W. D. CHALFANT.
W. D. Chalfant, a prominent farmer of Shannon township, Atchison county, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Brownsville, Fayette county, August 2, 1862, a son of Benjamin M. and Mary Amanda (Lynn) Chalfant, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 1838, and the latter in 1836. The Chalfant family is of English origin, and was founded in America prior to the Revolutionary war. Benjamin M. Chalfant was a son of James Chalfant, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Benjamin M. owned the old Chalfant homestead in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and in 1882 he sold his Pennsylvania property and came to Kansas, locating in Shannon township, Atchison county, where he purchased 320 acres of land, and was successfully engaged in farming until his death, which occurred June 3, 1914. He was accidentally killed at the railroad crossing at Fourth street, Atchison, while walking across the track. In an effort to avoid an approaching car, he did not notice an approaching Missouri Pacific train, which struck him. His wife died January 18, 1905. They were the parents of the following children: James M. resides in Graham county, Kansas; Elsworth died in infancy: William D., the subject of this sketch; Mary B. Bean lives in Kingman county, Kansas: Henry died at the age of ten, Alice died at the age of ten, and Elvira P. resides in Atchison.
William D. Chalfant was twenty years of age when he came to Atchison county, and has resided in this county since 1882, with the exception of two years, one of which he spent in California and the other in Nemaha county, Kansas. He bought the home place in 1914, shortly after his father’s death. He was united in marriage in 1891 to Miss Mary Mann, a native of Monroe county, West Virginia, and a daughter of Austin and Susan Mann. The father is deceased, and the mother resides in Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Chalfant have been born eight children, as follows: Bonnie Miller resides in West Virginia, and has two children, Raymond and George; Benjamin M. resides at home; Delilah, Jenette, Helen, Henry, Marie, and Mildred. Jenette and Henry died in infancy. Mr. Chalfant is a Republican, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Central Protective Association.