Biographies for Reno County, Kansas

BARRETT, NELSON T.

Nelson T. Barrett, the well-known lettuce grower of Hutchinson, this county, the products, of whose extensive green-houses are shipped in carload lots to all the chief cities of the Central West and who is one of the best known dealers in his particular line in this part of the country, is a native of the great Empire state, having been born at Middletown, in Orange County, New York, April 11, 1860, son of George and Elizabeth (Purdy) Barrett, both of whom were born in that same county, the former of English descent and the latter of Dutch descent, who later became Kansas pioneers and well-known residents of Reno county.

George Barrett owned a grocery and dry-goods store at Middletown, but sold the same in 1862 and moved to Newberg, New York, where he was engaged in the same line of business until 1874, in which year he came to Kansas and located in Reno County. Upon arriving here he homesteaded a tract in Lincoln township, took a timber claim and brought some railroad land, his holdings altogether aggregating three hundred and twenty acres. He established a home on his place and remained there a couple of summers, "proving up," and then resumed his calling in the mercantile line, becoming manager for the Rodney Ferguson store at Hutchinson. In 1877 he went to Kansas City, where he established a grocery store at 803 Main street and was there engaged in business until 1882, in which year he went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where for two years he engaged in the wholesale produce business. Meanwhile he had become seriously crippled by a severe attack of rheumatism and in 1884 retired from business and returned to Reno county. He had retained forty acres of his homestead tract and on that small farm spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring in 1910, he then being seventy-five years of age. His widow is still living, past eighty years of age, and has a pleasant home at 225 Avenue A, east, in Hutchinson. To George Barrett and wife six children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being as follows: Ida M., who married Charles Pellette, now deputy county treasurer of Reno County, living at Hutchinson, Carrie, who married Homer Meyers, cashier of the bank at Sylvia, this county; Grace, who married Henry Zimm, well known jeweler at Hutchinson; Minnie who married M. J. Hosmer, a well known traveling salesman, of Hutchinson and Florence, who married Ernest Eastman, connected with the Carey industries in Hutchinson.

Nelson T. Barrett was fourteen years old when he came to Kansas with his parents in 1874 and the work of his young manhood was definitely identified with the pioneer farm in Lincoln township. When his parents moved to town he remained on the farm. Being the eldest child and only son, he early took charge of affairs on the farm and by the time he was twenty years old he had brought two hundred and forty acres of the place under cultivation. Then, in 1880, he left the farm and went to Kansas City. For one summer he was employed there in a wholesale fancy-grocery store and then in 1881 he pushed out to the farther frontier and for a year was engaged in trapping and hunting in the West. He then took employment with the United States government and for a year drove a stage coach in the Black Hills, later spending three years in the quartermaster's department. Mr. Barrett sill recalls with a very pardonable measure of pride, that during those wild rough days on the frontier he was the only man of his acquaintance who was a "teetotaler." In the latter part of 1884 Mr. Barrett returned to his father's farm in this county, later renting the old Doctor Myers farm in Lincoln township, which he operated until 1890, in which year he went to Oklahoma and bought a quarter of a section of land near Guthrie, where he remained until 1899. He then sold out and returned to Hutchinson where in 1900 he bought a block of ground west of the 600 block, between Ninth and Tenth streets, and established his present extensive greenhouses, engaging in the culture of lettuce and has made a great success of his business. He has sixty thousand feet of glass, covering fifteen green-houses, the whole expanse being devoted to lettuce culture and he does an enormous winter business, shipping his product to Kansas City, Leavenworth, Oklahoma City and other points throughout the Central West. Mr. Barrett is a member of the Hutchinson Commercial Club and takes an earnest part in the general affairs of the city.

In 1888 Nelson T. Barrett was united in marriage to Ada May Burton, and to this union six children have been born, as follow: Stanley, who is the proprietor of green-houses on First street in Hutchinson; Mark; who is associated with his father in business, and Gale, Lawrence, Willis and Dorothy. (Pages 183-185)

HANDY, EDWARD S.

