JOSEPH D. SEXSMITH.
The subject of this sketch, J. D. Sexsmith, is
one of Cloud county's sixty-niners who took up a homestead and began farm life on an unculti-vated Kansas prairie
with a yoke of wild Texas steers. He was an unmarried man at that time and only improved his claim enough to hold
it and engaged in teaching school on the frontier. He was the pioneer teacher in the "Rice" district
and in this seat of learning, constructed of sod and boards, Mr. Sexsmith imparted knowledge to about one dozen
rising young Kan-sans and received a salary of twenty-five dollars per month.
His father, Matthew Sexsmith, a farmer of Delaware county. New York, the place of our subject's nativity, was also
an early settler in Kansas. He filed on government land in Cloud county and lived there until his death in 1886.
His mother before her marriage was Mary Douglas. She died in 1852, when Mr. Sexsmith was but six years old, and
left six other children. Mr. Sexsmith acquired his rudimental education in the common schools of New York, followed
by an academic course in Andes Collegiate Institute of Andes, New York, graduating from this institution, took
a regent's examination and was granted a diploma. He was practically reared on a farm and followed that occupation
until 1864, when he enlisted at the youthful age of eighteen years in Company T, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New
York Volunteers.
This regiment changed the position of their troops
from Virginia to the Department of the South and operated under the command of General Gillmore. During Sherman's
march to the sea his regiment occupied the attention at the other end of the route. The One Hundred and Forty-fourth
was the first Union regiment in the city of Charleston, but Mr. Sexsmith was prevented from being there, owing
to a wound he received in a charge on James Island and was disabled for two months. He joined the forces at Hilton
Head, South Carolina, where they remained until discharged. When they were mustered out at Elmira, New York, Mr.
Sexsmith returned to his home and resumed his farming pursuits until coming to Kansas in 1869.
By 1876 he had improved his homestead to the extent
of concluding he could afford a wife, and believing it was not best for man to live alone, he was united with Miss
Emma Lamb in the bonds of matrimony. Her father, T. C. Lamb, came from Missouri, where she was born, and settled
in Shirley township. He was also an engineer and saw mill man. After having put his land under a high state of
cultivation, Mr. Sexsmith sold it in 1882 and moved into Clyde, where he was engaged in various pursuits, chief
among which was an interest in the manufacture of pottery. In 1884 he was elected clerk of the court of Cloud county.
At the expiration of his term in this office he embarked in the real estate and insurance business. In 1899 he
was elected city clerk of Concordia and was re-elected each succeeding year until 1901, when he retired and engaged
again in the real estate and insurance business.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sexsmith four children have been
born, viz: Daniel J., court stenographer at Enid, Oklahoma; Matthew T., associate editor of the Concordia Press;
Charlotte Gertrude, a successful Cloud county teacher, and Leonard D., a student of the Concordia High school.
Mr. Sexsmith is a Republican politically and takes an active part in all legislative affairs. He cast his first
vote for President Grant in 1868. Mr. Sexsmith takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the Grand Army
of the Republic. He is a member and past post commander of \V. T. Sherman Post, of Concordia.
MRS. ALICE L. BATES.
Mrs. Bates is now retired from school work, but
she has been one of the most prominent educators of the county and enjoys the distinction of being the first of
her sex to hold the office of county superintendent of public schools in Cloud county. That her reign was a successful
one is evidenced in the fact that the office has never reverted to a male official.
Mrs. Bates was born in central New York, but when
a child came with her parents to Monticello, Iowa, where she received a common school edu-cation, followed by a
literary course in the Lennox Collegiate Institute. In 1872 she graduated from the Iowa State University, preceded
by a teacher's course in Monticello under Jerome Alien, who was afterward connected with a training school in New
York City and became quite noted.
After graduating Mrs. Bates became principal of
the Sand Spring school for one year, then entered the Monticello high school. In 1877 he came to Cloud county and
entered the primary department of the Concordia public schools. At that time there were three teachers. She continued
in the employ of the Concordia school until their number increased to sixteen. She taught in both the primary and
the high school. In 1890, Mrs. Bates was elected superintendent of public schools by the Populist party, and in
1892 was re-elected. She did not make a campaign, nor ask for a single vote.
In 1896 she was selected to fill a vacancy on the
Concordia school board, was re-elected and served two years. The first year she served as vice-president of the
board and the second year as president. In the early part of her school work in Concordia she taught in institutes
and during that time was one of the board of examiners. It was through Mrs. Bates' efforts that the library of
the superintendent's office had its origin. The first books-fifty in number-were won at the State Association for
the largest attendance of any county in the state. To her credit is due the starting of many libraries throughout
the country districts) She was engaged in school work for thirty-six years.
Mrs. Bates is a daughter of the Honorable Joseph
and Nancy Cool, both natives of New York, and both teachers. Mrs. Bates was married to Perry Bates in 1874. He
was a native of New York, but was educated at Hillsdale College, Michigan, was a professor of schools, teaching
in Iowa, and later in Kansas. He died the same year of their marriage, in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Mrs. Bates' residence
is on West Ninth street, near the courthouse. She is a member of the Universalist church.
WILLIAM S. TOWNSDIN.
The subject of this sketch is W. S. Townsdin, a
retired farmer and one of the esteemed early settlers that came to Cloud county in 1867, and has seen the country
develop and "blossom like the rose." He and his wife experienced many trials and anxious days but did
not suffer as many of their neighbors. Mr. Townsdin does not regret having cast his lot in Kansas, but in the early
settlement of the country he felt the chances were against them, but in later years when surrounded by their family
of children who were prosperous, they agreed "all was well," and that Kansas was one of the fairest spots
on earth. They were on the frontier for over two years without the addition of a single new settler. They at one
time lived in the most commodious dwelling in the country and kept open house. Many travelers in quest of homes
in the new west have enjoyed their hospitality.
Mr. Townsdin is a native of Huntingdonshire, England,
born in 1827. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Dean) Townsdin, both of English birth, where his father was
a carpenter and worked for the same employer all his life. Mr. Townsdin is one of eight children, three of whom
are living, two sisters, bdth residing in England. Mr. Townsdin received a limited education in the village of
Huntingdon and at the age of fourteen years began a career for himself. He located in Wales, where he worked at
various things for about ten years.
In 1852 he was married to Margaret Jones, a native
of Monmouth-shire, Wales. She was a daughter of John and Mary (Davis) Jones and one of fourteen children. At her
mother's death, a half tentury ago, twelve children, all of whom were married, followed her to the grave. Mrs,
Townsdin is now the only surviving member of the family. Mr. Townsdin touched on American soil with his family
in 1853, and settled in Pom-eroy county, Ohio, where he labored on public works for a period of seven years. In
i860 he removed to Edwards county, Illinois, where he farmed until 1867. A year later he came to Kansas.
He emigrated with three teams to Cloud county,
pre-empted a quarter section and homesteaded one hundred acres of land one mile from the present city of Concordia,
which at that time was not even thought of. The Townsdins were among the few settlers of Lincoln township, and
are the only remaining landmark of those pioneer days. Buffalo, elk, antelope and wild turkey abounded and furnished
their supply of meat. They experienced many Indian scares and several persons were killed, but while they were
in constant terror and suspense they were never disturbed. When there were neither roads nor bridges Mr. Townsdin
hauled corn from Manhattan, for which he had paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per bushel.
He gradually drifted into the stock business, bought
a calf here and there, finally collecting quite a herd. He added to his land until he owns several farms, of which
he has retained four hundred acres and owns sev-eral good residence properties in Concordia, where he removed when
he retired from the farm in 1883. The following year he, with his wife, spent two years visiting England and Wales,
and has visited his native land once since that date.
To Mr. and Mrs. Townsdin eight children have been
born, seven of whom are living: John, a farmer, who resides two and one-half miles east of Concordia; James, a
retired farmer of Randall, Jewell county, Kansas; Samuel, a farmer eight miles east of Concordia; Charles, a commission
merchant of Kansas City (he owns three farms in Cloud county); George, a merchant of Randall,. Kansas; Mary J,
wife of John Shrader, a farmer three miles southeast of Concordia; Vincent, a stock and grain buyer of Randall,
Kansas. The Townsdin family are all prosperous and well-to-do, owning fine farms and desirable personal property.
THEODORE LAING.
The subject of this sketch is Theodore Laing, an
attorney of Concordia. Mr. Laing is a living example of what application and determination will do toward mastering
the waves of adversity. He is entirely self-made.
In the early days of Cloud county he had a hard
struggle, having just entered upon the practice of his profession. He now stands pre-eminently in the front ranks
of the able attorneys of the county. Mr. Laing studied law under various conditions-in the corn field, at school
and in different offices under various attorneys. Mr. Laing is a native of Virginia, born in 1846. His parents
were John and Elizabeth Laing.
Mr. Laing came to Cloud county in 1872, and, settling
in Clyde, opened a law office, where he remained four years, and came to Concordia. Politically he is a Republican
and has served three terms as attorney of Cloud county. Mr. Laing has been publicly identified with the interests
of Concordia and Cloud county ever since his advent in the state. He is interested in farming and owns considerable
real estate, among which is the building known as the "Iron Block'' on Sixth street, and lives in one of the
handsome residences on West Fifth street.
BOSTON CORBETT.
There are not many antiquated or distinct landmarks
in Cloud county, Kansas, for it is comparatively modern; but the deserted dugout, once the primitive abode of that
peculiar personage, whose name has been heralded from continent to continent as the slayer of John Wilkes Booth,
who assas-sinated President Lincoln on the night of April 14, 1865, begins to savor somewhat of the uncanny and
the approximate nearness of phantoms.
For fifteen years the little stone hut has not
been inhabited save by gophers and bats. The writer, like many curious and speculative individuals, visited this
interestingly historical place, and found the rafters falling into decay, the door and windows removed, but the
yellow sandstone walls, which represent good masonry, considering the conditions, still stand intact, as a monument
to the eccentric man who builded it. The poplar tree on the left and the cottonwoods on the right were doubtless
planted by his hands, and stand as sentinels over the most historic and romantic spot of this section of country.
Most readers of this volume are familiar with the
strange career of this singular man but history is not given for the present only, but rather to be perpetuated
down the long series of eventful times. The following data eminated from various sources and is the most authentic
obtainable. The recent rumors afloat that he is soon to return, prove his identity and collect the one thousand
three hundred dollars back pension due him has renewed public interest in Boston Corbett. His Christian name is
John. He is of English birth and soon after emigrating to America attended a religious revival in the city of Boston,
Massachusetts, and to commemorate the event of his conversion during this awakening of the Divine Spirit he assumed
the name of "Boston." He has always been eccentric, but the trend of his idiosyncracies has been toward
religious fanaticism Corbett belonged to the Sixteenth New York Cavalry, and was a sergeant.
He was one of the select men summoned to pursue
and capture John Wilkes Booth, the bloodthirsty and soulless assassin of the nation's idol, Abraham Lincoln, in
April, 1865.
A comrade, Private Dalzell, in whose home Corbett
visited after the killing of Booth, says in substance: After tracking the fugitive through woods and fields for
days, he was discovered in a barn. Stolidly refusing the command to surrender, a torch was lighted, touched to
the barn and the next moment violent flames were bursting forth from his place of refuge. The excited sergeant
saw through the cracks between the boards, the emo-tional. brilliant, but superficial, tragic actor standing on
a pile of hay, lean-ing on his crutch, pale with loss of blood from the wound lie had received, pallid with excess
of hatred and revenge, for John Wilkes Booth never knew fear.
Corbett watched him like a hawk, as Booth stood
with back toward him, leaning on his staff for support-carbine in hand, the personification of the assassin-and
in the critical moment when he had determined to die he was uniformly self-possessed and did not for a moment forget
his part in the great tragedy he was acting. As the .fire mounted up and around him his face in the lurid light
of the blazing barn grew ghastly pale. Each demand for his surrender was answered with the same sullen silence
of contempt, scorn and defiance.
The burning building was surrounded on all sides
by soldiers with pistols in hand, stationed within a few feet of each other. Inclosed beyond the possibility of
escape the doomed tragedian was probably seized with a desire to send some of his pursuers into eternity, and suddenly
raised his . carbine to shoot. Corbett saw the move, and with the rapidity of lightning leveled his pistol and
fired. Before the unerring aim of the little sergeant's gun, the presidenticide fell prostrate on the hay-where
he had stood as if rooted to the spot-with a fatal wound in exactly the same place where the deadly missile from
his gun had entered the body of President Lincoln.
His body was instantly dragged from the burning
barn and stretched upon the ground; a moment later and the once impassioned tragedian was dead.
Corbett asserted to Private Dalzell that the actor
never spoke after he received the fatal shot, and that all the nonsense alx>ut his dying words was the mere
"clap trap" of sensational writers. As scx>n as Booth's fatality was disclosed the disconsolate officers
inquired what rash fellow had dared disobey orders and slay their coveted victim, for it had been their purpose
to capture him alive and have a grand state trial enacted after the manner of the great historical English regicide
tribunals during the times of James II. But Boston Corbett had thwarted their plans and ambitions and all eyes
were turned toward him, for the soldiers who were stationed on his side of the building pointed to the sergeant
as the guilty miscreant who fired the fatal bullet, and he was straightway placed under arrest.
From that fateful moment Corbett has never known
a peaceful hour, and was a doomed man. After that eventful day one disaster followed another. The pistol with which
he killed Booth was stolen from him the same night.
He was treated with scorn and disdain by his officers,
and neglected by the government. While enroute to Washington he was stopped by masked men, and with a pistol placed
against his breast, compelled to dismount and surrender his hard earned money the day he received it; not only
every dollar he possessed was taken from him, but he was stripped of his clothing.
The officials at Washington were beside themselves
with rage for having been deprived of the pomp and circumstance of leading the assassin in captivity and parading
him through a public trial, of which they would have been central figures. Stinging with disappointment, they felt
like further persecuting the man who had diverted them of all this glory, but better counsel prevailed and he was
released with a permit to retire from the service. Branded and disgraced, he was always spoken of with contempt
by officers of the army.
The unfortunate fellow drifted from pillar to post.
