Brown County KS

Biography of James Boyd Hitt

James Boyd Hitt, born on May 25, 1880, in Bryan, Ohio, has dedicated nearly two decades to education, currently serving as the superintendent of Everest’s city schools in Brown County. His roots trace back to Scotch-Irish settlers in Virginia. After beginning his teaching career in Ohio, he moved to Kansas in 1904. Hitt is a graduate of Angola Academy and has engaged actively in educational associations. He married Meta H. Kohl in 1910, with whom he has one son, James Kohl.

Biography of Charles H. Browne

Charles H. Browne, born in 1881 in St. Joseph, Missouri, is the proprietor and editor of the Horton Headlight-Commercial, Brown County’s sole newspaper, following the consolidation of several local journals. A veteran of the Kansas National Guard, he played an active role in military service during significant conflicts. Browne is also involved in various fraternal organizations and has served on the Horton school board. Married in 1903, he and his wife have three children and are integral members of their community.

Biography of Charles H. Schneider

Charles H. Schneider, born September 1, 1864, in Chicago, is a distinguished figure in the Rock Island Railway System, serving over thirty-five years, primarily as storekeeper for the lines west of the Missouri River. His extensive role involves overseeing supply for 2,500 miles of track and managing a workforce of around 200 employees. A Republican and community leader, he has held various local positions, including finance commissioner of Horton, and is actively engaged in Masonic organizations.

Biography of Allen Thomas Stewart

Allen Thomas Stewart, born March 11, 1881, in Salem, Kentucky, moved to Kansas at age five. After graduating high school in Seneca and studying pharmacy, he opened a drug store in Denton in 1907 and became its mayor, securing vital services like electric lights for the town. From a lineage of Scottish immigrants, he has ties to notable family members, including a successful physician father. Stewart, a Mason and Republican, married Meda E. Bartley in 1906 and has one son, Norman.

Biography of Edmund Needham Morrill, Hon.

Hon. Edmund Needham Morrill, born on February 12, 1834, in Maine, was a notable figure in Kansas history. After moving to Brown County in 1857, he engaged in politics, serving in the Territorial Legislature and later as a Union Major during the Civil War. Morrill contributed significantly to local governance, banking, and education, founding the Morrill Public Library and supporting the Hiawatha Academy. A Republican congressman, he championed veterans’ pensions and was recognized for his integrity and community spirit. He died in 1909, leaving a lasting legacy in Brown County.

Biography of Charles D. Lamme

Charles D. Lamme, president of the Morrill-Janes Bank in Hiawatha, Kansas, began his banking career at age 19, performing various menial tasks before showcasing his financial acumen. Over thirty years, he rose to prominence, managing the bank effectively and contributing to the community’s economic growth. Born in Ohio in 1860, Lamme moved to Kansas in 1870, engaging in several local enterprises and serving in various civic roles. He married Emma Anderson and raised three children, all while remaining active in Masonic and church affairs.

Biography of William F. Isley

William F. Isely, born on July 13, 1873, in Brown County, Kansas, is the son of a pioneering farmer and Civil War veteran. He successfully farmed before becoming the mayor of Fairview and president of the Fairview State Bank. Isely, a member of Swiss descent, is actively involved in his community and local politics as an independent democrat. He also holds various fraternal affiliations and is married to Mand Jones, with whom he has a daughter, Beatrice. He continues to manage his farming interests while overseeing local affairs.

Biography of Henry J. Calnan

Henry J. Calnan, born in 1857 in Massachusetts, became the publisher and editor of the Weekly Kansas Chief in 1904. He transformed the paper, enhancing its influence as Kansas’s oldest continuously named journal. Originally founded in 1857, the Chief became notable amid the state’s tumultuous newspaper history. Calnan’s early career included roles as a journeyman printer and railroad engineer before entering journalism. He served as mayor of Troy and actively supported the Republican Party. Calnan’s home, combining agricultural elements with urban comfort, reflects his success and commitment to community.

