USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > Kansas City > Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. Historical and biographical. Comprising a condensed history of the state, a careful history of Wyandotte County, and a comprehensive history of the growth of the cities, towns and villages > Part 49
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stock. These occupations received his attention until 1862, when he went to Texas, taking with him the slaves belonging to himself and father, sixteen in number, and in the Lone Star State sold them. re- ceiving his pay in Confederate money, which he invested in Texas cat- tle. He undertook to take the cattle to the New Orleans market, but while en route was intercepted, and finally disposed of his stock to the Confederate army. He once more had the worth of his slaves in Con- federate money, and this he deposited in a bank in St. Louis, and for all he knows it is still there. Although a Southern sympathizer, he be- lieved that the Union should be preserved, and did all he could to that end in the way of furnishing the Union army with supplies. When he returned home he found his native city of liberty under martial law. His father was soon after stricken with paralysis, and Dr. Arthur then returned to his old home to attend to the management of the farm. In July, 1864, he bought up a lot of cattle for the purpose of supplying the Government troops at Fort Union, but owing to the danger to which they were subject in Missouri, he transferred the cattle to Ne- braska and took a contract of supplying the troops with beef at Fort Kearney and Laramie. The years of 1864-65 were devoted to this work, but the following year and a part of the year 1867 he practiced medicine in Hamburg, Iowa, after which he returned to his farm in Clay County, Mo. He made his home there until the early part of 1868, then sold out and removed to Wyandotte County, Kas., in which he has resided ever since. For three years he was engaged in the bank- ing business, but in 1872 he assisted in organizing a Christian Church at Armstrong, of which he acted as pastor for two years, and since 1874 he has devoted his time to preaching the gospel, to healing the sick and afflicted, and to the management of his real estate. Dr. Ar- thur holds a warm place in the hearts of those with whom he is ac- quainted, and as a minister, no less than as a physician, he has been the means of bringing happiness to many homes. It may further be stated in this connection that the most important of the Doctor's public achiev- ments was the improvement by the United States Government of the Missouri River for navigation, and reclaiming of valuable land border- ing thereon. Having been born and reared near that river and wit- nessed the frequent changes of the channel, the difficulties and dangers attending its navigation, he began early in life to study the causes and remedies therefor. His researches led him to write and publish several articles upon the subject, until finally he elicited the attention of a few of the prominent leading spirits of Kansas City, Mo. Through them
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conventions were called for directing public attention to the necessity and practicability of improving the banks of the river, which, he argued, was the key to the system. He was a delegate, and not infrequently the only one from his city, to conventions held at Kansas City, Mo., St. Joseph, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., Minneapolis, Minn., and to Washing- ton, D. C., where he represented both his State and city. It was at this capitol, before the Committee on Rivers and Harbor, that he made an exhaustive speech of one and one-fourth hours time, setting forth not only the advantages of so improving the river, but also the method by which the channel could be made permanent, the river its own dredge-boat, and a uniform depth of water not less than twelve feet in any and all shoal places. The appropriation asked was made, and the work commenced, which, he predicts, will continue until ere ten years will have elapsed, then will be regular steamers of large tonnage plow- ing the waters from Quindaro, Wyandotte, Kas., to the Gulf of Mexico. The citizens of his city do him the credit by affirming that to him and his untiring efforts are due the great advantages they hope to derive from cheap transportation arising from the line of steamers now in proc- ess of construction, headed by Capt. A. L. Mason and his co-work- ers. His words are the Missouri River can be tamed, and its surg- ing waves restricted by the will of man, and he will cease to be ap- palled by its great heights, or stayed in his progress by its shoal bars. His marriage on March 22, 1848, was to Miss Ann F. Young, who died August 23, 1849, leaving a child that survived her but a few days. The Doctor's second marriage was consummated November 1, 1849, the maiden name of his wife being Amanda D. Stevens, by whom he has had a family of eight children, six of whom are living.