After saying his prayers at night-for he is a devout Christian-Corbett retires with a loaded revolver under his
head and moans piteously during the long hours of the night. He is not a lunatic, as has been accredited him, but
a strange, unhappy and eccentric man who doubtless suffers untold terrors, and has visions of "Nemesis pursuing
him" wherever he goes; the troubled spirits of revenge will not' let him rest. His constant fear remains the
same and ohe is steadfastly on the alert for assassins. For many years after the death of Booth, threatening letters
followed him everywhere. Private Dalzell writes he saw one of these letters, which was headed "Hell,"
adding: "You will be here soon and signed "Booth." While at the Dalzell residence Corbett was the
recipient of several of these uncanny messages and was never in a town ever so obscure that they did not reach
him, each missive containing all sorts of threats. Corbett complained bitterly and justly of the neglect with which
the government treated him. Mr. Dalzell says: "Let no one suppose it was remorse that rendered him unhappy,
for Corbett was proud that he had killed Booth; nor let no one suppose it was regret, for he stoutly maintained
that the Lord commissioned him to enact the deed and directed the contents of his weapon." He was asked by
General Howard, "How in the world did you happen to send the bullet to the same spot, exactly to the tilting
of a hair, where the fatal bullet found the life of Lincoln ?" "The Lord directed it," was Corbett's
only reply, and he believed it, even if Ingersoll did not.
In the latter part of the 'seventies Boston Corbett
located in Cloud county, and finding eighty acres of land seven miles south and three miles east of Concordia that
had seemingly been overlooked by the homestead settler or not deemed desirable, lying among the hills as it does,
the wretched man sought a respite from his ungracious pursuers by establishing a hermit-like quarter, where he
could live the life of a recluse. Corbett was a poor man, a hatter by trade, and unmarried. He built a dugout on
his newly acquired possessions, where he lived several years. The floor and roof were of dirt after the fashion
of the Kansas dugout; in dimensions it is about twelve by fifteen feet. In one corner of the room, from an excavation
under the rock wall, a spring of fine water bubbled up and flowed through an aperture to the outside. The furniture
of this queer domicile, long since removed, was very meagre; it consisted of a home-made bedstead, a chair or two,
an old musket and a Bible, the yellow leaves of the latter being well worn with time and frequent turning.
Corbett was small of stature, had a swarthy skin,
a scant beard and wore his long, dark hair floating over his shoulders. He dressed in a singular manner and lived
in perfect solitude. He sometimes visited his neighbors, who thought him mentally disordered, but he seldom or
never entertained them in return. He was manifestly devoted to a little black pony which he called "Billy,"
and all the affection in his queer nature was bestowed upon "Billy" who was his constant companion. He
associated himself with the Methodist Episcopal church, was one of the shouting brethren and very enthusiastic
in revival work; would preach with a revolver in his pocket or a brace dangling from his belt.
In the early 'eighties, at the earnest solicitation
of the ladies of the Presbyterian church of Concordia, who were endeavoring to give the public some special feature
as an attraction for a large patronage, Boston Corbett was induced to promise a lecture, outlining events of the
capture and slaying of President Lincoln's assassin, and his experiences in Andersonville prison, where he had
spent ten months, and when emerging a physical wreck, he was ordered to the hospital, but against the orders of
the surgeon he rejoined his company.
When the night for the entertainment arrived Corbett
was greeted with an immense and enthusiastic audience. It was an established custom with the dispenser of the gospel
to discourse from the scriptures, and some senti-ment in the song that was rendered by the choir as an introductory,
started him to sermonizing and he preached indefinitely without touching upon the interesting subject that practically
drew the whole populace out to hear the story from the lips of this historic character.
Finally he was reminded by the pastor that he was
to talk of Booth and Andersonville, whereupon Corbett most humbly apologized for his diversion and in a few terse
sentences related the details of his capture and told how he was landed in the southern prison. Soon after entering,
the sergeant met an old comrade who reported a session of prayer as being held in another part of the building,
and Corbett hastened to that quarter. Then he gave the prayer meeting an oral treatment, expatiated on the subject
for a half hour or more, and when again reminded that he had digressed, apologized graciously and said, in substance:
"We surrounded the barn in which we found
Booth had taken refuge. We demanded that he surrender and he refused; we then set fire to the barn. By the light
he saw one of our men and raised his gun to shoot him. I was peeping through the cracks, saw him raise his arm,
and to keep him from killing one of our men, I fired and killed him. The bullet went into his head in nearly the
same course that his bullet had entered Lincoln's head.
No more communicative an account than this would
he give expression to of an incident that lias called forth many articles, during the last thirty-eight years,
and of which no one was more cognizant than this distinctively peculiar individual.
The many incidents of Boston Corbett's career would
fill a fair-sized volume. One blustering day in the autumn a prairie fire was raging near his claim and finally
crept over on to his premises. Some neighboring men came to assist him in protecting his property, but to their
dismay and astonishment his lordship confronted them with gun in hand and admonished his would-be assistants to
vacate, with threats of shooting if they did not pro-ceed to acquiesce. Immediately the would-be protectors had
Corbett arrested and brought to Concordia for trial. During the procedure, a man whom he had a fancied grievance
against, entered the court room and as his imaginary foe walked down the aisle Corbett jumped to his feet, brandished
a revolver and exclaimed, "There's another man come here to criminate me. Thank God I have no use for such
a court as this; I am going home. I have a God that will take care of me." As he swung his formidable forty-five
and walked hastily down the aisle, the judge, county officials, attorneys, even the legal light he had employed
to defend him, sought refuge behind every available piece of furniture which offered protection. Unmolested, Corbett
left the court room, sought his little black pony and rode away.
After taking the matter under consideration the
officers repaired to Corbett's dugout for the purpose of again bringing him in. Another surprise greeted them,
however, for their host put in an appearance with a Winchester in either hand, and a countenance that boded ill,
declaring in an uncivil way he would shoot the first man who dare attempt to lay hands on him, adding he would
die rather than be taken. They replied they would return with a posse of forty men, whereupon he bade them come,
fearlessly saying: "I have faced four hundred men and forty couldn't take me."
Corbett was left to enjoy the quiet solitude of
his dugout, which was a stronghold, ostensibly built with the view of defending himself, as he pos-sessed a small
armory that would have stood off a fairly strong siege. He was an unerring marksman and one of his favorite pastimes
was to prostrate himself at full length on the grass and shoot birds as they flew through the air.
Corbett was given a position in the capitol. Sympathizing
friends thinking something should be done for Boston Corbett, some position within the gift of the people tendered
him, he was appointed sergeant-at-arms in the capitol at Topeka in 1887. While acting as doorkeeper in the east
gallery of the house of representatives he created a novel sensation. The far-famed Corbett was a sort of curiosity
to the general public. While passing to and fro along the corridor of the building one day his eagle eye and suspecting
brain observed several clerks and janitors engaged in conversation, and fancying himself the subject of their merriment
and probable derision, confronted Benjamin Williams, an assistant doorkeeper, with the accusation. Hot words ensued;
Corbett gave vent to his constitutional irritation of temper. Losing entire control of himself he produced a dangerous
looking knife and almost simultaneously made a pass at Williams. The frightened janitor did not tarry to longer
discuss the situation, but rushed out of the hall into the outer corridor, followed by the frenzied sergeant-at-arms,
while his associates in the offense flew with long and rapid strides in various directions. Overhearing the commotion,
Sergeant-at-Arms Norton hastily repaired to the scene of action and endeavored to calm the enraged doorkeeper,
but, as he approached, the new arrival upon the scene was startled by the distorted visage of Boston Corbett, who
was livid with rage; his eyes gleaming like a Bengal tiger s, and as he flashed his revolver, warned Norton not
to approach, under penalty of a bullet being sent crashing through his body. The sergeant-at-arms left Corbett
holding the fort, for he realized it meant certain death to advance.
With gun in hand Corfett triumphantly passed to
his post of duty in the gallery and as no one dared or attempted to approach him, the doorkeeper's attitude implied,
"I am monarch of all I survey."
During the morning hours he passed with a soldierly
tread up and down the triforium in full view of the convened house with his revolver swinging to the belt that
encircled his waist, his eager, restless eyes alert to every sound or movement, like a sentinel watching over enchanted
ground or doing duty where the fate of a whole army was dependent upon his vigilance.
By a recent action of the house the sergeant-at-arms
had been given authority to discharge any officer under his jurisdiction, hence the executive lost no time in declaring
a vacancy in this instance; however, no one seemed anxious for the position made vacant, or dared to interfere.
When Corbett's anger had somewhat abated a newspaper reporter seated himself by the side of the sergeant, who occupied
a placein the ladies' gallery, looking down upon assembled representatives, as if he might be seized with the idea
at any moment that God had commissioned him to kill off the entire body of legislators.
Although his wrath had diminished he was still
nervous and could not be engaged in conversation, and, regarding his visitor with suspicion, a moment later he
left the newsgatherer seated alone. The police were sum-moned and after considerable conniving and maneuvering
to avoid a shooting affray, the officers succeeded in taking captive the sensational sergeant. He was seized by
three officers, who threw him to the floor and disarmed him. The only words he spoke were: "You're a pretty
gang." That Corbett was insane and a dangerous man to be at large was the general verdict. On February 16,
1887, the office of Probate Judge Quinton, of Topeka, was thronged with anxious people to hear the testimony in
the case of this peculiar man on trial for insanity. Corbett seemingly entertained an animosity for the newspaper
reporters, and ere the hearing was to proceed ordered them all put out of the room.
After a long series of evidence the man was adjudged
insane and placed in the asylum. Another sensation was created on May 26, 1890, by the wily sergeant making his
escape from the asylum for the insane. He was exercising with others on the grounds when he espied a horse, which
he quickly seized, mounted and sped rapidly away. He left the horse after reaching a safe distance, with orders
to return the animal to its rightful owner, and pursued his way on foot. It was supposed he had gone to his homestead
in Cloud county, but for more than a dozen years he seemed to have passed out of existence; only vague and indefinite
news of the escaped inmate could be obtained, consequently he was marked on the asylum records "dead/' and
this verdict was accepted unquestionably by the public.
But in August, 1901, thirteen years later, Corbett
was resurrected and at that date had been for four years a valued employee of W. W. Gavitt & Company, a proprietary
medicine concern of Topeka, Kansas. He was in their employ for some time ere they associated him with the man who
shot Booth, as he went under the name of John Corbett, but when later he resumed the name of "Boston/' his
identity was revealed. He is a successful salesman. Many towns in Texas bar the patent medicine man, but this strange
individual does not heed the ordinances and has sold his wares in practically every town in the state. He also
travels through Oklahoma and owns property in Enid. Both his employers and guardian, George A. Huron, of Topeka,
have in recent times endeavored to persuade Corbett to return and draw the thirteen hundred dollars back pension
due him from the government, not a cent of which he will ever be able to draw until the fact of his being alive
is established by his own affidavit. It has been assured him his sanity will be verified and his release from the
asylum legally secured, but Corbett is wily and superstitious and until a recent date absolutely refused to set
foot on Kansas soil; but it is reported he has at last consented to return and claim the money that is legitimately
his.
The winter Boston Corbett spent in Topeka he was
a conspicuous character in Salvation Army circles, took an active part in their street exhibitions and was one
of the most animated soldiers and loudest shouters in the barracks of their brigade.
ISAAC ALBERT RIGBY.
I. A. Rigby, attorney and counsellor at law, is
a Kansan, born and bred on Kansas soil, and has grown to manhood in the city of Concordia. He was born in Doniphan
county in 1863. His father is J. A. Rigby, a retired contractor and brick manufacturer, with residence in Concordia.
J. A. Rigby came with the pioneers of Kansas from Pennsylvania, his native state, in 1857, and was personally acquainted
with Jim Lane during the territorial era of Kansas. He settled in Brown and Doniphan counties. The Rigby ancestors
are of English origin.
I. A. Rigby is one of five children: Matilda J.,
wife of Cyrus Twitcheh a real estate dealer with residence in Spokane, Washington; Mary E., wife of C. E. Branine,
of Newton, Kansas. Mr. Branine is an attorney of considrable note and state senator from Harvey and McPherson counties,
elected in 1900; has also held the office of county attorney. Mr. Branine is a young man but thirty-five years
old. Nannie A., wife of Ezra C. Branine, an attorney and partner of his brother, C E. Branine, under the firm name
of Branine & Branine, of Newton. George W. (see sketch).
Mr. Rigby completed a course in the Concordia high school before he was thirteen years old. After completing a
business course in the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, College he began on a career of teaching at the age of sev-enteen;
taught in the Concordia graded schools. He then entered the law department of the Kansas University and graduated
in 1885. Mr. Rigby has held various positions of trust; was assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Concordia
(better known as Brown's bank). He was a member of the school board in 1890. In the same year he ran for county
attorney, but that being the year of the Populist landslide, he was defeated. In 1898 he was the Republican nominee
for county attorney, but the Democrats and Populists fused and he was beaten by a small majority.
He has been for several years and is at present
(1902) a member of the city council and a member of the State Bar Association of the state of Kan-sas; has been
honored with the appointment of delegate to congressional and state conventions almost every year. Was a delegate
in the convention that nominated Judge Morrell for governor, and Judge Sturges for his seat on the bench.
Mr. Rigby first read law in the office of the able
attorneys, Solon O. Thatcher and J. W. Green, for a term of two years, and subsequently grad-uated with high honors
from the law department of the Kansas State Uni-versity. September 13, 1891, he was admitted .to the supreme court,
and presented by Attorney General Garland. Mr. Rigby has followed the practice of law exclusively, not combining
it with real estate, loans, etc. He was president of the McKinley and Roosevelt club of six hundred voting mem-bers
and practically had charge of the campaign that year.
WILLIAM McKINDREE
BURNS.
Mr. Burns is one of the original Town Company of
the city of Con-cordia and is one of her most highly esteemed citizens. He has not achieved the success financially
that some of his fellow citizens have, but he is one of those old pioneers who helped pave the way for the glory
of those who came later. But Mr. Burns possesses a good name which adversities nor even poverty can dissipate.
He is a native of Platt county, Missouri, born
August 13, 1840- His father was the Reverend Isaac Burns, of Virginia birth and Scotch origin. Reverend Burns was
a pioneer of Missouri, settling at St. Joseph when that city was a village. He was a minister of the Methodist
Episcopal church (North), and during the latter part of the 'fifties Missouri became an unde-sirable field for
a non-sympathizing dispenser of the gospel. In the autumn of 1856 he was transferred to the Iowa conference and
subsequently to Nebraska, where he had charge of the Tecimiseh work, followed by various charges incident to the
itinerant circuit rider. He was stationed at Falls City, DeSoto and later was made presiding elder with residence
in Omaha, where he died in 1871. Mr. Bums' mother was Phoebe Persinger, of Dutch persuasion. She died one year
later than her husband. The Persingers were early settlers in Virginia, where some of them were slaveholders.
