My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM B. STINES. Forty-two years have passed since William B. Stines came to Woodson County and through this long period he has been prominently identified with its educational and professional interests as a teacher and member of the bar. His labors have ever thus been in the service of his fellow men, and his record is one well worthy of commendation.

Mr. Stines is a native of Mercer County, New Jersey, born May 14, 1835. His ancestry was represented in the Revolutionary war by those who loyally aided in the struggle for independence. His paternal grandfather, Obediah Stines, was born in 1762 and died in 1839. His son, John Stines, the father of our subject, was born in New Jersey, January 29, 1803, and was there reared to manhood. He married Abigail Blake, and in 1839 he started westward with his family, making his way across the Allegheny mountains by wagon to Darke County, Ohio, where he settled and for a time engaged in farming. Later, however, he decided to seek a home elsewhere and while on his way to Illinois in search of a new location, he was taken ill and died near Cambridge City, Indiana, in 1852. His wife survived him until 1875, and passed away in Randolph County, Indiana, at the age of sixty-seven years. Their children were as follows: Margaret, the widow of B. P. Smith of Randolph County, Indiana; William B.; Abigail, the widow of Samuel Gregg, of Preble County, Ohio; Lucina, wife of James Gordon, of Randolph County, Indiana; B. M., who is also living in that County; and Jane, wife of James Rockhill, of Randolph County, Indiana.

As his parents were in rather limited financial circumstances they could give him little in life except an education, but knowledge is the basis of all advancement and his mental training proved a stepping stone to his rise in life. When only nineteen years of age he began teaching and for a number of years followed that profession with excellent success, having the ability of imparting knowledge in such a clear and concise manner that it never failed to leave its impress upon the minds of his pupils. On leaving Indiana he engaged in teaching school in Illinois, and from Logan County, that state, came to Kansas, settling in Coffey County, in 1858. The following year he came to Woodson County and took up his abode in what is now North township, where in the fall of 1860 he pre-empted a homestead. He continued his educational labors in this county from 1861 until 1879, his first school being in district No. 2, in North township. He was county superintendent at the time and numbered the districts. No. 2 was eleven by fourteen miles in extent and contained only three farms paying taxes. In his school work Mr. Stine was very successful and many of the now successful men of the county are indebted to him for early instruction which he gave them. He held the office of county superintendent two terms and during that period labored untiringly and effectively for the improvement of the school system of this portion of the state.

In 1865, Mr. Stines took up the study of law, reading under the direction of Alexander Stewart, of Leroy. He was admitted to the bar before Judge Watson and he and Judge C. B. Graves entered their first suit together at Neosho Falls, it being a civil suit involving a replevin of some cattle. He served for one term as county attorney and at the bar has handled considerable important litigation in which he has demonstrated his familiarity with the principles of jurisprudence and his thorough understanding of the points bearing on his cases.

On the 4th of October, 1860, Mr. Stines was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Morgan, by whom he had three children yet living: Mary, the wife of Warren Miller: Flora B., wife of D. J. Chambers, and R. Grant. All are residents of Woodson County. On the 28th of May, 1871, Mr. Stines was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Elgiva Miller, a daughter of Russell Morgan, and a sister of his first wife. The father came originally from Clay County, Indiana. His wife was a Miss Bryan. There is but one child of the second marriage, Ethelyn, now the wife of J. G. Ward, of Chanute, Kansas. On the 14th of May, 1882, Mr. Stines was joined in wedlock to Miss Laura Farnam, a daughter of Asa Farnam, who was captain of Company E, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry during the Civil war and died in Chicago, March 18, 1892. He was born in Geneseo County, New York, and married Almeda Smith, by whom he had seven children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stines have been born two daughters, Almeda A. and Edna M.

In his political views Mr. Stines has always been a stalwart Republican, giving an inflexible support to the principles and policy of the party. In addition to the offices which he has filled in the line of his professions, he has served for four years as county surveyor. He is heartily in sympathy with temperance work, believing in the abolishment of the saloons, but is not a “third party” man. He co-operates in all movements for the general good, and has lived an upright, honorable life, above reproach. His record will hear the closest scrutiny for he has ever been a man who has stood “four square to every wind that blows.”