CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS BIOGRAPHIES HONORABLE DUNCAN McKELLAR Duncan McKellar spent the earlier years of his life in the city of London, province of Ontario, Canada, where he was born in 1829. Mr. McKellar comes from a long lived race, many of them dying from sheer old age and some almost reaching the century mark. Mr. McKellar has always been associated with public matters; was commissioner in his Canada home for a period of eleven years. In his early life he lived on a farm, then he engaged in the saw mill and lumber business for fifteen years. Prompted by the failing health of his wife, Mr. McKellar came to the new western country in 1870, and settled near Ottawa, in Franklin county, where he farmed two years. Mrs. McKellar was Margaret McCall. The hope of benefitting her health proved futile and she died in May, 1871, leaving son and daughter, Donald P. and Mary A. Donald is a prosperous man, owning a tract of land near Jamestown and is salesman for the J. C. Gibson Granite and Marble Works of Atchison. The daughter is married to A. J. Certain, a produce buyer of Clyde. In May, 1872, Mr. McKellar came to Jewell county and homesteaded land in the southeast corner of the county. When he took up his claim, the land for miles around was unoccupied, but within a few months the tide of emigration did not leave a vacant quarter section. Mr. McKellar traveled extensively through the Rocky Mountain region and was on the town site of Leadville when that city was platted, and assisted in building the Harrison Reduction Works, the first masonry done in Leadville. This was in 1877. He helped to organize, was the first justice of the peace, and was instrumental in the establishment of the first postoffice in Allan township, Jewell county, Kansas. He circulated the petition and his uncle, Archibald Paul, who died in 1901, was appointed postmaster. It fell to Mr. McKellar to supply a name and he said inasmuch as they were hoping for better things he would suggest West Hope and it was adopted. In 1879 Mr. McKellar returned to Canada and married Mary O'Neil, who is a member of an old Ontario family, her father locating in that prov-ince on the site of London in 1819, and helped to survey the new town. R. H. O'Neil, of the banking firm of R. H. O'Neil & Sons, was a brother. He was a prominent banker there for forty-five years and never held a note in his possession that drew over six per cent interest. He died in 1900. J. H. O'Neil, another brother, has been in the town of Lucan, Ontario, for almost half a century, and is a wealthy lumberman. By the second marriage Mr. McKellar has a daughter, Frances, who in 1898, in company with her mother, visited Canada, where she took a course in music. She is a bright and talented young woman. She assists her father in the office; is capable and perfectly conversant with the business. Mr. McKellar sold his homestead in 1893. In 1885 he took his pre-emption right of one hundred and sixty acres in Jewell county, which he still retains. In the same year he came to Jamestown and established a real estate, loan and insurance business which he continued until the present time with the exception of a short interval when he sold goods on the road. In 1897 he bought the B. F. Gould residence, which he has remodeled, laid walks of flagging, planted trees, etc., making it a desirable residence' property. Mr. McKellar is one of the eight men from Kansas appointed by Governor Lewelling as a delegate to the Gulf Transportation Congress held in Chicago in September, 1892. Mr. McKellar's parents emigrated to Canada in 1825, settled in the wilderness of woods, cleared the land and lived there continuously until their deaths. They were the parents of eight children, the eldest was a daughter, Catherine, who died in 1863. Mr. McKellar is the eldest of seven sons who grew to manhood. John, is a farmer in Canada. William was a major in the Twenty-sixth Battalion of the British army and saw fifteen years of service in Canada and Scotland. He had retired from the service and was killed by a cable car in Lon-don, Canada, in 1899. It was during a strike, a raw recruit turned a switch and suddenly reversing it the car ran over Major McKellar, cutting his arm off, mutilating his breast, and killing him instantly. He left a wife and two children. He was a division instructor and was sent to various points in Scotland and Canada. He graduated from the military school in Toronto and in tactics from a military school in England, where he received his commission. Archibald was a hardware merchant. During the invasion of 1867 he was captain of a militia and while in this service he caught the cold which caused his death. Four of the McKellar brothers were in the battle of Ridgeway. Peter, a blacksmith in Ontario, lives within three miles of the old homestead. Malcom, a lieutenant in the invasion of 1867, was young and tender, un-used to hardships, and like his brother, caught cold from exposure, from which cause his death ensued. Dugald died in 1892. Most of Mr. McKellar's ancestry and relatives were in public life and military men. His father was a major in the Canadian rebellion of 1836. Four of his paternal granduncles who were army officers under Napoleon participated in the battle of Waterloo. General Archibald McKellar, member of Kent county, and minister of agriculture, was a second cousin. Mr. McKellar is a Democrat, but his father and brothers were Tories (equivalent to Republicans), and when he ran for commissioner they all voted against him, but he was elected, receiving two to one. Mr. McKellar is now serving his third term as mayor of Jamestown and has conducted the city's affairs in a satisfactory way. He has been township clerk for a number of years and has held other minor offices in the city and township. He is a prosperous business man, has a large list of farm and city properties for sale and represents the best insurance companies to be found and enjoys the confidence of his patrons. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of fourteen years' standing and has been through all the chairs of the order and is a mender of the Encampment. Mr. McKellar and his family are members and workers of the Christian church. At the last convention Mr. McKellar received the nomination on the fusion ticket for probate judge of Cloud county and run with credit to himself and the party that nominated him, but the Republican sentiment defeated him. Had Mr. McKellar been elected he would have undoubtedly proven an efficient officer. F. A. LANE. No one is entitled to more credit for the building up of Jamestown and that part of Cloud county than F. A. Lane, one of its active citizens and successful financiers. He has borne a prominent part in all enterprises promoted for the improvement of the town and for the development of local resources. The prosperity of Jamestown, one of the best towns of its size in the state is due in no small measure to his business acumen and sagacity, for he uses his influence to induce the people to support their own market and promotes projects that are of permanent value to the place. In a straight busi-ness way, he has assisted more of his friends and fellow citizens than any man in the community. In the great financial crisis Mr. Lane helped many a struggling man to withstand the storm and retain his credit, that would have otherwise gone to the wall. During the years of crop failures he furnished many of the farmers with seed oats, wheat, etc., and allowed them the privilege of repaying it whenever they were able. In this and various other ways he has proven himself a public benefactor. Mr. Lane is of New England birth, having been born in Cambridge, Maine, in 1845. When thirteen years of age he removed to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and served an apprenticeship with an elder brother, who was a resident of that city, and who, as a contractor and builder, erected all of the Harvard University buildings. Mr. Lane worked with him until enlisting in the army in May, 1861. He was a member of the Tenth Maine, which was subsequently merged into the Seventeenth Maine. He served until May 22, 1865, and after receiving his discharge in Washington, District of Columbia, he settled in Boston, Massachusetts, and later engaged very successfully in a general merchandise business at West Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1873 he became interested in a wholesale commission house in Bos-ton; but owing to the "panicky" times, did not prosper. In 1876 he decided to try his fortunes in the west and selected Vallisca, Iowa, as a place of resi-dence; but two years later pinned his faith to Kansas, and the thriving little city of Jamestown, by investing his money in that locality, bought two hundred and forty-four acres of land, now included in his ranch, and one year later moved his family there. He worked with a will, is a rustler and prosperity has rewarded his judicious efforts. He is a shrewd manager, a tireless worker, and the outcome of his hustling qualities, coupled with his sagacious judgment is shown in the extent of his possessions and the magnitude of his personal interests. His landed estate in Cloud county aggregates one thousand and forty acres of land, situated four miles northwest of Jamestown and is one of the finest ranches in the country. Mr. Lane has been engaged in stock raising and shipping ever since coming into the state. Besides farming and stock interests he conducts a real estate and loan office. He loaned money when it was impossible to borrow it from the banks, hence did much towards the development of the Jamestown vicinity. He has perhaps loaned more money than any one man in the county. Mr. Lane opened the state of Kansas for the Burlington Insurance Company, and did an immense amount of business in that line for several years. In his hands large financial trusts have been placed and faithfully guarded. He was receiver for the "Barons House" when it failed several years ago, and conducted that popular hotel with profit for seventeen months. He was receiver for the Exchange Bank of Jamestown, that failed in August, 1895; and also closed the business transactions of the Bank of Jamestown. He is also interested in valuable mining stocks. He is vice-president of the Matchless Mining and Milling Company, whose headquarters are in Denver. Their properties are on Farncombe Hill, in the vicinity of Breckenridge, Colorado. Mr. Lane is a son of Ammi and Eliza (Whitehouse) Lane. His paternal grandfather was a sea faring man, and while on one of his distant voyages was lost and never heard from. Mr. line's father was a farmer and died in Maine in 1863. His mother died in Massachusetts in 1886. He is one of a family of six, three brothers and three sisters. Oscar is a resident and business man of Boston. America, resides in New Haven, and for years has been division superintendent of a railway there. Philena is the wife of A. S. Palmer, of near Taunton, Massachusetts. The youngest sister is Frances, the widow of E. E. Hall, who died in the "Barons House" Concordia, several years ago. Mr. Lane was married to Mary Persis Knight, at Marlboro, Massachusetts. An interesting little romance precedes their marriage. Mrs. Knight had a brother in the Army Square Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, suffering from a gun-shot wound received in the army. Mr. Lane was there from the same cause, and as if touched by some magic wand the cots of the wounded comrades were placed near each other. The sister came to nurse back to health her wounded brother, George Knight. Her ministrations did not cease with him, however, but were extended to others in that part of the hospital, among them the subject of this sketch. The acquaintance begun in this romantic way, resulted in their marriage very soon after the close of the war. Mrs. Lane died in Quincy, Massachusetts, in April, 1870, leaving an infant son three months old, Frank E. Lane, whose sketch follows this of his father. While F. E. Lane was visiting his mother's people the past summer (1902) he found in their possession the melodeon his mother used to play, and brought the instrument home with him, as a relic of her belongings. It was constructed nearly one-half century ago. Mr. Lane was married to Anna Stuart, in Waterville, Maine. She was a representative of the noted confederate Stuart family, of Petersburg, Virginia, the place of her nativity. Mrs. Lane was a devout southerner, always retaining her southern sympathies. During the siege of Petersburg, she, with other women, sought refuge in other quarters, and made the journey through the Union lines. She had many jewels, for the Stuarts were wealthy people, and during this exodus she carried the diamonds she had cut from their settings, under her tongue, and in this unique manner saved them from being confiscated. Mrs. Lane was a woman of culture and refinement. She finished her education in a northern college and subsequently removed to New York, where she met and was married to Mr. Lane. She always kept in touch with her southern home and the leaders of the South, having personal correspondence with Jefferson Davis, and other celebrated confederates. Mrs. Lane died in the Barons House, Concordia, in December 1887. Socially, Mr. Lane is a Mason, having joined Rural Lodge, of Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1878. He is a member of the Jamestown Knights of Pythias lodge, and the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is a stalwart Democrat and fervently expounds the principles for which the party stands. Mr. Lane s enterprises have been remarkably successful, and he is ranked among the most prosperous men in the county. He is public-spirited and generous, and has given liberally to everything that appeals to him as worthy. HONORABLE F. E. LANE. The subject of this sketch, F. E. Lane, the present mayor of Jamestown, is the only son of F. A. Lane, of the preceding sketch. He was born in West Quincy, Massachusetts, on the 16th day of October, 1869. His educational advantages were excellent; beginning with a three years preparatory course at West Newton, Massachusetts, in the English and Classical College of that city, followed by a year at the Atchison (Kansas) Institute. In 1887 he became a student at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, pursuing courses in Belles letters and law, and was graduated from that seat of learning in 1890, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was the same year admitted to practice before the Indiana bar. In 1891 he went to Concordia, Kansas and was admitted to the Kansas bar, where he continued his practice, being associated with Honorable J. W. Sheafor. Mr. Lane was married in Concordia in the fall of 1893, to Miss Stella Chapman, a daughter of E. E. Chapman, a merchant of that city. Mrs. Lane is a graduate of Baker University and is a lady of many accomplishments and talented in music. Mr. and Mrs. Lane are the parents of two bright little boys. Wilbur F., and Charles E., the former eight and the latter six years of age. In 1895, Mr. Lane accepted a position on the Missouri grain inspection bureau, with headquarters at Kansas City, where he remained until the fall or 1896, when various interests again called him to Kansas. He located at Jamestown and again resumed the practice of law, giving his entire time and attention to his chosen profession, but does not avoid the duties of a public spirited citizen. He is well posted on current affairs and is a capable lawyer. In his political affiliations, Mr. Lane is a Democrat, and has been the recipitent of many honors in local politics. Fraternally, he is a member of Lincoln Lodge No. 27, Knights of Pythias, of Concordia, which order he joined in 1891. He has passed the chairs of his lodge and is its present representative to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of Concordia Lodge No. 586, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Lane maintains a charming residence in Jamestown, where, with his wife and two little sons, to whom he is deeply attached,-a happy home is represented. HONORABLE JOHN O. HANSON. J. O. Hanson is the present postmaster of Jamestown, and one of the most efficient that city ever had. He is one of the old landmarks, having located a homestead two and one-half miles northeast of Jamestown^ when that part of the country was almost unpopulated. The township was at that time Buffalo, but he is now located in the part included in Grant, and was one of the organizers of that township; the others were, John McCracken, Mr. Woodford and W. T. F. Ansdell, in 1873. Mr. Hanson was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1842. He emigrated to America when a young man, and after a brief stay in the city of New York, removed to Chicago, and in 1871 came to Cloud county, and still retains and lives on the homestead he located at that time. With the organization of Jamestown he opened a furniture and undertaking business and was one of the first to erect a building in the town. He was prosperous until the hard years came, and having given credit to so many of his patrons, when the panic came he was forced to retire and was succeeded by Pence & White of Jewell City, who were succeeded by various others, who likewise nearly failed, until Mr. Ratliff embarked under more favorable auspices. Mr. Hanson farmed one year after going out of business and in 1896 traveled for an undertaking house until, receiving the appointment of postmaster. Mr. Hanson was married in 1870 to Caroline Hanson, a young woman from his own country, whom he met in Chicago. They were both members of the same Baptist church in that city, and in this way formed an acquaintance, which resulted in their marriage. They are the parents of three sons and one daughter, and have five children deceased, three of whom died with diptheria within a week, in Concordia, where they lived two years. Anna, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Reverend H. P. Anderson, a Baptist minister, of Newell, Iowa. William F., is a jeweler and optician. He graduated from the Omaha Optical Institute in March, 1901, and has a stock of optical goods and jewelry in the postoffice building. Elmer is assistant postmaster at Jamestown. Eddie is the youngest son, aged sixteen. Mr. Hanson is a Republican in politics and has served several terms as mayor of his town. He had been a Mason for many years and has held the chair of Master of Jamestown lodge, but has withdrawn his membership. Mr. Hanson occupies a comfortable home at the present writing, but in the primitive days of Kansas, lived like most of the pioneers. He broke prairie and utilized some of the sod in building a place of habitation, which sheltered them until building a crude house of stone with dirt roof. While speaking of his career Mr. Hanson remarked in substance. He would not be brave enough to again undergo the hardships entailed upon him and his family to secure a homestead and recited a few of their many experiences: Wife shaking with ague, no well of pure water, neighbors few and far between, no team but oxen, but better off than some of the settlers who drove an ox and a cow yoked together. He had ten acres of promising corn, and during the noontime hour, while resting and partaking of the frugal meal, he heard a great roaring, whirring noise, and upon looking for the cause found the "hoppers" had arrived in droves of millions, filling the earth, skies and every available space, and by two o'clock not a single vestige of vegetation nor a blade of his field of corn was left, not even leaving a small garden of thriving tobacco plants. In his early life Mr. Hanson learned the carpenter s trade and upon the occasion of the following incident he was building a house for a neighbor, Mr. Iverson, who lived near the Republican river. He returned home one night after having walked from his place of labor, several miles distant, foot-sore and weary, to find his family for some unknown cause had deserted their home. The Indians had committed many murderous deeds, and from the appearance of things, the empty beds that had been slept in, the disorder generally prevailing, showed a hasty flight or exit had been made. Mr. Hanson at once repaired to a neighbors and found the same con-dition existing there, beds vacated, clothes scattered about, etc. He then went to the camp of a brother-in-law, who had homesteaded one mile north, but were still living in their wagons. His kinsmen were new in the country, consequently greatly alarmed concerning the Indians, and had been told that when the savages made a murderous attack they dressed up in fantastic style and made a great noise. As they retired for the night they were serenaded in the distance by a pack of hungry, howling coyotes; imagined they were Indians and in their fright and excitement routed and gathered all their neighbors together for protection against the prospective attack. When Mr. Hanson arrived at the Christensons he found the fugitives congregated together and the men with their guns had established an arsenal. Although chagrined, Mr. Hanson was amused at their predicament. Another brother-in-law, James Nelson, however, saved his own life and the lives of his family perhaps, at the same time Miss White was captured, by pointing a rusty revolver at the savages. Mr. Hanson has experienced many of the quicksands and vicissitudes of life, but is now on a solid foundation and lives in a comfortable home which he built in 1880, and made more commodious by an addition in 1886. He also owns the postoffice building and a stock of books and stationery, which nets him a considerable income. His sons are prepossessing and manly young men, who will evidently make a success in life, and like their father, good citizens and honorable men. REVEREND C. E. CARPENTER. A series of biographical sketches of the Jamestown citizens would not be complete without a tribute to the Reverend C E. Carpenter, who has, perhaps, done more good in a spiritual way than any resident of their town He fills an important work in many fields of labor. He is a faithful minister of the gospel and achieves much good in his modest, sincere, every-day life. He is one of the most useful individuals in the community. If there are "two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one," that are to be united in the holy bonds of matrimony, Reverend Carpenter's services are sought to invoke the divine blessing. It, is he who is called to minister at the bedside of his fellow citizens in the closing hours of life, to soothe, comfort and alleviate the sorrowing friends and later to officiate at the funeral rites. There are few families in the town or community that have not been associated with Reverend Carpenter is one or all of these conditions and his readiness and willingness in performing these duties have endeared him to his friends. Reverend Carpenter is a native of the state of New York, born in Orange county in 1852. For ten years prior to coming to Kansas in 1878 he lived in Peekskill, on the Hudson river. After several years devoted to farming three miles south of Jamestown, he left the farm in charge of his son and for twelve years was identified with the Doctor Baker Medicine Company as traveling salesman. Two years he was employed on rural mail route No. 2, running out of Jamestown. September 1, 1903, he became associated in a general merchandise business under the firm name of Carpenter & Carroll, and being well and favorably known, they are building up an excellent trade. During the greater part of his life Reverend Carpenter has alternated his time with the ministry and evangelical work. For two years he has filled the pulpits of Scottsville, Macyville and Fairview. He is not sectarian but worships with all denominations. Reverend Carpenter was married in 1872 to Miss Jennie Tompkins, of New York. Her father owned a farm along the Hudson, near Croton Landing, where Mrs. Carpenter was born. Their five children living are: Walter J., their only son, who is a rural mail carrier; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Vincent a farmer three miles southwest of Jamestown; Flora, wife of Perry Grout, an employee in the store of Tolin Lundblade; Alice and Winifred are young women at home, the former assists in the store. JOHN O. STRAIN. John O. Strain, the subject of this sketch, is a son of the late Judge Strain, who was one of the best known and most efficient jurists of Cloud county. Mr. Strain is the youngest of four brothers and was born in Monmouth, Illinois, in 1865. He came with his parents to Cloud county in 1871, and located in Concordia, where they lived until the death of his father, in January, 1880. His mother before her marriage, was Miss Nancy Y. Brown. After Judge Strain's demise she made her home with her son, the subject of this sketch, until her death, in February, 1896. The eldest son, M. M., occupies a position in the hardware store of his brother, John O. George is a salesman for the Monarch Manufacturing Company, and resides in Chester, Nebraska. J. A., who bears his father's name, has made a clerical record of considerable prominence. He was one of the charter members of the Presbyterian church of Concordia, and until recently was engaged in missionary work in Ecuador, South America. On account of failing health and a desire to educate his children, he recently returned to the United States and accepted a position as bookkeeper with the A. J. Harni Hardware Company of Atchison. J. O. Strain was educated in the Concordia high school and lived on his father's farm near that city, until coming to Jamestown in 1884. March 1, 1888, he established a hardware and implement business in the latter named place, on a capital of one thousand five hundred dollars, and during the panic of 1893, practically lost everything he invested. About this time the strip was opened in the Indian Territory and many who owed him removed to that quarter and left their bills unsettled. He suffered financial losses but the business never completely collapsed; he managed to keep his head above the tide of misfortune and in 1896, began to prosper, increase and strengthen until he gained a solid footing once more. In March of 1902, he formed a partnership with J. D. Hills, who, with his family, came from Carthage, Illinois, and became citizens of Jamestown. In February, 1903, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Strain again assuming full control. His stock consists of shelf and heavy hardware, farm implements, wagons, buggies, pumps and machine oils. He operates a tin shop in connection, employing a competent workman and manufactures steel tanks. He is agent for the Acme, Champion and McCormick harvesting machinery; the Canton line of agricultural implements; the Mitchell, Bain, and Fish wagons; Canton, Rhodes and Carmine buggies; Fairbanks, Dandy and Woodmanse windmills. Their trade in the latter line averages from two to three car loads annually. In 1901, they sold fifty-five harvesting machines; their sales amounting to $60,000, and exceeded that number in 1902. Mr. Strain has been very successful in his sales of buggies the past year (1903), having sold about seventy-five vehicles. In 1902 he bought the building and machinery of the Fitzgerald implement house, who retired from that business. He established a branch store in Norway, Republic county, and since opening a business there, the first of the present year (1903) his trade has fully justified the movement. Mr. Art Ledbetter, formerly with him in Jamestown, has the management of the Norway store. The late W. S. Tipton worked for Mr. Strain in the capacity of tinner for fourteen years, dating back to the opening of his hardware house in Jamestown. Mr. Tipton was an old resident of Cloud county. He died in December 1902, and was buried in the cemetery of Highland church, Summit township, on Christmas day. The present tinner, Ed. Flannery, formerly of Beloit, was connected with the hardware house of W. T. Branch, of that city. Mr. Strain was married April 8, 1891, to Miss Anna M. Wherry, of Smith Center, a daughter of D. G. Wherry, a Smith county farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Strain are the parents of three children: Elsie May, aged nine years; Helen, who was named for Helen Kellar, the blind girl, is aged seven, and John A., a bright and interesting boy, aged three. Mrs. Strain served as mayor one term, as mentioned elsewhere in the history pertaining to Jamestown. She taught school successfully for several years; one year in Republic county and was a member of the faculty of the Jamestown schools in 1890. Mr. Strain is a Republican and takes an interest in political affairs. He has been a member of the council, of the school board and has held various township offices for several years. They are members, regular attendants and among the most active workers of the Presbyterian church. The Strains are all men of high moral standing, industrious, enterprising and contribute to every movement instigated for the best interests of their town or county. Mr. Strain and his family occupy a pleasant home and are among the best citizens of Jamestown. HONORABLE ANDREW R. MONTGOMERY. One of the hale-fellows-well-met, of Jamestown, is A. R. Montgomery, the elevator man. He has been one of the most prominent citizens for fifteen consecutive years, with the exception of one year spent in Clyde, where he owned and operated the livery stable now owned by E. Peck. His first nine years in Jamestown were associated with his brother James, in the mercantile business now owned by McGaugh Brothers. In 1879, he bought the Pence & White stock of furniture and after a successful period of one year, sold to R. Y. Tidball. During this interval he went to Clyde. In 1898, he built the large elevator where he now holds forth, and is one of the most entensive grain dealers in the county. Besides his grain interests he retails large quantities of coal, and buys and ships horses. His elevator has a capacity for twelve thousand bushels. In 1901, he handled about two hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat. He at all times pays the highest market price for grain and has made a success of this enterprise. Mr. Montgomery has handled horses and mules for ten years, averaging about one hundred head annually. He keeps a buyer out from August until May. Mr. Montgomery is a native of Adams county, Ohio, born in 1858. His father is A. H. Montgomery, one of the reliable farmers of the Macyville locality, and an old settler of Cloud county. Mr. Montgomery was married in 1880, to Carrie Evans, of Ottumwa, Jefferson county, Iowa. She was a daughter of the late Dr. Evans. To this union have been born six children, viz.: Mamie, the eldest daughter, has been a successful Cloud county teacher three years. She is a graduate of the Jamestown high school. Ethel, employed as a clerk by McGaugh Brothers, is also a graduate of the Jamestown high school. Richard, aged sixteen years is still in school and assists his father during vacation. Carrie, aged thirteen, a graduate of the Jamestown high school of June, 1902. and Lawrence, aged eight. The happiness of the family circle was shadowed by the death of a beautiful little daughter-Merril, aged six years in the autumn of 1902. The Montgomerys have a pleasant home, the Owens residence property, which they purchased in 1901. Mr. Montgomery is a Republican first, last and all the time. Is