Mr. Burns received a good education in the high
schools of Nebraska and attended Scotts Academy, of Platt county, Missouri, for one year. He began earning a livelihood
by teaching school and gave up this vocation to serve his country and enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fifth Regiment,
Mis-souri Volunteers, under Colonel Seabody, serving three years and nine days. His company was in the battles
of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, the siege of Atlanta and with Sherman at Savannah. The Twenty-fifth Regiment was
merged into another company and took the name of the First Missouri Engineer Corps.
After the war Mr. Burns returned to DeSoto, Nebraska,
visiting his father, who was stationed there. Soon afterward he went to Mills county, where he engaged in the saw
milling business with fairly good success. Two years later he became interested with his father in mercantile pursuits
at Aurora, on the Weeping river. One year later they removed their goods to Penn, Nebraska; the next spring Mr.
Burns retired from the firm and emi-grated to Kansas, where he took advantage of his homestead right, and also
pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land where the town of Rice now stands. The other tract of land he disposed
of to the county and is now included in the county farm for the poor.
Mr, Burns filed on land where part of Concordia is now situated, which he platted as an addition. The original
Town Company was more interested in building a town than increasing their bank accounts. Lots that sold for one
hundred dollars would now bring from three to four thousand. They had never built a town before. Were they ever
to build another they would in all probability profit from past experiences. Mr. Burns has been engaged in several
enterprises. In 1871 he associated himself with W. T. S. May in the real estate business. In the early 'eighties
he established a drug store in Scandia, remaining two years, returning to Concordia, selling the stock one year
later.
Mr. Burns was married to Almira, daughter of Jacob
Brisbine, in 1872. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns four children have been born: Arthur, an employee of the Natal Railroad
Company in South Africa. He is a telegrapher; received his education and entered upon his profession in Concordia.
Clara B. wife of James McCoy, a railway mail clerk, with residence in Kansas City. Robert William, with Rigby &
Wilson, furniture dealers, of Concordia, where he "has been a trusted and valued employee. Charles Frederick
is a telegrapher, with residence in Kansas City. Mr. Burns votes the Republican ticket
LAWRENCE PATRICK
LARSON.
The subject of this sketch is L. P. Larson, commonly
known to his friends as "Pat" Larson. Mr. Larson is a contractor and builder and to his workmanship is
accredited some of the best residences and business blocks in the city of Concordia. During his sojourn of sixteen
years in that metropolis the following buildings are a few of those that evidence his superior architecture: The
Caldwell building, one of the most imposing in the city; First National Bank, a finely constructed building; the
postoffice, which is a plain but massive structure; the brick and terra cotta building, the lower floor of which
is occupied by Layton & Neilson, druggists, and the Colson city; First National Bank, a finely constructed
building; the postoffice, which buildings of the city.
Mr. Larson began to stem the current of life with
no "stock in trade," but a pair of willing hands and is another of the many illustrations herein contained
of how persistent endeavor will conquer ail things sooner or later. Mr. Larson is a native of Germany, born in
Frankfort-on-the-Main in i860. His parents were Christian and Annie (Christie) Larson. His father gave up his sailor
life to enter the German war in 1848, and was killed in battle after serving three years and four months. His mother
died in Denmark June 24, 1885, .where the family had settled after peace was declared. The maternal ancestors were
from Ireland and were a race of people who lived to an extreme old age. His grandmother passed the century mark
and attained the age of one hundred and eight years; her brother reached the advanced age of one hundred and eleven
years. Mr. Larson was the only child of his father's first marriage but by a second union one son was born.
Mr. Larson was thrown on his own resources at the
youthful age of seven years, and through the aid of friends was able to obtain a common school education and later
by their further kindness and by the stern efforts of himself he was enabled to secure a scholarship in the high
school; by rapid advancement and their extended assistance he paid his way through the State university of Denmark
for one year. His extremely diligent application was observed by one of the professors who made it possible for
him to take a four years course in classics. As Mr. Larson could not see his way to remain in the university for
that length of time he took the four years course in two and one-half years, and often worked twenty-three out
of twenty-four hours.
His object was to prepare himself for an officer
under the Danish government. In the mean time he worked at the carpenter's bench the proceeds of which assisted
him in his school work. He graduated in 1878, at the age of eighteen years. Often all the hardships entailed upon
him as a young and penniless student working his way through the university, spending many sleepless nights conning
and toiling over his books, when he came to enlist he was doomed to the disappointment of being pronounced physically
unfitted for the service.
Smarting under this defeat of the expectation of
his hopes he determined to bid his native land adieu and make for himself a home in America, and accordingly sailed
for New York, landing in that city July 18, 1881. A few days later he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he found employment
as bookkeeper for the first half year and then obtained work with M. T. Murphy, architect; two months later he
assumed the management of his mill retaining that position three years.
In 1884, he came to Concordia and during the summer
finished the interior of Colonel N. B. Brown's handsome residence. In the autumn of that same year he secured the
contract for building the fine dwelling of Mr. Steffen Christiansen, on of the pioneers of Cloud county, living
two miles north of Jamestown, and while engaged in this work met Sena Peterson, whom he married December 8, 1886,
locating in Concordia and entering the employment of South worth & Smith, carpenters and builders, continu-ing
as their foreman until the organization of the Citizens National Bank, when he was employed by them as superintendent
of the Caldwell building; and after the masonry was completed he finished the interior. From this period he established
himself as an architect, contractor and builder, following that occupation until 1892.
During the latter year he emigrated to Colorado
Springs, Colorado, and accepted a position with the Gillis, Wells & Leddy planing mills. During his nine months'
residence in Colorado Springs he erected some of the finest buildings in that city, among them the famous Antlers
hotel, the Huntley livery stables, the residences of Doctor Sollis and Doctor Drack, the two latter costing over
two hundred thousand dollars each. He also built the Casino theater. The following spring he returned to Concordia,
re-opened his shop and resumed contracting, which he has since followed.
To Mr. and Mrs. Larson have been born four exceptionally
bright and beautiful children, viz: Rhoda S. A., Peter Montague, Mosette Ruth and Harry Eugene Z. Mrs. Larson is
a native of Denmark, born near the town of Nestved, province of Sjalland. She came with her parents to America
and settled on a farm near Jamestown, where they both died. Mr. Larson is a staunch Republican and has been a delegate
for several years to con-ventions, but has never aspired nor sought for office. The family are members of the Baptist
church. Mr. Larson is a deacon and one of the most active members and pillars of that congregation. They occupy
a pleasant home at 518 West Sixth street.
CAPTAIN BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN ROSE.
B. F. Rose, the subject of this sketch, is a native
of Ohio, born on the town site of the present city of Dayton in 1S41. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Irwin)
Rose. His father was a native of Kentucky and his mother of Maryland. His paternal grandfather was an Englishman
and emigrated to America when eighteen years of age. His paternal grand-mother was of Irish birth. His maternal
grandfather was of Scotch origin and his maternal grandmother a German woman. Mr. Rose is one of seven children,
three of whom are living, two sisters, one a resident of Illinois and the other of Iowa.
Mr. Rose received a meager education in the common
schools of Ohio and when sixteen years of age removed with his parents to La Grand, Marshall county, Iowa. On the
17th day of September, 1861, he was mustered into the United States service at Davenport, Iowa. He enlisted in
Company B, Eleventh Iowa Regiment, under Captain Charles Foster and Colonel Abram Hare. Captain Rose was a valiant
and courageous soldier, as his successive promotions demonstrate. From a private he became a corporal, from a corporal
to orderly sergeant and later was commissioned captain over two lieutenants. He participated in the battles of
Shiloh, first and second battles of Corinth, Iuka, siege of Vicksburg, Resaca, Nickerjack Creek and Atlanta on
July 22, 1864, where he was taken prisoner and detained two months and seven days. During this time he was so well
fed (?) that his "weight decreased from two hundred and forty-six to one hundred and fifty-one pounds.
