make his home in that part of the country until in the early '60s. He emigrated to the farther west and permanently located in his present neighborhood in Kansas. Entering at once upon the cultivation of his fine farm upon section 1, Miami County, he brought the fertile soil up to a high state of productiveness, and im- proved his homestead with large and substantial buildings. Prospered financially, our subject owns about two thousand acres of valuable land, and is numbered among thie wealthy and substantial men of the county. He has some of the best stock frin the state, and his annual harvests yield a ..... ndsome income.
In Kendall County, Ill., John Elliott was united in marriage with Miss Ann Mcclintock, a native of Ireland and a most estimable lady. Nine chil- dren blessed the union, and the seven surviv-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing are in the order of their birth: Thomas R., John, Mary, Annie, Joseph, Charles and Frank M. Two little ones died in infancy, Samuel and William. Mr. Elliott takes an active interest in church work, he and his excellent wife being Pres- byterians. They are both liberal givers, and aid in religions extension and the various benevolent enterprises of their neighborhood. Thei : eldest son, Thomas R., married Miss Clara Riggs; John married Miss Orpha A. Haines; and Mary J. is the wife of George B. Baxter. Winning his way unaided to a position of useful influence in his adopted country, our subject has attained to suc- cess, and now, surrounded by his ambitious and intelligent family, may with pleasure review his career, which as a friend, neighbor and fellow-citi- zen has been characterized by native ability and sterling integrity of character.
JASPER DINGUS, one of the pioneer set- tlers of Mound City Township, Linn Coun- ty, and an extensive stock-raiser and high- ly esteemed citizen, residing near Critzer, arrived in his present locality December 2, 1854, and took up from the Government the west half of the northcast quarter and cast half of the north- west quarter of section 16, comprising one hun- dred and sixty acres. Born in Scott County, Va., January 9, 1830, our subject was a young man when in the early days in the history of the state he began life for himself upon the prairies of Kansas. His parents, Henry S. and Nancy (Dollerhide) Dingus, were natives of Virginia, and the paternal grandfather, Phillip Dingus, was born in Pennsyl- vania.
The parents removed from Virginia to Missouri · about 1835, making the tedions journey with teams. They settled in Franklin County, fifty-five miles from St. Louis, and located on land where the mother died two years later. Two of the
three children who once gathered in the Missouri home yet survive. Jane, who married Samuel Morrow, came to Kansas in 1855, and died in Linn County in 1884; William, after the war, became a citizen of Mound City Township, where he yet re- sides. Our subject was the second in order of birth and was only about five years of age when his parents emigrated from Virginia. The father, marrying a second time, had by his last wife a large family, five of whom attained to adult age. The eldest was Martha, who married Biford Vanghan. The others were: James; Virginia, wife of Charles Fickett; Frances, who died unmarried, and Patrick. The father passed to his rest in Franklin County, Mo.
As soon as old enough our subject assisted in the care of the home farm and also received a lim- ited education in the district school. llis health not being good, in the early part of 1854 he bor- rowed a horse from his brother-in-law and started west on a prospecting tour. Being favorably im- pressed with the appearance of the country, he took up a claim in Linn County. Ile then returned his borrowed horse, and on another, which his grand- father loaned him, traveled from Hickory County, Mo., to Franklin County. On his way back he passed a number of people at a camp-fire, one of whom proved to be an uncle. In company with this relative and his family our subject traveled to Kansas, and took up his permanent abode in Linn County Jannary 22, 1855. With his worldly goods stored in his carpet bag, he began life for himself very modestly. His uncle, Barney Rich- ardson, made him welcome in his new home, in which he remained one year. At the expiration of the twelve months he built for himself a com- fortable little cabin, which was shared by his brother-in-law for a time. For his land he paid the Government price, $1.25 per acre, and received the deed for the same in 1859.
February 26, 1857, H. Jasper Dingus and Miss Elizabetlı Wayne were united in marriage, and afterward lived on the land originally taken up by our subject until the homestead law was passed, when they settled on section 20. After a five- years residence Mr. Dingus received a deed to the land, but his health being very poor, returned at
t
RESIDENCE OF HENRY W. BRASE , SEC.12., POTOSI TP., LINN CO., KAN.
