KANSAS COLLECTION BOOKS

William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas


JACKSON COUNTY, Part 8

[TOC] [part 9] [part 7] [Cutler's History]

WHITING.

This village, the second in size in the county, located thirty-one miles from Atchison on the Central Branch of the Missouri Railroad, was first platted in 1866, but was re-surveyed in 1872, and another plat was recorded May 31, 1882. In November, 1869, A. D. Stone settled on the town site. He was joined early in 1870, by Charles Shedd, and together they opened the first store in the village, which was the only building on the town site for two years.

Mr. Shedd was for six years Trustee of Whiting Township. Mr. Stone, for six years Clerk of the District Court of Jackson County, is a law partner of Judge James H. Lowell. He was for some time a resident of Socorra, New Mexico, but is now at Holton. Mr. Stone's family was the first in Whiting.

Messrs. Shedd and Marshall established themselves in business in 1871, in a small building north of the railroad, which was built by P. B. Rust and in 1882 is occupied as a shoe store by C. A. Heeins. In 1881, they built south of the railroad a very beautiful substantial building of Bigelow stone, from the Frankfort magnesian limestone quarry. The building is 28x80 feet, the second story finished and furnished as an elegant public hall, with accommodations for about 500 persons.

The Baptists organized a church in 1880. A Sabbath-school is connected with the church, which hold's services in Love & Green's Hall. The pastor is Rev. Mr. Abrams.

The Methodists own a church building which cost $1,700. Their pastor is Rev. T. J. Mayer.

The Presbyterians worship in the Methodist Church building. Pastor, Rev. D. R. Todd of Netawaka.

There is a good graded school; the building estimated at $3,000.

The Whiting House was first kept by William H. Sumner, succeeded by John Campbell. The present proprietor is H. A. Lewis. The Commercial was established in 1878, as Bull's Restaurant, by J. F. Bull. Charles B. Hayes is Proprietor.

The Independent Order of Good Templars was organized in the spring of 1877, with twenty-two members. Its membership in 1882 is some sixty. It is considered the second best lodge in the State.

The Knights of Honor. This association was organized May1, 1882, at Shedd & Marshall's Hall, with thirty-one members. It meets the first and third Fridays of each month. Its officers are as follows: H. E. Turner, Dictator; William H. Hedge, Past Dictator; J. F. Wheeler, Assistant Dictator; S. J. Dowd, Vice-Dictator; F. M. Morgan, Recorder; J. W. Fritz, Financial Recorder; A. T. Brown, Treasurer; Reuben Matthews, Sentinel.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

C. H. EVANS, farmer, P. O. Whiting, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1854. In 1857 his parents moved to Atchison County, Kan., settling near Good Intent, and at this place the subject of this sketch was reared and lived until 1881, when he moved to Whiting. Was married in 1879, to Miss Lillie Harris, of Brown County, Kan., and has one child.

C. B. HAYES, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, was born in Griggsville, Pike County, Ill., in 1842. In May, 1861, at the first call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Illinois Infantry. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, August, 1861, he re-enlisted in Company I, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and took part in the battles of Frederickstown, Mo., Cache River, Ark., Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River, siege of Vicksburg, and Jackson, Miss., and with the exception of two months during 1863, which were spent in the hospital at St. Louis, he was in every skirmish and engagement of his regiment until the expiration of his term of enlistment. He was mustered out at Oldtown Landing, Texas, and discharged at Springfield, Ill., October 11, 1864, when he took charge of a commission and storage house at Griggsville Landing, Ill., until 1868, when he engaged in farming near that place for one year. In 1869 he came to Kansas and settled on the southeast quarter of Section 29, Township 5, Range 16, and engaged in farming until January 1, 1882, when he leased the Commercial Hotel at Whiting. He was married, November 15, 1867, at Griggsville, Ill., to Miss Mary A. Thackmay. They have two children - Birdie and Eva. Is a member of Whiting Lodge No. 153, I. O. G. T.

SAMUEL RICHMOND, farmer, P. O. Whiting, was born in Ohio in 1817, and was brought up a farmer and has followed that pursuit all his life. In 1844 he went to Steuben County, Ind., where he remained until 1870, when he moved to Kansas. He was married in 1844 to Miss Caroline Kline of butler County, Ohio, and has four children; two are now living, Elizabeth, and Caroline. Mr. Richmond is a member of the Lutheran Church.

