HONORABLE JAMES MANNY HAGAMAN
The name of J. M. Hagaman occurs frequently upon
these pages and he is known to every household of Cloud county, yet many may not know of his career prior to taking
up his abode on the frontier of Kansas on July 8, i860, when he, with his family and a small company of friends,
settled on Elm creek. From that date down to the present he has been an active pro-moter of the best interests
of Cloud county, and more especially of his own town, Concordia.
Mr. Hagaman is a native of Wayne county, New York,
born on the' bleak shores of Lake Ontario in July, 1830. He is a son of Joseph Nicholas and Elizabeth (O'Neil)
Hagaman. His father was a farmer and carpenter by occupation and a soldier in the war of 1812. He was murdered
in 1868 in Cloud county, where he had emigrated in 1866. The Hagaman ancestors were from Holland and pioneer settlers
of Montgomery county, New York. Mr. Hagaman's father was a daring and courageous soldier; was lieutenant of his
company and taken prisoner with General Scott at the battle of Queenston, Canada. It was a great-uncle of Mr. Hagaman
who built the Hagaman mills, manufacturers of cloth, in Montgomery county, New York. His maternal ancestors were
from Holland and Ireland. His Irish ancestors, for taking sides with the colonies in the Revolutionary war, were
exiled from Ireland by the British Crown.
Mr. Hagaman is the only surviving member of a family
of seven chil-dren. He received a limited education at Hagaman's Mills and at the age of sixteen years had acquired
what was taught at that time in the public schools. Though he did not take a collegiate course, many miles of travel
would not produce a man of so wide a practical knowledge and experience of things generally. He considers that,
while his life has not been a brilliant success, it by no means has been a failure; full success in some, and in
all others partial success has resulted from his many undertakings and adventures. He has been self-supporting
since nine years old.
Mr. Hagaman was married in 1855 to Mary Louisa
Webster, who was born in the state of New York. Her parents were natives of Massachusetts and emigrated from New
York to Wisconsin in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Hagaman emigrated to Kansas with their one child in i860. They came overland
with two yoke of cattle. His financial possessions were one hundred and twenty-five dollars in gold, eight head
of cattle and farm implements; four years later he gave his personal tax in as eighteen hundred dollars. He invested
his surplus funds in calves and dealt in stock quite extensively.
Mr. and Mrs. Hagaman are the parents of seven children,
six of whom are living: Alice C, wife of N. P. Buesenbark, now a resident of Kansas City, but formerly a merchant
of Concordia. Mary Almina, who has been an invalid the greater part of her life. Adelina H., deceased wife of L.
M. Richardson, an employee of the Chicago Lumber Company and a merchant of Richburg, Mississippi. James F., now
of Kansas City, formerly associated with his father in newspaper work. Nicholas Alvin, a locomotive engineer in
the employ of the B. & M. Railroad. Phenie, wife of James Lupton, express agent on the B. & M. Railroad,
with residence at Lincoln, Nebraska. Fannie O., the first child born in Concordia.
Mr. Hagaman has presented his county in the legislature, founded the thriving and populous city of Concordia and
has been its mayor two terms. For thirty-two years he has been an attorney at law and was the first to be admitted
to practice in the district court of his county. Besides those mentioned he has held many other civil offices,
and also a military commis-sion, and now, although past seventy-two years of age, his step is quick and his appearance
is more like that of a man in the prime of life than one of his advanced years.
HORACE BUSHNELL, D. D.
The Reverend Mr. Bushnell, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church of Concordia, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born in 1836. His father was the Reverend Horace
Bushnell. Sr., a native of Connecticut, born in 1802, who was also a Presbyterian minister for eighteen years and
then became a Congregationalist. He located in Cincinnati about 1830 and pursued his theological studies in Lane
Seminary after having had a training in the Manual Labor School of Whitestown, New York. After coming to Cin-cinnati
Reverend Bushnell, Sr., taught school while studying at the sem-inary, and was licensed to preach about the same
time this institution was organized as a theological school. At the expiration of two years' study he began his
ministerial career and remained in the city of Cincinnati for fifty years or until his death in 1883. He organized
the little society known as "Storrs Congregational church and ministered to this congregation in connection
with city missionary work for many years, and was well known throughout the city.
The Bushnell ancestors came to Boston about 1636,
and subsequently settled in Connecticut. Francis Bushnell was one of the colonists who founded the town of Guilford,
now quite a city; then follows an issue through five generations to Jason Bushnell, who was the grandfather of
Reverend Horace Bushnell, Jr., and like many of the family lived to an extreme old age, several of the Bushnells
almost reaching the century mark. He was a man noted for his industry and integrity and was a soldier of the Revolution.
Mr. Bushnell's mother was Caroline (Hastings) Bushnell, who was of English origin; her ancestry came to America
about 1636 and, like the Bushnells, settled in Connecticut. John Howard Payne, the author of "Home, Sweet
Home," was a relative of Mrs. Bushnell. She was born in 1801 and died in 1886.
