Sammie T. Townsdin, banker, of Derby, Sedgwick county, Kansas, was born in Cloud county, Kansas, on May 2, 1869. He is a son of John and Rebecca (Mitchell) Townsdin, the father being born in "Wales on September 18, 1845, and the mother in Clay county, Illinois, on September 18, 1844. The parents were married in Illinois in 1867 and came to Kansas in 1867, settling in Cloud county, where they still live. S. T. Townsdin received his education in the public schools of Cloud county, where for five years he taught school, also teaching two years in Lincoln county. He came to Derby, Sedgwick county, in May, 1907, and organized the Farmers' and Merchants' State Bank of Derby, with a capital stock of $10,000. The first officers were: S. T. Townsdin, president; A. W. Palmer, vice-president; T. A. "Wilson, cashier. The present officers are: E. E. Beard, president; R. R. Goodin, vice-president; S. T. Townsdin, cashier. On April 28, 1891, Mr. Townsdin was married to Miss Dora Wilson, who was born in Douglas county, Illinois, on June 12, 1868. They have four children, viz.: Ivan C, born September 3, 1896; Ernest E., born October 14, 1897; Loran W., born March 4, 1900, and Anita L., born November 2, 1908. While living in Cloud county Mr. Townsdin was township trustee and clerk for eight years. Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of Wichita Consistory No. 2. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Church of Christ.
Mr. Townsdin's grandfather is W. S. Townsdin, born in England on March 7, 1825, and his grandmother, Margaret Townsdin, was born in "Wales on January 14, 1823. They are still living at Concordia, Cloud county, having moved there in 1867, where both the grandfather and his son pre-empted land, and both own their original homesteads. There were eight children in W. S. Townsdin's family, all of whom grew to maturity and seven of whom are still living. In John Townsdin's family were ten children, five boys and five girls. One daughter was killed by falling timber and one died of pneumonia. Eight children are still living. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Page 901)
William O. Van Arsdale is one of the citizens of Wichita, Kan., who has made a remarkable, not to say phenomenal, record as a business manager and financier. He was born August 31, 1858, in Mason county, Illinois. His parents were J. H. and Eliza (Benham) Van Arsdale. His father was a native of New Jersey, who traced his ancestry to Holland. His mother traced her origin to France. The elder Van Arsdale was a farmer, and he moved from Mason county, Illinois, to Peoria county, in the same state, in 1865, living in the latter county until 1900, in which year he moved to Greenwood county, Kansas. Here he bought a large ranch, on which he resided until 1909, in which year he disposed of his land and came to Wichita, where he now lives. William 0. Van Arsdale received only a limited education in the district county schools of Illinois up to his twentieth year, when he went to Mexico to manage a large ranch in which he held a one-fifth interest. While in Mexico he developed a rare ability as a business manager, and in five years cleaned up for himself a profit of $60,000. He had in his employ on the ranch twenty-five men, and raised a large number of cattle. When he returned from Mexico in 1883 he settled at Burton, Kan., and entered into a partnership which was known as Wilson & Van Arsdale, which continued for three years. Then Mr. Van Arsdale sold out his interest in the firm and became president of The Bank of Burton and. held this position until 1897. In the latter year the firm of Van Arsdale & Osborn was organized and incorporated, and the business and home office were moved to Wichita, where the firm now conducts a large insurance and land business. When the firm began business in 1897, its capital was $3,000. On Jan. 1, 1910, the capital and surplus of the firm was $233,719.87, and in the thirteen years of its existence it has paid in dividends the sum of $142,500, showing a total increase from the original capital of $3,000 in the thirteen years of $376,219.87. Mr. Van Arsdale is now president of the Arkansas Valley Interurban Eailway Company. He is a Republican in politics and has taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. He was married December 27, 1882, to Miss Lizzie M. Bontz, a daughter of Conrad Bontz, of Peoria, Ill. Two sons have been born to this union, J. Harry and Leone B. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 901-902)
