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CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS BIOGRAPHIES
A. H. Montgomery, one of the most highly respected citizens of the Macyville community, first saw the light of day in the great commonwealth of Ohio, Adams county, in 1826. It was no fault of Mr. Montgomery that he did not win laurels on the battle field for he offered his services and was rejected upon the grounds of disability. Early in life he learned the tanner's trade, following that occupation several years and later became associated with Jesse Grant, the father of President Grant. This combination existed under the most pleasant and successful operation for a dozen years. The latter part of this period Mr. Grant's son Orville, succeeded his fathers interests. The establishment consisted of one hundred and sixty vats and an extended beam house where they finished and unhaired the hides. This important enterprise was run by steam and furnished labor to ten men, and was subsequently sold to New York parties who operated it for a series of years, when it was burned to the ground and never rebuilt. The Montgomerys and Grants were on friendly social terms. Mr. Montgomery relates an amusing incident which is perhaps hitherto unwritten history. In speaking of General U. S. Grant he says: "Fred Grant (his son) secured the services of a little darkey to tie his horse, act as body servant, and wait on him in true southern style. Soon after General Grant returned home one evening, Fred, with his valet following closely upon the heels of his master, put in an appearance. General Grant inquired somewhat sternly, "Fred, what have you been doing with a "nigger" running around after you all afternoon?" The next moment he summoned the dusky lad to stand up before him and said, "Cuffie, did Fred hire you?" "Yes, sir," was the prompt response. "What did he say he would pay you?" "A quarter," was the reply. Ulysses paid it and delivered the following order. "Fred, get your horse." When he had complied, General Grant turning to the darkey, said, "Cuffie, take that horse," and to Fred, "Take that "nigger" home and bring the horse back." In the year 1861, Mr. Montgomery emigrated to Jefferson county, Iowa where he lived until 1879,-ten years too long he says. In the spring of 1879 he came to Kansas and settled near Macyville on the farm where he now lives. Mr. Montgomery's parents were Adam and Jane (Hayes) Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery was married, in 1847, to Rebecca A. Wright of Ohio. She is a daughter of Isaac Wright, a farmer of Adams county, Ohio. To this worthy couple, three sons and three daughters have been born, viz: Mary Alice, widow of Jacob Hutten, of Omaha, Nebraska; Ida, wife of R. J. Wilson, a farmer of Summit township; John Harvey, who was a railroad man until two years ago, when he located in St. Louis, where he has charge of a stationary engine; Andrew, of Jamestown (see sketch); Cora, wife of C. W. Amspacher, a former merchant of Simpson, Kansas. James M., a farmer whose wife died three years after their marriage and he has since lived at home with his parents. Politically Mr. Montgomery is non-partisan and votes for the man. Mr. Montgomery and his wife, who is a kind, motherly woman of refined instincts, are members of the Macyville Methodist Episcopal church. M. A. Stockton, the subject of this sketch, was one of the old residents of Summit township until his removal to Oklahoma in the spring of 1902. Cloud county can ill afford to lose such valuable citizens as M. A. Stockton and his estimable family. He was one of the hardy and persevering pioneers who helped in a tangible way to develop this country. The Stocktons were sanguine, full of hope that a farm in Kansas would some day honor their drafts. Mr. Stockton came with his father's family to Cloud county, in 1871. Their house was a half way place between Concordia and Beloit, and the first frame house in the vicinity. This old landmark still stands. Mr. Stockton's parents were Hiram and Lucretia (Barber) Stockton. Hiram Stockton was a native of Kentucky, of German origin. His grandfather emigrated from Germany to America and settled in Kentucky in an early day. Mr. Stockton was a blacksmith and wagon maker and followed that trade in his earlier life, but coming west filed on government land for himself and his boys. There were ten children in the family, eight of whom are living a daughter died in infancy-nine boys lived to man-hood. Mr. Stockton and five of his sons homesteaded land in Summit township; of these A. J. Stockton of Summit township is the only one remaining. They were in limited circumstances and came overland from Kentucky with ox teams. Their first house was of logs with dirt roof and the first above ground between Glasco and Jamestown. This domicile housed a family of eleven. The buffalo and antelope supplied them with meat. Hiram Stockton died in 1882 at the age of sixty-three years. Lucretia Barber was of English origin. She was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1826, and came with her parents to Clinton county, Kentucky where she married H. C. Stockton in 1864. She died at the residence of her son D. M. Stockton in 1893. M. A. Stockton's brothers are Andrew Jackson, a farmer of Summit township. William Riley was killed in a well in 1871. They had dis-carded work on the well for a few days. He was let down by ropes and was overcome with damps, falling about forty feet and was killed in-stantly. M. A. Stockton descended, thinking it might have been the fall that killed him. He, too, was at once overcome, and was pulled up, barely escaping with his life. They then removed the damps by drawing sheets up and down and recovered the body. Daniel Marion Stockton is a cattle man of Oklahoma. Levi Madison, a farmer of Saline county, Kansas. James Carroll, a farmer and stockman of Oklahoma. George Washington, John Wolford and Lewis Sherman, all farmers in Oklahoma near the city of Stillwater. The Stocktons are all prosperous farmers and stockmen. They are self made, enterprising and good managers. M. A. Stockton lived on his original homestead and owned a half section of land, feeding and shipping Shorthorn cattle, and hogs until his removal to Oklahoma. He was married in November 1877 to Miss Olive Ethalina Webster of Saline county. She is a Kansan, born in Neosho county near Council Grove. Her father is Theodore Webster, an early settler and one of the most prominent cattle men in the state. He is a New Yorker by birth. Came with his parents to Illinois and located near Galesburg. Later they came to Kansas with an ox team. A sad accident occurred during this overland trip. The oxen ran away with a heavily loaded wagon, throwing out two little girls, the wagon running over and killing one of them. They were early settlers near Council Grove; so primitive that one of the settlers was compelled to take the partition out of his house to improvise a coffin. This was in the early 'fifties. They became discouraged and left Kansas for a period of five years but returned and took up a residence in Saline county, where her mother died in 1872. Her father now lives in Illinois. Mrs. Stockton is one of four children. Josephine Marie, wife of B. G. Schriven, elevator man, land owner, and stockman; also engaged in the implement business with residence in Lucas, Lincoln county, Kansas. Jennie, wife of R. W. Jay, a Saline county farmer, and Jessie, wife of William Kyle, an elevator man in the state of Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Stockton four children have been born. David Web-ster, associated with his father in farming and stock raising. Hiram Franklin, Jessie Lucretia, aged thirteen and John Martin. "Father Time is not always a hard parent and though he tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand lightly upon those who have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably enough, but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full vigor. With such people the gray head is but the impression of the old fellow's hand in giving them his blessing and every wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well spent life." The above quotation from Dickens applies to the rare personality of the late Enos Rushton, one of the most highly respected, and most prominent men and politicians of Cloud county. He was one of the first commissioners and sat in almost every convention for more than twenty years; was one of the best posted men in the county on parliamentary rules and was usually chairman of the convention. Was chairman of the fifth congressional district at the time of his death, which occurred at Weatherford, Oklahoma, January 14, 1901. Mr. Rushton was a native of Lafayette, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, born October 22, 1839. His paternal ancestors were of Scottish descent, and his maternal ancestry were of German origin. Mr. Rushton served with distinction as sergeant of Company B, nineteenth Iowa regiment three years. Was captured at Morganza, Louisiana, taken to Tyler, Texas, where he was retained as a prisoner for six months. They were captured on the twenty-ninth day of September, 1864, and after a brief time were marched to Shreveport, where they remained all winter, suffering for want of clothing and blankets, having been robbed of all their possessions. They were taken to Greenwood and from there made an escape on the twenty-sixth of April, 1865. The rebels became alarmed at the near approach of Steele's cavalry, and ordered that all the Union prisoners be hurried off to Tyler, Texas. To attempt to escape in such a country so far from Union lines required a good deal of courage. They adopted the following plan to escape: Dug a hole large enough for two on the level ground, covering it over with brush, dirt and ashes. This last act was performed by a comrade who did not feel strong enough to escape with them; there they remained until the "Butternuts" had left the place when they came out from their hiding and made for Alexandria, where they supposed they would find the Union army, but met the advance. They encountered many narrow escapes from falling into the hands of the rebels again, but in these instances, as in many others, fortune favored the brave. They were then assigned to the duty of provost guards in the third division of the thirteenth corps. A daughter, Mrs. Joseph Guipre, has in her possession a daily paper which was published at Natchitoches, Louisiana, bearing the date of April 4, 1864. On the margin of the sheet is a message written by Mr. Rushton, which reads as follows: "I am feeling all right again since getting into the Union." She also has a copy of the paper, "The Daily Citizen," published in Vicksburg, July 2, 1863. Mr. Rushton was present when the original copies were printed on the historical wall paper edition. There were not enough for each soldier and a second edition was gotten out, a copy of which was received by Mr. Rushton at the old soldiers reunion held at Fairfield, Iowa. It is a reproduction as found by the Union soldiers when Grant captured the city. Mr. Rushton was married to Jane Taylor, September 6, 1860, in Wapello county, Iowa, and in 1873 emigrated to Kansas and located on their farm in Summit township, where Mrs. Rushton died June 20, 1898. Their five daughters survive them and all but one are residents of Cloud county: Laura, wife of Alfred N. Macy; Susan, wife of T. N. Collins; Olive, wife of Joseph Guipre; Emily, wife of Fred Guipre, and Nellie, a nurse in the homeopathic hospital of Denver, Colorado. The Rushton daughters are all accomplished and educated women. Mr. Rushton was a life long politician. He was county superintendent of Wayne county, Iowa, for four years, and at one time received the nomi-nation by the Republican party for probate judge of Cloud county. He helped to organize District No. 64, known as "Highland," which was changed after his death to "Rushton," in honor of his memory. At the Cloud county convention, which convened in Concordia, March 18, 1902, to elect delegates to the congressional convention, they offered the following resolution: "Since our last representative gathering, death has called to his embrace one who for many years has been the most familiar figure in a Cloud county representative convention, our congressional committeeman, Enos Rushton. We recognize in his death the loss of a citizen of the highest sense of honor, a man of sterling integrity and a friend of every worthy cause. One of the old settlers and representative farmers of Summit township is A. A. Mann. He is a native of Monroe county, Ohio, born in 1841. He was raised on a farm, receiving a common school education, and at the age of twenty-one enlisted in the service of the United States army, Company C, 116th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1862. His regiment operated principally in the Shenandoah valley and wound up at Appomattox. Mr. Mann was mustered in as a corporal and was detached to drum corps. He was in the battles of Winchester, Virginia, June 14, 1863, Piedmont, Virginia, June 5, 1864, Lynchburg, June 18, 1864, battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864, Fisher Hill, September 22, 1864, Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, Ft. Gregg, April 2, 1865, Appomattox, April 9, 1865. Of the fifty-two men in their company, thirty were killed and wounded in the battle of Piedmont. They were under the command of General Wildes, who often expressed himself in no measured tones as to the bravery and efficiency of this regiment and said it was an honor for any man to be able to say, "I belong to the 116th." After the war, Mr. Mann returned to Ohio, his native state where he remained until coming to Kansas in 1872. Mr. Mann was married in April, 1862, to Nancy O. Coen, who was also a native of Monroe county, Ohio. They came as far as Solomon City in 1872, and from there to Cloud county with an ox team and settled on the farm where they now live, his original homesteaded, and where they have experienced all the hardships of the early settler. They first built a log house with a dirt roof where they lived several years. Mr. Mann relates how at one time they were without anything to eat except flour and about one "batch" of that, not even salt, nor grease. Forced to resort to something Mr. Mann started for an unknown destination in quest of something to eat and met his sister, who handed him five dollars that had been sent from their home in Ohio. The providential sending of this money bridged them over. The first July in Kansas he had no money nor land broke out; a prairie fire came doing much damage which added to their hardships. Mr. Mann is of German origin, his ancestry were among the early set-tlers of Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather was sold to a sea captain to pay his passage to America and to pay the debt fought in the Revolutionary war. He was wounded in the thigh. They were a race of farmers who settled in Pennsylvania and later moved to Ohio where they took up wooded land. Mr. Mann's father was born in Ohio and was rocked in a cradle made of a hollow log. His mother was Phoebe Strahl, also of Ohio. Mr. Mann is one of nine children, six of whom are living. A brother, Thomas David, is a prominent farmer of Mitchell county; Lydia, widow of L. D. Carleton, is a resident of Manhattan; Hannah E., wife of A. W. Burdur, a farmer of Summit township; Barnett G., a farmer and Esther Josephine Finch. To Mr. and Mrs. Mann eight children have been born, all of whom are living. George W., a farmer near Superior, Nebraska. Hiram T., a miner of Sumpter, Oregon. E. A., a farmer near Vermillion, Kansas. Phoebe E., wife of E. E. Gildersleeve, a farmer of Summit township. C. J., a farmer near Bloomfield, Oklahoma. Mary J., wife of H. H. Swaney, a farmer of Summit township, Lydia and Anson. Politically Mr. Mann is a Republican; attended to the duties of trustee of Summit township for two terms. He is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and the Grand Army of the Republic, No. 173, at Scottsville. The family are members of the Christian church at West Asher, Mitchell county. The Mann family are talented singers and an acquisition in that capacity to church work and musical circles. Mr. Mann has one hundred and eighty acres of land which is principally adapted to wheat growing, and he has five acres in apple orchard and other small fruits. The postoffice of Graves was established in 1883, in the store of Thomas Graves, for whom the postoffice was named. It was located on a state section of land then owned by Matt Wilcox. He sold the building to J. B. Wilcox and the goods to Sherman Dodson, who was appointed postmaster. Shortly afterward the building and most of its contents were destroyed by fire. For a time the office was discontinued. The postoffice inspector endeavored to persuade Mr. Dodson to erect a building and continue the office but he would not assent. In June, 1900, Isaiah D. Crittin was appointed postmaster and the office continued under the name of Graves. Last December (1901) the contract was let for a rural delivery route between Concordia, Graves and Macyville, but the postoffice will be continued in the store opened by Mr. Crittin in the same year (1901). J. I. Wright, one of the substantial settlers of Arion township, came to Kansas in 1870, and to Cloud county in 1871. He is one of the thrifty, pro-gressive men of his community. He was born in Ohio, but reared principally on a farm in Ogle county, Illinois. His parents were Hiram J. and Laura Jane (Frost) Wright. His father was a New Yorker and when a boy moved with his parents to Ohio. At the age of twenty-three he settled in Illinois and in 1872, emigrated to Kansas taking up a homestead in Cloud county, Arion township. In 1899, he retired from the farm and moved to Concordia where he now lives at the age of eighty-two years. The Wrights are of English origin. Mr. Wright's mother died when he was about ten years of age, leaving three children, one son and two daughters. The eldest daughter, Minerva, died in 1892, leaving a husband and three children. The other sister, Mary Maria, is the widow of Edmond Loricky. Mr. Wright's father has been three times married. There were two children by the second marriage and two by the last. His mother having died when he was very young, Mr. Wright was de-nied many advantages, his education limited and what he has was acquired in a practical way. When Mr. Wright was young, his home was broken up by his mother's death, which actuated his desires for army life and he welcomed the excitement and passion incident to war. At the youthful age of seventeen he enlisted in the service of his country. Some of the soldiers came home on a furlough and this inspired him with a desire to join the army. He started in with General Sherman at Chattanooga and never saw a week's rest until the cessation of hostilities. His captain was Peter Walker. They were under the command of Colonel VanTassel. They participated in the battles of Buzzard's Roost, Peach Tree Creek, and Kenasaw Mountain. During this latter engagement a bullet passed in close proximity to Mr. Wright's chin, just grazing it a narrow escape. There was no breastwork and every available tree had a man back of it. The one Mr. Wright had sought refuge behind was a very diminutive one, a sapling in reality. It was cut in two and he was left entirely without a hiding place, exposed to the enemy's fire, the bullets falling like hail around him. A comrade fell wounded and Mr. Wright succeeded this poor victim in his place behind a tree. They were fighting on the way from Chattanooga to Atlanta and did not know the condition of the enemy's breast works until within their midst; they had built them that night. Many of their regiment were killed and wounded in this attack. His company received a lot of new recruits just as the war closed. At the close of the war Mr. Wright returned to his home in Illinois and in 1866, was married to Nancy Sylvina Rice. Her father was David Rice of Green county, Kentucky.
