Air Kansas.

Business Men who used Air as their P. O. address as of 1883.

 

LEONARD W. BUSH, farmer, Section 35, Township 15, Range 12, P. O. Air, was born April 6, 1834, at Pamelia, Jefferson Co., N. Y. When seventeen years old he learned the trade of carriage making, which he followed about four years, in the fall of 1855 he removed to Watertown, Wis., and the following spring started for Kansas under the auspices of the Milwaukee Emigration Association, Ed. Ross, superintendent. He took a claim about five miles southeast of Topeka, but in March, 1857, abandoned it, and came to his present location in Lyon County. He took a claim of 160 acres, situated between Chicken and Log Chain creeks, near their confluence with Elm Creek, in Waterloo Township. This he began at once to improve, and has ever since cultivated. He has since purchased other land and now has in his farm 330 acres. Has about eighty-five acres under cultivation, 100 acres of fine meadow land and 145 acres of pasture. Nearly all his land is enclosed. He has made valuable improvements upon his farm, including necessary farm buildings, and an orchard of about 1,000 apple, 1,000 peach and 150 cherry trees, besides 500 grape vines and other fruits and berries. His principal crop is corn. He raises some cattle, feeding his crops to his own stock. Mr. Bush is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a member of the School Board several years, and is now Treasurer of the Board. During the Rebellion he was enrolled in the Militia, and was called into service at the time of the Price raid. He married Miss Angeline Barns, of Watertown. N. Y., July 20, 1857, by which marriage he has had eight children, of whom Lester E., Alice D., Minnie M., Daisy B. and Mary A. are living.

ORLANDO C. CASLER, farmer, Section 7, Township 16, Range 13, P. O. Air, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., August 15, 1826. Five years later his parents removed to Crawford County, Pa., where he was brought up on a farm and received a common school education. In 1844 here turned to his native State and engaged in farming in Otsego County. He married here and remained about five years, then removed to Ogle County, Ill., where he bought a farm and remained engaged in farming until he enlisted in August, 1863, as a private in Company A, Second Regiment Illinois Cavalry. The regiment was in the Cavalry Corps of the Western Army. Mr. Casler participated in the battle of Rienzi, and in several skirmishes. Was mustered out in February, 1865. He then returned to Ogle County and resumed the operation of his farm, continuing until he came to Kansas, in the spring of 1868. He located in Waterloo Township and bought a partly improved farm of 160 acres, situated on Elm Creek. He sold this farm in 1875, and bought thirty acres of unimproved land in Waterloo Township, which he has since cultivated. He has made valuable improvements upon the place, including nice dwelling, good barn and other farm buildings and an orchard of two acres. He married Miss Narina Coleman, of Otsego County, N. Y., January 8, 1848 by which marriage he has had six children - Charles M., Elsie, Florence, Cora, Ernest and Gertrude, all living.

JOHN LANGLEY, farmer, Section 18, Township 16, Range 16, P. O. Air, was born in Scott County, Va., March 3, 1822. While an infant his parents removed to Russell County, Va., where he was raised up on a farm. In 1844 he settled in Floyd County, Ky.; was engaged in farming the first two years, then entered the mercantile business, keeping a general store for four years. He afterwards engaged in the lumber business, but during all this time he also operated his farm, which he sold in 1856, and in the spring of 1857 he came to Kansas. In May, he located on Elm Creek, in Waterloo Township, and took a claim of 188 acres, which he improved and farmed until 1866, when he sold it and came to his present location. He has in his farm 121 acres, situated on Elm Creek. He has made valuable improvements upon his farm, including a commodious frame dwelling and necessary farm buildings. Has about sixty acres under cultivation. Principal crop is corn. Raises some cattle and hogs. Mr. Langley is one of the earliest settlers in Waterloo Township and has remained within two miles of his first location ever since he came to the State. He was enrolled in the militia during the rebellion; was called into service at the time of the Price raid. He married Miss Sarah A. Brown, of Floyd County, Ky., January 11, 1849, by which marriage he has had seven children, of whom William L., Robert D., Matthew, George and Eliza J. (twins) and Joseph H. are living.

HIRAM MILLER, farmer, Section 12, Township 16, Range 12, P. O. Air, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, January 25, 1842. When he was eight years old his parents removed to Williams County, Ohio, where he was raised upon a farm. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company H. Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Militia, for three months. Participated in the battle of Cheat River and a skirmish at Bealington, Va. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Ohio, and in August of the same year, he enlisted as a private in Company C, Thirty-eight Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; was afterwards promoted to corporal. Was assigned to the Western Army, and upon the reorganization of the army was assigned to the Fourteenth Corps Army of the Cumberland. Participated in the siege of Corinth, battles of Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Tuliahoma, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and the campaign against Atlanta. After this Mr. Miller was taken sick and sent to the hospital at Nashville. He rejoined the regiment at Jonesboro, N. C., and continued with the army of General Sherman in the great march through the Carolinas, into the National Capital. Was present at the great review at Washington. Was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1865. He then returned home and in the spring of 1866 came to Kansas, bought 125 acres of unimproved land, situated on Elm Creek, in Waterloo Township, which he partly improved and then traded for fifty- six acres of bottom land on Elm Creek. This farm he improved by the erection of farm buildings, etc., and sold it in 1872 and removed to his present location in Waterloo Township. He has his present farm eighty acres, upon which upon he erected a commodious frame dwelling in and nice farm buildings. Has an orchard of about 100 apple trees, besides other fruits. He also rents other land. Principal crop is corn and millet. He raises some cattle and hogs, feeding all his crops to his own stock. He is a member of Jayhawker Post, No. 140. G. A. R. He married Miss Frances E. Banks, of Waterloo Township, November 18, 1868, by whom he has three children - Winifred C., Florence E., and Elwyn B., all living.

