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 51
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Mr. and Mrs. Shackelton immediately follow- ing their marriage settled in Milan Township, DeKalb County, Ill., where our subject bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he in- dustriously cultivated for three years and then engaged in the grocery business in DeKalb for the succeeding two years. At the expiration of this
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length of time Mr. Shackelton with his wife and family traveled to Kansas and, pleased with Miami County, here located, settling in Osawatomie Township. The Shackelton farm contains one hundred and eighty-three fertile acres, the most of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved with excellent and attractive build- ing. Three children have brightened the pleasant home, Granville, Jessie and Halle.
Since his arrival in Kansas Mr. Shackelton has devoted his time continuously to farming and has achieved financial success. Aided by his wife, a true helpmate and a lady of superior ability, he has won his upward way to a position of influence, and as a successful stock-raiser enjoys an enviable rep- utation throughout the county. Broad in his re- ligious views, our subject is ever ready to lend a helping hand to the unfortunate, and, politically a Democrat, is an ardent supporter of the party of the people. Fraternally associated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Mr. Shackelton has many warm friends in that ancient order and likewise enjoys the high regard of the general public.
ANIEL SHIPMAN, deceased, for many year's a leading citizen and enterprising general agriculturist of Osawatomie Town- ship, Miami County, Kan., was a man of worth and broad intelligence, and vitally inter- ested in all matters of public welfare, commanded the esteem of many friends, and was mourned as a public loss when upon February 14, 1888, lie entered into rest. Our subject was born in Kent, England, August 14, 1824, and at the time of his death had not yet reached three-score years and ten, and was occupying a position of useful influence. Mr. Shipman was reared to manhood in his native Iand. Self reliant, energetic and industrions, he determined, when about twenty-five years of age,
to try his fortunes in the broader fields of the world of promise beyond the sea. Embarking for America, our subject made a safe and prosper- ous voyage across the Atlantic and soon landed in the United States. Locating at once in the west, Mr. Shipman made his home in Illinois, in which state he found ready employment and remained for about six years.
At the expiration of this length of time, fol- lowing the tide of emigration to the farther west, Mr. Shipman journeyed to Kansas, and locating in Miami County in the early '60s, purchased a farm in Osawatomie Township, where he continued to reside the remainder of his life. Arriving within the borders of the state a single man, it was not many years before Daniel Shipman entered into the bonds of matrimony, wedding in Miami County, Kan., in 1838, Miss Surilda Pine, a native of the state of Missouri, who was born in Lincoln County, June 12, 1849. The union of our subject and his estimable wife was blessed by the birth of one child, a bright and attractive daughter, Mollie, now the wife of John C. Brady. Mr. and Mrs. Brady are the happy parents of one child, a daughter, Fannie.
The father of Mrs. Shipman, a long time resi- dent and highly esteemed citizen of Missouri, his native state, was Charles G. Pine, who was widely known as a man of earnest purpose and ster- ling integrity of character. He later became one of the pioneer settlers of Miami County, Kan., where he passed away, honored by all who knew him, April 23, 1877. The mother of Mrs. Shipman, in maidenhood Ellender H. Schrum, was, like her husband, a native of Missouri, where she spent her entire life and died nearly a score of years be- fore the demise of her husband, upon December 30, 1857.
Our subject, possessing ability of a high order, and a man of excellent business attainments, read- ily made his way upward to a financial position of assured success. Entering with unflagging industry into the cultivation of the fertile soil of Kansas, he brought huis broad acres up to a high state of cultivation. He is an excellent manager and has added to his property and improved his valuable farm, one of the best in its locality; he has erccted
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a handsome and commodious residence and built large and substantial barns, and the Shipman home- stead is known far and wide as the abode of thrift and plenty. At the time of his death Mr. Ship- man owned three hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as the state of Kansas contained, and left to his heirs a comfortable competence. llis widow is a lady of superior ability and culture, and pos- sesses the sincere regard of many friends; she oc- cupies a position of usefulnes, and is foremost in good works and benevolent enterprises.
