RENO COUNTY, KANSAS
HISTORY OF RENO COUNTY, KANSAS
BIOGRAPHIES
RENO COUNTY, KANSAS
HISTORY OF RENO COUNTY, KANSAS
BIOGRAPHIES
ALBERT P. DIXON
The Dixon family has been actively connected with the affairs of Reno county since the days of the beginning of a social order hereabout, Albert P. Dixon, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Salt Creek township, this county, being a grandson of Nathaniel Dixon, a Hoosier, who came to Reno county in 1872, the year following the first permanent settlement made in the county, and son of the late Cyrus N. Dixon, who for years was regarded as one of the leading farmers of Enterprise township.
Nathaniel Dixon was born in Indiana and became a well-to-do farmer of the Aurora neighborhood in that state. He married Iantha Hoard and continued making his home near Aurora until 1872, in which year he and his family, his wife and five young children, came to Kansas, locating in Reno county, where, in Enterprise township, he homesteaded a tract of land, being among the very earliest of the settlers of this county and the second or third to settle in Enterprise township. When he erected his humble home on his homestead there was not another house to be seen in any direction from that point, nor was there a tree ill sight, while vast herds of buffalo still were roaming the prairies hereabout, providing ample supplies of meat for the family larder. Nathaniel Dixon speedily proceeded to make a home on the prairie and soon had things in habitable shape. He planted a sightly grove on his place and quickly began to be recognized as one of the most progressive and energetic of the settlers in that part of the county. Nathaniel Dixon kept the postoffice in his home about 1874. His sons were active aids to him in the work of creating a new home and all grew up sturdy and independent farmers. Nathaniel Dixon and his wife were members of the Methodist church and early took their place among those who were continually active in good works in their neighborhood. In the early eighties he sold his home place to his son, Cyrus N. Dixon, and he and his wife went to Oregon, where their last days were spent. They were the parents of five children, as follow: Ezra L., who went to Oregon and died in Portland, that state; Luella, who married W. T. Hare and now lives in the town of Nickerson, this county; Cyrus N., father of the subject of this sketch, and Samuel and Michael, both of whom have for years been making their homes in Oregon, the latter of whom formerly was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, but is now farming in Oregon.
Cyrus N. Dixon was twelve years of age when he came to this county with his parents in 1872, and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm in Enterprise township. When he came of age he married Annie Warnock, who was born in Iowa in 1861 and who came to this county with her parents when she was a girl, and then he bought the homestead of his father, the latter at that time moving to Oregon, and spent the rest of his life there, becoming a very successful farmer. He presently bought an adjoining half section of land and at the time of his death on January 11, 1915, was the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Enterprise township. He was a Democrat, ever taking an active part in local political affairs, and he and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist church. They were the parents of five children, namely: Albert P., the subject of this sketch; lantha, who married Jesse Huckworth and lives on a farm in Enterprise township, this county; Lola, married Virgil T. Slifer, a farmer of Enterprise; Ray, who is managing the home farm, and Ezra, deceased.
Albert P. Dixon was born on the old Dixon homestead in Enterprise township, this county, on December 17, 1885. He grew to manhood there, receiving his elementary education in the district school of that neighborhood, which he supplemented by a course in the Salt City Commercial College at Hutchinson. Following his marriage in 1911 he bought the old Claypool place, the southwest quarter of section 6 in Salt ,Creek township and moved onto that farm, on which he still makes his home. He has been quite successful in his farming operations and rents additional land from his mother, which he is cultivating with profit.
On July 29, 1911, Albert P. Dixon was united in marriage to Katy Kittle, who was born in Rush county, this state, daughter of Stacy Kittle and wife, who now reside in Nickerson, this county, and to this union two children have been born, sons, Oscar, who was born in July, 1912, and Harold, in May, 1915- Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are members of the Methodist church and take a proper interest in the good works of their community. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 2151-217)
William E. Carr, general manager of the "Monarch" mills at Hutchinson, this county, vice-president of the Monarch Milling Company, prominently connected with the banking and commercial interests 6f the city and for years one of the most active promoters of the best interests of "the Salt City," is a Hoosier, a fact of which he has never ceased to be proud, having been born in the village of New Corydon, Jay county, Indiana, February 19, 1857, son of D. W. and Charlotta (Daugherty) Carr, both natives of that same state.
