The series contains original affidavits of registration that record personal information about each registrant, their photograph affixed to the majority of documents, and the registrants fingerprints. All of these are specific to Kansas, and most have the actual documents attached.
Edwin Carlos Lane, born on August 11, 1855, in Kendall County, Illinois, was a prominent Iowa newspaper editor. The son of Levi Hart and Emily Jane Kendrick Lane, he began his career in journalism at age twelve, working in various printing offices. In 1875, he partnered to publish the La Cygne Journal and later founded the Clarinda Journal in Iowa. A committed Republican, Lane also served as postmaster and held significant roles in Masonic organizations, contributing to community progress throughout his life.
Col. James Montgomery, born in Ashtabula County in 1814, emerged as a prominent free-state leader during the Kansas conflict and later an officer in the Civil War. After teaching in Kentucky, he moved to Missouri, then to Kansas in 1854, where he became a key figure among anti-slavery settlers. He led a Self-Protective Company to defend against pro-slavery forces and later commanded the Second South Carolina colored regiment in the Union army. Montgomery passed away in Linn County, Kansas, in 1871.
Richard W. Blue, born on September 8, 1841, in Wood County, Virginia, emerged as a prominent lawyer and judge after serving as a Union officer in the Civil War. Educated at Monongalia Academy and Washington College, he enlisted in the Third West Virginia Infantry and rose through the ranks despite being captured and held as a prisoner of war. After the war, he settled in Kansas, practiced law, and held various political positions including two terms in the State Senate and a congressman-at-large role before his death in 1907.
Dr. Charles R. Jennison, born in New York in 1834, was a significant figure during the Civil War as a brigadier general. His medical studies began at nineteen, leading to a medical practice in Wisconsin before he settled in Kansas in 1857. A staunch ally of John Brown, he commanded the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, known as Jennison’s Jayhawkers, focusing on clearing guerrillas from the border. Post-war, he served in local governance and the state legislature. Jennison passed away in Leavenworth in 1884.
Ike N. Williams, born on April 12, 1877, in Illinois, emerged as a significant political figure in Kansas following his relocation to Wichita in 1910. A dedicated lawyer and natural leader, he blended his legal expertise with civic engagement, contributing to the city’s growth. Williams’ educational journey included time in the Philippines as a teacher and later a law degree from Kansas State University. Elected to the Kansas Legislature in 1912 and re-elected in 1914, he also served as speaker pro tem. His commitment to public service and community improvement is notable.
Dr. Leonidas Kirby, born on December 1, 1850, near the Greene and Polk County line in Missouri, is a distinguished medical practitioner in Boone County, Arkansas. A graduate of St. Louis Medical College in 1876, he is recognized for his skill and commitment to his patients, notably saving a child’s life through a tracheotomy. His family has a rich history of military service and contributions to medicine, with both his father and grandfather being respected physicians. Dr. Kirby is actively involved in the medical community and local education, with a large and successful practice.
Leslie A. Breed, born December 11, 1855, in Erie County, Pennsylvania, relocated to various counties before settling in Jewell County, Kansas, in 1873, where he acquired 320 acres of land. He and his father manage a farm with 60 cattle and 120 hogs. Leslie served as Township Clerk for four years and married Elizabeth Morgan on December 4, 1879, in Jewell County, with whom he has one child, Otto.
Camden L. Bloom, born March 14, 1868, in Pennsylvania, had a remarkable career in the oil and gas industry, notably in Independence, Kansas. Despite losing a fortune during the 1907 panic, he reconstructed his wealth through hard work and expertise, becoming a pivotal figure in the development of local resources. Bloom’s early ventures included pioneering natural gas contracts and significant contributions to Independence’s industrial growth. A prominent businessman and community supporter, he experienced personal loss but found strength in his second wife, Anna Belle, and their daughter, Helen, who continue to enrich his legacy.
Abraham D. Berry, a successful farmer and oil producer in Wayside, Kansas, has resided in the state for nearly 45 years. Born in Indiana in 1847, he moved with his family to Illinois before relocating to Kansas in 1870. After various employments, he settled permanently in 1874. Berry has developed 320 acres in Rutland Township, producing oil from fifty-eight wells. A community leader, he is involved in local banking, agriculture, and church activities, with roots tracing back to pioneering ancestors who contributed to settling the region.
Gilbert Leroy Jordan, born on September 24, 1880, in Iowa, has established himself as a prominent business figure in Topeka, Kansas, with his flourishing College Hill Bakery. Starting without financial backing, he learned the bakery trade in Kansas City, eventually opening his own bakery in 1907. By 1911, he expanded to a larger facility, significantly increasing production through hard work and quality products. Married to Ethel Baughn, Jordan is engaged in Masonry and involved in community activities, reflecting his commitment to integrity and excellence.
Rufus Joel Hill, born February 16, 1838, in St. Lawrence County, New York, comes from a distinguished colonial lineage. A prominent Kansas pioneer attorney, he played a significant role in the development of Independence, where he settled in 1872. With a law career spanning decades, he notably served the legal interests of the Osage Indians until 1911. A staunch Republican and community leader, Hill is recognized for his contributions to both law and civic affairs throughout Kansas. He married Annie Hargrave, and they have several children who also reside in Independence.
Charles M. Hilleary, born on May 28, 1879, in Bourbon County, Kansas, hails from a pioneer family with roots tracing back to colonial Virginia. After early education and teaching in Stafford County, he became principal at various high schools and, in 1910, superintendent of Humboldt city schools. Known for his progressive approach, he oversees significant enrollment and staff. Hilleary is active in educational associations and Masonic organizations, and he married Bernice M. Carter in 1909, with whom he has two children.
Mary Eliza Wood Conley, an early settler of the Flora district, passed away on February 26, 1940, at a nursing home in Milton. Born on December 6, 1859, she married Jesse Monroe Conley in 1878 and migrated to Oregon in 1888, where they homesteaded. After farming for 20 years, they settled in Flora until 1926. She is survived by five children. Funeral services were held in Milton, attended by family. Mr. Conley preceded her in death in 1936.
William T. Mahon, a pioneer of Wallowa County, Oregon, passed away at his home near Joseph on November 13, 1936, at the age of 83. Born in Illinois and raised in Kansas, he married Sophia R. Conley in 1874. They had four children, all of whom survive him, along with five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mahon moved to Oregon in 1888, contributing to his community as a loving husband, father, and good citizen. His funeral was held at the Joseph M.E. church, with interment at Prairie Creek Cemetery.
Mary Eliza Wood Conley, an early settler in Flora, Oregon, passed away on February 26, 1940, in a nursing home in Milton after years of declining health. Born on December 6, 1859, she married Jesse Monroe Conley in Missouri in 1878, later homesteading in Oregon in 1888. They lived on their farm for 20 years before retiring to Flora. Mary is survived by five children. Funeral services were held in Milton, attended by family.
Memorial services for Mrs. Sarah W. Scott were held on Tuesday at Bollman Funeral Chapel in Enterprise, Oregon, following her passing on March 28 in a La Grande hospital. Rev. John Munsey officiated, with music provided by Mrs. A.L. Kintner and soloist Mrs. Gerald R. Brown. Born on September 14, 1884, in Kansas, she married Ira L. Scott in 1906. After his death in 1928, she moved to Union in 1946. She is survived by her four children and six grandchildren. Burial took place in Enterprise cemetery.
Hon. J. A. Brown, born in Bourbon County, Kansas, on September 10, 1866, serves as the esteemed mayor of La Harpe. A man of integrity and business acumen, he initially worked in agriculture and the butcher trade before establishing a successful general store. His political career began with the La Harpe council, where his investigations uncovered financial discrepancies, leading to his election as mayor in 1915. Under his leadership, the city regained financial stability and prosperity. Brown married Minnie Mylius and has three children.
Keenan Hurst, born March 5, 1839, in Ohio, is a notable Civil War veteran and esteemed figure in Elk County, Kansas. After several years of farming, he transitioned into politics and law, serving as city attorney and deputy county attorney in Howard. He actively participated in significant battles, including Chickamauga and Atlanta, sustaining injuries but continuing his service. A lifelong learner, Hurst pursued legal education post-war. He married twice and fathered several children, contributing to local civic life and the Grand Army of the Republic.