COFFEY COUNTY, Part 13

DEFUNCT TOWNS.

Hampden. -- This town was settled by the Hampden colony, previously referred to, April 26, 1855. On the 5th of the following August the owners of the town site had their first drawing for lots. On Sunday, April 29, 1855, Rev. Mr. Knight preached the first sermon on the town site, and, as far as known, it was the first sermon ever preached in Coffey County. May 22, 1855, the first Sunday school in the county was organized at Hampden. Several houses were built in the town during the years 1855 and 1856, and its projectors and owners expected to make it the leading emporium of Southern Kansas. The establishment of its rival, Burlington, across the river, in 1857, gave a check to the growth from which it did not recover until the removal of the county seat from Burlington to Hampden, in 1863. August 18, 1859, Enos Strawn, Probate Judge of Coffey County, deeded the town site to John M. Espy and Amasa B. Sampson in trust for the occupants, and on the same day Messrs. Espy and Sampson conveyed the property to Rueben H. Farnham, of Lecompton. September 19, 1860, Mr. Farnham conveyed the property to Isaac E. Olney, of Clinton, Mo. Major A. C. Marvin, of the same place, was understood to be a silent partner of Mr. Olney in the purchase. Mr. Olney immediately removed to Hampden and erected a dwelling house there for his family. In the fall of 1863 and in 1864 several houses were erected there and the removal of the county seat there revived the hopes of its friends. June 4, 1864, I. E. Olney issued there the first number of the Hampden Expositor, which lived a precarious existence until the spring of 1865, when the office was removed to Garnett. The town received a death blow in November, 1865, by the removal of the county seat to Burlington, and no efforts have ever been made since to revive it.

Neosho City. -- This town was founded in 1856 by Marcus J. Parrott, Joel K. Goodin, and others, in Neosho Township. A hotel, store, saw mill and other buildings were erected there at an early day. The town failed, however, to attract settlers, and by an act of the Territorial Legislature February 27, 1860, the town was vacated and the plat and record annulled.

Nashville. -- This town was located on Section 14, Township 21, Range 16, in Avon (now Star) Township. Its founders were W. J. Sanders, John J. Sanders, G. W. Campbell and Mr. Caseboom. Platted in the spring of 1858, it had at one time a store, blacksmith shop, postoffice (sic) and a half dozen dwelling houses. It was finished by the drouth of 1860 and is now a farm.

Chickasaw. -- Started in 1857 by parties in Louisville, Ky., as a rival to Hampden. Its location was a mile east of Hampden. It was purely a paper town, no improvements ever having been made there.

Aurora. -- As the story goes, a couple of men were sent to Kansas in the summer of 1857, to select a town site for a company in Aurora, Ill. The two agents started from Lawrence in a wagon, with commissary stores, including a jug of whisky, intending to select some point on the Neosho river for the town. On the second night they camped on a bleak prairie, about six miles south of the Torquois Creek, in what is now Rock Creek Township, Coffey County. During the night the whisky gave out, and there being no prospect of replenishing their stock without returning to Lawrence, they selected the spot where they camped that night for the town site and returned to Aurora, where they made a flattering report to the home company of the result of their mission. The new town was called Aurora, was surveyed and platted, a house was erected, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to dig a well. Nothing else was done and the enterprise was soon abandoned. The house was occupied for many years by Thomas Dixon and family, and the place was known as Dixons Lone House. It was kept as a house of public entertainment.

Oread. -- This was a paper town, located near the farm of Wesley Stubblefield, ten miles northeast of Burlington. It was started as a speculation by a party of Lawrence men, of which Governor Robinson was the head, in the winter of 1856-57. The town was surveyed by B. L. Kingsbury in the spring of 1857, and many shares in the town, of ten lots each, were sold by the proprietors. No houses were ever built there.

Pottawatomie. -- On Section 17, Township 20, Range 17, was located the town of Pottawatomie, in the spring of 1858. The town was surveyed by Orson Kent, but it was never platted. George W. Fletcher and Harmon Hozier erected houses there, and that was all ever done to make a town there.

California. -- This was located on Benedict Creek, California Township, on Section 9, Township 20, Range 14, in the spring of 1858. No buildings were ever erected there.

Bangor. -- This town was located on Section 9, Township 23, Range 14, at the junction of Dinner and South Big creeks. The founders were from Boston, Mass., and the first settlements and improvements were made in 1872. The members of the colony, before leaving Boston, elected township officers from among their number, supposing that the place they were going to was an uninhabited wilderness. Twelve business and dwelling houses were erected there, but owing to dissensions among the people the town sickened and died, and the buildings were removed to neighboring farms. The last building remaining was the hotel, which was removed by F. A. Atherly in October, 1882.

SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP.

JAMES H. BEARD, farmer, P. O. LeRoy, was born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1823, and lived there twenty-seven years, and moved to Illinois and lived there seven years, and came to Kansas in 1857, and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married in Illinois, in 1852, to Miss Julia Funk, a native of Illinois; they have seven children, John W., Florence J., Cynthia A., Merriet L., George, Mary and Nevada. He is School Treasurer and is a member of the Democratic party, and is engaged in raising Short-horn cattle and Berkshire and Poland-China hogs.

JAMES W. BROWN, was born in Madison County, Va., August 1, 1829, was raised on a farm. Was married to Miss Malinda A. Samuels, June 5, 1852. In the fall of the same year moved to Cass County, Ill., and made farming and stock raising a business. In 1865 moved to Jackson County, Mo., bought a farm and continued farming and stock raising, sold out in the fall of 1879, moved to Kansas, Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, bought a farm and is now engaged in stock raising. Thay (sic) have raised a family of six children, four sons and two daughters -- Thomas J., Charles W., Smauel B., Franklin O., Olive E. and Effie L.

VERMILLION BYFIELD, farmer, P. O. Neosho Falls, was born in Indiana, in 1837, and at five years of age his parents moved to Illinois and lived there until 1865, and came to Kansas and located on a farm in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock growing. He was married in Illinois, in 1859, to Mary E. Emel, a native of Indiana. They have seven children -- William A., Emma F., Olive M., Charles A., Sarah Florence, Leonard L. and Thomas W.

JOHN D. GILLESPIE, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1839, and came to Kansas in 1872 and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and is engaged in farming and stock growing. He was married in Pennsylvania, in 1865, to Miss Martha E. Cassady, a native of Pennsylvania. They have two children, William I. and Jennie.

JAMES K. McCONNELL, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in New Jersey, in 1820, and lived there until 1857, and came to Kansas and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock growing. He was married in Coffey County, in 1859, to Miss Belle Hathaway, a native of New York. They have three children -- George, Charles and Isabella. He is a member of the Republican party.

PEYTON MILLER, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Virginia, in 1832, and lived there nineteen years, and went to Bloomington, Ill., and lived there until 1857, and came to Kansas, and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in Illinois in 1855, to Eliza J. Hodge, a native of Illinois. They have two children -- John H. and James. Mr. Miller is one of the early settlers of the county.

GEORGE W. PARSLEY, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Jackson County, Ind., in 1828; lived there forty-one years, and came to Kansas in 1869, locating in Spring Creek, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock- raising; has spent part of his time in teaching school. He was married in Indiana, in 1855, to Miss Catherine Love, a native of Indiana. They have eight children -- Victor, Harley, Frank, George, Robert, Rolph, Lizzie and Mina. He has been County Commissioner three years, and Town Trustee. He is a member of the Free Masons.

FREDERICK SCHRUMP, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Germany, in 1832, and came to the United States in 1857, and located in Illinois, and in 1858, he came to Kansas, and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and is engaged in farming and stock growing. He was married in Coffey County, Kan., to Miss Della Williams, a native of Indiana, and have one child -- Lizzie. He was married again in 1871, to Miss Mary Englebrick, a native of Germany.

