Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....DeLair, Peter H. 1837 - 1904 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 21, 2005, 11:08 pm Author: B. F. Bowen PETER H. DELAIR. Peter H. DeLair, deceased, who was one of the early pioneer farmers of Marshall county, was born in Canada on February 4, 1837, and died in the year 1904. He received his education in the schools of his native country and there he grew to manhood and engaged in general farming. In 1863 he was united in marriage to Susan A. Dickhout, who was also born in Canada on February 28, 1840, the daughter of Henry and Sarah Dickhout, natives of that country, but of German and English parents, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. DeLair were married in their native country and there they resided until 1867, when they came to the United States, where they might have a better opportunity to obtain a home for themselves. On their arrival in this country they at once came to Kansas and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Herkimer township, Marshall county. During the early years on their new tract of land, they lived in the style of house common to that section in those early days, but some years later they built a substantial residence, one of the best in the district. The farm was developed and improved and Mr. DeLair became one of the successful and progressive men of the cotinty. He and his wife had one thousand dollars when they ventured into the new land and amid new conditions, but by hard work and strict economy they saw their early savings grow into larger proportions. They continued to live on the homestead farm until 1903, when they retired from the more active duties of life and moved to Oketo, where Mr. DeLair died the next year. He was a man of pronounced convictions and was held in the highest regard by all. He was an excellent farmer and a worthy citizen. He with his wife and two children suffered many of the hardships common to the early settlers in a new country, yet they had plenty of plain food and their lives were made happy with the anticipation of a better home in the near future, and with their children they enjoyed many pleasant days. Both Mr. and Mrs. DeLair took the greatest interest in township and county affairs and their every effort was to advance the best interests of all. They had much to do with the moral, social and educational progress as well as the physical development of the home district. They always lived noble and active lives and at the death of Mr. DeLair the community knew that they had lost an excellent citizen and a kind neighbor. Both were members of the Baptist church and took much interest in all religious work. They were members of the Good Templars and the Grange. Peter H. and Susan A. DeLair were the parents of the following children: John E., Ethelbert D., William E., Edmund W., Clement M., and Cynthia A. John E. was born on December 29, 1865, and is now a general merchant at Oketo. He married Ida Blackburn, of Alpena, Michigan, and they are the parents of four children as follow: Blanche, George, Norma and Raymond. Ethelbert D. was born in 1867 and is now a resident of Junction City, Kansas; William E., who was born on May 22, 1870, is now the head miller at the Hutchinson mills at Marysville; Edmund W. was born in January, 1873, and is engaged in general farming and stock raising on the home place; Clement M. was born on December 12, 1875, and is a successful hardware merchant at Oketo; Cynthia A., who is a twin of Clement M., is the wife of N. Brubaker, of Oketo, and is the mother of two children, Myrle and Edna. Mrs. DeLair is still living at her home in Oketo at the age of seventy-seven years and is a most remarkable woman for one of her years. She is a most interesting person to meet and her many interesting stories of the early days on the plains of Kansas are instructive and are impressive of the great work clone in those days by the men and women, who by their determination and hard work have transformed Marshall county into one of the finest sections of Kansas. Mrs. DeLair makes her own dresses and those of her daughter and granddaughter, and it is one of her greatest pleasures to assist others in the duties of the home. She still takes much interest in her church work and when her health permits she is a regular attendant at the church services. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/delair56bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb