COFFEY COUNTY, Part 11

OTTUMWA.

Among the early settlers of Ottumwa were Dr. Hamilton Smith, J. G. Shaubell, James Harris, John T. Cox, Jonathan Lyman and Dr. Joseph Jenks. September 15, 1857, Jonathan Lyman issued the first number of the Ottumwa Journal, which was the first paper printed in Coffey County. Only two numbers were issued. The press on which this paper was printed was removed to Linn County by Mr. Lyman in 1860. By an act of the Legislature, approved February 25, Ottumwa was incorporated as a town, the act of incorporation providing for a Board of Commissioners consisting of five members, a Marshal, Assessor, Collector and Treasurer. The Council was clothed with full power to regulate the municipal affairs of the town. The Councilmen designated by the act of Incorporation were: Ebner H. Hoult, William R. Smith, James Harris, J. W. Kerr and Enoch Maudlin. The Western Christian University was an institution located by the Christian Convention of the State of Kansas which met at Emporia in October, 1862. The first Board of Trustees were John Moore, G. B. Taylor, John M. Rankin, N. B. White, Pardee Butler, John T. Cox, James Lee, Solomon G. Brown and Peter Smith. A building costing about $8,000 was erected in 1863. All but $2,000 of this money was raised in Ottumwa. An academic department of this institution was put in operation in the spring of 1863, under John M. Rankin as principal, wherein was taught all the branches and science usually included in the preparatory course of colleges. One hundred and thirty students attended the first year. O. S. Laws, and Mrs. M. A. Hitchcock were employed as assistants the first year. Mr. Rankin retained the position of principal until 1867, during which time the school earned an excellent reputation for thoroughness and dispatch, and was well patronized from all parts of the State. Mr. N. Dunshee succeeded Mr. Rankin as principal, who resigned at the end of the year 1868, when the school closed on account of financial embarrassments. In 1871 the building was destroyed by fire and the institution sank out of existence. The fire is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. Since the destruction of the University building Ottumwa has not made much progress, and the town now numbers less than two hundred inhabitants.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HARMON ALLEN, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Vermont in 1807 and lived there until nine years old and his parents moved to Delaware County, Ohio, and lived there eleven years. He then spent one year in trading on the Ohio river, and located at Ripley, Ohio, in 1842, and remained there some time, and moved to Indiana and lived there until 1868, and came to Kansas and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising since. He was married in Kentucky in 1837, to Miss Elizabeth F. Knott. They have four children -- Rebecca A., Alonzo W., John H. and Henry C.

ABNER BALL, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Tennessee in 1820; when he was one year old, his parents moved to Indiana; he lived in that State sixty-one years and came to Kansas in 1882 and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Ball was married in Indiana in 1843 to Miss Elizabeth Farley, who was born in Virginia. They have two children, James W. and John E. Mr. Ball is a member of the Masonic order and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CHARLES S. BAYLEY, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Dodge County, Wis., in 1844, and lived there until he came to Kansas in 1871 and located in Ottumwa Township, and engaged in farming and stock raising, and is a large trader in stock. Mr. Bayley was married in Wisconsin in 1877 to Miss Mary A. Sawyer, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. Bayley is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is one of the leading farmers and stock growers of Coffey County.

HENRY BURGER, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Erie County, Pa., in 1833, and lived in his native State until he came to Kansas in 1857, and located in Coffey County, and remained there until 1860, and returned to Pennsylvania, and lived there until 1866, and returned to Kansas and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Burger was married in Coffey County, Kas., in 1867, to Mrs. Sarah Y. Samuels, a native of Indiana, and was married again in 1872, to Miss Susan Thayer, a native of Ohio. They have five children, Lillie, Altheae, Mary, Henry and Grace. He is a member of the Christian Advent Church.

THOMAS CHANCY, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Maury County, Tenn., in 1832, and lived in his native State until twelve years of age, and was taken to Arkansas and lived there until 1863, and enlisted in the Eleventh Arkansas Regiment and served with that regiment three years and was mustered out in 1866, and came to Kansas and lived at Burlington for two years, and in 1869 moved on to his farm of 160 acres in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and is engaged in stock raising. He was married in Arkansas, in 1852, to Miss Perlie Horton. They have one child. He was married again in 1866 to Miss Amanda Bean, and has five children, Darthola, William, Oliver, Lucy Ellen, and Elizabeth. He is a member of the United Brethren Church.

