CHARLES H. LANDES.

Among the young men of Yates Center whose prominence in public affairs and ability in business life have won for them a position among leading citizens of twice their years is Charles H. Landes, an enterprising and successful grocer . His keen discrimination, sound judgment, reliability and energy well qualify him for the management of mercantile interests and his opinions carry weight in regard to many movements and measures relative to the general welfare.

Mr. Landes was born in Woodson County, on the 7th. of November, 1884, and is a son of the late Isaac S. Landes, an honored pioneer of this section of the state, long connected with agricultural pursuits. He was born in Kentucky in 1836. His father was a farmer and was of Virginian parentage. It was in the fall of 1859 that Isaac S. Landes came to Kansas, locating in Center township, Woodson County. He came from Auburn, Sangamon County, Illinois, leaving his home in August of that year, with a yoke of oxen and a wagon into which he loaded his household effects. With his wife and child he then started westward, concluding the trip in

four weeks. On reaching Woodson County he homesteaded a claim on section twenty-five, township twenty-four, range fifteen, and began the actual work of cultivating and improving a farm. In the fall of his arrival he erected a cabin containing one room and split the rails with which to fence fifteen acres of land. His first crop was one of sod corn, which yielded him only one load of fodder for that was the year of the excessive drought—1860. In his effort to save the fodder his oxen became frightened, ran away and scattered the load over the priarie.[sic]

During the period of hard times which followed the drought, Mr. Landes provided for his family by doing butchering for the Germans on Owl creek and by freighting, and in those ways he earned many an honest dollar which aided in tiding him over the period of financial depression in this part of the state. Game was also plentiful, and not a great distance away buffalo could be secured. Mr. Landes thus killed enough game to supply the table with meat, and as the years passed his farm became productive and his crops materially increased his income. He became one of the substantial farmers of his community and was widely known as a reliable business man. During the war of the Rebellion he belonged to the Kansas State militia and for about a month was engaged in an attempt to check the Rebel General Price on his raid against Fort Scott. He participated in the famous run from Moonlight's men who were thought to be Price's men, and five miles were covered before Colonel Moonlight could call the fleeing troops back. Mr. Landes also took an active part in political affairs during pioneer days in Woodson County and was well known for his support of Republican principles even when it was quite unpopular to belong to the new party.

Mrs. Isaac Landes, the mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Christina Shutt and was a daughter of Henry Shutt, who is still a resident of Sangamon County, Illinois, where he has made his home since early pioneer days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Landes were born the following named: Sallie, who became the wife of J. M. Wolfer (and after his death wedded Frank McGinnis) died leaving one child, Godfrey McGinnis; Frank, the second of the family, is also deceased; Charles H. is the next younger; Daniel E. has also passed away; Hale is living in Yates Center; Ollie is the wife of Guy Myers, of Wichita, Kansas; Jessie is the deceased wife of F. M. Finley, and Davis completes the family.

Charles H. Landes has spent almost his entire life in his native county. His boyhood days were passed upon the home farm and the sun shown down upon many a field as he followed the plow and planted the grain that brought rich harvests in the autumn. He pursued his preliminary education in the district schools and later was a student in the Kansas State Normal School. For three years he resided in Kiowa County, during the early period of its development, and for two years of that time he was agent at Brenham for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. In October, 1896, he opened a grocery store in Yates Center where he has

since carried on business. He has a carefully selected but complete stock of staple and fancy groceries and the business policy is such as to make those who once patronize him his constant patrons. His dealings are honorable and his consideration and desire to please have won him continually increasing success.

On the 21st. of October, 1886, Mr. Landes was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Funston, a daughter of John L. Funston, of Yates Center, originally from Ohio. Her death occurred April 21, 1895, and three children were left to mourn her loss—Herbert Ross, Charles Harrison and Ruth Irene, who reside in Yates Center with their father. With a full realization of the obligations and duties of citizenship Mr. Landes has given close thought to the questions affecting the general welfare and his mature deliberation sanctions the policy and principles of the Republican party. He therefore gives to it his earnest support and is a worker in its ranks in Woodson County. For one year he was chairman of the county committee and was its youngest member. His ability as an organizer, his tact in harmonizing the working forces and his keen discernment, enabling him to manage all affairs effectively, have made him a leader in Republican ranks. He co-operates in all measures for the general good and for advancement along substantial lines of progress, and is an esteemed representative of one of the honored pioneer families of his county.

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