ROOKS COUNTY, KANSAS
BIOGRAPHIES
Elam Bartholomew, farmer, Section 10, Township 6, Range 18, Farmington Township, Post office Rockport. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., June 9, 1852, and when two years old his parents moved to Licking County, Ohio, where he lived on a farm until 1865, when he removed with his parents to Farmington, Fulton County, Illinois, where he followed farming and school teaching until March, 1874, when he came to Rooks County and homesteaded his present farm, where he has since lived as a farmer. He was married June 14, 1876, to Miss Rachel Montgomery, of Farmington, Ill. They have four children, George E., Elbert T., Lizzie F, and Jesse E. Mr. B. has been Township Clerk of his township one year, Trustee three years, and Clerk of the district court of Rooks County two years. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
S. S. Boggs, farmer, Medicine Township, post office Stockton, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., December 31, 1839, where he resided until six years of age, when with parents moved to Wayne County, Ind., where he lived about four years; then his parents moved to Shelby County, Ind., where he lived on a farm until 1857, when he went to Moultrie County, Ill., where he farmed until 1867, when he removed to Junction City, Kansas, where he run a perpetual lime kiln as an engineer until the fall of 1877, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., and located his present farm, and since has given his attention to farming and stock raising, dealing in cattle until the last year, when he engaged in the sheep business. Brought from New Mexico this year 1,400 sheep. Married to Miss Margaret Hostetter October 21, 1866. They have six children, Olive, Alice, William, Emma, Myrtle and George. Enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as private, June 13, 1861: discharged as Sergeant March 17, 1865, by special order War Department. Taken prisoner at Chickamauga, Ga., September 20, 1863, and put in prison at Andersonville. Elected as a representative to the State Legislature for 1876-77. Was County Surveyor of Rooks County for past nine years. Is member A. F. & A. M. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
William Carkey, farmer, Section 14, Iowa Township; post office Stockton. Was born in Jefferson County, New York (town of Clayton), January 1, 1817, where he resided until he was twenty-six years of age; lived on farm until he was fourteen years of age, then went into a tannery and learned the trade of tanner and currier, which trade he followed until he was twenty-six years old, when he went to Askeaton, Wis., where he worked in a fanning mill and wagon shop three years, then moved to Manterville, Dodge County, Minn., where he farmed for one year, when he moved to Pawnee City, Nebraska, where he again followed farming for seven years, then returned to Jefferson County, Wis., visiting friends until the spring of 1865, when he emigrated to Nemaha County, Kan., where he followed farming until 1874, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., where he homesteaded his present farm and has since been engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Matilda Spencer, September 1, 1844. They have seven children, Jerome, Franklin, Edwin, Riley, Hulda, Emma and Mina. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
E. H. Davis, farmer, Sugar Loaf Township; post office Stockton. Was born in Milo, Maine, November 9, 1841, and when only two years of age his parents moved to Boone County, Ills., where he was bred on a farm until 1858, when he went to Nora, Ill., where he followed farming until December 10, 1863, when he enlisted in Company F, Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry; discharged as a private December 21, 1865, under special order from War department, when he returned to Nora, Ill., where he was engaged as a farmer until 1868, when he moved to Nemaha County, Neb., where he farmed until 1873, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., when he homesteaded his present farm, and has since been engaged as a farmer and a dealer in cattle. Was married November 4, 1867, to Miss Lima Chambers. They have four children, Charles E., John E., Olive A. and Frank E. Mr. D. was Trustee of Sugar Loaf Township one year, was Road Overseer of the same township two years, member of the School Board, District Sixty-seven two years, and member Vigilant Society for Mutual Protection of Stock. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
Royal Eastman, farmer, Section 30, Medicine Township; postoffice Igo, was born in Allegany County, N.Y., January 23, 1841, and at nine years of age his parents moved to Port Hope, Wis., where he lived as a farmer until the fall of 1860, when he returned to New York, and on April 26, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-Sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, as a private; discharged as a private May 3, 1863; re-enlisted as a veteran in Company C, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private; discharged as a private August 15, 1865. Then went to Blue Earth County, Minn., where he farmed for about five years. Then he moved to Rooks County, Kansas, where he homesteaded his present farm, and has since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. Has now 26 head of cattle. Was married June 25, 1867, to Miss Cordelia M. Nichols. They had one child, Addie M. was married again December 30, 1877, to Miss Harriet Webster. They have two children, Maudie B. and Corydon M. Was elected trustee of Medicine Township for one year. Is a member of the G. A. R. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
William A. Fallas, farmer Alcona Township; post office Alcona. Was born in Tompkins County, New York, January 13, 1833, where he lived on a farm until he was thirteen years of age, when with his parents he went to Kent County, Mich., where he lived on a farm until 1854, when he moved to Illinois. During the winter of 1854-55 he attended school at Chicago, and during the summer worked on the canal. In the fall of 1855 he moved to Marshall County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in company K, Thirty Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as a private, moved, where he farmed and built bridges as a contractor until the fall of 1878, when he came to Rooks County and homesteaded his present farm. Married April1 3, 1857 to Miss Lucinda McClarren (since dead). They had three children, Edwin, Lura and Ward. Married again October 12, 1882, to Miss Johana Anglemyse. Is a member G. A. R. Elected County Commissioner of Rooks County one year. Is at present a member of School Board for District Forty-five, Rooks County. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
Frank Gager, farmer, Sections 30 and 31, Medicine Township, post office Igo. Was born in Erie County, New York, March 4, 1841, where he lived on a farm until 1856, when he moved to Troy, Canada, where he was an engineer for eighteen months. Then he went to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he sold patent medicine for town months. Then he moved to Negaunee, Mich., where he worked in a smelting furnace for one year. Then worked on the railroad until August 4, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. E, Sixteenth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private; discharged as captain of Co. G, July 15, 1865; wounded at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, in the left wrist, and at Hatch's Run, February 6, 1865, gunshot wound in the head; after being discharged went to Erie County, N.Y., visiting for two months, when he went to St. Cloud, Minn., where he farmed for one year, when he went to Dickinson County, Kan., and farmed for four years, when he moved to the city of Abilene, where he kept restaurant and ice cream saloon for one year, when he came to Rooks county, September 1871, and homesteaded his present farm, where he has since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He was married January 17, 1863 to Miss Fanny Fall. They have three children, Frank, Edward and Benona. Married to his second wife, May 22, 1878, Miss Hattie Layton. He is Road Overseer in District 3, Rooks County, and a member of G. A. R. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
Wm. Grover, farmer, Medicine Township, was born in Williamson County, Ill., December 11, 1827, where he resided as a farmer until he was thirty years of age, when he moved to Metropolis, Ill., where he farmed until 1871, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., where he homesteaded his present farm, where he has since been as a farmer and dealing in stock and cattle. His cattle business has been in the raising buying and selling. He was married September 27, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Gill. They have three children, Brunette, Augustus and Cordelia. He enlisted as a private in Co. A, Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, October 10, 1861, discharged August 13, 1865, as a sergeant; is a pensioner; weak eyes. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
Wm. Hagemeister, farmer, Medicine Township, P. O. Igo, was born in Prussia, February 15, 1844, where he resided until he was twenty-three years of age, and where he worked as a brickmaker, when he came to America in 1867, and located in Vernon County, Mo., where he followed brickmaking until 1877, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., where he homesteaded his present farm, and has ever since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He was married to Miss Eliza Keen, October 11, 1877. They have two children, Frederick W. and Joseph. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
A. M. King, farmer, was born in Johnstown, Ohio, January 16, 1838, where he lived until he was fifteen years of age, when he moved to Kosciusko County, Ind., where he lived on a farm four years, when he went to Warsaw, Ind., where he engaged in the coopering business, which he followed until the spring of 1864, when he moved to Benton County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and buying and shipping stock, until 1878, when he came to Rooks County Kan., and homesteaded his present farm. While he lived in Iowa, and since he has been in Kansas, he has given considerable attention to the breeding of pure Chester white hogs. Was married November 1, 1860 to Miss Sarah Popham. They have three children, Virgil, Bertie and Mertie. He is a member of I. O. O. F. Elected County Commissioner of Rooks County in the fall of 1874, and is present chairman of the board. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
James T. Stroup, farmer, Farmington Township, was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 11, 1826, where he lived as a farmer until 1867, when he moved to Holt County, Mo., where he engaged as a farmer for two years. Then in March, 1869, he moved to Atchison County, Mo., where he lived and farmed until May, 1871, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., and homesteaded his present farm, where he has since been engaged as a farmer, and buying, selling and raising stock; also for the past three years has carried in a small way at his home farm, a stock of general merchandise. Was married to Miss Margaret Pulse, November 8, 1849. They have six children living, Amanda, Charles, Elmer, Frank, George and Oscar; two children died in infancy, Lizzie and James R. December 15, 1877, adopted Maggie Battalion, whose father is in the insane Asylum. Was a member of the Board of County Commissioners on its organization in 1871 and 1872. Was Trustee of Farmington Township in 1871 and 1872. Enlisted in Co. A, Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a private, August 26, 1862; discharged June 26, 1863, as a private, special order of the War Department, on pension roll; cause, hernia. Was postmaster at Rockport, Rooks County, Kan., from 1872, until April 1882. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