Mr. Bushnell was educated in part at Oberlin College,
but in 1859 graduated at Farmers College, now absorbed in the Cincinnati University. His theological studies were
pursued in Lane Seminary, where he graduated in 1862, and engaged in his pastoral work. He was ordained in 1863
at Madi-son, Indiana. Reverend Bushnell enlisted in the United States service in 1862 and was one of the one hundred
thousand "squirrel hunters" sent out by Ohio to repel the invasion of General Bragg, but about nine days
afterward they were relieved and he was permitted to return to his field of labor. He received his discharge about
ten years ago. During the war he labored at different times in the Christian commission. This was a volunteer movement,
without pay, for the bodies and souls of the soldiers. Those who engaged in it had their needful expenses paid,
but no more. They supplemented the work of chaplains and nurses, and hesitated at nothing that could help or sustain
the man who carried the gun-Reverend Bushnell's first pastorate was in the village of Allensville, Indiana. Two
years later he went to St. Louis Crossing, Indiana, and thence to Southport, Indiana, where he had charge of the
congregation for ten years. He came to Minneapolis, Kansas, in the spring of 1877, where he labored for five years,
and in January, 1882, came to Concordia, where he has since had charge of the First Presbyterian church. He was
married in 1866 to Mrs. Verissa Bonham, the widow of Aaron E. Bonham, of Elizabethtown, Ohio. By her former marriage
there were three children, John L., a resident of Columbus, Indiana; Everett O., of Columbus, Indiana, and Kitty
M., widow of Judge W. L. Harvey, of Chandler, Oklahoma.
Mrs. Bushnell is the daughter of Hiram and Sarah
(Fisher) Olmstead, natives of Massachusetts. The Olmsteads came to West Meredith, New York, where Mrs. Bushnell
was born, and later moved to Indiana. Her father was a teacher and under him she received her principal education.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell four children have been born, three of whom lived to maturity. Carrie H., wife of Dr.
F. A. Butterfield, of Lawrence, Michigan, a physician of considerable prominence. She was a teacher for a number
of years and held positions at Salina, Jewell City, Topeka and Concordia. They have two children, Claire and Horace.
Alice F., deceased wife of F. C. Perkins, of Durango, Colorado, an attorney and registrar of land office. He was
formerly a well-known educator in Beloit and Concordia, but removed to Colorado with the hope of benefiting Mrs.
Perkins* health. She was a young woman of many natural personal charms, well known and beloved in the city of Concordia.
She died in Durango, Colorado, in February 1898, leaving three children, viz: Harold Bushnell, Lewis Mayne and
Dorothy Alice. Herbert H., a resident of Aspen, Colorado, is the manager of the Times, a morning daily paper. He
finished a classical course from Wabash College, Indiana, read law for a time, but later turned his attention to
newspaper work.
Mr. Bushnell is a man of orthodox views and not
only enjoys the esteem and confidence of. his congregation, but of the entire community wherein he labors.
LEWIS CRANS.
L. J. Crans, one of the best-known attorneys and
an early settler of Cloud county, is a native of Philadelphia. The date of his birth was Jan-uary 26, 1826. He
is a son of Peter and Harriet (Lewis) Crans. His father conducted a boot and shoe business in the early days of
Philadelphia. He was a native of Orange county, New York, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His family were
numerous in New York; his ancestry were of German and Dutch origin and belonged to the early settlers of that section
of the country. The paternal homestead went into the hands of the distinguished William A. Seward, who was a relative
by marriage. The maternal ancestors were of English and Irish origin. His grandparents died when our subject was
a mere child.
Mr. Crans is the eighth of a family of nine children
and with the exception of one, all lived to ripe old age. He has one unmarried sister living, who is ten years
his senior; her residence is in Philadelphia. Mr. Crans last brother, Peter, died about two years ago at the advanced
age of eighty-six years. With the exception of a brief time in Kansas this brother spent the greater part of his
life in the city of Philadelphia.
Mr. Crans received his education in the public
schools of the Quaker City and graduated as a member of the second class from the Central high school and subsequently
had conferred upon him by that institution the degree of master of arts. After his graduation he took up the study
of law in the office of his brother, Peter Crans, but before his admission to the bar he removed to the town of
Kirbysville, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in lumbering and mercantile business. Mr, Crans was admitted to the
bar at Clearfield in the early 'fifties. He was unanimously elected district attorney of Clearfield county, and
devoted his entire attention to the practice of law in that city. In the year 1861 he removed with his family to
Philadelphia, where he continued the practice of law. He has striven for success in his profession and has been
well rewarded for the effort made to gain the top round of the ladder of fame. While engaged in getting forces
into the field for Governor oCurtin, not as a soldier but as a private citizen, Mr. Crans, through an accident,
lost the use of a limb, which entirely unfitted him for service and prevented him from entering the army, and through
this circumstance, he removed to Philadelphia.
He later located in Jersey City and in 1871 emigrated
to Concordia, Kansas, after stopping a short time at Junction City, awaiting the opening of the land office at
Concordia- From that date he has been actively engaged in the practice of law in Cloud and the northern counties
of Kansas. His practice has been extensive and extended.
Mr. Crans was married on the 21st of July, 1847,
to Margaret A. Peterson, a daughter of John and Naomi Peterson. Mrs. Crans father was of Swedish ancestry who were
early settlers on the Delaware river. Her maternal ancestors were among the English families who came over with
William Penn. Mrs. Crans was born in Philadelphia.
