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 28
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The Doctor's father worked at farm labor dur- ing his youth, and in his leisure hours read medi- cine with Doctor Wood, of Carrollton, III. Subse- quently he located as a physician in Winchester, Scott County, but again returned to the farm for a short time. Afterward he located in Greenfield,
Ill., removing thence to Waverly, where he died in 1858. His widow is still living and now makes her home in Oakland, Cal. Although reared on a slave plantation in the south, he became a bitter opponent of the institution of slavery, and in 1856 was a delegate to the first Republican con- vention held in Bloomington, Ill. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church and of the Masonic fraternity. He died on the Gulf of Mexico, while going to Texas for his health. The Metcalf family numbered seven children: Julia, wife of Silas Burnett, of Dallas, Tex .; Edwin T .; George D., a lawyer of Oakland, Cal .; Harriet, wife of Peter Casserly, of Springfield, Ill .; Richard W., who died in childhood; John W., professor of music in Oak- land, Cal .; and one who died in infancy.
Doctor Metcalf of this sketch spent his early life in Waverly, Ill., and there acquired his literary education. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army, and was assigned to Company G, One IIun- dred and First Illinois Infantry, in which he served eight months, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. Returning to Waverly in July, 1863, he entered the office of Dr. J. B. Miner, who had resigned his position as First Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and First Regiment. With him Mr. Metcalf read medicine for three years, and then attended lectures at Rush Medical College. In 1867 he located in Tallula, Ill., where he successfully engaged in practice un- til coming to Kansas in 1882.
The Doctor was married in 1864 to Chattie, daughter of .James and Thurza Burnett. She was born in Waverly, March 10, 1847. By their union were born seven children: Milton, now a lawyer of Kansas City; Anna, George, Patti, Ed- win, John and Belle, who died in infancy.
In politics, Dr. Metcalf is a stalwart Republican, and now represents Anderson and Linn Counties in the State Senate. The last session of the Assem- bly was a memorable one, as two Houses were organized in the lower branch of the Legislature, a legal one by the Republicans and an illegal one by the Populists. Senator Metcalf was a stanch sup- porter of the legal House and assisted in defend- ing it at all times. The history of that session is so well known throughout the Union that special
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mention is unnecessary in this volume. The Doc- tor has been Chairman of the Committee on Pub- lic Health and Immigration, and is a member of several other important committees. He belongs to the Christian Church, and socially is connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Grand Army of the Re- public.
Other business interests occupy the attention of our subject besides lis practice. He is a stock- holder in the People's Bank of Colony and in the Eastern Kansas Telephone Company. He also owns a farm near Colony. When he first came to this place he conducted a drug business, but after a time gave it up, as his attention was all required by his increasing practice. He now re- ceives a liberal patronage and stands in the front rank as a physician. His popularity and promi- nence in all circles are well merited.
HOMAS J. BASKERVILLE, M. D., now lo- cated on section 1, Paris Township, Linn County, owns a fine farm of one hundred and six acres under a state of high productiveness, and well improved with excellent and commodious buildings. He is widely known as a magnetic heal- er, and has many patients in his immediate vicin- ity and the surrounding country. He has been called to patients in Illinois, Missouri and lowa, his success having been phenomenal in the care and cure of the afflicted. Dr. Baskerville was born in Cumberland County, Va., May 20, 1830. His father, John Baskerville, was a Frenchman and a gallant soldier in the War of 1812. He served under General Jackson at New Orleans, and was under General Harrison (Old Tippecanoe) during the Indian wars.
The mother of our subject, Fannie Woodson, was born and reared in Cumberland County, Va., and being a colored woman was held in slavery.
She was brought from the Old Dominion to Cooper County, Mo., with our subject, who was also a slave. Thomas J. remained with his devoted mother until she died on the same plantation. Our subject was twelve or thirteen years old when the family were separated, and from that time never saw his father. He was held in bondage until September 22, 1862, when he was freed by the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln. A just and fair-minded man, he believes that in considering the condition of affairs at that time, he was treated well. While a slave he was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe Adley, with whom he was per- mitted to live in all about six years. Finally separated, she afterward died in Cooper County, Mo. A second time entering the bonds of wed- lock, Thomas J. Baskerville and Miss Hannah Brad- ford were married in 1863, in Bates County, Mo. Surviving a short time, his excellent wife passed away in Mound City in the fall of 1864.