HARVEY T. SHORT, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Lawrence County, Ind., in 1831, lived there twelve years and moved with his parents to Illinois, lived there until April, 1855, and then came to Kansas, locating in Avon Township, Coffey County; now lives in Spring Creek, and has been engaged in farming and stock growing. He was married first in Erie County, Penn., in 1856, to Miss Clarissa A. Blair, a native of Pennsylvania. They had one child -- Leonard. His wife died in 1860. He was married again in 1866, to Mrs. Frances J. Gormley, a native of Illinois, and widow of J. W. Gormley, who died in the army. Mrs. Short had two children by a former marriage -- Alice, who is a resident of Coffey County, and a school teacher, and Wilber W., who is a resident of Fair Play, Park Co., Colorado. They have five children -- Royal D., Lula E., Lynden L., Frankie E. and Nellie G. He is a member of the Christian Church. He enlisted in August, 1861, in Company D, Seventh Regiment Illinois Cavalry, and served four years; was mustered out November 17, 1865.

JOHN B. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1834, and came to Kansas in 1876, and located in Spring Creek Township, and has been engaged in farming and stock growing. He was married in Pennsylvania in 1862, to Miss Eliza Baseley, a native of Pennsylvania, and have four children -- John, Lizzie, Charley, Arthur; is a member of the Baptist Church.

JOHN K. SNODGRASS, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Indiana in 1836, and lived there twenty years, and moved to Iowa and remained there a short time, and moved back to Indiana and remained there four years, and returned to Iowa and stopped one year, and came to Kansas in 1862 and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and is engaged in farming and stock growing. He was married in 1859 to Miss Margaret A. Bolen, a native of Indiana. They have four children -- William E., Eva Louie (sic), Florence and Walter. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Knights of Honor.

LAFAYETTE STALEY, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Iowa in 1852 and lived there twelve years and moved to Missouri and lived there until 1879, and came to Kansas and located on Spring Creek, Coffey County, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married in Coffey County, Kan., in 1877, to Miss Florence Beard, and have two children -- Earl and Pearl.

CHARLES STOULTZING, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Germany, 1832, lived there fifteen years, then came to the United States, located in Pennsylvania, lived there four years; came to Kansas, 1856, located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, has been engaged in farming and raising fine stock. He was married in Coffey County, 1862, to Mrs. Matilda Russell, a native of Indiana, who came to Kansas, 1857; they have two children -- Charles E. and Frank. Mrs. Russell had five children by her first husband -- Elizabeth, Nancy, Eliza A., Christopher and John W. Mr. Stoultzing is County Commissioner of Coffey County, also a member of the Christian Church.

SAMUEL SWECKER, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Virginia in 1832, and lived there until he was twenty-one years old, and removed to Illinois and remained there until 1857, and came to Kansas and located in Spring Creek Township, and has been engaged in farming and stock growing. He enlisted in 1861 in the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, and served with that regiment three years and four months. He was married in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County in 1868 to Miss Amanda Phillips, a native of Illinois. They have two children -- Etta and Lillie. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

ALEXANDER S. VANORDSTRAND, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Pennsylvania in 1827, and lived there thirty years, and moved to Illinois and lived there until 1868, and came to Kansas and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married in Pennsylvania in 1846 to Miss Martha H. Kelly, a native of Pennsylvania, and have five children -- John, Isaac, Parker, Elizabeth and Alexander. He is a Justice of the Peace and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

PETER WIMER, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Virginia in 1831, and lived there twenty-four years, and moved to Illinois and lived there twelve years, and came to Kansas in 1867 and located in Spring Creek Township, Coffey County, and has been engaged in farming and stock growing ever since. He was married in Virginia in 1863 to Miss Mary Kains, a native of Virginia, and has three children -- Elias J., Virginia S. and George. He lost his wife in 1869 and married again in 1870 to Miss Sarah J. Hammer, a native of Virginia, and have two children -- Howard H. and Mary J. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

NEOSHO TOWNSHIP.

JAMES ALLEN, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Ireland in 1803, lived there until 1830. He then came to the United States and located in Ohio; in 1868 he came to Kansas, located in Neosho Township, Coffey County, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in Ireland to Miss Margaret McCartney, a native of Ireland. They have four children -- James J., Alexander, Jane and Maggie.

J. J. ALLEN, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Ohio, 1844; he came to Kansas, 1868, located on his farm in Neosho Township; is engaged in farming and stock-raising; was married in Coffey County, 1873, to Miss Nancy Bryles; one of the early settlers of Kansas.

