BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP (DANFORTH - JUDD).
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DANFORTH, grain dealer, was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y.,
February 18, 1843; lived there twelve years, then two months in Geneseo, Henry
Co., Ill; two years near Morrison, Whiteside Co., Ill., and afterward near
Waucousta, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., seven years and near Strawberry Point, Clayton
Co., Iowa, two years removing from the latter State to Missouri, living at
Louisiana, in that State, most of the time until he came to Osage Mission, Kan.,
Nov. 29, 1870, where he was engaged in the business of carpenter and builder
until 1879, when he began dealing in grain, continuing in that trade until the
present time; located at Chetopa, October 25, 1880. He is a member of the A. O.
U. W. and K. of H. He was married at Louisiana, Mo., June 9, 1867, to Mary
Frances Baker, a native of Kentucky. They have four children - Eugene Gustave,
Gordon Carl, Edson Motton and an infant son.
DR. M. H. DERSHAM, druggist, is a native of White Deer Township, Union Co., Pa.,
born October 5, 1827. In 1859 he removed to Elmore, Ohio, residing there till
1862, when he located at Chatsworth, Ill., and came to Chetopa in June, 1868. He
received his literary education in his native place, and at Milton Academy in
Northumberland County, Pa., and Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pa. He attended
lectures at the Pennsylvania Medical College, and graduated from Eclectic
Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. Began practice at Hartleton, Union Co.,
Pa., afterwards at Lewisburg, Pa., Elmore, Ohio, Chatsworth, Ill., continuing in
practice at Chetopa for two or three years, since then giving his attention to
drug, book and stationery business, having built a store on Maple street,
between Third and Fourth streets, where he carried on business from September,
1868, till the spring of 1881, when he moved to his present location, having
purchased the property prior to that time. He was married at Bellevue, Ohio, in
March, 1863, to Rebecca Orwig, a native of Union County, Pa. They have five
children - Herbert John, Lillian May, Cora Belle, Jennie and Lulu. Mr. Dirsham
is a Unitarian, and holds the modern Spiritual philosophy to be true.
J. P. DEJARNETTE, is a native of Grant County, Ky.; born June 4, 1838; located
in Champaign County, Ill., in 1865, remaining there about two years, then
removed to Sedalia, Mo., where he was foreman of a saddlery establishment until
he came to Chetopa, April 25, 1871. Since locating here he has been extensively
engaged in saddlery and hide, wool and fur trade. Since 1872, his brother, W. H.
DeJarnette, has been associated with him as a partner, at Parsons and Oswego.
They have hide and wool houses at Chetopa; they have a large saddle and harness
manufactory in addition to hide, wool and fur business. Hide business amounts to
$24,000 per annum; wool, $10,000; saddlery, $8,000. Mr. DeJ. is a member of A.,
F. & A. M., and A. O. U. W. He is Treasurer of the Board of Education, having
held that position for the last eight years. He was married in Grant County,
Ky., in 1870, to Fannie Kendall, a native of that county. She died January 27,
1878, leaving one child, Josephus William. Mr. DeJarnette was married, April 8,
1979[sic], to his present wife, L. Virgaren Liggett, a native of Union
County, Ohio. They have two children - Heber H. and Jesse Perrin.
EUGENE P. DRESSER, merchant, was born at Litchfield, Hillsdale Co., Mich., June
16, 1851; removing from there to Hillsdale, Mich., where he clerked for a number
of years; removing from there to Galena, Kas., May, 1877; resided there until
March, 1882, when he located at Columbus, Kas., coming from the latter place to
Chetopa, March 1, 1883. He has been extensively engaged in the mercantile
business since he came to Kansas, and has one of the largest and best selected
stocks of dry-goods, clothing, boots and shoes in this part of the State. He is
a member of the K. of P. Mr. Dresser was married January 1, 1880, at Lafayette,
Ind., to Belle S. Erisman, a native of that place. They have two
children - Lillie Eugenia and an infant son.
