Harrison Ankrum

HARRISON ANKRUM, one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of Pleasant View township, lives on a farm of 320 acres in section 26, township 31, range 25. He was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, and is a son of David Ankrum, a native of Virginia, who died in Illinois. The family numbered nine children. Those living are: John, whose home is in Iowa; Wesley, living in Pleasant View township; David, living in Iowa; and Harrison, the subject of this sketch.

David Ankrum's occupation was that of a farmer, although in early life, he was a hand weaver. Many beautiful, old-fashioned articles has his loom turned out, and fortunate indeed is the possessor of one of these durable pieces of hand-made goods. Such a valuable relic, in the form of a coverlet is the property of the subject of this sketch, and it is needless to say that it is highly prized by the family as an heirloom.

Harrison Ankrum came to Kansas in 1868, and located on 160 acres of raw prairie land, which is now owned and occupied by his brother. The farm now occupied by Mr. Ankrum comprises 320 acres of improved land, with a fine set of farm buildings, including a nice house, barn, granary, etc., which were erected at different times. As a farmer, he has been very successful. Most of his present farm is rented out, Mr. Andrum working only a small part of it.

In 1895 the subject of this sketch married India Manifold, a native of Hagerstown, Wayne County, Indiana. They have had one child Charles Clifford, who was born on the old homestead in Pleasant View township, December 27, 1896.

Mrs. Ankrum is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Manifold, both of whom are living. Joseph Manifold, the father of Samuel, was a native of Tennessee, and died in Indiana in 1849, at the age of 62 years. His wife, Susan Butler, a daughter of Beale Butler, of Georgia, was born in the last named State, and died in Indiana in 1861, at the age of 60 years. Of the 10 children comprising this family of seven boys and three girls, but four are living, namely: Beale, who is 82 years of age, and lives in Kansas; and Joseph, 74 years old, whose home is in Indiana; Samuel, father of Harrison Ankrum's wife, living in Kansas; and Moses, of Missouri, aged 56 years. Mrs. Ankrum's maternal grandfather was Charles Conway, a native of Kentucky, and a son of Richard Conway, who lived to the advanced age of 100 years.

The marriage of Samuel Manifold and Elizabeth Conway, a daughter of Charles and Malinda (Shaw) Conway, occurred in 1860. Two of the three children born to them are living, namely: Charles F., who was born in Wayne County, Indian, resides in Cass County, Missouri, and married Frances E. Gilleland; and India, wife of Mr. Ankrum. Having heard of a prosperous place called "State Line City," in the far West, Mrs. Ankrum's parents decided to make that the objective point in their journey Westward from Indiana. On September 20, 1869, they started in a spring wagon drawn by a good team of horses, and having pleasant weather and no serious accidents, made the trip in 28 days. On their arrival they found, very much to their disappointment, that the "city" contained only three houses, and one family, by the name of Davis. This family by their kindness and good will persuaded them to stay there through the winter. When spring came they located on 160 acres in section 25, township 31, range 25, in Pleasant View township, where they are now residing.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 3/11/97.