William E. Carr was reared in his native village, receiving his education in the local schools, and even as a youth started out to make his own way in the world. In May, 1877, he came to Kansas, being located for a time in Hutchinson, then a village of promising proportions, but still bearing all the evidences of its recent origin, and while there worked in various capacities for the Santa Fe Railroad Company. In 1881 he was sent by that company to Garden City, this state, to edit a newspaper, the Irrigator, which the railroad company had financed for the purpose of "booming" the sale of lands thereabout. In 1883 Mr. Carr moved to Ellinwood, this state, where he was engaged in editing and publishing the Ellinwood Express (now known as the Advocate) until 1887, in which year he moved to Great Bend to take the position of bookkeeper in the office of the Great Bend mills, owned by Hume & Kelly. In 1897 Mr. Carr and William Kelly, of the above firm, came to this county and erected the "Monarch" mills at Hutchinson. In 1905 Mr. Kelly sold his interest in the flour-mill to N. B. Sawyer, who, with Mr. Carr,. H. A. and E. B. Sawyer and R. E. Carr, organized the Monarch Milling Company, incorporated, and which is doing a very flourishing business. Upon the entrance of the Sawyer interest into the milling company, N. B. Sawyer was elected president of the company, and Mr. Carr vice-president and general manager, Mr. Carr having had practically entire management of the mill ever since it was erected. It is universally acknowledged that the product of the "Monarch" mills is as fine as there is made in Kansas. The plant has a daily capacity of six hundred and fifty barrels and the flour is shipped to all parts of the United States, in addition to which the company enjoys a considerable export trade. The "American Lady" brand of flour manufactured by this company is its leading brand and is known in all parts of the country.
Not only has Mr. Carr given his most thoughtful and intelligent attention to his milling business, but he has taken an active part in several other enterprises of a local character and is known as one of Hutchinson's most representative business men, being a stockholder in the Commercial National Bank, First National Bank and numerous other concerns.
In 1886 William E. Carr was united in marriage to Alice Jacobs, who was born in Union county, Ohio, and to this union one son has been born, Ralph E., who is associated with his father in the milling business. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are members of the First Presbyterian church, in the various beneficences of which they take an active interest, and Mr. Carr is a member of the Modern Woodmen and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his son are active members of the Hutchinson Country Club, and the latter is an enthusiastic golfer. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 217-218)
Joseph P. Farley, superintendent of mails in the postoffice at Hutchinson, this county, and one of the best-known citizens of that city, is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Tamaqua, that state, June 15, 1860, son of Michael and Ann (Colum) Farley, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of England, both of whom are now deceased.
Michael Farley was born in County Cavan, Ireland, and came to the United States with his widowed mother when four years of age. The widow Farley settled in Tamaqua, in the heart of the Pennsylvania coal field, and there Michael grew to manhood, early becoming a miner, which vocation he followed all the active years of his life. He died there on October 30, 1875, and his widow later moved to Philadelphia, where she died in November, 1910. She was born in St. Helens, England, and had come to this country when a girl with her parents. There were ten of these children, all of whom are living save two, Thomas having died when eighteen years old and Catherine when four, those besides the subject of this sketch (all residents of Philadelphia) being as follow: James C, a railroad contractor; Mary, widow of Thomas Mundy; Daniel, Michael, Sarah, who married Jacob Borrell, a brick mason; Margaret, who married William Blaich, superintendent of circulation in the office of one of the Philadelphia newspapers, and Connor, inspector of upholstery for the Pennsylvania railroad.
Joseph P. Farley was reared at Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, and received his schooling there. He "grew up" in the coal mines and worked there until he was seventeen years old, when, in 1877, about two years after his father's death, he went to Indiana and was engaged in farming in the Terre Haute neighborhood for ten years, at the end of which time he came to Kansas, arriving at Hutchinson on November 21, 1887. The Crystal Salt Company of that city had been organized by Terre Haute men and Mr. Farley was engaged as foreman of that company's plant, a position he held for four years. He then engaged in the grocery business and two years later received an appointment as letter carrier in the Hutchinson postoffice. For fifteen years Mr. Farley faithfully performed the duties of postman and then was advanced to the position of clerk, which he held for five years, or until his appointment to the position of superintendent of mails in 1912, which position he still occupies. Mr. Farley is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to political affairs.
