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 31
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S AMUEL SHAFFER. The farming class of America, and especially of southeastern Kansas, is notable for the degree of intel- ligence that is possessed by its representa- tives. Our subject is one of those men to whom this county owes much. Ile is a native of Penn- sylvania, and was born in Blair County, June 1, 1844. His father, also a Pennsylvanian by birth, was born in Huntingdon County in 1808. 1Iis mother, Catherine (Hillman) Shaffer, was a native of the same state. The family was among the old- est in Pennsylvania, and were prominent in all matters of public interest. Grandfather Shaffer was one of the Hessians in the Revolutionary War.
The parents of our subject died in Pennsylvania.
Samuel Shaffer was one of eight children born to the above couple. Ile was reared on a farm, and early learned the rudiments of that occupa- tion. In September, 1865, he was married to Miss Clara Henderson, a native of Jefferson County, Pa., and born August 5, 1845. In 1869 our sub- ject and his estimable wife came west, and for a time located in Kansas City. In February of the following year, they came to their present home, and at that time the country round their home was very wild, no house being in sight. They set- tled on one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is now improved, and by his carnest efforts Mr. Shaffer has one of the finest farms in the locality. He is engaged in general farming, and has been very successful in all his work.
In 1861, our subject ran away from home and enlisted in Company C, Third Pennsylvania Regi- ment, being then only sixteen years of age. lle served all through the three months' campaign un- der General Wynkoop. When discharged from service, he went to Washington and drove a team for the Government, and assisted in building many of the forts around Arlington. He went home during the winter and summer, and in August en- listed for nine months in Company B, One HIun- dred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania, as a private. He later became the Colonel's Orderly. He took part in the battles of Antietam and Chancellors- ville, besides doing other active service. Ile was dis- charged at the end of the service and went home. The next summer he again enlisted, becoming a volunteer in Company B, Two Hundred and Eighth Pennsylvania Division. Hle was in the charge at Petersburgh, Va., under Butler April 2, 1865, and was also present at the surrender of Lee. At the time of the Grand Review at Washi- ington, D. C., he belonged to the First District, Ninth Army Corps. He was mustered out of service June 1, 1865, having served a little over two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living: Minnie Kate, Robert, Rosa Ellen, S. B., Jr., Rolla Em- ery and Gertrude. William is deceased. The children have had the best educational advantages.
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Miss Minnie K. was a student at the business col- lege of Topeka, and is now a practical stenograph- er, type-writer and telegraph operator. She took in short hand the last speech made in the county by Senator Plumb.
Politically, Mr Shaffer is a Republican, and has taken an active part in all the work of that party. He has been a member of the School Board, and has frequently been a delegate at conventions. He was Sheriff of the county for four years. Our subject is a member of Antietam Post, G. A. R., at Parsons, and is also one of the Patriarchs of America.
R ICHARD LENOX, a prosperous and enter- prising general agriculturist and successful stock-raiser pleasantly located upon section 14, Osage Township, Miami County, Kan., emigrated hither from Delaware County, Ind., in September, 1881, and has for more than twelve years been identified with the upward growth and progressive interests of his present home. Aside from his life-work as a farmer our subject has with fidelity discharged the duties of public office to the great satisfaction of the general public, and fully commands the high regard of a wide ac- quaintance. Mr. Lenox, who was born August 5, 1854, in Delaware County, Ind., was the son of David Lenox, likewise a native of the same state and county. The mother, Rose (Bonner) Lenox, also a native of Indiana, was born in Henry Coun- ty. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents of our subject were numbered among the industrious and enterprising pioncer settlers of Indiana. The parents were reared and educated in the primitive schools of the early days, the buildings, desks and seats all being constructed of logs. After marriage they settled in Delaware County, Ind., upon a farm,
where the father passed away in the month of July, 1863.
