NEOSHO COUNTY, Part 16

GRANT TOWNSHIP.

H. BALLARD, farmer, Section 15, P. O. Walnut, is a native of Michigan, born in 1853. His father is a native of Vermont, born in 1815. He footed it to Geneseo (sic) County, N. Y. Then left home and started for Canada; from there he went to Michigan, and was engaged in the survey. In 1869 he started for Kansas, stopping a time in Missouri. Heand his son H. footed it from Sedalia to Erie, Kan., where they met a friend, named Atwater, who showed them claims. They had twenty-five cents when they arrived. Taking their claims they proved up, entering them in 1877. For years they struggled against want and privation, Howard working for others, and his father living on the claim, and by hard knocks have now a fine farm of 400 acres, located in the fertile section known as the head waters of the Flat Rock. In 1882 they harvested 1,200 bushels of wheat and 3,000 bushels of corn. He married Miss Kerr in 1874, but lost her. She left him three children - one girl and two boys. He has married again, and has one child by the last marriage. He farms in grain and stock.

ISRAEL BECK, farmer, Section 15, P. O. Chard, native of Missouri, born in 1844. He is one of a family of six boys, his parents having ten children in all. In 1857 they emigrated to Kansas, coming into the State near Columbus, Cherokee County, and passing up through the Osage or Wasabites, as they called themselves, they arrived at the old Osage Mission. There was no other evidence of civilization until they passed an old cabin, occupied by a half-breed, about where the town of Erie now stands. Further north they came to a trading post, run by a man named Canville, who had a squaw wife. The Becks afterward traded there; going on they located on Coal Creek, three and one-half miles south of Humboldt. Having good oxen they at once broke some forty acres, and gathered bountiful harvests, until the year of 1860, when the drouth drove them with their cattle south into Cherokee County, for water and grass. Israel, then six years of age, leaving school, went with them, but the spring of '61 opening early, they at once returned to the farm. In 1872 Mr. Beck bought 110 acres where he now farms, using it for pasture or range until 1875, when he moved onto it and made a farm. During the war Mr. Beck was in the Militia. In '63 his brothers J. M. and Phillip, were in the regular service. In '64 Mr. Beck commenced freighting for Mr. Bashaw, and was engaged at this until '69. Since opening his present farm he has done well. In '82, on a piece of bottom land, he raised twelve acres of corn, four of which yielded 105 bushels to an acre; the rest averaged eighty. In 1875 he married Miss McCabe. They have two children. Mr. Beck is a member of the Masonic order.

J. R. BENNETT, farmer, Section 27, P. O. Vietsburgh, native of Shelby County, Ind., born in 1857. He was raised on a farm, and in the same dooryard that his father was reared. On looking for a location Mr. Bennett visited Minnesota, but coming to Neosho County, Kas., selected his present location in 1882 and '83 being unusually severe. They moved into their home in the spring of 1883, where he is making arrangements for raising grain and stock, having 160 acres, 80 of which is cultivated. Mr. Bennett married Miss A. Wolf, daughter of Judge Wolf, of Indiana, April 13,1881. They have one child, a boy.

E. F. CAIN, farmer, Section 24, P. O. Vietsburgh, native of Indiana, born in 1844. In 1863 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company K, serving two years. He returned, and in 1869 came to Kansas, locating on Section 20, Grant Township, but thinking he would not get a chance to enter his claim, traded for one in Canville Township; but this not suiting him he traded for the claim he now owns in Grant Township, which is producing thirty bushels of wheat to an acre, and other crops in proportion, also raising stock. Mr. Cain married Miss Barnett. They have three children - two boys and one girl. In 1879 and '80 he was Township Clerk of Grant.