G. T. WATKINS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Whiting, was born in Warner, Merrimack County, N. H., but was reared in Lowell, Mass., where he attended school; the last two years of his school life were spent at Andover, Mass. In 1841 he went to his birthplace and engaged in general merchandising, which he followed until 1859, when he moved to Madison County, Mo., settling near Frederickstown, where he purchased a large tract of land and engaged in farming. In 1864 he moved to Griggsville, Pike County, Ill., where he followed the same pursuit. In 1869 he came to Jackson County, Kan., settling on the southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 5, Range 16, and engaged in stock-raising and farming. He was married January 1, 1843, at Warner, N. H. to Miss Abbie C. Bean; they have six children. Previous to 1861 Mr. Watkins acted with the Democratic party and held the office of Township Clerk at Warner, N. H., from 1854-1859. In 1874-75 he was one of the Commissioners of Jackson County. He has represented the county in the Legislature for two terms, the sessions of 1877-81. In 1878 he was elected Township Trustee of Whiting Township. He has always taken an active part in Kansas politics. He is a member of Whiting Grange No. 1,027.

HENRY YEAGER, proprietor of Commercial Hotel, was born in Clinton County, Pa., in 1840, and lived in his native State until the fall of 1861, when he entered the Union army as a member of Company A, Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, enlisting at Lockhaven, Pa., and was discharged at Louisville, Ky., in June, 1862, for disability contracted whilein the service, from which he suffers today. After his discharge he returned to his home in Pennsylvania where he remained until he had partially regained his health, and in the fall of 1863 re-enlisted in the United States service at Williamsport, Pa., as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, being discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., at the close of the war in July, 1865. Owing to the state of his health, Mr. Yeager was kept constantly on detached duty while a member of the last named regiment. After his final discharge he again returned to his Pennsylvania home where he resided until the spring of 1867, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating in Monrovia, Atchison county, where he resided about six years. Thence he removed to Arrington, in the same county, where he lived two years and then returned to Monrovia where he lived until the winter of 1882, when he removed to Whiting, Jackson County, where he took charge of the Commercial Hotel, of which he is now the proprietor. Mr. Yeager was Constable of Center Township, Atchison County, five years, and held the same office in Kapioma Township, in the same county, two years. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is also a member of the Page Post, No. 136, of Whiting, G. A. R. He was married in 1860, in Clinton County, Pa., to Miss Delilah Dobson, a native of Pennsylvania. They have had eight children, six of whom are living. The Commercial Hotel, of Whiting, under Mr. Yeager's able management, assisted in no small degree by his capable wife, has a large profitable patronage and is steadily growing into favor. Mr. Yeager is an agreeable and obliging host, provides the best the markets afford, is reasonable in his charges(in this respect differing in toto from most of the small landlords in the small towns of Kansas who appear to think that the poorer their accommodations are, the higher they should charge their victims), and so, consequently, highly popular with the traveling public who quite frequently fill his house to overflowing.

SOLDIER CITY.

Soldier City, in the central portion of Soldier Township, is a nice thriving village of four blocks, with twenty-four lots each, situated on the Kansas Central Railroad, fifteen miles from Holton. It was laid out in September, 1878, and F. M. Wilson, the oldest settler erected the first building, which was a store in that year. January 9, 1879, Wilson Bros. opened the first stock of goods, their trade having now increased to large proportions. The town is rapidly growing, its population being now about 130. The Methodist Episcopal Church has an organization and own a good house of worship. There is a graded school, the cost of the school building being $2,000, two hotels, the Wilson House and Thompson House, and a large number of general stores and shops.

Francis' Addition to the town was filed August, 1881. It lies south of the original plat and is about 325x1,100 feet.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HENRY B. BAIR, Justice of the Peace, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 2, Township 7, Range 14, P. O. Holton, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1837, and lived in his native State until April, 1879, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has been an efficient member of the Board of School District No. 5, Jackson County, for three years, Treasurer of Grant Township two years and at present is Justice of the Peace of his township. Mr. Bair has been married twice. The first marriage occurred in 1859, in Westmoreland County, Pa., to Miss Amanda E. Baker, a native of Pennsylvania. Four children were the fruits of this marriage whose names are: A. Otillia, Samuel M. S., Jesse M, and George B. The second marriage took place in 1870, in Westmoreland County, Pa., to Miss Margaret M. Lotta, a native of Pennsylvania. They have six children, named: Thomas L., Edwin A., John L., Harry B., Richard D., and Hattie L. Esquire Bair is the fortunate owner of a fine upland farm containing 193 1/2 acres - 160 acres lying in Grant and the remaining 33 1/2 acres in Jefferson Township. The farm is enclosed by substantial fences, is in a high state of cultivation and is well supplied with timber and water. The improvements are good and consist in part of a cozy and comfortable frame dwelling containing five rooms, a frame barn, 22x42 feet, fourteen feet high and other outbuildings, a young and thrifty orchard, etc. Esquire Bair, grows 1,000 to 1,800 bushels of corn, 200 to 600 bushels of wheat, 400 to 600 bushels of oats, and cuts 40 to 50 acres of hay yearly. In addition to the splendid crops he grew on his own farm, he also raised last year, 2,400 bushels of corn, 200 bushels of flax seed, 400 bushels of oats and 40 tons of hay on land rented from other parties. He keeps forty head of stock cattle, twenty-five stock hogs, and eight head of fine horses. Esquire Bair is an honest, upright and prominent citizen, a thorough and prosperous farmer, an honored magistrate of his county and he and his estimable wife are well pleased with his country.

