Notes for Jonathan W Callender: From a Directory of Fayette County: 1878 History
CALLENDER, J.W., Principal of the Elgin Public Schools;
Born in Union Tp., Luzerne Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1843; Removed with his parents to Boone Co., ILL., in 1854; In 1856 came to Chickasaw Co., came to Fayette Co., in 1868. He married Sarah E. Gardner, Nov. 18, 1874; she was born in Center Co., Penn., June 1, 1847.
Nancy Tipton Gardners death notice says she died at Callenders home in Stockton, KA and the body was accompanied on trip to West Union, IA by Mrs Callender who is Sarah, WWs and Josephs sister.
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM A BOOK ABOUT ROOKS COUNTY, KS, FOUND IN THE GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY IN SALT LAKE CITY
Dr. William B. Callender
Jonathan W. Callender
Brothers who played important roles in the early life of Rooks County were Jonathan W. and William Bradley Callender. Sons of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Callender who left their native state of Pennsylvania to help develop a newer area, Iowa, the brothers inherited the same spirit of adventure which led them in adulthood to Kansas and settlement in Stockton where both lived out the remainder of their lives. J. W., as he came to be known, was the first to arrive in 1878. W. B. "Doc" Callender, who appears at this distance to have been the less aggressive of the two, came in 1889. Both were well educated: J. W. was a graduate of a Methodist Episcopal institution in Fayette, Iowa, and W. B. graduated from Iowa University, after which he gained medical education at Drake University. Both were members of the Congregational Church in Stockton, an early force for education in the area.
As one reviews accounts of the lives of the two, written at times of death, J. W. at age Seventy-seven and W. B. at sixty-nine, vastly different images emerge. J. W. appears to have been gregarious to an extreme. He brought a wife with him to Kansas. the former Sarah E. Gardner, and when no children came to the union, they opened their home to others, first to a niece, Lydia Callender, and later to an adopted daughter, Marguerite. J. W. was a prominent businessman, dabbling in many ventures. Prior to coming to Stockton he had been a school teacher, a superintendent of schools and an assistant county superintendent at Elgin, Iowa. In the new locality of Rooks he held many real estate interests, he helped organize the Exchange Bank of which he was president for a time, went on to hold various county offices, one of which was clerk of the district court. He was a loyal member and attendant of his church and of the social organizations to which he belonged, chief of which in his interest were Newahcuba Lodge No. 189, Stockton, of which he was a charter member, Solomon Valley Chapter No. 81 R.A.M. and the Order of the Eastern Star, membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Rebekahs. He was widowed in 1913, did not remarry but continued to live a full and useful life until his health began to fail, at which time his adopted daughter, Marguerite, returned to care for him. Upon his death, the various organizations he had served were well represented and the Masonic Lodge had charge of the services at the grave side.
In contrast, W. B. "Doc" Callender never married, seemingly content to devote his life ministering to others. He might have been a successful surgeon, according to report, but preferred the more lowly office of general practitioner. His office was his home, he served as coroner of Rooks County and was county health officer. He practiced medicine for more than thirty years in Rooks County, gaining a reputation of unfailing devotion to his patients. Upon his death, those who had benefited from his ministrations bore witness to his efforts to heal the sick and to relieve the sufferings of the dying. However cold or stormy the day of the night, however muddy the roads, he was always available when the call came for his assistance, they said. An editorial written at the time of his death deplored the fact that he was lax in making collections for his services, and that many who could have did not pay. As a result, contrary to the good life enjoyed by his brother, "Doc" Callender had been forced to forego many of the comforts that money provides. The editorial ended thus: "He never considered the matter of pay and we are sorry to say scores if not hundreds of his patients did not consider it, either." Those who did and those who did not pay came in respect to his memory in numbers that filled the church as did the floral offerings. Fittingly, the scripture chosen was taken from Matthew 25 - 34 and from the 14th chapter of Job, and, as they were to do for his brother, J. W., thirteen years later, the masons buried another of their own and along with them a vital part of Rooks County history.
Submitted by Bernice Brown
ROOKS COUNTY RECORD
DEATHS
JONATHAN W. CALLENDER --------------
Jonathan W. Callender, was born in Bradford, Luzern County, Penn., on November 2nd, 1845 and died at Stockton, Kansas, December 27, 1932. He was the third son of J. F. Callender
In 1856, his parents moved to Chicksaw County, Iowa, where as pioneers they did their part in the early development of that state. J. W., as he was known by his friends, was educated in Upper Iowa University, a Methodist Episcopal Institution of Fayette, Iowa. After completing his education he taught school for a number of years in Iowa, ten of these years serving as Superintendent of Schools at Elgin, Iowa. He also acted as assistant County Superintendent of Schools in that county. On December 18, 1873 he was married to Sarah E. Gardner, and both he and his wife taught school for some years after their marriage.
He moved to Stockton, Kans. in 1878, where he has resided continuously till the date of his death. Mrs. Callender preceded him to the world beyond on October 18, 1913.
Mr. Callender was very prominent in business in his active years, and especially in the early history of Stockton and Rooks county. Many of the movements for the development and welfare of the town and country round about were given his earnest direction and help. For many rears he was a prominent merchant of Stockton. He held at times large real estate interests. He was one of the organizers of the Exchange Bank of Stockton, and was its president for a period of time in its early history. He bought the lots on which the Stockton National Bank now stands and built the building now used as a banking house.
He served as Clerk of the District Court of Rooks county from 1881 to 1884, and held other important offices in the town and county, and was for years after he had retired from business Trustee of Stockton township. He was a charter member of Newahcuba Lodge No. 189 A. f. & A. M., Stockton: Solomon Valley Chapter No. 81 R. A. M. and the Order of the Eastern Star, and was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Rebekahs. Many years ago he united with the Congregational church and until failing health prevented was a constant attendant upon its Sunday school and worship services.
Mr. and Mrs. Callender had no children of their own, but they loved children, and years ago a niece, Lydia Callender, lived with them, and later they adopted a girl, now Marguerite Burke, who has been staying with Mr. Callender and taking care of him for the past two years. One brother, Dr. W. B. Callender, came to Stockton after J. W. had been here for a number of years and was for many years a prominent physician, dying in February, 1919. He is survived by one brother, E. M. Callender of Clarion, Iowa, and his foster daughter, Marguerite.
This in brief is the story of the life of this friend and Neighbor, in whose memory many will ever cherish. He was permitted to live beyond the average years of man. He had witnessed the pioneer days and growth of two great stated. He had his part, and all was well. Wife, brothers and sisters preceded his beyond the shadows. for years he journeyed on alone to that horizon where the dusk is waiting for the night. He has left his community and friends the greatest heritage that man can bestow--the record of a long, good and wholesome life, and that of an honorable and useful citizen. He will be missed.
The funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon at the Congregational church, with Rev. Gonzales, the pastor, in charge. Interment was in the Stockton cemetery.
The various organizations of which he was a member were present and the Masonic Lodge had charge of the services at the grave.
More About Jonathan W Callender: Fact 1: Principal of Elgin, IA Public School.
More About Jonathan W Callender and Sarah E Gardner: Marriage: 12/17/1873, West Union, IA.
Children of Jonathan W Callender and Sarah E Gardner are:
Jonathan W Callender (b. 11/01/1843, d. 12/27/1932)
Notes for Jonathan W Callender: