■■ :'':^|i f *- I *''».i3^^4, AJ X^ V P'l y. y ■ V I W" >*i r^ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 189I BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE ft^ ^ .,/ N, I '5 ^ 1^ ^^ ''"'CALJ^fcii A V^I .0 .'^- Date Due AUG PRINTED IN (ttj =«T- T^ ^^ ^^^5^ ""y^' wj^ Cornell University Library F 687N3 T29 _ , History of Nemaha bounty. Kansas by^^Ral ^^ 3 1924 028 875 537 Overs W^ f? ,;^^ > j: E^J^' F 'M ^s^ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028875537 HISTORY OF Nemaha County KANSAS BY RALPH TENNAL ILLUSTRATED STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY Lawrence, Kansas 1916 I .i.^aivY /^i'nzi)!."^ DEDICATION THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLT DEDICATED TO THB PEOPLE OF NEMAHA COUNTY, WHOSE WHOLE- HEARTED INTEREST IN AND LOYAL SUPPORT OF THE MERITORIOUS PROJECT OF RECORDING IN IM- PERISHABLE PRINT THE WONDROUS AND VALUABLE STORY OP NEMAHA COUNTY'S INDUSTRIAL, CIVIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS, HAVE MADE ITS PUBLICA- TION POSSIBLE. ^ RALPH TBNNAL. FOREWORD "And further, by these, my son, be admonished : of making many books there is no end ; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." Ecclesiastes, xii. :xii. There are books and books, each purporting- to fulfill a mission. Since remote times man has endeavored in some manner to leave behind him the story of his accomplishments during his brief sojourn on earth. Primitive man first chiselled on imperishable stone in various crude ways the messages which he desired transmitted to his descendants ; the ancients inscribed history on tablets of clay ; in all parts of the known world are found the stories of its peoples inscribed in some form on crumbling monuments, on the walls of forgotten, buried cities — the mes- sages telling in graphic detail the story of the ancient peoples of the earth in the only manner which was possible to the inhabitants thereof. As enlightenment came gradually through the ages, the crude meth- ' ods of transmitting knowledge in vogue for untold centuries gave way to the written and printed pages which we have today, when the ability to read is universal throughout the land. Books have multiplied until their number is incalculable. A good book is a friend and companion. A book of history is not only enter- taining, useful, enlightening, but it is valuable and stimulating. We are inspired by the tales of accomplishment by our forefathers to do even greater things than they. We likewise take a just pride in our own deeds and successes. Macauley once wrote : "Show me a country whose people take no pride in their ancestry; they will produce no posterity worth while." It is well to delve into the past; strive in the present, and to look forward into the future. This volume of Nemaha County History tells of the past, which covers a brief span of three score years since the all- conquering American pioneer came into the prairie wilderness to create a home ; its pages likewise speak of the present — all of which is recorded for the benefit and inspiration of posterity. While Nemaha county is but a small plat of earth, it is very dear to all of us, and is an Empire builded by the hands of brave and hardy men and women, whose composite achievement is one of the wonders of the age. Created and grown beyond the wildest dreams of its creators from an unpeopled wilderness into a populous, wealthy, and thriving com- munity during the memory of living men, Nemaha county occupies a proud and enviable place among her sister counties in Kansas. The story of Nemaha county's settlement and growth is faithfully and entertainingly told in the succeeding pages. The facts herein set FOREWORD forth are not the result of mere guesswork ; they are taken from available records and transcribed as coming from the lips of old settlers who know whereof they speak. Many 'of these facts are necessarily "recollections of pioneers." All written history is founded on personal knowledge and observation. In my experience of twenty-eight years in the profession of writing for the public, I have found a wide variance in these "recol- lections." It is seldorh that two persons "recollect" alike. This curious phase of "recollecting" is easily explained from a psychological stand- point, and is attributive to the fact that any incident or occurrence af- fects each of several persons witnessing it in a different manner. Each may tell a story differently — but that divergence does not alter the his- torical value of the narration. It will be found that the facts set forth in this volume are essentially correct, and it \yill be "invaluable as a ref- erence work. This volume is issued not a day too soon. The men and women who made the history contained herein are rapidly passing away, and it is meet that their composite arid individual records be recorded. The book really represents the work of eight years, for we (my wife and I) have had a history of the county in mind for that length of time, and have been gathering material with that end in view. Were it not for the faithful and unremitting labors of Mrs. Tennal in making historical researches and transcriptions of our joint efforts during the many months which were required for the preparation of the text, I fear the task would not have been accomplished. Sincere and deep appreciation is acknowledged for assistance and contributions from Judge Rufus M. Emery, Ira K. Wells, Prof. W. R. Anthony, Roy Hessel- tine, Capt. Lewis Miller, Jacob Mohler, Dr. S. Murdock, Mrs. V. A. Bird, Mrs. Alice Gray Williams, Rev. P. Joseph Sittenauer and an endless number of kindly folk, including the newspapepr men of the county, who contributed their assistance and support freely, to the end that the people of Nemaha might have a history. RALPH TENNAL. July 30, 1916. ILLUSTRATIONS A Allen, L. D ■ 352 Anderson, Thomas S. and Family.- 424 Anthony, "Will R 428 Armstrong, Simon 708 Armstrong, Mrs. Emma 708 Ashley, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar 380 Austin, Albert L 660 Austin, Mrs. A. L 660 B Ballard, Mrs 272 Bell, Charles H 524 Bell, Mrs. Charles H 524 Beyreis, Charley 566 Bird, Virgil A 740 Bird, Mrs. Virgil A 740 Bouse, Dr. W. G 644 Bronough, Thomas and Wife 272 Bronough, Robert M. and Family.... 480 Broxtermann, Mr. and Mrs. William 272 Buening, John T. and Family 392 Burger, Marsh 272 Burger, Hiram and Wife 192 Business Section, Sabetha, Kansas 99 Business Section, Centralia, Kansas 128 C Calhoun, George 504 Caspy, Ed 272 Community Tabernacle, Seneca, Kansas 89 Cone, J. P. and Wife 272 Connet, Melville R 388 Court House, Seneca, Kansas 217 Cross Country Travel in Old Days.,.. 60 D Dennis, Mr. and Mrs. John 192 Dennis, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 567 Dennis, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W 192 Dennis, William 372 E Early Day Transportation on the Plains : 72 Emery, Judge Rufus M 336 Emery, E. J. and Wife 272 Bngelken, John 548 Engelken, Mrs. John 548 ,F First House Built in Seneca, Kansas 80 First National Bank Building, Sen- eca, Kans 228 Fleisch, Jacob 512 Fleisch, Mrs. Jacob 512 Ford, Benjamin F 612 Ford, Mrs. Benjamin F 612 Ford Residence, Benjamin F 614 Ford, John M. and Wife 192 Four Generations of Kansans 380 Fuller, John 340 Fuller, Mrs 272 Funk, Mr. and MIrs. John N 440 Punk, David and Wife, and the Punk Farm Home 580 G Gage, Orange M 192 Gillaspie, J. W 566 Gillaspie, Mrs. J. W 566 Graney, Mr. and Mrs. James 272 Gregg, James 272 H Hamilton, Peter 192 Hanks, E. N. and Wife 192 Hawley, Mrs. Margaret 192 Hecht, Louis and Family 508 Hidden, Dr. J. S. and Wife 192 High School Building, Centralia, Kansas 257 High School Building, Sabetha, Kansas 243 High School Building, Seneca, Kan- sas 241 Huls, Henry and Family roe Humphrey, Scott B 192 J Jackson, Lyman R 432 Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Richard. 192 Johnstone, William 756 Johnstone Family, Pour Genera- tions of 756 Johnstone, James 756 ILLUSTRATIONS Johnstone, Mrs. James, Daughter and Granddaughter 756 Johnstone, James, Sons and Daugh- ters 758 K Karns, George -.- 400 Karns, Caroline 400 Kassens, Rev. Fr. Edwin 456 Kelley, Mrs .'- 272 Kinyon, Iris J 566 Krogmann, Charles 724 Krogmann, Mrs. Charles 724 L Lappin, Samuel 192 Law, John W 540 Law, Mrs. John W 540 Lehmann, John U. and Wife 444 Lockard, Isaac C 676 Mc McGehee, Jacob 272 McKay, Dr. D. B. and Wife 272 McManis, John oS4 McNergney, Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Son, Quentin 380 McQuaid, Peter and Wife 272 M Main Street, Wetmore, Kansas 122 Main Street, Corning, Kansas 113 Main Street and Business Section, Seneca, Kansas 81 Maxson, Dr. J. C. and Family , 448 Merrick, George 192 Miller, Jacob J 628 Miller, Mrs. Mary M 628 Mitchell, Joshua 360 Myers, Sol R. and Family 344 N Nemaha County Old Settlers 1 192 Nemaha County Old Settlers II 272 Neville, Mr. and Mrs. James 192 Newton, Mrs. James L 192 Nichols, Henry B 484 Nichols, Mrs. Henry B 484 Niel, Daniel 192 Nolte, Alois and Family 532 P Peckham, J. H. and Wife 272 Pelton, E. R 192 Pioneer Home, A 46 Price, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel N. 464 Public and Church Buildings, On- eida, Kansas 140 Public School. Building, Goff, Kan- sas J... ; 246 Public School Building, Wetmore, Kansas 252 R Reed, Peter H 496 Reed, Mrs. Sarah E 496 Rethmann, Clements S 516 Rethmann, Mrs. Agnes 516 Ridgway, Charles W 472 Ridgway, Mrs. Charles W 472 River Scene 35 Robertson, Mrs. Inez 788 Rottlnghaus, Bernard H. and Fam- ily 488 S Sabetha Hospital, Sabetha, Kansas 237 Sams, Joshua 272 Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. Mat 356 Schneider, Mat. and Family 356 Scott, Mrs. Catharine and Family.... 692 Severin, Joseph F., Farm Residence of 772 Sharp, George 192 Shaul, George A 348 Sheppard, Mr 192 Sly, Mr. and Mrs. John 272 Smith, John J 492 Smith, Mrs. John J 492 Starns, Francis M 644 Stirk, P. H 272 Swartz, Albert 500 Swartz, Mrs. Albert 500 Swartz, Henry 500 Swartz, Mrs. Henry 500 St. Mary's Parochial School, St. Benedict, Kansas 264 Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, Sen- eca, Kansas 304 St. Mary's Church, St. Benedict, Kansas 300 St. Bede's Church, Kelly, Kansas 307 T Taylor, J. E. and Wife 272 Taylor, J. P 272 Tennal, Ralph Frontispiece Thompson, Howard 788 Thompson, Mrs. Lydia M 788 Thompson, Richard S 788 ILLUSTRATIONS Thompson Farm Residence 788 Trees, Mattie 262 Trees Family, Pour Generations 380 Trees, Andrew Jackson and Wife.— 280 Turner Hall, Bern, Kansas 117 U Ukele, Fred and Grandson, Fred 408 W Weart, Samuel 408 Wells, William R 192 Wells, Abijah 323 Wells, Ira K 360 Wheat Harvest Scene in Nemaha County 176 Williams, Capt. A. W 192 Williams, George W. _ 416 Williams, Mrs. Alice (Gray) 416 Williams, Laurin L 416 CONTENTS CHAPTER I. GEOLOGY AND THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD. Scientific Terms — "Pliocene" — Evidence of Coal and Oil — Brick Clay — Cretaceous Niobrara Formation — Fossils — Loess Soil — Elements of Soil — Plant and Animal Life — Evolution — Car- boniferous Age — Rock Formations — Upheavals — Glacial- Theory Pages 33-37 CHAPTER H. EARLY TIMES. Significance of Name — Nemaha County Visited by Coronado in 1541 — Coronado's Report — Fremont's Expedition in 1841 — Mormons — "Forty-Niners" — Freighters — H. H. Lynn — Jo- seph Griffin — Edward Avery — ^Travelers' Graves — Majors and Russell — Old Trails — Stage Lines — Overland Traffic — . Early Day Prices — Fares — Route from Atchison .... Pages 38-44 CHAPTER HL FIRST SETTLEMENTS. At Baker's Ford — Early Settlers — Settlers Hold Meeting — First Bridge — ^Other Families Come — Election Held — -Boundaries Defined — First Townships Settled — Samuel Magill — David Locknane — First Negro Settler — Settlement in Rock Creek — Other Townships Formed — Neuchatel — Home Township — Seneca, the County Seat — Ferry — Election District — First White Child Born in Seneca — Early Day Postmasters . . Pages 45-50 CONTENTS CHAPTER IV. FOUNDING OF TOWNS. Original Townships — Present Townships — Original Towns — Free State Towns — Present Towns and Villages — Central City, the First Town — First Mill — First School — Richmond Incorpor- ated — Temporary County Seat^Ash Point — Urbana — Pa- cific City — Granada — A. B. Ellit — Capioma — County Seat Election — Seneca Won — Court House Burned Pages 51-55 CHAPTER V. FIRST EVENTS AND INSTITUTIONS. First White Child — First Marriage — First Bridge — First Teacher — First Piano — Indians Perplexed — The Whittenhall Fam- ily — First County Commissioners — First Census — Dr. String- fellow and Jim Lane — Judicial District — Judge Horton, First Judge — Election — Political Meeting — An Emigrant Band — Mormons — First Store at Fidelity — The Wempe Family .... Pages 56-62 CHAPTER VI. INDIAN HISTORY. Traditions of Great Dakotahs — Treaty of 1806 — Believed in a "Great Spirit" — Treaty With the Government — Ceded Lands, — Pottawatomies — Aunt Lizza Roubidoux Barrada — Pawnee Burial Ground — Characteristics — Vanished Race — Treasure Relic — An Indian Tragedy — No Resident Indians — a Mod- ern Incident — An Indian Burial — Modern Conditions — Res- ervations — Soldiers Pensioned Pages 63-69 CHAPTER VII. TRANSPORTATION . Early Day Methods — The Ox Team — Early Trails — Advancement Slow— Railroad "Talk"— Bonds Voted — St. Joseph and Den- ver — St. Joseph and Grand Island — Rock Island — Missouri Pacific Branches — How the Railroads Affected Towns — "Railroads on Paper" — Automobiles — St. Joseph and Grand Island the Pioneer Railroad — ^A Trading Post — Freighting — Ferry on the Big Blue — Government Lays Out a Military Road — California Emigration — Stage Lines — -Marysville, Pal- metto and Roseport Railroad-^Other Railroal Companies . . . Pages 70-78 CONTENTS CHAPTER VIII. SENECA, THE COUNTY SEAT. Selected for County Seat — Town Founded — First House and Store — Second Structure — A Literary Blacksmith — Hotel and Mill — Other Buildings and Early. Day Enterprises — Business Booms — Growth of Town — Advantages of Seneca — Prog- ress — Business Enterprises and Professions — Guilford Hotel — A Colony Comes from England — Their Early Struggles — Interesting Citizens — Jake Cohen — Civic Improvement — Com- munity Church — Tabernacle — High School Building — Mu- nicipal Light and Waterworks — City Hall Pages 79-91 CHAPTER IX. SENECA SHALE BRICK INDUSTRY. An Agricultural Community — The One Exception — Important In- vention — The "Klose Continuous Tunnel Kiln" — A Visit to the Seneca Shale Brick Company's Plant — Interview With Mr. Klose — Organization of Company — Beginning of Indus- try — Period of Uncertainty — Present Capacity — Capitaliza- tion Pages 92-97 CHAPTER X. SABETHA. Unlike Other Towns — Name — Sabetha Excels — A Healthful CH- mate — ^^Model Town — Prosperous Citizens — Farm Products Shipped — Prominent Men — An Incident of Honor — Sabetha People Everywhere — How Named — Town Located — Town Company Organized — Organization — The Library — A Rare Host — Industries and Business Houses — Albany, the Mother of Sabetha — Reminiscences of the Late J. T. Brady. .Pages 98-1 11 CHAPTER XL CORNING. Its Peculiarities — A Solid Town — Founded By a Colony from Galesburg, 111. — Dr. McKay — Named in Honor of Erasmus Corning — Postoffice Established in 1867 — First Store — Location of Town Changed When Railroad Was Built — First Hotel — Jacob Jacobia — First School — Present School — Dr. Magill — Modern Corning — Highest Point in County — Nathan Ford and the Drouth of i860 — Popula- tion and Business Houses Pages 112-115 CONTENTS CHAPTER XII. BERN. Town Founded in 1886 — Controversy Over Name — Altitude — Natural Advantages — Statistics — Churches — Societies and Lodges — Business Enterprises — Mineral Springs — As a Trading Point — Above the Average — Business Men .... Pages 1 16-120 CHAPTER XIII. WETMORE. A Shipping Point — A Railroad Town — Named for W. T. Wet- more — Postoffice Established in 1867 — Early Business En- terprises — First Events — A Hanging — Earliest Citizen — Pony Express and Overland Stage — Schools — A Jesse James Incident — Pioneers and Their Descendants — First Settler in Township — Prospecting for Coal — Bancroft — W. F. Turrentine — Cardinal Points oi Compass Disregard- ed Pages 121-126 CHAPTER XIV. CENTRALIA. Third Town in County — Townsite Selected — Moved to the Rail- road — Located by a Maine Colony — A Would-Be Seminary — Progress — -Incorporated — Library — Becomes City Proper in 1906 — Dr. J. S. Hidden — Prominent Newspaper Men — Schools — Vital Statistics — Home Association — Early Set- tlers Pages 127-133 CHAPTER XV. OTHER TOWNS AND VILLAGES. Goff — A Railroad Center^ — ^Named in Honor of Edward H. Goff — Location — Judge Donaldson — Mr. Abbott, First Merchant — Kelly — A Shipping Point — "The Kelly Boos- ter" — A Beautiful Church — The Kelly Bank — School — Business Enterprises — Pioneer Families — The Villages of Dorcas, Clear Creek, Sother, Price, Etc. — The Town of Baileyville Pages 134-138 CONTENTS CHAPTER XVI. ONEIDA. Founded by Col. Cyras Shinn — Election of Name — Liquor Re- striction — Supported Governor St. John^Postoffice — Early Enterprises — Churches — Substantially Built — School — "Real Estate Journal" — New York "Tribune" Reports of "Bleeding Kansas" — First Religious Service — Lodges and Woman's Clubs Pages 139-143 CHAPTER xyn. NEMAHA IN THE BORDER .W^AR. Anti Slavery Sentiment — Underground Railroad — John Brown Here — Rev. Curtis Graham — Recollections of William Gra- ham — Nemaha Not Seriously Affected — Quantrill — Slaves Here — ^Jim Lane Here — Mexican War Veterans .. Pages 144-148 CHAPTER XVHI. NEMAHA IN THE CIVIL WAR. Nemaha Responded Promptly^ — A Company Organized Here — George Graham Organized a Company — "John Brown's Body" — Belonged to the Seventh and Eighth Regiments — Real Warfare^Troops Return on a Furlough — Nemaha Soldiers in Important Engagements — Nemaha Boys in the Ninth Cavalry — Eleventh Regiment in Campaign Against Indians — Nemaha Soldiers Saw Much Service — Prominent Nemaha County Men in the Civil War — Grape Shot Found Here — War Relics Pages 149-161 CHAPTER XIX. THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. Nemaha Responds Promptly-Company K, Twenty-second Regi- ment — Equipment of Company — To Camp Alger, Va. — Drilling — Efficience— Foraging — Camp Mead, Pa. — ^^Mus- tered Out at Ft. Leavenworth — Captain Miller — Nemaha Always to the Front — A Sham Battle Pages 162-165 CONTENTS CHAPTER XX. AGRICULTURE. Marvelous Resources — Improved Methods — Evolution in Crop Raising — Live Stock — Comparative Statistics, 1875 to 191 5 — Increase of Land Values — Scientific Farming — Im- proved Stock — Prominent Breeders — Beef Cattle — Model Farms — Irrigation — States and Countries Represented — Survey of County — Cheese and Butter — Other Statistics — The Tractor as a Labor Saver — A Big Grain Business .... Pages 166-179 CHAPTER XXI. AGRICULTURE^ CONTINUED. Apple Orchards — Honey — Cattle Shipments — Prize Crops — Agricultural and Horticultural Society^ — First Annual Fair — Board of Trade — Repaying New York — A Freak Peach Tree — Prize Winners — Pure-Bred and "Scrub Com"- — Fletchell and Wright's $67,000 Grain Crop — Harvesting the Crop — As a Health Resort — Age of Nemaha — Jacob Fleisch's Quarter Section Tree Farm Pages 180-187 CHAPTER XXII. NEWSPAPERS. ; The First Newspaper — The Nemiaha "Courier" — Its Policy — John P. Cone, Editor — The "Courier-Democrat" — "Mer- cury" — The Seneca "Tribune" — Other Newspapers — Sa- betha Newspapers — Centralia, Corning and Goff News- papers — The Bern "Gazette" — The Wetmore "Specta- tor" — A Rare Newspaper Collection Pages 188-196 CHAPTER XXIII. BENCH AND BAR. A Lawyer and Judge — The Lawyer and Necessity of Law — Its Application — The Bench — Judicial Power Vested — Albert L. Lee — Albert H. Horton — Robert St. Clair Graham — Nathan Price — Perry L. Hubbard — Alfred G. Otis — David Martin — Reuben C. Bassett — John F. Thompson — Rufus M. Emery — William I. Stuart — District Clerks — Sheriffs — County Attorneys — Probate Judges Pages 197-204 CONTENTS CHAPTER XXIV. THE BENCH AND BAR, CONTINUED. The Bar-;-A Lawyer's Duty — His Work — Resident Lawyers — Nernaha Attorneys Who Have Attained Distinction — Expe- riences of Lawyers — Senator Ingalls — Cases — Early Juries — Important Cases — Louis Lorimer and Regis Loisel Titles — Railroad Bond Case — Noted Criminal Cases — State vs. Carter and Winters — State vs. Wilton Baughn — State vs. Blancett — State vs. John Craig — State vs. Mrs. Frank Mc- Dowell — State vs. Thomas Ramsey — State vs. Fred Kuhn Pages 205-215 CHAPTER XXV COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND OFFICIAL ROSTER. First Election — Bogus Legislature — County Created— First Of- ficers — Members Elected to Second and Third Territorial Legislature — County Officers Elected in 1859 — First Court House — First Term of Court — District Judge — Grand Jury — An Important Case — Townships — Council — State Sena- tors — Territorial Representatives — State Representatives — Sheriffs — County Clerks — Registrars of Deeds — County Treasurers — Probate Judges — Superinteridents of Public Instruction — Clerks of District Court — County Commis- sioners — County Surveyors — Coroners — County Attorneys — County Assessors Pages 216-222 CHAPTER XXVI. BANKS AND BANKING. First Bank in the County — The Sabetha State Bank — Wetmore State Bank — First National Bank in the County — Bank- ing Interests Develop — Banks Organized — Changes and Consolidations — Farmers Bank of Morrill Organized — Present Banks — The National Bank of Seneca — First Na- tional Bank of Seneca — Citizens Bank of Seneca — The Na- tional Bank of Sabetha — The Citizens State Bank, Sabetha — Other Nemaha Banks Pages 22-^-234 CONTENTS CHAPTER XXVII. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. Prior to i860 — Early Day Doctors — Dr. Anderson, Dr. Hid- den — Well Known Physicians — First , Medical Society Or- ganized — Now a Part of the American Medical Associa- tion — Present Organization^Requirements to Practice — Hospital — Prominent Physicians and Surgeons . . . Pages 235-238 CHAPTER XXVIII. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. The Pioneers' Interest in Schools — First County Superintend- ent — Other Superintendents — Establishing Districts — Rec- ords Destroyed by Fire^The District School — Number of Districts — Ca,ndidates for Certificates in 1877, 1885, 1900 and 1915 — Officers and Teachers in i886^School Offi- cers, 1915-1918^-Joint Districts — County High School Plan Rejected — Consolidation — School Centralization — Notable Teachers— The Albany School — A Beloved Teach- er Pages 239-266 CHAPTER XXIX. LODGES AND SOCIETIES. Masonic, the First to Organize — Royal Arch Masons in 1877 — Grand Army of the Republic — Women's Relief Corps — Masonic — Odd Fellows — Knights of Pythias — Knights and Ladies of Security — Modern Woodmen — -Royal Neigh- bors — Ancient Order of United Workmen — Degree of Honor — Fire Department — C. M. B. A. — Organizations and Officers — Clubs and Social Gatherings , . Pages 267-275 CHAPTER XXX. MISCELLANEOUS. Calamities — Great Drouth of i860 — Grasshopper Visitation — The Cyclone of 1896 — John P. Cone's Experience — -Indian Massacre of Argonauts — ^An Exciting Buffalo Hunt — Re- miniscences of Alfred Stokes — The Orphan Population — The County Hospital Pages 276-287 CONTENTS CHAPTER XXXI. Nemaha's sons and daughters of renown. Dr. Benjamin L. Miller — Mrs. Ethel Hussey — Ex-Gov. W. J. Bailey — E. G. Stitt — Mrs. Nannie Kuhlman — Senator W H. Thompson — Mrs. Virginia Greever — Walt Mason — Frederick Gates — Rev. A. G. Lohman — Col. H. Baker — And Others Pages 288-296 CHAPTER XXXn. THE CHURCH IN NEMAHA COUNTY. First Sermon — Seneca Baptist Church Organized Here — Meth- odists in 1857- — Presbyterian Church in 1863 — Congrega- tionalists — Universalists — Roman Catholic — St. Mai"y's Church of St. Benedict — Sts. Peter and Paul's, Seneca — St. Bede's Catholic Church — Seneca Church Meetings — ^Sa- betha Churches — Centralia Churches— Wetmore Churches — Oneida Churches — Corning Churches — Churches of Other Towns Pages 297-321 CHAPTER XXXni. BIOGRAPHICAL. INDEX A Abbott, Chauncey M _.. . 689 Abbott, Edmund B 691 Adriance, Dora 810 Adrlance, George C — - 810 Allen, L. D : 352 Allison, Moses Henton 523 Althouse, Elmer E 454 AUhouse, Frank M 465 Anderson, Thomas S 424 Andrews, Frank ... , 6M Andrews, John W _ 577 Anthony, Will R 428 Armstrong, Simon ..._ 708 Ashley, Oscar S 642 Austin, Albert L 660 Ayers, Smith W 627 B Bailey, Ernest N 812 Bailey, Ira 727 Ball, William J 673 Baldwin, Horace M .-. 386 Bakfer, John T 527 Baker, John W 725 Barnes, James L 797 Barnes, John H 717 Ban-ett, James EYanklin 557 Bell, Charles H 524 Bergmann, Bernard 487 Beyreis, Charley. 565 Bieri, Frederick N 618 Biles, Jesse K 814 Bird, Virgil A 740 Bonjour, J. A. 807 Bonjour, Roland A 782 Bostwick, Willard M 811 Bottiger, Richard 423 Bouse, Dr. William G 645 Briggs, William H 665 Broadbent, Edwin 659 Broadbent, William 777 Brock, Martin T 749 Brokaw, John P 670 Bronough, Robert M 480 Brown, BYancis Walter 455 Brownlee, Jefferson 636 Buehler, Edwin ..^. 405 Buening, John Theo 392 Bumphrey, William 654 Burky, Emil R 641 Buser, Joseph J 381 Butler, John 775 Butts, John S 802 Butz, Ai M 666 Calder, William D _ 773 Calhoun, George 504 Campbell, David 572 Carlyle, William Logan 421 Carroll, Joseph P 513 Casey, Peter T 581 Chadwick, Samuel A 730 Clark, Frecey A 587 Clark, John L 393 Clemens, Hubert 662 Cole, Bert G 477 Collins, Arthur J 411 Connet, Melville R 388 Conrad. Dr. Burton 796 Conrad, Dr. George R 450 Conwell, Emery 511 C Cooley, Charles E 747 Cox, Posey W 794 Crawford", Lawrence M 460 Crowley, John W 767 Cummings, John P 433 D Dam, John P 652 Davis, Quinter 462 Davis, William 1 556 Dennis, William 372 Dignan, Patrick , 562 Donahue, Thomas 762 Donald, William H 656 Draney, John 357 Driggs, William W 601 Droge, Conrad 522 INDEX B Bhrsam, John 609 Eichenlaul), Henry 395 Eiohenmann, Albert C 520' Emery, Hon. Rufus M 336 Engelken, Henry 549 Engelken, John 548 Eisenbarth, John M 729 Eisenbarth, Michael 680 F Feldman, Henry 451 Firstenberger, Burnett G 385 Firstenberger, Daniel J 786 Fisher, Van Buren 397 Fitzgerald, David H -. 677 Fleisch, Jacob 512 Ford, Benjamin F 612 Ford, William C 537 Foster, Albert 804 Foster, Harry W 632 Foster, James Wallace 631 Fuller, John ; 340 Funk, Abram , 478 Funk, Chester A 671 Funk, David 580 Funk, Frederick W 707 Funk, James E = 668 Funk, John N 440 G Gabbert, Adolph J 776 Gabbert, Adolph, Jr 777 Gabbert, Augustus F 798 Gallentine, Henry 751 Gaston, Lawrence Howard 546 Geary, Frank L 332 Geren, John William 765 Gerkens, William 483 Geyer, Jacob 733 Gillaspie, John W : 566 Goodrich, Charles S 687 Gilmore, Roy Roscoe 693 Gilmore, Timothy 693 Gilmore, William Curtis ...: 709 Gladfelter, John P 457 Graham, Benjamin D 787 Gress, John 499 Grigsby, Claude : 780 Guild, Harry L 599 Guise, Charles 543 Gurtler, John 808 H Hamm, M. Grant 402 Hanni, Rudolph J 774 Harpenau, Henry 495 Hart, Benjamin F. 374 Hazell, Henson J 447 Hecht, Emil 530 Hecht, Louis 508 Heinen, John A 705 Heiniger, Frederick' 625 Heiniger, Gottfred :.... 506 Hennigh, David 434 Henry, Harry 755 Henry, Nick 721 Henry, Thomas 700 Hesseltine, Bert 597 Heuschele, Dr. William 576 Hibbard, Dr. Samuel M 431 Hilbert, Clarkson A 583 Hitchner, Daniel 805 Hitchner, Fidell G .' 806 Hittle, Harvey 770 Hoffman, Jacob H 611 Hollister, George B 606 Holsapple, Ira 792 Holston, Edgar B 563 Holthaus, F. J a?,9 Holthaus, Frank H 533 Horth, Edwin L 551 Huber, George W 553 Huls, Bernard ;.. 596 Hulsing, John G 489 Humphrey Brothers 630 Hybskmann, John William 575 Hybskmann, Ralph A 783 I Ingalls, Ray T 568 J Jackson, Lyman Robie 432 Jonach, Bmil J 486 Jonach, Charles H 634 Jonach Brothers 634 Jonach, Bmil, Sr 634 Jones, Jesse 778 Johnson, Irvin 366 Johnson, Samuel F 669 Johnson, William B 463 Johnstone, James 758 Johnstone, Otho L 729 Johnstone, Thomas P 712 INDEX Johnstone, William 756 Jorden, Charles 731 K Kams, George 400 Karns, William E. 769 Kassens, Father Edwin 456 Katz, Henry F 521 Keck, George E _ 597 Kelm, Otto A , 371 Kemper, Albert George 443 Kennard, Abble W 370 Kerl, John F. 528 Kerr, George 406 Ketter, John A _ 723 Ketter, Joseph B 675 Kimmel, Jacob 592 King, William M .-. 640 Kinyon, Iris J 564 Kirk, James E 538 Kirk, Lewis L 539 Klose, Karl W 399 Koelzer, Joseph P. 334 Kohler, George E 474 Kongs, William M 686 Korber, August 529 Krapp, Prank F. 502 Krogmann, Charles 724 L. Law, John W 540 League, Daniel A 753 Lehmann, John U 444 Livingood, Israel 723 Lockard, Isaac C 676 Long, John A 658 Long, William T 658 Lortscher, Christ 619 Lukert, John F 436 Lukert, William 470 Lynn, Clinton A 591 Lynn, Harvey H 744 Mc McCaffrey, Richard D 517 McCliman, Richard D 387 McClain, Samuel W 648 McCoy, John 437 McCoy, John 633 MoFall, Dennis 633 McManis, John 384 McNeil, Charles Sumner 552 McNeill, John 800 McNeill, William S 799 McQuaid, Jerome 491 M Magill, George A 476 Malone, Michael 771 Marshall, Elliot H 449 Martin, James E 732 Mather, Reuben Elbert 663 Mathews, Charles E 359 Mathews, Elmar Roy 367 Maxson, John C 448 Meisner, George W 617 Meisner, Herman 459 Meisner, Jacob 621 Meisner, John 458 Meisner, Thomas J 624 Melcher, Frank 785 Miller, Benjamin Leroy 629 Miller, Elmer A 578 Miller, Jacob J 628 Millick, Frank G 760 Mills, Ephraim G 594 Minger, Samuel 623 Mitchell, Daniel E 519 Mitchell, Joshua 360 Montgomery, George W 468 Mooney, James P 784 Moore, C. C 752 Morrell, Willis 688 Mueller, Robert G 343 Munsell, Rev. Samuel 737 Murdock, Samuel, Sr. 426 Murdock, S., Jr 430 Murphy, Edward R 350 Murphy, William Burt 378 Myers, George W 453 Myers, Solomon R 344 N Neff, Samuel C 620 Neumayr, Rev. Fr. Gregory 486 Newland, Lemuel L 761 Newman, Edgar M 422 Nichols, Henry B 484 Noble, Alexander 561 Nolte, Anton 532 Nusbaum, Andrew H 003 O Olberding, Frank A 490 Olberding, Joseph 534 INDEX P Parker, Courtland L 410 Partridge, Charles 637 Partridge, James 637 Pendergrass, Edward 467 Peret, Victor N 363 Pfrang, Fred 809 Phillips, George W 638 Plattner, John 413 Poison, Nels 569 Price, Daniel N 464 Pugh, John T 485 R Ralston, George M 593 Reed, Peter H 496 Reinhart, Jacob A 406 Reinhart, Jonathan 611 Rethmann, Benjamin C 542 Rethmann, Charles 516 Rettele, Joseph 498 Reynolds, Willie C 672 Ridgway, Charles W 472 Rilinger, John A 514 Roberts, Dr. James B 695 Ronnebaum, George 657 Rooney, Thomas E 347 Root, William H 452 Rosengarten, Theodore 482 Roth, John 604 Rottinghaus, Bernard 531 Rottinghaus, Bernard Henry 488 Rottinghaus, Henry 505 S Sanford, Lawrence V 466 Scanlan, Benjamin F 535 Scheier, Leo J 355 Schlaegel, William W 559 Schmidt, John M 515 Schneider, Gottlieb 698 Schneider, Mathias 356 Schoonover, Adolphus A 653 Scott, Philip J 692 Scoville, Courtney C. K 329 Schrempp, Charles F 333 Schumacher, Joseph 481 Schuneman, Louis 713 Severin, Frederick W 536 Severin, Joseph F 772 Shaefer, John M 475 Shaefer, Leonard M 587 Shaul, George A 348 Sherrard, William H 704 Shumaker, Frederick 754 Shumaker, Roy 754 Simon, Adam 377 Simon, Clayton K 573 Simon, Lorrain N 375 Skoch, John J 526 Slocum, Louis S 573 Smith, Alfred A 518 Smith, John J 492 Smith, William 646 Smith, William H 802 Smothers, John Leroy 544 Snyder, Henry Galen 390 Sourk, Chester G 718 Sourk, George W 683 Sourk, John Sherman 716 Sourk, William M 714 Spiker, Howard 738 Spiker, Melvin H 742 Spring, Earl C 616 Stallbaumer, George 494 Starns, Francis Marion, Sr. .'. 644 Starns, James F 470 Steele, Frank D : 570 Stein, Peter P 379 Steinmeir, Christian H 790 Stevens, Levi S 427 Stoldt, John 779 Strathmann, F. J 811 Stuke, Henry 547 Swart, John M 681 Swartz, Albert 500 Swartz, Henry 500 T Talkington, James M 558 Taylor, Bayard 719 Tennal, Ralph 813 Thiem, August 699 Thompson, Howard 788 Thompson, William 446 Thompson, William E 640 Thornburrow, Edward W 744 Thornburrow, Samuel 742 Tolliver, Charles R 684 Tomlinson, James 650 Townsend, Charles C 579 Trees, Andrew Jackson 380 Tryon, John F 510 Trask, Albert F 649 Turrentine, William F 746 INDEX U Ukele, Fred 408 V VanVerth, William H 541 Vernon; Edward S 585 W Wadleigh, Clarence Curtis 550 Walt, Herbert L 545 Waller, Peter P 702 Watkins, Charles J 661 Watkins, Frank J 571 Weart, Samuel 412 Weiss, Adolph 605 Weiss, Jacob Frederick 602 Wells, Hon. Abijab 323 Wells, Ira K :. 368 Wempe, Anton 345 Wempe, John 503 Wessel, Frank F 655 Westover, Ralph 710 White, Edward B 595 Whittle, Harry G 608 Wichman, Barney , 479 Wickins, David Durham 414 Wikoff, Henry L, 506 Wilcox, James E 764 Williams, Edmond B 589 Williams, George W. (Seneca) 328 Williams, George W. (Oneida) 416 Williamson, Andrew 439 Wilson, Robert B 588 Winkler, Barnard 365 Winkler, William 554 Wittmer, Jacob 622 Wittmer, William J 624 Wittwer, Jacob S _ 604 Wolfley, -Jacob 735 Woodbury, Fred Colfax 419 Woodworth, James E 574 Wurzbacher, William H 461 Y Young, Mrs. Emma 394 Z Zimmerman, John W 460 Zug, John 441 History of Nemaha County. CHAPTER I. GEOLOGY AND TH-E PREHISTORIC PERIOD. SCIENTIFIC TERMS PLIOCENE EVIDENCE OF COAL AND OIL BRICK CLAY' CRETACEOUS NIOBRARA FORMATION FOSSILS LOESS SOIL ELEMENTS OF SOIL PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE EVOLUTION CAR- BONIFERIOUS AGE ROCK FORMATIONS UPHEAVALS GLACIAL- THEORY. When one comes to write of the scientific part of ordinary .affairs, he is apt to run against a stone wall in the matter of words the first thing. Such unknown quantities as "pliocene," and "alluvian," and sim- ilar terms are handled by the scientist with a familiarity that is appal- ling to the mere lay writer. Going against this geological department was a matter that was tackled with fear and trembling. Armed with dictionary and encyclopedia and a severe, learned frown, the historian sat down to the typewriter. Sure enough, the first word mentioned in the geological matter at hand was "pliocene." Once for all, the his- torian would put "pliocene" in its proper place and fear the unknown quantity no longer. But Mr. Webster, himself, did not have much opin- ion of that word, for in the abbreviated office dictionary of the sainted Noah is found no such word as pliocene. This is the dictionary recom- mended to newspaper men, preachers and pupils. "Pliocene's" stock went down loo per cent, after several moments of faithful search. But the Encyclopedia Britannica is more severe than Mr. Webster, and it says of the word "pliocene :" "The name given by Sir Charles Lyell to the section of the upper tertiaries, because the organic remains found in it contain between sixty and seventy per cent, of living species. A greater per cent, than is contained in the older miocene, but not so great as that found in the later Pleistocene." There you are. You no sooner find one word than a host of others are thrown at you. The first thing is "tertiaries." That has to be looked up, and then there are those other " — ocenes" to go after. And no one would read this chapter at all if they were dug out. 33 34 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY The Encyclopedia Britannica confines its examples to England nat- urally. London, it seems, has pliocene beds, but Kansas and Nemaha county have too, although the encyclopedia fails their mention. Tertiaries is taken up by Mr. Webster who explains that it is "of the third order, rank, or formation." Pliocene therefore would be the second of the three geological formations or periods. The most import- ant part of this word, "pliocene," to Nemaha county, Kansas, is that pli- ocene beds make excellent fertilizer. Carboniferous and bituminous are words that have become as fa- miliar as alfalfa and millet of late. The evidence of coal in Nemaha county has encouraged to leasing of lands for oil-boring purposes. For where coal exists there may be oil also. From the neighborhood of Sycamore Springs in the northeastern corner of the county down to Centralia in the southwestern section, the oil leasing has been extended during this spring of 1916. The veins in northeastern Kansas are thin, but as near Nemaha county as Leavenworth are coal mines that have been producing for years. Wetmore, in Nemaha county, has made re- peated diggings for coal, and so sure were the early. settlers of sufficient coal to pay for mining, that one of the streams of the county is called Coal creek, and fuel is found along its banks today. The fire and brick clay in the region of Seneca is so excellent that a brick is made there, the superior of which has not been manufactured elsewhere, and the reputation of the kiln is international. The cretaceous Niobrara formation causes one to make another delve into the hidden secrets of Webster and Britannica. "Cretaceous," says Mr. Webster, is chalky. But, horrors! there's something wrong here. Niobrara, says the Britannica, is that section of a diocese of the American Episcopal Protestant church, now called the State of South Dakota. So we will pass to common every day language and really get some- where. Now, of course, you know by the fossil shells you pick up, that water has covered this region in ages before man came upon it. Scien- tists tell us that this once was an inland sea. The Missouri river is what remains of it. Long, untold ages ago, this great inland body of water brought down silt, which we now call loess soil (pronounced "less.") This loess soil has been identified as far west as Washington county. It is more distinct along the Missouri river, being recognized by its reddish color. It is the loess soil which makes the country about Doniphan county, Kansas, and Buchanan county, Missouri, (St. Joseph), supreme for fruit growing. There is no better soil in the world for such crops as ours than loess soil. What soil changes the ages have brought since the deposit of loess soil in this region is mere conjecture, but we know we have loam of exceptional productiveness. This loess soil is composed of fine sand and Hme with some clay, usually of a very uniform consistency and un- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 35 mixed with coarse materials. A little iron in its composition gives it its reddish tint. More frequently it has a fair proportion, over ten per THE STREAMS OF NEMAHA ARE BEAUTIFUL AND TEEM WITH FISH. cent., of carbonate and phosphate of lime and some potash, so that it becomes a rich ingredient, when mixed with the surface loam. 36 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY To get Xemaha county's first citizens we mijst look in the solid , rock, where lie buried the fossil remains of plants and animals. You may see them any day with a little search in a creek bed by picking up stones left there by freshets. This plant and animal life of the long ago now help us to promote our civilization today. Long before the human family saw the light of day, the seas swarmed with animal life, and the dry lands supported a fauna and flora of marvelous development and variety. All were strange and different from the plant and animal life, as we know it today. Nearly all of their kind became extinct with the changes of the earth's condition and the natural evolution of the species. In the world today there are but few evoluted representatives of this extinct life. The horse, centuries ago, an animal of immense size, through the passage of time and useless development, became a tiny animal. Today by careful breeding, training and domesticating, it has attained importance as the king of domestic animals. So it is with other animals in use on the farms of Nemaha county now. When Ne- maha county, for instance, was rugged, wild and unpopulated by man, the horse had five toes. Gradually through lack of use, the toes disap- peared until the hoof known on the animal today became the one best suited to its needs. From the ages ante-dating written history, we have representatives in different oceans, such as the brachiapods and other shell fish ; the crinoids or sea lilies and others of like character. Also, on the dry land, are found a few insects of the cockroach type and other creeping things which inhabit dark and damp places, animals of gloom on whose form the sunshine of day rarely falls. Science tells us of gigantic vegetation, which, at one time, covered Nemaha county. The modern cat tails, gathered by 'our children for torches in October, are descendants of prehistoric giants of their kind, which grew twenty times the size of their modern representatives, and grew beside immense lakes with which the land was covered, instead of the marshy streams of today. The little creeping vines which are seen along the fringe of trees by the creek are lineal descendants of mighty trees of the forests, in the long ago, while materials were gathering for the rock masses constituting Nemaha county. These rocks belong to the age known as Carboniferous. The earth, which is turned when we plow, is called the post tertiary of loose drift. The division below this is called Pliocene, or as told above, "the section of the upper tertiary which contains so great a per cent, of living spe- cies." Sandstone lies in this division. Beneath the tertiary pliocene division lies the cretaceous, or forma-' tion. which includes the Niobrara, the Fort Benton and Dakota stratas. It develops that the Niobrara is the South Dakota title of this geologi- cal condition. The name is taken from the former name of the State of South Dakota, as the Mississippian sub-division of the Carboniferous age is taken from the Mississippi, and the Pennsylvanian is taken from Pennsylvania. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 37 Sandstone, limestone and shale are found in the cretaceous deposit. Beneath the cretaceous division we have the rocks of the Carboniferous age. Limestone, shale and coal are the products of the Carboniferous age. In the upheavals of nature there has been more or less change in these stratas. You do not find a uniform depth at which the product of each age is found. At one time, quite recently, say a few mil- lion or billion years ago, climatic conditions changed in Nemaha county so that the snow falling during winter was not melted through the sum- mer. To the far north great quantities of snow and ice accumulated, and gradually spread over the surface of a large part of North America. Part of this ice mass moved slowly southward and covered all of Ne- maha county. It brought with it vast quantities of soil, clay and gravel. The deposits of this glacial period are boulders of different kinds, sep- arated by sands, gravels and clays, the last holding the remains of ani- mals, erratic rocks, masses transported great distances and evincing, by their size, that only floating ice could have carried them ; moraines, or the debris gathered in valleys by local glaciers. These evidences of the glacial covering are found everywhere in Nemaha county. There is a possibility that somewhere within Nemaha county, oil and. gas may be found, as there are outcroppings of coal from the car- boniferous period. CHAPTER II. EARLY TIMES. SIGNIFICANCE OF NAME NEMAHA COUNTY VISITED BY CORONADO IN I54IT— CORONADO'S REPORT FREMONT's EXPEDITION IN 184I MORMONS "forty-niners" FREIGHTERS H. H. LYNN JOSEPH GRIFFIN EDWARD AVERY TRAVELERS' GRAVES MAJORS AND RUS- SELL OLD TRAILS STAGE LINES OVERLAND TRAFFIC EARLY DAY PRICES FARES ROUTE FROM ATCHISON. Nemaha, "No Papoose," in its English significance, county, Kan- sas, bears the distinction of having been trod by the foot of white man long before the original thirteen coloiiies of the United States were touched by any but aborigines. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, coming up from Mexico, marched through Kansas leaving what is now the northern boundary of that State, which then was but an untried wilder- ness, by the way of Nemaha county. This was in the month of August, 1541. The Smithsonian Institute contains records of this famous ex- pedition. A Nemaha county man has written the story of this expedition into a book of charm and interest, and Nemaha county has passed into literature as well as ancient history. John C. Stowell tells the story ol the expedition of Coronado. Nemaha county at that time, with all the country north of the Kaw river to the fortieth latitude, by which Nemaha county is bounded on the north, was called Quivera. It was then occu- pied by the Pottawatomie and Fox Indians. But today Nemaha county, bearing its Indian name, is the one county in the northeast corner of Kansas having no Indiana reservation, and no resident Indians. Coronado said of Nemaha county: "The earth is the best for all kinds of productions of Spain ; for while it is very strong and black it is very well watered by brooks and springs and rivers. I found prunes (wild plums) like those of Spain, some of which were black; also some excellent grapes and mulberries." Nemaha county with the rest of the land of the untried West, was then covered with buffalo. Of them Cor- onado says, "All that way the plains are as full of crooked-back oxen as the mountain, Serena, in Spain, is of sheep." Coronado, in search of the famed City of Gold, which folks since then have sought in the ancient treasures of the Incas, from whence he came, possibly, was accompanied by perhaps thirty-six men when he reached Nemaha county. Provisions 38 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 39 failing before they reached here by a couple of hundred miles or more, his main body of Spaniards and 800 Indians turned back, and the In- domitable Thirty-six with their Chief, undiscouraged and unafraid, came alone. Exactly three hundred years later, the next known expedition of white men reached Nemaha county, which meantime had been left undis- turbed to the Indian and the buffalo. In the year 1841 John Charles Fre- mont was sent by Senator U. S. Benton of Missouri to the West to os- tensibly examine the region of the Des Moines river, but in reality to break off an engagement with the handsome young, lieutenant and Jessie Benton, the fifteen-year-old datighter of Senator Benton. He completed the work with the rapidity and ardor of an anxious lover and hastened back within a year when he secretly married his youthful fiancee. Then followed the famous expedition of Fremont to do geographical work in all the territories. On this trip toward the Rocky Mountains Fremont crossed Nemaha county. He entered the county just south of Sabetha, crossed Baker's Ford and followed a circuitous route toward the present location of Seneca, the county seat. The inability to cross the many Nemaha streams caused the tortuous path of the Fremont par- ty. The road he traversed, however, was the one followed by the Mor- mons in 1847, which was the third expedition of white men through the land of "No Papoose." It was the beginning of the Mormon ex- odus to Salt Lake. The California "fortyniners" followed this road in their da,sh for the fascinating gold fields of California. By this time peo- ple were beginning to stop in Kansas, to stake claims and to become residents. Many are the stories told today of the passing of the Califor- nia gold seekers through Nemaha county in those days; The road be- came then the great military road along which passed many troops bound for the enticing far West. It passed the length of Nemaha county and is now the Rock Island highway destined to become one of the great cross country arteries for the modern motor travel of the day. Many of the famous early day freighters across the plains from St. Joseph to Denver and California were Nemaha county men. The ro- mantic figures of that day are now the settled, retired farmers or busi- ness men of today and their reminiscences are tales to delight the heart of the adventurous youth of today. H. H. Lynn, or "Ham" Lynn, as he was called for the half century of his Nemaha county residence, was a freighter across the plains, mak- ing his first trip in 1857. He made more trips than any other Nemaha county freighter. Ham Lynn has lived in and near Wetmore in the southeastern corner of the county for sixty years and he still lives there. His first trip was as driver for Jim Crow and Henry Childs of Indepen- dence, Mo. They started from Leavenworth with provisions of all sorts for the Sioux Indians of Fort Laramie, Wyo., in the Wind River Moun- tains. Mr. Lynn in all his trips never saw an Indian on the warpath and is inclined to believe tradition has stretched the Indian stories consider- 40 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ably. In 1858 Mr. Lynn made a trip to Utah, carrying government sup- plies to soldiers who were quelling a Mormon insurrection. His third trip was to Salt Lake City. He received $25 a month and his board, which was composed chiefly of coffee, biscuits and beans. The trip re- quired five months. "When I joined the army in 1861," says Mr. Lynn, "after the hardships and privations of freighting, war seemed like a vaca- tion." After the war he again took up freighting but received $100 a month. In 1866, when he was returning from a trip to the Black Hills he had his first railroad ride, from Junction City to the Missouri river. A Nemaha county boy, Joseph Griffin, of Sabetha, is said to have been the youngest driver of a freighting team across the great plains and along the highway extending over the Nemaha county to the West. Mr. Griffin was only fourteen years of age at the time. An older brother was a driver of a team, and took the boy, Joseph, with him at one time. Another driver became ill and Joseph was pressed into service. After that he was given one of the teams to drive. Edwin Avery, one of the early day farmers to take up a claim in Nemaha county, and one who had lived on the same farm for many years, until his retirement eight years ago, says that he remembers well his first glimpse of the old California trail that passed through Nemaha county. "I first saw it in the Elwood bottoms across the river from St. Joseph, Mo., on the first day of December, fifty-six years ago. The trail was located in the forties. It forked just west of Troy in Doniphan county. One fork went by Highland, the other across Wolf rivar direct- ly through Hiawatha, Old Fairview, past Spring Grove, the farms of Ed Brown and France Dunlap, directly past the Grand Island depot in Sa- betha to the Coleman farm. From there it continued to the Baker Crossing on the Nemaha, now called Taylor's Rapids. It passed through Baileyville in the west end of the county and on to Marysville, Fairbury and thence to Fort Laramie and California." The exact line of the fa- mous old trail is always a bone of contention to early day pioneers. In the vicinity of Sabetha are many graves of travelers, over the San- te Fe and California trail, who, tinable to survive the hardships of the trip, died and were buried with scant ceremony. Mrs. Ruth Willis, who came to Nemaha county over the trail, starting from Elwood on the bank of the Missouri river opposite St. Joseph, recalled that the travel was all in the warm months. In the woods surrounding Sabetha were many wild plum trees. When the body of a forty-niner, was buried the rest of the train would sit around awhile and eat plums. As a result a small plum grove grew up around every one of the early day graves. Edwin Avery, son of Mrs. Willis, whose deed to his land, which he still retains, was signed by President Buchanan, says that within a distance of six- teen miles from Sabetha he has counted thirteen such graves. All of them are directly on the old trail which has now become the highway. A few graves are scattered on adjacent farms. A famous one is on the farm of Matthais Strahm, which is called the McCloud grave. McCloud, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 41 it is recalled, was returning from California. He was followed by an en- emy who overtook him at this point, killing him. It was afterward learned^that McCloud was not the man for whom the murderer was look- ing after at all. Mrs. Willis was in a village store near the trail when a man and woman from St. Joseph entered the store and inquired for the McCloud grave. No one learned who they were nor why they went out to the grave. On the Chris Aeschlimann.farm is another grave with the unus- ual tribute of a stone over it, the inscription on which said, "David But- ley, August, 1844." Majors & Russell were the government contractors whose immense wagon trains passed through Nemaha county. They delivered supplies to western forts. A regular train consisted of from forty to sixty wa- gons, each wagon drawn by six or seven yoke of oxen. The driver of each team outfit walked beside the wagon. The wagon boss rode on a pony and took great privileges with the king's English. Each driver carried a whip over his shoulder when not in use. The lashes on the whips were fifteen feet long. On either side of the trail for many, many years after the wagon travel ceased in Nemaha county, could be discerned plainly the footpaths made by the drivers. The regular government trains passed through Nemaha county every two weeks. In addition there was a njultitude of individual freighters. The great trails were six- ty feet wide and perfectly smooth. There were from 500 to 1,000 cattle in a train of fifty or sixty wagons. When the wagon boss had secured a camping place the lead team made a circle, then the next team stopped the front wheel against the first one's hind wheel, and so on until the for- ty or sixty wagons were in a circle with an opening of only a rod or two to leave the highway clear. At night the oxen were unyoked and turned loose to graze, and regularly employed herders herded them until morn- ing. The hind wheels of the wagons were as high as a man's head, while the front ones were no larger than those in use at the present time. The tires were fout inches wide. Edwin Avery, at this time a young man, who had entered Kansas over the California trail, was fascinated by the precision, the regularity and yet the wildness of the conduct of these immense wagon trains. He told the story of the travel and traffic to a reporter for the Sabetha "Her- ald" about nine years ago. In his story Mr. Avery said : "While oxen were mostly used in pulling trains I recall that once a train of 500 horses camped on Walnut creek, twelve miles east of Sabetha en route to Cali- fornia. The horses drew about forty covered wagons. There were about thirty-five regular stage coaches on the trail, each drawn by four horses. I remember a train of 400 horses that passed through Fairview, seven miles east of Sabetha. This was the summer of 1859, when the great rush was to Pike's Peak. There was one continuous stream of people, some of whom appeared in very grotesque equipment. We saw men with packs on their backs, and one party of eight men had a push cart, 42 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY some pushing and some pulling it. At another time we saw twelve men with a little Sante Fe mule attached to a cart. On still another occasion we saw twenty men passing with two or three yoke of oxen hitched to one wagon. Every one of these twenty men was carrying a pick and shovel, and a pan about the size and shape of a dish pan. The pan was to wash the gold in. One day a man passed pushing a wheelbarrow. During the greatest rush to Pike's Peak, when wagons reached Jewels- burg, ninety miles this side of Denver, they met three Irishmen who had gone out the year before. The Irishmen declared that there was no gold there, it was all a humbug. That story caused a stampede eastward again. A man who was out there told me he did not think there was a spot of ground along the trail for fifty miles that did not show where a wagon had turned around and headed back eastward. So from Jewels- burg to Marysville, 300 miles, we all bought picks for twenty cents each and our wives all had ten-cent gold pans to wash dishes in." This trail is now marked Rock Island Highway with poles painted with a ring of white, except where a corner should be turned to follow the trail to the west. Where wagons, with six-inch tires, drawn by four- teen long-eared oxen, dragged over the road at two miles an hour, now the high-powered automobile at forty miles an hour spins over the same path to Pike's Peak in two days. The wild, unsettled, unmarked prairie of half a century ago, is today a continuous row of handsome farm homes, modern cities and thriving towns. When the ox-teams traversed the same path only unbroken prairie with a few cottonwood trees, buf- falo and deer disturbed the quiet. J. L. Newton, son of Rev. Newton, the first minister in Nemaha county was an early day freighter. He drove to Kansas in 1859. The drought of i860 ruining his crops, he took a team for overland freighting and made some money hauling supplies from Atchison for the crop sufferers. He teamed for Kearney from Atchison. One trip occupied eleven days. He unloaded over 3,000 pounds of freight each day on this trip. After the trains stopped the overland freight traffic, Mr. Newton again farmed and succeeded so well that he was able to present his sons and his foster sons with farms with which to commence their career. There are many pioneers who recall the gathering of the immense trains of fifty or sixty wagons, ten to sixteen horses to the wagon, draw- ing up in a circle on the Coleman ground mentioned by Avery. The big circle may still be found occasionally. The fires were built, the horses tied to wagon wheels or staked on the prairie, songs and stories were told, and the few straggling settlers of the day huddled on the outskirts, thrilled and awed by the adventurous traveler who would brave desert, plain and Indian to discover riches in the far, far West. In 1861 a daily overland mail was established out of Atchison by way of Sabetha and Seneca and Nemaha county, and with the exception of a few weeks in 1862, 1864 and 1865 (Jn account of Indian troubles, the overland was in operation and ran stages daily out of Atchison for about five years. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 43 It was the greatest stage line in the world, carrying mail, passengers and express. It was also regarded as the safest and the fastest way to cross the plains, and the mountain ranges. The line was equipped with the latest modern four and six-horse and mule Conqord coaches and the meals at the eating stations along the route were first class and cost from fifty cents to $2.00 each. Nemaha county figured in the great overland traffic. Capioma and Richmond townships had stations for the accommodation of wagon trains on the Salt Lake route. America City, now defunct, and Vermil- lion were way stations on the big freight road to the gold mines of Colo- rado and the Rocky Mountains. The early day route of these wagons as taken from Freedom's Champion in 1859 show the historic places where the trains stopped. The cost of sjiipping merchandise to Denver was very high, as ev- erything was carried by the pound rather than by the hundred pound rate. Flour, bacon, molasses, whiskey, furniture and trunks were carried at pound rates. The rates per pound on merchandise, shipped by ox and mule wagons from Atchison through Nemaha county to Denver prior to i860, were as follows : Flour, nine cents ; tobacco, twelve and one-half cents ; sugar, thirteen and one-half cents ; bacon, fifteen cents ; drygoods, fifteen cents ; crackers, seventeen cents ; whiskey, eighteen cents ; groceries, nineteen and one-half cents; trunks, twenty-five cents; furniture, thirty-one cents. Twenty-one days was about the time required for a span of horses or mules to make the trip from Atchison to Denver and keep the stock in good condition. It required five weeks for ox trains to make the same distance, and to Salt Lake horses and m'ules were about six weeks making the trip and oxtrains were on the road from sixty-five to seven- ty days. It was the ox upon which mankind depended in those days to carry on the commerce of the plains. The fare from northeastern Kansas to Denver was $75, or a little over eight cents per mile. To Salt Lake City the fare was $150. Local fares ran as high as fifteen cents per mile. Each passenger was allowed twenty-five pounds of baggage. All in excess of that was charged at a rate of $1 per pound. Dur- ing the war the fare to Denver was increased from $75 to $100, and be- fore the close of the war it had reached $175 or nearly twenty-seven cents per mile. These were the prices from Sabetha. ROUTE FROM ATCHISON. Via the Great Military Road to Salt Lake and Colonel Fremont's route in 1 841. From Atchison to Miles Total Marmon Grove ^y^ Lancaster cy^ g Huron (Cross Grasshopper) 4 13 44 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Kennekuk Capioma (Walnut Creek) Richmond (head of Nemaha) Marysville Small Creek on Prairie Small Creek on Prairie Small Creek on Prairie Wyth Creek Big Sandy Creek Dry Sandy Creek Little Blue River Road Leaves Little Blue River Small Creek Platte River Ft. Kearney 17 Mile Point Plum Creek Cottonwood Spring Fremont's Springs . O'Fallon's Bluffs Crossing South Platte Ft. St. Vrain Cherry Creek 10 23 17 40 IS 55 40 95 10 105 10 "5 7 122 7 129 13 142 17 159 12 171 44 215 7 222 17 239 10 249 17 266 18 284 40 324 40 364 5 369 40 409 200 609 40 649 CHAPTER III. FIRST SETTLEMENTS. AT baker's ford EARLY SETTLERS SETTLERS HOLD MEETING FIRST BRIDGE OTHER FAMILIES COME ELECTION HELD BOUNDARIES DE- FINED FIRST TOWNSHIPS SETTLED SAMUEL MAGILL DAVID LOCKNANE FIRST NEGRO SETTLER SETTLEMENT IN ROCK CREEK- OTHER TOWNSHIPS FORMED NEUCHATEL HOME TOWNSHIP- SENECA, THE COUNTY SEAT FERRY ELECTION DISTRICT FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN SENECA EARLY DAY POSTMASTERS. The first settlement in Nemaha county was on the river of the Ne- maha at the famous Baker's Ford, which has since become known as Taylor's Rapids. In January, 1854, from St. Joseph came a man named W. W. Moore, who located nine miles fron. Seneca, and gave the name of Moorestown to the locality. It became the center of the small settlement that ensued, and the name was changed to Urbana. It was never worthy of a name at all and long since the names of Moores- town and Urbana have faded from both map and memory. The follow- ing month came Walter Beeles, Cranberry Key and in the spring followed Thomas Newton. John O'Laughlin came out from Iowa and took up a claim on Turkey creek, and the Fourth of July the small band met for the purpose of arranging protection for one another in their claims. This was the first settlement effected in Nemaha county. Two men from over the territorial line attended the meeting, by the names of George Bobst and Robert Turner. This was in fact the first settlement west of the Wolf river. These men were the originals in other ways than settling the first village in Nemaha county. Thomas Newton was a Baptist preacher and gathered the few settlers under his wing for church services. He performed the first marriage ceremony and preached the first funeral sermon, the latter being at the death of his son, Jacob, the first death in the county recorded, which occurred in Septem- ber in the year of their arrival, 1854. Of these original settlers onlv Rev. Newton is accounted for to the end of his life, which occurred in 1881 after a residence of twenty-seven years in Kansas. 45 46 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Of the Other half dozen original settlers, W. \\'. Moore and Walter Beeles built the first bridge in the county. This spanned the Nemaha about half a mile below Baker's Ford. The old story goes that the builders obliged the settlers to use the bridge and pay toll for it, by fell- ing an immense elm tree which fell across the ford, thus rendering the ford useless. But a spring freshet the next season swept away the elm, which in turn carried off the bridge, and Baker's Ford again came in- to its own. The following year came a few more families : H. H. Lanhan and his family, and William Harris who gave his name to Harris Creek, which has its source near Oneida and empties into the Nemaha ten or fifteen miles north. In the summer of fifty-five came James Thompson, Cyrus Dolman, John Doyle, Elias Church and John Rodgers, all settling in Richmond township, as it became known later. With these few citi- zens in this township an election was held in March of that year. Ne- A PIONEER HOME. maha precinct and Wolf River constituted the Seventh Council District of the ten of which Kansas Territory was composed. Nemaha cast sixty-one votes at the election, while only the men named aljove were entitled to vote by right of actual residence in the county with the addi- tion of Samuel Cra'mer, Jesse Adamson, Samuel Crozier, Samuel Miller, William Bunker and Uriah Blue. The State legislature convened in July. Its laws were called the "Bogus Laws of Kansas" and they took effect immediately upon being passed. At least one law has remained in effect to this day, the one designating the boundaries of Nemaha county. The county is twenty- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 47 four miles east and west and thirty miles north and south. It is bound- ed on the north by Nebraska, on the east by Brown county, on the west by Marshall and on the south by Jackson and Pottawatomie counties. Meantime other corners of Nemaha county were being populated, in the year 1855. The inhabitants mentioned were all residents of Rich- mond township. Capioma township came into being and was filled gradually by settlers, who became the' builders of the county and devel- opers of the State. James McAllister, Robert Rea, Samuel Magill and William E. Barnes settled in Capioma township.. William M. Berry and L. J. McGowan were the first settlers of Valley township and David M. Locknane was the first settler of Granada. Samuel Magill, of Capioma, lived on the farm which he preempted for over fifty years. His deed to the farm was signed by Abraham Lin- coln, and it never passed from possession of the Magill family until after Samuel Magill's death in 1909. The farm was then sold to settle the estate. Walnut trees that sprouted on the farm at the time of Mr. Magill's early ownership grew to logs so big that they were market- ed in the woods to English factory firms for making into black walnut furniture. Mr. Magill realized a big sum after his retirement from active life on his farm from the forest of walnut trees. Many of these trees produced two logs. These settlers invariably took up claims along the creekside. When Mr. Magill first took up his claim, with the exception of his own trees along the Turkey creek, the whole country was a tree- less desert as far as the eye could see. For several years it was three miles from his farm to that of his nearest neighbor. Deer, wolves and buffalo were plentiful. Mr. Magill helped in the first election, helped in the laying out of Capioma, built the first store building, the church and the school. Mr. Magill was always a Democrat, but he voted for Abra- ham Lincoln at his first vote, in a burst of sentimental appreciation of his signing his deed to the farm. David Locknane, the first settler of Granada township, tried Cali- fornia before he settled in Kansas. He settled on a creek in Granada township, where the village of Granada was later, a mushroom settle- ment, and there he built a log house. This is the oldest building in Ne- maha county. Mr. Locknane kept the Granada Hotel during the years of the war. The Granada Hotel is no more and Granada is but a name. The hotel was prepared for any event. It was an ordinary occurrence with pro- or anti-slavery bands, in the days of stress preceding the War of the Rebellion, to dash into the hotel yard and demand Mrs. Lock- nane to serve a dinner within fifteen minutes. At one time a band of Carolinians camped in the yard. One "of them accidentally shot himself and died. General Jim Lane and his followers were frequent guests at the Locknane Granada Hotel. It was this section of the county that had the first negro settler. Moses Fately bought his freedom from a man named Speer in Boonville, Mo. He came to Nemaha county with George Frederick and George 48 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Goppelt, and took up a claim. He was accompanied by his wife and sis- ter and two children, whose freedom he had also bought. He sold his claim for $200. ,.Rock Creek township was a popular section. The early settlers came to that northeast corner of the county in big humbers. Archibald Moorhead, Z. Archer, Levi Joy, William and Robert Carpenter, Joseph Haigh, Thomas Priest, William Graham, A. W. Williams, James Old- field, Edwin Miller, Elihu Whittenhall, W. B. Slosson, and half a dozen others, many of them related by blood or marriage were among the first to come. They built up their township and the towns of Albany and Sabetha, and they or their children are today living and thriving in the community of their first adoption. Thomas Carlin, Peter McQuaid, Andrew Brewer and Alexander Gil- lispie were the early settlers of Nemaha and Clear Creek townships in the northwestern corner. Little by little every section of the county was being occupied, townships formed and farms cultivated. The nam- ing of some of the townships is singular. There is Red Vermillion. To the student of whys and wherefores there has always been an underly- inp' query as to why call anything Red Vermillion. If "Vermillion," is it not naturally red? This has never been explained by anyone so far. Garrett Randel and D. Arnold were the first settlers in Red Vermillion township. Neuchatel township, as its name might indicate, was settled by French and Swiss. In 1857 there arrived in Neuchatel Amiel E. Bonjour, Charles Adolophe and L*. S. Veale. One of the griefs of the artistic his- torian, who has an eye to the fitness of things, is that Neuchatel town- ship seems to have been almost the only township in Nemaha county that did not have its cheese factory in the early days. On maps of the county are little crosses scattered around marked "Cheese Factory," but there is none marked in Neuchatel township, the place where the cheese really ought to grow. An early day settler of Neuchatel township, who lived a life of mar- velous helpfulness, was Dr. Peter Dockler. Dr. Dockler came to Nema- ha county in the late fifties, settling in Neuchatel where he practiced medicine and cared for the sick pioneers, traveling miles, and miles across the wild prairie to carry cheer and aid to the scattered settlers. He gathered the native herbs and brewed them, keeping up this prac- tice during all his medical life. For years he was the family doctor of the entire countryside, who believed in Dr. Dockler and his herbs before any modern patent medicine. Later, Dr. Dockler moved to Onaga. just over the county line in Pottawatomie, but from there he continued dis- pensing these cures. He lived in a three room house alone, doing his own cooking and house work, nursing and nourishing the ill, and brew- ing his concoctions. At the age of loi Dr. Dockler was still heartv and practising his profession. He was born in Athens, Greece, October 5, 1805. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 49 A name that has been identified with Neuchatel since its founda- tion is that of Bonjour. The death there in the spring of 1916, when this book was compiled, of Alfred A. Bonjour made one realize that Nemaha county was no longer a young community. Alfred A. Bonjour died in Neuchatel, where he was born fifty-eight years before. He lived all his life on the same section of land on which he was born. A faithful- ness was thereby manifested almost unknown in this restless United States and which would not have been possible scarcely without the French forebears of Mr. Bonjour. Mr. Bonjour's funeral was attended by almost the entire township and many from the neighboring county. A brother, Ephraim, still lives on land preempted in the days of almost gift land of Nemaha county. Home township settlers came in large numbers so that they did not get so lonesome. Among the eighteen early settlers of the township were several doctors, J. J. Sheldon and D. B. and N. B. McKay and J. S. Hidden. Others were R. Mozier, the McLaughlin brothers, the Arm- strong brothers, Hezekiah Grimes, George Squire and Stephen Barnard. Dr. N. B. McKay was one of a party of four sent from Galesburg, Illi- nois, to locate a site in Kansas for a colony. Home township was se- lected and the Home Association was formed in June, 1858. After four years Dr. McKay located at America City in Red Vermillion township, where he became postmaster. Later he founded the town of Corning, which has become one of the thriving towns of the county. He named it Corning in honor of his partner in medicine, Erastus Corning, of New York. Mrs. McKay was a New Englander from Worcester, Mass., Chloe Goldthwaite. It is recalled in the days of Seneca's rivalry with Richmond, that Senecans sowed oats in the road leading to Richmond, so that pioneers and travelers would think it an unusued road and the highway to Seneca would be chosen. Richmond is long since dead, and the oats may have helped. Marysville, county seat of Marshall county, adjoining Nemaha on the west, was founded by the same men who were incorporators of the Richmond town company, once competitor for the county seat of Nema- ha county, and dying long since, as a result of her loss. The men were Woodward, the Gillaspies, Doniphans and Bishop, with M. G. Shrews- bery. Marshall and Woodward were given the right to the ferry at Marys- ville across the Big Blue river on the Ft. Leavenworth, Ft. Kearney military road. "They, their heirs and assigns forever" were so reward- ed, together with another crossing on the California road at Oketo. Woodward kept a store or trading post six miles north of Marysville on the famous government road. Thompson sold out the store and hotel at Richmond to Woodward. He died there in the fifties and Mrs. Wood- ward, his widow, became administratrix of his estate. Marshall had es- tablished himself at Marysville as an Indian trader as early as 1850, be- (4) 50 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY fore Nemaha county had a white resident. He became a candidate for governor under the Lecompton constitution but lost. He ran on the pro- slavery ticket. The eighteenth election district was known as Moorestown. The census was taken by B. H. Twombly and the number of voters was twen- ty-eight. The Kansas Territory having been divided into districts on the 8th of November, an election was speedily held by November 29, and John W. Whitfield was sent to Congress. But Moorestown, the Eigh- teenth district, returned no votes at this election. Moorestown was nine miles from Seneca. W. W. Moore came put from St. Joseph and settled the place, which was known later as Urbana. Esther Hensel, the first child born in Seneca, was given a town lot by the city. Among the early day postmasters were David Magill, of Capiohia ; David Locknane, at Granada ; Isaac H. Steer, at Richmond ; John H. Smith, at Seneca; A. W. Williams, at Sabetha; George Graham, at Al- bany ; George L. Squire, at Centralia ; and H. H. Lanham, at Central City — the first postmaster in Nemaha county to hold his commission from Franklin Pierce. A mail route had been established, during these incum- bents' service, from St. Joseph to Marysville, Sabetha and Albany, being the first points in the east of the county to get direct service, Seneca receiving its mail from Central City. When Centralia was estab- lished it received mail from Seneca. Granada at this time was known as Pleasant Springs. CHAPTER IV. FOUNDING OF TOWNS. ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS PRESENT TOWNSHIPS ORIGINAL TOWNS FREE STATE TOWNS PRESENT TOWNS AND VILLAGES CENTRAL CITY, THE FIRST TOWN FIRST MILL FIRST SCHOOL RICHMOND INCORPOR- ATED TEMPORARY COUNTY SEAT ASH POINT URBANA PACIFIC CITY GRANADA A. B. ELLIT CAPIOMA COUNTY SEAT ELECTION SENECA WON COURT HOUSE BURNED. There were originally nine townships in the division of the county. Valley has completely disappeared from view, and the county has been sub-divided into twenty townships. Besides those given, there are Berwick, Wetmore, Washington, Oilman, Adams, Harrison, Reilly, Mitchell, Illinois, Marion and Center. The original Valley township was equally divided between Capioma and Adams. Of the twelve original Nemaha county towns but four remain. The others seem to have been completely effaced, absorbed into farms, and even postoffices long since abolished, a result of rural free mail delivery. Central City, Richmond, America City, Granada, Ash Point, Pacific City, Urbana, Wheatland, Centralia, Lincoln, Seneca and Sa- betha were original towns. Albany was the forebear of Sabetha, and was moved bodily to the Sabetha site two miles down the hill when the first railroad was run through the county. Seneca has remained on her original site. Centralia, however, was moved a mile from her original location. The Central Branch railroad refused to take the mile extra to reach the settlement of Centralia, so the village, like Mohamet, went to the railroad. America City has always lived on the 380 acres where it had its birth, and has not since extended such acreage very much. E. P. Harris, who has charge of the composing rooms in the George W. Crane printing establishment in Topeka, was one of the originators of one .of the early day and early buried Nemaha county towns. Mr. Harris was one of a party of men who came to Kansas by way of Ne- braska to Nemaha county in 1856 to assist in making Kansas a free State. Mr. Harris' party had a scheme to establish a string of free State towns from the Nebraska line southward through Kansas. They started in by staking off the town of Lexington in Nemaha county. About the time they got started to doing business, and the town stakes 51 52 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY were well driven, at Lexington, Quantrill made his raid at Lawrence, and the party rushed off to that place to be of what service they could. That was about all that was ever heard of Lexington. Mr. Harris and his men never went back to Lexington. No one seems to know exactly where the would-be free State town of Lexington was laid out. Mr. Harris and his men came to Nemaha county by way of Nebraska be- cause the pro-slavery men were thick on the river, and were in suffi- cient force to make it hot for free State men coming into Kansas. ' While the towns of the county are conveniently scattered, so that there is a good shipping point for all produce, several townships have no towns: Clear Creek, Nemaha, Center, Mitchell, Adams, Capioma, Granada, Neuchatel and Reilly. Woodlawn, in Capioma township, a comparatively late child of the county, still thrives with store, church, school and cream station. This may put this township in the village class. And Kelly, which is mainly in Harrison township, laps over into Adams township with a few houses, which may give Adams entrance into the city class. Of the remaining towns and villages there are Wetmore, Goff, Corning, Oneida, Baileyville, Bancroft, Berwick; St. Benedict, Bern, and the elevator and store of Price station. Central City, the first town, was never incorporated by legislative act. It was laid out, in 1855, by William Dodge, and the first postoffice of the county established here. It lay in the neighborhood of what is now St. Benedict. H. H. Lanham was the first postmaster. A wagon and blacksmith shop, a saw and grist mill, and a store were erected upon the site. Most of these businesses were run by the Lanham and Newton families, who had come up the Missouri river from St. Louis on the old steamboat, "Banner State," that year. The store, however, was run by Benjamin Shaffer for a while, later passing into the hands of Lanham & Newton. Overland, by ox team, was hauled the mill, and, for some time, it was run by ox-power, horses being substituted later, a dam across the river failing to develop enough power to run the mill. An attempt to use steam power was foiled by the big flood of the Nemaha in 1858, when the river reached a mile in width, and the rushing current carried the dam. windmill, grist mill, and all away on its turbid breast. The few remains were not trusted to the river vicinity again and the mill was reconstructed far from danger on the prairies. But incendiaries de- stroyed it by fire. Nothing daunted, its owners rebuilt it. In 1863 Lan- ham & Newton, still the owners, practically, of Nemaha county's first born town, bought a mill at Pawnee City in Nebraska. They removed it to Central City, thence later to Seneca, where most of Central City moved eventually. The first school was taught by Mahlon Pugh, succeeded shortly by Mrs. Horace Newton. This was in 1859 ^nd i860. The Central City Church, Baptist, was organized in 1857, later affiliating with the Seneca HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 53 Baptist Church in September, 1875. When Seneca, little by little, ab- sorbed Central City, the village resolved into farmlands, and the town was absorbed by the Bloss farm, and Central City passed on. Richmond was incorporated by the Bogus Legislature as a twin sister of Central City, but of beliefs dissimilar. Richmond was estab- lished on the claim of Cyrus Dolman. Dolman was the first probate judge and pro-slavery man. The town corporation was given the power to purchase and hold 1,000 acres for building a town. The town was to be laid out in lots, squares, parks and avenues, and the town fathers included Daniel Vanderslice, David Gillaspie, John Doniphan, James E. Thompson, and half a dozen other men. Lanham & Newton had con- siderable to do in the erection of Richmond, for they built the first buildings, a dwelling, a store, and a hotel. Richmond moved to Sen- eca later, the dwelling being taken to the home of W. B. Stone, while the hotel eventually became a building on the Festus M. Newton farm. Richmond was the really important first town, as all the official county business was performed there. The legislatyire made it the tem- porary county seat, which distinction it might have held, old anti-slave believers say, had it not been for its pro-slavery sentim.ents. The free State men were in the majority, and Richmond was not in the running. Ash Point was largely the result of the efforts of John O'Laughlin, who established a postoffice, himself as postmaster, a general store, hotel and two or three houses. Ash Point was a stage station on the overland road, being situated at the junction of the Overland and Cali- fornia roads. Richmond was on the Fort Leavenworth and' Fort Kear- ney road route. Ash Point died in the early seventies, the establish- ment of railroads and abolishment of the stage roads causing its demise. Urbana actually got no farther than paper, as a town. W. W. Moore laid out a thi-iving town at Baker's Ford on good drawing paper. But the town of Farmington, southwest of the mythical Urbana, event- uated into a store building, hotel and blacksmith shop through the ef- forts of Rosalvin Perham and J. E. Perley. The townsite made a good pasture, not many years after its inception. Orrin Gage dug a fine well on a high hill, which was so well pat- ronized by travelers that he became inspired to erect a hotel, which was designated Pacific City. But the farmers got it. Lincoln's town plat was filed for record in the fall of i860, and was really a prosperous village, rejoicing in two stores where in other towns but one had grown.' J. E. Hocker conceived Lincoln. But its sawmill and black- smith shop were removed to Capioraa, and William Robinson long operated them on his farm. At the beginning of the war, Granada was a thriving village. In 1856, Manaoh Terrill had erected a store at this point which was on the direct route of the old overland freight road to Denver. Granada fell a victim to the advance of civilzation and railroads a few years later with the other Nemaha county towns mentioned. In the vicinity still 54 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY live many of the descendants, if not tl^e founders themselves, of the community. The names of Swerdfeger, Vilott, Chappel, Haigh are those in daily use in the vicinity. Granada retained its postoffice until the later step into modernity came with rural free delivery, and the postoffice was abandoned. Granada, in addition to the usual buildings, boasted a drug store and a hardware store. None of the other villages that lived and died were so distinguished as that. An old map of Granada shows a good schoolhouse, a Woodman hall and about ten dwellings. The famiHes of F. P. and John Achten, S. E. Larabee, S. R. Guffy, Sarah Skinner, Anna Stolzenberger, D. E. Crandall, C. E. Chase and A. C. Callahan are mentioned among the owners of Granada prop- erty. Many of the Granada settlers removed to Wetmore when their own village came to an untimely end. James Barnes, another early day family connected with Granada, took his family and eleven children to Granada in 1858, where he helped found the village. James Barnes' ancestors were English, and helped found the city of Baltimore. James Barnes, senior, his son and his grandson were all born on the tenth of March, twenty-five years apart. Seven brothers of the Barnes family were at one time residents of Granada. A. B. Ellit was another settler of the prosperous Granada village. In the fifties a band of 600 Southerners raided the Ellit farm, tearing down fences, feeding all his corn and generally demoralizing his home- stead. Finally there was but one yoke of oxen left. They were about to appropriate this ox team when a generous Missouri captain dashed out with a gun in his hand, crying he would kill the first man who tried to yoke them. A rumor was started that Jim Lane was coming, and the raiders departed in haste, leaving some of their own belongings, saddles and weapons behind them. Mr. Ellit, in the war that followed, fought with General Price. He was in the Quantrill raid, and a freighter to Denver. Of the pioneer days of hardship and romance, few know more than Mr. Ellit. A town plat of Capioma town was recorded in 1859, although it had been laid out two years previously when the schoolhouse was built and a. good hotel put up by Walter Gage. After nearly sixty years, the hotel building stands, although, for many years, it has been used as a residence. Capioma was named for an early-day Indiana chief. Richmond remained the countv seat under the territorial act for the first few years. All business of a legal nature was transacted from Richmond. But in the year 1858, an election was ordered to be held, on the permanent county seat. The first election was not to be final, but the three holding the highest number of votes were to be voted upon again, other contestants to step out. Central City, Richmond, Seneca, Centralia, Wheatland and Ash Point were contestants. The towns had each promised to give town lots to the county. Seneca, however, of- fered to build a courthouse and donate its use to the county for five years. This made excellent political thunder, and the contestants were HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 55 boiled down to Seneca, Central City, Wheatland and Richmond. Cen- tral City then retired in favor of Seneca. The fathers of Central City figured that if Seneca won, Richmond would die, and Central City live and prosper, without rival. The two towns were too close for their twin success. But, alas, for the hopes of builders of cities, such sacri- fice' was unrewarded. Today, one city is buried as deep in oblivion as the other. Seneca won in the contest, although there were some legal pro- ceedings instituted over the Graham township vote, which was given to Seneca. The county commissioners being divided, the deciding vote was given to Seneca by the chairman, George Graham. Seneca has al- ways since been the county seat, with but rare rumors of attempts to un- seat her. The courthouse was burned in 1876, when there was a slight stir against Seneca. This amounted to nothing, and the new building, very similar to the first one, was built, tither children and matches, or mice and matches seem to have caused the fire. The Lappin brothers, Charley Scrafford, R. U. Torrey and J. B. Ingersoll were the town com- pany. They gave the county commissioners alternate lots throughout the town, which were sold to raise money for public buildings. CHAPTER V. FIRST EVENTS AND INSTITUTIONS. FIRST WHITE CHILD FIRST MARRIAGE FIRST BRIDGE FIRST TEACHER FIRST PIANO INDIANS PERPLEXED THE WHITTENHALL FAMILY FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FIRST CENSUS ^DR. STRINGFELLOW AND JIM LANE JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGE HORTON, FIRST JUDGE ELECTION- POLITICAL MEETING AN EMIGRANT BAND MOR- MONS FIRST STORE AT FIDELITY THE WEMPE FAMILY. There has been little discussion in Nemaha county as to who was "first" in various matters. Contrary to the acceptation of most folks, Nemaha county people have quietly acquiesced in the claims of the few to be first, and been willing to give honor where honor is due. There- fore, so far as has been learned in sixty years, no one has claimed the honor of having been the first born child other than Molly Key, daugh- ter of Greenbury and Polly Key, who was born in March, 1855. Edwin Avery, who came to Nemaha county in 1858, recalls the Greenbury Keys, and he is about the only remaining citizen who re- members them. The Greenbury Keys lived in a cabin on Turkey creek, just above the James Gregg farm. One of the Key girls was married to Sanford Hess, Mr. Avery recollects, and they moved to Oregon. Frank Johnson, he thinks, was related to the Keys. Mr. Johnson has not lived in Nemaha county for some time, and Mr. Avery's recollection is that he and Mr. Johnson are the only ones living, who were here who might recall the first child's birth. Mr. Avery also recalls that Mrs. Lou Robertson's brother married one of Frank Johnson's daugh- ters. Raveling out a family tree is something of a task, but it is more fascinating than raveling out a skein of yarn for crochet lace, so popular today. Mr. Avery's recollections are always remarkably cor- rect, and it is dollars to doughnuts, that no corrections will be made to this historical anecdote. The first marriage brought nothing to the furtherance of Nemaha county, as the "contracting parties" shortly returned to the State from whence they had immigrated shortly' before. The romance is further a disappointment in that the bride and groom were both widow and widower. Charles Leachman and Mrs. Caroline Davenport were mar- ried by Rev. Thomas Newton, November 12, 1854, the marriage occur- 56 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 57 ring in Nemaha township. Rev. Newton also officiated at the first fu- neral, presumed to be that of his son, Jacob. The death was dulj^ re- corded for September) 1854. However, Mr. Davenport had also died in Nemaha county, and was buried on the farm that later belonged to Henry Korber. As Mrs. Davenport was married in November, there remains some doubt as to whose death was the first, Jacob Newton's or Mr. Davenport's. The first bridge in the county and the vicissitudes attending it, have been recorded, as well as the first sermon. The first Seneca school teacher was Miss Addie Smith, whose school occupied a room in the hotel building of her brother in Seneca, the first building erected there. This was a private school. It is doubtful if any county in Kansas can lay claim to having a piano in its midst before Nemaha county. The first piano was brought to Albany in Nemaha county in 1857 by Elihu Whittenhall for the use and musical education of his four daughters, and the pleasure of his wife. The piano was a Noble' and was made in Ithaca, N. Y. It was taken from Addison, Steuben county. New York, to St. Louis, by rail, ,thence up the Missouri river by the steamboat, "Florinda," as far as Iowa Point. From there the piano was carried overland, by the over- land freight, drawn by little mule teams the remaining 100 miles. Reaching Albany, only a log house was ready to receive the piano, and it nearly filled the single room when it was put in place. It was a delight to the settlers and a delicious perplexity to the Indians. They would creep up to the window of the cabin, stare in incredulous wonder at the piano on which someone would be playing, then they would laugh and dance, and placing their hands over their mouths, give vent to the blood-curdling Indian yell, which nearly par- alyzed the musical little Whittenhall girls with terror. But Mrs. Oscar Marbourg, of Sabetha, to whom the piano de- scended, said that the Indians never molested them in any way other than entering the cabin if they could get in, and taking anything to which they "took a shine." This "first" piano, at Mrs. Marbourg's marriage, went to her sister, and later it passed into the hands of a Sabetha colored family. Four little girls came out to Kansas with Elihu Whittenhall and his wife, but two of their boj^s refused to come. They came out to look over the ground at one time, and nothing could induce them, to stay in the "God-forsaken land of Kansas," as they called it. Mrs. Marbourg recalls that farms of forty acres sold for $2.50 for the entire ground, which today cannot be bought for $200 an acre. "But we had to eat and sleep on the ground," she said. Her mother would tuck the children into an improvised bed on the ground, which Mr. Whittenhall had staked out. "Go to sleep, girls," they were admonished, "for we have to go home and do the chores." Having slept a night and eaten three meals on the claimed ground, it belonged to them with the payment of 58 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY the government's $2.50. But the boys would not stay for twenty such easily gained farms. The log house used by the Whittenhall family, while their dwelling was being erected on the hills of Albany, was low. In the day a buffalo or deer was shot, and the carcass hung in the house for meat. The wolves afar off would smell the meat, and whine around the house all night. They would jump up on the roof from the ground, and try the latch of the door with their paws. But the wolves were as timid as the Indians. Mrs. Marbourg recalls going out to the yard for wood and a wolf following her. But her mother took a stick of wood and threw at the animal, and he slunk away like a dog. The first county commissioners of Nemaha county were Jesse Adamson, David P. Magill and Peter Hamilton. The first election for county officers was held November 8, 1859. Previous to that time of- ficials had been appointed to office. The election resulted in R. U. Tor- rey, county clerk ; Charles F. Warren, county treasurer ; Samuel Lap- pin, registrar of deeds; John S. Rogers, sheriff; J. W. Fuller, county superintendent, and Haven Starr, probate judge. The first census taken in the county showed ninety-nine residents in the county. This was in 1855. Two years later there were 512, and in i860, nearly 2,500. The first officials of the county to serve by ap- pointment, prior to county elections, were John W. Forman, 1855, coun- cilman ; James E. Thompson, 1855, sheriff; R. U. Torrey, 1855, county clerk; Samuel Lappin, 1855, registrar of deeds; Edwin Van Endert, 1855, county treasurer; Cyrus Dolman, 1855, probate judge; J. C. Hebberd. 1857, superintendent of public instruction. Nemaha county was one of the thirty-three original counties created by the first territorial legisla- ture of Kansas. Nemaha county was given its present boundaries within a year after Kansas was formed into a territory by the act of congress. At that time the territory of Kansas embraced land from the Missouri river westward to the Rocky Mountains, and included over 126,000 square miles. The Nemaha river, at the time of the county's establishment, was referred to as the Nebraska. A peculiar thing about the Nemaha river, which, by the way, is not dignified by being men- tioned with other rivers in Kansas histories, is that it rises in Illinois township in the southwestern part of the county and flows north through the center of the county into Nebraska. Of the other creeks and streams in the county, most of them flow east and west, generally seeking the Nemaha as an outlet. The center of the county would seem to be a watershed, for streams in the eastern part generally flow south- east. J. H. String-fellow received the first vote of Nemaha county in the election of March 30, 1855. Dr. Stringfellow was a pro-slavery advo- cate and a charming man, to the amazement of one Nemaha county pio- neer who had heard of him as the miserable leader of the pro-slavery faction, and the head of the border ruffian forces. She says, "When I moved to Atchison several years later and met Dr. Stringfellow. I HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 59 dreaded to see him, thinking his face would be as black as his reputa- tion had been painted to me. I was amazed at his charm, grace, and intellectuality." "A story, recently revived, is told of Dr. Stringfellow. He was nat- urally the bitter enemy of the famous Jim Lane, whose reputation had been painted as dark as Dr. Stringfellow's by the 'opposition.' At one time, General Lane, with a bodyguard of soldiers, drove into the yard of Dr. Stringfellow. When Dr. Stringfellow went out to meet General Lane, he inquired, 'Are you not afraid to call at my house?' 'No,' re- plied the notorious Jim Lane, 'I am not afraid to call on a gentleman anywhere.' "This gallant, graceful reply so captured Mrs. Stringfellow that she invited General Lane and his men to lunch." R. L. Kirk was the other candidate to carry Nemaha county's first vote, for territorial representative, both pro-slavery men against the anti-slavery candidates, Joel Ryan and G. A. Cutler. Brown and Nemaha counties were in one judicial district, and, prior to 1861, court was held in Hiawatha, Brown county. In November, 1861, the first district court was held in Nemaha county with Judge Albert H. Horton on the bench. Byron Sherry was the county clerk. Court was held in the original courthouse built by the city of Seneca but a short time. A religious meeting, held in the courthouse one Sun- day night, was followed by a fire. A one-story building was erected for the holding of court and the county officers were scattered in other buildings around the town. In ten years- the money from town lots had so accumulated that a, brick courthouse was erected at a cost of nearly $30,000. Major Sar- gent broke the ground, and J. A. Storm of St. Joseph erected the house of laws. It was this building that the combination of mice, matches and children destroyed. When the new building was erected, a fireproof building apart from it was put up for the office of the registrar of deeds, where all official records are kept in the fireproof vault. Judge Albert H. Horton, who was the first judge to sit in a Ne- maha county circuit court, was an Atchison man, Nemaha, even today, has not a separate judicial district apart from Brown county. Judge Horton is said to have been the bluest-blooded aristocrat with the straightest line of descent that the district can call her own. And this, in view of the acknowledged fact that Nemaha county has many fam- ilies of remarkably straight genealogy. Judge Norton could trace his ancestry in a direct line to Robert de Horton of Great Horton, England, in the thirteenth century. And the line comes down without a waver until Albert H. Horton, with his brother, arrive in Atchison in the fif- ties. In i86r, he was appointed district judge by Govefnor Charles Robinson. Later he was elected twice to the same office in the second judicial district, and attained the dignity of chief justice of the State. The town of Horton, thirty miles southeast of Sabetha, is named for Judge Horton. 6o HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY A remarkable circumstance concerning this original Xemaha county election was that the returns showed that John W. Forman, a pro-slavery man and a Kentuckian, was elected, to the council without a dissenting vote. Forman was a Doniphan county man, a founder of Iowa Point, one of the innumerable towns of this border county to have reached its zenith during the early days, then die. At this time Iowa Point was the second city in size in Kansas, Leavenworth alone having a few more residents. It was at Iowa Point where the "Iowa Trust CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL, IN THE OLD DATS. This is George "W. "Williams of Deer Creek, dressed to represent his father, Eli ■Williams, who was sent to Lecompton as a delegate to the first convention for Statehood in Kansas. He would have carried flour, bacon, coffee, bedding, lariat, picket pin, revolver, frying pan and coffee pot on his horse. Eli Williams was equipped ready to go when a messenger arrived from the headquarters of Jim Lane telling him and his bodyguard, Dick Clency, not to make a start, as others had been slain on their way to Lecompton and that Jinr Lane and his men were on their way to the present site of Sabetha, Kans. General Lane came in a few days, but no delegate went from Nemaha at that time. lands'' were released to the government. S. M. Irwin, a pioneer mis- sionary, was given the selection of all the land released. He chose -the spot where Iowa Point was later located. J. AV. Forman and his brother, H. V\^ Forman, bought this land. Forman's town even attained the dignity of a brick yard, and reached much prosperity. When Iowa Point died, J. W Forman, who should go down in history as a candidate unanimously elected to a State office, removed to Mis- souri. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 6 1 Mrs.. P. W. Cox, of Oilman township near Oneida, recalls the first political meeting at Richmond. Although but a little girl of nine years, it is one of her childhood recollections because of the fact that her father was elected a representative of Nemaha county. Mrs. Cox's girlhood name was Williams, and she- was the daughter of Eli Williams. "My father rode on horseback to Lecompton and back to consider the historical Lecompton constitution," said Mrs. Cox. "Eli Williams, my _father, and Eliza Williams, my mother, with five children, and Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Williams and Amon English made up our emigrant band. We settled on Deer creek. After we left the government road, there was nothing for us to follow but Indian trails — no friendly guide- posts to direct our way. We were told to take the divide at McCloud's grave, which had become a signpost, that would take us to Deer creek. We traveled in a large covered wagon drawn by oxen. We brought horses, cattle, hogs, chickens an old cat and three kittens. We had only journeyed from Atchison county, Missouri, so the transportation of so much live stock was not so difficult as for those who had ciossed half a continent. There was not one family living between where we set- tled and Brown county, and only two shanties stood where people held claims. "We saw many Mormons passing us on their way to the 'promised land.' In passing, the Mormons drained what we called Murphy Jake, in the month of August, 185.=;. They were so hungry they drained the lake, caught and ate the fish. Forty in the party died. They were buried near the lake. Many of them had cholera. When they left the encampment they left behind them beds, wearing apparel and cloth- ing of all kinds scattered around. I saw clothing that was torn off the dead, three or four months after the Mormons left." Of the children who arrived with Eli Williams, besides Mrs. Cox, three became fine Nemaha county citizens, of fifty years' and more standing: George, Boyd and Amon Williams. Anton Wempe was the first store-keeper of Fidelity. He had a store there for several, years, which he sold in 1892. The rural delivery put the Fidelity store out of business, as it did most of the solitary country stores. Fidelitv church, however, was much older. Fidelity had a small church building back as far as 1866 to 1868. There was no resident priest for many years, a priest serving from Atchison, who just came occasionally, when weather or conditions generally, permitted. In about 1893 the present, handsome Fidelity Church was built. From time to time it has been added to and improved, until now it is quite the handsomest of country churches nearby. The father of the Wempe family,- Hermann Henry Wempe, came to Nemaha county in 1858 to locate. They came by way of Atchison. While there a pickpocket robbed Mr. Wempe, senior, of his pocketbook and money. He continued to Seneca, however, and picked out a farm, on which he located. He brought his family out here in 1861. A few- 62 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY days after they were settled he suddenly died ; that was the fifth of July, 1861. In the settlement of the estate Anton Wempe bought the shares of the other brothers and sisters in the homestead farm, and lived on it for many years. His youngest daughter has recently taken the veil at Mt. St. Scholastica in Atchison and is known as Sister Mary Mau- russ. A son is in C. C. K. Scoville's bank in Seneca. CHAPTER VI. INDIAN HISTORY. TRADITIONS OF GREAT DAKOTAHS TREATY OF 1806 BELIEVED IN A "great spirit" TREATY WITH THE GOVERNMENT CEDED LANDS POTTAWATOMIES AUNT LIZZA ROUBIDOUX BARRADA PAWNEE BUR- IAL GROUND CHARACTERISTICS ^VANISHED RACE TREASURE RELIC AN INDIAN TRAGEDY NO RESIDENT INDIANS A MODERN INCI- DENT AN INDIAN BURIAL MODERN CONDITIONS RESERVATIONS SOLDIERS PENSIONED. By Alice Gray Williams. Whom the Indians delight to call, "Soniskee," meaning "Our Good Red Mother." The old Indian tribes had no written history. Their history was passed from father to son. From some of the oldest Indians now living I ha,ve gained the knowledge of Indian tradition, customs and life. It is said by these Indians, and history bears them out iri their state- ments, that the first Indians of Kansas were a part of the Great Dakotah Tribe, and that they came here with the great bands of Indians who mi- grated from the north of the Great Lakes. They wandered around for many years and finally settled on the Missouri river and its tributaries. They were called the Kanzas or Kaw Indians and the Osages. The Kanzas had as their territory the land from Nebraska on the north to Arkansas on the south and all west of the Missouri river. The Osages were to have Missouri and all the land along the Missouri and that along the Osage river, and part of their hunting grounds extended into Kansas. For many years they dw^lt in this manner, but they were unfriendly. Fair maidens were stolen from tribe to tribe, as they were not allowed peaceful marriage, and this alone caused endless trouble. They spoke the same tongue, and their tribal affairs were managed in the same manner. In 1806 our Government helped them to make a peace treaty with each other which each tribe kept sacred, and then they combined forces against the hated Pawnees and the whites, who were intruding on their hunting grounds. Their, depredations became so numerous and so 63 64 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY serious that the Government called a Council near the present site of Atchison on an Island called Ise Au Vache, or Buffalo Island. This council was a great affair. It is said that there were some 150 Kanzan and thirteen Osages there, representing their powerful and mighty tribes. Officers of the garrison were present. The Council was closed. Peace prevailed and the peace pipe filled with Kln-ni-ki-nick was smoked and the Indians kept their promises, and no depredations were ever commit- ted by them. These Indians believed in the Great Spirit, or Waconda, and they believed in life beyond the grave. They were honorable in their family life and were kind to their squaws and children. Let me • say right here, an Indian never strikes his child. No whipping is allowed in their homes or schools. The women managed the household affairs and did the work, but be it said in the old time Indian life the squaws did the "bossing" around the wigwams, but had no voice in the affairs pertaining to the warpath, or to the lands, or their tribes. The first treaty between the United States and these tribes was made in 1815. In this treaty the past was blotted out and forgiven and these tribes recognized our Government and pledged their loyalty to it. In 1825 the United States Government treated with them for the cession of their lands in Kansas and Missouri. In this treaty they ceded all of the lands in eastern Kansas: "Beginning where the Kansas River empties into the Missouri to the northwest corner of Missouri, thence to the Nodaway River, thirty miles from its entrance into the Missouri River; from there to the entrance of the Nemaha River into the Mis- souri to its source, which took in the present county of Nemaha. From here to the source of the Kansas River, then on to the ridge dividing the Kansas River from the Arkansas, and on to the west border of the Mis- souri and with that line thirty miles to the place of beginning." The United States agreed to pay them $3,500 per year for twenty years, either in money or merchandise. In addition they were to fur- nish the cattle and hogs and farm implements, a farmer and a black- smith. Thirty-six sections of land on the Big Blue were to be sold and the money from that sale was to be kept for the use of their schools. In 1846 the Kanzas and their neighboring tribes ceded all their lands CO the United States Government. From this time on they began to deteriorate. They were moved to Oklahoma and the climate did not agree with them there. I am told by the gldest Indians now living that there are now but a few poverty stricken ones left, of this once wealthy and powerful tribe, from which the fair State of Kansas derived its beautiful Indian name. Kansas in the Indian tongue means "Smoky." At this time the Pottawatomie Indians had no home so the United States gave them this land of the Kanzas for their homes. It contained 576,000 acres. The Pottawatomie Indians were in possession when our forefathers came here. They were peaceful Indians and their lands were the hunt- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 65 ing and play grounds for the mighty southwestern tribes. Buffalo and deer were plentiful and the prairie was covered with rich grass. These tribes were what was known as the "Horse Indians" because they had ponies. Many tribes had no horses at that time. "Chama," meaning "grandma'' in the Indian tongue, told me her mother said that a day's ride west from the Missouri river, there were once some Ground Indians, who lived in holes dug deep down and that they covered them over with poles and skins and that wheh these Indians left or were driven west that the covering dropped in, and so made the holes we call buffalo wallows. Aunt Lizza Roubidoux Barrada, a great-granddaughter of Joseph Roubidoux, the founder of St. Joseph, says that when she was a girl and when Chama was a girl that the Pawnees came here a day's ride to the west of her home at the mouth of the Great Xemaha, and stayed and lived for several years, and fought the lowas. She says the lowas whipped them so completely, that they went away and never came to fight the Ibwas again. A Pawnee burial ground is still pointed out to the visitor on the Iowa Reservation, on the Great Nemaha River. Skulls and arrow heads are found there to this day. Chama says that lowas said the number of Pawnees were like the leaves upon the trees. The Pottawatomies were allotted and some of them took land of their own and some went to Oklahoma. Some went to a reservation in Jackson county, Kansas, where many of them still reside. G. W. Williams, who is one of the oldest settlers of this vicinity, says when he was a small lad many Indian tribes passed through Nemaha county visiting other tribes. Hundreds at a time could be seen winding along the trails, along the creeks. Sometimes there would be a bunch' go into camp and hunt and fish and then, like the Arabs of old, would "Silently fold their tents and steal away." They were a silent people. Sometimes they would sing and dance their war darices to amuse the boys and girls who would call upon them. The Indian is a very matter-of-fact person and does not often joke, yet sometimes he will play a little joke. I give a few of their jokes be- low: "One lone Indian came to a house near Oneida and posed as a Big Medicine Man. The head of the family with whom he stayed had very sore eyes. The Medicine Man treated them all winter and suddenly left in the spring. The patient could see much better so he took tlie medicine to a doctor to be analyzed and the doctor found the stuff to be just plain water. "An old Indian came to a settler's home almost naked. The children hunted up some old clothes and dressed him up and then the old fellow, who, it was thought, did not know one word in English, strutted around and said, 'Me heap big white man now,' and disappeared. He perhaps had been educated at some Mission school. "Another time the Indians were eating when the white folks came (5) 66 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and sat down with them to eat. They had beef for dinner, and some mutton roasted. One young fellow said : 'What kind of meat is this ?' The Indian at the head of the table said : 'Bow wow,' and the white man was puzzled, but it was just a joke pulled of by poor Lo. "A white man and an Indian went hunting. The white man shot a deer, the Indian a turkey. The white man was tired and said, 'Oh, dear me.' The Indian promptly said, 'Oh, turkey me.' The Indian boasted of his turkey, thinking the white man boasted of his deer." The games played by them on the ground where Oneida now stands were Indian ball and squaw ball for the women and girls. They meas- ured their strength with these games,' each tribe always trying to be the winner. An Indian treasures his ball bat as he does his gun or bow and arrow, and always takes it with him on any visit he makes to other tribes. But the old Indian has passed away and only the young progressive Indian is to be found here now. They are quietly living on their reser- vations. There has been much written about the Indian. No nation has had so much written about them. They were so strangely picturesque. Their dress was beautiful, and their handiwork very primitive, yet so grand. They are a vanishing race, but their memory will be forever per- petuated in the names which have been given to our towns, counties. States, mountains, rivers and lakes. Though we have never had a reser- vation located here since we have had a county, yet Oneida, Nemaha county, Kansas, sounds sweet to us, and it is all Indian. The Indians in Nemaha county were merely annoying. No one has ever told of trouble from them with but one or two brilliant exceptions. An occasional connection with Indian troubles came to Sabethans, how- ever. Joseph Prentice, a Sabetha farmer, unearthed a treasure a few years ago, resulting from an Indian raid of early times. The Indian trouble occurred in Nebraska. Prentice was an early day merchant. In the course of trades he came into possession of a Nebraska farm where the raid occurred. A story has been current for years, that when the In- dians attacked a party of emigrants on the way to fortune in the far West, a man named Wilcox buried a can of money on the farm. His brother searched the ground over for the money upon the death of the man who was wounded in the Indian fight. The farm, as a farming pro- position, had not been considered of much worth. But one day Joe Pren- tice determined to get something out of his trade if it took deep plow- ing and he plowed his ground deep. On a rather steep incline near the house he plowed up a rusty apple or tomato can. It was found to have $2,136.50 in silver and gold. Joseph Prentice said that the real lesson in this, is that "any farmer will turn up money if he plows deep." Nemaha county was connected with a real Indian tragedy, although our own Nemaha county Indians did not commit the crimes. It was the Cheyennes who attacked Nemaha county travelers when they were HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 6/ traveling to Colorado overland, in August, 1874. John German with his five daughters and one son, were in Chautauqua county traveling in their covered wagon to Colorado hoping to benefit the health of Cathar- ine. Catharine and the brother were driving the cows some distance in the rear of the wagon. As they came over a hill they saw the wagon at- tacked by the Indians, the father, mother and one sister were killed be- fore the horrified eyes of the boy and girl. The Indians saw them and killed the boy. Four sisters, Julia, Sophia, Adelaide and Catharine, were then carried by the Indians four days, with but one stop for food. Dur- ing their travels they passed a soldiers camp. Once two of the girls were left behind with two Indians and when the latter overtook the main band Adelaide and Julia were not with them. The older sisters thought they had been killed. But the Indians had simply abandoned ,them on the prairie to starve. Adelaide and Julia wandered over the prairie until they came to the soldiers' camp where they found an old blanket, corn and crackers, and for six weeks the little things lived on these abandoned scraps, with hackberries which grew plentifully and the clear spring water at hand. Later when the little round-eyed girls at- tended school at Sabetha, their playmates hung on every word of this ex- perience as they told it again and again. One night they awoke to find themselves covered with leaves. Doubtless some animal, already satis- fied as to appetite, covered the little girls for future use as he hoped. Finally they were discovered by soldiers, and were so dirty that the men would not believe they were white. The men wept when the tots told of their sufferings. Meantime Catharine and Sophia had been separated, the former accompanying the Cheyennes into New Mexico and Sophia going to Colorado with a band of Arapahoes. By the time Catharine reached the Texas border, she had lost track of time, and hope of recov- ery. But when she met Chief Stonecalf in Texas her hope revived for the great chief was grieved at the attack on her people. "I will try to take you home to your people," he said, "but it will take long, long." And he did. Not long afterward they began to move eastward. But it did take "long, long." The snow was on the ground. Many braves died of hunger. One night when they reached a canyon with good water and plenty of wood, Indians from other bands came straggling in and with them, to her happiness, came Sophia. In some way Sophia had heard of the rescue of the little sisters, and that General Miles was searching for the two older ones. Although the girls were not allowed to be together they were kept in the same camp. And a few days later Chief Stonecalf told them that the Indians had decided to give themselves up to the white chief and take the little girls back. When they reached General Miles' camp the Indians were lined up and the girls pointd out which ones were in the original band that killed their parents, brother and sis- ter. These Indians were sent to St. Augustine, Fla. General Miles took the guardianship of the girls for two years, when they were taken first to Lawrence and later to Leavenworth. In Leavenworth, Pat Corney 68 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY became their guardian, and a few years later Catherine married Amos Swerdfeger, a brother of Mrs. Corney. They removed to Granada town- ship, Nemaha county, and later to Sabetha, where the younger girls were graduated from the Sabetha schools. Mrs. Swerdfeger says, "When we reached the soldiers' camp all the soldiers were lined up and cheered us. I still feel a lump in my throat when I think of it. I thought I had never seen such white people, they looked as white as snow. My being so accustomed to, red people was why they looked so white and pretty." Mrs. Swerdfeger lives in California now. Julia is Mrs. Brooks, also of California; Mrs. Frank Andrews lives in Berwick, Nemaha county, and Mrs. Albert Feldman, near the Nemaha county line in Richardson county, Nebraska. They are Adelaide and Sophia. Nemaha county never had any resident Indians. The Kickapoos on one side of the county are in Brown county, the Sac and Fox tribes have always been in Jackson county. It "is possible that the twenty miles on either side of the Nemeha river, having been exempted from Indian claim, resulted in the Indians never taking up a residence in the county, for the Nemaha runs north and south near the center of the county, which is forty miles wide. But the Indians have always made frequent and invariably friendly calls on their white Nemaha neighbors. The lat- est call happened within a few months of this writing and is an interest- ing illustration of the Indians' acceptation of modern conditions and his endurance of the primitive at one and the same time. Lucette Goslin, the little six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Goslin, of the Indian reservation located in Jackson county, was brought to the Sabetha hospital by her mother. The child had been swinging, while she had in her mouth a small wheel from a toy train of cars. The wheel became lodged in her windpipe and she was taken to the Sabetha hospital for its removal, under the modern, advanced surgical conditions and surroundings suitable for her surest recovery. Mean- time Mrs. Goslin, the mother took a room at a hotel. During the night she gave birth to a baby. The next morning she got up, wrapped the new little papoose in approved Indian fashion, visited her little daugh- ter at the hospital and returned to her reservation, with the new mem'- ber of her family. But the little girl remained at the hospital a week longer to recover from her throat trouble. The Indians in northeastern Kansas were generally peaceful and friendly. It is recalled that sixty years ago a son of Tohe, an Iowa chief, whose reservation is still at A'NHiite Cloud in Doniphan county, was buried with honors, and many white friends attended to mourn with the Indian brothers the loss of "a good Indian." He was buried in a sitting posture on the surface of the ground upon the top of a high hill, with his face to the setting sun and bows and arrows, a war club and a pipe near him, to cheer and protect him on the Long Journe3^ His pony was shot and buried beside him. They were covered over with a mound of earth, a white flag raised and charms placed around the mound. Doni- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 69 phan county is filled with such mounds and is a veritable mine for In- dian collectors. But not one such Indian mound is known to exist in Nemaha county. Today it is an annual event for Nemaha county people to press the self starter of their automobiles and spin over to the Kickapoo Indian reservations for the powwow of the Indians. Each year the powwow becomes more and more like American events. The best baseball games of northeastern Kansas are played on these occasions by picked Indian college boys who attend school at Carlisle or Haskell and whose parents live on the reservation. The "Squaw ball" and Indian ball games, how- ever, remain very interesting events, and old and young Indians frorn six years to sixty enter both games. But so late as 1884 it was more than a couple of hours' run over to the reservation. C. H. Isely, of Spring Grove, tells of a trip made to the reservation from his farm near Sabetha in the month of August of that date. The drive part way was even then across the open prairie, through unfenced lands, which now are worth from $100 to $200 an acre. The care and conduct of the Indians were criticised by Mr. Iseley at that time, a condition which is vastly improved now, except for the fact that the worst road in northeastern Kansas runs, through the Government lands on the reservation. It is said it is the only section of the State without a road drag. The farms of the Indians themselves, however, were well kept in 1884, and are today. About this time Congressman Morrill endeavored to get a bill through Congress removing the Kickapoos from Brown county to Wis- consin. It failed. Occasionally the matter is brought up for discussion but nothing done. The Indians are peaceable, well behaved neighbors, as industrious as many of their white friends, and people generally see no reason why they should be taken from the home of their fathers and placed elsewhere. The first pensioning of soldiers of the State militia emanated from this district through Congressman Morrill. Mr. Morill asked to have 'three soldiers pensioned who lost their legs through freezing when called out by Governor Osborne to quell an Indian uprising in the southwest- ern part of the State in 1873. He finally secured fifty dollars a month for the three men, establishing a precedent that it was the regular sol- dier's duty to enter such fights and that if State soldiers were injured they should be rewarded. CHAPTER VII. TRANSPORTATION. EARLY DAY METHODS THE OX TEAM EARLY TRAILS- — ^ADVANCEMENT SLOW RAILROAD "tALK" BONDS VOTED ST. JOSEPH AND DENVER ST. JOSEPH AND GRAND ISLAND ROCK ISLAND MISSOURI PACIFIC BRANCHES HOW THE RAILROADS AFFECTED TOWNS "RAILROADS ON paper"— AUTOMOBILES ST. JOSEPH AND GRAND ISLAND THE PIONEER RAILROAD A TRADING POST FREIGHTING FERRY ON THE BIG BLUE GOVERNMENT LAYS OUT A MILITARY ROAD CALIFORNIA EMIGRATION STAGE LINES MARYSVILLE^ PALMETTO AND ROSEPORT RAILROAD OTHER RAILROAD COMPANIES. Driving from her home in Nemaha county to St. Joseph over the smooth dragged roads in her high power motor car in October, 1915, a Nemaha county woman, who barefooted had herded cattle and sheep on her father's farm in pioneer days, recalled the mode of travel to St. Joseph at that time. She was rushing along at thirty miles an hour, sequre in the knowledge that within three hours she would reach her destination with time for rest and lunch before listening to the Boston Symphony orchestra, which, by a special car, had come to the western city to give a concert. "When I was a little girl," she said, "we took three days to make this trip by ox team. Father and one of the big boys always went, and usually they tucked one of us little girls in for the pleasure of the trip. With our yoke of oxen we started across the prairie, paying no atten- tion to roads, merely going in the general right direction by the short- est cuts. If we came to an obstacle, we simply drove around it. The oxen made about two miles an hour, sometimes two and a half, but rarely that. It took us three days to go. We camped by the road at night, and, of course, took plenty of food to keep us going and coming, as it was doubtful where we would find food to spare en route. A night's rest and the day spent in buying dry goods and the necessary things to keep us the balance of the year, and we started from St. Jos- eph on our return trip. And now here I am spinning over the same road in an automobile at . thirty miles an hour. The railroad train, which we then thought beyond our dreams of acquisition in our 70 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY "Jl wooded, hilly country, is now too slow, and we would rather stay at home than take the boresome ride of three hours by train." The ox team was the general mode of travel in the early days. Many a Nemaha county family recalls traveling from Ohio, Illinois, even Pennsylvania, by ox or mule team. White Cloud in Doniphan county, sixty or seventy miles away, was an Indian mission. Food, clothing and furniture and necessities were taken to White Cloud on the old Missouri river side-wheeled steamboats. One Nemaha county woman recalls that her mother needed more furniture to comfortably accomodate her growing family. With mule team they started out with two children and wagons to drive to White Cloud, over hill, valley, prairie and unbridged stream, to bring home the needed furnishings. The trip was an event, .^nd the furniture was safely brought back to the delight of the waiting children at home. Men and women who herded their father's cattle and sheep over the unfenced fields and pastures of Nemaha county's early days are now flying around in automobiles and looking with assurance on the eventual ownership of an aeroplane. Spinning by field after field a Nemaha county man said : "I have herded stock over every foot of this ground. Just there was a lake, above it was another. We called tliis rise 'the big hill' and it is scarcely more now than a moderately undulating field. The topograph}^ of the country has changed almost compara- tively with our mode of transportation. I have stood on the back of my pony in my bare feet and galloped over hill and dale to corral my cattle. Horse back and across lots was the way we got around those days. Today we are not allowed on the wrong side of a built road. We must pass a man on the left side. We must pull to the right, and we cannot cut across a street that a policeman does not grab us by the arm and pull us the right way. Those were truly the days of freedom, if the method was in a measure slower than it is today." And it was several years before the method of transportation was advanced materially in Nemaha county from the ox team, the mule train, the Indian pony or the spanking, stylish team for Sunday use. As early as i860, there was, of course, "talk" among the settlers of getting a railroad into Nemaha county. St. Joseph was to be the start- ing point, and the railroad was to extend through the northern tier of Kansas counties. The road was in fact laid for a few miles from St. Joseph through Elwood and as far as Wathena. But the unsettled con- ditions, and then the declaration of war, stopped all preparations or even thought of railroads. During all that stressful period, mail was brought to the county only by overland and pony service. Even Ne- maha county forgot the railroads, for Nemaha county sent most of her men to the war. In 1862, a desultory attempt was made to revive the railroad ques- tion in Doniphan county, but few attended the called meeting. Two years later, the broth was again stirred at Seneca, which was as mea- 72 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY gerly attended as at the Doniphan meeting. The hearts of the people were at the front, their souls and bodies could find no comfort in the thought of a railroad at that time. But 1865 saw an end to the hostil- ities. The remaining soldiers were gathered beneath their own roofs, and the cultivation of vine and fig tree again commenced. Then was the railroad found to be a necessity, and no one stood upon the order of its securing. In the spring of 1866 an election was held to vote bonds for $125,000 to aid in the building of a railroad. The election carried and a meeting was held a few days later in Hiawatha, Brown county, for organizing a company to further the railroad acquirement. Samuel Lappin, of Seneca, was made president of the organization, F. H. Drenning, secretary, and W. B. Barnett, treasurer. Eleven directors, three of whom were Ne- maha county men, were elected as a board of directors. In the fall of that year two roads were consolidated and named the St. Joseph & Den- ver. But Nemaha county did not get her share of the road until four years later. "Rome was not built in a day," neither are railroads ex- tended in that length of time. In 1870, however, the road entered Ne- maha county at Sabetha, legal differences and other matters having been adjusted. It continues west through Oneida, Seneca, Baileyville and on through Nemaha county, Marshall county, thence into Nebraska to Grand Island. The railroad is owned by the Union Pacific, and is called the St. Joseph & Grand Island. Nemaha county people have always laughed over their exclusive railroad and put up with it. It is one of the best "feeders" in the country, traveling as it does through the most pro- ductive and richest part of Kansas and Nebraska. A Nemaha county man was far away from home recently looking at a motion picture play which had been made in the East. His great surprise and amuse- ment at seeing a bunch of "strike breakers" unload from a St. Joseph & Grand Island box car, took him directly back to the pastures green of his boyhood home. The northeastern section of the county, several years afterward, secured a branch of the Rock Island railroad, which enters the county at Sabetha, extends northwest, leaving it at Bern and extending to Fair- bury, Neb., thence connecting with through trains from Chicago to Denver. In the southern part of the county runs the Central Branch of the Missouri Pacific, which was the first railroad to enter the county. The Central Branch was surveyed as early as 1863, and was ably aided by the State and government in its advance across the State of Kansas. It was given scandalous assistance and has become the stock joke of the kerosene circuit actor, who aims his batteries at the Central Branch's inefficiency and always receives tumultuous applause for his jibes. The Central Branch was given $16,000 a mile for a distance of loo miles from Atchison to Waterville. It enters Nemaha county at Wetmore and > >< O > > ro O w t> o ■z o :^ 1^ w H HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 73 continues west through Goff, Corning and Centralia, across the entire southern section of the county. The State also ceded to the railroad alternate sections of land along its track on both sides, and the terri- tories back of these sections for a distance of ten miles. The county, having given its birthright to such an extent, was not obliged to give hard cash. In 1866 the railroad reached Wetmore, and Centralia a year later. Wetmore was established by the entrance of the railroad. It was now that numerous Nehama county towns virtually picked up their beds and walked. Having endeavored to induce the railroads to come to them and failed, the residents of the neglected town moved to the railroads. The grade over the hills to Albany, one of the earliest towns in the county, was found unfeasible by the surveyors of the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad. So Albany was lifted bodily and taken to Sabetha, which was easier of approach. Centralia moved over the hill to the Central Branch railroad, a dis- tance of a mile, after having her root, if not her branch, firmly in the ground for seven years previous. The original Corning became known as "Old Corning" when the new Corning was established on the railroad. Old Corning was a mile and a half away, and that part of it which did not move to the New Corning on the railroad, dissolved into farm lands. While these towns moved, others were established on the railroad as need came, and still others faded gradually awa}^ as the need for them lessened, as has been told in forerunning pages. From Kansas City to Seneca was established another branch of the Missouri Pacific some years after these original through railroads. It is the Kansas City Northwestern and goes through the western part of the county, through Centralia, Goff and Seneca to Virginia City, Neb. The early and intermediate history of Nemaha county is woven with day and night dreams of railroads gridironing this section of the country. Especially in the early days, the vision of the Kansas pioneer knew no bounds. The flights of imagination were confined to no trade or profession. If a blacksmith opened a shop on a cross roads, his fancy, as he hammered on his anvil, built a magic city upon the fields and prairies that surrounded him. Railroads were built on paper in every part of Nemaha county and a divisional headquarters, eating house and shops were located in the particular spot on which the dream originated. So strange is the turn of events that the visions of railroads of the early days are today changed into dreams of automobiles and paved highways throughout the county, a dream that probably will be realized before this history is many years old. The railroads are growing less important in the scheme of life except as freight carriers. As an example, we smile today at the Netawaka, AVoodland & Northwestern Railway Company. This railroad project got into the 74 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY serious class in 1884, when articles of incorporation were filed for the building of the road. The charter of the company located the line from Netawaka via Granada, Woodland and Oneida to Pawnee City, Neb., where, in the big imaginative scheme, it would interest the old B. & M. line. At Netawaka, of course, the road had an outlet in the Central Branch and "all points east." So it went. There was agitation for months. But the same was true of other localities, each of which had its pet railroad scheme at different times. Even as late as ten years ago the Falls City, Sycamore Springs, Sabetha & Southwestern railroad was planned. Sycamore Springs had developed a big sanitarium. W. L. Kauffman, the proprietor, and the community in general saw big things in this new railroad. The com- munity, in other words, lost none of its optimism and its faith. This- project was pushed hard and for a time it looked as if the railroad would be built by the sheer force of the enthusiasm of its promoters. A blue print of the route was made, a careful survey having been com- pleted. Mr. Kauffman, a prime mover for the railroad, had made a noted place of Sycamore Springs. He had the Kansas spirit. He believed in his springs. The springs had a traditional fame. Indians had gone there to be cured for unknown generations. This is shown by archeo- logists who examined the locality and arrived at their conclusions from the type of relics unearthed in that locality. Miles from the nearest town, Mr. Kauffman erected a stone hotel of sixty rooms at the springs. He equipped it with a waterworks sys- tem and other modern conveniences, and the "world made a path to his doorway." Then, having erected this modern hostlery out in the open country, he proceeded to arrange for a railroad to it, tapping numerous lines of railway at Falls City and Sabetha. Then came the automobile. It was the last railroad dream of the pioneer. The St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad was the pioneer road of Kansas. Its three miles of track laid from St. Joseph to near Wathena in i860 were the original rails of steel into a future garden spot, then regarded as an enterprise of doubtful value. While the Grand Island was the first Kansas railroad, it was not the first line into Nemaha county, for the old Atchison & Pike's Peak line, now known as the Central ^Branch, traversed the southern part of the county before the Grand Island was completed west of Hiawatha. W. P. King, a writer of fifteen years ago, tells a very interesting story of the trials, troubles and tribulations of the Grand Island, and re- lates the history of its inception. A history of Nemaha would nt be com- plete without giving the early record of the Grand Island. For it was this line with which the county most concerned itself. And it is the Grand Island that has figured most prominently in the progress and prosperity of the county. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 75 « The section of country tributary to the St. Joseph & Grand Island was a part of the Missouri territory, and in 1854, when the Kansas-Ne- braska act was passed, was comprised in the Great American desert. The only part of Kansas that was then believed as likely ever to be of value was that north of the Kansas river and west as far as the Big Blue river. Included in this territory is Nemaha county. All the territory outside of this boundary was esteemed to be the home and heritage of the wandering Indian tribes and the buffalo. Kansas was inhabited by many tribes of Indians who had reservations. Upon the northern part opposite St. Joseph were the Sac and Fox In- dians and the Iowa Indians, removed from the Missouri side and one time, owners of the Platte purchase. Joseph Robidoux, founder of St. Joseph, had in 1826 established a trading post at the mouth of the Blacksnake to catch the trade of the Indians passing from Agency Ford, Grand River and Western Missouri to Highland, in Doniphan county, Kansas, where there was quite an Indian settlement. At that date the country, after passing a few miles west of St. Joseph, was covered with buffalo grass. The rains were in- frequent in summer and grass and herbage generally dried up by Au- gust, so it was hardly possible to pass over the country west of the river in the fall or winter with teams. In 1853, 1854 and 1855 there was no running water from June until November between the Missouri river and the Big Blue. Parties from St. Joseph, sending out goods in wagons to the stations during those months, had to carry water with them. Today there are rhany streams and hundreds of springs that never go dry. This change is largely due to the ground cultivation and the cessation of burning the prairies every fall by the Indians in order to confine the game to the small wooded valleys of the streams. A ferry was established, at the Big Blue at a Pawnee trading post known now as Marysville, and in 1853 General Frank Marshall and James Doniphan bought it. In 1854 the laid out the town of Marys- ville and named it for Mrs. Mary Marshall, calling the county Marshall for General Marshall. In 1849 ■'^he United States sent out a regiment of soldiers, laid out a route known as the military road, from Ft. Leavenworth to the Big Blue at Marysville, and built forts at Laramie, Ft. Hall and the Dalles. This was the main route traveled by the Argonauts of California south of the Platte for many years and much the larger number traveled this route. In 1850, a large part of the California emigration crossed at St. Joseph and passed up Peters creek by Troy, Kans., and united with the military road at Kinnekenick, in Brown county, and thence through Nemaha county to the Big Blue at Marysville. When the territory was admitted, in 1854, many settlers rushed into Doniphan county, as the lands were esteemed valuable. But set- tlements were pushed out in Brown, Nemaha and Marshall counties. Up to 1861 there were few settlers except in small towns and stage sta- 76 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY tions. Marshall county, now one of the largest corn producing counties of the State, was then believed to be barren soil, unable to produce anytljing except sunflowers and buffalo grass. Beyond the Big Blue but few settlements were made until the railroads penetrated that region. In 1854, Magraw, the conductor for the stage line across the con- tinent, had established a station at Guittard, nine miles east of Marys- ville, another two miles from Hanover called Hollandberg; another at the mouth of Elk Creek, where it joins the Little Blue ; another on the Big Sandy, one at the Lone Elm in the Platte valley and then at Ft. Kearney. The idea of the originators of the St. Joseph and Grand Island rail- road was to follow as nearly as the topography of the country would allow, this route to the valley of the Big Platte, and then to the Pacific as laid out by the military road. The country is now a prolific farming region, one of the most highly cultivated and productive in the Union. A colony of South Carolinians, becoming tired of trying to make Kansas a slave State, bought the claim adjoining Marysville and called the town Palmetto. In February, 1857, the Kansas Legislature passed an act chartering a railroad from St. Joseph to the Big Blue, "The Marysville, Palmetto & Roseport railroad," entitled as follows: "An act to incor- porate the Marysville, or Palmetto & Roseport Ra;ilroad Company; ap- proved February 17, 1857." The charter named as incorporators Robert M. Stewart, afterward Governor of Missouri ; W. P. Richardson, Indian agent at Doniphan, Kans., one of the sturdy pioneers of the West ; Gen. J. F. Marshall, then a citizen of Marysville ; Belah M. Hughes, of St. Joseph ; Richard Rose, John W. Foreman, an Indian trader, of Doniphan ; Willard P Hall, afterward Governor of Missouri ; Gen. George H. Hall, of St. Joseph ; A. M. Mitchell, who laid out South St. Joseph in 1853 ; Reuben Middle- ton, a pioneer merchant of St. Joseph in 1842, one of the first men to build up the Salt Lake trade in 1849; R- H. Jenkins, a Kansas politician, who died in 1861 ; Fred W. Smith, pioneer of St. Joseph ; W. S. Brewster, long since deceased. On February 20, 1857, the territorial legislature of Kansas incor- porated the St. Joseph & Topeka Railroad Company. The incorporators were mostly citizens of Kansas, and the city of St. Joseph voted aid to the company, and October 20, 1850, a contract was entered into be- tween these two companies to own the right of way jointly for the rail- road from Elwood or Roseport to Troy and use the same track. This road afterward changed its route and ran down the river from Wathena to Doniphan and thence to Atchison. It was long since sold out at foreclosure and the right of way pur- chased by Jay Gould and sold to the Rock Island after the track had been removed and the iron sent west to lay switches, side tracks, etc., on the Grand Island. But we will go back to the Marysville & Roseport company. Rose- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY "/"J port, by the way, was one of the early day names for Elwood. The seventh section of the original act, approved February 17, 1857, gave the company the power to survey work, locate and construct a railroad from Marysville to Roseport in the territory of Kansas so as to connect with the St. Joseph .& Hannibal Railroad Company, which traversed Missouri from St. Joseph to the Mississippi river. Under the law of 1857 this company was organized on February 26, 1857, and directors were elected and $100,000 in capital stock was subscribed. In i860 three miles of the track was laid and ties and iron laid to near Wathena, the company having an engine called the Mud Cat. At a meeting of the stockholders, held on April 17, 1862, the name was changed to the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company. Nothing was done until 1866, when a local company was formed under the general incorpration laws of Kansas known as the Northern Kansas Railroad & Telegraph Company. The incorporators were citi- zens of Kansas. It was framed under the belief that it could get aid from the State of Kansas and more favorable legislation than the old St. Joseph & Denver City railroad, on account of the connection of Gen. Jeff Thompson and other Southerners with that road in its earlier his- tory, as well as to secure a grant of 125,000 acres of land from the State of Kansas, which it was feared could not be held by the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company. Articles of incorporation were signed on January 17, 1866, under the general railroad laws of 1865 of the State of Kansas, and were signed by Thomas A. Osborne, Frank Drenning, Sol Miller and C. E. Fox, of Doniphan county ; Ira Lacock, Samuel Spear and C. E. Parker, of Brown county, and George Graham, of Nemaha county ; E. C. Manning and J. B. Brumbaugh, of Marshall county, and Henry Hollenberg and E. Bal- lard, of Washington county, all of Kansas. Samjael Lappin, of Seneca, was elected president, and a board of directors in May, 1866. The consolidation took pake in October, 1866, the name of the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company being retained. In January, 1866, the work was commenced from Wathena west, and the following October the city of St. Joseph voted $500,000 stock to the road. In 1869 the road was built to Troy and located to Hiawatha. Doniphan county voted bonds to aid its construction. The Kansas Leg" islature granted odd sections of land as far west as the looth meridian for the benefit of the railroad. At that time the road was located only to Hanover. It is believed by many that if the road had been located up the Republican river toward Denver the company would have obtained over one and one-half million acres of land. By the location made, it received only 640,000 acres. Construction was pushed westward through Nemaha county to Marysville in 1871. In 1879 Jay Gould bought a controlling interest, the 78 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY road having been completed to Hastings, Neb., 227 miles west of St. Joseph. In 1885 the road was reorganized and named the St. Joseph & Grand Island, the road having been completed to Grand Island with capital furnished by Jay Gould several years previously. Nemaha county voted $100,000 for the road, but escaped payment through a technicality. CHAPTER VIII. SENECA, THE COUNTY SEAT. SELECTED FOR COUNTY SEAT TOWN FOUNDED FIRST HOUSE AND STORE SECOND STRUCTURE A LITERARY BLACKSMITH HOTEL AND MILL OTHER BUILDINGS AND EARLY DAY ENTERPRISES BUSINESS BOOMS GROWTH OF TOWN ^ADVANTAGES OF SENECA PROGRESS BUSI- NESS ENTERPRISES AND PROFESSIONS GUILFORD HOTEL; A COLONY COMES FROM ENGLAND THEIR EARLY STRUGGLES INTERESTING CITIZENS JAKE COHEN CIVIC IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY CHURCH TABERNACLE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING MUNICIPAL LIGHT AND WATERWORKS CITY HALL. \ When Central City, Richmond and other aspirants to the throne lost definitely the county seat, they resignedly laid down their hands, while Seneca departed with the spoils. She has had little difficulty in retain- ing her seat since. Richmond was carried over the short distance and added to the population of Seneca in a body. Little by little the other small settlements thereabout drifted in and made themselves at home, on one or more of the town lots, every other one of which the Senecans had donated to the town company. Seneca had been staked off and spoken for as a suitable town seat by J. B. Ingersoll in 1857. Mr. Ingersoll called his claim Castle Rock. He was not included in the original town company, however, which was composed of C. G. Scrafford, Royal Torrey, Samuel and Finley Lappin, who immediately changed the name to Seneca, whether for the Indians of that name or the great Roman statesman has never been divulged. Seneca started out bravely with metropolitan ideas and hopes. The first house erected on the town site of Seneca was no modest log- house of one room divided by a curtain, as is the usual pioneer dwelling. It was a double log house, built after what is now called the "Colonial plan" with a wide hall running through the center. Finley Lappin moved into one end of the house and reserved the other end, using it for a hotel. The other side of the "hall" was used for a grocery store. In addition the Lappin end was utilized by Samuel Lappin for an office when he was elected registrar of deeds. The house invariably served double purposes after its terms as hotel, grocery and office of registrar of deeds were served. It became a dwelling and a grocery shop ; a car- 79 8o HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY penter shop and had various uses until finally Mr. Lappin tore it down and erected a drug store. The second structure on the town site of Seneca was as simple and picturesque as the first one was magnificent, even for those early times. It was a blacksmith shop erected 'on four poles and covered with a roof of brush. The glow of the forge at night beneath its quaint covering was a beckoning finger for the few pioneers to gather around for a visit, and plan for Seneca's future and Nemaha's great renown. FIRST HOUSE BUILT IN SENECA, KANS. The blacksmith, himself, was not less attractive than his shop. He could not only shoe horses and hang a wheel, but was a writer, who contributed tales of his western pioneer home, as glowing and bril- liant as the fire in his forge. Levi Hensel was his name, and he became widely known as correspondent for the New York "Tribune." His daughter was the first child born in Seneca. She was given a town lot at her birth. Then came to Seneca, residents who have done much for the fame, honor and riches of the town and the county. John E. Smith with his wife, sons, brother and sister, and accompanied by Charles, George W. and Eliza Williams, arrived in March, 1858, from Derry, N. H. Mr. Smith first built his house, which became known as Smith's Hotel. Moreover he brought from New England machinery for a mill. This was taken by train to St. Louis, brought as far as Atchison by steamer and overland by ox team from Atchison. The Smith Hotel served two purposes as well as the Lappin place, for it was utilized as Seneca's first school and Miss Addie Smith taught the first school there in 1858. Buildings were becoming not so rare a luxury now, although there was some excitement when the first building of concrete stone was HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 8i erected, which later was torn down for a building of natural stone. Meantime, dwellirigs were going up, and within a couple of years the first court house was built and business affairs moved along as smoothly a town of more years. Two hotels in a village of less than two hundred people may seem an unnecessary outlay, but it was not. Seneca was on the Denver Over- land road and the hotels were kept busy. Immigration was immense at that time. Gold seekers still were going to California. Denver was a lure. Pike's Peak was as tempting as the golden rivers of California. The western lands of Kansas were advertised all Over the east, with MAIN STREET AND BUSINESS SECTION, SENECA, KANS. maps of thriving cities, streams of smoke pouring from factory chim- neys, and populous streets picturing an irresistable temptation. Run- ning a hotel in those days was a real money making business. A dollar was charged for all meals, and it was not an unusual thing to have the tables crowded full meal after meal. From six residents, when Seneca secured the county seat from its rivals, within six years it had grown to a population of 300; a transient population of twenty-five to thirty daily; two hotels, a grist mill, saw mill, school, jewelry store, hardware store, newspaper, several other business buildings, county buildings and dwellings. In the early eighties Seneca had 1,500 inhabitants, and now it has 2,000. (6) 82 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY It seems rather a pity that Seneca has not become a real metropolis, for her streets are laid out with such generous width, that a cityful could be accommodated in them. Why is it that a town laid out and planned with generosity in the matter of streets, remains of lesser proportions, while a city grows from a village that has crooked, crammed streets, and forefathers who do not appreciate the beauty of being generous in the first place, are fol- lowed by property owners who refuse to be generous when necessity fi- nally comes? At any rate, Seneca is to be congratulated on the breadth of her streets. In the past year the question of paving has arisen in the town. The proposition is to put a parking down the center of this beautiful main thoroughfare, and pave on either side. Seneca's main street has other pleasing points to offer. It is blessed with quaint stone churches, covered with vines. It has not suc- cumbed to modernity and destroyed the handiwork of generous fore- fathers at the instigation of fashionable offspring. It has retained its quiet, quaint dignity, and is unique in that. There are homes and de- lightful, secluded spots in Seneca that remind one of old New England homes occupied for 300 years by the descendants of one family. It is refreshing to come upon such a town in a State where most villages and cities are as painfully new as patent leather shoes always appear to be. From this do not gather that Seneca is not progressive and moving right along in the direction of wealth and prosperity. Where thirty years ago there stood a dozen business houses and two small hotels, today there are : Two newspapers, the "Tribune" and the "Courier-Democrat" Frank Strathmann, photographer Albert Koelzer, photographer B. F. Townsend, blacksmith A. H. Grollmes, blacksmith John Quinlan, blacksmith Ole Nelson, blacksmith J. J. Buser, Buser Auto Co., garage. Maxwell, Hudson and Dodge Highway Garage, C. C. Firstenberger, Buick and Ford Bailie Keith, garage and repair shop Earl Goodrich, Metz cars and garage REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE. W. F. Thompson T. E. Rooney Bert Woods Abbie W. Kennard Crandall & Bruner Realty Co. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 83 'LAWYERS. C. C. K. Scoville Charles Schrempp Ira Wells Charles Herold John Stowell H. M. Baldwin Emery & Emery F. L. Geary DOCTORS. H. G. Snyder A. M. Brewer U. G. lies C. E. Telle J. Rudbeck DENTISTS. J. J. Sullivan Hurst Fitzgerald F. W. Drum H. F. Davis PREACHERS. C. A. Richard, Community Rev. Guoin, Episcopal Irvin McMurray, Methodist Episcopal Christian Science Congregational Universalist Catholic, Father Joseph Sittenauer, O. S. B., pastor; Father Gabriel Vonderstein, assistant SENECA BUSINESS HOUSES. Walter Sperling's Jewelry Store Seneca Shale and Brick Company plant Seneca Planing Mill Municipal Electric Light and Water Plant Seneca Ice and Pop Plant Gilford Hotel New Royal Theater Cameron House West End House Will Carey's Restaurant John Meinberg's Restaurant Peter Schmitt's Steam Bakery Otto Kelm's Home Bakery Wempe & Buening, Department Store Honeywell & Stein, "The Leader" Department Store K. J. Nash, Dry Goods and Merchandise 84 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY M. A. Reckow, Variety Store B. F. Staubus, Mammoth Racket Store August Kramer, Hardware Fuller & Son, Hardware A. L. L, Scoville, Hardware First National Bank and Seneca State Savings Bank, in one building under same directors National Bank of Seneca Citizens State Bank Ralph Johnson, Groceries E. R. Mathews, Groceries A. E. Levick, Groceries Thomas Routh, Exclusive Shoe Store Buehler Clothing Company, Men's Clothiers Firstenberger & Son, Men's Clothiers John L. Clark, Drug Store D. B. Harsh, Drug Store H. E. Jenkins, Drug Store August Haug, Butcher Shop L. P. Alexander, Butcher Shop Jenkins & Avery, Butcher Shop Seneca, having a good start on hotels in the first place, has kept on in the right direction, and now one of the famous hostelries of north- eastern Kansas is the Gilford Hotel. In a town of 2,000 people, to be driven up to a hotel worthy of a town of 20,000 is something of itself. Then to be taken into a cool, spacious dining room, seated by a window at a table with white tablecloth and a bouquet of country flowers, look- ing out on a sloping green hill and blue sky, with no disreputable shacks or smoky chimneys interposing between your vision and the fair sight, is a delightful surprise. The Gilford hotel was named in honor of its builders in a euphonious combination of their names : John A. Gilchrist and Charles G. Scrafford. Mr. Gilchrist was formerly interested in the Seneca State Bank, now the National Bank of Seneca. He lives now in El Paso, Texas, but has left behind him a monument of pride to the entire county. Mr. Scraf- ford was the pioneer merchant of Seneca. He built the first hotel in White Cloud and the first saw mill there. But White Cloud, with its Indian agency and increasing citizenship, was becoming too civilized and metropolitan for the adventurous and delightful Mr. Scrafford, so he sought new worlds to conquer and removed to Seneca, where he opened a general store in i860. With ox teams he crossed the' prairie between Missouri and Seneca to haul his goods and lumber for his building and stock. The stuff had to be ferried across the Missouri river, then loaded on the wagons, and across the open prairies the ox teams carried the goods, a trip that could not take less than four days with such a load, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 8S longer than it takes now to go by rail to California. Mr. Scrafford was in business, both mercantile and banking, with Finley Lappin. He married Mr. Lappin's daughter, a brilliant, witty woman, whose wit has increased with her years. Mr. 5crafford was an early day town trustee, later was mayor, and altogether was one of the moving spirits of Seneca. Seneca is the most cosmopolitan town in Nemaha county, in that many different countries are represented- by her pioneer citizens. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Fuller celebrated on January i, 1916, their sixtieth wedding anniversary, their wedding having occurred in Kent, England. The marriage occurred in the little parish church in the village of Ash- ford. Mr. Fuller has a fund of reminiscences of his native country and pioneer days in the land of his adoption. Mr. Fuller accounts for immigration to Kansas from England in 1870 in telling of the meetings of workingmen held at 18 Denmark street, Soho, London, England. He says this was a great place for working- men to congregate. They met and discussed the best way to mitigate the conditions of the English workingmen. Among them was John Rad- ford, a big talker, quite a power in that way, but impractical. Jim and Charley Murray were other Englishmen who talked to the English workers. It was planned for a colony to settle near Goff, Kansas, and Edward Granger Smith was superintendent of the colonization plan. Those who migrated at that time were promised a fourteen-room house When they reached Kansas nothing of the sort was to be found. Mr. Fuller was obliged to house, if it could be so called, his famil}^, consist- ing of a wife and six children, in a frame room fourteen by ten feet, with a leaky roof over it. There were seventeen in the party who came over from England with the Fuller family. • As for their exact location, Mr. Fuller says it was not named, but their destination was the forty-eighth mile post. Their particular sec- tion was 25, twenty miles and a half due north of this point, and divided into ten-acre tracts, which they expected to plant to wheat. They reached this point in May. Edward Granger Smith, pro- moter and prime mover, accompanied them, but he died within a short time after their arrival. In recalling the incident, Mr. Fuller says that he made the coffin, and donning some Odd Fellows' regalia which he had brought from England, he repeated from memory the burial service of the English church. Later he performed the same services over the body of another pioneer named Dewey. In telling of the first planting on their scant acreage, Mr. Fuller says he traded three hogs for enough wheat to plant his ten acres. It was spring wheat and this for fall planting, but it made a splendid crop, which he sold to Don Rising for $1.10 a bushel. Mr. Fuller also recalls that he bought a ten-acre plot with improve- ments from John Stowell, who was there a year earlier, paying about $2 for all, land which now would doubtless bring $200 an acre. 86 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY In August after these emigrants came, a preacher named Smith built a house, there, making it a sort of postoffice, with siding for a station. They did anything for a Hvelihood. Installments were sent over from the workingmen in England. Mr. Fuller rerriembers going to At- chison to cash a check sent from there. He helped to build the railroad from Atchison to Waterville. He was put to sawing wood for the loco- motive, probably because he was large and strong, and received $2 a day for it. Mrs. Fuller recalls planting ten acres to corn, using a hatchet to make the holes. It was, of course, sod corn, but it came up, making a fair yield. In the spring of 1871 they moved to Centralia, where there was a similar colony. The Mechanic's building in old Centralia is still standing. The following year the John W. Fuller family moved to Seneca, locating where the business block of Lieutenant Governor Felt was later built. They made tin roofs or any kind of work they could get. At one time Mr. Fuller bound wheat for John Koelzer for $2 a day and board. Having been brought up a mechanic, Mr. Fuller says this was the hardest work he ever did in his life. On the trip of these emigrant English, from New York to Kansas, a stop was made at Elkhart, Ind. Mr. Fuller went into a shop there and asked for treacle, which is English for molasses. The store keeper was nonplused what to give the purchaser. A Kentish boy happened to enter the store during the discussion' and explained that molasses was what was wanted. Thieves and sharks were all along the line to victimize the emigrants. In their stop in Chicago, while the family was housed for the night in a freight depot, the Kentish boy watched over them all night to protect them from these depredations. Seneca has among her residents a famous Italian, Antonio Raffo, whose restaurant for many years was the goal of every epicure who was so fortunate as to have heard of him. Antonio Raffo ran a restaurant many, many years ago in Baltimore. He married an American woman named Katie Brooks. Together they ran the famous restaurant in Seneca, which, if conducted today, would make the town a goal for au- tomobilists from all over this section of Kansas and the neighboring Nebraska. Katie Raffo died twenty-five years ago. Her husband seemed to have lost his zest at this grevious parting, and closed the restaurant. He was very devoted to her, and loves her as fondly today. . Her grave is one of the most perfectly kept anywhere. Mr. Raffo is a veteran of two wars, and his back pension enabled him to retire comfortably. He owns two properties. His present home he keeps himself, and it is said that Antonio Raffo, veteran of the Crimean war and the Civil war, is the best housekeeper in Nemaha county. Antonio Raffo's father was a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte. Raffo was born in America, but his love for battle was inborn. When HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 87 the Crimean war broke out Raffo worked his way across the ocean to Italy on a merchant vessel and enlisted with the Zouaves. He was only nineteen years old, but distinguished himself in the famous war when England, Russia, Italy and France fought for the possession of Crim-ea. A. Raffo is the second Nemaha county citizen who fought in the Crimean war and was present at the famous battle of Sebastopol. He tells, in his quaint pronunciations, of the dazzling feats of the Italian Zouaves who scaled walls arid wrested guns from the slower Russians on the walls of the city. He was one of seventeen men to receive a Vic- torian cross for his conspicuous bravery in the attacks on Balaklava and Malkoff. At the close of the war he returned to America and opened his Baltimore restaurant. Here also he joined the Baltimore guards, who volunteered for service to capture John Brown at Harper's Ferry. Antonio Raffo was with the men who captured the famous John Brown, whose body may "hang on a sour apple tree, but whose, soul still goes marching on." Baltimore thugs and toughs also went along in the free train to assist in the capture. But finding that Brown and ten negroes were fortified in a metal engine house they disappeared. The Baltimore guards surrounded the engine house, and with timbers as battering rams crashed in the door. Brown's men then opened fire, concentrating it on one spot. Only four guards fell. The guards then entered and every man was killed except John Brown and one negro. The negro was felled by an officer and Raffo, because of his Crimean experience, ban- daged his wounds. Then Brown was seen and recognized. "I guess he would have been killed right there if I had not protected him," said Raffo. In 1861, because of his military experience, Raffo was employed as a drill master by the State of West Virginia. He then enlisted for service, in Company C, Seventh regiment. West Virginia volunteers. Others in his regiment said that he was considered the handsomest man in the regiment and could have had any position, if he could have spoken English better. Another Nemaha county resident who served in the war of the Crimea was John Williams, who had lived, on his same farm for fifty year's until his death in 1914. He was a sailor on a British man-of-war and saw service during the entire war. He saw the famous charge of "Six Hundred" at the battle of Balaklava. He was present at the taking of Odessa. Mr. Williams was born in Swansea, Wales, and came to Nemaha county two years after the close of the Crimean war. A third Nemaha county man to distinguish himself in the Crimean war, for Great Britain, was Dr. W. F. Troughton, of Seneca. Dr. Troughton held the position of assistant surgeon in a royal artillery regiment at Gibraltar. He came to Nemaha county in 1865, the year he was graduated from the St. Thomas Medical College of London, where he studied under Dr. Skelton. He was a native of Westmorland, 88 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY England, and married Anne Daryes in England before coming to this country. He has been prominent in Seneca affairs for many years. A rare citizen of Seneca, and, beyond any cavil, its most beloved, is Mrs. Emily Collins, who has taught the primary grade in Seneca schools for thirty-eight consecutive years. She is teaching the children of the children whom she had taught. Before Seneca is laid aside for her smaller sisters' stories, a word should be said of Jake Cohen, of beloved memory, without which no history of Seneca would be complete. Mr. Cohen was a gentle Jew. He was elected mayor of the city with few dissenting votes in a town largely Catholic, and with the rest of the people Protestants, but broad and fine enough to recognize merit and admire quality in one of dif- ferent belief. Mr. Cohen rescued Seneca frorn depression. He made the town physically and morally clean. He gave such an impetus to the up- ward that Seneca will never slip back to civic slothfulness again. And when Jake Cohen died several years afterward, every store in Seneca was closed, and every resident, children and all, went to his funeral, and we still mourn him. Seneca had a revival during the reign of Mr. Cohen, which tore the town from cellar to dome. While it was a civic revival, it was none the less religious. The revival did as much practical good as ever a re- ligious revival has done ; perhaps more. Cleanliness is next to godliness, Seneca concluded. So Seneca cleaned up and a professional revivalist, who advanced civic improvement, was employed to engineer the job. He preached better streets, cleaner alleys, better lawns, painted houses and a more sightly town. He delivered lectures in the theater, went to the farmers on the streets and talked to them and stirred things up generally. The Seneca Cominercial Club paid him, and he was worth all he received. There is a rich field for this kind of an evangelist. There should be a few of them living, in each town. The Seneca papers were filled with the revival for weeks. The Seneca Civic Movement League edited the matter and wrote some pretty hot shots at people who did not clean up, and did not hesitate to mention their names. A report got out that a certain clerk in Seneca was taking orders for a mail order house. A committee waited on the clerk at once. The movement was the best thing that Seneca had done for years, and she is still feeling the effects of it. Seneca did not backslide on that revival. The broadness which characterizes Seneca has been carried farther in recent years by the institution, maintenance and increasing popu- larity of the community church. Many small churches of small success and difficult work have gathered under the banner of brotherly love, kindness, honesty, fairness and good works with no further creed. Seneca, a small town of 2,000, has bravely faced the problem that larger cities realize is.facing the church of today and has clung tenaciously to her belief that in union there is strength. The community religious move- ment began in 1914 with a series of six sermons delivered in Protestant HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 89 ^«.- churches, cuhxiinating in an organization at the old stone church, March 9, 1915. It has been remarkably successful in bringing people out to church. In bitterly cold weather and excessively hot, people have gath- ered under the community banner. The members do not join, they simply go — Congregationalists, Universalists, Presbyterians, Christians, Episcopalians, Scientists and Methodists. The conimunity church is not for the church work alone ; it is supposed to reach every phase of civic life, and consequently everything in which any man is interested. Then the Senecans combined and built a tabernacle, an open, screened building, the material and the work for which was largely donated and the money raised by giving a. home talent chautauqua. Ex- perienced builders supervised the work, G. A. Shaul and Roy Vorhees, whose work was also a gift to the cause. The services were originally for Sunday evening only, but the organization having been com- COMMUNITY TABERNACLE, WHEHB CREEDS AND DOGMAS ARE LAID ASIDE — ALL DENOMINATIONS WELCOMED. pleted, services will be held twice on Sunday hereafter. In the winter a floor was put down, also a gift, and the tabernacle building is used in winter for basket ball, indoor base ball and similar entertainment. In the summer the chautauqua, public meetings, or any kind of wholesome entertainment is given free use of the community building. The girls are kept entertained afternoons in the community building by games, and the boys are entertained evenings, or both are entertained together. The home chautauqua has been organized into a permanent association, and the athletics into a managing concern called the Independent Ath- letic Association. The regular ball games are charging for admission 90 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY to pay for the lumber in the floor. The Congregational Church voted not to hire a pastor this year, but will try the community movement for six months. Rev. C. A. Richards has had charge of the community affairs since its organization ; a splendid, indefatigable, courageous young man, who believes that religion is also to be found in one's work and one's play. The Seneca High School is a building as handsome in appearance and surroundings as any city and many colleges could afford. It is a very beautiful building of pressed brick with cut stone trimming, and is located on handsome grounds, with all appliances in the play ground that may be found in a progressive city. Beginning with the first school taught in 1858, as mentioned, and coming down to R. G. Mueller, head of the school today, a witty man and a fine educator, Seneca schools have been invariably a matter of pride and congratulation to the town. There have been famous men in charge of school matters in Seneca. J. C. Hebbard was the first county superintendent of public instruction. Mr. Hebbard made the first county report during the days when Kansas was a territory, and Samuel W. Greer was the superintendent of the territory. Following Mr. Hebbard, ' a delightful, cultured man, who with his wife was a great assistance in the advance in culture of Nemaha county, was John W. Fuller. Mr. Fuller was the second superintendent of the county and for sixty years has kept up his personal interest in Seneca schools. It was he, who in 1907, insisted that the country schools should have manual training. He had been a member then of the Seneca School Board for the previous ten years. Mr. Fuller was the first di- rector of manual training in Nemaha county schools when the pupils of Seneca schools made'a bench under his gratuitous supervision. From then on Seneca's manual training department has been made increas- ingly important. Five sewing machines were installed shortly after- ward. At the annual county fair in Seneca the most interesting section is the display of dresses, gowns and embroidery made by the Seneca children from the first grade to the senior year. The equipment in the boys' department was largely made by the pupils themselves. Mr. Fuller is an author of some note. His work on "The Art of Copper- smithing" is said to be the only treatise on the subject. Another .book of Mr. Fuller's is "The Geometric Development of Round and Oval Cones." All of which sounds as if he were the proper man to have been the leading spirit in teaching a child the honor of working with his hands. For years Mr. Fuller made frequent talks to the Seneca school children, which did much to keep their enthusiasm aroused along practical educational lines. Seneca claims that its manual training department has been the most highly developed of any school its size in the State. The school children of Seneca have had for nearly forty years an invaluable start in their work. Mrs. Emily Collins has been the primary teacher during this entire period. For years she has been teaching the children of former pupils. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 9^ Seneca has a capably administered municipal light and waterworks system, which is being operated with such signal success that each year witnesses a surplus piling up in the city treasury over and above main- tenance and operating expenses. The city water is obtained from a never failing source, natural springs eastward beyond the city limits, which are safeguarded for all time from pollution, and whose waters have been pronounced by the State chemistry department to be abso- lutely pure. During the past season (1916) the main thoroughfare of the city' has been regraded and an experiment in oiling carried out which is proving to be an unqualified success. In July of 1916 the citizens voted almost unanimously in favor of bonding the city for the erection of a new city hall and municipal build- ing, to be erected at a cost of $20,000. This building is being erected on city land on the corner diagonally across from the old stone church at the western end of the business section and the sale by the city and sub- sequent removal of smaller buildings took place recently to make room for the proposed building, which will house the city offices, the fire de- partment, provide a rest room and assembly room for the people. The edifice is modern in every respect and will be a matter of pride to every Senecan when completed. CHAPTER IX. SENECA SHALE BRICK INDUSTRY. AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY THE ONE EXCEPTION IMPORTANT IN- VENTION THE "kLOSE CONTINUOUS TUNNEL KILN" A VISIT TO THE SENECA SHALE BRICK COMPANY'S PLANT INTERVIEW WITH MR. KLOSE ORGANIZATION OF COMPANY BEGINNING OE INDUSTRY PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY PRESENT CAPACITY CAPITALIZATION. The region in the vicinity of Seneca is essentially and purely an agricultural locality. In fact, the whole of Nemaha county is farm land. The traveler in passing through the county from the north to south or from east to west at any angle of the compass will observe nothing but a fertile landscape, dotted with farm houses, big red barns, herds of fat cattle, droves of fine horses, great fields of corn, alfalfa and wheat — with the blue sky overhead unmarred by a breath of smoke from factory chimneys. Instead of the hum of th.e "wheels of industry," the whirr of the reaper is heard in season, and during the harvest time the rattle and chug, chug of the thresher is likewise heard on. the various farms. These will be the only evidences of industrial activity to be found or heard aside from the passing of the steam trains and a few necessary local manufacturing establishments. The one exception to the fact that this county is the absolute do- main of the farmer is found at Seneca and is the Seneca Brick Manu- factory, a thriving industrial concern, which is one of the best managed and successful concerns of its kind in the West. This is what might be called an "infant industry" as yet, and has been in existence for the past ten years, its course of growth having been marked by various vicissi- tudes and "ups and downs," which have been apparently solved of late since the new and economical system of brick burning has been installed by the inventor and superintendent, K. W. Klose. This system is called the "Klose Continuous Tunnel Kiln," and has excited the attention and scientific comment from brick men in all parts of the New and the Old World. "The Brick and Clay Record," a journal devoted to the brick manu- facturing and clay products business, in its issue of December i, 1912, has an appreciation and full comment to make regarding the Klose Contin- uous Kiln, in operation at the Seneca Shale Brick works, under the title, 92 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 93 "Makes a Continuous Kiln at Cost of $3,000. Young Kansan May Revo- lutionize the Method of Burning Clay With Recent Invention — Simplic- ity and Efficiency Mark System, Which Include Drying and Conveying." A conveying system that combines simplicity and service, or a di'ying method that is inexpensive and at the same time practical or a continuous tunnel kiln that is possible at one-tenth of the present cost of construction — either of these three goals would be considered sufficient unto itself by the progressive manufacturer. But group all three into one compact system, under one roof and not only reduce the cost of con- struction and operation, but increase efficiency and improve the product and you have an achievement few clay workers hope to realize. Despite those who have declared it never would be, the goal has been reached, and like all milestones in the march of progress, "Neces- sity, the Mother of Invention," secures the credit. The idealistic combination has gone beyond the experimental stage. It actually exists. For the past year a complete brick, tile and hollow block plant has been using it at Seneca, Kans., and, as the tidings spread the little town has been the mecca for doubting, yet interested, clay workers. The first public announcement of the new system appeared in "Brick and Clay Record," September 15, 1912, and came from the in- ventor himself — K. W. Klose, a young German who has struggled in ob- scurity until nowj but whose fame and name bid fair to be known wher- ever clay is utilized in a manufactured pi-oduct. Mr. Klose, like most geniuses, is a modest, retiring sort of a fellow, uncommunicative and slow to acknowledge that he has accomplished more than his fellow laborers. But he carries three diplomas to attest the claims of his friends and acquaintances that he is peculiarly well equipped for the important mission he undertook. One of these is from a government college in his native German province and the other is from a technical school not far from Berlin, and the other is from the school of experience, located in Germany, the home of the continuous kiln, and the United States. The announcement that appeared in this journal last September was in keeping with the nature of the man and so modest that few realized its full value at first. But gradually it dawned upon many that somewhere out in Kansas, among the clay hills of the Missouri river valley, there was the beginning of a revolution in the clay manufacturing industry and for weeks the one hotel at Seneca has been taxed by an increasing- patronage and the narrow little road that winds around the foothills to the north of the city has been the most trodden in that vicinity. One of the most recent tourists was the writer, and like his fellow- travelers he left the train filled with doubt. Mr. Klose's claim was a broad one. Others have startled the world with exaggerated announce- ments. Others have made claims equally as broad and possibly more probable, but usually the results were the same — a bubble that exploded 94 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY or an air castle that never materialized when the searchlight of investi- gation was turned on. Not so with Mr. Klose and his announcement. Five minutes in his plant are more than sufficient to convince any practical clay worker, how- ever skeptical he may be, for simplicity is one of the strongest features of the Klose system, and even a novice may grasp the fullness of the idea with ease. The first view of the Seneca Shale Brick Company's plant, where Mr. Klose operates his system, is disappointing to the visitor. Nestling in the foothills there is just an ordinary hollow block building of modest proportions. One, for some reason, expects to see something a "little different," but there it is, a modest structure that may house a bicycle repair shop instead of a new drying and burning system that has caused brickmakers to sit up and take notice. You enter the building and the first sweep of your eyes increases your disappointment. For the whole length of the building there is only a paved floor, piles of green brick or hollow block on either side alone breaking the monotony. A second glance discloses an "I" beam running the full length and width of the structure and bearing an exelectric triplex hoist — about the only visible sign of modern efficiency. Another hurried sweep of the eyes and in one corner of the long room the visitor sees a combination brick and tile machine of the Amer- ican Clay Machinery Company's design busy turning out the product of the plant. Close to the cutter there is a double electric hoist, which conveys the green brick or block to the floor above. You turn to your guide, Klose himself, and he meets your look of disappointment with a smile. "Where's the kiln?" you ask. "You're standing on it now," he replies quietly, and points to the floor beneath. For the first time you feel the warmth on the soles of your shoes and you make haste to leave the inch or so of loose clay that covers .the brick pavement, cropping out here and there. •You are inclined to believe the young German is having some fun at your expense, but just then a fellow comes along with a small scoop, no larger than a housewife us€S in her flour bin. He takes a small cap, which heretofore has not been observed, and you see him disclose an opening scarcely five inches across. He sprinkles in barely a quart of small screened coal. The cap goes back into place and the fellows sits on a small stool to one side and proceeds to enjoy his pipe. You watch him in amazement. "Is he the kiln tender?" you manage to ask. Your guide nods as- sent. "And is that all the coal he puts in there?" Again there is a smiling nod in the affirmative. At regular intervals you observe the burner leave his seat, take up his tiny scoop and lifting the next cap, proceed to replenish the fire in the burning chamber below. And then Mr. Klose consents to tell you about his kiln and when HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNT'S^ 95 he has explained its principle you look down at the "trench in the ground," as the visitor invariably calls it, and exclaim : "How simple ! Why didn't I think about it?" And that one explanation conveys better than pages of type the secret of Mr. Klose's invention. The kiln is not so much more than a "hole in the ground," with four brick walls and its simplicity and de- sign of construction destined to create a stir in the clay world just as soon as the clay worker learns about it. Think of it ! A continuous tunnel kiln with a capacity of 600,000 brick per month, that can be constructed for less than $3,000, or one- tenth of the cost of the ordinary tunnel-kiln and yet better and more efficient. But simplicity does not end with the kiln. Mr. Klose has carried the same idea, coupled with economy and efficiency, into his conveying system and drier, and your inspection of the entire plant is a revelation to you. Briefly stated, the Klose system in operation in the Seneca plant takes into consideration these three main points : First. — A conveying system that works almost automatically and which is part of the general scheme of saving time, labor and improving the efficiency. This is so constructed and located that a small boy can operate it. Second. — A drying system which utilizes radiated heat from the kiln and which is so constructed as to form a compact unit with the whole. Third. — A continuous, tunnel kiln which can be constructed at the minimum of expense and at the same time prove efficient and econom- ical." — Extract from "Brick and Clay Record," issue of December i, T912. Since the installation of the Klose system in the Seneca plant, Mr. Klose has installed fourteen systems identically the same in other plants throughout the country. The Iflose system has proven to be a wonderful economical success in the Seneca Shale Brick Company's plant and its operation under Mr. Klose's supervision and management has placed a struggling concern, which has been operating at a decided loss, on a practical paying basis. The plant is now being operated at a profit to the stockholders and the men who pinned their faith on the ultimate success of the clay in- dustry in Seneca are destined to receive substantial dividends ,on their investments which for a time had the appearance of being precarious and not productive if not in danger of actual loss. The Seneca Shale Brick Company was launched entirely by local capitalists, who invested their money in the enterprise in the hope of doing something which would benefit their home city and give employ- ment to labor at all times of the year. There is little market for labor in Seneca and the surrounding country, except on the farms, and the Sen- 96 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY eca Brick Company takes care of some eighteen or twenty men in this respect at the present time. The company was organized in 1906 with a capital of $10,000, and was composed of George A. Shaul, J. H. Cohen, George W. Williams, L. B. Keith, H. B. Nichols, August Kramer, Ira B. Dye, Dr. W. F. Drum, H. C. Settle, Mrs. C. G. Scrafford. They acquired or leased a tract of land upon which a bed of shale had been discovered near the surface that seemed to be apparently exhaustless and located on the John Fox farm one-half mile west of Seneca. This bed of shale also underlies the William land. Since excavating has been undertaken, it has been found that the depth of the shale is indeterminable and in- creases in quality with depth. A small vein of coal has also been uncov- ered and it is thought by people who have studied the formation that deeper excavations on the site of the bed already uncovered will reveal the presence of another vein of coal of greater thickness. The brick industry had its beginning with a venture made by cap- italists who drilled for oil in the northeastern part of Seneca. When the drill had reached a depth of 800 feet granite was struck and the drilling was stopped. The outfit was moved to the Smith farm west of the city and placed in operation. At a depth of sixty feet brick making shale was struck. After drilling another twenty feet the promoters decideS that the shale underlies other lands in the vicinity, and the stratum was followed lower down the fall of the ground and outcroppings were ob- served in the vicinity of the present plant. George A. Shaul was watch- ing the drilling operations and came to the conclusion that an exten- sive deposit of shale was to be found. Careful prospecting: uncovered other and similar deposits, and the outcrop was found on the Williams property. At this time, Mr. Shaul was building the State Normal Lib- rary at Penn, Neb., and Ira B. Dye was operating a brick plant at this place. Mr. Shaul took a quantity of the shale to Mr. Dye's plant, and after a thorough test, it was ascertained that the shale was of excellent quality, which, upon burning, produced a fine building brick. He then organized the company of local men to undertake the manu^cture of brick and tile. As is usual in the launching of sin;ilar enterprises in a city like Sen- eca, there were many "doubting Thomases" who declared that the ven- ture would be a failure. However, enough patriotic citizens were induced to put up the necessary capital, a plant installed and the actual manu- facture of brick in Seneca was begun. The company installed the old style of kiln with its heavy fuel capacity and waste of heat which was so great that the venture could not be made a success, and for years, was a losing venture to the stockholders. When the fortunes of the company were at their lowest ebb and it seemed that the enterprise was doomed to failure, Mr. Shaul, who was erecting a building at Lincoln, Neb., met K. W. Klose, a skilled clay worker, who had just returned from Seattle, where he had placed a HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 97 brick plant in operation only to have it destroyed by a landslide just after the plant had been placed in operation. Mr. Shaul induced Mr. Klose to come to Seneca, take an interest in the company and take charge of the plant. This was in 1911. Mr. Klose installed the contin- uous tunnel kiln, described so well in the "Brick and Clay Record," and the plant has since been enjoying an era of prosperity. At the present time, (1916), the plant is turning out 20,000 brick per day, and it is probable that this output will be increased as patron- age demands. Brick were furnished for the building of the new Hiawatha High School, erected in 1915, and the brick used in the Marysville, Kans., High School were also made in Seneca. Carloads of the factory product are shipped as far west as Colorado. The hollow tile product is sup- plied to a wide range of territory. The present capitalization of the Seneca Shale Brick Company is $15,000. The officers and stockholders of the corporation are: George W. Williams, president; George A. Shaul, vice president; L. B. Keith, secretary ; Edwin Cohen of Spokane, Wash., and K. W. Klose, man- ager. (7) CHAPTER X. SABETHA. UNLIKE OTHER TOWNS NAME SABETHA EXCELS A HEALTHFUL CLI- MATE MODEL TOWN PROSPEROUS CITIZENS FARM PRODUCTS SHIPPED PROMINENT MEN — ^AN INCIDENT OF HONOR SABETHA PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HOW NAMED TOWN LOCATED — TOWN COM- ' PANY ORGANIZED ORGANIZATION THE LIBRARY ^A RARE HOST INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS HOUSES ALBANY, THE MOTHER OF SA- BETHA REMINISCENCES OF THE LATE J. T. BRADY. Sabetha, the unique ! Few things in Sabetha are like any other country town, and in those few things Sabetha excels. There is only one town in the world with a name similar to Sabetha, and that town is located in a remote section of Africa where the cannibals occasionally appear and use the population to make material for the barbecue on picnic dates. Sabetha is different even from this far-off African name- sake in that we furnish the picnics for the outlying country instead of being served for the barbecue. Sabetha was named by a very pious Biblical student, who started across the plains to California to seek gold ; whose oxen died near here on a Sunday, and who, performing the last sad rites over the grave, named the spot Sabetha as a euphoneous substitute for the Hebrew word, "Sabbaton," which signifies Sunday. The fact that the Biblical student retrieved his fortune, and was able to buy other oxen, by selling what liquor he had in store, is nothing against the present town, as there is not a liquor license in the place. Not one of the Sabetha drug stores has a liquor license, and no liquor has been sold in the town for over ten years. This is a very rich agricultural region, and there is health in the air and wealth in the products of the ground. Everything appears here in exaggerated form. This section holds the record for the biggest yield of wheat and corn, and Mrs. Annie Redline, a native of this cit}-, now deceased, measured seven feet and eleven inches waist measurement and weighed 6ii pounds. Being four feet and eight inches in height, she was broader than she was tall, contrasting with George Hook, Will Alderfer and many other residents who are nearly seven feet tall and not so wide. Mrs. Redline was acknowledged the heaviest woman in the world. 98 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 99 This is a good locality for sick people also. F. A. Gue came here many years ago, completely helpless. He took treatment at Sycamore springs and cured one side, and then took treatment at Sun springs, a few miles away, and cured the other side, and he is today a hearty and vigorous man. Even the waters gush up wonders from the bowels of the earth around Sabetha. J. P. Matthews is acknowledged by rural mail route inspectors as maintaining the most perfect rural mail route schedule in the United States. For years he has delivered mail on his rural route No. i out of Sabetha on a schedule that has not varied five minutes a day for each box, except on very rare instances, ranking with any railroad schedule in the country. BUSINESS SECTION, SABETHA, KANS. SABETHA IS A MODERN CITY, WITH PAYED STREETS, BRILLIANTLY LIGHTED. Sabetha has eighteen and one-half miles of artificial stone side- walks, between sixty and seventy miles of dragged roads, paved streets, municipal power, heat and light, a white way, the most beautifully kept homes and lawns in the State, and a boy prodig)' who speaks eleven dif- ferent kinds of hog latin. Sabetha has no pig tail alley population, maintain only sixteen talking machines and never permits any public speaking at its celebrations. The band boys never practice after 9 o'clock at night. Forty new homes were built here last year and this. Seven new business buildings have gone tip within a year, the last. lOO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY which is of pressed brick, being perhaps the finest structure in any country town in northeastern Kansas. The building contains the coat of arms of Roy Hesseltine, the builder, including the shield carved in stone. Sabetha holds the record for viewing cfops with alarm oftener than any other town in the United States, although the products are greater to the acre than any other spot of similar size in the country. The rec- ord in question is the natural outcome of the fact that farm land here is worth around $150 an acre; and a farmer, in order to realize twenty-five per cent, on his investment of a quarter section, and pay himself a sal- ary of $1,000 or $1,500 a year, is easily excited lest his income be cut down by short yields. Two rural families moved down to Abilene last fall and lifted in deposits over $100,000 out of the local banks. Here is a carefully compiled record of products of this immediate vicinity, shipped out of Sabetha in 1906, to say nothing of what we ate and have left: Hogs '.....$ 200,000 Cattle 220,000 Poultry 165,000 Eggs 125,000 Butter 115,000 Horses 150,000 Seeds 77,000 Hides 5,000 Wheat 55,500 Corn 35,000 Cream 35,ooo Apples 1 1,000 Flour 10,000 Hay 3,000 Total $1,206,500 Among the other products of Sabetha we mention, incidentally, the following: Edwin Slosson, editor of the conservative old New York "Independent" magazine ; Dr. Orville Brown, who is curing consump- tion, as chief physician of the new Missouri State Sanitarium at Mt. Ver- non in the Ozark mountains, established by the State of Missouri ; A. G. Lohman, who has revolutionized the treatment of so-called incorrigible boys by the method he has inaugurated in the Cleveland boys' home, maintained by the city of Cleveland through Tom Johnson, the reform mayor; Fred Gates, the famous financier of 26 Broadway, New York, and distributer of all John D. Rockefeller's charities and one of the prime movers in the founding of the University of Chicago ; W. A. Quayle, the Kansas City divine and writer; Charley Clarkson, head of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY lOI Armour's credit system, and Rev. Jud Miner, who can sing "Lead Kind- ly Light" SO much better than Tom Anderson of Topeka c^n sing "Old Shady," that he can put Anderson down and out and sit on him. Sabetha is a town of a very high honor. In the nineties one of the Bell Telephone Company's representatives spoke discourteously to a committee, representing the town. Instantly every telephone in the city was ordered out by the indignant subscribers. The Bell's plant was paralyzed for sixteen days, and not a telephone was used. One of the head officers of the company was sent to Sabetha. He humbly apolo- gized in the name of the company, and George Washington Hook, the town operator, made a brilliant speech of acceptance, and all the tele- phones were put back into use again. "Sabetha people are all over the world and either themselves or their blood relatives are into everything. No difference what happens in the world, either some Sabetha person or a relative of a Sabethan, is in it. Sabetha is even related to the nobility. Sabetha was in the San Fran- cisco earthquake strong; it figured on the Thaw jury; it cut ice in the Russian-Japanese war ; it is in the army and navy, and it toiiches at nearly every port in the world. Therefore it is impossible for anything to happen on the earth without Sabetha being in it ; and if anything happens on the heavenly planets, a Sabetha woman is married to and is the assistant of Prof. William Joseph Hussey, the noted astronomer at the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and she will be in on the ground floor. If anything has been left unsaid in this modest epistle, it is not be- cause Sabetha is not in it, but because of the Czar-like restrictions of this contest, under which Sabetha chafes, and as a result of which she hereby offers nineteen additional columns which must be left unsaid." — From a Kansas town contest in the Topeka "Capital" in 1906. The fol- lowing story of Sabetha upholds the foregoing claims : The naming of Sabetha, the sister town of Seneca, with whose pop- ulation Sabetha keeps pace always and occasionally a little ahead, will always bring on a controversy. The best story and the one that sounds most logical is this. Sabetha has the distinction of being the only town of the world so named. In the Holy Land is a town called Sabbaton, meaning, as Sabetha does, "Sabbath." This coincidence leads many to think that Sabetha's name came to it as follows. At any rate, it is an amusing and interesting tale, and as historical as any other. Early in the fifties, a tall, slim, wrinkled man of middle age, a bachelor, came to the vicinity of Sabetha on his way to California. The bachelor had had a dream of a wonderful gold mine in California, and was trying to make the trip to find it, alone. He had an elaborate map, showing the loca- tion of the gold and the topography of the country. surrounding. When he had traveled with his ox team from St. Joseph to near the present site of Sabetha, the traveler met with misfortune. One of his oxen died, This fateful incident led to the naming of Sabetha, The I02 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY man was a Greek scholar and well versed in mythical lore ; also a stu- dent of the .Bible. H,is oxen were named Hercules and Pelleas. Pel- leas passed away on Sunday, and the bachelor was obliged to remain here. He pitched his tent and dug a well. The well he named Sabbaton, the Greek word for Sabbath, in honor of the day. The traveler had two gallons of whiskey which he peddled to the few settlers and passersby. When the whiskey was gone, he went to St. Joseph and procured more, becoming a full fledged bartender. Peo- ple came in to drink at the Sabetha well, as well as at the traveler's bar. The well water was exceptionally fine, and the Sabetha well became known from St. Joseph to California, as it was on the direct route of travelers to the golden State. The traveler, having partly realized on his dreams of wealth through his golden liquor trade, returned to his home in the East. Captain Williams came afterward and located on the present town- site of Sabetha'. The well was so famous that many people traveled long distances to drink of its waters. The same waters are now the Sycamore springs, widely known for their medicinal value. Captain Williams is said to have closed the original well and started a well on his own property five miles southwest, calling it Sabetha. When the St. Joseph and Grand Island railroad was built into this territory, it was decided to build a town. Fred Ukeley, now a wealthy retired farmer of Sabetha, heard of the scheme and rode all night, telling the settlers of the Sabetha well on Captain William's land, where the town should be located. The next day J. T. Brady, T. B. Collins, Ira Collins and Archibald Moorhead bought the Williams quarter section, including the Sabetha well, for $7,000, and organized a town company. But it was four years after its actual foundation, according to law, that Sabetha had a real city government apart from the township. In 1874, an election was ordered for August 15. Six hundred citizens had petitioned Judge Hubbard, of Atchison, in which the Nemaha county judicial district was then included, for a city corporation. A city of the third class was then ordered, and the election of officers resulted in Ira F. Collins being the first mayor; A. E. Cook, police judge; M. E. Ma- ther, Isaac Sweetland, John Muxworthy, J. T. Brady and G. H. Adams, members of the council. For most part these men have remained with Sabetha, and always interested in the welfare of the town. Mr. Collins is still a resident of the town. J. T. Brady, who helped build another town, Pomona, in California, remained faithful to Sabetha to the day of his death, in the summer of the year 1914. Mr. Sweetland's children and grandchildren are still Sabetha citizens. Mr. Adams' children own Sabetha property today. Mr. Muxworthy's children, wherever they live, call Sabetha, home. The arts and literature have always been second nature to Sabetha. In 1871, before the village had a city government, a library organization was formed so early as 1871, years before Sabetha was incorporated as HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY IO3 a town under the State laws. The library consisted of but twenty books as a nucleus, donated by residents and passed from hand to hand. S. W. Brooke was first president, and Emma Brady, now Mrs. Judge Gundy, of Long Beach, Cal., was secretary. This library continued until 1871 with its only incom'e being fines and yearly fees. The library was then incorporated under the State laws with a capital stock of $1,000, divided into ten shares. This library thrived for years in C. L. Sherwood's drug store, finally it simply melted away, and, for several years, Sabetha was without a public library, the need of new books being supplied by various book clubs, which purchased the new novels of the day, which were privately circulated. Among Sabetha's rare citi- zens in the early twentieth century was Mrs. Mary Cotton, president of the Citizens State Bank. Her private library was one of the finest in the State of Kansas, comprising 1,500 books, largely in fine bindings and rare, or limited, editions. Upon her death in 1912, she willed this great collection of books to the city for library purposes to circulate free, with her home to be used as a library or to be sold for a building and a library built. The home was sold, but the citizens still await the erec- tion of the library building, the town being divided as whether to place the library in the park, opposite Mrs. Cotton's home, or wait until the money accumulates sufficient interest to both buy suitable ground, and erect a building handsome enough for the most beautiful collection of circulating books in a free public library in Kansas. Sabetha, while not attaining Seneca's fame in hotels, has had, at least, one rare host as master of the inn. Captain Hook for years ran the Hook House of Sabetha. He was a retired sea captain, and his stories and yarns of the sea captivated all the traveling public, who patron- ized him, as well as his own sons. Edwin Miller, who built the Albany Hotel, moved it to Sabetha in 1870, and in 1871, the Sabetha town com- pany erected a three story hotel called the Sabetha House. It stood until the present year when it was pulled down to make place for a modern business block erected by a citizen, and occupied as a depart- ment store. The flouring mill industry thrived in Sabetha from the erection of the first mill in 1872 by L. J. Sprinkle until the destruction by fire of the Sabetha flouring mill about ten years ago. Sabetha's business houses run into the second hundred, and other towns of the county can scarcely lay claim to Sabetha's trade. Every store building is modern, with window displays planned and arranged for most part, by men who have made a study of the art of window decora- tion. If a stranger should raise his eyes no higher than the first story and not look for sky scrapers, viewing Sabetha's windows, he would think himself in a modern city fifty times the size of Sabetha. I04 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ALBANY, THE MOTHER OF SABETHA. "Elihu, why did you bring me and my daughters to this dreadful country?" cried Mrs. Elihu Whittenhall, shivering as the wind, too, shivered and whistled around the log cabin, high on the Albany hill, and trembling at the stealthy patter of the wolves' feet on the roof above her. "We will make money here, my dear," ans.wered her husband, his eye on the vision of the country as it is now, sixty years later. "It will be a wonderful land." . But with four little daughters, cuddled close to her, thousands of miles from the New York home, on the desolate, windswept prairie, no vision came to Mrs. Whittenhall. Still her husband's vision was realized, although neither she nor he lived to see its full realization. Mrs. Whittenhall was college bred, carefully nurtured, tenderly reared, in a New York home. She grad- uated from the Oxford New York Academy in the class with Governor Seymour, of New York, and other distinguished men. Away all this, overland, by train, steamboat, and mule team, bringing with her the only piano in the State of Kansas, and four little daughters, is it any wonder she trembled at wolves, who made themselves as much at home as pet dogs; shivered at weeping prairie winds, and shrank from stray Indians, who walked into her house and took anything which caught their vagrant, childish fancy? To the high hills of Albany, they came in 1857 and located their farms. Any of the magnificent land which their fancy chose, could be had for the simple act of sleeping and eating on the ground desired and the payment of $2.50. But before long, within the following )'ear, other New Yorkers came out. Other frail, delicate, courageous women risked comforts, quiet, calm and peace to break the prairie and pioneer Avith their husbands. Edwin Miller, accompanied by Mrs. Miller, W. B. Slosson, John L. and William Graham came out to Kansas ; and Albany, the mother of Sabetha, was colonized and named in compliment to the capital of their native State. Mr. Miller built a hotel, and then Mr. Whittenhall built a frame dwelling, and the family removed from the confined quarters of the log house, almost filled by the big square piano, so bravely standing for the refinement and elegance of its former surroundings in its New York home. The Whittenhall house was built of walnut lumber, big timbers and all, a real treasure in these days when Kansas black walnut is so valuable, and for which European aristocracy pays a big price. Mrs. Whittenhall lived several, happy, contented years on their farm at Albany, but she died before Albany was moved to Sabetha and never dreamed that her husband would own almost half the town, which was eventually electric lighted, heated by municipal steam, gov- erned by commissioners, and with all the intermediary improvements HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY IO5 of- the modern city. Her daughter, Mrs. Oscar Marbourg, says now: "If mother could only have seen these electric lights !" Albany was the home of more men and women of culture, brains and foresight, than is usually found gathered together in so small a community. A residence and hotel were followed by the erection of a schoolhouse. A postoffice was established in 1859 and a store erected in .i860. Meantime the population had been increased by George Graham, Archibald Webb, Mose Stevens, J. P. Shumway, the post- master, Mr. and Mrs. John Van Tuyl, B. H. Job, Mrs. Rising, Mrs. Archer, Thomas Robbins. Those who had not wives went back home and got them, and in most cases, "back home" was New York State. \ A notable marriage, with the consequence of many members of a fine family migrating to Kansas, was W. B. Slosson's to Miss Achsah Lilly, of Castle Creek, N. Y. In i860 he went back for his bride and brought her to Nemaha county, Albany colony. In their wake shortly followed the following relations : The Brigham family, the Emery, and Alice West Lilly, Rev. A. H. Lilly, Foster Lilly, Mrs. Charles Sher- wood, Henry Lilly and Mrs. Hutchinson, George H. Adams, for whom Adams township is named, and his son ; George F. Pugsley and family, Harvey M. Campbell, Lyman B. Lilly, Mrs. William Graham and the Hall boys ; Albert West and sons, Myron and Nathan, and daughters ; Mrs. Rellis and Mrs. Benson, John Tyler and family, and John and Mer- ritt McNary, and others less directly connected, and still others, whom Mrs. Slosson, who wrote this list, could not recall. All of the families are connected, and many of them moved soon to Albany, and others to Sabetha or to the farmlands surrounding Albany and Sabetha. Most of them came from Castle Creek, N. Y., and all of them have been a credit to both homes, and the life blood of the new, struggling community. When probably the first party of pioneers came up the Missouri river on the steamboat with the Graham brothers, Slosson and Miller, the trip required five days from St. Louis to Kansas City. The latter was a mere landing at that time. There were fifty men on the boat, and there was a gambling game on in every available spot. William Graham offered to make a bet that a man could not pick out a certain card. Upon the man's taking him up, the rest of the party said Graham sidestepped the issue and said, "I'm too nice a man to bet." The al- leged reply became a nick name which followed Mr. Graham all through his fine service during the Civil war. On the boat were five men who invited the boatload to settle on the river point where Kansas City now stands. Here was another man with real vision. He said this would be the spot for the big city of the West. There was not a habitation in sight, so the boat moved on, and the load went on up the river to scatter in various directions. But the five men stayed with the settlement. Twenty-five years later, Mr. Slos- son met one of the five men who stayed and who had become a mil- lionaire by staying. On the boat trip a daughter was born to one of the women pioneers, and a collection was taken to give the mother. I06 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY The party traveled overland across the California trail. On the overland trail, about ten miles from Albany, they passed a young man wearing a pair of overalls, checkered shirt, shoes and no socks, working in a sawmill, who directed them to Pony creek. The young man was E. N. Morrill, who became governor of Kansas, several years later. That the young pioneers were not born farmers may be shown iii the following, amusing anecdote told by Mr. Slosson. They passed a man, who asked them, if they had seen a stray filly. One young man replied, "I don't know what a filly is." Edwin Miller spoke up, not wanting the man to think they were tenderfeet, and said to the first speaker, "You darned fool — a filly is a nigger wench." The men got on to Albany, and the settlement, at their arrival, had a population of forty-six people. A Congregational church was formed with Rev. Parker as preacher, who later became editor of the Manhattan Kansas "Telephone," a paper which long since has passed on. A school house was built of gray limestone in i860, the school dis- trict building the first story, and the Congregational society, the second story. The school house is in use today, and has been every year since i860, the upper story. being used for neighborhood entertainments. In 1870 the railroad went to Sabetha, not being able to make feas- ible grades by way of Albany. So most of Albany moved to the rail- road, and became identified with Sabetha and included in her upbuild- ing and progress. Sabetha, though, is the offspring of Albany, and the history of the two towns is so interwoven the two 'towns seem as one. Albany was settled in 1857 by a party of educated, refined men and women from New York, who, for the most part, removed to Sabetha, houses, household goods and all, with the coming of the railroad. In 1858, Capt. A. W. Williams, another New Yorker, whose native city waS Rochester, opened a postoffice, and for the first time the set- tlers were able to get their mail nearer than St. Joseph, sixty-five miles away. Between the birth of Sabetha and the discovery of the famous spring by the California traveler, Jim Lane (General James Lane) had established a fort two miles east, which also bore the name Sabetha. Captain Williams became the first justice of the peace of Sabetha, as well as the first postmaster. During the Pike's Peak rush for gold in fifty-eight and fifty-nine. Captain Williams claimed his sales at the postoffice store averaged $200 a day. This first store building erected by Captain Williams was burned and another erected in its place. The store was closed in 1861, when its proprietor joined the Union army. John L. Goodpasture, the only man left in Sabetha at the time, opened another store shortly after this. This was the beginning of the mercan- tile trade in Sabetha, which is conceded the biggest in Nemaha county today. In 1859, a Methodist circuit rider, by the name of Rawlins, came down the California trail through the tiny Sabetha settlement and held the first religious service of the town in the Williams store. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY IO7 Fanny Gertrude Whittenhall, one of the four little girls who came from New York and huddled to her mother's skirts on the wind blown hills of Albany, was the first bride. She was married to W. G. Sargent December 27, 1859. It was she who taught the slave girl to read, and her daughter, Mrs. Roscoe Hughes, and her grandchildren are liv- ing in Sabetha now, the fairest monument to a lovely and lovable mother. In i860, Miss Rebecca Hawkins opened a school in the hotel erected by Goodpasture, the second storekeeper of Sabetha. Miss Hawkins later became Mrs. C. P. Brannigan. Noble H. Rising kept this hotel for some time. Miss Hawkins started with five children in her school, which gradually attained an attendance of eighteen. Captain Williams, James Oldfield and Isaac Sweetland became the 'first town company under a special act of the legislature, but no advan- tage was taken of the act for over ten years. It was then that William B. Slosson, J. T. Brady, T. B. Collins, Arch Moorehead and three Missouri men, E. P. Gray, Ben Childs and Jeff Chandler, were given an incorporation charter, and real Sabetha was founded. These men were liable to A. W. Williams, who still owned the townsite, in the sum of $4,000. For ten years, the .war inter- fering with its growth, Sabetha consisted of but three stores and a blacksmith shop. But, in the seventies, things began to move and have been moving faithfully and unfalteringly ever since. ■ This — with the coming of the railroad. A drug store was opened by T. K. Masheter and E. B. Gebhart, which, after various changes, came into the sole possession of Mr. Mash- eter in 1879. Mr. Masheter has a host of interesting reminiscences of the early days. He recalls the arrival of the first safe in Sabetha, which was as big an event as the arrival of the first locomotive. He is author- ity on the orchards, and the court of last resort in early day event argu- ments. T. K. Masheter celebrated his forty-sixth year in Sabetha. On April 2, forty-six years ago he arrived from Iowa. Just note the method he employed to get to Sabetha. He had to ferry across the Missouri river. The Grand Island ran only to Hiawatha. Of course the Rock Island was not thought of then. From Hiawatha Mr. Masheter came to Sa- betha in a wagon. Tlie survey for the Grand Island to Sabetha was made six weeks later. When Mr. Masheter arrived in Sabetha, Captain Williams had a hotel and big stone barn in the east part of town. A school house had been erected where Mr. Sam Kreit^er's house now stands. East of this was a blacksmith shop. John C. Perry, the post- master, was located on the site of M. .J. Beegley's house. There was a row of trees up our present Main street, and one of them stood until a few years ago. On the present location of Kreitzer's bakery there was a big straw stack. Covered wagons passed in flocks, like geese and ducks do now. They were going in every direction. Sabetha was a farm, only forty-six years ago. io8 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY The Sabetha of today contrasts strangely with the Sabetha, as it was first remembered by T. K. Masheter in the seventies. Mr. Mash- eter remembers most of Sabetha as Captain Wiliams' corn field. A hay stack stood where the Kreitzer Brothers' bakery is now located. What an evolution ! The Sabetha of today is approaching the dream of the idealist. The town has municipal steam, municipal power, municipal heat, municipal lights, municipal water works; Sabetha has paved streets, sewers, a hospital that cost $iDO,ooo. The city has the commission form of government, which is doing much to beautify and improve the town. "The best town on the Grand Island railroad," is a remark fre- quently heard among traveling men. Sabetha is simply a metropolitan little city. Exclusive dry goods stores, hardware stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, millinery stores, drug stores, implement stores and other- lines of business are splendidly represented in Sabetha. The town draws trade from a wide territory. Sabetha's white houses and clean streets have attracted attention to the place as a spotless town. The people are generally well-to-do, and the whole of the city can be called "the nice part of town." REMINISCENCES OF THE LATE J. T. BRADY. About the seventeenth day of April, 1859, I left the little town of Virginia, 111., where I was reared. ,My companions vvere two other young men about my own age — Joseph Pothicury and William H. Col- lins, (whose sister I married some years later). We had a covered wagon and three yoke of oxen. Of course, our good mothers had fixed us out with the necessary clothing, pans and kettles, pins, needles and thread, and plenty of their good home cooking. Our prospective destination was Pike's Peak, and at Beardstorm, 111., fifteen miles from home, we met the balance of our party — twenty- three people and four wagons, with three yoke of oxen to each wagon. Without any special adventures, we traveled from there to Hiawatha, Kans. There we met a party of about a dozen men, returning from Pike's Peak. One of the men I had known from boyhood. He gave us a woeful account of the hardships to be endured, and no gold to be found. We went on from Hiawatha to Walnut cfeek and camped. That night we had a council of all present, and as a result, sixteen of our party turned their faces homeward next day. Ten of us went on to Sabetha. One of the ten men is now an esteemed resident of Sabetha, John L. Mowder. Three others, one a brother of Mowder, one named Lewis and one Cenover. All took claims just west of Sabetha, as did John Mowder. Right here I must tell a story : They built a little one room shanty on John Mowder's place. He ate his breakfast in it, then we three Virginian boys hitched our oxen to it and hauled it over to another claim, and that man ate his HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ICQ breakfast in it, and so we kept on until all four had eaten a breakfast in the shack on his own claim. Then they all struck out on foot for Kickapoo, where they proved up, each one testifying there was a shanty on his claim when he left. (Each one left as soon as he ate his break- fast). That was the way most of the proving up was done in those pioneer days in Kansas. We landed in Sabetha on May 26, 1859. Three miles north of Sa- betha lived two men we knew, also from Virginia, 111., B. H. Job, and his brother, Thomas. We three boys had just three dollars in cash, and one wagon and oxen, so we decided to cast our lot in the vicinity of Mr. Job, whose wife was a fine character, and once in awhile, we could visit the family, and get a taste of good home cooking and talk of our far away homes. Times were hard indeed, and for the first two years we never saw a dollar. Posts, corn, pumpkins, flour, wheat and other things were the only currency, and the "home" folks sent us postage stamps so we could answer their letters. The second Sunday we were in Sabetha we took a load of men, women and children over to church in Albany with one ox team. Mr. Archibald Moorehead owned the only two spans of horses in the whole country. On July 4 of that year, two loads of people in ox wagons went from Albany to Padonia to celebrate. There were only two houses between Sabetha and Hiawatha. One was Mr. Joss', the other, Mr. Hatfield's. There were only three families in Sabetha in 1859, that of Capt. A. W. Williams, Mr. Risen and Mr. Oldfields. Williams had a general mer- chandise store and was postmaster. Mr. Risen kept a grocery store. Captain Williams and Mr. Oldfield each filed on 160 acres in 1856, Cap- tain Williams taking the west 160, which he filed as a townsite naming it Sabetha. But no town appeared on the scene. In 1862 Williams lost the postoffice at Sabetha, and it was given to W. B. Slosson, of Albany. In 1861, I enlisted in Company A, Seventh Kansas cavalry. After serv- in three years, I was discharged and then went to Pawnee county, Ne- braska, where, for three years, I was a partner with Governor Butler in the cattle business. After selling out I returned to Kansas and went into business with T. B. Collins and made my home in his family until my marriage to his sister, December 22, 1870. In the spring of 1870, the Grand Island railroad was building west from St. Joseph, Mo. Archibald Moorehead was one of Nemaha's county commissioners, and the county had voted $125,000 bonds to the new railroad. Slosson brothers, Moorehead, Brady and Collins worked hard to get the railroad into Albany, but when surveyed, the officials thought it too expensive a route to be practical. There was bitter rivalry be- tween the towns of Albany and Sabetha. When the railroad people de- cided they would not build to Albany, W. B. Slosson went east of Albany and contracted for eighty acres in Brown county (where Hiram Fulton settled later.) Then he went to St. Joseph and planned with I lO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY the railroad officials to build a depot on the eighty acres, and call it Georgetown, for George Hall, president of the road. He also had posts brought from the nearby timber to help build the depot, before any one else knew of the scheme, as that region was then one vast prairie. Later the officials saw that Mr. Moorhead as county commissioner would never consent to issue the bonds that had been voted if the town was located in Brown county, and so they voted Sabetha the depot. We went home to Sabetha and formed what is known as "The Sa- betha Town Company," each member being a director. We bought the original townsite of i6o acres from Captain Williams for $7,000. As I remember it, the "town company" consisted of nine men, but I can only recall six besides myself: Colonel Harbine, Dr. McNeil, and George Hall, all of St. Joseph, and directors in the Grand Island road, W. B. Slosson, Elihu Whittenhall and T. B. Collins. J. T. Brady was chosen president, Whittenhall secretary and W. B. Slosson, treasurer, and these officials constituted the executive board, and were authorized to plat the land and sell the lots as in their judg- ment seemed best. I cannot say who made the suggestion regarding the block for a city park, but it met with hearty approval of all the board, and the three officers were equally deserving of honor in connec- tion with it. Lots were also given to the Methodist, Congregationalist and Bap- tist churches. In losing out on the townsite, the town company left one share ($1,000) for Mr. Slosson,- provided he wanted it. At first he refused it, but after a few weeks, he took it, put up a building and moved his store to Sabetha, and from that time on, was a staunch and loyal friend of Sabetha. Mr. Sam Slosson was the first station agent on the Grand Island railroad at Hamlin, and when the road reached Sabetha, he was trans- ferred there, and for some years, was the efficient agent. Brady and Collins formed a company called "Collins & Company,'' consisting of four men, T. B. and Ira F. Collins, W. I. Robbins and J. T. Brady. They put up the first store building in Sabetha in the fall of 1870, and opened up a general merchandise store, selling everything from a cambric needle to a threshing machine, and shipping grain, cat- tle and hogs. They ran the store one year and the books showed they sold $127,000 worth of goods, and all the loss was less than $300, although most everyone who asked for credit got it. They sold goods to people as far north as Dawson, Neb;, and west to Fries' mills and Turkey creek and south to Granada. Mr. Hook put up his hotel that fall, and it was the first building completed in the new town of Sabetha. Black & Marbourg opened up their lumber yard in September, 1870. A Mr. Gebhart built a small build- ing, consisting of a story and a half about where the Adams hardware store was later, and here he had the first drug store. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY III Rev. Gates, (or Gage maybe — ask Mr. Black), a Baptist minister from Highland was the first minister, and we often entertained him at our home. He usually came over from Highland twice a month, com- ing on Saturday and returning on Monday. The women of Sabetha united in giving socials and festivals to buy the first church bell, and it was hung in the Baptist Church, then the only church in town. The son of Rev. Gates later attained prominence as John D. Rockefeller's private secretary. CHAPTER XL CORNING. ITS PECULIARITIES A SOLID TOWN FOUNDED BY A COLONY FROM GALES- BURG, ILL. DR. MCKAY NAMED IN HONOR OF ERASMUS CORNING POSTOFFICE ESTABLISHED IN 1867 FIRST STORE LOCATION OF TOWN CHANGED WHEN RAILROAD WAS BUILT FIRST HOTEL JACOB JACOBIA FIRST SCHOOL PRESENT SCHOOL DR. MAGILL MODERN CORNING HIGHEST POINT IN COUNTY NATHAN FORD AND THE DROUTH OF i860 POPULATION AND BUSINESS HOUSES. Each town has its peculiarities and specialties. Seneca is famous for its social gaieties, its entertainments for the young, amateur theatri- cals, fine band. Community church and fine baseball team. Sabetha points with pride to its modern business buildings, musical organizations and municipally owned public works. So Corning is designated as the town of solid foundation of Nemaha county. At the time this history was written a neighboring newspaper, the Troy "Chief," was running a sixty years ago column. A timely quo- tation from this column was to the effect that "Nemaha county is making a large and desirable accession to her population. A company from the vicinity of Galesburg, 111., has recently located an entire town- ship of land in that county, every quarter section of which is to be speed- ily enclosed and occupied by a settler. They also contemplate laying off a town. That is the way to come. Take up land by the township and cultivate it and speculators will find their occupation gone." The man who brought this delegation from Galesburg, 111., was Dr. N. B. McKay, a practicing physician of the Illinois city. Dr. McKay and two other men came to Nemaha county to locate a site for a colony. This is the expedition referred to in the quotation above. The result was the Home Association which was established in June, 1858, and became a noted organization which had nothing to blush for in their accomplish- ments, more than can be said for many early day similar organizations. The settlers were given their quarter sections of land and the village es- tablished was America City, which has grown but little from that day to this. But Dr. McKay, not content with establishing happy settlers on fine land and starting- one village, must needs build another, which is a more lasting monument to his genius, in numbers at least. 112 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 113 Before Dr. McKay left New York for Illinois, he was in partnership with Erasmus Corning. Dr. McKay named his second town in the coun- ty of the "No Papoose" in honor of Mr. Corning. He did not desert America City, however, for the newer and more prosperous town. For years Dr. McKay remained the beloved country doctor of America City, filling in spare moments as postmaster of the town. Corning was established as a postoffice in 1867 with Dr. McKay, at the helm, or grated window rather. A small frame building was erect- ed and a line of merchandise installed. Later W. H. Dixon erected an- other building and started a second store. This was about all there was to the original Corning. When the Central Branch of the Missouri Pa- cific railroad was extended through Nemaha county, Corning too, had to move to the i-ailroad. Dr. McKay owned school land, one half of which he gave to the railway company for locating a station thereon. So in 1870 Dr. McKay moved his store from the Old Corning to the MAIN STREET, CORNING, KANS., A THRIVING AND PROSPEROUS TOWN. new site and the thriving town was the third to be started by the enter- prising M. D. J. S. Henry built the first dwelling in the new town. Dr. McKay built a frame hotel which he conducted for two or three years and which has passed through various hands. Three years later another building was erected, and sundry buildings were added from time to time which were largely moved into the settlement from neighboring set- tlements anxious to be near the railroad, or from farms. As the eighties advanced, Corning progressed and acquired a fin? line of citizens, most of them being men of brains and genius and a few blue blooded aristocrats, whose lines extended back to the English nobility Jacob Jacobia was one of the early day Corning men who helped to build up the community and strengthen it. His life was one of activity (8) 114 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and interest. He settled in America City in 1857, and was one of the original pioneers of the county. He was mail carrier from Atchison to Louisville in Pottawatomie county and through his own district for years. Then he freighted across the plains to Denver with his own train. Mr. Jacobia's stories of those days were always thrilling. Once, he said, he encountered a herd of buffalo, which covered the country in a solid mass so the ground was invisible for thirty miles. Once his train was attacked by the Indians, and 100 men, 300 head of cattle and fifty teams were corralled. Finally the men managed to collect under the leadership of Captain Jacobia, surprised their captors in a night attack and made their escape. Mr. Jacobia bought the Corning Hotel, where he was for several years the entertaining host to the increasing trade Corn- ing was drawing. He was the father of "Billy" Jacobia, who for several years was the banker of Corning, as well as mayor of the town, while his wife was bank cashier and town treasurer. Billy Jacobia's death by sui- cide, after they removed to Kansas City in 1905, was one of the rare trag- edies that have shocked the county. The first school of Corning was especially distinguished. It was not simply started in any old room but a building was erected for the sole purpose. It is doubtful if many pioneer villages can make this boast. In* 1872 a small district school house was erected, with Miss Min- nie Bracken as the teacher. Six years later $800 was expended to im- prove the school house and N. H. Walters, who was in charge, had six- ty pupils beneath his watchful and experienced eye. Mr. Walters was a teacher of twenty years' experience before he came to Kansas. For over ten years directly following he was head of the Corning school. Now there are over 200 pupils enrolled in Coming's graded school. The school is divided into primary, intermediate, grammar and high school depart- ments, with F. J. Whittaker at the head as superintendent. Miss Etta Burdette as principal, William Newlove in the grammar department, Miss Edna Baldwin, the intermediate, and ]\Iiss Sybil Robinson, primary teacher. Corning has a splendid high school with the full course. The building cost over $8,000 and has been standing over twenty years, giv- ing satisfactory service. It was built to endure. Some one with rare perspicacity must have planned the building, for its lighting is remark- able for that period of architecture. The windows alone comprise most of the frame work. Four and five windows are connected on one wall space, a method that is ordinarily followed today, but twenty years ago was neglected. A resident of Corning who has done much for its furtherance should be mentioned, although his health is keeping him now in San Diego. Dr. Isaac' Magill was one of Nemaha county's first born citizens. He grew up on the farm of his father, Samuel Magill, in the Capioma neighbor- hood, one of the first farms preempted in Nemaha county. Dr. Magill still votes in Corning. He owned the telephone company there and erected the attractive building which is its home. He always promoted HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY II5 baseball and all other healthful sports, and was invariably depended upon to push every movement for the good of the town. When Dr. Magill was mayor of Corning he ding-donged at his fellow citizens until every board or worthless, brick sidewalk was removed and cement walks put in their places. Corning considers her cement walks a monument to Dr. Magill. A memorial to O. W. Ort, E. S. Vernon and V. Broadbent, other pro- gressive citizens, Corning states, is the sidewalk laid from the city to the cemetery. The new electric lights Corning regards as a monument to her present mayor, C. L. Payne. Corning has still another distinction. It is the highest point in Nemaha county. Nathan Ford, whose death occurred recently at his farm near Corn- ing, was one of the pioneers of Kansas. The famous drouth of i860 was well remembered by Mr. Ford as he had to drive twice to Atchison for supplies for the poor in his vicinity. One of the trips required twenty- seven days. He was snow bound. Mrs. Ford took care of the farm dur- ing these trips. He- went to Nemaha county in 1859, ^''^'^ h^"^ lived there ever since. Corning with a population of one hundred people and eight business houses in 1882, has, in 1916, multiplied these figures by seven and is a most prosperous, contented country town, with an honorable past and a pleasing future. CHAPTER XII. BERN. TOWN FOUNDED IN lOOO CONTROVERSY OVER NAME ALTITUDE NAT- URAL ADVANTAGES STATISTICS CHURCHES SOCIETIES AND LODGES BUSINESS ENTERPRISES MINERAL SPRINGS AS A TRADING POINT ABOVE THE AVERAGE BUSINESS MEN. By Mrs. V. A. Bird. The town was founded in 1886 with the advent of the Rock Island railway. It was then called Lehman, in honor of Christian Lehman. However, the name was soon changed to Basel, pronounced with the "a" sounded as in ball. Attempts were soon made to change it again, and the postoffice authorities, at the suggestion of some influential men, gave it the name of Collins, but so many protested that the name Bern was suggested and adopted. It may be well to note that Congressman Burnes, of Missouri, interceded for the Bern advocates. The name is appropriate on account of so many Swiss settlers who are from Berne, Switzerland. Bern is 1,600 feet above the sea level and is one of the most healthful locations in the world. The drainage is good. There is no sickness arising irom the surroundings. The springs north of town contain medicinal waters and would be a good location for a health-re- sort. The mercantile business is well represented in all lines ordi- narily found in country towns. Manufacturing is represented by the Bern flouring mill, whose flour has a good reputation. There are four dry goods and grocery stores, one harness shop, two blacksmith shops, three drug stores, one meat market, one dressmaking parlor, two hotels, two restaurants, two doctors, two elevators, two hardware stores, one rusty calaboose, one depot, one barber shop, one hall, one flouring mill, one Turner hall, one printing office, one armful of pretty girls, one basketful of pretty boys, thirty dogs, 213 cats, thirteen bachelors, ten widows, twenty old maids, 300 good citizens, one lumber yard, one car- penter shop, one windmill and pump store, one millinery store, one bank, one furniture store, one jewelry and music store, best surrounding farms and best farmers. Under the heading, "Directory of Churches, Societies," etc., we find: Bern Evangelical church. Rev. H. W. Hartman, pastor; Lutheran, two 116 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 117 miles southwest of Bern, Rev. D. A. Timm, pastor; Apostolic, south of Bern, John Plattner, pastor; Children's Home Society, Rev. J. M. Dreis- bach, president; Mrs. E. M. McKinney, secretary; Bern Lodge, No. 319, Ancient Order United Workmen, J. J. Koehler, M. W. ; D. D. Cunning- ham, secretary ; Sunlight Lodge, Knights of Pythias, D. D. Cunningham, TURNER HALL, BERN, KANS. C. G. ; A. J. Clyman, K. R. and S. ; Turnverein, Jacob Spring, pres- ident; Charles Cassman, secretary; Bern Gun Club, T. B. Newton, sec- retary. Il8 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Among the advertisers we find F. G. Minger, the Bern jeweler; Olinghouse & Nusbaum, meat market and ice ; Bern Cash Store, P. T. Firstenberger, proprietor; Jacob Schober, harness, saddles, etc.; I. G. Hamman, dry goods, clothing, shoes, etc. ; D. D. Cunningham, M. D., office over Minger's hardware store ; Joel Strahm, breeder of pure Po- land China swine and Langshan chickens ; James IMcKinney, contractor and builder; William Scott & Son, lumber, coal, etc. ; G. M. Kinyon, druggist ; John A. Minger, hardware ; Otto Parr, drugs and chemicals ; Newton Brothers, hardware and implements ; J. J. Koehler, windmills and pumps ; John Reinhart, furniture ; The State Bank of Bern, capital, $35,000, George A. Guild, president; Julius Hill, vice president; H. R. Guild, cashier; W. J. McLaughlin, real estate dealer; Jacob Ramsey Schweitze, lunch ; Minger's Clamping Saw Set, John x\. Minger, in- ventor, patented in the United States and Canada, December 4, 1894. We copy in part the advertisement of the "Bern Mineral Springs." "These springs are situated two miles north of Bern at the base of Min- eral Hill, on the farm of C. O. Minger, where the old Indian trail crossed Silver creek. Before this country was settled some white men traveling along the trail found, near where the trail crosses the creek, a quality of mineral which they thought was silver. When they sent some of the mineral to the East to be analyzed, the analysis proved the mineral to contain iron, manganese, aluminum, sulphur and several other minerals, but no silver. The old Indian springs issued low down in the bed of the creek. Recently wells have been sunk near the bank of the creek, and the mineral water of the Indian springs found." Did you ever stop to think of Bern as a trading point and its value to the surrounding country as such? Did j'ou ever contrast it with other towns of its size, and if you did would you find any point in which Bern suffered in the comparison? \\'here in this of adjoining States can you find a town of its size that has as many substantial brick busi- ness houses as has Bern? Where will you find a town with so manj^ beautiful and well kept houses? AMiere can another be found that has no hovels or shacks or objectionable buildings? Where is another that can boast of an opera house or hall such as we have? AA'here can you find another of its size that has an electric light plant, or a better tele- phone system? WHiere can one be found with any better schools and churches? WHiere can you find a more enterprising, up-to-date accom- modating class of business men, or a more intelligent, warm-hearted and sociable people than is found in Bern and surrounding country. "Well," vou say, "what has all that to do with Bern as a trading point?" We answer: "Xot very much. These are only symptoms — the external evidence — that Bern is above the average." In fact it not only excells as a business point, but is quite an ideal residence point. Among the best evidence we have, especially in comparison with other towns, are the impressions gained by traveling men and strangers who visit our town. They invariably rate us with a population twice our actual numbers after HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY II9 viewing our business houses. No one is in a better position to judge the business of a town than the trainmen on the local freight trains that serve the towns along the line. Recently the conductor on the local freight, running from Horton to Fairbury, was asked at what town on his run he unloaded the most merchandise, and in reply the names of two towns were given. One of them was Bern. The merchants of Bern all carry good stocks and are prepared to supply any merchandise desired b}^ their customers upon very short notice. As a rule our farmers appreciate the fact that their property values are affected by the value of their trading point as a farmer and business man to develop the market, and are loyal to their own interests. Like the omnibus, Bern ha's always room for more and will extend a hearty welcome to all new comers who desire to cast their lot with us for legitimate ends. We still have more vacant lots and room for more residents and more business. The commercial club will take pleasure in answering any questions and giving information to any one who desires to promote any enterprise in our city. V. A. Bird is president of the club. I. J. Kinyon is the mayor of Bern. The following are the business men of Bern: A. H. and N. Nus- baum, H. G. Whittle, R. Hatch, L. Garber, J. A. Minger, V. A. Bird, J. S. Wittwer, H. L. Guild, E. Brien, C. Cowan, W. W. Driggs and W. W. Driggs, Jr., C. A^'. Walker, J. Emert, F. J. Wittwer, C. A. Poppe, M. Dennis, E. Brown, E. Cox, W. Graham, W. H. Harrison, J. Hilt and WiUiam Hilt, I. J. Kinyon, C. Puff, Dr. Meyer, A. Reinhart, E. Whis- sler, G. Xusbaum, Bauman & Nusbaum. The residents, old and ncAv,' enjoy taking a glance backward on old Father Time, quietly turning back the ledger and taking a look at the first pages of past history. Now let us look at our little cit}' at the pres- ent, time. A few days ago a Mr. Hendee of Sloan, Iowa, who was travel- ing for his health via auto, stopped over night in Bern. The next morn- ing, after visiting Nusbaum, Hatch, and Whittle, merchants of our stores, he remarked that he had traveled over the country a great deal and had seen a great many towns, but Bern was the best little town he had ever seen, judging from the stocks of goods that were carried by the mer- chants and the way they kept them up. He said Bern had stores that a town of 10,000 people might well be proud of. The above opinion is from a disinterested business man who is in every way competent to judge, but what is your opinion? Do you realize that IBern has twenty-eight brick buildings and more in contemplation? That Bern has more resi- dences costing from two to six thousand dollars than any town in the county of its size? That it has a fine electric light plant that is housed in a concrete. building? That it has the finest little opera house found in any town of its size? That it has more grades in its schools than any town of its size? That it has fine churches and a fine class of refined, cultured people? It is also a demonstration of two facts: First, that our I20 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY farmers are energetic, thrifty, progressive and prosperous people ; and, second, that our business men possess the energy, push and business acumen necessary to make Bern an ideal town. Bern has twenty-seven business houses, viz : Two elevators, three general merchandise, three hardware, two implements, pump and windmills, two drug stores, two millinery stores, one blacksmith shop, one furniture store, one lumber yard, one harness shop, one meat market, one wagon shop, one jewelry store, one shoe shop, one bank, one restaurant, two hotels, one livery, one printing office and one barber shop. The professions are represented by two physicians, one dentist, and the trades by several carpenters, masons, painters, plasterers and decorators. A lawyer once tried to exist in Bern, but he gave it up as a bad job, thus proving that this is more than ordinar- ily a peaceable and law-abiding settlement. As a rule our farmers appreciate the fact their property values are affected by the value of their trading point as a market for their prod- uct, also that it takes the combined effort of the farmer and business man to develop the market, and are loyal to their own interests. The business men of Bern appreciate the fact that their home paper (edited by W. W. Driggs & Son) is the connecting link between them and their patrons. The efficient editors are dropping "hot lead" here and there, and their comments, both in their local and editorial columns, cause readers to look for the next issue. CAAPTER XIII WETMORE. A SHIPPING POINT A RAILROAD TOWN NAMED FOR W. T. WETMORE POSTOFFICE ESTABLISHED IN 1 867 EARLY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES FIRST EVENTS A HANGING EARLIEST CITIZEN PONY EXPRESS AND OVERLAND STAGE SCHOOLS A JESSE JAMES INCIDENT PIONEERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS FIRST SETTLER IN TOWNSHIP PROSPECT- ING FOR COAL BANCROFT W. F. TURRENTINE CARDINAL POINTS OF COMPASS DISREGARDED. Seneca, Sabetha, Centralia and Corning are the four towns of the county, the direct outcome of hopeful pioneers who staked out the vil- lages of their hopes and fought for their existence and welfare.' The oth- er towns of the county are the outcome of necessary shipping points, or the result of railroad traffic. Wetmore, the first and oldest of these, is the halfway town between pioneer hopes and shipping necessities, mak- ing the necessary link to harmoniously join the chain. Wetmore is lo- cated four miles north of the line separating Jackson from Nemaha coun- ty and within a couple of miles of the eastern border of Nemaha county. The Central Branch railroad surveyed ground between Atchison and Centralia as early as 1866. A quarter section of ground was platted, a section house and station erected, a dwelling house constructed, a hotel built, on the promise that train's should stop there for meals, and Wetmore was finally launched as an embryo railroad town, the first established for such a purpose in Nemaha county. The town went further than that and named itself after W. T. Wetmore, vice president of the railroad at that time. In 1867 the town was given a postoffice, and business buildings slowly fol- lowed by a lumber yard, and later a grain elevator. In 1869 the De- Forest Brothers put in a general store, as did the Rising Brothers, all of whom, or their descendants, have been the loyal upbuilders of their little town and clung to it tenaciously. The Wetmore House was built by Peter Shumaker, who long remained a widely known host. Later a. second hotel was built, called the Overland House, which was not used as a hostelry until four years later. Wetmore's first born child was a daughter, Mary Cassity, who lived only a couple of years. The first death was an infant child, Nellie 121 122 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Rising, a descendant of one of the families who have made Wetmore known, ^^'etmore, being younger and more thoroughly organized than her sister towns, kept her statistics fairly better than most. There is no quarreling there over first happenings. Honor for the first marriage has never been denied ]\Iiss ]\Iary 'V\'olfley and M. Morris, who were wedded in 1870. The AVetmore school was first taught in 1868 with A. S. Kenoyer as schoolmaster. The village was incorporated in 1882 and the first election resulted in J. A\'. Graham's election as ma3-or and AMlliam Morris, E. H. Chap- man, \Mlliam Bazan, Joseph Haigh, E. F. Yilott as councilmen and M. P. AI, Cassity, police judge. These men for most part have remained identified with ^\'etmore and its progress. AUTOMOBILES ON THE MAIN STREET OF "WETMORE, KANS. AA'etmore's greatest venture on the road to fame came from • its mineral springs, which in the eighties were found to be of medicinal value and water was bottled and shipped far and wide. The springs were not made a health resort, but for years the waters were sent abroad to heal the ailing. Another venture in the world of notoriety drifted Wetmore's way when a hanging for horse thievery occurred near there. The alleged horse thief hid in his sister's house, which was attacked by a mob. The mob dragged the wretched boy forth, hanged him to a tree- and went away leaving the ghastly picture a blot on the landscape and on the memory of Nemaha count} 's fair history. The occurrence was not in Wetmore's limits, rather nearer to Granada, a settlement now erased. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 23 The earliest citizen of Wetmore might be said to have been M. Callahan, a native of Limerick, Ireland. j\Ir. Callahan was employed by the Central Branch railroad. He pumped water and lived in a box car where Wetmore now stands. Later he left the railroad and settled in Wetmore. Before coming to Kansas j\Ir. Callahan had helped in- stall machinery in the famous war steamers, the "Roanoke" and the "Jamestown," familiar to any child who knows his United States history. It is only natural that Wetmore should have been a railroad town, for many of Wetmore's early day citizens freighted overland or were pony riders in the famous pony express. Ham Lynn's story is told else- where. He was an express rider. Don C. Rising rode the pony for the express company from i860 to 1862, and was later made assistant wagon master in the United States service. N. H. Rising, his father, conducted a station, Log Chain farm, in Granada, where overland travel made him well-to-do. Robert Sewell, of Wetmore, drove an overland stage in Iowa and later in Kansas, with headquarters in Leavenworth. For ten years he was in the employ of the Overland Stage Company. He named the Overland Hotel of Wetmore in its honor. It is doubtful if the rail- road kept its promise that Wetmore should be the eating headquarters of the line in spite of all this. Wetmore seems to have solved the school question in a satisfactory manner. A frame school house was erected on the highest point in the city and well awa}^ from noise and disturbance. The school building is lighted from all sides. It is in excellent condition, so well kept up that it looks like new, although the inscription tells the passerby that it was built in 1892. The building is surrounded by an immense yard, well sodded and filled with handsome shade trees. A perfectly trimmed cedar hedge surrounds the grounds. The building cost $11,000, and the high school gives the complete course. This is the building which was mothered by the first school build- ing in AA''etmore, which was the third building in the town. Jacob Guyer, '\I. M. Cassity and AA^illiam Morris constituted the first school board, and the building opened with "twentj'-two pupils. So "\^'etmore, by reason of its speedily erected pioneer school building, lays good claim to intellectuality^ i\Ir. Cassity was a lawyer, one of the first in the county. He was also a Kentuckian, and before coming to Nemaha county had taught school in Missouri. Immediately after his arrival in Nemaha county, in the late fifties, he taught school in the old log school house in Granada. Mr. Cassity was one of the interesting pioneers. He stuck to Granada as long as there was anything there. He was jus- tice of the peace, town clerk, deputy assessor and general factotum. He was one of the pioneer travelers for the St. Joseph Gazette. The story goes that when he lived in Plattsburg, Mo., he defended and cleared a man by the name of Samuels, a half brother of Jesse James. Speaking of Jesse James recalls the stor}- that not long before his death he made Nemaha county a call, which was thought to be a pro- 124 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY fessional one. A short time before Jesse James was killed by Bob Ford both men were in Sabetha looking around with a view of possibly transacting some business. At the time, the Sabetha marshall was one Smith, who was bound to make a good record and possessed a very keen eye. He contracted the habit of looking very carefully at any stranger within the gates. James and Ford were crossing the street near the National Bank building when they met Smith face to face. Smith looked James straight in the eyes, and Ford and James took the first train cut. When Bob Ford was in jail two months later for the murder of James, H. C. Haines went to take a look at him. Upon hearing where Haines was from. Ford told of the Sabetha incident and said that he exerted every influence he had over Jesse James to keep him from returning to Sabetha and killing Marshal Smith. James was convinced that Smith knew who he was. Many Sabetha people remembered having seen the men when their pictures were printd in the St. Joseph newspapers. Wetmore seems to have retained her early day citizens, or their de- scendants, more than most towns. The merchants of today are the merchants of the early days, or their children or grandchildren. The same names are seen in the Wetmore paper every week, Vilott, De Forest, Rising, Haigh, names not of general use, are still identified with Wetmore. During the current winter Mrs. George C. Cox died, leaving several farms near Wetmore and considerable cash to be divided among her several children. When Mr. and Mrs. Cox came to Wetmore from London, England, in 1868, Mr. Cox was so poor that he was obliged to pay for the first breaking on the farm he had homesteaded by giving his coat for it. The farms left by Mrs. Cox included the homestead. Mr. Cox remained on this homestead until his death in 1901. The winter after his arrival he built a "Kansas" or blockhouse on the farm and with a cord of wood as family supplies he commenced farming. Three years later he was the victim of the grasshopper scourge. But out of it Mr. and Mrs. Cox came unscathed. Four of their twelve chil- dren were born on the farm, the others in London, where Mr. and Mrs. Cox were married in St. Barnabas' Church. Her six Nemaha county sons were Mrs. Cox's pallbearers. John Radford, who is mentioned in reminiscences of John Fuller as one of the promoters of the Kansas emigration of English workingmen, was a Wetmore resident. John Radford was a dreamer and a zealot. A dream of better conditions for the poor. A zealot in living his theories. He was an early day jeweler of Wetmore. His barren childhood, in which his fight for existence was an ever-living battle, made him only more determined to be educated and help others. He attended night schools, mechanics' institutes and lyceums. For a dreary seven years in his Devonshire, England, home he was apprenticedwageless to a jeweler and engraver. He became a Liberal in social matters. Of the immi- gration party to Kansas, written by Mr. Fuller, John Radford and James HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I25 Murray were the pushers. One pound (about $5) shares of an emi- gration company were issued. Eacli member was allowed a maximum of fifteen shares. The company was supposed to buy American lands and lease them to others for developing. Six original families came over, twenty following shortly afterward. The company was a failure, for the reason that anyone could have Kansas land almost for the taking at that time. But fifty English families settled in Nemaha county, sturdy, thrifty, industrious, who have done much toward making the county one of solid foundation. So while the scheme failed the outcome was more than successful. N. H. Rising, who was a pioneer citizen of ^^^etmore, had pioneered already in Granada and Sabetha. His was one of the first houses built in Sabetha, when, in 1858 and 1869, he ran a store there with George Lyons. Then he ran a hotel at Granada and in 1861 he built the ranch house at the famous Log Chain ranch. The Log Chain is now one of the Dr. Sam Murdock farms, one of 2,000 acres owned in the county b}^ the founder of the Sabetha hospital. Log Chain's history is interesting. The ranch is situated at the crossing of the old military road of Log Chain creek, which still wends its way through the picturesque, historic farmland. When Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston was sent with United States troops to quiet the Mormon rising in 1844, he had a great deal of trouble in crossing this creek. Heavy chain after heavy chain was broken. Scores of heavy chains were broken by teams of twenty-four to thirty- eight ox teams in trying to drag the heavily laden military wagons and artillery through the stream. This gave the stream the name of Log Chain and the ranch took the name from its troublesome little river. Log Chain ranch was a pretentious house, for those days. It was 24x40 feet, and the barn was seventy feet long. Mr. Rising had a thriving business here during stage days. The first settler in Wetmore township was Augustus Wolfley, a Pennsylvanian, who died on the farm he preempted thirty-five years ago or more. Mr. Wolfley built on a creek, a fine rushing stream, as did most of the pioneers. The stream now bears his name. His son followed him in 1856. Frequently the two men would go to Atchison for provisions and supplies. Duing a visit there they were arrested by a pro-slavery mob, tried and convicted and sentenced to be shot. They were given respite from the sentence," but were taken across the Mis- souri river in a boat and told to stay there and vote the pro-slavery ticket. They managed to get to St.. Joe. In a ferry boat at that point they crossed to Wathena and walked back carefully, and by stages, to their Wetmore farm, a distance of seventy miles. The difficulty of this tramp may be imagined wJhen it is recalled that the seventy miles was raw, unbroken prairie, with no landmarks and no knowledge of the country. Mr. Wolfley was one of the few pioneers well supplied with worldly goods when he came to Kansas. Upon his death he deeded a farm to each of his sons. 126 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Wetmore being a younger child has also been a child more ven- turesome. The prosaic certainty of farm life did not appeal to \\^et- more as persistently as to the rest of Nemaha county. To be sure, Wet- more was not founded for farming purposes, but for a railroad center. So perhaps it is not surprising to note that upon occasion, and frequently Wetmore has delved into the bowels of the earth in the fond hope of finding a shorter if less sure way to riches. The last venture was about 1907. when Wetmore went digging for coal. Indications were that Wetmore had coal. If she had coal, Wetmore wanted it where it was doing more good than in the ground. So she dug, and dug, and dug. If coal were not found, at least oil or gas might be dis- covered. The citizens stuck valiantly to their drill, but by the time they had gotten to a depth of 2,200 feet and there was nothing doing in either coal, gas or oil, Wetmore decided to let Pittsburg furnish their coal and they returned to farming. After the stated depth was attained the drilling apparatus was taken away, when hope revived in the de- spondent breast of the village and $3,000 was raised to dig deeper. But the amount was not sufficient to warrant bringing the drilling apparatus back to town. It was figured that fully $5,000 was needed and the hope was not sufficient to raise the sum. The drill was not put down deep enough to satisfy people, however; in fact many thought the money gave out just as something was about to be turned up. With this hope springing eternal in the Wetmore breast, it may be tried again In Wetmore township, adjoining Reilly in the southeastern section of the county, lies Bancroft, a small settlement of interesting folk. Bancroft has added several additions to the original old town, in which are located the bank, the hotel, the postoffice and stores and several homes. The additions are called Camp's, Woodburn's and Poynter's. The town of Bancroft has an excellent graded school, a blacksmith shop and a union church. Its streets are named First, Second, Elk and Sycamore, which is farther than most villages get in the street matter. There are, besides, a creamery station, stock yards and all conveniences for shipping the immense amount of stock and grain raised in the vi- cinity. W. F. Turrentine, mayor of Wetmore and editor of the Wetmore "Spectator," has recently been dubbed "W. R. Hearst,'' as he has started several papers in Netawaka and a "string of papers is again inaugurated in Wetmore. The first "string" was started by Daniel C. Needham in 1878, which lived but a short time. The town of Wetmore was laid out by the railroad, for the railroad and with the railroad. The Central Branch, always the most contrary road in the State, runs "cattycornered" through Wetmore. It is not on a true bias, but about three sheets in the wind, as it were. So Wetmore, taking the line of least resistance, went along with the raiload. There- fore, every street in Wetmore is diagonal and there is not a house ap- parently that is standing right with the world. A sailor of life training would lose his bearings in Wetmore. CHAPTER XIV. CENTRALIA. THIRD TOWN IN COUNTY^ TOWNSITE SELECTED MOVED TO THE RAIL- ROAD LOCATED BY A MAINE COLONY A WOULD-BE SEMINARY ■ PROGRESS INCORPORATED^LIBRARY BECOMES CITY PROPER IN 1906 DR. J. S. HIDDEN PROMINENT NEWSPAPER MEN SCHOOLS VITAL STATISTICS HOME ASSOCIATION EARLY SETTLERS. Centralia, the third town in Nemaha county, has her own person- ality and it is one that impresses. In the memory of man no scandal has emanated from Centralia, no brawls, no family disturbances. If Cen- tralia has them she conceals them in the closet as a family skeleton and does not even let her sister cities know of her troubles. Therefore, the conclusion might be drawn that Centralia, Nemaha county, is not a gossip. Than which no higher praise can be given. Clean-spirited, clean-minded, clean-mouthed, Nehama county is proud of her third-born living child. Centralia, as has been said, was one of the villages built on a hill, who could not induce the railroad to take their point of view, and had, therefore, to tumble down the hill to the railroad. In 1859, J- S. Hidden, J. W. Tullor and A. A. Goodman picked- out a sightly spot on which to build a village to overlook the fertile valley of the Black Vermillion stream. Within three years this seemly village included a general store, a drug store, a school house, a hotel and even a lawyer with a law office. The lawyer was F. P. Baker, who afterward became the editor of the Topeka '.'Commonwealth," a newspaper famous in Kansas early days, but now passed on. In 1867 a blacksmith shop and several dwellings had been erected. And here the pioneers hoped to live, and thrive, and grow, and die. But many a happy plan has the ruthless railroad spoiled. Along came the Missouri Pacific with its slow moving, but depredations Cen- tral Branch and, ever a lazy organization, it refused to climb the hill to Centralia. So down rolled Centralia, bag and baggage, to the foot of the hill, where the Central Branch still laz-ies by its doorstep, whistling promises of improvement that it never keeps. Of the original town com- pany only Mr. Hidden took part in the purchase of the new site. Two hundred and forty acres were secured for the new Centralia directly on the bank of the Black Vermillion. Peter Clippinger, two Smith brothers ' 127 128 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and A. W. Slater gave half of this purchase land to the railroad and the station was erected with the name painted thereon. I. Stitchel put up the first building, A. Williams the second and John Smith, of the town com- pany, the third. Meantime, down the hill rolled the buildings of old Centralia, with one notable execption, which is standing on the original site today. A band of pioneers from Maine had come to Kansas and formed this settlement on the high and sightly hill. The people were intellectual and progressive. The Maine colony seemed to be of literary bent and bound to introduce the higher life into its settlement. Therefore it erected a big stone school building. This was intended to be the wing to a seminary eventually, for Centralia was meant to be a college town. The Maine colony was a well-to-do as well as an intellectual class of men and women. For ten years the settlement prospered, then came the rail- road, and the houses and homes and business buildings formed the line of march and rolled down the hill to the valley and the railroad, \vhere new Centralia has prospered as faithfully as her mother colony, on the hilltop. The one building that was not moved today marks the ambition of the pioneers of the old town. The would-be seminary was left in its stately stone grandeur to mark an ambitious past. The old school building stands alone, its literary hopes dashed to the ground, a monument to the everlasting success of greedy commercialism over artistic ambition. The building has been remodeled into a modern farm- house, the property of Z. B. Hartmann, who is raising wonderful crops on the townsite of Old Centralia. Centralia moved and progressed physically and mentall}' until in 1882 the requisite number of citizens in the town warranted Judge David Martin, of Atchison, in granting an order incorporating the town into a city of the third class. In 1916, the month of January, Centralia is the only town in Kansas of 1,000 inhabitants to own its own electric light plant, furnishing twenty-four-hour service. Centralia also furnishes "juice" to Corning and Goff, her nearest neighbors to east and west. Centralia is literary, too. Little sister that she is, she has main- tained a notable library for twenty-five years through the devotion of her women to books, and of her men to the efforts of the women. In fact, Centralia is the onl}^ town in Xemaha coimty, and one of the few in Kansas of its size, to have supported a free public library for many years. In the early eighties three women members of the literary union concluded that knowledge only is power. They were Mrs. A. S. Best, Mrs. F. P. Bowen and Mrs. L. R. Jackson. With the interest of their fellowmen uppermost in their hearts, they established a free public library. From their own pockets and by means of literary entertain- ments they gave the necessary wherewithal to buy the first books, sup- plementing the purchase with what books they could spare from their personal libraries. Many of their friends assisted in the work, and after a a m H m M O H O Z n H m o o p HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 29 vai'ious struggles and many discouragements the little library was opened to the book-hungry community. There was no charge for the books and the cotmtry people were included and given free access to the library shelves. The library ladies believed that knowledge, like religion, should be free. The women were young mothers then, but from household cares and growing families they spared enough time to uplift the com- munity. They gave entertainments from time to time for more books and magazines. They took afternoons from their own time to take turns as free librarians. From this little library in 1880 the Literary Union developed into the Library Association, v/hich was a chartered organi- zation of considerably larger membership. After a number of years this association lost their enthusiasm, and the ladies of the Centralia Reading Circle and a few remaining members of the old Literary Union opened a free reading room. In May, 1906, by vote of the citizens of Centralia, the library became the property of the city. One mill was taxed, and there was not the least objection in the community. The entertainments continued, and the best magazines and newest books of all kinds were continually added. A few years later the tax was increased, which enabled the em- ployment of a regular librarian. The library being opened but three evenings in the week, the distribution of magazines became difficult, which was solved by renting them at five cents for a short period. There are now about 1,500 books in the library for a town of 1,000 inhabitants. These are supplemented with books from, the State traveling libraries. Another library in Centralia was presented to the public schools by A. Oberndorf, owner of the Eleanora Fruit and Poultry farm, in memory of his little daughter, Adele. There are 1,800 children's books in this collection. A similar gift has not been recorded in any State so far as Centralia knows. The public library rooms are fitted with comfortable chairs, fine pictures, reading tables and all modern library conveniences. A framed charter of a branch of the Lyceum League of America, signed by Presi- dent Roosevelt, is one of the library possessions of which the citizens are proud. The Centralia branch of the Lyceum League was organized in 1886, at which time Theodore Roosevelt was simply an American citizen, but was also president of the chief organization of the Lyceum League. The local league later became inactive and lost its charter The signed charter hung, neglected and unadmired, in Mr. Bush's kitchen. But when Mr. Roosevelt became the leading citizen of Amer- ica and the world, the old chaVter was resurrected from its ignominious surroundings, handsomely framed and properly housed with Thackeray, Dickens, Balzac, Hume, Gibbon, Izaac AA^alton, etc., in Centralia's library. The names of the charter members of Centralia league which are signed with Mr. Roosevelt's are F. A. Hybskmann,- AA'ayland Shoe- maker, C. W. McBratney, Sumner McNeil, W. B. Griffith and H. L. Wait, editor of the Centralia "Journal." (9) 130 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Dr. J. S. Hidden, one of the builders of Centralia, was the first sur- geon in New England to use chloroform as an anesthetic. Surgery was little resorted to in those pioneer days. When it was, a patient was just supposed to grin and bear it. Dr. Hidden was the first regular practitioner in Nemaha county, and served in the Kansas legislature in 1863 and 1864. Prior to his removal to Kansas he had served in the New Hampshire legislature. F. P. Baker, who was the old Centralia lawyer, and later became proprietor of the Centralia "Commonwealth" is also one of Centralia's or- iginal men of brains. The Topeka "Commonwealth" nourished many brilliant newspaper men of Kansas, men who have been and are the real fathers of Kansas. Associated with Mr. Baker on the "Commonwealth" was the late Noble L. Prentiss .as local editor. Later Mr. Prentiss was editor of the Atchison "Champion," and when he died he was writing the Starbeams on the Kansas City "Star." It was Mr. Prentiss who gave the name "Herd Book" to Andreas' old History of Kansas, which has clung to the volume up to date, and always will. Mr. Prentiss was in Chicago when the proofs of the old history were brought into the office where he was a visitor. He looked over the proofs. "Well" said the Kansas wit, "you seem to have the whole herd here." The story was printed and when the book came out it was heralded as the "Herd Book," and so it remains to day. Few know that the book was compiled by one Andreas. Henry King preceded the Centralia Mr. Baker as editor of the "Com- monwealth." Mr. King died within the past year, having been editor of the St. Louis "Globe-Democrat" for many years before his death. At a meeting of the National Editorial Association in Lawrence in 1914, Mr. King was one of the speakers, when he protested his love for Kansas above all other lands. His will left a portion of his wonderful library to Kansas. It is now in the Memorial Building in Topeka. Thomas Ben- ton Murdock, late editor of the El Dorado "Republican," and called the •"Beau Brummel" of the Kansas press, and an uncle of Victor Murdock, Congressman for many years from Kansas, was manager of the "Com- monwealth" when it was owned by the Centralia lawyer. There hasn't been a lawyer located on the Centralia townsite for eight years, and the , Centralia jail has no prisoners, in spite of the fact that it is steam heated. Centralia would naturally erect a school building in which to prop- erly house her school children, and in 1872 a building was erected at a cost of $2,500. J. S. Stamm as the first teacher. The cyclone which swept the county in 1882 destroyed the building, and a building costing $6,000 was put up in its place, which opened with 175 pupils, with O. M. Bowman as principal. In 1906 the school building was burned and nothing was saved. The city of Centralia, progressive, literary, then erected a real school building. Grades and high school were included in one handsome struc- ture, which cost $18,000. This building included furnaces, dry closets, modern ventilation system, and the school board visited Kansas City, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I3I St. Joseph and Topeka, calling at and examining all the modern schools in these cities before they commenced work on their own building. The building includes eight big rooms, an assembly room, a laboratory, two recitation rooms, a cemented modern basement for lunch rooms and manual training, big windows in all closets, doors opening outward. The people of Centralia did not realize what a remarkable record the town had on infant mortality until baby week began to be discussed, and then it was found that the records show not a baby or child has died in Centralia for three years and only one in the past four and a half years, with the exception of two premature births. The four and a half years cover the period since the State law requiring the registration of deaths went into effect in 191 1. Before that time no record was kept. The baby is studied in Centralia. For a number of years the Reading Circle had child study as a part of their weekly program. In the library are a number of books on the baby and the child. Bulletins on this sub- ject, issued by the State and other good authorities, are never laid aside as unimportant, but are read with interest. Magazines with the best baby departments are most popular in the homes. Doctors are up-to- date and willing and ready to use the system of preventative medicine and give mothers advice about the feeding and care of babies rather than apply all their knowledge and skill in trying to save the baby when it is seriously ill. Most bottle babies are scientifically fed, and there are no bottle babies unless nature rriakes it necessar)'. Babies in Centralia live out of doors as much as possible, and it is no novelty here to see the front porch fenced in with wire netting or any way to give the baby a safe out of doors play room, which is often used in winter as well as summer. There is no trouble in this town about pure milk; those who sell milk deliver it in sterlized, stoppered bottles. "Swat the fly" is a town slogan and it is considered a disgrace to have a fly in the house. If there is a case of whooping cough in town the babies are kept away from it. There hasn't been a case of measles or scarlet fever in Centralia for years, and diphtheria is unknown. Among the children just out of the baby class adenoids are watched and removed when, found, and the majority of the parents have their children's teeth carefully looked after. Taking all these things into con- sideration, Centralia believes that these pictured babies have a good chance to live through the critical stage of childhood. HOME ASSOCIATION. (Written by Abijah Wells in the Seneca "Tribune'' 35 Years Ago.) The West has been' the object of the wildest expectations and the scene of the grandest successes and bitterest disappointments that man- kind have achieved or suffered, and of all the bright anticipations and Utopian dreams that have impelled humanity onward . in their ever 132 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY moving march toward the setting sun, there have been few brighter, fairer or more ephemeral than that which inspired the formation of the Home Association, the legitimate progenitor of our now thriving village of Centralia. This organization was originated in Knox county, Illinois, in the summer of 1858. x\ constitution and code of laws were adopted and ^ committee appointed and sent to Kansas to locate the site of the new "Garden of Eden" to which should be attracted the ability, culture and refinement necessary to make it "The land of all on earth supremely blest." The committee, after a careful examination, selected six miles square, in the exact center of which was located the town of Centralia. The next winter a charter was granted them by the Territorial Legisla- ture, and within a year hundreds of people had flocked to the new settle- ment, and a town had been built as if by magic, while on every hand new farms greeted the beholder. A building was erected, designed for the south wing of the Centralia College, to serve as the germ of the future grand educational institution that was to be developed there. The out- side world was invited by a well prepared circular, gotten up, we be- lieve, by C. H. Chitty, then, secretary .of the association, and now prac- ticing law in Metamora, 111., to "come and see a portion of bleeding Kan- sas transformed into a blooming garden." For a time it seemed as if the highway of success was opening for the undertaking, but ere long private jealousies and sectarian prejudices were awakened that caused contentions to grow among the members of the society, which culminated on March 10, 1862, in what was for years afterward known as "The Centralia Riot," and for which the writer hereof, with some fifteen others, was arrested by John H. Rogers, then sheriff of Nemaha county, taken before H. H. Lanham, then as now a justice of the peace in Seneca, and after a week spent on preliminary examination, were bound over to appear at the next term of the district court, where the trial took place, and all were acquitted. James P. Taylor prepared the papers for the arrest and assisted in the prosecution, that being his first appearance in a Kansas court. In his closing argument he told the court to "Have mercy upon the boys, but to sock it to the old d — 1." The defense was conducted by F. P. Raker, now of the Topeka "Commonwealth," and John C. Scott, who, years after, committed suicide in Marshall county, while A^'illiam Histed acted as a sort of lay attorney, he at that time not having been admitted-to the bar. Thus ended the brilliant hopes and bright promises of Home Asso- ciation, and with it the bubble of one more ideal "Utopia" burst. The organization went down ; many of the citizens, now thoroughly disgusted, sought new homes, or went back to "her folks." A good share of the houses were moved away or torn down. Among those moved to Seneca we may mention that of F. P. Baker's dwelling, which furnished the germ of the house now occupied by John H. Peckham, while his office is now the front part of Joseph Behne's dwelling. The old HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I33 Leatherby house, now on the bottoms east of town, was originally built in Centralia by William. Holden. The Centralia hotel, after many trans- formations, is now the wooden part of the Cowdry building, the lower story being occupied by Johnston Brothers' land office and Parsons & Smith's boot and shoe store. And of the Centralia College, which was expected to become the Harvard of the West, nothing now remains but the building, transformed into a farm house, and occupied by our vener- able friend, Robertson. Of the early settlers of Centralia, but few now remain. Dr. Hidden, Stephen Barnard, A. W. Slater, O. P. Gallaher, Reuben Mosher, Alex- ander McCutcheon, John Plodgins, T. A. Campfield, the Sams and Yill- mer families, Judson W. Stickney and probably some others whose names new escape our memory, live in or near Centralia. E. D. Hymer died a few weeks ago; his family still live near town. William Histed is probate judge of Nemaha county. Joshua Mitchell, county clerk ; Dr. Shelton and Hugh Hamilton live in Beattie, Marshall county ; Delos \A\ Ager, who has as generous a heart as ever beat in human breast, and whose house was often our welcome home, now lives in Vermillion, Marshall county. Seth B. Hough, the generous, whole-souled, good- natured Seth, is married and rearing a family in Berlin, Minn. Scott B. Humphrey has a valuable farm near Seneca, upon which he lives Dr. N. B. McKay is practicing his profession in America Cit3^ J. W. Tullor, after serving Nemaha county faithfully as county clerk for eight years, was called home from earth some eight }rears ago.' F. P. Baker, who was then practicing law in Centralia, and that winter represented his district in the Legislature, who, before leaving for Topeka, called his fellow citizens in Centralia together and. in a well written address explained to them what great things he intended to accomplish for Home Association and the Centralia College, has since made for himself a name, and fortune, we hope, as editor and proprietor of the Topeka "Commonwealth." If he reads this article he will probabh^ smile as we do (in a strictly temperance manner) at the bright pictures we then saw of the glorious results to be accomplished in the then immediate future, and remember with a chuckle and a spasmodic contraction of the mus- cles of one side of his face, the secret society organized in his office, with its magic pass word and glorious object, and later, the obituary poetry, of which the grandeur of its conception was equalled only b}' the elegance of its style. CHAPTER XV. OTHER TOWNS AND VILLAGES. GOFF A RAILROAD CENTER NAMED IN HONOR OF EDWARD H. GOFF LO- CATION JUDGE DONALDSON MR. ABBOTT, FIRST MERCHANT KELLY A SHIPPING POINT "tHE KELLY BOOSTER" A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH THE KELLY BANK SCHOOL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES PIONEER FAMILIES THE VILLAGES OF DORCAS, CLEAR CREEK, SOTH- ER, PRICE, ETC. THE TOWN OF BAILEYVILLE. GOFF Goff goes a step farther than Wetmore and is the direct outcome of the railroad being run through its vicinity and needing a loading station. Goff is one of the youngest children of Nemaha county, and has sur- passed in numbers its sisters of many years older. Goff, being primarily a railroad town and the only one built for that sole purpose, looks like an alien among her agricultural sister towns. Goff is hilly, with odd, abrupt hills rising suddenly and for no apparent reason out of the earth. It is straggling and in its unusualness, very interesting. Goff was named in honor of a railroad man, or rather a railway official, Edward H. Goff, of the Union Pacific railroad. Whether to pronounce the town Goff or Goffs is always a bone of contention, and can always raise a satisfactory disturbance in the switch shanty when the much-discussed plan on improving the Central Branch and extending the line to Denver fails. The town was laid out in 1880. Two years later it contained a hotel and store, occupying one building. Today it is a prosperous town of 700 inhabitants, with a good business street and one of the handsomest school buildings in the county. Goff looks like the adopted child of Nemaha county. If a resident of Nemaha had never seen Goff and knew nothing of it and should be set down there in the night, he would scarcely believe he was in his own county. 