Cloud County
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WILLIAM WILSON CALDWELL
Prominent in the business circles of Concordia
stands the name of W.W. Caldwell, where for years he has been one of the most
enterprising and public-spirited citizens, To him the city is indebted for
several of its most pretentious structures, among them the Caldwell Bank
building, Layton & Neilson block and the "Caldwell Hotel." The latter, just
completed, is said to be one of the most elegantly equipped and appointed hotels
in northwest Kansas. The emigrant of the Caldwell family was John Caldwell, who
was born and reared in County Antrim, Ireland. Tired of the poverty and
oppression which English rule produced in his native land, he sought the freedom
of America and took passage for the United States in 1809. But persecution
followed him into the New World, for in 1811 he was taken from an American
vessel by a British man-of-war and forced into severe service, as was the custom
of those times. He deserted at Montreal one year later and enlisted in the
United States army and served until the close of hostilities. He subsequently
married Miss Mary McClure and established a home in Ross county, Ohio, where
James, the father of our subject, was born. His mother before her marriage was
Miss Elizabeth Shepard, of Athens, Ohio. She also came of English stock. James
Caldwell moved to Iowa in the early settlement of that state, where W.W.
Caldwell was born in Jefferson county, November 2, 1840. He grew to manhood on
his father's farm, combining the duties thereon with attendance at school in
Agency City, finishing his education by attending for one year the Denmark
(Iowa) Academy.
He served in the civil war with H.B. Johnson's
Independent Missouri Battery. After the war clouds had passed over he began the
study of law with R.H. Gilmore, of Keokuk, Iowa. In March, 1866, he removed to
Savannah, Missouri, where he pursued his studies under the instruction of the
late James W. Strong, of St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Caldwell was admitted to the
bar in 1870 by Judge Isaac C. Parker, of St. Joseph. While in Savannah he served
as deputy clerk of the circuit court and was elected mayor of that city. He came
to Concordia in 1885, and for several years was associated with Hale H. Cook and
F.S. Ellis under the firm name of Caldwell, Ellis & Cook. They had a large
clientage in the courts throughout northern Kansas. In 1897 Mr. Caldwell
organized the firm of Caldwell, Wilmoth & Ackley, and conducted an extensive
commercial and corporation practice. Since Mr. Ackley's death, in 1901, the firm
has been Caldwell & Wilmoth. Mr. Caldwell organized the Citizens' National Bank
of Concordia in 1887, and was president of that institution until its
consolidation with the First National Bank of Concordia in 1898.
He is an
ardent Republican in politics and has been a member of the Republican state
central committee, and chairman of the Republican state central committee of
Cloud county. In 1892 he was on the Republican national ticket for presidential
elector and was a delegate to the national Republican convention which convened
at Philadelphia, January 19, 1900. Mr. Caldwell has been twice mayor of
Concordia and was the candidate in the last city election. He was defeated by
S.C. Wheeler by one vote, after the hardest fought battle in the history of
Concordia. Mr. Caldwell is a leader in politics, is authority on financial
issues and one of the first to expose the fallacy of the free coinage of silver.
He was an advocate of the maintenance of the "existing gold standard" long
before it was written in the St. Louis platform in 1896. Mr. Caldwell was
married in 1869 to Camilla A. Kellogg, of Keokuk, Iowa. Four children have been
born to them: E.W., of New York City, J.F., of Hastings, Nebraska, Mrs. J.P.
Barrett, of Concordia, and Miss Edith, who lives at home. Eugene W. Caldwell,
their eldest son, has attained success and prominence in the professional world.
Although but thirty-two years of age he has spent a year on the continent, is
lecturer at Bellevue hospital, New York City, and the author of a scientific
work for the use of the medical fraternity, entitled, "The Practical Application
of Roentgen Rays in Therapeutics." He is also director of the Edward N. Gibbs
Memorial X-Ray Laboratory, and the Bellevue Hospital Medical College.
A. W. CAMPBELL, M. D.
The career of Doctor Campbell was a
checkered one and though he may have had faults all concede his virtues were
many. He was one of the old settlers of Clyde and contributed to many a
sufferer. When called to a sick bed would render all the assistance in his
power. He was kind and sympathetic and the hungry never left his door unfed. He
had held the position of United States examining surgeon since the war.
Doctor Campbell was born in Brooklyn, East Canada, in 1834. He died October 2,
1880, leaving a daughter twelve years old. Mrs. Campbell died four years prior.
He was buried by the Masonic brotherhood and Grand Army of the Republic, having
been a member of both societies.
HONORABLE WILLIAM S. CANNON.
The subject of this sketch, W.S. Cannon, an old resident of Clyde, came to
this city as a clerk in the employ of the pioneer merchants, Herman & Davis, in
the autumn of 1869. In 1875 he established a general merchandising business,
continuing in that pursuit for upwards of a dozen years, and built the brick
building now occupied by the boot and shoe department of the "Regulator." He
carried a stock ranging from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars and was one of
the leading merchants of Clyde.
Mr. Cannon was born on the eastern shores
of Maryland in the village of Bridgetown, May 18, 1849, where he grew to
manhood, receiving a common school education. In 1867, he left Maryland and
after a sojourn of a little more than a year in Illinois, came to Clyde. In the
meantime Mr. Cannon has spent several years away from Clyde. He began the
practice of law in the office of Judge Hamilton, of Norton, the present judge
from that district, appointed by Governor Stanley. He was with this able jurist
for a period of four years and was admitted to the bar of Kansas February 2,
1890, at Norton, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1892,
he visited Pueblo, Colorado, and became associated with Moses & Hubbell,
attorneys, under the firm name of Moses, Hubbell & Cannon. One year later he
returned to Clyde (where he always claimed a residence and came home to vote)
and opened a permanent office. Mr. Cannon takes an active part in political
affairs and votes with the Peoples party. He was twice elected mayor of the city
of Clyde, and served as treasurer for eight years. Mr. Cannon was born in the
same house where his father first saw the light of day. His parents were John M.
and Susan (Elliott) Cannon. He is one of nine children, five of whom are living.
A sister is the only one living at the Bridgeport home. Mr. Cannon married Miss
Carrie Borton, one of Clyde's most estimable young women, a daughter of the late
Baker Borton (see sketch). The are the parents of four children, Ruby, John,
Bessie and Margery.
HONORABLE ARCHIBALD ARGYLE CARNAHAN.
The late A.A. Carnahan, a retired attorney, statesman, politician and an old
landmark of Cloud county, was born in Loudonville, Ashland county, Ohio,
December 2, 1837. He was a son of William Karnahan (the original mode of
spelling the name), an anti-slavery man, one of the little band who organized
the Liberty Party in Ohio in 1842, and a station agent on the underground
railway. He was a strict Covenanter for many years and an elder in the church.
His paternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish origin. His mother was a Miss Mary
Speer, of Holland extraction. She was an intelligent woman and a devout member
of the Covenanters' church. William Karanhan[sic] died in 1845, and his wife
married James Robinson, a very worthy member of the same church.
A.A.
Carnahan was one of six children, only one of whom is living: William R., with
residence in Findlay, Ohio. A.A. Carnahan was educated in Northwood, Logan
county, Ohio, at the Miami University. Upon finishing a course there he began
the study of law in the town of Bucyrus, Ohio, and after pursuing his studies
for two years he emigrated to Olathe, Johnson county, Kansas, in the year 1860,
and in June of the same year he was admitted to the bar by Judge John Pettit at
his court in Wyandotte, to practice law in the various courts in Kansas.
For a brief time he practiced law in Olathe. At the breaking out of the Civil
war he enlisted in Company C, Kansas Volunteer Infantry, and served until his
regiment was mustered out by general order. He then re-enlisted in the First
Kansas Cavalry, afterward known as the Seventh Kansas, original "Jayhawkers,"
and served until February, 1863, when on account of wounds received at Blue
Springs, Jackson county, Missouri, by the Quantrill band, which confined him at
the hospital at Kansas City, he was honorably discharged.
In 1865 he was
employed in the construction of the Kansas Pacific Railroad between Lawrence and
Abilene. In 1867 he located at Lake Sibley, Cloud county. In 1868, he was
elected to the senate and served two sessions. The seventh judicial district was
then composed of Marshall, Riley, Washington, Republic, Cloud and all the
district of unorganized counties to the westward. He was one of the senators who
voted for and secured the ratification of the fifteenth amendment to the
constitution of the United States, guaranteeing universal suffrage.
His
services in the senate occurred during the time when a vast portion of western
Kansas was devastated by grasshoppers and drouth, and when his own district was
invaded by Indians. He was one of the most active and efficient workers for the
relief of sufferers, and it was largely through his ability and influence that
the passage of bills for relief by state contribution to the famine stricken
people, of seed wheat, corn and appropriations for sustenance of the militia in
defense of the frontier was due. Also in securing the passage of a concurrent
resolution memoralizing congress to establish the Republican land district. He
was a volunteer and soldier in defense of the people during the Indian troubles.
Was judge of the twelfth judicial district of Kansas by appointment in 1884, and
was one of the early probate judges of Cloud county.