Shutts Bros., farmers and dealers in stock, Medicine Township. Cassius and Frank Shutts were born in Ulster County, N. Y., March 26, 1848, and Jan 10, 152, respectively, where they lived until 1855, when with parents went to Will County, Ill., where they lived on a farm until 1877, when they came to Rooks County, and purchased their present homestead, where they have since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. Transactions in stock yearly, $1,500. Cassius was married to Miss Lizzie Belman, Dec. 20, 1881. Was elected County Commissioner Rooks County fall 1881. Frank was married to Miss Alice Tallman, April 14, 1880. Elected Clerk School District 15, Rooks County. Appointed Postmaster at Igo, April 1, 1878, and is the present Postmaster. Also in connection the brothers carry quite a nice line of goods, general merchandise at Igo post office. They have in all 1,120 acres of land. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1612)
L. M. Stults, farmer, Section 29, Township 7, Range 16, Lowell Township P. O. Rooks Centre. Born in Greene County, Tennessee, Dec. 7, 1842, where he resided as a farmer until 1871; during the time of the late war he was conscripted by the war, when he returned to Tennessee, where he resided as a farmer and blacksmith until 1871, when he moved to Could County, Kan., where he worked as a carpenter and joiner until April 6th, 1872, when he homesteaded his present farm, and has since engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Amanda Sollenbarger, Dec. 6, 1866; have four children, William, Mary, Honley and a baby. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., pages 1612-1613)
George Yoxall, farmer and stock dealer, Section 32 and 33 Township 7, Range 16, Lowell Township, P. O. Rooks Centre. Was born in Crewe, Cheshire, England, May 23, 1850, where he resided until he was sixteen years of age, then came to America. Landed in New York, August, 1866, and from there he went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked at plumbing and gas fitting for eighteen months. Then from there to Milwaukee, Wis., at his trade for one year, Oshkosh, Wis., two years, and Peoria, Ill., one year, when he moved to Phelph County, Mo., where he farmed until 1870, and in 1871 with the Northwestern Colony from Ripon, Wis., came to Kansas and located in Russell County, where he freighted for one year. Then he went to Barton County, Kan., where he farmed for four years, when he came to Rooks County, Kan., in 1876, and homesteaded present farm, and has since been engaged as a farmer and dealer in stock; has now about 100 head, and is feeding two car loads for shipment. Married Miss Elizabeth T. Tarr, May 23, 1874; have four children, Edward, Albert, Eaton and Fred G. Was Township Clerk Lowell Township two years, School Director District 4, Rooks County, three years. (History of Kansas, 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL., page 1613)
Harry Elmer Benson, druggist, was born in Potsdam, New York, November 8, 1893 son of Joseph E. and Alice V. (Jolliff) Benson. His father homesteaded in Hill City, Kansas in 1882 and died at La Junta, Colorado, September 18, 1914. He is descended from early pioneers in New York who came there after settling in Vermont several generations before. His mother who was born in Illinois, September 30, 1862, resided at La Harpe. Her father was killed in action in the Civil War just prior to her birth.
Educated first in the public schools of Hill City, Harry Elmer Benson was graduated from high school there in 1913, and the following year attended Kansas University. In high school he was the winner of a basketball letter in 1913. His higher education was achieved entirely through his own efforts.
From 1910 until 1915 while in High School, Mr. Benson clerked for Charles A. Pedroja at Hill City, and in 1916 became the proprietor of a drug store at Palco which he operated until August 1, 1932. On March 20, 1931, he opened a store at Plainville. He was an apprentice during the time he was attending high school and passed the state board examination in May 1915, while still at Kansas University.
Mr. Benson's marriage to Ethel Emma Darnell was solemnized at Palco, May 1, 1918. She was born in Mound City, Missouri, August 30, 1891. She is the daughter of Alexander T. and Vetta (Dillon) Darnell. Both families are from Kentucky. She is an active club worker.
Mr. Benson is a Democrat and from 1916 until 1918 served as city councilman at Palco. He has been township clerk of Northampton Township 1930-32. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Kansas and American Pharmacutical Associations. He is a Mason and affiliated with Lodge No. 290 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Plainville as well as Salina Consistory.
From May 24, 1918 until November 30, 1918 Mr. Benson
served as a private in the United States Army. During Mr. Benson's served as a private in the United States Army.
During Mr. Benson's service in the World War Mrs. Benson and Elmer Darnell her younger brother, successfully operated
the drug store at Palco, there being a scarcity of registered pharmacists. He is a member of Edmo Gay Post No.
187 at Plainville, the Lions Club and the Red Cross. His favorite sport is hunting. Residence: Plainville. (Illustriana
Kansas by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 96-97)
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