David Lenox had some time previous to liis death enlisted in Company B, Eighty-fourth Indi- ana Regiment, but through his untimely death the country lost a faithful citizen, and a man who if he had lived would have proven a soldier of cour- age and endurance. The mother is a resident of Muncie, Ind. She married a second time, then wedding A. Givins, now deceased. The parents had but one child, Richard, who, like his father, was reared in Delaware County, Ind., and attend- ing the excellent public schools, enjoyed good cdu- cational advantages. lle carly began the battle of life, and from his youth assisted in the labors of the farm. Continuing to engage in agricultural pursuits, Mr. Lenox remained in Indiana until 1881. For some time previous he had deter- mined to try his fortunes in the farther west, and finally at the latter period, 1881, he removed to Kansas, where he has prosperously won his upward way to a comfortable competence and assured suc- cess. Richard Lenox and Miss Susan Brown were married in Chebanse, Kankakee County, Ill., and received the best wishes of many friends. Mrs. Lenox, born in Henry County, Ind., was educated in her birthplace and, a lady of ability, was well fitted to assume the responsibilities of domestic life.
The pleasant home of our subject and his worthy wife has been blessed by the birth of five chil- dren, David B., Willard W., Swannie D., Rosa, and Baker, all of whom will enjoy every possible opportunity to prepare themselves for a useful and honored future. When our subject removed to Miami County he settled at once upon his pres- ent farm, which he had purchased sometime previ- ous to his permanent settlement in Osage Town- ship. Ile owns two hundred and fifteen acres of land, highly cultivated, and improved with a com- modious and attractive residence, large barn and out-buildings. Politically a Republican and a local leader of the party, Mr. Lenox has been School Treasurer, and for one term Justice of the Peace, giving to cach official obligation elose at- tention and efficient care. He shelters upon his farm some excellent stock of high grade, and has
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been especially successful in raising cattle and horses. Mr. and Mrs. Lenox liberally aid in the good work of their home neighborhood, and enter- ing with cordiality into all matters of public wel- fare, have gained the esteem and respect of the entire community by whom they are surrounded.
W ILLIAM C. HUTCHISON, an enter- prising general agriculturist successfully handling large numbers of stock, is one of the extensive land owners of Kansas and culti- vates a valuable farm, desirably located upon sec- tion 9, Richmond Township, Franklin County. Emigrating from Richland County, Ohio, to the farther west, our subject settled in his present lo- cality in April, 1885, and since then has been identified with the upward growth and advancing interests of his adopted state. Mr. Hutchison is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, and was born November 10, 1842. His father, John C. Hutchison, a man of worth and ability, was widely and favorably known and highly respected in the Buckeye State. The mother, Jane Hutch- ison, late in life making her home in Kansas, passed away in Ottawa in November, 1891, at a good old age. Our subject spent the days of boy- hood in the town of Fairview, Guernsey County, Ohio, and reared to habits of self-reliant industry, enjoyed the benefit of instruction in the common schools of his home district. At eighteen years of age, beginning life for himself, Mr. Hutchison received employment as a clerk in a general store in Monroe County, Ohio, and worked faithfully for his uncles a period of about two years. He later attended school in Guernsey County for four months and then, anxious to more thoroughly fit himself for the work of life, in June, 1865, en- tered upon a course of study in Eastman's Busi- ness College located in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Having satisfactorily completed his practical studies, Mr. Hutchison returned to Guernsey
County, Ohio, and at once received employment in a hardware store, where he remained two years. In April, 1868, our subject engaged in mercantile business in Antrim, Ohio, in company with John Bickham, the firm name being Biekham & Hutch- ison. The partnership continued for three years, in which time the business increased in magnitude, and the firm soon gained an en viable reputation for carrying a complete line of goods of the latest and best makes and of a choice variety and design. At the expiration of three years Mr. Bickhamn sold out his interest to A. H. Hutchison, a younger brother of onr subject and a man of ability and enterprise. For five years the Hutchison Broth- ers conducted a business second to none in its line in that part of the state, and made a wide ac- quaintance throughout the county. The firm known as W. C. Ilutchison & Co. enjoyed the confidence and best wishes of the entire commu- nity of Antrim, but at the close of the five years the brothers removed the remainder of their stoek to Plymouth, Richland County, Ohio, and con- tinued together until 1883, when they closed out and devoted themselves to other occupations.