Nathan S. Van Dusen, one of the pioneers of Sedgwick county, Kansas, is a native of New York state, where he was born on December 30, 1839. His parents were Harry C. and Eunice (Brown) Van Dusen, the father being a native of France and the mother a native of New York. Nathan S. was educated in the public schools of New York and remained at home until twenty-one years old, when he went to Johnson county, near Iowa City, Iowa. After a short stay there he removed to Missouri, where he remained until December 1, 1870, when he came to Sedgwick county, Kansas, traveling from Missouri in a wagon and bringing his family with him. He staked a claim in Rockford township in December, 1870, the claim being the southeast quarter of section 1. His first house was a dugout, and there was not another house between his and Augusta, where the land office was then located. Mr. Van Dusen broke his land and lived two and a half years in the dugout, which for the first few months had no door, as lumber was scarce, so he used a blanket instead. Wolves were plentiful in Kansas in those days, and many nights they would come howling around the dugout. In order to admit light into the room he bought half a window sash. One night, when Mr. Van Dusen awakened, he found a rattlesnake in his bed, and being afraid to move, he called to Mrs. Van Dusen's brother to get up and put the window in so that he could light the light. The young man had some trouble in getting the window into place and the noise he made disturbed the snake, which crawled upon the floor, and the next morning Mr. Van Dusen found it behind the logs and killed it. The family had all the experiences of the frontier settlement; encountered all the hardships and privations which were incidental to the life, but have lived to see the desolate plains grow into valuable farms and beautiful homes. On March 10,1886, Mr. Van Dusen was married to Miss Rosetta E. Moon, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on March 11, 1846. Her parents were Harrison and Eliza E. (Grandy) Moon. While Mr. and Mrs. Van Dusen have no children of their own, they have raised several, and have educated them and started them right in life. Mr. Van Dusen was always a farmer, but he has retired from active farm life and lives on a reserved block in Derby and devotes his time to his fruit trees and garden. His house is surrounded by grounds which show care and attention. He served as justice of the peace until he resigned the office. Mr. Van Dusen is a Republican in politics and a member of the United Brethren Church. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 902-903)
Albert J. Waddell, one of the foremost contractors and builders of Wichita, Kan., hails from the state of presidents, Ohio, where he was born in Morrow county on May 22, 1857. His parents were John and Jane (Smith) Waddell, natives of Virginia, who followed a blazed trail in an early day through to Marion county, Ohio, where they spent an active life. The Waddells were of Scotch-Irish descent, and the Smiths of German origin. Albert J. Waddell was educated in the public schools of Ohio, and after leaving school at the age of eighteen began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed successfully. He was first employed by the Mt. Garland Building Company, of Ohio. Over a quarter of a century ago he came to Wichita, and after working at his trade here for a year, in the second year he entered business for himself. He has seen the ups and downs of the city, its boom days and its dull days, and now ranks among the leaders in his line of business in the city. Mr. Waddell has erected some of the most substantial and beautiful buildings of the city, among which may be mentioned the Eagle building, the German Catholic church, the Elks building and many others of a similar kind. He has taken an interest in politics and was elected a councilman from the Third Ward in 1906. During his term of office as chairman of committees he was a strong factor for the betterment of conditions in the city of Wichita. Mr. Waddell is connected with many of the fraternal orders, being a member of the Masonic, Consistory, the Independent Order of Odd Pel-lows, from which he has a Veteran's badge, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Aid. He is president of the Wichita Poultry Association and a director of the Kansas State Poultry Association. He is also a leader in the production of buff rocks in the state of Kansas. Mr. Waddell was married in 1884 to Miss Emma Wilkerson, of Lebanon, Mo. From this union two children have been born, Charles C. and Alice C, the latter a teacher in the public schools of Wichita. He is now superintending the erection of the new high school building. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 903-904)
Albert Walden, the well-known chief of the fire department of Wichita, Kan., has held that responsible position since 1886, or one year less than a quarter of a century. Mr. Walden is a son of the Buckeye State, having been born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on December 29, 1849. His parents were Baltzer and Julia A. (Streeter) Walden. Baltzer Walden moved from New York state to Hamilton county, Ohio, when a young man, became a shipbuilder and dealt extensively in lumber. His shipyard was located at Fulton, on the banks of the Ohio river, where he lived until 1855, when he located at Dayton, Ky., opposite his place of business. He was killed at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855, by the falling of a cornice from the Ohio Trust building, five other persons losing their lives through the same occurrence. Baltzer Walden was forty-two years old when he was killed. His widow, Julia A. Walden, died at the age of seventy-six. The future fire chief