Obadiah T. Ashlock, fruit grower, Turner, Kas. Mr. Ashlock is one of the early settlers of Shawnee Township and Wyandotte County, coming west from Iowa to Missouri in 1848, thence to Kansas, settling in Wyandotte County, in 1870. He is now one of the principal fruit- growers and general farmers of the township, and is the owner of over eighty four acres of good tillable land. He has 400 apple trees on his place, of the following varieties: Ben Davis, Winesap, Rall's Jeanette, Yellow Pearmain, Willow Twigs, Bellflower and others, for winter, and for summer use, the Early Harvest, Red Astrachan and Red June. He has 50 peach trees and 100 cherry trees of the following varieties: Early Richmond, English Murillo and others. He has 150 Wild Goose and Blue Damson plum trees, 50 apricot trees, 23 acres of black- berries of the Snyder and Kittyninnie varieties, 4 acres of raspberries,
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of the Gregg, Hopkin and Turner Red variety, and 1 acre in straw- berries, Crescent Seedling and Downing varieties. Mr. Ashlock finds fruit-growing more profitable than general farming. He raises 25 acres of wheat, and has 1} acres in grapevines of the Concord variety. He was born on February 18, 1825, in Tennessee, and was the fifth of seven children born to William and Nancy (Grogan) Ashlock, the father a native of South Carolina, and the mother of Virginia. The father was reared to manhood in the Old Dominion and there learned the trade of a cabinet-maker. Later he moved to Tennessee, and was married there in 1816. He was in the War of 1812, and was in the battle of New Orleans. He remained in Tennessee until 1829, and then moved to Kentucky. Later he moved to Sangamon County, III., in 1830, and here his death occurred in 1832. Three years later our subject moved to Des Moines County, Iowa, remaining there until 1848, and theu moved to Schuyler County, Mo., where he resided until 1865. He then came to Randolph County, and in 1869 to Kan- sas. Obadiah T. Ashlock was married in Illinois, in 1846, to Miss Hannah J. Payton, daughter of William and Jennie Payton, and seven children were born to this union: James M., Edwin E., William K., Henry H., Don Carlos and Obadiah T. Mrs. Ashlock died in 1869, and he was married to Mrs. John Brantigam in 1870, who was born in Prus- sia on May 30, 1842, and who was the daughter of Peter Pitsch, a native of the same country. Mrs. Ashlock came to this country in 1852, and in 1859 was married to her first husband, by whom she had three children: William, Peter and Robert. She and family came to Kansas in 1859, settled in Wyandotte County, and here her husband died in 1869. By her marriage to Mr. Ashlock she became the mother of two children: Albert F. and Rose Dell. In politics Mr. Ashlock adheres closely to the Democratic party, and is in favor of free trade. He is a wide-awake, enterprising citizen, and a man esteemed by all.
Henry M. Bacon is a well-known young druggist of Kansas City, Kas., and has been conceded one of the most accurate pharmacists of the city. He has been in business here since 1881, being the owner and con- ductor of two excellent drug establishments. He was born in Franklin, Mass., January 24, 1854, being a son of George W. and Julia A. (Brooks) Bacon, the former a native of the Bay State, and a son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Metcalf) Bacon, also natives of that State. George W. Bacon is still living, and resides in Massachusetts, but his wife passed from life in 1865. Henry M. Bacon made his
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home in Massachusetts, until he was two and twenty years of age, and received an exceptionally fine literary education, in Amherst College, from which institution he was graduated in 1876. In August of the same year he came west to Kansas, and for one year was principal of the public schools at Arkansas City, after which he accepted a clerk- ship in a drug store, and in 1881 engaged in his present business. He has devoted thirteen years of his life to the calling of a druggist, and no more competent pharmacist resides within the limits of Wyan- dotte County. He is a charter member of the State Pharmaceutical Association, also of the Tauromee Lodge of the A. O. U. W. He be- longs to the school board of Kansas City, having been elected in the spring of 1890, and every enterprise in which he becomes interested is benefited by his patronage. Miss Mattie F. Mitchell became his wife October 10, 1883, she being a native of La Fayette, Ind., and to them a son has been born: Walter B., whose birth occurred March 15, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon are members of the Pilgrim Congrega- tional Church, of which he is now a trustee.
August Baker is one of the original settlers of Wyandotte County, Kas., coming here in 1870. He was born in Germany on April 21, 1842, being the sixth of nine children born to Chris and Hannah Ba- ker, also native Germans. The subject of this sketch, at the early age of eight years, was so unfortunate as to lose both his parents, their deaths being caused by cholera, which terrible epidemic swept Ger- many during the year 1850. In August, 1856, when only fourteen years of age, he emigrated to the United States, settling with an elder brother, Henry, who now resides in Champaign County, Ill. He also resided in this county until the opening of the Rebellion, when he en- listed in the First Illinois Light Artillery, under Capt. Chaney, who resigned at Jackson, Miss., and was succeeded by Lieut. H. H. Bur- ton. His regiment was a member of the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. John A. Logan, whose fortunes he followed until the closing of the war. The principal engagements in which he took part were Memphis, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, and those battles in which Sherman participated in his famous march to the sea. His regiment was sent to Missionary Ridge to reinforce Gen. Grant, and served in the left wing of this battle. He then went to Knoxville, Tenn., where Gen. Burnside was surrounded by Gen. Longstreet, after which he went to Chattanooga, where he remained until his regiment received orders to go to Chicago to be mustered out of service. They passed through Indianapolis, Ind., where they were banqueted by the citizens,
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receiving their first good dinner in three years. While at Atlanta, Ga., on July 22, 1864, he and his entire company were captured by the Confederates. He was driving a piece of artillery at the time of his capture, but after remaining in the hands of the Confederates a short time, he became tired of being shot at by his own comrades, and he and a fellow-driver, named John Singleton, managed to escape, and hid in a deep ditch until the Union army advanced, when they were res- cued from their dangerous position. After being mustered out of the service, Mr. Baker came to Fort Leavenworth, Kas., and hired out as a teamster to Smith & Lambert, hauling Government supplies to the soldiers at Fort Union, Colo., which place they reached in July, 1865. He there quitted the company, and with twenty-three other teamsters started for California, but after a twelve days' march were surprised by the Indians, who killed and scalped two of their comrades and stole their mules. Becoming disheartened at these misfortunes, they re- turned to Fort Union, and after spending some time as a herder, Mr. Baker went to Fort Lyons, Colo., where he remained until the spring; then becoming assistant wagon boss, he took a train to Kansas City, Mo., where he received his discharge and returned to Chicago. Here he enlisted in the Twentieth United States Infantry, and went to Nor- folk, where he was uniformed and sent to Richmond. He joined his regiment at this place, after which he was sent to New Orleans, and was promoted to the position of provost-sergeant. After remaining there six months he went to Baton Rouge, thence to Shreveport, where he, with his regiment, took the train for Marshall, Tex. While there he was appealed to by the people of Boston, Tex., for protection from the depredations of Col. Baker and his gang of desperadoes. The subject of this sketch was then sergeant, was given command of some men, and although he and his men surrounded a saloon in which Ba- ker was, he succeeded in making good bis escape on a mule which he had stolen, after having shot a man named Titoos. Baker afterward captured a train of supplies, after killing three of the four men on the train, but as he made his headquarters in the canebrake, it was found impossible to effect his capture, although a company of cavalrymen hunted the country for miles around for two weeks. He was afterward sbot by his brother-in-law, at Orton Bros.' Circus, which was held at Boston, Tex. The gang of desperadoes entered the tent, began shoot- ing right and left, and riding in the ring, clearing the tent. The sol- diers secured their arms, and in their attack of these men succeeded in killing three, and captured four more. The latter were secured in
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jail, but the following morning, as the jailer went to take his prison- ers their breakfast, they shot him down and escaped. They were pur- sued by our subject and his men, but would not surrender until an- other of their number had been killed. The troops stayed at Boston for seven months, notwithstanding the threats received by them from the friends of the dead men. They were then ordered to Fort Ran- som, Dak., where the Indians were troublesome, and here Mr. Baker remained until August, 1869, when he was discharged and returned to Illinois. He then went to Nebraska to engage in farming, but while on his way to Leavenworth to purchase a team and supplies he had his money stolen from him at St. Joseph, and for a time was compelled to hire out. He worked here until the following fall, then bought a team and a mower, having received some aid from his Illinois friends, by the sale of some land. He cut grass and harvested that summer and fall, after which he went to Fremont, Neb., and on August 5, 1870, was married to Miss Mena Falke, a daughter of Henry Falke. She ac- companied her husband to Wyandotte County, Kas., and here they purchased some land and settled down to farming. They now own 160 - acres of fine farming land, on which is erected a new house, good barns, fences, etc. They have a family of four children: William, Chris, Frank and August. Mr. Baker is a Republican, a member of the Farmer's Mutual Benefit Association, and is president of the same at Rock Lodge No. -. He and his wife and children are members of the Lutheran Church of Leavenworth, and for the last three years . he has been trustee of his township, and was treasurer for two years. He is an upright gentleman in every respect, and is a worthy citizen in this community.
