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 41
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Mr. Robinson built a residence costing $1,000 in 1873, and in 1878 erected a barn at an expense of 81,100, and has various necessary and substantial outbuildings. The valuable farm contains a three- aere orchard, fifty ornamental shade trees, an osage orange grove of one and a-half acres, and a one-acre grove of walnuts. Our subject was first married to Miss Sarah Smith, of Greene County, Ill., who died three months after her marriage. Mr. Robinson, later united in marriage with Miss Mary Mason, was blessed with her cheerful companion- ship many years, but on the 25th of March, 1884, this estimable lady passed away deeply mourned. She bore her husband seven children, two of whom are yet living. John M. is a civil engineer of Jop- lin, Mo .; Minnie M. is a snecessful teacher of Miami County.
Our subject wedded his present wife, Frances V. (Rhodes) Robinson, in 1885. She was born in Indiana in June, 1853, and is the daughter of John Rhodes. The latter is a native of Indiana, and the son of an early pioneer of the state. Five little ones, four of whom are now living, brightened the
pleasant home. They are Wilma, Hope, Jennie and Lizanna. Mrs. Robinson is a valued member of the Christian Church, and is an active aid in good work. Our subject is fraternally a member of Spring Hill Lodge No. 56, A. F. & A. M., and was its first Secretary. He is also a member of the chapter at Paola, and has been Master and Secre- tary of the Grange. He has given his children a good education, and his son is a graduate of the State University in the Class of '92. His eldest daughter is a graduate of the normal school at Ft. Scott, and completed the course in the Class of '92. Mr. Robinson takes a deep interest in the local schools, and is an efficient member of the School Board. He is politically a life-long Repub- liean, and cast his first Presidental vote for Lin- coln. Taking a high place in the home councils of the party of reform he has often been a delegate to judiciary and county conventions. Ile long per- formed the duties of Township Clerk, and as Com- missioner of the county rendered most valuable service. Mr. Robinson is a member of General Cur- tis Post, G. A. R., at Spring Hill, and was Junior Vice-Commander. In this order and in his fra- ternal relations, as well as through his establishi- ed reputation as an official and private citizen, he commands the confidence of a host of friends.
P RED MATHEWS is one of the most sue- cessful and extensive stockmen of south- eastern Kansas, in which branch of indus- try he has brought to bear much native shrewd- ness and good judgment, as well as an unlimited amount of energy and push. He owes his na- tivity to the state which has given to the world so many able, successful and brilliant men, New York, his birth occurring in Erie County on Deeem- ber 9, 1833. Ifis parents, Michael and Margaret (Miller) Mathews, were born in Alsace, France, which is now a part of the German Empire, the father being of French and the mother of Swiss
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descent. They came to the United States in 1833, and settled in Erie County, N. Y., where the fa- ther tilled a small farm, having followed the call- ing of a shoemaker in his native land, where he eventually died. In 1862 his widow came to Kan- sas, where she died three years later. Their chil- dren were as follows: Michacl, who married, and died, leaving two children; Margaret, who be- came the wife of Adam Eva, and died in Buffalo, N. Y., and Magdalena, who married Christopher Trudy, and also died in Buffalo.
Fred Mathews lived on a farm until he was about eleven years of age, then went to Buffalo and elerked in a grocery store for a brother-in- law, with whom he remained until about sixteen years of age, with the exception of one year which he spent on a farm. Upon giving up his clerkship he learned the carpenter's trade, after which he engaged in the manufacturing of packing boxes. About 1860, anticipating the advice of Ilorace Greeley, he came to Kansas and purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of the farm on which he is now living, which at that time had a small house erected upon it and about eight acres broken and fenced. He at once engaged in stock- raising, and as his capital increased he began deal- ing in stock, making the specialty of the purchase and sale as well as the breeding of fine horses. His operations in this line have reached vast pro- portions and his name has become indelibly associ- ated with the stock-raising interests of the state of Kansas, as well as the surrounding territory. His farm comprises four hundred acres in Osage Town- ship, but at different times he has owned consid- erably more than this amount of land. He has a ranch of two thousand acres in Edwards County, which he devotes to the raising of stock, which he fattens on his home farm in Miami County, and finally ships from there to the Kansas City market. His Edwards County property is well improved with good buildings, and a large portion of it is under cultivation and devoted to the culture of wheat. Besides this he owns property in Colorado. On the farm on which he lives, exceptionally valu- able improvements have been made, and he has a beautiful stone residence, tastefully furnished and very conveniently arranged.
