Anderson County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1894
HENRY HARRISON STALEY is one of the
most prosperous farmers and stock-raisers
in Putnam Township, Anderson County,
where he has a large farm and other valuable property. Almost twenty years ago he came
to this county, when it was in a wild and unsettled
condition. He bravely persevered until he overcame every obstacle that lay in his pathway, and
finally achieved success, solely by the exercise of
good management and enterprise, and it may well
be said that he is a self-made man.
Mr. Staley was born in Crawford County, Ohio,
October 10, 1844, and there spent the first nine
years of his life. His parents, Jacob S. and Catherine (Meeks) Staley, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ross County, Ohio, respectively. The
former was reared in Ohio and was a successful
farmer in Tama County, Iowa. He died in the
spring of 1883, and his wife passed away ten
years later. They were the parents of ten children,
six sons and four daughters, of whom our subject
was the eighth in order of birth. He was reared
to manhood in Tama County, Iowa, where he received a common-school education. In the spring
of 1866 he removed to Cass County, Mo., where
he at once engaged in farming and stock-raising
on a small scale.
The tract on which Mr. Staley located was all
raw land, with no improvements whatever, and as
he had but little money with which to start out in
life he was compelled to use the most rigid economy. He remained in Cass County until 1874, at
which time he decided to remove to Anderson
County, and again he endured the hardships of
pioneer life. From a small beginning he has
accumulated considerable valuable farming land,
upon which have been made all the substantial improvements that mark the place one of the
most desirable in this locality. He keeps more
than five hundred head of cattle and several
hundred hogs, besides a large number of horses
and mules. He is probably the most extensive
stock-raiser in Anderson County, and manages
his business with sound judgment.
Our subject has been twice married, his first
alliance having been contracted in 1876. His wife,
Margaret McFarland, was a native of New York,
of Scotch descent, and died in August, 1880. The
present wife of Mr. Staley bore the maiden name
of Elizabeth Price; she is a native of Scotland,
having been born in Glasgow. Their marriage
took place in Coffey County, Kan., in March, 1886,
and has resulted in the birth of the following
children: Maggie, Grace and Harrison.
The energy and prudence displajed by Mr. Staley in the management of his affairs make him one
of the best examples of a first-class agriculturist,
and the reliable manner in which he has ever performed the duties devolving upon him as a citizen
of a great commonwealth and as a member of society has won for him the esteem of all who know
him. His wife and family are also accorded their
due measure of regard. He has held some of the
minor offices in the township and has served faithfully in the interests of his fellow-citizens. At
the present time he is proprietor of the Broadlands Stock Farm, which he conducts in the most
efficient manner possible, as only those can do who
have had long experience in the business.
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