GEORGE EDDINGTON, confectioner, ice dealer, etc., is a native of England, born
August 9, 1843; reared in Madison County, Ill., from 1849 to manhood. In 1865 he
removed from there to Missouri, remaining there till the fall of 1869, when he
came to Chetopa, to take charge of the stage line business of Parker & Tisdale,
at this point, superintending their interests here until 1875. He has served as
City Marshal, Constable, etc., and is now serving his third year as City
Treasurer. He, for a time, was in the employ of the Adams Express Company. Since
1877 he has been carrying on the business in which he is now engaged. He is a
member of the I. O. O. F.
B. S. EDWARDS, Anchor Flouring Mills, is a native of Newark, Kendall Co., Ill.,
born October 9, 1846. From a very early age until he was twelve years of age, he
was reared in the cities of Niles, Mich., Chicago, Ill., and Laporte, Ind.,
afterward was in Iowa. He attended the Denmark Academy, in Lee County, Iowa, for
three years. August 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, First Iowa Cavalry. He
was in all the engagements of his command, serving until February, 1866, being
Hospital Steward at that time, and serving in that position about a year prior
to the time he was mustered out of the service. After leaving the army he
returned to Burlington, Iowa, and attended the Commercial College there, and for
a few months was connected with the B. & M. R. R. survey. He then entered the
express service, being with the American and United States express companies, at
Burlington and Ottumwa until January, 1869. He then took charge of the books of
Dalhoff & McArthur, wholesale merchants of Burlington. Six months later
resigning his position in their establishment to take the management of
extensive coal mines in Wapello County, Iowa. January 1, 1870, he entered the
employ of L. H. Dalhoff & Co., at Burlington, and remained with them until he
came to Chetopa, in October, 1872, since which time he has been in his present
business, having a fine mill doing merchant business exclusively. Present
capacity of the mill being from 100 to 125 barrels of flour per day -
twenty-four hours. His father-in-law, Mr. Hunter, is associated with him as a
partner. They give employment to nine men, and the sales of flour since 1875,
have been in Texas and the Indian Territory. Mr. Edwards is a member of the K.
of P. and G. A. R. He has served as Alderman of the city. He was married at
Ottumwa, Iowa, November 11, 1869, to Mary L. Hunter, a native of Burlington,
Iowa.
EDMUND H. FAGEN, farmer and stock raiser, and dealer in live stock, P. O.
Chetopa, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, June 9, 1825. In 1840 he located
with his people in Parke County, Ind., and was actively identified there with
his present industry until 1866, when he came to Kansas and located in Douglas
County, where he remained three years identified with his present industry. He
then came here, and has very successfully carried it on since. He married, in
1848, Miss Mary Ray, who was born in Ohio, and reared in Parke County, Ind. They
have two sons and one daughter - James, in the hotel business in Chicago; Sarah,
now Mrs. William Cartwright, farmer and stock raiser of this township; and
Andrew, in the live stock business. He is an active member of the I. O. O. F.
society. He has worked actively in the developmenty[sic] of the social
and industrial life of this locality since coming here. His farm residence
contains eighty acres of improved land, and has a nice dwelling, stables, and
orchard of assorted fruits. He also controls 600 acres in the "Nation," which is
well fenced, watered and stocked. He does an annual business in cattle of about
400 head, and also deals considerably in horses. He is now paying attention to
the introduction and rearing of fine cattle, paying more especial attention to
the Short-horn Durhams.
J. B. FINLEY, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Chetopa, was born in Delaware
County, Ohio, October 5, 1834, and located with his people in Laporte County,
Ind., when he was but three years old. At the age of twenty-one he removed with
his people in Knox County, Ill., where he remained for five years. He then went
to Blackhawk County, Iowa, and carried on farming for six years; then, after
spending one year in Linn County, Mo., he came here June 20, 1868, and located
upon his present place, which he has improved. It contains 160 acres of choice
land, is well fenced, watered, and has a nice dwelling, barns, stables, and an
orchard of five acres of assorted fruits. In 1861 he married Miss Mary A.
Taylor, who was born and reared in Broome County, N. Y. They have six sons and
five daughters - Orrin H., Mary A., Katie A., Henry A., Lottie J., Nettie B.,
Arthur L., Laura G., Bertie P., Charlie F., Walter W. He is an active member of
the K. of H. society. He has served on the School Board of his district for
several years, and has been active in assisting in the development of the social
and industrial life of his locality since coming here.
J. J. FLANNELLY, merchant, is a native of County Mayo, Ireland, born in 1845;
came to America when fifteen years of age, located in the city of New York,
where he spent three years, thoroughly learning the dry goods business in that
city. He removed from there to Cincinnati, being actively identified with the
mercantile business there until 1870, when he removed to Newport, Ky., being
engaged in the same business there till April, 1880, when he came to Chetopa. He
has an extensive business at this point, and jobs good to some extent. He
carries a large and elegant stock of dry goods, clothing, hats, caps, boots,
shoes, etc. He does a cash business exclusively, and sales amount to about
$40,000 per annum. He was first married at Cincinnati, Ohio, May 6, 1856, to
Johanna M. Doyle. She died in July, 1873, leaving four children - Mary
Josephine, Thomas James, Blanche Margaret, and Cora. Mr. F. was married at
Chetopa, January 25, 1883, to his present wife, Nellie P. Butterworth, a native
of Iowa, and a daughter of Gen. Hiram Butterworth, now a resident of Seven
Oaks, Hackberry Township, Labette Co., Kan.
J. A. FRY, manager of R. L. Sharp's Chetopa lumber yards, was born in Hannibal,
Mo., July 26, 1883. He became connected with the lumber business when he was
twenty-one years of age, and has continued in that department of business since
that time, except during a period of four years, serving in county positions at
Hannibal. He was Coroner two years, Deputy Sheriff, ex-officio Sheriff two
years; also served three years as Alderman of the city of Hannibal. He came to
Oswego, Kan., April 9, 1879. After carrying on the lumber business there for two
years, he took charge of the yards which he now manages. Mr. Fry was married at
Hannibal, Mo., December 31, 1862, to Margaret Susan McKey, a native of Monroe
County, Mo. She died June 19, 1871, leaving three children - John W., Susan
Belle, and Maggie May. Mr. Fry is a member of the Presbyterian Church, A. O. U.
W., being a charter member of the latter lodge at Oswego.
EDWARD C. GORDON, owner of "Rosehill Farm," P. O. Chetopa, was born in Merrimac
County, N. H., May 12, 1822, and was reared and educated there. At the age of
twenty-two he went to Ohio, where he spent about four years, near Mansfield, in
teaching school. Returning to his native place he spent two years in the milling
business, and afterwards spent one year at Menasha, Wis., in connection with
that industry. He then located in Kosciusko County, Ind., and was actively
identified in that State with mill building and operating mills, till 1869, when
he came to Kansas and located upon his present place, which he has improved from
a raw prairie to its present handsome condition. "Rosehill Farm" contains 160
acres of choice land lying three miles northwest of Chetopa; twenty-five acres
of it are devoted to grain, forty acres to pasture, forty acres to meadow; fifty
acres are occupied with a fine assortment of fruits, in which are about 3,000
nicely selected varieties of apple trees, all bearing, 900 pear, 350 cherry, and
150 peach trees, besides a good assortment, in smaller numbers, of plums, gages,
etc., etc.; twelve acres are occupied with a nice assortment of grape vines, one
acre of blackberries, and one-half acre of strawberries; five acres are occupied
with buildings, consisting of dwellings, barns, stables, and mills and presses
for the "putting up" of the extensive fruit business of the farm. Mr. Gordon
married, in 1838, Miss Rebecca Mullehour, who was born in Ohio and reared in
Indiana. They have a family of five sons and one daughter - Arthur, Willis,
Harriet (now Mrs. John McCaw), Alpheus, Oscar, and Charlie.
JOHN S. HETRICK, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Chetopa, was born in Franklin
County, Pa., January 3, 1835. Was reared and educated in Dayton, Ohio. At the
age of eighteen he located at Brookville, Ind., and was identified with his
present industry in that State until 1879, when he came here and engaged in his
present business. He married, in 1865, in Franklin County, Ind., Miss Hannah J.
Sites, who was born and reared in Miltonville, Ohio. They have a family of one
son and one daughter - Sarah Elizabeth and Arthur M. He and his wife are active
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He did active service in Company B.
Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from April, 1861, until July of the same
year, when he was honorably discharged, at expiration of term of service. In
September of the same year he again enlisted in Company G. Thirty-seventh
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and continued in active service until September,
1864, when he was wounded at the siege of Atlanta, just at the expiration of
service. He was honorably discharged and pensioned. He is a member of Pea Ridge
Post, No. 118, G. A. R. is present Clerk of the School Board of his district,
and has been active in the social and industrial life of his locality since
coming here. His farm contains 154 acres of improved land, well fenced, watered
and stocked, has good dwellings, barns and stables, and an orchard of three
acres of nicely assorted fruit. He is paying considerable attention to rearing
and breeding fine bred cattle and hogs.
ISRAEL D. HIGHLEYMAN, dealer in live stock and coal mining, was born in Belmont
County, Ohio, January 26, 1848. He received his rudimentary education in the
public schools of Bellaire, and his literary education at Mount Union College,
Ohio. At the age of twenty he completed a course of commercial study at Iron
City College, of Pittsburg, Pa., graduating from that institution in 1868. He
then applied himself to the practice of his profession, and subsequently engaged
in merchandising in Bellaire (his native city) and continued actively in it till
1876, when he closed his interests there and accepted a position as Claim
adjuster in connection with the M. K. & T. Railway, and was identified with that
business in Missouri, at Sedalia, and latterly in the Indian Territory, at
Muscogee, till in the fall of 1879. In the spring of the following year he
located here, and has been actively identified with his present business here
since. He married, in 1873, in Roane County, W. Va., Miss Lucy V. Baker, of that
county. They have a family of one son and one daughter - Samuel D. and Lucy
Gertrude. His wife is an active member of the Presbyterian Church. He has been
for many years an active member of the United Ancient Order of Druids. He is
present incumbent of the Deputy U. S. Marshalship for this district.
MICHAEL HILLEGASS, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Chetopa, was born in Allen
County, Ind., August 6, 1844. In 1855 he removed with his people, who settled in
Henry County, Mo., where he was reared and educated, and identified himself with
farming, with which industry he was actively connected there till 1867, when he
came here and located upon his present place, which he has improved from a raw
prairie to its present condition. It contains 160 acres of valuable land, a
short distance from Chetopa, is well fenced and watered and stocked, has good
buildings, and an orchard of five acres of nicely assorted fruits. He married,
in Calloway County, Mo., in 1865, Miss Elizabeth Fisher, who was born and reared
in Henry County Mo., and who departed this life in 1877, and is buried in the
cemetery, Chetopa, leaving a family of three sons living - George, Robert and
Daniel. Mr. Hillegass has worked actively in the development of the social and
industrial life of this locality since coming here. He is an active member of
the Vigilance Committee of his township. He has served upon the School Board of
his district for several years, and is its present Director.
WILLIAM G. HOOVER, of the firm of Hoover Bros. (William G. and Martin V.
Hoover), farmers and stock raisers, P. O. Chetopa. William G. Hoover, County
Commissioner of Labette County, was born in Logan County, Ohio, December 10,
1836, and removed with his people, who settled in Fayette County, Iowa, in 1847,
where after five years the family located in Tarrant County, Tex. Upon arriving
at manhood, Mr. Hoover identified himself with the stock raising and farming
business, and has very successfully carried it on in that State since, doing an
annual business now in stock of about $65,000. In 1868, he came to Kansas and
located in this county, where he has carried on his present industry since. His
residence contains eighty-five acres, within one mile and a half of Chetopa. It
is handsomely improved, containing an orchard of 600 trees of assorted fruits,
nice dwelling, barns and stable, and is well fenced, watered and stocked. He
has, besides, ten other farms in this (Chetopa) county, the whole aggregating
over 1,700 acres, all in a good state of improvement. He married, in 1869, Miss
Sopha N. Donaldson, who was born in East Tennessee and reared in Southern
Illinois. They have a family of one son and three daughters - Cora May, Florra
Elizabeth, Maudie S. and George M. He and his wife are active members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. society. Since
locating here he has worked actively in the development of the public and social
life of his locality. He has served his township as Trustee, and has been active
in other municipal positions besides his present incumbency as Commissioner.
