Kansas History and Heritage Project-Clay County 1890 Biographies

Clay County Biographies
Clay County Illustrated, 1901


The following mini-biographies were extracted from the 1901 "Clay County Illustrated", published by the Clay Center Dispatch.

M. D. Arner was born in Carbon county, Pennsylvania. Twenty-two years ago he immigrated to Kansas, locating at Morganville, where he established a wagon and carriage shop. which he conducted several years. Some time later he became ticket agent for the Union Pacific railroad in which employ he remained three years. He then purchased the Morganville livery barn and resigned his situation. He owns a neat home in Morganville. He is a member of the K. and I. of S.

Samuel D. Avery was born in Canada in 1858. When he was eight years of age he moved to Ohio with his parents, where they resided three years. In 1881 he was married to Miss Angie McCoy. In 1882 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Union township. In 1899 he sold this, purchasing the farm on which they now reside. They have seven children. They are both members of the N.A.A. Mr. Avery is overseer in district 1, Gill township.

G. I. Bodine was born in Steuben county, Indiana, in 1870. When he was ten years of age he came to Kansas with his parents, locating on a farm. After several years spent in getting an education and in helping on the farm, he learned the barber's trade, soon after setting up a shop in Morganville. His patronage is sufficient to warrant saying that he is a master of his trade. He is also agent for the Star Steam Laundry of Clay Center.

Another of the flourishing business concerns of the burg of Morganville is Brown's Drug Store. George Brown, the proprietor, was born in 1872. In 1886 he came to Clay Center, where he attended school and afterward studied pharmacy. Soon afterward he was given the management of a store at Idana, which he afterward purchased. While here he was married to Frances Lewis. In 1895 he moved his stock of drugs to Morganville. At present the store is under the management of Mrs. Brown, Mr. Brown having decided to study medicine. He is now attending the Kansas Medical college at Topeka.

A. A. Craft was born in New Jersey fifty-three years ago. When he was two years old his parents removed to Indiana. In that state he received his education. In 1877 he was married to Barbara Shagley. They have two children, Aggie and Mary. In 1880 they came to Kansas, locating in Cloud county, where they resided until six years ago. They then came to this county, locating in Gill township, where Mr. Craft bought an eighty acre farm.

N. H. Dimond was born in New York state in 1822. Twenty----- years later he was married to Roxana Ludlow, a daughter of Captain Anthony Ludlow of that state. In 1868 the came west, locating in Leavenworth county, this state, at which place they remained five years. They then moved to this county, locating in 1873 on the northeast quarter of section 12, Gill township. This was taken as a timber claim. The have been residents of this township ever since, still living on their old place. They have a family of eight children.

M. P. Fisher was born in Johnson county, this state, in 1869. He lived in that county until thriteen years old, coming to this county with his parents in 1883. In 1892 he was married to Miss Effie Hinds. He is the owner of a fine one hundred and twenty acre farm in section 2, Union township. He is at present clerk of that township. Mr. Fisher is a young man of good character and consequently is very highly respected.

F. L. Fletcher was born in Clay County, KS in 1871. He is a son of Captain W. H. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher was married in 1894 to Eulah M. McCord. The have one son. In 1895 he was made cashier of the bank at Morganville. By his business methods and by his general good character he has won the esteem of all those who come in contact with him.

Archibald Gardner was born in Indiana in 1841. When he was sixteen years of age he removed with his parents to Illinois. In 1861 he enlisted in company A. Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, serving three years. In 1867 he was married to Mary Jane Wyner. In 1870 they came to this county, locating in Sherman township on the northwest quarter of section 5 as a homesteader. Mr. Gardner is a member of the M.W.A. He is a very estimable gentleman.

John M. Gray was born in Illinois in 1851. He was a resident of that state until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1876 he was married to Miss Libbie Williams. In 1878 they journeyed to Minnesota, where they resided six years. They then went to Sunny Kansas, locating on an eighty acre farm in this vicinity. Afterward Mr. Gray purchased from Elmer Roe the southwest quarter of the same section in which he was living, section 5, Gill township. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have six children. Mr. Gray has been trustee for four years.

