Sumner County Biographies
from "Midnight and Noonday"
Biographies from "Midnight and Noonday," 1890 by G. D. Freeman. The biographies
below pertain to Caldwell residents, for the most part:
J. M. Thomas came to Caldwell in March, 1871. His
has indeed, been a varied and checkered career since he
came and settled on the extreme border of civilization.
Checkered not in the sense of having his name tarnished by the daring
deeds of lawlessness that made so
many names of young men on the frontier become so
infamous on account of deeds of daring and of crime,
but checkered by the different occupations in which he
engaged at different times, and his life was varied by
the many successes and financial failures in the business
in which, for the time being, he seemed willing to engage.
J. M. Thomas was a native of Ohio, but after
the war he emigrated to the state of Missouri.
While in the latter state, he received a fair education,
and was thus qualified to be one of the
leaders in the settlement of a new country. Soon after
his arrival in Caldwell, he hewed the logs and erected a
building; in size about 24 by 30 feet, and a story and
a half in height. This building he rented to Cox and
Epperson of Kansas City Mo., to be used as a drovers
supply store. Mr. Thomas now became the employee
of this company, sometimes acting as clerk; and as the
firm owned a bunch of cattle, he acted in the capacity
of herder.
The firm of Cox and Epperson did a thriving business
during the summer of 1871, but after the drive was over,
the stock of goods in the store ran low, and Mr. Thomas
bought what remained. Now we find him a merchant.
In the following spring, as the reader will remember,
while negotiating for goods to replenish his stock, Anderson was killed by McCarty.
Thomas was an eye witness to this tragedy. While he was never courting
a chance to see deeds of desperadoism, being a
permanent fixture in Caldwell he beheld many a revolting scene.
In 1876 Thomas was elected justice of the peace and
by re-election held the office four years. He was elected
trustee in 1880 and served one term. In 1885 he was
again elected justice of the peace, and by continued re-elections, he still holds that office; he is also a dealer in
real estate.
Financially, Mr. Thomas has made several fortunes;
but as the old saying is "easy come, easy go" he barely maintains his own.
The boom of 1886 in the West,
left many an enterprising man with less funds than it
found him. Probably Mr. Thomas made thousands of
dollars at this time, but possibly the relapse had caught
him. In conclusion I will say he is the oldest settler
still living in Caldwell, having settled in March, 1871.
Ballard Dixon was also quite an early pioneer of this
vicinity, having settled on a claim six miles northwest
of Caldwell, in March, 1871. He came to stay, and
was willing to endure for the sake of a home in the
"Far West." Fortunately or unfortunately, as the
reader may be pleased to term it, Mr. Dixon seems to
never have found his affinity in a female form, and claimed
it as his own. All these years he has remained in single blessedness; having no gentle
one at his "shanty on
the claim " to molest or make him afraid. When coming to Kansas, he looked out
for the evil day when hunger might appear, bringing with him about eight hundred dollars in cash.
While Mr. Dixon is unpretentious and unassuming,
he commands the respect of all who know him. He
was elected to the office of trustee of Caldwell township, and filled the office with great
credit to the township and honor to himself. It has been truthfully said,
that "every man however perfect, has defections in
life." To this rule Mr. Dixon was no exception. The
only thing however, of which he will have to plead guilty is: that he never took
unto himself a wife and thereby help to build up society and the future generations.
For almost a score of years he had been the cook of his
shanty, and the farmer of his farm. This however is a
matter of his own.
It will be remembered by the reader that on several
occasions, that Ballard Dixon has been identified with
those who were hastily formed into a band, to make a
long and weary chase after thieves. It will therefore
easily be conjectured that the name of Ballard Dixon,
in future history, will stand second to none in upholding
the laws of the land. Financially he is now rated some
ways up in the thousands of dollars. Enough I have
no doubt, to support himself in ease and luxury the balance of his days is at his command.