Our subject was married in 1858 to Miss Caroline, a daughter of Isaac and Clarissa ( Willard) Brown, and a native of the city of New York. To their union seven children have been given: George, who is a resident of El Dorado County, Kan .; Gil- bert L., who has charge of the ranch in Edwards County; Clara, who is the wife of C. V. Chalfont, a resident of Finney County, Kan .; Fred W., at home; William S., who resides in Finney County; Delia. and one child that died in infancy, a twin sister of Freddie.
Politically Mr. Mathews has always been a Re- publican, and has successfully and creditably filled a number of local offices, although he has never de- sired public preferment. Ile was for three years a member of a mercantile firm in Fontana. He is a member of the Fontana Co-operative Mercantile Association, which was chartered in 1893, the bulk of its capital having been furnished by Mr. Math- ews. At the time of his arrival in Kansas his entire worldly possessions amounted to about $1,200, but by perseverance and strict attention to his work he has been snecessful far beyond his most sanguine expectations and is considered one of the wealthy citizens of the state. Although lie was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, he has never connected himself with any denomi- nation.
AVID DAY. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is one of the pioneers of Mound Township, Miami County, to which region he came in 1857. His native place is Morgan County, Ky., where he was born November 13, 1822, his parents being Travis and Nancy (Lewis) Day, natives respectively of Ken- tucky and Tazewell County, W. Va. They died in Kansas, the former at the age of seventy-five, and the latter at the age of eighty-four. A fam- ily of thirteen children was given them, eleven
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of whom grew to maturity. Melinda, who first married Thomas Loveless and afterward John Walters, resides at Parker, Kan .; Sarah married John Walsh and now resides in Morgan County, Ky .; Thomas is a resident of Parker, Kan .; Hannah is the wife of Robert Cottell, a resident of Seattle, Wash .; James was murdered in Linn County, Kan .; David is our subject; Cynthia Ann died in early life; Mary married William Oakley, a resident of Linn County; Jane married Alexander Fletcher, a resident of Missouri; John is a resident of Linn County; Rebecca, who married John Cottrell, is now deceased; and Martha married Samuel Wal- thal, of Miami County.
Like the majority of men who have made a suc- cess in the different walks of life, David Day was reared a, farmer, and while following the plow on his father's farm he learned lessons of industry and perseverance, which were his stepping stones to success when starting out in life for himself. Ile made his home in Kentucky until 1857; he then came to Kansas and pre-empted a tract of land in Linn County, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, all of which he improved and later sold. Ile then purchased another tract and settled on the south line of Miami County, where he engaged in stock-raising; he also purchased and sold live stock, for which industry he seems to have a natural aptitude and in which he has always shown good judgment and has met with commenda- ble success. Eight years ago he built the home in which he now resides, having become the owner of the land on which it stands some years previ- ous, and here has been content to "pursue the even tenor of his way" up to the present. His land is well adapted to the purposes to which it is de- voted, stock-raising and the breeding of race horses receiving especial attention at his hands. Ile has raised some speedy animals, among which may be mentioned "Old Man," "Pete," who made one-fourth of a mile in seventeen seconds; "Trunyon," "John Bascone;" the well known "Lucy Day," "Hathaway," "Gildersleeve," "Okla- homa Sal," "Angora," and many others. The farmers of this section owe much to Mr. Day for the improvement in their stock, and as he seems to be a natural lover of horses and an excellent
judge of the animals, he has been successful in rais- ing them.
Mr. Day has been married twice, the first wife being Martha Hayes, who died without issue. The maiden name of his present wife was Susan Scho- field, who has borne him five children, Edgar (deceased), Etta, Dallas, Estella and IIarold, all of whom are bright and intelligent children. Polit- ically, Mr. Day has always been in sympathy with the Republican party but is by no means a politi- cian, much preferring to devote his energies to his business. His estate embraces six hundred acres of valuable land, all of which he has obtained by the exercise of both brain and brawn.
