Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Charles Mollohan
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
CHARLES MOLLOHAN. Upon the 15th of
August, 1890, a group of sorrowing friends
stood at the death-bed of one of the best
and most deeply lamented men that have ever been
called away from life in the neighborhood of
Marion, Kan. Not alone were they in their grief.
The whole county mourned with them, for few
among the poor and needy but had occasion to remember
the kind word or open hand of the friend
of all, "Uncle Charley," as he was most affectionately
known to all classes, During the long residence
of our subject in the State there had been
no measure for the benefit of the people which
did not find in him a firm supporter with purse
and pen and personal effort, and many in authority
held their positions because they represented
to this honest and influential man those principles
which he recognized as the right ones.
Charles Mollohan was born in what is now known
as Braxton County, W. Va., November 11,
1810, and had almost reached his eightieth birthday
when he passed into the other life. His
grandfather, of Irish birth, had bequeathed to him
the happy disposition of his race, and his grandmother
the loyal love of right from her Welsh
ancestors. Charles became a lumberman upon
the branches of the Kanawha in Virginia when
still a young man, running mills and boating the
lumber, staves, etc., to the salt wells on the Great
Kanawha, his location being upon the Elk River.
The settlement of the United States has continually
trended Westward, and from the beginning
of civilization in Ohio until the present time the
great desire has been to get farther and farther toward
the setting sun. Without doubt this settling
has controlled civilization. In 1856 a great tide of
emigration had set in toward the West, and our subject
made his first move in that direction by locating
in Ohio. Here he found opportunities for conducting
his lumber trade, but he also found a
wider horizon, and soon became interested in soldier
claims. Locating at Gallipolis, Ohio, he was
soon engaged in large operations in collecting
claims against the Government for Virginia citizens
and others through the South. In 1859-60 Mr.
Mollohan located a large tract of land in Dickinson
County, Kan., south of Marion, and made
yearly trips to it until he decided to join the procession
and settle upon it, which he did in 1881.
The life of our subject had been an active
one, and when he found himself located upon such
a large territory as he owned in Kansas, he immediately
set about farming upon a large scale.
Soon five hundred acres were put in corn, and
from five hundred to one thousand head of cattle
grazed upon his pastures. From two to five hundred
cattle were fed each year, and five hundred
cows were kept, Six different farms were
improved by our subject, and these extended seven
or eight miles into the country. To each of these
farms he gave his personal attention, and was a
very successful man of business. His estate was
valued at $100,000.
In his early days our subject had met with reverses,
but not after he became better acquainted
with the world. The value of his estate here was
not over $30,000 when he came here, but the land
increased so rapidly in value after the country
became settled that he was very fortunate in possessing
so much of it. The value of his stock at
his death was $18,000. Until the last year of his
life he was in active business. He attended Conference
the March before and caught a cold, which
resulted in his death. For years he had been very
active in the church, and was the Secretary and
kept the records in the most methodical manner,
as this was his way of conducting all business.
His favorite expression was, "I'll come up on the
switch end," meaning that he would pay all that
lacked.
Mr. Mollohan was the supporter of the Freedman's
Bureau for the education of the negroes,
and had for long supported a student in India,
contributing everything. Like many other men
of strong individuality, he had his own peculiar
notions about some matters, and one was that he
would never sit for a photograph. He was entirely
self-educated, and before the war had been
very outspoken against slavery, and was always a
stanch Republican. His devotion at one time
cost him his liberty, and he was confined in jail
by Gov. Wise, of Virginia, for the space of four
months. No charge was preferred against him,
so he obtained a writ and was released. The
authorities were sued by him for imprisonment,
and the case was taken four times to the Supreme
Court and he won every time.
Our subject gave his close attention to even the
smallest matters of business. Like Davy Crockett
he said, ''Be sure you're right; and then go
ahead." He became very familiar with every ruling
of the Claim Department, and in all of his
life, although such an active worker, he never
sought office. His public speaking was not of the
best, and he preferred to complete business
thoroughly and quietly. He was a man who if he had
any troubles kept them to himself. With a kind
word for every one, he was a jovial companion
and a good friend. His son Cyrus has the appearance
and many of the characteristics of his father.
Mr. Mollohan married Elizabeth Robinson, a native
of the same county, and surely there was
never a better combination of natures. She was
one of the best of women, the most loyal and
faithful of wives and the adored mother of her
children. For thirty years she was an uncomplaining
invalid, and for the last three years of
her life she was confined to her bed. Never a
murmur escaped her, and she died as she had
lived, an example of every womanly virtue.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP