The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-07-23
- A Can didate for
Sketch of the life of the Prairie Herds
man. Farmer Lad. Manufacturer.
Friend Of Labor and Farmer,
Leader Of Men.
Born and Reared on the Western Prairie


many American citizen Alonzo
Sears chcote, Ohio everybody known "LOn has
risen 'front.'
struggle advancement achievement of
unlike that truly the country
Born and reared Kansas he began life farmer lad at
time when the elements agricultural
and the country the stage between the
ing prairie Crop failures droughts and
pests year year tried souls, stirring
boyhood Of patience perseverance.
His birth place in Douglas County Kansas and his
natal day was the 18th of August 1860
His Parents Eastern People
His father Charles May had moved from his home in
Lewis New York the November of 1885, settling first
in Iowa.
Two years before that date Mr. Sears the father was united in
marriage with Mary Smith her home Cakl New York.
and three Iowa they south the rolling
paies land claim in the upland the
valley of the River Kaw.
parents gentle families
their education and in York state left noble i'm
press their off spring
The elder his years state met
with all the disasters that that period bl the
of the and better livelihood he taught school
at cper Academy and later became general contractor and builder
in t of the state in addition to his agricultural pursuits
a
Charles NJ Sears, Captain, receiving his commission from
Robinson organized cavalry Company November and
putting Quantrels
he enlisted with Company of the 18th Kansas Volunteer Infantry
which honorby discharged Leavenwo about the close of the
Civil
Sears, Farmer and Herdsman
"Lon boy worked all country do except that in
this given
wor1 of a man, long before he became a mature youth
with the boys born and what then the
frontier the plains with the proficient
raising age thirteen superintend
ing the family farm fell his shoulders owing to the frequently
of
by Reservation, which still
preserved its full red the neighbohOOd constant
touch with the athletic, outdoor men of the plains
Small is that in his he became hardened
lad
seasons, could, prairie
knowledge,
obtained a fundamental training
early experience,
ense possessed by selmade and chicothe his
peer the possession practical ueu knowledge.
in his boyhood he worked his way through the
advanced schools of and has since been close student of
books and current literature
Digs Coal a Miner
There avocation which followed which
dogged determination of
in along Thomas Rayson
Spring Douglas County
during the winter years,
ST. and his associate themselves dug coal and furnished fuel to the
countryside.
In 1874 when years old,
Bleview Kansas, having
opened, the with the neighbohood
For several during periods months in
worked thin of COAL often 2 inches in thickness
The appliances those simple and productive of
great results.
wel-k hole shaft, the windlass the hoist
system pipe drainage when
filled with the boy used the hand
frequently the coa-tub to relieve the situation.
His mine chums John Collier who had dug coal in Penny
and Tom and Robert Joy who had been reared in the Hooking
Valley Ohio who often unted the Kansas dges with
of in their native
Having forge temper his pick
his entries and accomplish those things that hnven miners must do
it unreasonable that he called consider
who work the dark he would be able under
and warmly ympathize with their hardshs
learned the value work, when under ground
dug coal in Kansas.
Family Engages in a New Business.
these in the estimation his
having several terms Justice the Peace his
ship elected a member of the state legislature