GEORGE CHARD, farmer, Section 16, P. O. Chard, is a native of Ohio, born in 1826. They moved to Indiana in 1836. Here, in after years, he engaged in the shingle business. In 1878 he came to Kansas and located on a school section, buying the claim of Darwin Arkwit; now cultivates eighty acres, raising in 1882 fifty bushels of corn to the acre, and one and a half tons of broom corn on five acres. This year Mr. Chard opened store in Chard City. His son Levi, who is blind, learned at the Indianapolis Institute for the Blind the trade of broommaker, and since coming to Kansas has manufactured from 400 to 600 dozen a year. Mr. Chard is engaged in improving his farm. Having married in the East, Miss Powers, he lost her in December, 1882. They had four children - two boys and two girls. Chard City was established in 1878, and the postoffice in 1879. the first Postmaster was Daniel Shively; the second, Mr. Selby; and the third, Charles Kelly; the present, William Beck. Chard City consists of two stores and a blacksmith shop, and in 1882 is improving.

S. R. COMBS, farmer, Section 34, P. O. Osage Mission, native of Iowa, born in 1850. He was railroading on the C., B. & Q. R. R. for ten years before coming West. Arriving in Kansas in 1879 from Iowa, he located on his present claim or farm, buying 160 acres, of which 60 is cultivated and farmed to grain. In 1882 he got 50 bushels an acre from 60 acres of corn; feeding to stock he turned off 700 hogs and 116 cattle. He has improved the farm and is doing well. Since coming to Kansas he married Miss Alex. They have one son.

G. W. COSNER, farmer, Section 30, P. O. Vietsburgh, native of Knox County, Ohio, born in 1837. His parents moved to Illinois in 1849, and to Iowa in 1860. While here he enlisted in the Nineteenth Iowa volunteer Infantry, Company C, and was taken prisoner at Sterling, confined in Tyler, Tex., for ten months, was released and mustered out in 1865 at Davenport, Iowa. Here he bought a farm where he remained until 1869. Then coming to Kansas he located in Shawnee County. In 1870 he came to Neosho County, stopping in S. Stewart's house till 1871, when he had put up his cabin, getting his lumber at Shidler's mill. He now owns an eighty acre farm here and another farm on Big Creek. He farmed his place till he lost his horses, when he rented, taking the place again in 1883. In 1881 he married Miss Crews. Her father was a pioneer nursery man, and well known. They have three children, two boys and one girl. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

J. M. ELDER, farmer, Section 5, P. O. Savonburg, native of Hancock County, Ohio, born in 1842. He was raised a farmer. In 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company D, acting as non-commissioned officer. he returned home in 1865, March 26.In 1870 he came to Kansas with S. S. Huff and Lewis Huff. They stopped with Mr. Dickinson until S. S. Huff had his cabin built, when they all moved in, and in 1870, in April, moved to his present location. The first thing that he did was to plant out an orchard and break eight acres for wheat, thus providing for the present and future, now having one of the best peach and apple orchards in this section. During the dry years and grasshopper years he succeeded in raising fair crops, other seasons harvesting excellent crops - in 1882 getting 2,000 bushels of corn, and other grain, besides fruit. In 1861 he was married to Miss Huff who died in 1880, and in 1881 he married Miss Peniston. By the first marriage he had five children, four boys and one girl, and one girl by the second. Mr. Elder was the first School Director in his district in 1874.

J. M. GREENWELL, farmer, Section 16, P. O. Walnut, native of Kentucky, born in 1833. From there he moved to Kansas in 1874, at first renting land of Mr. Smith. In 1875 he went on to Mr. Hutchin's farm, and while working Mr. Willit's farm he bought his present home, and broke up ground enough for a crop, moving on the next year, he bought of S. Bender for $112.50. The dry year of 1881 he was very fortunate in having a corn crop, selling to his neighbors for seventy-five cents a bushel, thereby relieving the farm of a mortgage and himself of debt. He is raising grain, reporting forty bushels of corn to the acre in 1882, and good wheat. Mr. Greenwell married Miss Mills. They have six children, three boys and three girls. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