Mr. and Mrs. Crans' family of six children were
all born in Clear-field, Pennsylvania. Five of their children are still living. Charles, deceased, unmarried. The
others are all married and have families living in different parts of Kansas. One son, Merwin, is a resident of
Concordia. A daughter, Margaret A. Richardson, with her two daughters, live in the home of her father. Mrs. Crans,
the loving, faithful wife and devoted, unselfish mother, after many years of patient suffering, was called to her
eternal home. The touchingly beautiful devotion of her bereaved husband was universally remarked. He moved his
office to the residence that he might be constantly by her side. Had she been spared her family a few months longer
they would have celebrated the proverbial golden wedding, a magic name, a consummation hoped for by congenial companionship.
Her death occurred May 17, 1896. The family of Mr. Crans are members of the Protestant Episcopal church and while
he is not a regular attendant of any church Mr. Crans has a reverence for everything good and holy.
In November, 1901, the semi-centennial of Cleartield,
Pennsylvania, was celebrated and Mr. Crans was the only living man at that time who par-ticipated in the organization
of that body. Concordia was in its infancy when Mr. Crans settled there in the early part of 1871. J. F. Hannam,
who was then a farmer west of Concordia, moved Mr. Crans, his family and their effects to Granny creek (now White's
creek), where he and several of his children had entered land, whereon they anticipated devoting their attention
to agriculture only.
Concordia consisted of but a few houses, and a
number of active and energetic men engaged in the erection of other buildings with a determina-tion to establish
a thriving business point. The whole country at that time was covered with a soft carpet of short buffalo grass
and only a very few trees to break the view-a long stretch of level land, but to the eye of a farmer great possibilities
were discernible. The greater part of the country was uninhabited and the soil produced very little for the support
of the set-tlers. This drawback caused the necessity of Mr. Crans moving into Con-cordia in order to eke out an
existence and where shortly afterward an acci-dent opened up to him the means of support through his profession.
He found himself a failure as a farmer and his family were not inclined to remain without him upon the lands they
had selected.
A difficulty having sprung up between the citizens
of the town and the county, which claimed the title to the land, Mr. Crans, at the request of F. W. Sturges, Milton
Reasoner, A. A. Carnahan and others, proposed what was then commonly called "jumping" the town site.
In 1873 Mr. Crans consented to act as attorney for the inhabitants in a contest against the Town Company to enable
them to throw open to actual settlers the most of the land contained within the town of Concordia. He became associated
with Judge Sturges and Judge Carnahan. The Town Company abandoned its claim to what was yet government land, but
through an arrangement between the local land office and the Town Company homesteaded and preempted claims for
such lands as were entered. The gentlemen named with Mr. Crans then entered contests and after a hard struggle
before the United States land office succeeded in securing to all the citizens and those who might afterward become
such, the unpatented lands within Concordia.
Mr. Crans removed his family into the city, where
he has continued to reside and always, not only as a lawyer, but a law-abiding citizen, with the welfare of his
townsmen ever uppermost in his hopes, well knowing pros-perous men make a thriving town.
JOHN D. WILSON.
The late J. D. Wilson, who died at his home in
Concordia, October 10, 1885, was among the most successful and prominent politicians of Cloud county, and socially
very popular with the people. As a man his kindness and generous heart knew no bounds, hence his friends were legion.
He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1839.
He was four times elected to the office of sheriff of Cloud county. He was a brave soldier in the Civil wfar and
an earnest worker of the Grand Army of the Republic organization. He was an honored member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows. By his death was removed one of the best officers and one of the most prominent men of Cloud county.
HONORABLE S. C. WHEELER.
S. C. Wheeler, who ably represented the counties
of Republic and Cloud in the senate during the Alliance movement, is one of the best-known politicians as well
as one of the most prosperous and energetic men of Cloud county. Mr. Wheeler was born in Greenfield township, Huron
county, Ohio, in 1846, and lived in the home of his parents until he responded to the call for more troops and
enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Ninety-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in February, 1865. He was discharged
the following June for disability, while in a hospital at Perryville, Maryland.
After regaining his health he emigrated to Iowa,
where he purchased a small farm and engaged in agriculture for three years. After three years of western life
Mr. Wheeler removed to Berrien county, Michigan, where he became a tiller of the soil, remaining three years. He
then located in the town of Pentwater, Michigan, which is situated in the timber region of that state, and worked
in a lumber camp. Three years later he was appointed superintendent of the Berrien county farm for the poor.
Accepting the position he returned to his former
home and superintended that institution four years. But his vigorous nature longed for broader fields and the boundless
prairies of Kansas, where his ambitions could soar unrestrained and where he could build a home for himself and
family. He came to Kansas during the era of emigration in 1879, and on the 7th day of March landed in Buffalo township,
where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of what is now his present farm. He has since added' another quarter,
making a half section of land second to none in the county -in point of fertility and productiveness. Politically
Mr. Wheeler is a Populist. He joined the Alliance movement in 1889 and was elected state senator for Cloud and
Republic counties at a special election held for the purpose of filling the vacancy caused by the death of E. E.
Swearengin. He was the only Populist senator at that session. In 1897 Governor Leedy appointed Mr. Wheeler member
of the state board of charities for Kansas, which position he filled with satisfaction to the state and commendable
credk to himself for two years and two months, or until his term expired and the office succeeded to by a Republican.
At the last city election, held in April, 1903, Mr. Wheeler was chosen mayor of Concordia.
On March 23, 1867, he was united in matrimony with
Miss Delora Ashley, of Adamsville, Michigan. Mrs. Wheeler is a sister of John H. Ashley, whose biographical sketch
appears in this volume. Although Mr. Wheeler has gained prominence as a public character he is what might be considered
a home man and has always spent his leisure hours enjoying the domestic
felicity of his family, which consists of two sons
and a daughter. Their children are all married. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have retired from the farm and occupy a beautiful
cottage home in Concordia, where they expect to spend the remainder of their days at ease. They also have a large
circle of friends who enjoy their genuine hospitality. Mr. Wheeler is a man of public spirit, always doing his
part toward promoting any enterprise which is calculated to benefit mankind.
HONORABLE BOYD H. McECKRON.
In casting about for a man or a personality worthy
to extol, we do not find any whose praises are more in evidence than those of his friends and fellow citizens of
the late B. H. McEckron. It is often when the recipient "has crossed the divide" that we realize that
his name is a household word, but Mr. McEckron's pathway was smoothed by many appreciative utterances, while his
name will go down to posterity as one of those early settlers who contributed largely to every good cause, was
ever on the side of right and justice, and taking an intelligent interest in his town, his county and his state.
He was a valuable member of the legislature. A more staunch Republican, a truer man, a more worthy citizen could
not be found.
Mr. McEckron was born June 17, 1834, in Hebron,
Washington county, New York. He was a son of A. S. McEckron, who was born in 1800. He was originally a woolen goods
manufacturer and later a farmer. In 1876, having retired from active business life, he visited Kansas. His death
occurred in 1880. Mr. McEckron's paternal grandfather, Jacob McEckron, was a soldier in the American struggle for
freedom. His mother, Anna (Donoldson) McEckron, was born in 1800 and died July 2, 1861, and was buried on the Fourth
of July. She was a quiet, unostentatious and conscientious woman. Both parents were devoted members of the Presbyterian
church.
B. H. McEckron was educated in Delaware Academy,
Delhi, New York, receiving a thorough education in the higher English branches, in French and the sciences. Before
entering the academy he had nearly learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he pursued for several years
during the summer, but followed the profession of teaching school during the winter. From 1866 to '68 he was engaged
as bookkeeper and foreman for D. A. Goodyear, a lumber dealer at Portage City, Wisconsin. In February, 1868, he
paid a visit to his native home in New York, shortly afterward removing to Kansas and homesteaded land in the Republican
valley, near Ames, in Cloud county, where he-lived until 1874.
Then he removed to Concordia after receiving the appointment as reg-istrar of the United States land office, which
position he filled to the entire satisfaction of the public for over nine years. Mr. McEckron took part In the
war of the Rebellion, enlisting September 2, 1861, in Company E, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and served until November
28, 1862, when he was discharged for disability, being unable to walk. His army life was passed mostly in Missouri
and Arkansas in the campaign against the guerrillas and bushwhackers.
In 1868 he was elected superintendent of public
instruction in Cloud county. Before the expiration of his term he was elected representative to the legislature
from Cloud county in 1870, and unanimously re-elected in 1871 and again in 1873. In the latter term he was chosen
speaker of the house of representatives. He was always a Republican, his political career beginning with the birth
of the party. His first vote was cast for John C. Fremont for president.
He was married April 16, 1864, to Miss Adaline
M. Parmenter, of Randolph, Wisconsin, who was a native of Niagara county, New York. Mrs. McEckron was born April
22, 1842, and died in February, 1897. Mr. Mc-Eckron died one year later, July, 1898. Three children, who survive
them, were born to this union: George M., Maud and Alex S.
In 1881 Mr. McEckron bought an interest in the
Palace drug store. In J883 he assumed entire control, buying his partner's interest, and continued in the business
until his death.
HONORABLE JAMES STRAIN.
The late Honorable James Strain was one of the
most able attorneys Concordia has ever known. He was a man of rare ability, one of the first members and the first
ruling elder (which office he held nine years) of the Presbyterian church.
The news of his death cast a gloom over the community
where he had lived ten years and assisted in every public enterprise. He was a man of rare ability and brilliant
attainments. He died January 25, 1880.
THOMAS WRONG.
Thomas Wrong was once one of the leading politicians
of Cloud county and one of the most able attorneys and parliamentary debaters in the city of Concordia. He was
a pleasing stump speaker and held an audience well. He was a man of agreeable, pleasing address and suave manner.
There is much in his history to praise that is
commendable and little to condemn. Mr. Wrong for years had a particularly clean political record and the same could
be said of his business and social affairs. Drink was the cause of his downfall. He lived in Concordia until the
summer of 190I, when he went to Oklahoma.
HONORABLE E. J. JENKINS.
Colonel E. J. Jenkins was one of the foremost men
in Concordia. He was an earnest, untiring worker for the advancement of Cloud county. He was a native of Ohio,
but came to Donovan county, Kansas, in an early day, where he practiced law and represented that county in the
Kansas legislature with distinction, both as a senator and member of the lower house.
He was prominent in political and social circles
and all public enterprises. He did much for Concordia and personally was immensely popular. He was one of the pioneers
of Kansas and was the faithful receiver of the Republican valley land office from its creation in 1870 until a
short time before its removal. He was acknowledged to be a man eminently fitted for the position, hence his continued
service with the government.
HAMILTON MACK SPALDING.
