CRAWFORD COUNTY, Part 21

BAKER TOWNSHIP. (HALL - ROW)

M. W. HALL, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Boone County, Ind., November 18, 1835, and was identified with farming there till 1865, when he went to Winona County, Minn., and carried on farming there till 1873. He then came here and has been successfully connected with his present business here since. He married in 1859, Miss Sarah Ann H. Pauley, who departed this life in 1861, and is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery, Boone County, Ind., leaving one daughter, Elizabeth Jane (now Mrs. J. D. Hawley). In 1864, he married Mrs. Elizabeth M. Bowen nee Ferguson, of Boone County. They have a family of one son and two daughters--Mary Luella, Elvira Ann and Miles Bennett. Mrs, Hall's first marriage was to William Bowen, farmer, of Boone County, in 1862, who departed this life a few months after their marriage. She has one daughter by him, Elizabeth Jane (now Mrs. Theodore Pomeroy), whose family sketch appears in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Baptist Church. His farm contains eighty acres of valuable land, good buildings and a nice young orchard.

FRANK HETFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Fountain County, Ind., in 1849, and was identified with farming there till 1876, when he came to this county and engaged at stock-raising, which he carried on successfully till the present year, when he engaged at his present industry, which he ably represents. In 1880, he married Mrs. Mary J. Haley, formerly Jerome, of Nebraska. They have one son--Irvin Haley. His farm contains 160 acres of valuable land, good buildings, and an orchard of over 200 trees, of a well-assorted variety of fruits.

GEORGE HOBSON, farmer and stock-raiser, and horticulturist, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Orange County, N. C., in 1837, and was reared in Henry County, Iowa. In 1865, he located upon his present farm, and has improved it from a wild prairie to what it now is. It contains 160 acres of valuable land, twenty acres of which are devoted to horticulture; sixty acres to hay; fifty to pasturage and thirty acres to grain tillage. It is well fenced and watered, and has good buildings. In September, 1865, he married Miss Mary A. Lane, who was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1847, and was reared in Henry County, Iowa. They have a family of four sons and one daughter--Martha K., Joseph J., Samuel S., William A. and George E. During the war, Mr. Hobson did active service in Company G, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, from August, 1861, till the end of the war. He was honorably discharged as veteran of Company G, Fourth Iowa Cavalry. The family are members of the Christian Church. Since locating here, he has worked actively in the development of the social and industrial growth of this locality. He served his township as Treasurer; has been an active worker on the School Board of his district. In 1870, he buried his father, John H. Hobson, upon what is now known as Pittsburg Cemetery, and October 15, 1881, he laid out the plat for it, which is the favorite cemetery of Pittsburg.

J. B. HOPKINS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., in 1843, and was reared there to the farming business, with which he was identified until the spring of 1874, when he came here and located, and has been engaged in his present industry since. He married, in 1864, Miss Cherrille L. Peck, of Allegany County, N. Y. They have a family of one son and a daughter--Emma and Arthur J. Since locating here he has worked actively in the development of the social life of his locality. His farm contains 120 acres of improved land; good buildings, and an orchard of over 200 trees of nicely-assorted fruits.

GEORGE W. HURT, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Fulton County, Ill., April 16, 1842, and followed farming there till 1870, when he located here, where he has been actively connected with his present industry since. He married, February 22, 1867, Miss Mary Jane Dilts, who was born in New Jersey and reared in Fulton County, Ill. They have one son, James Arthur, and have one adopted daughter--Lois Celesta Hurt, formerly Collins. He has worked actively in the development of the social and industrial life of this locality since coming here. He has served upon the School Board of his district, and has filled other official positions. His farm contains 120 acres of improved land, well fenced and watered and stocked; good buildings, and an orchard of 800 trees, of a well-assorted variety of fruits. Mr. Hurt pays considerable attention to game hunting, and is very skilled in markmanship upon all kinds of game, especially chickens, upon which he has a record of shooting and marketing 125 birds in one day, his market being sixteen miles from his hunting ground.