In 1886, under
Cleveland's administration, he was appointed receiver and disburser of public
monies. He took an active part in the organization of the People's party. In
1898 he connected himself with the Socialist Labor party and was chairman of the
first Socialist convention held in Kansas at Fort Scott, and the party candidate
for chief justice of the supreme court of Kansas. In 1900 he attended the
Socialist convention in Topeka, and was party candidate for associate justice of
the supreme court, and was one of the state committee at that time trying to
organize the Socialist party in Kanasas.[sic]
A.A. Carnahan was married
in Topeka April 22, 1872, to Ollie E. Sheldon, a daughter of Doctor Sheldon, of
Stowe, Vermont. Mrs. Carnahan was visiting her two sisters in Topeka, and had in
the meantime established herself as a music teacher. She is an educated, refined
lady and especially distinguished in musical circles. Two sons have been born to
this union: William Edwin, born in Concordia, Kansas, in 1874, is a trusted
employe in the capacity of cashier in a bank at Randall; Harry T., born in
Concordia in 1879, has for several years held a clerkship in the Bon Marche, one
of the leading dry-goods houses in Concordia. These boys were both educated in
the high school of Concordia. William has a cultivated baritone voice of
considerable range.
Mr. Carnahan a member of the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, and was buried by the rites of this order. He was past master
of St., John's Lodge No. 113, and past high priest of Concordia Chapter, No. 5.
He was a member of Hiram Council, Royal Select Masters No. 10, and was most
illustrious past master of the state of Kansas, a member of Concordia Commandery
No. 42, and of Isis Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of Mystic Shrine. He
was a member of of[sic] the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Modern
Woodmen. In 1857 he became a member of the original Alpha Chapter of the Phi Mi
Chi fraternity.
In the early settlement of Cloud county Judge Carnahan
was a valued citizen. He was a man of genial and sunny nature and was probably
as well known throughout the state as any man in the country.
ALBERT BURTON CARNEY.
The subject of this sketch is Albert Burton Carney,
the efficient superintendent of the Concordia city schools. Mr. Carney is a
product of the Sunflower state, born at Manhattan, Kansas, in 1869. He is a son
of Joseph and Mary (Wagner) Carney.
Joseph Carney is a native of Steuben
county, New York, born about sixty miles from the city of Buffalo. He is a
farmer by occupation and settled in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1859, which was then a
mere village on the frontier. Mrs. Carney was also born in New York in the
beautiful and historic Mohawk valley. She came to Illinois, and after teaching
school for a short period, came to Kansas in 1863 via Leavenworth and thence to
Manhattan by stage. The journey through Missouri was a perilous one to make
during the turbulent times of the Civil war, when every man under sixty and
every boy over fourteen years of age were pressed into active service.
Mrs. Carney organized the first graded school in Manhattan, then a village of
four or five hundred inhabitants. She first taught a miscellaneous school and
was given one assistant. After the expiration of two years she was married to
Joseph Carney, which ended her school work except in their immediate family,
where much credit is due her for laying the foundation upon which most of them
have builded successful educational careers. Mrs. Carney comes from Dutch
colonial stock and from the same lineage as the inventor of the Wagner Palace
Car.
Joseph Carney spent the early part of his life in New York on a
farm, but after emigrating to Manhattan, engaged in the milling business until
1870, when with several other families he moved to Mitchell county, where he has
since lived and built a beautiful country home. He has been a resident of Kansas
forty-two years, and has seen the country grow to its present state of
civilization.
To this union eleven children have been born, seven boys
and four girls, all of whom lived to maturity. The eldest child, Lewis, was a
graduate of the Beloit High school and entered upon a career of teaching, but
died at the age of thirty years. Scott Winfield, until a year ago was interested
with his brother Lewis, of Downs, in the mercantile business and where he was
also postmaster. He is now mining in the Cripple Creek district of Colorado.
G.D. Carney has been engaged in educational work all his life. He is a graduate
of the Beloit High school, was two years at the State Normal school and lacked
ten weeks of graduating. He is now superintendent of instruction of public
schools in Mitchell county. This is his fourth year; was first appointed, then
elected and re-elected. E.M. Carney, a resident of Emporia, Kansas, occupies a
chair in the State Normal school. He a graduate in two courses from that
institution, was a student of the Kansas Normal twelve months, and one year in
Harvard. Helen A., a graduate and salutatorian of her class in the Beloit High
school, is now teaching in the schools of Billings, Montana, and is also a
musician of some local note. Winifred, a resident of Cawker City, where she is
engaged in the millinery business, is also a graduate of the Beloit High school,
and for several years a successful teacher. D.L. Carney entered upon the career
of school teacher, but is now a student in the Kansas City Dental College.
Nandora, associated with her sister Winifred at Cawker City, is the business
woman of the family. Ella is a student of the Beloit High school. She has
considerable musical talent. Walter, aged thirteen years, received a common
school diploma and has finished one year in the Beloit High school.
A.B.
Carney, with his elder brothers, was reared on a farm and began their career by
herding cattle, over what is now the town site of Beloit, and the ordinary work
on the farm, attending school in winter. When fifteen years of age he worked for
his board and attended school in Beloit. About this time his ambitions began to
soar beyond the corn fields which surrounded the home of his boyhood.
At
the age of eighteen years he began teaching in a country school near Beloit, and
one year later became principal of the Asherville graded schools, where he held
forth two years, the proceeds of which enabled him to take a two years' course
in the State Normal, where he graduated in 1892. He then became principal of the
Jamestown schools for one year, in 1893 accepted the position of principal of
the Concordia High school and two years later was made superintendent of the
city schools and is now on his eighth year.
Mr. Carney's natural ability,
coupled with his industry and ambition have caused him to be promoted to the
head of the school system in Concordia. He is an indefatigable worker for the
cause of education., a man of keen intellect and executive ability. It was
chiefly through his efforts that the High school was secured in 1900, and also
the public library of public schools and many other improvements which are his
especial and pardonable pride. He instructs one-half day in the High school and
lectures the other half. His specialty is history, both ancient and modern.
Mr. Carney is a very successful institute worker and in connection with this
and regular school work has labored twenty-five consecutive months. He has given
much time to lecturing before educational societies, has worked in twenty or
more institutes, either as instructor or conductor, averaging two institutes a
season. In 1901 he was appointed by the governor as a member of the board of
Kansas state text books, and has been twice honored with the appointment of
chairman of the state board of education.
Mr. Carney was married in 1899
to Miss Myrtle Latta, of Clay Center, Kansas. Mrs. Carney is a native of Ohio.
She came to Kansas with her parents when a child and located in Clay Center,
where she grew to womanhood. She is a graduate of the Clay Center High school.
Mrs. Carney is a talented musician and possesses a well cultivated mezzo soprano
voice. She has studied in Topeka and Kansas City. She was a member of the Clay
Center High School Ladies' Quartette, known as the "Cecilian Quartette." They
toured various parts of the state, singing for educational associations and
concerts. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Carney was employed as special teacher of
music in the Concordia schools.
Politically A.B. Carney is a Democrat. He
is a member of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias and
Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan. Mrs. Carney is a member of the Eastern Star
and is president of the "Anatheum Club" of Concordia. Mr. and Mrs. Carney have a
very comfortable and cozy home on Eighth, between Washington and State streets.
REVEREND C. E. CARPENTER.
A series of biographical sketches
of the Jamestown citizens would not be complete without a tribute to the
Reverend C.E. Carpenter, who has, perhaps, done more good in a spiritual way
than any resident of their town. He fills an important work in many fields of
labor. He is a faithful minister of the gospel and achieves much good in his
modest, sincere, every-day life. He is one of the most useful individuals in the
community. If there are "two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that
beat as one," that are to be united in the holy bonds of matrimony, Reverend
Carpenter's services are sought to invoke the divine blessing. It is he who is
called to minister at the bedside of his fellow citizens in the closing hours of
life, to soothe, comfort and alleviate the sorrowing friends and later to
officiate at the funeral rites. There are few families in the town or community
that have not been associated with Reverend Carpenter is one or all of these
conditions, and his readiness and willingness in performing these duties have
endeared him to his friends. Reverend Carpenter is a native of the state of New
York, born in Orange county in 1852. For ten years prior to coming to Kansas in
1878 he lived in Peekskill, on the Hudson river. After several years devoted to
farming three miles south of Jamestown, he left the farm in charge of his son
and for twelve years was identified with the Doctor Baker Medicine Company as
traveling salesman. Two years he was employed on rural mail route No. 2, running
out of Jamestown. September 1, 1903, he became associated in a general
merchandise business under the firm name of Carpenter & Carroll, and being well
and favorably known, they are building up an excellent trade. During the greater
part of his life Reverend Carpenter has alternated his time with the ministry
and evangelical work. For two years he has filled the pulpits of Scottsville,
Macyville and Fairview. He is not sectarian but worships with all denominations.
Reverend Carpenter was married in 1872 to Miss Jennie Tompkins, of New York. Her
father owned a farm along the Hudson, near Croton Landing, where Mrs. Carpenter
was born. Their five children living are: Walter J., their only son, who is a
rural mail carrier; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Vincent a farmer three miles
southwest of Jamestown; Flora, wife of Perry Grout, an employe in the store of
John Lundblade; Alice and Winifred are young women at home, the former assists
in the store.
JAMES CARTER.
Probably no man is better
known in the vicinity of Jamestown than James Carter, the gentleman whose name
introduces this sketch. He emigrated to Kansas with the Ansdell brothers and
landed in Grant township June 7, 1870, where the homestead of uncultivated
prairie has become one of the most valuable estates in the beautiful Buffalo
creek valley, and where Mr. Carter has become identified as one of those
citizens largely interested in the development of the county. He was a single
man and "bached" for several months in a small log hut, and during this period
in the newly settled country in all probability he looked into the future and
saw a comfortable home but did not foresee the beautiful country place that is
nos his.
