WARING, RICHARD
RICHARD WARING, during his long and active career at Abilene, won the respect and esteem of every citizen. He was
a man whose character inspired confidence. he was the trusted advisor of many. Successful in his own affairs, strong
in self reliance, he stood as a commanding figure in that community until the close of his life, and his memory
will always be revered by the hundreds who knew him as a friend and associate.
His life was the expression of a strong and self reliant nature. Born at Belfast, Ireland, July 4, 1850, coming
alone to America in 1868, beginning without friends or capital, and with only the advantages of the common schools
of his native land, he found employment as a bookkeeper in New York City and at that remained four years. In 1872
he came out to Kansas and was one of the pioneer homesteaders of Dickinson County. He proved up a claim to 160
acres of land in Ridge Township of that county and was actively engaged in farming for eight years, in the meantime
acquiring considerable other lands. It was his business as a farmer that gave him the foundation for the material
success he enjoyed.
He allied himself actively with the republican party, but was a man who stood above partisanship and personally
was always stronger than his party in Dickinson County. In 1886 he was elected county clerk of Dickinson County,
and filled that office with credit for six years, three terms. Mr. Waring was a successful newspaper man. In 1893
he acquired an interest in the Abilene Daily and Weekly, and for a number of years was its editor and manager.
The office to which he gave the services of his later years was as postmaster of Abilene. President William McKinley
appointed him to that office in 1897 and he was twice reappointed, by Presidents Roosevelt and Taft. He filled
it to the satisfaction of all concerned for more than fourteen years. He was still in office when death came to
him on August 14, 1912.
The late Mr. Waring was a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He was active in the Presbyterian
Church, and was glad to do good wherever he could in individual cases and stood side by side with his fellow citizens
in working for the general welfare.
On April 20, 1874, at Abilene, he married Miss Hattie Shaw. She was born at Cincinnati,
Ohio, December 30, 1857, the only daughter of Henry and Mary Jane (Sanders) Shaw. Mrs. Waring is still living
at Abilene in the old home, surrounded by her children. Her father was born at Cincinnati December 6, 1830, was
a stone contractor early in life, and coming to Kansas in 1872 homesteaded a claim in Dickinson County and died
on the homestead October 2, 1897. He was a veteran soldier of the Civil war, having served as a private in an Ohio
regiment. In February, 1856, Henry Shaw married Mary Jane Sanders, who was born in Indiana April 20, 1834, a daughter
of Eli Sanders, a native of the same state. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were born four children; Mrs. Waring; George William,
born July 16, 1859; Charles Marion, born December 4, 1862; and Joseph Lingo, born April 20, 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Waring became the parents of a large family of nine children, five daughters and four sons, namely;
Beatrice Jane, born January 19, 1875, was married March 24, 1908, to Albert L. Young; Mary Estella, born March
21, 1876, married December 14, 1898, James W. Potter; William Richard, born December 8, 1877, married January 8,
1902, Cora Crimble; Stanley Leroy, born November 4, 1879, was married June 24, 1908, to Carrie Hess; Charlotte
Ann, born July 4, 1882, married September 30, 1907, John M. Bigley; Clarence Leslie, born October 2, 1884, married
in 1903, Esta Kennell; Jessie Blanche, born August 15, 1887, married February 1, 1911, Joseph J. Bleakley; Harriet
Alma, born July 30, 1891, married March 28, 1910, George W. McDonald; and Charles Emmett, the youngest, was born
March 9, 1897. A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans Page 2555 - 2556
HENRY WHITLEY
Henry Whitley, who is engaged in the furniture business in Solomon City, is an honored pioneer of this place,
where he located June 4, 1859. He was born in England, September 14, 1830, and is a son of Edmund and Elizabeth
(Carnley) Whitley, who came with their family to Canada in 1810. When a youth, our subject learned the trade of
a shoe-maker. On attaining his majority he went to St. Paul, Minn., in 1857, and there remained for two years,
during which time he saw a regular Indian war-dance on the streets of that city. He was a musician and while there
established an orchestra.
In November, 1858, Mr. Whitley married Miss Catherine Hall, daughter of Jabez Hall, of Whitby, Canada. After
the birth of their first child they came to Kansas, and in crossing a creek three or four miles east of Topeka,
the wagon was overturned and the babe, only about four months old, was killed. They buried the little on in Topeka,
and then came on across the country to Lecomption. Whitley secured a pony and in this way traveled over the country
in search of a location. He was much pleased with the country in this vicinity and decided to locate on
the Solomon River. His nearest neighbor was at Mud Cree, now Abilene, nine miles away3 The nearest post-office
was at Junction City, thirty-five miles away, and the nearest market at Leavenworth, one hundred and seventy miles
distant. The first winter about three hundred Indians camped in the bend of the river a-half mile from Mr. Whitley's
cabin. He and his wife lived for a while on the meat of buffaloes and wild turkeys, but it afterward became impossible
to get buffaloes and they had to depend upon small game, corn-meal, and coffee made of parched corn. In 1860, Mr.
Whitley broke land and planted a crop of corn, but raised nothing on account of the hot wind. The next year, however,
he secured a good crop. He took his first grist to mill sixty miles away and in order to make the trip had to leave
his wife alone for ten days.
In 1858, the Government had bridged Solomon River, but at the time of high water this was washed away, so in
1861 Mr. Whitley secured a ferry boat, which for many years was in use on the river. For a number of years he drove
a stage between Leavenworth and Ft. Ellsworth for the Kansas Stage Company, and was afterward with the Butterfield
Overland Stage Company. His home was a station on the route, and he did a good business, continuing until the railroad
was built. In 1859, many of the emigrants en route for Pike's Peak passed through this locality. Mr. Whitley also
built the first stock yards and id an extensive commission business. In the fall of 1863, he opened the first store
in Solomon City and since 1865 has been successfully engaged in the furniture business. No other man had done more
for the upbuilding and improvement of this locality than our subject.
In 1887, Mr. Whitley was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 1st of October, after having
been an invalid for several years. She was estimable lady and is well remembered by many throughout the community.
The children now living are: Charles, who is engaged in business with his father; Nellie, wife of George Orr, of
Kansas City; and Lulu, who is keeping house for her father.
Mr. Whitley is a charter member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge of Solomon City, has passed all of its chairs and
been representative to the Grand Lodge. He is a member of the Baptist Church, which was organized in 1865, and
has ever been identified with those interests calculated to improve and upbuild the community. In Politics, he
has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party, has labored earnestly in its interests, and is
now a member of the Central Committee of the county. In 1860, he was appointed Postmaster of Solomon City by President
Buchanan and served three years. He was Police Judge in the old wild days, and did much to quell the rebellious
spirits who wished to rule the town. In 1860, he was elected Justice of the Peace and held that office continuously
for twenty-seven years. He was also Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and carried the records of that
body in a carpetsack as he went to and from Salina. To no man is the history of this county more interesting than
to Mr. Whitley, whose name is inseparably connected with its best interests. He has been one of the important factors
in the upbuilding of Solomon City, and no man has more friends or is held in higher regard than this genial, jovial,
honored pioneer.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion counties. 1893: Page 167
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