FRED A. DUMOND.

One of the native sons of Woodson County, who has been an eye witness of the growth and progress of this section of the state from an early period in its development is Fred A. Dumond, a progressive farmer of Eminence township. He was born on the family homestead, November 26, 1872, and is a son of John W. and Adaline (Darst) Dumond, pioneer settlers of the community. The father was born in Seneca County, Ohio in 1838, and was a son of Jackson Dumond. He came to Woodson County at the beginning of the '70s, locating in Eminence township, where he secured a claim. With characteristic energy he began its development and continued its cultivation until his death, which occurred October 24, 1873.

John W. Dumond was married in Lake County, Indiana, to Miss Adaline Darst, who was born in Benton County, Ohio, December 7, 1846, a daughter of Abraham Darst. By this marriage three sons were born—Frank, Edward and Fred A. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Dumond, on Christmas day of 1874, gave her hand in marriage to Daniel V. Dow, who was born in Addison County, Vermont, in 1822, and died in Woodson County, Kansas, in July, 1885. When a young man he left Vermont and started in a southwesterly direction. For a few years he resided in Texas, whence he was forced to flee at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion on account of his sympathy with the North. He made his way to the Union lines and enlisted in the First Arkansas Infantry, but was soon transferred to the hospital corps as hospital steward, serving in that department until honorably discharged at the close of the war.

Mr. Dow then returned to Vermont but had been in the west too long to remain satisfied with the slower and more conservative methods of the

east and accordingly he came to Kansas, securing a claim in township twenty-five, range fifteen, in Woodson County. He became one of the well known and valued residents of the county and was a successful farmer. In an early day he held the office of county surveyor and laid out the town of Toronto, also did much of the work of that character in the vicinity of Neosho Falls. He served as trustee of his township and always gave a loyal and unfaltering support to the principles of the Republican party, in which he most firmly believed. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dow were born two children, Susie A., wife of Forest Ruehlen, by whom she has one child. Ernest; and Estella C., who is with her mother. When Mrs. Dow came to Woodson County, in 1866, Indians were still in the neighborhood, but committed no depredation and were usually friendly to the settlers. They camped among the farms and roamed to and fro over the country on visits to neighboring tribes.

Fred A. Dumond, whose name introduces this review, has spent his entire life in Woodson County. He was reared upon the home farm for though his father died during his early infancy he remained with his step-father and was trained to the practical work of the fields and meadows through the summer months while in the winter season he pursued his education in the district schools. When he began business on his own account it was along the line to which he had been reared and he is now successfully farming on section twelve, township twenty-six, range fifteen, where he owns and operates two hundred acres of valuable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation. He is also engaged in dealing in hay, which is a good source of revenue and largely increases his financial resources.

On the 31st of December, 1899, Mr. Dumond was united in marriage to Miss Alice, daughter of Samuel KahI, one of the early settlers of Eminence township, and they have now a little daughter, Esther May, who is the life and light of the household. Mr. and Mrs. Dumond have many friends in his native county and he is justly classed among the progressive young farmers, whose well directed labors bring to them creditable success.

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