A prosperous and progressive farmer of Lyon township is J.H.D. Pitcher. whose advent in Cloud county was in December of 1871, and on the 8th of January, 1872, he homesteaded his claim. Mr. Pitcher is a native of La Salle county, Illinois, born January 5, 1850. When about five years of age the family moved to Livingstone county, Illinois, where they continued to live until coming to Kansas. Mr. Pilcher is a son of John Wesley and Eliza (McIntosh) Pilcher, who were married in 1847.

J.W. Pilcher was born in Ohio in 1821; his father was born in the state of Maryland in 1793 and died when his son J.W. was three years of age. His mother was Margaret Courtney, came from Ireland to America and settled in Virginia in the colonial days of that state, and in that portion now included in West Virginia, where numerous antecedents still live. J.W. Pilcher's parents were married in Virginia and went to Ohio, where he was born in 1821; his father died in 1850, at the age of fifty-seven years; his mother died in 1868, at their home in Livingstone county, Illinois, where they had moved in 1847. J.W. Pitcher emigrated to Kansas in 1873 and took a homestead in Lyon township, about six miles northeast of Glasco, where he lived until three years ago, when he retired from farm life and moved into Glasco, where he now lives at the age of eighty-one years.

Our subject's mother was a daughter of Daniel and Cornelia (Cressfield) McIntosh, of Ohio, born in 1825. Mrs. McIntosh was the widow of John Crouch, who died in Indiana, where they had located, - leaving his wife and a daughter, who died unmarried at the age of forty-three years. Her second husband, John Crouch, of Ohio, died at the age of thirty-six years, leaving his wife and two daughters, one of whom is Mr. Pilcher's mother, and the other is a resident of Ottawa, Illinois. Mrs. Crouch removed to Illinois and died in that state in 1850.

J.H.D. Pilcher is one of six children: Ella, who had lived and cared for her aged parents, died unmarried in 1895, at the age of forty-three years. Josephine, wife of James Fletcher, a farmer and veteran of the Civil war, living in Lyon township. Cornelia Belle, wife of J.B. Rice, a farmer near Fairmount, Nebraska. Eugenia, deceased at the age of twelve years, and Alice deceased at the age of twenty-one months.

The Pilchers lived like the average settler, in a dugout, cooked over a fireplace and endured all sorts of inconveniences for a period of six years. He then built a more modern house, with floor and roof, the cellar of which is now under his present residence. The first year he did not own a team, but managed to hold down his government claim and live; though he was reduced in currency until he could not buy a postage stamp. For the last few years Mr. Pilcher has made wheat raising his chief pursuit. He has raised a good many hogs and has always had some cattle to sell. Mr. Pilcher has forged to the front and today owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land. In 1878 he built a comfortable stone house and in 1891 a substantial barn. His country place is neat and attractive and has every appearance of thrift and enterprise.

He was married in October, 1877, to Sarah R. Courtney, who is entitled to her share of the credit for the success of her husband. She is a daughter of Robert W. and Lydia (Smyth) Courtney. Her parents were both of West Virginia, - Monongalia county, near Morgantown, - where Mrs. Pilcher was born. Her father was a farmer and when Mrs. Pilcher was eight years old the family moved to Livingston county, Illinois, and settled on a farm. In 1872 they came to Kansas and homesteaded land in Meredith township. Her father died in 1885, and her mother resides in Delphos, with a daughter, - Mrs. Ida St. Clair. Mrs. Pilcher is one of twelve children, nine of whom are living and all in Kansas, except one, Samuel, who returned to their old Virginia home.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pilcher ten children have been born and all are living, viz: Lewis and Frank are interested with their father in farming and stock raising. Harry, Chloe, Grace, Lester, Raymond, Bert, William, McKinley and Gay. Mr. Pilcher votes the Republican ticket, and is a member of Delphos Lodge, Ancient Order United Workmen. Mr. Pilcher is an honest, industrious farmer, who commands the respect and esteem of all who know him. He is liberal and progressive and a man that benefits a community by his living example of pluck and energy. - [Since the above sketch was written, Mr. Pilcher's venerable parents have passed over the "Great Divide." They died but a few hours apart, after a happy wedded life of fifty-five years. They were aged eighty-one and seventy-six years, respectively, and had been residents of the Solomon valley for more than thirty years. They were universally respected and consistent Christians - members of the Methodist Episcopal church. - Editor.]