Dr. Thomas D. Bancroft, the founder of the Bancroft Tabernacle, in Kansas City, Kas., was born in the year of 1837, in the State of Ohio. His parents were David and Louisa (Thomas) Bancroft, na- tives of New York State. When two years old, the family returned to their native State, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. At the age of sixteen he left home, and came to Kansas when eighteen years old and joined the Free-State troops, then under the leadership of Gen. James Lane and John Brown. The summer of 1856 was spent in the service of the cause of freedom, and against making the Territory of Kansas into a slave State. After the close of this war he returned home to his father's house, where there was something more than husks to feed upon. (Boys having sense often do that.) Between the close of the Border Ruffian War and the breaking out of the great
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Rebellion, he tried to pick up a little education at Genesee Wes- leyan Seminary and College in Lima, Livingston County, N. Y. The excitement consequent upon the general election that gave to Mr. Lincoln the presidency was too much for him, and after serving as cap- tain of a wide-awake company during the campaign, he left school on January 28, 1861, and went to Washington, D. C., and was pres- ent at the Capitol building, and heard many of the farewell speeches made in both the Senate and House of Representatives by receding members. Many threats were made against the Capitol by Southern sympathizers, and in the absence of troops to protect the Government archives, a company of frontier guards was formed for the purpose of protecting the Capitol, and placed under the leadership of the old Free- State leader, Gen. Lane, who was then there in Washington, having been elected the first United States Senator, after Kansas had been admitted as a free State. Mr. Bancroft was among the first to join this company, which played a very conspicuous part in preventing an attack being made upon Washington, for the company was made up of men who had formerly fought in the Kansas Border Ruffian War, the remembrance of which was enough to make pro-slavery men think twice before they crossed the Potomac River. This company was quartered in the east room of the President's house, and did duty on Long Bridge, Eastern Branch Bridge, and in fact protected Washing- ton and the Government until the arrival of troops, when they dis- banded. Mr. Bancroft was present at the first inaugural of Abraham Lincoln, afterward making his personal acquaintance, and was in the theater on the night of Mr. Lincoln's murder. He now has in his possession a drop of Mr. Lincoln's blood on a piece of the program played that night. While Mr. Lincoln was being carried down stairs out of the theater, Mr. Bancroft was one of a number of men who stood at the head of the stairs to keep back the crowd of excited people, and it was at that time this drop of blood fell from the mortal wound and was instantly picked up by him. During the war Dr. Bancroft fought in the volunteer service in twenty or more battles and skirmishes, and was with Gen. Sheriden through the wilderness battle to the James River. Three bullet holes through his blouse-coat in one day is the most tangible evidence he can produce of the poor marksmanship of Confederate sharpshooting. At the close of the war he naturally came West, and, like most other persons, drifted about until the year 1879, when he engaged as traveling salesman with the firm of Messrs. Ride- nour, Baker & Co., wholesale grocers in Kansas City, Mo. During this
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time he became a reader of Dr. T. De Witt Talmage's books and sermons, and often filled appointments in the lecture field and public readings from Dr. Talmage's writings. He established many public libraries in the State of Kansas, and also the first public library in Hot Springs, Ark. During this time he had espoused the Christian Relig- ion, and visited many Eastern cities for the purpose of finding out some practical way of reaching and bringing into the fold of Christ the poor, neglected and destitute of our cities. While in Brooklyn he made the acquaintance of Dr. Talmage, and afterward joined his church, the Brooklyn Tabernacle. He then returned West and set- tled in Kansas City, Kas., where he now resides. He was married to Susie Archer, of Washington, D. C., in 1861, and to this union there was born one son, William T., who now resides in Kansas City, Kas., and is a successful business man. In 1862 his wife died, and he was again married to Miss Elida Smith in the year 1880. She was a native of New Jersey, and still lives to bless their home at 713 Trout Avenue. In 1888 he began the organization of a Sunday-school, by washing clothing and gathering destitute children into a school which he called the Tabernacle Sunday-school. At their first meeting there were about a dozen children present. The school grew in numbers and interest until the Opera House was too small to accommodate them. He then rented a piece of ground, and began the erection of a tabernacle building which now bears his name, and has a seating capacity of 1,500 people. Its dimensions are 60x90 feet with gallery, and is 31 feet high in the clear. It is well seated, lighted, and is a very pleasant auditorium. It contains two parlors, one of which is used as a store- room for clothing and provisions for distribution among those who are needy. Hundreds have been fed and clothed, and hundreds have re- formed, and are now reputable citizens. Employment is furnished for those who want to work, and all are required to wash before assistance is given. The Tabernacle is also used as a place of worship. Regu- lar services being held on Sunday, and two prayer-meetings during the week. A regular society has been organized, called the Tabernacle Fold, which is undenominational. Their creed is made up of verses selected from the Bible, each member being required to select a verse for his part of the creed. The school is now one of the most order- ly and well-behaved schools in the city. The children are nearly all singers, and it is delightful to listen to them. The Doctor says the work is only well begun, and that with the proper assistance he will be able to reclaim nearly all the unfortunate children in the city.