The late Edward S. Handy was for years recognized as one of the leading dealers in real estate in Hutchinson. During his long connection with the realty business there he laid out numerous additions to the city and in many ways was active in the promotion of the city's growth. He was one of the real pioneers of Reno County, and for several years, served as clerk of the district court, during which time he became thoroughly familiar with realty conditions in pioneer days and no man in the county possessed a more accurate knowledge of realty values in this section of the state than he. Mr. Handy was an honored veteran of the Civil War and took an active part in the affairs of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. His widow, who is still living at Hutchinson, was also one of the real pioneers of this county and was a witness of the whole of the wonderful development which has marked this region since the early seventies.

Edward S. Handy was born in Clark County, Illinois, February 28, 1846, son of Thomas and Jane E. (Scranton) Handy, the former of whom was the first male child born in that county, son of John Handy and wife, who were among the earliest settlers of that part of Illinois. John Handy was a native of the state of New York. Thomas Handy became one of the most substantial farmers of his neighborhood and was also the owner of a saw-mill. He married Jane E. Scranton, member of one of the pioneer families of that section of the state and to that union six children were born. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted for service in behalf of the Union arms in Company F, Seventy-ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was mustered out with the rank of captain at the close of the war. At the battle of Chattanooga he was captured by the enemy and after being kept in various Southern prison pens was sent to Libby prison at Richmond. He was one of the famous one hundred and eight who tunneled out of that prison, but was recaptured in sight of the Union lines and was kept prisoner until presently exchanged. Two of Captain Handy's sons, the eldest, Charles and the subject of this sketch, served in his company and Charles Handy gave up his life to the cause of the Union during the fierce engagement at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia. Another son, George Grant Handy was for years engaged in the hardware business at Hutchinson, this county. Upon returning home at the close of the war Captain Handy resumed his place on the farm and was accidentally killed in his saw-mill in 1867.

Edward S. Handy was reared on the home farm and received his elementary education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home. On August 1, 1862, he then being sixteen years old, Edward S. Handy enlisted as a recruit in Company F, Seventy-ninth Illinois, his father's company and served until the close of the war. At the battle of Stone's river he was severely wounded and for some time was confined to the hospital at Murfreesboro after which he was sent home on a furlough. Upon his return to his company, he then being able to walk only by the aid of crutches, he was detailed as commissary of a hospital. Upon the return of his regiment from the Atlanta compaign he was again desirous or re-entering the active service but his health would not permit and he was made clerk to the adjutant general of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. Subsequently he participated in the battles of Franklin, Nashville and Spring Hill and was mustered out with his regiment at Springfield, Illinois, June 12, 1865. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Handy entered an academy in the neighborhood of his home and after a course there engaged in mercantile business in the town of York, in his native county, and was thus engaged until he came to Kansas in the fall of 1872 and settled in Reno county. He homesteaded a tract of land in Lincoln township and sent back word for his brothers and sisters to join him here. They came in 1873 and all homesteaded farms in the same township, thus becoming numbered among the earliest settlers of Lincoln township. During the grasshopper visitation in 1874 they were hard hit but overcame all hardships and presently began to prosper.

From the very beginning of his residence in Reno county Edward S. Handy was a forceful and valuable member of the pioneer community. In 1876 he was elected clerk of the district court and was re-elected serving in that position for eight years. Upon his election he made his headquarters at Hutchinson. He was married in 1879 and established his home in Hutchinson, which place ever afterward was his place of residence. He was an ardent Republican and took a prominent part in the political life of this section of the state, frequently serving as a delegate to district and state conventions, but with the exception of his service as clerk of the court never held public office. Upon the expiration of his term of office in the clerk's office Mr. Handy engaged in the general real-estate business and became very successful, for many years being regarded as an authority on all questions relating to realty in this district. He was notably active in promoting the growth and development of the city of Hutchinson and laid out eight or ten additions to that city, including Handy's Addition, Riverside Addition, Handy & Shadduck's Central Addition, Handy's Eastside Addition and others. He also built several of the finest business blocks in the city and was singularly fortunate in his investments. He was one of the incorporators and for a time was present of the Peoples State bank of Hutchinson, later merged into the Hutchinson National Bank, and was one of the directors of the latter institution. He also for several years was a director of the First National Bank of Hutchinson and for some time was heavily interested in lead and zinc mining propositions at Galena; also in mining propositions in Colorado. For some years he served as a member of the city council and one time was the choice of his party for mayor of the city, but he declined to accept the honor. Mr. Handy was one of the organizers of Joe Hooker Post No. 17, Grand Army of the Republic and for years took a very active part in the affairs of that patriotic organization, which for three terms he served as adjutant.