Ernest L. Green was born in Marshall county, this state, in 1864. When he was six years of age his parents came to this county, locating in Sherman township, where he has lived ever since. In 1884 he was married to Uletta N. Stancliff. They have seven children. Mr. Green owns four hundred and seventy acres of land, all on the river bottom. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., M.W.A. and Masons.

William Gregg was born in Ohio in 1851. He was a resident of this state forty-two years. In 1880 he was married to Lucy Wilson, who passed to the great beyond the next year. In 1893 he went to Nebraska, where he remained six years. He then came to Clay county, having traded his Nebraska farm for one in Gill township. He has never remarried. His mother keeps house for him. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Gill township.

John M. Guy was born in England thirty-nine years ago. When he was nine years old his parents came to Kansas, locating near Wakefield, where Mr. Guy grew to manhood. In 1891 he was married to Nellie C. White. for several years he was connected with his father's store at Wakefield. He is now engaged in farming three miles west of Wakefield., working in the store only during the busy periods.

Henry Haden was born in England forty-eight years ago. In 1870, his twenty-second, he came to America. In the spring of that year he located on the southwest quarter of section 4, Gill township. He takes a great interest in politics. Mr. Haden is one of the corps of correspondents for the clay Center Dispatch. He has a host of friends wherever he is known.

George C. Hall was born a short distance south of Topeka, Kansas. In 1882 he entered the Kansas State Agricultural College of Manhattan, graduating with the class of '96. While in college he learned the trade of cabinet making. In the spring of 1900 he came to Morganville, where he is now a partner of William Austin in the hardware and general repair business. E. L. Austin was born in Illinois thirty-six years ago and came to Kansas when seven years old. He located first in Jewell county, where he learned wagon making.

S. E. Hinds was born in Vermont thirty-five years ago. When he was twelve years old he came with his parents to this county,locating on a farm in Republican township. In 1891 he was married to Miss Anna Fisher; they have two children. they are now residents of Union township, where they have a splendid farm.

Thomas Holt was born in England in 1850. When he was twenty years of age he came to this country, soon after locating in this county. In 1874 he was married to Phoebe Beck; they have six children. In 1878 they located on eighty acres of section 24, Gill township, as a homestead. later they purchased another peice of land. Mr. and Mrs. Holt are both members of the N. A. A.

The subject of this sketch, Adam Hoover, was born in New York. When he was four years old his parents removed to Ohio, where they resided several years. In 1885 Mr. Hoover came to Kansas, locating in Clay County. In 1890 he was married to Veronica Backes. Five children have been born to them, of whom but one is living, Lawrence, two and one-half years old. Mr. Hoover is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land, three miles southwest of Wakefield. He is one of the community's progressive citizens and stands high in the esteem of his acquaintances.

A. M. Johnson was born and raised in Rush county, Indiana, and resided there until fifteen years ago. About that time he became dissatisfied with his lot in that state and came to Kansas, locating on a farm in Wichita county, where he resided until last April, when he removed to Morganville and engaged in the restaurant business. He is the proprietor of the only place of that kind in time and as he is giving entire satisfaction to his patrons he is on the high road to prosperity.

John M. Jones was born in Indiana in 1853. When he was only a year old his parents removed to Kansas, locating in Anderson county, where they remained four year. Their next home was in Iowa, where they remained two years. they then moved across to Missouri. Soon after Mr. Jones went to the Cherokee Strip, where he remained two years, living with the Indians. In 1874 he located in Dickinson county. In 1885 he was married to Miss Nancy Hysam. They have a farm of eighty acres in section 32, Gill township, originally taken as a homestead. They have two children.

R. A. Jones was born in England fifty-six years ago. In 1871 he came to America, locating at Topeka, where he worked as a stone mason for some time. Four years later he came to Wakefield, where he have been ever since. In 1886 he was married to Elmira Foster, who only lived three years. In 1890 he was married to Mrs. Emma Sleet, who had one daughter. Mr. Jones owns a pleasant home in Wakefield, and three hundred and ninety acres of land in Grant township.