public spirited, has been mayor of his town, a member of the council for several years and an efficient member of the school board. He has been associated with the Masonic order for fourteen years, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for nine years, is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Eastern Star. GEORGE M. HARTWELL, M. D. Dr. Hartwell cast his lot with the destiny of Jamestown in the second year of its birth, July 16, 1879, which was practically his first field in the medical profession. Dr. Hartwell is a native of Hancock county, Illinois, born in 1854 at the little station of Bowen, where he met with an accident (thrown from a horse), which caused him the loss of a leg when about twelve years of age. He received his earlier education at the village school of Bowen. In 1874, he with several of his young companions, began reading medicine in the office of Dr. Kelley, of Bowen, without any serious intentions of continuing. The others all dropped out, but Dr. Hartwell proceeded to pursue the study of physics, and in 1876 entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he graduated March 27, 1878. Within four months after arriving in Jamestown, he opened a drug store, the town being ill supplied in that line. He has the only drug store in the city at the present time. The Hartwells are of Welch origin. Dr. Hartwell's father was a native of New York, but in his early manhood moved to Ohio and thence to Illinois, where he lived until 1876, when the family came to Marshall county, Kansas. He died in Jamestown in 1897. Dr. Hartwell's mother died when he was about four years of age. He is one of eight children, two of the older brothers died of diseases in the army, brought on by exposure and hardships. Mrs. Hartwell was Miss Amelia Resing, of Pottawatomie county Kansas. Their family consists of two children, Eva, aged eleven and George, aged nine. They lost a little son, Clarence, aged sixteen by accident in the winter of 1900. He was hunting and was shot through the foot by the accidental discharge of his gun. Lockjaw ensued and he died a week later. Dr. Hartwell is extensively interested in farming and stock raising. He has a farm of one hundred and ninety acres near Jamestown, the Kiggan homestead, one of the old farms of the county and one hundred and twenty acres one and one-half miles west of Jamestown, in the Buffalo creek valley. Both of these farms are bottom land. He has a pasture farm one mile south of Jamestown, where he keeps a herd of about fifty head of native cattle, Shorthorn and Galloway breeds. ELMER E. KIEFER. Elmer E. Kiefer, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, born near Neshanock, in 1867. When eleven years of age he came overland with his parents to Kansas and settled in Jewell county. He was reared on a farm, in the meantime receiving a common school education, and when he attained the age of twenty years, entered the State University at Lawrence, Kansas, and graduated from that school in 1889. He then engaged in teaching in the Jewell comity schools and after several years of successful work he completed a teacher's course in the Salina Normal. In 1807 he became associated with Mr. Carroll, of the present firm of Carpenter & Carroll, and established a general merchandise business. In the summer of 1902 he sold his interest to Reverend Carpenter and has since been engaged in clerking. Mr. Kiefer is a son of George W. Kiefer, an old veteran of the army of the Potomac. He served in Company C, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, over three years. He received a gunshot wound in the left side, from which he is still a sufferer. He participated in many battles and was an inmate of Libby Prison a short time. He was discharged in 1864, just prior to the battle of Cedar creek. George W. Kiefer was a resident of Jewell county for many years. He is now retired and lives in Lawrence, Kansas. Our subject's mother was Salina Lienberger; her grandfather was a German emigrant and settled in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in an early day, and lived to be almost a centenarian. Mr. Kiefer's brother, W. L., is also a successful teacher and a former principal of the Jamestown schools. The other members of the family are, Daisy, Mrs. Widrig, of Jewell county; Norman and Cecil Darline. Mr. Kiefer was married in 1898, to Miss Helen Krom, of Beloit, Kansas. Mrs. Kiefer was also a teacher, having been associated with the Mitchell county schools for several years and also taught at Harwood, North Dakota. Her father, Peter Krom, was a soldier in the Civil war. He served with a Wisconsin regiment. Mr. Krom emigrated to Kansas in an early day and lives on the land he homesteaded, near Beloit. Politically, Mr. Kiefer is a Democrat. He is a member of the Jamestown board of education and one of the councilmen. Socially he is a Mason and a member of the order of Woodmen of America. Himself and wife were members and active workers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Kiefer is assistant superintendent of the Sabbath school and is trustee and steward in the church. The Keifer's occupy a pleasant cottage home and are ranked among Jamestown's most esteemed citizens. CARL E. AXELSSON. C. E. Axelsson is a son of Axtel Peterson, taking the Christian name of his father for his surname, as is the custom in their country. Axtel Peterson died a half century ago in Sweden, never having left his native land. C. E. Axelsson was born in Kalmer, Sweden, in 1840. In 1869 he came to America and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where he lived ten years. April 25, 1879, he emigrated to Kansas and after a stay" of three months in Mitchell county, came to Jamestown, when there were but few houses, and at the beginning of the building of the railroad. He bought lots near where the Central Hotel is located, returned for his family and has since made Jamestown his home. Mr. Axelsson is a shoemaker by trade. In 1887 he opened an exclusive shoe store, buying the building he now occupies in 1889. He had learned the trade in Sweden, where he served as apprentice about six and one-half years, in the meantime learning every branch of the trade, cutting, fitting etc. Before coming to America he had worked at Stockholm, Hamburg, Germany and Hull, England. While in Brooklyn he became one of a corporation in a boot and shoe manufacturing establishment, where he remained six years. Mr. Axelsson is a linguist, reading and speaking several different languages: Swedish, German, English, Danish and Norwegian. In 1874 he was married to Christine Smith, a native of Schleswig, Danish America. Their family consists of seven children. Mary Christine has occupied the position of book-keeper in a candy store in Chicago for six years. She is one of the leading employees of this large concern, practically at the head of the business, owing to the continued illness of her employ en John A., was for three years a brakeman on the Central Branch railroad, but is now located in Illinois, near Chicago. Caroline is taking a course in telegraphy in the city of Chicago. Alma is also in the same school. Otto, Carl, and Esther, aged thirteen, eleven and eight years respectively. In politics Mr. Axelsson is a Republican, and was a member of the first city council in Jamestown. The family are members of St. Luke's Lutheran church. JOHN KELLY. John Kelly, of Jamestown, the cashier and one of the principal stockholders of the Jamestown Bank, has been associated with the people of Cloud county and vicinity since March, 1879. For several years he was a prominent educator and accounted one of the most successful. Mr. Kelly's place of nativity is Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on a farm near Scranton, and received the rudiments of his education there. When he came to Cloud county in 1879, he began his career as teacher in district No. 50. After teaching one term he entered the State University, took a special course for one year and resumed his school work; taught one year in Re-public county and three years in district No. 8. During this period he was chosen one of the board of examiners, discharging the duties of this office for four years and instructed in the Cloud county Institute for three sessions. From 1885 until 1890, Mr. Kelly was principal of the Jewell city schools, of Jewell county, Kansas. He next assumed control of the farm loan department of the firm of Caldwell & Peterson, of Concordia, until 1893, when he was elected cashier of the Citizens' National Bank. His services were evidently satisfactory, for he received successive promotion. The world is crowded with men ready and willing to embrace every opportunity for money making, hence to obtain and hold a position of merit is a real compliment to a man. Three years later, December 1896, Mr. Kelly was elected president of the Bank of Beloit, which consolidated with the First National Bank of that city in March, 1898. He resigned his position with this banking house to establish the State Bank of Jamestown. Mr. Kelly was married in 1890, to Mary E. Pratt, who was one of his corps of teachers in the Jewell city schools. Mr. Kelly is a son of Bernard Kelly, a native of Ireland. He died in 1892. His mother was Ellen Scany, also of Irish birth, but for years a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, until her death, December 3, 1902. Mr. Kelly is one of six children, who are all living in Scranton. Mr. Kelly and a brother, who died in Texas, are the only members of the family who came west. Mr. Kelly takes an active part in politics, votes the Republican ticket, but in local elections supports the best men-men of honor and integrity. He is serving on his third year as treasurer of the school board of Jamestown, and is a valuable and conservative officer. Mr. Kelly began life in Cloud county with small capital and has developed into one of the leading business men of the county. Personally he is congenial and very popular among his friends. J. AUSTIN MARSHALL. The subject of this sketch, J. Austin Marshall, a son of Edward Marshall (see sketch), is a Kansas product, having been born in Cloud county, August 1st, 1873. He enjoys the distinction of having first seen the glimmer of day in a dugout on his father's homestead in Oakland township, when there was no lumber to be had unless hauled from Junction City, or other places equally distant. Mr. Marshall remained on the farm until he had attained his twentieth year. Aspiring to