COFFEY COUNTY, Part 7

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (ADAIR - GRAY).

ROBERT H. ADAIR, County Clerk, came to Kansas in July, 1858, and located at Burlington, and has lived there since. Mr. Adair was born in Bourbon County, Ky., May 19, 1848. At two years of age his parents moved to White County, Ind., and he lived there until he came to Kansas, in 1858. Mr. Adair was married in Fountain County, Ind., December 28, 1870, to Miss Jennie Pixley, a native of Indiana, and has two children -- Benjamin F. and Bertha R. He was elected Clerk of the District Court in 1874, and held that office for three terms, and in 1881 was elected County Clerk, which position he now holds. Mr. Adair is a printer by trade, and published the Neosho Citizen, in connection with John S. Gilmore. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' society, and is a highly respected citizen of his town and county.

DR. JOHN M. ALLISON was born in Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., in 1845, and lived in his native State for twelve years, and moved to Philadelphia and lived in that city ten years. Moved to Burlington, Kan., in 1870, and engaged in the book business, and established his present business in 1874, and has been engaged in that business since. Dr. Allison is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, in the class of 1869. He was married in Burlington, March 30, 1881, to Miss Clara Link, a native of Paris, Ill. Dr. Allison is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. He enlisted in 1864, in Scranton, Pa., in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served with that regiment until the close of the war.

LUCIUS ARMSTRONG, grocer, was born in Indiana, in 1851, and lived in his native State eighteen years. He moved to Michigan and lived there eleven years, and came to Kansas in 1880, locating in Burlington, where he has since been engaged in the grocery business. Mr. Armstrong was married in Michigan, in 1875, to Miss Adelaide Westcott, a native of Michigan.

WILLIAM H. BEARD, Register of Deeds of Coffey County and attorney-at-law; is also engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Beard came to Kansas in 1858, first stopping in Lyon County, and locating in Coffey County February, 1859, where he has since resided. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1839, and when an infant his parents moved to near St. Joseph, Mo., where he lived until coming to Kansas. Was married, April, 1879, to Carrie E. Cain, of Illinois. Have one child, Alice. Is and always has been a Republican. Was secretary of the Quantrell Raid Commission in 1875. Was admitted to the bar in 1876. Was elected Register of Deeds in 1867, and has held the office ever since. Is an Odd Fellow.

H. G. BEATTY was born in Xenia, Ohio, in 1841, and lived in his native State twenty-one years, and enlisted in the army, in the Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment during the war, and was a Lieutenant of Company B, and Quartermaster of the regiment at the close of the war. Mr. Beatty came to Kansas and located at Lawrence, and lived there one year, and moved to Burlington in 1866, and engaged in the grocery business, and established the first general grocery in the town, and is the oldest merchant in the city at present. He was married in Richmond, Ind., in 1868 to Miss Alice M. Williams, a native of Delaware, Ohio, and have three children, Frank, Minnie and Robben. Mr. Beatty is School Director and Township Trustee, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and also is a member of the Episcopal Church.

THOMAS N. BELL, farmer, Section 29, P. O. Burlington, was born in Hamilton County, Indiana, in 1846, and lived in his native State twenty-four years. He enlisted in 1864, in the Thirty-fourth Indiana Regiment, and served with that regiment until the close of the war. He then returned to Indiana and remained there until 1869, when he came to Kansas and located in Coffey County, near Burlington. Here he is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Bell was married in Coffey County, Kans, in 1873, to Miss Lydia Ryan, a native of New Brunswick. They have four children, Charles N., Henry A., Mary A., and Uriah P. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the Baptist Church.

S. W. BOWERS was born in Pennsylvania in 1828, and lived in his native State seven years, and moved to Clark County, Ohio, and remained in that State thirteen years, and moved to Champaign County, Ill., and lived there ten years, and moved to Kansas in the spring of 1870 and located in Burlington, and has been engaged in house and sign painting. Mr. Bowers was married in Champaign County, Ill., in 1854, to Miss Lora Orme, a native of Ohio, and have two children, Charley and Grace. Mr. Bowers was married again in Burlington, in 1872, to Miss Nellie Laughton, a native of Vermont, and have four children, George, Gerty, Glenn and May.