ON. JAMES W. COX eame to Kansas in 1874 and has resided in Linn County, Kan., since the fall of 1882. Ile owns a large tract of valuable land on section 12, township 22, range 22, Blue Mound Township, where he is successfully engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising pursuits. He was born in McLean County, Ill., and is a son of George W. and Nancy (Loving) Cox, natives of Norway, Ox- ford County, Me. The father of our subject was a son of William Cox, and traced his ancestry to Wales. He received a common-school education in Maine, and there served an appenticeship to the trade of a cloth-maker, which he followed for a number of years.
In 1837 George W. Cox went to Illinois, the long journey being made mostly by water. Dur- ing the first five years of his residence in Illinois, he worked near Hudson with his brother Samuel. Hle became a pioneer of Gridley Township, Mc- Lean County, Ill., where he entered two hundred acres from the Government and devoted the re- maining years of his life to the improvement of his property. He was a man of genial nature,
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hospitable manner and generous heart, and was highly esteemed by his large circle of acquaint- ances. March 24, 1842, he was married in Bloom- ington, Ill., to Miss Naney J., daughter of Taylor Loving, of Gridley Township, and for three years he made his home on the Taylor Loving farm. Ilis wife died, leaving five children, four of whom are now living, namely: James W., Mary Z., Henry W. and Charles S. The father died June 30, 1874, at the age of nearly three-score years.
Upon his father's farm in Illinois the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, receiving excellent educational advantages in the State Normal Uni- versity, at Normal, Ill., where he conducted his studies for three years. He embarked in farming in McLean County, where he owned eighty acres and resided until 1874. His marriage took place September 5, 1867, and united him with Miss Mary E. Turpin, who was born in Owen County, Ind., May 9, 1846. Her parents were Henry and Sarah (Kiser) Turpin, the latter of whom died in Indiana, leaving four children: Nancy J., who died Octo- ber 30, 1874; Mary E., the wife of our subject; David and Richard, who reside in McLean County, Ill. In 1852 Mr. Turpin married a second time, and then removed to Illinois, settling in McLean County, where he died in 1858. There, also, his wife and his son by his second marriage passed away.
Upon coming to Kansas our subject settled in Allen County, where he purchased land and en- gaged in stock-raising. In 1882 he came to Linn County, and for a time resided in Blue Mound, where he conducted a large hardware business until January 23, 1885, at which date his store was destroyed by fire. Ile then purchased the property where he now resides, the place consist- ing of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land. A stanch Republican politically, Mr. Cox represented Allen County in the Legislature of Kansas for one term, being elected in 1881. He has also served as Justice of the Peace and as a delegate to political conventions. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Work- men.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox are the parents of four chil-
dren: Jennie L., Zeuner, Viola and Aura, all of whom are with their parents. They have received the best educational advantages, and are very pop- ular in social circles. The eldest, Jennie, has graduated in stenography and received an ex- cellent literary education in the State Normal School at Emporia, Kan. She is now a teacher in the grammar grade of the Blue Mound schools. Viola, who attended the State Normal School, is also a successful teacher.
Mr. Cox is one of the veterans of the War of the Rebellion, Soon after the outbreak of the war he enlisted, in August, 1861, as a member of Com- pany C, Thirty-third Illinois infantry, and served for two years, participating in numerous engage- ments and skirmishes. Ile served with valor and fidelity to the cause of the Union, and was dis- charged an account of physical disability.
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AMUEL S. SHUMAKER, an enterprising citizen, prosperously conducting an exten- sive farm in Blue Mound Township, Kan., has been numbered among the substantial and progressive men of the state for a period of twenty-three years, and actively participating in all matters of mutual welfare, is widely known and esteemed. Mr. Shumaker was born in Knox County, Ill., September 3, 1846, and was the son of Jacob and Charlotte (Smith) Shumaker, natives of Jackson County, Ohio, and the state of Indiana, respectively. The paternal great-grandfather Shu- maker was born, reared and married in Germany, in which country the paternal grandfather, John Shumaker, was also born. The great-grandfather emigrated to America with his parents, settling in the United States. He was married, and with his wife located in Knox County, Ill., where after a life of care and toil he died, at a good old age. The father of our subject, born and reared in Jack-
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son County, Ohio, married in Knox County, Ill., and having spent almost his entire life in this county, passed away universally respected by all who knew him. The mother resides in Seward County, Neb. Fourteen children gathered about the family hearth, ten of whom are yet living.
