Text

Sketch of H.C. Staley
from History of Butler County by Vol Mooney
1916
page 589
H. C. Staley, an early pioneer of Butler county -is now living retired at Rose Hill, after an active and successful business career. Mr. Staley was born in Chatham county. North Carolina. June 3. 1845. and is a son of G. W. and Margaret (Hinshaw) Staley, both natives of North Carolina, and descendants of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors. Thev spent their lives in North Carolina.
H. C. Staley was reared in his native State, educated in private schools and Guilford College, near Greensboro. N. C. He was conscripted during the Civil war and forced into the Confederate service, and served for a time as a sort of a cabin boy on a receiving ship at Wilmington. N. C. At the battle of Fort Fisher, young Staley rowed ashore with some officers and after landing, went on home, which ended his military career unceremoniously. He remained at his North Carolina home until 1870, when he went to Indiana, and after remaining there one summer, came to Emporia, Kans., which, at that time, was the end of the railroad. He remained there during the winter of 1870 and 1871, and in the spring, came to Butler county, driving from Emporia. He preempted a claim one mile east and two miles north of the present site of Rose Hill. Soon after coming here, he built a house which was blown away by a cyclone in 1879. He also built a store a mile east of where Rose Hill now stands, and conducted a general mercantile store there, and was postmaster for six years. He then engaged in buying and shipping grain and stock, and, for a number of years, did an extensive business in those commodities, and was the largest dealer in that section of Butler county, although, for the last few years, has been practically retired. He is now one of the large land owners in that section, owning three quarter sections, and his son owns eighty acres.
When Mr. Staley came to Butler county, he colonized a settlement of Quakers in 1871 near Rose Hill, Kans.. who were among the sub* stantial early settlers of the southwestern part of the county. When he came here there was not a house in sight, in the vicinity of where Rose Hill now stands. Nothing could' be seen but the tall waving blue stem, and Mr. Staley was very much impressed with the luxurious growth of grass and the fertile appearance of the country. Wichita was just in the beginning, and it had a population of about 665, and Augusta boasted of a population of only a few, while the now thriving city of Winfield had one house, a log structure, and one dav when Mr. Stalev was there, a man was digging a trench, and Mr. Staley asked him what he was doing. He said he was building a hotel. Mr. Staley couldn’t see any good reason for a hotel there, but he says he supposes the fellow went on and built it, as Winfield rapidly developed into quite a town shortly after that. When Mr. Staley came here, there was plenty of deer and antelopes and some buffalo, but the buffalo was rapidly disappearing about that time, but could be found farther west, and Mr. Staley went on one buffalo hunting expedition after coming here, but never aspired to be much of a hunter.
H.C. Staley was Justice -Of-Pease for 28 years H. C. Staley continued
H.C. S June 3 Marrie Mary C March Marrie Mary P Aug 28
Mr. Staley was married September 29, 1869. to Miss Cox. a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Isham and Lavina ('Brower') Cox. Her father was the man who raised the money from all parts of the
countv to build Guilford College, which is located near Greensboro, •X. C.*
To Mr. and Mrs. Staley have been born three children, as follows: C. W., resides near Lane, Kans.; F. B., connected with the Union Stock Yards at Wichita, and Fred, a farmer and cattleman, Rose Hill, Kans.; Louie G.. deceased.
Mr. Staley is a prominent factor in the business and civic affairs of Butler county and has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs since coming to Kansas. He has served as justice of the peace for twenty-eight years and as an illustration of the confidence in his integrity and judgment, of the many cases that have been tried in his court, not one appeal has been taken from his decision. In the early days Mr. Staley was a Republican, later a Prohibitionist, and in the evolution of political events, he has finally become a staunch supporter of the policies and principles of the Democratic party.
taley
, 1845-July 10, 1926 d
Cox
29, 1848-Jan 16, 1917 d
icke 11
, in North Caroline (Douglass Tribune)
children
C.W.
July 12, 1870- Sept 26, 1948 Fred H
Feb 13, 1883- March 25- 1950 Buried Rose Hill Cemetery
HENRY C. STALE!
The death of Henry C. Staley, last Saturday, takes from Southwest Butler County, one who has done much for the growth and prosperity of the country. He, with Mr. Harris, father of W. N., and one or two others, perhaps, founded Rose Hill as a business center in very early times. The railroad passing to the northwest of the old location caused the town to be re-located a mile west of its original site.
In the days when scrub horses and mules were the common stock of the country, Mr. Staley engaged in the enterprising work of improving the horse stock. In a few years marked improvement was seen, and farmers were raising large and beautiful animals for use and for shipment.
Enterprise and'improvement marked his long career, and the country was made better and more prosperous because of him.
But for about two years he had been sorely afflicted with paralysis and because thereof there was little enjoyment left in life for him. Death was really a relief.
DEATH OF II. STALEY
Henry C, Staley, son of Coo. Washington and Margaret Staley, was born at Sandy Grove, North Carolina, Junei 3rd, 1845 and departed this life, July 10, 1926, at the age of 81 years, one month and seven days.
He was united in marriage to Miss Mary G. Cox, October 21, 1869. To this union four children were born, three of whom are living. Charley W. Staley, of Rose Hill; Frank% F. Staley, of Wichita and Fred II. Staley, of Wichita are the living sons. The mother passed away January 16, 1917.
Shortly after this marriage, they moved to Greensfork, Indiana, and to Emporia. Kansas, September 1. 1870, and later to this community, where he resided at his death.
Henry was again united in marriage on August 28, 1920, to Mary'A. Pickett, of Greensboro, North Carolina. She survives him.
In the passing of this citizen, the community loses a man who has made as much history as any one man who has had a place among us. He was a man of affairs and did things. He likewise was a man who had courage to stand upon his own convictions. He was honest, vigorous and progressive.
July 192fc
A PIONEER PASSES
Mr. Henry C. Staley passed awav Saturday at two-thirty at his nice suburban home on North State Sl-eet. He has been a sufferer for almost 3 years. The deceased made a financial success of life. He was a member of the Friends Church. He had taken a greater interest in breeding horses than has any man that has lived in southwest Butler county. The funeral was held at the M. P. church at 10 a.m., Monday. Rev. Ed. Lindley, of Wichita, assisted by Rev. Charles Mel-lors and Rev. Pribbenow. Burial was made in the family lot in Rose Hill cemetery. Alger, of Douglass had charge of the undertaking.
July 1926
Sept. 1926