Ness County
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Biographies

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Biographical Transcriptions

"Mrs. Bunn is the mother of two children, both of whom have shown unusual capacity for their chosen work, and her son has distinguished himself as an American soldier in the great war. Zippa Lorraine, the daughter, is a graduate of the LaCrosse High School and of the University of Kansas with the class of 1913, and for a number of years has taught in high schools. She has taught principally in the high schools of Ransom, Wakeeney and Ness City, Kansas." --1919 A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, Burris H. Bunn biography, pages 2271-2274.

"Amelia, wife of Everett Dickerson, a resident of Ness county, Kansas; they have a family of three children, Beulah Mildred, Clifford Everett and Fern Agnes." --E.F. Hollibaugh's Biographical History of Cloud County, Kansas, Iver B. Halderson biography, page 642.

"His twelve-year-old son, Thomas [McLaughlin], rode ninety miles without saddle or bridle and without eating to a military post to carry out his determination to get into the service. He went through the war as buglar and resides in Ness county, Kansas, at present." --1901 History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas, George McLaughlin biography, pages 174-176

GEORGE MITCHELL BYAL, automobile dealer, was born in Findlay, Ohio, October 1, 1886 son of James McFall and Louise (Mitchell) Byal. His father, a stationary engineer, was born in Findlay, September 2, 1836, and died there March 19, 1907. His ancestry was Scotch-Irish. His wife, Louisa, was born in Applecreek, Ohio, March 26, 1847 and died at Findley in February 1912. She was of Scotch descent.

Mr. Byal is a Republican. He is a member of the Elks and the Masons (32nd degree Scottish Rite, Shrine), the Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, and the Lions Club. His club is the Kansas City Club of Kansas City, Missouri, and his favorite sport is golf. Residence: Ness City.

Contributed by Peggy Thompson, transcribed from Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 185.

MARY HAUFLE CARPENTER, poet, was born in Clayton County, Iowa, October 10, 1879, daughter of Donatus and Amanda Lucretia (Bradshaw) Haufle.

The father was born in Ehingen, Baden, Germany, March 1, 1850 and pioneered in Ness County, Kansas in 1886. A covered wagon held all of his possessions, his wife, three children and about fifty dollars in cash. He was the son of Mainard and Thekla (Schoch) Haufle. He and one brother, Florin Haufle, left Germany May 31, 1868 and arrived in New York on June 24, of that year. Donatus Haufle died at Snohemish, Washington, on May 1, 1928.

Amanda Lucretia Bradshaw was born in Clayton County, Iowa, August 4, 1863, and died at Snohemish, Washington, May 1, 1922. The devoted mother of nine children, she was a pioneer in Kansas. Two children died in infancy, while seven are still living. She was the daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Freeman) Bradshaw, both of whom traced their lineage to the early English colonists. Mary Haufle Carpenter received her early education in the public schools of Ness County, Kansas, and under private instruction through books received from the Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, a graduate of which was her instructor. During the year 1896-87 she taught in the public schools of Ness County doing the janitor work and receiving $25.00 per month. Nearly every family represented in the school had a different textbook and extra efforts on the part of the teacher to make up what was lacking were necessary.

On November 5, 1897, she was married to Allen Wesley Carpenter at Ness City, Kansas. Mr. Carpenter was born in Audubon County, Iowa, June 29, 1874 and was a farmer and thresherman in Ness County until 1913, when he moved to Chanute. He then began work for the Ashland Grove Lime and Portland Cement Company being promoted to his present position as factory foreman. He is the son of Henry and Rosellah (Heath) Carpenter, who came to Ness County in 1886 as pioneers. His parents are buried at Brownell, Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Carpenter have two children, Edna Mildred, born August 3, 1898 who is married to James H. Powell; and Edmund Ralph, born July 22, 1900, who married Flossie Vivian Traylor. Both children attended the Chanute High School, while Edna graduated in the class of 1920. James H. Powell grew up near Cherryvale, Kansas, and Flossie Traylor being reared in Ness County.

Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter lived in Ness County, Kansas, until 1914, when they moved to Chanute, where they have since resided. Mrs. Carpenter has lived in Kansas since 1886. She is the author of several hundred poems or verse compositions, most of which have been printed in magazines and newspapers. She is also the author of two books of verse, which are nearly ready for publication. Probably the best known of her poems is The Kansas Meadowlark. It has been printed many times in Kansas publications. Much of her verse contains early history or themes reminiscent of pioneer days.

A biographical sketch of Mrs. Carpenter is given in Who's Who in North American Authors (volume 3, 1927-28 and succeeding volumes). She began verse writing in 1925 following a major operation which necessitated a long convalescence. Her verse has been used publicly and privately to make others happy. During the World War she was active in Red Cross work at Chanute, Kansas, took a course in nursing, home hygiene and care of the sick, and received a certificate from the Red Cross headquarters at St. Louis, in 1919, with an average grade of 98 per cent. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Chanute, the Missionary Society, Ladies Aid and Sunday School. Since the war she has been a member of the Red Cross. She is a member of the City Federation of Women's Clubs of Chanute, the Neosho County Historical Society and has volunteered help and material to local collections. She is a member of the Kansas Authors' Club, the H. V. L. V. Quill Club of Wichita, the National Geographic Society, the Sequences Society of Sonneteers of Landover, Maryland, etc. Residence: Chanute.

Contributed by Peggy Thompson, transcribed from Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 203-205.

OLIVER LINCOLN LENNEN, president of The Kansas Investment Company, was born in Clarksville, Indiana, March 7, 1864, son of William Charles and Eliza (Brown) Lennen. William Charles Lennen, a native of Wayne County, Indiana, was born June 6, 1830. He came to Kansas in 1878, and died at Lyons, April 19, 1898. Eliza Brown, his wife, was born in Culpepper County, Virginia, in September 1832. Her death occurred at Clarksville, Indiana, April 8, 1869.

Educated first in public school, Oliver Lincoln Lennen attended high school a short time, and was graduated from a full commercial course from Southwestern Business College at Wichita in 1888. From 1889 until 1894 he taught school at the same time conducting night classes in penmanship and vocal music.

In 1893 Mr. Lennen was one of the two special auditors for the Ness County treasury records and from 1900 until 1906, was senior member of the real estate firm of Lennen and Wagner, selling more than 120,000 acres of western Kansas land. He became acting cashier of the Citizens National Bank at Ness City in 1907. For the past 20 years he has been a director of The Kansas Investment Company of which he is president at the present time, and for a like period has been trustee and chairman of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was manager of the first Ness County Old Settlers Association.

On July 4, 1896, he was married to Lilla Venard at Ness City. She was born in Blue Grass, Iowa, January 2, 1874 of French, English and Irish extraction. She is a former teacher and former deputy county treasurer of Ness County. She is past grand matron of the Order of Eastern Star of Kansas. There are two children, Esther, born September 24, 1903, who married William Everett Stewart; and Jean, December 6, 1906.

Mr. Lennen is an independent Democrat. He has served both on local and district committees, and is a former deputy court clerk, county clerk, county treasurer and register of deeds. He was county superintendent of schools from 1895 until 1899, and a member of the state legislature from 1907 until 1911. He served as county treasurer from 1907 until 1911. He served as county treasurer of Ness County from 1927 until 1931, and while in the legislature was secretary of the house educational committee. He served as deputy postmaster of Nonchalanta, Kansas, from 1888 until 1890.

For more than 50 years Mr. Lennen has written newspaper articles. While county superintendent he was editor of the Normalite and The Common School Advocate. From 1895 until 1899, he conducted teachers normal institutes. He is a Mason (32nd degree) and a Shriner. He is past consul of the Modern Woodmen of America, past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Ness County Historical Socity, the Lions Club, and the Red Cross. Residence: Ness City.

Contributed by Peggy Thompson, transcribed from Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 689-690.

FRED BELDING MORSE, son of Charles F. and Annabel Polly (Belding) Morse was born in Otisco, Michigan, January 16, 1861, and for 56 years has resided in Kansas. His father, a farmer, was born in New York State and died in Milo, Kansas, in 1886. His wife, Annabel, was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, June 8, 1829, and died at Winona, Kansas in 1913.

Educated in common school, Fred Belding Morse was married on October 24, 1887, to Jane Elizabeth Blair at Hays. She was born in Sibley, Iowa, July 15, 1866, of Irish and English ancestry. To Mr. and Mrs. Morse the following children were born, Velma Agnes, October 30, 1888, who married Arthur Lincoln Porter, Blair Belding, January 13, 1890; Blanche Desiah, December 7, 1893, who married Robert F. Ward; Charles William, October 16, 1899; and Frances, March 12, 1902, who married William W. Douglas.

A Democrat, Mr. Morse has served as county superintendent of schools at Logan County, and as county clerk of Ness County. He was a four minute speaker and a member of the selective draft board during the World War, and active in loan drives. He has served as clerk of the Woodmen of the World, and as past noble grand of the Odd Fellows (Empire Lodge No. 169). He is a member of the Red Cross. Residence: Ness City.

Contributed by Peggy Thompson, transcribed from Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 835.

WILLIAM ESCO PETERS, cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Utica since 1922, was born at Utica, Kansas, December 28, 1887, son of Tillman and Sarah (McBee) Peters.

Mr. Peters was graduated from Baker University Academy in 1909 and in 1913 received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Baker University.

On June 1, 1915, he was married to Elva Ruth Curtis at Springfield, Missouri. She was born at Piedmont, Kansas August 15, 1888. There are five children, Orin, born October 22, 1916; Avis, March 22, 1918; Mary, March 27, 1921; Bonnie, March 17, 1923; and Tillman, December 4, 1926. Orin died January 15, 1933.

Mr. Peters is a Republican and a Mason. He is one of three members of the State School Board Association, Division of the Kansas State Teachers Association. Residence: Utica.

Contributed by Peggy Thompson, transcribed from Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 913-914.

CHARLES LINCOLN WILLIAMS, whose career has been divided between educational work and business affairs, is principal of the rural high school system of Ransom in Ness County. Mr. Williams is a native of Kansas, and his father was one of the pioneers in the free state movement of the '50s. Mr. Williams is a descendant in the sixth generation of James Williams, a Revolutionary soldier. Another ancestor was Lieutenant Tracy, who settled at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1639.

Mr. Williams was born in the historic town of Osawatomie in Miami Countv, Kansas, December 4, 1869. His grandfather, John Williams, spent most of his life on a farm in Chautauqua County, New York, He married Esther Tracy, a native of New York State. Their son, Henry H. Williams, was born in New York State, grew up there, and was a young man when he came to Kansas in 1855 and settled in the old John Brown community of Osawatomie. His primary purpose in coming to Kansas was to assist in making a free state. He served with the rank of captain in the Pottowatomie Rifles. He was one of the seven men held prisoners for treason at Lecompton, Kansas, being subsequently freed of this charge. During the Civil war he was major of the Tenth Kansas Infantry, and in 1864 was made provost marshal of St. Louis. Immediately after the war he was sheriff of Jackson County, Missouri, but in 1867 returned to Osawatomie and was in business as a hardware merchant there until 1888. As a Republican he represented Miami County in the Lower House of the Legislature one term, and for another term was in the State Senate. He took an active part in the Congregational Church. Henry H. Williams moved west to San Diego, California, in 1888, and lived there until his death. He had a prominent part in some of the early history of San Diego, and at one time was president of the city council. He married Mary Carr, a native of Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York. She died at Los Angeles, California. There were seven children: John, who died when fifteen years old; George, who died at the age of three years; Minnie E., who died at San Diego, wife of George W. Walrod, a California banker; J. Walter, a merchant at Kan Diego; Charles Lincoln; Fannie, wife of Charles Burns, a building contractor at San Diego; Hallie M., a teacher in the public schools of Los Angeles, is married and her husband is in the automobile business there.

Charles Lincoln Williams grew up at Osawatomie, attended public schools there, was valedictorian of his class in high school, and during 1887-88 attended Kansas University. He accompanied his parents to California and graduated with the A. B. degree from Pacific Beach College. He spent about ten years in educational work in California, being superintendent of schools at Needles from 1898 to 1901.

Mr. Williams returned to Kansas in 1901 and for three years was superintendent of schools at Osawatomie, was superintendent at Ness City three years, and had charge of the city schools at Hoxie and as principal of the Sheridan County High School there from 1910 to 1917. In 1917 he was examined for service abroad with the Y. M. C. A., but was rejected on account of physical disabilities. Later he was accepted as a munition worker and was sent to Jacksonville, Florida, where he became foreman of the acid house and chief inspector of the fire department of a large powder plant, serving in this capacity from June, 1918, until the fall of 1920. Mr. Williams on returning to Kansas was made superintendent of schools at Mineola, and held that position four years. Since then he has been located at Ransom in Ness County as principal of the rural high school system.

Mr. Williams while living in San Diego served several years as a member of the County Board of Education. He is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a life member of Osage Valley Lodge No. 22, A.F. and A.M., at Osawatomie, and a member of the Kansas State Teachers Association and Kansas Authors Club.

He married, in 1896, at San Diego, Miss Pearl Ray, a native of Indiana. She died in San Diego in 1900, the mother of two sons. Harold H. spent three years in Kansas University as a student and is now principal of the Junior High School at Anthony, Kansas, was a volunteer during the World war. and served as a first sergeant in the Army Medical Corps, being stationed at Fort Logan and other camps. Raymond J., the second son, volunteered for service in the navy shortly before the close of the World war, and has remained in the navy, being now a chief yeoman on one of the battleships of the Pacific Fleet.

Mr. Williams in 1902, at Ness City, married Miss Lydia Nicholson, who was born in California. Five children were born to their marriage. The oldest, Miss Ruth E., graduated from the Kansas State Teachers College at Hays in 1926 with the degree Bachelor of Science and education, and now has charge of the department of household economics in the Ransom High School, a position she has held for the past three years; Thomas N. is a student in the Kansas States Teachers Coolege of Hays; Wayne is in high school; Margaret and Charles L. are students in the Ransom graded school.

Transcribed from History of Kansas State and People, Volume 5, 1928, pages 2368-2369.

ANDREW W. WILSON, lawyer and banker, was born on a farm near Roberts, Illinois, June 21, 1873, and since 1876 has resided in Kansas.

His father, William Wilson was born in Cumberland, Scotland, December 2, 1845, and learned the tailor's trade at Edinburgh. He homesteaded and farmed in Rush County, Kansas, in the early days of the state, having come to America in 1864. He died at LaCrosse, June 10, 1912

Margaret Alice Buzick, his wife, was born in Mount Sterling, Ohio, May 9, 1850 and died at LaCrosse, May 2, 1925. She was a pioneer Kansan, of English ancestry.

In 1893, Andrew W. Wilson was graduated from the LaCrosse High School, and attended Cooper College at Sterling, Kansas. In 1902 he was graduated from Kansas State University at Lawrence with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In that year he was president of his law class, and the winner of the Edward Thompson award.

In 1892, Mr. Wilson taught in the rural schools and again from 1904 and 1907. From 1902 until 1904 he was a member of the law firm of Hale & Wilson and in 1905 a member of the law firm of foulks & Wilson at Ness City. He has served as president of the National Bank of Ness City and at the present time is president of the First National Bank. He was president of the Kansas Bankers Association 1927-28.

A Democrat, he was clerk of the district court of Rush County from 1897 until 1898; county attorney of Ness County from 1908 until 1909, and from 1914 until 1918. He was elected mayor in 1914, serving four years and in 1910 was a candidate for the office of district judge.

On November 20, 1907 Mr. Wilson was married to Martha Elizabeth DeWitt at Antioch, California. Mr. Wilson who was a teacher before her marriage is of Scotch-Irish descent. She was born near Reger, Missouri, August 13, 1874. There are three children, William Joseph, born May 26, 1910, Mary Elizabeth, January 7, 1912 and Margaret Virginia June 16, 1914. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Kansas State Bar Association, the Public Welfare Commission of Kansas (chairman, 1931-32), the Council of Public Welfare, and the Kansas Children's Home & Service League, of which he is a director. He is serving as chairman of the Young Men's Christian Association at the present time and is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a Knight of Pythias.

During the World War Mr. Wilson was government appeal agent for the selective service board. He is a member of the United States Civil Legion (charter member) and government financial agent for Ness County. He is a member of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian Church. Residence: Ness City.

Contributed by Peggy Thompson, transcribed from Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 1230.

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