P. BRYANT, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 24, Township 7, Range 14, P. O. Holton, is the son of Cyrus and Julia Byrant, early settlers of Bureau County, Ill. Cyrus Bryant was a brother of William Cullen Bryant, the poet. The subject of this sketch was born in Princeton, Ill., in 1837, and lived in his native State until the spring of 1859, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since. He was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, sessions of 1866-67, and Surveyor of Jackson County ten years. He participated in the war of the Rebellion as a member of Company K, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was enlisted in Princeton, Ill, in August, 1862, and was discharged at Memphis, Tenn., for disability contracted while in the service, in January, 1863. Mr. Bryant was married at Hennepin, Ill., September 1, 1862, to Miss Henrietta Bacon, a native of Massachusetts. They have five children, whose names are: William C., Marcus, Julia, Emma, and John. "Oakdale," as the magnificent estate of Mr. Bryant is called, contains 420 acres. It is all enclosed by substantial fences, is in a high state of cultivation and is well supplied with timber and water - Bryant's branch of the Banner flowing through the farm in a northerly direction. The property is handsomely improved by a spacious and elegant residence, a large and convenient frame barn 30x50 feet, granaries, cribs, splendid groves and orchards, etc, etc. Mr. Bryant devotes his attention almost exclusively to raising corn, fine cattle and hogs. He grows from 4,000 to 6,000 bushels of corn and cuts 200 tons of hay yearly, feeds two to six car loads of cattle, keeps 100 head of grade and thoroughbred cattle 100 to 200 stock hogs and fourteen head of horses. A Victoria bull called the "Second Duke of Lawndale" is at the head of his fine herd of cattle, and is an animal of superior personal traits and pure lineage. Mr. Bryant is an old Kansas settler and relates many graphic tales and incidents that occurred in his neighborhood during the border troubles, some of which would be repeated here did not a lack of space forbid. One incident as possessing some historical value may be, however, here related. It has reference of how Banner Creek and Precincts received their name. This precinct having given in 1860, the largest Republican majority given by any precinct in Jackson County, was presented with a flag or banner by the ladies of Holton, friends of that political party, and from that day forth was known as the "Banner Precinct," subsequently shortened to Banner, which name was also given to the Creek, replacing that of Groom by which it had been known before. It having been so called after an old Missouri Rebel of that name who had lived previous to this time, on its banks. Mr. Bryant is a veteran of the last war, an honored and respected citizen, and an intelligent, earnest and progressive farmer and stock-raiser, of liberal views and decided public spirit.

H. C. CARTER, farmer, Section 5, Township 6, Range 13, P. O. Holton, was born in Geauga County, Ohio, in 1852, where he lived until 1876, when he came to Kansas, locating on his present place and has it now well improved. He was married in Marion, Ohio, in 1875, to Miss Harriet Snow and has two children: Harvey and Jane. He is a member of the Holton Lodge I. O. G. T., also belongs to the Baptist Church.