Mr. Carter has been an extensive contributor to the best
interests of the community and the work he has accomplished toward the
improvement and cultivation of his fine farm is a most important one. The land
he entered from the government has been added to until he now owns five hundred
acres which is one of the best improved and most desirable farms in Cloud
county. His residence, consisting of nine rooms, its modern conveniences,
extensive and well-kept lawn, is one of the most imposing in the locality of
Jamestown. Mr. Carter's prosperity has certainly been well merited, for he
accomplished these magnificent results from no other resources than industry and
good judgment. These sterling qualities along with determination have placed him
in the front ranks of the substantial farmers and he is hereby recorded as part
and progress of the history of Cloud county. At the date of his settlement in
Grant township there were no actual settlers, as all who secured "claims" had
deserted them, and the vast territory, where now lie some of the finest farms on
the continent, was covered with a sea of waving prairie grass.
Mr.
Carter's birthplace is the Dominion of Canada, born in 1849. In 1885, he settled
in Wisconsin, and though but a youth responded to the call for volunteers and
enlisted in Company B, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin. After serving one and one-half
years he was discharged on account of disability. Recuperating his health, he
re-enlisted three months later in Company D, Fiftieth Wisconsin, and served one
year. While with the Thirty-sixth he was in active service and participated in
the battles of Petersburg and Cold Harbor. During the last enlistment his
regiment was sent to Dakota territory, where they witnessed some Indian warfare
and took part in two lively skirmishes with the redskins.
Mr. Carter's
parents were George and Mary (Ried) Carter. His father was a Canadian by birth
but emigrated to Wisconsin among the early settlers of that state. Mr. Carter is
of Irish origin, his paternal and maternal ancestors having come originally from
the Emerald Isle. His father resides in Richland county, Wisconsin. His mother
died when our subject was eighteen years of age. Mr. Carter was married, in
1877, to Emma, a daughter of the late John U. Hodgson, one of the first
postmasters in the vicinity of Jamestown, and when the nearest postoffice on the
east was Concordia. It bore the name of Alva, given by William J. Ion, who was
reading "Oscar of Alva," one of Byron's poems.
"How sweetly shines
through azure skies,
The lamp of heaven on Lora's shore;
Where Alva's
hoary turrets rise,
And hear the din of arms no more."
The name Alva,
appealed to Mr. Ion as being appropriate for the new postoffice and at his
suggestion it was adopted. When Mr. Hodgson received the appointment of
postmaster his form was straight and full of vigor, his eyes bright and lighted
with expression, but twenty-two years prior to his demise he had the misfortune
to lose his sight and was totally blind. Mr. Hodgson was a native of Yorkshire,
England, born in 1818. He emigrated to America in 1841 and settled in the
province of Oxford, Canada, spending part of his time in Toronto and Tobico. He
removed to Illinois in 1862, where he farmed until coming to Kansas. Mrs.
Carter's mother before her marriage, was Elizabeth Taylor, of Canadian birth.
She survives her husband, lives on the old homestead and owns other land
adjoining. She has three sons, E.L., B.F., and W.M, who are interested with her
in farming.
To Mr. and Mrs. Carter five children have been born, who give
promise of becoming like their parents, useful citizens. Harry Fred, the eldest
son, is aged twenty-four; John George, aged nineteen; Mary Elizabeth, the eldest
daughter, is a young woman of eighteen years and a student in the last year of
the high school course in Jamestown; Dot Lucile, aged fifteen, has just entered
upon the first years course in the high school; James Eugene, the youngest
child, was nicknamed "Tim" when an infant and is scarcely known by any other
name.
When Mr. Carter came to Kansas his capital was twenty-five dollars,
a yoke of oxen and a well worn wagon. He has gained his competency by raising
wheat, cattle and hogs. Prior to a half dozen years ago he raised corn. In the
year 1902, he had three hundred and twenty acres of wheat which yielded only
eight and ten bushels per acre. The same acreage the previous year produced
seven thousand bushels. Aside from their handsome dwelling, the improvements
consist of a fine barn, sheds, outbuildings and a well bearing orchard of six
acres. Mrs. Carter is an amiable woman and has done her part toward gaining
their pleasant home and through her refined tastes its appointments are far
above the average. Mr. Carter is a Republican from start to finish and takes an
intelligent interest in public affairs.
WASHINGTON GEORGE CARTNEY.
The subject of this sketch, W.G. Cartney, came to Concordia when
the city was in its infancy. When it was a town of tents and shanties, Mr.
Cartney pinned his faith unflinchingly to the future metropolis and as a result
of this quality of stick-to-it-iveness he is in a prosperous condition
financially and one of the leading business men of Concordia.
He was a
single man and had not yet attained his majority when he took Horace Greeley's
advice, "Go west, young man, and grow up with the country." When he landed in
the new town in March, 1871, it could easily be imagined Mr. Cartney was a very
similar type at that period as is found in his son Walter of today.
Mr.
Cartney had learned the carpenter trade before coming west, but accepted a
position in the pioneer meat market of Bean & King and by so doing laid the
foundation of a successful career. Mr. Cartney killed the second beef that
supplied the trade of Concordia with meat. This historical event took place on
the Sheafor claim, which is situated on Plum creek, and is now known as the
Beauchamp farm, but owned by H.A. Swift. Mr. King killed the first beef. In the
latter part of the 'eighties Mr. Cartney and J.C. Paradis formed a partnership,
which continued to exist for about twelve years. One year after they had
mutually dissolved interests Mr. Cartney purchased the market and still
continues to conduct the same. To his enterprise and fitness for the business
the people are indebted for excellent services, as his refrigerators are always
filled with the choicest of meats, that only an experienced caterer could
furnish.
Mr. Cartney is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1852, but when
a small boy removed with his parents to Ohio, where he grew to manhood, or until
emigrating to Kansas. The origin of the Cartney name is Scotch. Our subject's
grandfather was the emigrant to this country; he settled near Philadelphia and
married into a Pennsylvania Dutch family.
Pierce Cartney, the father of
W.G. Cartney, was a member of Company E, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry, and gave his
life for his country, not in battle, but from a fate that entailed untold
suffering; he died in the Danville prison as a result of privation.
Mr.
Cartney was married in 1874 to Miss Abbie E. Mallory, who came to Kansas from
New York, her native state. Their family consists of two children, Walter and
Etta. Their son is now with his father in the market, but was previously engaged
as traveling salesman for the S.S. Beef Company, of Kansas City. He was with
this firm one and one-half years. The daughter is accomplished in music and
elocution.
In fraternal relations Mr. Cartney has been a member of the
Odd Fellows for a score of years, and is identified with the Woodmen of America,
Pyramids, Sons and Daughters of Justice and of U.C.T.
Mr. Cartney is a
genial man, reliable, honorable and public spirited; he is one of Concordia's
most honored citizens and has a host of personal friends.
GEORGE C. CASSELMAN.
One of the most hospitable, and one of the most pleasant
homes in the truest sense of the word, is the Casselman home in Lyon township,
which has been acquired by the personal exertions and efforts of George C.
Casselman, and is presided over by his accomplished wife who is a daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. S.O. Everley (see sketch).
Mr. Casselman is a native of
Jones county, Iowa, born on a farm in 1870. In 1878 he came with his parents,
Levi and Mary (Parker) Casselman, to the state of Kansas. His father was born in
eastern Canada but a few years later came with his parents to the state of New
York and settled near Tuscarora. After reaching manhood he made several changes,
and finally drifted into Iowa, where he enlisted in Company C, First Iowa
Cavalry, serving in the same regiment until July, 1865. They were with the
troops of General Sheridan and General Custer through their career in Texas.
After the war he returned to Iowa where he remained until coming to Kansas in
1878.
Mr. Casselman's paternal grandfather was a soldier of the Canadian
rebellion of 1837, serving in the Canadian British ranks. He emigrated to
Wisconsin in an early day and died there at the age of ninety-five years. The
Casselmans, four generations removed, came from Germany and are a long-lived
people, several of them having almost reached the century mark. Mr. Casselman's
mother, Mary (Parker) Casselman, was of Scotch origin, born in the city of
Montreal, Canada. Her parents emigrated from Scotland to Canada and thence to
Wisconsin. She was twice married. Her first husband was John W. Cook, who was
killed near Atlanta while serving under the United States flag. He was a
sergeant and with a force of men was throwing up in embankment, when he was hit
by a spent ball and died of the wound in 1864. By this marriage there were four
children, three of whom are living, viz: Maggie, wife of William Sanford of
Amber, Iowa; Rosa, wife of Marion Bellows, a farmer near Oldham, Iowa, and
Sewell, a resident of Newton, Kansas.
When Mr. Casselman's father came to
Kansas he bought three hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land of C.C. King.
He built a house, dug a well, fenced the land and otherwise improved the place.
In the winter of 1895 his residence burned and soon afterwards he sold two
hundred and twenty acres of the farm to his son, George C., the subject of this
sketch, who at once began the erection of a commodious, two-story, nine-room
modern, stone residence, which stands on an eminence of ground overlooking the
country for many miles. It is one of the most substantial buildings in that
vicinity. While this was in course of construction Mr. Casselman with his bride
lived in a dugout.
Mr. Casselman was married October 7, 1894, to Miss
Zora Everley. They are the happy parents of two little sons, Floyd W., born in
February, 1896, and Melvin H., born in July, 1898. Mr. Casselman is one of three
sons; Alexander, a farmer with residence near Medford, Oklahoma, and John W., a
telegraph operator of Sioux City, Nebaska.[sic] Mr. Casselman has just received
a thoroughbred Shorthorn bull, and is building up a herd of Shorthorn and
Hereford cattle. Stock raising and wheat growing are his principal industries.
Mr. Casselman is a staunch Republican. The Casselmans are members and ardent
workers of the Bethel church society; he has been superintendent of the Sunday
school for two years and is secretary of the board of trustees. He is a member
of the Woodman order of Glasco lodge. Mr. Casselman is a leader in all public
enterprises of his neighborhood and is recognized as a man of integrity.
GEORGE CHAMPLIN.
The late George Champlin, the subject of this
memoir, emigrated to Kansas in the springtime of 1870 and homesteaded the land
now owned by his son, Robert Melvin Champlin. The farm is situated one-half mile
west from the present corporation limits of Jamestown.
George Champlin
was a native of Rhode Island, born December 2, 1836, and died in December, 1899.
He removed to the state of New York when a youth, grew to manhood there and
married Miss Adeline E. Latten, of Towanda, December 3, 1860. He was practically
a farmer all his life, having owned land near Cold Springs, New York, before
establishing a home in the West. Mrs. Champlin was born at Otsego, New York,
October 10, 1835. She survives her husband and lives with her son, Robert, on
the farm. Our subject's father was also named George. He has two brothers
living, SyIvester and James, both of New York.
Mr. Champlin served three
long years in the service of "Uncle Sam," and was with Sherman on his march to
the sea. He was a member of Company B, One hundred and fifty-fourth Regiment, of
New York Volunteers, and was discharged at Bladensburg, Maryland, June 11, 1863.
Like many old veterans, he was left in a disabled condition from physical
ailments, brought on by exposure and hardships and from being crippled while
making the ascent of a mountain near Dalton, Georgia. While in line of battle he
was crowded off a rocky precipice and fell about a dozen feet, injuring his
ankle and left arm.
Mr. Champlin was indentified for many years with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was buried according to the rites of that
order. He also belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic.
To Mr. and
Mrs. Champlin eight children were born, four of whom are living, two sons and
two daughters.
Marion L. Champlin is a rural route mail carrier, with
residence in Jamestown, where he and his family are highly esteemed citizens.
Loretta, Is unmarried and lives in the home of her brother Robert. Edith, is the
wife of Frank Ion, a section foreman on the railroad. Their home is in Palmer
Lake, Colorado. They are the parents of two daughters, Adeline and Frances
Lillian. Georgiana, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Champlin, died January
4, 1885, after only a few months of wedded life.
Robert Melvin
Champlin,who owns the homestead, having bought the interests of the other heirs,
is a prosperous farmer and stockman. He was born near Cold Springs, New York,
November 10, 1868, but was brought to Kansas when yet in swaddling clothes,
hence is practically a product of the "Sunflower" State. He began at the
foundation, started on his stock raising career with two pigs presented to him
by Anthony Loftus and Joe Donnelly. When grown he traded them to his father for
two steers, which brought him sixty-five dollars. He worked and invested his
earnings in more stock, later his father gave him one-third of the corn raised
on the farm, and being possessed of natural business sagacity he prospered
rapidly, until he bought the homestead, added another farm to his estate, and
today finds him in a fair way to become one of the foremost farmers of Buffalo,
township. This farm, is highly improved and equipped with all sorts of modern
machinery. The original house of cotton wood stood down by the creek, but they
were driven out by the flood in 1878. The water came down in torrents, like a
wall, carrying straw-stacks, pigs, chickens and everything in its path. The
volumne[sic] of water was partially held back by the railroad which was in
course of construction, but when it broke through the embankment the waves of
the swolen Buffalo, creek swept over the bottom lands, forming a vast lake.
Robert Champlin is identified with the Woodmen and Royal Neighbors. Politically
he has been voting with the Populists.
GEORGE W. CHAPMAN.
One of the solid. most prosperous and entirely self-made men of Cloud county is
G.W. Chapman, of Solomon township, who came to Kansas during the tide of
emigration in 1870, his father preceding him a few months. He is a son of James
and Emma (Harris) Chapman, who, with their family of three children, left their
home in old England and came to America in 1867. The Chapmans were from County
Kent, near London, and within sight of the Crystal Palace. Mr. Chapman is a
farmer and the first two years in this country they lived in McHenry county,
Illinois, and in 1869 emigrated to Cloud county, and took up a homestead five
and one-half miles southwest of Glasco.
G.W. Chapman was born in England
in 1854, and began his career herding cattle both in winter and summer for a
period of about four years. He was married in 1876 and took up a homestead,
built a small stone house with a dirt roof, where they lived several years. He
now has seven hundred acres of land and a herd of one hundred and seventy fine
Hereford bred cattle and one hundred and twenty-five head of hogs; will have
seventy head to ship this year. When Mr. Chapman was married he was practically
penniless; says "he was like the fellow in the far west who didn't have wearing
apparel enough to flag a handcar."
Mrs. Chapman was Elizabeth Bennett, of
Iowa, who came to Kansas in 1874. The Bennets afterward moved to Oklahoma, where
her father, at the age of eighty-nine years still lives. Her mother died three
years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have four children, two boys and two girls: Ada,
wife of Ed Orbaugh, a farmer and stockman of Solomon township, Frank C. and
George F., who assist their father with the stock and on the farm, and Lessie,
aged thirteen.
Mr. Chapman is a lover of fine stock; cultivated a taste
in that direction from boyhood as he drove the cattle over the prairies,
building "castles" of how some day he would have herds of his own. For several
years the Chapmans were in very limited circumstances financially, and in 1881
he decided to speculate, either make or go clear to the wall. With this
resolution he mortgaged his farm and bought some cows of Texas breed. As they
increased he graded them until he had some very good stock.
He next
invested in ten head of high grade registered Herefords, from which he produced
one of the finest herds in the county. He has at the head of his herd at
present, one of the best sons of "Wild Tom," purchased from the C.S. Cross
"Sunny Slope farm," near Emporia, Kansas. Before his death (he committed
suicide), Mr. Cross refused two thousand five hundred dollars for this animal by
parties in Omaha. Mr. Chapman favors the Hereford breeds assuming they are more
easily kept, and fatten more quickly - fatten when other breeds continue poor.
Mrs. Chapman raises some very fine poultry and has upwards of a dozen handsome
peafowls.
Mr. Chapman is a member of the I.O.O.F., Glasco Lodge, No. 188.
They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Chapman's parents still
reside on the old homestead. Of his father's family, a sister, Mrs. William
Merritt, lives in Idaho, his three brothers, Walter J., Frederick and James, are
all farmers of Cloud county. Mr. Chapman has a pleasant and comfortable home
presided over by Mrs. Chapman who is an amiable and estimable woman.
JOHN CONNELLY CHASE.
The subject of this sketch is J.C. Chase, a
farmer, stockman and chicken fancier of Solomon township, two miles southeast of
Glasco. Mr. Chase was born on Third avenue, in the city of New York, October 18,
1854, but in appearance is ten years younger. His father, William Henry Chase,
was a carpenter by trade and a native of New York, with residence in New York
City and Brooklyn. He died in 1874, in his forty-eighth year. The Chase ancestry
came from Wales and were early settlers in New York. His mother was Maria L.
(Johnson) Chase; born and died in the city of New York. The Chase family
consisted of himself and two sisters. The eldest sister, Elizabeth F. Lane, is a
widow, - having buried two husbands. She resides in the city of New York and has
one daughter, Priscilla, by her first husband. The other sister is Mrs. Ida M.
Satterlee, of New York City.
Mr. Chase learned the alphabet in the city
of New York with one hundred or more other children; as the teacher pointed to
the charts they screamed out the letters. He then attended school in winter and
in this way received a good common education. He was at one time a pupil of John
Ridpath, the historian. Mr. Chase left the city of New York when seven years of
age and with some race horse owners went to Indiana, where he began to exercise
and train for a jockey, and soon afterward rode in the races, and subsequently
became well known among the turfmen. He has been connected with the Horner &
Crouch stables near Lebanon, Indiana, and with Samuel Hine, near Greencastle,
Indiana, Long & Allen, of Bloomington, Illinois, and with General Price, a son
of General Sterling Price, of Missouri, for four years. Mr. Chase rode his
famous horse, "Bill Bass," at the head of the Tennessee wagon in the procession
at the ratification of Cleveland's election. General Price took an active part
in the celebration, allowing his handsome milk white horse to lead the
procession, but had voted against Cleveland.
Mr. Chase was with Kellar &
Tracy, of St. Louis, and went with them to Denver, remaining one year. He was
with Sam Trowbridge, of Wellington, Kansas, and with D.W. Covington. In 1891 he
shipped a brood mare to Cloud county, intending to move on to St. Louis for the
purpose of training some horses and riding in the races. He had friends in Cloud
county, who persuaded him to ride at meetings in Concordia, Clyde, Clay Center
and other towns. Mr. Chase has won big stakes. He won a handsome purse on "Pete
Willis," General Price's horse, at St. Louis. He has been more or less
interested in horses all his life.