ABRAHAM C. JOHNSTON, farmer, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Pennsylvania in 1837; was raised to agricultural pursuits; moved to Iowa in 1854, where he remained until 1865, and in the meantime was in the army four years and nine months. Came to Kansas in 1866, and located in Labette County, on a farm of 160 acres, which he improved, and on which he remained eleven years, and was engaged in the business of raising grain and stock. In 1877, he came to his present home of 240 acres, on which he raises principally stock, grain and hay. Was married to Miss Gertrude Spies, of Germany, in 1860. Have two children--Ida M. and Nancy E.

JOHN KAHRS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1836, and came to America in 1857, and settled in New York City, where he followed merchandising in groceries, as clerk, for five years, after which he went into business for himself, and carried it on successfully for five years more. He then came to Missouri, and settled in Morgan County, where he carried on farming for two years, after which he came here and located upon his present place in 1868, and has improved it. It contains 200 acres of valuable land, is well fenced and watered and stocked; has nice buildings, and an orchard of 500 trees, of a well-assorted variety of fruits. He married, in New York City, in 1863, Miss Sopha Stilling, who was born in his native country, 1843. They have a family of one son and two daughters--Adelia, now Mrs. Henry Alderman, smelter, of Pittsburg; Willie and Minnie. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Kahrs has worked actively in the development of the social life of his locality; has served upon the School Board of his district for several years.

SOLOMON KELLY, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Cherokee, was born in Vigo County, Ind., in 1831. In 1847, he went to Monroe County, Ill., but eventually settled in Clinton County, where he was identified with farming till 1878, when he came here, and has carried it on here actively since. In 1851, he married Miss Christina Nelson, of Washington County, Ill. they have two sons and four daughters--Levi, Sarah, now Mrs. James Sterritt; John, Anna, Ida, Rose and Jennie. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1868. His farm contains 160 acres of improved land; good dwellings and stables, and a nice young orchard.

J. S. KERN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Boone County, Ind., February 28, 1845, and was reared there to farming. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1862, and did service till the end of the war, when he was honorably discharged. August, 1865, he was wounded at the battle of Resaca, Ga., and was in the hospital till he was discharged; was pensioned for honorable service. After the war he did but little active work for four years, but eventually engaged in farming. In 1870, he came to Kansas and located here, where he has carried on his present business successfully since. In 1869, he married, in Winona County, Minn., Miss Lydia A. Erway, who was born in Chemung County, N. Y., and reared in Blue Earth County, Minn. They have a family of three sons and three daughters--Lotta A., Lillie A., Charles E., George E., William Barton and Gertrude. His farm contains 152 acres of good land, well improved, and fenced and watered and stocked; good buildings, and a handsome orchard, of a nicely-assorted variety of fruits. He pays considerable attention to horticulture.

T. E. LAMB, farmer and teamer, Section 27, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Indiana in 1834. At the age of nineteen he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked ten years. He was then at Lawrence Kan., a short time, and at Burlingame, Kan., five months, coming from Burlingame to Ottawa, where he lived eight years, and in 1872 located on a farm in Crawford County. He remained on the farm eight years, and then built a residence in Pittsburg, to which city he moved his family, and where he now resides. He still carries on his farm, upon which he raises grain and stock; his farm and orchard are enclosed by a hedge and wire fence, and his farm is underlaid with a fine vein of coal. He was married to Miss H. M. Blair, of Ohio, in 1857, and has five children living--Edmond O., Mabel C., Rose F., Elmer D. and Lorenzo D.; Elnora, Alonzo and Thomas E., deceased. His wife died in 1876, and he was married to Miss Louisa J. Haladay, of Indiana, in 1880. Edmond O. Lamb (eldest son of T. E. Lamb), was born in Indiana in 1860; raised and educated in Kansas, and has been engaged with the Smelting Company of Pittsburg three years; visited his native State in 1882, on a pleasure trip and remained four months, at the end of which time he returned to Kansas.