In his early life he moved to Ohio where he was married to Mary Tilton and where Mrs. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright six children have been born. Lottie Ann Thenia, wife of J. E. Graham, a farmer of Lyon township. Their family of children are Edith Mabel, Emma Lucinda, Jeniss Calvin and James Alvin, twins, and George William. Leander Albert, a farmer of Anon township. His family consists of a wife and three children. Walter Andrew, Jesse Irwin and Clowie Leota. His wife was Elizabeth E. Hogue, a daughter of A. J. Hogue who died in Iowa. She came to Kansas with her mother who died in 1898. Mary Elizabeth, wife of Frank Garst, a farmer of Arion township. They are the parents of four children; James Wilbur, Samuel Perley, Charles Alfred, and Mark Elsworth. Ernestine Adeline, wife of Walter Isaac Brooks, a farmer of Lyon township and a son of John Brooks (see sketch). William Alexander is a stone mason by occupation. Harriet Luella, the youngest daughter was recently married to Joseph C. Driscoll, a young farmer of Arion township. Mr. Wright came to Kansas with a team, two cows, a wife and two children and nine dollars in money. He is entirely self made, never having received a dollar from home. But upon the other hand, when lie returned from the army he found his father's family in need of help and his bounty was given over to them. He bought his team on credit of an uncle who gave him assistance by not collecting the note when due. It was not paid until about six years ago. Mr. Wright learned the trades of plasterer and stone mason in his earlier life and there is not a house or chimney in the vicinity of his home but what he has assisted in building. He worked at Lindsay and Minneapolis, Kansas, in the early seventies, often walking to and fro. By degrees Mr. Wright has prospered. From a shanty they erected a one and one-half story residence and in 1886, built a one and one-half story addition, making a six room residence, substantially built of stone. In 1900, built a stone barn 32 by 36 feet. Until five years ago Mr. Wright kept a large herd of sheep; had at one time upwards of five hundred. Besides their wool he fattened and sold, making it a profitable industry. He raises cattle and hogs quite extensively. His chief products of the farm are wheat, corn, Kaffir corn and cane. Mr. Wright is a Populist in politics, but not an active politician. He is the justice of the peace of Arion township. They are members of the Church of God. Mr. Wright is one of the solid, self made men who has gained everything by his own exertions, his industry and his integrity. So-cially he and his family are among the leading people of their community. John Brooks is a progressive farmer and stockman of Lyon township. He is a native of Iowa, born in Keokuk county, in 1848. He is the youngest child of Johnsey and Margaret (Glover) Brooks' family of ten children. His father's place of nativity was Maryland, born near Baltimore, in 1792. He was of Dutch and Irish extraction. He emigrated from Maryland to Ohio, subsequently to Guernsey county and from there to Iowa. Mr. Brooks' mother was born in Ohio. She died in 1882, at the age of seventy-five years. She was of French extraction. Of this family of ten children, just half of that number are living, viz: Louisa Jane, widow of Samuel Snyder, of Smith county, Kansas, Martha, wife of Benjamin Denny, an Englishman; they live on a farm in Keokuk county, Iowa. A sister, Nancy Adair, living in Missouri. Samuel, of Osborne county, enlisted in the Mexican war, was detained by illness in New Orleans and did not see active service. J. J., of Marion county, Kansas, is a furniture dealer in the town of Burns. Mr. Brooks has never engaged in any occupation but farming and started out to earn a livlihood without capital, but possessed with the ambition and courage that serves a young man just starting in life better than finances. He rented land which he farmed and later bought a small tract of ground which he sold and in 1875, came to Cloud county, and took up a homestead which he sold about twelve years ago and in 1880, purchased the farm he now lives on adjoining his original place. He improved this farm and in 1901, erected a splendid modern residence of seven rooms. He purchased his original homestead in 1899, and now owns four hundred acres of good land. Upon his advent in Cloud county, he had but little else other than a large family. His assets were forty dollars and his liabilities sixty dollars. In 1888, he engaged in the sheep business and has made it a successful industry, even when the price of wool was low. He started with seven hundred sheep and his flock has varied from two to seven hundred, feeding and selling. Mr. Brooks is an extensive wheat grower. In 1901, he had two hundred acres that averaged sixteen bushels to the acre. Mr. Brooks was married in 1867, to Julia Roll, a daughter of Warren L. and Melissa (Asken) Roll. Her father was an old settler of Cloud county. homesteading and living here until 1890, then moved to Doniphan county, where he died in 1897. They were formerly from Indiana, but emigrated to Iowa, and from there to Kansas. Her father was a native of Kentucky. Her mother died in 1898. They were the parents of twelve children, all or whom are living but three. Five of their children were born in Orange county, Indiana, Mrs. Brooks included in that number. A brother, Warren Roll, is a farmer of Arion township; Maggie, wife of Elmer Tilton of Glasco; She has two brothers in Doniphan county, a sister and brother in Oklahoma and two sisters in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Brooks twelve children have been born, ten of whom are living, viz: Nancy Jane, wife of Frank Graham, a farmer of Lyon township, Their four children are, Nellie Naomi, Edna May, John Calvin and Abbie. Isaac W., the eldest son is a farmer of Lyon township. His family consists of a wife and four children; Ray, Lela, Freddie and Eddie. Mary Effie, the second daughter, is the wife of Rozzel Bailey, a farmer of Arion township. They are the parents of six children; Charles, Leota, Ettie, Roy, Eva and Myrle. Abbie, the third daughter, is the wife of Max Cross, a farmer of Rooks county. They have two children; Otto Glen and Gladys Glee. Alice, wife of Pat Driscoll, a farmer of Marshal! county, Kansas. Their family consists of three children: Rita, Julius and Mabel. Willard Eaton, unmarried and assists with the farming and stock. Hannah, wife of Alvin Gates, a farmer of Lyon township. They are the parents of one little son, Vernie Ray. John L., is a student on his second year in the Concordia high school. The two younger sons, Ferdinand Taylor, and William H., are both at home. Although Mr. Brooks has had many discouragements to contend with he is now on solid footing. His farm is one of the most highly improved in Lyon township. He has a fine basement barn 36 by 40 feet in dimensions with sixteen foot wall. A hail storm passed over his land in 1889. The corn was in roasting ear; every vestige of his crop was destroyed. The storm included a strip ninety miles long and from six to eight miles wide, starting in the locality of Superior, Nebraska. This loss was seriously felt by Mr. Brooks, who at that time was not in a financial position to lose his crop without being badly crippled. Politically, Mr. Brooks is a Populist. He is a good citizen, an honest industrious and practical farmer and stockman. William P. Winter is a son of Charles H. Winter and like his father he is a successful and enterprising farmer and one of the leading young men socially in Arion township. He is public spirited, taking an active interest in political issues, municipal and educational affairs. He is an ardent Populist politically, served one term as justice of the peace in his township; was re-elected but refused to accept. In his community the Alliance flourished and Air. Winter was president of this organization so long as it existed. They had a subordinate Alliance in that district of one hundred members. Mr. Winter was born on a farm in Vernon county, Missouri, in i860, where his parents lived for a brief time, then moved to Stark county, Illinois. In 1866, he came to Washington county, Kansas with his parents as related in his father's career. He received the greater part of his education in the schools of Concordia. In 1881, he was married to Eppie, a daughter of Samuel Morehouse. Her father was born in New York but emigrated with his parents to Missouri when he was a small boy and grew to manhood in Clark county, where Mrs. Winter was born, October 8, 1863. Mr. Morehouse served a little more than one year during the latter part of the Civil war, and gave his life for his country's cause. He lost his health during this period from exposure and privations and from these causes died one year later, leaving a wife and two daughters. The other daughter is Sarah, the widow of J. A. Ryan, who is a farmer of Republic county. Mrs. Winter's mother was married again in 1872, to Malon Hayworth. They are residents of Washington county, Kansas. To this union two children have been born: Emma, wife of Frank Risinger, and a son, John, both of Washington county, Kansas. Mrs. Winter's mother was born in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Winter are the parents of three fine sons who bid fair to make their mark in the world. Charles, a bright young man of seventeen is a student on his second year in the Concordia high school, prior