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Never before has there been such energy put into practical home mis- sionary work, and no one now has any doubt about Dr. Bancroft's ulti- mate success.
Thomas J. Barker, a Kansas pioneer, and one of the first settlers of Kansas City, was born in Bedford County, Va., December 11, 1828, His father, William A. Barker, born in Albemarle County, Va., in 1796, was a slave overseer, and served in the War of 1812. He was the son of Jacob Barker (a boatman on the James River), who was born at Richmond, Va., and was the son of James Barker, of English de- scent, who served under Washington, in the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. Mr. Barker's mother, Sarah (Hobbs) Barker, was born in 1800, in Bedford County, Va., and was the daugh- ter of James Hobbs, a distiller, who was a native of England, and after serving in the English army, in the East Indies, emigrated to America in 1794, and served in the War of 1812. William A. Barker, the father, and Sarah Hobbs, the mother, were married in 1817. in Bedford County, Va., where Thomas was born. They moved in 1832 to Giles County, where the father died in 1837. To them had been born eight children: James B., Mary V., Massenna C., William E., Anderson L., Thomas J., Francis S. and Joseph G., of whom Anderson L., Thomas J. and Francis S. are still living. The father, for twelve years previous to his death in 1837, was afflicted with the palsy, and the care of the family almost entirely devolved upon his wife. She was possessed of a more than ordinary degree of intelli- gence and great force of character, but she was unable to provide for her children and give them extensive educational advantages. Thomas J. Barker attended school in all, about one year, at the log cabin school house of those times and that country. He was endowed with an enquiring mind, was anxious to acquire knowledge, and soon made himself proficient in arithmetic and geography. When eighteen, having first made an arrangement with his mother for the three years' service he still owed her, he started out to make his own way in the world. At that time his health was not good, and he thought best to seek other employment than that of farming. He engaged to work for Anderson Pack, a wealthy planter, merchant and owner of a tan-yard in Mercer County, Va. He worked principally in the tan-yard, but at times did service in the store. He remained with Mr. Pack about two years, during which time an incident that afterward affected his career in life occurred. He was frequently entrusted with the buying and receiving of hides. At one time Augustus Pack, a nephew of his employer, delivered
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a large quantity of hides which proved on inspection to be more or less injured. Thomas refused to receive them except at a reduction of one-third in the price. This demand was resisted and the owner of the yard was appealed to and the hides received. But Mr. Pack was highly pleased with the business qualities of his clerk. About a year after this transaction having determined to abandon the tanning bus- iness, he met Mr. Augustus Pack, whom he supposed he had greatly offended by so strenuously representing the interests of his em- ployer, when he was greatly and agreeably surprised to receive charge of Mr. Pack's store, where he remained about two years, receiving a much larger salary than his uncle had given him. In 1851 he went to Central America, intending to work on the Panama Railroad, then in process of construction. But on reaching Aspinwall he was taken sick, and after remaining on the Isthmus about two weeks he returned to New Orleans, and thence to Louisville, Ky., where he received the benefit of hospital treatment for a short time before returning for his home. He next engaged in mercantile business with James B. Malone, at the head of navigation on the Kanawha River. In April, 1855, he immigrated to Kansas, and for a short time stayed in Wyandotte. He went thence to Leavenworth and engaged with Charles A. Man- ners to assist in running the territorial line between Kansas and Ne- braska. There were twelve in the party, and he was given the posi- tion of cook. Late in the following fall, the survey having been com- pleted, he went to Wyandotte, where he has ever since resided. He first engaged as chief cook at the Catfish Hotel, a position he took in the absence of other employment. In abont two months he obtained work as a rail-splitter and wood-chopper, using timber then standing on the present site of Kansas City, Kas. In the spring of 1856 he was employed by Mr. Isaiah Walker, as clerk in his store. In the winter of the same year, he bought a half interest in the store, and was an equal partner for about a year and a half, when he sold his in- terest. During this time he was appointed postmaster, and held the position until 1863, when he, Silas Armstrong, and John L. Hall bought a saw-mill about three miles west of the city, and engaged in manufacturing and selling lumber, in which he continued for several years. In the fall of 1864 he bought a half interest in the steam- boat "Kansas Valley," on which building lumber was shipped to Leavenworth and other points, also supplying the Government with considerable quantities. In 1864 he and John L. Hall built the steamer "Emma;" in 1865, the steamer " Hiram Wood;" in 1866,
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