On December 25, 1879, Edward S. Handy was united in marriage to Minnie A. Hale who was born near the town of Waterloo in Dekalb County, Indiana daughter of Marshall and Hannah (Owen) Hale, who came to Kansas in 1872 and settled at Hutchinson, then a straggling group of thirty or forty houses with not a tree to relieve the somber monotony of the sand plain. Marshall Hale engaged in the fuel and general builder's supply business and early became one of the city's most substantial and influential figures. He built a house for his family residence in 1872 at 408 First Avenue, east and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on January 11, 1906. His widow survived him a little more than eight years, her death occurring in April 1914. They were the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Handy having a sister Mrs. W. L. Woodnutt, living at Seattle, Washington.

Edward S. Handy died at his home in Hutchinson on May 19, 1914. Besides his widow there survive him three children, namely, Inez L., who married Arthur H. Schlaudt, vice-president and general manager of the Knoor-Schlaudt Wholesale Notion Company of Hutchinson a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Jessie, who married Dr. Connor Gray of Seattle Washington and Cara jean who married J. Lee Dick, superintendent of the Carey Salt Company, of Hutchinson. (Pages 185-188)

MYERS, JAMES DR.

Following the death of the venerable Dr. James Myers at his home in Hutchinson, this county, on September 9, 1915, an old settler paid the following deserved tribute to the memory of that fine old Christian gentleman: "All the old settlers that knew him know of his wonderful faith and confidence in the country; not only manifested by his talk but by all the acts of his life. He always thought that Reno county was as good as anywhere else, and was never looking for "green fields in the distance." His success proved the accuracy of his judgment. The same characteristics were noticeable all through his life. He was a man of strong impulses of well-fixed principles, nothing wavering. True, first to his own family; true to his relatives and friends; true to his church and true to his party you always knew where to find him and how he stood when you did find him. Exceptionally kind hearted, it always did him good to help a deserving and needy one.

The late Dr. James Myers was a native of Ohio having been born at Trenton in Harrison County, that state, February 25, 1831, son of James R. and Maria (Romney) Myers, fifth in order of birth of the fifteen children born to that parentage, thirteen of whom lived to maturity and five of whom still survive as follows: J. A. Myers, a retired capitalist of Hutchinson, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Dr. Jonathan Myers, of Troy; Albert Myers of Bellville; Mrs. Robert Anderson of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Minnie Moore of Tolono, Illinois. James Myers received his elementary education in the schools of his home town in Ohio, supplementing the same by a two years course in a small Presbyterian college at New Hagerstown, Ohio and a two years course at another sectarian college of the same denomination at Richfield, same state, thus received quite a liberal education for that day. At the age of twenty one he began to teach school and in 1855 emigrated to Iowa, where, in Keokuk and Jefferson counties, he was engaged for four or five years in teaching. For six months previous to going to Iowa he had been reading medical books with a view to becoming a physician and upon his arrival in Iowa resumed this form of study, in addition to his work in the school room, and for three years sedulously applied himself to reading medicine in the office of his uncle, Dr. D. V. Myers in Jefferson county. In 1859 he came to Kansas, locating in the then pioneer village of Highland, in Doniphan county where he opened an office and began the practice of medicine, thus becoming one of the pioneer physicians of Kansas.

