Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 756 - 757 

JOHN E. EXON, who is pleasantly located about two miles south of the village of Valley Center, his property, however, lying in Kechi Township, has for the last four years been industriously operating 160 acres of good land on section 7. The improvements which we see to-day have been effected by his industry and good judgment, and he has brought the soil to a fine state of cultivation, besides stocking the farm with high-grade Norman horses and Durham cattle. The farm buildings are neat and substantial, and with their surroundings present the picture of the complete country home, where peace and plenty abound.

            Our subject, a native of Hancock County, Ill., was born on the 23d of March, 1855, and is the youngest of three children, the offspring of Samuel and Mary (Smith) Exon, the former a native of England and the latter of Kentucky. Samuel Exon emigrated to the United States in his youth, and settled in Hancock County, Ill., where he carried on farming during the brief period of his life. He died in early manhood, before the birth of his son, our subject. The devoted wife and mother is still living, and resides near Reed's Station, in Jasper County, Mo. Her other children are in Illinois. The subject of this sketch was reared to farming pursuits mostly in the State of Illinois, and received a good education, completing his studies in the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Ill., from which he was graduated with high honors and was considered especially expert in the knowledge of bookkeeping. His mother had retained possession of the farm in Hancock County, Ill., and to this he now returned, taking up his residence there on the 26th of March. 1879. He operated this land until the spring of 1884, then sold the property, and, coming to this county that same year, purchased a quarter-section of improved land, paying for it the sum of $40 per acre. He at once set about the improvements which are to-day viewed with admiration by the passing traveler, and by virtue of which he to-day is numbered among the enterprising men of his community, There is a fine orchard with a good barn and corn crib, and all the other outbuildings required for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. The Motor Line passes through the farm, affording easy access both to the city of Wichita and the village of Valley Center.

            Mr. Exon, while in Illinois, served three years as Assessor in Hancock County, and one year as Collector. He was married there, on the 20th of October, 1881, to Miss Lucetta E. Fletcher, who was born in Hancock County, Ill., Sept. 11. 1860. Mrs. Exon was the second in a family of five children, and her parents were George W. and Lydia (Boat) Fletcher, also natives of Illinois, and early pioneers of Hancock County, Ill.

             To our subject and his wife there have been born two children, George Edwin and J. Lester, bright little boys of four and three years respectively. Mr. Exon has very little to do with politics. His estimable wife is a member of the Methodist Church, South.

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