On January 1, 1890, at Nevada, Missouri, Joseph P. Farley was united in marriage to Hannah Rukes, who was born near Brazil, in Clay county, Indiana, not far from Terre Haute, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Rukes, both natives of Clay county, Indiana, the former of whom is still living, now a resident of Brazil, Indiana, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Anna E., who married Ralph J. Chesney, a freight clerk for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, stationed at Kansas City, Missouri: James N., an attorney-at-law at Hutchinson; Helen, who married Fred Danielson, baggage master at the Rock Island railroad depot at Hutchinson; Edna, a graduate of the Hutchinson high school, and Margaret and Joseph P., Jr., who are still in school. The Farleys have a pleasant home at 516 B avenue, east, and are quite comfortably situated. Mr. Farley is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 218-219)
Fred W. Thorp, a prosperous lumber and coal dealer in Haven, this county, a large landowner, first postmaster of the town of Haven, editor of the first newspaper published in that town, founder of the bank established in Haven, former mayor of the town and who in other ways has been actively identified with the promotion of the best interests of that flourishing little city, is a native of Wisconsin, having been born in Washington county, that state, April 22, 1860, son of the Hon. Frederick O. and Maria (French) Thorp, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts and the latter in Connecticut, who emigrated to Wisconsin with their respective parents, the former in 1831 and the latter in 1832, Wisconsin then being unorganized as a state, existing merely as a part of the great Northwest Territory. Frederick O. Thorp and his wife were members of the Congregational church. They were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having had two brothers, George H., a promising lawyer, who died at the age of twenty-six, and Flerman S., who died in early youth.
Fred W. Thorp received his elementary education in the schools of West Bend and of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, supplementing the same by a course in the University of Wisconsin, from the scientific department of which excellent institution he was graduated in 1878. The following year he came to Kansas, locating in Reno county, where he has ever since made his home. For some time after coming to this county, and while getting the lay of the land," Mr. Thorp worked on farms in Haven township, and in one capacity and another, until 1886, the year in which the town of Haven was founded, he began the publication of a newspaper in that promising village, the Haven Independent, with the purpose to "boom" the town, and was thus engaged for four or five years, at the end of which time he sold the Independent, of which he had made a sprightly and flourishing publication. In the meantime he had married and had became the owner of a fine farm about one and one-half miles east of Haven, and upon leaving the newspaper moved to the farm, where he made his home until 1903, in which year he moved back to Haven, where he ever since has made his home and where he and his family are very pleasantly and comfortably situated.
Mr. Thorp was the first postmaster of Haven and from the very beginning of that thriving town has taken a warm interest in its development. Upon returning to Haven he organized the Citizens State Bank and was elected cashier of the same, a position he held until he sold his interest in the bank in 1911. He then established his present up-to-date lumber yard, one of the best appointed concerns of the kind in the county, where he also handles coal, cement and brick and manufactures cement-block. Since moving back to town, Mr. Thorp has rented his farms, being now the owner of several well-tilled tracts of land in this county, and is looked upon as one of the most substantial citizens of the Haven community. He is a Democrat and served as mayor of Haven during the years 1913 and 1914.
In 1889 Fred W. Thorp was united in marriage to Hattie Mount, daughter of Cyrus and Mary Mount, who were among the very earliest settlers of Reno county, they having located in Haven township in 1871, their daughter, Hattie, then having been but two years of age, and to this union two children have been born, George H., who is assisting his father in his business since and Caroline, who is still in school. Mr. Thorp is a Mason, affiliated with the blue lodge of that order at Haven; with the commandery of the Knights Templar at Hutchinson and with Midian Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Wichita. He also is a member the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 219-221)
Isaiah Danford, a well-known and prosperous farmer and dairyman of Reno township, this county, now living retired in the city of Hutchinson, is a native of Ohio, having been born on a farm in Noble county, that state, June 27, 1841, son of Abraham and Lavina (Bates) Danford, both natives of that same state, the former born in Belmont county and the latter in Noble County.
Abraham Danford was reared on a farm and became a successful and well-to-do farmer in his own right, the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land. He was a Whig in his political belief and for many years served his township well in the capacity of justice of the peace. He and his wife were members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. Abraham Danford lived to be ninety years of age. His wife died ten years previous to his death. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this biographical sketch being Eli, Elizabeth, who married John Rowe; Nancy, who married Julius Groves, and Roland Jasper, all of whom still live in their native county, substantial, well-to-do people.
Isaiah Danford was reared on the paternal farm in Ohio, receiving his education in the district school in the
neighborhood of his home, and after his marriage his father helped him buy a one-hundred-acre farm four miles from
the old home place. Presently he sold that farm to advantage and bought a farm of two hundred and ninety-seven
acres in the same county, becoming an extensive farmer, and there his ten children were born. In 1887 he sold his
farm in Ohio and came to Kansas with his family, locating in Hutchinson, this county, where he engaged in the hotel
business, operating the Noble County Hotel for a year with much success, that being in "boom" times.
He then traded the hotel for a quarter of a section of land in Reno township and moved to the latter place, making
his home on that farm for four years, at the end of which time he sold the farm and rented a ranch of sixteen hundred
acres in Cowley county, this state, which he operated for five years. He then returned to Reno county and bought
a farm of ninety acres in Reno township, on which he made his home for two years, at the end of which time he bought
a dairy farm in South Hutchinson and in 1905 started the South Hutchinson Dairy, which he still owns, the same
now being operated by his son-in-law, Benjamin Myers. In 1907 Mr. Danford and his wife retired from the active
labors of the farm and moved into Hutchinson, where Mrs. Danford died on November 10, 1909.
In 1862 Isaiah Danford was united in marriage to Eliza Ellen Groves, who was born in Noble county, Ohio, August
16, 1846, daughter of John and Matilda Groves, and to this union ten children were born, all of whom are still
living, namely: Lincoln, born on July 11, 1866, now operating a large ranch in Edwards county, this state; Annie,
July 8, 1868, who married Benjamin Myers, who conducts the South Hutchinson Dairy; Eli Franklin, September 9, 1869,
a large farmer in Reno township, this county; William Collins, May 25, 1871, an extensive farmer in Oklahoma; Lavina
Delia, October 19, 1872, who married L. S. Kent, a well-known auctioneer, of Hutchinson; Louis P., January 9, 1874,
a well-to-do farmer of Reno township, this county; Mary Alice, January 31, 1876, who married A. T. Moupin, proprietor
of the "Sunflower" dairy in South Hutchinson; Carrie May, January 27, 1878, who married Robert Carlisle,
a merchant of Stafford, this state; Rosanna, August 17, 1880, who married Patrick Hamilton and lives in South Hutchinson,
and Ella, October 30. 1882, who married Richard Kennedy and lives at Haven, this county. The Dan fords are all
doing well in their several undertakings and all are held in high regard in their respective communities. Mr. Danford
is a Republican and ever has given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, though never an aspirant
for office. He has many friends in Hutchinson and throughout the county and is held in high regard by all. (History
of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 221-223)
County Attorney Herbert E. Ramsey, an active and popular young lawyer, of Hutchinson, county seat of this county, is a native of Reno county, having been born on a farm in Reno township, December 26, 1885, the only son of Enoch M. and Nellie D. (Belfour) Ramsey, both natives of Illinois, and both of whom are still living in this county.
Enoch M. Ramsey owned a farm in Hancock county, Illinois, when he was married, but in 1882 he and his wife decided to come farther West and came to Kansas, locating near Larned where they bought three quarter sections, but not being satisfied with that location shortly afterward disposed of their place and came to Reno county, buying three quarter sections in Reno township, which has been their home ever since and where they have prospered- largely- Mr. Ramsey still gives close attention to the general management of his place, though practically retired from the active labors of the same. He and his wife have a pleasant home at 633 Sherman street, east, in Hutchinson, where Mrs. Ramsey makes her home most of the time with her son, the subject of this sketch, and Mr. Ramsey alternates his time between his town house and the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are active members of the Presbyterian church, in the various beneficences of which they take much interest, and Mr. Ramsey is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic order.
Herbert E. Ramsey was reared on the home farm in Reno township, receiving his elementary education in the district school in that neighborhood, after which he entered the high school at Hutchinson, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906. He then entered the law office of Hettinger & Hettinger and after a course of reading there, entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1910. Upon receiving his diploma, Mr. Ramsey returned to Hutchinson, was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession. He was appointed assistant county attorney under E. T. Foote and for four years was thus engaged, acquitting himself so satisfactorily in that position that in 1914 he was elected county attorney and is now serving in that important office, his administration of the affairs of which is giving general satisfaction to the public.