SAMUEL HILL, farmer, Section 33, P. O. Walnut; is a native of New Jersey, born in 1848. His parents moved to Pennsylvania. At an early age he lost his father, and in 1864, when only sixteen years of age, he enlisted in the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and was at Appomattox C. H., when Lee surrendered. Mr. Hill is still a single man. In 1869 he and his mother, in a wagon, sought the far West, locating in Kansas, on Section 4, but in 1870 he traded with George Smith, for his present home, getting the place with forty acres broken and a house on it. This he has improved, succeeding in raising a crop of some kind of grain every year. He is also giving some attention to grading his cattle in Short-horn. His farm produced forty bushels of corn to the acre in 1882.

CHARLES KELLY, farmer, Section 9, P. O. Chard, native of Carroll County, Ohio, born 1831. He was raised on a farm and in 1850 with his parents moved to Indiana. He had learned in his father's wagon shop the trade of carpenter, and after working at it from time to time opened a shop, engaging at that trade till 1858, when he bought a farm, tilling the soil until 1868, then was appointed land appraiser. In 1869 he came to Kansas, passing through Neosho County he located his claim, going on into other parts of the State, finally settling down on his place in 1869, putting up a cabin, getting lumber from Barnhart's saw mill. He has now 120 acres cultivated. In 1872 he commenced setting out fruit trees and has the finest orchard in this section, with 180 bearing apple trees, eighty-five cherry and 200 peach trees. In his farming enterprise he has succeeded, having bad years in 1874 and 1881, but has made up and prospered, his corn crop in 1882 going fifty bushels to the acre, with broom corn averaging a ton to four acres. Raises oats and flax, also giving some attention to tame grass, which is a success. In 1852 Mr. Kelly married Miss Loofbourrow, of Indiana. They have three children, one son and two daughters. he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Served the public from 1870 to 1876 as Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee. They are in faith Adventists.

KANES KERR, farmer, Section 7, P. O. Savonburg, native of Union county, Pa., born September 18, 1833. He was raised a farmer and learned the trade of blacksmith. Was a soldier in the twelfth Pennsylvania Militia. In 1866 he moved to Ohio, where he engaged in farming until 1871, when he came to Kansas, locating on his present farm, buying his claim of Ambrose Morgan, and not having even a team of horses to begin with. he at one time offered his farm for a span of naked horses. He now has a good farm, raising three acres of land he had 100 bushels of millet seed, which he sold for eighty-two cents per bushel, having the straw for his stock. While in Pennsylvania he married Mrs. Root, formerly Miss Mitten. They have three boys and four girls. His wife belongs to the Church of God.

ISAAC T. LIGHT, farmer, Section 8, P. O. Savonburg, is a native of Ohio, born in 1836. He moved to Indiana when fifteen years old; his early life was spent on the farm, but as he grew to manhood he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Hutchins, but dropped it on entering the army. He enlisted in 1861 in Company C, Thirty-eighth Indiana. He was Sergeant of the company. Being wounded at Chickamauga he returned home in September, 1864. He married Miss Alice L. Archer, November 22,1864, and moved to Jeffersonville, Ind., where he opened a grocery store. Failing in the business he went to work in the United States clothing depot for a while, then worked at the Ohio Falls Car Works until he left for Kansas in 1870, whither his father had preceded him, locating four claims, one of which he now occupies. The winter of 1870 and 1871 he spent at Erie, running the engine in Stewart's mill, returning to his farm in the spring. He has since prospered, raising grain and stock. Now cultivates fifty acres, the rest is in pasture land. Mr. Light has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1857, and a Mason since 1861. When the Land League was organized, Grand Council No. 45, he was elected secretary, entering his land in 1877, having also held township offices.

