Anderson County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1894
STEPHEN ABOTT HERRIMAN, deceased.
The life narrative of the head of a family
is interesting, not only to his posterity but
also to the citizens of the section in which
he has resided, and this is doubly true when
such a man has established for himself and his children a reputation for integrity, character and
ability, and has been of value in the development
of that portion of the country which was his
home. Such a narrative do we have in the sketch
of Stephen A. Herriman, who located in Kansas in
the spring of 1868.
Mr. Herriman was a native of the Buckeye
State, born in Clarke County, November 1, 1838,
and the son of George W. and Elizabeth Herriman. He was reared to the arduous duties of the
farm, and educated in the common schools. Later
he taught school in Kentucky for one year and
then went to Ohio, where, in connection with
teaching, he tilled the soil for some time. During
the Civil War he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-first Ohio Infantry, and served three years as a
private soldier. He was slightly wounded once
in a finger. After the war he returned to
Ohio and resumed teaching and farming alternately. As before stated, he came to Kansas in
the spring of 1868 and purchased one hundred
and sixty acres of land, which he immediately began improving. At the same time he taught
school. The land was raw prairie when he purchased it, and as time passed he added to the original tract until he was the owner of one thousand
acres. He also engaged in stock-raising and feeding, and became one of the substantial, worthy citizens of the county. On the home place he erected
a fine residence and substantial barns and outbuildings.
In the year 1889 Mr. Herriman removed from
the farm and located in Garnett, where he purchased a pleasant residence. This worthy man
passed away on the 31st of January, 1893, and in
his death the community lost one of its best citizens, and the family a noble husband and loving
father. All his property was the result of energy
and industry on his part, and everything that he
undertook seemed to prosper. He was very domestic in his taste, and loved the home fireside better
than any other place on earth. In politics, he was
independent, and for one term held the office of
County Commissioner. On the 3d of September,
1868, he married Miss Mary E. Little, daughter of
John and Mary Ann (Highwood) Little, and a native of Clarke County, Ohio, born January 12,
1848. She resided in her native county until her
marriage. Three children were the fruits of this
union: Grace, who was born April 9, 1871, and
married Brainard W. Gowdey; Mary Susan, who
was born October 12, 1876; and Ada May, born
December 16, 1878. The two last are with their
mother.
John Little, father of Mrs. Herriman, was a native of the Keystone State, born August 18, 1819,
and was married in his native state when but
twenty-one years of age. His wife was originally
from England, and came to the United States when
nine years of age. Soon after marriage they moved
by wagon over the mountains of Pennsylvania to
Clarke County Ohio, and settled on a farm where
they resided for many years. Mrs. Little there died
February 19, 1883, when sixty-two years of age.
Afterward Mr. Little went to Minneapolis and has
made his home with a son there ever since. He
and his wife were the parents of seven daughters
and a son. Lydia Elma married Cyrus Murray
and resides in Clarke County, Ohio; Anna Highwood married John Herriman ; Susan
Merrett married Cyrus Ball, and died in Clarke
County, Ohio; Mary E. is Mrs. Herriman; Emma
Margaret married William Baxter, and resides in
Minneapolis, Minn.; Ada Maria married Alfred
Clements, and resides in Clarke County, Ohio;
Laura Jane married Lemuel Nicholson, and resides
in Clarke County, Ohio, and John Warren, a physician of Minneapolis, Minn., is noted far and
wide for his success in the healing art, and has one
of the finest libraries in the city. The father of
these children was one of the honest, upright men
of the county and was universally respected.
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