to a course in the State University. William F. has made a record well worthy of commendation in their home school. District No. 83. He has neither been absent nor tardy for five school years. Vernon, aged nine years started to school in the fourth reader grade and has mastered the first principles of arithmetic and has neither been absent nor tardy. Children with disinterested parents would scarcely make these records and it undoubtedly would be a source of gratification to teachers if there were more of their patrons who exercised such pains-taking interest in their sons and daughters of the public schools, Mrs. Winter is a valued corres-pondent of the Kansan, one of Cloud county's leading papers. She has chronicled the news of the Graves neighborhood for several years. C. H. Winter, an old soldier, one of the representative men and exten-sive farmers of Arion township, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1830. When one year of age his parents removed to the state of New York and seven years subsequently to Stark county, Illinois, where they settled on a farm near Toulon. His father was William Winter, a Pennsylvania farmer and a soldier of the war of 1812. He died in Henry county, Illinois, June 4, 1864. His grandfather John Winter was from Scotland, and settled in Pennsylvania in the pioneer days of that state. His mother before her marriage was Mary Jackson of French ancestry. She was born in the state of New York and died in 1877. When twenty-one years of age, C. W. Winter married and immediately emigrated to California, where he engaged in mining pursuits with consid-erable success for five years, but not unlike many of the western miners, he speculated and lost. He returned to Illinois in 1858, where he farmed until 1862, and then responded to the call for volunteers by enlisting in Company A, 124th regiment Illinois Volunteers, under Captain Tenney, with Colonel Howe commanding, remaining until the close of the war. He was a prisoner six months in Cahoka, Alabama. He was fortunate enough to be under Captain Freeman instead of Captain Gatewood, who was collecting prisoners and when he had gathered a dozen, would hang or kill them. This was his established rule. He requested two of Captain Freeman's men to make out his number in this instance, but was refused and Mr. Winter escaped the fate which otherwise might have awaited him. He was in the siege of Vicksburg and Atlanta. They were taken to Black River from Vicksburg for exchange. When they arrived at their destination, they were cold, hungry and wet. The night was dark, the rebels refused to exchange on the grounds that they could not see. They disbanded and set the woods on fire to keep warm. They suffered many hardships. Finally they received the government supplies and some of the men ate so ravenously that they died as a result. They were mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, and from this point Mr. Winter returned to his family. In the spring of 1866, he emigrated to Washington county, Kansas, then on the frontier, and took up the homestead where they lived sixteen years. In 1872, they again moved on to the frontier in Rooks county and filed on a timber claim. Mr. Winter assisted in platting the town of Stockton. Three years later he went to Colorado for a brief time and returned to Concordia where they kept a feed stable that their son might have the advantages of good schools. Three years later they returned to Washington county. In 1881, they sold their farm and bought the Simon L. Cook homestead in Arion township, which they have added to from time to time until he now owns a whole section of land on the divide between Wolf and Coal creeks, all under fence. It is mostly wheat land and this year he has sowed four hundred acres. In the summer of 1901 he had two hundred acres that yielded from twenty-five to thirty-five bushels per acre. Mr. Winter has raised cattle and hogs, and corn until the last few years, but is now practically retired. He was married in 1862, to Sarah E. A. Dray, of West Virginia, where her maternal grandfather was a slave holder. She is a daughter of Peter Dray, a blacksmith by occupation. When she was a small child, her parents moved to Ohio and settled near Port Homer in Jefferson county. Her father died August 17, 1855, in Stark county, Illinois, where he had moved a few years previously. Mrs. Winter's paternal grandfather was of Irish birth. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Her great-grandfather was in the church uprisings of the old country, emigrated to America and settled in Ohio in an early day. Her mother was Martha Foster, whose ancestors were from the Isle of Jersey. She died in 1894, at the home of her son-in-law, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Winter's maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Wolverton. Of a family of twelve children, Mrs. Winter and one sister survive; Mrs. Lasley, who lives on a farm in Arion township. To Mr. and Mrs. Winter have been born two children, but one of whom is living. The daughter was Mary, deceased wife of John McNulty, who died June 16, 1889, leaving three daughters. Anna, Alice, and Julia. Anna is the wife of Harry Evans, of Stockton, Kansas. Alice lives with Anna and attends school, Julia lives with her grandparents. Their son is William P. Mr. Winter is non-partisan and votes for the best man. The Winter family have a large and comfortable house of ten rooms. Mr. Winter has been financially successful in Kansas and his farm is a fortune within itself. He is an enterprising man and a good citizen. A well-to-do farmer and stockman and owner of one of the most de-sirable country homes in Arion township is W. G. Kocher, the subject of this sketch. He is one of those thrifty and enterprising Pennsylvanians that are seldom otherwise than prosperous. He was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1849. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (First) Kocher, both of German origin and natives of Pennsylvania. George Kocher was twice married. W. G. is the youngest son of the second marriage and one of eight children, six of whom are living. Mrs. Kile, living in Center township is a sister. When Mr. Kocher was nine years of age his father died, and at the age of eighteen years he entered upon farm life. A few years later he secured employment on public works that were in course of erection in his county and later engaged in the lumber business with Gaston Brothers. He had accumulated a little bank account out of his earnings and in December, 1887, came to Kansas, and the following January bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He tore down the old stone residence built by the old homesteader, Mrs. Doer, and erected a handsome residence in 1898. In 1893, he added one hundred and sixty acres, the original Eagle homestead lying one mile south, and in 1898 bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining on the west, most of which is pasture land. Mr. Kocher is an extensive wheat grower. In 1900 he had a fifty-three acre field that yielded a total of fifteen hundred bushels. In 1898 he had a yield of thirty-eight bushels to the acre. During the corn years Mr. Kocher has fed and shipped hogs by the car load. He keeps a herd of graded Shorthorn cattle. His farm is under a fine state of improvement considerable fruit and an inexhaustible well which furnishes water as pure and cold as any in his native state. He was married in 1874, to Katie I. Riddle, a daughter of Doctor John W. and Rachael Harriet (Close) Riddle. Doctor Riddle is a distinguished physician. He began the practice of medicine in Utica, Pennsylvania. In 1862, he entered the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry as surgeon of the regiment, remaining until the close of the war. Was with the army of the Potomac. He was born in 1820 in Venango county, on a farm where he lived until twelve years of age when his father sold out and engaged in merchandising When seventeen years of age Doctor Riddle entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1844. He is retired from the practice of medicine and now lives with a son in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, thirty miles north of Pittsburg. Doctor Riddle is a grandson of Edward Riddle who settled in West Virginia after serving in the Revolutionary war, and where Doctor Riddle's father was born and partially reared, and later moved to Pennsylvania. Doctor Riddle's maternal ancestors were of Scotch origin and early settlers in the state of Pennsylvania. The Doctor is the only surviving member of a family of four. To Doctor and Mrs. Riddle five children were born, viz: Alexander P., ex-lieutenant governor of Kansas, and one of the best known men in the state, is a resident of Minneapolis, Kansas, and editor of the Minneapolis Messenger. Charles M., one of the police force of the city of Youngstown, Ohio. Catherine L, wife of W. G. Kocher, the subject of this sketch. George K., of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, who is a lumberman operating a saw mill. Marguritta, wife of L. C. Hassenfritz, an engineer in the Thirty-third street steel mills, of Carnegie, Phipps & Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Kocher nine children have been born, eight of whom are living, viz: Charles E., a resident of Minneapolis, Kansas, and editor of the Minneapolis Journal. He left the farm in 1896 and went to work in the Minneapolis Messenger