R. McRAE, farmer, Section 29, P. O. Vietsburgh, native of Nova Scotia, born in 1850. He came to the State in 1870, and by mere chance stopped with his relatives in Fort Scott, not knowing them until afterwards. he located in Neosho County, taking 160 acres, and for awhile bached in a log cabin, living on rabbit and corn bread. In 1871 his parents came out. At first Mr. McRae had many hardships to contend with, but has succeeded in producing a fine farm from a wilderness, raising corn averaging fifty-five bushels to an acre, wheat twenty-three bushels, and other grain in proportion, giving some attention to Norman and Clydehorses. has about 100 acres of his land under cultivation, the rest in pasture. In 1872 Mr. McRae married Miss Allen. They have four children, three boys and one girl. January 5, 1882. Mr. McRae's father was killed by an accident. The old family consisted of father, mother, and three children, two boys and one girl.

WILLIAM G., MASSEY, farmer, Section 30, P. O. Vietsburgh, is a native of Lancaster County, Penn., born in 1851, and moved to Indiana where he was raised on the farm. In 1871 he came to Kansas on an exploring tour, going to Peabody, where he located on a claim, but he abandoned it, coming to Neosho County, in 1873, not entering his claim till 1877, then, in company with Mr. McRae and others, filed their claims. In 1872, he married Miss Larrick. He has succeeded in establishing a fine home, and is now raising grain, reporting good crops for 1882. His mother and family are soon to make a home in Kansas, and on a piece of land adjoining his. Mr. Massey has held township offices.

A. MILLER, farmer, Section 31, P. O. Vietsburgh, is a native of Richland County, born in 1842. He came to Kansas in March, 1869, and bought a claim of Mr. Metcalf, now known as the Coffinberry farm; here he done some hard work, but in 1872 was burned out, then moving to his present home, paying $400 for the farm that in 1868 he said he did not want, now having 100 acres in cultivation, farming in grain and stock, and having now a nicely improved farm. His success has been good, raising crops in the dry years. In February, 1861, Mr. Miller married Miss Bolding, of Kentucky. They have four children, two boys and two girls. Mr. Miller is a member of the Methodist Episcopal organization and was a member of the Old Settlers' Association.

W. H. MOORE, farmer, Section 6, P. O. Savonburg, is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born in 1853. Came to Kansas with his parents in 1869, traveling in a wagon. There were three boys - W. H., M. A. and C. F. The family stopped at their friends, Mr. Dickinson's, on their arrival in Neosho County, till the cabin was build, when they moved into it and gave their attention to farming, but had hard times from failure of crops and received help from Eastern friends. W. H. then gave up farming, going to work in the coal banks and took charge of the farm again in 1883, reporting good crops in 1882. His father, E. B. Moore, has retired, and is now living in Walnut Station. In 1878 Mr. Moore married Miss Williamson. They have two boys and one girl.

A. P. PARKER, farmer, Section 17, P. O. Savonburg, is a native of Kentucky, born in 1834. In 1854 he took a trip to California, where he stayed till 1869, returning to Ohio July 3, of that year. In 1870 he started again for California, but getting to Kansas, thought he would go into the stock business, so, with a pard nave Priest, he located on his present claim on the old Fort Scott & Mission road, taking 160 acres each. They put up a cabin, but gave the idea of a stock ranch, but they dissolved and Mr. Parker then did little but hunt, until the summer of 1871, when he settled to his work, breaking and planting, setting orchards and shade trees, which have made a wonderful growth since. He now farms 240 acres in grain and stock, having three and one-half foot hog-tight hedge fence about 115 acres of the farm, besides corrals for 300 head of cattle. His corn turned out 3,000 bushels from sixty acres in 1882. In 1872, Mr. Parker married Miss Murray. They have three girls and one boy. Mr. P. has been Justice of the Peace since 1877 and is a member of the Masonic order.