Marrying for a third time, upon April 17, 1867, Dr. Baskerville was joined in matrimony with Miss Amanda Parks, a native of Benton County, Mo. He and his worthy wife were the parents of one child, Thomas J., Jr., who, a bright and promising little one, passed away when nine- teen months old. When upon March 23, 1863, having journeyed from Henry County, Mo., to Linn County, Kan., the Doctor made a permanent home in his adopted state, he leased a farm for five years in Mound City Township, and at the expiration of that time purchased forty acres in Paris Township, where he immediately settled and which has since been his constant residence.
Financially prospered, the Doctor has added sixty-six acres to the original homestead, brought the land up to a highly cultivated state and im- proved the farm with a substantial and attractive building. Since the early '80s our subject de- veloped wonderful powers of magnetism, and has devoted himself to the care and treatment of the sick and suffering with the best of results. Known far and wide, Dr. Baskerville is held in high esteem as a man of ability and Christian character. IIe takes an active interest in local and national gov- ernment and is a pronounced Republican.
A liberal minded and progressive citizen, our
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subject lends ready aid to benevolent enterprises and assists generously in all matters of mutual welfare. Fraternally he is a valued member of Solomon Lodge No. 16, A. F. & A. M., and having served with faithful courage in the army from the fall of 1862 until the close of the war, is an honored member of Montgomery Post No. 33, G. A. R. Literally a self-made man, fighting his upward way through obstacles, our subject has won the respect and hearty good-will of a host of ac- quaintances.
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R ICHARD ARNOLD, a prosperous farmer liv - ing on section 7, is a native of Virginia, now West Virginia, and was born July 5, 1831. His father, James Arnold, was also a native of that state, and was a son of Zach- ariah Arnold, a German, who emigrated to this conntry before the Revolutionary War, and served in the War of 1812. His mother was Elizabeth (Sloan) Arnold, a native of West Virginia, who was a daughter of Richard Sloan, a native of Dublin, Ireland. His parents were married in West Virginia, and resided there until their death. They had six children, all now living and members of the German Baptist Church. Our subject was reared on the farm in Virginia, receiving his edu- cation at the neighboring schools. The home was one of the grand old places of the south, where he remained until he was thirty years of age, follow- ing the occupation of farming.
Mr. Arnold was married December 4, 1861, to Miss Sally Flickinger, who was a native of Somer- set County, Pa., and a daughter of Elizabeth (Buegliley) Flickinger, a native of the Key- stone State. Mrs. Flickinger was a daughter of John Bueghley, who came to America from Ger- many, married and made his permanent home here. Mrs. Flickinger's parents are both deceased. They were parents of nine children, six of whom
are living. Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Arnold settled in Ashland County, Ohio, where they made their home for twenty years. Coming west in 1883, they located on the farm where they now reside. Ile began life with a very small allowance, but by dint of perseverance and honest hard labor he now has three hundred and twelve acres of improved land, and gives his time and attention exclusively to farming, making a specialty of grain and stock. In 1885 he built a neat and pretty residence costing $3,000. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are the parents of the following chil- dren: Anna S., Ada A., Lizzie C., Mary E., Rich- ard P., Ellen R., Virginia, Kate and George S.
The family are members of the progressive part of the Dunkard Church. He always having taken an active part, and has been Deacon. He has given his children a good education, the oldest having graduated from Ashland College. Mr. Arnold is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association, and is also a member of the Board of Education. Politically our subject is a Republican, taking great interest in politics but never caring to hold office. During the Civil War he was drafted by the Con- federates, but evaded and did not participate in the war. He has always taken much interest in educational matters and was one of the incorpora- tors of Ashland College, in Ohio, of which he was also a Trustee.
ILLIAM HI. COOPER, an enterprising agri- eulturist of Reeder Township, has been a resident of Anderson County for a period of about thirty-five years, during which time he has taken a leading part in furthering the welfare of this region. His well improved farm is situ- ated on section 27, where he is engaged in gen- eral farming.
