Burr Oak Kansas

Biographical Sketch of E. O. W. Smith

E. O. W. Smith, merchant, was born in Juniata County, Pa., July 5, 1844. Enlisted in the Union army in February 1864, in Company G, Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry: was discharged in 1865, when he returned to Illinois. Came to Jewell County, Kan., in 1872, and took a homestead two and a half miles south of town, which he sold, and bought one five miles from town, containing timber and water, where he carries on farming and stock-raising, making fine stock a specialty; is also the owner of a fine residence in Burr Oak. He went into the restaurant business … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. H. Hannum

Dr. H. Hannum was born in Paine’s Point, Ogle Co., Ill., March 11, 1854. Attended Rock River Seminary in Illinois; also attended Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and graduated February 22, 1881, after having taken a full course of clinical and didactic instruction during three winters and spring terms of the institution, and received a certificate of honor for the same. The doctor first practiced in Illinois, came to Kansas in April, 1881, and settled in Burr Oak, where he has been engaged in the practice of his chosen profession ever since. He is also a graduate of the Kalamazoo … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Tweedy

Thomas Tweedy, attorney-at-law, was born in Indiana, September 12, 1853; came to Jewell County, Kan., in 1878; studied law at Red Cloud, Neb., also at Oswego, Kan., and was admitted to practice at Verne, Jennings Co., Ind., June 19, 1881. He is the only practicing attorney in Burr Oak. Attended college at Lancaster, Ind. He was married in Burr Oak, September 12, 1882, to Miss Ella M. Story.

Biographical Sketch of J. W. McCormich

J. W. McCormich, postmaster, born in Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio, and March 10, 1847. Enlisted in the United States army in Company K, Third Ohio Cavalry, November 1861, and was discharged in August, 1865. He moved from Ohio to Michigan, and came to Jewell County, Kan., in 1870 and took a homestead, a part of which is now the town of Burr Oak, and he is now the owner of the same, less a few lots, which have been sold. Has held the office of Township Clerk, Trustee and Justice of the Peace. Has held the last named office for … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Alice M. (Beachly) Berkeley

Mrs. Alice M. (Beachly) Berkeley. Talented in music and a leading spirit in the activities that make the modern woman who had social advantages very different from her sisters of some years ago, Mrs. Alice M. (Beachly) Berkeley, of Burr Oak, needs no introduction to many residents of Jewell County. For a number of years she had occupied, her beautiful and hospitable home, which is situated on the corner of Lewis and Water streets, Burr Oak, and is one of this city’s most esteemed and admired ladles. Mrs. Berkeley was born at Meyeradale, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of G. … Read more

Caton, Ruth Viola Callahan Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Ruth Viola Caton, 96, of La Grande, died Oct. 29, 2001, at the Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. There will be a private family service. Mrs. Caton was born on June 11, 1905, to William and Hulda A. Stephens Callahan at Burr Oak, Kan. She married Glenn L. Caton on Nov. 21, 1948, in Montana. Mrs. Caton enjoyed traveling in her RV and spent winters in Arizona. She also spent time doing yard work and enjoyed shopping. Special times were spent with her grandchildren. She was an apartment manager at Tigard where she lived. She moved … Read more

Biography of Clark L Myerly, M. D.

Clark L. Myerly, M. D. Since 1914 the most enlightened tenets of medical and surgical science have found expression in the career of Dr. Clark L. Myerly, one of the younger practitioners of the Jewell County fraternity, who had already made a well-established place for himself in the confidence of the people of Burr Oak. While the period of his practice as compared with those of many of his fellow-physicians in the county is short, it had been his fortune to have so impressed the people of the community with his skill and thoroughness that he had been able to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of B. F. Royer

B. F. Royer, one of Burr Oak’s prominent citizens, was born in Union County, Pa., January 13, 1850; moved from there to Stephenson County, Ill., in October, 1868; from there to Jewell County, Kan., in the spring of 1872, and took a homestead three miles southeast of Burr Oak, and still owns the same. Mr. Royer is a waggonmaker by trade, and followed that business from eighteen years of age until he was thirty-two; commenced running a wagon and blacksmith shop of his own in the spring of 1873. In 1882 he bought the livery, barn and stock of O. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. Godfrey

A. J. Godfrey, druggist and grocer, was born in Kent County Mich., April 15, 1840. Removed with his parents to Indiana in 1841. Enlisted in the United States Army in Company B, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, May 28, 1861, and was discharged August 12, 1865, when he returned to Noble County, Ind., and was married to Miss Sarah Gilbert, January 18, 1866. Removed to Iowa in 1868. Came to Jewell County, Kan., in August 1870, and took a homestead, a part of which is the town site of Burr Oak. In the fall of 1872 Mr. Godfrey caused the said … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. E. Faidley

