FREDERICK W. LINCOLN.
From small beginnings larger things very often naturally grow. The candy and soft drink manufactory of Frederick W. Lincoln on South Fifth street, Atchison, had its inception in a very modest beginning. In fact, Mr. Lincoln first began manufacturing his fine candies at his residence, corner of Seventh and S streets, but the constant growth of the concern soon required larger quarters, and his present factory, erected in 1893, is the result of his enterprise, a building 20×60 feet in extent, with the basement in use. He employs ten people the year round, and is his own traveling salesman, his son, Edward, having charge of the business during his father’s absence on the road. The products of the Lincoln factory are in demand, and are noted for their excellency. In 1912 the manufacture of soda and soft drinks was added to supply a demand in Atchison and the surrounding territory. The manufactured goods of the Lincoln factory are distributed to all points in Kansas and western Missouri.
Frederick W. Lincoln was born in England January 29, 1852, a son of Edmund B. and Jane (Barrell) Lincoln, the father being born in Norfolk, Intwood county, England, and the mother being a native of County Clingford, England. They were the parents of four children: Edward, a veteran of the Civil war, and inmate of the National Soldiers’ Home at Sandusky, Ohio; Mrs. Mary King, of Michigan; Mrs. Emily S. Moffit, deceased; Frederick W., with whom this review is directly concerned, and who was reared by an uncle, Mr. Barrell, who taught him the baker’s trade. The Lincoln family immigrated to America in 1853, and settled in Ohio, where Frederick was reared to manhood in the home of his uncle. He worked at his trade of baker until 1875, when he came to Atchison, and was employed in the hardware store of W. W. Marlborough for a few years, after which he worked in a candy shop for W. B. Howe, who taught him the candy maker’s trade. About 1880 he embarked in the manufacture of candies with T. L. White, with whom he was associated for a short time, and eventually engaged in business for himself, starting in his home, making a very modest beginning. His first shop was near his residence, but the business soon outgrew the demands made upon the little shop, and larger quarters soon became necessary. The business is the direct outcome of the persistence, integrity and industry of the proprietor, and the future of this flourishing concern is bright with promise, as the years see it extend its natural field, and it achieves a natural and deserving growth.
Mr. Lincoln was married January 26, 1879, to Laura Averill, born July 20, at Cooper, Maine, a daughter of Joseph and Julia A. (Whitney) Averill, natives of England and Scotland respectively. Mrs. Lincoln came to Atchison with her mother and resided with her stepfather and mother until her marriage with Mr. Lincoln. To Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln have been born the following children: Mrs. Leona Andrews, of Atchison; Edward E., born May 11, 1883, educated in the public and high schools of Atchison and brought up with his father in the business, married in 1903 to Freda Spatz, who was born November 9, 1896, in Atchison, a daughter of Jacob and Josephine (Latenser) Spatz, natives of Germany and St. Joseph, Mo., respectively; the third child being Frank, a machinist, employed at Horton, Kan.
Mr. Lincoln is a Republican, and is fraternally allied with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the United Commercial Travelers, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and the members of his family belong to the Christian church. Mr. Lincoln’s career is an exemplification of the adage, “Success never comes to him who waits,” and his standing in the commercial life of Atchison today is due to the fact that he made his opportunity and is justly entitled to proper recognition as one of the city’s leading factors.
JOHN C. VALENTINE.
John C. Valentine, owner and proprietor of the Northern Kansas Telephone Company of Effingham, for more than forty years has been a resident of Atchison county. The Northern Kansas Telephone Company, of which he is the head, was organized in 1903 as a coöperative concern, but is now owned and operated by Mr. Valentine and his son, A. G. Valentine. The lines of the company cover a section of country within a radius of six to ten miles of Effingham. Twenty-six lines are supplied with good service, and the company has over 435 subscribers at the present time. The plant is well equipped and is noted for the excellent service given the patrons.
John C. Valentine is a native of Dearborn county, Indiana, and was born in the Hoosier State July 28, 1845, a son of George and Sarah (Cornforth) Valentine. His father was born in New Jersey, and accompanied his parents to the Middle West, locating in Cincinnati when George was a child. He was reared in Cincinnati, and later settled in Indiana. His mother was the daughter of pioneer stock of English descent, and was connected with the Eubanks family, which figured in the early history of Indiana. Sarah Valentine died in 1863, and George married again, after which he settled in Illinois, and died near Xenia, that State. He was a soldier in the Civil war, and served in an Ohio cavalry regiment throughout the conflict. John C. Valentine enlisted in the 134th regiment, Indiana infantry, in the spring of 1864, and served until his honorable discharge in the fall of the same year. His health became poor while serving in Tennessee, and he was transferred to Louisville, Ky., and sent home from that city. He was kept on the reserve force while serving in Alabama, and was in the breastworks at Decatur, Ala. At this place he was exposed to a hot fire, and recalls that it was a very uncomfortable place in which to be. During the winter of 1866 he taught school in Decatur county, Indiana. He remained at home with an uncle, William Sawdon, at Aurora, Ind., after returning from the war, until September, 1867, at which time he went to Ft. Madison, Iowa, and there met some friends. He worked on farms in the neighborhood until Christmas of that year, and then left for Kansas, arriving at Leavenworth January 1, 1868.
During his first year in Kansas he broke prairie land for a living; the next year he sold sewing machines, and made good at that avocation; the second year, winter of 1868–69, he taught school in Leavenworth county, and two years after coming to this State he was married. He and his brother, Charles, broke prairie with their two teams in Jefferson county, and for four years after his marriage, Mr. Valentine had great success in farming in that county, raising immense crops of wheat. In the year 1874 he came to Atchison county and settled on a farm four miles northwest of Effingham on the south side of the Parallel road. He at first bought a tract of eighty acres and erected a small house on his land, erecting other buildings as he was able. Mr. Valentine has prospered in the years following his first purchase of land in this county, and he and his son now own a total of 200 acres of well improved land. He resided on the farm until January of 1896, then turned over the farm to the management of his son, and came to Effingham. For ten years following he traveled as salesman, and in 1905 engaged in the telephone business by the purchase of the coöperative company which formerly owned the lines he is now operating.
Mr. Valentine was married April 7, 1870, to Miss Lena Smith, of Johnson county, Kansas, who was born in 1855. The children born to this union are: Albert G., on the home farm, married Alice Frame, and is the father of one son and five daughters; Mrs. Mattie Stevenson, of near Beloit, Kan.; Edward died at the age of twenty-two years, and Robert died at the age of thirteen years.