J. A. CAVEN, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Ohio, 1830; lived there until 1852, then moved to Illinois; moved to Iowa, 1856; moved back to Illinois, 1864; came to Kansas, 1870; located in Neosho, Coffey County, and engaged at farming. He was married in Ohio, 1856, to Miss Ann M. Winans, of Ohio. They have two children -- Ruth E. and John A. Mr. Caven has been Town Clerk and is now Trustee.

ISAAC COX, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Indiana in 1818, lived there until 1848, then moved to Iowa. In 1858 came to Kansas, locating in Neosho Township, Coffey County. Has been engaged in farming since. He was married in Indiana, in 1840, to Miss Rodella Carson, of Ohio. He was married again in 1849 to Miss Kivett, of North Carolina. They have five children -- Hannah M., Nancy J., Mary J., Clark and Eva. Mr. Cox is Town Treasurer, and is a greenbacker. Mr. Cox served in the State Militia during the Rebellion.

WARREN CRANDALL, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Ohio, 1833; at two years of age his parents moved to Illinois; l852, he went to California, remained there six years, returned back to Illinois and came to Kansas; 1858, located near Le Roy; 1859, located in Neosho Township. He was married in Woodson County, Kan., 1860, to Miss Isabelle Jones, of Ohio. She came to Kansas with her parents in 1859. They have four children -- Ollie F., Louis E., Warren J., Lola B. Mr. Crandall is one of the largest stock dealers in Kansas, has a fine farm of 4,200 acres of land; has from 500 to 600 head of cattle, 400 hogs. Mr. C. has the largest ox ever raised in Kansas; at five years old, it weighed 3,175 pounds. He has his farm all well fenced with stone, wire and hedge.

W. H. DINSMORE, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Ohio in 1840; lived there until 1868, then came to Kansas, locating in Coffey County. Removed to Ohio in 1874, and removed back to Kansas in 1881; located in Neosho Township, Coffey County, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in Ohio in 1878, to Mrs. Hannah M. Hipp, maiden name Ewing, a native of Ohio. She had one child by her former marriage, Anna R. The have one child, Edna M.

JAMES DOUGLAS, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Manchester, England, in 1826, and in 1831 his parents came to Philadelphia, Pa. In 1851 he moved to Ohio. Came to Kansas in 1857; located in Neosho Township, Coffey County; is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is one of the early settlers of Kansas.

LEWIS C. DUNN, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Indiana in 1852; lived there until 1866. He came to Kansas, located at Le Roy, Coffey County; lived there six months, then moved to the farm he now occupies in Neosho Township. Has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. Was married to Miss Sarah Carter, in Coffey County, in 1873; they have one child, Samuel A.

JOHN P. HAMILTON, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Ohio in 1835, and moved to California in 1852. Came back to Ohio in 1854; remained there till 1857; then came to Kansas, locating in Neosho Township, Coffey County. Has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since. Was married in Ohio in 1855, to Miss Mary Mathison, a native of New Jersey; have children -- Loren B., Lushen E., Flora E., John P., Harriet J., Clyde M., and Don Carlos; lost his wife in 1872. Married again in 1875, to Miss Erett Elliott, a native of Illinois; have three children -- Blanche, Earl, and Grace. Is a member of the Masonic Order; is also one of the School Board.

WILLIAM T. HAMILTON, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Ohio in 1827; lived there until the spring of 1852, when he went to California, where he remained two years, working in the mines. He then returned to Ohio, lived there until 1855, when he moved to Illinois, where he lived one year; thence to Missouri, where he lived eighteen months. In l857 he moved to Kansas, and located in Neosho Township, Coffey County, where he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since. He was married in Ohio, in 1848, to Miss Permelia Hamilton. They have five children -- Charles W., Imogene L., Lulu F., Mattie M. and Cora E.