received his early education at the public schools of Dayton, and in 1862, when a boy of only thirteen years, joined his brother, Adolphus P., who was then a soldier in the Union army, stationed at Millikens Bend, Miss. During General Grant's expedition and the first advance on Vicksburg Albert G. was captured by the Confederates near Eaymond, Miss., and again near Vermilion, La., being made a prisoner twice before reaching the age of fourteen. He remained with his brother's regiment, the Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, until 1864. He enlisted in its ranks with Company K, and was later transferred to Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the service until the close of the war in 1865, serving as a musician. Mr. "Walden was in the battles of Champion Hill, Black River, the siege of Vicksburg, and many other encounters between the opposing forces. He accompanied General Bank's expedition and was captured by the Confederates, but after the lapse of three days was recaptured by the Union soldiers. After the close of the war Mr. Walden went to Anderson, Ind., whither his family had removed in 1862, and remained there until 1868, when he entered the regular army. He served five years as a soldier, being stationed at Atlanta, Ga., and other points. Retiring from military life, Mr. Walden went to St. Louis, Mo., and there engaged in the live stock business with a brother until 1880, when he moved to St. Joseph, Mo., and assisted in building the city water works.
He subsequently acted as traveling salesman for a wholesale house of that city for four years, and during that time, in 1882, came to Wichita, where, after leaving the road, he opened a sample room for notions and hoisery, representing a. Philadelphia firm. In November, 1886, he was appointed chief of the Wichita fire department, and has during his administration given the department a vigorous, systematic and business-like management, building it up into the most effective fire-fighting organization in the state. Mr. Walden organized the paid fire department and became its first chief. He has studied the methods of the fire departments of other cities with profit, and has given Wichita the benefit of a thoroughly up-to-date system. He organized and was the first superintendent of the American District Telegraph Company in Wichita, and established a fine fire alarm system for the city. His administrations have resulted in a large saving to the city. Chief Walden is a member of Warwick Lodge, No. 44, Knights of Pythias; of Wichita Division, No. 2, Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias, of which he has been commander for several years; of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was married on December 6, 1882, to Miss Malvina A. Dreschaux, a daughter of Edward and Albertine Dreschaux. Mrs. Walden is a talented singer and a leading instructor in music. Her musical education was mainly acquired abroad. Her musical qualifications have attracted wide attention both in foreign lands and America. She is of French-German descent, and was born at sea aboard the vessel "Prince of Wales," and as the ship crossed the equator the Union Jack was hoisted and she was christened, thus making her a subject of the British Empire. The child was four months old when the vessel reached London, and she was then take>a to Norway, where she lived until seven years old. Her musical training was begun in Norway, and when her parents removed to Vicksburg, Miss., it was continued under Prof. Fischer, a graduate of Leipzig. She next went to St. Louis, where she received instructions under Prof. Ernst, when she soon after began teaching the piano and sang in the choir of Grace church. Later she studied music in Wichita, and in 1889 accompanied her mother to Europe, where she entered the Royal Conservatory at Munich, and next to Milan, where she continued her studies under the famous Maestro Lamperti. Her other instructors were Mme. Lemair and Maestro Pontecchi. After her return to Wichita she many times appeared in concert, and as far west as the Pacific coast to large audiences. Mrs. Walden has also contributed a number of articles to musical magazines.(History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 904-906)
Edward Wall is a prosperous farmer of Illinois township, Sedgwick county, Kansas. He was born in Ireland about 1840 and came to this country with his parents, who settled in Iowa. He enlisted in an Iowa regiment at Iowa City and served three years and three months in the War of the Rebellion. He removed from Johnston county, Iowa, to Sedgwick county, Kansas, in 1873, but soon afterward went back to Iowa; then, in 1874, returned and took up the southeast quarter of Section 32 in Illinois township and there established his home. He has carried on general farming and stock raising with eminent success, and besides improving his farm has increased his landed possessions until he now owns three quarter sections, except seven acres, which he sold to the railroad company. In political matters Mr. Wall is an independent Democrat; and in religious belief adheres to the Catholic faith.