He was released under a special exchange arranged
for by General Sherman, and rejoined his company; as he walked through their camp grounds there was not a man in
the company who recognized him. He was afterward acting major and on the march to the sea was in command of the
regiment at different times. Was in command from Atlanta to Savannah, where he embarked on 1>oard a vessel,
and going to Newport, South Caro-lina, he took up a march against the rebel fortifications at Pocotaligo, South
Carolina, and while there was given leave of absence on account of illness and returned to his home. When resuming
his place in the army he jour-neyed by way of New York and Newbern, North Carolina, arriving at his command, which
was stationed at Goldsboro, North Carolina, on March 27, 1865, from which place he was mustered out of the service,
under general order from the war department. From there he visited Washington, District Columbia, and was in that
city when President Lincoln was assassinated.
Returning subsequently to his home in Iowa, he
was married August 17, 1865, to Esther Coate, a daughter of Samuel T. and Harriet (Anthony) Coate, both natives
of Ohio, and both ministers of the Christian church. Mrs. Rose is a sister of El wood Coate, county treasurer of
Cloud county. She is an amiable woman and president of the Woman's Christian Temper-ance Union of Concordia. To
Mr. and Mrs. Rose three children have been born, but one of whom is living. Their first born, Clarence Elwood,
was deceased at the age of eighteen months. Estella, a young woman of much promise, was deceased at the age of
twenty years. The youngest son, Clin-ton Emmett, is one of the prominent educators in this part of the state, Although
he is a young man but twenty-seven years of age, he has for four years occupied important positions in the Beloit
high school. After having been employed as assistant principal two years he was deservedly promoted to the principalship,
where he still continues and is recognized as an instruc-tor of superior ability. He received the foundation of
his education in Con-cordia. After graduating from the high school he entered the State University of Kansas and
finished a course in that institution. He is acknowledged one of the best and most thorough mathematicians in the
state. C. E. Rose was married to Minnie Agnetta Lawrence, who was a teacher in the Concordia city schools two years.
She is a native of Pennsylvania. Maud Rader. a granddaughter of John and Jemima Wilkins, old settlers of Oakland
township, found a home with Mr. and Mrs. Rose when eleven years of age, remaining with them until her marriage
to J. W. Scott. They are now residents of Blue Hill, Nebraska, where Mr. Scott secured a clerkship.
While in Iowa Mr. Rose engaged in various pursuits;
was in the mercantile business at Quarry, Marshall county, Iowa, served as postmaster in the same town and also
as justice of the peace, township clerk, express agent, and bought grain. After selling out his business interests
in Iowa Mr. Rose emigrated to Kansas in 1882 and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Meredith township,
Cloud county, where he resided several years, and later sold and purchased a quarter section adjoining, which he
still owns.
In 1890 he was elected to the office of clerk of
the court of Cloud county, removed to Concordia and held that office with satisfaction to the public four years.
Since that time he has been successfully engaged in mar-ble and granite works. In politics Mr. Rose is a Populist.
Fraternally he has been a Mason since 1865; he has received the degree of Master Mason, Royal Arch Mason and Knight
Templar, fie is a member of the Order of Woodmen and the Grand Army of the Republic and has held the office of
post commander. Mr. and Mrs. Rose are estimable people and among Concordia's most esteemed citizens. They own a
comfortable and pleasant cottage. located on East Seventh street, where they expect to enjoy life the remainder
of their days.
W. C. WHIPP.
W. C. Whipp is one of the older residents of Cloud
county, having, with his parents, located in the central part of the county in 1871. In 1879 he was appointed deputy
registrar of deeds, and with his brother, C. W. Whipp, who was then registrar of deeds, founded the abstract business
of Whipp & Company, which has ever since been conducted in that name. In 1885 he was elected registrar of deeds
and served in that capacity till January, 1890. During this time, in connection with D. M. Stackhouse, who was
then county treasurer, and who purchased an interest in the business, they compiled a complete set of abstract
books of the county. In the early part of 1880 E. C. Whitcher purchased the interest of D. M. Stackhouse and has
continued a member of the firm. Mr. Whipp also retained his farming and stock interests and now owns about five
hundred acres of land.
Mr. Whipp is a native of Illinois, where he lived
until 1867. After three years in Iowa he came with his parents to Cloud county in 1871. At that time there were
only about a half do/en houses in Concordia. His father, Martin T. Whipp, a mechanic in his younger days, but later
in life a farmer, was of German origin, born in Kentucky and reared in Illinois, in the same vicinity with Abraham
Lincoln; his parents were born in Germany and reared in Maryland. Mr. Whipp's mother was a native of West Virginia,
where her ancestors had resided for many generations; they were originally of English origin. His parents died
on the homestead in Cloud county, the father in 1884 and the mother two years later.
Mr. Whipp and Miss Jessie E. Banker, a daughter of Ezra B. Banker, were married June 21, 1883, at the Banker homestead
in Cloud county, Kansas. They have three sons, respectively: Edward Bryan, aged eighteen; Harry W., aged sixteen,
and Russel Banker, aged nine years.
Mr. Whipp is Republican in principle and has been more or less active in local politics; he served about eight
years on the city council. He has been a member of die Independent Order of Odd Fellows about twenty-five years,
one of the encampment a number of years, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Knights and Ladies of Security,
and of the Ancient Order of Pyramids. He is one of the board of directors of the last named order. Mr. and Mrs.
Whipp are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Concordia.
D. H. JUDY.
D. H. Judy is proprietor of the popular and leading
millinery store of Concordia, and we may safely say one of the best appointed stores of Cloud county. This prosperous
business was established in 1889 and since that time has been conducted continuously, with credit to himself and
to the ben-efit and delight of the public at large. He carries a stock of twenty-five hun-dred dollars and has
made for himself and family a beautiful home; its modem conveniences are in great contrast to many of the earlier
homes of Kansas, which were built of sod or small dugouts scarcely large enough to hold the few worldly goods brought
by the owners from their old eastern homes.
Mr. Judy is a native of Xenia, Green county, Ohio,
born in 1838. His parents, Absalom and Martha (Ford) Judy, were natives of Virginia and were farmers. Both the
paternal and maternal grandparents were slave-holders, but disposed of them and moved into Green county, Ohio,
in an early day. Subsequently Mr. Judy's parents emigrated to Indiana, where they died, his father in the year
1887 and his mother in 1896. Mr. Judy is one of ten children, five of whom are living, one brother near Ft. Scott,
Kansas, and another at Abilene.
The subject of this sketch began his early studies
in the country schools of Ohio and Indiana and later attended the graded schools of Fairview. While a mere boy
he clerked in a store and when eighteen years of age left his home to make a career alone in the world. He returned
to Ohio, where he worked on a farm in summer and attended the high school at Fairview during the winter season,
and in this way acquired a good common school education.