newspaper work he entered the printing office of his brother, John Marshall, then owner and publisher of the Concordia Daylight Possessing a somewhat restless spirit, coupled with a desire for adventure and excitement, the mysteries of hypnotism had an attraction for our subject, and after serving one year of apprenticeship in his brother's office, he pene-trated the mysterious workings of hypnotism, became an adept in the science, and toured the states of Kansas and Arkansas in this vocation. His entertainments called forth many interesting newspaper comments and his fame as a hypnotist spread far and wide. After three years of traveling he returned to Concordia, and again entered the printing office of his brother. Possessing considerable journalistic talent, he interested some of Concordia's politicians and prominent citizens, who backed him in a political scheme and through their influence he purchased the Daylight of Marshall & Jones, which he ran very successfully, but subsequently consolidated with the Empire. He later sold his interest to T. A. Sawhill and established the Concordia Press. Mr. Marshall employed good talent and for several months the Press was one of the county's leading papers. Early in 1902 he became interested in the Jamestown Optimist, relieving the editor, A. B. Collins, a political aspirant, that he might canvass the .county in the interest of the office which he sought He continues with the Optimist, which has a large subscription list and good advertising patronage from the Jamestown merchants. In 1900 Mr. Marshall's name was presented to the Republican county convention for the office of clerk of the court, but was defeated by four votes. He did not make a canvass of the county, nor was it announced that he was a candidate until a few days prior to the holding of the convention. Though not permitted to become a candidate again in 1902, he took an active part in the campaign, and did all he could in a personal way, and through the columns of his paper to promote the success of his party by electing its candidates. Mr. Marshall was married in 1896 to Mabel, a daughter of S. B. Glidden, one of Concordia's old citizens. Editor Marshall has recently sold his paper, the Jamestown Optimist, to Mr. Kimmal, a local photographer of Jamestown. HONORABLE O. W. F. WILCOX. O. W. F. Wilcox came to Kansas in 1879, and farmed rented land south of Concordia. Three years later he bought the Chris Mosburg homestead, six miles south of Jamestown on Whites creek, where he lived two years, sold and located in Jamestown, following the occupation of clerk. In 1896, he bought the H. H. Harris stock of stationery, added other lines and converted it into a racket store, including canned goods, tobacco, candies, fruits and summer drinks. Mr. Wilcox is a native of Branch county, Michigan, born in 1840. When fourteen years of age he moved with his parents to Hardin county, Iowa, and when he arrived to manhood enlisted in Company B, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, the first year of the war. He served two enlistments, remain-ing until the close. He was slightly wounded twice, was in St. Louis hospital two months as the result of a wound he received in the battle of Shiloh. He saw active service and was in the battle of Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta, with Sherman on his march to the sea, and in all the battles with the western department. After the war he returned to Iowa and was married in 1866, to Lavina Burghdef. In his earlier life Mr. Wilcox had learned the shoe maker's trade which he followed until coming to Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have been born eleven children, all of whom but one are living, and all but, one living in or near Jamestown. The oldest son is William, who is foreman in the shops of the American Windmill Manufacturing Company, and has been in their employ about three years. Otto F., is proprietor of one of the neatest little barber shops in the county. The shop is small in dimensions, but elegant in point of fixtures and equipment. He is married to Ethel Andrews, of Jamestown. They are the parents of one child, Lucile. Rosa, wife of William Jenkins, a carpenter of Jamestown. They are the parents of five children: Carl, Ray, Nellie, George and Willie. The second daughter, Nellie, is a milliner by trade. Centennial, is the wife of Bert Schell, a farmer near Jamestown. They are the parents of two little daughters, Esther and Lila. Kate, wife of John Oyler, a carpenter of Jamestown. They have one child, a little son, Max. Roy, in the shop with his brother Otto. Fred, a boy of sixteen and the two younger children, Mary and Charlie. Mr. Wilcox votes the Republican ticket and takes an active interest in the local affairs of his town. He served as mayor one term, police judge several times, and for several years was a member of the council. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has been post commander at various times. He is a member of the Sons and Daughters of Justice. The maternal ancestors of Mr. Wilcox were early New England settlers. His mother was a close relative of Lorenzo and Neal Dow. His paternal ancestors were of Irish and Dutch origin, and among the early New England settlers. Mr. Wilcox owns a comfortable residence and the building he occupies as a store. HONORABLE JOHN E. LUNDBLADE. The subject of this sketch, John E. Lundblade, of Jamestown, Kansas, is a prominent citizen and leading merchant of that little city, and a man who has had a remarkably successful career. Mr. Lundblade began at the bottom of the ladder, but by good management and close application has built up a business that does credit to himself, the town, and the surrounding country. Mr. Lundblade began his career as a clerk in the widely known Fair, one of the best retail stores in Chicago. After one year he came to Cloud county and considered it a fortunate move, when in 1878, he cast his lot with the enterprising people of Jamestown. He acepted a position with S. Taylor and later with William Taugman, as dry goods salesman, the latter firm being in the building Mr. Lundblade now occupies. In 1891, with a capital stock of one thousand dollars, Mr. Lundblade opened a general merchandise store. In 1891 the volume of business in-creased to the extent of demanding more room, and he removed to the Elniff building. In 1896, this in turn became too crowded and he occupied in connection the adjoining building, cutting two archways between, making a room 48x70 feet in dimensions-with a basement-which is filled with one of the best selected stocks of goods in the county, consisting of dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, groceries and queensware, invoicing fully one thousand seven hundred dollars. This stock is turned more than twice annually. Mr. Lundblade is a native of Sweden, born in the city of Jenshopin, in 1862. When seven years of age he came with his parents to America, and located in Bucklin, Missouri, where they resided about eleven years and where he received a common school education. In 1878, his father, Charles Lundblade, moved to Republic county, Kansas, where he is a prosperous farmer, living near Kackley. Mr. Lundblade's mother died in Missouri in 1870, leaving three sons, all of whom are living. Al, a farmer near Jamestown, and Robert, a farmer of Republic county. By a second marriage there were three children, two of whom are living, viz.: Ellen, wife of Leonard Nelson, of Republic county, and the youngest son, Joe, lives at home. Mr. Lundblade owns a well improved farm two miles south of James-town, which he bought about three years ago. He also owns some good real estate in Jamestown, and one of the most desirable homes in the county. A windmill furnishes irrigation for a fine lawn, which is Mr. Lundblade's especial pride. His home is a modern cottage elegantly furnished and pre-sided over by Mrs. Lundblade, who was Miss Georgia Mercer, whom he married in 1886. Mrs. Lundblade is a lady of elegant tastes and a helpmate in the truest sense of the word. Politically, Mr. Lundblade is a Democrat, has served two terms as mayor of Jamestown, and is a member of the present city council; was postmaster-four years under Cleveland's second administration. He is a prominent Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the K. of P. He has been one of the directors of the Jamestown bank since its organization. The magnitude of business done by Mr. Lundblade evidences his excellent ability as a manager and financier. He is still a young man and bids fair to become one-of the foremost merchants in the county. CHARLES IRVING GOULD. C. I. Gould is one of the fathers and founders of the city of Jamestown. His lineage traces back to Abraham Gould of the same line as Jay Gould, the late railroad magnate, whose gifted daughter, Miss Helen, is known the world over for her many charities and as an angel of mercy to the suffering poor. Abraham Gould, who signed the charter for the state of Connecticut, was Mr. Gould's great-great-grandfather. His mother was also of distinguished ancestry tracing a direct line to General Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame. Orrin P. Gould, father of our subject, was born in the state of Connec-ticut. His ancestry was of English birth. His brother was captain of a com-pany in the war of 1812, and was one of the Americans who were defending Buffalo, New York, when they painted logs black to give the enemy the impression they had numerous and heavy cannon. After serving during the entire war he returned to his home and entered land in the Holland Purchase Reserve near Batavia, New York. Mr. Gould's father when a small boy, came with his parents to western New York, where he lived until the subject of this sketch was three years of age, when they removed to Michigan. Here his mother's health failed and he returned to New York, remaining until she fully recovered. In 1869, they emigrated to Kansas and homesteaded land near Blue Rapids and in 1878 removed to Cloud county, where they were both deceased; his mother in 1885 and his father in 1893. Mr. Gould was born in Batavia, New York, in 1851. He received his education in the Rural Seminary, East Pembrook, New York, and later came wegt with his parents. In June, 1870, in company with three other young men he came to Cloud county on an ox cart and homesteaded the farm on which he now lives on the 19th day of November, a portion of which is the present site of Jamestown. He gave the