JOHN A. LOAFMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 25, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1835, and was reared and educated there. In 1858, he located in Tazewell County, Ill. where he carried on farming for several years, after which he went to Livingston County; was actively identified with his present industry there, till 1880, when he came here and has successfully carried it on here since. He married, in 1867, Miss Alice E. Chardon, who was born and reared in Orleans County, N. Y.; they have no family. He has worked actively in the development of the industries of his locality since coming here; himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His farm contains eighty acres of improved land, good buildings and a nice orchard.

JAMES A. MELOY, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. new Pittsburg, was born in Juniata County, Penn., March 28, 1836, and followed farming there till 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and did active service for about nine months, when he was honorably discharged on account of disabilities; has applied for pension. After the war he came to Illinois, and after spending four years in farming in Ford and McLean Counties, he came to Kansas in 1868, and located upon his present place of 160 acres, which he has improved from a raw prairie to its present condition, containing choice land, well fenced, watered and stocked, good buildings, and eighteen acres in orchard of a well assorted variety of fruits. In 1860, he married Miss Jemima Gifford of his native place. They have three sons and five daughters--Flora, teacher; Jennie, teacher; Ella, Horace, George, Minnie, Pearl and Bennie.

JOHN H. MEYER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born and reared in Hanover, Germany. In 1858, he came to America and followed farming in Missouri till 1868, when he came here and located upon his present place, which he has improved to its present condition. It contains 160 acres of valuable land, is well fenced and stocked, and has good buildings and an orchard of three acres of a well assorted variety of fruits. He married in 1870 Miss Dora Koopman, who was born and reared in Missouri. They have four sons--Henry, Willie, John and Louis. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. During the war he did active service in company C, Thirteenth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, which afterward became the Fifth Missouri Cavalry, from 1861 to the end of the war; he was honorably discharged; he has worked actively in the development of the social life of this place, and has served upon the Board of Trustees of his church; besides his farm he has ten acres of timber land, which is well underlaid with coal.

WILLIAM HENRY MINECEY, farmer, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in St. Louis, February 3, 1834, and learned the trade of shoemaker, but soon after traveled over the plains in a reputable connection; at the age of twenty-two he located in Lafayette County, Mo., in boot and shoe-making and merchandising, with which he was identified many years. In 1869, he came to Kansas and located upon present place, containing at present 224 acres, which he has improved to a handsome homestead containing good buildings and an orchard of about 500 trees of good variety. He married in 1859, Miss Mary Walters, who was born in Hanover, Germany, June 9, 1839, and was reared in Missouri. They have one son and four daughters--William, Emma, Martha, Mary and Laura. During the war he did active service in the Home Guards of Missouri, Fifth Regiment, afterward in the State militia as Second Lieutenant, and followed it into the United States service, in which he did active service until the end of the war. He was honorably discharged as Second Lieutenant of Company B, Seventh Missouri Volunteer. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. He is an active member of the A. O. U. W. society.

DEWITT C. NOEL, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Will County, Ill., June 1, 1853, and was reared and educated in Douglas County, and, in 1870, he came to Kansas and with his people, who settled in Labette County, but he returned to Livingston County, Ill., the following year, and carried on farming there for several years; during this time he went to Lancaster County, Neb., and carried on farming and dairying for one year. In 1878, he returned to Labette County, Kan., and the following year he came here and subsequently bought his present farm, which he is improving rapidly; he married in 1876, Miss Theodosia Pomeroy, who was born and reared in Fulton County, Ill. They have three sons and one daughter--Dora, Ernest, Elmer and infant. He is present Assistant Postmaster of Litchfield, and attends to the merchandising interests of Mr. Garland's mercantile trade here.

