ROOKS COUNTY, Part 3

PLAINVILLE.

A considerable village, containing several stores and mechanics' shops, was first settled in 1877 by B. L. Sinclair. The second settler was W. I. Griffin. The surrounding country settled rapidly, and it is now one of the most desirable sections of Rooks County. The town was named by a Stockton town company, but the old site was "jumped" and a new town laid off, on the claim of William Bradly. As it is the only village between Stockton and Hays City, it enjoys a large trade. The first marriage in the village occurred in 1878-Ramson Rouse and Miss McCloy. The first death, James Conger, occurred the same year. F. S. Mickey taught the first school in King's residence in 1878, and two years later a substantial school-house was built, one mile from the center of the village. Rev. W. L. Mickey, a Methodist, preached the first sermon in 1878, at G. F. Slosson's residence. In the summer of 1880 a Methodist church was built. A postoffice was established in 1878 and W. S. Griffin appointed postmaster. Joseph opened the first store in 1878. The town, as its name indicates is located on level ground.

The town is situated in the south part of the county seven miles from the County line. The M. E. Sunday school, of which E. M. Gale is superintendent, was organized in 1878, as 50 scholars and 5 teachers A social club called the Rough and Readies, was organized in 1879 and has a membership of 30. F. S. Mickey is the presiding officer.

The villages of Webster, Motor, Igo, Cresson, Alcona and Chandler, each contain postoffices, a blacksmith shop and the most of them small stores. Webster enjoys a considerable trade, having two stores.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ELAM BARTHOLOMEW, farmer, Section 10, Township 6, Range 18, Farmington Township, Postoffice Rockport. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., June 9, 1852, and when two years old his parents moved to Licking County, Ohio, where he lived on a farm until 1865, when he removed with his parents to Farmington, Fulton County, Illinois, where he followed farming and school teaching until March, 1874, when he came to Rooks County and homesteaded his present farm, where he has since lived as a farmer. He was married June 14, 1876, to Miss Rachel Montgomery, of Farmington, Ill. They have four children, George E., Elbert T., Lizzie F, and Jesse E. Mr. B. has been Township Clerk of his township one year, Trustee three years, and Clerk of the district court of Rooks County two years.

S. S. BOGGS, farmer, Medicine Township, postoffice Stockton, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., December 31, 1839, where he resided until six years of age, when with parents moved to Wayne County, Ind., where he lived about four years; then his parents moved to Shelby County, Ind., where he lived on a farm until 1857, when he went to Moultrie County, Ill., where he farmed until 1867, when he removed to Junction City, Kansas, where he run a perpetual lime kiln as an engineer until the fall of 1877, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., and located his present farm, and since has given his attention to farming and stock raising, dealing in cattle until the last year, when he engaged in the sheep business. Brought from New Mexico this year 1,400 sheep. Married to Miss Margaret Hostetter October 21, 1866. They have six children, Olive, Alice, William, Emma, Myrtle and George. Enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as private, June 13, 1861: discharged as Sergeant March 17, 1865, by special order War Department. Taken prisoner at Chickamauga, Ga., September 20, 1863, and put in prison at Andersonville. Elected as a representative to the State Legislature for 1876-77. Was County Surveyor of Rooks County for past nine years. Is member A. F. & A. M.

WILLIAM CARKEY, farmer, Section 14, Iowa Township; postoffice Stockton. Was born in Jefferson County, New York (town of Clayton), January 1, 1817, where he resided until he was twenty-six years of age; lived on farm until he was fourteen years of age, then went into a tannery and learned the trade of tanner and currier, which trade he followed until he was twenty-six years old, when he went to Askeaton, Wis., where he worked in a fanning mill and wagon shop three years, then moved to Manterville, Dodge County, Minn., where he farmed for one year, when he moved to Pawnee City, Nebraska, where he again followed farming for seven years, then returned to Jefferson County, Wis., visiting friends until the spring of 1865, when he emigrated to Nemaha County, Kan., where he followed farming until 1874, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., where he homesteaded his present farm and has since been engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Matilda Spencer, September 1, 1844. They have seven children, Jerome, Franklin, Edwin, Riley, Hulda, Emma and Mina.

E. H. DAVIS, farmer, Sugar Loaf Township; postoffice Stockton. Was born in Milo, Maine, November 9, 1841, and when only two years of age his parents moved to Boone County, Ills., where he was bred on a farm until 1858, when he went to Nora, Ill., where he followed farming until December 10, 1863, when he enlisted in Company F, Seven-teenth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry; discharged as a private December 21, 1865, under special order from War Department, when he returned to Nora, Ill., where he was engaged as a farmer until 1868, when he moved to Nemaha County, Neb., where he farmed until 1873, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., when he homesteaded his present farm, and has since been engaged as a farmer and dealer in cattle. Was married November 4, 1867 to Miss Lima Chambers. They have four children, Charles E., John E., Olive A, and Frank E. Mr. D. was Trustee of Sugar Loaf Township one year, was Road Overseer of the same township two years, member of the School Board, District Sixty-seven two years, and member Vigilant Society for Mutual Protection of Stock.

ROYAL EASTMAN, farmer, Section 30, Medicine Township; postoffice Igo, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., January 23, 184, and at nine years of age his parents moved to Port Hope, Wis., where he lived as a farmer until the fall of 1860, when he returned to New York, and on April 26, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-Sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, as a private; discharged as a private May 3, 1863; re-enlisted as a veteran in Company C, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private; discharged as a private August 15, 1865. Then went to Blue Earth County, Minn., where he farmed for about five years. Then he moved to Rooks County, Kansas, where he homesteaded his present farm, and has since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. Has now 26 head of cattle. Was married June 25, 1867, to Miss Cordelia M. Nichols. They had one child, Addie M. Was married again December 30, 1877, to Miss Harriet Webster. They have two children, Maudie B. and Corydon M. Was elected trustee of Medicine Township for one year. Is a member of the G. A. R.

WILLIAM A. FALLAS, farmer, Alcona Township; postoffice Alcona. Was born in Tompkins County, New York, January 13, 1833, where he lived on a farm until he was thirteen years of age., when with his parents he went to Kent County, Mich., where he lived on a farm until 1854, when he moved to Illinois. During the winter of 1854-'55 he attended school at Chicago, and during the summer worked on the canal. In the fall of 1855 he moved to Marshall County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Thirty Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was discharged as Second Lieutenant, at Clinton, Iowa, August 15, 1865. Then he moved, where he farmed and built bridges s a contractor until the fall of 1878, when he came to Rooks County and homesteaded his present farm. Married April 13, 1857, to Miss Lucinda McClarren (since dead). They had three children, Edwin, Lura and Ward. Married again October 12, 1882, to Miss Johanna Anglemyse. Is a member G. A. R. Elected County Commissioner of Rooks County in the fall of 1880. Was Justice of the Peace for Alcona Township, Rooks County one year. Is at present a member of School Board for District Forty-five, Rooks County.

FRANK GAGER, farmer, Sections 30 and 31, Medicine Township; postoffice Igo. Was born in Erie County, New York, March 4, 1841, where he lived on a farm until 1856, when he moved to Troy, Canada, where he was engineer for eighteen months. Then he went to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he kept a restaurant for six months. Then he went to Chicago, Ill., where he sold patent medicine for two months. Then he moved to Negannee, Mich., where he worked in a smelting furnace for one year. Then worked on the railroad until August 4, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. E, Sixteenth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private; discharged as Captain of Co. G, July 15, 1865; wounded at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, in the left wrist and at Hatch's Run, February 6, 1865, gunshot wound in the head; after being discharged went to Erie County, N. Y.; visiting for two months, when he went to St. Cloud, Minn., where he farmed for one year, when he went to Dickinson County, Kan., and farmed for four years, when he moved to the city of Abilene, where he kept restaurant and ice cream saloon for one year, when he came to Rooks County, September, 1871, and homesteaded his present farm, where he has since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He was married January 17, 1863, to Miss Fanny Fall. They have three children, Frank, Edward and Benona. Married to his second wife, May 22, 1878, Miss Hattie Layton. He is Road Overseer in District 3, Rooks County, and a member of G. A. R.

WM. GROVER, farmer, Medicine Township, was born in Williamson County, Ill., December 11, 1827, where he resided as a farmer until he was thirty years of age, when he moved to Metropolis, Ill., where he farmed until 1871, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., where he homesteaded his present farm, where he has since been as a farmer and dealing in stock and cattle. His cattle business has been in the raising, buying and selling. He was married September 27, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Gil. They have three children, Brunette, Augustus and Cordelia. He enlisted as a private in Co. A, Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, October 10, 1861; discharged August 13, 1865, as a sergeant; is a pensioner; weak eyes.

WM. HAGEMEISTER, farmer, Medicine Township, P. O. Igo, was born in Prussia, February 15, 1844, where he resided until he was twenty-three years of age, and where he worked as a brickmaker, when he came to America in 1867, and located in Vernon County, Mo., where he followed brickmaking until 1877, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., where he homesteaded his present farm, and has ever since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He was married to Miss Eliza Keen, October 11, 1877. They have two children, Frederick W. and Joseph.

