James Richard Hisle

JAMES RICHARD HISLE, senior member of the firm of J. R. Hisle & Son, general merchants at Scammon, was born in Kentucky in 1850 and is of German descent. When he was three years old, his parents moved to Missouri, and there he grew to man's estate on his father's farm.

Upon attaining his majority, Mr. Hisle went to Ray County, and worked in the coal mines there for two years. Then he went to Platte County, Missouri, and worked on a farm until his removal to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1876. Here he worked on a farm near Crestline, and followed mining at the same time. Three years later found him settled in Scammon, where he followed mining for two years. After many years of hard labor, he slowly worked up to the position of mining boss for Keith & Henry, later the Keith & Perry Coal Company. This position he held for 11 years. In 1893 the Keith & Perry Coal Company became the Central Coal & Coke Company, the largest coal operators in this section. In 1891 the subject of this sketch went into the general merchandise business, handling everything,—chiefly groceries. This business he has continued with great success. Mr. Hisle has taken his son into partnership recently, and the firm is now known as J. R. Hisle & Son.

Mr. Hisle married Martha Ann Wooten, December 16, 1869. She was born in Illinois and was raised in Missouri. They had 11 children, six of whom are now living, as follows: Ernest, who married Hannah Dunbar, and has two children,—James R. and an infant; Oscar; Clara; Ada; George; and Harry. In politics Mr. Hisle is an independent voter.

Mr. Hisle's father was Richard Hisle. He was born in Kentucky, and died in Scammon, Kansas, at the age of 68 years. His wife was Amanda Jane Todd. She was also born in Kentucky, and is still living. Their nine children all grew to maturity. They are as follows: Sarah, Frances, James R., Belle, George, Levi, Willie, Laura and Ida. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation all his life. He was in the Union Army during the Civil War, as a private in a Missouri regiment. His widow gets a pension at the present time.

The grandfather, Joseph Hisle, was a shoemaker all his life, and died in Missouri at the age of 84 years. He married Julia Thurman, who had a brother who was an early settler in Cherokee County, Kansas.

As one of the early settlers of Cherokee County, Mr. Hisle is much revered. By a consistent and upright life he has secured the respect and esteem of all. He has ever proven himself ready to give his support to any measure that is for the benefit of the community. In business he is courteous and obliging, and the strict honesty with which he conducts his dealings has brought him a large and well established trade. His family are held in the highest regard in Scammon, and throughout this vicinity.

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, 5/5/97.