My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD DISNEY.
Richard Disney, who died October 20, 1902, was one of the leading farmers and highly respected men of Monmouth township, Shawnee County, for many years and was one of the early settlers, coming in 1856. He was born June 7, 1824, in Maryland, and was a son of Mordecai and Axium Disney.

The parents of Mr. Disney were farming people. They had a large family consisting of eight sons and two daughters, the only two to come to Kansas being our subject and his brother William; all are now deceased, Richard, the eldest, being the last to pass away.

From Maryland, Richard Disney went with his parents to Ohio and thence to Henderson County, Illinois, being about 15 years old at this time. He lived in Illinois until 1856, when he came to Shawnee County, both he and his brother William preempting land here and living together. He started with one quarter-section but at the time of his death owned 362 ½ acres, in one body and also other tracts. He was a large cattleman and was accustomed to winter 100 head. During the Civil War he was a member of the State militia and served 15 days in the campaign against General Price. Although he was a stanch member of the Republican party, he never wanted political office, consenting only to serve on the School Board.

Mr. Disney was first married to Lavina Anderson, who died in Illinois and left one son, Wesley, who is a resident of Chautauqua County, Kansas. On July 19, 1857, he was married, second, to Angeline Gregory, who was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, December 21, 1828, and when three years old accompanied her parents to Galena, Illinois, and in 1856 came with her widowed father and her four brothers to Kansas. Her parents were David and Naomi (Walters) Gregory, natives of Virginia and of Ohio. Of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory’s 10 children, Joel, the eldest, died in the Mexican War. Mrs. Disney was next oldest; she has a brother in Illinois and one in California. Mr. and Mrs. Disney had eight children, three of whom died in infancy, the survivors being: Mary Florence, George W., Charles and Clara E. Julia died aged 14 years.

Mr. Disney was in poor health for some years, but he bore his afflictions with patience. He had always been careful and industrious and left his family a large and valuable property. Mrs. Disney has 178 acres and her son Charles has the remainder of the estate. It is well cultivated and improved and would bring a high price in the market.