D. C. Constant

D. C. CONSTANT. This gentleman has been identified with the growth and development of Labette county for the past thirty-two years. He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1834, and is a son of Jacob and Levinia (Crocker) Constant. Jacob Constant was born near Crab Orchard, Kentucky, and followed the occupation of a farmer. His wife was a native of Kentucky. Their children are named: James; D. C.; Simpson; Mary; Boyd; and Thomas, deceased.

D. C. Constant lived in Illinois until he attained the age of twenty-four years. After finishing college, he taught school for two or three years. He served in the army during the Civil War, under General Grant, and Captain Ferry. He taught school at St. Louis, Missouri, until 1867, when he located in Grayton county, Texas, where he taught school at Pilot Grove Academy for five years. In 1868-69, Mr. Constant was elected a member of the constitutional convention, from Fannin and Hunt counties, Texas. In 1869, he drove with General Talbot from Texas to Labette county, Kansas. He located in Hackberry township, where he took up a claim, on which he lived until 1873. He was then sent by the government to the Indian Territory, where he taught the Indians for seven years. Mr. Constant built the first house in the south half of Hackberry township. In 1881, he settled on his present farm in Elm Grove township, which is the southwest quarter of section 12, township 34, range 19. Mr. Constant takes much interest in the progress of this township, and also of Labette county, and is always ready to assist in any enterprise which is for the good of the community. He is widely known in the county, and is a man of firm principles, and good business ability.

Mr. Constant was wedded to Antoinette Snow, who was born in Illinois in 1841. She was a nurse at Leavenworth, Kansas, during the Civil War. They have one son, D. C., Jr., who is in the lumber business in Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Constant have also reared Albert C. McIntyre, who lives with them on the farm.

Mr. Constant is a Republican, and voted for John C. Fremont. He was the first justice of the peace in Hackberry township. He is now serving in that office in Elm Grove township. He represented his district in the state legislature during 1872-73. Religiously, both Mr. Constant and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in which they are active workers. They axe well known in Labette county, and are highly esteemed by all. Their portraits are presented on a foregoing page in connection with this sketch.

Mrs. Constant's sister, Celia, whose home was in Carlinville, Illinois, married Daniel McIntyre, who was born in Missouri of Scotch parentage. Mr. McIntyre moved to Kansas and settled on a farm in Labette county in the fall of 1869. He was the first trustee of Elm Grove township, where he lived. Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre had six children, namely: William, Lorena, John, Hugh, Daniel and Albert. Mrs. McIntyre passed away in March, 1873, and her husband died five years later, in 1878.