office where he remained six years. He was married to Grace Cline in 1899. -Lorena, wife of Will Y. Thornburg, a graduate of the State University of Nebraska. Claudia, wife of William Nelson, a farmer of Arion township. They are the parents of two children, Opal and Gaylord. Those unmarried and at home are, Athelstan, Hattie, Ada, Melvin and Helen. Politically Mr. Kocher is a Populist. The Kochers are attendants of the Wesleyan Methodist church, New Hope congregation, of which Mrs. Kocher is a member. The prosperous little city of Jamestown is situated eleven miles west of Concordia in Grant township. The town was originally platted by C. I. Gould. A tract of land comprising sixty acres was divided into lots, of which each alternate division was given to the railroad company. P. A. Thomas one of the early settlers of that community, who owned a farm adjoining the town site laid out what is known as the "Thomas Addition" consisting of twenty-five acres, which makes a total area of eighty-five acres in town lots. The city was named in honor of Senator James Pomeroy. "Roy" Fitzgerald was the first child born there and was presented with a silver cup from Senator Pomeroy, with the recipients name "Henry Pomeroy Fitzgerald" engraved upon it. The location of Jamestown is one of the most desirable in the country. It overlooks the superbly beautiful Buffalo creek valley, which is a veritable garden of rich, fertile country in a magnificent state of cultivation. The farmers in this locality are exceedingly prosperous and their well improved country places, well fed herds of cattle and well cultivated fields, tell of thrift and prosperity second to none in Cloud county. Jamestown is situated in a hustling, bustling community, and is said to transact a larger volume of business than any town of its size in the state. This statement is made by disinterested persons who are conservative and in a position to know whereof they speak. The first to embark in business in Jamestown were Strain & Bracken, two well known Concordia men, who opened their store October 15, 1878. The former, Myron Strain, is still a resident of the city. A. P. S. Ansdell, one of the pioneers of the township, who had conducted a country store on his farm, one and one-half miles from Jamestown, for several years, moved his goods into the new town and opened up for business October 27, 1878. J. E. Fitzgerald, who is often mentioned as the "Father" of Jamestown, was among the first to locate and establish a business which grew from a very climinitivc affair to an enormous magnitude. The success of the Jamestown merchants is an inspiration to any one starting on a career with small capital. Among the late arrivals are men of energy and progress who have made remarkable strides in business, and all lines are represented. The prosperity of their city is attributable to the support it receives from the people of that vicinity.. They almost invariably patronize home industry and on all questions of local improvements they stand shoulder to shoulder. Jamestown is located on the summit of the divide and it is noticeable that these localities escape most of the wind and hail storms; they separate at this point and follow the creeks and low lands, the town getting none, or at least a small part of the tempest. Never has there been a destructive storm in the city. The nearest call it experienced was when a cyclone visited Republic county and Irving was destroyed. No real damage was done but* a few buildings were badly shaken. The kiln that furnished the lime for building the
first houses in James-town was situated one mile east of the present site and was operated by Ed Hobson and James
Nelson; the latter a son of the Reverend Nels Nelson. The pioneer blacksmith shop in the township was established
by Andrew Jackson Belden, just south of the present townsite, on Cheyenne creek in: 1872. In 1871 a postoffice was established in Grant township, located just opposite where the "Prairie Gem School house" now stands in district num-ber thirty-four. The name was suggested by the late A. A. Carnahan and the new postoffice christened "Fanny," in honor of Miss Fannie Price, a sister of Commissioner Price. Henry Nelson was the first postmaster. Fanny (now extinct) was once the scene of considerable traffic. It was one of the stage lines relay stations, and if the commodious stables were left standing they would be one of the historical landmarks of that section. They were built of cotton wood timber concreted with lime (burnt on the premises) to make them bullet proof as a protection against the Indians. In 1873 the postoffice was removed to the house of Jacob Fulmer, two and one-half miles west of the present city of Jamestown and was conducted there until the founding of that city. One Charles Miller was the pioneer United States
mail carrier. Seventy-five pounds was the limit of Uncle Sam's goods to be carried. M. M. Strain received the first appointment for postmaster in Jamestown. A. P. S. Ansdell received the second appointment, and the office has changed with each administration since. During the great upheaval of Populism, James S. Burton was installed as postmaster and was succeeded by M. L. Champlin under Cleveland's first administration. J. E. Lundblade was appointed during Cleveland's second term to the presidency. J. O. Hanson, the present postmaster, was appointed under McKinley. He is a conscientious and very efficient officer, serving- the public to the universal satisfaction of all. Jamestown has two exceptionally fine mail routes and application in for a third. The north route is twenty-eight miles in length and M. L. Chaplin is carrier. It was established in October, 1900; this route is No. 1. Route No. 2, also went into effect in 1900. It runs in a southerly direction and is twenty-five miles in length. Charles E. Carpenter is carrier. Each route carries from five thousand to six thousand pieces of mail per month, route Xo. 1 exceeding route No. 2 by a small amount. JAMESTOWN SCHOOL. The city of Jamestown lies in district number thirty-two. The first school building still stands and is the office of Hills lumber yard. The present school building was erected in the spring of 1884 at a cost of about $4,000. The first corps of teachers were Ed. Hostetler (one of the best educators Cloud county ever had,) as principal; Maggie Jones and Delia Lute, assistants. The Jamestown schools are up to the standard. Some of the best talent in the county have been employed there; among them the most prominent perhaps are A. B. Carney, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Tarbox, John B. Wood and their present instructor, P. M. Bushong. The well arranged course of study as prepared for the grades of the city schools used all over the state is taken advantage of by many young men and women of superior endowments in the thriving little city of Jamestown; whose educational advantages are many times superior to many of the graded schools in the much larger towns of the eastern states. FIRST NEWSPAPER. The first newspaper of Jamestown was "Gospel
Leaves," a scientific and local paper issued one and one-half years, beginning with October, 1880. It was
a quarto, eight page, fourteen inch column sheet, published monthly and edited by Elder James H. Lathrop at his
home near the Saron Baptist Church. Although its editor resided several miles in the country the paper was considered
a Jamestown issue, was mailed to its numerous subscribers through the Jamestown postoffice, contained local data,
"write-ups" of the town, personals, ads. of business men, etc. SALT MARSH. Surrounding six salt springs is the great salt marsh in Grant township, which attracted much attention in the early settlement of the county, as it was expected extended manufactories would be established there and much speculation was indulged in regarding it. The marsh covers an area of about four hundred acres of land. During the spring time and in wet seasons a lake is formed, but in dry weather the surface is incrusted to a depth of three-eighths of an inch with salt. To test the quality, a well was sunk to the depth of fifty feet, from which a vein of salt water flowed. The strength of the surface brine reaches one hundred and thirty to one hundred and seventy-five gallons to the bushel of salt. It is said to have been found by scientific analysis, the salt produced by the evapor-ation of these brines is a purer article than most of the brines from which our principal supplies of this product are obtained. The well dug by the gov-ernment continues to flow. It is situated on the farm of C. N. Baldwin. SOME OLD SETTLERS. A record of the Jamestown community would be incomplete without mention of some of the old settlers who were known personally or whose characteristics have been handed clown through a line of years by some cir-cumstance or peculiarity. Lewis Kiggins was one of the first settlers of the township and was dis-tinguished for his prowess as a huntsman. To him belongs the honor of killing the last two buffalo in Cloud county. The Clemmons farm was their original homestead. There were two grown sons in his family, James and John, the latter was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal faith and lived in the neighborhood about ten years. Mr. Johnson was universally known by his sobriquet "Coffee Pot" Johnson, which he earned in the following manner: Not yet having established a home on the frontier he was camping on the banks