Biography of Samuel N. Harper

Samuel N. Harper. Many of the men of Kansas whose closing years of life were devoted exclusively to the peaceful pursuits of agrionlture, had seen much adventure in earlier times and on many occasions had proved as heroie as any knight of romance or history. Thus may be brought to notice the late Samuel N. Harper, for many years one of Menoken Township’s most esteemed and valued citizens. A survivor of the great civil war, afterward one of the courageous and hardy men who dared Indian treachery on the frontier and engineered great wagon trains through the mountains, and still … Read more

Biography of W. H. Roberts

W. H. Roberts, farmer, See. 9, T. 13, R. 14 W.; P. O. Kansas; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1840, where he followed farming until 20 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois with his parents, and located in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., on Sec. 6, where his father, Thomas Roberts, now lives; here he assisted his father farming until Aug. 8, 186,2, when he enlisted in the 79th I. V. I., and went forward’ to battle for the Union; going to Louisville, Ky., he joined the army of Gen. Buell, who had been driven back … Read more

Biography of Joshua Ricketts

Joshua Ricketts, dealer in grain and produce, groceries, glassware, queens-ware, etc., Ashmore; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, March 13, 1821. He is a son of Joshua and Sarah (Taylor) Ricketts. He remained at home until he was 13 years old, when he went to Knox County, Ohio, and engaged in study with a view to preparing for the ministry, but meeting with a change in his religious belief he abandoned the idea and engaged in farming, afterward learning the trade of a marble cutter. At the age of 23 he went to Coshocton, Ohio, and followed farming for a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sherman W. Roberts

Sherman W. Roberts, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1852; he attended school here until 9 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., in September, 1860 (his father at that time purchasing upward of two hundred acres upon Sec. 6, where he still resides); he attended school here during the winter and assisted his father farming in the summer, until he attained his majority; he then engaged in farming a part of his father’s farm on shares for three years, when he bought … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Ricketts

William Ricketts, land agent and conveyancer, Charleston; was born in Alleghany Co., Md., March 3, 1813; his father, Joshua Ricketts was of an old Maryland family in Colonial days; his mother was Sarah Taylor, a daughter of John Taylor, of Connecticut, who was a soldier of the Revolution, and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill and afterward at the battle of Brandywine; Mr. Ricketts’ parents removed, in 1813, to Zanesville, Ohio; he is the seventh in age of a family of thirteen; he was raised on a farm. He was first married Sept. 11, 1834, in Putnam, Ohio, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Paul J. Brown

Brown, Paul J.; automobile business; born, Zanesville, O., Nov. 10, 1864; public school education; started with The Jacob Smith Carriage & Wagon Co., 1875-1879; then went to Pittsburgh in various carriage and wagon shops; came to Cleveland in 1890; foreman for The Jacob Hoffman Wagon Co., 1890-1898; then went to Cincinnati with The O. Armleder Co. until 1901; returned to Cleveland and formed partnership with firm of Broc Carriage & Wagon Co.; upon incorporation of firm, in 1903, elected vice pres. and gen. mgr.; in 1908, sold his interest and retired to the farm; in 1909, formed the Brown Auto … Read more

Genealogy of John Marion Stoneburner

John M., son of Robert and Margaret Landerman Stoneburner, lived in Muskingum County, Ohio after his marriage to Margaret Hannah Mohler on 11 March 1869. She was the daughter of Adam and Caroline Dozer Mohler. Sometime in 1884 the family moved to Shelby County, Illinois. On Monday September 3, 1928, “about 40 members of the Stoneburner families gathered at the home of John M. Stoneburner and wife to enjoy the day. There were five generations present. At the noon hour a bountiful dinner was served on the lawn. All enjoyed a fine time. “Those present were: Elmer Potts and wife; … Read more

Biography of William Dozier

William Dozier, architect and builder, Mattoon; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1836; his grandfather came from Pennsylvania to Ohio as early as 1810, and settled in Muskingum Co., when that section of country was a wilderness; his father was then a lad of some 8 or 9 summers; through want of opportunity, the education of his father was not extended beyond spelling, he never having read a day in school; he was a man, however, of good native ability, and, through his own exertions, obtained a fair education; he served nine years as Justice of the Peace; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jeremiah Lane

Jeremiah Lane, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 17, 1844; his father, George W. Lane, was a pioneer, coming from his native State, Maryland, at the age of 13; his mother, Sarah Lane, was a native of Ohio, and a descendant of a Maryland family; his parents both died in Ohio; Mr. Lane was raised on the farm, and has followed that avocation all his life; he came to Coles Co.. in 1873, and settled on his present farm, one mile east of the village of Ashmore, where he owns 134 acres of … Read more

Genealogy of Linzie Otis Stoneburner

Linzie O., son of John M. and Margaret Stoneburner, continued living on a farm near Herrick. On the 25 April 1901 he married Ella Alice Miller, daughter of Benedict and Lucie Spockwell Miller. Linzie and Ella had a family of four children. In January of 1931, “about 40 neighbors and friends gathered at the home of L. O. Stoneburner and family to spend the evening. Following are the names of those present: Charles McKittrick and wife; Hubert Smart and family; Ellis Corley and wife; Arthur Salmons and family; Mrs. Lamora Manuel and children; Lawrence Stoneburner and family; Dorothy Campbell; John … Read more