When the Civil War broke out Dr. James Myers helped organize Company A, First Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Infantry, that regiment being for the most part engaged in fighting the guerillas in Missouri during which service Doctor Myers took an active part. A year or two after locating at Highland, Doctor Myers had bought a farm in that neighborhood and upon returning from the war resumed his practice there and at the same time gave personal attention to the management of his farm. He had married in 1861 and in 1864 came to Reno county on a visit to his father in law and then saw the town of Hutchinson for the first time; at that time becoming so favorably impressed with the situation hereabout that in 1878 he and his wife moved to this county and bought three hundred acres of excellent land in Lincoln township, where they established a new home. Doctor Myers did not continue his profession in his new home, and thereafter devoted his undivided attention to the development of his extensive and growing landed interests and became a very successful farm and cattleman. In 1883 Doctor Myers retired from the farm and moved into Hutchinson, where he bought a house at 523 Avenue A, east, where he remodeled and there he and his wife lived in quiet comfort. The Doctor continued to look after his landed interests, however, after moving to town and gradually added to the same until at one time he was the owner of twelve quarter sections of choice land in this county.

In 1861, in Doniphan county, this state, Dr. James Myers was united in marriage to Letitia O'Neal who was born in Indiana and whose parents were among the very first settlers of the Highland neighborhood, having emigrated from Indiana to Kansas very soon after the territory was opened for settlement. Mrs. Myers was a typical pioneer wife and mother, ever ready to cope with any emergency that might arise amid the primitive conditions in which her homekeeping was begun and ever able to turn apparent hardships and backsets into eventual successes. She died at her home in Hutchinson on March 30, 1913 and was widely mourned for her life had been rich in good works. Doctor and Mrs. Myers were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and for years gave their close personal attention to all movements designed to advance the common good hereabout. Doctor Myers was an ardent Republican from the days of the organization of that party and for many years took an active part in the political affairs of Kansas, though never having been included in the office-seeking class. To the last he took a keen interest in local affairs, always an earnest advocate of civic righteousness, and his counsels and judgments were highly respected throughout the community.

To Dr. James and Letitia (O'Neal) Myers the following children were born, namely: Elmer, who died in 1880, in his young manhood, Mahlon, who died in his early youth; Homer, a well known banker of Sylvia; Walter who died in infancy; Minnie who married Charles N. Payne, of Hutchinson; Mrs. Olive Epperson of Hutchinson and Alice who married Edward Smith and lives in Sylvia. (Pages 188-190)

WILLIAMS, CHARLES M. JUDGE

Judge Charles M. Williams, one of the oldest and best-known lawyers in Hutchinson, the county seat of Reno County, is a native of Missouri, having been born in the town of Harrisonville, Cass county, that state in July, 1852, son of James H. and Hettie (Son) Williams, the former of whom, born in Tennessee in 1818 died in 1884 at the age of sixty-six and the latter born in Missouri in 1825, died in 1864, at the age of thirty-nine.

James H. Williams was reared in his native state of Tennessee and when a young man moved to Missouri where he became a pioneer merchant in the town of Harrisonville and where he spent the remainder of his life. He married Hettie Son, and to this union seven children were born, two daughters and five sons, all of whom are deceased except Dr. William W. Williams, a dentist at Sioux City, Iowa, and Charles M., the immediate subject of this sketch. Upon the death of the mother of these children, James H. Williams married secondly Armina Son, a sister of his deceased wife, and to this latter union three sons were born, Robert who lives in San Francisco, California, George who lives at Warrensburg, Missouri and Jesse who for years has been an employee of the Santa Fe Railroad company.

Upon completing the course in the public schools in his native town, Harrisonville, Missouri, Charles M. Williams entered the Kentucky State University, continuing there until his junior year, after which he taught school for a couple of terms and for a short time worked in his father's store at Harrisonville. He then entered the law office of Terrell & Mathews, at Harrisonville, and after a diligent course of reading passed the required examinations and was admitted to the bar in 1875, after which he engaged in the practice of law at Harrisonville and Belton, Missouri until 1886, in which year he came to Reno county and located at Hutchinson the county seat, where he entered into a partnership relation with an established firm, under the firm style of McKinstry, Wisler & Williams. A short time afterward Mr. Williams formed a new partnership under the firm style of Davidson & Williams, which lasted until 1896 when he formed a partnership with F. F. Prigg, which continued until Judge Prigg ascended the bench of the district court in 1913, since which time Mr. Williams has been alone in his practice.