FELIX GRUNDY HUNT, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Chetopa, was born in Guilford
County, N. C., September 10, 1823, and was reared there to the farming industry.
At the age of twenty-six he left his native place, and after spending three
years in Virginia, and about the same time in Indiana, he came to Kansas, in
1856, and eventually located at Emporia, engaged in the practice of law, and
carried on farming and stock raising. In 1863 he was appointed Assistant U. S.
Assessor for the Fifth Division of Kansas, which incumbency he reputably held
for eight years. In the meantime has filled the offices of Register of Deeds of
his county for two years; Attorney for the county for two years, and Clerk of
the District Court for six years, which incumbency he held until 1874. In 1875,
he disposed of his interests there and came here, and has been reputably
identified with his present industry since. He married, in 1865, in Henry
County, Ind., Miss Rebecca J. Cartwright, a lady of fine literary attainments, a
native of Henry County. They have a family of six sons and one daughter -
Alphonso L., Oliver W., Theodore P., Lawrence, Maud, Jay Guy and Claud. He has
been an active member of the Masonic order for the past twenty years. Since
locating here he has taken an active part in the growth and development of the
social and industrial life of his locality.
JOSHUA HURT, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Chetopa, was born in Garrard County,
Ky., in 1820. Was reared to his present industry, with which he was identified
in his native State till, at the age of forty he located in McLean County, Ill.,
and followed it there till 1874, when he came to Kansas and located here, and
has carried on his present industry since. He married, in 1862, Miss Libbie
Wright, of his native place, who departed this life in 1865, and is buried in
Kentucky. In 1868 he married Miss Sally Wright, sister of his first wife. They
have one daughter - Fannie. He and his family are members of the Christian
Church. His farm contains 160 acres of valuable land, is well fenced and
watered, and has handsome dwellings, barns, etc., and an orchard of 350 trees.
DR. H. A. IRWIN, dentist, is a native of New Concord, Muskingum Co., Ohio, born
October 2, 1847. In 1867 he began the study of dentistry at Zanesville, Ohio,
and has given his attention to his chosen profession most of the time since. In
September, 1871, he located at Chetopa. After eight years' practice here he was
located at Oswego for one year, then returned to Chetopa, being engaged in the
grain business eighteen months after his return; since then in the practice of
dentistry. He is a member of A., F. & A. M. Blue Lodge and Chapter. He was
married in this city November 22, 1873, to Mary Torrance, a native of New
Jersey. They have one child, Harry L.
GEORGE B. JEFFRIES, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Chetopa, was born in Fayette
County, Ohio, January 23, 1829, and was identified there with farming and
brickmaking. In 1854 he went to Missouri, and was connected there with farming
till 1867, when he came to Kansas and located here, and has improved his present
place from a state of nature. It contains 155 acres of good land, has good
buildings and an orchard of five acres of a nicely assorted variety of fruits.
He married in 1875, Miss Arminta Christian, who was born and reared in Polk
County, Mo. They have one son, James I., and he has a son with him by a former
marriage, Lewis Emanuel. He has also three other children by that marriage in
Missouri - Eliza, Jeptha and Owiga. He and his wife are members of the
Protestant, Methodist Church. He did service in the Ninth Missouri Mounted
Infantry, Company E. State militia during the war, and was honorably discharged.
WILLIAM JUDD, farmer, P. O. Chetopa, was born in Clinton County, Ind., in 1841.
His parents moved from Ohio to Indiana in 1830. Both parents are deceased. Mr.
Judd was brought up on a farm, and received a common school education. On
September 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company A. Second Indiana Cavalry. He was in
the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Rosecrans, and was at Chickamauga,
Shiloh, Franklin, and with Wilson on the long raid through Mississippi and
Georgia, and at the close of the war was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn. In the
fall of 1867 he emigrated to Kansas, and settled in Labette County, six miles
southeast of Oswego, where he took up a claim of 160 acres. Mr. Judd is an old
settler of the county. He was married in 1871, to Louisa Hayes, of Richland,
Labette Co. They have two children - Jennie and Johnny.
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