AVID DICK, who carries on general farm- ing on section 24, Lincoln Township, Crawford County, is a native of the Key- stone State. He was born in Indiana County in 1835, and is one of a family of eight children, whose parents were John and Margaret (Pate) Dick. They were also natives of Pennsyl- vania. In the county of his nativity our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and was early inured to the arduous labors of the farm, for as soon as he was old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until his mar- riage.
Mr. Dick was joined in wedlock with Miss Amanda Golden, and then located on a farm of his own in Pennsylvania, where he lived for some time. Bidding good-bye to his native state, he re- moved with his family to Richland County, Ohio, but after a short time he came to Kansas, the year 1871 witnessing his arrival. Hle located upon the farm where he still resides, and here he has de- veloped three hundred and sixty acres of good land. In fact, this is one of the finest farms of the county, being under a high state of cultivation and well improved with all modern accessories and conveniences. The home has been blessed with
the presence of four children, three sons and a daughter, Charles, Thompson, Minnie and Frank, and they have been provided with good educa- tional privileges, which have fitted them for the practical and responsible duties of life.
Mr. Dick is connected with the business inter- ests of Englevale, having erected a large store building in that place, over which is an entertain- ment hall. He votes the Republican ticket and takes quite an active part in political affairs. IIe is a member of the School Board, and himself and family are members of the Church of God. Ile takes quite an active interest in everything per- taining to the welfare of the community, and gives his support to all enterprises calculated to advance the educational, social and moral good. He is conservative in that he is not venturesome, yet is progressive, and the community finds in him a valued citizen. ITis life has been an honor- able and upright one, devoted to his business in- terests and the happiness of his family, and it is with pleasure that we present this record of his life to our readers.
G RANDISON J. MUNDELL, a practical agri- culturist and prominent citizen of Centre- ville Township, Linn County, Kan., now residing upon his finely cultivated homestead lo- cated on section 1, is a native of Harrison County, W. Va., and was born March 19, 1839. Since 1863 identified with the interests of his present home, he has held with ability the position of Township Treasurer. The father of our subject, James Mundell, was born in Greene County, Pa., January 28, 1798. The Mundells are of Irish ancestry, but the paternal grandfather was a well known citizen of the Qnaker State, where he died. The mother, Nancy (Grooms) Mundell, was born in Greene County, Pa., December 25, 1807.
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The maternal grandfather, Richard Grooms, was one of the early settlers of the Quaker State. The parents married and settled in their native county, and lived there from 1824 until 1828. Then they located in Harrison County, Va., and re- mained there until 1853, a full quarter of a cen- tury, when they settled in Cooper County, Mo., where the father died on the 5th of May, 1855. The mother removed with her children to Douglas County, Kan., in the spring of 1862, and in the spring of 1863 located in Centreville Township, Linn County. For thirty years a constant resi- dent of this locality, the beloved mother died March 8, 1893, mourned by all who knew her.
The father was connected with the Methodist Church, but the mother was a devout member of the United Brethren Church. From the obituary notice which mainly gave the facts we have pre- viously recorded, we make the following brief ex- tracts: "Passed away, Mrs. Nancy Mundell, at the residence of her son, T. A. Mundell, near Centre- ville, March 8, 1893, at the age of eighty-five years, two months and thirteen days. Peacefully she passed into the presence of her Savior. She was the mother of seven children, four sons to follow her, three daughters having preceded her to the Land of Rest. She was a devoted wife and loving mother. She led a quiet life, always look- ing to the welfare of others. In early life she became a Christian, and united with the Method- ist Protestant Church. After coming to Kansas she united with the United Brethren Church, liv- ing a consistent Christian until Christ claimed His own. A large andience of friends and neighbors attended the funeral services at the church March 10, after which we laid her earthly remains away in the Goodrich Cemetery until the resurrection morning." The seven children were in the order of their birth: Briee G., Joseph W., Rosanna (de- eeased), Almeda (deceased), Grandison J., Sophia, (deceased), and Theopilus A.
