JAMES H. RUNYAN.

JAMES H. RUNYAN—For a quarter of a century James H. Runyan has resided upon the farm in Elm township which is now his home, and is a loyal citizen of Kansas. He has traveled in various states but has never found a location as pleasing as Allen county and therefore with its interests he has been long and actively identified. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1827. His paternal great-grandfather, Henry Runyan, Sr., was a native of Holland, whence he crossed the Atlantic to America. When the yoke of British oppression became intolerable and the people sought independence he joined the colonial army, thus becoming one of the Revolutionary heroes. His son, Henry Runyan, Jr., grandfather of our subject, was born in what is now West Virginia, in 1775, and in that State occurred the birth of his son, Peter L. Runyan, the date of his birth being 1801. During the pioneer epoch in the development of Ohio, he removed from West Virginia to the Buckeye State and in 1824 married Hannah Crosson, whose people moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1803. Of the children of Peter L. Runyan five are still living: Henry, of Butlerville, Ohio; James H.; Archie, of Blanchester, Ohio; Mrs. Rebecca Long and Mrs. Mary Flommerfelt, both of whom are residents of Butlerville.

James H. Runyan, the second of the family, early became inured to the hard labor incident to life upon a pioneer farm. In 1832 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold there and spent seven years on the Pacific slope engaged in mining and in running a pack train and trading post at the mines. In 1859 he returned to Ohio and after devoting six years to merchandising once more took up his abode upon the farm where he remained until his removal to Allen county, Kansas, in 1874. He spent about a year in Iola and then purchased the land on which he now resides. He found here a log cabin, while a small portion of the ground had been placed under cultivation. Each year he has added to the improvements upon the place until he has made it one of the best farms in Elm township; the well tilled fields yielding to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he has bestowed upon them.

In 1860 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Runyan and Miss Sarah S. Bird, whose people removed from New Jersey to Ohio. She is the only surviving one of a family of fourteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Runyan have five children, all living, namely: LeRoy, who is clerking for the Lanyon Zinc Company at Lanyonville, is married; George W., married, and is a

railroad employe living in Neodesha, Kansas; Clement E., of California; Ed L., who is married and is in the real estate business in LaHarpe, and Mrs. Nellie Morrison who resides on a farm in Elm township. In politics the Runyans are Democrats, and in religions belief they are Methodists. Mr. and Mrs. Runyan of this review have been members or the church of that denomination for thirty years, and in their life exemplify their faith. Mr. Rnnyan has had no occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in Kansas, for here he has prospered, gaining a comfortable competence, and at the same time winning the respect of his fellow men.

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