JOHN PUGH, farmer, Section 29, P. O. Vietsburgh, is a native of Wayne County, Ind., born in 1842. In 1868 a company of Indianians, consisting of Wright, Brewer, Johnson, Pugh and Swain, started for the West in wagons to make their homes in the fertile valley of the Neosho River. They arrived October 22. Mr. Pugh settled near Erie, where he opened a farm and remained till 1875, when he moved to his present location, having visited the place way back in 1868. He has worked hard to make a home, making two farms now, having a fine location with fine water, rock and timber privileges. The next year, after coming to Kansas he lost his wife and in 1872 he went back to Indiana, where he married his present one. They have six children. Mr. Pugh was elected Township Trustee in 1882, and has held other offices in Grant Township.

C. F. RABE, farmer, Section 16, P. O. Walnut, is a native of Indianapolis, Ind., born in 1839. He is of German descent, his father immigrating to America in 1834, and worked on a canal in New York, and afterward in Pennsylvania, finally going to farming in Indiana. In 1866, C. F. Rabe came out to locate a claim in Nemaha County, but found land too high, and went to Topeka, where he went into coal mining, but sold out and went to Utah, to see Brigham Young; he then returned to Indiana, returning to Kansas again in 1880, and bought a claim of W. W. Willet, for $1,500, and entered it, and paid the last installment in 1880, $450, the balance due the State School Fund, as his land was School Land. He then built a large fine residence on it, as did his sister on her farm adjoining, and the year 1881 being a failure of crops, he met with reverses, but has recovered with fine crops in corn, wheat and flax, of 1882. He is raising grain and stock. Mr. Rabe is still single, his mother keeping house for him, aged seventy-six years. He is an officer on the School Board, and is District Clerk.

C. H. SHALLER, farmer and stock dealer, Section 4, P. O. Walnut, is a native of Missouri, born in 1854. His father, Peter, is a native of Germany, born in 1813, and immigrated to America in 1848, locating in Illinois; here he married Miss Mitchell, and soon afterward moved to Missouri, where he broke up and came to Kansas, taking a claim, as did his sons. They lived in a hay shed until they built a stone house; they then began to open up the farm with one pig and a calf to start them in stock. With many backsets and reverses, they persevered, and now have a fine home. Henry began working out when quite young, to get money, and at the same time was making his farm over, raising grain and stock, selling and shipping in 1882, 3,000 bushels of corn before the last of November. In 1879, he commenced shipping and feeding stock; fed fourteen the first season, the next handling 200 head, and in 1882, shipping over 2,000 head, having a partner named Charles Wier, located at Humboldt. C. H. is not married, his parents keeping house for him. Peter Shaller's family consists of eight children - three boys and five girls. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W. P. SMALL, farmer, Section 26, P. O. Vietsburgh, is a native of Indiana, born in 1843. He was raised on a farm, and when the war broke out, he enlisted in the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company D, serving three years and seven months, and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and returned home. In 1866 Small married, then settling down on a very fine farm, located on the Blue River, east of Indianapolis; although doing well, he thought to better himself, so came to Kansas, and in October, 1882, bought the Launsberry Farm, containing 187 acres of prairie and rich bottom land, for $3,500; it was well improved when he took possession, but under his system of farming, is becoming the finest in Neosho County. In 1882, his land yielded seventy bushels of corn to the acre. He has a fine piece of timothy meadow doing well, and the best horses in the county, of Norman blood or pedigree. He means to work into stock, having now 100 acres in cultivation. His family consists of four boys and one girl.

J. J. SMART, farmer, Section 28, P. O. Vietsburgh, is a native of Jacksonville, Ill., born in 1838; raised in Hancock County, Ill. In 1871, sold his farm in Illinois, and came to Kansas, buying of Mr. Munsen; he improved the claim, and sold in 1880, to Mr. Miller, for $3,700; buying the place he has now, of J. Allen, which consisted of 160 acres; soon afterward, 200 acres of Joseph Markham, having a farm of 360 acres. His sons have adjoining, 160 acres, which they farm. Mr. Smart has prospered in his trades and in farming; most of his farm is rich bottomland, that yields seventy-five bushels of corn to the acre. He also handles stock, having now some fifty head on hand. Mr. Smart married Miss Moody. They have four boys and four girls. He has not been before the public for political office, but has held school offices.

