Additional Notes from Ellen Wingrove Strader Submission ~ Albert Wingrove

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25 September 2002

Additional Information
    Albert Wingrove
    25 March 1848 - 22 April 1923

Portrait & Biographical Album
of Washington, Clay & Riley Counties
in Kansas 1890
Pages 770-772

ALBERT WINGROVE, capitalist and money loaner, is widely and favorably known to the people of Clay County, within whose limits he has resided since April, 1870. He is now a resident of Clay Center, and a director and stockholder in the People’s National Bank. He is looked upon as one of the solid men in this section, with whose material interests he has been closely identified for nearly twenty years.

Upon coming to Northern Kansas, Mr. Wingrove entered land, comprising the northwest quarter of section 18, in what is now Blaine Township. From this he constructed a homestead, effecting the usual improvements naturally suggested to a man of enterprise. He planted fruit and forest trees, including a fine orchard, and a good grove which is now valuable timber and erected a residence and other buildings necessary to his comfort and profit. While carrying on the cultivation of the soil, he also became interested in live-stock. He was recognized as a valuable man in the community and as one interested in its material welfare. He was chosen as Township Clerk, in which office he served two terms, and was the Treasurer of his school district almost from the time of settling there until leaving. He assisted in the organization of this district, and also was instrumental in the erection of its first school-house, teaching one term of four months, being on the building committee, and maintained an active interest in township affairs, until his removal to Clay Center in 1884.

Mr. Wingrove does business upon his own capital mainly, although operating when requested for other parties. He is an active Republican, politically, warmly alive to the interests of his party, and contributing of his time and influence to its advancement. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres in Gill Township, Clay County, and a like amount of land in Graham County, besides valuable city property. He has contributed his full quota to the growth and advancement of Clay Center. His religious views coincide with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is an efficient member, and in which he officiates as Steward. His estimable wife also belongs to this church at Clay Center.

The subject of this sketch was born near Buchanan, West VA., March 25, 1848, and there grew to mature years. He obtained a practical education, completing his studies in Eastman's business college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In March, 1864, during the progress of the Civil War, and before he has reached the sixteenth year of his age, he enlisted as a Union soldier, in company M, 3d West Virginia Cavalry, an old veteran regiment, and was in the Army of West Virginia under the command of Gen. Sheridan, the division being commanded by Gen. Custer, and attached to the Army of the Potomac at Petersburg, VA, in the spring of 1865.

In addition to the usual amount of scouting along the Shenandoah Valley, young Wingrove was present at the battle of Lynchburg, Gen Hunter commanding, in which six of the twenty-five men of his company present were killed or wounded. He was also at Winchester, where the three principal officers of the regiment were killed or disabled, and the Captain of his company was wounded. This by no means completes the list of battles in which he participated, the others being Dinwiddie Court-House, Five Forks, Hatchies Run, Farmville, Pequon, Fisher's Hill, Waynesboro and Appomattox, making in all nine or ten hard and desperately fought engagements, with innumerable smaller battles. At Lynchburg he was struck with a piece of shell on the elbow, and later a bullet tore a hole in his hat, but missed the soldier. He was at Cedar Creek at the time Sheridan made his famous ride from Winchester, which has been celebrated in verse by Thomas Buchanan Reed, and has become almost as much a part of history as the regular annals of the war. In some of the smaller engagements the fighting was fully as dangerous as in others more noted. The boy of fifteen acquitted himself bravely with the company of veterans, being absent only ten days from his regiment, and missing but one fight in which his company was engaged. He was mustered out at Wheeling, West VA, June 30, 1865, at that time being but little more than seventeen years old. For about ten days previous to Lee's surrender the company was under almost constant fire, and at roll-call after the surrender the company numbered but thirteen out of the original eighty or 100 men, the others having been killed or disabled. Our subject was one of these thirteen, and participated in the grand review at Washington, in which his regiment led the procession, and his company was the third. Their badge was a red necktie presented by Gen. Custer to those only who were with him in his last battle. [... MORE Civil War]

Upon retiring from the service, Mr. Wingrove found himself disabled on account of synovites of the left knee, and is still obliged to use crutches. He has been a great sufferer from this injury, which was caused by concussion of the knee with a gun in a charge in the Shenandoah Valley. He resumed his studies at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and on his return home taught one term of school in the winter of 1869-70. At the age of twenty-two years he cast his lot among the people of Northern Kansas. Settling in what is now Blaine Township, he made the acquaintance of Miss Eliza B. Shotwell, to whom he was married Dec. 3, 1873. This lady was born in Battle Creek. Michigan., Aug. 26, 1852, and came to Kansas, with her parents in the spring of 1871. Of her marriage with our subject there have been born five children, four of whom are living (in 1890) - Maude, Cora, Harry and Albert Linn. Frances Ola died Feb. 11, 1889.

