William C. Haverstick

WILLIAM C. HAVERSTICK. One of the oldest families in Montgomery County is the Haversticks, of which William C. Haverstick, for the past quarter of a century connected with the oil business, is a member. Before the Osage Indians had moved from this section of the country the late Samuel Haverstick had brought his family to the northern part of Montgomery County, and a portion of his original homestead claim is still in the Haverstick ownership.

Casper Haverstick, grandfather of William C., was born at Eusfelden, Canton of Argyle, Switzerland, and when a young man came to America and was a pioneer farmer and business man in Ohio. He died at Washingtonville, Ohio, in 1873.

The late Samuel Haverstick, a son of this Swiss immigrant, was born in June, 1836, at Washingtonville, Ohio. He grew up in that state, went as an early settler to Waverly, Iowa, where he was married, and his business was that of farming and mining. In 1862 he moved to Kansas, soon after the admission of the territory to the Union, and first located in Miami County. On April 14, 1869, he arrived in what is now Montgomery County, and secured his homestead of 160 acres in Sycamore Township in the northern part of the county. Of that 160 acres, eighty acres are held in trust in the name of A. E. Haverstick, the youngest son of Samuel. The town of Sycamore is built on the other eighty acres. Samuel Haverstick after a long and active career died on his farm in this county November 4, 1894. He was a democrat and a man of more than ordinary prominence and influence in his home township, serving as township treasurer and in other offices. He belonged to Neodesha Lodge of the Masonic Order. Samuel Haverstick married Sarah Powell, who was born in December, 1837, at Lewiston, Illinois, and died on the old farm February 15, 1910. There were three children: William C.; Addie H., wife of Charles Dugan of the State of Oregon; and A. E. Haverstick, who lives at Sycamore and is a field man for the Hale Pipe Line Company.

William C. Haverstick was born at Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa, June 27, 1858, and was only four years of age when brought to Kansas. Most of his education was acquired in the public schools of Independence, and he graduated from the high school there in 1876. His early ambition was to become a railroad man, and his desire was fulfilled when he was given the position of locomotive engineer with the Union Pacific Railroad, and he was with that company a trusted and efficient engineer from 1880 until 1889. He was then connected with railroads further east until 1891. On November 15, 1891, at Clinton, Indiana, he was severely injured on the head and shoulder in a head-on collision while he was piloting a locomotive over the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. The collision was due to the mistake of a dispatcher in giving a lap order. To save his life he jumped from the engine and the injuries of the fall incapacitated him for further active railroading.

Returning to Kansas and after recovering he engaged in the oil and gas business. At Neodesha he acquired some extensive interests, but has now sold out his holdings and is engaged in the oil brokerage business with office and headquarters in the Carl-Leon Hotel in Independence. Mr. Haverstick is a democrat, has never aspired to hold an office, is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and is affiliated with Kansas City Lodge No. 271, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Kansas City, Kansas.

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