JAMES OFFICER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Allegheney County, Penn., August 20, 1823; at the age of ten years he removed with his people to Ohio, who settled in Muskingum County, where he was identified with farming business till 1851; he then located in Mercer County, Ill., and carried on farming successfully for many years. In 1867, he went to Cass County, Mo., and carried on farming and stock-raising till 1872, when he came to Kansas and located upon his present place, where he has been actively identified with his present industry here since; he married in 1849 Miss Mary J. Thompson, who departed this life in 1861, and is buried in Aledo Cemetery, Illinois, leaving a family of one son and two daughters--James R., Alice, now Mrs. DeLaBar, widow; and Mary, now Mrs. Robert Kilbourn, wagon maker, of Carthage, Mo. In 1867, he married Miss Gertrude DeLaBar, of Kentucky, a lady of fine literary attainments. They have a family of three sons--Thaddeus, Charles L., and William R. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church; his farm contains 160 acres of improved land, well fenced, watered and stocked, dwellings, barns and stables, and an orchard of 500 trees of a well assorted variety of fruits. Mr. Officer pays very considerable attention to horticulture, of which his gardens and orchards well testify.

JOHN HADLEY OZBUN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Opolis, was born in Randolph County, Ind., December 16, 1847. In 1869, he came to Kansas and located upon his present place, which he has improved from a wild prairie to its present condition. It contains 160 acres of choice land; is well fenced, watered and stocked, and an orchard of five acres of a nicely assorted variety of fruits. During this time he has assisted in bringing into cultivation four different farms, and has built upon and improved a nice town residence in Opolis. On December 10, 1871, he married Miss Julia A. Coxe, who was born and reared near Saline, Hardin Co., Iowa. They have two sons living--William Harvey and Claudius Elwood. He is a member of the Church of Friends. He served as Postmaster of Stevenstown for four years and two years in Opolis. He has served upon the School Board of his district and has been active in other municipal offices.

JOSEPH D. OZBUN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Opolis, was born in Randolph County, Ind., September 14, 1849. In 1869, he came to Kansas and located upon his present farm, which he was entirely improved. It contains 160 acres of valuable land, is well fenced, watered and stocked, has good buildings and an orchard of three and a half acres, of a nicely assorted variety of fruits. In November 11, 1877, he married Miss Ettie Cooper who was born and reared in Illinois. They have one son--Howard H.; he is a member of the Church of Friends; he has served upon the School Board of his district, and has always taken an active part in the support of Republican principles in politics.

WILLIAM P. PACKARD, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in St. Charles, Mo., April 12, 1842, and was reared in Winnebago County, Ill., where he carried on farming actively till 1870, wen he came here and located, and has been successfully connected with his present industry since. In 1861, he married Miss Lucy A. Hamblin, who was born in Chenango Forks, Broome Co., N. Y., September 14, 1842, and was reared in Lee County, Ill. They have four sons and one daughter--Sarah Abbie, now Mrs. David Rodreick; Sherman P., Jesse M., Alfred A. and Albert Q. (twins). His family are members of the United Brethren Church. During the war, Mr. Packard did service in Company E, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, from August, 1862, till the end of the war; was honorably discharged, and pensioned for wounds received at the battle of Columbia, Tenn. His farm contains 360 acres of improved land, good buildings and an orchard of a well-assorted variety of fruits both large and small.

R. C. PLASS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Macomb County, Mich., September 7, 1836, and was identified with his present industry there till 1868, when after spending eighteen months in farming in Buchanan County, Iowa, he located in Colfax County, Neb., and was actively identified with his industry there till 1876. He then came here and located and has been successfully connected with his present industry here since. He married in 1859, Miss Sophia Burrett, who was born and reared in his native place. They have three sons and two daughters--Carrie, Giles, Burt, Bayard T., Celia M. He has been a member of the Masonic Order for the last twenty years. His farm contains 320 acres of valuable land, is well watered and stocked, has good buildings and nine acres of orchard, containing a well-selected stock of fruit tress[sic] of all kinds, both large and small.