Mr. Chase has five young horses that
have been bred for the track. He has one of the best bred stallions in the
world, "Frances Hennessey," His sire, "Sid Arthur," was imported by Pierre
Lorillard. His dam was "Murtillo," bred by Milton Young, of Lexington, Kentucky.
"Francis Hennessey" is a, half-brother of "Our Nellie," the famous mare which
holds the two-mile record, 3:32 1/4, and a number of other record breakers. She
made this record at Memphis in 1899. In color "Francis Hennessey" is a very dark
seal brown horse, with two white heels. He is a superbly magnificent animal.
Mr. Chase also has a strictly thoroughbred mare, "Lucy," from "Longbow" by
"Longfellow." She is now eighteen years old and he has raised six colts from
her. He has retained one of her colts, a brood mare, "Vina Long" by "Okema." The
latter is by "Reform," out of the dam of "Iroqi" that went to England and won
the English derby, the only American bred horse that ever captured it.
Mr. Chase takes delight in poultry breeding, but horses are his "long suit." He
has been breeding the Brown Leghorns and the Black Minorcas five years. In the
latter he has scored up to 95 1/4 points. Judge Rhodes, of Topeka, at the
Delphos poultry show in 1900, affirmed they were the highest he had ever
adjudged, and carried away the blue ribbon. He supplies eggs for hatching and
his patrons are sure of getting the pure article. He keeps about a half dozen
pit game chickens and when it comes to a "show down" they prove themselves
champions. He has taken his share and the biggest end of the blue ribbon
wherever he has exhibited, - Beloit, Delphos, Minneapolis and Glasco, - and they
have been scored by as good judges as there are in the country: L.P. Harris, of
Nebraska, Judge Rhodes, of Topeka, and other competent authority. Mr. Chase also
has some fine bred shorthorn cattle, but for lack of pasture does not keep a
large herd. He has been successful in hog raising during the corn years. His
fine farm consists of one hundred and eighty-five acres of bottom land,
intersected by the Solomon river.
Mr. Chase was married in 1894 to
Pauline (Knatkowsky), the widow of Jacob Studt, by whom she had six children.
The two younger were twins, one of them died at the age of three months. Jacob
Studt was a native of Germany, born in 1840. When a small boy he came to America
with his parents and settled in Illinois, near Waterloo, and in 1867 came to
Cloud county, where he died January 26, 1891. Their children are Margaret C.,
Augusta S., Elizabeth K.A., Herman A., and Clara H. The Chase farm is the
original homestead of Mr. Studt, where he and his brother lived in a dugout for
several years and built the first log house in the neighborhood, which was then
deemed commodious. The house still stands. In 1890 Mr. Studt built a good frame
house of nine rooms.
To Mr. and Chase has been born one child, Priscilli
Cornelia, a beautiful little girl of five years. Mr. Chase takes an active part
in political affairs and votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the
order of Woodmen of Glasco. Mrs. Chase is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Chase is diminutive in stature and looks his part. He is never so happy
as when training a horse for the turf, unless it is when mounted for the race.
He is an affable, genial fellow and by his social qualities draws around him a
host of friends. He is a good citizen and desirable neighbor.
NAPOLEON JOSEPH CHOQUETTE.
N.J. Choquette is one of the substantial
business men of Concordia. He is a native of Canada and was born in 1863. He is
of French extraction on his father's side, but his maternal ancestors were of
Scotch origin. He is a son of Napoleon and Theresa (McDuff) Choquette, both
natives of Canada.
N.J. Choquette is a graduate of St. Cesaire Commercial
College of the class of 1883. He started in life as a clerk in his own town, St.
Damase, in a general merchandise store. In 1889 he came to the United States,
locating at Fall River, Massachusetts, where he filled the position of
bookkeeper for two years. In 1891 he came west and stopped at Concordia. He was
penniless and in debt ere he obtained employment. With a five weeks' board bill
confronting him he secured a clerkship in the grocery store of C.A. Betourney,
which position he held for nine years. At the expiration of this period he
became associated with Mr. Renard in the furniture business and by their thrift,
enterprise and close attention to business they built up an extensive and
lucrative trade. In 1902 Mr. Choquette sold his interest in the furniture house
of Choquette & Renard and after a few months had elapsed he opened a place of
business on Main street, between Washington and Broadway. His stock is new and
fresh and Mr. Choquette will doubtless command his share of the patronage.
Mr. Choquette was married in 1890 to Mrs. Minnie Ragsdale, who died in 1894,
leaving a child by a former marriage, who now resides with her grandparents in
Iowa. In 1897 he was married to Ella Smith, a popular young woman, who had been
employed in the primary grades of the Concordia schools for several years. She
is a native of Iowa and received her educational training at Monticello. They
are the parents of a bright and interesting little daughter four years of age.
The Choquettes have a very desirable home near the end of Sixth street. Mr.
Choquette is a Republican voter, a member of the Order of Maccabees, Knights of
Pythias and the Modern Tonties.
VALENTINE CHRISTIAN.
Valentine Christian is one of the oldest settlers who still reside on the land
he homesteaded in October, 1870, and, although he and his family have passed
many hardships since emigrating to Kansas, they have been happy and contented
and are staunch friends of the "Sunflower state." For six months Mr. Christian
did not possess a penny nor a postage stamp until through the vigilant eye of
the great hearted "Uncle" Heller, who always had the welfare of his fellowmen at
heart and whoo not only gave words of consolation and comfort, but that which is
of more value in such a time, his store of worldly nature. He had observed our
subject was not posting his usual quota of letters and perhaps suspecting the
real cause, this good man remarked one day, "Mr. Christian, you are not mailing
many letters these days?" Our subject replied, "No sir, I have not got the
postage." Whereupon "Uncle" Heller, with an expression of deep feeling and
sympathy, said, "Do not refrain from writing your friends for that reason; take
all the stamps you want; all I ask is you to pay me quarterly." Mr. Christian
acted upon the generous impulse of "Uncle" Heller and at one time owed a bill
for postage of $1.50. Those were days when commodities were not taken in
exchange for goods; for instance, Mr. Christian at this time took some eggs to
town and could not get even one cent per dozen, the merchants preferring to
credit him for pins and matches, than take eggs in exchange. His family at that
time consisted of a wife and one child. They could not use the eggs, and his
neighbors were likewise supplied so he threw them away.
Mr. Christian is
a native of St. Joseph county, Indiana, born in 1845, and has been a farmer and
stockman all his life. His father is Asa D. Christian and lives on the old
homestead in the "Hoosier" state at the age of eighty-one years. The Christian
ancestors were from Germany and settled in the Dutch settlement of Pennsylvania
in a very early day. When Asa D. Christian was twelve years of age he emigrated
westward with his parents, and barefooted drove and ox team into the wilderness
of Indiana where they settled in the uninhabited timber region of that state.
His mother was Almira Fisher. Her ancesters were of Irish origin and among the
first settlers of Cincinnati, Ohio, when the Indians were numerous and when they
found it necessary to resort to all sorts of devices to protect themselves
against the pilfering, begging tribes that roamed the primitive forests. They
split logs in half and stored their provisions in the hollowed interior, laid
the two halves together, heaped brush and leaves over it, thus concealing their
meat and other articles of food, for when the Indians came they helped
themselves to what ever they found in the way of eatables. Upon one occasion
their attention was attracted toward a bright, shining new hatchet that had been
given Mr. Christian's grandfather, who was about twelve years of age. One of the
Indians looked longingly at the little ax for a moment and then appropriating
the coveted weapon walked unceremoniously away into the forest. A moment later
the owner of the hatchet came in and when he learned what had taken place,
quietly, but with determined look lifted a loaded rifle from the wall and
deliberately followed intent on revenge. When but a short distance from their
cabin he heard a pounding and suspecting the savage was trying the virtues of
his new weapon, the boy slowly and quietly crept through the bushes, while with
each succeeding stroke of the hatchet his blood grew hotter, and onward he went
until rewarded by a glimpse of the savage who was astride of a log cracking nuts
with the utmost satisfaction. The lad cautiously gained a large log at safe
gunshot distance and drew a head on his unsuspecting victim who was alone,
having separated from his comrades. He would aim and then lower his gun debating
if he should empty the contents into the red skin or spare his worthless life
and while thus soliloquizing, the Indian cracked another nut and with such inate
satisfaction that the youth was maddened beyond control, each walnut inciting
renewed anger and finally drew down on the sights of the gun, he knew well how
to use although a mere boy, and in another instant the Indian was sent to the
"happy hunting ground." The victor then proceeded to gather in his spoils,
secured his hatchet and upon returning to the cabin his mother who had heard the
report of his rifle inquired what he had done. His father at once instigated a
search and finding the body, immediately secreted the victim, for had the tribe
discovered one of their number had been thus dealt with would have wreaked a
terrible vengeance and in all probability have massacred the whole family. Mr.
Christian's mother who died about sixteen years ago was the mother of thirteen
children, eleven of whom are living. Mr. Christian is the eldest child. Edward
C., a stock dealer in Scandia, is a brother, and Robert, a farmer of Elk
township. Mrs. Frank Rupe and Mrs. Milton Garwood are sisters; the other members
of the family are near the old homestead in Indiana.
Mr. Christian was
married in 1871, to Laura Fitch, of Montpelier, Vermont, who died November 4,
1874, leaving two sons, Arthur, the eldest child is a resident of Holton,
Kansas, and Valentine who farms with his father. Mr. Christian married his
second wife, Jeanette Parker, in 1876. To this union seven children have been
born, viz: Winifield and Clarence, the two eldest, are young men aged
twenty-three and twenty-one years. Almira, the eldest daughter at the request of
her grandfather was named for her maternal grandmother. The other children are,
Francis, John, Eva and Imo.