of Buffalo creek. He was preparing his morning meal, and while his coffee was brewing over the fire the frontiersman was probably pondering the situation over in his mind or perchance saw in the glow of the bright red coals visions of his new and uncultivated possessions, transformed into an ideal home. While thus wrapped in thought his day dreams and the mute stillness of the atmosphere were disturbed by the cracking of the bushes nearby, and upon looking in the direction from whence the sound came was suddenly confronted by the painted countenances of two stalwart, broad-shouldered Indians, whose first expression upon seeing and smelling the fragrant breakfast was "Coffee, coffee." They seized the pot, drank what they wanted, poured the rest on the fire and crushed the utensil under their feet. Mr. Johnson, it is needless to say, was somewhat frightened, and hastily left them in camp, feeling they had granted him an unusual privilege in not detaining him or depriving him of his scalp. He went down Buffalo creek and over to Lake Sibley, where in broken English the Swedish settler told his experiences which won for him the name of ''Coffee Pot" Johnson. Mr. Johnson later met with a sad and untimely death. He was an inof-fensive man, and although he traveled all over the country, he never carried weapons. He was of Swedish birth and had learned the shoemaker's trade in the old country. He was a bachelor and lived on his homestead about eight years ere he married. After a happy wedded life of a few years his wife, who was a Danish woman, died, leaving two sons who survive their parents and live on the farm. Mr. Johnson continued to live on the homestead with his two little sons, who were too young at that time to attend to the duties of the farm. Mr. Johnson's health became impaired and he found it necessary to rent his land. Trouble arose between himself and the renters over a division of the crop. Although small of stature he tried to prevent the two men from entering the granary. They overpowered, struck and kicked him several times. One of his little sons ran to a neighbor, saying they were ''killing his father." When friends came to his rescue the assailants had fled. Mr. Johnson was tenderly cared for but his wounds proved fatal and he died a few hours later. These men were charged and prosecuted for the crime, but evidence was brought to bear that Mr. Johnson was in the last stages of consumption and would have died anyway. Their claim was that Mr. Johnson assaulted them and they acted in self-defense. Mr. Johnson was conscious and related the details of the affair. His assailants were cleared of the serious charges preferred against them. HISTORY OF THE JAMESTOWN BANKS. N. V. Brown organized a bank in Jamestown in 1885, in the building now occupied by F. E. Lane as a real estate office. It was under the management of Frank Kellogg, who was subsequently succeeded by Ed Hostetler. This bank went into liquidation during the panic of 1892. About the same time Frank Kellogg, and the Everests, of Atchinson, started a bank which went under during the financial crisis of 1893, but paid off its depositors. THE JAMESTOWN STATE BANK. The Jamestown State Bank began business May 7, 1898, with a paid up capital of five thousand dollars. At the present writing it has a surplus and undivided profits of three thousand dollars. Its directors are John Kelly, M. E. Kelly, Ed. Pratt and John E. Lundblade, of Jamestown and J. C. Postlethwaite, of Jewell City. Its officers are J. C. Postlethwaite, president; John E. Lundblade. vice-president; John Kelly, cashier; and John Pratt, assistant cashier. Although a comparatively new banking firm it is on solid footing and the Jamestown people are justly proud of this institution. The bank is located in a building erected and especially designed for banking purposes by Kellogg and Everest at a cost of seven thousand two hundred dollars; a two-story brick building with modern fixtures that would do credit to a city much larger than Jamestown, and far ahead of the town or magnitude of the banking business. The Jamestown bank is, under the management of John Kelly, who is also the principal stock holder. Its deposits at the present time (July 1902) are fifty-six thousand dollars. PROMINENT WOMEN TAKE CHARGE OF JAMESTOWN'S CITY GOVERNMENT. The attempt to put down the whiskey traffic had proven unsuccessful, and the idea originated among the citizens of Jamestown to elect women to the offices of mayor and council. A suggestion was made half in jest and half in earnest by F. A. Lane, that the ladies be allowed the management of the city's affairs. Mr. Bradley heard the proposition, repeated it to his wife and from this the movement was created. The action seemed to meet with the approval of the people and was opposed by but few individuals. Like most other places, Jamestown was divided into two factions; the "wet" and the "dry," and while the temperance ticket had usually been elected, the law has not always been enforced. The male population considered the advisability of turning the administration over to the women, believing their influence might be more potent in its effects. During this year there was a strong temperance movement all over the state and the jointists were made to realize "the way of the transgressor is hard." Mrs. Anna M. Strain was nominated mayor, Mrs. Mary E. McCall, Mrs. Jane E. Hartwell, Mrs. Lavina Wilcox, Mrs. Jennie Gould and Mrs. A. L Isbell received the nomination for board of council. When the matter was first suggested to Mrs. Strain and she was asked to accept the nomination, she hesitated at the responsibility it would incur, as did her co-workers, but she and three of the members of the proposed council, Mrs. McCall, Mrs. Hartwell and 'Mrs. Wilcox, were Womens Christian Temperance Union workers; while all were advocates of the prohibitory law. The ticket won by a large majority. Miss Mamie Hartwell was elected city clerk by a large vote but did not qualify, and Baird Gould, the retiring clerk was re-appointed. F. E. Lane was elected police judge. The first move of the mayor and her council was to besiege the joints with requests to close and thus avoid further trouble. But such a form of government was entirely too mild and their admonitions were not heeded. Their second move was to secure affidavits and put them in the hands of the county attorney. As a third they investigated the injunction plan of closing. As a last resort they petitioned the grand jury and had this body found the parties guilty who were taken in charge, others would have been more easily brought to justice. The combined call of these officials and the taxpayers of Cloud county was their last hope. The cases were called before this body, but either the law was lame or evidence incomplete. A petition was circulated, submitted to the grand jury and a search instituted for good witnesses to appear against them. One of the two jointists withdrew on account of popular opinion and through the assistance of the man who owned the building he was "ousted" The other man, Lewis, was brought up in court at various times. The male members of the city officers were a drawback to the administration as they did not act in unison with the mayor and council. Soon after the election a raid was instituted and her honor, the mayor and her assistants were accused of the attack; but they emphatically pleaded "Not guilty." The board did not favor licensing the saloons and consequently refused to accept their fines. All sorts of reports were circulated regarding James-town's board of city officers and the press, at home and abroad, were rife with comments for and against. For the purpose of creating a sensation some person (supposed on good grounds to be a citizen of their town) reported law and order were running rife; gambling devices free for all, etc. Through this medium many erroneous statements gained circulation. Exaggerated articles were published concerning their administration of the city's affairs; many of them entirely devoid of truth. Their every movement was criticised. Mrs. Strain answered many personal letters and also replied to newspaper articles and the Associated Press. The Chicago Tribune of June n, 1897, said in substance: A unique moral crusade has been instituted in Jamestown, Kansas, by allegedly downtrodden men. By a political freak at the last election the town was given over to the women and it is claimed the result is disastrous. Saloons are said to be running wide open, game chickens permitted to demonstrate their prowess in the most brazen fashion, and even quiet games of the national paste-board variety have found safe harborage; an affair in which the whole nation seems interested. They further promised for their town, if governed by women it would be a veritable garden spot of purity and municipal decorum. They then question if the officials themselves have found the rustling struggle of roosters a legitimate source of enjoyment, and it must be imagined afternoon teas have given away before the seductive inroads of "draw." The writer then followed with the concession that the rumor must be a plot created through the conspiracy of base men; a plot to undermine their gentle reign was being insidiously hatched. This article was followed by a personal letter from the Tribune editor-in-chief to Mrs. Strain, making inquiry as to the truthfulness of the article. Another published in the Daily Drover's Telegram stated the town was