Biography of Jeremiah L. Seitz

Jeremiah L. Seitz is one of the pioneers of McPherson County. He came to Kansas a short time after the close of the Civil war, in which he had served as one of the youngest volunteers on the Union side. As a homesteader, farmer, public official and business man he had played a worthy and influential role in McPherson County since pioneer days. He is still active and had a good business as a collecting agent and auctioneer. Mr. Seitz was born April 16, 1847, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, son of Jacob and Barbara (Shellebarger) Seitz. His parents were natives of … Read more

Biography of J. Silas Leas

One of the old and respected citizen of Rock Island County, a man who stands high in the estimation of all who know him, is J. Silas Leas, who although now spending the closing years of his life in retirement, was at one time engaged in some of Rock Island County’s principal manufacturies. He was born October 31, 1830, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, his parents being Christian H. and Julia Ann (Brandt) Leas, both of whom were also natives of that state. His mother died when the subject of our sketch was but two years of age. In his early … Read more

Biography of Martin Mohler, Hon.

Kansas had always been a progressive state. Its history proves that. But progressiveness is a spiritual attitude and by its very nature its material environment is constantly changing. Thus it was as possible for progressiveness to exist and flourish twenty-five or thirty years ago when Kansas was beset by mortgages, whirlwinds and sod houses, as in the present era of comfortable substance and prosperity. Hence it is possible to refer to the late Martin Mohler’s distinction as one of the most progressive secretaries of the State Board of agriculture Kansas ever had without disparaging in any sense the accomplishment of … Read more

Biography of Samuel Brownlee Fisher

Samuel Brownlee Fisher of Parsons, consulting engineer of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, is one of the eminent railway engineers of America. He had had nearly fifty years of active experience and had been identified with the construction of various railway lines in the West and East. He comes of an old Scotch family of Covenanter stock. On the maternal side his ancestors were the Brownlees, who were Covenanters in Scotland and were exiled because of their religious belief and settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. Fisher’s great-great-grandfather in the maternal line, George Wilie, was a soldier in the Revolutionary … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Leidhigh, J. M.

J. M. Leidhigh, of the firm of T. F. Leidigh & Co., dealers in general merchandise. They opened trade in Spear Ville in April 1878, with a stock of $1,800. They now carry an average stock of $10,000. Their store building was erected of stone in 1881 at a cost of $2,000. Size is 25×80 feet. They employ three men in the business. Mr. J. M. Leidigh is also extensively engaged in raising stock. He first came to Kansas in 1870, locating at St. Mary’s, and engaged in the lumber trade, and in 1872 moved to Hutchinson, Kan., where he … Read more

Waggoner, Mary Ellen (Murphy) – Obituary

Aunt Ellen Waggoner, a dear old lady who numbered her friends by the score, passed away last Saturday forenoon at her home in Odebolt, after a long illness. She had been confined to her home for several years with rheumatism, and later was afflicted with a disease of the kidneys. Funeral services were conducted in the Presbyterian church Monday afternoon by Rev. W. A. Black, pastor of the Methodist church. Mary Ellen Murphy was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1838. December 22, 1857 she was married to Henry Waggoner, and sixteen years later they moved to Cumberland County … Read more

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Cemetery Records

Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Cemeteries hosted at Cumberland County PAGenWeb Project Hanna’s Graveyard Cemetery Photos Middle Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery Stone Church Graveyard, Partial Cemeteries hosted at Cumberland County Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives Cemeteries In Cumberland USGW Archives For Cumberland Co, Pa Listing Of Cumberland County Cemeteries Surname Index: Selected Cumberland Cemeteries Cem Readings From Vol. 17, Journals Of Josiah V. Thompson, 1926 Ashland Cemetery: Carlisle Ashland Cemetery: Carlisle – Ashland Cemetery: Carlisle – Burials In National Cemetery Carlisle: … Read more