Mr. Hutchison next prospected for two years in the west, and after some time bought in Frank- lin County, Kan., in connection with his brother nine hundred and sixty acres of some of the finest land in this section of country. The interests of our subject and his brother A. II. were mutual until March, 1892, when they dissolved partner- ship, William C. retaining six hundred and forty acres, on entire section of land. He is a large stock-raiser and has some of the best cattle and horses herded in the west, and a practical farmer and a man of clear judgment and broad intelli- gence, is numbered among the leading citizens and progressive agriculturists of Franklin Coun- ty. February 10, 1870, in Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio, were united in marriage William C. Hutchison and Miss Alice V. Bracken, a native of Ohio. The union of our subject and his estim- able wife has been blessed by the birth of four children: Pearl M., Jennie S., John E. and W. B.
Fraternally, Mr. Hutchison is associated with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and is like- wise a valued member of the Independent Order
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of Odd Fellows, and without being in any sense of the word a politician, is intelligently interested in both local and national affairs. His sons and daughters, bright young people, will have every opportunity to worthily prepare themselves for any position of trust to which they may be called, and enjoying an excellent education, liave before them the prospect of a successful and useful future.
D EMETRIUS E. BUTTS. New York has con- tributed to Kansas many of the best citizens now residing in the Sunflower State, but she has contributed none more worthy of respect than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, and who is the present Sheriff of Miami County. A man of great industry, undoubted integrity, and more than ordinary business capacity, he has, while developing his farm and making a home, unconsciously made for himself a name and char- acter that are to-day known and read of all men. As a farmer, he is thorough and practical in all his improvements, buildings and surroundings, and it has always been his aim to make them harmonious with his own taste and that of his family. As an official, he has discharged the duties and obliga- tions of his office in a manner eminently satisfac- tory to the people.
The father of our subject, J. D. Butts, was a na- tive of Otsego County, N. Y., and the son of Elijah Butts, who, in turn, was the son of a sol- dier in the War of 1812, and probably also in the Revolution. The marriage of J. D. Butts united him with Miss Lucinda Furbush, who was born in Massachusetts, and removed thence to Otsego County, N. Y. For a time he engaged in farmn- ing, and later conducted a flourishing business as a manufacturer of furniture. In 1853 he removed to De Kalb County, III., where he engaged in the
grain and lumber business until the opening of the Civil War.
As Captain of Company K, Forty-second Illinois Infantry, J. D. Butts went to the front at the break- ing out of the war. Later he commanded Company C, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, after which he was made Major of the same regiment, which po- sition he held when discharged in 1866. He re- turned to DeKalb County, and resided there until 1873, when he was appointed Assistant State Grain Inspector at Chicago. He made his home in that city until his death in 1881. Politically, he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was a successful business man, whose abilities gained for him the respect of his associates. His wife passed from earth in 1891. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are now living.
Born in Otsego County, N. Y., February 21, 1844, the subject of this sketch was a mere child when he accompanied the family to De Kalb Coun- ty, Ill. He received his education in the common schools of the county, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm. On the 22d of January, 1861, he enlisted in the regimental band of the Forty- second Illinois Infantry, being at that time in his seventeenth year. In 1862 the band was mus- tered out of service. In September of the ensu- ing year he enlisted as a member of Company E, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war, winning by his gallan- try and meritorious conduct the rank of First Lieutenant. On the 27th of December, 1865, he was mustered out of the service.
Returning to Illinois, Mr. Butts continued to reside in De Kalb County until September, 1866, when he went to Riley County, Kan., and there engaged in the milling business. In 1870 he re- moved to Butler County, where he erected the second sawmill in the county. After one and one- half years spent there, he disposed of the mill and returned to De Kalb County, III., where he re- mained for one year. The year 1873 witnessed his arrival in Miami County, and locating in Osawatomie, he purchased land and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He lived for a time on his farm, and in February, 1890, returned to Osawatomie. In 1891 he was elected Sheriff of
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Miami County, and re-elected in 1893 by a large plurality, since which time he lias resided in Paola.
In 1864 Mr. Butts was united in marriage with Miss Theodosia, daughter of J. II. Wagner. They are the parents of three children: Arthur E., who resides at Ionia, Mich .; Jessie, Mrs. Jesse Wells, who resides on a farm belonging to her father; and Henry W., who has a clerical position in Pa- ola. A Republican in politics, Mr. Butts has served in other responsible positions besides that of Sheriff. For three terms he was Trustee of Osawatomie Township, of which he was also Enu- merator. Ile has been and is still an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party. Socially, he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, East- ern Star, the Knights of Pythias, the Sons of Vet- erans and the Grand Army of the Republic.