Mr. Ramsey is an active, energetic young lawyer, public spirited and enterprising and is very popular in his large circle of friends throughout the county generally. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and takes a warm interest in all good works hereabout. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 223-224)
John A. Myers, a well-known retired farmer and cattleman, is a veteran of the Civil War and a native of Ohio, having been born in Harrison county, that state, on July 28, 1840, son of James R. and Maria (Romney) Myers, both natives of Pennsylvania. James Myers moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio after he was grown and there was married. For some time he owned and operated a farm in Harrison county, that state, but in 1852 he sold that farm and moved to Tuscarawas county, same state, where he bought another farm on which he made his home until later when he moved to Uhrichsville, death occurring in 1877, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife had died some years previously. They were members of the Presbyterian church during their residence in Harrison county, but after moving to Tuscarawas county joined the Moravian church. To James Myers and wife fifteen children were born, as follow: Hiram, who died in Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Melissa Welshimer, who died at her home in Hutchinson, this county, in 1913, at the age of ninety-one; Harriet; Mary, who died unmarried in 1895, in Hutchinson; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; James, a physician, who lived in Hutchinson, until his death in 1915, in his eighty-fifth year; Salome, who married a physician at Urbana, Illinois; Mrs. Elvina Smith, deceased; Albert, aged seventy-nine, living in Belville, Kansas, retired; Alvin, who died at the age of twenty-one; John A., the immediate subject of this biographical review; Mrs. Martha Anderson, who lives at Muskogee, Oklahoma; Jonathan, a dentist, of Troy, Kansas; Minerva, who lives in Champaign county, Illinois, and Gracilla, who died in childhood.
John A. Myers completed his elementary education in the public schools of Titscarawas county, having been but
twelve years of age when his family moved to that county, and supplemented the same by a course in Trenton Academy,
after which he taught one term of school in the town of Newport, in his home county. In July, 1861, he enlisted
in Company B, Fifty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, and served until
he was mustered out with his regiment in Texas in October, 1865. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland
and he participated in all the great battles in which his division of that army was engaged, including Chickamauga,
lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Stone's River and in the Atlanta campaign, aiding in the taking of that city,
and then at the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and in all this severe service never received a wound.
At the close of the war, John A. Myers returned home and resumed his vocation m the school room and for two years
taught school in the neighborhood of his home, during his vacations working on the home farm. In 1867 he came to
Kansas and for a year was engaged in teaching at White Cloud, after which he returned to Ohio. He was married in
1871 and went to Urbana, Champaign county, Illinois, where he opened a brick factory and also operated a private
grain elevator. In 1879 he returned to Kansas and for a time stopped at Hutchinson, but did not then make that
place his permanent place of abode, instead going on to Doniphan county, where for three years he conducted a general
store in the village of Leona. In 1882 he returned to Hutchinson and there he has resided ever since. Upon his
arrival in Hutchinson, Mr. Myers at once became a prominent factor in the development of the cattle business hereabout.
He engaged extensively in the buying and selling of cattle and was one of the first men to ship cattle from this
section. In 1884 he bought a farm in Reno township, where he lived until 1907, in which year he returned to Hutchinson
and retired from the more active pursuits, though still continuing, more or less, his activities in the real-estate
market in which he had been engaged from the time of his arrival in this county. Mr. Myers has bought and sold
a great deal of real estate in his time and has been a heavy investor, coming to be regarded as one of the leading
capitalists hereabout. He also has given considerable attention to various other local enterprises and some of
these interests he still retains, being now vice-president of the Haines-Miller Wholesale Paint Company and a director
of the Mutual Building and Loan Association of Hutchinson.
On May 4, 1871, John A. Myers was united in marriage to Mary L. Frediebur, who was born in Ohio, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Rev. Howard Myers, a minister of the Christian church at Clyde, Kansas; Josephine, who died at the age of thirteen months; Jessie, who married Arthur Dade and lives in Hutchinson; Frank, a farmer, of Reno township, this county; Ernest, a civil engineer at Dallas, Texas, and Raymond, of Hutchinson, a well-known traveling salesman. The Myers family resides at 113 Avenue B, west, in Hutchinson, a very pleasant and hospitable home.
Mr. Myers is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and for years has taken an active interest in the affairs
of the local post. He also has given much of his attention to the political affairs of the county and for seven
years served as a member of the board of county commissioners, first having been elected on the Populist ticket
and then on the Democratic ticket. He was a member of the board which directed the erection of the present Reno
county court house and in such a business-like and economical manner were the details of that transaction managed
by the board that it was unnecessary for the county to float a bond issue to provide for the same, a most unusual
record of efficiency in the management of the public business. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn,
Pages 224-226)
FRANK D. HAMILTON
Frank D. Hamilton, one of the most progressive farmers of the Partridge neighborhood in Center township, this county, as well as one of the most popular and best-informed men in that section, is a Hoosier, having been born in Washington county, Indiana, February 11, 1874, son of Benjamin and Miranda (Bryant) Hamilton, both natives of that same county, members of pioneer families in southern Indiana, both of whom now are deceased.