W. B. King, or as he was usually called, Buffalo
King came to Caldwell, as the reader will remember, in
company with me, in May, 1871. It is often said "it
takes all kinds of people to make a world." This adage
in truth is quite applicable in the case of our friend
King. His was one of those peculiar temperaments
which can endure pain, hardships and privations, without the
least sign of a murmur. Always ready to take
the world as it came, if in his efforts it failed to conform
to his wishes. He made his settlement seven miles
southwest of Caldwell. During the early part of his
western life, he, like quite a number of the early settlers,
had not the least faith in Kansas as a farming country. For this reason he did not open his farm at once,
but touched the farming business rather lightly at first;
spending much of his time on the plains hunting the buffalo
and poisioning wolves, in order to secure the hide
and meat of the former, and the furs of the latter. It
is said that as a buffalo hunter Mr. King had no superior
and very few equals. He seemed almost unerring
in his markmanship. While he was not inspired, yet it
seemed for him to point his gun toward a buffalo, meant
sure death to the animal. In this manner he lived and
supported his family for the first few years with what
little land he saw fit to cultivate, raising a few
vegetables and some grain. Time rolled on, however, and
farming was no longer an experiment, and the buffalo
were fast receding toward the setting sun. Mr. King
could now plainly see that there was a good living on
his farm for himself and family, and so gradually gave
up his hunting and turned his attention to cultivating
and improving his farm.
In 1872 he was elected constable, but failed to
qualify; but, as the reader will remember, on a number
of occasions he was found as one of the sheriff's or
constable's posse to help chase and capture thieves.
Mr. King came and settled in the vicinity of Caldwell and made it his home until 1886, when he emigrated
to Washington Territory. We write his history as one
of the 71'ers that is still here, as he left so recently and
that his name has been so frequently mentioned in
these pages.
Financially he came here poor and bare-headed;
when leaving he had property to the amount of six
thousand dollars, with respectable clothes.
J. A. Ryland, as, perhaps, the reader may remember, came to Caldwell from Slate Creek, with myself
and others, on May 25. 1871. Soon after his arrival
he formed a partnership with A. M. Colson to engage
in the stock business. The company thus formed
located on a claim on the Chicaskia River, six miles
northeast of Caldwell. Here the boys erected a hewn
log house, in which to live and call "home" while
they followed the business mentioned above. They
bought from different herds, at a low price, sore-footed
cattle that from the effects of the long drive on the
trail had become so disabled that they could not be
driven any farther toward the shipping point. Buying
these cattle at so low a price, with limited means the
boys got together a herd of 125 head. Most of the
cattle, after resting awhile, became well; but the
uncommonly severe winter of 1871 and 1872 caused
a large number of the brutes to succumb to the severity
of the wintry storms, and in the spring of 1872 the
original number of cattle was found to have decreased
by about half. The firm now dissolved, Mr. Ryland
retaining the claim, which, by the way, was a very
desirable one and susceptible of being made into a fine
home and a grand farm. It is still owned by the
original settler and by him has been well improved, and
is known by the name of "Riverside."
In the fall of 1873 Mr. Ryland � in Indiana, his
native state, having received a fair academic education �
concluded to engage in his former occupation, that of
a teacher. On October 6, he took charge of the public
school of Wellington, the county seat of Sumner
County. After six months teaching, he again returned
to his farm and endeavored to raise a crop, but the
drouth of 1874 nipped the crop in the bud, and in July
the grass-hoppers closed the deal, leaving the farmer
naught for his labor.
In September, 1874, Mr. Ryland was appointed
examiner of applicants for teachers' certificates, which
position he held for two years, and finally resigned to
go east and make a lengthy visit with friends. In the
winter of 1874 and 1875, and also in 1875 and 1876,
we find the subject of this sketch engaged in teaching
the school at Alton, Kan. He has also taught school
at other places at different times since then, but his
chief occupation has been that of a farmer and stockraiser. He has always seemed to be willing to "labor
and to wait," having great faith in the future of
Southern Kansas. He has accumulated quite a considerable of this world's goods, so that now, I am told, he
owns property to the amount of from fifteen to twenty
thousand dollars, having his original farm as a home,
and sufficient "filthy lucre" to keep the "wolf from
the door."
A. M. Colson came to Kansas, May 19, 1870, and
to Caldwell, May 25, 1871. The first year after b:.s
coming was spent six miles northeast of Caldwell, in
partnership with J. B. Ryland, handling cattle. In
the spring of 1872, the partnership was dissolved, he
continuing in the cattle business ever since that time.