On December 30, 1866, Mr. Wall married Miss Bridget Mul-aney, by whom he has had nine children, of whom three, viz.: Nellie, Thomas and Frank, are deceased. The surviving children are: Edward, Mary, Nellie, John, Walter and William, and all live on the home farm with their parents. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 906-907)
Jesse D. Wall, police judge of Wichita, Kan., is a native of the o Hoosier State, having been born at Claremont, Ind., on November 23, 1879. His parents were Dr. David and Margaret A. (Moore) Wall, his father being a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Indiana. The senior Wall practiced medicine at Clermont and Indianapolis. Both he and his wife are deceased. Jesse D. Wall received his education at the Indianapolis High School and Butler College. After graduating from the latter institution he took up the study of law at the Indiana Law School, being admitted to the bar in 1905. He began the practice of his chosen profession at Indianapolis, but after a short time he decided that the West offered a better field for his energies and removed to Kansas. He located at Wichita December 2, 1905, and established a connection with the legal firm of Stanley, Vermilion & Evans. Mr. Wall remained with this firm until November 1, 1909, when he opened an office on his own account. He was appointed police judge in April, 1909, which office he now holds. Mr. Wall has always been an active Eepubliean and has done valiant service for his party. He was the manager of Mayor Davidson's campaign, and his excellent work did much to assure the latter's election. He has taken a deep interest in fraternal organizations, and is a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Wichita Chamber of Commerce and of the Country Club. Mr. Wall was married on October 12, 1909, to Miss Blanche E. Royal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Royal, of Oatville, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Wall have one son, David Royal Wall, born October 27, 1910. History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Page 907)
J. F. Walton, of Cheney, Kan., a retired veteran of the Civil War, was born January 8, 1844, in Clark county, Ohio. His parents were G. C. and Elizabeth (Zinn) Walton. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother a native of Ohio. On the paternal side the remote ancestors of the family are traced back to Scotland and on the maternal side to the North of England.
The father of J. F. Walton emigrated with his family from Ohio-to Kansas in 1870 and located in Ninnescah valley, due south twenty miles from Wichita, in Sumner county, and remained there until his death in 1886. The mother of J. F. Walton died when he was only five years old. After the lad had acquired a common school education he enlisted, at the age of sixteen, in Company B, Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The date of his enlistment was October 7,1861. The regiment was ordered to Camp Dennison, where it remained for three months. It was-then sent to Nashville, Tenn., for active service, and was embraced in the Third Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps. The military records show that Mr. Walton participated in thirty-six different engagements in the three years and ten months he served in the army. The principal battles were Shiloh, Stone Eiver, Chickamauga, in the Sherman campaign to Atlanta and the March to the Sea. Afterwards the regiment was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland and was in the battle of Black River, the last hard engagement that Mr. Walton participated in, although he was in many minor engagements in the Army of the Tennessee, and his regiment fought incessantly, day after day and month after month, in stubborn contests nearly the entire time of his enlistment. Through all these terrible contests Mr. Walton was not once wounded. On July 18, 1865, the regiment returned to Camp Dennison and was discharged. Mr. Walton then returned to his old home in Shelby county, Ohio, remaining there a short time, when he took the Western fever and became an adventurer for some years, prospecting as a miner in the extreme western territories. He remained several years in Arizona, but in 1870 came to Sumner county, where he only remained for a short time, going back to Arizona the following spring, where he remained for three years and ten months. He then came back to Sumner county, where he resided until 1908, when he moved to Cheney and is now retired from active business. Fraternally, Mr. Walton is a Mason, being a member of Morton Lodge, No. 258, A. F. and A. M., and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is an independent Democrat. He was married in 1877 to Miss S. J. Wright, of Belle Plaine, Sumner county, Kansas, a daughter of William Wright, now deceased. Seven children have been born of this union, of whom five are now living, viz.: Charles, who is married and has one child; Mamie, now Mrs. Bennett; W. F., a student; Kathaleen and Paul, attending school. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 908-909)