WILLIAM CRUZAN, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 14, Township 7, Range 13, P. O. James' Crossing, was born in Rush County, Ind., in 1827, and lived in his native State but a short time, when his parents removed to Coles County, Ill., where Mr. Cruzan resided until April 5, 1857, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating in the following August on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since. He participated in the war of the Rebellion during the Price raid as a member of Company D, Twentieth Regiment Kansas Militia, enlisting in Holton in the fall of 1864, serving eighteen days and being discharged at Holton, Jackson County. He took part in the engagement at Westport, Mo. He has been married twice. The first marriage occurred in Coles County, Ill., in 1848, to Miss Mary Bennett, a native of Illinois. Four children were the fruits of this marriage, three of whom are living and who are named: Hiram(married to Miss Katie Meek, a native of Kansas), Sarah Jane(married to Phillip Claypoole, a native of Ohio), and Kansas(married to M. B. Meek, a native of Missouri). The second marriage took place in 1864, in Grant Township to Miss Elizabeth Bowen, a native of Ohio. They have three children whose names are: Rosa, Nettie and Robert. Mr. Cruzan owns a magnificent estate of 1,300 acres lying on Soldier Creek, divided into bottom and upland. It is all enclosed except fifty acres in timber, is in a high state of cultivation and is well supplied with water by wells and springs and the creek which flows in a southeasterly direction through the farm. The improvements are first class and embrace among others an elegant residence containing eight rooms, a frame barn 30x50 feet, and other outbuildings. There are two orchards on the farm - one covering three acres and containing 250 apple trees, and the other covering one acre and having 100 fruit trees of different varieties. Mr. Cruzan devotes his attention chiefly to raising corn, cattle and hogs. He grows 4,000 bushels of corn, 400 bushels of oats, cuts 150 tons of hay and millet and feeds three car loads of cattle yearly, keeps 125 head of fine grade and a few thoroughbred cattle, 100 stock-hogs and fourteen head of excellent horses. At the head of his herd of fine cattle stands the "Prince of Kansas", a thoroughbred Bates' bull, an animal of faultless pedigree and superior personal traits. Mr. Cruzan is an old Kansas pioneer, an honest, unassuming, straight-forward and practical farmer and stock-raiser, and a good and useful citizen and man of high standing and respectability.

A. A. GORDON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 21, Township 7, Range 14, P. O. Holton, was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1828, and lived in his native State until the spring of 1858, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he resided one summer and then returned to Champaign County, Ohio, where he resided until March, 1871, when he returned to his farm in Kansas, where he has resided since. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has been an efficient and valued member of the Board of School District No. 20, Jackson County, five years. He was married in Xenia, Ohio, in 1859, to Miss Lydia A. Gallaway, a native of Ohio. They have one child, a son, whose name is George A. Mr. Gordon is the fortunate owner of a choice upland farm of 440 acres. The farm is all enclosed except ten acres of timber, is in a good state of cultivation and well supplied with water. The improvements are first class and consist in part of a comfortable and cozy dwelling containing five rooms, a large frame barn 36x80 feet, stock sheds and lots and magnificent orchards and groves. Mr. Gordon grows 2,000 bushels of corn and 500 bushels of small grain, and cuts 200 tons of hay yearly, has 240 acres in pastures, feeds a car load of cattle annually, keeps 100 fine grade cattle, 75 to 100 stock- hogs and ten head of horses. He is an old resident of the State, a thorough, energetic and practical farmer, a good citizen and neighbor, and he and his amiable wife are well pleased with the country.

THOMAS KEIR, farmer and stock-raiser, northwest of Section 13, Township 7, Range 14, P. O. Holton, was born in Rasharkin, County Antrim, Ireland, July 16, 1826, and lived in his native country until his seventeenth year, when he went to the city of Glasgow, Scotland, where he lived three years and then removed to Dumfrieshire, in the same country, where he also resided three years, and then emigrated to America, landing in the city of New York, February 2, 1852, from whence he proceeded to Cayuga County, N. Y., where he resided two years, and then removed to Rock Island County, Ill., where he resided until the spring of 1856, when he joined Gen. James H. Lane's emigration party and proceeded to Kansas. He arrived in Topeka on August 15, 1856, remaining there, meantime taking part in several contests between the Free-State forces and border ruffians, until the spring of 1858, when he located on his farm in what is now Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has since resided. Mr. Keir participated in the war of the Rebellion, during the Price raid, as a member of Capt. Dan. Horn's Company of Kansas Militia, enlisting at Holton, serving three weeks and being discharged at Topeka. He was married, March 14, 1869, in Grant Township, Jackson County, to Mrs. Rebecca Talbert, a native of Washington County, Pa. They have one child, a son, whose name is Frank O. Mr. Keir owns two fine farms in Grant Township, one containing 160 acres and the other, the home farm, embracing 133 acres. These farms are all enclosed, are in a good state of cultivation, are well supplied with timber and water, and have magnificent groves and orchards. The improvements on the home farm are good and consist among others of a large stone house, 17 1/2x35 feet, with a "T" 17x15 feet, stock stables, sheds and lots, granaries, cribs, etc. Mr. Keir grows 2,000 bushels of corn, 1,000 bushels of small grain, cuts 200 tons of hay and feeds a car load of cattle yearly, keeps from forty to fifty fine grade cattle, thirty to forty stock-hogs and half a dozen head of horses. Mr. Keir also owns a choice farm of 160 acres in Grant Township. It is all enclosed, is in a good state of cultivation, is well supplied with timber and water, and has good improvements. Mr. Keir is an old Kansas pioneer, a prominent and prosperous farmer, a good citizen and neighbor, and has a high standing in his community. Mr. Keir has two brothers and four sisters living somewhere in the United States, whose whereabouts he is anxious to find out. His brothers are named John and William, and his sisters are named Lena(married to James Irvin, a native of Rasharkin, County Antrim, Ireland), Margaret Jane(married to Thomas Webb, who is supposed to reside somewhere in Illinois), Eliza and Hester. His eldest brother, John, went with a party of gold hunters from near Brantford, Canada, in the spring of 1852, to California, since which time Mr. Keir has had no tidings of him. Should any one acquainted with any of these parties, chance to read these lines, they will do Mr. Keir a great favor which will be duly reciprocated, by addressing him at Holton, Jackson County, Kansas.

J. F. POMEROY, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 23, Township 7, Range 14, P. O. Holton, was born in Worthington, Mass., in 1832, and lived in his native State until his twenty-second year and then removed to Hartford, Conn., where he resided two years. thence he removed to Bureau County, Ill., where he resided two years, and in July, 1859 became a resident of Kansas, locating on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Grange at Holton. He was Trustee of what was then Jefferson Township in 1860, and one of the Commissioners of Jackson County in 1870-72. He participated in the war of the Rebellion during the Price raid, as a member of Capt. Hoaglin's Company of Kansas Militia, enlisting at Holton, Jackson County, served eighteen days and was discharged at Holton. Mr. Pomeroy has been married twice. The first marriage occurred at Circleville, Jackson County, in December, 1862, to Miss Martha J. Blake, a native of Putnam County, Ind. She died in January, 1872. Four children were the fruits of this marriage, only one of whom is living and who is named Charles William. The second marriage took place in September, 1872, in Grant Township, Jackson County, to Miss Isabella C. Clark, a native of Indiana. They have five children living, whose names are Frank C, Horace G, Alice, Hattie, and Clara Bell. "Banner stock farm', as the magnificent 730 acre estate of Mr. Pomeroy is called, lies on Banner Creek, six miles southwest of the city of Holton. It is one of the largest and finest stock farms in Grant Township and is nearly all enclosed by about ten miles of fine hedge, is in a high state of cultivation and is well supplied with timber, and with water by means of springs, wells and the creek which flows in a northeasterly direction through the farm. The improvements are costly and extensive and embrace, among others, a spacious and elegant residence, a large frame barn, 45x50 feet, granaries, cribs, wagon and stock sheds, stock lots, etc. There are superb groves and orchards on the property - the orchards alone covering eleven acres and containing 650 fruit trees of various varieties. Mr. Pomeroy grows 8,000 bushels of corn, 1,000 bushels of small grain, and cuts 300 tons of hay yearly, has 160 acres in pasture, feeds three car loads of cattle annually, keeps 200 head of fine grade cattle, 150 stock-hogs and twenty-five head of horses. Mr. Pomeroy is an old Kansas pioneer, a prominent, prosperous and intelligent farmer, has an estate fit for a prince, is well and favorably known, and is an honored citizen of his county. Coming to Kansas with but $300 in his possession, he has since that time made every dollar he now possesses by his untiring energy and legitimate farming. It is scarcely necessary to say that he is more than pleased with his adopted State.

