David M. Elmore
DAVID M. ELMORE. It would be difficult for a Kansas farmer to conceal his prosperity. A good farm speaks for itself wherever it is. The casual observer would quickly infer from the appearance of comfort and thrift about the homestead of David M. Elmore in Keysville of Pawnee County that he has been to a large degree prosperous in material circumstances since he first arrived in the county about fifteen years ago. Those have been years of steady toil and progress directed by earnest effort on the part of Mr. Elmore.
He arrived in Pawnee County February 17, 1902. He came here from Mason County, Illinois, and traveled by rail, shipping a carload of goods to Larned. With him came his wife and five children. He had some money and considerable experience, but the best of his prosperity has been won in Kansas. He is all the more loyal to the state for that reason.
On coming to the county Mr. Elmore located on the farm where his home now is, the south half of section 29, township 22, range 19. This tract had no improvement except a small plot of ground broken up. As his first home and shelter he built a three room dwelling. He began experimenting with the growing of wheat. He has sowed a crop every year, and in only two seasons has his crop been so short as not to justify moving a header into the fields. In 1917 of 700 acres planted almost all came through the drought and the winter and in May gave promise of a fair crop. The best average crop was about twenty-seven bushels to the acre. His best aggregate yield was 17,000 bushels, which in modern times spells wealth in large letters. During the early years, however, he received only between fifty-four and sixty-five cents to the bushel, and he hauled his first crop to Kinsley to market.
After he was well settled and had his farm paid for and his credit well established, Mr. Elmore began to make improvements. In 1910 he built a spacious country residence, modern throughout, containing ten rooms, with a private lighting and water system, with bath room and drainage, and with everything that makes country life attractive. In the same year he built a fine barn 50 by 64 feet, with capacity in the mow for seventy tons of hay. He has a granary of 5,000 bushels capacity and a machine shed protects all his implements. There are two windmills on the farm and the water is pumped from a depth of sixty-five feet and is of remarkable purity.
Mr. Elmore has also identified himself with the community affairs of his township, and is now serving as a member of the board of school district No. 59. As a democrat he cast his first vote for Mr. Cleveland in 1888. He was then a resident of Illinois. He and his family are members of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Elmore was born in Green County, Kentucky, near Greensburg, November 26, 1864. He is a son of John Elmore and a brother of A. H. Elmore of Rozel, Kansas. During his youth he lived on a farm, attended country schools, and acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture from his father. Until he was twenty-five he was a member of the family circle. On December 11, 1889, he married Miss Dora Lee, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Warren) Lee. Her father was born in Taylor County, Kentucky, and was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Lee had the following children: Josie, wife of Chris Warren, of Kentucky; Emma, wife of Hardin Walker, of Pawnee County, Kansas; Maggie, wife of Thomas Hash, of Kentucky; William, living in Kentucky; and Mrs. Elmore.
A large family of children have constituted a constant encouragement and stimulus to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Elmore, and they have the more satisfaction in their material achievements in Kansas because it has enabled them to provide liberally for these young people. Their oldest child is Ethel, wife of Perry Tuttle, of Pawnee County. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle have three children, Helen, Mary and Florence, and Mr. and Mrs. Elmore take great pride in their grandchildren. The next child, Emery, married Laura Blackwell, and has one child, Fay. Garvin, a farmer in Pawnee County, married Minnie Button, and their daughter, Beulah, makes the fifth grandchild. Cecil married John Fromong. The younger children, still at home, are named Jessie, Alta, Lizzie, Mina, Lucile and Leonard.
Transcribed from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, written and compiled by William E. Connelley, Secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka. [Revised ed.] Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919, c1918. 5 v. (xlviii, 2530 p., [155] leaves of plates): ill., maps (some fold.), ports.; 27 cm.
Volume 4 & 5 of the 1919 publishing - Table of Contents