Jolin H., the eldest-born, is a resident of Ray, Colo .; Mary E., the wife of Michael Dnnagan, makes her home in Seward County, Neb .; Sally Ann is the wife of Harvey Moler, of Seward Coun- ty, Neb .; Samuel S., our subject, was the next in order of birth; George W. resides in Knox Coun- ty, Ill .; William R. is also a citizen of Knox Coun- ty, Ill .; Catherine, married to Jolin Donahue, is at home in Seward County, Neb .; Abigail L., the wife of Milton Holloway, lives in Seward County, Neb .; Phobe Elizabeth, married to Frank Shafer, resides in Fulton County, Ill.
Enlisting in the year 1865 in the service of the Government as a volunteer, our subject served faithfully in behalf of National existence until the close of the war, in July, 1866. Mean- time, he had taken part in the service ou the Mis- sissippi River, between Cairo and the south. Re- turning in the year 1866 to Illinois, he remained there continuously until 1870. At this latter date our subject determined to try his fortunes in the farther west, and accompaning T. Z. Stev- enson to Kansas, remained in his employ for tlie succeeding two years. Seven years after this Mr. Shumaker purchased the farm of two hundred aeres which he now so prosperously tills. He car- ries on general agriculture and also handles a good grade of stock.
In 1870 were united in marriage Samnel S. Shu- maker and Miss Emily Alexander. The latter was a native of Tazewell County, Ill., and the daugh- ter of Peyton D. and Ophelia (Berlin) Alexander. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Shumaker was brightened by the birth of seven children, five of whom yet survive. Stella is the wife of Will- iam A. Connor; Wirt, Ernest, Peyton Jacob and Testal complete the list. Nora and Ara died in childhood. The beloved mother entered into rest in September, 1891, aged forty years. She was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was beloved by a large circle of friends and
relatives, who deeply mourned her loss. Our sub- ject is likewise a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political affiliations is a Republican. a man of sterling integrity of charac- ter and worthy of all the respect he universally receives. July 26, 1893, Mr. Shumaker and Mrs. Clara B. Libby, nee Forney. were united in mar- riage. She was the widow of Warren E. Libby, and a daughter of Peter A. and Angeline M. (Meek) Forney.
C W. BENNETT, the trustworthy Sheriff of Neosho County, residing in Erie, was born November 8, 1843, in Plato, Kane County, Ill., and is a son of Elias Bennett, who was born and reared in Chemung County, N. Y., and there married Sarah J. Reser, daughter of Joseph Reser, who was of Holland descent. When twenty-five years of age, Elias Bennett emigrated to Kane County, Ill., becoming one of its early settlers. He purchased one hundred and sixty acre of unbroken land, which he transformed into a valuable farm, which yielded him a good income. During the late war he enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Heavy Ar- tillery in Elgin, and was killed at the battle of Knoxville, Tenn. Hle was an active politician, supporting the Democratic party in early life, but became a stanchi supporter of the Republican party on its organization. Ile was honored with a num- ber of official positions, for he was a prominent citizen. He held membership with the Baptist Church. His wife passed away in Chicago in 1892. They were the parents of nine children who grew to mature years, of whom seven are yet living. Two brothers reside in Labette County, Kan; . J. W. is Sheriff of that county, and Lovier is a bridge carpenter for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company.
In the county of his nativity, C. W. Bennett was reared, and in the public schools began his ed-
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ucation, which was supplemented by study in Beloit College, of Beloit, Wis. He was there a student at the breaking out of the late war. Im- mediately he abandoned his text books for the rifle, and enlisted September 6, 1861, in Company K, Fifty-second Illinois Infantry, responding to President Lincoln's call for three hundred thous- and volunteers. At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded, and on account of his disability he was discharged and returned home, but he again enlisted, joining Company A, One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois Infantry. He became Orderly- Sergeant and afterward was made Captain, in which command he served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Ft. Donel- son, Ft. Henry, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth and others, and was always found faithfully support- ing the Stars and Stripes.