SAMUEL DIX, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Putnam County, Ind., in 1854 and when quite small his parents moved to Kansas and located in Ottumwa Township in 1855 and has lived there since and has been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Dix is a single man. Morgan Dix, his father, was born in Mason County, Ky., in 1810 and lived there twenty years and moved to Putnam County, Ind., and lived there until he came to Kansas in 1855 and located in Ottumwa Township and remained there until his death, which occurred the first of March, 1882. Mr. Dix was one of the earliest settlers of Coffey County and was highly respected by the people of his township and county.

HENRY FRY, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1826, and lived in Ohio about ten years and moved with his parents to Putnam County, Ind., and lived there about six years, and moved to Keokuk County, Iowa, and lived there about eight years and came to Kansas in 1855, and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and was engaged for some time in milling in Burlington and Ottumwa, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Fry was married in Iowa in 1853 to Miss Samantha Warner, a native of Ohio, by whom he had four children, Albert, George, Graldus (sic) and Augustine. He was married again in 1867 to Miss L. Despain, and have three children, Catherine, Elwood and Charles. Is a member of the Christian Church.

JOHN T. JONES, farmer P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Indiana, in 1843, and lived in that State about fifteen years, and moved to Illinois, and lived there about ten years, and came to Kansas in 1867, and located in Burlington, Coffey County, and lived there until 1879, and removed to Ottumwa Township and engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Jones was married In Illinois, in 1864, to Miss Louisa A. Ambern, a native of Indiana, and has three children, Francis, Flora L. and Louis C. Mr. Jones enlisted in 1862 in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served with that regiment six months, and was discharged on account of disability. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HARRISON KELLEY, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Wood county, Ohio, in 1836, and lived in Ohio until March, 1858, and came to Kansas and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Kelley was married in Ohio in 1855 to Miss Tabetha McCombs. He lost his wife and was married again in 1861 to Miss Caroline McCullough, a native of Ohio, and have four children, Harry, Herman, Artie and Fanny. Mr. Kelley is a member of the State Senate and has been a member of the House of Representatives one term and was a Director of the State Penitentiary for five years and Assessor of Internal Revenues for three years, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Kelley enlisted in the Fifth Kansas Cavalry in 1861 and was promoted to First Lieutenant of his company, and was appointed Captain of Company B, of the same regiment, and served until the close of the war with that regiment.

HENRY H. KLOCK, merchant, was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1835, when he was one year old his parents removed to Pennsylvania, lived there about eighteen years and removed to Peoria County, Ill., lived there until 1861, when he enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment for three years. At the close of the war he went to Alabama, and lived there three years, came to Kansas in the spring of 1868 and located in Ottumwa, Coffey County; was engaged in teaching for four years and has been in the mercantile business since. Mr. Klock was married in 1868 to Miss Emeline Butler, a native of Iowa. They have three children, Ross V., Mary A., and Grace R. Mr. Klock has been Justice of the Peace, and School Examiner and Postmaster for eight years, and is a member of the Advent Christian Church and a minister in that church; is also a member of the G. A. R.

WILLIAM J. MANSON, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1842, and lived in his native State until 1867, and came to Kansas and located in Burlington and lived there one year, and then located in Hampden Township, Coffey County, and remained a short time, and moved to Ottumwa Township where he now lives, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Manson was married in Troy, Ohio, in 1864, to Miss Kate Garley, who was born in Pennsylvania; have one child, Clara B. Mr. Manson is a member of the Baptist Church and is one of the prominent farmers of Coffey County.

JAMES W. PRESTON, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Fayette County, Ill., in 1851 and lived in that State sixteen years, and came to Kansas in 1867 and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Preston was married in Burlington, in 1873, to Miss Lucinda J. Fleming, a native of Indiana. They have two children: Ivy M. and Benjamin A. His father, Stephen Preston, was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and at thirty years of age moved to Illinois and lived there until he came to Kansas in 1867 and located in Coffey County and lived in that county until his death, which occurred in March, 1873.

HENRY RICHARDS, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and at five years of age his parents moved to Grant County, Ind., and lived there twenty-three years, and came to Kansas in 1858 and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, and was engaged in merchandising for fourteen years, and engaged in farming and stock raising, and is raising a good grade of cattle and has some Short-horn cattle and the Berkshire and Poland-China hogs, and a good stock of horses and a fine farm of 540 acres of land. Mr. Richards was first married in Indiana, in 1848, to Miss Mary J. Reeder, who was born in Indiana, and has one child, John. He married again in 1857, to Catherine McCormack, a native of Indiana, and have seven children: Anna Z., Martha J., Mary H. M., Arthur V. J., Louis, David H. and Daniel E. Mr. Richards has served as School Trustee, and is a member of the Democratic party and a member of the Predestinarian Baptist Church, and has been a preacher in that church for twelve years. A firm believer in the faith of election and predestination.