Biography of G. G. Wiechen

G. G. Wiechen, a prominent grain merchant in Robinson, Kansas, was born on April 5, 1868, in Pettis County, Missouri. He moved to Kansas as a child and gained valuable farming experience under his father, J. H. Wiechen, a pioneer in Rush County. After venturing into general mercantile, he established a successful grain business in Robinson in 1910. A Democrat and active in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Wiechen also manages a 320-acre farm in Graham County and is married to Lucy A. George, with whom he has two daughters.

Biography of Chester E. Hunsaker

Chester E. Hunsaker, born on July 4, 1891, in Tarkio, Missouri, is the editor of the Everest Enterprise, a significant weekly newspaper in Brown County since its founding in 1888. Growing up in a family with deep Kansas roots, Hunsaker began his career in journalism at the young age of sixteen. He acquired the Enterprise in 1916, promoting vibrant community engagement and political discourse. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he married Eva Stahl in 1916, and continues to uphold the paper’s influential legacy.

Biography of William Edwin Nelson

William Edwin Nelson, born January 5, 1883, in Wakeeney, Kansas, became the superintendent of Sabetha public schools in 1917 after serving in similar roles, notably at Robinson. He was well-educated, graduating from Baker University in 1910 and later enhancing his studies at various universities. Nelson was steeped in a legal background, influenced by his father, John A. Nelson, a distinguished attorney and civic leader. William embraced an independent political stance and is actively involved in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Winifred Moorhead in 1914.

Biographical Sketch of Albert Chandler

Albert Chandler, born in 1841 in Ellsworth, Maine, moved to Kansas with his family in 1856, settling in Brown County. He served in Company C of the Seventh Kansas Cavalry for over four years during the Civil War. After the war, he worked as a farmer in Brown County until 1871, when he relocated to Irving Township in Jewell County, where he currently farms 600 acres. Chandler married Lizzie Englehart in January 1866 in Hiawatha, Kansas.

Biography of Elmer Birdell Gift

Elmer Birdell Gift, born on April 28, 1874, in Smith County, Kansas, dedicated over twenty years to education, culminating in his role as the city superintendent of Manhattan’s public schools. Raised on a farm as the only son among eight siblings, he pursued formal education, graduating from Mankato High School and later, the Kansas State Normal and the University of Kansas. His career spanned various teaching and administrative roles, enriched by travel and post-graduate studies. Gift was also a published writer and active in community organizations, marrying Mary A. Wentworth in 1908.

Biography of George H. Grimmell, M. D.

Dr. George H. Grimmell, born in Virginia in 1855, was a pioneering physician in Howard, Kansas, where he began practicing in 1898. He descended from a family of medical practitioners, with roots traced back to a crusader in 1096. After completing his medical education, he practiced in various locations, primarily focusing on surgery. Dr. Grimmell held active roles in local medical societies and served as health officer. He constructed the Grimmell Building in Howard and was married in 1916 to Ethel Miles.

Biography of Myron White

Myron White, born on September 6, 1875, in Brown County, Ohio, has developed a notable legal career in Muskogee over the past two decades. After serving as a color bearer in the Spanish-American War, he earned his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1902. He established a successful practice in Muskogee, recognized for his dedication to clients and legal proficiency. Married to Sadie E. Swank, they have three children. A Republican, he is also active in local civic and fraternal organizations.

Biography of John G. Laughlin

John G. Laughlin, born April 25, 1889, in Atchison, Kansas, is a notable banker and cashier at the Devon State Bank. He hails from a family with deep roots in Kansas, descended from Irish immigrants. His father, P. T. Laughlin, was a respected farmer and politician, while his mother, Anna Catherine Purcell, raised a family of eight, many of whom pursued banking careers. After initially working as a farmer, Laughlin entered banking in 1915 and is active in various community organizations. He married Olive Miller and has one daughter, Margaret.

Biography of Samuel K. Klinefelter

Samuel K. Klinefelter, born June 10, 1845, in Ohio, was the youngest partner at Hayt Klinefelter, a prominent Riverside livery stable. After moving to Kansas, he enlisted in the Seventh Regiment of Kansas Cavalry during the Civil War, participating in significant battles before returning to farming. He later ventured to California, engaging in various businesses including dairy, hotel management, and meat markets. By 1887, he established a successful livery operation in Riverside, becoming a well-respected community figure and a dedicated Republican.