The father of our subject was Harrison Wingrove, who was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and there grew to man's estate. He was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Frances Phillips (Geese), who became the mother of five children, of whom Albert was the second born. His brother Charles is a resident of Clay Center, and is represented elsewhere in this volume.

The father was a blacksmith by trade and has for many years lived at French Creek, W. Va. Samuel P. Shotwell, the father of Mrs. Wingrove, was a native of New Jersey State, and was married to Miss Maria Watson, of Ohio. Later he removed to Michigan, and for some time was a leading merchant in Augusta. He afterward came to Kansas, and is now living on a farm in Five Creeks Township, Clay County; the mother of Mrs. Wingrove died May 1, 1886. Mr. Wingrove is a member of Phil Sheridan Post No. 88, G. A. R., of Clay Center, and is Quartermaster of the same, having filled the office three years in succession.

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Portrait & Biographical Album
of Washington, Clay & Riley Counties
in Kansas 1890

A. Wingrove (Albert), one of the early settlers of Clay Center, came to the county as early as 1870, and is at present engaged as a loan broker in that city. He is descended from an honorable ancestry, his great-grandfather, John Wingrove, having emigrated from England during the year in which the colonies began to rebel against the oppressions of the mother country. He was then but a youth of sixteen years and ran away from home to embark for America. His father was a General in the British army and spent his entire life on his own Continent.

John Wingrove landed in Boston whence he made his way to Virginia and joined the Continental Army, fighting on the side of the Colonists until their independence had been established. After the close of the war he married and settled in the Shenandoah Valley where he prosecuted farming for a time, then went into Buchanan VA, where he opened up a farm from the wilderness, reared a family and there spent his last days. His son, William, the grandfather of our subject, was born there and reared to manhood. He followed agricultural pursuits, was married and became the father of a family of two children - Harrison, the father of our subject and Mrs. Dean, now of Sedalia, MO.

Harrison Wingrove, the father of our subject, was born at Leetown, Va., in 1816. When a young man he went with the family to Buchanan and was there married to Miss Maria Tibbles (Peebles). There were born to them two sons and two daughters, and three of the children are living, namely, Marshall, of West Virginia; Emma, (Mrs. Lay Barrett) of Sedalia, MO., and Otis P. of Idana, Clay Co., Kansas. The mother of these children died in middle life and Mr. Wingrove was subsequently married to Miss Frances (Geese) Phillips. They became the parents of five children, three of whom are living (in 1890). Harrison Wingrove has been a resident of Upshur County, WV, for the past forty-eight years. His wife is also living and both are members of the Presbyterian Church. The father votes the straight Republican ticket and was a staunch Union man during the late Civil War.

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Albert & Eliza Wingrove lived in a majestic house at the corner of 6th and Blunt Street
while at Clay Center Kansas

     An early photo

     May 2002
     - taken by Ellen Wingrove Strader

DEATHS: Times 22 Jan 1931
               Section 2 Page 1

Wingrove: - Mrs. Albert Wingrove one of Clay Center's fine women passed away Tuesday morning, January 20th at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. Neill Rahn, in Topeka, and the body will be brought here for burial. Funeral services will be held at the Peterson chapel Friday afternoon at two o'clock, and burial will be made in Greenwood cemetery. Mr. Wingrove preceded her in death April 17, 1919 (22 April 1923). She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. George Peckham (Maude Maria Wingrove) of Oklahoma city, and Mrs. R. Neill Rahn (Cora Clyde Wingrove) of Topeka, and three sons, Lin (Albert Linn Wingrove) of California, Harry of Salina and Loy Wingrove (Jobe Loy Wingrove) of Junction City; also three sisters Mrs. George Rikert of Clay Center, Mrs. Sam Ober of Morganville, Mrs. Ella Isensee of Indiana and one brother, C. R. Shotwell of Beloit.