In 1902 Charles M. Williams was appointed by Governor Bailey to fill the unexpired term of Judge Simpson, of the district court who had been killed and in the September following his appointment resigned the office, preferring his private practice to a place on the bench. In 1890 Judge Williams was elected to the office of county attorney of Reno county and served until 1892, when he resigned before his term was out. Judge Williams has enjoyed a very good law practice and there are but two attorneys at the bar of the Reno court who have been practicing in Hutchinson longer than he has.

On Septmeber 4, 1876, at Harrisonville, Missouri, Charles M. Williams was united in marriage to Nannie Stair, who was born in Wisconsin, daughter of Edward and Margaret Stair, the former of whom for many years a building contactor at Harrisonville, now is deceased and the latter is making her home in the household of Judge Williams. To Judge and Mrs. Williams, one child has been born a son, Roy E., born in August, 1884, who attended Armour Institute at Chicago, being graduated from the department of mechanical and electrical engineering and is now an engineer with Crane & Company, of Chicago is married and has one child, a son, Charles F. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have a pleasant home at 547 Avenue A., east in Hutchinson, Mr. Williams having erected his residence there in 1887 the year following his location in Hutchinson.

Judge Williams was a Democrat until 1896, when on account of the nomination of William Jennings Bryan on a free silver ticket he left the Democratic party and voted with the Republicans, and has ever since worked and affiliated with the Republican party and for years has been an influential factor in the councils of this party in this county, he having been a frequent delegate to Republican conventions and in other ways manifesting his interest in the affairs of the party. He takes an active interest in the general development of the commercial and industrial progress of his city and county and has been largely influential in securing a number of public and private institutions in this city. (Pages 190-192)

BRAINARD, JESSE CAPT.

Among the many veterans of the Civil War who came to this county immediately after it was thrown open to settlement and filed soldier's claims to land here and who braved the first few hard years following their settlement, later to be rewarded by plenty, few are better known than Capt. Jesse Brainard who is now living in substantial comfort in the city of Hutchinson, to which place he retired upon leaving his farm in 1910.

Jesse Brainard was born in Summit county, Ohio, on June 15, 1838, youngest of the eight children of Timothy and Mary, or "Polly" (Sweet) Brainard, the former of whom was born near the town of Haddam, Connecticut, in 1785, and the latter, near the town of Warren, in New York state in 1805.

Timothy Brainard was one of the fourteen children of Jesse and Mary (Thomas) Brainard, who were married in 1776 and who lived at Haddam, Connecticut, until 1803 in which year they moved to Leyden in Lewis county, New York where they spent the remainder of their lives. Timothy Brainard was reared as a farmer and when the War of 1812 broke out enlisted for service and served until the close of that brief but conclusive struggle in payment for which service he received a warrant for eighty acres of land, which he sold. In 1817 he married "Polly" Sweet and son thereafter drove through with ox teams to Summit County, Ohio. On his way he passed through the hamlet which was destined to grow into the flourishing city of Cleveland, but which at that time contained but three houses. Arriving in Summit County he located in Stowe township where he entered a tract of government land and proceeded to clear the same and establish a home in the then wilderness. He prospered and later added to that tract by purchase until he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, quite a good farm for that time and place. In 1842, he sold that farm and moved to the town of Cayuga Falls, not so very far from the place where he had lived so long and engaged in the paper trade his practice being to drive through the country with loads of manufactured paper and trade the same for paper rags. He later bought a farm near there on which he made his home until the death of his wife, in 1856, after which he made his home with a son in Illinois where his death occurred in August 1869.

Timothy Brainard was a Whig in his early political affiliations, later an Abolitionist and then a Republican. During the trying days preceding the Civil War he was an active "conductor" on the famous "underground railroad," his farm being one of the best known stations thereabout and many a harried black he aided in securing freedom by flight across the border. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, namely, Francis, a veteran of the Civil War, who died in 1880; Mrs. Mary Atwood, now deceased; Henry now deceased, who for years was a pilot on the Ohio river and whose whereabouts for years was unknown to his family; Lucy, who died of typhoid fever, at the age of eighteen, shortly before the date set for her marriage; Thomas, who died in 1874, in Illinois, Julia, who married B. D. Green and settled in Valley Township this county in October 1873 and died at Nickerson this county in April 1914; Ann M., who married Charles Green, both of whom now are deceased and Jesse, the immediate subject of this sketch, the sole survivor of this large family.