SEC. 17., SUMMER RESIDENCE.
SEC.16., WINTER HOME
FARM RESIDENCE OF H. J. DINGUS , SEC'S. 16. & 17. , MOUND CITY TP., LINN CO., KAN.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
once to his old farm, where he has since remained continuously with the exception of two years spent in Ft. Scott, to which place hie went on ac- count of its educational facilities. The cabin of hewn logs originally erected by him is yet stand- ing, and having been sold, is now occupied.
Mrs. Dingus was born in Missouri, June 23, 1839, being the daughter of Temple and Elizabeth (Gregg) Wayne, natives of Campbell County, Va., and South Carolina, respectively. Brought to- gether in Missouri by changes of residence, they were married in the latter state, and remained within its borders until May, 1855, when they mi- grated to Kansas. Locating in Mound City Town- ship, they spent the rest of their lives in that neighborhood. Mr. Wayne died in January, 1861. His good wife, surviving a score of years, passed away July 2, 1881. Of their nine children, seven survived to adult age. Lucy married John Ruark, and died in Butler County, Kan .; George resides in Oregon; Elizabeth wedded our subject; Emily died at the age of seventeen years; Susan is the wife of George Mitchell, of Linn County; Alfred resides in Linn County; Franklin is also a citizen of Linn County. By a former marriage Mr. Wayne had the following children: Temple; Mary, who married Robert Thockmorfon; Laurinda, wife of Cornelius Garner; John and James.
The home of our subject and his excellent wife has been blessed by the birth of seven sons and daughters, namely: Henry W .; Martha, the wife of John Bower and a resident of Linn County, Kan .; Winnifred, Rosa, Clandon, Ellen and John. Ap- preciating the value of an education, Mr. and Mrs. Dingus have generously given their children the best possible opportunities for instruction. Mrs. Bower, an accomplished lady, is a graduate of the normal school at Ft. Scott and has taught school. Winnifred and Rosa are now attending the Kansas Normal School and have both taught with success. Financially prospered, Mr. Dingus owns over a half- section of land and devotes the most of his time to raising a superior grade of mules and horses. The extensive homestead is under a fine state of cultivation and improved with good and substan- tial buildings. Formerly members of the Baptist Church, Mr. and Mrs. Dingus now commune with
the Christian Church and are active in good work. Politically he was once a Republican but is now a Populist. During the Civil War he was a mem- ber of the state militia, and then a loyal citizen, is to-day the same, ever prompt to assist in matters of public welfare.
ENRY W. BRASE. The accessions to the population of southeastern Kansas have not been wholly or even principally confined to the cities. The excellence of the soil has been demonstrated, and large numbers of agricult- urists from the east and other countries have come hither and have gained success as tillers of the soil. Among the Germans who have become prosper- ous farmers of Linn County, none is more deserv- ing of inention than Mr. Brase, who occupies and owns a valuable farm on section 12, Potosi Town- ship.
Born in Germany March 28, 1827, our subject passed his boyhood years in the Fatherland, where he was the recipient of good educational advan- tages. In 1847 he emigrated to America, and after landing in New York proceeded directly to Philadelphia, whence he went to Baltimore, and from there to Cumberland County, Pa. Es- tablishing his home there, he continued to reside in that county until 1854, when he came west to Illinois and located in Lawrence County. Accom- panied by his family, he came to Linn County in the spring of 1856 and settled on the farm where he now lives. Here he owns one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, upon which he raises the various cereals and also engages to some extent in stock-raising. He has erected all the buildings necessary for the proper conduct of the work, and has embellished the place with many of the modern improvements.
During the Civil War Mr. Brase served in the army for three years, enlisting in Company I. Sec-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ond Kansas Cavalry, and serving with bravery un- til the expiration of his term of enlistment. He has been three times married. His first un- ion was celebrated in Lawrence County, III., to Miss Amy J. Moore, who died about 1855. He was again married in Lawrence County, Ill., choosing as his wife Miss Ollie Moore, and they became the parents of six children, only one of whom survives, Amy J., the widow of George Richison, who died in Linn County, Kan., Sep- tember 28, 1892. Mrs. Ollie Brase passed away in 1866.
