CHENEY, Hamilton A. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Hamilton Ashenhust Cheney was born in Fountain County, Indiana on a farm July 25, 1839 and departed this life at his home in Great Bend, Kansas March 26, 1913 at the age of 73 years 9 months 1 day.  He had three brothers are sisters, all dead but one sister, living In Colorado.  He was married December 27, 1871 to Jeanettte McClure, who survives him.  To them were born four children: Martha McClure; Julia Eleanor; Fay and James Hamton. Fay passed to the Great Beyond at the age of five years. The remaining members of the family all reside at the home in this city. At the beginning of the Civil War, Mr. Cheney then a young man, enlisted in the Federal Army, his first enlistment being in the 10th Indiana on the first call for volunteers for three months service. He was one of the very first to enlist in that part of Indiana. At the end of three months service, though free to leave, he reenlisted but this time in the 116th Ind in which he served out that  year, afterwards entering the service of the 72nd Indiana. In all he served his country as a soldier for about three years.  Soon after entering the service his regiment saw service in the Battle of Rich Mountain Virginia one of the first of the war a battle which Mr.  Cheney was accustomed to being described as short but furious, fierce and bloody, the character of which impressed itself upon his memory ever afterward and giving him that hatred of war which afterward became an intense passion in his life. To him it was a horrible thing.  He was always a member of the Christian Church. After the war he came to Kansas first to Washington County in which county he took up government land. He lived there for 21 years Coming as he did with his young wife to Kansas in those stirring days to a county undeveloped, he had shared in the hardships incident to pioneer life. Republic County where he settled has now become one of the best parts of the state of Kansas. Later he came to Barton county and for a number of years has been a resident of this city.  During the past winter he had suffered considerably from cold and lagrippe and had been confined to his home much of the time. Being of a very ambitious nature he craved for some form of activity. Exposure to rigors of the winter he contracted cols which resulted in pneumonia. Then when he seemed to be recovering he suffered from a relapse. Only a week ago he was seen on the streets of the city. But the end came very sudden at the last and on March 26th he quietly passed away. In this bereavement Mrs. Cheney and family have the sympathy of their many friends and of the community. Mr Cheney was well known in this community. It is not necessary for the writer to seek to describe Mr. Cheney’s views, either to defend, attack or apologize for them. Everybody knew Mr Cheney’s views. Everywhere he went he proclaimed and defended them.  He was an ardent Socialist had read widely, both in current literature and the Bible, and possessed a fund of information on public questions which might well be coveted by any man. His interpretation of Christianity was that it must change this world and give men happiness here. In this faith he lived and died. If Mr. Cheney had any faults they grew out of his vitues and excellencies. He was zealous, earnest, enthusiastic and dreamed of, hoped for and labored to bring into existence the Kingdome of God upon earth, walking in the light, as he saw it and those of his faith in this community have certainly lost in his death one of their best workers and the community will remember him as one who gave himself unreservedly to a cause in which he fervently believed, while all of us may emulate his example by giving ourselves whole-heartedly to whatever cause we espouse.

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