CHASE COUNTY, Part 9

TOLEDO TOWNSHIP.

SAMUEL T. BENNETT, stock farmer, Section 17, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Safford, was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, November 27, 1841. His father died when he as about three years old, and he shortly after removed with his mother to Pike County, Ohio, where he was brought up on a farm and resided until July, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company G, Thirty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteers. He was afterward promoted to Sergeant, was assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps, army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, and the siege of Atlanta. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, after the Atlanta campaign, but was soon after mustered out of service on account of sickness. He then returned to Ohio and attended school for two years, then engaged in farming, in which he continued until the spring of 1869, when he came to Kansas, located in Toledo Township, and engaged in stock business, in which he has since continued, in partnership with J F. Prather, who resides at Williamsville, Illinois, under the firm name of S. T. Bennett & Co. He operates a stock farm of 3,500 acres and has, on an average, a herd of 800 head of cattle. They have a fine herd of imported and thoroughbred short-horn cattle, numbering nearly 100 head, representing the Booth, Bates and Rose, of Sharon families. They have a specialty of breeding pure-blooded and high grade animals for sale. Mr. Bennett married Miss Mary McGinnis, of Toledo Township, March 13, 1873, by whom he has three children, Henry W., Samuel H. and Rose, all living.

ASHBEL J. CROCKER, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 19, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Safford, was born October 29, 1833, at Lockport, N. Y. When six years of age he removed to Calhoun County, Mich., where he was brought up on a farm. In 1855 he removed to Ogle County, Ill., where he engaged in farming, continuing until September 1, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company G, Second Regiment Illinois Light Artillery. He participated in the battle of Columbus, Ky., after which he was sent to Rockford, Ill., upon recruiting duty. After his return to his company he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, the defense of Nashville, the capture of Mobile, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. Mr. Crocker was promoted to the various grades of Corporal, Sergeant, Orderly Sergeant, and commissioned Second Lieutenant and Battery Quartermaster, which rank he held when mustered out of the service at Nashville, September 4, 1865. He spent some time in prospecting and visiting, and in the spring of 1866 came to Kansas, located in Cottonwood Valley Township, where he purchased 186 acres of land and became a Kansas farmer. He has ever since remained upon his farm, to which he has added by subsequent purchases, to the present extent of 1,000 acres. Upon this he has placed valuable improvements, including substantial buildings and an orchard. He is largely engaged in stock raising and has in his herd a number of thoroughbred Durham cattle and al his cattle are bred to a high grade. Mr. Crocker is a stockholder and Director in the Chase County National Bank. He is a member of the Congregational Church. He married Miss Louise W. Gould, of Ogle County, Ill., June 3, 1867, by whom he has four children, Charles A., Gertrude L., Carrie E. and Herbert G., all living.

ALONZO M. CONAWAY, M. D., farmer and physician, Section 35, Township 18, Range 9, P. O. Toledo, was born August 7, 1829, at Cadiz, Ohio, where his early life was spent. His father was a physician, and under paternal instruction he early began the study of medicine, and graduated from the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, in March, 1853. He soon after located at Lancaster, Ohio, and began the practice of medicine. He continued in this until April, 1861, when he entered the army as a First Lieutenant in Company C, Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteers, for three months. Was assigned to the army in Western Virginia, and participated in the battles of Cheat Mountain, Winchester and Louray. He then entered the Seventy Regiment West Virginia Volunteers as First Lieutenant, and was afterward transferred to the Medical Department, and served for three years as Assistant Surgeon of the Seventh Regiment West Virginia Volunteers. He was in the army of the Potomac and participated in all the great battles fought by that army, being wounded in the breast by a shell at the battle of Fredericksburg, and in the left leg by a minnie ball at Chancellorsville, and again wounded in the left foot by a minnie ball at the battle of Mine Run. He was mustered out of the service in August, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. He then located at Coshocton, Ohio, where he remained, engaged in the practice of his profession, until the spring of 1870, when he came to Kansas. He located in Toledo Township, and bought forty acres of unimproved land, situated on Buckeye Creek. He has since purchased 300 acres and now operates a farm of 340 acres, upon which he has placed valuable improvements, including a commodious dwelling, good farm buildings, and an orchard of twenty acres containing over 500 apple and 1,000 peach trees, besides other fruits. In addition to the operation of his farm, Dr. Conway (sic) has had an extensive medical practice during his whole residence in Chase County. He is a member of the order of A., F. and A. M., and of the I. O. O. F. He married Miss Elizabeth Loveless, of Coshocton County, Ohio, April 6, 1851, by which marriage he has had eight children, of whom France E., Cornelia A, Belle, Charles L., William T. S. and Ada B. are now living.

CHARLES A. HANCOCK, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 11, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Toledo, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, February 25, 1830. He came to the United States in 1853, locating in Lorain County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming until the fall of 1855, when he came to Kansas in the spring of 1856 and located first at Lawrence, where he was employed in the saw-mill of Gen. Jim Lane for a time, and in other pursuits until the summer of 1858, when he came to his present location. He was one of the soldiers of Gen. Jim Lane and John Brown, was present at the sack of Lawrence, and participated in several engagements with the Missouri border ruffians. He pre-empted 80 acres of land to which he has since added by purchase 145 acres, so that he now owns and operates 225 acres. He has placed valuable improvements on his farm, including a fine new dwelling house, completed in 1883, a good barn and other necessary farm buildings, and an orchard of over two acres. He has about eighty acres under cultivation. His principal crops are corn and oats and wheat. Average yield in 1882 per acre wheat, thirty-two bushels; oats, fifty bushels. He also raises cattle and hogs. Mr. Hancock has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary Casebier, of Douglas County, whom he married December 1, 1858. She died in 1861, after bearing him two children, of whom Henry T. is now living. He married Miss Eliza L. Moffit, of Toledo Township, in November, 1865, and by this marriage has had seven children, of whom Willie R., Leone F., Charlie P., Pearl M., and May E. are now living.

EPHRAIM W. LEE, farmer, stock-raiser, feeder and dealer, Section 12, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Toledo; was born in Blount County, Tenn., March 13, 1836. He received a common school education and resided on a farm in his native county until he attained his majority. His father was also a veterinary surgeon and he began the study of his profession under him at an early age, and has since had much study and a great deal of experience and practice in his profession. He afterward engaged in farming in Tennessee, where he was residing at the breaking out of the war. Being a strong Union man he was for a long time engaged as a scout and guide, assisting in taking more than a thousand conscripts and refugees across the mountains. He then removed to Centereville, Ind., and there engaged in the slaughtering business for about two years. He then returned to Tennessee and was married. After a residence of three years he came to Kansas in the spring of 1868, locating in Toledo Township, where he has ever since resided. He has a farm of eighty acres under cultivation and 240 acres of pasture about three miles west of the village. He has been engaged in the cattle business ever since he came to Kansas and was one of the first men in Chase County to ship corn-fed cattle. He is one of the most extensive stock dealers and shippers in this part of the State. Mr. Lee is a member of the Society of Friends. He married Miss Rebecca Allen, of Blount County, Tenn., March 7, 1865. She died December 10, 1871, leaving one child - William Chase, who is now living.

JAMES MAHOLM, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 10, Township 18, Range 9, P. O. Toledo; was born in Harrison County, Ohio, December 17, 1834. He was brought up on a farm in his native county, where he continued to reside until 1859, when he removed to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and remained engaged in farming for three years. He then returned to his native county and operated the old home farm until the spring of 1876, when he came to Kansas. Located in Marion County and bought a farm of 240 acres, which he improved and operated until the summer of 1881, when he came to Chase County. He located in Toledo Township and purchased an improved farm of 160 acres situated on Buckeye Creek, which he now operates. He also owns 160 acres of grazing land in Marion County. His home farm is well improved, having a good dwelling and farm buildings, and an orchard containing 225 apple, and 500 peach trees, besides other fruits. He has about seventy-five acres under cultivation, his principal crop is corn, all of which he feeds to his own stock. He is quite extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs. Mr. Maholm is a member of Marion Lodge, I. O. O. F. He married Miss Rebecca A. Lewis, of Harrison County, March 17, 1859. She died in November, 1880, after bearing him nine children, of whom Hannah M., James W., and Nettie V., are now living. His wife and two daughters aged sixteen and thirteen, died suddenly within the space of four months, of typhoid fever. The other four children died in infancy or youth while the family resided in Ohio.

JOHN H. MARTIN, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 17, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Cottonwood Falls, was born in Gibson County, Ind., March 15, 1858. When he was six years old his parents moved to Henderson County, Ky., where they remained until they came to Kansas in June, 1871; located on Peyton Creek in Toledo Township, where the subject of this sketch has since resided. When he was eighteen years of age he began farming on his own account and married in his twentieth year. He has ever since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has a farm of 32 acres of which 165 are under cultivation; principal crops are corn and oats. Mr. Martin is a member of Strong City Lodge, of the A. O. U. W. He married Miss Frankie A. Jones, of Falls Township, April 16, 1878, by whom he has one child - Orville O., born February 18, 1879.

PARIS MILLS, general merchant and postmaster, was born in Vermillion County, Ill., August 30, 1832. He was brought up on a farm in his native county; received a common school education, and after attaining his majority engaged in mercantile life in farming and in following the carpenters trade, at different periods of about equal proportions. In the spring of 1869 he came to Kansas, locating first in Leavenworth County, where he remained about two years engaged principally in farming. In the fall of 1870 he removed to Toledo and engaged in general merchandizing (sic), in which business he has ever since continued. In February, 1881, he took D. C. Allen into partnership with him, the style of the firm being Mills and Allen. In the spring of 1882 they opened a store at Safford, which they have since operated in connection with the establishment at Toledo. Mr. Mills was appointed postmaster in December ,1870, and has since held the office. He is a member of the Society of Friends, and is also a member of Buckeye Lodge, No. 2,088, K. of H. He has held the office of Treasurer of Toledo Township five years has held other local offices. He married Miss Lydia Hinshaw, of Indianola, Iowa, October 22, 1857. She died January 4, 1863, leaving two children, of whom Elreen is still living. He married Miss Lucy E. Pearson, of Leavenworth County, November 17, 1870.

WILLIAM OSBORN, farmer, Section 2, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Toledo, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 14, 1834. He resided upon a farm in his native county until he came to Kansas in the spring of 1857, located on Buckeye Creek in Toledo Township. Bought forty acres of partly improved land in 1866. He was one of the first settlers on the Creek who gave it the name of their native State. During the war of the Rebellion he was enrolled in the State militia, and was called into service at the time of the Price raid, and upon the occasion of several Indian invasions. With the exception of about two years, when he was in Colorado and on the Plains, Mr. Osborne (sic) has remained upon his present location since his settlement. He has since bought eighty acres adjoining his original purchase, and has bout sixty acres under cultivation. Mr. Osborne (sic) married Miss Hannah Moffitt, of Toledo Township, October 22, 1865; she died March 18, 1873, after bearing him three children, of whom Lizzie I. B., and Bertha E. B., are now living. He afterward married Miss Lydia Maria Cope, of Morgan County, Ohio, August 18, 1874, by which marriage he has had three children, of whom Guy C., and Maggie N. are now living.

NELSON SHALLENBARGER, farmer, Section 14, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Toledo, was born in Juniata County, Pa., March 24, 1834. He was brought up on a farm in his native county, where he remained until 1853, he then removed to Miami County, Ohio, where he learned the carpenters trade and remained about one year, he then removed to Henry County, Mo., whence he went to Iowa a year later. He remained in Iowa engaged in following his trade until he came to Kansas in the spring of 1857. He located in Toledo Township and bought a claim of 160 acres situated on Buckeye Creek. This land he afterwards pre-empted and now owns. He has made additional purchases of land and now has in his home farm 300 acres and 160 acres of pasture land in the northern part of the township. He has placed valuable improvements upon his farm, including a good dwelling, and two dwellings for tenants, a barn and other farm buildings. Mr. Shallenbarger raises cattle, horses and hogs. He came to Kansas with less than $300 and by good management, industry and frugality has placed himself in the list of successful and prosperous farmers of Chase County. He is a member of Toledo Grange, P. of H. He married Miss Amanda C. Spencer, of Lyon County, January 15, 1862; she died April 2, 1881, leaving four children, Lorena B., Weston G., Wilson N., and Luella A.; all now living.

THOMAS J. SMILEY, farmer, Section 8, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Safford, was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 1, 1830. His father died when he was three years of age, and and (sic) at the age of seven he removed with his mother to Bureau County, Ill., where his early life was passed on a farm. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Ninety-third Regiment Illinois Volunteers. Was assigned to the Fifteenth Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battles of Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River, and the siege of Vicksburg; then marched to Helena, Ark., to reinforce General Steele. Upon the return of the command to the department of the Cumberland, he took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge, in which engagement he was wounded in the neck, and in the right hand. He was disabled from duty for about sixty days, then rejoined his regiment and participated in the battle of Altoona, in which he was wounded in the right shoulder by a shell. He still suffers from the effects of this wound. In addition to the three wounds received Mr. Smiley lost his sight for several days by the explosion over his head of a shell, at the battle of Champion Hill, and has never full recovered it. He was with General Sherman in his famous march to the sea. The next engagement in which he took part was at Bentonville, North Carolina, after which he marched to Raleigh, and thence to Washington. He was present at the grand review at the National Capital, and was mustered out of the service at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865. He returned to Bureau County, where he remained engaged in farming, until he came to Kansas in the fall of 1872. He first located in Butler County, and the next spring removed to McPherson County, where he remained two years, then, in the spring of 1875, removed to his present location, about one mile north of Safford. he bought 160 acres of unimproved land, to which he has added by subsequent purchase, so that now he has a farm of 240 acres, upon which he has placed valuable improvements. He has sixty acres under cultivation, and an orchard of four acres. Mr. Smiley is a Republican, but takes no active part in politics. He married Miss Catherine Young, of Bureau County, Ill., June 27, 1850, by which marriage he had eleven children, of whom George W., and Thomas J., Jr., are now living. He lost three children within one month in February, 1879.

JACOB G. WINNE, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 10, Township 19, Range 9, P. O. Safford, was born in Steuben County, N. Y., April 14, 1838. He received an academic education and was brought up on a farm in his native county, where he remained until he came to Kansas in April, 1868. He located in the Cottonwood valley and pre- empted 160 acres of land situated in Toledo Township, using for this purpose the Land Warrant issued to his father for service in the war of 1812. This he improved but a little, and in 1861 returned to New York, from which State he entered the Volunteer army in December, 1863, as a private in Company L, Sixteenth New York Artillery. This regiment was the largest that entered the service, containing 4,200 men, which is said to be a larger number than was ever in one regiment since the organization of the United States Government. he was assigned to the army of the James, and participated in the battle of Chapins Farm, Virginia, the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and the occupation of Richmond. He was mustered out of service at Fairfax Seminary, Va., August, 1865. Mr. Winne then resided for about two years in Shiawase County, Mich., engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. In May, 1868, he returned to Kansas, and after remaining about a year at Emporia, again located on his farm. He has since purchased eighty-five acres additional land, and has placed valuable improvements upon this farm. He has about 130 acres under cultivation, and an orchard containing about 400 trees. Principal crop is corn, also raises cattle and hogs. Mr. Winne is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of Zeredatha Lodge No. 80, A., F. & A. M., and of the Buckeye Lodge, No. 2,088, K. of H., at Toledo. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace two years, and other local offices; and was for four years Superintendent of Schools in Chase County. He married Miss Caroline E. Wallace, of Steuben County, N. Y., October 29, 1859, by which marriage he has three children - Scott E., Nellie B. V. and Hester E., all living.