The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

Page 269

back

next

table of contents

 
in battle of Rocky Face ridge, Reseca and Cassville.  He was wounded in the shoulder at Plckett's Mills.  He was in battle at Kennesaw mountain and Mariette.  He was wounded at Peach Tree creek, July 18, 1864, was in battle at Love Joy station when Sherman started on his march to the sea.  He came back under Thomas.  He was in the battles of Spring Hill and Franklin, and was at Nashville when Lee surrendered, was ordered to Texas and mustered out with regiment, 84 men, January 12, 1865; having served same organization four years, seven months and three days.  He enlisted as a private and was made sergeant in July 1862, and mustered out as first sergeant.  He was married to Miss Jennie Williams of Mt. Victory, Ohio, June 1869.  Four children have been born to them. Alpha M., aged 24 years is married and farming near Edmond.  Dwight M., age 20, is court stenographer in 12th Kansas district, Ingalls Z. age 11 and, only daughter, little Dessie.  He came from Ohio to Rooks county, Kansas, in 1879, and to Norton county in 1881.  He was raised on a farm and farmed since in Kansas and traded in real estate, sometimes making a hat full of money and sometimes not so much. 

Jack has always been a republican.  He was a delegate from this county to the congressional convention at Stockton in 1886, and supported Louis Hanback for congress.  He was a candidate for register of deeds in 1889, but was defeated at the primaries by J. C. Newell.  He was nominated for the same office by the republicans in 1893, and was elected defeating L. J. Regester.  He is holding the office at this time. 

On January 10, 1881, a petition signed by Jesse S. Wright and sixty-two local voters asked that township 2, range 22 be made a township to be called Emmett.  The prayer of the petitioners was granted and February 1 set to elect township officers which resulted as follows: Trustee F. M. Snow, clerk Henry Henthorn, treasurer Edwin Kelsey, constables A. S. Curry and L. B. Brown, road overseer Morris Atkinson.  

Among the early settlers of Emmett that have not been previously mentioned are Dudley Morris who came here from eastern Kansas in the spring of 1873 and moved his family here in 1875, and settled in Emmett township.  He left here in 1890 and lives at Talmage, Nebraska, at this time. His eldest daughter, Mollie, who is well remembered here, married Emery Worley some years ago and lives at Washington, Kansas.  Another daughter, Belle, married P. H. Crohan before they came here.  Crohan came here in 1877.  Mrs. Crohan became insane in 1887 and was sent to the insane asylum at Topeka where she has remained ever since.  Patsy Crohan has remained here with two of his children ever since.  The youngest child is with its aunt at Washington, Kansas.  Mr. Crohan has been a prominent figure in politics since coming here. He has been township trustee of Emmett township several times and has frequently been mentioned for a county office.  He has also served several terms as justice of the peace of his township.  He has always been a republican and has been a member of the county central committee for several years.  He was post master at Calvert from 1889 to 1893. 

Dudley's oldest son, Bert, is also well known here.  He left here in 1897.  A daughter, Ella, married R. L. McCook.  Linn Cook, as he was familiarly called, was a prominent figure in the early days coming to this county in 1875 and remained here until 1880. and finally succeeded in leaving the county without a friend.  He betrayed the confidence of all his friends and left here with full consent of all.  He went to the Black Hills and finally died.  His wife has since married a man by the name of 

Page 269

back

next

table of contents