The birth of Mr. Cooper occurred in Berkshire County, Mass., October 24, 1838. He is the son of
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Austin O. and Abbie (Churchill) Cooper. The former was a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Massachusetts. After their marriage they con- tinued to reside in Berkshire County until 1849, when they removed with their family to Hillsdale County, Mich. After making their home there for ten years they emigrated to Kansas, finally making a settlement in Reeder Township, Anderson Coun- ty. On this farm they passed their remaining years, the father dying February 6, 1885, and his wife some years previously, May 10, 1874. They were worthy citizens, highly respected in this com- munity.
The early boyhood of William H. Cooper was passed in his native county. When he was twelve years old he went with his parents to Hillsdale County, Mich., and during the ten years of his residence there obtained a good education in the common schools. In the spring of 1859 he came to Anderson County, and has since made his home here with the exception of three years when he was in California. Prior to leaving Michigan he had learned the carpenter's trade, and this line of business he followed both in Kansas and Califor- nia. After his return from the west he engaged in farming, and has engaged in agricultural pur- suits up to the present time.
In Reeder Township, on the 15th of May, 1862, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cooper and Miss Margaret Davis. Mrs. Cooper was born near Montrose, Iowa. Three children were born of this union: Edna D., Helen and Everett. Heleu was attending school in Garnett, this state, in the fall of 1890, when she was called to her final home, being then nearly fifteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are highly esteemed members of the Presbyterian Church, to which their daughter also belongs.
Our subject owns and operates a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which is exceedingly fertile land and under good cultivation. He has erected a good set of farm buildings and has a substantial residence, which is the abode of hos- pitality and good cheer. Ile is numbered among the leading agriculturists of this locality, and his farm is a model of thrift and enterprise. His many friends and neighbors have often elected
him to fill local offices of responsibility and trust, and he has justified their choice by the able manner in which he has discharged the duties per- taining to each office. In the early part of the '60s he was given the position of Postmaster of Central City, and continued as such for several years. Personally, he is a man of high character and integrity, and has won the good will and friendship of all who know him.
G M. COFFMAN. Among the young men of Neosho County who have selected agricul- ture as their vocation in life and who, judging from present indications, are bound to realize their most sanguine anticipations, is the subject of this biographical notice, who is residing on section 15, Ladore Township. Mr. Coffman was born in Adams County, Ind., in 1852, and is the son of David L. and Margaret (Hughes) Coff- man, both natives of Ohio. The Coffmans were of German descent.
Our subject was reared in his native state, and remained there until 1870, when he came to Kan- sas with a sister, the parents having died, leaving a family of eight children, of whom G. M. Coffman was the youngest. On his arrival in Kansas, Mr. Coffman bought an unimproved claim, and settled where he now resides. He has it all under culti- vation, and has made a specialty of growing hay and shipping it to the southern markets.
Mr. Coffman received a good education in the schools of Roanoke, Ind., and for several years after coming to this state taught school during the winter terms. He taught for five terms at Galesburg, and also taught in the schools in the township where he now resides. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Coffman was married to Miss Addic Ferguson, and to them have been born three chil- dren, as follows: Guy M., Clyde C. and Thomas
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E. Mrs. Coffman spent her early days in Michi- gan and received her education at Benton Ilarbor. For some years she taught in the schools of her native county, and also taught after coming to Kansas.
Politically, Mr. Coffman is a member of the People's party, but prior to this time was a stanch Democrat. He has served in numerous township offices, acting as Trustee of Ladore Town- ship, and he has also held most of the township offices. Socially he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Patriarchs. He has also been National President of the Anti-Horse Thief Association for two years and is always pres- ent at the meetings. He has also served as State President of this association in Kansas for two years. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman occupy a pleasant social position among the people of this commun- ity, by whom they are respected for their intelli- gence, and heartily liked for their frank, open- hearted hospitality and genial and kindly ways.