Cloud county is much indebted to H. M. Spalding
for the interest he manifests in every worthy project, and there is no one man more distinctly associated with
the progress and advancement of Concordia than he. H. M.Spalding was born at Lockport, Niagara county, New York,
December 14, 1852, and was a lineage that might well be a source of pride and ambition. His ancestors were represented
in a prominent way during the colonial settlement of the United States. He is a son of N. Mack and Sarah (Ellicott)
Spalding. N. M. Spalding was an old and well-known business man of western New York. H. M. Spalding is a direct
descendant of Edward Spalding, who came from England with the distinguished Sir George Yeardley in the year 1619,
and was a member of the Virginia colony. Edward Spalding afterward emigrated to Massachusetts. This branch of the
Spalding family has been noted for the number of successful business men in it.
Through his mother Mr. Spalding traces his lineage
back to the Ellicotts, another family prominently identified with the early history of this country. Andrew Ellicott
was the first surveyor general of the United States. It was he who surveyed and laid out the city of Washington,
District Columbia, and was the first instructor of mathematics in the United States West Point Military Academy.
His brother, Joseph E., surveyed and laid out the city of Buffalo, New York. Ellicott square of that city was named
for him. Mr. Spalding prides himself on being an American citizen and also in the fact that both his paternal and
maternal ancestors took an active part in the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Spalding came to Concordia, Kansas, in 1872
and engaged as clerk in the store of H. A. Lockwood, which occupied his time for fifteen months. In the summer
of 1874 he purchased an interest in this stock of general merchandise and the firm assumed the name of Lockwood
& Spalding. Upon the death of Mr. Lockwood two months later, Mr. Spalding purchased his late partner's interest
in the business and continued until the spring of 1878, when he sold to W. G. Patrick and engaged in farming and
stock raising. In 1878 he formed a partnership with John Tate, under the firm name of Spalding & Tate, for
the purpose of shipping live stock and grain, raising cattle and dealing in real estate. May 22, 1880, they brought
into Cloud county six head of blooded cattle-one bull and five cows. This firm was the first to ship in and keep
up a herd of registered short horn cattle. Mr. Spalding kept a large herd of fine cattle for twenty years and took
much interest in blooded stock.
In 1879 he was elected county treasurer and was
the first Democrat elected to a county office in Cloud county, assuming the duties of this office from October,
1880, to October, 1882. In 1883 Mr. Spalding helped to organize the First National Bank of Concordia and was its
first president. In 1884 he bought an interest in and took charge of the Concordia flouring mills, and later became
sole proprietor, operating them for eight years. He also put in the electric light plant in Concordia, which he
controlled for years, keeping it up to date by constantly adding modern improvements, He is now president of the
Concordia Electric Light Company and its principal stockholder.
He was again elected county treasurer in the autumn
of 1895 and in 1897 received evidence of recognition of his having served the people with general satisfaction
and with credit to himself by being re-elected. He is the only man elected to and holding this office three terms
in Cloud county. Mr. Spalding has long since established himself as a man capable of assum-ing various lines of
important industries. His natural ability along with enterprising spirit and capacity for work have gained him
a record as a prominent business man and semi-public character.
He was married to Martha E. Sherman, of Wrights
Corners, Niagara county, New York, March 29, 1875. They are the parents of two promising sons. Edward H. and Merrill
E. The former is taking a complete ocourse in mechanical engineering it the Rose Polytechnic Institute, Terre Haute,
Indiana, and the latter, Merrill E., is a cadet of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Mr. Spalding
and family occupy a pleasant home on West Sixth street, where they have lived for the past twenty-five years.
HONORABLE CHARLES N. AND WILLIAM M. PECK.
Concordia is especially fortunate in the character
and standing of her business and professional men, and among those who have won marked distinction within the space
of a comparatively few years are the twin brothers, Charles N. and William M. Peck. They are both men of prominence
in the ^business and social world. Their personality is very similar, with the same fine physique and military
bearing and the identity of one might easily be taken for the other.
They were born in the town of Hampton, Washington
county, New York, between Whitehall and Fairhaven, Vermont, May 25, 1863. Their father, Josiah Peck, like most
of his ancestors, was a farmer, and resided on the old homestead, which has been in the possession of the Pecks
for two centuries or more, until his death, May 10, 1902. The Pecks originally ocame from England; three brothers
came to America. Two of them settled in Connecticut and one in New York, and all of the Pecks in this country seemingly
sprung from one of these three branches. Harriet Peck, mother of Charles and William, was a Miller, her father
being the eldest son of "Prophet" Miller, who acquired national fame by prophesying to the world the
coming of Christ in 1843. She is the only granddaughter of the "Prophet" now living.
The twin brothers were reared on the farm, where
they worked, helping to till the soil in summer and attending school during the winter months. In 1881 they gratified
their ambition to attend military school at Granville, New York. Charles X. assumed the position of drummer boy
and William M. of bugler, and their services were recompensed by the consideration of one-half of the tuition.
Later Charles N. resigned his position to enter the ranks of Company A as captain. They both graduated in 1883
and returned home with the intention of helping on the farm, as their father was becoming advanced in years and
needed their assistance; but after three years of military training they were not content with the daily routine
of farm life, and from this time took, as it were, diverging paths.
Charles N. chose the law for his profession and
after writing various attorneys, obtained desk room in the office of King & Rhodes, of Troy, New York, (of
which firm LaMotte W. Rhodes was district attorney) in October, 1883, where the foundation was laid for the reputation
he has built as an attorney, for he has established a record in the legal annals of Cloud county, and has a large
clientage. After reading law one year he assumed the duties of chief clerk in their office for the small salary
of $3 per week. Later it was increased to $5, out of which. he saved enough to visit his brother, who-had come
to Concordia in 1884.
