Biography of John W. Pedigo [#136-146-3]

John William "Willie". & Nancy C. "Nannie" (Payne) Pedigo & Family, 1901-02
Opal May, Chester Earl, Vera Lee and Cliffort Burt

The name borne by the subject of this sketch is one which has long been identified with the annals of American history, and the genealogical line is traced back to the Old Dominion, where the original American progenitors located in the early colonial epoch, and whence representatives of the name removed to Kentucky, while in latter generations the name has figured in connection with the civic and industrial life of various and widelyy separated sections of the Union, ever standingexponent of honorable and useful citizenship. John W. Pedigo is a worthy scion of the stanch old stock and is now numbered among the representativ and progressive farmers and stock growers of Pratt county, where he has maintained his home for nearly two decades, having a finely improved and attractive farm estate in Logan atownship, his property being one of the best in this section of the Sunflower state.

Mr. Pedigo is a native of the state of Kentucky, having been born on a farn near the beautiful old town of Bowling Green, Warren county, on the 16th of January, 1863, at which time that section was the scene of much turbulence and unrest, by reason of intermediate position during the Civil war. The family was well known in Warren and Barren counties, representatives of the name having been prominent in connection with the annals of that locality for many years. Our subject is a son of Willis H. Pedigo, who was likewise born in Warren county, Kentucky, where he passed his entire life, passing away at the age of fifty-two years. He was a son of William Pedigo, who was born in Virginia, whence he removed to Kentucky in an early day and there devoted the remainder ofhis life to agricultural pursuits. Willis H. Pedigoo was a blacksmith by trade, being a good mechanic, and devoting his attention to his trade, in connection with farming, during the greater portion of his active business life. He was a man of the highest integrity, of broad intellectuality and strong convictions, and to him was ever accorded the highest degree of respect and confidence on the part of all who knew him. His life was one of signal usefulness and honor and was prolific in goodly results. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, and he guided his life in all its relations in harmony with the Christian professions which he made. He married Miss Mary Holman, who was born in Warren county, Kentucky, where she was reared and educated, being the daughter of John Holman, who was likewise born in that state, a member of one of its sterling pio;neer families. She is still living, maintaining her home in Logan township, Pratt county, Kansas, and having here the loving care and solicitude of her children and the affection of a wide circle of friends, who revere her for her gentle and noble womanhood and her unfailing kinliness in all the associations of life. Of her six children we incorporate brief record, as follows: Henry C. is a well known citizen of Pratt county, being engaged in the hardware business in the city of Pratt, the official center of the county; Pernia is the wife of William Shive, of Harvey county; John W. is the immediate subject of this review; Addie is the wife of Charles McNown, of Woods couonty, Oklahoma; Minnie married Thomas Pedigo and is a resident of Enid, Garfield county, that territory; and Joseph E., who makes his life business that of a comedian.

The Pedigo family removed from Kentucky to Kansas in the year 1881, settling at Burrton, Harvey county, where they remained until 1884, when they came to Pratt couonty and wettled on the old homestead where the mother of our subject now lives, as does also he himself, although he is soon to move with his family on to his own place situated in Carmi township. Here they developed an excellent farm, making the best of improvements, including a commodious and substantial residence, good barns and other outbuildings, while the land has been placed under the most effective cultivation. The estate comprises three hundred and twenty acres and, as has been previouslly noted, it is one of the best farms in the county, being devoted to general agriculture, with two hundred acres under cultivation, while on the place Mr. Pedigo has been very successful also in the raisiing of a high grade of live stock, so directing his energies as to secure the best results from his labors, and being known as a scientific and progressive farmer, -- one who brings to bear brain as well as brawn in his operations and one who recognizes that business principles are involved in the proper prosecution of the art of husbandry to as great an extent as in any other line of industrial enterprise.

Mr. Pedigo was reared on a farm in his native county and received his educational discipline in the public schools of Kentucky. He was eighteen years of age at the time when the family removed to Kansas, and he passed the first three years in Harvey county, after which he came to Pratt county and has here continuously resided since, gaining recognition as one of the reliable, progressive and successful young men of the county and retaining the unequivocal esteem of all who know him.

In 1893 Mr. Pedigo returned to Kentucky, and there, on the 28th of May, was united in marriage to Miss Nannie Payne, who was born in Warren county, that state, the daughter of Barnett and Rebecca (Huckaby) Payne, both natives of Kentucky, where Mr. Payne is a prominent farmer and stock-grower. He and his wife became the parents of six sons and two daughters, namely: William, Thomas, Pucy (the wife of James M. Stalcup, of Pratt county, Kansas), Joseph, Henry, Benjamin, Nannie (Mrs. Pedigo) and Dennis. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Pedigo returned with his bride to his home in Kansas, and here have been born to them four interesting children, -- Opal May, B. Clifford, Chester Earl and Vera Lee. Mrs. Pedigo is a woman of gracious refinement, and the family home is one in which a generous hospitality is ever in evidence, the same figuring as a favorite resort in connection with the social activities of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Pedigo are prominent members of the Christian church in Preston, in which our subject holds the office of deacon, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen. He takes a deep interest in the causes of religion and education, is public-spirited in his attitude and lends his aid and influence in support of all owrthy measures and undertakings which tend to promote the social and material welfare of the community. Though he has had no political ambition in a personal way, he gives his allegiance to the Republican party and has well fortified convictions as to matters of public policy, being a man of marked intellectuality and broad general information. Mr. Pedigo has achieved a position of prominence in his adopted state and is well entitled to representation in this publication.