Peelle

William Johnson Peelle, son of Passco  Peelle and Martha Johnson, was born on New Year’s Day in 1856. He was their only son.

Moving to Kansas

When his family moved to Hiattville, Kansas,  William J. stayed behind in Indiana to take care of business and ship household goods to Kansas.    It was about this time that William J. began documenting his activities in a journal. Most of the entries were about his work activities or the places he visited. Few women were mentioned unless they were a widow.  He even referred to his sisters’ homes by their husbands’ names.  His entries were brief and he was a master of the understatement.  A good example is his entry for the day one of the worst cold fronts came down from Canada killing many people across the Dakotas and Nebraska, he simply stated that it was cold.  Similarly, the day his first child was born, he said that he did not work due to sickness in the family.  He continued his journals for nearly 15 years. Why he stopped is unknown. 

Read William J.’s journals . . . 

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Arriving In Hiattville

After completing the business in Indiana, William J. traveled to Hiattville via train.  Then he headed out to the farm his father had purchased north of Hiattville near the Scofield School.  William J. was a carpenter and added a kitchen and other improvements to this home.  A few years later, they moved into Hiattville, purchasing several lots with some in the business district, where William J. had his carpentry shop, and in the residential area.

Marriage

In 1892, William J. married Matilda Jury, daughter of John Charles and Matilda (White) Jury. By the time they decided to move again, they had a daughter Lydia with another daughter, Nellie, on the way.  With this move, they sold their lots in Hiattville and moved to a property 4 miles west of Hiattville.  Passco, Martha, William J., Matilda, and their growing family moved into a nice two story home.  However, they did not stay long at this residence.  They sold the property, moved to another nearby home for a very brief time, and then returned to the property north of Hiattville.  After they moved out of the home west of Hiattville, it burnt.  However, members of the family later lived in another house (a converted school) on the same property for many years.

The Final Move

Then in 1906, Passco, Martha, William J., and Matilda moved the family, which now included three children, one last time to the property a mile north of the Bourbon-Crawford County line just off Highway 7.  

The Children

William J. and Matilda three children were:

• Lydia never married.  She was a working woman and lived in Wichita for most of her adult life.  She eventually returned to Fort Scott where she lived out her retirement.
• Nellie♥
• Passco “Pat” R. married Verda Carson.  They had a son Paul that died in an accident at age 12.  They also adopted a daughter Roberta “Bobbi.”  In addition to farming, Pat drove a street car in Wichita for a period of time.