Jesse Brainard was four years of age when his parents moved to Cayuga Falls and he received his elementary education in the public schools of that town, supplementing the same by a course in a commercial college in Philadelphia in 1856, during which time he made his home with his uncle, the Rev. Thomas Brainard, a minister of the Presbyterian Church in that city. In 1857 he went to Illinois and was working on a farm in McLean county, that state, when the Civil War broke out. On August 26, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, with which he served until in February 1864, at which time he was promoted to the rank of captain of Company I, Third United States (Colored) Cavalry with which he served until January 26, 1866, on which date he was mustered out. Captain Brainard participated in the battles of Belmont, Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson and Shiloh, after which latter engagement his company for months was stationed as a guard to the Memphis & Charleston railroad. He then took part in the siege of Vicksburg and the next February was promoted to the rank of Captain. For six months his cavalry company was stationed at Goodrich's Landing, Louisiana, then at Vicksburg and then was transferred to Memphis and was at the latter point when the war came to an end. Following that the company was kept busy for months keepings down "jayhawkers," Captain Brainard having been appointed assistant adjutant-general under General Dudley, doing scouting and provost duty. During the war Captain Brainard was wounded twice, once in the side and once in the arm, during a cavalry fight in Arkansas.

At the close of his military service Captain Brainard returned to McLean county, Illinois and on September 26, 1866 was married to Mary M. Warlow, who was born on a farm in that county, nine miles west of the town of Bloomington, on April 26, 1843, daughter of Jonathan and Catherine (Hay) Warlow, the former of whom, a native of Massachusetts, had emigrated to Illinois with his parents in 1834 and who there married Catherine Hay, who had located there with her parents who had emigrated from Kentucky. Jonathan Warlow became a quite well to do farmer and he and his wife spent their last days on their home farm in Illinois. After his marriage, Captain Brainard bought two hundred and twelve acres in the north part of McLean county, which he sold in 1868 and bought a farm of one hundred and four acres eight miles west of Bloomington where he lived until 1873 in which year he came to Kansas and filed a soldier's claim to a tract of land in Salt Creek township, this county and returned home to sell his farm and close out his affairs preparatory to making his home in Kansas. He did not get back here within the prescribed six months and thus forfeited his claim but in February 1874 he returned to Reno county and bought a discouraged homesteaders pre-emption right and transferred his soldier's right to a quarter section in Valley township. His family joined him in March of that year and they proceeded to establish a home on the plains, their first habitation being a mere shanty, eight by twelve feet. That was "grasshopper year," and they consequently in common with all the pioneers hereabout lost their first crop but they stuck it out and after the first few hard years began to prosper presently becoming recognized as among the most substantial families in the county. Captain Brainard after awhile enlarged his original holdings by the purchase of a quarter section cornering on his original tract the southeast quarter of section 30, township 23, range 4 west and now owns one half section of well improved and valuable land. He made big money farming as the years went by and in June 1910 retired from the active duties of the old home place and he and his wife, ever a competent and valuable helpmate to him in the days on the farm moved into Hutchinson buying a home at 306 Sixth avenue east where they are now living in quiet comfort. They have but one child, a daughter, Jennie E., born on February 28, 1879, who married George P. Lowe, a prosperous farmer of Valley Township this county and has six children, Hazel, Norman J., Ray B., Wesley L., Keith and Edwin.

Captain Brainard is an ardent Republican but never was a candidate for public office. He is a member of Joe Hooker Post, Grand Army of the Republic and is also affiliated with the Ancient Order of Workmen. Mrs. Brainard is a member of the Presbyterian church. Formerly Captain Brainard was a member of the same church and gave the land at the southeast corner of his farm on which the Presbyterian church in that section is situated, at the same time contributing liberally to the fund for the erection of the church, but has since taken his letter out and withdrawn from the congregation. (Pages 192-195)

HERSHBERGER, RANDALL P.