railroad company one-half interest in sixty acres of land to build the depot and plat the town. His, residence, a comfortable dwelling, is within the city limits. He little thought when he filed on this claim that the future would build up a prosperous town and as for a railroad, it was looked for, but no one knew the course it would take. Only a few houses were in sight; government troops were encamped in their barracks at Fort Sibley and Concordia was unknown. Mr. Gould did some splendid soliciting for the railroad company in the different townships in Jewell county. For calling elections to vote bonds for the extension of Jewell Branch, Major Downs, general manager of the Central Branch of the Union Pacific railroad, complimented him for his success in a substantial manner. Mr. Gould has always been a tiller of the soil, finding many resources in its depths. He owned and operated a thresher for six seasons before the use of traction engines. His present machine cost him the neat little price of $2,800, purchased in 1901. Mr. Gould is one of five children, all boys and all living. Two brothers reside in Jamestown; Edwin A. is a farmer near Jamestown; Baird T., manages the P. V. elevator at Hollis, his family residing in Jamestown; David G., of Concordia, manager of the P. V. elevator; Myron H., a farmer in Iowa, removed from Kansas six years ago. Mr. Gould was married in 1875, to Lucy Webster of Southfield. Massachusetts, who in company with her parents came to Blue Rapids where she met Mr. Gould and became his wife. Her father was a soldier and enlisted in the 49th Massachusetts. His company was sent south into the swamps of Louisiana, where he contracted a serious illness from climatic changes which was the direct cause of his death; like many thousands of other brave boys, he left a beautiful and happy home never to return to its enjoyments, but answered his "last roll call" and sleeps beneath the canopy of the little green tent which nature provides for every soldier. To Mr. and Mrs. Gould eight children have been born, seven of whom are living. Olive D., wife of C.W. Nelson, a farmer living two miles north and two miles west of Ames. Webster O., an expert traction engineer and a young man highly respected throughout the community. Arthur C., by profession a school teacher on his second term. He taught last year north-west of Clyde in District No. 15. He is employed this year in District No. 64. He is a graduate of the Jamestown high school. Irving H., a young man who has not quite reached his majority is living at home, a valuable assistant to his father in the duties of the farm, and an exemplary young man. Florence L., her father's housekeeper, who was deprived of a mothers training and good counsels when a child, having just passed her seventh birthday, has developed into a matronly young woman assuming the responsibilities of the household affairs with credit for one of her years. Benjamin and Jay, the two youngest children, are school boys. Mr. Gould is a member, trustee and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school for two years. In 1901, was elected president of the International County Sunday School Association. In the convention notes of the Miltonvale Record, where the society convened, the following mention is made: "The retiring (but untiring) president, C. I. Gould, was surely the right man in the right place." To his devotion, energy and personal efforts as a church worker is due much of the success of the church and the Sunday school which is one of the best in the county. His heart is in his work and he feels he has faithfully done his duty for the best interests of the congregation. Mr. Gould is a member in good standing of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, joining the order two years ago, also a member of the Sons and Daughters of Justice, the Pyramids and the Threshers' National Protective Association, a comparatively new order whose object is to elevate and better the conditions of dealers and operators. He is a good, fair and square Republican, and served as deputy sheriff with Morrisette, the last year of his term in office. He has been a member of the council for two years, also served a term several years ago. Mr. Gould has been an indefatigable church and Sunday school worker and is a highly respected citizen. His sons are intelligent young men of excellent repute. WILLIAM R. ANSDELL. William R. Ansdell, who came to Cloud county in the year 1870 stands as one of the "tried and true" and after being weighed in the balance has not been wanting. Upon his arrival in the "garden spot of the world," he selected the homestead whereon he now resides, but the home of then and now bears little resemblance. "The prairie shall blossom like the rose," is most surely fulfilled at the Ansdell farm. Mr. Ansdell's father, Frederick F. S. Ansdell was a man well known to all the old settlers of the county as having established the first store in 1870, which was the only one in the vicinity until the city of Jamestown was founded, and as that seemed a good location for business he was one of the first to open an extensive general merchandise store; almost simultaneously Myron M. Strain and H. W. Hansen were competitors for the town and country trade. F. F. S. Ansdell was a native of England and upon attaining his majority emigrated to America. He spent a few months in New York City where he met and married Miss Mary E. Patterson, and emigrated to Wisconsin when that state was sparsely settled; Indians committed many depredarations and wolves made the night hideous with their blood-thirsty howls. Here their eight children were born, grew and thrived making the silent woods ring with their glad and happy shouts, laughter and song. Five of these children are still living. Their nearest neighbor was six miles distant and as the telephone system was not in effect those days the women of the family could not hang over the back fence to have a bit of gossip nor could a choice morsel be transmitted over the phone. In 1870, Mr. Ansdell decided to emigrate to Kansas for two reasons; the first one to secure more land for his three growing sons and to seek a more salubrious climate. He found a number of claims taken but only a few settlers living on them. His two sons, William R. and Henry M., and James Carter are the only citizens remaining that were in the township at the time of his arrival. Mr. Ansdell was one of the representative men of the county, but was not a politician. He was the second postmaster of Jamestown and also postmaster at Arena, Iowa county, Wisconsin, during the war and until he removed to Kansas. Mr. Ansdell was the first station-agent at Jamestown. Was appointed and held the position several months without salary, in the meantime not selling many tickets. Several years afterward he put in a claim to the railroad company and they remitted the usual salary paid to agents without hesitation or comment. He was deceased in 1887, and his wife in 1893. William R. Ansdell was married in 1884, to Miss Ida E. Prince, of Concordia, Kansas, who is a sister of Mrs. "Jack" Billings. They are the parents of six children, four of whom are living; Richard, a young man seventeen years of age is on his last year in the Jamestown high school preparatory to taking a business course in the Great Western Business College, of Concordia, Kansas, one of the most thorough schools in the state. Fred, aged fourteen, George, nine years of age, and Margaret, a winsome little daughter of eighteen, months, complete the family. Mr. Ansdell owns two hundred and thirty-lour acres of excellent land" all first and second bottom, principally first, Buffalo creek intersecting the north eighty. His crops consist principally of wheat and alfalfa, seldom av-eraging less than twenty-five bushels of wheat to the acre. He considers alfalfa a leading crop as it brings him more remunerative and quicker returns than any other branch of farming in which he has experimented. After cutting and garnering three crops in one season he has had a field of ten bushels per acre of seed which netted him four dollars per bushel. In politics Mr. Ansdell is a Republican. He has held a number of township offices and is now chairman of the central committee of the Republican party and has filled that office several terms at different times. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of twenty-two years standing, a member of the Rebecca lodge, an Ancient Free & Accepted Mason of twenty-four years membership and belongs to the Beloit Commandery. Mr. Ansdell justly prides himself on his well improved acres even though it has taken years of toil to develop this fine farm with its comfortable house and commodious barn which have supplanted the primitive dugout and sheds. Mrs. Ansdell is a woman of education and culture and taught five years in the schools of Cloud county. Mr. Ansdell and family are much respected. They have conquered a checkered fate and the road which they travel seems broad and easy in comparison with the rough and hilly one of the past MRS. JANET McBRIDE. The Commercial Hotel of Jamestown is appreciated by those who have had the good fortune to be numbered among its guests. The building was erected by J. E. Fitzgerald in 1880, to supply the needs of the new and growing town, and was christened "The Pomeroy," in honor of James, the son of Senator Pomeroy, but was later changed to "The Commercial" The hotel was opened by a man named Norton, and after various changes and vicissitudes of landlords and proprietors it fell into the hands of Mrs. McBride, the subject of this sketch. It had never before been a success, and when its present owner assumed control, the fortunes of this enterprise were at a very low ebb, and there was little to indicate the prosperity and popularity it now enjoys. The neat and well appointed office, with its linoleum covered floor, was a dingy dark room with smoke steeped walls and lighted by the glimmer of one small lamp. The present handsomely furnished parlor was of like character; instead of the rich velvet rug that now delights the eye, a hemp carpet strewn with ashes and coal dirt did duty as a covering for the floor; comfortable chairs have replaced the ordinary wooden ones, beautiful pictures decorate the walls, and the cheerless room that once passed under the name of "parlor," gives evidence of refined taste. The dining room contains a handsome veneered oak sideboard, bric-a-brac, elegant chandelier, soft carpet and rugs with