Quite a portion of the time he has been engaged in the
business alone, but of late years has been running it
in partnership with Judge McAtee, of Caldwell.
Mr. Colson is a native of New York State, and in
youth received fair educational advantages. When
settling in Sumner County, the county being unorganized, he took an active part in its organization; and
was elected the first county superintendent of schools,
but, finding that to fill the office properly, would materially interfere with his private
business affairs, he failed to qualify, and hence let the office go by default.
Mr. Colson now considered himself of proper age
to take unto himself a wife, and in the year 1875 he
was married, Miss Mary Goldy becoming his wife. In
1879 his wife died leaving an only child � a daughter
who was named Fawny, and was undoubtedly the first
white child born in the land known as the Cherokee
Strip.
In 1880 Mr. Colson's widowhood was brought to a
sudden close by his contracting a second marriage, with
Mrs. Mary J. Garretson; she likewise having an only
child, named Katie. He has been engaged in the banking business for several years past, and at present holds
the position of president of the Citizens Bank of Caldwell; and has also held the office of mayor and president
of the council of Caldwell continuously for five years.
Upon the opening of Oklahoma he, like thousands of
others, became affected by the Oklahoma craze and
took an active part in the grand horse race made by
President Harrison's proclamation opening that country
to settlement. Being one of the first to enter, he, by
rapid riding, secured a choice claim adjoining the townsite of Kingfisher, where his home now is.
Financially Mr. Colson has been a success; having
brought with him when he came to Caldwell less than
$1,000, and now he is estimated to be worth from
$30,000 to $40,000.
M. H. Bennett also came to Caldwell in the fall of
1871. He worked for three years for A. Drumm
and at the expiration of that time went into the cattle
business on his own account and has succeeded remark,
ably well. Mr. Bennett, however, seems to have been
of that disposition that to risk much will gain much.
I presume that in different ventures he has probably
made several fortunes. But, perhaps he, like all others
who take great risks, will in time meet reverses.
When coming to Kansas he brought no money, but
he brought that which always succeeds � perseverance
and industry. I should not like to form a guesss as to
how much he is worth, but one thing I do know, he is
in charming circumstances and ranks high, as a citizen,
in Caldwell.
Mr. Bennett, in disposition, has never thirsted for
notoriety, but has rather courted obscurity, and, I
think has never accepted any official position of any
importance. Being a lover of home and family ties, he
was slow to accept positions requiring him to be absent
from home and to assume responsibilities. He is a
native of Ohio, but came to Kansas in an early day
and may well be termed a pioneer.
John A. Blair is the last, but by no means the least,
of the 71'ers whose biography we will attempt to sketch.
It would seem strange that so few are able to "hold
the fort" for a score of years, but such is the fact.
Some of the original settlers have long since been
claimed by that grim monster, Death, while others
have gone east and are now safe in the home of "wife's
people."
Johnnie Blair, as he was usually called, came to
Caldwell in May, 1871. For the first year he clerked
in the store of Cox & Epperson; while at this occupation
he was gaining an experience in the mercantile
business which proved to be the golden stepping stone
to success in future life. In 1872, Johnnie became a
herder of Texas cattle. Here, likewise, he gained
knowledge which proved to be of great benefit. He
seems to have had a well balanced temperament which
enabled him to engage in any kind of business with
equal success; whether a clerk, a merchant, a herder,
or a cattle owner, his efforts were always crowned with
success.
In 1874 we. find Mr. Blair clerking in the store
belonging to C. H. Stone, of Caldwell; but before the
year closes we find him the owner, he having bought
the store from Mr. Stone. It seems that Johnnie
was now in his element and at home in the business.
He soon became the popular merchant, and, in fact, a
very popular man. It is doubtful if any one who ever
lived in Caldwell can lay claim to surpassing Johnnie
in popularity.
He continued in the mercantile business until 1881,
when he sold his store and engaged in the cattle business. His success in his last venture has been almost
phenomenal. When coming to Caldwell he was a
comparative youth, with very limited meams; but
having a disposition that will always make friends and
a determination to succeed, he now finds himself rated
high up in the thousands of dollars. He now lives in
Caldwell in a fine home of his own, where he and his
family live in luxury and ease, holding the confidence
and esteem of all who know him.
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This website created Oct. 29, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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