Mr. Christian's farm consists of one hundred
and sixty acres of land all under cultivation. He keeps a herd of finely bred
Red-Poled cattle and among them are several pure blooded pedigreed animals. He
has also dealt extensively in fine bred hogs of the Poland China breed, and
during corn years raises and feeds from one hundred to one hundred and fifty
head. Mrs. Christian has been very successful in poultry, raising from five to
eight hundred in a season. She has tried various breeds but finds the Plymouth
Rock the best farmer's bird and general purpose fowl. In the spring of 1902, she
set sixty-six hens and sold nearly two thousand eggs for hatching, often
gathering from the nests twelve dozen per day, which furnished many short
orders.
Politically Mr. Christian is a Republican but not a radical
politician. He is a well informed man, received a good common school education
and having been a great reader has acquired a store of useful knowledge. He is a
public spirited man and a most excellent citizen.
ANTON CHRISTIANSON.
No foreign element has become more important in our
American citizenship than that furnished by Denmark. Her stalwart and
industrious sons bring with them stability and enterprise, characteristics of
their country. Their dreams of homes on this continent are more than realized,
for most of them are prosperous and many have acquired wealth. Of this class of
citizens the subject of this sketch, Anton Christianson, of Buffalo township, is
a worthy example. He was born in Denmark in the year 1858; when fourteen years
of age he emigrated with his parents to America and settled in Minnesota (see
sketch of Christ Christianson).
When about twenty years of age he began a
career for himself and was employed in various capacities. Was one year in the
mines of Colorado. Twenty-two years ago a span of horses was his only capital.
He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land, one of the most desirable farms
in the country that ten thousand dollars would not buy; it is highly cultivated
and well improved. Here he has prospered and within that number of years has not
had a complete failure of crops, he owes no man a dollar and takes life easy
under "his own vine and fig tree." Mr. Christianson's chief product is corn;
will have eight thousand bushels the present year, the ground yielding between
fifty-five and sixty-five bushels per acre. He is an extensive stock grower,
raising Jersey cows and many hogs.
Mr. Christianson was married in 1879
to Mrs. Maggie Lied, the widow of Myrick Lied. She left Scotland, her native
land, came to Canada when a young girl and later to Michigan, where she lived
during her first marriage. In 1878 she came to Kansas and one year subsequently
was married to Mr. Christianson. She is an educated woman and has considerable
artistic ability. Mr. Christianson votes the Republican ticket and has held
local offices at various times. Fraternally he has been a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows for fifteen years. Mr. Christianson is a man of
pleasant agreeable manner and possesses a keen sense of humor which draws around
him a large circle of admiring friends.
WILLIAM C. CHRISTIANSON.
W.C. Christainson, the subject of this sketch, is one of the early pioneers
of Grant township, and is one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers in
the township. Mr. Christianson is a native of Denmark and was born in the year
1855. When ten years of age, he, with his father's family, emigrated to America
and settled in Minnesota on a farm among the lakes; four years later they came
overland to Kansas with ox teams. Their object was the same as that of thousands
and thousands of others, - to secure more land in the sunny state of Kansas.
Stephen Christianson, his father, possessed very little capital, but a large
family of children, four sons and three daughters; however, a family of sturdy,
helpful children was no drawback in the pioneer state. A correspondence with
"Father" Nelson was the mainspring of their locating in his neighborhood.
Reverend Nelson desired to settle the community with Danes of the Baptist
church, he being a minister of that faith.
Mr. Christianson still lives
on the homestead his father filed on in 1869, and where they built a dugout of
two rooms and lived in it several years. In order to "go to mill" Waterville was
the nearest point that furnished so great a convenience and necessity as a grist
mill and it was a great meeting point for the settlers. Building in those early
days was incurred at a great cost and inconvenience as well. In order to build a
house they were compelled to haul down a rock from the hills and burn it to make
the lime; with ox teams they hauled the timbers from Waterville. Notwithstanding
these disadvantages, Mr. Christianson decided to build more commodious quarters
and hauled the necessary material and erected a stone house consisting of four
rooms, the only one in the neighborhood and which was designated as the "big
white stone house on the corner." It was plastered and whitewashed and in
contrast with the dark and dingy dugouts seemed very fair to look upon.
W.C. Christianson is the possessor of four hundred acres of land and all of
which is in a high state of cultivation, which reflects great credit to their
industry and careful management as they came to Kansas with practically nothing.
The four Christianson brothers now own collectively fifteen hundred and twenty
acres of land highly improved and a just return for their labors. Mr.
Christainson and his brother Anton passed the summer of 1876 working in the
mines of Colorado; while they accumulated five hundred dollars each and with
this capital purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. Mr. Christianson
sold his eighty to his brother, who now resides upon it, and purchased the
homestead in 1884, where he now lives and enjoys the hallowed memories of the
old home. Wheat is almost exclusively raised on the farm, but thirty acres has
been sown to alfalfa.
Mr. Christianson was married in 1880 to Miss Lottie
E. Burns, a lineal descendant of Robert Burns, the Scottish bard, who speaks to
the hearts of all nations through his poems. Mrs. Christianson was born in Mason
county, Michigan, July 5, 1857, and was demised June 13, 1887. She was a woman
of excellent educational ability and taught several terms of school in her old
home in Michigan, also in Kansas. She was a consistent Christian woman, actively
interested in philanthropic works, and was for many years a member of the
Free-Will Baptist church. Their two daughters, Alice and Blanche, are graduates
of the Jamestown high school. Alice is teaching her second term in the home
school, District No. 65, Blanche is teaching on her first term in District No.
99. Both of these accomplished daughters are intellectual and excellent young
women.
Mr. Christianson was married in 1888 to Marie Eskildsen, a comely
and prepossessing young Danish woman who came to America in June, 1888. The
parents of both families were friends in the old country. She came to live in
Mr. Christianson's family and soon afterward became his wife. Her father, Eskild
Jensen, was a Baptist minister in Denmark. Mr. Christianson's eldest sister,
Mrs. Mary Johnson, is now a resident of Washington, near Walla Walla. Christina
married John Christianson and moved west with her elder sister and was deceased
there. The youngest sister is Mrs. Martha Peterson, wife of the Reverend G.R.
Peterson.
Mr. Christianson is a Republican in politics. He received the
nomination for sheriff of Cloud county in 1898, and was defeated by Morrisette
in his sccond term. He lowered the record about three hundred and was a
formidable opponent. He has served his township two terms as trustee, served
several years on the school board and was a director almost continuously until
he resigned. He is deeply interested in all political moves, is well read and
well posted on all matters of vital interest to the welfare of the country.
While in Minnesota Mr. Christianson and his brothers learned the use of fire
arms and were therefore capable of enjoying the chase on the Kansas prairies,
and hunted the buffalo as long as there were any in the state. It was noticeable
with regret after each hunt the herds were being driven beyond the boundary of
the Kansas line. Mr. Christianson killed his first buffalo in the spring of 1870
and furnished the family with meat for the first year. He, like hundreds of
others, declares those were the happiest days of his life; the freest from care
and would gladly live them over again. Mr. Christianson and his family are
progressive, stand on their own honor and integrity and have carried for
themselves a good name.
THEODORE D. CLEMONS.
One of the
most shining marks among the self-made men of Cloud county, is T.D. Clemons,
whose farm is located less than one mile southwest of Jamestown. From a farm
laborer he has become one of the most prosperous and well-to-do men of the
county.
When our subject was but six years of age his mother died, hence,
without maternal training, experience, or pecuniary aid, his duties were doubly
difficult to perform; but regardless of the many discouragements, he has won
financial success. Four years elapsed after he was orphaned ere Mr. Clemons
could claim a home. But he was fortunate from that period for he lived in the
family of Norman Nims and received the same kind consideration that was accorded
their own, and, although he worked very hard, owes his success in life to his
foster parents with whom he continued to live for eleven years. Prior to
attaining his majority, he worked for his board and clothes and when twenty-one
received one hundred dollars.
Mr. Clemons gained a common school
education but his career proves the truth of Sir Walter Scott's statement - "The
best part of a man's education is that which he gives himself," and also
emphasizes Gibbon's assertion - "Every man has two educations, one which is
given him, the other and more important one, that which he has acquired through
actual experience." Soon after reaching his twenty-first year, our subject
became restless on the farm, and deciding to become a clerk or something less
laborious than farm life, left the state of Michigan, the place of his nativity,
and removed to Ohio. After spending considerable of his small capital he decided
the safest and surest plan was to stick to the farm, as a strange and
unexperienced boy could not find many situations awaiting him. Ben Wheeler, a
younger brother of Ex-Senator Wheeler, of Concordia, accompanied Mr. Clemons to
Ohio and the two young men decided while there to try their fortunes in the
west. The idea of coming to Cloud county suggested itself because Senator
Wheeler was there and they would not be entirely alone among strangers. But Mr.
Wheeler did not want to go west until spring; so Mr. Clemons started alone,
landed in Cloud county in December, 1881, and a few weeks later secured
employment on the farm of Will McCall and remained there until returning to
Michigan, nineteen months later. But having had a taste of western life he was
not contented there. Consequently in the autumn of the same year he and his
brother bought tickets for Marion Center and were headed that way; but when they
arrived at Emporia and Cottonwood Falls, they found there was a demand for men
to garner the large corn crop of that section and they both worked there that
winter. There were other attractive features for Mr. Celmons, however, for while
previously sojourning in Kansas he met the young woman he afterward married, and
who may have been in reality the magnet which drew him back.