ANSEL D. BROWN, postmaster and editor, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., in 1838, and lived in his native State about seven years, and removed with his parents to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1843, and remained there about two years, and moved to Michigan and lived in that State about ten years. Moved to Walworth County, Wis., in 1848, and remained there until the spring of 1855, when he removed to St. Paul, Minn., and remained in that State until the spring of 1857, and came to Kansas and located in Greenwood County and lived there until the spring of 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Kansas Regiment and served one year with that regiment; was transferred to the Fifth Kansas Cavalry and served with that regiment until near the close of the war. Mr. Brown was the Lieutenant of Company A of the Third and F in the Fifth Regiment, and married in Burlington in May, 1866, to Miss Katie C. Morey, a native of Connecticut. They have three children, Edward, Dwight and Ira. Mr. Brown is the postmaster at Burlington, and is editor and proprietor of the Burlington Daily Patriot, and is a member of the Masonic order and the Episcopal Church.

CHARLES O. BROWN was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1848, and lived in that State six years; moved with his parents to Jefferson County, Iowa, and lived there about seven years, and came to Kansas and located in Coffey County. He has been in the grocery business for three and a half years ending September, 1882. He was married in Burlington, in 1875, to Miss Alice C. Rankin, a native of Illinois. They have two children, Harry and Bernard. Mr. Brown has been County Surveyor for two years and Deputy Treasurer for four years. In November, 1882, was elected Probate Judge for Coffey County. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of the State of Kansas.

CHRISTOPHER BROWN was born in the State of New York in 1818, and lived in his native State two years, and moved to Wisconsin and lived there twenty-four years, and moved to Minnesota and lived there one year, and removed to Missouri and lived in that State six years, and came to Kansas in 1871 and located in Burlington. Mr. Brown was married in Wisconsin, in 1845, to Miss Adaline Fletcher, a native of New York. They had one child, Morse V. Mr. Brown was married the second time in 1858, to Mrs. A. E. Follinsbee, a native of New York, and have three children, Adda, Adella and Amy. Mr. Brown was early in life a Democrat and became a Republican in 1855 and supported that party until 1876, and has been identified with the Greenback party since, and is an agnostic on religious questions.

A. L. BURGESS, express agent, was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1849, and lived in his native State six years. He moved with his parents to De Kalb County, Ill., and lived there twelve years. He came to Kansas in 1871, and located at Ottawa, where he lived eight years, and came to Burlington in 1879, and has been a clerk in a dry goods store until he engaged as an express agent for the Adams Express Company, in 1881. Mr. Burrgess was married in Burlington, in 1871, to Miss Adda Brown, a native of Wisconsin, and they have one child -- Albert L., Jr. Mr. Burgess is a member of the Knights of Phythias.

SAMUEL J. CARTER, farmer and stock-raiser, and a director in the Burlington National Bank. Mr. Carter came to Kansas in 1860, and located in Coffey County, and has lived in the county since. He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1832, and lived in his native State fourteen years, and moved with his parents to Fairfield County, Ohio, and lived there fourteen years, when he removed to Sangamon County, Ill., and lived there two years, and then removed to Kansas. He was married in Ohio, in 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Lake, a native of New York, and has had four children -- Sarah A., Victorine, Emma, Josephine. Mr. C. lost his wife in 1869, and married again in 1870, to Miss Alice Dunn, a native of Indiana, and has had three children -- William A., Samuel J., Hiram H. Mr. Carter has been Justice of the Peace for eight years, County Commissioner two years, Sheriff two terms, and Treasurer of Coffey County two terms. He is a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and is now a candidate for Representative. He is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Carter is an extensive cattle breeder.

JOHN P. CHESS, City Marshal, (sic) was born in Brownville, Fayette Co., Pa., in 1851, and at four years of age his parents moved to Ohio, and he lived there until 1857, and then moved to Kansas, and located in Le Roy, Coffey County, and lived there three years, and moved to Burlington and remained two years, and moved back to Le Roy, and lived there until 1869, when he located in Burlington, and has lived there since, being the present City Marshal. He was married in Le Roy, Coffey County, in 1875, to Miss Abby McQuiston, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have three children -- Sybil, John, and James. Mr. Chess is a member of the Masonic Society, and was one of the early settlers of Coffey County. His father, John Chess, was born in Washington, Pa., in 1824. He was married in 1848 in Pennsylvania, to Miss C. V. Bassett. They have had three children -- George W., John P., and James H. In 1855 he moved to Ohio, and from there to Kansas in 1857, and was prominently identified with the history of Kansas until his death, which occurred in Le Roy, Coffey County, December 28, 1871. He died of congestion of the lungs, at the age of forty-eight. He held the office of Sheriff for two terms in Coffey County. He served in the army with distinction, as Captain in one of the Indian regiments. He was a prominent railroad contractor in Kansas at the time of his death. He had been elected Sheriff of the county for a third term. Mr. Chess was a member of the Masonic and Odd-Fellows societies.