JOHN G. SHAWBELL, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1820, and lived in his native State until 1856, and came to Kansas and located in Leavenworth, and remained there four months, and moved to Coffey County, and located in Ottumwa Township, and has been engaged in farming and hotel keeping, and was formerly engaged in blacksmithing. Mr. Shawbell was married in Pennsylvania, in 1841, to Miss Maria Evans, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have five children: Sarah M., Louise E., Francis M., Anna W. and Clementine S. Mr. Shawbell enlisted in 1861, in Lane's Brigade and in 1862 was transferred to the Ninth Kansas Cavalry, and served with that Regiment during the war and was discharged in December, 1865. He is a member of the Masonic order, and the G. A. R., and has been Constable and Deputy Sheriff.

DR. W. B. SHAFFER was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1834, and lived in Ohio until 1868, and came to Kansas and located in Ottumwa, Coffey County and engaged in the practice of medicine. Dr. Shaffer received his medical education in the Miami Medical College in Ohio and graduated from that institution in the class of 1855 and commenced the practice of medicine, and has been engaged in the practice for twenty-seven years. Dr. Shaffer was married in Ohio in 1869 to Miss Lucretia C. Hetich, a native of Ohio. By this union they had five children who are now living -- Lula, Frank, Grace, Lucretia, and William. Mrs. Shaffer died May 10, 1882. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Dr. Shaffer was Assistant Surgeon of the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and resigned this position, and was afterwards appointed Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Eighty- seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served in that position until the close of the war.

GEORGE A. SMITH, blacksmith, was born in Indiana in 1831 and lived in that State until the fall of 1866, and came to Kansas and located in Greenwood County and lived there sixteen months and removed to Ottumwa, Coffey County, and has been engaged in blacksmithing. Mr. Smith was married in Indiana in 1852 to Miss Mary A. Bolton, a native of Virginia; they have three children -- Ransome C., Jonathan, and Adelpha. Mr. Smith enlisted in the army in 1862 in the Eighteenth Indiana Battery and served first six months and re-enlisted in the same Battery and served until the close of the war. He is a member of the G. A. R., and of the Missionary Baptist Church.

S. C. WHITNEY, farmer, P. O. Ottumwa, was born in Essex County, New York, in 1826, and lived there eighteen years and moved to Licking County, Ohio, and lived in that State seven years and moved to Springfield, Illinois, and lived there twenty-one years and came to Kansas in 1871 and located in Franklin County and lived there nine years, and located in Ottumwa Township, Coffey County, in 1880, and has been engaged in farming and sheep raising. Mr. Whitney was married in Springfield, Illinois, in 1852, to Miss Isabel Wolgamat, a native of Pennsylvania, and has five children -- Barbara H., David, S. Betsy, Katy, and May. Mr. Whitney is a member of the Advent Church.

STRAWN.

This town is situated in Pleasant Township, on the south bank of the Neosho River, and is a point on the Neosho division of the Missouri Pacific Railway. The town site was surveyed in 1871. The first settlers were Enos Strawn, Hiram Hoover, J. Chesnut, J. Jacobs, W. Jacobs, T. L. Harrell and E. Benedict. It contains two stores (a dry goods and grocery by Mr. Wingard, and a grocery by Mr. Fletcher), a shoe shop by Mr. Prather, one blacksmith shop, a hotel kept by R. Smith, and the postoffice by F. Newkirk. On the west side of the town, on an eminence overlooking the country, stands a fine large frame schoolhouse, 26x40, with a bell. An iron bridge costing $15,000 spans the river, near town. Valuable limestone and sandstone quarries are on the town site. Population about one hundred and fifty.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

THOMAS BAKER, farmer, Section 18, P. O. Burlington, was born in Crawford County, Ind., in 1841, and lived in his native State about twenty years. He moved to Kansas in 1862, and remained in that State three years, and in 1865 went to Denver and remained a short time. He then removed to Montana, and lived there two years, at the end of which time he returned to Indiana and stopped a short time, then came to Kansas and located in Pleasant Township, Coffey County, and engaged in farming in 1868. He was married in Coffey County, in 1869, to Miss Mary C. Heffron, a native of Kentucky. They have four children -- Michael, James, Mary and Cathalie. Mr. Baker is a member of the Democratic party, and has been Town Trustee, and is now County Commissioner for Coffey County.