D. F. D. POMEROY, farmer and stock-raiser P. O. Litchfield, was born in Clinton, Oneida Co., N. Y., July 2, 1847, and removed with his people to Fulton County, Ill., where he was reared; he received a good education in the public schools there and engaged in teaching. In 1877, he came to Kansas, and located here, and has been reputably connected with the teaching profession since. Meantime, he invested in his present place of 160 acres, which he has improved. His farm contains choice land, is well fenced and watered and well stocked, has good buildings, and an orchard of a nicely assorted variety of fruits; besides he has several thousand forest trees. He married in 1875, Miss Eliza A. Thorp, in Fulton County, a lady of excellent literary attainments. They have a family of one son and two daughters--Pearl, Philip and Ola. He has been an active member of the Masonic society since 1873. He has served upon the School Board of his district since coming here, and has made himself generally a useful citizen of this locality.

THEODORE W. POMEROY, farmer and stock-raiser P. O. Litchfield, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., May 8, 1849, and removed with his people to Illinois in 1854, who settled in Fulton County. He then learned the carpentering business and was actively identified with it there till 1870, when he came to Kansas and located here and prosecuted that business here actively till 1881, when he engaged at his present industry, with which he has been reputably connected since. He married in 1881, Miss Elizabeth J. Bowen, who was born in Boone County, Ind., and reared and educated in Winona County, Minn. His farm contains eighty acres of improved land, well fenced and watered and stocked, handsome dwellings and barns and stables and an orchard of 200 trees of a nicely assorted variety of fruits. Since locating here he has worked actively in the development of the social and industrial life of his locality. Has served as Constable of this township for one term, and as Clerk of the School Board of his district for three years.

J. H. RODENBURG, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 22, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1843, and came to America in 1860, and located at St. Louis. He engaged at farming in Pettis County, Mo., and followed it there till 1868, when he came here and settled upon the present homestead, where he has been successfully identified with the farming and stock-raising business since. He married in 1873, Miss Mary Jane Robb, who was born, and reared in Illinois. They have one son and a daughter--Floyd C. and Anna Leona. Mr. Rodenburg has worked actively in the growth and development of his locality since coming here. During the war, he did active service for two years in Company C, Fifth Missouri State Militia, from which he was honorably discharged. He is present incumbent of the County Commissionership of the Third District of this county; has held Trusteeship of township for three terms, and has filled other municipal and school offices. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M. Society. His family are members of the Baptist Church. His farm contains eighty acres of improved land, well fenced and watered and stocked; good buildings, and an orchard of nicely assorted fruits.

DAVID RODREICK, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Lucas County, Iowa, January 8, 1856, and was reared in Montgomery and Cass Counties, Mo. In 1873, he came here with his people, who settled here. In 1878, he began his present business, which he has very successfully carried on since. He married in 1881, Miss Abbie Packard, who was born in Winnebago County, Ill., and reared in this county. They have one little boy--Harvey Pearl. Himself and wite[sic] are active members of the Baptist Church. His farm contains eighty acres of choice land, well fenced and watered and stocked, good buildings, and an orchard of 500 trees of a nicely assorted variety. He also does an annual business in the line of growing hedge plants to the amount of 400,000 a year.

JOHN S. ROW, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. New Pittsburg, was born in Steuben County, N. Y., October 12, 1825, and removed with his people to Illinois in 1834, who settled in Whitesides County, where he was identified with farming industry as well as carpentering business till 1870, when he came here located upon his present farm, which was then a wild prairie, and has improved it to its present condition, containing 320 acres of valuable land, well fenced and watered and stocked; good buildings, and an orchard of three acres, of a well-assorted variety of fruits of all kinds, both large and small. He married, in 1853, Miss Nancy Briggs, born and reared in Knox County, Ill. They have two sons and two daughters--Mary Ann (deceased), Mrs. John Bevins, James, Perry and Eliza. Has worked actively in the development of the social life of his locality since coming here. Has been active in connection with the building industry of Pittsburg, having followed his trade here for three years steady.