In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-sixth
Indiana Regiment, under Captain S. G. Carney and Colonel Gross, commanding. Their service took them through Kentucky,
Tennessee, Mississippi, Ala-bama and Georgia. His regiment showed great valor and bravery in some of the important
battles, among them Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River and Lookout Mountain. His term of service expired soon after
the taking of Atlanta, covering a period of three years. After having been honorably mustered out of the army he
went to Indiana and worked on a farm during the summer of 1865. His brothers, with the exception of two, were all
soldiers of the Civil war.
While yet a pioneer state, Mr. Judy emigrated to
Iowa; remaining but one winter, he removed to Missouri, where he taught school, his first and last experience in
that vocation. In the aytumn of 1866 he returned to Iowa and in 1867 he engaged in the drug business in Johnson
City, St Clair county Missouri. Two years later he sold his drug store and after a brief sojourn in Ringo county,
Iowa, left there to explore the new country of the "great and only Kansas."
This occurred in 1870 and he settled at Clyde,
where he occupied a position as clerk in the drug store of J. S. Burns, and later clerked in the dry goods store
established by S. D. Silver until March, 1871, when Mr. Silver moved his stock to Concordia, then the beginning
of this thriving city. S. D. Silver failed shortly afterward and the stock was bought in by R. E. Allen, of Leavenworth,
and Mr. Judy remained with him in the capacity of head clerk for seven and a half years and during this period
gained a large experience.
He then decided to open a business of his own,
and in 1879 formed a partnership with P. Levereaux, in a general merchandise store, under the firm name of Levereaux
& Judy. They transacted an extensive and prosperous business for five years, or until Mr. Judy's health failed,
and he sold his interest in favor of H. N. Hansen. After a rest from business cares of two years he took up a new
field of work and opened a real estate, loan and insurance business, which he conducted successfully until the
spring of 1889, when he sold and the following spring took a trip to the Pacific coast, and on his return opened
his present business enterprise as before stated, a millinery store of vast resources.
Mr. Judy was married in October, 1871, to Lucy
Short, of Washing-ton county, who was deceased in May, 1891. They were the parents of three children, two sons
and one daughter: Hattie is a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, in the employ of a publishing company of that
city. Charles A., the oldest son, is a graduate of the Commercial College of Salina. He drew a claim at the opening
of the strip in Oklahoma and is now a resident of that country and occupies a position in a large dry goods establishment
of El Reno. Lora, the youngest son, is a student of the Great Western Business College of Concordia.
Mr. Judy was married to his present wife in December,
1893; Lizzie Page, a daughter of Owen Delaplaine, and the widow of George Page. Mrs. Judy has readily and with
rare intelligence adapted herself to the millinery business and its requirements.
Mr. Judy in his politics is a staunch and true
Republican. He was president of the school board for more than seven years and during his reign all of the school
buildings, with the exception of one, were erected. He was police judge of Concordia for a term of two years, has
been city assessor for a period of fifteen years and is at this writing (1903) a member of the school board. He
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the oldest initiatory member and carries a veteran badge
from this lodge. He is also the oldest member from the Rebekah Lodge and the only existing charter member residing
in Concordia. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the year 1872, is the only one left of the original
organizers, and has seen the lodge grow to its present portions-one hundred and twenty-five members. Mr. Judy belongs
to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, also the Sons and Daughters of Justice and the Grand Army of the Republic
post. He joined the latter society in Clinton, southwestern Missouri, in the year 1869.
Mr. Judy is an enterprising, public-spirited man
in any cause of interest to the welfare and progress of the city. He never forgets where to put his hand when called
upon to defray his share for improvements, likewise he always has a fund for the needy, does not proclaim his good
deeds "from the house tops," but many live to bless his warm, generous and helpful words of comfort and
also the more substantial aid in times of distress and want. He has walked over the site where Concordia now stands
when it was a bleak and barren prairie and was forced to go to Lake Sibley for lodging.
When on his first visit to Concordia J. M. Hagaman
was running a ferry. The evening shades were gathering and his fears of being benighted occasioned repeated calls
from Mr. Judy, which grew louder and more loud as he shouted and hallowed, until at last, not receiving a response,
he gave up in blank despair and sought the protection of a friendly cottonwood, where he lay all night. The next
morning about nine o'clock he again called Mr. Hagaman to come and ferry him across, whereupon he stuck his head
out of the window of his cabin, and coolly remarked, "You're in a hell of a hurry, there."
This same trip Mr. Judy saw two women fighting
something with clubs, he knew not what, but went to their rescue, where he found them in a prairie dog den that
was writhing with countless "rattlers" that had come to take up their abode with these animals, as is
their habit. They killed thirty of them and left many on the field The two frightened women to whom Mr. Judy lent
his valuable aid were Mrs. Collins (then Mrs. Read) and her daughter.
During Mr. Judy's trip from Iowa to Kansas he met
with rather an amusing experience. He was overtaken by an Englishman and they trav-eled together to Marysville.
He and on to St. Joseph, thence to Atchison, Topeka and Manhattan, and after leaving the last named town they met
an old fellow who told them of the Republican valley, and in company with two other Englishmen they came to Clyde,
and the following day repaired to a point two and one-half miles north of Concordia, where they each located a
claim and built a dugout on the land to be filed on by Mr. Judy. The two Englishmen went to Sibley, leaving Mr.
Judy to hold the claims from the numerous "jumpers" of government land. He sat up on the outside of the
dugout until twelve o'clock, imagining all sorts of horrors. He could not endure the awful silence and when midnight
arrived he grasped his gun and started for Sibley to join his companions. Fearful that the Indians were on his
trail he did not venture to even look backward, lest his scalp should soon be dangling from the belt of some brave.
After getting lost and wandering aimlessly about, at three o'clock in the morning, footsore and weary, he finally
reached their place of rendezvous, a Sibley dugout
ALBERT BURTON CARNEY.
The subject of this sketch is Albert Burton Carney,
the efficient superintendent of the Concordia city schools. Mr. Carney is a product of the Sunflower state, born
at Manhattan, Kansas, in 1869. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Wagner) Carney.
Joseph Carney is a native of Steuben county, New
York, born about sixty miles from the city of Buffalo. He is a farmer by occupation and settled in Manhattan, Kansas,
in 1859, which was then a mere village on the frontier. Mrs. Carney was also born in New York in the beautiful
and historic Mohawk valley. She came to Illinois, and after teaching school for a short period, came to Kansas
in 1863 via Leavenworth and thence to Manhattan by stage. The journey through Missouri was a perilous one to make
during the turbulent times of the Civil war, when every man under sixty and every boy over fourteen years of age
were pressed into active service.
Mrs. Carney organized the first graded school in
Manhattan, then a Tillage of four or five hundred inhabitants. She first taught a miscellaneous school and was
given one assistant. After the expiration of two years she was married to Joseph Carney, which ended her school
work except in their immediate family, where much credit is due her for laying the foundation upon which most of
them have builded successful educational careers. Mrs. Carney comes from Dutch colonial stock and from the same
lineage as the inventor of the Wagner Palace Car.
Joseph Carney spent the early part of his life
in New York on a farm, but after emigrating to Manhattan, engaged in the milling business until 1870, when with
several other families he moved to Mitchell county, where he has since lived and built a beautiful country home.
He has been a resident of Kansas forty-two years, and has seen the country grow to its present state of civilization.