Charles N. Peck was admitted to the bar of the
state of New York at Albany in 1886. After coming west he worked in the Cloud County Bank for two months and then
became a member of the law firm of Sturges & Kennett. The following year F. W. Sturges was elected judge of
this district and the firm became Kennett & Peck, which combination still exists. They are attorneys for the
Atchison & Topeka Railroad, the Rock Island Railroad and the western syndicate of banks owned by eastern capitalists,
and have an extended general practice of law.
In 1892 Charles N. Peck was married to Frances
A. Paradis, the only child of Frank Dana Paradis, a contractor and builder formerly of Memphis, Tennessee, where
he was well known. Mr. Paradis was of Parisian-French stock. Mrs. Peck was born in Chicago, but removed with her
parents when a child to Memphis, where she grew up and attended school, until the death of her mother, when her
father's health failed and they returned to Chicago, where she finished her education, graduating at St. Xavier's
Convent, taking a special course in music. She has had the advantages of a thorough musical training and has more
than ordinary talent. Mr. Paradis died in 1896. Mrs. Paradis was of English origin. Three children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Peck, two sons and a daughter, viz: Charles North-rop, Frances Harriet and William Miller.
Since the above sketch was written, Charles N. Peck has been elected to represent his county in the legislature.
He carried his ticket by a large majority and will fill the representative chair with credit to himself and to-the
many friends from both political parties that cheered lustily over his victory-a well merited honor. He is also
member of the city council of Concordia.
William Miller Peck chose the occupation of architect
and served as an apprentice in Albany for a short time. As there was no pay for services rendered he became discouraged
and decided to try his fortunes elsewhere. He taught school for a brief time and assisted in keeping a set of books
for six months. He also spent much time writing to the various banks, whose names and addresses came under his
observation. One of these letters found its way to Brandon, Vermont, and fell into the hands of T. B. Smith, the
late president of the Cloud County Bank, who, fortunately for Mr. Peck, wanted a bookkeeper, and he was given the
place at five dollars per week, and in the summer of 1884 came to Concordia.
Soon after he was made assistant cashier, and in
1896 was elected cashier, which place he has since occupied. During his connection with the bank he has assumed
many responsibilities and performed to the utmost satisfaction of the corporation the duties appertaining to the
position he holds. He is an expert accountant, well informed in banking systems and has established a reputation
for himself as a competent business man. The entire management of the bank is left to the exercise of his judgment
rather than to officials of superior rank.
W. M. Peck was married in December, 1887, to Mary
Martin, of Chicago, Illinois, a daughter of Lawrence T. Martin, a commission merchant of that city. She is an accomplished
woman, talented in art-a student of St. Xavier's Academy. Their family consists of three daughters: Margaret, Ruth
and Helen, all musically inclined. Margaret plays the cornet and Ruth* the violin. Mr. Peck is also a cornetist
of considerable ability.
The Peck brothers have attractive, modern homes on West Ninth street, surrounded by beautiful shade trees and wide
lawns. They have been Republicans from the cradle but are not radical politicians.
WILLIAM ENGLISH.
William English, one of the early settlers who
experienced pioneer life among the frontiersmen north of Concordia and known to the people who were in the county
at that time, died in Frisco, Utah, in October, 1885. He-had removed there about ten years prior.
VIRGIL A. BROWN.
V. A. Brown, a retired farmer with residence in
Concordia, is one of the pioneers of Kansas. He first settled in Waubaunsee county, where he farmed rented land
and the following year, 1867, removed to Cloud county and settled on Wolf creek, in Buffalo township, three and
one-half miles southeast of Concordia, when he and Phillip Kiser were the only settlers on that creek, and when
the buffalo appeared in numbers like a living, surging mass of animal life.
In 1868 they were the most numerous, often covering
a surface of four or five square miles, huddled closely together Mr. Brown witnessed the killing of Mr. White by
the Indians August 13, 1868, and he was a member of the militia formed to protect the settlers from the Indian
uprisings. This company of militia were disbanded but never discharged. Mr. Brown has seen the country develop
from its primitive days down to the present. He homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, pre-empted one hundred
and sixty, and bought a soldier's right to forty acres of land. In 1878 he traded two hundred acres of this land
for two valley farms, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres each, two and one-half miles west of Ames. The
same year he bought one hundred and sixty acres on the Republican and later another tract of one hundred and thirteen
acres. He now owns a total of seven hundred and fifty-three acres of land. Mr. Brown has dealt largely in stock;
raising, feeding and shipping. In 1891 he retired from active farm life and established a residence in Concordia
and was one of the original organizers of that city. During the grasshopper and drouth years Mr. Brown became discouraged,
but never lost faith in the ultimate greatness of Kansas.
Mr. Brown is a native of Columbus, Ohio, born in
1844. His parents died when he was a youth and he was reared in the home of an aunt, his father's sister. He was
an only child. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Sixth Indiana. The state had five regiments in the Mexican war
and when organizing companies for the Civil war they began numbering at six. This. regiment was commanded by Colonel
Crittenden, who was promoted to general. They operated in Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and on the Cum-berland.
They were of the Fourth Corps. The history of the regiment gives nineteen hard battles and numerous skirmishes.