Randall P.Hershberger, a well-to-do retired farmer of this county, now living in the city of Hutchinson, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Wyandot county, that state, on December 23, 1863, son of J. H. and Samantha (Paul) Hershberger, the former a native of Wyandot county, Ohio, and the latter of Crawford county, same state.

J. H. Hershberger, who is now living retired at Hutchinson at the age of eighty-two was reared as a farmer in Ohio where he married and where he lived until the spring of 1874 at which time he came with his family to this county and bought out the homestead rights to a half section of land in Reno township, the tract now occupied by the county farm. He proved up this claim but after the grasshopper scourge of that fall became so discouraged over the outlook here that he left the county and returned to his farm in Ohio. In 1883 he and his family returned to Reno county and took up their residence on his half section in Reno township. In 1886 he sold that farm and bought another farm in Clay township, on which he lived for a year, at the end of which time he sold it and moved to Hutchinson and invested in real estate, which failed to develop as he had expected and he lost considerable money when the "boom" collapsed, in 1888. He then returned to the country and rented a farm south of Hutchinson, living there until 1900, when he returned to Hutchinson. His wife died in March, 1903, at the age of seventy-two and Mr. Hershberger is now making his home with his daughter, Mrs. J. M. Dana, in Hutchinson. Mr. and Mrs. Hershberger were the parents of four children, the subject of this biographical sketch having three sisters, Mary, who married J. M. Dana and lives in Hutchinson; Frankie, who married M. C. Obee, a merchant of South Hutchinson, and Rose, who married Harry Dice and lives in Hutchinson.

Randall P. Hershberger received his education in the public schools of the neighborhood of his boyhood in Ohio and in the old Sherman street school at Hutchinson, this county. He remained on the farm in this county, with his father, until he was grown and then he learned the plumbing trade under Stewart & Hellowell, in Hutchinson, and worked at that trade in that city until he was married, in 1891, after which he rented a farm in Lincoln township this county, on which he made his home until 1898, in which year he bought the southeast quarter of section 32, township 24, range 6 west, which he still owns. He made his home on that farm for twelve years and prospered. His wife also owns a fine farm in that same neighborhood, the northeast quarter of section 29, township 24, range 6 west, and in 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Hershberger retired from the farm and moved into Hutchinson where they bought the old McCandless home, at 218 Sherman street, east, where they have since made their home, Mr. Hershberger directing the operations of the two farms from his home in the city.

On February 18, 1891, Randall P. Hershberger was united in marriage to Alice Obee, who was born in the town of Napoleon, Lucas county, Ohio, daughter of Henry and Louisa Obee, further mention of whom is made in the biographical sketch relating to L. H. Obee, presented elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children have been born, Paul born on September 22, 1892, who is a graduate of the Hutchinson high school and Locke, September 28, 1895, a mechanic for the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit. Mr. Hershberger is a member of the Elks of Hutchinson and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of those popular organizations. (Pages 195-196)

BOWMAN, ELI

The late Eli Bowman, who died at his home in Hutchinson this county on June 21, 1896, was one of the Kansas pioneers who did well his part during the formative period of that section of the state in which he settled, and his memory, particularly in Barton county, long will be cherished by the people thereabout. He was a man of strong character and his helpful services in behalf of many of his pioneer neighbors who were less well endowed than he have not been forgotten to this day.

Eli Bowman was born in Licking county, Ohio, on December 13, 1841, son of David and Mary (Mouser) Bowman, both natives of Pennsylvania, in which latter state they were married, after which they settled in Licking county, Ohio where David Bowman operated a broom factory. In 1842 they emigrated to Illinois settling in Crawford county on the eastern edge of that state, it having been discovered that the soil of that section was peculiarly adapted to the culture of broom corn, and there David Bowman bought a tract of government land, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents the acre and paid for the same out of the money he made from the manufacture of brooms. He prospered and gradually added to his holdings in that county until he became the owner of twelve hundred acres of land. He was among the earliest settlers of that part of the county in which he located and upon the organization of the township in which he lived was able to secure for it the name of Licking township, in honor of his old home county, in Ohio. He spent the rest of his life there dying in 1894, at the age of eighty-one. He had been thrice married and was the father of a large family. His first wife, who was Mary Mouser, mother of the subject of this sketch, died in 1858 and he then married Angeline Bowman, who, however, was not of the same family of Bowmans as he, and upon her death married a Bishop.