NDREW M. DAVIS, M. D., who has been engaged in the prosecution of his chosen profession in Colony since December. 1886, claims Ohio as the state of his na- tivity. Ilis birth occurred in Hayesville October 4, 1852, his parents being William and Eliza- beth (Byerly) Davis. His father was born in Allegheny County, Pa., in 1840, and in early life emigrated to Ohio, where he met and married Miss Byerly. Hle resided in Hayesville, Ohio, until 1880, when he removed to Ilolt County, Mo., lo- cating on a farm near Craig. There his death occurred in September, 1881. In politics he was a Democrat, and he held a number of local offices. In religious belief he was a Methodist and for
many years was an active member of the church. His wife still survives him.
Upon his father's farm the Doctor passed the days of his boyhood and youth amidst play and work, and after attending the common schools completed his education in the Vermillion Insti- tute, in Hayesville. He then engaged in teaching school in Ashland County, Ohio, and was Princi- pal at Mifflin for three years. Later he taught one term of school in Holt County, Mo. While en- gaged in teaching, Mr. Davis devoted his leisure hours to reading medicine, with the desire of en- tering the medical profession, and later became a student in the medical department of the Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1883 with the degree of M. D. He made his first location as a physician in Fairfax, Mo., where he engaged in practice un- til December, 1885, the time of his arrival in Col- ony. Here he opened an office, and it was not long before he built up a good practice.
An important event in the life of the Doctor occurred in the year 1886, when was celebrated his marriage with Miss Emma C., daughter of Henry and Nancy (Simpson) Pittis, and a native Harrison County, Ohio. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two daughters, Nellie and Mary Edna. The parents both hold membership with the Presbyterian Church and are highly re- spected people of the community, who hold an enviable position in social circles.
The Doctor is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and is now Worthy Master of Olive Branch Lodge No. 212, A. F. & A. M. Ile also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star, of which he is Secretary, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. After locating in Colony lie engaged in the drug business for three years, but on ac- count of his increasing patronage he was forced to abandon it and give his entire time and atten- tion to the care of his patients. Ile keeps well abreast with all the discoveries connected with the medical science and has a reputation which many an older physician might well envy. He was elected October 18, 1893, Grand Medical Director for the Select Knights of the Ancient Order of United Workmen for the state of Kansas. In Sep-
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tember, 1893, he was appointed on the Board of Pension Examining Surgeons at Garnett, Kan., and is Seeretary of the Board.
AMES H. HILL. Those to whom has been granted the privilege of residing in Kansas for the past thirty years or more have wit- nessed an uninterrupted series of improve- ments. Where once rose the smoke of the camp fire now ascends the busy hum of industry from a thriving city. Where once the hunter roamed in search of game the farmer now tills the soil. Chaos has been reduced to system, and poverty has been replaced by prosperity. As one of the number whose efforts have contributed to secure these results, we present the name of James H. Hill, a resident farmer of Anderson County. Since coming to this county in 1860, he has been inti- mately associated with its material development and has been especially prominent in Westphalia Township, where his pleasant rural home is located on section 12.
It will not be amiss to state briefly the ancestral history of our subject. Frederick Hill was born in Brownswick, Germany, April 13, 1745, and took the place of an older brother who had been drafted to fight in the British army against the Colonies. Coming to America, the regiment camped in Canada, and the St. Lawrence River being frozen over, he and a companion, a Mr. Steckman, deserted the army, erossed on the ice and joined the defenders of the Colonies. IIe continued a faithful soldier to the cause of liberty until the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
After the war Frederick Hill located in Bedford County, Pa. He married Elizabeth Defenbaugh, who was born in Laneaster County, Pa., February 5, 1757, and at the age of eleven years removed to Bedford County, l'a. She passed away September 28, 1854, aged ninety-seven years, seven months
and twenty-three days. Frederick Hill died May 2, 1838, aged ninety-three years and nineteen days. They were the parents of seven sons and five daughters, their eldest child being Jacob, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., March 17, 1781, and died July 25, 1845. His wife, whose maiden name was Rosena Elizabeth Byer, was born Feb- ruary 23, 1798, and died November 24, 1859. Her parents were Frederick and Rosena Elizabeth (Lantz) Byer; the former was born in Frederick County, Md., February 11, 1758, and died in 1821, aged sixty-four years; the latter was horn August 13, 1760, and died March 26, 1818.
