Charles M. Lukens received his primary education in the public schools of Corning, Kan., and then decided to work his way through college. His ambition was to become a dentist, and for a period of five years he did all kinds of honest labor in order to pay for his tuition and expenses while attaining his collegiate education. He not only earned his way through college, but saved money in the meantime. He followed farming and railroad bridge work during this time, and eventually graduated from the Western Dental College of Kansas City, Mo., on May 6, 1905. He located in Muscotah, June 29, 1905, and has made a signal success in the practice of his profession. Dr. Lukens also maintains an office at Whiting, Kan., and divides his time between the two towns, Whiting and Muscotah.
Dr. Lukens was married April 10, 1901, at Corning, Kan., to Miss Hallie A. Graham, a daughter of Dr. J. W. Graham, of Wetmore, Kan. They have one child, Graham St. Clair Lukens, born June 21, 1902. The Republican party claims the allegiance of Dr. Lukens, and he has always been active in political affairs in Atchison county, being one of the leaders and “wheel-horses” of the party in the county. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Muscotah, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Horton, Kan., and is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Dr. Lukens is possessed of a likable and generous personality, which enables him to make friends easily, and to retain them for all time. He is a good provider for his family, and is fast accumulating a comfortable competence. He is a member in good standing of the Northeast Kansas Dental Association.
JAMES M. TRIMBLE.
J. M. Trimble, deceased, was born September 10, 1843, in Buchanan county, Missouri, a son of Benjamin F. Trimble, a native of Kentucky and early pioneer settler of De Kalb, Mo., where he conducted a blacksmith and wagon shop for a number of years, until his removal to Texas. After living in Texas for some years, he finally located in Atchison county, Kansas. James M. Trimble purchased a farm in this county and cultivated it until 1905 and then removed to Atchison and engaged in the livery business, continuing the same until his demise in January of 1910. The first wife of James M. Trimble was Margaret McCreary, a daughter of Solomon McCreary, a pioneer settler of Atchison county. To this first marriage were born the following children: J. P. Trimble; A. F. Trimble; K. S. Trimble; Ed. Henry; Roy C., sheriff of Atchison county, and T. O. Trimble.
Mr. Trimble was married the second time, to Mrs. Emma A. (Hayden) Gallup, widow of Frank Gallup, January 21, 1892. She is a daughter of Levi and Martha Hayden, natives of Kentucky, and pioneer settlers of Coffey county, Kansas. The Hayden family were settlers in Coffey county, Kansas, at a time when the county was largely populated by Indians. At one time, while a resident of this county, Levi Hayden and a number of other settlers were hunting buffalo and were surrounded by hostile red-men, who robbed the hunting party of their provisions and horses and left the hunters on the plains destitute. A terrible snow storm came up, and several of the party perished from cold and starvation, Mr. Hayden being among the number lost. After his death his widow reared the family of seven children with the exception of two sons and a daughter, Emma, who went to reside with an uncle, John Hayden, in Iowa. This uncle was a very prominent resident of Taylor county, Iowa, and served as county clerk and county surveyor. He ran a survey line from his farm in Taylor county, Iowa, to a place later named Hayden Junction, near Council Bluffs. He was a school teacher and a man of more than ordinary ability and reared his adopted children to become good citizens. Emma lived at her uncle’s home until January 1, 1874, and while attending high school at Bedford, Iowa, she met Frank Gallup, whom she married. Mr. Gallup died August 11, 1888. To this union were born children as follows: Nellie M., wife of Gale Trimble, of Atchison county; Jennie B. married Edwin E. Buchanan, now deceased, and she lives in Atchison; Clara Maude, wife of Ed. Trimble, residing near Seattle, Wash.; Samuel D., of Atchison; Agnes Gertrude, wife of Blake Balaock, of Memphis, Tenn.
At the time of the marriage of Mr. Trimble and Mrs. Gallup, Mr. Trimble was serving as superintendent of the Atchison county poor farm. They had charge of this institution for over six years and then moved to Mr. Trimble’s farm, which is now owned by John M. Price, in Mt. Pleasant township. They resided on the farm until their removal to Atchison in 1905. After another short period of residence on the farm they finally purchased the property which is the family home at 1206 South Seventh street, Atchison. Mr. Trimble conducted a livery and horse trading business in Atchison until his demise. He dealt extensively in horses and cattle, and frequently conducted farm and real estate deals to advantage.
James M. Trimble was a life-long Republican and took an active and influential part in the affairs of his party. He was well and favorably known throughout Atchison county. He and Mrs. Trimble were affiliated with the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Trimble belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic by virtue of having enlisted for service in a Kansas regiment during the Civil war, at the time of the Price invasion. It can be said of him that he was an honest, upright citizen, who cared well for those who depended upon him and he was, according to those who knew him best, a good man.
JOHN EDWARD SULLIVAN.
For fifty-five years John Edward Sullivan has resided in Atchison county, Kansas, and can be readily classed with the old-timers of the county. His parents came from Iowa to Kansas when he was but one year old, and his father, with the assistance of his sons, Roger P. and John Edward, was enabled to rise from poverty to become the owner of half a section of land in Grasshopper township. The account of this family is similar to that of several other prosperous Irish families in Atchison county.
John E. Sullivan was born May 15, 1859, in Keokuk, Iowa, a son of Michael and Bridget (Tobin) Sullivan, both of whom were born in Ireland. Michael Sullivan was born in 1826 in Ireland, and lived in his native land until he was twelve years of age, and then made his way, alone and unaided, to America. His travels for seeking fortune in the new country took him ever onward, and he was married in Keokuk, Iowa, to Bridget Tobin, who was his faithful helpmeet when he was rising from poverty to affluence. Mr. Sullivan came to Atchison, Kan., in 1860, and for some time was engaged in the railroad contract work, and assisted in the grading of the Central Branch railroad. With the money saved in his railroad contract work he became the owner of a home in Atchison, which he exchanged for eighty acres of land in Grasshopper township, upon which he settled and soon developed into a fine farm. Mr. Sullivan, in the course of a few years, was enabled to buy an additional quarter section, and with the help of his sturdy sons, he increased his holdings to 320 acres of well improved farm land. When old age crept upon Michael Sullivan and his wife they turned the farm over to their two sons, who cared for them in their declining years, which were spent in peace and comfort. Mr. Sullivan died at the home of his son, John Edward, December 24, 1904. He was the father of three children: John Edward, the subject of this review; Roger Patrick, a prosperous farmer of Benton township, Atchison county, and Mary, deceased.