CHARLES H. CLEVELAND was born in Bath, N. H., August 4, 1847, and lived in New England and Canada until twelve years, after which he went into a store in Grinnell, Iowa. He attended school there for about three years, after which he went into a store in Muscatine, Iowa, staying there about five years. He came to Kansas in 1870, remaining but a year and a half, when he went to Lawrence, Mich., where he remained two years, and then returned to Burlington, Kas., where he has since resided. In February, 1877, he associated himself with Mr. Ed Climer, forming the firm of Climer & Cleveland, dealers in dry goods, clothing, etc. The business was highly successful. In May, 1882, he purchased the interest of Mr. Climer, and since that time has conducted the business by himself. He was married in January, 1880, at Baldwin City, Kas., to Miss Vivia Kirkpatrick, a native of Iowa. Mr. C. is a member of the I. O. O. F.

EDWARD CLIMER was born in Greene County, Ohio, and lived in his native State fourteen years, and moved to Marion County, Mich., and remained there two years, and moved to California in 1854, and lived there five years, and returned and located in Bourbon County, Kan., and lived there two years, and moved to Coffey County and has lived in the county since and in Burlington for five years. He has been engaged in merchandising in Burlington and recently retired from business. Mr. Climer was married in Bourbon County, Kan., in the fall of 1860, to Miss Elmira Clark, a native of Illinois. They have one child, Frank.

H. E. COWGILL has been Treasurer for Coffey County for five years and has just retired from that office. Mr. Cowgill came to Kansas in 1866, and located in Douglas County, and came to Burlington, Coffey County, in 1870, and has lived there since. Mr. Cowgill was born in Greencastle, Ind., in 1845, and lived there till he came to Kansas. He was married in Douglas County in 1870 to Miss Belle Nash, a native of Illinois. They have one child, Mary E. He is a member of the Republican party, the Masonic Order and also of Odd Fellows.

THOMAS CROSS was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1843, and lived in his native State twenty-two years, and enlisted in 1861 in the Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in 1864 in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry and served with that regiment until the close of the war, and returned to Ohio and remained a short time, and moved to Shelby County, Ind., and lived there three years, and came to Kansas in 1869 and located in Burlington, and has been engaged in the milling business until he was elected Sheriff of Coffey County one year since. Mr. Cross was married in Clark County, Ohio, the 27th of September, 1866, to Miss Emma Akin, a native of Ohio. They have two children, Cory and Glenna. Mr. Cross is a member of the Masonic Society.

WILLIAM CROTTY, farmer and stock raiser, also extensively engaged in the cattle business about eight miles southwest from Burlington. Mr. Crotty came to Kansas in 1969 and located where he now lives. He was born in Maryland in 1837, at one year of age his parents moved to La Salle County, Ill., he lived there till 1860, and has lived one year in Iowa, five years in Colorado and one year in Utah and then came to Kansas. He was married in Illinois, in 1861, to Miss P. E. Armstrong, a native of Illinois. They have five children -- Gertie, Rose, Millie, George and Julia. Mr. Crotty is a large cattle dealer and handles annually from 500 to 1,000 head of cattle.

GEORGE W. CROW, lawyer, engaged in practice for eight years in Pike County, Ill., and Burlington, Kan. Mr. Crow was born in Huron County, Ohio, 1850, and lived in his native State eight years and moved with his parents to Illinois and lived in that State until 1879, and then removed to Kansas and located in Burlington where he now lives. He was married in Pike County, Ill., in 1877, to Miss Jennie Widby, a native of Illinois, and has one child, T. Lyle. Mr. Crow is now running for County Attorney on the Democratic ticket. He is a young man of ability in his profession.

J. L. DAVIDSON, wheelwright, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1847 and lived in his native State thirteen years, and moved to Illinois and lived there two years, and moved to Kansas in 1861 and located near Le Roy, Coffey County, and he and his father run (sic) a woolen factory in Burlington about seven years; and after that engaged in farming and has been engaged in manufacturing wagons and buggies. He served one term as Deputy Treasurer of Coffey County and has been Deputy Sheriff of the county, and intends to soon engage in the grocery business. Mr. Davidson was married in Burlington in 1876 to Miss Lillian C. Harding, a native of Kansas. They have three children -- William L., Phoebe P. and James H.

JOHN W. DENSLOW was born in Westchester County, N. Y., in 1828, and lived in his native State twenty- five years, and moved to South America, and from there to Australia, and lived in Australia about fifteen years, and returned to the United States and located in New York and remained a short time and removed to Chicago, and lived there about twelve years, and came to Kansas in 1878 and located in Coffey County and engaged in sheep-raising. He engaged in the hotel business in Burlington in 1881. He was married in Australia in 1862 to Miss Jessie Hunt, a native of London, Eng. They have five children -- Olie, Walter, Arthur, Joseph and Gracie. Mr. Denslow is proprietor of the National Hotel of Burlington.

GEORGE H. DICKINSON was born in the State of New York in 1839, and lived in his native State until the fall of 1857, and came to Kansas and located in Coffey County at Le Roy, and lived there about fifteen years, and located in Burlington, in the saddle and harness business in 1872. Mr Dickinson was married in Woodson County, Kan., in 1861 to Miss Elizabeth Quiggle, native of Pennsylvania. They have five children -- Amy E., John E., Mary M., Lotta and Ray. Mr. Dickinson is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Congregational Church. He is one of the oldest settlers of Coffey County.

DR. ROBERT P. DOUGLASS was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., in 1841, and lived in his native State twelve years, and removed with his parents to Ohio, and lived in that State until he came to Kansas in 1866. Dr. Douglass was married in Burlington in 1871 to Miss Clara O. Prouty, a native of Ohio. Dr. Douglass was educated as a physician in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and graduated from that institution in the class of 1866, and came to Burlington and engaged in the practice of his profession. Is a member of the Masonic Society.

L. J. DYKE was born in Franklin County, N. Y., on January 18, 1842, and when quite small his parents removed to Erie County, Pa. He lived in that State until 1877, serving as County Treasurer in 1870-71, when he came to Kansas and located in Burlington and engaged in farming and stock-trading for three years, and established the furniture business in Burlington in 1880 and has been engaged in that business since. Mr. Dyke was married in White Pigeon, Mich., in 1869 to Miss Sarah Baer, a native of Ohio. They have three children -- Elan, Eddie and Freddie. Mr. Dyke enlisted in 1861 in the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment until July 20, 1865. He lost an arm in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, in front of Atlanta, on July 20, 1864. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the United Workmen and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and has been a member of the City Council of Burlington.

SILAS FEARL, lawyer and present County Attorney for Coffey County. Mr. Fearl came to Kansas in the spring of 1857 and located in Coffey County in July of that year, and has been a resident of that county since. He was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and lived in his native State twenty-five years and then came to Kansas. Mr. Fearl assisted in organizing the Republican party in Kansas and was a member of the Territorial convention held at Osawatomie in 1858, and has been Mayor of Burlington two terms, and has been, and first held the office of, County Clerk and Clerk of the District Court for Coffey County, and has held the office of County Attorney for twelve years. Mr. Fearl was married in Burlington, in 1859, to Miss Dora Denecke, a native of Massachusetts, and has four children, Charles E., Frank E., Mary E., and James. Mr. Fearl lost his wife in 1872 and married again, in 1875, to Mrs. Lizzie Deaven, a native of Tennessee, and has three children by his second wife, Belle E., William and Nelly. Mr. Fearl is a member of the Masonic order and is in good standing as a lawyer and highly respected by his associates.

L. A. FELTON was born in Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio, in 1828, and lived in his native State twenty-one years, and moved to Fayette County, Ind., and lived there two years and moved to Oregon and lived in that State two years, and moved to California and lived there three years and returned to Oxford, Ohio, and remained a short time and located at Connersville, Indiana, and lived there five years, and came to Emporia, and lived there a short time and located in Burlington in 1869, where he has since engaged in the bakery and confectionery business; was married in Fayette County, Ind., in 1861, to Jennie Minor, a native of Indiana. They have two children, Mary and Nelly.

M. L. B. FLOYD, Deputy Register of Deeds, and physician by profession. He came to Kansas in 1877 and located in Burlington. He was born in Adams County, Pa., in 1836, and lived in his native State fifteen years, and removed to Hocking County, Ohio, and lived in Ohio about twenty-two years, practiced medicine about eighteen years in the Hocking Valley, and removed to Livingston County, Ill., and engaged in the practice of medicine, remaining about four years, and removed to Mahaska County, Iowa, and remained there one year and then removed to Tazewell County, Ill., and remained there one year and then removed to Kansas. Mr. Floyd was married in Hocking County, Ohio, in 1865, to Miss Emma Blake, a native of Ohio, and have three children, Patrick M., Thomas J., Willie B. He is independent in politics and holds to the Catholic faith.

EDGAR E. FOLLENSBEE, jeweler, was born in Marshall, Dane Co., Wis., September 8, 1852, and lived in his native State eleven years, then moved to Clinton Co., Mo., and lived in that State from 1867 to 1872, then removed to Kansas and located in Burlington, Coffey County, and was engaged in the nursery business five years, the grocery business for three years, and has been in the jewelry business for two years. He was married in Burlington, in 1878, to Miss Lelia Jackson, a native of Washington County, Iowa.

JOHN D. FRAZIER is engaged in the practice of law and has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Clinton County, Ind., and Burlington, Kan., for about seven years. Mr. Frazier came to Kansas in May, 1872, and located in Burlington, Coffey County, and taught school for two years, and returned to Indiana and engaged in the practice of law, and remained in that State till October, 1881, and returned to Burlington and located. Mr. Frazier was educated at the Law School at Ann Arbor, Michigan; he was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1848, and lived in his native State five years and removed with his parents to Clinton County, Ind., and remained in Indiana until he came to Kansas. Mr. Frazier enlisted in September, 1864, in the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment one year. He was married in Clinton County, Ind., in May, 1865, to Miss Martha J. Kent, a native of Indiana, and has three children, Emma F., Josie F. and Junia. Mr. Frazier is a member of the Masonic order.

I. S. GARWOOD, merchant tailor, was born in Ohio, in 1820, and lived in his native State until thirty-three years of age, and moved to Marshall County, Iowa, in 1853, and lived in that State eleven years, engaged largely in farming; returned to Ohio and lived there three years and came to Kansas in the fall of 1867, and located in Burlington, Coffey County. He was married in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1845, to Miss Mary Ann Baker, a native of Ohio. He had five children by his first wife -- Wilber, Charles, Edward, Mathias and Deliah J. Mr. Garwood was married in Ohio, in 1863, to Miss Phebe James, his present wife, a native of Ohio. They have one child -- Robert. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

JOSEPH GIBBON, undertaker, was born in Durham, England, in 1831, and lived in England thirty-eight years, and came to the United States July, 1869, and located in Burlington, Coffey Co., Kan., in March, 1870, and engaged in the carpenter business for four years, and erected the best buildings in the city during that time, and then engaged in the furniture business, and is now in the undertaking, picture, picture frames and window shade business. Mr. Gibbon was married in England, in December, 1854, to Miss Jane Outhwaite, a native of Yorkshire, England. They have four children -- John W., Thomas O., Elizabeth Ann and Joseph. Mr. Gibbon has been a member of the City Council for five years, and is a member of the United Workmen and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CALVIN H. GRAHAM was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., May 22, 1833, and lived in his native State nineteen years, and crossed the plains in 1853, to California, and lived in that State seven years, and returned to Pittsburgh, Penn., in January 1860. He took a course in the Iron City Commercial College, and in September, 1860, removed to Parke County, Ind., and engaged in milling business there for five years, and came to Kansas in 1866, and located in Le Roy, Coffey County, and has lived there since, excepting four years at Burlington, as Treasurer of Coffey County, and has been Docket Clerk of the State Senate for eight years, and general manager of the Excelsior Mills, at Burlington, and has been the largest wheat grower in Coffey County, and is a member of the Executive Board of the State Horticultural Society. Mr. Graham was married near Pittsburgh, Penn., February 23, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth A. McKelvy, a native of Pennsylvania. They have seven children -- Maggie M., Anna B., Mary M., Ralph K., John D., Lizzie and Fanny. Mr. Graham is an Odd-Fellow and a Royal Arch Mason.

JOHN C. GRAY was born in Vermont, in 1851, and lived in his native State until 1878, and then came to Kansas, and located at Le Roy, Coffey County. He was married in Franklin County, Kan., in 1882, to Miss Belle Jamison, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Gray was Principal of Le Roy school for two and one half years, until elected to his present position, in 1880, of Superintendent of Public Instruction for Coffey County. He is a member of the Masonic society and is an Odd Fellow. Mr. Gray was educated at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N. H., and graduated from that institution in the Class of 1878.