Slave Narrative of Ben Brown

Interviewer: Albert I Dugan Person Interviewed: Ben Brown Location: Keen St., Zanesville, Ohio Age: 100 Occupation: Railroad worker Yes suh I wuz a slave in Vaginyah, Alvamaul (Albermarle) county an’ I didn’t have any good life, I’m tellin’ you dat! It wuz a tough life. I don’t know how old I am, dey never told me down dere, but the folks here say I’m a hunderd yeah old an’ I spect dats about right. My fathah’s name wuz Jack Brown and’ my mammy’s Nellie Brown. Dey wuz six of us chillun, one sistah Hannah an’ three brothers, Jim, Harrison, an’ … Read more

Biography of Boyd Elias Pollom

The men who came to Shawnee County in 1871 were of necessity patient plodders, content to await the rewards of a developing civilization. There were no short cuts to fortune such as fired the zeal of the argonauts of ’49, but there existed sane and practical opportunities for the man to whom labor was a beneflcent and necessary festure of his existence. To such a class belonged William Pollom, father of Boyd Elias Pollom, the latter one of the successful agrienlturists and substantial citizens of the vicinity of North Topeka. William Pollom was born in Ohio, in 1838, a son … Read more

Biography of Robert A. Lovitt

Robert A. Lovitt. As president of the Saline County Bar Association, Robert A. Lovitt’s professional status with his brethren may be judged, but his reputation in business, politics, social life and on the lecture platform extends all over the state. He had been a valued resident of Salina since August 5, 1876. Robert A. Lovitt was born in his father’s primitive log cabin in Muskingum County, Ohio, October 10, 1851. His parents were Evan J. and Leah (Stamats) Lovitt, he of English ancestry and she of German revolutionary stock. The father of Mr. Lovitt was born in New Jersey, was … Read more

Biography of Milton F. Ward

Milton F. Ward. Among the business men of Kansas, there are none more far-seeing and intelligent than those who make up the agricultural class. The career of a farmer is somewhat exacting, in that he may not choose his own times or seasons for labor, for Nature adjusts such matters; but it is not probable that any other vocation gives such large and certain returns for well-directed effort expended. When an agriculturist successfully produces large crops he may be called a capable husbandman, but when he is able also to profitably handle the yield of his fertile fields himself, he … Read more

Biography of Jeremiah Titus

Jeremiah Titus, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Oakland; born in Loudoun Co., Va., Sept. 13, 1810, where he remained with his father, Tunis Titus, and engaged in farming until he attained his majority, and, for the first few years, worked at $5 per month, after which he hired by the year for $100 per year, which was the highest wages he received until 30 years of age, at which time he rented land and engaged in farming until 1855, when he removed to Muskingum Co., Ohio, and rented land until 1860, when he came to Coles Co., Ill., by team … Read more

Biography of Judge Nathan Baker

Judge Nathan Baker, of Santa Ana, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, March 10, 1817. His parents, Nathan and Mary (Blizzard) Baker, both natives of Virginia, had three sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketch, the youngest and only one living, started west at the age of eighteen years, stopping first in Washington County, Iowa, and then in Lee County, same State, where he followed farming until 1849. In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate by that county, and at the close of his first term he resigned in order to come to California. He came … Read more

Biography of A. P. Woodward

A.P. WOODWARD. – Those who had the sharp work of quieting the Indians, and of defending the homes and families of the Whites in 1855-56, did not at that time suppose that their work would ever be of historic interest. But the time is coming when every name of the veterans will be inscribed as with letters of gold upon the records of the state. One of these veterans is Mr. Woodward. He was born in Muskingum, Ohio, and, after the manner of many Westerners, spent his early days in gradually passing westward, moving by slow stages through Illinois and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Milton Ewing

Milton, son of Frank and Rebecca Ewing, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 30, 1848. He was reared in his native county, and received his education in the schools of Zanesville, Ohio. When nineteen years of age he accompanied his parents in their removal to Missouri, settling at Gallatin in 1867. He early evinced a decided interest in and preference for the law, and in 1868 began legal studies in the office of Judge R. L. Dodge, of Gallatin, continuing with Judge Dodge one year, then entered the office of Judge Samuel A. Richardson, with whom he studied until … Read more

Through Ohio And Kentucky

Sunday, Oct. 18.–Myself and friend proceeded on our journey. We arrived at Siers, a distance of thirty miles, at dusk, much relieved by the change from our horses to the wagon. The roads were muddy, the weather drizzly and the country hilly. Buildings indifferent. The land very fertile and black. Trees uncommonly tall. Passed the little village of Cadis. In this country a tavern, a store, a smith shop and two or three cabins make a town. Passed ten or fifteen travelers. Great contrast between the quality of the land from Chambersburg to Pittsburg, and that which we have already … Read more

Biography of Thomas J. Reynolds

Thomas J. Reynolds. The “Poot of the Wakarusa” was the title bestowed upon that beloved old pioneer of that section, Thomas J. Reynolds. He was a man better versed in the arts and skill of the woodsman, the plainsman, the humter, the miner and the pioneer than making poetry, but there was a fine spirit dwelling in his nature, and it found expression in such a way as to bring him the title above noted. He arrived in Kansas in 1854 and pre-empted land near where Wakarusa now stands. Thomas J. Reynolds was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, born in … Read more