The real-estate possessions of Mr. Butts include some valuable property in Osawatomie, in addi- tion to a farm comprising two hundred and eighty- three acres in Osawatomie Township. A man of enterprise, he is ever ready to extend his assist- ance in all matters of public interest, and has con- tributed not a little to the advancement of the county. While prominent in politics, he is also a man who is thoroughly domestie in his tastes and habits, loving his family and choosing to spend his time in their society.
TEPHEN S. OUTMAN. Southeastern Kan- sas boasts of many finely improved farms, from whose fertile acres are annually gath- ered bounteous harvests of golden grain. Among the estates which in point of cultivation rival those of the east, the writer noticed with especial interest the farm owned and operated by Mr. Outman. While not so large as many others in Linn County (being eighty acres in ex- tent), nevertheless every acre has been rendered productive, thus enhancing the moneyed value of
the place. Taken all in all, it is one of the best farms in Centreville Township, where it lies on section 8.
Mr. Outman has resided in Linn County for a number of years, having come hither from Jeffer- son County, Mo., in October of 1877. A few words in regard to his parentage will not be amiss before mentioning briefly the principal events in his useful life. His father, the late John Outman, was born in Steuben County, N. Y., and in an early day removed to St. Francois County, Mo., where he married Miss Mary Chapman, a native of that county. The young couple settled there and made it their home until the death of Mrs. Outman, which occurred in October, 1867. Dur- ing the following year the father removed to Jeff- erson County, Mo., and there resided until his death, which occurred in January, 1874.
There were twelve children in the family, eleven of whom attained to manhood and womanhood. They are: Caroline, Angeline, Ann, Jolın, Ste- pben S., William, Robert, Martin, Newton, James and Alice. The fifth in order of birth of the ehil- dren is Stephen S., who was born in St. Francois County, Mo., April 13, 1849, and was there reared to maturity, receiving the advantages of a com- mon-school education. At the age of about nine- teen he accompanied his father to Jefferson County, Mo., but sojourned there only from March to July of 1868, when he removed to Osawatomie, Kan., and learned the trade of a stone mason in that city.
After sojourning in Kansas some two and a-half years, Mr. Outman returned to Jefferson County, Mo., and there engaged at his trade and in mining. In October, 1877, he again returned to the Sun- flower State, this time settling in Liberty Town- ship, Linn County, where he engaged in farming for nine years. From there he removed to Cen- treville, of which he has since been a resident. His marriage occurred in Jefferson County, Mo., June 4, 1873, his bride being Miss Hattie Roberts, who was born in Jefferson County March 10, 1857. She is the daughter of Henry and Jane (Fletcher) Roberts, and her father resided in Jefferson County until his demise. Mr. and Mrs. Outman have seven children, whose names are Robert L., Bertha E.,
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Carrie E., Henry L., Alpha M., Harlan V. and Frederic Stephen.
The educational interests of the township have always received the hearty support of Mr. Outman and he has served as School Director for a number of years. He has also held a number of local positions, in all of which he has rendered satisfac- tory and efficient service, his influence being used for the promotion of the best interests of his fellow- citizens. He is a member of the Church of God and is an earnest worker in religions enterprises. A genial, entertaining companion and an honorable industrious man, he naturally occupies a high place in the regard of all who know him, and he is one of the public-spirited citizens who have contributed so largely to the progress of the community.
ESSE B. WELLS, SR., a prosperous general agriculturist and a successful stock-raiser pleasantly located upon section 23, Osawa- tomie Township, Miami County, Kan., has been intimately associated with the history and upward growth of the state since the year 1856, when he made this part of the country his pernia- nent home. Our subject was born in Monroe County, Ind., December 6, 1828. 1Iis father, David Wells, a native of Virginia, was born in 1801 and was the son of Elijah Wells, who emigrated to Kentucky, where at a good old age he passed away. The father of our subject married in Ken- tucky Miss Lucy Berry, a native of the state, who was born in 1801. Soon after their marriage the parents journeyed to Indiana and settled upon the land where they resided until 1850, when they removed' to the far-off state of Iowa, making their permanent home in Clarke County. There the father passed away in 1857, and the mother surviving until 1865, then entered into rest. A farmer by occupation, and an energetic hard-work- ing man, the father was universally respected, and his good wife, aiding him in the labor of life, pos-
sessed the esteem of all who knew her. The eight children who clustered in their home were Eliza- beth, Jesse B., John F., Mary, Thomas W., Henry T., Hester A. and Susan.