WILLIAM F. BAKER, farmer, P. O. Hartford, Lyon County, was born in Gettysburg, Penn., in 1829, and lived in his native State until 1852, and moved to Akron, Ohio, and lived there one year, and moved to Iowa, and remained there until 1857, and came to Kansas and located at Emporia, and lived there twenty-two years, and removed to Pleasant Township, Coffey County, in 1879. He was married in Pennsylvania, in 1846, to Mrs. Mary A. Spangler. They had one child -- Andrew C. Mr. Baker was married again, in 1872, to Phoebe M. Spurgeon, a native of Indiana. They have four children -- William L., Benjamin F., Charles P. and Bertha N; was a Justice of the Peace for four years and served eleven years on the School Board; is a member of the I. O. O. F. and United Workmen; is a member of the Christian Church.

DR. WILLIAM A. DUMBAULD, P. O. Strawn, was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1846, and lived there thirty-one years, and came to Kansas in 1879, and located in Coffey County, and engaged in the practice of medicine in Strawn. He was educated in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery and graduated from that institution in the class of 1874, and has been engaged in the practice of his profession since in Ohio and Kansas. He was married in Licking County, Ohio, in 1867, to Miss Jennie Walker, a native of Ohio. They have three children -- Lida, Della and Bun. Dr. Dumbauld is a member of the Masonic Order and the I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He studied medicine with Dr. B. Coleman, of Homer, Ohio, for three years.

H. E. HEFFRON, farmer, Section 7, P. O. Burlington, was born in Kentucky in 1851, and in 1855, when he was four year (sic) of age, his parents moved to Kansas and located near Leavenworth. He lived there two years and moved to Coffey County in May, 1857, locating in Pleasant Township, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married in Coffey County, in 1876, to Miss Mary Grennan, a native of New York. They have two children, Michael and Rosey. Mr. Heffron is a member of the Catholic Church.

GEORGE HUNT, Section 18, P. O. Burlington, was born in Sullivan County, N. Y. When he was quite young his parents moved to New Jersey and lived there about eighteen years. He then came to Kansas and traveled through the State in 1856, and went to Iowa in that year and went to Council Bluffs where he remained two years. He went to California in 1858, and remained there one year and returned to New Jersey and lived there until 1861. In this year he enlisted in the Third New Jersey Regiment and served in that regiment three months. Went into the Quartermaster's Department and remained in the army until 1864, when he went to Montana and in the following winter went to Colorado and enlisted in the Colorado Militia and served three months on the plains, fighting the Indians, thence returned to Montana from there to Kansas in 1867 and located in Pleasant Township, Coffey County, and engaged in farming. He was married in Coffey County, in 1869, to Miss Jane Heffron, a native of Kentucky. They have four children -- Burroughs, Thomas, Margaret and Phillip C.

WILLIAM W. JOHNSTON, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Ireland, 1836. He came to the United States in 1852 and located in Iowa. In 1857 he came to Kansas, located in Pleasant Township, Coffey County, and engaged in farming. He was married to Miss M. E. Sayers, of Nebraska. Is a Democrat and one of the early settlers of Coffey County.

J. A. KENNEDY, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Brown, County, Ohio, in 1841, and lived there fourteen years; removed to Indiana in 1855, and lived there three years. He came to Kansas in 1858, locating first at Lawrence and lived there two years, engaged in milling. He went to Colorado in the spring of 1860 and returned in the fall of that year to Ottumwa and lived there seven years, being engaged in milling and stock raising on a farm for two years; then he moved to Burlington and lived there eight years, engaged in the grocery and stock business; he then moved from Burlington to his farm in Pleasant Township in 1882. He was married in Strawn, Coffey County, in 1868, to Miss Martha M. Strawn, of Indiana. They have one child, E. A. Mr. K. (sic) is a member of the Masonic Order, and is an old citizen of the State of Kansas and one of the leading farmers of his township and county and has been a large dealer in stock.

CHARLES KING, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Ohio in 1846, and in 1867 came to Kansas, and located near Ottumwa, in Coffey County, where he engaged in farming. He was married in Ottumwa to Miss Cyrene Williamson, a native of Ohio. They have two children. Mr. King is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He enlisted in Ohio in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment until 1865. Remained in Ohio until 1867 when he came to Kansas.