On February 14, 1866, Mr. Bennett wedded Miss Sarah J. Clark, the eldest daughter of George P. Clark, a horse dealer of Elgin, Ill. Unto them have been born six children : Arthur E., who is now professor of Latin, Greek and the sciences in the normal college of Ft. Scott; Charles F., who is a student in the college; Lillie, Eva, Harry and Le- roy, who are still under the parental roof.
In the fall of 1870, Mr. Bennett came to this county, locating on section 35, Lincoln Township, where he purchased a claim. For four years he engaged in its cultivation and then sold out, buy- ing one hundred and sixty-five acres on section 30 of the same township. That farm continued to be his home for three years, when he traded it for a tract of land in Mt. Pleasant Township, Leavenworth County. The latter he afterward traded for his present farm on section 15, Lin- coln Township. Ile now owns five hundred and eighty acres, four hundred on section 15, eighty on section 12, and one hundred on section 18. This is all under a high state of cultivation and is a very valuable property. Mr. Bennett continned to devote his energies to its improvement until elected Sheriff of the county, since which time he has attended only to the duties of his office.
In politics Mr. Bennett is a stalwart Republican and an earnest advocate of the party's principles. In 1892 he served as a delegate to the state con-
vention. For six years he has held the office of Township Trustee, and has filled other positions with credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- stituents. In the fall of 1893 he was elected County Sheriff, and so ably has he filled the office that he was re-elected for a second term of two years. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Order of Select Friends, and War- ren Post No. 114, G. A. R., of Osage Mission. IIe is a man of excellent business ability and through his own industry and enterprise has worked his way upward from an humble position to one of affluence. His public and private life are alike above reproach and have formed an exemplary character.
ILLIAM M. MILLER, a representative general agriculturist and successful stock- raiser, for twenty-three years a constant resident of his present locality in Richland Town- ship, Miami County, Kan., is closely identified with the upward growth and rapid advancement of the state, where all his interests have centered for so many changing seasons. A native of Penn- sylvania, and born in York County in 1838, our subject is the descendant of an old and highly re- spected family of the Quaker State, whose sturdy German ancestry bequeathed to them habits of in- dustrious thrift and unimpeachable integrity of character.
Henry Miller, the father of our subject, also a native of York County, was the son of Daniel Miller, whose father, the paternal great-grand- father of our subject, was born and reared in the Old Country, and later, emigrating to the United States, founded in the Quaker State the family branch to which William M. directly belongs. Daniel Miller, the paternal grandfather, was a man of courage and resolution, and served with brav- ery in the War of 1812. The father and mother
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welcomed to their hearts and homes twelve sons and daughters, all of whom are yet living. Will- iam M., the eldest of the large family, attained to manhood in Cumberland County, where his par- ents had after their first few years of married life made their residence.
Our subject, spending the years of his boyhood on bis father's farm, early began the work of life, and vigorously aiding in the cultivation of the soil, bad but little opportunity to gain an educa- tion. Reaching mature years energetic, enterpris- ing and self-reliant, he married, and remaining for a time in Cumberland County, was engaged in work as a day laborer when the Civil War ealled him to the aid of his country. In June, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, and served with gallantry until the close of the war. Three of the brothers also entered the service of the Union, Jacob Miller being severely wounded in the battle of Antietam.
The war ended, Mr. Miller returned to his Penn- sylvania home. At once entering upon an ap- prenticeship to the trade of a wagon-maker, he ac- quired a vocation which gave him ready employ- ment at remunerative wages, and in time a skilled workman, he remained in the occupation of a wag- on-maker until 1870. In the meantime, determined to try his fortune in a newer field of action, our subject journeyed with his family to the farther west, and in the spring of 1870 permanently lo- cated in Kansas, for a twelvemonth making his home in Paola with B. Miller & Co. In 1871 Mr. Miller settled in Ricbland Township, and while continuing actively in his trade of a wagon-maker, combined with that employment the occupation of a farmer, improving eighty acres of valuable land.
William M. Miller and Miss Martha E. De Walt were united in marriage in 1859, the estimable wife of our subject being a native of Cumberland County. Two children, a son and daughter, Syl- vester and Annetta, have blessed the home. In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Miller removed to Franklin County, and in 1877 our subject invested in his present farm, highly cultivated, well improved with excellent buildings and containing a fine fruit orchard. The improvements of the place
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