Mrs. Clemons
before their marriage, the 9th of March, 1884, was Miss Lettie Hitchcox, a
daughter of William Hitchcox (see sketch). She was a successful teacher and
taught in the Jamestown school. The first two years there was but one room and
while the professor was holding forth with the larger pupils she would impart
knowledge to the little folks herded in one corner. By her marriage to Mr.
Clemons her school teaching ended and she assumed the responsibilities of a
home. She has been a true helpmate to her husband and to her good counsel much
of their success is undoubtedly due. They are the parents of three children, two
sons and one daughter. Clarence, the eldest son, aged seventeen, is like his
father, very ambitious. Mabel, a young girl of fourteen years, made a fine
record as a student. She graduated in the common branches when but twelve and
one-half years old and received the certificate of reward in reading, as the
best in the county, and only lacked a small fraction of receiving the highest
grade in her class. She is now in the senior grade of the Jamestown high school.
Phil, the third child, is aged seven. When Mr. and Mrs. Clemons started on the
journey of life together their capital consisted of rather an inferior team of
horses, harness and wagon. A little reserve fund from Mrs. Clemons' salary
enabled them to "set up housekeeping" after a very meagre fashion; but they
prospered, and since buying his first land, eightly acres jointly with his
brother in 1885, Mr. Clemons has accumulated a total of six hunderd[sic] and
eightly acres.
The many fine shade trees of box-elder, ash, hackberry and
elm are a pleasing feature of their handsome home, for their residence is
situated in one of the bends of Cheyenne creek and is surrounded by a profusion
of forest trees. Among the other desirable improvements are a good barn, sheds
for all his stock, a fine peach orchard of three hundred trees and a fine apple
and apricot orchard just ready to bear.
JOSEPH H. CLINE.
There is such a vast amount of competition in every line of business that the
commercial world is pretty well occupied with "bread-winners," each clamoring
for success and a preponderance of the almighty dollar, but the old maxim which
reads "There is always room at the top," applies to such competent men as J.H.
Cline, who is widely known as a reliable and substantial business man, owner and
proprietor of the Concordia roller mills, one of the best paying enterprises in
Cloud county.
Mr. Cline was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in
1864. He inherited his thrift and industry from the good old German stock. Hi
parents were Daniel Kephart and Mary Caroline (Sciple) Cline. They were of
German origin, but natives of Pennsylvania, of the class known as Pennsylvania
Dutch. His father, after farming a few years, learned the milling business and
emigrated to Cameron, Missouri, in 1868, where he engaged in that business until
his death in 1882. Mr. Cline's mother died in 1867. They were the parents of ten
children, all of whom are living and scattered over various parts of the United
States.
Mr. Cline was educated in the graded schools of Cameron,
Missouri. He was practically reared in a mill, but in 1875 entered upon a
regular apprenticeship with his father; applied himself faithfully and remained
with the company two years after his father's death in 1882, and was interested
as one of the heirs of the estate. A brother, George W. Cline, bought the
interest of the other heirs and still owns and operates the Cameron mills. In
1884 Mr. Cline went to Nebraska and engineered a mill in Indianola until 1888.
During this period he took up a homestead, built a "shanty" and held his claim
four years. He sold at the end of that time and this was in reality the starting
point of his actual business career. From Indianola he went to, Jamison,
Missouri, where, in connection with a brother-in-law, E.Y. Lingle, they leased a
mill which they operated until 1891, and then, coming to Concordia, purchased
the Concordia roller mills of H.M. Spalding. They were associated together until
April, 1,898, when Mr. Lingle retired and Mr. Cline became sole proprietor. The
capacity of the mill at that time was one hundred and twenty-five barrels. In
the autumn of 1898 it was enlarged to two hundred barrels, its present capacity.
Until 1891 the nearest mill was thirty miles distant from Concordia and they did
an extensive home trade. At the presenttime their business is more extended to
distant territory. They ship into Missouri and all over the eastern part of
Kansas. The Concordia roller mills were formerly run by steam, which they still
retain, in cases of emergency. The machinery in the mill consists of all modern
appliances.
Mr. Cline was married in 1890 to Etha M. Barthelow, of
Missouri. Her father was of French extraction, was a carpenter by occupation and
died when she was an infant. Her mother died in 1880, when Mrs. Cline was but
ten years old. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are the parents of three manly little sons:
Owen Clark, Norman Joseph and John William. Mr. Cline is a Republican in
politics and for two years has been a member of the city council. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Cline are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In June, 1902, Mr.
Cline was elected vice-president of the Kansas State Millers' Association.
JAMES CLITHERO.
One of the pioneers of 1867 is James
Clithero, now an esteemed citizen of Concordia. He settled in Elk township and
homesteaded land adjoining the site of the present town of Ames. He remained
through the Indian uprisings and was among the settlers concentrated at the
claim of A.A. Bradford, where they joined their forces to protect each other,
and while inmates of the little fort slept within, some one of the settlers was
detailed to stand guard on the outside. "Jerry" was a colored man, whom Mr.
Bradford had with him all through the war, and who followed his master on to the
frontier. "Jerry" was a character true to his race and Mr. Clithero relates an
incident of the darkey's valor.
He was selected from among the number to
stand guard one night, and as he marched up and down the line with vigilant eye,
ready to give the signal of alarm by firing his gun, the settlers, their wives
and children peacefully slumbered on. "Jerry" had performed his duty faithfully,
but when morning dawned it was discovered the gun with which he had paraded all
during the long hours of the night was unloaded, not a trace of ammunition in
the formidable weapon that had served "Jerry," who was unconscious of the
situation, just as well, inasmuch as the Indians did not appear.
Mr.
Clithero is a native of Lancashire, England, born in 1841. When a small boy he
came with his parents to America and settled in Wisconsin, where his father had
secured land ten years earlier and when that country was thinly settled. His
parents both died in Wisconsin.
In 1866 Mr. Clithero was married to Miss
Nannie McEckron, a sister of the Honorable B.H. McEckron. Their family consists
of three sons, all of whom are married and prosperous men. Mr. and Mrs. Clithero
lost two daughters, aged thirteen and nineteen. Mr. Clithero is practically
retired from business, but has been engaged in general merchandising in
Concordia until recently. One of the sons is a member of the firm of Boyd &
Clithero, grocers, of Concordia. G.G. Clithero is in the railway postal service
and runs between Colorado Springs and Kansas City. A.B., the youngest son, is a
farmer near Rice, Cloud county.
Mr. Clithero is an old veteran of the
Civil war and enjoys the distinction of having served almost four years, or all
through the war. He enlisted in Company C, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, September 21, 1861, for three years; and when the term expired,
re-enlisted for one year. He received a gunshot wound on Sunday, the first day's
battle at Shiloh, which disabled him for six months ere he could shoulder arms
again. His company was under Colonel S.D. Baldwin and Captain W.S. Swan, both of
Chicago.
He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and actively
interested in the association. Mr. Clithero, was identified with Clyde for many
years, as his homestead was near that city, and was prominent in the
organization of the Presbyterian church there, which, after several years of
struggle, is a monument of pride to its originators, and contains the only pipe
organ in the county. Mr. Clithero and Mr. McEckron hauled logs to be sawed for
the construction of the church. Mr. Clithero has been a citizen of Concordia
thirteen years, where he and his family enjoy a comfortable home.
COLONEL WILLIAM F. CLOUD.
Much beautiful sentiment clusters around
the name of Colonel William F. Cloud, the distinguished colonel of the Second
Kansas, whom Cloud county was named in honor of. He is also the man into whose
arms the gallant, beloved and much lamented General Lyons fell, at the battle of
Wilson's Creek. Colonel Cloud visited Concordia in September, 1887, in
attendance upon an old soldiers' reunion. He made a speech, at the close of
which he expressed a desire to be present at the centennial of the naming of
Cloud county, which would be in 1967. He is a brave and true man and was much
honored at this reunion. During this occasion he was lifted to the shoulders of
four or five of his comrades and carried three times around the speaker's stand,
amid three loud cheers.
Time has not effaced the feeling and sympathy of
the old veterans of the Civil war for each other. Every one of these old
soldiers relate with a feeling of pride that he defended this glorious Union and
became enthused as he recalls, though time grows remote, how he marched with the
gallant "boys in blue."
Colonel Cloud is a resident of Kansas City,
Kansas, and is said to refer with pride to his namesake, Cloud county, and has
always felt an interest in this great western field.
ELWOOD COATE.
Elwood Coate, the county treasurer of Cloud county, is one of
those men who command the esteem and confidence of the public in general. In
light of the above statement the people are to be congratulated in the
possession of such a trustworthy and conservative man, who administers the
duties of his office with strict integrity.
Mr. Coate is a native of the
Buckeye state, born in Miami county in 11843. His father, Samuel Coate, was a
farmer, a merchant and for about a half century a minister of the Christian
church, and had pastoral charge of the congregation at Meredith, this county. He
was a pioneer of Iowa, emigrating there from Ohio in 1853 at a time when their
nearest mill was eighty miles, the distance from Marshalltown to Cedar Rapids,
and when the country abounded with deer and elk, and the best land could be
bought for $1.25 per acre. He died in Cloud county in 1896.
