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.
JACOB BUTTRON.
He of whom this review is written is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Lancaster township, Atchison county, and is a son of Henry Buttron, a pioneer settler of the county, and who at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest and best known citizens of Lancaster township. A biography of Henry Buttron appears in this history.
Jacob Buttron was born in Lancaster township, April 16, 1872, and has always lived in the vicinity of his early home. He was reared on his father’s farm and attended the school in the Bell district, No. 59. He remained on the farm and gave his best endeavors to assisting his father in building up the family estate until 1904, at which time he started out for himself on a rented farm. He first rented 160 acres of land from his father. Later he bought an equal amount of the north quarter of the Cloyes farm. He has through his father, at the present time, one of the best improved and productive farms of Lancaster township and is on the high road to prosperity. Mr. Buttron has his farm stocked with only the best grades of live stock and has made an excellent record as a stockman.
He was married December 14, 1904, to Miss Emma Flattre, and four children have blessed this union, namely: Bertha, Emma, Alice and John. Mrs. Buttron is a daughter of Thomas and Emma (Manson) Flattre. Mr. Buttron is a Republican in politics, but has never sought political preferment of any kind, and contents himself in doing his duty at the polls at election time. While he professes no religious creed, he is a church goer and is considered to be an upright and exemplary citizen who has many friends in his neighborhood, who esteem him highly for his industrious habits and honest demeanor.
GEORGE SCHRADER.
George Schrader, farmer and stockman, of Center township, Atchison county, was born in Lancaster township, January 25, 1868, and is a son of Nicholas and Kathrine Schrader. He was one of six children. The parents were born in Germany, but each came to America when young. They were married in the United States about 1856, and came directly to Kansas, settling in Lancaster township, Atchison county. Later they removed to Mount Pleasant township, and followed farming until the father retired. The mother died in 1907, aged seventy-three years, and the father lived with his children until his death, in 1914, at the age of eighty-six. George Schrader grew to manhood on the home farm in Atchison county, and at the age of nineteen began to work as a farm hand. A year later he went to California and worked on a ranch. In 1890 he returned to Atchison county and rented his father’s farm for a year, when he bought 180 acres, located on the Topeka State road, two and one-half miles north, and one-half mile west of Cummings, Kan. The farm had only scanty improvements, with a house in bad condition and a small barn. He built a good two-story, modern, nine-room house, which is situated in one of the finest building places in the county, commanding an excellent view. He then erected a large barn, 36×50 feet, with a cement basement. It is well equipped and built especially for a stock barn. Mr. Schrader takes great pride in his stock, which includes fine Hampshire hogs, Percheron and Coach horses. His farm consists of 200 acres, forty acres of which is timber land.
When a young man Mr. Schrader operated a threshing outfit, and continued in that business for many years as a sideline. He is also a carpenter, and built most of the buildings on his farm. In 1894 he married Carrie Kuhn, who was born in Atchison county in 1874. She is a daughter of Fred and Anna (Gruner) Kuhn. The father was a native of Germany, and the mother of Illinois. Both parents are living. Mr. and Mrs. Schrader have three children: Herbert, Lester, and Ida, all living at home. Mr. Schrader is a Republican, and is treasurer of Center township. He is a member of the German Evangelical church. He is a stockholder in the Cummings State Bank. Mr. Schrader is a citizen active in the interest of his community, and takes pride in his farm and in his community, and is always in favor of any movement which will be for the good of the community.