They were in all the battles of the Atlantic slope, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Missionary Ridge, etc. Mr. Brown
received five slight wounds. He was in active service the entire three years and one month he served in the army.
His immediate company served with distinction. Over two hundred of the one thousand men in his regiment were killed.
Mr. Brown received a limited common school education, having enlisted in the United States service when only sixteen
years of age. After the war he returned to the home of his uncle and in March, 1866, was married to Catherine McGaw,
of Pennsylvania, and the same year emigrated to Kansas. 'Mrs. Brown was deceased in April, 1901. To this union
were born eight children, four of whom died in infancy.
Those living are: Florence Allen, wife of L. G.
Pearson, a Cloud county farmer; Elva, wife of W. L. Acton, an extensive stockman of Decatur county, Kansas; Cora
Eunice, wife of C. G. Ross, head clerk in Bolinger's clothing store of Concordia; James W., a resident of Kansas
City, foreman of Chamberlain's Weather Strip Company. Mr. Brown's daughters are all talented in music and are educated
and refined women. Mrs. Pearson was a teacher of Cloud county for several years. She received her education in
the Concordia schools and in the Agricultural College at Manhattan. The son, James, graduated from the Concordia
high school and from the Gem City Business College of Quincy, Illinois.
Mr. Brown and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Brown
is another one of those reliable self-made men and owns some of the best property in Cloud county. His farm is
under a high state of improvement, commodious farm house with driveways of cottonwoods and many evergreens, making
it one of the. most beautiful country places in the county.
HONORABLE C. W. McDONALD.
In the early days of Concordia C. W. McDonald was
a conspicuous figure. Until 1901 he had been a resident of Cloud county for many years, being among the first settlers
and interested in various business enterprises.
He represented Cloud county in the legislature
in 1885, was editor of the Concordia Empire for several years, practiced law, and was president of the National
Bank of Concordia. He was fortunate enough to draw a prize at the opening of the Strip in Oklahoma, where he has
since located.
HONORABLE A. J. SHELHAMER.
A. J. Shelhamer was one of the pioneers of Cloud
county and was a good citizen, being one of the most enterprising men in the community. He came with small capital
but soon established one of the best farms in the vicinity of Concordia, lying about two miles west of that city.
He did much toward the passing of the herd law and was president of the Agricultural Society, a flourishing body
in the early 'seventies.
Mr. Shelhamer organized the first band in the county, buying the in-struments while on a visit to his old Michigan
home.
SAMUEL H. BARONS.
The subject of this sketch is the late Samuel H.
Barons, who was a native of Devonshire, England, born in 1829. Mr. Barons was one of nine children, seven.boys
and two girls, viz: William, Mary, George, Henry, John, Thomas, Samuel, Jennie and James, all of whom were born
in England except the youngest, James. When "Uncle Sam" (as he was universally known) was five years
of age, his parents came with their family of children to America, and after living a short time at Rochester,
New York, located in the town of Irondequoit, five miles distant and bought a large tract of land, which was covered
with forests of pine. This they cleared and put under a high state of cultivation, and which within a brief time
became very valuable, and is now a suburb of Rochester. "Uncle Sam" became owner of a large portion of
this homestead, which he sold for one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. A brother, John Barons, still retains
a part of the land, which is now very valuable. "Uncle Sam" attended the common sch6ols, and when twenty
years of age he realized the need of a higher education, and entered a commercial college in the city of New York,
remaining four years. During the early part of his life and that of his brothers, they worked on the farm, making
it a very successful and profit-able industry.
In 1859 he was married to Miss Frank E. James,
of Greece, Monroe county, New York, nine miles distant from the city of Rochester, Her father owned and operated
a nursery there, and there she was reared and grew to womanhood. Mrs. Barons is a cultured, refined woman, a graduate
of Avon Seminary, and taught school successfully for eighteen seasons. She is one of six children, four daughters
and two sons, two of whom are living: Calista, widow of George Bristol, who makes her home with Mrs. Barons, and
Miss Lucy, who came west with Mr. and Mrs. Barons, and has ever since been a member of the family.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barons lived
on the farm twelve years, when "Uncle Sam" became associated with E. M. Upton at Charlotte, New York,
in the forwarding commission business and was appointed agent for the New York Central Railroad at that point,
where he continued for a period of ten years. He was mayor of the city and prominently identified in business and
social circles. The firm owned their own docks, elevators, warehouse and cold storage, and did an extensive business.
They furnished ties to the New York Central Railroad shipped from Canada, dealt heavily in fruit and grain and
were a financial success.
In 1876 they sold to the New York Central Railroad
for ninety-five thousand dollars. His health had become impaired and he decided to visit the west, whose wonderful
possibilities at that time were being heralded broadcast over the land. He took a trip to Denver, Colorado, in
June, when this country was redolent with fields of wheat and corn and great herds of cattle and hogs. Enroute
home he stopped to visit Kansas and was delighted with the beautiful prairies and the great opportunity for stock
raising. He returned to his home in New York with the "western fever," full of enthu-siasm over the alluring
prospects of the great future of Kansas, and the many avenues of business waiting to be developed. His faith was
unbounded and led to his investing thousands of dollars in this vicinity. Mrs. Barons opposed taking up a residence
in the west, so "Uncle Sam" returned alone, gathered a crew of men together and drove overland into Texas,
where he bought eight hundred head of three-year-old Texas steers, drove them through to Manhattan, Kansas,, where
he fixed up winter quarters for them and returned to New York, spending the winter months with his family, returning
to Kansas again in the spring time. "Uncle Sam" was then in prime of his vigorous manhood, and ere many
years elapsed was a typical westerner. Those who had only known him in his recent years of ill health, together
with the changes wrought by "Father Time," the bent figure of the once stalwart, broad shouldered man,
full of cherished ambi-tions-the lack-lustre of his once magnetic keen eye, dark as night-cannot conceive of a
character so active in business life, driving herds of cattle and hogs over the prairies and figuring as one of
the largest stock dealers in this part of the state. On account of the prevailing high taxes, he kept moving his
cattle westward until he reached Clyde, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land adjacent to that town,
including the hotel property, which he remodeled, repaired and named "The Pomeroy," in honor of an old
friend by that name in Rochester, New York (and not for Senator Pomeroy, as many suppose). The land he laid out
in lots, streets and avenues, and employed a family to manage the hotel, which was a leading hostelry in this part
of the country at that time. Shortly afterward he sold the hotel to J. Huntington, who failed to meet the obligations
and, the property fell back into "Uncle Sam's" hands. He then sent for his wife and brother James to
take charge of the hotel that it might not interfere with his stock and grain interests. He had in the meantime
erected an elevator, and was largely interested in the grain business.
In February, 1888, he came to Concordia and bought
the hotel property of Randall & Crill for a consideration of fifteen thousand dollars, and as soon as the frost
was out of the ground the following spring, he began to build and improve, which he continued to do for five consecutive
summers, until he had invested from seventy-five thousand to eighty thousand dollars, raised the mansard roof and
added another story, building an addition with thirty rooms and another for servants' quarters with spacious kitchen
and pantry underneath, and a basement under the building which includes splendid sample rooms, a handsomely equipped
barbershop with hand-carved wood work, a laundry which did a paying business for several years and upward of a
dozen other rooms. A gas plant was added that cost three thousand five hundred dollars, the house piped throughout,
a handsome balcony with iron columns and railing that cost two thousand five hundred dollars, hot and cold water
on each floor, electric bells, and, later, incandescent lights. In connection is a livery stable with frontage
on Fifth street and rear extending to Fourth street. The building is a large stone structure with mansard roof
erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars. In the hotel are eighty guest chambers aside from the handsome parlors,
large dining room, office, etc. The house is well furnished and substantially built with beautiful hard wood finishings,
"Uncle Sam" retained the Clyde hotel and ran both for about five years. "Uncle Sam" had two
brothers who survive him, both his seniors: John and Thomas. The former is a very wealthy and prominent man of
Rochester, New York. The latter is proprietor of a large "racket" store in the same city. James Barons
died after a brief illness in 1893. He had been with "Uncle Sam" since he came to assist in the hotel
at Clyde, and filled the position of steward. He was a hotel man of natural ability and had many friends among
its patrons and the traveling public. Since "Uncle Jimmie" (as he was known) died, Mrs. Barons has practically
managed the hotel, for from his death dated the beginning of "Uncle Sam's" decline. The strong ties between
the two brothers, coupled with the effects of the boom brought about complications which undermined his physical
strength. He was a large taxpayer and suffered more than people without property.
"Uncle Sam" left a wife whose patient,
unselfish devotion, as she administered so faithfully to his least expression or desire, was beautiful in the extreme,
and a son to whom he was deeply attached. Samuel H. Batons was born on the farm near Rochester, September 2, 1868,
and came with his parents to Clyde when ten years of age. When fifteen years old he entered the College of Notre
Dame. Indiana, remaining two years and later finished a course in the Lawrence University. In 1889 "Uncle
Sam" deeded to him a half section of land in Rooks county, Kansas, and he has added other lands until he now
owns six hundred and forty acres, with four hundred acres under cultivation, two hundred and forty acres of pasture
land, and raises cattle, horses, hogs and mules. His ranch is twelve miles from Plainfield and five miles distant
from Natoma, the nearest shipping point. This is a well watered ranch with good buildings, cattle sheds, windmill,
etc. In 1890 S. H. Barons was married to Miss Lizzie Dumas, who died in April, 1901, after an illness of two years.
"Uncle Sam" was a broad minded, well
informed man, just, generous, temperate in all his habits and affable in manner. His motto through life was. "If
you cannot speak well of a man, say nothing." He was a friend of every little child and never passed them
without a kind word or smile, and of every unfortunate person, bestowing charity wherever needed. He was widely
and favorably known to all the commercial travelers, many of whom had patronized him for years. He died June 21,
1901. His remains were taken to Rochester, New York, his old home, and all that is mortal of "Uncle Sam"
rests in Mount Hope by the side of Iris father, mother and brother James. Mount Pope, with its walks and driveways,
bordered with flowers, which skilled hands have made a triumph of art, with its silent tombs and stately monuments,
is one of the loveliest spots in existence-a veritable "city of the dead."
In June, 1902, Mrs. Barons sold the "Barons
Hotel" to C. H. Martin and under his supervision it will remain the same popular headquarters for the traveling
public. The hotel is widely known for its superior comforts and accommodations and is the central resort of many
commercial men and the permanent residences of their families.
After the sale of the hotel property Mrs. Barons
removed to Lyons, Kansas, where she is conducting a smaller hotel very successfully.