Ulysses E. Ward, the well-known veterinary surgeon, of Wichita, Kan., was born in 1864, in Woodford county, Illinois, and is a son of "William B. and Sarah E. (Hedges) Ward, who settled on a farm in Illinois in 1853. In 1884 the family moved to California, but two years later returned and settled at Overton, Dawson county, Nebraska, where the father died in 1906 and where the mother still resides. Our subject is the third child of a family of four children, and on the return of the family from California he opened a grocery and queensware store at Overton, Neb., which he conducted three years. Selling his business in 1888, he entered the Ontario Veterinary College, Toronto, Canada. After his graduation in 1891, he spent eighteen months at Fair-bury. Neb., then went to Wellington, Kan., whence, in 1893, he returned to Wichita and established himself on South Water street in what is now known as the old Fashion stable. After six years of successful practice Dr. Ward, in 1899, purchased a lot 100x136 feet at the northwest corner of Williams and South Water streets and erected there his present quarters, the stable part of the establishment being rented and occupied by the Root Livery. Dr. Ward is eminently successful in his chosen calling and is widely known as a skilful practitioner in his special line. He is a member of the Kansas and Missouri Veterinary ALSsocia-tion, the Kansas Veterinary Association and the Ontario Veterinary Association. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the local lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In polities he has always been a Republican.
In 1897 Dr. Ward married Miss Frances L. Young, a daughter of Rev. T. B. Young, of Wichita. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Page 909)
James Francis Warren, who is one of the owners of the Western Iron and Foundry Company, of Wichita, Kan., one of the largest industrial plants in the city, is a native of the Empire State, having been born at Oswego, New York, in 1855. His father was Daniel Warren, by occupation a glass worker, and his mother was.Mary A. Dowling. Young Warren was educated at the public schools of Ottawa, Ill., where he went with his parents in 1866. After finishing his schooling he learned the glass worker's trade with his father, and after working at it a while in 1873 he began to learn the foundry business at Ottawa.
From Ottawa he went to Moline, Ill., at the age of twenty-one, where he was engaged as a journeyman with the firm of Williams, White & Co. for a period of ten years, at the end of which time he became superintendent of the foundry, a position he held continuously for fifteen years, during which time he became almost indispensable to the firm. An opportunity offering to enter into business on his own account, he severed his connection with Williams, White & Co., and in December, 1901, he came to Wichita, where he closed a deal with Andrew Flagg for the purchase of the Globe Iron Works, the plant now occupied by the Western Iron and Foundry Company of Wichita. Mr. Warren then organized the Wichita Manufacturing Company, associating with him C. L. Grimes and Henry Anthony. Three months later Mr. Grimes withdrew, and the business was continued with Mr. Warren and Mr. Anthony as proprietors. In September, 1902, the company was reorganized with George H. Bradford as president, Ted Miles as secretary and Mr. Warren as vice-president. This firm continued business until 1904, when G. C. Christopher joined the firm, Messrs. Bradford and Miles withdrawing, the firm then being made up with Mr. Christopher, Henry Anthony and Mr. Warren, which arrangement continued until 1908, when the firm was again dissolved and Messrs. Anthony and Warren became the sole owners and proprietors of the business, which is now known as the Western Iron and Foundry Company, one of the prosperous manufacturing plants of Wichita. The firm manufactures structural and architectural iron. Its plant consists of a machine shop, boiler shop, foundry and pattern works, occupying a space for buildings of 140x300 feet. The output of the establishment is distributed through many states. Mr. Warren is a firm believer in the future of Wichita. He was married in 1879 to Miss Julia A. Quinn, daughter of John C. and Bridget (McDonough) Quinn. From this union four children have been born, viz.: William, Joseph Q., secretary of the Western Iron and Foundry Company, Jane and Helena. Fraternally Mr. Warren is a member of the Knights of Columbus. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 909-910)
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