Eli Bowman was but one year old when his parents settled in Illinois, and he consequently was reared in that state. He was the eldest son who lived to maturity and was, therefore, the mainstay of his father in the labor of developing his growing farm interests. When he was twenty-five years of age, in 1866, Eli Bowman married and his father then gave him a quarter of a section of land and he started farming on his own account, remaining on that farm until the spring of 1873, when he like so many others about that period caught the "Kansas Fever," and came to this state, locating in Barton county where he homesteaded eighty acres of land in Pawnee Rock township, took a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres and pre-empted an additional eighty acres. The night he and his family arrived on their homestead a buffalo was seen on this place. The year following their arrival there, 1874, the grasshoppers ate up everything they had raised, but the next year they had good crops and presently were in prosperous circumstances. The town of Pawnee Rock after awhile was located on the section adjoining their claim, which caused the value of the Bowman claim to advance so rapidly in price that much of it was sold to advantage. In 1883 Mr. Bowman left the farm built a home at Pawnee Rock into which he and his family moved and he and his brother, W. Henry Bowman built a fine flour-mill in the new settlement, and for years did a flourishing business under the name of Bowman Brothers. Mr. Bowman also operated a general store in Pawnee Rock for several years and increased his land holdings by the purchase of a good farm in Barber county. In 1894 he traded his store for sixty-two lots in the eastern part of Hutchinson, this county and in the fall of that year moved to that city. He bought a house at 621 North Main street and there he spent his last days, his death occurring about two years late on June 21, 1896. His widow is still making her home in the same house.

Eli Bowman was a Republican and during the years of his residence in Barton county took an active part in political affairs. He was the first justice of the peace of his home township there and for years also served as a member of the town council of Pawnee Rock. His wife also served for one year as a member of the city council she also having been elected as a Republican. The Bowmans were a very influential and helpful influence among their pioneer neighbors in Barton county. They had brought to that county the first domesticated cow and the first churn ever brought to the county and presently as other neighbors acquired cows, their churn was in great demand, being borrowed for miles around. Mr. Bowman was a man of very generous sympathies and it is said of him that he helped fully two-thirds of the settlers in part of the county to get a start, either by lending them money or by extending liberal credit to them at his mill and store. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and both he and his wife were active in the work of the Pythian Sisters. They were members of the United Brethren church, but since living in Hutchinson Mrs. Bowman has been a member of the First Methodist Church.

On October 28, 1866, Eli Bowman was united in marriage to Henrietta Barrett, who was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Flick) Barrett, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Thomas Barrett was four years of age when he was brought to America by his parents. His father, Thomas Barrett, Sr., was a member of the aristocracy in England, a graduate of Oxford College and by profession a civil engineer, which profession he followed after coming to this country. He was accidentally drowned in the Susquehanna river when his son, Thomas, was seventeen years old, the lad thus early being completely orphaned, for his mother had died when he was seven years of age. The younger Thomas Barrett grew up in Pennsylvania and became a timber man owner of a large saw mill and became quite well to do. In 1865 he and his family and his brother Joseph and the latter's family emigrated to Illinois and settled in Crawford county where they became extensive landowners. There Thomas Barrett died on February 10, 1869, at the age of fifty-three. His widow later made her home on the farm of her daughter, Mrs. Bowman, at Pawnee Rock, where her death occurred on March 29, 1883, the day she was fifty-nine years of age.

To Eli and Henrietta (Barrett) Bowman four children were born as follow: Dora, born on February 17, 1870, widow of A. Bert Cook, and lives at Geneseo, Illinois, where she has one child, a son, A. B. Jr., Will M., who married Dove Gear and has five children, Henrietta, Wilma, Keith, Wayne and Hugh; Myron, February 11, 1883, who married Jessie Cuthsaw and lives in Los Angeles, California, where he is engaged in the wholesale cigar business and Minola, September 28, 1886, who married Sherman Miller, a farmer of Valley township this county and has two children, Sherman and Ira. (Pages 196-199)