Benjamin Hamilton was the son of David Hamilton, one of the early settlers of Washington county, Indiana, his parents having come from Ireland and settled there at an early day in the settlement of that section of the Hoosier state. Benjamin Hamilton grew up on the home farm in the hills of southern Indiana and, upon reaching manhood's estate, married and bought a farm of his own, on which he and his family lived until 1885, in which year he sold the place, and with his family came to Kansas, homesteading a farm in Finney county. Not long after homesteading in Finney county, Mr. Hamilton sold a relinquishnient of his right and came to Reno county, buying a quarter section of land in Center township, a mile west and a mile north of the village of Partridge, where he lived until his wife's death in June, 1901, at the age of fifty-six years, after which he made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch, the remainder of his life, his death occurring on November 9, 1907. Benjamin Hamilton was an excellent carpenter and during his residence in this county spent most of his time as a building contractor, leaving the cultivation of the farm to his sons. He did a great deal of carpenter work in Hutchinson and among the buildings erected by him in the more immediate neighborhood of his established home was the fine school building at Partridge. He was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Congregational church, in which faith their children were reared. Four children were born to them as follow: John, who resides on the old home place in Center township; Addie, now deceased, who married David Brown; Frank D., the subject of this sketch, and Zella, who married George Coffey and lives in Jackson county, Indiana. Frank D. Hamilton was eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Reno county and completed the course in the schools at Partridge. Until his marriage in 1896 he made his home on his father's farm, listing in the labors of the same, and then for four years rented the Oscar Wepse farm in Center township, making his home there. In the spring of 1904 he bought the farm he had been renting, erected a new house and barn and otherwise improved the same and has since made his home there, having one of the best-kept and most effectively cultivated farms in the neighborhood, among the many improvements being an excellent orchard. In 1913 Mr. Hamilton bought an "eighty" adjoining his place on the east and is now recognized as one of the most substantial farmers in that section. He is a Democrat, though somewhat independent in his political views regarding local affairs, voting for the candidates he regards as better fitted for the duties of the office sought, rather than because of their particular party affiliation, and ever has taken a good citizen's interest in local civic affairs, though not himself an office seeker.
On October 14, 1896, Frank D. Hamilton was united in marriage to Addie Sims, who was born in Jackson county,
Indiana, daughter of John C. and Sarah Sims, who left Indiana about 1885 and came to Kansas, locating on a farm
in Center township, this county, where Mr. Sims died in 1910 and where his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs.
Hamilton take an earnest interest in the general affairs of the neighborhood and are held in high regard by their
man friends thereabout. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the local of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Partridge
and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union and Ladies Aid Society. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 226-227)
JAMES WILLIAM SMITH
James William Smith, better known to his friends throughout this county as "Will" Smith, a well-known
and progressive farmer of Sumner township and proprietor of a fine farm in the Haven neighborhood, is a native-born
Hoosier, but has lived in Reno county since he was eighteen years old and is very properly regarded as one of the
pioneers of this county. He was born on a farm in Grant county, Indiana, December 31, 1859, only son of Ichabod
and Mary (Simpson) Smith, both natives of that same state, the latter born in the city of Terre Haute.
Ichabod Smith grew up on an Indiana farm and after his marriage bought a farm in Grant county and was engaged in
farming when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service in Company C, Eighty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and served for three years in the Army of the Mississippi, seeing much hard service, particularly during
the Red River campaign, and was wounded twice. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to his farm
and later moved to the nearby town of Jonesboro, where his wife died in 1874, at the age of thirty-three years.