Grandfather Hill had a family of five sons and six daughters, the second of the children being John Lantz, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., June 11, 1824. In 1846 he married Miss Susan Kellerman, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., December 30, 1827, being a daughter of John and Dorothy Kellerman, natives of Bucks County. Pa. In the fall of 1859 Mr. Hill moved from the Key- stone State to Kansas, and in the following year settled on land he had purchased. There his death occurred September 17, 1879, when fifty-five years of age. Ifis widow is still living and resides on the old homestead, which comprised five hundred acres at the time of his death. She is a member of the United Brethren Church, and her husband held membership in the same. They were most worthy and esteemed citizens, and enjoyed the respeet and affection of all with whom they became ac- quainted. Eight children were born to them. Irvin died at the age of twenty-four years; Mary mar- ried James Magaghey and became the mother of four children, Ora, Susie, Maud and Fannie; Dora married David Kellerman and has three children, Asa, Troy and Pearl; James II., our subject, was next in order of birth; Amanda, widow of Samuel S. Wade, has two children, Ethel and Jennie; Sadie married Clarence Woodward; Augusta mar- ried John Griffin and has two children, Dell and Zeno; Nellie is the youngest member of the fam- ily. In polities the father of these children was a Republican.
James H. Hill, the original of this notice, first saw the light of day in Pennsylvania, his birth occurring October 31, 1854. As he was only about
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five years of age when his parents came to Kansas, he has but dim recollections of the Keystone State. Since first coming here he has resided on the old farm and is now the owner of six hundred and fifty-six acres. He follows stoek-raising, deals in live stock, and being thorough-going and indus- trious is now in very comfortable eireumstances. He was married in 1876 to Miss Margaret Weddle, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of William Weddle. Six children were born of this union: John, who died when four years of age; James Bruce, Ruth A., Mark D., Fred C. and William L.
The principles of the Republican party fully commend themselves to the judgment of Mr. Hill as worthy of his sanction. In carrying on his ex- tensive farming interests he does not lose sight of the stock-raising industry and on his farm has some thorough-bred Clyde horses. Ilis fine farm is a standing monument to his industry and good management. He enjoys to an unusual degree the confidence of the community.
W ILLIAM B. SCOTT, Postmaster at Oak- wood and Treasurer of Centreville Town- ship, is numbered among the influential residents of Linn County and conducts an exten- sive mercantile business in the thriving village of which he is the most prominent citizen. Through fair dealings and courtesy to customers he has won an enviable reputation among the people of Oakwood as well as the surrounding country, and has built up a good trade. Prior to embarking in mereantile pursuits he followed the occupation of a farmer and owns and occupies a well improved estate comprising two hundred and fifteen aeres on section 1, Centreville Township.
Mr. Seott is of direet Irish descent. His pater- nal great-grandfather, James Seott, was a native
of the Emerald Isle, and some years after his mar- riage emigrated to the United States, where for a time he sojourned in New York and later settled in Jefferson County, Ohio, where he died. The grandfather of our subject, William Scott, was likewise a native of Ireland and accompanied the other members of the family to America, settling in Jefferson County, Ohio, where he died. In that county James, the father of our subject, was born on the 7th of April, 1807. He grew to manhood in the place of his birth and there was united in marriage with Miss Jane Mansfield, whose birth occurred in Jefferson County.
The maternal grandfather of our subjeet was Thomas Mansfield, who died on his farm in Ilar- rison County, Ohio. The father of Thomas was William, whose death also occurred in Ilarrison County. The Mansfield family traces its aneestry to England, according to tradition. The parents of our subjeet married and settled in Jefferson County, whence in 1842 they removed to Chari- ton County, Mo., and for one year made their home in Brunswick. Thenee they went to Bur- lington, Iowa, and later sojourned in various places for two years, at the expiration of that time locating in Galena, Ill., and residing there about one year. From that place they proceeded to Green County, Wis., and remained there for two years. Returning to Jefferson County, Ohio, they stayed there until the spring of 1850, when the father, leaving his family in the Buckeye State, made the long overland journey across the plains to California, where he was engaged princi- pally in mining for three years.
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