S. D. Kerby was born in Indiana in 1833. He was a resident of that state through his boyhood and school days and lived there until his thirty-second year. At that time he came to Kansas, locating in Republican township, where he remained until 1880, when he moved to Gill township. He has been a resident of this township ever since. In 1875 he was married to Rachel Ray. they have five children. Mr. Kerby takes a very active interest in politics.

N. E. W. Kipp was born in Michigan in 1854. When he was 17 years of age he came to Kansas with his parents, locating on the northwest quarter of section 5, Grant township, as a homestead. In 1883 he was married to Martha Schoonover. They have nine children. He owns the old homestead of his father, and one hundred twenty acres in sections 6 and 29. They have a very handsome residence. Mr. Kipp takes a very active interest in politics.

James J. Law was born in Tennessee in 1845. When he was seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Thirty-first Tennessee regiment and served three years. In the spring of 1865 he came to Kansas, locating in this county. In 1866 he was married to Lydia E. Conker. They have four children. They own the northeast quarter of section 17, Sherman township, upon which they located in 1869.

W. H. Lennard was born in New Jersey in 1847. When he was twenty-five years of age he went to Illinois, where he engaged in farming six years. From there he went to Texas where he was in the cattle business five years. He then went back to New Jersey for a short time. He then came to Kansas, locating in Ness county. In 1885 he came to Morganville and engaged in merchantile pursuits in which he has prospered exceedingly. In 1898 he was married to Flora Arner. They have one child. He is one of the substantial citizens of this vicinity.

Charles N. Lewis was born in Indiana in 1839. In 1858 he was married to Kizziah J. Mayfield. In 1866 they came to Kansas, locating in Washington county. In 1883 they came to this county and located on eighty acres in section 17, Sherman township. In 1899 Mrs. Lewis died. In this family there are ten children.

J. H. Merten was born in Illinois in 1857. after a residence of twenty-two years in that state he came to Kansas, locating in Clay county. four years later he was married to Harriet Klipsch. Of this union three children have been born. He owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land in Sherman township.

J. S. Miller was born in Ohio in 1837. When he was but a boy he removed to Illinois with his parents. In 1865 he was married to Anna Gilson. They have seven children. In 1865 they came to Kansas , locating in this county on a homestead in Sherman township. Mr. Miller is quite well-to-do, owning four hundred and eighty acres of land.

John H. Morris was born in England in 1849. When he was but three years old his mother came to the country, his father having died but a short time before. The located in Michigan, where Mrs. Morris was married to S. C. Chester. In 1860 they came to Kansas, locating in this county on Pete creek, where they homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 4. Mr. Morris was married in 1874 to Sarah Wilson. They have nine children.

F. J. Petermeyer was born in Missouri in 1862. When he was fourteen years of age his parents came to Kansas, locating in this county in Bloom township. In 1883 he was married to Laura E. Stoneback. He was engaged in farming until about five years ago, when he went into the merchantile business in Morganville. He carries a remarkably complete line of groceries. He is a member of the M.W.A., I.O.O.F., and N.A.A. lodges.

Jabez C. Regester was born in Indiana forty five years ago. He grew to manhood and received his education in that state. In 1883 he was married to Lizzie Green, a native of England. They have six children, three girls and three boys. In 1887 they moved to Norton county, Kansas, where they remained three years. They then came to Clay county, locating in Grant township, where they afterward purchased a home and where they still reside. Mr. Regester is a silversmith by trade but has been in the employ of the Rock Island railroad for the past six years.

Alfred D. Richards was born in Massachusetts in 1833. When he was five years old he went with his parents to New York state. In 1844 they moved to Illinois. In that state he was married to Elizabeth Earl. In 1862 he enlisted in the One hundred and second Illinois, and served until the close of the war. In 1877 they came to Kansas, locating in Riley county. In 1888 they moved to Morganville, and bought the Transit house, which they have conducted ever since.