Mr. Smith did not remarry and the next year, in November, 1875, he and his son, Will, then a sturdy lad of sixteen
years, drove through from their home in Indiana to Kansas, locating for a time in Sedgewick county. In 1877 they
came over into Reno county and the elder Smith homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 18 in Sumner township,
where he and his son threw up a sod house, half dug-out, and began to "bach." Both worked side by side
in the labor of developing the homestead and prospered from the very beginning of their operations. When Will Smith
reached his majority he bought the relinquishment of a homestead claim to a quarter of a section adjoining that
of his father and the two thus had in that one tract a full half section. In 1883 they began to engage extensively
in the cattle business, renting additional lands for grazing purposes, and prospered largely in this line, continuing
in the cattle business until 1895, in which year they sold their farms to advantage. Ichabod Smith continued making
his home in Reno county until 1907, in which year he moved to San Diego, California, where he is now living in
comfortable retirement at the age of seventy-eight. During his residence in this county he was active in local
affairs and was one of the leading pioneers of his part of the county. He is a Republican and took a prominent
part in the councils of his party in this county. For eight years he was trustee of Sumner township and in various
ways gave the full strength of his influence and energy to the advancement of the common good. He is a member of
the Methodist church.
After selling his farm in 1895 Will Smith rented other lands and continued his farming operations. He married in 1896 and in 1900 bought the northwest quarter of section 3 in Sumner township, which he has greatly improved and where he ever since has made his home, being regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood. He has not gone in much for cattle raising of late, but gives considerable attention to the raising of Poland China hogs. Mr. Smith takes an earnest interest in neighborhood affairs and is serving very efficiently as vice-president of the Sumner Telephone Association, an organization of farmers in that part of the county. He is a Republican and takes a warm interest in civic affairs, but has never been included in the office-seeking class.
On February 27, 1896, Will Smith was united in marriage to Miranda Eabling, who was born in Mandato, Marshall
county, Indiana, in 1871, daughter of John F. and Catherine Eabling, who came to Kansas in 1872, settling in Harvey
county, later coming to Reno county and settling on a farm in section 6, Sumner township, where Mr. Eabling spent
the remainder of his life and where his widow is now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith five children have been born,
namely: Harold D., born in 1898, now a student in the county high school at Nickerson; Ralph E., 1899; Lloyd F.,
1901; Mary C, 1904, and Opal May, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the United Brethren church and take an
active interest in all neighborhood wood works. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 228-229)
ADELBERT M. NETTLETON
Adelbert M. Nettleton, well-known printer at Hutchinson, former editor and proprietor of the Hutchinson Gazette
and for years actively identified with the printing-trades industry in this state, is a native of Illinois, born
near the town of Woodstock, in McHenry county, that state, July 27, 1859, son of Henry T. and Jane (Rogers) Nettleton,
the former of whom was born in Middlesex county, Connecticut, and the latter at Chardon, in Geauga county, Ohio.
Henry T. Nettleton was reared in his native state and learned the trade of carpenter and cabinet-maker. When a young man he came West and in the early fifties located in the neighborhood of Woodstock, the county seat of McHenry county, in the northern part of Illinois, northwest of Chicago, and there remained until October of 1878, when, with his family he came to Kansas and settled in Pawnee county, northwest of Larned, where he homesteaded the southwest quarter of section 12, township 20, range 19, and there established his home, becoming one of the most substantial pioneers of that section. On that homestead farm Henry T. Nettleton spent some years, and upon retiring from the active labors of the farm moved to Larned, where his death occurred on December 26, 1893. His widow, who still survives, is now making her home at Hutchinson, where she has lived for some years. She and her husband were the parents of six children.
Adelbert M. Nettleton received his schooling in the schools of Woodstock, Illinois, and in the printing office in that town learned the rudiments of "the art preservative of all arts," working at the printer's case there until he came with his parents to Kansas in the fall of 1878, he then being about nineteen years of age. Shortly after locating in Pawnee county he homesteaded a quarter of a section adjoining his father's homestead and also entered a claim to a quarter of a section, under the provisions of the timber act, and there he engaged in general farming and cattle raising. In 1892 he and his brother went to Stafford, where they established the Peoples Paper, which, in February, 1896, they traded for the Gazette, at Hutchinson, and moved to the latter city. Upon taking charge of the office of the Gazette they made numerous improvements in the equipment of the plant, making it one of the most modern and up-to-date printing plants in central Kansas. It was the Nettleton brothers who installed in Hutchinson the first type-setting machine seen in that city. The new building which they erected for the plant of the Gazette was the first cement-block building constructed in Hutchinson and is still standing at 121 Sherman avenue, east. In 1907 the Nettleton brothers sold the Gazette and since that time Adelbert M. Nettleton has continued his active connection with the printing trades in Hutchinson, with the Hutchinson News Company. Earl G. Nettleton died on July 11, 1907.