Our subject, the fifth child in order of birth, accompanied the family in their various removals. Hle came with his mother to his present locality in 1862, and mainly engaged in farming, now pros- perously cultivates a valuable homestead of three hundred and twenty acres, well improved with
excellent and commodious buildings, it being one of the best farms in the county. Upon March 23, 1871, were united in marriage Grandison J. Mun- dell and Miss Sarah L., a daughter of Will- iam H. Davis, who was born in Steuben Coun- ty, N. Y., August 14, 1823. The paternal grand- parents, Aaron and Phoebe (Burrows) Davis, natives of the Empire State, after their marriage settled in Steuben County, where the grandmother died. The grandfather later removed to Mich- igan, and finally located in Winnebago County, Ill., where he passed away in 1869. Aaron Davis and his good wife were the parents of five chil- dren, four of whom lived to years of maturity: Elisha, David, William II. and Charlotte. Will- iam H. remained in his native county until he had arrived at sixteen years of age, when he left liome, and beginning life for himself, located in Ontario County, N. Y., and worked out by the month. At the age of twenty-one, upon January 28, 1844, he married Miss Ann Chamberlin, a daughter of John and Sarah (Bodine) Chamberlin, natives of New Jersey, who were reared and married in their early home. They afterward located in Seneca County, N. Y., then removed to Rochester, and finally settled in Champaign County, Ohio, where the latter died.
John and Sarah Chamberlin had twelve children, of whom Ann, Mrs. Davis, was the fourth in order of birth. She was born in Seneca County, N. Y., Angust 14, 1823. Immediately succeeding his marriage William Davis and his wife made their home in Rochester, from which city, after a resi- dence of several years, they emigrated to Winne- bago County, Ill. There Mr. Davis, engaging in farming, remained until the spring of 1870, then settled in Centreville, Linn County, Kan., on the farm where he is now located. Mr. Davis entering Company C, One Ilundred and Forty-sixth Illi- nois Infantry, in 1864, served with faithful fidelity one year, when the war ended. Mr. and Mrs. Davis, are the parents of three children, Frank; Sarah L., wife of our subject, and Emma, wife of Benjamin Werkman. Mrs. Mundell, a lady of ability and culture, was born in Rochester, N. Y., in Novem- ber, 1850. Our subject and his wife have been blessed with the presence of three children: Jessie
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E., Georgiana and Frances L. Mr. and Mrs. Mundell are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active in the support and extension of good work and religious influ- ence. Our subject is numbered among the liberal- spirited citizens of Linn County, and taking a lively interest in both local and national affairs, is ever ready to lend a helping hand in all enter- prises of the county.
e
OUIS BRAND. A biography should be writ- ten for the sake of its lessons, that men everywhere may place themselves in con- tact with facts and affairs, and build themselves up to and into a life of excellence, not in any sphere, but in their own rightful place, where they may keep and augment their individuality. To record in some respects the details of such a life is purposed in the following history of Louis Brand, who is not only one of the successful and thorough-going agriculturists of Mound Township, but an honored and worthy citizen as well. Hle resides on section 18, is the owner of large tracts of land, and has a very tasty and commodious residence. He is a native of Switzerland, the land of beautiful scenery, and his birth occurred March 13, 1845, to the union of John and Mary (Pariton) Brand.
The Brand family came to the United States in 1850, and settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, where they remained until 1852. From there they removed to Carroll County, Mo., settled on a farm, and there the father's life terminated. Later the mother removed to Kansas and received her final summons in Miami County. They were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to mature years. Mary became the wife of Michael Pariton; Kate married C. Brand; Margaret mar- ried Michael Stiner; John is next; Lizzie and C.
are deceased; Louis is our subject; Louisa is the wife of L. Umpherman; Benjamin and Caroline complete the list. The father of these children was an honest, hard-working, persevering man, and no doubt inherited all these characteristics from his ancestors, who were worthy sons of Switzerland. Those of that nativity who came to the United States have almost without exception proved themselves most worthy citizens and members of society.
Our subject made his home under the parental roof until his mother moved to Kansas, and then he and his brothers purchased sixty-five acres of land. They have prospered in their enterprises and are the owners of one thousand acres of land. They are engaged principally in stock-raising, but the farming industry is not neglected entirely.