bright papered walls as a background, are such as would adorn a home of refinement. The term "home" is applicable for the atmosphere of this little inn that seems to move along without the slightest friction, is permeated with a degree of rest and comfort not often found in hotels. The patrons of the Commercial hotel must contrast with interest the present fitness of things as compared with the dining room under the previous management; for the floors were bare, the two long, crude, homemade tables were covered with dingy red linen, and the same faded material served as curtains for the windows. The two lamps with their smoked chimneys, did not shed much radiance over the equally scanty repast. The present best guests' sleeping apartment was furnished with two beds, bare floor, and a huge pan filled with ashes served as a cuspidor, while the slumbers of the commercial traveler, politician, can-didate, or whoever chanced to come that way, were disturbed by a surfeit of bed bugs grazing over their anatomy. The property was a perfect wreck with neither well nor cistern. Mrs. McBride bought the hotel during the hard years of 1893-94. She began without capital and for two years or more encountered many obstacles, but she furnished her house by degrees and as her little daughters, three in number, grew large enough to lend their assistance, her burdens were lightened, for no mother was ever blest with more dutiful or more devoted children. From 1896 until 1890 the crew of the Missouri Pacific pay car took their breakfasts at the Commercial hotel. Paymaster King ate his last Thanksgiving dinner there, and was lavish with his compliments of the service and spread. Superintendent Luke was also a guest on this occasion. Mrs. McBride was born in Scotland and came with her parents to Kansas. She was married in 1882 to John McBride, by whom she had three children. The eldest daughter, Ada Lucile, is the wife of L. A. Tabor. The Tabors came from the state of New York to Kansas and were bankers in Holton and Blue Rapids. Since the death of their father, Ira Tabor, the three sons; R. A., L. A., Otis and a sister, Mrs. Frank Scott, are associated together in a bank at Irving, Kansas. L. A. Tabor followed railroad office work for twelve years, but one year ago purchased a fine farm one mile east of Irving, on the Big Blue river, and is an extensive wheat grower and stock raiser. The Tabors are all men of high honor, good business qualifications and strict integrity. Margaret and Gloria, the second and third daughters,. sixteen and fourteen respectively, are excellent students and make the best of their educational advantages. They are both graduates of the common school branches, Gloria received a diploma which represented the highest honors in her class. Margaret is a faithful student and the possessor of an exceptionally bright mind, but the lack of physical strength has partly retarded her progress. Mrs. McBride is of Scotch birth. Her parents were Andrew and Jane Downey (Fram) Muir, who emigrated from Scotland, their native land, in 1865. They settled in Newcastle on the Beaver river, in the state of Pennsylvania. Two years later they removed to Sharon, Mercer county. An-drew Muir was born April 2J, 1831, in Kirk Muir Hill, Lanarkshire, and when twelve years of age removed to Chapel Hill, which was his permanent home, and where Mrs. McBride was born and lived until coming to America. The annals of Scotland show that the Muirs were prominent in that country among the landed gentry. They descended from titled and wealthy noblemen and "Kirk Muir Hill" was named for them. In that historical place occurred the births of preceding generations, as far back as the records can be traced. They owned large landed estates, and were fine stockmen and horsemen. They are of the same lineage as John Muir, the noted Scotch Presbyterian clergyman. The Muirs were a religious people, devoted to their church. Mrs. McBride's father was a ruling elder and led the choir in the most prominent church of Chapel Hill. He was a man of fine personality and a musician of considerable note. He was engaged in the coal mining industry and having followed that vocation since his youth, he was well fitted to operate with practical success. Mr. Muir superintended a colony of over two thousand workmen and not having so many officials as there would be in a similar enterprise in this country, he paid the salaries to the employees personally. After locating in Pennsylvania he was with the Pierce Coal Mining Company and for several years sunk shafts and opened new mines at both Newcastle and Sharon. He later superintended the coke ovens of A. J. Egbert in Mercer and Yenango counties. Mrs. McBride's maternal grandfather was an employee in the house of Butry and while with them in the West In-dies was kicked by a horse and died from the injury several months subse-quently. His pay went on and his wife continued to draw his salary until she married again. By her marriage to Mr. Wilson two sons were born; the eldest of whom learned the mining business from Mrs. McBride's father, suc-ceeded to his position when Mr. Muir left Scotland and was manager of the same coal colony until his death a few months ago. The other brother was a railroad conductor in Scotland. Mrs. McBride is one of ten children, all are living and prosperous. There are six sons and four daughters. Five of her brothers are Rooks county farmers. The sixth lives near Portland, Oregon. One sister is a resident of Kansas City, one in Franklin City, Venango county, Pennsylvania, and the other near Jamestown. In 1878 the eldest son and brother, Andrew L., emigrated west and located in Stockton, when that town consisted of but one cabin. Soon after he homesteaded there another brother followed. This induced the father, whose health was on the decline, to join his sons in the west; he also secured land near Stockton, and lived there until his death, in January, 1887. The wife and mother survives and is a resident of Stockton. Mrs. McBride is well deserving of the success she has attained and it has not been secured without heroic effort on her part, and she has exhibited genuine Scotch determination. The large shade trees and wide lawn, with its flowering shrubs and tall stalks of varicolored hollyhocks nodding in the bright sunlight, add to the attractiveness of the place. Mrs. McBride makes the welfare and comfort of her guests her chief aim, and few cities of the population of Jamestown can boast of so well an equipped hostelry. WILLIAM J. ION. One of the most eccentric characters and interesting individuals of Cloud county is W. J. Ion, of Grant township, whose farm lies on the northeast quarter of section 21, town 5, range 5 west. In the Ion family William is an ancestral name, dating back many generations, and also a historical one, covering kings, poets and other great men. Mr. Ion is a native of Merionethshire, Wales. His birthplace was Castleton, where he opened his eyes to the light of day, October 29, 1846. Castleton derives its name from Wentlouge Castle, the present seat of Sir George Walker, a brother-in-law of Lord Tradegar. When Mr. Ion was a small boy his father was deceased and his mother returned to the home of her parents. Her people were mechanics, and drift-ing in their footsteps, our subject began learning a trade in the iron works of Ebbwvale, when a youth of ten years. Subsequent to his mother's second marriage, home became distasteful to him and the aspiring youth decided to forsake the parental roof and try his fortunes in America, where many of the same foreign birth had preceded him. With a wild stretch of imagination and only four cents in his pocket the venturesome lad of fifteen years arrived friendless and alone in the great metropolis. As he was brought face to face with the stern realities of his condition, the little stranger was plunged into deepest melancholy. His sad face attracted the attention of a kind hearted physician, one of his own countrymen, whose sympathy brought valuable assistance. There was a transition in the sad faced boy as his benefactor led him to a good hotel, ordered food for the young emigrant, followed by a collection, whereupon enough money was received to secure him transportation to Pittston, Pennsylvania, where he was given employment in the coal fields. The realization of his hopes were not what he had contemplated. To a youth of his tender years, who knew no language but that of his mother tongue, the arduous life in the coal regions was disillusioning to his dreams of the New World, and had his finances been equal to his longing for a mother's loving care, the ties of home and associates, he would have indulged his heart's longings by returning to Wales. "Breathes there a man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said This my own, my native land; Whose heart ne er within him burn'd As home his footsteps he has turn'd From wandering on a foreign strand." There was no alternative for Mr. Ion-by force of circumstances he was compelled to push on, and he joined the army, which proved one of the best trainings he could have had, for in the service he not only rapidly acquired the English language, but gained an insight into the manners and customs of his adopted country. Mr. Ion enlisted in the regular army, served the term of enlistment, which was three years, and was discharged with the word "excellent" inscribed on his papers. He enlisted in 1864 and was made a corporal of his division, which was Company E, First Battalion, Sixteenth United States Infantry, and was offered the promotion to orderly sergeant if he would re-enlist. The discipline Mr. Ion received in the service was equivalent to years of ordinary experience. After his withdrawal from the army, Mr. Ion located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and worked at blacksmithing with one of his countrymen for one year, when he removed to St. Clair county, Illinois, and resumed that vocation. He later settled in Ray county, Missouri, and worked in the mines near Camden for a brief time. The fame of Kansas was being proclaimed throughout the world and our subject became ambitious to own and operate a farm, and forego a previous desire for the gold fields of Colorado. Hence, in 1869, he moved further westward, and upon reaching Topeka, he decided the state held forth wonderful inducements. While visiting the land office in Pottawatomie and Marshall counties, Mr. Ion met with parties who induced him to join them on a trip to Cloud county. This was in 1870, and his comrades were Columbus Hinman; J. F. Hannum, the late John Wilson, ex-sheriff of Cloud county, Reverend J. P. Sharp and Mr. Hatcher, who afterward became sheriff of Mitchell county. They drove overland with a two yoke ox team and traveled as far west as Rooks county, looking over the land in Cloud, Mitchell, Osborn, Smith and Rooks counties, but found no country that surpassed Cloud county, where the most of the homeseekers in the party located, where three of them still remain-Ion, Hinman and Hannum-and where John Wilson died. While en-route to the country further west they camped on Mr. Ion's present farm, the land that attracted his attention at the time they were quartered there, for it was beautifully situated in the magnificent Buffalo Creek valley, intersected by that stream and covered with a luxuriant growth of grass. His comrades rather derided his choice of a claim, but after roaming around for a considerable length of time, he saw nothing so near his ideal for a home, and notwithstanding the derision of his friends he returned the following spring, made entry upon this land and has never repented his choice of a homestead. Assisted by W. R. Ansdell, James Carter and James Kiggan, Mr. Ion erected a cabin 13x13 feet in dimensions, with a roof of poles and Kansas soil. Mr. Ion began making history early in life and continued long after this period, for like all the pioneers he met with reverses any hardships. Mr. Ion descends from British stock. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors were reared in the highlands of Great Britain. His mother having mourned the death of her family, joined her son in 1879 and at the age of seventy-five years is a bright, vivacious little woman, who enjoys life with Mr. Ion and the comforts of his home. She clings to the pleasant memories of her old associations and is fond of conversing in her native tongue, the Welsh language. Mr. Ion was married October 19, 1881, to Miss Minerva L. Patty, whose father was of North Carolina birth; her mother was a native of Pennsylvania. They both drifted to Ohio, where they met, were married and later removed on a farm near Indianapolis, Indiana, where Mrs. Ion was born. Mrs. Ion is a woman of more than average intelligence, a lover of literature, and manifests a marked interest in her husband's researches. Four children came to brighten the Ion home, three of whom are living. The eldest son, H. M., graduated in the common branches and from the Jamestown High school. He is a remarkable student and inherits his fathers fertile mind. Ivor S. has more of a taste for athletic sports and although not of a studious bent, is a statistician and during the Spanish-American war, though a mere child, he memorized and could give the displacement of every vessel or man-of-war that sailed the seas in the interest of the two countries. Their only daughter is Gladys, a promising young girl of fifteen years. The educational advantages of Mr. Ion were very meager, though from childhood he longed for knowledge, craved an education, and had his earlier life admitted of an academic training, his extraordinarily retentive memory would have enabled him to distinguish himself. However, he has studied and read until his mind is a storehouse of useful, practical and historical knowledge. He is a rare conversationalist, and can entertain his listeners with an unlimited recital of poems, of which Burns is his favorite, bits of historical lore, and scenes incident to travel, as he can recall and relate in a graphic way all the incidents of his panoramic life and retains the contents of every book he has read, either ancient or modern. He is interested in pre-historic lore. Evidences point to his farm having been a location where implements of war were manufactured. Flint is foreign to this locality, where various varieties of arrow points are found. He also has a pre-historic hammer, and several have been found on his land. From these facts it is concluded the material was brought from other parts of the country to the "blacksmith" in that locality. Mr. Ion possesses many trophies and relics, some of which would be valuable acquisitions to the cabinets of the Smithsonian or Cooper institutes Mr. Ion owns four hundred acres of land, two hundred and forty of which is fertile bottom land, and in a seasonable year, as in 1892, it produces fifty bushels of wheat to the acre, and fine corn. He is also an extensive stockman, raising both cattle and hogs. His cattle are of the Polled Angus breed, and at the head of his herd he has a fine pedigreed bull. Mr. Ion is a Republican, but admits having wandered away from the fold. He has filled minor offices and has been a member of the school board. He was reared in the Church of England. The Ions have a commodious home, situated about two miles east of Jamestown, to the comforts of which their labors justly entitle them. MARY E. McCALL. The subject of this sketch, Mrs. Mary E. McCall, is the widow of the late Honorable James H. McCall, one of the very prominent men of Republic and: Cloud counties. They settled near Seapo, in Grant township, Republic county, in the year 1872, before that village, a busy trading post, was virtually killed by the railroad making a new town, thus cutting off its traffic. Although residing in that county seven years, Mr. McCall was more or less associated with the people and interests of Cloud county, often visiting Concordia. He was a progressive man and most certainly demonstrated what can be accomplished without capital. As a stepping stone to success he possessed those admirable qualities, pluck, grit and enterprise. Be sure you're right, then go ahead, seems to have been his motto and he followed it to the letter. Mr. McCall was a native of New Athens, Ohio, but in his youth came with his parents to Illinois, subsequently entered Wilmington College of Pennsylvania, where he graduated, after which he returned to Illinois and taught school for several years and later became superintendent of a coal: mine. It was during this period of his life that he met and married Miss Mary E. Galloway, in 1870. She was a native of Green county, Ohio. The Galloway family were of Scotch-Irish origin. Mrs. McCall's parents are both deceased; her father in 1872 and her mother in 1899. Mrs. McCall is one of nine children, five sons and four daughters, six of whom are living, viz: The eldest brother was killed by lightning in the city of Jamestown on July 4, 1901, leaving a wife and four children. He had taken his team to the barn and seemingly was stricken down as he stepped to the door. J. M. Galloway of Clay Center. Robert H., a farmer near Courtland was county clerk of Republic county four years. Her youngest brother, J. E. Galloway is in the Creek country, in Oklahoma. Her sisters are Mrs. Elizabeth R. K. Miller of Mercer county, Illinois, and Mrs. Belle Park of Republic county, Kansas. When their first child was an infant six weeks old Mr. and Mrs. McCall emigrated to Kansas. Of the four children born to them, but one, a son Thomas G., has lived to bless and brighten their home. He was married in 1900 to Marie Powell of Jamestown and they have since made their home with his widowed mother. This son has been a solace to her lonely hours from infancy to manhood. "The childhood shows the man as morning shows the day." After reaching "sunny" Kansas and looking over the land, Mr. McCall selected his homestead and after making a few needed improvements, his financial circumstances seemed somewhat discouraging but not lacking in perseverance and possessing a keen foresight for business discerned where capital could be nearly doubled. Sheep raising at that time drew his attention and he borrowed money investing it in a flock which proved to be remunerative and placed him in a position to return the borrowed capital. From that venture he went steadily on, keeping clear of debt and accumulating each year adding to and increasing his investments. He was very successful in the sheep raising industry selling at a good profit before the enterprise became overdone, thus not losing as so many of his neighbors did. His flock averaged about one thousand head. During Mr. McCall's residence in Republic county, he was appointed commissioner to fill a vacancy and was elected to that office the two years following; served four years as county superintendent of schools and took a great interest in educational matters, knowing full well the value learning had been to him. Physically Mr. McCall was not a strong man, but possessed a wonderful energetic temperament and was an excellent financier. In the year 1881, he decided to retire from the laborious life of the farm and removed to Jamestown where he established a successful hardware business, but this venture proved too much of a burden for his strength and he disposed of this enterprise just prior to being elected to the house of representatives in 1888 where he served his county with honor and credit to himself. When Mr. and Mrs. McCall removed to Jamestown there were but few inhabitants. They purchased one of the best residence properties which they greatly improved, thus making a beautiful home. Fine trees afford a grateful shade in the long summer days and the feathered songsters flit to and fro. A well kept lawn adds greatly to the appearance of the home. Before removing from Republic county Mr. McCall sold the homestead and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Jamestown, and shortly afterwards purchased another quarter section, making a total of the west half of section 22. This land is above the average in fertility of soil and is under a high state of cultivation. In politics Mr. McCall was a Republican but after the Prohibition party was organized, he affiliated with them. Mr. and Mrs. McCall were both brought up in the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. McCall is an amiable and womanly woman, with cultured and refined tastes, everything around and about her denoting a love for the beautiful. She was, in her early life a teacher and endeared herself to her pupils seeking to endow them with her gentle and refined attributes. She was a member of the Jamestown city council of women. Mrs. McCall is living out her useful days as befits a true woman and feels in sympathy with those less prosperous than herself. "The chime of sweet bells in tune," is a living picture of her days as they come and go.

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