JAMES POLLOCK, farmer, Section 7, Township 16, Range 13. P. O. Air, was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, September 1, 1886. He came to the United States in 1851, locating in Randolph County, Ill. Here he learned the trade of a blacksmith which he followed until August 1, 1861, when he enlisted in company P. Tenth Regiment Missouri Volunteers. He served for a time in Missouri, and was then for a time transferred to Mississippi, and participated in the siege of Corinth and the battle of Iuka. He was sent to the hospital at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, on account of sickness, October, 1862, whence he was discharged in December, 1862. He then returned to Randolph County, and there remained following his trade until the spring of 1867, when he came to Kansas. He located in Waterloo Township and bought a partly improved farm containing 184 acres, which he has since cultivated. He has since purchased sixty-six acres of land situated one-fourth of a mile east of the home farm. He has about sixty acres under cultivation, and twenty acres of timber land, and uses the remainder for hay and grazing purposes. His principal crop is corn. He raises some cattle and hogs, feeding all his crops to his own stock. He has made valuable improvements on his farm, including an orchard of over 100 apple and 100 peach trees, besides other fruits. Mr. Pollock is a member of the Congregational Church, also a member of Jayhawker Post, No. 140. G. A. R. He holds the office of Postmaster of the Air office. He has been twice married, his first wife, Miss Jeanette McMurry, of Randolph County, Ill., whom he married in May, 1863, died June 4, 1869, leaving three children, Margaret, Thomas and Archibald, all now living. He married Mary McNeil, of Randolph County, Ill., in July, 1871. Has no children by this marriage.

*ROBERT POLLOCK, farmer and stock raiser, Section 6, Township 16, Range 13, P. O. Air, was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, August 1, 1831. He came to the United States in 1850, locating in Randolph County, Ill. He was engaged in farming for several years, then ran a stationary engine in a grist mill for about five years. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company G. Eightieth Regiment Illinois Volunteers. Was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battle of Perryville, in which he was wounded in the right lung and in the left thigh. He was sent to the hospital, and was discharged in January, 1863, for disability. He then returned to Illinois, and soon after engaged in the woolen manufacturing business, under the firm name of Calderwood, Pollock & Dickey, at Sparta, and Dickey, Pollock & Dickey at De Soto. He remained in Randolph County, with the exception of sixteen months when he was in Kendall County, engaged in farming, until he came to Kansas. Relocated in Lyon County in April, 1866, and bought 194 acres of unimproved land situated on Elm Creek, Waterloo Township. He has since purchased additional lands, and now has in his farm 660 acres. He has about 130 acres under cultivation, thirty-five acres of timber land, and uses the remainder for hay and grazing. He has made valuable improvements upon his farm, including a commodious frame dwelling, barn, corn-crib, and other farm buildings, and has an orchard of about one acre. He raises cattle and hogs, feeding all his crops to his own stock. Has some high grade cattle of the Durham breed. His principal crop is corn, but he also raises oats and millet. Mr. Pollock is a member of Signal Lodge, No. 141, A., F. & A. M., of Osage City. Also a member of Jayhawker Post, No. 140, G. A. R. He was elected Justice of the Peace in November, 1868, and held the office fourteen consecutive years by re-election. He has also held the office of Postmaster at Air and other local offices. He married Miss Jennie Smiley, of Sparta, Ill., March 15, 1866, by which marriage he has had three children, of whom Thomas A. and Robert, Jr., are now living.

LEVI SMITH, farmer, Section 1, Township 16, Range 12, P. O. Air, was born April 9, 1827, in Berks County, Pa. When about eight years old his parents removed to Pickaway County, Ohio, where his father died. In 1839 his mother removed to Edgar County, Ill., where he remained until 1850, when he went to California and remained engaged in mining four years. He then returned to Illinois and remained until he came to Kansas in March, 1857. He located in Waterloo Township, pre-empting 160 acres of land situated on Elm Creek, with the exception of about nine months in 1860, when he was at Pikes Peak, Col. He has remained upon his homestead since his settlement. He has since purchased 120 acres of land, a mile west of the home farm. He has made valuable improvements on his place, including dwelling, barn, corn crib, etc., and an orchard of about 100 apple and 100 peach trees, besides other fruits. His principal crop is corn. He raises some cattle, horses, and hogs. He married Miss Priscilla A. Johnson, of Waterloo Township, April 20, 1865, by which marriage he has had ten children, of whom Nellie E., William L., Milton M., Frank, Harry E., Charles E. and George W. are living.

Air's Postoffice open February 25, 1880 ran to October 15, 1900.
*Robert Pollock was one of the Postmasters.  His information is in the  above list.

Air's Civil War Pensioners of 1883.

 

Olando C. Caster, Dis. of abdominal Vscera, Pension $2., Started Oct. 1883.

Robert Pollock, Wounded in Right Lung and Left Foot.

Zephaniah Johnson, Wounded Right Foot, Pension $5.333, Started July 1864.

Sarah S. Osborn, Widow, Pension $20., Started Ja., 1879..

Sarah Brink, Widow, Pension $8., Started Nov., 1866.

 

Air of 1912

 

Air,  a small hamlet of Lyon county, is located on Elm creek in Waterloo township, about 20 miles northeast of Emporia, the county  seat, and 5 miles from Admire, which is the most convenient railroad station, and from which it receives mail by rural free delivery.