In 1871 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Tapa, a native of St. Louis, Mo. The following interesting children have been given them: Rosella, Laurence, Ora, John, Anna, Laura and Alger. During the late unpleas- antness between the north and the south, Mr. Brand enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth Mis- souri Regiment, in 1864, serving one year. Ile served his country faithfully and participated in a number of engagements, the most prominent being Duck River, Spring Hill, Franklin, Nash- ville and Spanish Fort. In politics he casts his vote with the Republican party, with which he is in full harmony. Ile is a member of A. J. Smith Post No. 102, G. A. R.
MOS CORRINGTON BABCOCK, M. D., a prominent physician and druggist at Blue Mound, and the owner of a large amount of valuable land in Linn County, was born in Smyrna, Chenango County, N. Y., February 28, 1833. His ancestors for many gen- erations resided in New York State. IlIs father,
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Corrington Babcock, was born in Brookfield, that state, and upon choosing a profession entered upon the study of medicine, which he practiced successively in Truxton, Cortland and Preble, N. Y. Subsequently he removed to Chenango County, N. Y., and practiced his profession in Smyrna until about 1840, when he removed to Phœbus, Onondaga County. Twelve years later he went to Georgetown, Madison County, and spent six years in that place. Thence lie removed to Corfu and there remained until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy years. His wife passed away some years prior to his demise.
Doctor and Mrs. Babcock have been blessed by the birth of four children, Amos C. being the second in order of birth. The eldest, Asa D., also became a physician, and for a time followed his profession in Earlville, N. Y. In 1855 he re- moved to Illinois and located at Galva, where he died at the age of fifty years. He was an indefati- gable worker and would often ride for miles, un- mindful of storm, in order to visit a patient, and his services were given to the poor and needy without other recompense than their gratitude. In fact, his tireless devotion to his professional du- ties was to a large extent the eausc of his death. The elder daughter in the family, Harriet M., mar- ried Dr. II. S. Hutchins and resides in Batavia N. Y. The younger daughter, Anna M., died at Batavia. The mother of these children bore the maiden name of Fanny, and was born in Massa- chusetts.
The literary studies of Amos Babcock were conducted in the academy at Homer, N. Y. He studied medicine under the preceptorship of his father and attended a course of lectures at the Albany Medical College. In the spring of 1855 he accompanied his brother to Galva, Ill., and in partnership with him conducted an extensive practice for four years and also engaged in the drug business. Returning to the Empire State he entered the New York Medical University and was graduated with the Class of '60. He then went back to Galva, where he practiced his pro- fession until 1883, he and his brother being the leading surgeons of the place. He was promi- nently connected with the village, which during
the period of his residence there grew from a town of sixteen buildings to a city having a pop- ulation of four thousand. In addition to the in- come received from his practice he owned a farm, from the rental of which he received a fair sum.
In the year 1883, Doctor Babcock located in Blue Mound, where he has since given his attention to the medical practice and drug trade. He was one of the original stockholders in the Bank of Blue Mound and was its Vice-President. In addition to valuable real estate in Blue Mound he is the owner of four hundred and forty acres in Linn County, the value of which is constantly increas- ing. He was interested in the salt works at ITutch- inson, Kan., and was connected with a syndicate formed to develop the works, but the enterprise proved a failure. His success in life has been gained solely through his own exertions. He was poor in boyhood and obtained money to pay for his education by teaching school.
With all the discoveries in the medical world, the Doctor keeps abreast. For a number of years he was a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation and Military Tract Association, being President of the latter for two years. While an advocate of the principles of the Republican party he is not a politician nor a active partisan. So- cially, he is a Royal Arch Mason, and has filled the position of Master of the lodge at Blue Mound, being a charter member of Mound City Chapter, R. A. M. In the progress of the city he takes a warm interest, and its welfare is ever uppermost in his mind.