George G. Robinett was born in Ohio in 1836. He resided in that state thirty years, receiving his education, and afterward engaged in farming. In 1872 he came to Kansas, locating in this county. In 1875 he was married to Miss Louisa Evans. They have four children. Mr. Robinett owns three hundred and ten acres of land, and has one hundred head of cattle, mostly shorthorns. He is one of this vicinity's good, substantial farmers.

John Schwab was born in Switzerland in 1829. He was married in that country to Elizabeth Affolter. In 1857 they came to America, Thirteen years later they came to Kansas, locating in this county. they have had one son. In 1880 Mrs. Schwab died. Ever since coming to this country Mr. Schwab has resided in Bloom township. He is quite well to do.

George D. Seaberry was born in Vermont in 1922. When he was nine years of age he went with his parents to New York state, where he grew to manhood. He taught in the public schools of that state several years. He next went to Iowa, where he remained until 1863, when he came to Kansas, locating in Sherman township. In 1857 he married to Mrs. Sarah Ober. They own a quarter section of land in Sherman township, in which vicinity they have resided ever since their marriage.

William Silver, the senior member of the firm of Silver and Co., was one of the pioneers of this vicinity, having come here in 1858, pre-empting a quarter section in this vicinity. In 1882 he moved to Morganville and engaged in the general merchandise business, which he conducted several years. He is quite well to do, now having more than a thousand acres of land. In 1897 the firm of Silver and Co. was formed with Fred Silver as the junior member. This young gentleman is a man with marked ability in a business way, and is highly esteemed by reason of his sterling character.

The subject of this sketch, George Sparrowhawk, was born in England in 1848. He lived in that country until twelve years of age, when he came to America with his parents. Soon after they located near Wakefield, where they have resided ever since. In 1885 he was married to Ella Spooner. they have two children. Mr. Sparrowhawk is a very progressive gentleman, and has become quite well-to-do.

John Sparrowhawk was born in England in 1861. When he was ten years old he came to America with his parents, locating on a farm near Wakefield. He has resided in this vicinity ever since. In 1895 he was married to Helen M. Fraizer, a daughter of David Fraizer (Frazier?) one of the county's old timers. They have three children. He and his mother together own the old home in this township.

William Sparrowhawk is a native of England, and was born in 1856. Fifteen years later he came to America with the English colony that located at Wakefield. In 1880 he was married to Susan White. They have six children. In 1872 he purchased eighty acres in section 16, Republican township. Two years later he purchased another eighty. He is a member of the school board in district 8.

A. J. Sweet was born in New York state in 1853. He grew to manhood and received his education in that state. In 1876 he was married to Phoebe R. Howard. Three years later they came to Kansas, locating in this county in Sherman township, where they have lived ever since. They have three children. Mr. Sweet owns eighty acres of section 15.

G. W. Waller was born in Virginia in 1837. When he was seven years old he moved with his parents to Kentucky, where his boyhood days were spent. In 1857 he came to Kansas, locating in Riley county. In 1859 he was married to Mary A. Thompson. Twelve children have been born to them, nine of whom are living. In 1893 they moved to Clay county, where they now reside. Mr. Waller was in the war of the rebellion, serving in both the Eighty-third and Sixty-first Illinois Infantry.

George B. White is a native of this county, and was born in 1871. In 1895 he was married to Elsie E. Coover. They have two children. Mr. White owns the northwest quarter of section 35, Sherman township. He is a very highly esteemed young man.

William Younkin was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. When he was twenty-two years of age he came to Kansas with his brothers, Moses and Jerry Younkin and J. P. King. These gentlemen were the first settlers in Grant township. William Younkin was a resident of that vicinity until four years ago, when he rented his farm and moved to Wakefield. He was married in 1863 to Ruth Howard, who died in 1880. Five children were born to them. In 1888 he was married to Elida Sheppard. He owns a nice home.





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