J. E. Faidley was born in Somerset County, Pa., October 9, 1840. Removed to Ohio, thence to Iowa, thence to Nebraska, and came to Jewell County, Kan., in October, 1870 and took a homestead adjoining the town site of Burr Oak. Purchased from Lewis and Godfrey part of the town site of Burr Oak. He is the owner of 2,000 acres of land in Jewell County and a large part of Burr Oak, and has an interest in a hardware and farm implement establishment in Burr Oak, also an interest in a large stock of merchandise, and has done a … Read more

Biography of George L. Atkeson

George L. Atkeson. To those parents who value the intellectual development of their children, it is a matter of vital importance that in the early and formative period of their lives, their instructors in the public schools should be thoroughly qualified for such responsibility in scholarly attainments and in personal character. In securing so widely known and so experienced an educator as George L. Atkeson as superintendent of their city schools, the good people of Altoona, Kansas, displayed exceptional wisdom. Intelligent public opinion here, as at other points, makes more insistent demands, asks for more decided results than in old … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. T. Hollenbeck

J. T. Hollenbeck, merchant, was born in Indiana October 14, 1835; removed to Louisa County, Iowa, thence to Johnson County, thence to Grundy County, came to Jewell County, Kan., in 1871, and took a homestead, moved to Burr Oak, and engaged in general merchandising and is also extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, making fine stock a specialty. Is now doing business under the firm name of Faidley, Hollenbeck & Smith. He held the office of Justice of the Peace in Walnut Township, in Jewell Co., Kan. Was a soldier in the United States Army, in Company D, Sixteenth Iowa … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. B. and W. B. Spears

Spears Bros., bankers. P. B. Spears was born in Carroll County, Ind., December 29, 1854, and came to Kansas in 1880. He was married in Illinois, May 10, 1876, to Miss Georgia A. Taylor. They have two children – Ethel and Charles. W. B. Spears was born in Carroll County, Ind., April 6, 1858; moved to Illinois, thence to Burr Oak, Jewell County, Kan., and March 1, 1880. He was married in Morrison, Whiteside County, Illinois, and January 19, 1881, to Miss Minnie B. Clark. They have one child – Helen, born January 15, 1882. The brothers established the Bank … Read more

Biographical Sketch of M. Weil

M. Weil, merchant, was born in Alsace, France, December 1, 1858; came to America in October, 1875, and settled at Atchison; moved to Muscotah, Kan., and engaged in general merchandising. He came to Burr Oak, Jewell Co., Kan., in January 1880, and engaged in the same line of business, in a room 22×80 foot, and carries a stock of from $16,000 to $18,000. He is a member of the K. of P., and was married in Holton, Jackson Co., Kan., March 1, 1881, to Miss Ida Sarbach, and they have one child – Carl, born April 28, 1882.

Biographical Sketch of N. E. Burns

N. E. Burns, lumber dealer, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, March 4, 1861. Removed to Hoopeston, Ill., and did business just across the line in Ambia, Ind. Came to Burr Oak, Jewell County, Kan., May 3, 1882, and engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of Cobb & Burns. The same firm has a number of lumberyards in Kansas, and are working up a satisfactory trade. Mr. Burns is an energetic young man, and will be well known in the commercial world. He was married in Hoopeston, Ill., December 25, 1881, to Miss Anna Richards.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. J. E. Hawley

Dr. J. E. Hawley, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., June 1, 1852, removed to Chickasaw County, Iowa, in 1865; removed to Clay County, Neb., thence to Burr Oak, in Jewell County, Kan., in 1878. Held the office of City Councilman of Burr Oak for two years, and was elected Mayor of the City in April 1882. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. The doctor studied medicine in Iowa, and graduated at the St. Joseph’s Hospital Medical College, February 27, 1882. He was married in Spring Ranch, Clay Co., Neb., November 27, 1871, to Miss Alice J. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Thomas Kirk, Jr.

Dr. Thomas Kirk, Jr., was born in Clearfield, Pa., January 20, 1859; attended the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in June, 1880, and first located in Bellefonte, Pa. Came to Burr Oak, in Jewell Co., Kan., in 1881, and engaged in the practice of his profession; he is now working into a fine business.

Biography of J. Bruce Dick

J. Bruce Dick is a banker by profession, but during his career of thirty-two years had made a record of creditable performance in several lines of work, farming as well as commercial endeavors. He is now cashier of the Labette State Bank at Labette. He is of Irish ancestry. His grandfather was born near Belfast, Ireland, was married in his native country and then brought his family to America, following his trade as mechanic in Philadelphia, and from there moving to Hanover, Illinois, where he spent the rest of his days as a farmer. His children were: Robert, a retired … Read more

Biography of Patrick Henry O’Brien

Patrick Henry O’Brien. In the numerous interests which, combined, serve to make Burr Oak an important and representative business center, lumber and banking are probably the most important, and connected with both for many years had been the name of O’Brien, a highly respected name because it is worthily borne. The branch of the O’Brien family to which Patrick Henry O’Brien, vice president of the Jewell County National Bank at Burr Oak, belongs had belonged to Kansas since early in the ’60s. Patrick Henry O’Brien was born at Minersville, Kansas, September 7, 1883, and is the son of T. P. … Read more