Mr. Coate's
mother was also a minister of the Christian church. She died in Iowa in 1882.
Mr. Coate traces his maternal ancestry to the Furnases, who intermarried with
the Coate family. John Furnas, of Cumberlandshire, England, lived in a town
called Standing Stone. The father of John Furnas was a large owner of real
estate, and because of his wealth he was known as Lord or Peer. They were
members of the Society of Friends. John Furnas had four sons: William, John,
Thomas and Jonathan, the latter two being twins.
In 1762 John married
Mary Wilkinson, in the Friends meeting house. The building has since been
removed to the town of Wigton and still stands. In October of the same year they
embarked for Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, reaching that point February 18,
1763. Two days after casting anchor, and while they were still on ship, their
son Joseph, Mr. Coate's maternal grandfather, was born. Thomas and Jonathan also
sailed to the same harbor. The name was originally spelled Furness. From these
brothers a long line of ancestry have sprung-several generations.
Mr.
Coate was principally educated in the common schools of Iowa, in pioneer days of
that state, and this, coupled with the duties of the farm, curtailed his
educational advantages. At the youthful age of twenty he enlisted in Company I,
Second Iowa Cavalry, for three years, serving until hostilities ceased, a period
of eighteen months. During this time he was in the thickest of the fight,
participating in eleven hard fought battles and numerous skirmishes. At
Nashville their brigade was under fire continuously for several weeks. His
brigade was under the command of General Coon, and their division commander was
General Ed. Hatch. After the war Mr. Coate returned to Iowa and established
himself in the harness business, but owing to ill health discontinued that line
and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for eighteen years. In 1885
he came to Kansas and settled in Oakland township, where four years prior he had
secured a quarter section of land. He now owns a half section, which is under a
high state of cultivation, with modern improvements. He is also a horticulturist
and has an orchard of over three hundred peach trees, a large apple orchard,
apricots and small fruits.
Mr. Coate was born and reared in the faith and
principles of the Republican party and says he remains the same politically, but
does not affiliate with them because they have left him, and he now votes with
the Populist party, which elected him to office in 1899. The office for eight
years had been held by the Populists. Mr. Coate was nominated by friends, and at
their earnest solicitation allowed his name to go before the convention, but
afterward did his part in the campaign. Prior to being elected to his present
office Mr. Coate had served in minor offices for many years.
He was
married in 1866 to Susan Elleman, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Elleman, of
Ohio. Mrs. Coate died two years subsequently, leaving an infant son, Oron M. He
is a resident of Iowa and a member of the Economy Manufacturing and Supply
Company, of Des Moines. Mr. Coate was married to Sarah Diefenbaugh in 1869. She
is a daughter of David and Christina Diefenbaugh, of Lewisburg, Preble county,
Ohio. To this second marriage three children have been born, two of whom are
living, both sons. Herman E., who now lives on and operates the farm, filled the
position as deputy treasurer in 1893. He was previously employed as a clerk in
the county clerk's office. For two years he was bookkeeper in the insane asylum
of Topeka, but when Governor Morrill was inaugurated to office the Populists
were ousted, and, being of that political faith, he had to go. H.E. Coate's
family consists of a wife and two daughters, Mabel and Viva. The other son is
Samuel Rush, who is his father's deputy. He was reared on the farm and received
his early education in the school of that district. In June, 1895, he entered
the Kansas Christian College, of Lincoln county, Kansas, and took a two-years'
course. He owns a farm in Nebraska, where he had lived several years before
assuming his position in the treasurer's office. His wife was Rose Mills, who
came with her parents to Kansas from Iowa, when she was a child, and located in
Lincoln county. Her father was John Mills and now resides in California. Bessie
Wilkins, the motherless child of Andrew Wilkins, of Nebraska, found a home with
the family of Elwood Coate. Elwood Coate was one of a family of ten children,
nine of whom are living, and all have families in various parts of the country.
Mrs. Rose, president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of Concordia, is
a sister, and J.W. Coate, who lives in the southern part of Cloud county, is a
brother. He has a brother and sister in Stuttgart, Arkansas, two sisters and a
brother in Iowa and one in Oklahoma.
Mr. Coate was not wholly satisfied
with Kansas until the year of the World's Fair, when he, with his wife and son,
visited Iowa and found the attractions there were less than those of Kansas. He
has been successful from a financial standpoint and does not regret having made
a home in the Sunflower state. The Coate family have a pleasant home on West
Ninth and Washington streets, in Concordia, but expect to return to the farm
when Mr. Coate's office days are over and resume stock raising. The family are
all members and active workers in the Christian church.
I. W. COFFEY, M. D.
When a youth fifteen years of age, Doctor Coffey visited an
uncle who was living near Delphos, Ottawa county, Kansas. His ambitious asserted
themselves early in life, and although his advantages had not been very
auspicious he was resolute and worked his way through the High school, beginning
with 1883. He taught school alternately for five years as a means to gain an
end; in the meantime took a one year's course in the Campbell University of
Holton, Kansas. He then came to Concordia, entered the office of Doctor J.H.
McCasey and began reading medicine. The office of Doctor McCasey is where our
subject is now and where he has continued since he went in as a student. Doctor
Coffey is another of the hundreds of self-made western men. His surplus of cash
when he finished his college course was eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents.
He graduated from the Kansas City Medical College in 1893. He became associated
with Doctor McCasey, but two months later the latter was appointed
superintendent for the insane asylum at Topeka, and Doctor Coffey continued
alone. He is a general practitioner and devotes considerable time to diseases of
the eye and fitting of glasses, having taken a special course in optics while in
college.
Doctor Coffey was born in Greenburg, Decatur county, Indiana, in
1866. He is the only member of the family absent from the home circle. His
father, Granville Coffey, is a wealthy farmer and stockman; also owns a tile
factory and a brickyard and is noted as a man of affairs. His residence is
situated twenty miles from the center of population of the United States,
according to the census of 1900. Doctor Coffey is one of four children, two sons
and two daughters. Doctor Coffey has been successful as a practitioner and is an
esteemed citizen. He was married in 1893 to Miss Zoa Wheeler, the only daughter
of Mayor and Mrs. S.C. Wheeler. They are the parents of one little daughter,
Louise, aged seven. Politically he is a Populist, has served as coroner two
terms and is secretary of the Cloud County Medical Society.
JAMES ALEXANDER COLEMAN.
J.A. Coleman cast his lot with the people of the
beautiful and fertile Solomon valley in 1886. He is a shrewd business man,
bestirs himself early and late, one of the get-up-and-hustle kind that never
falls to grasp a good bargain or take advantage of opportunities that come in
his way; another good example of what pluck and ambition can do in this fair
commonwealth. He came to Kansas practically a poor man but possessed of that
heritage, energy and grit which is of far more value than titles to land, minus
these attributes. He has forged to the front and ranks as a successful farmer
and stockman. Mr. Coleman is still in the prime of life, having been born in
Keytesville, Missouri, in the year 1856; but his cordial manner and good humored
witticisms imply he might be ten years younger.
His parents were John
Henry and Elvira (Moss) Coleman. J.H. Coleman was a Virginian by birth, born in
Prince Edward county. He emigrated to Missouri in his earlier life, where he
died in the early 'seventies. He was of English origin. Mr. Coleman is one of
seven children, four of whom are living, all in Sheridan county, Missouri,
except himself. William Edward, a farmer; Martha J., wife of Charles Edison, a
farmer, and Jennie V., wife of W.L. Brown.
Mr. Coleman began his career
on a farm. His mother died during the war and he was thrown on his own resources
very early in life. He was married in 1880 to Annie Alice Wells, of Sheridan
county, Missouri, where she was born and reared. Her father was Freeman Wells.
He left Virginia, his native state, when a young man and settled in Missouri,
where he died in 1882. Her mother was Polly Huttsell, of Kentucky birth. She
died in 1880. Mrs. Coleman is one of nine children, six of whom are living. John
Edward, a carpenter with residence in Concordia; William L., a retired farmer of
Concordia; Mattie J., wife of Jeff Hulse, a farmer of Solomon township; Sena,
wife of Wesley Cline, an Oklahoma farmer; Susan, wife of William Crook, a farmer
of Solomon township,
Mr. Coleman came to Kansas with small capital and at
the end of two years, owing to partial failure of crops and bad management, he
had practically nothing. He had not adapted himself to the country and the ways
of the people - thought he was in Missouri. However, shortly afterward he bought
eighty acres of the Ezra Calhoun homestead, built a neat cottage and improved
the place. Two years later he bought forty acres adjoining it on the south; two
years subsequently added eighty acres on the west side, and in 1899 secured
forty acres adjoining on the east side. Has improved the latter, built a
comfortable house of six rooms, located on the edge of Fisher creek, which
furnishes beautiful shade of natural forest trees.
Our subject raises
wheat, alfalfa and corn. In 1896 he had a fifty-acre field of wheat that yielded
forty-two and one-half bushels per acre. He has made the bulk of his money in
cattle and hogs. He has a fine feed lot with a neverfailing spring that would
afford water for one thousand head of stock.
Mr. Coleman's family
consists of a wife - who is a very estimable woman, - and four children, viz:
William Edward, aged seventeen. Lessie Olivia, Marshall Luella and Sena Eulalia.
Mr. Coleman is a Democrat and a member of the Woodmen Lodge of Glasco. The
family are members of the Methodist church.
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