Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 748 - 749 

CHARLES BULL, a prominent and leading farmer and stock-raiser of Ohio Township, residing on section 24, is, like so many of the citizens of Sedgwick County, a native of the Empire State. He first drew the breath of life April 15, 1827, in Wayne County, N. Y., and is a son of George and Margaret (Cooper) Bull, both of whom were natives of England.

             The parents of our subject were reared in their native land, where they were married, but shortly after that event, bidding adieu to "white-cliffed Albion" came to America, and settled in the State of New York. When he was about six months old, our subject lost his mother by death, and his father, in 1835, with his little family removed to Ohio, and settled in Jackson County, a part of which became Vinton County, where Charles was reared to manhood. His father made his residence in the Buckeye State until 1866, when he passed through the valley and shadow of death.

             The subject of this personal narrative received but a rudimentary education in a subscription school, the present excellent educational system of Ohio not having at that period been organized. In consequence of these disadvantages for acquiring knowledge, for facilities were far more limited than those offered to the young people of to-day, his early education was elementary, but having been an extensive reader, he has made up for the lack of knowledge which he should have received in youth, and is well informed on most subjects.

             Mr. Bull has been twice married, the first time in Ohio, in 1852, when he led to the marriage altar Miss Delia Schreck, who bore him the following children: Thomas, who is a resident of Texas; Philip, who is living in Ohio Township, this county; Sarah, the wife of Frederick Hayward, of Missouri, and now deceased. The second time that our subject entered into a matrimonial alliance was in Illinois, on the 14th of November, 1860. Upon that day and date, he was joined for better or for worse with Rosa E. Bantock, a native of England, born Nov. 4, 1846. She is a daughter of Thomas H. and Mercy (Redenhall) Bantock, both of whom were natives of Albion's Isle, and who had emigrated to the United States about 1856, and settled in Henry County, Ill. They remained residents of that locality until about the close of the late Civil War, when they removed to Lucas County, Iowa, where they still reside. By this last union there have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bull a family of twelve children, of whom the ten following are living: Clara, the wife of Albert Ayers, of Sumner County, this State; Emma, Mary, William, Lucy, Charles, Eva, Viola, Laura, and one not yet named.

             In 1856 our subject removed from Ohio to Henry County, where he remained until 1861. The two years following he spent in Knox County, in the same State, but in 1873 came to Kansas and settled in Sumner County, where he made his home until 1885. He then came to Sedgwick County, and settled on the farm where he is living, and where he owns nearly a half-section of land. Besides this fine estate he possesses 160 acres of land in Sumner County. His place is under the highest cultivation, and is considered one of the finest in the township. His residence, which is one of the handsomest and best in this portion of Sedgwick County, the neat and commodious barns, and substantial out-buildings, are a standing monument to his industry, energy and business tact, as he is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word. All that he is the possessor of has been the result of his own efforts, as he started in life in comparative poverty, but is now in his declining years enjoying the wealth that he has accumulated by years of toil, and in fond recollections of a life spent in deeds of usefulness and in industry.

              In his politics, our subject is a stanch adherent to the principles of the Republican party, in which he sees the best guarantees for the preservation of our National liberty.

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