Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 899 - 900

H. B. BROKAW, of Afton Township, with headquarters at Goddard, where he deals largely in lumber, coal, lime and stone, in company with J. W. Flood, is one of the most important factors among the business interests of the county, and has been a resident of Southern Kansas since the spring of 1880. In company with his brother James W., he has invested largely in real estate in the city of Wichita, and they are also joint owners of 1,920 acres of land in Gray County, which constitutes a ranch valued at $15,000, and which is well stocked with cattle. Mr. Brokaw came to this section of the State when men of his caliber were greatly needed in the development of its resources, and to encourage the immigration of an intelligent and enterprising class of people, and right well has he contributed in bringing about this desirable state of things.

            Mr. Brokaw, an Ohio man by birth and parentage, was born in Morgan County, that State, March 21, 1859. His parents, James and Nancy (Dean) Brokaw, were natives of Belmont County, Ohio, and the father, a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, was born March 6, 1826. He served in the Union army during the late Civil War, and for many years upheld the principles of the Republican party. He is now dead. The mother was born in Washington County, and departed this life at her home in Morgan County, in April, 1861.

            To James and Nancy Brokaw there were born six children. Their eldest daughter, Martha Lucinda, became the wife of William B. McVeigh, who is following the profession of a teacher in Grundy County, Mo.; Winfield married Miss Wilda Henry; he is a blacksmith by trade, and of the six children born to them but two are living; their residence is in Grundy County, Mo. Charles died when five years of age in Morgan County, Ohio; James Warren, who operates a ranch in Gray County, this State, married Miss Sallie Bidwell, and they have two children; H. B., of our sketch, was the next in order of birth; Elizabeth died in infancy.

            Our subject was a child three years of age when he met with the irreparable loss of his mother, and his father was subsequently married to Miss Matilda Brokaw, of Ohio. This union resulted in the birth of two more children: Whitfield Churchill, born in December, 1864, who is now a surveyor by profession, and operating in Lamar, Col., for the firm of Zimmerman & Brokaw; and Vernon, born in June, 1869, and now living with his mother in Morgan County, Ohio.

            Young Brokaw at the age of sixteen years was in possession of a good practical education, and after leaving school employed himself at farming. Three years later, desirous of seeing something of the Western country, he crossed the Mississippi into Cass County, Mo., where during the summer he labored on a farm and in winter employed himself as clerk in a drug-store. Abut the time of reaching majority he made his way to Western Texas and joined the ranks of the cowboys, and came North with a herd of cattle a few months later, and remained in Western Kansas and Indian Territory for a period of four years. He started out in business in that section with a capital of $145, and at the end of four years had made $2,000 speculating in cattle.

            Mr. Brokaw, during his sojourn in the Southwest, it is hardly necessary to say, was the observer of many thrilling incidents peculiar to that section of country, peopled as it was often with a desperate and unprincipled class of men, and with wild Indians. Upon one occasion he witnessed the encounter of a cowboy and a chief of the Arapahoes, during which the former struck the chief with a "quirt" or short braided whip, heavily loaded in the handle with lead. The chief, Left-Hand, hastened to his camp and returned with his warriors, all in their paint and ready for business. Mr. Brokaw thought his time had surely come, as he would have perished with his comrades had there been any further violence. The chief, however, was approached by a meditator, and for the consideration of a sum of money he forgave the injury, and peace was declared in the camp. The offending cowboy, however, by order of Gen. Miles, commander of the post, took good care to make his escape, and disappeared. This was only an instance of the stirring times of that period and place.

            Mr. Brokaw, upon returning to the States, engaged with the lumber company at Goddard, and since that time has been working his way steadily upward. He has been fortunate in his investments, and by close attention to business has accumulated a competency. Both as a business man and a citizen he is held in high esteem, and is one of the warmest adherents of the Republican party. The temperance cause has in him a sincere friend, although he is not quite ready to identify himself with the Prohibitionists. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Sunflower Lodge No. 128, at Goddard, and has recently been promoted to the Grand Lodge, in which he has already held various offices.

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