Carroll County IL

Biography of Frank L. Morse, M.D.

Dr. Frank L. Morse, a distinguished surgeon from St. Louis, was born on December 22, 1876, in Savanna, Illinois. The only child of Charles and Amanda Morse, he pursued a medical career, graduating from Beaumont Medical College in 1900. After various internships, he began general practice in St. Louis before specializing in surgery in 1916. In 1902, he married Ellen Shoen, with whom he had two children. An active member of several medical and fraternal organizations, he also contributed to medical literature and served as a surgeon during World War I.

Biography of Willis J. Bailey

Willis J. Bailey, born in Mount Carroll, Illinois, on October 12, 1854, served as the governor of Kansas from 1903 to 1905. A prominent figure in agriculture and banking, he became vice president at the Exchange National Bank in Atchison, Kansas. Bailey, descended from a long line of New England republicans, moved to Kansas in 1879. He was educated at Mount Carroll High School and the University of Illinois, receiving an honorary LL.D. in 1904. His family included notable figures and influential citizens in both Illinois and Kansas.

Biography of Ernest N. Bailey

Ernest N. Bailey, born June 15, 1857, in Carroll County, Illinois, was a prominent farmer, stockman, and grain merchant in Baileyville, Kansas. He was the brother of former Governor W. J. Bailey and a descendant of Colonial New York settlers. After moving to Kansas in 1879, he expanded his agricultural endeavors, eventually establishing a significant grain elevator. Active in the community, he held various local positions and contributed to the development of Baileyville, where he lived with his wife, Gertrude L. French.

Biography of Samuel Strickler

Samuel Strickler, born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania in 1832, has been a pivotal figure in Idaho’s pioneer history for over thirty-six years. After moving west, he engaged in various ventures, including farming, mining, and freighting across the northwest. Strickler opened stores in Idaho City and Boise, frequently experiencing the challenges of pioneer life, including encounters with Native Americans. Now residing in Bellevue, he is a recognized and influential citizen, actively involved in mining and property development, and has never married. His story reflects the resilience and determination of early settlers in the region.

Biography of James Blair Lower

James Blair Lower, born July 30, 1860, in Illinois, is a prominent banker and president of the First National Bank of Washington, Kansas. Raised in a financially adept family, he moved to Kansas at ten, eventually teaching school before embarking on a banking career that spans over thirty years. His positions included cashier of various banks before assuming the presidency at the First National Bank in 1916. A Republican politician, Lower served two terms in the Kansas State Senate, contributing to several key committees. He married Minnie Potter in 1888 and has three children.

Biography of David Franklin Shirk

David Franklin Shirk, born July 10, 1859, in Illinois, dedicated thirty years to education in Kansas after moving to Abilene in 1886. A pivotal figure in child welfare, he organized the first county high school in Kansas and the world’s inaugural high school Y.M.C.A. Shirk served various superintendencies and was appointed superintendent of the Kansas State Children’s Home Society in Topeka. His esteemed lineage includes numerous ministers and educators. He married Frances Estelle Rugh, and their children, Helen and Harold, exemplify the family’s commitment to education and service.

Biography of William A. Cormany

William A. Cormany, a prominent figure in Fort Scott since 1866, began his journey as a Civil War veteran and newspaper owner of the Fort Scott Monitor. His roots trace back to Edinburg, Scotland, and his family faced many hardships, including the loss of his mother shortly after moving to Illinois. Cormany’s career flourished in journalism and business, leading to significant contributions in local governance. Married for fifty years to Susan Emmert, they raised five children, witnessing the growth of their family with fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Biography of Elmer Stover Emmert

Elmer Stover Emmert, born on May 18, 1868, in Humboldt, Kansas, became a prominent figure in the insurance industry as the senior partner of Emmert Brothers in Muskogee. After a varied career, including ten years with the Santa Fe Railroad, he and his brother established their firm in 1904, which grew to be the largest general agency for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in Oklahoma and Arkansas. An active community member, Emmert contributed to various organizations, emphasizing moral and cultural progress.

Biographical Sketch of John Harrison

John Harrison, born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in December 1824, was a notable pioneer of Douglas Township, Ida County, Iowa. After moving to Scotland with his family, he married Jeanette Stevenson in 1845 before immigrating to the United States in 1855. Harrison served in the Civil War and later settled in Iowa, where he took a pre-emption claim in 1868. His home served as a stage station and gathering place for travelers. He and Jeanette had six children, engaging in farming and stock-raising throughout their lives.

Biography of Gen. Smith D. Atkins

Smith D. Atkins, born in 1836 in New York, moved to Illinois in 1848 and began a diverse career as a lawyer, journalist, and politician. He actively supported Lincoln during the 1860 election and was the first to enlist for the Union army from his county after the Civil War began. Rising through the ranks, he became a notable officer, exhibiting bravery at key battles. Post-war, he returned to Freeport as an editor and served as Postmaster for many years, demonstrating dedicated public service.