The lady who in 1872 became the wife of Doctor Babcock was Miss Jean N. Lauder, who was born in Ryegate, Vt., June 4, 1836. She was the second in a family of eleven children, all of whom are now living. The parents, George and Jean (Laird) Lauder, were born, reared and married in Scot- land, where their eldest child, a daughter, was also born. The family was never all together at one time, all of its members having never been in the same house at the same time. Mr. Lauder engaged in business as a wholesale and retail dealer in hay and feed at San Francisco, Cal., where his death occurred and where his widow still makes her home. At the time the family removed to Cali-
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fornia Jean was a young lady of twenty years. For some time she followed the profession of a teacher, and it was while thus engaged at Galva, Ill., that she met the Doctor. They were married in Montreal, Canada, and their union has proved a most congenial one. The heaviest sorrow of their wedded life has been the loss of their only son, Charles D., whose death occurred at McPher- son, Kan., where he was engaged as a mail carrier. He was a bright and promising young man of twenty-two, in whom centered the hopes of his parents.
AMES MORRELL, a highly respected pio- neer citizen and representative general agri- culturist and stock-raiser of the state of Kansas, is pleasantly located near the town of Fontana, Miami County, Kan., and for about thirty-four years he has been intimately associated with the changing scenes and upward progress of this part of the western country. It was in the spring of 1859 that Mr. Morrell settled perma- nently in Miami County, where later he shared in the perilous experiences incidental to border war- fare. With courage he aided in the defense of the homes and families of the neighboring farmers, many of whom were absent upon the battlefield giving faithful service in behalf of national ex- istence. Participating in the sacrifices and priva- tions of the early days, our subject has survived to rejoice in the prosperity which now blesses the state, which is already taking a high place in the galaxy of states.
James Morrell was born in Richland County, Ohio, October 14, 1828, and was the son of Robert and Minerva (Mitten) Morrell. The father, a na- tive of the Quaker State, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., but the paternal ancestry for several generations had been numbered among the in-
telligent and substantial residents of the Emerald Isle.
The mother was a native of Pennsylvania and was reared and educated in her birthplace. Our subject was yet quite young when his parents re- moved from Richland to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he was partially reared and educated, his father and mother again making a change of resi- dence, this time settling in Ross County. In this latter locality Mr. Morrell attained to manhood and engaged in farming. Devoting himself con- stantly to agricultural pursuits, he finally emi- grated to the far west of Kansas, and in 1859 set- tled in Osage Township, of which he has since been a resident. He first improved a farm located near Fontana, which he afterward sold, later buying his present homestead.
During the troublous period in the early ex- istence of the state, and while the Civil War was devastating the land, our subject was numbered among the tried and true who could be depended upon, and served with fidelity in the state militia. Prospering with the better days which have come to the state, Mr. Morrell has brought his one hun- dred and sixty-four acres up to a high state of cultivation and improved the farm with commodi- ous and substantial buildings. The parents of our subject came to Kansas in the early '70s and set- tled near Girard, at Mulberry, where the vener- able father passed away about ten years later, aged eighty-four.
Mr. Morrell was wedded in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio, to Hester A. Allen. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, and was reared in Hocking County. Six children have blessed the happy home of our subject and his estimable wife. Levi, the second-born, died when three years of age; J. B., Harvey, Ella and Ollie complete the list of intelli- gent sons and daughters, who together with their parents occupy positions of useful influence and worthily possess the esteem and confidence of many friends. J. B. married Kate Kretzinger; Harvey married Lillie McCoy; Ella is the wife of John Reasor; Ollie is the wife of Webb Barklow. Polit- ically a Democrat, Mr. Morrell is a firm advocate of the principles of the party and is deeply inter- ested in both local and national issues. He is ever
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ready to lend a helping hand in matters of mutual welfare, and is prominent in the home councils of the community, where he is well known as a man of ability and enterprise.
ON. WILLIAM II. WILLHOITE, M. D., located in Kansas in 1864, and has since been a resident of Miami County. He was born in Owen County, Ky., December 29, 1839, and is a son of Alexander and Sarah (Gos- sett) Willhoite, natives likewise of the Blue Grass State. The family of our subject in 1850 re- moved to McLean County, Ill., and located on a farm near Lexington, where they improved two hundred and forty acres of land.
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