Our subject, the eldest son, reared in Monroe County, attended the district school of the neigh- borhood in childhood, but early began his self-reli- ant career as a bread winner, working in youth upon his father's farm and becoming well versed in the duties of agricultural life. Marrying when very young, he had only just attained his majority when with his wife and child he removed to Lucas County, lowa, where he remained some four or five years engaged in tilling the soil of the great corn state. He then sold out his interests in that local- ity and bought land in Clarke County, Iowa, where he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits nntil 1856, when, disposing of his second Iowa farm, he removed to his present locality, Miami County, Kan. Buying a Government claim in Osawatomie Township, Mr. Wells improved the wild land and afterward purchased eighty acres on section 23, to which he has since added another eighty. He has brought the soil up to a high state of cultivation and has likewise improved the valuable homestead with excellent buildings, commodious barns and an attractive and comfortable residence. Devoting himself with enterprise to farming, our subject has made a success of his avocation in life, and is now numbered among the substantial citizens of Miami County.
February 24, 1848, were united in marriage Jesse B. Wells and Miss Elizabeth Whitson, born in Monroe County, Ind., March 29, 1829. Reared in her birthplace, the estimable wife of our subject was the daughter of Wesley Whitson, a native of Kentucky and the son of a noted Methodist di- vine, who lived and died in Kentucky. The mother of Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Jane (Mitchell) Whitson, like- wise born in Kentucky, was the daughter of James Mitchell, who emigrated from Kentucky in 1845 to Monroe County, Ind., where he passed away. The parents of Mrs. Wells were wedded in Monroe County, Ind., and there the devoted mother died in 1833, mourned by all who knew ber. The father surviving many years passed away in the '60s. Unto the union of Mr. and
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Mrs. Whitson were born five children: Solon T., Numa W., Maria L., Elizabeth A. and Margaret.
The cozy home of Mr. and Mrs. Wells has been blessed by the birth of sons and daughters, five of whom are now living. Mana is the wife of Bickley Meadow; Numa married Ada Holland and resides in Paola; John P. married Hattie Ellis, who died in Oklahoma in June, 1890; Jesse B., Jr., married Miss Jessie A. Butts; Minnie is the wife of John Westfall, of Oklahoma. Our subject and his wife have been afflicted by the death of five beloved children. Mary L. died when about fifteen months old; Solon T., a man of ability, passed away in Wyoming Territory in 1890, at forty-one years of age; David T., a young man of energy and am- bition, died at twenty-four years of age; lie had previous to his untimely demise in 1874 married Miss Ellen Carter, who is now the wife of Frank Pyles; Freddie dicd in childhood; Elmer passed away March 17, 1892, when twenty-three years old; his wife, who was Miss Lillie Ellis, survives him.
Liberal in his religious views, and in politics an Independent, Mr. Wells has never sought political promotion, but, intelligently posted in the affairs of the day, faithfully does his duty as a man and citizen. When the appeal of the Government for more troops aroused the land, our subject, promptly responding, enlisted August 22, 1862, in Company C, Twelfth Kansas Infantry, and with fidelity served nearly three years, being mustered out at Little Rock, Ark. His regiment was engaged on the border most of the time and fought in numer- ous hot skirmishes and decisive battles. Mr. Wells left the service with impaired health and was a long time recuperating. Solon T. was a member of Company G, Kansas Cavalry, and served with cour- age nearly two years, although only a mere boy. After the close of the Rebellion the enterprising and patriotic lad participated for about a half- year in the Indian campaign in Texas, and left the service at Ft. Hayes. David T. served with his brother six months in the Indian campaign, and was honorably discharged at Ft. Henry. Al- though both of these heroic sons are now no more, the memory of their devotion to their country and their subsequent lives of sterling integrity will
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