Waggoner, Henry – Obituary

February 28, 1895 Chronicle – Odebolt The many friends of Henry Waggoner, who lived three miles west of Odebolt, were grieved to hear of his death, which occurred about 11:45 on Sunday night. He was taken ill on the preceding Tuesday with pneumonia, and from the first his condition was serious. Mr. Waggoner was one of the kindest and best men we ever knew and we not believe he had an enemy. He was born in Perry County, Pa., Sept. 5, 1834, and resided there until 1873 when he moved to Cumberland County, Pa. He married Miss Ellen M. Murphy … Read more

Biography of Eames Dickey

Eames Dickey was born of Irish parents in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1788, came to the northwestern territory with his father’s family in 1798 and settled first in Washington county. When a young man Mr. Dickey was employed as a post rider to carry the mail on horseback, between Marietta and Chillicothe, a distance of about one hundred miles. Between 18o6 and 1814 he was variously engaged in the mail service, sometimes as a sub contractor, but always doing the riding of one hand himself. At that time the mail service in this section was one of great hardship and … Read more

Biography of Colonel George Davenport

Colonel George Davenport was the first white man to make a permanent settlement in what is now Rock Island County, arriving here in the spring of 1816. He was a native of England, born in Lincolnshire, in 1783. At the age of seventeen he enlisted as a sailor on a merchant vessel, and for the next three years he visited France, Spain and Portugal. In the fall of 1803 his vessel sailed from Liverpool to St. Petersburg, Russia, and shortly after its arrival there an embargo was laid upon all English vessels in that port, the vessels taken possession of … Read more

1911 Carlisle School Census

Carlisle Indian School

In 1911 Carlisle was directed by the Department of the Interior to prepare a census of the Indians under their charge. In all cases where the Indians are living on separate reservations under your jurisdiction you should submit a separate census roll of the Indians of each reservation. The names should be arranged in alphabetical order. (letter Department of the Interior, 1911) Student Population by Tribe Female Students 1911 Carlisle School Census: Females A-B Surnames 1911 Carlisle School Census: Females C-D Surnames 1911 Carlisle School Census: Females E-G Surnames 1911 Carlisle School Census: Females H-J Surnames 1911 Carlisle School Census: … Read more

Biography of William Allison Aikman

Aikman Brothers. As farmers, merchants, lawyers and active citizens the Aikman family have been prominent in Butler County for over forty-five years. The father of the Aikman brothers, lawyers and business men at El Dorado, was the late William A. Aikman, who on coming to Kansas in 1871 took up a homestead in Butler County and contributed his share of the heavy work involved in converting the virgin prairies into fertile farms. He was the father of four sons. Granville P. had long been a lawyer of El Dorado and had been distinguished by long and capable service on the … Read more

Biography of Charles South

Charles South. The oil industry in the Mid-Continent field of Kansas had an able representative in the person of Charles South, of Chanute, who had been producing in this field since 1903. Like many of the men interested in the business here, Mr. South had his introduction to oil production in the Pennsylvania fields, and when he arrived in Kansas had a number of years of experience back of him to assist him in his enterprises. Mr. South was born near the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1864, and is a son of John and Vilinda (Everly) South. He … Read more

Biography of Dr. William Plunkett

Esther, daughter of John Harris, married Dr. William Plunkett, who was born in Ireland of noble family. In personal appearance he is described as of large stature, great muscular development and strength, while an imperious disposition was among his distinguishing mental traits. This is attested by several occurrences in his career which yet retain a place in the traditions of the locality which he afterward lived in Pennsylvania. On one occasion with several boon companions, he was engaged in some hilarious proceedings at an Irish inn. The adjoining room was occupied by an English nobleman, who had a curious and … Read more

Early Exploration and Native Americans

De Soto and his band gave to the Choctaws at Moma Binah and the Chickasaws at Chikasahha their first lesson in the white man’s modus operandi to civilize and Christianize North American Indians; so has the same lesson been continued to be given to that unfortunate people by his white successors from that day to this, all over this continent, but which to them, was as the tones of an alarm-bell at midnight. And one hundred and twenty-three years have passed since our forefathers declared all men of every nationality to be free and equal on the soil of the North … Read more