Benjamin F. Bouton

BENJAMIN F. BOUTON, a prosperous farmer of Elm Grove township, Labette county, Kansas, has one of the finest and most valuable farms in his section of the county. He has been located upon it since 1883, and has built a handsome residence, and made many improvements. As a business man, he has been a success, displaying unusual shrewdness and foresight in all his transactions. Upright and thoroughly honest, he treats all with fairness, and thereby has gained the respect and friendship of all who know him. He was born in Albany county, New York, in 1840, and is a son of Erastus and Mary (Abrams) Bouton.

Erastus Bouton was born in Albany county, New York, and became a farmer. He married Mary Abrams, also a native of Albany county, New York, and they reared the following children: Joannah A.; Benjamin F.; James; David S.; Theodore 0.; Augusta; Mary; Charles; and Martha.

B. F. Bouton resided in his native county until he reached the age of twenty-six years, when with his wife he moved to Marshall county, Illinois, in 1866. After working out for six years, previous to his marriage, be purchased 80 acres of land, and on this resided for a period of fifteen years. He then came to Labette county, Kansas, in the spring of 1883, and located on his present farm, which consists of the north half of section 21, the southwest quarter of section 16, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 16, township 34, range 19, in Elm Grove township. In 1892 he built his present handsome and commodious home, which is of two stories, and contains 14 rooms. He carries on general farming and stock raising, having 320 acres devoted to raising grain, and 10 acres of orchard. He employs modern methods in farming, and has met with unusual success.

While a resident of Albany county, New York, he was united in marital bonds with Harriet Zelie, who was born in that county in 1845. They have one daughter, Alice, who is the wife of Charles Smith. Mrs. Smith has a son, Leslie Shoefeltt, by her former husband, Edward Shoefeltt. In politics, the subject of this sketch is a Republican, and in religious belief he is a Methodist.