running "wide open," and that the men were calling out for reform; that their reign was decried, etc. Others said women were better law makers in theory than in practice. Mrs. Strain became a conspicuous figure and while those scathing articles were sent broadcast over the land she received much encouragement. She was the recipient of a personal letter from the preceptress of a university in Berlin, Germany, and many considerations from other parts of the world, asking in most instances if the current reports were true. She was besieged upon every hand for an expression of her experiences as mayor; a distinction accorded but few ladies and none, prior to her reign. At the urgent request of the citizens of Sterling, Kansas, where she was attending the United Presbyterian synodical meeting which convened in that city, Mrs. Strain addressed a large audience. These officials did not seek control of the city government, neither did they have smooth sailing, but their administration resulted in much good and their reign was fully as deserving of praise as any of their predecessors. Among other things accomplished was the improvement and beautify-ing of the Jamestown cemetery and in their city, new stone street crossings were laid; and be it said to the credit of these ladies were not paid for with "blood" money. The board of council was constituted from the best material in their town. Mrs. Strain is an intellectual and cultured woman, competent of assuming grave issues. The author inquired of one of the board of councilwomen, if she considered their reign a successful one, to which the ex-official archy responded: "I guess not; they didn't re-elect us." METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF JAMESTOWN, KANSAS. The Methodist Episcopal congregation at Jamestown was organized by the Reverend W. S. Morrison in the spring of 1880. W. H. Robinson received the first appointment as class leader. Reverend Morrison served the first charge from March, 1880, to March, 1881. Reverend A. Ball was appointed in March, 1881, and served until March, 1884. In the first year of his pastorate the present church building was erected and dedicated. There are three outside points included in the Jamestown work: "Prairie Gem" school house, four miles northwest, Macyville, ten miles southeast, and Scottsville, nine miles southwest of Jamestown. A conservative estimate of the cash value of the church is about one thousand five hundred dollars, with a parsonage adjoining. The enrollment on the church books is eighty-two full members and four probationers. The following ministers have been in charge beside the first two named: B. F. Hewlett, S. A. Green, J. C. Walker, G. H. Cheney, James Flowers, W. E. Jenkins, W. B. Eley, William D. Vandevost, C. E. True-blood, H. A. Manker, F. D. Funk and F. A. Colwell, who is the present pastor. The parsonage was built during the pastorate of Reverend B. F. Hewlett, in 1884. During Reverend F. D. Funk's pastorate it was remodeled, reconstructed and three rooms added. The first Sunday school in Grant township was organized in June, 1871, with Peter Jones superintendent, C. I. Gould, secretary and treasurer. It was organized as a union Sunday school, held in a dugout and was largely attended; people coming seven and eight miles. During the first summer the attendance was from forty to sixty. The first Methodist Episcopal class was organized the following winter by Reverend Rose, a circuit rider preacher. During the spring of 1872, their first meeting was held in May, at West Hope, in Mitchell county, eight miles west of the present Jamestown. The congregation struggled on holding meetings in dugouts, vacant cabins, school houses and halls until 1881, when the present house was completed under the pastoral care of John A. Ball. The church is a frame building with a seating capacity for about two hundred and twenty-five people. The church is self-supporting and is in good financial condition. They expect soon to remodel and reconstruct the church, enlarge the seating capacity, build a tower on the corner and various other improvements. C. I. Gould is now on his second year as superintendent of the Sunday school. His enrollment is one hundred and thirty, with an average attendance of about one hundred; an Epworth League with Junior department, C. E. Carpenter, president. Both are in fine condition. Clara Vogue is president of the Junior League. There is in connection a Ladies' Busy Bee society, with Mrs. Fink, president, Mrs. Annie Ansdell, vice-president, Mrs. Carroll, secretary, Mrs. Col well, treasurer, and are doing good work. CHURCH OF CHRIST OF JAMESTOWN. September 6, 1881, a charter was taken out for the organization of the Church of Christ of Jamestown with the following members: William Spahr, Luther Bradley, Daniel French, Robert Barton and William French (the two latter are still residents of Cloud county), the corporation to be sustained by voluntary subscription. The following year a church edifice was erected, a frame building with a seating capacity of about two hundred. The congregation is small and the church is not able to maintain a regular minister. At one time it was one of the strongest denominations in the city. Elder Beaver, of Glasco, ministers to the congregation twice a month and has many friends and admirers among the people of Jamestown. FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF JAMESTOWN, KANSAS. During the latter part of 1882 or early in 1883, Reverend J. P. Finey began preaching irregularly for the United Presbyterians, who had secured homes in and around Jamestown. Even before this time Reverend Patterson, then pastor of the "Concordia Congregation" seven miles north of the city of Concordia, had preached a number of times in a school house five or six miles northeast of Jamestown. By order of Concordia Presbytery a meeting in charge of Reverend J. P. Finey and the session of Concordia congregation was held at the French school house, two miles northwest of Jamestown, on April 18, 1882, to perfect the organization. After a sermon and prayer by Reverend Finey, fourteen persons were received by certificate from Concordia Congegation as charter members of the First United Presbyterian church of Jamestown, Cloud county, Kansas; of these fourteen, five still remain in the church, viz: Mrs. Mary E. McCall, Mr. Hugh L. Smith and wife and Mr. David Harnett and wife. In completing the organization, Messrs. J. H. McCall and Hugh L. Smith were elected elders and Messers William M. McCall, J. H. Coy and David Harnett, trustees. William M. McCall was chosen treasurer. At another meeting held in November of the same year, Mr. Smith was ordained an elder, which completed the organization. On the 17th of March, 1884, a meeting was held at which a committee consisting of William M. McCall, C. I. Gould and David Harnett, were appointed to draft a constitution. At this meeting steps were also taken to secure a building fund. An adjournment was then made until April 7, on which date the committee on constitution reported and the report was accepted and. adopted, and an application for charter filed. The building committee was not ready to report and was continued. At a special meeting in the fall of 1884, to take action regarding the building of a church, it was decided to proceed and a new committee con-sisting of C. I. Gould, George A. McCall and David Harnett was appointed, to whom was submitted structures of various dimensions, for each of which they were to ascertain the cost of constructing and report at next meeting; they were also instructed to choose a suitable location for the building some-where within the limits of Jamestown. The congregation met February 4, 1885, to hear the report of this committee and it was decided to erect a frame building 32x54 feet, which was done on a lot donated by C. I. Gould in his addition in the north part of town. Reverend H. T. Jackson, late of Stronghurst, Illinois, was chosen as the first pastor soon after the organization and held services each alternate Sabbath, he being pastor of the Concordia Congregation also. These two congregations have been united in one pastoral charge ever since, except a short time in which Hopewell and Fairview congregations were also a part of the same charge. Reverend Jackson was pastor about three years, after which the congregations were without a pastor until the summer of 1891, when Reverend J. P. Stevenson accepted a call and took up the work. During this long interim a number of ministers were sent to supply the pulpit. Among them were Reverends Wellington Wright, Thomas McCague, D. D., J. G Torrence, R. G. Campbell, J. M, Henderson, W. A. Monks, ??? McKnight, William Murchie, M. M. Milford and R. L. Wilson. Reverend Monks continued in charge of the work for almost three years. The time each supply remained on the field varies in length and one or two of them were there at different times. Reverends Murchie, Wilson and Milford were each theological students at the time they were in charge of the congregations and remained only during the summer vacation. Reverend Stevenson was very successful during his
pastorate of nearly three years and was highly esteemed by the people of Jamestown and Concordia congregations,
and it was only at his earnest solicitation on account of failing health that the congregations agreed to release
him. He was released by the Concordia Presbytery at its meeting in Hopewell in April, 1902, and Reverend H. A.