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MRS. ALBERT WINGROVE'S FUNERAL
        FRIDAY AT 2 P.M.
(The Economist 21 Jan 1931, p. 7)
Clay Center, Kansas

Mrs. Albert Wingrove died Tuesday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. Neill Rahn (Cora Clyde Wingrove), at Topeka, according to word received by the relatives in Clay Center that morning. The funeral services will be held here Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Peterson funeral home.

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The Economist 28 Jan 1930 Page 2

MRS. ALBERT WINGROVE DIES
WAS AT HOME OF DAUGHTER IN TOPEKA
Interment Was In Clay Center - Lies Beside Her Husband, Clay's Former Mayor.

Eliza B. Shotwell, eldest daughter of Samuel and Maria Shotwell, was born in Battle Creek, Mich., August 26, 1852, remaining there with her parents until 1871 when the family moved to Kansas.

On December 3, 1873, she was united in marriage to Albert Wingrove and to this union five children were born - Harry of Salina, Lynn (Albert Linn Wingrove) of Peary Park, Cla., Loy (Jobe Loy Wingrove) of Junction City, Mrs. George Peckham (Maude Maria Wingrove) of Oklahoma city and Mrs. R. N. Rahn (Cora Clyde Wingrove) of Topeka, with whom Mrs. Wingrove had made her home of late years and where she was at the time of her death.

Mr. Wingrove preceded his wife in death passing away eight years ago. Besides her immediate family, Mrs. Wingrove is survived by three sisters, Mrs. G. A. Rikert of Clay Center, Mrs. Samuel Isensee of Idana and Mrs. Samuel Ober of Morganville, and one brother, Clayton Shotwell of Beloit. Four grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive her.

Mr. and Mrs. Wingrove were residents of this city for many years, where they were prominent in church and social life. Mrs. Wingrove was possessed of a pleasing personality and was loyal to her host of friends. She was a true and loving mother, and the close of her life brings sincere sorrow to her children, brother, sisters and other relatives, as well as her numerous friends.

At the time of her death on January 20 Mrs. Wingrove was seventy-eight years, four months and twenty-four days of age. A life well lived came to a peaceful close, and its influence will continue to live in the lives of those who loved and trusted her.

The funeral services were held in Topeka Thursday last and a service was also held here Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Peterson funeral home with the services conducted by Wallace Carpenter. Lovely music was furnished by Mrs. Wilber Neill, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Humfield and John Scheu, accompanied by Mrs. V. R. Vergades on the piano. The pallbearers were J. H. Kerby, Will Miller, W. G. Robinson, Elmer Neill, Giles Priest and Warren Woods.

Lovely flowers paid silent tribute of respect and sympathy. Interment was in Greenwood cemetery.

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ALBERT WINGROVE GOES
(The Economist April 25, 1923, P 1)
Clay Center, Kansas

Former Mayor's sudden death at Kansas city.
End comes unexpectedly following operation - Funeral Friday afternoon at the Glace Home.

Albert Wingrove died Sunday at a hospital in Kansas City, where he had stopped to consult his physician concerning an operation for gallstones. He and his wife were on their way home from a winter's stay in Florida and she went on to the home of their daughter, Mrs. R. Neill Rahn (Cora Clyde Wingrove), in Topeka. The operation was decided upon at once and death resulted from embolism to the surprise of everyone.

The body was brought to Clay Center and the funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the J. A. Glace residence, where Mr. and Mrs. Wingrove had rooms during their stay in Clay Center. Rev. George Mead Hughes will preach the sermon.

Mr. Wingrove was a brother to Chas. Wingrove of this city and had long been a prominent resident here. He was prominent in business and Grand Army circles and was at one time mayor of Clay Center.

The children - Mrs. G. S. Peckman (Maude Maria Wingrove) of Oklahoma city, Mrs. Rahn (Cora Clyde Wingrove) of Topeka, Linn (Albert Linn Wingrove) of Dunlap, Cal., and Harry of Los Angeles, and Loy (Jobe Loy Wingrove) of Pleasanton, will all be here for the funeral, the two from California to arrive Thursday night.