EYNON SMITH, farmer, Section 27, P. O. Chard, native of Pennsylvania, born in 1829. In 1866, Mr. Smith, in company with Holeman, Hilton and Penock, came to Kansas, and took adjoining claims north of where the mission now stands. Mr. Smith settling on Section 1, where he built his cabin, hauling lumber from Linn County; they doubled teams and broke the prairie sod and planted sod corn, he then went to freighting, bringing provisions from Fort Scott. While he was away his wife and family were left in the cabin, and to make it more comfortable chinked it with hay. Their company by day were Indians and wolves at night; by enduring like experiences, they finally made a home, living there till 1869, when Mr. Smith sold for $2,500 and bought his present home for $1,100, he has now 130 acres nicely improved, with eighty acres in cultivation, with fine orchards and buildings. In 1882, he raised sixty bushels of corn to an acre, and crops of wheat, flax, and oats, with great quantities of fruit. Mr. Smith married Miss King. They have six children, two boys and four girls.

L. VAUGHAN, farmer, Section 8, P. O. Walnut, native of Ohio, born in 1815. He was raised a farmer but learned and worked at the carpenter trade; before coming west he lived in Indiana and Illinois. In 1856, he was married to Miss Slack, a native of Merry England, who came to America, in 1854. In 1871, September, they came to Kansas, locating in Crawford County, buying ninety-seven acres from the Gulf Railroad Company, where he lived till 1876, then moving to his present home in Neosho County; the decision of the Court, August 11, 1876, placed his land so that he could enter it, which he did in 1877. He has built up the farm, having now good dwelling and fences, farming in grain and stock, he now retains but eighty acres. They have had six boys and two girls, one son living and working the farm, the girls are all married. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

G. W. WHITE, farmer, Section 12, P. O. Vietsburgh, native of Howard County, Ind., born in 1836. His wife formerly a Miss Jones, married Mr. Bost, and came to Kansas in 1869, taking a claim and living in the traditional box house, 14x16, and enduring all of the privations of pioneer life. In 1874 Mr. Bost died and she went to Ohio, where she married Mr. White, and in 1876, they came back to Kansas, where she had this farm, and they are now busy in improving it, raising good crops and succeeding well in making a home. They have four children, two girls and two boys.

MRS. A. P. WILLARD, widow, Section 32, P. O. Walnut, is a native of Ohio. She was married to Mr. Willard, in 1861; soon after he enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company G, and veteraned in 1864, being mustered out in 1866, May 4. During his service he had visited home but twice, he now returned and engaged in farming. In March, 1870, they started in a wagon for their home in Kansas, arriving here they stopped at Mr. Penick's until he had his home built, then moved on to the claim which he bought of G. Lamb, where, notwithstanding the difficulties of pioneer life they succeeded. July 16, 1880, Mr. Willard died, leaving his widow with one son and two daughters; her son carries on the farm raising grain and stock. In 1881, Mrs. Willard visited her old home in Illinois, and returned in 1882, taking charge of the farm. Mrs. Willard is a member of the Christian Church.

GEO. A. WRIGHT, farmer, Section 29, P. O. Walnut, naive of Maryland, born in 1830. Until coming to Kansas, he worked at his trade, that of wagonmaker, coming to this State, in 1868, he located his present farm, entering it in 1877, living at first in a house of hay, the first years spent in making their farm were very hard, full of privations and want, but with the characteristic grit of the Kansas pioneer, worked through drouth, famine and plague, being now well established, raising in 1882, sixty bushels of corn to the acre, twenty-four of wheat and fair crops of beans. He has ninety acres in cultivation, the rest in pasture and meadow. Mr. Wright married Miss Allen. They have six children. He belonged to the Settlers' Land League and helped secure their homes. His son, Wm. P. is now Assessor for Grant Township.