LORENZO D. STEPHENSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 3, Township 7, Range 13, P. O. James' Crossing, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, in 1841, and lived in his native State until his twenty-second year, when he entered the Union army as a member of Company A, Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted in Salina, Ohio, October 9, 1861, and was discharged at Gallitin, Tenn., in February 1864, re-enlisting the same day in the same company and regiment and was finally discharged at Columbus, Ohio, January 6, 1866. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Jonesboro, Atlanta, Nashville and numerous minor engagements. After his discharge he returned to his Ohio home, where he resided nearly one year, and on the 17th day of December, 1866, became a resident of Kansas, locating on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married in Soldier Township, Jackson County, April, 29, 1875, to Miss Mary Tolin, a native of Indiana. They have four children, whose names are: Lorin, Albert, Walter and Naomi. Mr. Stephenson is the fortunate owner of a fine farm lying on Soldier Creek, containing 720 acres. It is all upland but 160 acres, which is bottom land of the finest quality. It is all enclosed, is in a good state of cultivation, and is well supplied with timber and water. The improvements are good and consist in part of a comfortable and cozy dwelling containing six rooms, a fine barn, 32x30 feet, stock stables, sheds and lots, and handsome groves and orchards. Mr. Stephenson grows 6,000 bushels of corn, 2,600 bushels of small grain, and cuts 100 tons of hay yearly, keeps seventy-five fine grade cattle, 100 stock hogs and fifteen to twenty fine horses and mules. MR. Stephenson is an energetic, industrious and model farmer, an honorable and straight-forward man, and a good citizen and neighbor.

SAMUEL STEPHENSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 10, Township 7, Range 13, P. O. James' Crossing, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1834, and lived in his native State until April 1860, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating in Miami County, where he resided one year. He then removed to Fort Scott, Bourbon County, where he resided until February, 1863, when he settled on his farm in Grant Township, Jackson County, where he has resided since. He is a member of the German Baptist Church. He has been a member of and Treasurer of School District No. 11, Jackson County, about ten years, and has served as Trustee of Grant Township five terms. He participated in the war of the Rebellion during the Price raid, as a member of the Kansas Militia, enlisting at, and being discharged at James' Crossing, Jackson County, after serving eighteen days. He was married January 2, 1870, in Washington County, Kan., to Miss Katie Burr, a native of Indiana. They have four children, whose names are: Nellie Blanche, Mary May, Mary Elizabeth, and Etha Lucretia. Mr. Stephenson owns a fine farm of 340 acres lying on Soldier Creek. The farm is all enclosed, is in a good state of cultivation and is well supplied with water by means of wells, springs, spring branches and the creek which flows through the centre of it. The improvements are first class, embracing in part an elegant new, modern residence containing seven rooms, surrounded by handsome grounds. The dwelling is erected on an elevated site which commands a magnificent view for miles of the surrounding country. The property is also further improved by two tenant houses, a frame barn, 20x40 feet, a large new granary and other outbuildings, two fine orchards covering ten acres and containing 1,000 fruit trees of various kinds, etc. Mr. Stephenson grows from 3,000 to 4,000 bushels of corn, 1,000 bushels of oats, 125 bushels of flax seed, cuts 100 tons of hay yearly, keeps 75 to 100 head of cattle, 75 to 100 stock hogs and twenty head of horses. Mr. Stephenson is a thorough practical farmer, a prosperous and substantial citizen and enjoys the confidence of the people.

MRS. MARY WEST, widow of Frederic West, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 24, Township 7, Range 14, P. P. Holton. Mr. Frederic West was born in Berkshire County, Mass., in 1809, and lived in his native State until his twenty-second year, when he removed to the then Territory of Iowa, where he resided two years. Thence he removed to Knox County, Ill., where he resided until September 1857, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating on his farm in what is now Grant Township, Jackson County, where he resided until his death in December 1881. He was a steadfast and consistent member of the Congregational Church. He was one of Jackson's representative and honored citizens and was, one of the Commissioners of this county in 1861-62. He was a prominent pioneer of the State, an honorable, upright man and was well and favorably known. He was married in 1852 at Knoxville, Ill., to Miss Mary Shannon, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio. They had one child, a daughter, whose name is Jennie, and who is married to Alfred Peace, a native of England. Mrs. West owns a fine upland farm of 160 acres. It is all enclosed, is in a good state of cultivation, is amply supplied with timber and has plenty of water, having wells, springs, the Banner Creek and the west branch of the Banner, which flows through the farm in an easterly direction. There are splendid groves and a young and thrifty orchard on the property, which contains 300 fruit trees of various varieties. There is also an abundance of small fruits on the farm. The improvements are good and consist in part of a comfortable and cozy home, a frame barn 36x25 feet, granaries, cribs, etc. The farm is under the able superintendence of Mr. Alfred Peace, Mrs. West's son-in-law, a young, energetic, practical and thorough farmer. He grows yearly from 2,500 to 3,000 bushels of corn, 300 bushels of small grain, keeps fifty head of fine stock cattle, forty to fifty stock hogs, and nine head of horses. The farm is well known for its productiveness and fertility and ranks among the best in Grant Township.

[TOC] [part 9] [part 7] [Cutler's History]