During his long connection with the printing business in this state, Mr. Nettleton has come into contact with
many of the interesting figures of this section of Kansas. Among these may be mentioned Henry Inman, for whom Mr.
Nettleton worked at Larned. Henry Inman, who will be remembered as a writer of stories of the Santa Fe trail, was
succeeded in his work by Col. Dick Ballinger, whose son, Richard Achilles Ballinger, became President Taft's secretary
of the interior. While living at Dodge City, Mr. Nettleton became acquainted with "Bat" Masterson and
his brothers and with "Mysterious" Dave Mather and D. M. Frost, the latter of whom was the proprietor
of the first newspaper at that place and afterward was register of the land office at Garden City. Mr. Nettleton
was an acquaintance of Mayor Webster, of Dodge City, who became celebrated throughout this section for the summary
manner with which he dealt with the, crooks and ruffians within his jurisdiction. One of the men in whom Mr. Nettle-ton
was much interested in those days was "Jim" Kelly, an old government scout and the owner of the first
opera house at Dodge City, known in the early days as "Kelly's Opera House"; also Chalk (Chalkley) Beeson,
another old government scout and for many years leader of the famous Dodge City Cowboy Band. Perhaps the earliest
pioneer of Ft. Dodge was R. M. Wright, who was a post trader at that point and who operated a big outfitting store
there before the town was established. Capt. W. H. Strickler, more commonly known by his pen name of Julian de
Llano," a celebrated writer of Western poetry and songs, was on<e of the interesting men of those early
days at Dodge City, whom Mr. Nettleton recalls with pleasure. On October 27, 1910, at Kansas City, Missouri Adelbert
M. Nettleton was united in marriage to Myrtle Dillon, who was born near the city of Wheeling, West Virginia. Mr.
and Mrs. Nettleton have a very pleasant home at 517 North Jackson street, where they are very comfortably situated.
They are members of the Christian church and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same. Mr.
Nettleton is "independent" in his political views and has never been a seeker after public office. (History
of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 229-231)
ARTHUR L. SIEGRIST
Arthur L. Siegrist, an energetic and progressive young farmer of Salt Creek township, this county, and one of the
best-known men in that section of the county, is the third of his generation successfully to engage in agriculture
in Reno county, his grandfather, the late John Siegrist, who was accounted one of the best farmers in the county,
having become a large landowner here in 1876, and his father, Jacob L. Siegrist, who also has lived here since
pioneer days, is still one of the leading agriculturists of Reno township. In a sketch relating to the latter,
presented elsewhere in this volume, there is set out the history of the well-known Siegrist family m Reno county.
Arthur L. Siegrist was born on the farm on which he still makes his home, July 3, 1880, son of Jacob L. and Abbie A. (Biggs) Siegrist, who came to this county immediately after their marriage in Tazewell county, Illinois, in February, 1877. Mr. Siegrist was reared on the home farm in Salt Creek township, receiving his education in the district school in that neighborhood, which he supplemented by a course in a business college at Great Bend, this state. He remained at home until his marriage, in the spring of 1905, after which he rented the paternal acres in Salt Creek township, a fine tract of two hundred and forty acres, his father meanwhile having moved to the farm of his venerable grandfather in Reno township, in order to take over the direction of the latter's extensive affairs, and there he has lived ever since, doing very well, having been quite successful both as a general framer and as a stock raiser. One hundred and sixty acres of his home farm lies in Reno township, the remainder in Salt Creek township, and it is in the latter portion that he has his residence, a very comfortable and pleasant home, where he and his family live in quiet comfort. In addition to this tract, which he rents from his father, he is the owner of an adjoining tract of eighty acres in Salt Creek township, which is also profitably cultivated by him.
On February 22, 1905, Arthur L. Siegrist was united in marriage to Ora Mollie Wildin, who also was born in this county, daughter of William and Celia Wildin, Reno county pioneers, now living retired in the city of Hutchinson, and to this union four children have been born, as follow: Florence, horn in 1906; Marie, 1908; Helen, 1910, and Russell, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Siegrist are earnest members of the Poplar Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in all good works thereabout. Mr. Siegrist is a Republican, as were his father and his grandfather before him, and gives his thoughtful attention to the political affairs of the county. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm personal interest in the affairs of that popular fraternal organization. (History of Reno County, Kansas, George W. Dunn, Pages 231-232)