Rooks County, Kansas Biographies

ROOKS COUNTY, KANSAS

BIOGRAPHIES

W. H. BARNES

W. H. Barnes, lawyer, was born in Madison, Mich., August 28, 1842. When two years of age went with his parents to Washington County, Wis., where he lived on a farm until twelve years old, and with his parents moved to Barton, Wis., where he worked in a store and went to school until he was twenty, then he went to Eyota, Minn., where he followed farming until the fall of 1865, when he returned to Wisconsin, Winnebago County and engaged in the shingle and lumber business until 1867, when he returned to Eyota, Miss., where he kept a hotel until 1869, when he removed to Harrisonville, Cass County, Mo., where he resided until 1873, teaching school during the winters and reading law during the summer. Read law with William J. Terrill and in 1873 he moved to Rooks County, Kan., where he homesteaded a farm and where he lived until 1875, when he moved to the city of Stockton and engaged in keeping hotel until 1877, when he established the first drug store in Rooks County, also had a third interest in what was known as the "Stone Store" and also a third interest in the Stockton Mills, which he was connected with until 1879, when he disposed of his interest in the three establishments and has since given his entire attention to the practice of law. He attended Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis., was admitted to the bar of law. He attended Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis., was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Kansas, at Topeka, Kan., August 31, 1878; and to the District Court of Rooks County in the spring of 1874. Has practiced law in Rooks and adjoining counties since 1873. Married September 29, 1863, to Miss Maria Scott. They have three children - Ella, Merton and Edith. He was elected County Attorney, Rooks County, four years. Elected county Superintendent of Schools, to two terms. He has been a prominent member of the Republican Party in Rooks county for the last ten years, and in 1880 was chosen as one of the alternates. (History of the State of Kansas, Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1883, Page 1610)

J. W. CALLENDER

J. W. Callender, hardware merchant and district clerk, was born in Luzerne County, PA., November 2, 1845, where he resided until 1855, when he went to Chickasaw County, Iowa, where he lived on a farm until 1868, when he moved to Fayette, Iowa, where he attended the university three years, and until 1878 engaged in teaching school as principal of schools in Fayette, Auburn, Elgin and Postville, and in 1878 came to Stockton, where he established his present business - hardware store. He was married September 18, 1874 to Miss Sarah E. Gardner. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and A. O. U. W. Elected District Clerk of Rooks County in the fall of 1880 and re-elected in the fall of 1882. He has been City treasurer since the spring of 1882. (History of the State of Kansas, Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1883, Page 1610)

W. L. CHAMBERS

W. L. Chambers, senior editor of the Rooks County Record was born in Geneva, Kane County, Ill., February 12, 1856; educated in Geneva High school and when seventeen years of age, went into the Geneva Republican office as local editor and compositor. Remained a year and a half and then for a few months was employed in the business department of the Elgin Advocate. Then started the Dundee Record run it a year and a half, till the fall of 1878, then went in company with T. C. McBreen, and removed the office to Wilber, Saline County, and established the Wilber Record, one year later, sold to Dougherty & Piercell Bros., then removed to Stockton and established the Record. He is a member of the Stockton Lodge of Odd Fellows. In August, 1881 he went on a pleasure trip to California but after his arrival he was engaged as historian by a Historical Company and wrote several county histories there, traveling through a large part of the State. In the summer of 1882 he returned to Stockton. (History of the State of Kansas, Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1883, Page 1610)

A. J. DAVIS

A. J. Davis, County Clerk, was born in Clay County, Ind., October 13, 1848, where he lived on a farm until 1852, when he went to Jasper County, Iowa, where he resided until 1878. For the six years previous to 1875 he was engaged in the grain and commission business at Prairie City, Iowa and during the year 1877, read law with E. C. Roach, of Prairie City, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar at the December term of the same year in the District Court of Jasper County, Iowa. In May, 1878, he came to Stockton, Kan., where he freighted until the fall of 1881, when he was elected County Clerk of Rooks County., Kan. He was married November 22, 1869, to Miss Katie Noon. They have five children - Clarence T., Minnie, Kittie, Mell and an infant. He is a member of I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. Enlisted as a private in Company I, Second Iowa Volunteer Calvary, January 15, 1865, and was discharged at Selma, Ala., September 19, 1865, as a private, under special order from war Department. (History of the State of Kansas, Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1883, Page 1611)

JOHN C. DENNEY

John C. Denney, Probate Judge, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, November 18, 1852, where he resided until 1864, when he removed to Johnson County, Iowa, where he lived on a farm until 1869. He then removed to Lake County, Ind., where he farmed until 1877, then in the fall of 1878 came to Kansas and located in Stockton, and connected himself with A. L. Patchin in the practice of law. Read law with James Brown of Newcastle, Ind., for eighteen months and attended Normal school at Valpariaso, Ind., for three years, from 1872 to 1874. He was married December 31, 1879 to Miss Hattie McNeeley. They have one child - Arthur J. Mr. Denney was elected probate judge of Rooks County in the fall of 1880. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. is now practicing law in the firm of Barnes & Denney. (History of the State of Kansas, Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1883, Page 1611)

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