In Linn County, Kan., Jnne 6, 1869, Mr. Brase was united in marriage with Miss Julia Richey, who was born in Adams County, Ill., January 7, 1847. They are the parents of five children: Effie M., who is the wife of llenry Merriman; Henry W., who married Artie Jarred; Katie, Ada and Gussie. The parents of Mrs. Brase, P. J. and Eliza (Worrell) Richey, came to Linn County in 1859 and died in Potosi Township, the father Au- gust 4, 1866, and the mother November 1, 1861. They were the parents of ten children, Mrs. Brase being the third in order of age. In their religious belief, Mr. and Mrs. Brase are in sympathy with the doctrines of the Christian Church, with which they hold membership, and in which he has held the office of Deacon. Hle is a man of keen perception and shrewd discernment, and has made a success of his chosen ocenpation, farming, in which he has always been engaged.
0 RVILLE P. WATSON, the efficient President of the Mound City Bank, of Linn County, and a leading merchant of his home city, is a native of Otsego County, N. Y., and was born July 7, 1832. Zara and Sallie (Fisk) Watson were both natives of the Empire State, where the father was well known as a successful farmer.
The paternal great-grandfather rebelled against King George in England, and emigrating to
America, made his home in the state of New York. Zara and Sallie (Fisk) Watson were the parents of six sons and three daughters, all of whom survived to mature age, and three are now living. Sarah, Mrs. Millis, is at home in New Lisbon, Otsego County, N. Y .; Fidelia, Mrs. Knis- kern, resides in Ilornellsville, N. Y. Our subject, Orville P., was reared upon the old homestead until fourteen years of age. He received a com- mon-school education, and leaving home before fifteen, for two years resided with his eldest brother, and then hired out to a man to learn the carpenter's trade, living with him two years. During the following summers Mr. Watson devoted himself to journeyman's work, and during the winters returned home and attended school.
In the year 1855 were united in marriage Or- ville P. Watson and Miss Calista A. Swift, born in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1831. Our subjeet and his estimable wife remained in Richfield a couple of years, and in 1857 removed to Linn County, some time before the organization of the present city. Mr. Watson settled on a wild prairie farm three and a-half miles north of the site of Mound City. There were then no neigh- bors, and the country round about presented a scene of loneliness, but our subjeet with cheerful energy built a frame house and entered with en- thusiasm upon the cultivation of the soil. Re- maining upon the farm until 1861, he also found profitable employment at his trade of a carpenter. His homestead of one hundred and sixty acres constantly inereased in value.
In 1862, as sutler, Mr. Watson went with the Fif- teenth Illinois Infantry to Memphis and was pres- ent at the siege of Vicksburg, taking an active part in the Grand Gulf and Mississippi campaign. After remaining two years in the service, our sub- ject spent six months in New York and then re- turned to Kansas, engaged in mercantile business in Mound City, and was one of the pioneers in that line of trade. Opening on a corner, in the building which he still occupies, he has continu- ously handled merchandise with most profitable results. Investing largely, he carried from the first a fine stock of goods, from 87,000 to $8,000 worth, and hauled his goods ninety miles, from
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Leavenworth, the trip then taking about two weeks.
Mr. Watson personally superintended the freighting of his goods and experienced many pe- culiar adventures incidental to those pioneer days. Later, he with three others organized the Mound City Bank, with which he has since been iden- tified, and which now has a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of a considerable amount. The bank was after a time re-organized, and at first Vice-President, our subject has for some time been President of the well known financial insti- tution. Beside his finely cultivated home farm of two hundred and forty acres, improved with excellent barns and a commodious and hand- somne residence, Mr. Watson owns other outside and inside valuable property interests and is numbered among the capitalists of Linn County. Ilis mercantile business averages $16,000 per year and is one of the best in his locality. His excel- lent wife entered into rest in July, 1889, mourned by all who knew her. She was the mother of two children, one of whom now survives, Frank G.
Mr. Watson is fraternally a valued member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and has ad- vanced to the thirty-second degree. Ile is a Mystie Shriner, belonging to Ararat Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Kansas City. For two-score years an active member of the order, our subject was Master of the blue lodge for years, was High Priest in the chapter and has been King in the same. lle was Color-bearer in Hugh De Payne Comman- dery, S. K. T., and in this ancient society has a host of friends.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Watson has taken a high place in local politics and has become one of the prominent men of Linn County. He is widely known and universally respected for his ability and upright character. Aside from other interests our subject is a Director, stockholder and Vice-President of the Bank of Bule Mound, and a stockholder and Director of the bank at Parker. Many years ago, passing through border troubles, he became acquainted with Montgomery, Jennison and John Brown. Surviving to witness the won- derful growth of Kansas, Mr. Watson lived to see spring into existence the flourishing town of
Mound City, of which he was for five years the efficient Mayor, and early became a recognized factor in the development and promotion of the vital interests of his home locality and Linn County.
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C APT. SOLOMON KAUFFMAN. The grand- father of our subject, Jacob Kauffman, was a native of Germany, and came to America some time during the Revolutionary War. Ile was a young man and settled in Chester County, Pa., where he married a lady who was also a native of Germany, and together they passed the remainder of their days, living to a good old age. Their relig- ious belief was in accordance with the Omish Mennonite Church, of which they were honored members. Their son, David, father of our subject, was born in Chester County, Pa., but removed to Kishacoquillas Valley, Mifflin County, where he married and pursued farming until March, 1845. He then sold his farm, and with teams and wagons took his family to Champaign County, Ohio, where he purchased land and made a comfortable farmer's home. There he and his worthy compan- ion passed the remainder of their days.
They were the parents of seven children. Joseph N., the eldest of the children, settled in Ohio in 1843, and was a minister in the Omish Mennonite Church. Later he became a bishop in the Dunkard Church and carried on his ministerial duties in Ohio principally, but died in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., January 19, 1891. Mattie married Jacob Hooley and still resides in Champaign County, Ohio, where she located in 1845. Chris- tian removed to Ohio in 1844, and resides in Champaign County. David J. settled in the Buckeye State in 1845, and after a short residence in Logan County, removed to MeLean County, Ill., thence to Shelby County, that state, and later joined the colony that founded Greeley, Colo. Ile next removed to Washington Territory, but in
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1891 he settled in Fresno County, Cal. Jonas went to Ohio in 1845, and later to MeLean Connty, Ill., where he died during the cholera epidemic. Jon- athan went to Ohio in 1845, and during the gold excitement visited California. He now resides in McLean County, Ill.
Solomon Kauffman, the youngest of the above mentioned family, was born in Mifflin County, Pa., January 6, 1832, and divided his time in youth in assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools a few months each winter. Ile was the first member of the Kauffman family to choose a trade in preference to tilling the soil. When nineteen years of age he began learning the carpenter's trade and served a three years' appren- ticeship. In 1852 he removed to MeLean Coun- ty, Ill., and in 1854 to Iowa. He put the roof on the first sawmill in Marshalltown, lowa, in the fall of the latter year, and on January 1, 1856, his shop, tools, ete., in Lafayette, Iowa, were destroyed by fire. The fertile soil and political excitement in Kansas Territory were attracting settlers in that direction, and he decided to make a home within its borders. He reached Kansas City April 30, ac- companied by Joseph Ingles, an old school teacher. They made the trip on foot from Kansas City to Lawrence, thence to Topeka, back to Lawrence, and thence to Neosho Valley, via the Sac and Fox Indian agencies, their only guide being a pocket compass. From Hampden, in Coffee Coun- ty, they went to the headwaters of the Pottawato- mie creeks, in Anderson County, and there took up claims.
At that time there were only five families with- in a radius of ten miles of their cabin. The border warfare was going on, and Mr. Kauffman at onee offered his services to the state organizations. He enlisted in the Kansas State Volunteer service under Gen. J. H. Lane and afterward joined the Kansas State Militia under Capt. Samuel Walker. Ile was present at Topeka, July 4, 1856, when the Kansas State Legislature was disbanded by United States troops, ready to aid the Free State men in whatever resolutions they saw fit to decide upon. The company under Captain Walker served until mustered out, November 30, 1856. It numbered ninety men when mustered out of service, and, as
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