Kelsey, a student of the Xenia Theological Sem-inary, Xenia, Ohio, was appointed to supply for the summer. His
appoint-ment terminates September 14, 1902. THE POMEROY LIBRARY. Following is a brief history of the pride of Jamestown, an institution in which the city takes a great deal of interest: September 8, 1898, eleven of Jamestown's fair women convened at the home of Mrs. Amelia Hartwell for the purpose of organizing a club for promoting study and mutual benefit. An organization was effected and the following officers were installed: Mrs. Mary E. Kelly, president; Miss Alice Fitzgerald, vice-president; Mrs. Annie M. Strain, secretary and treasurer; Mrs. Brotchie, historian. At a subsequent meeting the name "Current Literature and History Club" was unanimously adopted. In December the motto "Know Thy Opportunities" and the club colors, lavender and white, were chosen. Desirous of advancing the best interests of their people the ladies decided no one thing would tend more to promote good or be a more lasting monument in this direction than a public library. Accordingly by an assessment of twenty-five cents per member, a traveling library of fifty volumes was secured from the state secretary for six months use. The front room over the bank was offered, rent free by F. A. Lane. The members alternately taking charge kept the library quarters open Saturday afternoons. Early in November, 1899, a social was held and out of the proceeds Munsey's, McClure s and the Cosmopolitan magazines were subscribed for. Many contributions were made by friends of the enterprise and other entertainments instituted for the purpose of securing funds, hence in May, 1899, tHey received their first order of books, which numbered forty, and the traveling library was returned. It was decided a room on the ground floor would be more convenient and the club consequently accepted Doctor Hartwell's proffered room rent free, and the library was removed to the building south of the drug store, where it remained until their present quarters were ready for use. At the beginning of the second year, September 28, 1899, through the gift of numerous citizens and members of the club, along with an accumulated fund, about seventy-five books and two hundred magazines had been collected. With these results the ladies felt encouraged to persevere in their cherished plan of establishing a free library and reading room. Through the solicitation of Miss Alice Fitzgerald, James Pomeroy, the founder of Jamestown, contributed one hundred dollars to the enterprise in December, 1899. This sum was used as a nucleus for a building fund. Subscriptions were then solicited from citizens of Jamestown and adjacent territory, and people were liberal with their donations of both labor and finances. Wholesale firms with whom the various merchants dealt were also generous in their assistance, giving in cash and articles to be sold and the proceeds applied- a total of three hundred and fifty dollars. "In April, 1900, the club incorporated under
the name of "Current Literature and History Club" and on May 19, the instrument was signed by the following
charter members: Mary E. Kelly, Ellen L. Nelson, Agnes Fitzgerald, Lizzie Fitzgerald, Annie M. Strain, Stella Lane
and Ellen H. Patton. The society holds its meetings weekly in the club room of the building and new members have been received. The building is a one-story, two-room structure-library and reading room and a club room-which are so arranged that they may be all thrown together, making an audience room with a seating capacity of over two hundred. Lectures and various social functions are held here, the library building being the largest audience room in the city, outside the churches. THE HESSIAN FLY. The following article regarding the Hessian fly and the Chinch bug is clipped from a Deering implement phamplet and will be of more than ordinary interest to wheat growers. The Hessian fly is a fragile, dark-colored gnat or midge about one-eighth of an inch long, resembling closely a small mosquito. Its operations extend to the entire wheat belt. It also exists in the form of a footless maggot or in what is determined the flax-seed state, appearing more or less hidden in the base of young wheat plants and other grains. The Hessian fly is a wheat insect, but also breeds
in rye and barley. There are two principle broods, viz.: A spring brood and a fall brood. There are, however supplemental
broods in the spring and fall, especially in the southern wheat areas, but very often in the extreme northern areas
there may be but a single annual brood, the progeny of the spring brood sometimes not progressing further than
the flax-seed state, and so passing the late summer and winter. It is possible, however, that in the northern region
an autumn brood may develop in volunteer spring wheat. There are four distinct stages in each generation of the
Hession fly: the egg, the maggot or larva, the pupa or flax-seed and the mature winged insect. The eggs are very
minute, being usually deposited on the upper surface of the leaf in rows of three to five or more. In the occurrence
of the spring brood, the eggs are often deposited beneath the sheath of the leaves on the lower joints. Whitish
maggots are hatched from the eggs in from three to five days and these crawl down the leaf to the base of the sheath
and embed themselves between the sheath and the stem, taking the nutriment from the wheat and causing a distortion
or enlargement of the point of attack. The fall brood works in young wheat very near or at the surface of the ground.
The spring brood develops in the lower joints of the wheat close enough to the ground to escape the harvester. The best preventative is late sowing. This method seems to be the most effective. Burning the stubble of an infested field, or turning it under by deep plowing has each its advantage. As above set forth, the second or fall brood secrets itself in the lower joints of the wheat and it is in the flax-seed state at harvest time. This brood may be completely destroyed by promptly burning the stubble. Plowing a field, turning under the stubble, and afterward rolling it, has also proved efficacious in burying the pest beyond resurrection. CHINCH BUG. The Chinch bug seems to flourish in seasons of drought, when its per-nicious raids are more apparent and far reaching. The whole wheat belt is the scene of its operations. Wet weather is fatal to it and has often wrought its complete destruction. As these natural conditions are ungovernable, it is best to revert to such methods as are practical for allaying if not preventing loss from the scourge. The Chinch bug is a native of this country, formerly confining its operations to wild grasses in whose stools it still hibernates. Where there are no wild grasses near, it is known to hibernate beneath such rubbish as straw, matted grass, hedgerows of leaves, and the like. It is especially harmful to wheat. The following table compiled by a United States government entomolo-gist after a careful study made in Kansas, is a clear exposition of the life cycle of the insect. These dates given hold for the middle region; northward there will be a retardation, southward an acceleration. April 10-20, spring flight from hibernating quarters in the grass stools to wheat fields. April 20-30, in coitu about the roots of wheat. May 1-31, deposition of eggs on wheat beneath the surface of the soil, with young hatching from May 15 to June 15. July 1-15, maturing of the first brood, followed immediately, by the midsummer flight, if a migration of immature and adult forms has not been previously occasioned by the harvesting of grain or the local failure of the food supply. July 15-30, union of the sexes and deposition of eggs in the soil about late corn and millet, the young of this brood appearing in maximum numbers about August 5th. August 10 to September 10, maturing of the second brood and partial flight of same to late corn or other green crops if in fields of corn already mature and dying. September 15 to October 15, autumnal flight to grass lands and conceal-ment in the grass stools for hibernation. The most important preventative for practical control of the Chinch bug is to burn over and clean up all waste lands where these insects might congregate, also to burn grass lands, especially those growing wild grass which may have the stooling habit. This should be done in the fall, in order to expose the Chinch bugs that might escape the flames to the unfavorable action of the cold frost of winter. All rubbish in fence corners and hedge-rows should be raked out and burned, removing every possible place of refuge where the bugs might hibernate. THE CHURCH OF SARON. The church of Saron is located about three miles northeast of James-town. It is a Danish Baptist church which was organized July 30, 1871, with the following members: Reverend Nels Nelson, Sr., and wife, Nels Nelson, Jr., and wife, Christine Nelson, John O. Hanson and wife, Caroline Hanson, Peter C. Nelson and wife, Catherine Nelson and daughter, Trine Nelson, Jonas Goodman and Sophia Jensen. The organization was incorporated in 1872. Its first pastor was Reverend Nels Nelson, Sr., and its first clerk John O. Hanson, with Nels Nelson, Jr., treasurer. The first trustees were Nels Nelson, Jr., John O. Hanson and Peter Shott. Before the building of the church edifice the meetings were held altern-ately at the homes of the various members and in spite of hard times, drouth and grasshoppers they set to work to get a church built and through the kind-ness of Mr. N. M. French, they were donated one acre of ground for church and cemetery purposes, and at once got out rock from the hills and commenced the building. October 14, 1877, this little church building was dedicated without any debt hanging over it, much to the satisfaction of its congregation and from that day have had regular services. Services are conducted in English and Danish, alternately twice a month by the Reverend G. B. Peterson, who has served the church for many years regardless of compensation. To the zeal and determination of Nels Nelson, Sr., much credit is due for the accomplishing of this work, the erection of the church building, which is the only one of this denomination in the county. They have a Sabbath school and also young people's meeting. The cemetery in its bosom holds its first beloved pastor, Nels Nelson, as well as a good many of its first workers who helped to make the barren prairie blossom like a garden, where the buffalo and coyote roamed at will. In the thirty years of its existence the following pastors have served: Reverends Nels Nelson, Sr., Laust Jacobson, A. Sorenson, Christ Lund and G. B. Peterson. |
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