1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

L. H. Lashley is a retired farmer and one of the most extensive landowners of Crawford county, his possessions aggregating fourteen hundred and fifty acres. He has been very successful in business, and his life record proves what can be accomplished by strong and determined purpose when guided by intelligence and sound business discernment. His example may well serve as a source of emulation and courage to others who have to begin life as he did, without financial assistance or particularly fortunate environment in youth.

Mr. Lashley is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Bedford county, that state, on the 7th of August, 1846. His parents were William and Mary E. (Hullinger) Lashley, and the father was for many years a merchant, carrying on business along that line until his death, which occurred in 1881, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. His wife passed away in 1890 at the age of eighty years.

To the public school system of his native county L. H. Lashley is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He was only seventeen years of age when, in the spring of 1864, he responded to his country's call for troops and enlisted as a member of Company A, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving under General Phil Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley. He participated in the battles of Winchester and Charleston and several other engagements and was honorably discharged at Winchester, Virginia, in the fall of 1865. In the meantime, however, he had become familiar with all the hardships of southern prison life, for he had been captured and was held as a prisoner of war at Libby, at Salisbury, North Carolina, and at Pemberton, the period of his incarceration covering four months.

When the country no longer needed his services Mr. Lashley returned to his home in Pennsylvania and gained his early business experience as his father's assistant. Some time after the war he began merchandising on his own account at Chaneysville, where he continued for fifteen years. He had in 1866 made a trip to Dixon, Illinois, but after a short period there again returned to Pennsylvania, where he carried on his mercantile pursuits until his removal to Kansas. He became a resident of this state in 1885, and for two years was engaged in the hardware and lumber business at Englevale. He then turned his attention to farming and became one of the most successful and prosperous agriculturists of this portion of the state. As his financial resources increased he added to his realty holdings, and his investments now cover fourteen hundred and fifty acres of fine farming land in Washington and Lincoln townships. The first land which he ever owned in the state was located in Washington township, and was purchased by him in 1883 when on a visit to Kansas. He has been extensively engaged in the raising and shipping of grain, hay and stock, but has now retired from active connection with agricultural interests. In 1902 he rented his farm and removed to Girard, where he now owns a nice home. He is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil without further recourse to labor, save for the supervision which he gives to his property interests.

Mr. Lashley's first marriage was with Miss Rachel Kennard, and one daughter was born, Josephine C., who is a graduate of the Baltimore Medical College and is now a successful physician and surgeon at Kansas City, Missouri.

September 4, 1878, Mr. Lashley was united in marriage to Miss L. E. Hullinger, a daughter of Lewis and Susan (Long) Hullinger, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They have three children: Garrett S., Edgar L. and Roscoe H., all of whom are residents of this county. Garrett is one of the general merchants of Pittsburg; he is married and has two little children, Floyd and Fern. Edgar is a young, practical farmer, and is married and has one little daughter, Lillian Fay. Roscoe is in the high school at Girard. The parents are members of the German Reformed church, and Mr. Lashley is a member of the blue lodge and chapter of Masons at Girard. He is also connected with General Bailey Post, G. A. R. His political allegiance has always been given to the Republican party since attaining his majority, and he has served as school treasurer for a number of years, while at the present writing he is a candidate for the office of county commissioner. His life has been a busy, active and useful one, and his capable management and enterprise have been strong factors in winning him the splendid success which has crowned his efforts.