A. M. KING, farmer, was born in Johnstown, Ohio, January 16, 1838, where he lived until he was fifteen years of age, when he moved to Kosciusko County, Ind., where he lived on a farm four years, when he went to Warsaw, Ind., where he engaged in the coopering business, which he followed until the spring of 1864, when he moved to Benton County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and buying and shipping stock, until 1878, when he came to Rooks County Kan., and homesteaded his present farm. While he lived in Iowa, and since he has been in Kansas, he has given considerable attention to the breeding of pure Chester white hogs. Was married November 1, 1860 to Miss Sarah Popham. They have three children, Virgil, Bertie and Mertie. He is a member of I. O. O. F. Elected County Commissioner of Rooks County in the fall of 1874, and is present chairman of the board.

JAMES T. STROUP, farmer, Farmington Township, was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 11, 1826, where he lived as a farmer until 1867, when he moved to Holt County, Mo., where he engaged as a farmer for two years. Then in March, 1869, he moved to Atchison County, Mo., where he lived and farmed until May, 1871, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., and homesteaded his present farm, where he has since been engaged as a farmer, and buying, selling and raising stock; also for the past three years has carried in a small way at his home farm, a stock of general merchandise. Was married to Miss Margaret Pulse, November 8, 1849. They have six children living, Amanda, Charles, Elmer, Frank, George and Oscar; two children died in infancy, Lizzie and James R. December 15, 1877, adopted Maggie Battalion, whose father is in the insane Asylum. Was a member of the Board of County Commissioners on its organization in 1871 and 1872. Was Trustee of Farmington Township in 1871 and 1872. Enlisted in Co. A, Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a private, August 26, 1862; discharged June 26, 1863, as a private, special order of the War Department, on pension roll; cause, hernia. Was postmaster at Rockport, Rooks County, Kan., from 1872, until April 1882.

SHUTTS BROS., farmers and dealers in stock, Medicine Township. Cassius and Frank Shutts were born in Ulster County, N. Y., March 26, 1848, and Jan 10, 152, respectively, where they lived until 1855, when with parents went to Will County, Ill., where they lived on a farm until 1877, when they came to Rooks County, and purchased their present homestead, where they have since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. Transactions in stock yearly, $1,500. Cassius was married to Miss Lizzie Belman, Dec. 20, 1881. Was elected County Commissioner Rooks County fall 1881. Frank was married to Miss Alice Tallman, April 14, 1880. Elected Clerk School District 15, Rooks County. Appointed Postmaster at Igo, April 1, 1878, and is the present Postmaster. Also in connection the brothers carry quite a nice line of goods, general merchandise at Igo postoffice. They have in all 1,120 acres of land.

L. M. STULTS, farmer, Section 29, Township 7, Range 16, Lowell Township P. O. Rooks Centre. Born in Greene County, Tennessee, Dec. 7, 1842, where he resided as a farmer until 1871; during the time of the late war he was conscripted by the war, when he returned to Tennessee, where he resided as a farmer and blacksmith until 1871, when he moved to Could County, Kan., where he worked as a carpenter and joiner until April 6th, 1872, when he homesteaded his present farm, and has since engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Amanda Sollenbarger, Dec. 6, 1866; have four children, William, Mary, Honley and a baby.

GEORGE YOXALL, farmer and stock dealer, Section 32 and 33 Township 7, Range 16, Lowell Township, P. O. Rooks Centre. Was born in Crewe, Cheshire, England, May 23, 1850, where he resided until he was sixteen years of age, then came to America. Landed in New York, August, 1866, and from there he went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked at plumbing and gas fitting for eighteen months. Then from there to Milwaukee, Wis., at his trade for one year, Oshkosh, Wis., two years, and Peoria, Ill., one year, when he moved to Phelph County, Mo., where he farmed until 1870, and in 1871 with the Northwestern Colony from Ripon, Wis., came to Kansas and located in Russell County, where he freighted for one year. Then he went to Barton County, Kan., where he farmed for four years, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., in 1876, and homesteaded present farm, and has since been engaged as a farmer and dealer in stock; has now about 100 head, and is feeding two car loads for shipment. Married Miss Elizabeth T. Tarr, May 23, 1874; have four children, Edward, Albert, Eaton and Fred G. Was Township Clerk Lowell Township two years, School Director District 4, Rooks County, three years.