JOHN W. BALE.

JOHN W. BALE was born April 20, 1843, in Hart county, Kentucky, and is of German lineage. His great grandfather, William Bale, was a native of Germany, and on emigrating to America owned and operated a gristmill on Brash creek, in Green county, New Jersey at a very early day. He was a millwright by trade. His son, Peter Bale, the grandfather of our subject, was born in New Jersey and became a prosperous farmer of Kentucky, owning between five and six hundred acres of land on Leon Camp creek in that State. Jacob Bale, the father of our subject, was born in Hart county, Kentucky, in 1818, and, still resides thare. He received excellent school privileges and at one time was probably the best educated man of his county. He worked in a powder mill and also followed farming and stock raising, but for some time past has lived retired, still residing on the old homestead. He was married in 1842 to Miss Elizabeth Pointer, who was born in 1824, a daughter of Edward Pointer who removed from one of the southern states to Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Bale became the parents of the following children: John H., W. T., Robert, Mrs. Nancy Richardson and Mrs. Mattie Murray, all of whom are living in Kentucky with the exception of the subject hereof.

Mr. Bale, of this review, resided on his father's farm in Hart county, Kentucky, until eighteen years of age, when he responded to his country's call for aid, joining the Union army on the fifteenth of October, 1861, as a member of Company F, Fifteenth Kentucky Infantry, under Captain Carroll and Colonel Pope. The regiment proceeded to New Haven and to Bacon creek, and after participating in the battles at Bowling Green, Nashville and Huntsville, returned to Louisville, Kentucky. Subsequently Mr. Bale with his command participated in the engagements at Perryville, Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, and the campaign as far as Atlanta, and Jonesboro, Georgia. He was mustered out January 17, 1865, at Louisville, having loyally served his country for more than three years.

For several months he engaged in farming and cattle raising in Kentucky, but in January, 1866, came to Kansas, residing in Leavenworth until the following fall, when he came to Allen county, settling in Iola township. Here he has since devoted his energies to the cultivation of his fields and to the raising of stock, and is today numbered among the most ener-

getic and prosperous citizens of his township, owning five hundred and twenty-eight acres of valuable land.

Mr. Bale was married in Hart county, Kentucky, November 28, 1866, to Miss Anna DeFever, who was born in that county, December 19, 1851, a daughter of William DeFever, a native of the same county, and of French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Bale became the parents of three sons: Irvin, who was drowned in the Neosho river at the age of seven years; Wallace and Frank, who are residents of this county. Mr. Bale exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy, but has never been a professional. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason. Through the legitimate channels of trade he has risen to an enviable position financially, and at the same time has commanded and enjoyed the respect of his fellow men by reason of his well spent life.

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