LEVI P. HEDDENS, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Ohio in 1831, and in 1834 his parents moved to Indiana, and in 1854 came to Kansas, located in Neosho Township; engaged in farming. He is one of the earliest settlers, and the first white man that settled in this township. He was married in Coffey County, Kas., in 1858, to Miss Susie Herrington, a native of New York. They have two children -- James and Levi. He is a member of the Odd-Fellows (sic). His wifes family came to Kansas in 1855. Her sister, Lydia Herrington, was married to T. T. Proctor, September 4, 1855, by Mr. Knight, a Congregational Minister, who came with the colony and preached regularly. She was the first white woman married in Coffey County.

JOHN HOLT, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Arkansas in 1836; came to Kansas in 1865; located in Bourbon County. In 1870 came to Neosho, Coffey County, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in Arkansas, to Mrs. Abba Warnick, in 1855. He is a member of United Church.

C. L. W. INGWERSON, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Germany in 1831; lived there until 1854; came to the United States; located in Illinois; lived there until 1863; he then came to Kansas and located in Neosho Township, Coffey County; has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since. He was married to Miss Adaline Lake, in 1859; has six children -- Charles A., Samuel A., Matilda, William A., Lewis J., Amelia A. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and was a member of the State Militia.

WILLIAM LAPSLY, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Ireland in 1832, and in 1836 came to the United States and located in Pennsylvania until 1859. In 1863 he enlisted in the Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. Came to Kansas in 1865; located in Neosho Township, Coffey County. Is a farmer and carpenter, and was married in Pennsylvania, in 1855, to Mary Lapsly (sic). They have three children -- Robert, Ella, and George. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

DAVID L. MOSLEY, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Indiana in 1823. He came to Kansas in 1857, locating in Neosho Township, and lived there until his death, in 1859. He was married to Miss Sarah McCausland, in 1853. They have two children -- William B. and Edmond L. Edmond L. was born in 1857, in Kansas City, Mo. When an infant he came with his parents to Kansas, locating in Neosho Township. Has been engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Sarah Raber, in 1879. They have one child -- Erma L. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM B. MOSLEY, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Indiana in 1854, and at three years of age came to Kansas, locating in Neosho Township, Coffey County. He was married in 1876 to Miss Florence Raber. They have two children -- Alpha E. and Effa M. He is a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

G. M. REDFURN, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Ohio in 1848, lived there till 1866; then to Iowa, lived there seven years; came to Kansas 1874, located in Neosho Township, Coffey County and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary E. Sutton, of Ohio. They have six children -- Luella, Walter, Jasper, Austin, Alta and Lulu.

LORENZ SCHLICHTER, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Germany 1822. Came to the United States in 1839, located in Clark County, Ind., then moved to Louisville, Ky., then to Iowa, and in 1857 came to Kansas, located in Neosho and engaged in farming. He was married in Louisville, Ky., 1847, to Martha Sculwlitcher. They had seven children -- Matilda, Mary, William, Amelia, Rosa, Charles and Winona. He was married again in 1873 to Caroline Lindburg. They have one child -- Edith. He is a member of the School Board.

J. T. SIMMONS, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born in Kentucky in 1846, lived in his native State seventeen years, then moved to Illinois. He came to Kansas in 1871 and located in Neosho, Coffey County, is engaged in farming. He was married in Burlington in 1874 to Miss M. V. Carter, of Ohio. They have three children -- Samuel B., Haley O. and Charley. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

JOSEPH D. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Le Roy, was born on the Atlantic Ocean while his parents were coming to the United States. Was raised in Pennsylvania, lived there twenty-four years, then removed to Iowa, remained there until 1871, then came to Kansas, located in Neosho Township, and has been engaged in farming since. He was married in Iowa in 1853 to Miss Martha E. Heininger, a native of Pennsylvania. They have seven children -- Emma F., Edgar H., Marvin L., Ida B., Cora I., Mattie E. and George A. Mr Smith is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He enlisted in 1862 in the Twenty-second Iowa Infantry; served with that regiment until the close of the war.

WILLIAM H. TWYMAN, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Virginia, in 1844; when he was a boy his parents moved to New York; 1879 he came to Kansas, located in Neosho, Coffey County, is engaged in farming; was married in New York, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth Hays, of New York; they have one child -- Marshall E. Is a member of the Baptist Church.