F. M. NEWKIRK, railroad agent, Strawn, was born in Kentucky in 1842, and in 1872 came to Kansas, and went into business as a merchant at Strawn until 1875. In 1873 he was appointed station agent of the M. K. &T. R. R., and is engaged in handling grain. He was married in Kentucky in 1870 to Miss Lillie A. Wingard. They have four children -- Arthur, Samuel, Minnie, and Mary. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JAMES JACOBS, farmer, P. O. Strawn, was born in Allen County, Ohio, in 1833; lived there twenty-two years, and came to Kansas in 1855, and located in Coffey County, Le Roy Township, and moved to where he now lives, in Pleasant Township in 1857. Has been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is a large dealer and shipper of livestock. Mr. Jacobs was married in Allen County, Kan., in 1863, to Miss Nancy S. Hall, a native of Georgia. They have four children -- Mary Lizzie, Anna May, Charlie Clinton, and Florence Alta. Mr. Jacobs has been Township Treasurer, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the G. A. R. He enlisted in 1862 in Company F, Twelfth Kansas Volunteer Infantry and served three years.

JAMES M. PIERATT, farmer, section 36, P. O. Strawn, was born in Kentucky in 1844, and lived there ten years. He came to Kansas in 1854, and located in Douglas County, and lived there until 1867, when he came to Coffey County and located on a farm in Pleasant Township. He was married in Douglas County, Kan., in 1864, to Miss Margaret J. Kennedy, a native of Ohio. They have four children -- Marian R., William I., James M., and Martha. His wife died September 29, 1882, aged thirty-five years, two months and twenty-five days. Mr. Pieratt is a large farmer and stock-raiser, and is engaged in shipping cattle.

WILLIAM SCOTT, farmer, P. O. Hartford, Lyon County, was born in Henry County, Ind., in 1851, and lived there seventeen years, and came to Kansas and located in Leavenworth County in 1869, and lived there two years and came to Coffey County in 1871, and located in California Township, and now resides on his farm in Pleasant Township. Mr. Scott was married in Coffey County in 1872 to Miss Mary E. Souder, a native of Indiana. They have three children -- Phillip, Wilber, and Victor. Mr. Scott is engaged in farming and stock-raising.

CONLEY F. SMITH, merchant, Strawn, was born in Virginia in 1852, and lived there sixteen years. In 1869 he came to Kansas and located at Strawn, and engaged in farming. In the spring of 1882 he engaged in merchandising. He was married in Strawn in 1876 to Miss Susie A. Daylong, a native of Indiana. They have one child -- Eliza E. Mr. Smith's father, Emanuel Smith, was born in Virginia in 1818, and lived in his native State about fifty years, and came to Kansas and located at Strawn, Coffey County. He was married in Virginia in 1838, to Miss Eliza Mann, a native of Virginia. They have eleven children -- Lydia, Catharine, Emeline, William, Caroline, James, Conley, Archimadis, Thomas, L. H., and Eliza. Mr Smith is Postmaster at Strawn.

ENOS STRAWN, farmer, Section 33, P. O. Strawn, was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1812, and lived there twenty-five years; then moved to Delaware County, Ind., and remained there until 1855, when he came to Coffey County, Kan., and located in Pleasant Township, where he is now engaged in farming and stock- raising. He was first married in Delaware County, Ind., to Miss Mehethelan Dodd. They had six children -- Rebecca, James, Joshua, Martha, Phineas and Jane. Mr. Strawn was married to his second wife in 1860, Miss Sarah Farrell, of Trumbull County, Ohio. They have two children -- Kate and Sarah. Mr. Strawn has been Probate Judge of Coffey County one term, and one of the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat. He has been a Justice of the Peace for forty-one years.

N. S. WILKINSON, merchant, Strawn, was born in Indiana, in 1843, and lived there until 1865. He then came to Kansas, and located in Coffey County, where he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is now a merchant. He was married in Coffey County, in 1868, to Miss Adelia Price, of Indiana. They have five children -- Ada, Clara, Anna, Nathan and Charles. He is a member of the Baptist Church.

D. L. WINGARD, merchants born in South Carolina, in 1825, and lived there twenty-five years, when he moved to Georgia, and lived there fourteen years. He moved to Indiana in 1864, and to Kentucky in 1867, and came to Kansas in 1872, locating at Strawn, Coffey County, as a merchant. He was married in South Carolina in 1848. He lost his first wife, and was again married in Georgia, in 1852, to Miss Lorena Shaw. They have three children -- Lillie E., Sallie E., and Eda L. He was again married in 1868, in Kentucky, to Miss Maggie A. Newkirk. They have four children -- Gracie, Frankie L., Lennie E., Agnes S. Mr. Wingard has been a Notary for five years, and agent of Adams Express Company, and is a member of the Christian Church.