To this union eleven children have been born, seven boys and four girls, all of whom lived to maturity. The eldest
child, Lewis, was a graduate of the Beloit High school and entered upon a career of teaching, but died at the age
of thirty years. Scott Winfield, until a year ago was interested with his brother Lewis, of Downs, in the mercantile
business and where he was also postmaster. He is now mining in the Cripple Creek district of Colorado. G. D. Carney
has been engaged in educational work all his life. He is a graduate of the Beloit High school, was two years at
the State Normal school and lacked ten weeks of graduating. He is now superintendent of instruction of public schools
in Mitchell county. This is his fourth year; was first appointed, then elected and re-elected. E. M. Car-ney, a
resident of Emporia, Kansas, occupies a chair in the State Normal school. He is a graduate in two courses from
that institution, was a student of the Kansas Normal twelve months, and one year in Harvard. Helen A., a graduate
and salutatorian of her class in the Beloit High school, is now teaching in the schools of Billings, Montana, and
is also a musician of some local note. Winifred, a resident of Cawker City, where she is engaged in the millinery
business, is also a graduate of the Beloit High school, and for several years a successful teacher. D. L. Carney
entered upon the career of school teacher, but is now a student in the Kansas City Dental College. Nandora, associated
with her sister Winifred at Cawker City, is the business woman of the family. Ella is a student of the Beloit High
school. She has considerable musical talent. Walter, aged thirteen years, received a common school diploma and
has finished one year in the Beloit High school.
A. B. Carney, with his elder brothers, was reared
on a farm and began their career by herding cattle, over what is now the town site of Beloit, and the ordinary
work on the farm, attending school in winter. When fifteen years of age he worked for his board and attended school
in Beloit. About this time his ambitions began to soar beyond the com fields which surrounded the home of his boyhood.
At the age of eighteen years he began teaching
in a country school near Beloit, and one year later became principal of the Asherville graded schools, where he
held forth two years, the proceeds of which enabled him to take a two years' course in the State Normal, where
he graduated in 1892. He then became principal of the Jamestown schools for one year, in 1893 accepted the position
of principal of the Concordia High school and two years later was made superintendent of the city schools and is
now on his eighth year.
Mr. Carney's natural ability, coupled with his
industry and ambition have caused him to be promoted to the head of the school system in Con-cordia. He is an indefatigable
worker for the cause of education, a man of keen intellect and executive ability. It was chiefly through his efforts
that the High school was secured in 1900, and also the public library of public schools and many other improvements
which are his especial and pardonable pride. He instructs one-half day in the High school and lectures the other
half. His specialty is history, both ancient and modern.
Mr. Carney is a very successful institute worker
and in connection with this and regular school work has labored twenty-five consecutive months. He has given much
time to lecturing before educational societies, has worked in twenty or more institutes, either as instructor or
conductor, averaging two institutes a season. In 1901 he was appointed by the governor as a member of the board
of Kansas state text books, and has been twice honored with the appointment of chairman of the state board of education.
Mr. Carney was married in 1899 to Miss Myrtle Latta,
of Clay Center, Kansas. Mrs. Carney is a native of Ohio. She came to Kansas with her parents when a child and located
in Clay Center, where she grew to womanhood. She is a graduate of the Clay Center High school. Mrs. Carney is a
talented musician and possesses a well cultivated mezzo soprano voice. She has studied in Topeka and Kansas City.
She was a member of the Clay Center High School Indies' Quartette, known as the "Cecilian Quartette"
They toured various parts of the state, singing for educational associations and concerts. Prior to her marriage
Mrs. Carney was employed as special teacher of music in the Concordia schools.
Politically A. B. Carney is a Democrat. He is a member of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masoes, Knights of Pythias
and Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan. Mrs. Carney is a member of the Eastern Star and is president of the "Anatheum
Club" of Concordia. Mr. and Mrs. Carney have a very comfortable and cozy home on Eighth, between Washington
and State streets.
F. J. ATWOOD.
F. J. Atwood began his career in the First National
Bank of Brandon, Vermont, of which Governor N. F. Sprague was president. Mr. Atwood came to Concordia and assumed
the position of cashier in the Cloud County Bank until he promoted the organization of the First National Bank
in 1883. He is one of the very best financiers and bankers known throughout the country, is proficient in aU the
various branches of the great banking system of both continents and where profound calculations are required lie
is able to cope with and surmount all difficulties. Socially and personally he is a man of superior ability, possessing
the confidence of his friends and colleagues. He is a man of marked literary talent and likewise a close stu-dent,
but his retiring nature has retarded the prominence he is entitled to in the literary world.
Mr. Atwood's first wife before her marriage was
Miss Jessie Hawkins. of Vermont. She was a woman cultured in the gifts of nature, music and literature and endowed
with an intellect which enabled her to keep pace with her talented husband. This young wife and her infant child
were separated by death but a few hours. His present wife was Miss Kate Tyner, who is a woman of refined instincts
and possessed of many personal charms. Music is her special accomplishment. She has a wdl trained, high soprano
voice. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood are members of high standing in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Atwood is the faithful
president and active worker of the Christian Endeavor Society. He is one of the most philanthropic men of Concordia,
contributing liberally to the support of all public enterprises of a worthy nature designed for the promotion or
benefit of his fellow men. The Atwoods reside in a beautifully appointed home, situated on the corner of Eleventh
and Republican streets.
WALTER W. BOWMAN.
Walter W. Bowman, as cashier of the First National
Bank of Concordia, is closely connected with its interests and much of its success is due to his business. The
rudiments of his education were received in the Concordia schools and one year in the Concordia State Normal, but
he is a self-made man and pursued knowledge that was most practical and that which would bring the best returns.
He began his career early in life. When but eleven years old he was employed as clerk in the postoffice of Concordia.
Having signed a registered letter, his signature attracted the attention of Mr. Linney, Concordia's first postmaster,
who asked for an interview with the young boy's mother, consequently arrangements were promptly made and he was
given a clerkship, attending school intermittently, taking every advantage that offered to educate himself. About
seven years subsequently he was appointed to a clerkship in the United States land office, then located in Concordia,
where he gained much useful knowledge. From this occupation he entered the First National Bank and has been prominently
identified with this institution from its start.
Mr. Bowman was married in August, 1883, to Clara K. Polhemus, who removed to Kansas with her parents in 1880. Mrs.
Bowman is a woman of intellectual attainments and an accomplished musician. Three promising and interesting son6
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowman, viz: Alfred N., Walter, Jr., and Horace Bushnell. After the marriage of
Mr. and Mrs. Bowman his mother was united in matrimony to Mr. Polhemus, the father of Mrs. Bowman. They are residents
of Concordia and own a pleasant home opposite their children on Seventh street.
Mr. Bowman is a man honored alike in the counsels
of the community at large and in the circle of his personal acquaintances and friends, the direct result of his
straightforward principles and purpose of will. He has made use of the excellent talents with which nature endowed
him and no citizen of Concordia possesses a more honorable record. He is a man of untiring energy in his devotion
to business, the smallest detail receiving the attention it deserves, which in a great measure is the keynote to
his popularity and success.
From the life of Mr. Bowman the following lesson
can be learned: Any boy who is studious and determined to be successful can attain hi$ object though handicapped
by poverty, lack of educational opportunity and even delicate health. The Bowmans occupy a desirable cottage home
on the corner of Washington and Seventh streets, where they expect to build a modern and more commodious house
in the near future. A wide lawn is one of the pleasing features of this property. Fraternally Mr. Bowman is a member'
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his family are prominent members and active workers of the Presbyterian
church.