1 Just as the rest of the county is pre-eminently a farming com- munity and the towns were built up for farmers' trade, Goff is a rail- road community and seems to have known it from the time it was fash- ioned by Mother Nature. Nemaha county is gently undulating until she gets to Goff. Then she is filled with perpendicular hills, vales and views. 134 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 35 Unfortunately, Goff as a railroad center does not seem to be as thriving in its chosen line as one would wish. Two roads meet there and the town is attractive and individual in its hilliness, widely different from the rest of the Nemaha county towns, which are flat and level universally. Goff begins at the foot of a mountainous hill with the livery stable. It ascends perpendicularly half way to the clouds, where it ends in the handsome school house. Snowy winters in Goff are a paradise for Goff children. The only respectable coasting hill in Ne- maha county is in Goff. The Goff school house, which is the pride of the town, was picked up off its foundation sixteen years ago by a cy- clone. But the cyclone was comparatively gentle, as gentle as such an uncontrolled beast may be, and it carefully set the school house down. So instead of tearing the building down the Goffites simply put their fine school building back on the foundation -and fastened it down tighter, where it served to educate the children and afforded a view that should have made an artist of every small boy in Goff, had he not found the frequent locomotive more fascinating than the pleasant outlook. Gfoff has a citizen who has been a police judge about as long as Sabetha's Judge Cook. Since the beginning of time in Goff, Judge J. R. Donaldson has been police judge there. He takes care of the law and of his own domicile at one and the same time, and is an interesting char- acter; Mr. Abbott, who owned the first store in Goff, under the firm name of Abbott & Reynolds, still lives in Goff, but has been retired from actual business for ten years. Goff was very poor in the days when the town was first started. Clothes and shoes were at a premium. It must have been a drouth year or grasshoppers or winds or something. At any rate, the folks were hard pressed for wearing apparel and the neces- sities of life. Mrs. Abbott came to the hilly, hidden, hungry little burg, a young married woman, with a trunk load of lovely clothes. When she went to church she found the other folks arrayed in calico gowns, many without hats or even sunbonnets and some without shoes. So she folded away her lovely clothes, got out the plainest things she had, made her others of greater simplicity and went to church and did about as her less fortunate neighbors. But Goff now is a town of peculiar fascination. Its hills and dales, its good hotels, its several excellent brick buildings and its fine picture show give it an air so different from other towns of the county that it is always interesting. KELLY. The building of the Kansas City & Northwestern railroad through the county necessitated another shipping station midway between Goff and Seneca. Kelly was the result. Kelly has thrived and prospered and has gathered unto itself many from surrounding localities. A general store is run by Emil Jonach, Jr., whose name has been identified with 136 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Nemaha county since its first settlement. Jonachs have been the first name in mind at Woodlawn and now at Kelly. Another store is that of Schumacher & Ketters. Perhaps the prime mover in Kelly affairs for a long number of years is Dr.- Fitzgerald and his energetic wife. Mrs. Fitzgerald is every- thing in Kelly. Dr. Fitzgerald is the druggist as well as the town doctor. But Mrs. Fitzgerald is the assistant druggist, the postmistress, the tele- phone operator, and she was the editor for several months of the only paper Kelly has had in several years, "The Kelly Booster." The paper was printed at Goff, but the effort was too great a tax on the village criterion and after a few months of excellent editing, it was abandoned. Some fourteen years ago, when Kelly was a mere infant child of the county, Bernard Harrish tried publishing a newspaper there. He is located at Smithville, Mo., ih charge of the '"Herald." William Kongs has a hardware store in Kelly, and R. S. Vandervoort is the village black- smith. Kelly has a beautiful new Catholic church, completed within the past year at a cost of $40,000, Father Edwin Kassens, pastor. The exterior is more beautiful than the famous St. Benedict's, but the in- terior is not so elaborate. The Methodist church has been meeting in Kelly since the foundation of the town eighteen years ago. There were eighty original members and they are served by Rev. Moyer, of Corning. The Kelly Bank is again the child of Nemaha county pioneers. G. A. Magill, a son of Caleb Magill, is the cashier. His wife is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Scrafford. Both names are identified with the foundation of the county. Charlie Scrafford was a founder of Seneca. Caleb Magill was a pioneer resident of Granada. Kelly has a farmers' union store and a barber shop. Its two elevators are owned by the union and the Denton Brothers, of Leavenworth, with Bert Cole as man- ager of the Denton elevator. The Catholic parochial school, in charge of the sisters, has one hundred pupils. Mrs. George Magill teaches the village school with about twenty-five pupils. R. M. Emery, of Seneca, is president of the bank. F M. Spalding, whose home is in Lincoln, Neb., owns the lumber yard, which is one of a striwg extending from Sabetha to Lincoln. O. D. Ruse is the Kelly manager. There is a cream station under the management of F. E. Gabbert, another name prominent in Nemaha county history. There is a hotel and restaurant combined. This with less than 200 inhabitants, including the station agent, completes, the prosperous, little town. There is not a vacant dwelling in Kelly. In fact, the new station agent had to camp in a box car recently for two months until a house could be planned and arranged for the occupancy of himself and his family. There are also on the road between Goff and Seneca, Sourk and Kampler stations, mere shipping points for stock or grain on occasion. George Magill, cashier of the Kelly bank, is a descendant of Caleb Magill, one of the four Magill brothers who helped to settle Nemaha HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I37 county. Four of the Magill brothers, who were among the earHest set- tlers of Kansas, married girls named Mary and they alreadj^ had a sister Mary. So ever -since their marriage their wives have been referred to as Mary with the Christian names of their particular husbands added. For instance, there are Mary David, Mary Aaron, Mary Charlie, and their own sister, Mrs. Payne, whom they call Mary K. or Mary Kansas, as that is her middle name in honor of her native State. VILLAGES. One time postoffices which have passed out of the here into the nowhere were Dorcas, in Capioma, township, and Clear Creek. Both were kept onl)^ in farm houses, the rural routes putting them out of business. Near Wetmore about thirty years ago a section house was built and given the name of Sother, in compliment to the Hon. Thomas Sother. A store was erected, but it, too, has gone the way of blasted hopes. Berwick, comprising a store and ex-postoffice and four houses, has continued as a stopping point of the Rock Island railroad between Sa- betha and Bern. Price is a shipping point on the Grand Island between Oneida and Sabetha. Both have excellent stores, a convenience to the farmers nearby, and life saving stations for autoists who forgot to fill their gasoline tanks before leaving their homes on either side of the village stores. Price was named for J. E. Price, a prominent grain man of Sabetha in the early eighties. J. E. Price was a soldier, who received a medal for manning an abandoned gun at the siege of Richmond. He was well beloved in Sabetha and the grandmothers of today recall with affection broom drills and exercises and entertainments he taught them as little girls. In connection with Mr. Price is Samuel Slosson, who, with his brother, W. B., one of the real fathers and faithful lovers of Sabetha, built the Price elevator in Sabetha. Samuel Slosson was the first station agent at Sabetha. The brothers moved from Sabetha to Albany during the exodus of 1870 to greet the coming of the railroad to Nemaha county. Samuel Slosson, who is dead, was the husband of Mrs. Dr. Emma Brooke Slosson, the only practicing woman physician of Nemaha county, who lives here still, retaining their old family home and the love and affec- tion of her lifetime friends. Dr. Slosson is "still practicing medicine. At one time she and "Old Dr. Irwin" of beloved memory, were the only practicing physicians in Sabetha, owing to a State restriction which re- quired special examinations for physicians at that time. The Price village store is now run b)' M. J. Steiner, one of the Amish German brethren, who have taught improved farming methods to man}- Ameri- can brother tillers of the soil. The Berwick store is in charge of A. F Grote. 138 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY BAILEYVILLE. Baileyville, the westernmost town of the county, was named in honor of ex-Governor Bailey's father, who laid out the town seven miles west of Seneca. It has prospered and become a convenient shipping point, if not a city of any considerable growth. G. M. Rasp was the first postmaster of the village and a St. Joseph firm established a store, hay sheds, etc. Later these were sold to the Bailey Brothers and to other interested local citizens. The St. Joseph & Grand Island put in a siding and Baileyville increased in numbers, citizenship and substan- tiality. The most interesting thing of Baileyville is a community hall, built for the use and entertainment of both villagers and country people of the surrounding farms. Club meetings, social and business gatherings are held here. It is a well built, nice looking building, of which any community might be proud. The outlying farm, lands are undulating and beautiful. The hills from the southern part of the country have rolled themselves out into more level surfaces, and the land is so pleas- ing to the eye as to bring a covetous sigh from the passerby. • An interesting pioneer who did much for this part of the country was Xavier Guittard, who was the oldest postmaster in point of service in the United States at the time of his resignation, about 1908. He had been postmaster of Guittard Station for forty-seven years. He came to this section in 1857 with his father. Guittard Station was named for the elder Guittard and was one of the famous stations on the old Cali- fornia trail. George Guittard and Xavier Guittard managed the town- ship's affairs for twenty-five years, and the elder Guittard was the con- fidential agent of "Ben" Holliday when he managed the great overland stage company. The California trail ran directly through the Guittard farm, and Guittard Station was one of the most important on the famous route. Many distinguished persons were entertained by Xavier Guittard and his father in those days. When Xavier Guittard sold the old home- stead a few years ago, he presented the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Leavenworth with a French crucifix which had been a treasure in the Guittard family for more than 300 years. CHAPTER XVI. ONEIDA. FOUNDED BY COL. CYRUS SHINN ELECTION OF NAME LIQUOR RESTRUC- TION SUPPORTED GOVERNOR ST. JOHN POSTOFFICE EARLY ENTER- PRISES CHURCHES SUBSTANTIALLY BUILT SCHOOL "rEAL ESr- TATE journal" NEW YORK "tRIBUNe" REPORTS OF "BLEEDING KANSAS" FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICE LODGES AND WOMAN's CLUBS. Col. Cyrus Shinn founded Oneida, now a thriving town of 300 inhabi- tants, lying midway between Sabetha and Seneca, on the Grand Island railroad. Colonel Shinn's idea was to give a town lot to every one who came to Onedia to settle and build up the city. He bought 400 acres of land in 1873, laid out streets and lots on most of it and named.it Oneida. In an election held for naming the town Oneida or Shinntown, Onedia won. Why it was so named is not explained, as Colonel Shinn was a Southerner from' West Virginia. He used to say in the early days of Oneida that he would "boom the town if he never made a cent." One thing. was required of Onedia settlers on the Shinn lots, however, and that was the settler was not to sell liquor or allow it to be sold on the premises. The result is that Oneida has never had a saloon, and Oilman township was the only one in Nemaha county that returned a majority for Governor St. John, the Kansas -Governor whose election was won on the Prohibition ticket. It is recalled during that stirring campaign that St. John was burned in effigy in many towns, so opposed were the people to prohibition. Twenty-five years later monuments were raised in his honor and praise, so convinced had Kansas become of the excellence of his prohibitory law. Before Colonel Shinn decided to put his- farm into a town, a post- office called Oneida had been kept in the farm house of Henry Kerns. It is possible that the name "Oneida" was found more euphonious than "Shinntown," although there is occasionally found a former resident of the village who refers to it as Shinntown. Colonel Shinn erected a store building, which eventually became the postoffice, with J. O. Stienbaugh as postmaster, succeeding the farmer. Kerns. An acre of land was pre- sented to G. W. Buswell for establishing thereon a cheese factory. Colonel Shinn meantime was traveling through the East advertising his town by lectures, handbills and pamphlets, and giving away lots to all 139 140 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY comers. Surely no town was built on firmer faith. He opened a land office and started a newspaper called the Oneida "Real Estate Journal." The customary blacksmith shop and necessary stores followed and a two-story hotel was built, called the Lindell. The first keeper of the inn was B. F. Chamberlain. The owners since have been many and varied. But the hotel is still open and of daily use to travelers. The streets were named in order after Presidents, as are the streets in Chicago, in whose footsteps it was supposed to follow. Two churches PUBLIC AND CHURCH BUILDINGSi ONEIDA, KANS. were built immediately, one a Christian church, and the other with the metropolitan name of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian. Oneida was built at once. Xo makeshifts were permitted. A school house, two stories high and graded into four departments, was erected on a sightly hill without delay. An opera hall was built for public gath- erings, substantial and roomy, in continual use today. A park was re- served, with the distinguished name of Hyde Park, and a restaurant was HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I4I opened with the famous title of Rialto. The town thrived and flourished and filled up with smart, progressive people, and is so filled today over forty years later. The "Real Estate Journal," however, was sold to J. F. Clough, editor of the Sabetha "Republican," who conducted it for four years as the Oneida "Journal," and four years later suspended the publication. The cheese factory became the most famous in the county, its sales extending from St. Joseph to Denver, and prospering until the cheese trust put all small establishments out of business. This booming and thriving and advertising of Kansas and Oneida did its part in helping the State into its own. Reports taken or sent "back East" were not always so glowing as those borne by Colonel Shinn, as will be seen in the following har- ■ rowing Eastern newspaper tale. Ex-Postmater Russell, of Oneida, has a copy of the New York "Tribune" dated August 9, 1856, which contains thirteen columns of cor- respondence from Kansas. Over half of the eight page issue of the Tribune was devoted to the trials and tribulations of the Free State men. None of the correspondence was less than a week old and some of it was a month old. Those were slow days in the transmission of news to the papers. All the correspondence went to the "Tribune" by mail. The correspondence was all full of horrors — tales of political as- saults and murders; of prejudice and of wrongs perpetrated because of prejudice. To read this paper one can readily see why the State is called "bleeding Kansas." To go through the mass of correspondence seems like walking through a chamber of horrors. Emigrants coming from Illinois and Ohio and other States were stopped in Missouri, robbed and plundered and sent back toward their starting point. Every paragraph of the thirteen columns is filled with blood and plunder. One writer in a letter written in St. Louis says : "I am, at last, out of the demon's claws. I reached this city, from Kansas, yesterday evening. I am en route for Baltimore, and shall start on my way tonight. "Anarchy, in its most hideous form, rtms riot in Kansas. There is no war between the two parties, the principals of the war are ignored. It is murder and plunder which devastate the land. I have been as- sailed five times within four weeks, and have very narrowly escaped with my life, not without gross personal violence. At Lecompton, last Tuesday, I was set on by a howling mob, and my life threatened. I called on Governor Shannon for protection, but he informed me that he could give none. 'Your people,' said he, 'are shooting down our people at every turn, and you must take your choice.' These were his words. He advised me to leave the town, and I did. The United States soldiers can do but little ; martial law alone can save all parties from going to destruction. "My hope in Kansas becoming ultimately a Free State is in nowise diminished. They can never get an actual population in the Territory 142 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY who will prefer Slavery to Freedom. The men who are now in from the South are mere desperadoes, who have been brought out for the express purpose of murdering and plundering the people ; they are entirely unfit for any industrial or honorable occupation, or anything good whatever — the basest ruff-scruff of Southern cities. Whenever the work of mur- der and pillage is done, they are done with Kansas, and it will be left again to the bona fide settlers." Here is another little incident experienced by a man named John A. Bailey while he was going to market : "I have been fourteen months in the Territory; came from Pennsyl- vania; I started last Tuesday morning for Little Santa Fe, after pro- visions for myself and neighbors ; I had gotten as far as Bull Creek by five o'clock in the evening, when a man came up and stopped my wagon, telling me to stop there for the night ; this man was Coleman, the mur- derer of Dow ; he had twenty men encamped where I met him ; among them I recognized Buckley, Hargus, Jones, Connelly and the Cuming brothers. The two first were also accomplices in the murder of Dow, and all of them in the posse of Jones which took Bransom ; in the night my horses were stolen, their halters cut ; in the morning these men made pretense of sympathy, and said, Tt was too bad for people to steal horses from their friends ;' they told me I could find them in the camp at Cedar Creek, and three of them volunteered to go with me ; I borrowed a pony and leaving my wagon with the others, started. "After going about half way to Cedar Creek we met a large company of not less than two hundred men ; the}" took me prisoner and ordered me to dismount ; after taking me for some distance in a wagpn, well guard- ed, I was again compelled to mount my pony, and the three men who came with me from the other camp held a consultation with the officers of this. I overheard Coleman say, 'There may be treachery used.' but could gather nothing definite of their intentions further, save that these three men who had volunteered to help me find my horses were sent to take me to AA^estport ; the company "went on over the hill in the prairie ; shortly after they disappeared these men led me off the road a hundred yards into the prairie ; they made me dismount, and demanded my money. I gave them all that I had, $45, without a word ; one of them then raised his gun as if to shoot men ; it was a United States musket ; I told him if he meant to kill me he would kill a better man than himself; lowering his gun, he said, T wish you to take off them pantaloons for fear they get dirty.' I told him they were mine as long as I was alive ; he again raised his musket, but while he was in the act of firing I dodged ; the ball hit me in the side, glancing along my ribs, and through the cartilages, lodging in my back. I fell. He then struck at my head with the butt end of his musket, but missed, only grazing it; as he struck at me the other two men rode off as fast as possible after the company that had gone over the prairie ; he struck at me again, when I caught the musket in my hands and held on to it ; he held the other end HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I43 and jumped on my body, stamping on head and face, but as he wore Indian slippers he did not hurt me much. He then tried to jerk the mus- ket from me, and in doing so pulled me to my feet; I still held on to it, and dealing him a blow with my fist, he let go the musket ; he then ran after the others, calling them to come back, but they had gone some dis- tance and did not hear him ; he ran after them and I ran after him ; he commenced running harder, and soon disappeared; I then turned, ran some distance into the prairie, and hid in the grass ; three hours passed quietly, when I left my hiding place and wandered toward home." Mrs. P. W. Cox, of Oneida, tells of the first religious service held in Nemaha county which she recollects perfectly. "I was only a little girl of nine years when we came to Kansas. Everything that was out of the ordinary monotony of the day was impressed vividly on my mind. I recall the first sermon preached in the county, if not in northeastern Kansas. It was at a Mr. Harrison's. We sat on beds and chairs and boxes in a log house. The preacher was a Methodist circuit rider. These circuit riders came here for the money and food that was contributed and they received no salary. They traveled on horseback, and each man's horse was equipped with a picket rope, pins and straps to the sad- dle to carry their clothes as cowboys do. They carried their food with them, it often being miles and miles from one appointment to the oth- er." Oneida has several thriving stores, a Methodist church. Rev. Nath- aniel Adams as pastor, and a Christian church, served fortnightly by Chancellor Oeschger, of Lincoln, Neb. It has several lodge chapters and a woman's club organization, "The Modern Penelopes," and a "Camp Fire Girls" chapter. They give clever plays and entertainments and keep people amused. CHAPTER XVII. NEMAHA IX THE BORDER WAR. ANTI SLAVERY SENTIMENT UNDERGROUND RAILROAD JOHN BROWN HERE REV. CURTIS GRAHAM RECOLLECTIONS OF WILLIAM GRAHAM NEMAHA NOT SERIOUSLY AFFECTED QUANTRILL SLAVES HERE JIM LANE HERE MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. Albany and practically all the eastern section of Nemaha county was anti-slavery sentiment. It was settled by Northerners as the western half was by Southerners. Nemaha county had little experience with the border war because it was too far from the river. Sixty-five miles in those days was some distance, and the border war existed between Atch- ison and St. Joseph, Weston and Leavenworth, all towns on opposite sides of the Missouri river which was the dividing line between north- ern and Southern sympathies. Nemaha county had some finger in the border difficulties inasmuch as the county was on the direct line of the "Underground Railroad" and Albany was the principal station on the road. Both John Brown and Jim Lane were Nemaha county visitors during these strenuous times. At one time John Brown with a number of followers and "travelers" in course of transportation on the "Under- ground railroad," arrived at Albany. Johp Brown, the great abolitionist, a big bearded man, found room to sleep at the Whittenhall cabin^ even if it. was nearly all filled with piano. The guns were stacked in the other corners not occupied by the famous music box. The rest of the party stayed at the Edwin Miller place. It is an odd thing that, although Al- bany became a certain place in which to protect slaves, there are very few negroes, comparatively, in Sabetha, or in any part of Nemaha coun- ty and none at all in Albany. Both the Slossons and the Grahams were underground railway agents. At one time John Brown came through with thirty-five slaves. He had "borrowed" wagons and horses from Missourians to carry the refugees to freedom, and he was protected all the way by the settlers in Nemaha county who sympathized with him. The owners of the wagons were mildly bringing up the rear, asking that their property, both slaves and horses, be returned. No battle followed and people were merely amused at the incident. William Graham claimed to be the last man to see John Brown on Kansas soil. Graham guided Brown and a party of slaves which Brown had railroaded by the 144 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 145 underground route from Missouri to the Nebraska line, and saw them safely across the river. It was John Brown's last trip through Nemaha county or Kansas. Rev. Curtis Graham, who pioneered in Nemaha county, but moved ,back to New 'York later where he died about ten years ago, was an in- timate friend of Jim Lane. He came out to Kansas in 1856, presumably to be of what assistance he could to General Lane. In the year of the great drouth Dr. Graham went east to secure succor and funds to re- lieve the suffering in Kansas. He secured thousands of dollars in money and food. Dr. Graham did not belong to the Graham brothers of Albany. He was of Seneca, and the more to be admired as many in that part of the country were pro-slavery people. He is a father of D. B. Graham. William Graham, now of Dodge City, is the earliest settler on the Sabetha townsite now living. Mr. Graham took the first claim on what is now the Sabetha townsite. The claim covered what is now the south side of Sabetha. He took the claim in March, 1857. The claim ex- tended a block north of the Rock Island track, and it took in the land be- tween Hense Hazell's residence in the eastern part of Sabetha and the Sabetha hospital on the west side of Sabetha. The race track and all the present town south of the Rock Island track (and considerable land just north of the track) were taken in by Mr. Graham's land. Mr. Graham sold out in 1881, disposing of the west half of his land to Samuel and William Slosson and the east half of it to Jackson Cotton and A. N. N. Kentner. Three or four months after Mr.Graham preempted land here, Capt. A. W. Williams appeared. There was then nothing but open prairie on the townsite. Captain Williams decided to start a town here. Captain Williams bought a claim one half mile east of Albany in Brown county and used his preemption right on that. In the spring of 1858 he filed on the south half of section i, township 2, range 14 for a townsite but could not hold it, so he sold his right to the quarter to J. J. Goodpasture and hired Joseph Legg to preempt the west quarter. William Graham says the story that Jim Lane named the Sabetha townsite is a mistake. He also says the story that Capain Williams got the name from a well a few miles east of here which had been given the Greek name for Sabbath by a stranger who had lost an ox on the spot on Sunday, is a mistake. Mr. Graham who was here through all that early period says he does not know how the town got its original and unusual name; that probably nobody knows and that the origin of the name will never be known. Of course others says that the story pre- viously told of the naming of Sabetha is accurate. Mr. Graham says James H. Lane named two towns in this vicinity. One of the towns was started on Pony Creek and Lane named it Ply- mouth. The other town was started on the place where Ed Brown now Hves near Sabetha, and he named it Lexington. Neither of the towns (10) 146 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY got beyond Lane's imagination. This was in 1856 — a year before Mr. Graham located here. When William Graham came to this section he was accompanied by a party of New Yorkers. The party consisted of William Slosson, Edwin Miller, now deceased, and John L. Graham, also deceased. John L. Graham was captain of Company D, Eighth Kansas, during the Civil war. He was in the sanguinary struggle at Chickamauga in 1863, being killed in battle. Afterward the Kansas legislature honored John L. Gra- ham by naming Graham county, Kansas, for him. John L. Graham was a brother of William Graham. William Graham fought in Company A, Seventh Kansas. The first party mentioned as having come from New York in 1857, '^^^ soon afterward followed by George Graham, Elihu Whittenhall and Archibald Webb, all names that are familiar to Neme- ha county people. When Edwin Miller came from New York he was accompanied by his wife and their son, C. E. Miller. Edwin Miller died some twenty-five years ago. His son is principal of the St. Joseph High School, and has held the position over twenty years. When C. E. Miller became principal of the St. Joseph High School, he succeeded a man named Strong. A few years ago Strong became the Chancellor of the Kansas State University, succeeding Chancellor Snow. The border war of the pioneer days of Kansas affected Nemaha county as little as did the Indian raids of less fortunate districts. Ne- maha county, sixty-five miles from the Missouri river, seventy from Topeka and a hundred or more from Lawrence, was spared the bitter struggle between anti- and pro-slavery men. The underground railroad had a station in Nemaha county and several vigorous, enthusiastic "agents." The new generation may not understand just what is meant by "Underground railroad" in the sense in which it is used in Nemaha county's history. The "Underground railroad" was a term used before the Civil war, indicating the method used in assisting fugitive slaves to escape from this country to Canada. The "stations" were the houses of anti-slavery men, or abolitionists. The agents were the owners of these homes. The slaves were secreted in the daytime by the "agents" at their "stations" and passed along at night, over devious branches of the "railroad" until they reached Canada, safety and freedom. Qf course there was no physical railroad at all. This is interpolated because of the apt inquiry of a boy who wanted to know what became of the "rail- road." For years the term was a mystery to the writer. One reason possibly for the absence of fierce quarrels in the border war in Nemaha county is that there were no newspapers published in the county until after the beginning of the Civil war. The early settlers were largely from the East, many from the South coming to northern Kansas largely to escape their motherland's slave beliefs. This seems to be undeniable for these southerners fought for the Union when the Civil war was finally declared. The five or six years interevening be- tween the arrival of the first settler and the Rebellion were spent largely HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I47 in the struggle for existence, but the underground railway kept the county in close touch with the unhappy situation in the more populated part of the State. One of the interesting connections Nemaha county gets with the border war is the fact that a prominent citizen of the county came from Canal Dover, Ohio, which was the boyhood home of Bill Quantrill, of the famous Qauntrill raid of Lawrence, Kans. H. C Haines, of Sa- betha, says that Quantrill was a boy who had no "folks." He came out West with a family by the nrrie of Beach. Beach located near Law- rence. No one seems to know what became of Quantrill. An editor of a paper claimed to know, but Mr. Haines thinks he does not. It is gen- erally supposed that Quantrill went down to Texas, where he probably died. Mr. Haines thinks this is the most probable ending of the lurid career of his former townsman. Of the border war period, Nemaha county had one lingering "taste." Two slaves were brought to Nemaha county and retained here in the late fifties. "Two girls were brought to Albany before the war and held as slaves, the only human beings ever held as chattels in Ne- maha county," a record of them states, which has been preserved in the historical archives of the State. L. R. Wheeler kept the girls as ser- vants in his family, and probably not as slaves as the story goes. He needed servants ; they needed protection and a home. The girls drifted away and nothing much was thought of the matter. The first escaped slave to become a settler was Mrs. Holden, who, in 1862, reached the saving station in Albany with her five children, where she remained for several years. Her son was killed in the Civil war and she received a pension of $i,8oo and accumulated a fair legacy to leave her children when she died in the eighties. W. G. Sargent res- cued from slavery Lena Russell and Mrs. Jane Scott and Daniel Russell. Charles Holden married Lena Russell and became an intelligent farm- er. John Masterson, another slave to escape to the sheltering arms of Albany, married another Holden girl, and Cora Holden married Thomas Frame, who had Indian blood in his veins and whose marriage ended in the divorce court. Up to 1884 this was the only divorced colored couple on Nemaha county's dockets. Mrs. Scott lived for many years in the Sargent family where Mrs. Sargent taught her to read and write. After she left Mrs. Sargent for many years a correspondence was kept up with the colored woman. Another incident of the border war days, recalled by W C. Rutan, of Sabetha, is that Jim Lane camped on the Dick Blodgett farm in the southeastern section of the county. Of everyone who came along or at every farm he visited, Jim Lane would ask whether traveler or farmer were Confederate or Union in their sympathies. But no difference what reply was made the Jim Lane followers took whatever they had, on gen- eral principles. Many Nemaha county residents were in the Mexican war. Arnong 148 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY them were Thomas Carlin, Patrick Bendon, George Frederick, George Goppelt, James M. Hicks, Henry M. HiUix and Joseph Morrill. Mr. Morrill was in the New England regment; Mr. Hillix in the First Ken- tucky mounted volunteers; Mr. Hicks was in an Indiana regiment; Mr. Frederick and Goppelt in the regular army and connected with a bat- tery under the control of Col. Braxton Bragg, while Mr. Carlin was at- tached to the Marine battery, and participated in the battles of Monte- rey, Buena Vista, Resaca de la Palma, Saltillo and Vera Cruz. Mr. Car- lin was within twenty feet of Major Ringgold and within 200 feet of Lieut. Col. Henry Clay, Jr., when they fell mortally wounded. As two Indiana regiments became demoralized, and retreated from the field of action in the hottest of the fight, Mr. Carlin was ordered to turn his bat- tery upon them, but declining to do so he was tried before a court mar- tial and gave as a reason for disobeying the command that he would pre- fer killing Mexicans to killing Americans. He escaped a sentence through the interference of General Taylor, whom he regarded as his guardian, and who cautioned him in the future like a good soldier to strictly obey orders. Mr. Carlin's home was then in Plaquemine, La., where General Taylor lived, and for whom he cast his first vote in 1848. CHAPTER XVIII. NEMAHA IN THE CIVIL WAR. NEMAHA RESPONDED PROMPTLY A COMPANY ORGANIZED HERE GEORGE GRAHAM ORGANIZED A COMPANY "jOHN BROWN's BQDY" BE- LONGED TO THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH REGIMENTS REAL WARFARE TROOPS RETURN ON A FURLOUGH NEMAHA SOLDIERS IN IMPOR- TANT ENGAGEMENTS NEMAHA BOYS IN THE NINTH CAVALRY ELEVENTH REGIMENT IN CAMPAIGN AGAINST INDIANS NEMAHA SOLDIERS SAW MUCH SERVICE PROMINENT NEMAHA MEN IN THE CIVIL WAR GRAPE SHOT FOUND HERE WAR RELICS. Nemaha county was settled largely by New Englanders and New Yorkers, so it was natural that Nemaha's enlistment in the Union army was unusually large. In the course of the war but eight men were draft- ed into the army from Nemaha county. This would not have been nec- essary if time had been given for a wider canvass of the willing and pa- triotic. At one time in'Sabetha there was but one man left in the entire community. Capt. A. W. Williams, of Sabetha, organized a company of 150 volunteers in August, 1861. They were encamped upon their en- listment near Sabetha and Captain Williams furnished their rations at his own expense. Within a month they marched to Fort Leavenworth where most of them were sworn in as members of Company D, Eighth Kansas regiment. Later George Graham organized a company, one third of which joined either the Ninth or Thirteenth Kansas regiments, and in addition there were fort}' Nemaha men in the famous Eighth Kan- sas regiment and seventy in the Thirteenth. The Nemaha men served generally all through the war and the special Nemaha county regiment, the Eighth, was fighting way down in Texas at the close of the war, while the Thirteenth was sent home from Little Rock, Ark. The Seventh Cavalry was organized on the twenty-eighth day of October and ordered immediately into active service. The Colonel was Chas. R. Jennison, of Leavenworth, and the Lieutenant Colonel was D. R. Anthony, for years the editor of the Leavenworth "Times," and a leading Kansas man for many years, a valiant fighter for Woman Suf- frage and a brother of Susan D. Anthony, whose name will always lead the American suffragists. Dan Anthony, Congressman from this dis- trict and editor of the "Times" since Colonel Anthony's death, is his 149 150 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY son. Edwin Miller, of Sabetha, was the second lieutenant in Company I. The Seventh's first battle was an attack on Col. Upson Hayes en- camped on the Little Blue River in Missouri, where Kansas City now lies, Lieut. Col. Anthony commanding. Thirty-two of the Seventh were killed, the rebel camp burned and all the horses captured. An exciting incident of the Seventh's career was the arrest and deprivation of his command, of Lieut. Col. Anthony for publishing an order for the severe punishment of any officer in his brigade- who should arrest and deliver to his master any fugitive slave. The Confederates, it seems, had been making a habit of searching the camp for slaves, to the great indigna- tion and annoyance of the officers in command. The Seventh fought in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Missouri. In January, 1864, many of the men who were encamped at La Grange, Tenn., were taken ill from exposure, and suffering from frozen feet. Four fifths of the regiment were re-enlisted volunteers. These were given a furlough of thirty days. At its expiration they were re-equipped and were sent back to St. Louis, serving for a time as guards to laborers repairing railroads. During a march through Mississippi, they were constantly attacked. Later they returned to St. Louis and thence to Omaha, to Fort Kearney and Fort Leavenworth, where they were dis- charged from the same point at which they entered the service. A fa- mous, or notorious member, perhaps, is the word, of the Seventh was Marshall Cleveland, the outlaw who organized Company H. He was the first captain of his company: a handsome, dashing, fearless man. Company H was largely composed of the famous band which operated on the Missouri borders in the turbulent days preceding the Civil war. Cleveland's career even prior to this border war had not been en- tirely unchequered. He was a stage driver in Ohio, had served a term in the penitentiary, and upon being freed therefrom had changed his name from Charles Metz to the one by which he became famous over the entire country. Colonel Anthony terminated Cleveland's career as an officer of the Seventh. The brilliant, dashing, handsome Captain Cleve- land appeared at dress parade with his pants stuck down in his boots. Colonel Anthony reprimanded him. Cleveland rode into Leavenworth, sent in his resignation and the Seventh saw him no more. Another famous captain of the Seventh was John Brown, Jr., a son of the famous John Brown. He was a brilliant captain during his brief service, which lasted only six months, because of ill health. It was John Brown's company which taught Kansas the famous war song, "John Brown's body." Every night rabid worshipers of John Brown would gather around the camp fire and sing the famous air. A fervid address followed, which usually ended in an oath taken to avenge John Brown's death. Then three cheers were given for the young captain and the company retired. During the entire service of four years only twenty men of the Sev- enth were taken prisoners. Of the Nemaha county members of the Sev- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I5I enth whose graves are decorated Memorial day are Charles Boomer and Edwin Miller. The Seventh was one of the picturesque regiments of the Western army. It was fearless and feared. Romantic women ad- mired it secretly. It was adored by slaves, dreaded and hated by Con- federate soldiers, and besmirched by Unionists. There was nothing picturesque or romantic about the Eighth Kan- sas, to which most of the Nemaha county men belonged. It is the story of real warfare, sordid, bitter, cruel, severe. No pictures of brilliant at- tacks and high-handed captures, but long, unnecessary marches over al- most impassible roads, only to find when reaching their destination that the march was a false move, the enemy gone and a return necessa1-y. Days without food and nights without rest. Bitter criticisms of care- less generalship. Dogged determination to remain in line, and finally an erttire regiment falling exhausted on scant beds of damp hay over sodden fields. Days of tramping through blinding rain ; wading through rivers to their waists ; provisions ordered left behind with the supposi- tion that others would follow the skirmishing regiment, only to find or- ders reversed after their departure and without food or shelter, wet, dis- heartened, cold, hungry, but still with their country's need in their hearts, the' Eighth Kansas struggled through Mississippi and Ohio for the better part of a year. Then General Rosecrans took charge of their division of the United States army and matters improved. Later Gen- eral Grant himself was in command of their army. The battle of Look- out Mountain, Orchard Knob, Chattanooga and Chickamauga, big bat- tles of the war, were some compensation for the unrewarded hardships of those first bitter months. Colonel Martin, editor for many years of the Atchison "Champion" and later governor of Kansas was the Colonel of their regiment. Colonel Martin was a lovable and beloved man. He is one of the rare men to have entered a high position and to have left it with more friends than when he entered. Captain A. W. Williams, founder of Sabetha, was in charge of com- pany D, and John L. Graham, of Albany, was second lieutenant. On the eighth of February, 205 men were mustered in as veteran volunteers and on the twenty-fifth the regiment reached Atchison on a furlough. The town was the home of Colonel Martin and great honor was done to the retui'ned soldiers. These were bells and banners and flags, and parades, speeches, and banquets, with such food as had not been tasted by a soldier boy for three weary, stressful years. In the battle of Chickamauga the Eighth had lost 267 men, either killed or wounded, out of a total enlistment of 408. But the Eighth never faltered. It saw more fighting and took part in more battles of note than any other Kansas regiment. They fought under great gen- erals, and every part of the bitterness and bravery, the gall and glory of war became known to them. A last bitter pill was administered to the Eighth Kansas, when the regiment was ordered to Texas shortly before the close of the war. They knew the war was reaching its termination 152 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and felt the order was intensely unjust. But good soldiers obey orders, and' the regiment went to Texas, reaching Indianola July 9. Their route took them across a marsh filled with the poison of malaria. Men, worn and weary from the exactions of active warfare, could not overcome the contagion, and dropped on the line of march in complete exhaustion and unquenchable thirst. The brigade did provost duty in San Antonio until November 29, 1865, when it was mustered out after a service of four years, four months and elevfen days, having been one of the earliest in the field. One writer in the regiment says that "Had some generals not thought wars were won by men's legs rather than their guns, the Eighth might have been saved 10,750 miles of tramping through the sultry days of summer and the stormy nights of winter, an experience which inclines the Eighth Kansas warriors to consider that the war song 'tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,' was written for and should have been dedicated to them." In the great battle of Chickamauga, Nemaha county lost John L. Graham, who had been promoted to sergeant captain from second lieu- tenant. He was one of the four original settlers of Albany. He was married to Nancy J. Slosson, who, with his two sons, Fred and Charles Graham, has survived him many years, and helped build up this section of Kansa and further the beauty and progress of Ponoma, Gal., where the sons have long been engaged as bankers. Other Chick- amauga deaths were those of Sergt. Robert M. Hale, of Sabetha, and William Miller, of Sabetha. The Ninth Kansas cavalry, of which less than fifty Nemaha county men were members, saw most of its fighting in Missouri and Arkansas, with no little part in guerilla warfare. Corporal Thomas J. Bell was killed by guerillas in the battle of Westport, Mo., June 17, 1863. His home was in Centralia. The Eleventh Kansas was a regiment of distinguished men. The colonel was Thomas Ewing, the lieutenant colonel was Thomas Moon- light, and the major was Preston B. Plumb. The two latter officers later became famous in Kansas politics. The company was peremptorily or- dered to the army of the frontier before their weapons arrived, so Colonel Ewing armed them as best, he might with antiquated Prussian guns found in Leavenworth. They marched to Fort Scott, Kans., and when they arrived the following morning they formed a line of bat- tle but found no foe to fight. They marched and counter-marched through Missouri and Arkansas and also engaged the guerillas in bat- tles in southwestern Missouri. It was the Eleventh which was valiant- ly engaged against General Price. Returning from the Price raid the Eleventh was ordered to Fort Riley to prepare for a campaign against the Indians on the Smoky Hill river. A change of plans sent them to Fort Kearney, a march of 200 miles which they made in twelve days, across bleak prairies in biting winds. Cutting sleet, over roads scarcely distinguishable, was another trial to the flesh of scantily clad men, who HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 53 had little food and less ammunition. They arrived at Fort Laramie, where orders were received to await further instructions. The soldiers put in this time in building a complete sod city, remnants of which may be seen to- day. One thousand miles away, at Fort Leavenworth, were to be found the only cartridges suitable to the carbines with which the Eleventh was armed. Occasional skirmishes with the Indians depleted their scant store. Their horses died and the dangers of the stage route had become so appalling that it was abandoned by passengers. It reached a situa- tion where all energies were expended in protecting the overland mail. But the Eleventh proved adequate. The stage coaches were pushed through on schedule time, the soldiers doing the driving from one sta- tion, which they had established, to the next. Guards accompanied the coaches and thus traffic was conducted until reenforcements arrived from Fort Leavenworth. The Indian restlessness was apparently increasing. Finally a band of 2,000 descended upon a little band of soldiers in a ravine separated from the station. They reached the camp and a battle ensued with sur- prisingly small loss among the soldiers, but another branch of the regi- ment under Sergeant Custard was simply cut to pieces by the Indians after the miraculous escape of the company under Major Anderson. The Indians escaped. Shortly afterward the Eleventh was called back to Kansas for discharge from army service. In these four regiments it will be seen that Nemaha county men, all mechanics or farmers, none trained for warfare, saw every branch of service during the terrible war of the Rebellion. Nemaha county men who were not enlisted in Kansas regiments, were almost to a man enlisted in regiments from other States. J. J. Miller, of Sabetha, who settled on the farm north of town in 1859, enlisted in a Missouri regiment. He came home in the fall of 1862, harvested his crops and returned to war as a member of the Thir- teenth Kansas. He was but one of seventy Nemaha county soldiers in the Thirteenth Kansas. The Thirteenth was recruited by Cyrus Leiand, ' for many years the dominant figure in Kansas Republican politics. "Cj'" Leland's home is in Troy, and it is natural his soldiers were gathered from this section. The regiment responded to President Lincoln's call for men in 1862. Perry Flutchinson, of Marysville, who in later years made his name famous all over the State by his flour, was a captain of com- pany E, of which company John N. Cline, of Centralia, was second lieu- tenant. Of Company G, William Blackburn, of Vermillion, was captain and Levi Hensel, of Seneca, first lieutenant. John Schilling, of Hia- watha, was captain of Company I, and the entire regiment was formed of men who returned at the close of the war and made northeastern Kansas the garden it now is, from the wilderness of the war times. The regiment joined General Blunt and assisted in driving General Hindman across the Arkansas River at Van Buren. They fought in the battle of Prairie Grove and finished the winter's campaign. They saw service in the Indian Territory in the Cherokee nation; served under 154 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY General Schofield, fought in Arkansas, and performed garrison duty in Springfield, Mo., and outpost duty at Fort Scott. During the month of August, 1863, the Thirteenth Kansas marched 400 niiles over Missouri and Arkansas in pursuit of General Cooper and other rebel generals. Guerillas mortally wounded Captain Marion Beeler, and General Bowen was taken prisoner by them when within firing distance of his own lines. Nemaha county lost in this regiment John T. Spencer, of Grana- da, who died of wounds received at Rosevale, Ark. Thomas B. Cum- mings was killed by guerillas at Greenfield, Mo. The company was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., June 26, 1865. Members of the Thir- teenth and Ninth regiments were enlisted by George Graham. George R. Benedict, an early settler of Granada, fought with the Thirteenth and was later transferred to the Second Kansas, colored, receiving his dis- charge as a second lieutenant of the regiment. John Y. Benfer served with the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio volunteers, fighting in the celebrated battle of Winchester, and serving with the Army of the James River. He was taken prisoner three times and was released, the third time only by the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. James L. Brockman, who has served Seneca as city clerk with efficiency, fought with the Thirteenth. James Draney who came to Nemaha county in 1857, served as a teamster during the war in Colonel Taylor's State militia. Elbert Dom Dumont was one of the youngest soldiers who have ever made Nemaha county their home. He was barely sixteen when he joined the Ninth Michigan volunteers and served until 1865. After he left the army he went to school at the sem- inaries of Ovid and Fulton in New York. He came to Seneca many years after the war closed as an architect and builder. He erected the jail, the Centralia school house, which fire later destroyed, the opera house in Wetmore, and many residences and business blocks. He mar- ried Miss Mary Bruner, of Nemaha county. Two sons of E. J. Emery met remarkable deaths during their service in the war. George Emery was drowned in the Ohio river and Edwin was ship-wrecked off the North Carolina coast and presumably drowned. A. J. Felt, affectionately^ called, over the State, "Andy," founder of. several newspapers, once editor of the Seneca "Tribune" and Lieutenant Governor of Karisas, was a soldier with the Seventh Iowa regiment. He was taken prisoner at Belmont, Mo., and held for nearly a year, and aft- erward was in a hospital for four months. He rejoined his regiment and was promoted to sergeant. Mr. Felt founded the "Tribune." He was the father-in-law of Senator William H. Thompson. He died about twelve years ago. Dr. Hayes, who has made Seneca his home since 1881, was but seventeen years old when he enlisted with the Indiana volunteers, serving with the famous armies of the Cumberland and Tennessee and fighting at Shiloh, Chattanooga and other famous battles. After the war he returned to his home in Newcastle, Ind., and to school as well. Dr. Hayes having had a taste of adventure, shipped HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I55 on the Polaris for the North Pole in 1871. He was picked up by the ship Arctic after two years in the Arctic regions, carried to Scotland and thence made his way home. Since then he has settled down to doctor- ing, after government work in Washington and a few years at a medical school. Judge Lanham, almost the first Nemaha county resident, served in the army before anyone. He served on picket duty in 1854. He was wounded, but with the beginning of the Civil war he serve'd with the wonderful Eighth Kansas, through until the end, including the terrible march to San Antonio. J. H. Larew was with the Fifth Missouri ; J. W. Larimer with the Fourth Iowa, marching with Sherman to the sea; J. L. McGowan enlisted first with the Second Missouri, later raising a Kansas Militia company; N. H. Martin, at sixteen years, enlisted with the Forty-sixth Iowa infantry; Mort Matthews, the venerable county surveyor who has held his job for over thirty years without opposition, was a soldier with the Thirty-fifth Ohio infantry ; James Parsons en- listed with the Denver Home Guards, later recruiting a New Mexican regiment, and finally entered the field as second lieutenant of the Sec- ond Colorado infantry. Mr. Parsons was the first Nemaha county sur- veyor and was elected in 1858. R. S. Robbins fought with the Twenty- second Ohio and became a captain. Capt. Lewis Sheeley did not get enough fighting with Missouri regiments and chasing guerillas but stayed with the army in Hancock's veteran reserve corps for a year aft- er, the war closed and became colonel of the Kansas State militia. He had lived in Seneca since i860. Edward Sterling saw plenty of war dur- ing the Smoky Hill and Indian raids in which the Eleventh Kansas par- ticipated. He was a stage driver in that section during that excitement. J. F. Clough, founder of the Sabetha "Republican," fought with the Sixty-ninth Ohio. He was shot twice during the battle of Mission Ridge, a bullet piercing his lung. He was a year in a hospital. Ira F. Collins, one of the brilliant, early day citizens of the county, who today is as fascinating and interesting a man as he was forty years ago, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois. He was taken prisoner at Mobile and held in one of the southern prison pens until the close of the war. He had served under Grant at Vicksburg and saw about every side of life in the army. When he was asked recently how many rebels he supposed he had killed, he replied, "Oh, just about as many as they killed of me." Mr. Collins was the first mayor of Sa- betha, State representative and State senator. John E. Corwin was a soldier with General Sherman with the Ninety-seventh Indiana infantry. He was in the Grand Review. S. B. Freelove as lieutenant and S. B. Mc- Allister as captain were members of the Plainfield battery that tendered to President Lincoln its services before the firing on Sumter. He fought through the war with the Eighth Illinois cavalry. J. E. Price, the elevator man for whom the station of Price was named, enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment. He was wounded at An- tietam but when his wound healed he went back into the fray and 156 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY stayed until the game was called at Appomattox. He retired a lieuten- ant, a post given him for conspicuous bravery in manning a gun aban- doned at the siege of Richmond where he was a member of the Light Artillery, one of the few Nemahans to be in the artillery. J. E. Price did not forget his military training after his removal to Sabetha. He taught a crowd of young girls a broom drill, the perfection of which, as fem- inine drillers, is still told with pride. The little station of Price still has standing its two elevators, but the rural free delivery put the post- office out of business. The elevators are used when the season's crops are especially good. N. S. Smith, for years and years the city attorney of Sabetha until his resignation about a years ago, was a member of the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois. He was sick, in a hospital in 1865, after fighting through the Atlanta campaign in Tennessee, and was discharged in Au- gust, 1865. Z. Bean, of Wetmore, served under Sheridan in the Fifth Wiscon- sin regiment. John Dudley came out to Kansas from Illinois to farm. Conditions here were so desolate that he found relief in enlisting as a private in the Third Missouri. He was wounded and taken prisoner, held for several months, freed, again captured, and escaped, swimming across the Saline river, and wearing a pair of pantaloons which he made himself, by ripping the sleeves out of his coat. Returning to Wetmore, farming in Kansas has since seemed a less trying job. Dr. J. W. Graham, of the Forty-fourth Illinois, has kept among his treasures a paper signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary Stanton, conveying especial thanks to him for conspicuous bravery and service. Dr. Graham was a physician in the abandoned town of Capioma going later to Wetmore, where he was the first drug- gist, postmaster, justice of the peace and a good citizen at large. J. H. Hart was a member of Company I, Thirty-third Iowa, who was present at the fall of Mobile, was transferred to Mexico and Texas, mustered out at Rock Island, 111., and then came to Nemaha county, set- tling on a farm near Granada. Alfred Johns was one of the few Nemahans to have fought with the Fifteenth Kansas. The Fifteenth was recruited by Colonel Jellison to protect the Kansas border after the terrible Quantrill raids, culminat- ing in the Lawrence massacre. The officers were mainly from Leaven- worth, Olathe, and that section, with a notable exception in the case of the lieutenant colonel, who was George H. Hoyt, of Boston, Mass. The Fifteenth remained on the job as border protectors until the famous Price raid, when their work in that historical event was conspicuous for its courage. A. J. McCreery and his three sons served in the Rebellion, all in dif- ferent regiments. A. J., with the Eleventh Kansas; Alvin, with the Ninth Indiana and William with the Tenth Kansas. The Tenth was a consolidation of the Third and Fourth Kansas regiments and a portion HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 157 of the Fifth under the command of Col. W. F. Cloud, of Emporia. This section of the State was well represented in the Tenth. Among the il- lustrious names is that of Judge Nathan Price, of Troy. He is the fath- er of Mrs. Paul Hudson, wife of the editor of the New Mexican "Her- ald," who in all the present Mexican difficulties has stuck to his post. The Tenth was called first to the Indian difficulties on the Neosho ; they battled with Quantrill, fought at Paririe Grove and finally Were detailed to Alton, 111., to take charge of the military prison there. Nathaniel Morris, of Wetmore, was a fighter with the Seventh Il- linois, a regiment of laurel winning soldiers, who seemed to win where- ever they went. Morris became a sergeant. Stories are told of a daring capture made by Morris. Dressed in citizen's clothes he captured a rebel officer. His own horse was stolen by a Quantrill man, and later recovered. Before moving to Nemaha county from Linn county he had taken part in the border war down there. David Scott was a second lieutenant in the Third Iowa, and later a color bearer in the Twenty- second Iowa. The youngest Nemaha county soldier, and perhaps the youngest in the State, was Daniel Smith, who enlisted with the Thirteenth Kansas at the age of fourteen, in fact, he was not quite fourteen when he en- listed. Nemaha county claims that he is the youngest soldier who ever entered either Union or Confederate armies during the entire Rebellion. He served through the three years of his enlistment, carrying his gun as bravely as any soldier. Returning to Wetmore he made his home there, becoming a plasterer. Daniel Birchfield was a member of the Ninth Kentucky. He was captured on the retreat from Richmond but was ex- changed. At the close of the war he drove three oxen across the deso- late country to Montana. He prospected and floated down the Yellow- stone and Missouri to Omaha in a Mackinaw boat, then settled down in Centralia. James F. Brock, of 'Centralia, served with the Twenty-fourth Iowa infantry; George R. Hunt was a member of the Twelfth United States infantry, a regiment which was noted for quelling the draft riots of New York ; W. A. Lynn enlisted with the Eighth New York cavalry, which fought at Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Winchester, straight through to Lee's surrender, a very noted regiment. Mr. Lynn says it was to the lieutenant colonel that the flag of rtuce was waved at Ap- pomattox. Isaiah Stickel was principal of the Union Academy in Sparta, 111., when the war broke out. He enlisted as a private in the Second Illinois and left the army a lieutenant. At Holly Springs, Miss., the captain of his company was taken prisoner and the conduct fell upon him. With six men in canoes he penetrated the bayous for thirty miles during the Vicksburg campaign pursuing a boatload of rebels and capturing two officers. These are but two instances of his fine work during the war. He came to Centralia in 1866, was the first postmaster of the town and 158 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was in the mercantile business befpre going into farming and stock rais- ing. J. O. Barnard, of Oneida, served with the Ninety-fourth Illinois. G. H. Johnson, later a postmaster of Corning, was a member of the Eighty-ninth New York infantry ; Morrison Mackley with the One Hundred and Seventy-third Ohio; Joseph McCutcheon, with the Sixty- first Pennsylvania; George F. Roots, who came to this country from England in 1850, and to Nemaha county in ^856, enlisted with the Thir- ty-sixth Illinois. Mr. Roots lived in Illinois before coming to Kansas and it was he who named Illinois creek. He had some knowledge of surveying and laid out much country around Corning. E. S. Vernon fought with the Seventy-eighth Ohio at the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson and all the others of fame ; J. C. Warrington with the Thirteenth Iowa; David Bronson, of Granada, with the Fifty-sev- enth Illinois; A. B. Ellit was with the Second Kansas that routed Quantrill and his men. The three Haigh brothers, James, Urias and Joseph, fought in the Rebellion. J. O. Hottenstein, of a western Kansas county, was captain of the company in which "Uncle" Dave Wickins, postmaster of Sabetha, served during the Civil war, and he after many years, hunted Mr. Wick- ins up. Mr. Wickins recalls one incident of their service together very well. There was a skirmish in Mississippi in which Wickins was hit three times and Hottenstein was hit once. Both men were injured at al- most the same moment. Hottenstein was shot through the left breast just above the heart. Wickins was shot in the leg, hand and arm. "Let Hottenstein alone, and give other wounded attention ; Hottenstein can't live anyway," said an attendant. Hottenstein made a great fuss at this and swore he would live to see the funeral of most of his company. In a few weeks he was well and at the head of his company again. The scar on David Wickin's right hand was caused by the wound in this en- gagement. A. H. Hybskmann, seventy-eight, a pioneer, died at his home in Cen- tralia. He was born in Denmark in 1838. He was a Danish soldier in the Danish-Prussian war of 1864. The Danish army being defeated, he came to America in 1867, rather than be drafted into the Prussian army and fight his own country. He came to Centralia in 1870. He operated one of the first steam flour mills in this part of the State. G. K. Hatch, of Granada, served as a member of the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania, partook of the pursuit and capture of General Lee and was in at the finish. G. W. Conrad enlisted with the Twenty-eighth Iowa, fought under Sheridan and told great stories of Sheridan's ride. Lewis Logan was with the Twenty-second lowas; A. J. Morgan with the Fourteenth Indiana, barely escaping capture at Get- tysburg. J. F. Randel served six months with the Twenty-second Kan- sas at the close of the war. F. F. Fisher enlisted with the Twenty-third Wisconsin. J. Hollingsworth, when but fifteen years old, enlisted with the Thirty-third Illinois. These enlistments in regiments of other HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I 59 States show a remarkable range of citizenship which lias gathered to- gether under Nemaha county's banner. Another odd circumstance is that no two were members of the same regiment. Any attempt to fully handle stories and reminiscences of the war is futile. A three-volume novel could not contain those of Nemaha coun- ty veterans. Still there are anecdotes that are irresistable. Uncle Jock Matthews, veteran rural mail carrier, who for twenty years has held the record for shortest time in delivering his mail out of Sabetha, joined the Pennsylvanians in a cavalry regiment. He got on his horse to go to war. He did not even stop to put down his knapsack, let alone drill, or stack arms, or make camp. He was rushed immediately into battle, and the battle was the second Battle of Bull Run. Recently F. A. Gue, a few miles from Sabetha, with Mrs. Gue took an odd journey: a visit to all the prisons where Mr. Gue was held during the war. They visited Chickamauga, where Mr. Gue was captured while taking care of thirty- eight Union soldiers, as assistant surgeon. Mr. Gue spent 526 days in prison during the War of the Rebellion. He was at Libby, Pemberton, Danville, Andersonville, and Salisbury, N. C. The Salisbury prison, merely a stockade, burned- down and Mr. Gue was taken to Flor- ence, S. C, where he was kept until near the close of the war. Mr. Gue's health was in as miserable a state as might be imagined after such an experience. He settled near Sun Springs where there is a mineral well, the waters of which restored his health. Lyman Fair marched with Sherman to the sea. He says it was during this famous tramp that the song, "Marching through Georgia," was conceived. The song was start- ed by the men in the ranks and compiled as they marched along. It passed from man to man, line to line, company to company, and regiment to regiment. As they walked along the whole army sang the song on their way to the sea. There are few wars of prominence of the past century with which Nemaha county has not had more 'or less connection. Almost every man in the county fought in the War of the Rebellion. Three have been mentioned who fought in the Crimean war. Comes now Herman Alt- house, splendid farmer and father of fine sons and daughters, whose father was a soldier under the great Napoleon Bonaparte. Conrad Alt- house, father of Herman, was a captain under Napoleon and fought at Piedmont and was with Napolean at his tragic downfall at' Waterloo. Captain Althouse came to America, where he married. His eldest son, Herman, was born in Somerset county, coming west with his parents in the early days of Missouri's settlement. Herman Althouse's wife was Miss Susanna Howard, whose father was one of the original settlers of the famous Platte Purchase in Missouri. Herman Althouse is a pioneer of Nemaha county and for years and years a prominent figure in the eastern part of the county. C. P. Branigan, of Rock Creek township, whose wife. Miss Rebecca H. Hawkins, was one of the first school teachers in the county, was l6o HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY driven out of Washington county by Indian raids, with a number of other Nemaha county citizens, who settled in this county where Indians were not rampant. Archibald Moorhead was frequently raided during the border war for food and lodging, but was otherwise uninjured. W. B. Slosson, who opened the first store in Albany in December, 1861, brought his goods from Salem, Neb. He got the stock most rea- sonably. The owners of the goods feared they would be seized by bor- der ruffians. Mr. Slosson was one of the organizers of League No. 40 for the purpose of protecting runaway slaves. He saw as much of the border was difficulties as any one in Nemaha county. He barely es- caped death at the hands of a border ruffian in Nebraska City, escaping with three runaway slaves by bribing the ferryman to row them to safe- ty across the river. The ferryman was in favor of slavery, which argues well for either the persuasive powers of Mr. Slosson or the speak- ing power of a little gold. Col. W. S. White, one of the pioneer settlers of Nemaha county, was a personal friend and neighbor of Abraham Lin- coln in Illinois. Three Nemaha county men were members of the famous First Min- nesota infantry that saved the day at the battle of Gettysburg; W. H. Dooley, R. Wilson and L. J. Mosher, none of whom are now here. But forty-five men were left when the battle ended out of three hundred who entered with their regimen. Nemaha county's share of the survivors was rather unusual. An odd circumstance of warlike connections was the finding of grape shot in a sand bank in the eastern section of the county. There was never a battle of any sort fought near Sabetha, within memory of the oldest inhabitant. Several years ago while digging in a sand bank, John Bridgeman found a grape shot of the kind used in the Civil war. The grape shot was found four feet under the sand and above the sand there had been ten feet of soil, so that the shot was some fourteen feet under ground. Its burial there is still an unsolved mystery. Nemaha county treasures many odd bits of war relics today, half a century after the close of the Civil war. A. G. Rees, a farmer living one mile west of the Sabetha hospital, is an old soldier who makes a trip almost daily on foot from his home to the town of Sabetha. He has kept in fighting trim as a result, or tramping trim, anyway. He carries with him an odd cane fashioned from bits of horn taken from the tips of his favorite cattle, dehorned during his farming life since the close of the war. The cane looks like a stick of polished onyx. Mr. Rees has among his relics a piece of hardtack which he carried through the Civil war. Mr. Rees was with the Ninety-second Illinois mounted infantry. He marched with Sherman to the sea and carried his hardtack on that his- toric march. Hardtack, to the uninitiated of the present generation and to those of the farmlands who have never been to sea, is merely a name. It is supposedly a biscuit. In reality it is a cracker, big and hard. Mr. Rees's hardtack bears the stamp "Rilley," as a certain popular cracker HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY l6l today bears the stamp "Uneeda." The Rees treasures number more than the cane and hardtack. Saved from the depredations of soldiers, Mrs. Rees has treasured a set of cups and saucers that were among the bridal gifts of her grandparents. She has also a set of silver spoons that were made from shoe buckles of her great-uncl, who presented them to her grandmother. The shoe buckles had also seen war service, and were on a pair of shoes worn by Mrs. Rees's uncle when he came over to America from Ireland over a hundred years ago. Uncle John Sherrard, of Oneida, wore a relic of ante-bellum days, his beard. Uncle John has not shaved since 1859. Freemont was the Republican, and James Buchanan the Democratic candidate for presi- dent. Mr. Sherrard was intensely for Republican principles, and vowed fie would not shave until Fremont was president of the United States. Fremont being defeated, he never had another chance for election. Ac- cordingly Mr. Sherrard did not shave. John Burdge Hoverson, the seventh of the name of John Burdge, by direct descent, has a gun which has been handed down to the eldest son in his family from generation to generation. Burdge's great-great- ^reat-grandfather used the gun in the Revolution. Farther back another Burdge had used it in the Indian Avars in the beginning of this nation. It has been in many conflicts, and'may yet serve its present owner. The Burdge gun is believed to be the only one in this part of the country which has taken active part in the French and Indian wars. (ir) CHAPTER XIX. THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. NEMAHA RESPONDS PROMPTLY COMPANY K, TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT ^EQUIPMENT OF COMPANY TO CAMP ALGER, VA. DRILLING EFFICIENCE FORAGING CAMP MEAD, PA. MUSTERED OUT AT FT. LEAVENWORTH CAPTAIN MILLER NEMAHA ALWAYS TO THE FRONT A SHAM BATTLE. By Captain Lewis Miller. Nemaha county responded with customary promptness for the call for volunteers by the President during the Spanish-American war. The company was composed chiefly of Nemaha county men, with a few from the neighboring counties of Brown and Marshall. .The company was mustered by Capt. William D. Sherman, and called Company K, of the Twenty-second regiment, Kansas infantry, and was commanded by Col. Hugh H. C. Lindsay. The company was approved by the President April 22, 1898, to serve from the sixteenth day of May, 1898 for two years unless sooner discharged. Captain Robert Hardy was commander of the battalion. Our company was composed of young men from eighteen to forty- five years of age. The great majority were farmer boys, but we had men from the mines, the shops, the mercantile business and a few pro- fessional men. We organized at Seneca, Kans., and our first camp was on the old fair ground in Topeka. Here we di'illed without arms or uni- forms for about thirty days. Our shelter consisted of the old buildings used for various purposes on the fair grounds, as we had no tents. At the end of a month's occupancy of these quarters we took the train for Camp Alger, Virginia, where we found about 40,000 other troops in camp. Most of them were National Guardsmen, well equipped with uni- forms and with Springfield rifles. We, in our regular Kansas garb, were a sight for them. They lined up for miles to see and welcome us. We were heralded in advance as the Kansas cowboy regiment, and as we had some real cowboys in the regiment, we gave them some real exhibitions of the right way of throwing the rope called the lasso and of fast and efficient revolver shooting. Some of our boys had captured several Kansas coyotes, and we had 162 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 163 them with us. So our regiment was the regiment that attracted atten- tion not only of the camp, but for miles around, including Washington, D. C. In ten days' time we were uniformed and equipped, and as we had learned to a great extent the company battalion and regiment maneu- vers, we were ready to take up the manual of arms. In ninety days' time, we were a well equipped, fairly well drilled regiment, and were anx- ious to go to the front at any time. In fact we had received word to be ready at any moment to embark for Cuba, when on the morning of the fourth of July the word went through the camp like an electric wave of the sinking of Cervera's fleet by Admiral Schley and we knew it would soon be over. The camp was in a turmoil. Forty thousand voices were cheering or cursing their luck of not having had a chance to get into the thick of the fray. Some of the men actually shed tears of disappointment of not having had their fling. We were in the brigade with the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth In- diana, and the Third New York, both old National Guard regiments. It was interesting to see with what interest and ardor our boys bent ev- ery effort to become as efficient as they. We believe that when we were mustered out there was no better regiment among the 200,000 vol- ttnteers than the Twenty-second Kansas. Our division of 10,000 men under General Graham, broke camp and marched to Camp Thoroughfare Gap, Va., near Manassas. This was a march of sixty miles. It rained all day and night while we were on this march. It was while on this tramp that we heard the sad news of the death of our Captain Sherman at Fort Myers Hospital. It cast a gloom over the entire command. Provisions were short on this march. The streams were swollen; the roads wretched. Our provision train could not keep up. In many cases we stripped ourselves of clothing, hung our clothes on the points of our bayonets and forded the streams. There was always that courage and cheer, characteristic of young Amer- icans. We arrived at Broad Run Camp the third day out. Some of our command had not had any food for thirty-six hours. A certain amount of foraging is expected and done. But our regi- mental band was a little timid and took their troubles up with the col- onel, who was a Civil war veteran. He informed them that "anyone who permitted themselves to starve in a land of plenty should either be classed as cripples or dam fools." They presented the colonel the fol- lowing morning with a fresh pork roast with their compliments, and in- formed him that there were no cripples in the band anyway. We re- mained at Ckmp Thoroughfare Gap for thirty days. We were then or- dered by train to Camp Mead, Pa. After six weeks' encampment there we were ordered to Fort Leavenworth to be mustered out. A number of Company K men enlisted in the regular army and saw service in Manila and China. 164 HISTORY OF ISfEMAHA COUNTY Before Captain Miller, author of the foregoing story of Nemaha county's service in our last war, entered the army he had lieen wounded severely by Captain Daniel Cupid. When he went to Topeka with his company as Lieutenant Miller the wound was found so severe that he was given a day's absence to get home for the only cure. But it took great hustling to carry out the orders of Captain Cupid when he reached Sabetha. Mr. Miller had planned to go from Sabetha to the county seat, Seneca, to secure a marriage license to marry Miss Lou Miller. But fate has a way of interfering with Captain' Cupid's plans, even as Cupid himself has a way of stepping into the well-ordered lives of folks and making war generally. The Grand Island train, which was to take Mr. Miller to Seneca, was delayed for five hours by a wreck. It was be- fore the day of automobiles, and only the telegraph could be requisition- ed that Captain Cupid might not longer delay the movements of the Army of the United States. The license was telegraphed for, and the permission telegraphed back for the wedding to take place. The knot was tied by Rev. Ford and the young soldier and his bride driven to the station to join the army in Topeka. But while waiting for the train, up dashed a messenger boy with the license, which had come on the return train from Seneca, and on the depot platform, while the train was pulling in, the marriage service was said for a second time, with the license in hand.' Lieutenant Miller and his bride, with Captain Cupid in charge, gloat- ing over the double knot he had tied, left for Topeka. Lieutenant Miller was made captain upon the death of Captain Sherman. The two Miller boys are named for the colonel of his regiment and the captain of t«t battalion. Nemaha county has always gone to the front in war, literally, if it was the war of her own land, and financially if the war was in other countries. Nemaha county was one of the first to respond to the cry for help in the European war now raging. Ever since the cry came over the waters, "Help the Belgians," people everywhere have planned the best way to help aside from sending money. Mrs. Dr. Shelton of Oneida originated a scheme whereby each one could contribute something. She sent out thirty-six notes to as many ladies of the town and vicinity ask- ing each to contribute two or more quilt blocks to Jje made into com- forts for the Belgians. The ladies were each to ask some one else to help. All were to be sent to Mrs. Shelton on a certain date. All re- sponded willingly and on a day appointed a number of ladies came in and sewed the blocks together, ready for tacking and finishing. On the eleventh they obtained the hall and completed eight large comforts and three for the babies. The cotton was paid for by a collection taken up among the ladies. Henry Wikoff was asked to box them up and ship them to Topeka in time to be sent on the Kansas Relief Train that left on the thirteenth, but when he went to procure the boxes, one was too small, the other was too large and as they were the only ones in town at all suitable, he decided to put them in the larger box and then he found HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 65 that it lacked a third of being full. Not to be outdone they went to some of the Odd Fellows who had contributed $20 from their lodge and they all decided to buy enough blankets from Roy Smothers to fill the box. Fourteen blankets and two comforts were added to the list the ladies had made and the box was filled. All felt satisfied with their work. Din- ner was served in the hall and the ladies' husbands came to eat with them. It was a jolly crowd and all were happy in the knowledge of hav- ing done something for others if it were only a little. Nemaha county was and it thoroughly imbued with patriotism and is always first to respond to a call to arms. Nemaha county sent all her able-bodied men to the Civil war. She had a complete company in the Spanish-American war. She responded immediately to the call for help from the Belgians, and she is preparing a company if needed, in the pos- sible event of war with Europe. Therefore it 'may be recalled with in- terest the naturalness with which. Nemaha county in the eighties fought a sham battle. Orlando Fountain was commander of a Sabetha army/ which fought a sham battle against a Seneca army. Seneca represented the Union army and Sabetha represented the Confederates. Colonel Troughton, M. D., and Captain R. M. Emery, of Seneca, commanded the Union army, and Orlando Fountain, who had been a major in the regular army, commanded the rebels. Ham Wasmund carried the flag for Sabetha. Frank Herzog had a short gun and two revolvers. John Dawson, now a Grand Island conductor, carried Squire Hook's cannon which was a chunk of steel sixteen inches long and consisted of little more than a hole in the center. Dr. Lyons played the fife and Ernest Holtzschue the drum. George Cassidy spent most of his time leading Major Fountain's horse. The Sabetha army stopped in George Donoldson's orchard long enough to clean it out and then swung around to Dan Stonebarger's melon patch. The Seneca Federals agreed to capture the Sabetha rebels. There were 5,000 people at the race track where the battle scene was to take place. The Sabetha rebels, having found good eating in making the detour, were very slow. The Union forces went out a short distance to reconnoiter and see what had become of the enemy. Whereupon the rebels suddenly appeared in the rear and took posses- sion of the forts and batteries, thereby reversing the results of the war between the North and the South. One of the Union soldiers was so angry that he kicked the head out of Holtzschue's drum. CHAPTER XX. AGRICULTURE. MARVELOUS RESOURCES IMPROVED METHODS EVOLUTION IN CROP RAIS- ING LIVE STOCK COMPARATIVE STATISTICS, 1875 TO I9IS IN- CREASE OF LAND VALUES SCIENTIFIC FARMING IMPROVED STOCK PROMINENT BREEDERS BEEF CATTLE MODEL FARMS IRRIGATION STATES AND COUNTRIES REPRESENTED SURVEY OF COUNTY CHEESE AND BUTTER OTHER STATISTICS THE TRACTOR AS A LABOR SAVER A BIG GRAIN BUSINESS. The romancers who conceived the Arabian Nights told stories that are immortal because of their marvel and magic. The Bible scribe thought he was going some when he advised two blades of grass where one grew before. The great corporations startle the financial world when their volume of business doubles or shares advance ten or fifteen per cent. But what of an institution, practically without a manufacturing smoke- stack, that makes eight dollars grow where one grew before? That's Nemaha county history. What of a mystic conjurer who mixed sun- shine, air, water and dust and lifted four million dollars out of his hat in any year in real money that you could count and make eighteen thus- and people happy ever after! What of a factory that laid off ten per cent of its hands and increased its production twenty-five per cent ! This is the story of Nemaha county's population and crop returns from 1910 to 1915. What is the answer of it all? Well, improved farm machinery is one explanation. Better farming methods is another. Higher prices may as well be included as a reason also. The records for forty years, from 187s to 1915, show the elimination of some crops, the introduction of others. That span of forty years records the steady increase in culti- vated acres.. It is a fascinating study. Let us go back to 1875. Here we find field crops producing an ag- gregate of $696,006.73 in one year. Jump forty years to 1915 and the field crops were worth $3,961,731.61. And there were not so many more people here in 1915 than toiled in 1875. The 1875 population was 7,104. The 1915 population was 18,309. The increase in population hasn't compared with the increase in production. Back in 1875 Nemaha county produced only a little more than a 166 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 67 million and a half bushels of corn and got twenty-five cents a bushel for it. The corn crop in 1875 was worth $387,513, a mere pittance com- pared with the 1915 crop, which paid $2,096,121.04. The corn production in 1875 was 1,550,052 bushels grown on 36,906 acres. In 191 5 the acres had grown to 108,946, and. the production totaled 4,031,002 bushels. In 191 5 Nemaha county was the fourth county in Kansas in the production of King Corn, the reigning monarch in agriculture. The records back in 1875 show a decided difference in crops grown from those of 191 5. They raised sorghum for syrup in those days, and that year produced nearly 34,000 gallons. Tobacco appears in the list of products also. Broom corn was a regular crop, too. No doubt the county manufactured its own brooms. There was produced in the county nearly 800,000 pounds of cheese in 1875. The industry has since died, which should be a matter of regret. We made 270,275 pounds of butter in 1875. Our butter production in 1915 was valued at $69,000. But we sold butter fat in the form of cream to creameries amounting to $133-833- The poultry and eggs of the early days were not kept account of, as they are these days, so we don't know the value of the crop in 1875. In 1915, however, our poultry and eggs sold for $204,491. Nemaha county ranks twelfth in county production of poultry and eggs in Kan- sas. We are tenth in animals slaughtered and sold for slaugter and seventeenth in alfalfa production. Alfalfa is an important crop that has come in the evolution of the county. It does not appear in the crops of 1875. The year 1884 agricultural report does not mention alfalfa. But in 191 5 we have 24,265 acres in alfalfa, which crop was valued at $454,968.75, practically one-half million dollars. This new member of the crop family is many times the most valuable forage crop recorded in the agricultural reports. Alfalfa is third in valuable crops in the county, being outranked only by corn and wheat. Truh^, alfalfa has been a Nemaha county mortgage lifter. It is interesting to note the steady increase in the acreage on which crops are produced. There are 460,800 acres in the county, In 1875 crops were produced on 72,370 of these acres. Ten years later the acreage for crops had grown to 269,755. Thirty years later than that, 1915, the soil was producing money crops on 388,798 acres. That is climbing toward capacity acreage, but it does not touch capacity in crop production, because better farming methods will increase the bushels of grain and tons of forage per acre. The early day reports do not give the value of the live stock mar- keted, so we have to come along to 1884 for a comparison. In 1884 the animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter were valued at $735,467. In 1915 our animals slaughtered and sold for slaughter reached the enor- mous value of $1,224,318. The poultry and eggs, butter, cream, honey, wool clip, etc., produced in addition to the above, brings the total value up to the sum of $1,642,695. Pretty big business we are doing, isn't it? 1 68 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY This sum can not, of course, rightfully be added to the crops produced, as much of the crops produced was marketed by means of live stock. The horses, mules, milch cows, other cattle, sheep and hogs remaining in the county numbr about go,ooo head and reach a value of $4,00,000. It is a colossal business we are doing,. a business that will grow, a business that will in time occupy the hands of many times our popula- tion with a proportionate increase in production. A few tables are reproduced herewith for comparison. Endless, in- teresting conclusions can be drown from them. And perhaps in forty years from naw the record of 1915 will seem as provincial and anti- quated as does that of 1875 in the present day. ACREAGE, AVERAGE YIELDS, PRODUCT AND VALUE OF PRINCIPAL CROPS IN 1875. Average Crops Acreage Yield Winter wheat, bushels. . i, 753-25 20.00 Rye, bushels 1,023.00 18.00 Spring wheat, bushels. . 5,575-75 .10.00 Corn, bushels-. 36,906.00 42.00 Barley, bushels 503.00 28.00 Oats, bushel 5.32545 32-00 Buckwheat, bushels.... 1,146.25 20.00 Potatoes, Irish, bushels. 539-50 117.00 Sweet potatoes, bushels.. 37 145.00 Sorghum, gallons 218-00 110.00 Castor beans, bushels. . 23.00 13-00 Flax, bushels 1,512.27 8.00 Tobacco, pounds 3.50 680.00 Broom corn, pounds.... 52.75 775-00 Millet, tons i,8o4-7S 2.75 Timothy, tons 121.25 i.oo Clover, tons 27.25 2.75 Prairie, tons 15,835.00 1.25 Totals 72,370.34 2,028.75 Value of Product Price Product 35.065 $ .98 $ 34,363-70 18,414 .60 11,048.40 55.757 -78 43„49o.46 1,550,052 •25 387,513.00 14,084 1.25 17,605.00 186,391 -25 46.597-?5 22,925 ■95 21,778-75 62,770 -28 17.575-60 54 -9c 48-60 33.980 .40 9.592-00 299 1. 10 328-90 12,098 1.05 12,702.90 2,380 ■orA 178-50 40,881 ■07 2,861.67 4.963 5.00 24,815.00 121 6.00 726.00 75 6.00 450-00 19.794 3-25 64.330.50 2,060,103 $29.i8>4$696,oo6.73 ACRES, PRODUCT AND VALUE OF FIELD CROPS, NEMAHA COUNTY, IN 1884- Acres Winter wheat, bushels 5.228 Spring wheat, bushels 1.697 Rye, bushels 1,482 Product Value 135.928 $ 65,245.44 16,970 6,448.60 36,840 12,894.00 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 169 Corn, bushels 95,690 Barley, bushels in Oats, bushels. 1S.729 Buckwheat, bushels 51 Irish potatoes, bushels i,354 Sweet potatoes, bushels 23 Castor beans, bushels i Flax, bushels 463 Rice corn, bushels 12 Sorghum, gallons 439 Cotton, pounds 25 Tobacco, pounds. " 3 Broom corn, pounds 131 Millet, tons 2,994 Timothy, tons 7,288 Clover, tons 2,954 Other tame grasses, tons 899 Prairie under fence, tons 132,821 Total 269,755 4,784,500 2,775 471,870 . 561 169,250 2,300 8 4,167 264 30,730 7,000 2,550 91,700 7,485 12,754 8,123 1,708 166,026 956,900.00 1,054-50 94,374.00 364-65 59,237-50 1,840.00 10.40 4,167.00 100.32 13,828.50 560.00 255-00 3,209.50 33,682.50 70,147.00 42,645-75 8,540.00 498,078.00 $1,873,582.66 ACREAGE, PRODUCT AND VALUE OF FIELD CROPS IN NEMAHA COUNTY IN 1915. Acres Winter wheat, bushels 67,779 Rye, bushels 1,537 Corn, bushels 108,946 Barley, bushels. 80 Oats, bushels .■ 33,696 Buckwheat, bushels i Irish potatoes, bushels 1,220 Sorghum 1,385 Speltz, bushels 20 Milo maize, bushels 129 Kafir corn, bushels 2,561 Feterita 481 Jerusalem corn 2 Millet, tons : . . 2,663 Tame hay, tons 29,860 Prairie hay, tons 114,150 Alfalfa, tons 24,265 Cow peas, tons 23 Total 388,798 Product Value 813,345 $723,877.05 27,666 21,302.82 4,031,002 2,096,121.04 2,080 936.00 673,920 242,611.20 12 12. oa 103,700 65,331-00 17,296.50 520 234-00 ,1,473.00 48,889.50 7,965-50 32.00 5,992 23,968.00 19,968 179,712.00 9,600 76,800.00 72,795 454,968.75 35 201.25 $3,961,731.61 170 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY NEMAHA POPULATION IN 1875, 1884 AND 1915. 187s Capioma 533 Harrison 367 Goff Nemaha 408 Richmond 808 Seneca , Washington 302 Bern Clear Creek 475 Home 655 Centralia Neuchatel 347 Rock Creek 1.13S Sabetha Wetmore 422 Wetmore City Granada 408 Illinois ■ 363 Corning Red Vermillion 511 Valley 370 Tilman Oneida Mitchell Marion Adams ' Reilly Bermick .• Center 1884 I9I5 813 722 .707 746 383 601 471 828 781 1-905 1,961 643 619 283 628 507 670 504 401 629 584 473 1,348 665 1,216 1,891 590 562 405 512 706 659 718 630 422 521 510 816 603 243 696 660 717 736 509 624 467 578 684 581 Totals 7,104 16,579 18,699 In 1884 the finest farming land in Nemaha county could be bought for $20 an acre. Uncle John Mowder, probably the shrewdest financier and best judg^e of farmland in the county at that time, as he is to- day, sold a quarter section southwest of Sabetha to Richard Bottger, of Cowan, Union county, Pennsylvania, for $3,600. This is $22.50 an acre. Mr. Bottiger profited exceedingly on the investment and about twelve years ago he retired and moved to Sabetha. The farm today is worth $150 an acre, if, indeed, it could be bought at that price. Just to show how prosperity has swung to the benefit of the agricultural com- munity, money in 1884 was nine per cent, on farm loans. Today it is six per cent. Lyman B. Lilly, in this same year of 1884 sold his eighty HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I/I acre farm north of Albany to J. H. Kimmel for $i,8oo and thought he was doing mighty well. Previously he had homesteaded the place. About the same time he sold forty acres at Albany to Ira B. Dye for $800, or $20 an acre. You couldn't touch any of this land now for more than five times the price. Thirty years ago the farmers hadn't learned to make profits in farm- ing. Say what you please about the agricultural colleges, but their edu- cational matter has done much to revolutionize farming iriethods and make the farm pay. Early in the eighties wild grasses were the rule. Jacob Miller attracted a good deal of attention because he had fifty acres of tame grass. Afterward he increased his acreage until there were 130 acres in tame grass. All of which was the wonder of the community. It was a long time afterward that alfalfa crept into the agricultural esteem and what a fight the agricultural colleges had to make alfalfa a convinc- ing crop ! It had to pa}^ off a vast amount of mortgages and save a vast amount of farmers from ruin in order to make a demonstration that de- monstrated. In the year this book is being written the issue is good roads. The agricultural colleges show that the cost of hauling farni loads over bad roads is among the heaviest penalties the farmer has to pay. But the farmers are beginning to see the point and every year finds the roads better and the profits of the farmer increasing. The paved road is only a question of time. Nemaha county has begun to get back in the live stock game. For the last decade or two stock raising seemed to be on the wane, and this was regretted because of the inevitable depreciation of the soil. Just within the last year or two the farmers are raising cattle and sheep. They are keeping more hogs. So great is the impetus for swine raising that an extensive hog cholera control movement conducted by both State and county government has been started here. Hog cholera has been a thorn in the side of the farmer in his agricultural pursuits. It has been absolutely necessary to control hog cholera in order to make farming a consistently successful institution. The live stock game can now be played with completeness and without danger of disaster. A county farm bureau will be opened at the county seat, Seneca, and the whole scheme of agriculture put on a scientific and business basis. Dairying, proven to be one of the best paying pursuits on the farm, is growing rapidly in importance. Sheep raising is being pursued so profitably that a group of armers in Nemaha county have organized an association. The pro- duction of beef cattle for the market is assuming its old-time importance. Pure bred livestock of all kinds is in the ascendency. John McCoy, one of the first to see the need of providing the farmer with the best beef cattle, now sees his labor bearing fruit in the ever-increasing high grade fat cattle going to market. Ira Collins, who was in the thick of the live stock fray in the early days, is now pushing the_ dairy tyoe of cattle. His farm at Rock Creek, in which he has been interested for nearly half a century, is producing some of the finest Holsteins in the entire West. 172 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY The best Holsteins that money can buy have been brought to the Col- lins farm, chosen from world's record ancestors for milk production. Mr. Collins has always been one of the forces in the community. He was the first mayor of Sabetha, represented this district in the legislature and is always a man of affairs. So we find Nemaha county harking back to the live stock of the early days, but under scientific conditions and methods which make the industry more profitable. There are many herds of fine cattle over the county and there are several breeders whose fame have reached far beyond the borders of the county and State. Thomas J. Meisner, of Berwick township, has one of the finest droves of pure bred Poland China swine in Kansas which he has developed during past years. Mr. Meisner has achieved remark- able success in his avocation and is a director of the Kansas Poland China Breeders Association and is also a director of the International Poland China Association. M. G. Hamm, of Ontario, Kans., proprietor and manager of the fa- mous Rosary Stock Farm, is one of the most successful breeders of Percheron horses in the State and has produced many fine show animals. He is a specialist in the breeding of Scotch Top Shorthorns and has add- ed many good herd leaders to herds in Jackson and other counties. Mr. Hamm is organizer of the Kansas Duroc Jersey Breeders Association and assisted in organizing the Kansas Draft Horse Association. William Winkler, of Mitchell township, is a breeder and a successful exhibitor of Poland China swine which have won many first prizes at fairs and stock shows. L. H. Gaston of the same township is a breeder of shorthorn cattle which have received many awards for their excellence. Charles W. Ridgway, of Adams township, is a fancier of fine Percheron horses and pure bred Poland China swine and is president of the Kelly Draft Horse Company, importers of Belgian and Percheron horses. Peter P. Waller, of Adams township, has a fine herd of Hol- steins started and is destined to make a name for himself as a breeder. Howard Thompson, of Richmond township, is a breeder and fancier of Ayrshires. Henry Rottingham, of the same township, has long been a breeder of Percheron horses. Peter H. Reed, of Reilly township, has a large herd of pure blood Polled Angus cattle. His neighbor, Albert Swartz, prefers Holsteins and has developed a fine herd. D. N. Price, of Center township, is one of the pioneer breeders of the county and has achieved both fame and fortune with pure bred Short- horns. Mr. Price has been one of the most successful breeders in Kansas during past years and the product of his skill has gone to all parts of the -Middle West. Emil R. Burky of Capioma township is a breeder of Percheron and Clydesdale horses. Samuel Johnson, of Gilman township, is specializing in Morgan horses and Aberdeen Angus cattle. Other breeders are C. H. Wempe, Jerome MtQuaid, and Mr. Bergen, of Richmond township. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 73 The tendency of the times is toward the pure bred varieties of live stock and many of the younger farmers of the county are beginning their herds with the best live stock obtainable. But Nemaha county was a wonder for its stream of beef cattle that poured into packing houses three or four decades ago. From one ship- ping place alone in one week in Nemaha county there were sent to the city market 374 head of fat cattle, weighing 486,610 pounds. Those cat- tle ranged around 1,300 pounds each, not a bad record for those d.ays of all kinds of breeds fattened under all kinds of feeding conditions. One shipper, T. K. Masheter, had seventy-five head which averaged 1,451 pounds. Another, J. M. Boomer, had seventy head which averaged 1,410 pounds. From this same shipping point during the month of December there were shipped to market forty-one cars of corn ; two cars of rye ; thirteen cars of hogs ; one car of horses and one car of hides. J. T. Brady and T. B. Collins, then of Nemaha county, claim the honor of having been the first men in Kansas to begin stock fattening on a large scale. They commenced in 1867 and in 1868 fed 125 head of cattle. In 1869, 800 head were fattened and sold to Illinois drovers. Then began the big cattle feeding business of Brady & Collins. For ten years they annually handled from 2,000 to 3,000 head of cattle. In 1880 Mr. Collins bought a farm south of Seneca and in June of that year built the largest livery barn in the county. It was 32x80 feet, with sheds for twenty horses. Later, of course, he lost the record, because now Nemaha county has many big barns. The model farm of three decades ago and the model farm of today ! What a contrast ! First let us look at the model farm of yesterday. E. L. Rosenberger, who came to Nemaha county from Harveysville, Pa., had what was considered a model farm and equipment and home. The farm was. in Rock Creek township. It was divided as follows : thirty acres of prairie grass for pasture ; thirty acres in tame grass ; wheat and oats, each ten acres; house, barn and fruit, twenty acres; cohn, sixty acres. Mr. Rosenberger kept twenty-five to thirty head of cattle ; 175 to 200 hogs ; horses sufficient to do the farm work. The first improve- ment made by Mr. Rosenberger was the erection of a good, substantial residence for that day. The house was 20x32 feet, two stories high and basement below. It was situated in the center of the twenty acres, set apart for yards, farm buildings and fruits of various kinds. To the west and north of his house he had fruit trees of nearly every variety. He had a cabbage patch of 2,000 plants. He had one-fourth acre of beets and celery. The vineyard had 200 vines. He had 1,000 each of raspberry For shade trees he grew the catalpa for a windbreak. His hog pens were all partitioned and had good floors and roof, where he did his feeding. On the farm of today a good proportion would be in corn as was Mr. Rosenberger's. But there would be little, if any, prairie grass for pas- ture. At least this much would be in alfalfa — thirty acres. Instead of ten 174 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY acres of wheat and oats, there would probably be at least forty acres to the two crops. There would not be so much land devoted to orchards. Today fruit raising is considered a business apart. Of the small fruits there would be strawberries only enough for the family's use. The same ■ is true of the garden. One of the out buildings on the place of today is a garage for the automobile. A feature of the farm, unthought of in Mr. Rosenberger's time, is the silo. The modern farm would have one or more silos. The modern farm would be equipped with machinery for every operation, and riding machinery at that and we believe tomorrow that most of the farm work will be done by motor, day after tomorrow, perchance, by electric motor. The home of the modern farm of today is heated by furnace and all the rooms are warm. The house and all outbuildings are lighted by elec- tricity. The house has running water, hot and cold, and a complete bathroom. The farmer's wife is beginning to come into her own. Her floors are of hard, polished wood, as is all the interior finish. She does not make as much butter as she used to. She can market her butter in the form of cream separated mechanically with a cream separator. Mrs. Clayte Lewis, wife of a modern Nemaha county farmer, said at a party recently that she would give up her piano before she did her cream sep- arator. But the modern farmer's wife today has both separator and pi- ano with a Victrola for good measure. The same electric lighting plant that lights the house and outbuildings can operate the sewing machine, the washing machine, the separator, etc. Sabetha tried out an irrigating farm scheme once that is believed to have been the only irrigating project in this corner of Kansas. J. A. Rob- ertson owned four and a half acres at the edge of Sabetha. He had been a market gardener for many years. He greatly increased his income through the irrigating plan. With a gasoline engine and a deep well he irrigated his ground. He irrigated a small patch of strawberry ground on which were 400 plants and received $40 more profit from his crop. The patch he did not irrigate in this dry year produced but a dollar's worth. His power cost him three cents an hour. A profitable business resulted from the plan. It is one that has not been tried out in this section, but as the value of farm land rises and it is more difficult to secure large farm- ing tracts, this fruit and garden scheme will doubtless grow. The Kansas hen has done as well in Nemaha county as anywhere, and Mrs. Harry Carpenter, of the Woodlawn neighborhood, thinks hers have done a little better than anyone's. Mrs. Carpenter was a school teacher, who married a farmer. The first summer of their marriage, one of her hens walked into the yard one day followed by twenty-two little chicks, newly hatched and able bodied. Mrs. Carpenter was amazed. She had not set the hen, but the hen had laid the eggs in the wood from time to time, and secretly went to her private home and sat on the twen- ty-two eggs, until she had a real family. The changes of fort)^ years in Nemaha county are astonishing and in HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 75 the archives of the State Historical Society and State Board of Agricul- ture are the records of what Nemaha county was in 1875. The 720 square miles in Nemaha county remain as in the beginning, but from that point constrasts begin. In 1875 the population of Nemaha county to the square mile was only 9.86. Going back to i860 there were in the county 2,436 persons. In 1870 there were 7,339 people here. The increase in the ten years from i860 to 1870 was therefore 4,903. The population in 1875 was 7,104. Thus there was a decrease in five years from 1870 to 1875 of 235, but within the fifteen years there was an increase in population of 4,668. Times were mighty hard in the early seventies. There was the grasshop- per year and the financial panic and general distress, and presumably some of the faint hearted went back East to the home folks, or farther west where the star of empire takes its way. Another interesting fact about the county in its early history is that Germany furnished its largest foreign population. The nativity of those in the county in 1875 follows: Born in the United States, 5,926; in Ger- many, 372; in Ireland 212; in England and Wales 157; in British Amer- ica 144; in southern Europe loi ; in Scotland 46; in Sweden, Norway and Denmark 45 ; in France 39; in northern Europe 38; in Italy 21 ; in coun- tries not specified 3. The county had more men than women. The males numbered 3,696; the females 3,408. Those early settlers in Nemaha county came mostly from Illinois. In this same year, 1875, there were 1,185 of these Illinois emigrants. Missouri came second with 676; third, Iowa with 601 ; fourth, Ohio, number, 443 ; Indiana took fifth place with 426. The county was populated from other States as follows : Alabama, ,4; Arkansas, 5; California, 11; Colorado, i; Connecticut, 19; Georgia, 25; Kentucky, 6; Louisiana, i; Maine, 8; Maryland, 2; Massachusetts, 43: Michigan, 21; Minnesota, 22; Mississippi, 2; Nebraska, 92; Nevada, 14; New Hampshire, 17; New Jersey, 5; New York, 317; Pennsylvania, 235; South Carolina, 2; Tennessee, 20; Texas, 8; Vermont, 17; Virginia, 27; West Virginia, 7; Wisconsin, 346; District of Columbia and the terri- tories, 15. Many of Nemaha county's citizens came direct from Europe here. These are included in the figures previously given, showing na- tivity of the county's citizens. So those coming direct from Germany number 61; from Ireland 10; from England and Wales, 76; from Scot- land 29 ; from Sweden, Norway and Denmark 8 ; from France i ; from northern Europe 5; others, southern Europe 50; from British America 88. The business of rearing families was the most important early in- dustry. There were in Nemaha county in 1875, 2,015 Kansas born chil- dren ; pretty good within twenty years' occupation. In this same year 1,454 persons were engaged in agriculture, 81.03 per cent. Nearly every- body was busy growing crops. There were only ninety or ninety-five per cent, engaged in professional and personal pursuits and in trade and transportation eighty-four, or eighty-four and seven-tenths per cent. We .started out promisingly in manufactures. One hundred and sixty persons 176 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY were engaged in various manufacturing establishments, eight and nine- tenths per cent. A brick plant at Seneca is about all we have now in that line. A survey of the county in 1875 shows bottom land ten per cent ; up- land ninety per cent. ; forest, three per cent. ; prairie land and rolling land, 90 per cent. ; forest, 3 per cent. ; prairie land 97 per cent. T he aver- age width of bottoms was a mile. This was the land that was farmed in the early days. They have since found the upland to possess produc- tivity undreamed of at that time. In those days the average width of timber belts was half a mile. There grew along these timbered belts, hickory, oak, hackberry, elm, walnut, cottonwood, ash, locust, and syca- more. Much of this wood has gone for lumber and stovewood. Hun- dreds of cars of walnut have been shipped to Europe to decorate castles and palaces of kings, princes and potentates of the Old World. The cut over lands are now producing crops that during this year of bitter European war, are feeding the Old World. The Fourth Kansas Agricultural report issued in 1875 gives the prin- cipals streams as follows : The Nemaha river flows north twenty miles through the center of the county; its tributaries are Deer creek, flowing west ; Harris, northwest ; Illinois, southeast ; Grasshopper, southeast ; Pony Creek, east; Rock Creek, northeast; Vermillion, west; French, south ; and Turkey Creek, east. The county is very well supplied with springs and good well water is obtained at a depth of from thirty-five to forty feet. Small quantities of coal have been found along the Nemaha and its tributaries. Veins, from four to thirteen inches in thickness, have been mined ; their depth below the surface is from six to twenty feet ; quality medium. Very little coalmining has been developed and its use is altogether local. The cheese manufactured in 1870 totaled 28,285 pounds; in 1875, 798,850 pounds. In writing the history of Nemaha county we have come across a dozen cheese factories scattered around. In fact one of the history jokes is that cheese grew in every community except Neuchatel, the place where the cheese ought to grow, if names count for anything. Today there is not a cheese factory in Nemaha county, and personally we know of none in northeastern Kansas. Perhaps this is the reason : It doesn't look as if Atchison is to have a cheese factory as has been proposed. Mar- tin Jensen has been looking it up and has met w^th little encouragement from scientific men who are familiar with conditions. They say the cli- mate in Kansas is not adapted to cheese making and that cool nights the year around are very essential. Butter manufactured in 1870 was 200,460 pounds; in 1875; 270,275. The number of horses in the county in 1870 was 3,307; in 1875 the num- ber had increased to 4,975. The mules and asses in 1870 numbered 156, in 1875 there were 276 of the four legged ones. The cattle in 1870 num- bered 9,221. They jumped in number in five years to 19,242, the increase 4 > K > H m o 2 H > l> o o H HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 77 being 10,041. There was a sentiment for sheep in 1870 and that year flocks numbered 3,591 head. In 1875 the number had decreased to 1,171, the de- crease being 2,426. The farmers had concluded that this was not a sheep country, but of late years they are learning their mistake and sheep rais- ing has been in the ascendency. A sheep growers association organized in 1916, promises big things in the sheep line. Going back to 1870, the swine numbered 4,119 head. Five years later the hogs had increased to 5,471- The prairie schooner that sailed to Kansas in the early days always had its hound dogs. They were about the only luxury the poor man of that day had. And everybody was poor. Instead of hound dogs today we have automobiles. But the dog census of 1875 showed 1,575 canines. There were more dogs than sheep. Probably it was the dogs that killed the sheep industry. In 1875 those i,57S dogs killed 149 sheep that the farmers knew, and probably that many more were not reported. There were wolves in those days, too. They killed 134 sheep in that year, almost as many as the dogs. So there were nearly 300 sheep in one year lost because of the wolves and dogs. Here are some more 1875 facts — Horticulture : Acres of nurseries, 9; orchards, 1,525 ; vineyards, 20j4 ; number of stands of bees, 96; pounds of honey, 107; wax, 30 pounds; fences, stone, 8,958, cost $21,275; rail fences, 259,322 rods, cost $350,074 ; board fence, 85,691 rods, cost $109.256 ; wire fence, 35,300 rods, cost $26,475; hedge fence, 56,181 rods, cost $25,- 843 ; total rods of fence, 445,453 ; total cost, $532,924. The waterpower was limited, twO' mills being but partially supplied. Manufactures in 1875 — In Nemaha township, steam sawmills ; Rich- mond township, steam flouring mill ; in Home township, steam flouring mill. A brewery was listed at Seneca in 1875. A steam gristmill is listed for Rock Creek township the same year. There was a cheese factory in Home township. Banks in 1875 — The banking house of Lappin & Scrafford was at Seneca. Sabetha had the Exchange Bank, and there was another bank, the name of which was not reported. The aggregate capital of the three banks was $15,744, not a drop in the bucket for the financial institutions in the county today. Business houses of the principal towns : Agricul- tural, two ; books, periodicals and stationery, two ; boots and shoes, four ; clothes and tailoring, one ; confectionery, one ; dry goods, six ; drugs, oils and paints, two ; furniture and upholstery, one ; groceries, one ; hardware, two; jewelry, clocks, watches, etc., one; lumber, tw^o ; saddles and har- ness, two. Newspapers of 1875 : the "Courier" at Seneca and the "Ad- vance" at Sabetha, both weeklies. In 1875 there were seventy-seven organized school districts and seventy-four school houses. Value of school buildings and grounds, furniture and apparatus, $70,553. Parochial school. Catholic, at Seneca. Churches in the county in 1875 : Presbyterian organization, one, with a membership of thirty-two ; church edifice, one ; valuation, $2,200. Con- (12) 178 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY gregational organizations, six ; membership, 220 ; church buildings, three : valuation, $11,800. Baptist organizations, four; membership, 180; church edifice, one; valuation, $2,500. Methodist organization's, four; member- ship, 405 ; churches, two ; valuation, $6,600. Episcopal, one, membership, six. Catholic, five, membership, 675 ; chutch edifice, one ; valuation, $2,000. Universalist organization, one ; membership, twenty-five ; church, one ; valuation, $9,800. There were libraries in fourteen townships. Three reported five public libraries, with 2,200 vollimes, and forty-eight private lilx^aries, with 5,242 volumes. The prices of unoccupied lands in 1875 ranged from $3.50 to $12 per acre. As this history is being written, the tractor for farm work is be- coming a factor in Nemaha county. Jonach brothers, Matt, Tom and Charley, have demonstrated the utility of the tractor by a California outfit which has been giving wonderful service in Capioma township. They shipped in a Yuba tractor from California. It is of the caterpillar type. With their tractor the Jonach brothers farm several hundred acres and plow, harrow and harvest with the tractor as motive power. They also use the tractor for threshing, and even drag the roads in front of their homes with the tractor. Peter H. Reed, of Reilly township, is another possessor of tractive motor power, and the crops on the Reed farm are ample evidence of the benefits to be obtained from the use of the tractor on the farm. When Mr. Reed's son graduated from the State Agricultural school at Manhattan, he came home to take charge of the farming operations imbued with advanced ideas of farming. His pioneer father was not far behind him, but his shrewd, practical common sense also assisted in the installation of any so-called "new fangled" ideas of farming. While Mr. Reed is an advocate of better farming, he is also aware that a great many things advocated by the "farm professors" need tempering and to be tried out. He decided to purchase a tractor, and did so against the .advice of his son, who wished to stick to the horse power The tractor was purchased. Young Reed soon became converted to its labor saving benefits and operated the tractor from early morning until late at night and soon plowed 200 acres of corn ground to a depth hitherto impossible with the horse drawn plow. He is now an en- thusiast on the subject of tractor motive power on the farm, and the crops on the Reed farm this year show the beneficent results of thor- ough cultivation and deep plowing . The writer of this article visited the Reed farm on business connected with the county history July 26, 1916, and saw what is unquestionably the finest acreage of corn in all Kansas, without doubt. The corn was very tall and vigorous and healthy stalks and large ears already formed. There seemed to be plenty of moisture in the ground — a condition due to the fact that the motor propelled plows turned over the soil to a depth of ten to twelve inches and effectually buried any debris or weed seeds from the last year's crop. The corn crop was clean, much cleaner than other fields HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 79 in the same neighborhood, because of the fact that the deep plowing had effectually buried everything which had been lying on the surface of the ground. The spring and summer rains had thoroughly soaked the soil and had sunk to the depth of the plowed ground instead of running off the. surface, as is often the case in shallow plowing. Con- sequently, when the dry weather set in the corn crops on the Reed place had a store of conserved moisture upon which the stalks could draw, and early maturing of the crop was the result. It is Mr. Reed's intention to plow still deeper this fall and winter, and his prediction that he and his son will produce a crop jdelding loo bushels to the acre will probably come true. A grain business that within sixteen years has developed from a trade of a few thousand dollars to a volume of transactions aggregating three and one-half million dollars annually is in a sentence the story of the Derby Grain Company, with headquarters at Sabetha. So rapidly did the concern spread out that F. A. Derby, the- head of the corpora- tion, has an office in Topeka, leaving C. L. Parker to manage the home office at Sabetha. Tl-je history of the concern is an achievement. It was in May, 1900, that F. A. Derby bought the old "bank" ele- vator on the Rock Island track, in Sabetha. This was the beginning of the big Derby grain business of today. A 'few years later Mr. Derby began to branch out, purchasing the elevators at Mayberry, Neb., and Powhattan, Kans. Steadily elevators were added to the Derby list until at the present time there are ten elevators operated by the concern, most of them between Horton and Fairbury, on the Rock Island. Nine years ago the Sabetha flour mill burned, and Mr. Derby acquired the mill property in Sabetha, consisting of four lots. The elevator on the mill site was retained and the original elevator was torn down. In 1910, C. L. Parker, who operated the elevator at Powhattan, became identified with the Derby interests, and located in Sabetha. The concern was organized as F. A. Derby & Company until June, 191 1. when the busi- ness was incorporated as the Derby Grain Company, with a capital of $50,00. The officers were F. A. Derby, president ; R. L. Patton, vice president ; C. L. Parker, secretary and treasurer. This organization continues to the present time. The capital is increased to $60,000. In May, 1914, Mr. Derby moved to Topeka and established a cash grain office, and has built up a splendid business in connection with his Sa- betha interests. Since he left Sabetha, three elevators have been ac- quired in central western Kansis. These two Kansas men, Mr. Derby and Mr. Parker, have served commerce and themselves well. j\s stated, in 1915 the volume of busi- ness of the Derby Grain Company totaled three and one-half million dollars. To handle that grand total of the ^\orld's food in twelve months requires experience, keen understanding of men and the machinery of commerce — yes, and vision. These men believe in things, or they would not have grown so extensively in Western affairs. They belong to Nemaha county's annals. CHAPTER XXI. AGRICULTURE. (Continued.) APPLE ORCHARDS HONEY CATTLE SHIPMENTS PRIZE CROPS AGRI- CULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FIRST ANNUAL FAIR BOARD OF TRADE REPAYING NEW YORK A FREAK PEACH TREE PRIZE WINNERS PURE-BRED AND "sCRUB CORN" FLETCHELL AND Wright's $67,000 grain crop — harvesting the crop — as a HEALTH resort AGE OF NEMAHA JACOB FLEISCH's QUARTER SEC- TION TREE FARM. Of the original trees planted in the town of Sabetha, but two im- mense cottonwoods are left. Four of these withstood the woodman's axe until late years. These are the four that stood in a row, mighty old patriarchs, on the H. C. Haines lot on Fourteenth street. Two of these have gone. Two represent the remains of the immense cott(5n- wood family plantd on the townsite by J. R. Prentice. Mr. Prentice says that the town topography would have been changed if the women had been more careful about tying their clothes lines to his tender young Cottonwood trees. It was to faithful adherence to the god of Monday's labor that tore down the cottonwoods. The two handsome cottonwoods on the Haines place are sole reminders of the tree that made bearable the prairie country, which pioneers found almost treeless. Mr. Prentice also planted the soft maples, that have been spared by the ruthless axe- man to some extent. The original apple orchard, which grew all over the townsite, was planted by Captain Williams, the town father. Of this immense orchard, the only remaining trees are on the F V. Turner place, the Masheter, Whittenhall and Weiss places, homes widely scat- tered now by streets and buildings. Old orchards are being weeded out to some extent, making room for corn. They have been immense bearers, as the following Avill show. Ed Harding, the Rock Island freight agent, estimates that Sabetha had 30,000 barrels of apples shipped out in one year. Edgar Newman had some A'N^olf river apples weighing twenty-three ounces apiece ; W C. Deaver had a pippin that weighed ten ounces ; Smith Ayers had Rambos that weighed thirteen ounces. It takes but fifty-seven' of these Rambos to make a bushel. Robert Edie, a farmer near Bern, had 1,800 apple trees loaded with fruit, but, owing to the poor market for the apples, his big crop was fed to the hogs. He had at least 1,000 barrels of apples. It is the difficulty of shipping the fruit to a good market when 180 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY l8l the crop is good, at a timQ when work is needed in other parts of farms that has induced Nemaha county farmers to give up the orchards in many instances to a less demanding crop. Tales of bumper crops do not come from grain raisers alone. A. W. Swan, of Centralia, shipped to Kansas City 3,000 pounds of honey. This was from 150 stands of bees. The bees were believed to be starv- ing at the beginning of the season. A shipment of two train loads of cattle, the biggest shipment ever received in this part of the State, came to Sabetha. It consisted of forty-one cars of heifers and feeders. The cattle came from Arkalon, Kans. There were 1,886 head in the two trains. The arrival of a big shipment attracted a great deal of attention. It took three engines to bring the train to Sabetha. The cattle were distributed throughout this section. Two thousand five hundred head of spayed heifers were re- ceived in Nemaha county in this vicinity within two weeks. D. A. Bestwick, of Berwick, had eight and one-half acres in alfalfa, which shows the profit which can be derived from this kind of hay in Nemaha county. First, he cut fully eight tons of alfalfa from his field, valued at $65. Then he threshed forty-nine bushels of seed from the second crop, worth $392. He then cut a third crop from the same field, bringing the value of the product of the eight and one-half acres up to $520. In addition to this, twenty-seven head of hogs had been making themselves fat on the field. The unbroken, treeless line of horizon remembered by pioneer women seems impossible to the residents of Nemaha county today, who see such logs as this taken to market. An immense white elm log, cut by C. E. Sammons, of Albany, was hauled to a saw mill near Pace's pond, but the log was too big for the saw mill to handle. The log was five feet in diameter and twelve feet long.. It was supposed to be sawed into lumber, but it was so big that no ordinary mill could cut it. The log came from the Fox farm, near Albany. A. L. Smart, of Wetmore, had forty acres of wheat in the nineties that went thirty-three bushels and one peck to the acre, for which he received seventy-five cents per bushel. ,He sowed 140 acres the follow- ing fall. Another eighty-acre farm in his neighborhood had been rent- ing for several years and bringing in scarcely enough to keep up repairs and pay taxes. The owners hired Smart to put in their wheat and the next year they realized something over $1,200 from the crop. Levi Stevens made enough money farming to retire early in life by methods which produced prize yields on his farm. Mr. Stevens har- vested, threshed and sold eight acres of wheat, which averaged forty- eight bushels and ten pounds to the acre, and tested sixty-one. and a half pounds, and he sold it to a local elevator for sixty-three cents, three cents above the market price. John Heiniger, of near Berwick, held a record for one season. He had nine and a half acres of wheat, which yielded fifty-three bushels to the acre. Mr. Heiriiger had, in addition to 1 82 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY the #heat, given a thirty-five acre field of wheat, which averaged thirty- five bushels to the acre. It took the threshing machine a half day on the nine and a half acres. For many years, wine of rare vintage was made by a man who lives near Centralia. It was a Benedictine bever- age, composed of twenty-eight ingi-edients. The recipe was procured from a man living in Austria, who got it from a Benedictine Brother- hood. The Centralia man, who brewed it for his own use, was to prom- ise, on receiving the recipe, that he would buy only two of the ingre- dients of which it is made at the same place. Flerman Althouse, living near Sabetha, rode a mule which he had owned over thiry years, which was always a better looking animal than most horses. Mr. Althouse not only worked the mule on the farm, but when he wanted a fancy stepper and a brilliant actor, he hitched up the mule and went on dress parade. He rode or drove the mule to town almost every time he went. The mule was such a trotter that Mr. Althouse frequently drove it to a sulky. It passed farm houses with such a dash and speed that it made chickens fly clear over windmills. Mr. Althouse would not trade his mule for many a fine horse offered to him. Nemaha county's superiority as an agricultural county is due as much to the enterprise of leading farmers as it is due to its soil. As this history is being written a county farm bureau is being estab- lished. A county farm agent will be located at Seneca and he will man- age the advancement of the county's crops. He will fight pests, intro- duce better methods of farming, and will push crop production forward generally. His salary will be $i,8oo a year. Ample funds for the sup- port of the work in the county will be appropriated by the county, the State and National departments of agriculture. Farmers all over the county have banded together in a farm organization. The county farm bureau has officers and a board of directors and starts off with the best type of business organizantion. As early as July 28, 1864, an effort appears to have been made look- ing toward the organization of an agricultural society, the "Courier" of that date containing a leader on the subject and urging the importance of holding a fair at some time during the fall for the exhibition of farm products. No energetic effort appears to have been made, however, and at all events no fair was held. The organization of the Xemaha County Agricultural and Horticultural Society was effected on June 27, 1868, with C. G. Scrafford, president ; J. ]P. Taylor, secretary, and Samuel Lapham, treasurer. Land suitable for fair purposes was donated to the association, comprising blocks 32, 33, 34 and 35, of the townsite of Seneca, the grounds being enclosed early in the fall of the same year, and the first annual fair of the society was held October 22, 1868. In 1869, a building 28x60 feet in size was erected for the reception of the display of farm products and manufactured articles of various kinds, and the second fair was held September 22, 23 and 24 of the same HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 183 year. In 1870 and 1871, exhibitions were made, and in 1872, on Sep- tember 18, 19 and 20, the fifth, and as it proved, the last annual fair of the series was held. The officers at this time were William B. Slos- son, president; N. Coleman, vice president; William Histed, secretary, and H. H. Lanham, treasurer. The cause of the discontinuance of displays and the practical dis- integration of the society was due to financial troubles, it having gone into debt in the imporvement of its grounds and incurred other liabilities, the total amount of the indebtedness being $1,140. In August, 1873, this burden was assumed by George Graham, Jacob VanLoon, D. R. Magill, J. P. Cone and Mrs. C. G. Scrafford as consideration for a war- ranty deed of the property of the society. On October 4, 1877, ^ charter was issued by the Secretary of State incorporating A. H. Burnett, Willis Brown, West E. Wilkinson, Richard Johnson and Edward Butt as the Nemaha County Agricultural Society. No other record of the new organization is found. A board of trade, organized in Seneca, deploring the absence of a fair, appointed a fair committee in 1882, consisting of William Histed, Abijah Wells, George A. Marvin, C. G. Scrafford and Mortimer Mathews, to devise ways and means for the holding of a fair if possible during the fall of 1882. Learning that the only piece of ground near Seneca in every way fitted for fair grounds was about to be sold, and if secured for fair purposes must be bought at once, the sum of $2,300 was raised by subscription and the property purchased, William Histed, Willis Brown and George Williams being appointed trustees in behalf of the new owners. The object of the proprietors was to hold the land subject to the acceptance of the people upon repayment of their invest- ment, the law providing that the county might purchase improved fair grounds, appropriating not to exceed one and three-quarters mills on the dollar of the taxable valuation of the county for that purpose. The question of the purchase of these grounds was voted on at the election in November, 1882. The proposal was voted down by the county, but the existence of the society and the purchase of the ground was an as- sured fact. About seven years ago a little paragraph from the Sabetha "Herald" went floating over the country and was reprinted in every State in the Union and even the big, haughty Eastern newspapers, to this effect : "At last, after half a century, Kansas has the laugh on New York. No more can New York, the haughty, the scornful, the condescending, look down upon us and refer to us as 'bleeding Kansas.' The pride of the Empire State has been humbled. She grovels in the dust at our feet, and implores our help. Rev. and Mrs. Broad, who were in Sabetha a few weeks ago, are traveling in Kansas to inspire sympathy and inci- dentally to get money to assist the wealthy, the overbearing, the inso- lent New York in caring for her poor. Remembering the old clothes sent us in grasshopper and drought times, we are digging down into our 184 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY jeans and responding nobly to New York's cry- for help. We are gladly squaring our debt of a half a century. We are not 'getting even' with our cast-off garments ; we are sending hard cash, the result of harvest- ing our golden grain. Lo ! how hath the mighty fallen 1 Golden Kansas bravely supports the drooping form of Bleeding New York." And Nemaha county could well" afford such relief if the truthful chronicle of crops in the years mentioned may be believed, and well they may be. The following stories of crops in Nemaha county are those of today and yesterday, and every year for the past decade with rare exceptions of years when one crop was poor, only that another crop might be fine. The items are taken from local reports in different parts of the county covering the past ten years. Mrs. Jennie Miller reports the first oats yield, which averaged forty bushels to the acre and made 2,000 bushels. Will Livengood's wheat averaged forty-one bushels on twenty-five acres. Ed Ruse had twenty-one acres in wheat, which av- eraged forty-six bushels. Jake Warrick's wheat yield was forty-eight bushels per acre. Jake Ayers, who lives between Bern and Oneida, has a peach tree that has played some queer pranks with him. The peaches were orig- inally an early variety, maturing in the middle of July. Some thirteen years ago the tree was broken down completely by weight of fruit. Afterward sprouts came up and those sprouts have now developed into a tree, and the fruit on the tree does not mature until the last of Sep- tember, being more than two months later in maturing than before the tree was broken. The quality of the peach is excellent. Six peaches gathered weighed two pounds and five ounces. What is the explanation of the change in the tree's time of maturing? Occasionally a Nemaha county man makes the mistake of moving to a new country. When he comes home on a visit he brings samples of what his new home is raising. This is the way to squelch him. Show him a sample of S. Murdock's oats, the finest in the world, which took the prize at the St. Louis World's Fair. Show him Tim Gilmore's wheat, grown near Oneida — fifty-seven bushels to the acre. Show him W. A. Doolittle's chickens, which have taken more prizes than any other in the world. Show him Ira Collins' and John McCoy's cattle, which bring buyers from all over the country. Show him George Kerr's Duroc Jersey hogs, which sell for a hundred dollars apiece. Show him samples of corn and grasses grown by Frank Deaver and Otto Porr, which have taken all the grain prizes in this section of the country for the past three years. The visitor by this time will begin to shift from one foot to the other and soon remember that he has an engagement elsewhere. Nemaha county farmers are progressive throughout. Charlie Lewis raised two kinds of corn last season; pure bred and scrub. The scrub was big and fine looking, but it was not compact. One of the big ears of scrub corn looked three times larger than the pure bred corn, but con- tained only 944 grains,' as against 1,150 grains on the little pure bred HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 185 corn. The grains of the scrub corn were the largest. Charlie Lewis likes the pure bred corn, but his father, Myron Lewis, stood for the scrub, and made the corn point that scrub corn will produce just as many ears to the acre as the pure bred corn, and that each ear makes a little more corn. J. S. Fletchall and his partner, Jack Wright, threshed 80,830 bushels of grain in one season, valued at $67,000. That is, the small grain grown in one locality of the county, where Fletchall has been threshing for some years. They threshed 44,390 bushels of wheat, 9,922 bushels of speltz, valued at about $4,000; 108 bushels of timothy, valued at $216; ninety-four bushels of Kafir corn, valued at $47 ; seventy-nine bushels of cane, valued at about $40 ; thirty-eight bushels of rye, valued at $37 ; 500 bushels of clover, valued at $4,000 ; 400 bushels of alfalfa, valued at $3,600. The firm also threshed sixteen bushels of flax seed for W. C. Schug. Mr. Schug used the flax seed in a meal he makes for his cows. The corn crop of 1906 was so great that Miss Emma Cashman and many other school teachers suspended school for ten days that teachers and pupils and all might assist in the, corn husking and handling the crop. The yield all over the county was from forty to sixty bushels to the acre, and the acreage immense. Several farmers that year showed a yield of eighty bushels per acre. This about established a record. There was a particular rush to market the corn this season. Farmers were hauling their cotn in as fast as they could in order to get it ex- ported to Germany before the duty went into effect. Germany had greatly increased the duty on corn, to take effect in February, and the months of December and January saw every child and schoolma'am of the country districts doing what they could to help. Thousands of bushels of corn were sold to all the grain men of the county within a week. The export rush began the last week of December and elevators were worked overtime. Corn graded No. 2. There had not been such a great crop in years. Jerry Feek raised over eighty bushels on ground that had been plowed for the first time the previous spring. A word of praise of Nemaha county as a health resort was given by Mr. and Mrs. William Jones, living in the north part of the county, by the State line. Mr. and Mrs. Jones made a trip shortly before attaining their seventy-fifth wedding anniversary. Mr. Jones was ninety-five at that time and his wife was ninety-seven. They were planning all kinds of gayeties on this trip. The}' had traveled all their lives. At one time they made a trip from Oregon to Nebraska on horseback. It took them six months and they slept out of doors every night. This accounts for their ruggedness and good health. Mr. and Mrs. Jones eat everything set before them, and always have. They had always been ardent in their praise of this section's out of doors and food. The age of Nemaha county is told in her trees. Fred Lukert, county engineer, built a barn 66x72 feet, and the building throughout was constructed of solid black walnut. No veneered walnut in the barn ; 1 86 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY no vulgar imitation of stained walnut. Nothing but solid walnut, even to the timbers on which the barn will rest. Out here in Nemaha county we believe in having things swell, even for our hogs. The walnut was cut from trees grown on his farm where the barn was constructed. A QUARTER SECTION TREE FARM. Here is a man and wife who lived their lives as they wanted to live. They are Jacob Fleisch and wife, who farm four miles northwest of Bern. They loved trees, so they grew a whole i6o-acre farm of trees. The trees were planted away back in the seventies, and have given Nemaha county one of the most unique farms in the United States. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fleisch is set down in a dense portion of the forest they planted. Within the forest they are again surrounded by flowers. Their home just grew like the trees, an addition at a time. Again, inside the walls is an inner temple. We might call this the do- as-you-please sanctuary. Mr. and Mrs. Fleisch read much, reflect a little, and from time to time add to a great fund of common sense, which both possess. Their home-grown forest trees tower to a height of forty to fifty feet. They stand in rows from twelve to twenty feet apart and about four to six feet in the row. The trees are numbered by the thousand — mostly walnut and soft maple. There is an osage'orange grove of about four acres, and osage orange surrounds the place as fences. Also there are some honey locusts used as line fence. There is cottonwood timber and willow here and there. Hogs and cattle and horses wander about the place in prescribed limits, and you find chickens almost anywhere, each apparently enjoy- ing its own particular kind of animal heaven. A tank for the cattle and horses out in the woods is thatched and full of fresh water. The water flows out there from a well somewhere, but the whole effect is that of fresh water from a spring. The hogs have the wild, free life of their razorback ancestors. The wind floats lazily through the dense forest, and the mere worldly human being feels impelled to quit his daily existence of fretting and fuming and take life as easily as the animals do. The feeling is further encouraged when you visit Mr. and Mrs. Fleisch and get their philos- ophy of contentment. You need have no fear of running up against any human prejudice or custom. In the Fleisch home they do as they please and they grant you the same privilege. How did Jacob Fleisch come to plant i6o acres in forest trees? Well, he always loved trees, and back in Preble county, Ohio, it ground on his soul to. see the wonderful native forests depleted to make farm land, solely in a grab for dollars. He believed in more than one com- pensation — the compensation of happiness, joy in living, as well as pay HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 87 in dollars. Also, there was the wanton destruction of those giant Ohio trees. They would have log rollings and at night great logs would be piled up and burned as a part of 'tWe festal occasion. This ground on the fancy of Jacob Fleisch. He left the country and came to Nemaha county. He found it a prairie in the early seventies. No one was planting trees. He bought half a section of land and decided that half of it must go into trees. The quarter section now in forest was bought from Mortimer Mathews, ,so many years county surveyor of Nemaha county. In 1874, Mr. Fleisch began to plant walnuts. At first, four or five acres were planted. Then, in 1877 and 1878, sixty acres of walnuts were planted. The nuts were put in the ground by the bushel. Soft maples, too, were planted, fully forty acres of them. Osage orange, catalpas, and honey locusts were planted at various times in those early days. And so the forest grew. Mr. and Mrs. Fleisch were married in Preble county, Ohio, June 22, 1876. In his bride, Jacob Fleisch had a mate who understood his philosoph)^, and had one of her own as fine. She helped him grow his forest and added the flowers. The flower garden is a wonder. The variety of flowers seems' endless. Many of them are rare. The oldest trees have been standing some forty-two years now. At one time there were walnut trees fourteen inches in diameter. The largest ones were cut down, partly to thin the trees and partly to make lumber for buildings. Thus the couple have part of their buildings made from trees grown on the farm. "If I were going to plant another quarter section," said Mr. Fleisch, "I would not plant a quarter section solidly in trees. I would enclose several fields in specioso catalpas and osage orange. I would plant a grove of evergreens for the home grounds." Among Mr. Fleisch's neighbors who are still in this part of the country are Peter Shellhorn, who lives in the same neighborhood, Mart Herrington and John A. Smith, who now live at DuBois, Neb. CHAPTER XXIL NEWSPAPERS. THE FIRST NEWSPAPER THE NEMAHA 'COURIER ITS POLICY JOHN P. CONE, EDITOR THE "cOURIER-DEMOCRAt" ^"mERCURY"' THE SENECA "tribune" OTHER NEWSPAPERS SABETHA NEWSPAPERS CENTRALIA, CORNING AND GOFF NEWSPAPERS THE BERN "gAZETTE" THE WETMORE "spectator" A RARE NEWSPAPER COLLECTION. Seneca had the first newspaper in Nemaha county. It was the Nemaha "Courier." The initial number appeared November 14, 1863. John P. Cone, still a valuable citizen of Kansas, was the editor and pro- prietor. The "Courier" was a six-column folio. The "Courier" was Re- publican in politics. It was strong for freedom. The first issue of the "Courier" handed out this one : "The 'Courier,' as a pioneer of the art preservative in Nemaha county, today sends greeting to all, friend and foe — rebel and copper- heads excepted. Issued upon soil never before settled upon for a 'pry' to the world's lever, it stands first and yet alone to herald that happy day when types first 'were taught to act the happy messengers of thought.' " The paper was issued in the old Lappin & Scrafford building on the main street of Seneca. Here the paper was printed once a week until January 23, 1868. The war was over, things had cooled down and the "Courier" had, too. The paper ceased to profess a protection of freedom and began to protect home industries. Whether advertising had picked up or the mail order business loomed in the distance, appeareth not in the records of the time. March 25, 1869, the name of the paper was changed to that of the "Kansas Courier," and by some joke of fate the violent Republican paper of the early days is now the "Courier-Demo- crat" of the opposite politics and big following today. The war is over. When Mr. Cone got out his first issue of the Nemaha "Courier" in 1863, there was not another paper in this whole country. In fact, Sol Miller, who was then printing his famous "Chief" at White Cloud, ridi- culed Cone for daring to try to live and print a paper in Nemaha. There was, of course, the little matter of Nemaha county printing and job work that was going to Miller at the time, which may have influenced Miller's opinion, but the editor of the "Courier" didn't have easy sailing for a long time. Folks in and around Seneca raised some money to pay 188 HISTORY OF NEMAHA CaUNTY 1 89 for subscriptions, but Mr. Cone's recollection in those days was that of taking in boots, bootjacks and cord wood and things like that in pay- ment for the paper. Mr. Cone was a free State man who came to Kansas to help over- come the votes of the pro-slavery men. He left Haverhill, Mass., for Kansas in 1857. Secretary Webb, of the Emigrant Aid Society at Bos- ton, sold hirn 9, ticket to St. Louis for $25. The Emigrant Aid Society was nothing more nor less than an organization to run abolitionists into Kansas. On the train Mr. Cone met six other abolitionists bound for Kansas, four men and two women. Arriving at St. Louis by train, they found there was a little branch railroad running to Jefferson City. The party bought tickets to Jefferson City. Stage coaches were running from Jefferson City to Independence Landing, now Kansas City, but the coaches were so crowded that there was no chance of going that way. So the four men hired a team and driver for $110 to transport all the baggage and the three women to Independence, although the men ex- pected to ride most of the way. The roads were in such terrible condition that the men, far from being able to ride, had to help the wagon out of the mire constantly. The highway was little more than a trail. From Independence the six people went to Lawrence, and Mr. Cone took the stage to Leavenworth. He was bound for Sumner, three miles south of the present site of At- chison. Sumner then was booming and expected to be a bigger and better town than Atchison or Independence. Sumner is now dead. He walked from Leavenworth to Sumner. At Sumner his brother, D. D. Cone, was the pioneer publisher of the Sumner "Gazette." John P. Cone arrived in Sumner on December 9, 1857. John P. Cone was himself a printer and, he helped get out the paper. He remained in Sumner dur- ing the boom times, until 1861. Sumner was then losing its prestige, and he went to Atchison, the rival town, and worked on John A. Mar- tin's paper, "The Champion." After a short service on "The Champion," Mr. Cone continued to White Cloud and worked for Sol Miller on his "White Cloud Chief," which later was transferred to Troy. He was there during one winter. At Marysville the Southerners seemed to be making progress to- ward controlling that locality. But George D. Swearingen, who had been elected sheriff of Marshall county, was a Republican, and he sent for Mr. Cone. The result was the publication in Marysville by Mr. Cone of the "Big Blue Union," the first Republican paper in Marshall county. Mr. Cone ran the "Big Blue Union" until the summer of 1863, and in November of that year, he left the Marysville paper to start the "Courier" in Seneca. He had only a little hand press and a handful of type. Later, though, when he was given legal advertising from the L^nited States and the State, he took in a hatful of money, and the first thing he did was to send to New York for a Gordon job press and a lot of type. ipO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. Cone ran the "Courier" until 1871, when he sold it to Frank Root and West E. Wilkinson. Eventually Root sold his interest to Wil- kinson. Wilkinson edited the "Courier" until 1885, selling out to J. F. Thompson and Don J. Perry. It was about this time that the name was changed to the "Courier-Democrat." Mr. Thompson was the father of Senator William H. Thompson, of Kansas. Thompson and Perry lasted but a year, being succeeded in 1886 by Charles H. and Andrew P. Herold. The Herolds conducted the "Courier-Democrat" without change until 1896. Then J. M. Cober bought an interest in the paper, selling in a few years to L. M. Mclntyre. The Herolds and Mclntyre disposed of the property to W. F. Miller in 1891 or 1892. Miller did well with the Coqrier-Democrat, but decided to move to Iowa, and George and Dora Adriance, brother and sister, bought the plant and good will in August, 1909. This same proprietorship of the property obtains at the present time. The "Courier-Democrat" has made the greatest strides in its history during the proprietorship of George and Miss Dora Adriance. Young, active, enterprising and keen writers, brother and sister have done things in the county with their paper. Theirs is a positive force. Their "Courier-Democrat" takes a stand for progress in everything. They are unafraid, and their paper is always fair. The relationship of this brother and sister is fine. They make their home together in a bungalow which they built. THE MERCURY. Seneca's second newspaper was the "^Mercury." It appeared Sep- tember 19, 1869. Thomas S. Kames was the editor. The paper stag- gered a few weeks, fell and was wrecked. It never rose again. About a year later, January 18, 1870, to be exact, the "Independent Press" was issued. It sought to be quite important and stylish, and called itself the Nemaha County Printing Association. George W. Collins was the editor. It ran along until June of that same year, when Paul Connor took charge editorially. It got in a bad way financially and suspended in December, being less than a yjear old. It slept until March 3, 1871, three months, when it was revived. L. A. Hoffman was the proprietor then. About a year later Hoffman withdrew and W D. Wood bought the paper. March 4, 1873, Wood changed the name to the "Nonpareil." The "Nonpareil" ceased publication February 6, 1874. It had more vicis- situdes than anything else. THE SENECA TRIBUNE. The Seneca "Tribune" of today, so long under the editorial charge of Harry Jordan, was started April 16, 1879, by George W. Clawson. With the clanging bells of time, the "Tribune" and the "Courier" have changed parties and the "Tribune" is now Republican and the "Courier" is today HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY IQI Democratic. October 2, 1879, the "Tribune'' was transferred to and the publication continued by George & Adams, H. C. Adams becoming sole proprietor on December 18 of the same year. Abijah Wells purchased an interest in the "Tribune" January 8, 1880. He became editor, the firm name being Adams & Wells. A year later Andrew J. Felt came down from Iowa, bought the plant and business and became editor and proprietor of the "Tribune." Later, he sold to Harry Jordan, who is still the owner. Today we know the Seneca "Tribune" as "Harry Jordan's paper.'" Harry Jordan has conducted the paper for thirty years ; has fought political fray. Harry Jordan will be recorded in Nemaha's annals as the political fray. Harry Jordan will be recorded in Nemaha annals as the editor who ' helped through the county's greatest trials and its most rapid advancement. Editors came and went through Harry Jordan's administration, but he remained, because he was serving best. That is the law in other things, and it holds in the case of the "Tribune's" editor. Mr. Jordon is Nemaha county's oldest editor in point of service. But he was not the "Tribune's" first editor. OTHER NEWSPAPERS. The Nemaha County "Journal," a sort of real estate publication, ap- peared in 1879. It continued a few months under the proprietorship of J. P. Taylor. Then it died. Numerous attempts were made to make a success of other papers in Seneca in later years. At one time five papers were being printed in Seneca. In 1891, James Jones started the "News," an Alliance paper brought from Goff. Jones let go in about a year and ran, wishing the paper onto the town Christian minister, Rev. J. S. Becknell. Theoretic- ally, it was a fine thing for Rev. Becknell. As a talking point, he could preach on Sunday and run the paper the other six days of the week. Somehow it didn't work out in practice and the "News" went into decline and died. W. J. Granger launched 'the Seneca "Republican" about 1900. After 3, couple of years of toiling the "Republican" was moved to Oneida, where it breathed its last. Then there was the "Rural Kansan," established by E. L. Miller, a real estate man. The "Kansan" was born along about 1901, and lived some five years, expiring of old age. SABETHA NEWSPAPERS. George W. Larseliere and James H. Wright launched the first newspaper venture in Sabetha. They called it the "Advance,'' and they issued their first paper on May 7, 1874. In November of the same year, Larseliere left, as it was a one-man proposition. Things looked a little 192 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY brighter after that, and on February 4, 1875, William L. Palmer joined Wright in printing the "Advance." Palmer did not like the outlook, and beat it in six weeks. Then J. L. Pelletier came for a few weeks and left. On July 28, 1876, Wright sold out to E. A. Davis, who stayed two years. Finding that it was not a gold mine, Davis let the "Advance" die on January 18, 1878. The Advance was a weekly and Republican in politics. Sabgtha's strong newspaper publisher, James F. Clough, established the Nemaha County "Republican" October 5, 1876. It was a weekly from the first. In June of the following year, J. C. Hebbard, formerly of Seneca, and the first county superintendent, and later of Topeka, became associate editor of the "Republican." But he stayed only a year. The Cloughs, father and son, were brilliant men. The son, Edward Clough, is now editor of "Finance," in Cleveland, Ohio, an important publication of its kind. In the nineties, the Sabetha "Commercial" was printed in Sabetha Seneca. His widow, Mrs. Laura Cober, still owns the files of this in- teresting Sabetha paper at her home in Sabetha. The Sabetha "Herald" was established by T. L. Brundage, January 3, 1884. Brundage had run the Kansas "Herald" at Hiawatha. He sold out to the "Hiawatha World." In his salutatory in the first issue of the Sabetha "Herald," he says : "A Sabetha publishing company induced me to come here." He doesen't say of whom the company consisted. Within the first year a political disagreement was launched between Mr. Brundage and Mr. Clough, editors of the "Herald" and "Republican." Later this eventuated into a pitched battle. The Herald was finally edited by Mrs. Flora P. Hogbin, wife of Rev. Hogbin, of the Congrega- tional Church of Sabetha. She remained the editor for three years. Pool Grinstead later bought the "Republican." The war was ended by the purchase and combination of the two papers, the "Herald" and the "Re- publican," by J. A. Constant, who, in 1905, sold the paper to- Ralph Tennal, who is the present owner of the paper. Mr. Tennal dropped the "Republican" part of the paper's name, and it has been since known as the Sabetha "Herald." After the combination of the two papers, the Sabetha "Star" was started by C. J. Durst, who has since been and still is the proprietor. The "Star" has the unique distinction of never having changed editor or owner, and it is now twenty years of age. The "Star" is one of the few Kansas papers so distinguished. Oneida tried for years to have a newspaper. The town men at Oneida were boomers as they were in every other town. But the mir- acle of making a paper pay was too much for even that optimistic com- munity. The Oneida paper tried different angles of making itself pay. It was independent, then Republican, afterward Democratic and even anti-monopoly, but all to no avail. There was the "Chieftain," the "Dem- (I.) NEMAHA COUNTY OLD SETTLERS. 1 and 2, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Dennis. 3 and 4, Mr. and Mrs. John Dennis. 5, Mrs. Margaret Hawley 6 and 7, E. N. Hanks and Wife. 8 and 9, Hiram Burger and Wife. 10 and 11, John M. Ford and Wife. 12 Daniel Niel 13, E. R. Pelton. 14, William R. Wells. 15, Orange M. Gage. 16, Peter Hamilton. 17, Samuel Lappin 18 George Sharp. 19, George Merrick. 20, Scott B. Humphrey. 21 and 22, Mr. and Mrs. James L. Newton 23 and 24 Mr and Mrs. Richard Johnson. 25 and 26, Dr. J. S. Hidden and Wife. 27 and 28, Mr. and Mrs James Neville 29 Mr Sheppard. 30, Capt. A. W. Williams. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1 93 crat," the "Dispatch," the "News," and what other affiant saith not. Oneida is now served by the Sabetha "Herald," which gives the town a department all its own. CENTRALIA, CORNING AND GOFF NEWSPAPERS. Many editors tried the newspaper business at Centralia before H. L. Wait gave the town its very unusual paper. For the Centralia "Jour- nal" of the present day, run by Mr. Wait and his wife, stands in the first rank of country newspapers in Kansas in a town of the size of Centralia. B. B. Brooks was Centralia's first editor. He started the Centralia "Enterprise" in November, 1882. James Wait, brother of the present editor of Centralia's only paper, was a printer on the old "Enter- prise" when Brooks was its editor. Brooks sold the "Enterprise" to a company of Centralia business men, including A. B. Clippinger, G. W. Pampel and A. L. Coleman. They concluded after a year and a half of ownership that they had enough newspaper experience, and disposed of the property to W. J. Granger. Granger sat in the newspaper game a year and a half and sold to Bert Patch. Patch was good for three years. He sold to Dan Birch- field. Birchfield was owner of the "Enterprise" until 1894. He disposed of the property to F. M. Hartman, now editor of the Frankfort "Index." Hartman published the "Enterprise" until the fall of 1898, when Granger bought the paper back again. Granger sold the "Enterprise" to H. L. •Wait and A. P. Jackson in 1900. These men consolidated the "Enter- prise" with the Centralia "Times," which had been started by a company of thirty-four Centralia men in 1893. James Wait, brother of H. L. W ait, was the first editor of the Centralia "Times." J. H. Hyde was the second editor of the "Times." H. L. Wait acquired the "Times" in 1899. The present Centralia "Journal" is the outcome of the town's newspaper vicissitudes. For more than fifteen years, Mr. Wait and his wife have published the "Journal." The paper has become a part of the ejJistence of the pro- gressive town and the farming community. The "Journal" is a business enterprise and an institution ranking with the public schools as a town asset. The Waits are a force in the community, their organ a vital medium of progress. Lew Slocum is the editor of the Corning "Gazette." The "Gazette" was established in 1895. Slocum has been the editor for sixteen years. He is universally liked. Slocum not only runs a good news'paper at Corning, but he finds time to conduct a successful jewelry and repair business at Corning. The Goff "Advance" was started in the spring of 1892. The town has never had another paper. Some of the editors were: J. L. Papes, row of the Mulvane, Kans., "News ;" T. A. Kerr, employed by the Capper publications at Topeka ; E. F. Jones, now living at Sabetha ; T. L. (13) 194 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Briney, at present in Colorado; O. C. Williamson, a prosperous mer- chant and owner of a big store at Seattle, Wash. The Goff "Advance" is now owned by Ray T. Ingalls. In April, 1916, the Advance was moved into a new concrete building. Ray Ingalls is one of the most active newspaper men Nemaha county has had. Young, agreeable and intelligent, he gives the town a newspaper ability seldom seen in the country town. THE BERN GAZETTE. The "Gazette" is not the first paper printed in Bern, though Bern has never had more than one paper at the same time, and the "Gazette" is not the successor of the Bern "Press," which was the first paper estab- lished here. The Bern "Press" was established in 1889 by one George Beaumont, who, at the time, was a druggist. Very shortly after Beau- mont sold it to Frank Harber, who later sold to W. J. McLaughlin. The "Press" was Democratic in politics, and during the Cleveland ad- ministration, McLaughlin was appointed postmaster, conducting the business in the same building and in connection with the newspaper. Under the McKinley administration McLaughlin lost the postoffice, • and shortly thereafter burned out, probably sometime in 1897, ^"^ the "Press" was never issued thereafter. The exact dates on which the paper was established, changed hands and discontinued, are unobtainable, because of the destruction of the records in the fire. Bern was without a newspaper from the discontinuance of the "Press" until May 6, 1898 (about two months after the great fire which destroyed the business interests of the town), when the first number of the Bern "Gazette" was issued by M. E. Ford, it founder. Mr. Ford continued its publication until February i, 1901, when he sold to M. L. Laybourn, a newspaper man from Lyndon, Kans. Mr. Laybourn re- tired October i, 1902, having sold to Fred W. Lehman, a young man who was reared in the community. On May i, 1908, the paper passed into the hands of W. W. Driggs, its present owner, but since January I, 191 5, it has been published by Driggs & Driggs, the firm consisting of W. W. Driggs and son, W. W. Driggs, Jr., the latter having been connected with the paper as an employee from the time of its purchase from Fred W. Lehman. The "Gazette" was established, and has always been conducted as a Republican paper until January, 191 5, when, under its present management, it was changed to an independent publica- tion. THE WETMORE SPECTATOR. When Wetmore was still in its infancy a paper was started there, one of a string of papers along the Central Branch railroad called the "Acme." It lasted but a few months. Later, as the town grew older and" stronger, a real newspaper was found a necessity, and the "Spectator" HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY I95 was started. It has now attained thirty-five years of healthy growth and has at least one subscriber who has taken the paper, beginning with its first issue, and the first of every January since, has gone to the "Spectator" office to renew his subscription. The editor now is W. F. Turrentine, who has been owner for over twelve years. J. L. Bris- tow, former editor, still lives in the Wetmore neighborhood. Mr. Tur- rentine is mayor of Wetmore. The Nemaha County "Spectator" was established in 1882 by J. F. Clough of the Sabetha "Republican," and T. J. Wolfley of Wetmore, and a printer on the Sabetha "Republican" by the name of George Fabrick, helped get out the first few issues. Some of the equipment came from Decatur, 111., as the old address was plainly visible on some of the cases that were destroyed by the fire in May, 1907. A man by the name of Allen soon took Fabrick's place on the "Spectator," and in a few months, he was succeeded by J. T. Bristow, who, with only a few months' experience, was left in entire charge of the office. T. J. Wolf- ley soon bought out Clough's interest in the paper, and after conduct- ing it himself for a time, sold out to F. M. Jeffreys, along about 1885, and Jeffreys sold the paper to a stranger, whose name is forgotten. The stranger remained but a short time, and Mr. Wolfley bought the paper back, afterward, in about 1888, selling it to John Stowell, now an. attor- ney at Seneca, Kans. Mr. Stowell published the paper a year or two, then sold it to S. C. Shumaker, who had been cashier in the Wetmore State Bank until he lost his sight. Mr. Shumaker and his wife pub- lished the paper for some time, with J. T. Bristow looking after the mechanical end. Mr. Shumaker died about 1890, and soon after that Mr. Bristow bought it from the widow, and continued as its publisher until April I, 1904, when he sold it to J. W. Coleman, publisher of the Effing- ham "New Leaf" at that time, now the editor of the Atchison "Globe." Mr. Coleman changed the name of the paper from the Nemaha County Spectator" to the Wetmore "Enterprise." In 1905, the present publisher, W. F. Turrentine, purchased a half interest of Mr. Coleman, taking charge February i, 1905, and, in October of that year, purchased Mr. Coleman's remaining interest. On account of so many of the old time subscribers calling the paper the "Spectator," the present publisher changed its name from the Wetmore "Enterprise" to the Wetmore "Spectator." A RARE NEWSPAPER COLLECTION. An unusual collection of rare newspapers was made by the late Dr. Lyons and is owned now by his family in Sabetha. It contains newspapers from London and 'Liverpool, England, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland ; and Basle and Lucerne, Switzerland, and a copy of the "Egyptian News" from Cairo. The latter newspaper is printed in three languages, English, French and Arabic. The Arabic looks very 196 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY much like shorthand. The hieroglyphics are identical with the old Scott-Browne system., Dr. Lyons has also a collection of letters from famous men: Senator John James Ingalls, President Benjamin Harri- son, Dr. E. W. Barridge, a famous English physician, and many from famous foreign doctors and surgeons. Mrs. Lyons is a lineal descend- ant of the Virginia Randolphs, an ancestor, John Randolph, claiming his descent direct from Pocohontas. Mrs. Lyons has among her treas- ures a mahogany bureau made as a gift by the famous furniture house of Randolph for her grandmother. CHAPTER XXIII. BENCH AND BAR A LAWYER AND JUDGE THE LAWYER AND NECESSITY OF LAW ^ITS APPLI- CATION THE BENCH JUDICIAL POWER VESTED ALBERT L. LEE ALBERT H..HORTON ROBERT ST. CLAIR GRAHAM NATHAN PRICE PERRY L. HUBBARD ^ALFRED G. OTIS DAVID MARTIN— REUBEN C. BASSETT JOHN F. THOMPSON RUFUS M. EMERY WILLIAM I. STUART DISTRICT CLERKS^SHERIFFS COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRO- BATE JUDGES. By Judge Rufus M. Emery. "And ever the truth comes uppermost And ever is justice done." While the writer has had a somewhat extensive personal experience, as a student in a law office, practitioner as an attorney and counsellor at law at Seneca, Kans., and served a term of four years on the Bench as judge of the Twenty-second Judicial District of the State, composed of Nemaha, Brown and Doniphan counties, all of which covers a period of over forty years, yet I realize that I am not especially adapted to the task of producing an attractive, forcible and instructive article on the "Bench and Bar" of this county, yet having in a weak moment consented to make this contribution, I ask the kind indulgence of the readers while I attempt to give them, what seems to me, might be of interest to them and which I have taken from the public and court records, traditions and personal experiences and recollections of myself since 1875, and supplemented with much valuable information and incidents suggested by early set- tlers and especially Judge J. E. Taylor who has practiced law at this bar since 1864, and to whom I am under obligations for many early incidents, experiences and much information. To the Bench and Bar, all acting under an oath of office, is confided the solemn and sacred trust and duty of vindicating, enforcing and carry- ing out the natural, revealed, common and statute laws of the land, which the sages of the law have defined to be the "rules of action, pre- scribed by a superior power commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong." These rules of action, or law, have for their object, the security and welfare of the Nation, State and municipality, as well as so- ciety in the aggregate, and the personal and property rights of the indiv- 197 198 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY idual, as a component part of the body politic — the common people. Law is also frequently and aptly defined as "common sense," and in our opin- ion, springs from the natural equity and conception of right in the inner- most consciousness of a normal and well balanced human being, im- pressed on man by the creator and finds expression in multitudinous, complex and often intricate rules of action laid down in the law now in force, for our government, which has been built up and taken from the experiences and judgment of the soundest and best minds and hearts of the centuries that have gone before. The immense influence, radiating from our institutions of learning, including our common and parochial schools, the pulpit and numerous church organizations, and the press of the land, are now and have been for centuries, impressing human hearts and minds with a conception of the object and aim of human existence, but it is now and always has been, since brute force controlled the action of men, left to the law to find the way and lay down the rules of action, that are necessary to establish stable and effective government, capable of maintaining itself and the rights of her citizens among the nations of the earth and to regulate the individuals and corporations and other powers between themselves, so that every person, without regard to condition, may enjoy the greatest possible liberty, consistent with his duty and relations to other citizens ; so that all may be secure in the fullest enjoyment of his natural rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and a guaranty that he may be secure in person and property against the encroachments of the sel- fish, the licentious, the avaricious and other evil disposed persons. A people so governed and protected by these wholesome laws, must of ne- cessity be contented, loyal and progressive and a beacon light to less fa- vored nations, pointing the way to a higher and better civilization. However wise, beneficient and just the laws may be, much depends on the application of the law to the existing facts of the case on trial and its proper enforcement, to prevent a miscarriage of justice. It must be remembered that all officers, from the highest to the lowest, are but hu- man, moved by the same passions and prejudices as other men, and sub- ject to the same liability to err, so gentle reader, if you would be secure in your full rights under the law, see that the most available men of integrity, capacity, suitable temperament and sound common sense, be chosen to administer and enforce the law without fear, favor or oppres- sion, always remembering that where the best results are not reached in lawsuits, the failure can be generally traced to the defects or weaknesses of witnesses, juries, attorneys or judges and not to the laws themselves. THE BENCH. "When on you the law. Places its majestic paw Whether in innocence or guilt You are then required to wilt." — Ware. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY IQQ The "Bench" is a designation originally applied to the seat of the judges, when benches, instead of richly upholstered furniture, on which they now recline, was in use and the term "Bench" was applied to the judges collectively, as a distinction from the attorneys and counsellors, who are called the "Bar." Anciently all, and now many of the judges in the nations of the world, were arbitrarily appointed by the king,. prince, power or potentate governing the Realm and held their office during life or the pleasure of the sovereign, and even now, in our own democratic republic, all Federal judges are appointed by the President. Judges so chosen naturally are more or less subservient to the power that creates them and the common rights of the people are greatly endangered and there have been many instances where they have been grossly and ar- bitrarily denied. In this free and enlightened Nation, where the judges or "Bench" in all the States are chosen by the ballot of the citizens at their general elec- tions, and recently without regard to political considerations, or the in- trigue of political parties and politicians, the common people are supreme in their ballots and can have an intimate knowledge of the honesty, in- tegrity, capability and temperament of the men whom they elevate to these very important trusts. Few mistakes are made in their selections and when made, the people stand ready to yield them a cheerful, respect- ful and courteous obedience, while applying the law that governs them, which of necessity gives them almost autocratic power over their lives, property and liberty, subject to review only by a higher court, and in many instances of discretion and Weight of evidence, their decision is fi- nal and cannot be reviewed even on appeal. An ignorant, a dishonest, a revengeful, an impetuous and a partisan judge i's a menace to the rights and privileges of every citizen and it is a wonder that there are so few instances on record where this autocratic power has been abused and for this reason there is a general feeling of respect and confidence in the ju- diciary, that makes their duties and positions a pleasant task. May 30, 18=^4, by an act of Congress, Kansas was organized into a Territory, conferring the functions of government and vesting the ju- dicial power of the same in a supreme court, consisting of a chief jus- tice and two associate justices, all appointed by the President, and pro- viding the territory should be divided into three judicial districts and that a court be held in each district, by one of the supreme judges, who should possess chancery and common law jurisdiction, in the trial of cases. Nemaha county was placed in the Second Judicial district and the first court was held at Lecompton, Douglas county. When the State was organized in 1861, Nemaha county was in the same district and so remained until 1876, when a new district was created, consisting of Nemaha, Brown and Doniphan counties and said district was then and ever since has been constituted as the "Twenty-second Judicial District of the State." The respective judges of the District Court sitting in and for Nemaha county, Kansas, are as follows : Albert L. Lee, of Elwood, Doniphan county, Kansas, on the organi- 200 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY zation of Kansas as a State, was duly appointed by the Governor, Jan- uary 29, 1861, and while he immediately qualified and passed on some matters at Chambers, he never held a term of court in this county and on October 31, 1861, he resigned and entered the Union army and served during the Civil war and rose to the rank of brigadier general and after the war he settled in the East. But little is known of him personally here now, except that he was a bright, capable young attorney of good repute and lived a successful and prosperous life. He died in New York City December 31, 1907. After his resignation, Albert H. Horton, of Atchison, Kans., was appointed as his suc- cessor on October 31, 1861, and afterward held by election until May 11, 1866, when he resigned and resumed the practice of law at Atchison, Kans., until January, 1877, when' by election he assumed the duties of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Kansas, which posi- tion he held continuously until April 30, 1895, when he resigned and be- came a very active candidate for United States Senator, but failed by a very small majority of election and later died at his home in Atchison, September 2, 1902. He was always popular and a man of great force of character, clear and logical, and his opinions richly illuminate the pages of the supreme court reports, while acting as its chief justice for seven- teen years. After his resignation as district judge, Robert St. Clair Graham, of Atchison, Kans., was appointed to fill his place on May 11, 1866, and was reelected and served until January, 1869. He was a young man of good faniily connections and a fair law- yer and made a creditable judge, but was defeated for nomination on the Republican ticket. His successor, Nathan Price, of Troy, Doniphan county, Kansas, was elected and served from January, 1869, until March i, 1872, when he resigned, to contest for the nomination on the Republican ticket, for the office of representative in Congress, but failing to secure the nomination he re- sumed the practice of law at Troy, Kans., which he continued until his death, March 8, 1883. He was a type of the early settler, strong, vigor- ous and forceful in body and mind and a capable and popular judge. He was succeeded by Perry L. Hubbard, of Atchison, Kans., who was first appointed and afterward elected and served until January, 1877. He was a gentleman- ly politician, of kindly disposition of a good judicial temperament and of fair ability but had many bitter enemies among the bar of the district, who after his renomination on the Republican ticket, were largely instru- mental in defeating him at the polls, notwithstanding the large Repub- lican majority in the district. He died in Atchison, May 7, 1912. Alfred G. Otis, of Atchison, Kans., was the first Democrat to hold the office of judge of this district. After defeating Judge Hubbard, he served from January, 1877, to January, i88r. He died in Atchison March 2, 1901. He was a good lawyer, a capable judge, and well liked by the bar and the people. At the end of his first term he was renominat- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 201 ed by his party, but defeated by the large Republican majority of the dis- trict and gave way to David Martin, of Atchison, who served the people of Nemaha county faithfully and well from January, 1881, until the formation of the new Twenty-second district, composed of Nemaha, Brown and Doniphan counties, in 1886, leaving him in charge of the old Second judicial dis- trict, composed of Atchison county alone, which he continued to serve as judge for- many years thereafter. There never has been a district judge on the bench of this county that has commanded a greater univer- sal respect from both the bar and the people. He did not have a parti- cularly active and alert mind and might be termed a "plodder" but was of a kindly disposition, careful and very conscientious in his methods, dispatched business satisfactorily and seldom failed to arrive at the cor- rect results. His judicial temperament and methods were almost be- yond criticism. To the casual observer he had few attractions ; short of stature, very fleshy, and waddled as he walked, cheeks flabby and fore- head low and retreating and not fluent of speech, the first impression would naturally be that he was dull, yet he plodded steadily on and up- ward, from student to practitioner, from justice of the peace to district judge and thence up the ladder of fame and usefulness to the highest ju- dicial office in the State, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kansas, which he graced with dignity and learning, and while ascending the ju- dicial ladder, by his kindly consideration for the rights of others he won the universal love and confidence of all who knew him and became the ideal riian and judge, worthy to be imitated by one and all. He died in Atchison, Kans., several years ago. Reuben C. Bassett, of Seneca, Kans., a member of the Nemaha coun- ty bar, was a member of the State legislature in 1886 and was largely in- strumental in having the law passed creating the new Twenty-second judicial district, and was rewarded by being appointed its first judge by the governor. His appointment dated February 25, 1886, to fill the va- cancy and was reelected and served to the end of the term, in January, 1891, when he retired and moved to Chicago, 111., where he engaged in the wholesale lumber trade, also practiced law there and later removed to Oklahoma, where he now resides. He was a well informed, scholarly and capable lawyer and judge and. his career on the bench was highly satis- factory to his constituents. His successor, John F. Thompson, of Seneca and the Nemaha county bar, was elect- ed on a fusion ticket of the Democrats and Populists, over Simon L. Ryan, of Hiawatha, Kans., the Republican nominee, and served his four years' term, beginning January, 1891, and ending January, 1895, when he resumed the practice of law at Seneca and afterward removed to lola, where he died. At both Seneca and lola his son, William Howard Thomp- son, now United States Senator of Kansas, was his law partner. Judge Thompson presided with dignity, was careful and deliberate, and courte- ous to all, and his administration tended to elevate the dignity of the 202 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY bench and inspire confidence of the people in the laws. The great Popu- list wave at the end of his first term had subsided and while he was a candidate for reelection on the Democratic ticket he was defeated at the polls by Rufus M. Emery, of the Seneca bar, then State senator from his dis- trict and a member of the Nemaha county bar since 1877, whose term be- gan in January, 1895 and ended in January, 1899. He was elected at the age of forty years, after an active experience as practitioner, county at- torney for six years and State senator for four years. He is the writer of this article and his natural modesty forbids that he should place an es- timate of his record on the bench, but, he can truthfully state that his four years' term as judge, was the most pleasant and satisfactory business of his life to him : that he was received and treated with courtesy and respect by the b^r and the people of his district, among whom he formed many lifelong friendships, which he still values and cherishes. He re- tired from the bench under pressure from the politicians, w^ith a high re- gard for the honesty, integrity and ability of the bar of the district and resumed the practice of law with his son, R. M. Emery, Jr., as his part- ner, at Seneca, Kans., where he still resides and is in the active practice of his profession. He was succeeded by William I. Stuart, of Troy, now of Hiawatha, Kans., January, 1899^ who, as the Republican nominee of his party, defeated James Fallon of Hiawatha, Kans., and has been reelected and served continuously as judge, to the present time and holds the record for continuous service on the bench of the district, which is the highest evidence of the fact that his administration of the office has been satisfactory to the people, and his quick, active, judicial mind has secured to all, speedy and impartial justice during his long service in office. In 1912, he contested the nom- ination of representative in Congress in the Republican primaries of this district, with Hon. D. R. Anthony, Jr., but failed of nomination and is now favorably spoken of as a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court. DISTRICT CLERKS. A very important office in connection with the "Bench" and "Bar" of each county, is clerk of the district court. Not only should this of- ficer be a person of intelligence, methodical and of good clerical ability, but as large sums of money are paid in and disbursed through this of- fice, he or she should be honest and capable with confidence in themselves to discharge the manifold duties required of them, by the court and the law, very often crowding upon them, in the most bewildering and com- plex manner, likely to disturb the equilibrium of the ordinary person. Nemaha county has been fortunate in securing such persons, many of whom have been of the gentler sex. The following is a list of such clerks in the order they have served since the State was organized and the reader will recognize among them many old friends and business as- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 2O3 sociates : J. C. Hebbard, O. C. Bruner, William Histed, Abijah Wells, Wm. R. \\'ells, J. H. Williams, George Gould, G. R. Benedict, Jas. H. Gleason, H. B. Crary, D. M. Linn, J. D. Magill, Miss Blanche Magill, Miss Lulu Ervin, J,. E. Neighbor, Miss Mable Worley. SHERIFFS. What has been said of the clerks of the district court is also true of the shei;iff, who, under the direction of the presiding judge, has the general supervision of the court room, the process and orders of the court and who is specially charged with preserving the order and tran- quility of the county, the suppression of crime and the apprehension and safe keeping of those charged and convicted of crime. In this office is re- quired a personal and moral courage, practical common sense and a clear and active executive mind that will insure speedy and intelligent action, in pursuing and arresting criminals and securing the rigid enforcement of all laws, without fear or favor, with a due regard to the interests of the State, the people and the rights of the accused. We believe the essential requirements of this office have been exercised by the sheriffs who have served the county since the organization of the State, a list of whom is given in the chapter on county organization. COUNTY ATTORNEYS. Early in .the history of Kansas, the present duties of county attorneys were incumbent on a prosecuting attorney of the entire judicial district, who accompanied the judge on his circuit through the counties and prosecuted all criminal cases. The first three in the list below were prose- cuting attorneys. The county attorney's duties consist in advising the county and other officers as to their duties under the law, representing the county in all civil cases and he has charge of all violations of law and the prosecution of offenders in the courts of the county. The faith- ful and efficient discharge of his duties are of the utmost importance to society, the welfare of the community and the security of the individual in his personal and property rights. Nearly all the leading lawyers of this bar have in times past, served as county attorney and their efficient service is largely responsible for the present quiet, orderly, law abiding and law loving condition of society in this county, at this time. In the order they have served we name them in the chapter on county organiza- tion. PROBATE JUDGES. There is no county office so important and filled with greater respon- sibilities as that of probate judge. Once in a lifetime all the property in the county comes under his jurisdiction, and the title thereto is likely to be affected by his acts and decisions. He has supervision and con- 204 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY trol, through his appointed administrators, executors, trustees and es- tates of all deceased persons and those incompetent to transact their business. The unfortunate insane, imbecile, drunkard and incorrigible children must be tried and adjudged such, in his court and he has "Hab- eas Corpus" jurisdiction to determine whether any one is illegally re- strained of his liberty and to determine the custody of children and incor- rigibles. It is very necessary that his records and proceedings be accur- ate, methodical and lawful and that no error, by carelessness, may appear on his records to cast a cloud on the title of the real estate of the county. He should not only be clear headed, conscientious and a practical man of good judgment, but should have a legal education and a thorough knowledge of the law to insure the fullest protection to the widows, or- phans and unfortunates as the law contemplates. Nemaha county has been most fortunate, in the selections of- her probate judges. We have had some that were lacking in these requirements, but fortunately no very serious consequences have occurred. Self interest should demand of every elector that the judiciary be kept out of politics and that they se- lect and vote for the best and most capable candidate for this most im- portant office. Space forbids special mention but we give in the chapter on county organization the list of Probate Judges and the date of the be- ginning of their respective terms. CHAPTER XXIV. THE BENCH AND BAR. (Continued.) THE BAR A LAWYER S DUTY HIS WORK RESIDENT LAWYERS NEMAHA ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE ATTAINED DISTINCTION EXPERIENCES OF LAWYERS SENATOR INGALLS CASES EARLY JURIES IMPORTANT CASES LOUIS LORIMER AND REGIS LOISEL TITLES RAILROAD BOND CASE NOTED CRIMINAL CASES STATE VS. BLANCETT STATE VS. JOHN CRAIG STATE VS. CARTER AND WINTERS STATE VS. WILTON BAUGHN STATE VS. MRS. FRANK MCDOWELL STATE VS. THOMAS RAMSEY STATE VS. FRED KUHN. By Judge Rufus M. Emery. THE BAR. "Here is to bride and mother-in-law, Here is to groom and father-in-law, Here is to friends and friends-in-law. May none of them need an attorney-at-law." — Toast to legal fraternity The legal profession is now and always has been the foremost of all the professions, in practical and political life. While the necessity for their service is to be lamented and avoided when possible, as the doctor and dentist and many others, yet in times of trouble and discord, civil and criminal, the lawyer is the first sought and his counsel and advice most strictly followed, on account of the importance of the service and the confidence of his client in his knowledge, integrity and ability to pi'o- tect them in their rights under the law. From this profession there have risen to distinction, more eminent and prominent statesmen and leaders of men, than from all the other professions and avocations of life com- bined, notwithstanding they number a very small per cent, of the aggre- gate population. Many lawyers of strong, vigorous intellects and natur- al tact and ability have won laurels and met with considerable success at the bar, without having the advantage of a moderate common school edu- cation, yet they, are the exception to the rule and it has always been deemed essential and it is now a requirement, that before they will be re- 205 206 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ceived as students in the law universities, they must have a liberal educa- tion in the arts and sciences as a foundation upon which to build a correct knowledge and proper understanding of the many intricate and import- ant principles of the law and apply them in a practical way to the affairs of men, so that they will be enabled to advise and so represent their cli- ents' interest, as to secure to them their rights of persons and property under the law. The relation of attorney and client is one of the strictest trust and confidence and while the pessimistic and frivolous are wont to regard lightly these close relations and question the honest and faithful service of attorneys, in the interests of their clients and consider the same as purely selfish and jClass them as "tricksters," yet the occasions are very rare, when the attorney does not act in the utmost good faith, toward his client and put forth every honorable means to advance his in- terests at a great personal sacrifice and labor. My observation at the bar generally is that they allow their' zeal for their clients to lead them to extreme methods which subject them to just criticism. An attorney-at-law is an officer of the court, acting under his oath of office. He is expected to present his client's case in its most favorable light both as to the law and the evidence, that the court — -judge and jury — may be fully informed and render a fair and impartial decision accord- ing to the law and the evidence. That the litigants may have equal and exact protection under the law ; that false evidence may be exposed, er- roneous ideas of the law may be eliminated and all feelings of passion, prejudice and favoritism may be laid aside, in the decision of the case. With the zealous attorney on guard as to his client's interests, the court carefully expounding the law applicable to the case and the jury, select- ed from the common people to weigh the evidence, from a common sense basis, the false testimony of the witnesses is usually detected, technicali- ties are ignored and a righteous and just verdict or decision is usually ob- tained. There is no profession more satisfactory to the individual prac- titioner than the legal profession. He comes equipped with a liberal edu- cation, giving him a broad and comprehensive view of life and the rela- tion of things. He is especially versed in the best known and approved principles of government and the rights of persons and property and all the rules and methods of securing and preserving them in all their simpli- city and purity. He has the confidence and esteem of his clients and there comes to him in the practice of his profession, an intimate know- ledge of his fellow beings, their joys, sorrows, disappointments and tri- umphs, thenr passions and prejudices, weaknesses and despair; all that is good and all that is evil in the human heart and mind is laid before him through his privileged and sacred relations and with all these opportuni- ties, he may form a correct knowledge and philosophy of life that is in- deed a satisfaction and enables him to be a great help to his fellows. Be- low is a list of the resident attorneys of the county who have practiced in the district court in the order that their names first appear on the court records : Samuel Lappin, Thos. S. Wright, Haven Star, J. E. Hock- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 207 er, J. p. Taylor, J. E. Taylor, William Histed, Wm. F. Wells, Charles Kroff, Abijah Wells, E. M. Sappenfield, R. D. Markham, G. W. Collins, Joseph* Shjirp, Simon Conwell, W. W. Sargent, C. W. Edgar, C. I. Sco- field, W. D. B. Motter, Levi Dinkelfield, George Gowdy, J. E. Purnell, M. P. M. Cassity, R. C. Bassett, A. M. Flint, S. W. Brooks, Elwin Camp- field, Don J. Perry, A. C. Cook, T. J. Hayes, R. M. Emery, C. E. Hendry, W. D. Kistler, C. C. K. Scoville, J. F. Curren, A. L. Coleman, O. H. Stillson, G. W. Clawson, Joshua Mitchell, George Puhl, J. A. McCall, J. F. Thompson, R. T. Thompson, Frank E. Smith, J. T. Campbell, H. G. Stewart, G. W. Wren, Chas. H. Herold, J. W. Cunnick, Howard Thomp- son, A. J. Felt, E. G. Wilson, P. L. Burlingame, E, L. Miller, Frank Wells; Jas. L. Breeding, Geo. W. Hook, J. E. Stillwell, N. S. Smith, S. K. Woodworth, Charles H. Stewart, F. A. Meckel, R. T. Ludlow, A. A. Brooks, Wm. H. Thompson, Nathan Jones, J. G. Schofield, Ira K. Wells, Moulton DeForest, Wm. M. Taylor, John Stowlell, W. W. Simon, F. W. Jacobs, W. R. Jacobs, H. R. Fulton, O. H. Mack, M. L. Mclntire, W. T. Behne, W. H. Cook, Frank L. Geary, S. P. Nold, R. M. Emery Jr., H. M. Baldwin, Edgar W. Campbell, and Chas. F. Schrempp. Of the above list of resident attorneys many have reached distinc- tion; Samuel Lappin was State treasurer; Abijah Wells was judge of the Appellate Court of Kansas; R. C. Bassett, J. F. Thompson, R. M. Em- ery and F. A. Meckel have each been district judge of the State; Byron Sherry was judge of the Criminal Court of Leavenworth; Wm. H. Thompson is the present United States Senator from Kansas ; A. J. Felt was Lieutenant Governor of Kansas and quite a number hav€ been Pro- bate judges and members of the State senate and house of representa- tives. Nemaha has always had a strong, capable bar, fully equipped to defend their clients' interests against all foreign attorneys from where- ever they came. They have not only been capable and energetic, but from the first organization of the State until the present moment there is no record that any one of them has ever betrayed a client, or been guilty of any serious professional misconduct. Many very prominent at- torneys of the State have practiced at the bar of this county and been prominent in State and National affairs : F. P. Baker, when a young man was the first prosecuting attorney of this district, and was afterward editor and proprietor of the Topeka "Commonwealth," now the "Daily Capital." Albert H. Horton and David Martin, both of Atchison, were chief justices of the Supreme Court of the State. W. W. Guthrie, of Atch- ison, was the first attorney general of Kansas. John J. Ingalls was many terms a United States Senator from Kansas, president pro tem. of the United States Senate and an orator and statesman of national reputa- tion. C. G. Foster was for years United States district judge of Kansas ; George W. Click was governor of this commonwealth ; Lucien Baker, of Leavenworth, was our United States senator from Kansas ; George R. Peck, of Topeka, was United States district attorney for Kansas and general attorney for the Santa Fe railroad system ; W. R. Smith, of At- 2o8 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY chison, was justice of the Supreme Court of Kansas and resigned to accept the attorneyship of the Santa Fe railroad; T. F. Garver was judge of the Appellate Court of Kansas, and Balie Waggener, of Atchison, and present State senator, is general attorney of. the Missouri Pacific railway system. The life of an attorney is not always a bed of roses and this was par- ticularly true of the pioneer lawyer in advance of the carriage, railroads and mbtor cars, when the legal practitioner often traveled on foot or horseback to the neighboring county seats to try his cases. The popula- tion was scant, drouths and grasshoppers plentiful and money almost un- known and the attorney, in common with the other inhabitants, en- dured every privation. Once a stranger sought the services of an attor- ney and handed him a silver dollar as a fee, when he jocularly remarked, "they still make them round." The early life and habits of the first set- tlers were "rough and ready," with open saloons and the unrestricted sale of liquor, a large adventurous criminal element, migrated from the East- ern States, passionate, impulsive, quick to take offense and ready and willing to use the scathing tongue, their fists and weapons on slight pro- vocation and some of the time of the early attorney was consumed in avoiding unnecessary controversy in conciliating their adversaries, or niding out and ayoiding or dodging fists, clubs, knives or bullets. It re- quired courage then to plead an unpopular cause and defend a client against an excited public sentiment, but the courage of the attorney was equal to that of the populace and justice was dealt out principally through the courts but often by mob violence. As an example of the spirit of these turbulent times and the vigorous language and methods employed by those high in authority we cite the following. Byron Sher- ry, a leading member of this bar, and State senator from this district, had voted against the re-election of Senator Lane to the United States senate and in a political speech in Seneca before his fellow-townsmen Senator Lane denounced Senator Sherry for his opposition and legislative con- duct. Amidst great excitement Senator Sherry quickly and hotly retort- ed, "Senator Lane, you are a liar and a coward and you were publicly horse-whipped by a woman on the streets of Washington !" Early in the history of the county an amusing incident occurred in the court room over a saloon, when Judge Nathan Price, fond of his "dram," at all intermis- sions of the court, which he sometimes created for the purpose, was pre- siding as judge. Senator John J. Ingalls was in the midst of an eloquent speech to the jury, when Judge Price, suddenly and without apparent ex- cuse or reason, declared a recess and made a "bee line" for the saloon be- low, thus breaking the effect of Ingalls' address. He stopped, looked up at the vacant bench, as though bewildered, back at the jury, and again at the retiring judge, and turning again to the jury, with a merry twinkle in his eye and assuming a confidential hoarse whisper, that could be heard throughout the room said, with a broad smile, "Let's all go and take a drink." Amidst a roar of laughter the suggestion was acted upon and the judge "set 'em up." HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 2O9 At another time Senator Ingalls was defending a citizen of the coun- ty in a preliminary examination, charged with being the father of an il- legitimate child. The interest of course was great, the room small and packed, the air intolerable. Ingalls was cross-examining the unfortun- ate mother and a prominent merchant crowded against his chair and was about to unseat him, when, with a merry twinkle in his eye he continued the cross-examination with the question, Madame, were you not on terms of intimacy with this gentleman?" (pointing to the interested and obtru- sive citizen). Amid a roar of laughter, the over curious citizen ducked and retired and selecting other victims, he' put the same question, with the same result, until the court room was sufficiently cleared. On the trial of this case in the district court, J. E. Taylor and Simon Conwell prosecuting and Senator Ingalls defending, the illegitimate child because fretful and noisy and with screams stopped all court proceedings, when Ingalls arose with a show of dignity and annoyance and dryly remarked, "Would the Court please require Taylor and Conwell to remove their child from the courtroom?" A roar of laughter in which all joined drown- ed the cries of the child. Recently Judge Stuart was examining a Ger- man applicant for admission to citizenship and in endeavoring to test his knowledge of public affairs and having Roosevelt in mind, asked him to name the most distinguished citizen of the United States of whom he could think, and he promptly replied, "Shiley Herolt," casting an ad- miring glance at our good natured, popular attorney, Charles H. Harold, who beamed his approval. At another time, in endeavoring to test the fairness, impartiality and lack of prejudice, or favor, of a German juror, he was asked, "Notwithstanding the fact that Charles Herold is the lawyer for one of the parties, and his client is a German and the other party is not, do you think you can render a fair and impartial verdict in the case and not show any partiality or favor?" To which he replied, "Yah, I stant by Herolt und der Deutch !" There has been filed in the office of the Clerk of the District Court, since the organization of the State, 2,930 civil cases and 773 criminal cases, of almost every kind and nature known to the law, some of a trif- ling character that should never have found their way there and many of great importance and involving large sums of money, great property values and personal rights of the highest necessity to the citizen. The first grand and petit jury was drawn for the November term of the Dis- trict court of Nemaha county, in 1861, and consisted of the following well known early settlers, a few of whom still live, and their descendants still residing in the county are very numerous : Samuel Dennis, Hiram Channel, S. B. Dodge, Elias B. Church, James Larew, John Callahan, John Short, Hiram Berger, Joseph W. Dennis, Moses Blanchett, H. L. Alkire, J. P. Brown, Eli Blankley, Thomas Carlin, John Kilmer, William Histed, H. A. Good, W. N. Cassity, Peter Hamilton, William Hickley, James Randel, John Roe, John Beamer, C. C. Morton, Patrick Howard, Martin Randel, Augustus Wolfley, John Downs, T. A. Canmpfield, Jacob (14) 2IO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Geyer, E. D. Gross, Geo. D. Searles, Samuel Allen, B. H. Job, Frank Brown, William Porter, David Armstrong, William Z. Carpenter, H. Grimes, Isaac H. Steirs, John Rodgers, John Hicks, W. W. Shepherd, Joseph Coleman, Larkin Cordell, Jacob Shumaker, G. D. Baker, John Bowman, Samuel Currier and Charles W. Nations. IMPORTANT CASES. The space allotted forbids the mention of but few of the many im- portant cases tried by the "Bench and Bar" of Nemaha county. The original title of most of the lands of the county, came through the Home- stead lawi, from the United States Government in small tracts to actual early settlers, but there were some exceptions. The Central Branch of the Union Pacific Railway (now the Missouri Pacific), as an inducement and bonus for building this railroad and opening up the western prairies, received from the United States Government $16,000 per mile for 100 miles west of Atchison, Kans., and a patent title to each alternate section for ten miles each side of their railroad, which aggregated $1,600,000 and 640,000 acres of land, for which they paid the Government price of $1.25 per acre. The Louis Lorimer and Regis Loisel Titles. — While the territory comprising the State of Kansas was a Spanish possession in 1800 and a part of the territory known as Upper Louisiana and before the United States acquired the same from France in 1803, Regis Loisel, a fur trader of St. Louis, by grant from Spain, acquired the right to locate 44,800 Spanish Arpens of land (38,111 acres) in this territory, and Louis Lori- mer acquired a like grant to locate 25,500 acres. By an act of Congress these Spanish grants were recognized and confirmed, and the heirs and representatives of these parties were given the right to locate lands in Nemaha, Marshall, Pottawatomie and Marion counties, Kansas, to the amount of the respective grants aforesaid at the Government price of $1.25 per acre. The lands were duly located and the heirs and representatives of these parties were allowed to receive patent title to such lands, a large portion being in Nemaha county. These heirs had become numerous, widely scattered and many had transferred their interests, become inca- pacitated from transferring and there were many minors and the title had become greatly complicated and clouded. In 1870 the heirs of Louis Lori- mer and in 1872 the Regis Loisel heirs commenced suits in Nemaha county to settle and determine the interests of the respective heirs to this vast amount of land and to partition the same. The ablest lawyers of Kansas and Missouri took part in these suits and after protracted litiga- tion, the titles to all these lands were quieted and made good and the complicated interests adjusted by decrees of our court, and the land be- gan to be sold to actual settlers. Many of the readers will find that the title to their farms rests on these important records and court proceed- ings. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 211 Railroad Bond Case. — Nemaha county never had any bonded indebt- edness. An attempt was made to bond it at one time, which perhaps in justice and as a matter of right should have been done, but it failed through a technicality. In 1866, there were two railroad corporations existing, one styled the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company and another, the Northern Kansas Railroad Company, each organized to construct a railroad from Elwood, Doniphan county, Kansas, to Marys- ville, Kans., and authorized to receive subscriptions to its capital stock from Nemaha county. The county commissioners of this county submit- ted the question of subscribing $125,000 to the capital stock of the North- ern Kansas Railroad Company and issuing bonds in like amount to pay lor the same to the electors of the county, and the proposition was car- ried by a pronounced majority and so declared by the canvassing board. In the following October the two railroads aforesaid consolidated as one under the name of the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company, which completed the road and demanded the bonds of the county commission- ers, who refused to issue them and the railroad company instituted a suit to compel them to issue the same. But the Supreme Court of the State, in 10 Kansas, page 569, held that the county commissioners were only au- thorized to subscribe for and issue bonds to the Northern Kansas Rail- ■ road company and that the new company, the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company, could not claim the bonds. The county got the rail- road and were not cornpelled to issue the bonds. The capital stock after- ward proved to be worthless and the county was saved, by the efforts of the county commissioners and the county attorneys advising them and conducting the defense to this suit. NOTED CRIMINAL CASES. The State of Kansas vs. Josiah Blancett. — Josiah Blancett was charged with the murder of Thompson Wilson, and this was the first case tried by jury in this county, in 1862, before Judge Graham. On ac- count of a defective indictment, the State could not be allowied to intro- duce evidence of the venue, or place where the murder was committed, and the defendant was acquitted, by the jury and defendant discharged by reason of this technicality. State of Kansas vs. John Craig. — On October 10, 1864, in the immed- iate vicinity of Seneca, John Craig and Joseph H. Nichols, had a personal dispute, in which Nichols became enraged and assuming a threatening attitude, applying insulting epithets to Craig, who drew his revolver and shot Nichols dead on the spot. Craig was arrested and taken before a justice of the peace and on his preliminary examination was discharged on a plea of self defense. Nothing further was ever done in the matter. The State of Kansas vs. Miles R. Carter and Milton R. Winters. — On February 23, 1865, John H. Blevins, of Holt county, Missouri, accom- panied by Edgar Nuzam, of Doniphan county, Kansas, came to Seneca 212 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in search of two horses stolen in Missouri and thought to be in the pos- session of A. M. Smith, a Hveryman of Seneca. Being acquainted with C. G. Scrafford, a merchant of Seneca, they went to him for information and assistance, and Scrafford went with them to Smith's stable, and as they approached Carter and Winters mounted on the stolen horses preparing to leave. Nuzam inquired of Blevins if these horses were his, and being assured they were, ordered the thieves to stop and drew his revolver to enforce his order. A. M. Smith drew his revolver and fired, first at Nuzam and then at Blevins, the latter being shot in the left side and the ball passing through his lungs, from which shot he died in a few hours. While this was occurring Carter and Winters rode away but were thrown from their horses, which returned to the stable, followed by the horse thieves where Winters fired several shots at Nuzam without effect. At this time William Boulton, the sheriff, was absent from the county, and amidst the excitement the three guilty parties. Carter, Winters and Smith, escaped. On February 27, 1865, on the return of Sheriff Boulton, Miles N. Carter was arrested and returned to Nemaha county, and brought before John Furrow, justice of the peace, for examination, and the case was continued until the next day, and Carter was taken to jail for safe keeping. About 11 o'clock on that night a mob of two score or more overpowered the guard, George Monroe, took the prisoner eight miles north of Seneca on the banks of the Nemaha river near Baker's Ford, where his body was found next morning hanging to the limb of a tree. A coroner's inquest was held, but no arrests were made. Horse thieves were shown no quarters in those days. It was generally conced- ed that the Anti Horse Thief Association, composed of our best citizens, dealt out the punishment Carter so richly deserved. March 6, 1865, Milton R. Winters was arrested by the city mar- shal of Atchison, Kans., returned to Nemaha county, tried and convicted before a jury, and on May 11, 1866 was sentenced by Judge St. Clair on two charges, one for second degree murder in aiding, abetting and as- sisting A. M. Smith, in the murder of John H. Blevins, for the term of fif- teen years, and another on a plea of guilty for assault with intent to kill Edgar Nuzam for the term of ten years. A. M. Smith escaped legal retribution, as he was never heard from thereafter. He left a wife and two young sons at Seneca, all becoming, respectable citizens. The State of Kansas vs. Wilton Baughn. — On November 12, 1866, four men came to Seneca with a team, wagon and three loose horses. The horses afterward proved to have been stolen by them at Elwood, Doni- phan county, Kansas. November 19, three pursuers arrived in Seneca and procuring warrants located these men ten miles west of Seneca on the Vermilion, but made no arrest, and returned to Seneca and procured the sheriff and a small force, again started out to make the arrest, going north to intercept them. Soon after their departure the four men passed through Seneca, stopping east of the town. Here they divided ; two of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 2I3 them named Jackson and Strange remaining where they were, and being arrested, while the other two, Baughn and Mooney, started on foot east- ward. The sheriff, with a posse, pursued and overtook them on the Capioma road at the crossing of the Muddy. Three of the pursuers, Charles W. Ingram, Henry H. Hillix and Jes- se S. Dennis, were in advance of the rest, and on seeing the men, road up to them, Ingram remarking "We have come for you." At this one of the meu, having a double barreled shot gun, discharged both barrels at In- gram, neither of which took effect. The other one had two revolvers, and shot at both Hillix and Dennis, one shot passing through Hillix's clothing, another striking him just below the shoulder blade, making a severe but not dangerous wound. Hillix returned the fire but without ef- fect. Dennis received a bullet in the back, which passed diagonally through the body, through the lungs and in close proximity to the heart, producing death in a few moments. The man with the gun jumped into an adjoining corn field, and again fired at Ingram, who jumped from his horse and thus avoided the shot. Both men escaped. A proclamation was at once issued offering a reward of a thousand dollars for the deliv- ery of the body of Baughn and Mooney to the legal authorities of the county within ninety days, and giving a description of both desperadoes. On January 6, 1867, Melvin Baughn, the chief offender in the trag- edy, was arrested in Leavenworth, on a description or warrant sent from St. Joseph, for a gang of burglars who had robbed a store in Wathena a few days before. Upon being recognized as the murderer of Dennis he was delivered to the authorities of this county and lodged in jail, a pre- liminary examination held, and Baughn bound over to await trial at the next term of the district court. On January 10, an unsuccessful attempt was made to lynch Baughn, but was stopped by citizens and compromised by the crowd appointing a deputy sheriff to have special charge of the prisoner, until his trial. On February 6, Baughn with another prisoner confined in the jail succeeded in forcing open the doors and escaping, tak- ing arms and ammunition found in the passage of the jail. Efforts were made for his recapture, which were unsuccessful until June, 1868, and then only due to the fugitive's committal to lesser crimes than the one for which he was wanted in Nemaha county. On May 25, 1868, a house was robbed at Sedalia, Mo. ; the next day a suspicious looking carpet bag was expressed by someone to Joseph King, Otter- ville. Officers there were posted, but in endeavoring to make the arrest of King, wounded him severely, but nevertheless allowed him to escape for the time being, capturing him, disabled by his wound, two days after he was shot. It was then discovered that the prisoner going under the name of Joseph King was the notorious Baughn, the murderer of Den- nis, and he was legally returned to Seneca on June 27, and committed to jail. His trial commenced on August 2, 1868, for the murder of Jesse S. Dennis, and was concluded August 6, the jury returning a verdict of 214 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY guilt}', and on the next day Judge Graham pronounced the death sen- tence that he be hanged September i8, 1868. The sentence was duly carried into effect at 3 o'clock p. m. of that day in the court yard in the city of Seneca. The prisoner showed extraordinary nerve at the ap- proach of death and magnanimously forgave the community who had "tyrannized" over him, attributing their ill-feeling to "ignorance and bad whiskey." He also acknowledged his reconciliation to God, but showed no remorse of conscience. Thus ended the Dennis murder case with the first and only judicial execution the county has known. The State of Kansas vs. Mrs. Frank McDowell. — March 14, 1896, Mrs. Frank McDowell was acquitted by a jury in the district court, on the charge of murdering her husband, Frank McDowell, Judge R. M. Emery presiding. On February 6, 1896, Frank McDowell died in Goff, Kans., after a short illness, in great misery and with convulsions. Suspicion attached to his second wife, Mrs. Frank McDowell, and on an analysis of the sto- mach and liver of the deceased, arsenic was discovered In fatal quanti- ties. Mrs. McDowell was arrested and held for trial on the charge of murdering her husband. The above facts were shown on the trial with evidence of a confession which was strenuously denied. There was al- so evidence that might warrant the conclusion of the jury that the pres- ence of the arsenic might be due to the medicine administered by the at- tending doctor, or self administered by the deceased. While the court was of the opinion that she was guilty,, the general public sentiment was in her favor, and the jury resolved the reasonable doubt in favor of the accused. The State of Kansas vs. Thomas Ramsey. — On the morning of Jan- uary 30, 1900, Laura B. Ramsey, an old widow lady, living alone in a small house in the city of Sabetha, was found dead in bed, lying on her back, her body and limbs composed, and her hands neatly crossed on her breast, as if carefully "laid out" with no evidence of a struggle. A doctor was called and it was found by injuries to her neck and throat that she had been choked to death the night before. Her son, Thomas J. Ramsey, living near with his wife and children, being naturally quarrelsome and it being known that he had had serious trouble with his mother, was sus- picioned and arrested but discharged for want of sufficient evidence by J. E. Corwin, justice of the peace, at a preliminary examination held on the complaint of James Shintaffer, a son-in-law of Mrs. Ramsey. On his discharge, Thomas Ramsey instituted a civil suit for mali- cious prosecution and large damages against his brother-in-law, which re- agitated the tragedy, and through the aid of detectives additional evi- dence was procured, Ramsey re-arrested and held to answer a charge of murder in the first degree of his mother. A closely contested trial was had in the district court, and he was by a jury found guilty of murder in the second degree, and on March 21, 1901, sentenced to confinement and hard labor in the State penitentiary for life, where he still remains. From HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 215 facts proven and developed after the trial it was well established that Thomas Ramsey was not a well balanced man mentally or morally ; that he had been persistent in endeavoring to get money from his mother; that on the Sunday night of her death, while his family w'as at church, he went to her home alone and endeavored to get money from her, that he claimed he should rightly have ; that a quarrel ensued, and in an ex- treme fit of passion he choked her to death, probably unintentionally, and composed and arranged the body on the bed where it was found. The State of Kansas vs. Fred Kuhn. — On August 27, 1910, at a school meeting south of Corning, Kans., a terrible tragedy occurred in which William Blissner was shot and mortally wounded by Fred Kuhn and died in a few hours. His father, F. A. Blissner, was struck across the head wiith a board, by a brother of Fred, causing the loss of an eye. It seems there were hard feelings existing between the Blissners and the Kuhns, which broke out in a fierce quarrel after a school meeting. The elder Blissner became violent and threatening, and the Kuhns, two brothers and two sisters, endeavored to retire to their wagon to return home. Three of them had gotten into the wagon, when F. A. Blissner unhooked the traces of Kuhns' team, attempted to strike August Kuhn with the neck-yoke, when he was felled by a board in the hands of Au- gust Kuhn, causing the loss of an eye. While this was occurring Fred Kuhn had been intercepted, and pressed back some distance from his team by William Blissner, who was threatening violent injury. The evidence was quite contradictory but the theory of the defense on behalf of Fred Kuhn was that he had been pushed back and attacked and struck with a board and fell to his knees, whereupon he drew his pistol which he had at the meeting and fired killing William Blissner, in self defense. There was evidence that conditions were such as to render the shooting unjustifiable. The jury by their verdict found Fred Kuhn guilty of murder in the second degree, and he was sentenced by Judge Stuart to the penitentiary for a period of ten years. Soon after his incarceration he was "made a trusty" and. afterwards paroled. CHAPTER XXV. COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND OFFICIAL ROSTER. FIRST ELECTION BOGUS LEGISLATURE COUNTY CREATED FIRST OFFI- CERS MEMBERS ELECTED TO SECOND AND THIRD TERRITORIAL LEGIS- LATURE COUNTY OFFICERS ELECTED IN 1 859 FIRST COURT HOUSE FIRST TERM OF COURT DISTRICT JUDGE GRAND JURY AN IMPORTANT CASE TOWNSHIPS COUNCIL STATE SENATORS TER- RITORIAL REPRESENTATIVES STATE REPRESENTATIVES SHERIFFS COUNTY CLERKS REGISTRARS OF DEEDS COUNTY TREASURERS PRO- BATE JUDGES SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION CLERKS OF DISTRICT COURT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY SURVEYORS- CORONERS COUNTY ATTORNEYS COUNTY ASSESSORS. By Ira K. Wells. The first election held in the county was on March 30, 1855, ^O'" members of council, and representatives to the Territorial legislature. There were ten council districts with thirteen members, and fourteen representative districts with twenty-six members'. Nemaha precinct with Wolf River and Doniphan constituted the Seventh Council district, and the Eleventh Representative district. The entire vote of the district, 478 ballots, was cast for John W. Foreman, a merchant, a native of Kentucky, and a resident of the Territory for twelve years. The vote of Nemaha precinct was sixty-one. The representatives chosen were: R. L. Kirk, a nine months' resident, and John H. Stringfellow, who had been in the Territory for one year. Nemaha precinct gave the former fifty, and the later, forty-eight votes. At this election George H. Baker, Jesse Adamson and Samuel Cramer were judges; Samuel Croz- ier and Thomas Cramer, clerks. Most of the voters were non-resi- dents, the following being the list of those actually entitled to the right of suffrage: W. W. Moore, W. D. Beeles, George H. Baker, Jesse Adamson, Samuel Cramer, Samuel Crozier, Samuel L. Miller, William Bunker, Thomas Newton, Horace M. Newton, H. H. Lanham, John O'Laughlin, Greenberry Key and Uriah Blue. The legislature convened on the first Monday in July. Its acts took effect as soon as they were passed, being now best known as the "Bogus Laws of Kansas." Among other things, provision was made 216 HISTORY Of NEMAHA COUNTY 217 fqr the organization of nineteen counties in the Territory, including that of Nemaha, the boundaries of which were defined, as they have been given, and as they now exist. Cyrus Dolman was appointed probate judge; James E. Thompson, sheriff, the latter being soon superseded by James E. Hill, and Edwin Van Endert, county treasurer. The first county commissioners were Jesse. Adamson, of Nemaha township; David P. Magill, of Capioma township, and Peter Hamilton, of Red Vermillion township. Rich- mond was made the temporary county seat, remaining the official busi- ness center until 1858, when the county seat question was decided by the people. COURT HOUSE, SENECA, KANS. October 6, 1856, the pro-slavery men held an election, at which Cyrus Dolman was elected a member of the second Territorial legisla- ture, receiving twelve votes. At this time the counties of Doniphan, Brown, Nemaha, Marshall, Riley and Pottawatomie, constituted the council district, and those of Nemaha and Brown the representative district. October 5, 1857, the former of these elected Benjamin Harding, 2i8Lc HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY of Doniphan, and Andrew F. Mead, of Riley; the fourth representative district choosing E. N. Morrill, of Brown county. The members of the council held office for two years, the representatives for one session only. This, the third Territorial legislature, placed Nemaha county with Brown, Pottawatomie, Marshall and Washington in the fifth council district; constituting Brown county the eighth, and Nemaha the tenth representative district. When it came to the election of State senators and representatives, the districts were again changed, Nemaha being at present associated with Marshall in the election of senator, and herself entitled to two representatives. In the official roster which follows, no further account is made of these changes, the list merely showing Nemaha's representation, whether solely her own or in con- junction with other counties. The first election for county officers was held November 8, 1859, the incumbents prior to that time holding their position by appointment. Samuel Lappin had been registrar of deeds ; R. N. Torry performed the duties of county clerk, clerk of the district court, and succeeded Edwin Van Endert as county treasurer. The pro- bate judges from 1855 had been, in the order named, .Cyrus Dolman, Morton Cave and Haven Starr. J, C. Hebbard, and subsequently J. W. Fuller were county superintendents of public instruction, the former making the first annual report of school matters of the county to Samuel W. Greer, Territorial superintendent. The election resulted as follows. County clerk, R. U. Torrey county treasurer, Charles F. Warren ; registrar of deeds, Samuel Lap- ' pin ; sheriff, John S. Rogers ; county . superintendent, J. A^' Fuller ; probate judge. Haven Starr. The first court house stood on lot 4, block 74, on Main street. It was a small two story frame building, the lower room of which was used for general meeting purposes, and the upper part by the county officers. In December, i860, it was burnt. A building for court pur- poses, but too small for county offices, was at once erected, on the corner of Main and Castle streets, in Seneca, and in this the first term of district court in Nemaha county was held November 11, 1861, prior to this time Nemaha county having been associated with Brown county for judicial purposes. Albert H. Florton, of Atchison, was, at this time, district judge, having succeeded Judge Albert L. Lee, who had received a commission as major in the Seventh Kansas. The district clerk was I. C. Hebbard, to whom Homer L. Dean, the clerk of Brown county, had turned over the books and papers belonging to Nemaha county. The grand jury who served at this term of court consisted of John Downs, Thomas Carlin, Isaac H. Steer, Elias B. Church, James Larew, Salem B. Dodge, Samuel Dennis, T. A. Campfield, H. A. Goodman, Hezekiah Grimes, John Hodgins, William Histed, John Kilmer, Augus- tus Wolfley, H. D. Channell and James M. Randel. Wilham Histed was the foreman. The most important case upon the docket was that of the State of Kansas vs. Josiah Blancett, wherein the defendant stood HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 2I9 charged with the murder of Thompson Wilson. The verdict was "Not guilty." The indictment failed to state that the murder was committed in Nemaha county. In 1855 three county commissioners were ap- pointed. From that time until the spring of i860, the chairman of the township board was the supervisor of the county board. In i860 three commissioners at large were chosen, a like number being elected each alternate year until 1878, when the system was changed, so that one was elected each year, to hold office three years. The population of the county at various times has been as follows : 1855, ninety-nine ; no return was made at this census of the number of voters. -In 1857, 512, voters, 140; i860, 2,436; 1870, 7,296; 1880, 12,463; 1881, 13,476; 1882, IS<073- As originally divided the county had, for municipal purposes, nine townships : Rock Creek, Nemaha, Clear Creek, Richmond, Capioma, Valley, Home, Granada and Red Vermillion. These have, at various times, been sub-divided, forming Washington, Oilman, Illinois, Harri- son, Neuchatel, Reilly and Wetmore. In July, 1882, the commissioners further changed the local geography, by the creation of Mitchell town- ship, from Home, Richmond and Valley ; and of Adams township, from Valley and Capioma, the two dividing Valley equallj^ between them and blotting it from the map. The official roster of the county since its organization is as follows : Council 1855, John W. Foreman; 1857, Benjamin Harding, Andrew J. Mead ; 1859, Luther R. Palmer. State Senators 1860, Samuel Lappin ; 1862, Byron Sherry; 1864, Samuel Spear ; 1866, George Graham ; 1868, Albert G. Spear ; 1870, Joseph Cracraft; 1872, E. N. Morrill; 1874, J. M. Miller; 1876, E. N. Morrill, (for four years); 1880, I. F CoUins; 1884, W W. Smith; 1888, R. M.- Emery; 1892, Hiram F. Robbins ; 1896, A. L. Coleman; 1900, J. K. Codding; 1904, George P. Hayden ; 1908, Oscar Fagerberg; 1912, James M. Meek. Territorial Representatives 1855, R. L. Kirk, John H. Stringfellow ; 1856, Cyrus Dolman; 1857, E. N. Morrill; 1858, George Graham;. 1859, Morton Cave; i860, Charles C. Coffinbur)^ State Representatives 1860, David C. Auld, D. E. Bal- lard; 1861, Harrison Foster, F. P. Baker; 1862, John S. Hidden; 1863, Richard Bradley, J. S. Hidden ; 1864, J. D. Sammons, C. C. Coffin- bury; 1865, James K.. Gross, George Graham; 1866, T. B, Collins, Jos- eph Hanemum ; 1867, Philip Rockefeller, John Hodgins ; 1868, Samuel Lappin, Daniel Helpshrey; 1869, L. Hensel, William Morris; 1870, Richard Johnson, A. Simons; 1871, Ira F. Collins, H. C. DeForest ; 1872, Cyrus L. Schofield, H. C. DeForrest ; 1873, J. E. Taylor, C. S. Cummings; 1874, G. W. Brown, S. P. Conrad; 1875, D. R. Magill, S. P. Conrad ; 1876, I. F. Collins, L. C. Preston (for two years) ; 1878, E. G. Stitt, M. L. Wilson ; 1880, N. F. Benson, A. W. Cracraft ; 1882, Wright 220 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Hicks, R. C. Bassett ; 1884, J. E. Corwin, C. S. Cummings ; 1886, G. W. Conrad, A. L. Coleman; 1888, W. J. Bailey, D. M. Yonkman; 1890, R. D. McCliman, Ezra Carey; 1892, R. D. McCliman; 1894, G, W. John- son; 1896, G. W. Johnson; 1898, George P. Hayden; 1900, George P. Hayden; 1902, George P. Hayden; 1904, S. R. Myers; 1906, S. R. My- ers; 1908, James M. Meek; 1910, James M. Meek; 1912, R. W. Moor- head; 1914, R. W. Moorhead. Sheriffs 1855, James E. Thompson, superseded by James E. Hill ; 1857, John S. Rogers ; 1859, John S. Rogers ; 1861, John S. Rogers ; 1863, William Boulton; 1865, William Boulton; 1867, Abram Kyger; 1869, Abram Kyger; 1871, David R. Magill; 1873, David R. Magill ; 187s, Richard Johnson; 1877, James Martin; 1879, D. R. Vorhes; 1881, D. R. Vorhes; 1883, Nathan B. Lohmuller; 1885, Nathan B. Lohmuller; 1887, William Dennis; 1889, William Dennis; 1891, George A. Lyman; 1893, George A. Lyman; 1895, A. J. Murray; 1897, A. J. Murray; 1899, H. G. Campbell; 1902, H. G. Campbell; 1904, William Dennis; 1906, William Dennis; 1908, C. B. Andrews; 1910, C. B. Andrews; 1912, J. G. Battin; 1914, J. G. Battin. County Clerks 1855, R. U. Torrey; 1857, R. U. Torrey; 1859, R. U. Torrey; i860, Byron Sherry (to fill vacancy); 1861, WilHam F. Wells; 1863, J. W. Fuller; 1865, J. W. Fuller; 1867, J. W. Fuller; 1869, J. W. Fuller; 1871, Joshua Mitchell; 1873, Joshua Mit- chell ; 1875, Walter J. Ingram ; 1877, Joshua Mitchell ; 1879, Joshua Mit- chell; 1881, Joshua Mitchell; 1883, Richard S. Robbins ; 1885, Richard S. Robbins; 1887, W. E. Young; 1889, W. E. Young; 1891, Charles W. Hunt; 1893, Charles W. Hunt; 1895, Frank M. Hartman; 1897, Frank M. Hartman; 1899, A- G. Sanborn, (to fill vacancy); 1899, A. G. San- born; 1902, B. F. Eaton; 1904, B. F. Eaton; 1906, E. S. Randel; 1908, E. S. Randel; 1910, J. L. Sourk; 1912, J. L. Sourk; 1914, W. L. Kauff- man. Registrars of Deeds 1855 to 1859, Samuel Lappin; 1859, Samuel Lappin; 1861, J. H. Peckham; 1863, William Smith; 1865, William F. Wells; 1867, Abijah Wells; 1869, Peter McQuaid; 1871, J. H. H. Ford; 1873, J. H. H. Ford; 1875, J. H. H. Ford; 1877, J- H. H. Ford; 1879, Roy A. Thompson; 1881, Roy A. Thompson; 1883, Roy A. Thompson; 1885, W. F. Drees; 1887, J. H. Walters; 1889, J. H. Wal- ters: 1891, Albert C. Eigerman; 1893, Van B. Fisher; 1895, Van B. Fisher; 1897, William Callahan; 1899, William Callahan; 1902, R. T. Bruner; 1904, R. T. Bruner; 1906, John M. Taylor; 1908, John M. Tay- lor; 1910, F. B. Crandall; 1912, F. B. Crandall; 1914, George C. Britt. County Treasurers 1855, Edwin Van Endert; 1857, R. U. Torrey (acting); 1859, Charles F. Warren; 1861, Charles G. Scraf- ford ; 1863, J. H. Peckham ; 1865, J. H. Peckham ; 1867, J. C. Hebbard ; 1869, J. C. Hebbard; 1871, O. C. Bruner; 1875, Edward Butt; 1877, Edward Butt; 1879, T. W. Johnson; 1881, T. W. Johnson; 1883, Robert E. Nelson; 1885, A. C. Moorhead; 1887, A. C. Moorhead; 1889, Edward HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 221 Butt; 1891, Edward Butt; 1893, Charles E. Isaacson; 1895, Charles E. Isaacson; 1897, R. D. McCliman; 1899, R. D. McCliman; 1902, W. R. Graham; 1904, W. R. Graham; 1906, W. G. Rucker-, 1908, W. G. Rucker; 1910, R. T. Bruner; 1912, R. T. Bruner; 1914, H. P. Zahm. Probate Judges 1855, Cyrus Dolman ; 1857, Morton Cave ; 1859, Havens Starr ; i860, Thomas S. Wright ; 1862, James R. Gross ; 1863, James P. Taylor (to fill vacancy) ; 1864, H. H. Lanham ; 1866, H. H.- Lanham; 1868, H. H. Lanham; 1870, H. PI. Lanham; 1872, Will- iam Histed; 1874, H. H. Lanham; 1876, H. H. Lanham; 1878, George Graham; 1880, William Histed; 1882, J. F. Thompson; 1884, J. A. Amos; 1886, J. A. Amos; 1888, Elwin Campfield; 1888, Elwin Camp- field (to fill vacancy); 1890, Elwin Campfield; 1892, J. E. Corwin; 1894, J. E. Corwin; 1896, R. W. Moorhead.; 1898, R. W. Moorhead; 1900, W. W. Simon; 1902, W. W. Simon; 1904, W. W. Simon; 1906, John T. Campbell; 1908, John T. Campbell; 1910, John T. Campbell; 1912, J. E. Taylor; 1914, William H. Higgins. Superintendents of Public Instruction 1857J. C. Hebbard; 1859, J. W. Fuller; i860, F. P. Baker; 1861, Daniel Foster (to fill vacancy) ; 1862, J. C. Hebbard (to fill vacancy) ; 1862, Thomas B. Shepard; 1864, L. C. Preston; 1865, Thomas D. Shepard (to fill vacancy) ; 1866, Thomas D. Shepard ; 1868, J. S. Stamm ; 1870, P. K. Shoemaker; 1872, Josiah-D. Sammons; 1874, Abijah Wells; 1876, Abijah Wells; 1878, Abijah Wells; 1880, J. A. Amos; 1882, J. A. Amos; 1884, E. H. Chapman ; 1886, E. H. Chapman ; 1888, J. J. McCray ; 1890, J. J. McCray; 1892, Milton Todd; 1894, C. A. Strong; 1896, Milton Todd; 1898, J. G. Schofield; 1900, J. G. Schofield; 1902, W. T. Ander- son ; 1904, W. T. Anderson ; 1906, Milton Poland ; 1908, Milton Poland ; 1910, W. R. Anthony; 1912, W. R. Anthony; 1914, W. R. Anthony. Clerks of the District Court 1859, R. U. Torrey; 1861, J. C. Hebbard; 1862, O. C. Bruner; 1864, William Histed; i865 Abijah Wells ;• 1867, D. B. McKay (to fill vacancy) ; 1868, J. H. Will- iams; 1870, George Gould; 1872, George R. Benedict; 1874, George R. Benedict; 1876, George R. Benedict; 1878, George R. Benedict; 1880, George R. Benedict; 1882, James H. Gleason; 1884, James H. Gleason; 1886, James H. Gleason; 1888, James H. Gleason; 1890, H. B. Crary; 1892, H. B. Crary; 1894, D. M. Linn; 1896, D. M. Linn; 1898, J. D. Magill; 1900, Blanche Magill ; 1902, Blanche Magill; 1904, Lulu Ervin; 1906, Lulu Ervin; 1908, Lulu Ervin; 1910, Lulu Ervin; 1912, J. L. Neighbor; 1914, Mabel Worley. County Commissioners 1855, Jesse Adamson, David P. Magill, Peter Hamilton ; 1857, George Graham, A. A. Wood, John Low- ery, William R. Wells, Thomas S. Wright, Peter Hamilton; 1859, George Graham, G. H. Baker, Morton Cave, Charles C. Coffinbury, Thomas S. Wright, Peter Hamilton; i860, (spring election), John Ellis, Charles C. Coffinbury, Garnett Randel ; i860 (regular election), John Ellis, David M. Locknane, Moses Shepard ; 1861, John T. Good- 222 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY pasture, Nicholas Hocker and Samuel Bradshaw (M. H. Terrell suc- cessfully contested Hocker's seat, the only contested election in the country) ; 1863, Edward McCaffrey, Jacob Nicholson, Moses Shepard ; 1865, L. P. Hasen, George D. Searles, Albert Bonjour; 1867, E. F. Bouton, John M. Ford, H. M. Metcalf; 1869, Archibald Moorhead, George D. Searles, Henry O. Stauffer; 1871, Archibald Moorhead, George D. Searles, Henry O. Stauffer; 1873, George H. Adams, C. W. Conrad, Patrick Reilly; 1875, George H. Adams, Patrick Reilly, Aaron H. Burnett; 1877, George H. Adams, Aaron H. Burnett, T. M. Dur- land; 1878, G. H. Adams; 1879, T. M. Durland; 1880, A. H. Burnett; 1881, George H. Adams; 1882, T. M. Durland; 1883, D. B. McKay; 1884, A. C. Moorhead; 1885, J. M. Randel, Richard Johnson; 1886, S. R. Myers, Charles B. Thummel; 1888, J. M. Randel; 1889, Charles B. Thummel; 1890, G. W. Myrick; 1891, James M. Meek, James Fisher (to fill vacancy) ; 1892, Conrad Droge; 1893, G. W. Myrick; 1894, J. T. Sanders; 1895, Conrad Droge; 1896, H. J. Hazell ; 1897, J- T. Sanders; 1898, C. H. Stallbaumer; 1899, D. D. Wickins; 1900, W. G. Rucker; 1901, C. H. Stallbaumer; 1902, D. D. Wickins; 1904, W. G. Rucker, Michael Rogers ; 1906, D. D. Wickins ; 1908, Albert Swartz, T. M. Dur- land (unexpired term, August Kramer, Anton Wempe (unexpired term); 1910, W. E. Ruse; 1912, Fred Dabner, August Kramer; 1914, W. E. Ruse. County Surveyors 1881, Mortimer Mathews; 1883, Morti- mer Mathews ; 1885, Mortimer Mathews ; 1887, E. R. Hopkins ; 1888, Mortimer Mathews, (to fill vacancy); 1889, -Mortimer Mathews; 1891, E. H. Gilbert; 1893, Mortimer Mathews; 1895, Mortimer Mathews; 1897, Mortimer Mathews; 1899, Mortimer Mathews; 1902, Mortimer Mathews ; 1904, Mortimer Mathews ; 1906, Mortimer Mathews ; 1908, Mortimer Mathews; 1910, Mortimer Mathews; 1912, Mortimer Mathews ; 1914, E. J. Berg, (refused to serve ; M. Mathews was ap- pointed by governor). Coroners 1881, Dr. S. S. Kaysbier; 1883, Dr. C. B. Sanford; 1885, Dr. C. B. Sanford; 1887, S. S. Kaysbier; 1889, Dr. S. S. Kaysbier; 1891, Dr. Luther A. Corwin ; 1893, ^r. G. H. Anderson; 1895, Dr. Sam- uel Murdock, Jr. ; 1897, Dr. Samuel Murdock, Jr. ; 1899, Dr. B. F. Her- ring; 1902, Dr. C. M. Fisher; 1904, Dr. C. M. Fisher; 1906, Dr. U. G. lies; 1908, Dr. U. G. lies; 1910, Dr. C. R. Townsend; 1912, Dr. C. R. Townsend ; 1914, Dr. Guy A. Graham. County Attorneys 1882, R. M. Emery; 1884, R. M. Em- ery; 1886, J. W. Cunnick; 1888, J. W. Cunnick; 1890, J. E. Taylor; 1892, Frank Wells ; 1894, Frank Wells ; 1896, S. K. Woodworth ; 1898, S. P. Nold; 1900, Ira K. Wells; 1902, S. P. Nold; 1904, C. H. Herold; 1906, R. M. Emery, Jr.; 1908, C. H. Herold; 1910, C. H. Herold; 1912, C. H. Herold; 1914, Horace M. Baldwin. Covmty Assessors 1910, John E. King; 1912, C. Gudenkauf. Office abolished by legislature. CHAPTER XXVI. BANKS AND BANKING. FIRST BANK IN THE COUNTY THE SABETHA STATE BANK WETMORE STATE BANK FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN THE COUNTY BANKING INTERESTS DEVELOP BANKS ORGANIZED CHANGES AND CONSOLI- DATIONS FARMERS BANK OF MORRILL ORGANIZED PRESENT BANKS THE NATIONAL BANK OF SENECA FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SEN- ECA CITIZENS BANK OF SENECA THE NATIONAL BANK OF SABETHA THE CITIZENS STATE BANK, SABETHA OTHER NEMAHA BANKS. By Roy Hesseltine. The -first banks in Nemaha county were established in the early seventies. These were the Bank of Nemaha Coimty in Seneca, a cor- poration, and a private company bank in Sabetha, called the Sabetha Exchange Bank, operated by Milo E. Mather. We know little of the early history of the Seneca bank, but the tide of immigration,. exhorbi- tant rates of interest, together with the financial aid of the Lemon et al. (St. Joseph, Mo.) interests in the partnership caused the profits of the Sabetha bank to become greater than its manager, Mather, could endure. His ventures did not yield the profits his bank was earning, and he soon found he had overreached in his visions. The result was nearest a bank failure ever known in the county, but in which all loss was finally averted. When he failed individually, his banking partners contested the claims. They were quite numerous and amounted to many thou- sands of dollars, and were largely the accounts of farmers, who pooled their claims and selected and carried to court the claims of Joseph Fox and Jonathan Hesseltine as test cases, which cases were won, and all claims were settled by the St. Joseph partners. The Sabetha bank was succeeded by the Sabetha State Bank, with Edwin Knowles as its manager, and about the same time a second bank was started in Seneca, with Willis Brown as its head. Knowles and Brown were interested in both banks. Both banks were well managed and successful. About this time the brick bank building was erected on the corner of Main and Washington streets, in which the National Bank of Sabetha is still domiciled, and Knowles erected what was looked upon as a mansion, which still stands in its original form in Block 20, opposite the Baptist church in Sabetha. 223 224 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Also about this time the Wetmore State Bank was estabhshed in Wetmore by Snodgrass, De Forest, Hough et al., which bank still exists under its original name. Then came a German in the person of A. Obendorff, Jr., who, in a new departure organized the first national bank in the county, at Cen- tralia, which still exists, and Obendorff is still one of its principal owners, although removed from Centralia many years past. Obendorff, like Mather, became a purchaser of lands, and was active in their devel- opment, but his training and thrift rolled up profits instead of loss, and the magnificently planted and improved farm lying a few miles north of Centralia today marks some of the energies of this sturdy German, Obendorff. The writer formed his acquaintance about 1884 while at- tending^ the first bankers' convention ever held in Kansas City, and in conversation with him, he remarked : "Right here in Kansas City is the best opportunity in the world to enter the banking business at this time." He then proceeded to picture the future of Kansas City. The immense immigration and settlement of the vast open prairies of the county in the early eighties also brought fast developments in the banking interests of the county. With Obendorff, of Centralia, the prime mover, the names of George W. Williams, Leopold Cohen, Samuel Lappin, Charles G. Scraf- ford, Edward Butt, Simon Conwell, L. B. Keith, John A. Gilchrist, John Root, Abijah Wells, Ed Taylor, John E. Smith, A. J. Felt, J. P. Taylor, West E. Wilkinson, George E. Black and many others were affiliated ivith the then and now First National Bank, and the then Seneca State Bank, now the National Bank of Seneca. Edwin Knowles removed from Sabetha to Seneca, and became actively identified with the First National Bank, where he remained until he became cashier of the Cap- itol National Bank of Topeka. He has died within the year. Charles E. Clarkson, of Galesburg, 111., succeeded him in Sabetha, and Jackson Cotton, from Salem, Ohio, became president of the bank, which changes crystalized the demand for a second bank in Sabetha, which brought forward the names of John T. Brady, T. K. Masheter, A. C. Moorhead, L. A. Perley, John Lanning, Jonathan Hesseltine, H. C. Haines, John L. Mowder, George R. T. Roberts, E. B. McKim, John A. Fulton et al., in the organization of the Citizens Bank, which was located in a frame building where the Newman grocery store now stands, and of which Brady was president and Moorhead, cashier, and in 1883, Roy Hessel- tine became its assistant cashier. It was about this time that national banks had commenced attract- ing attention. First nationals had been established in Centralia and Seneca, over in Brown county, M. S. ^Smalley, Charles P. Waste, Eli Davis, J. M. Boomer, Charles Knabb et al. had organized a new first national in Hiawatha, as competitors to the private bank of Barnett, Morrill & Co. The two active competitor banks in Sabetha entered into a contest for the name, first national, in which the newly acquired HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 225 cashier from Galesburg proved himself the winner, and the then new- Citizens Bank accepted the name, Citizens National Bank. George A. Guild became assistant cashier of the First National in 1883. It was also about this time that C. C. K. Scoville emerged from his large loan and law practice and entered the banking field with a third bank in Seneca, which is the present Citizens State Bank of Seneca, and the Wikoff Brothers established their bank at Oneida, while the Morrisons and others established the Citizens State Bank at Centralia. In 1884, a wedding, in which members of the contending bank fac- tions in Sabetha were parties, together with the failing health of A. C. Moorhead, brought about a consolidation of the First National and Citizens National Banks. Within a short space of time, John T. Brady and George A. Guild succeeded Jackson Cotton and Charles E. Clarkson as president and cashier. Roy Hesseltine organized the Farmers Bank of Morrill, and became its cashier. A new era of prosperity then came, the Rock Island railway built its Horton-Fairbury line, the Fairview State Bank, with Fred E. Graham as its cashier, the State Bank of Bern, with Charles H. Herold, cashier, were established. Banks were organized in every town of im- portance in the county, and Sabetha's one bank was groaning under its load of carrying and caring for all the new business coming in. Fred E. Graham was recalled from Fairview and made assistant cashier. All of this brought about the organization, in 1886, of the Citizens State Bank, by Jackson Cotton and Roy Hesseltine. Mr. Cotton remained its president until his death, and Roy Hesseltine, its cashier and presi- dent until his recent removal to Oregon because of poor health. It was this strong combination and these men, who, by fair dealings, economy and strict attention to the businness, made the remarkable record of placing this bank, a close corporation, and made a foremost bank of the county, a distinction seldom attained by a bank outside of the county seat towns, and which distinction this bank enjoyed some twenty years. The present banks of the county, as well as their officers, are fa- miliar to all, and are easily accessible through the numerous directories: The laws governing banks have undergone radical changes during this short space of time. The Kansas banking laws have emerged from nothing to the best and most effective in the United States. The na- tional laws and the new Federal Reserve system have wrought changes almost beyond comprehension, but in keeping with Amercian progress. The writer well remem^bers when published statement dates were fixed by law, and the process of "stuffing" for these semi-annual statements would put our public school methods of "stuffing" for examinations in the shade, and it was frequentl)^ the bank with officials who could bor- row the largest amounts from their city correspondents, or otherwise, and place to their credit with their banks, who could make the best public showing, or, rather the one who could put up the best bluff and most successfully fool the confiding public. (15) 226 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY The first examination of the writer's bank by a regular State ex- aminer, consisted in looking over the daily statement a few minutes, the smoking of a cigar, a short discussion of the political situation, a survey as to the fhances of re-election of the governor to whom he owed his appointment, and the presenting of his receipt for the legally pre- scribed fees for the examination. The methods of bank bookkeeping have kept pace with other devel- opments. The old cumbersome forms, which meant midnight oil and headaches in calculations and adding endless columns of figures, have been succeeded by modern filing devices, adding machines, the newest ledger posting machines, etc., etc., until the work has become so sim- plified and systemized that even the time-honored pass book has be- come obsolete and relegated to the junk heap, and the end is not yet. If those of us who have grown gray and weary in the heat of the service could but know that we could draw aside the curtain and view the inventions and developments fifty years hence, we would be fully content to step aside and lay down the work. THE NATIONAL BANK OF SENECA, KANS. Is the legitimate successor of the Bank of Nemaha County, or- ganized in 1881, and afterwards consolidated with the State Bank of Seneca, on March 14, 1884, which was in turn converted into this strong institution on December 9, 1897, and under able and conservative man- agement and the influence of its fifty-six stockholders, has rapidly ex- tended its business until it has become the largest bank in the city, leading in capital and surplus, deposits, loans and volume of business. At its organization, R. M. Emery, of Seneca, was elected president, and has continuously served in that capacity until the present time. James H. Gleason,now deceased, was elected its first cashier, who was succeeded by Peter P. Stein, assistant cashier, in the year 1908, and he in turn by its present popular and efficient cashier, Melville R. Connet, in the year 1912, who, with the aid of the board of directors and his courteous, com- petent and accommodating assistants, has won popular favor and gained the confidence of its patrons and the public and placed it in the front ranks of the leading banking institutions of .the State. Its deposits are not only guaranteed by its large capital and surplus and its numerous wealthy and influential stockholders, but also by the Bankers Deposit Guaranty and Surety Company, of Topeka, Kans., with a capital and surplus of $500,000. This bank has stood the test of all financial depressions and money panics of the past, and now with its ample "preparedness," as shown by its official and sworn statements, is one of the best and safest deposi- tories doing business anywhere. The active officers of this substantial banking institution are: R. M. Emery, president; E. R. Murphy, vice-president; B. F. Hart, second HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 227 vice-president ; M. R. Connet, cashier ; Frank L. Geary, assistant cashier; Leo J. Scheier, assistant cashier and teller; John R. Emery, bookkeeper. The board of directors are : R. M. Emery, of the law firm of Emery & Emery. E. R. Murphy, retired farmer and capitalist. B. F. Hart, retired farmer and capitalist. H. C. Settle, capitalist. G. W. Johnson, capitalist. H. W. Fuller, of the hardware firm of Fuller & Son. W. G. Rucker, ex-county commissioner and treasurer. M. R. Connet, cashier. The last sworn official statement shows the capital of the bank to be $50,000; surplus and undivided profits, $45,000; deposits and circula- tion, $365,000, making a total aggregate business of 460,000, all of which is safely invested in well-secured farmers' loans, United States bonds, mortgages, etc., and the balance necessary to transact their extensive business is deposited in their large Corliss burglar-proof safe. It is also elaborately equipped with safety deposit boxes for the private use of its patrons, pays four per cent, interest on time and savings accounts, and affords a security to the depositor excelled by no bank in the county. FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SENECA. On December 19, 1874, a charter for the State Bank of Kansas was granted to Samuel Lappin, Charles Scrafford, Edwin Knowles, Willis Brown and Samuel Conwell. Samuel Lappin was elected president, Ed- win Knowles, vice-president, and Willis Brown, cashier. Nearly all these men have passed on, but forty years later the workers in the First National Bank of Seneca have paused for a time to review the history of the institution whose earliest history is insep- arably associated with that of Seneca and Nemaha county. The men to whom this first charter was granted are the same men whose pioneer industry and indefatigable courage helped to carve from out a bleak prairie the splendid commonwealth to which this generation has fallen heir. With these things in mind, the directorate and officers of the First National may well view with pride the growth of a bank that has never failed to keep step with the community whose interests it has done so much to serve. To some of the younger people the names of these early pioneers may be- strange, but the older folks will remember them. To more than One' elderly resident these incidents in the history of the First National that follow will awaken intimate recollections of early days. In 1856, Samuel Lappin came to Seneca, and in 1858, C. G. Scraf- ford. These two pioneers, together with R. U. Torry, comprised the Seneca Townsite Company, and built the first building,, which was an 228 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY old log house and located on the site where now stands the Citizens State Bank of Seneca. The Townsite Company used part of this build- ing as their office, and C. G. Scrafford the other part of the building for a store. Later on, C. G. Scrafford moved to a frame building, which was erected on the site where the brick building now stands, that is occupied by Honeywell & Stein. Samuel Lappin then entered the mer- cantile business with C. G. Scrafford, and in 1863, they built and occu- pied the brick building which is at present occupied by Mason & Wolt- kamp. In 1870, Lappin & Scrafford sold out to Dickinson & Cowdrey and erected the building which is now occupied by John L. Clark. Being heavily interested in lands in this county, they used this building as their office and were heavy dealers in re^l estate. This naturally drifted them into the line of banking, and they were known as the Lappin & Scrafford Bank. They were very successful and influential business men, and Samuel Lappin was later on elected Treasurer of the State of Kansas. FIRST NATIONAL, BANK BUILDING, SENECA, KANS. Later, on December 19, 1874, the charter for the State Bank of Kan- sas, with officers as mentioned in the first paragraph of this article, was secured. In January, 1876, Edwin Knowles was elected president, and D. B. McKay, vice-president. The following year, in January, 1877, Edward Butt was elected vice-president in the place of D. B. McKay. At the same meeting, G. W. Williams was elected a director, which position he has held continuously to the present day. It will be inter- esting to note that the minutes of this meeting show the discount rate was reduced from twenty to eighteen per cent. In 1881, D. J. Firstenberger was elected vice-president and director. In January, 1883, George E. Black was made assistant cashier. In HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 229 March, 1883, the proposition of nationalizing the bajik was taken up, and May 16 of the same year, the charter was granted to the First National Bank of Seneca, with the following .as officers and directors : Willis Brown, president; G. W. Williams, vice-president; George Black, cashier. The directors were : Ed Butt, D. J. Firstenberger, R. E. Nel- son, J. H. H. Ford and D. B. McKay. In January, 1884, the bank purchased the site where now stands the present building. February 2, 1884, George Black resigned as cashier, and Julius Rosenblatt succeeded him. In May of the same year, Leo- pold Cohen purchased a block of stock in the bank, and J. H. Cohen, his son, accepted the position as bookkeeper, which marked the begin- ning of his very active and successful career in this institution. Leopold Cohen was elected as director the following year. On July 14, 1885, West E. Wilkinson was chosen a director to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Julius Rosenblatt, which position he held until Jan- uary, 1902. In January, 1887, G. W. Williams was elected president, Leopold Cohen, vice-president, and W. H. Smith was elected as a director, which office Messrs. Williams and Srriith are holding at the present time. In January, 1888, J. H. Cohen was chosen assistant cashier. On May 25, 1888, the bank sold its old banking rooms to A. H. Burnett, and let a contract for its present beautiful home, into which the bank moved in the spring of 1889. In 1891, S. H. Fitzwater was elected a director and Stephen Burr a director in 1892. R. E. Nelson was elected vice-president in the place of Leopold Cohen, who moved with his family to St. Joseph in 1893, and J. H. Cohen was elected a director at the same time. In 1897, C. C. Pinckney was elected a director to succeed Stephen Burr, who moved with his family to California. There were no other official changes until January, 1902, when J. H. Cohen was elected cashier to succeed West E. Wilkinson. R. A. Cohen and T. L. Cowdrey were then elected as directors. In 1904, L. B. Keith was elected a director and vice-presi- dent. Micha.el Rogers was also elected a director at the same time. In December, 1904, the bank installed its burglar system at considerable expense as additional protection for its funds. In November, 1905, the directors of the First National Bank pur- chased the stock of the Seneca State Savings Bank from its founder, J. E. Stillwell, and moved the same into its present quarters in the First National Bank building, and the two banks are closely identified. In January, 1907, Edwin S. Cohen was elected assistant cashier, which position he held until in December, 1913, during two years of this time holding a position as director. On account of failing health, J. H. Cohen resigned his position as cashier and sold his interest on October 10, 1912, in the First National Bank and the Seneca State Savings Bank to J. E. Stillwell, L. D. Allen, 230 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY J. J. Buser and P. P. Stein, who were also elected directors. L. D. Allen was made vice-president and P. P. Stein, cashier. The First National Bank, Seneca, Kans., at the close of business, March 7, 1916: Resources. Loans and Discounts .$213,074.16 Overdrafts 2S5.33 Federal Reserve Bank Stock 2,100.00 United States Bonds , 50,000.00 Real Estate 13,150.00 Bonds, Securities, etc i75-00 Cash and Exchange 133,744.30 $412,528.79 Liabilities. Capital Stock $ 50,000.00 Surplus and Profits 28,499.10 Circulation 49,695.00 Deposits 284,334.69 $412,528.79 Officers and Directors. G. W. Williams President L. D. Allen Vice-President Peter P. Stein Cashier M. B. Williams Assistant Cashier W. H. Smith, J. J. Buser, J. E. Stillwell, L. B. Keith. The Seneca State Savings Bank, Seneca, Kans., at the close of business, March 7, 1916. Resources. Loans and Discounts $162,002.47 Overdrafts 1,676.04 Bonds 1,000.00 Expenses and Interest Paid 2,296.62 Cash and Sight Exchange 101,272.56 $268,247.69 Liabilities. Capital Stock $ 25,000.00 Surplus and Profits 11,852.80 Deposits 231,394.89 $268,247.69 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 23 1 Officers and Directors. Mat. Schneider President J. E. Stillwell Vice-President Peter P. Stein Second Vice-President L. D. Allen Cashier J. P. Koelzer, G. W. Williams, J. J. Buser. CITIZENS STATE BANK, SENECA, KANS. The Citizens State Bank of Seneca, Kans, was first organized in 1888, and conducted as a private banking institution by C. C. K. Scoville in the building now occupied by its successor. The name of the first concern was the Scoville Exchange Bank, organized by Mr. Scoville, with a capital of $30,000. The success of this financial concern was marked and steady from its inception, and six years after its beginning it was re-organized as a State bank on September i, 1894, with the fol- lowing officers : C. C. K. Scoville, president ; A. L. L. Scoville, vice- president; F. G. Bergen, cashier. The original capitalization was in- creased to $40,000. The first official body was succeeded within a year by the following officers : C. C. K. Scoville, president ; J. J. Knepp, vice-president; F. G. Bergen, cashier; Charles E. Knepp, assistant cashier. The present officers of the Citizens State Bank are : C. C. K. Scoville, president; August Kramer, vice-president; F. J. Holthaus, cashier ; A. J. Wempe, assistant cashier. Directors : The foregoing officers and W. F. Thompson, Henry Eichenlaub, Anton Wempe and Herman Engelken. The present capital of the bank is $40,000. The deposits and earn- ings have been accumulated exceeding $20,000. The deposits will ex- ceed $250,000, while the bank has loans of $250,000. This bank has paid in dividends, since its organization in 1888, over $158,000, an amount ceeding fifteen per cent of the capitalization annually, in addition to the accumulated surplus of $20,000. The stockholders of this thriving financial concern have received the value of their stock over three and one-half times in dividends. This bank at present pays an average dividend of seventeen and one-half per cent., including surplus. Four per cent, is paid on savings deposits and upon time certificates of deposit. The bank has weathered all monetary panics successfully and -the losses sustained from bad loans during the past twenty-eight years, etc., will not exceed $500, all of which is evidence of the careful and able management of its affairs, based upon sound expert financial knowledge. THE NATIONAL BANK OF SABETHA. The National Bank of Sabetha }ias an asset that is never listed in its statements, and yet it is perhaps the most important thing around 1;he place, the first thing that impresses you when you do business there. 232 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY It is the asset of politeness, good nature and the integrity of the spoken word. You feel it every time you go into the bank. The bank's capital and surplus of $100,000 is a lot of money, and it makes a foundation that goes to bed rock, yet it is the good natured squareness of the men you meet there that you remember longest. The bank's last statement, showing time deposits amounting to about $125,000, indicates to the ordinary, everyday mind the confidence of the community in those who direct the bank's affairs. The total de- posits are $350,000, and the total assets over a half million dollars, a real lump of money for a county bank. Incidentally, some pretty good men are directors and officers of the National Bank of Sabetha. There's C. L. Sherwood, who has been vice- president of the bank since 1889; John Lanning, a director since 1891, president in 1894, and vice-president since 1902; Adolph Weiss, a di- rector since 1883 ; H. C. Haines, a director since 1885 ; A. J. Collins, bookkeeper, assistant cashier, cashier and president in turn, beginning from 1897; G. R. Sewell, bookkeeper, assistant cashier and cashier, be- ginning from 1904 ; H. F. Breitweiser, bookkeeper in 1909, now assistant cashier; Roy L. Mishler, bookkeeper since 191 1, and Ernest Lamparter, starting as bookkeeper this year, 1916. Note how the active workers in the bank have graduated by slow dgrees. That means efficiency, knowl" edge of the business, sound service, the supreme thing to be desired in banking. Another director in the bank is George A. Guild, who grew up with the bank and went to Topeka for larger resposibilities ; also W. R. Guild, now president of the First National Bank of Hiawatha. Here is the way the National Bank of Sabetha has evoluted into the present institution : First, it was the Sabetha State Bank, organized on March 2, 1877; then the First National Bank of Sabetha, organized on July 2, 1883 ; then the State Bank of Kansas, organized on February 27, 1885, and now the National Bank of Sabetha, organized on August 28, 1891. The National Bank of Sabetha has a fine past as encouragement for future achievements. THE CITIZENS STATE BANK, SABETHA, KANS. The Citizens State Bank of Sabetha, Kans., is one of the strongest financial institutions in Nemaha county and northeastern Kansas, and has been inexistence since its organization in 1885 by Messrs. Jackson, Cotton, Robert Bressem and Roy Hesseltine, who were the first officers. The initial capital of this bank was $25,000. Mr. Cotton continued with the bank until his death in 1898. Mr. Hesseltine was connected with the management of the bank until 1913, when he disposed of his interest to F. C. Woodbury, who is the president and active manager of the con- cern. The present capital of the Citizens State Bank is $50,000 ; surplus, $25,000; undivided profits, $15,000; deposits on February 24, 1916, ag- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 233 gregated the large total of $390,000,' and the bank has an average annual deposit of $325,000. This banking concern has the distinction of having the largest total of deposits of any bank in Nemaha county. The bank building was completely remodeled and modernized in 1909, and new fixtures were installed, with new vaults and safety de- posit features added. An insurance department for the convenience of the many patrons is conducted by Mr. Bressem. The farm loan depart- ment is in charge of Mr. Woodbury, who has direct connection with large Eastern capitalists, and the source of capital for this purpose available is practically unlimited, at the lowest possible rates and most liberal terms. The bank has made more farm loans during the past two years than ever before in its history. The bank equipment is thoroughly modern in every respect and the facilities are such that the officers and employees are enabled to wait upon patrons and handle the extensive business of the bank quickly and expeditiously and render customers prompt, efficient .and satisfactory service at all times. The customers meet with courteous and liberal treatment and are made to feel perfectly at home when transacting business in this bank. The present officers are as follows : F. C. Woodbury, president ; Robert Bressem, vice-president ; J. C. Litohy, cashier ; E. E. Morris, assistant cashier; F. C. Woodbury, Robert Bressem, J. C. Lichty, E. E. Mor-ris and R. Bottiger, directors. The commendatory feature of the Citizens State Bank is the fact that "The Citizens State Bank is operating under the depositors' guarantee law of the State of Kansas, whereby all deposits in the bank are abso- lutely guaranteed to the depositors." The bank is a depository for the State of Kansas, Nemaha county, and the city of Sabetha, and a special savings department is provided for. OTHER NEMAHA BANKS. Baileyville Sate Bank; established 1894; Willis J. Bailey, president; J. M. Everts, cashier; Robert M. Bronaugh, vice-president; capital and surplus, $20,000. State Bank of Bern; established 1889; George A. Guild, president; H. L. Guild, cashier ; J. Hilt, vice-president ; capital and surplus, $35,000. State Bank of Oneida; established 1884; D. H. Funk, president; F. E. Wikoff, cashier ; H. L. Wikoff, vice-president ; capital and surplus, $21,000. Citizens State Bank; established 1887; Centralia ; A. W. Slater, president ; J. A. Dock, cashier ; C. C. Wadleigh, vice-president ; capital and surplus, $26,000. First National Bank, Centralia ; established 1882 ; F. P. Bowen, president; J. B. Lohmuller, cashier; A. Obendorf, vice-president; capital and surplus, $50,000. 234 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY First National Bank, Goff ; estabKshed 1904; George Calhoun, presi- dent; A. H. Fitzwater, cashier; James H. Smith, vice-president; capital and surplus, $34,000. Home State Bank, Goff; established 1909; William Mast, president; C. S. Goodrich, cashier; Herman Mast, vice-president; capital and sur- plus, $12,000. State Bank of Kelly; established 1902; R. M. Emery, president; George A. Magill, cashier; B. H. Rottinghaus, vice-president; capital and surplus, $12,000. State Bank of Bancroft; established 1902; W. H. Capsey, president; H. T. Whitaker, cashier; William Karns, yice-president ; capital and surplus, $18,000. Farmers State Bank, Corning; established 1888; W. Jacobia, presi- dent; J. E. Woodworth, cashier; M. E. Jacobia, vice-president; capital and surplus, $28,500. First National Bank, Wetmore ; established, 1907 ; T. E. Henderson, president; F. P. Achten, cashier; E. B. Ward, vice-president; capital and surplus, $31,000. Wetmore State Bank; established 1882; H. C. De Forest, president; Samuel Thornburrow,' cashier ; H. C. Lynn, vice-president; capital and surplus, $30,000. CHAPTER XXVIL THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. PRIOR TO i860 EARLY DAY DOCTORS DR. ANDERSON^ DR. HIDDEN WELL KNOWN PHYSICIANS FIRST MEDICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZED NOW A PART OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PRESENT ORGANI- ZATION REQUIREMENTS TO PRACTICE HOSPITAL PROMINENT PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. By Dr. S. Murdock, Jr. The medical history of Nemaha county, Kansas, prior to the year i860, consists of the tales and recollections of a few pioneer settlers. The stories recited by them are interesting and incidental only to the individual character of the men who professed to know something of medicine, and they would have no bearing, or even be considered as con- tributory toward the upbuilding of the present medical profession in the county. The names of Dr. Anderson, of Granada, and Dr. Hidden, of Centralia, figure in the early history of the treatment of the sick. Dr. Irwin, who lived in Brown county, Kansas, was frequently called into the county and took care of many of the early settlers. His mannerisms and individualities are still remembered. His trips were often made many miles on foot, and many were the hardships wrhich he endured. He is recognized as having had exceptional ability from a medical stand- point. Later he located in Sabetha, Kans., where he built his home and lived during the remainder of his life. The names of Dr. Wachter, of Baileyville ; Dr. Noah Hayes, of Seneca ; Dr. Caysbier, Dr. J. F. Lesh, Dr. A. J. Best, Dr. Townsend, Dr. Joseph Hague, Dr. Graham and Dr. Mur- dock, Sr., Dr. Magill, Centralia; Dr. Corwin, of Goff ; the young Dr. Ir- win, Dr. Redding, Dr. Herring, Dr. Gafford, Dr. Welsh and Dr. Wagner are all well known practitioners in various parts of the county. The first medical society in the county was organized in Seneca, with Dr. S. Murdock, Sr., president, and Dr. Wachter, secretary. The society has been maintained for the last twenty-five years and is still in full working order. It is now a part of the State Medical Society, also .the American Medical Association. The organized medical society in the United States has recognized the county society as one of the require- ments for admission into this great association. The present organiza- tion of the Nemaha County Medical Society consists of Dr. L. A. Cor- 235 236 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY win, Goff, president; Dr. W. A. Haynes, Sabetha, vice-president; Dr. S. Murdock, Jr., Sabetha, secretary, and the following members of the pro- fession are in good standing: Dr. W. G. Bouse, Centralia; Dr. J. H. Brown, Centralia; Dr. F. F. Carter, Seneca; Dr. D. H. Fitzgerald, Kelly; Dr. G. S. Graham, Wetmore ; Dr. J. W. Graham, Wetmore ; Dr. W. A. Haynes, Sabetha; Dr. S. B. Houston, Baileyville; Dr. W. H. Heuchede, Corning; Dr. Grant Meyer, Bern; Dr. S. Murdock, Jr., Sabetha; Dr. J. C. Maxson, Corning; Dr. J. R. Purdum, Wetmore; Dr. A. S. Ross, Sabetha; Dr. H. G. Snyder, Seneca; Dr. C. R. Townsend, Centralia, and Dr. A.. J. Smith. Christian Science in this county has had a number of adherents; other "isms," such as the magnetic healer, the chiropractor and the patent medicine man have all had their day here, the same as in any other county. Since the medical act was passed in Kansas, the requirements for one to enter the practice of medicine have been raised. Those who de- sire to practice must first pass through a recognized medical school, must then pass the examinations before the State Board of Registration before they can register in any county as a practicing physician. Flow- ever, those who practice without the administration of drugs, as the osteopath and the chiropractor, simply register their diplomas from some school of their sect, and they are granted at once the privilege of taking care of the sick. There" are no specifications or laws as to the qualifica- tions necessary to be a reader or a practitioner of Christian Science. The only general hospital in the county is located in Sabetha and is known as the Sabetha Hospital. This is run by an association for the benefit of the profession, not only in this county, but in the surrounding counties. The property consists of one main hospital building, which will accommodate forty patients ; also a nurses' home with seventeen rooms. The medical profession in Nemaha county has representatives who are known nationally, many of them of interstate reputation, and most of them are known throughout the State of Kansas by others than their own brotherhood. Dr. Samuel Murdock, Jr., is president of the State hospital board and his private hospital is known nationally. He is one of twenty-two surgeons in Kansas to have been elected a member of the College of American Surgeons in Boston. Dr. Hugh Dillingham, a Nemaha county youth, now of Halstead, Kans., is secretary of the State Hospital Board. Dr. Hugh Wilkinson is a surgeon of Kansas City with an interstate reputation. His father was the late West E. Wilkinson, pioneer newsaper man of Seneca. Dr. J. R. Mathews, a Nemaha county man, specializing in eye troubles, has recently gone to Manhattan, where he is associated in lectures and practice with the State Agricultural Col- lege. Mrs. Dr. Emily Slosson, the one prominent woman doctor of the HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 237 county, has been practicing medicine since before her marriage to Samuel Slosson. in 1875. Against the wishes of her father, Dr. Brooks, who was country doctor for many 3'ears around Salem, Neb., she went from school in Philadeplhia to take a thorough course in medicine. Such a step for a young girl was considered remarkable in the early seventies. Mrs. Slosson was graduated from the Nebraska State Normal Col- lege with the second graduating class in 1872. The first graduating class of this college had two graduates, Miss Anna Moorhead, of Sabetha, and SABBTHA HOSPITAL, SABETHA, KANS. George Howard, of Salem. Anna Moorhead is now Mrs. Joy, of Oregon. Joseph Howard became a professor in Leland Stanford University, in California. A few years ago there was a religious tempest in the college in which the views of several of the professors were found not to be those of the Leland Stanford higher authorities, and the professors re- signed. Among them was Prof. Joseph Howard, who since has been associated with the University of Nebraska. Mrs. Dr. Slosson recalls that she and Anna Moorhead Joy were roommates in these early college 238 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY days. Their modest expenditures for a year were less than the present day college girl's in a week. Their room, for instance, cost them $4 for the term. They boarded themselves. They had a regular cookstove and learned their domestic science by practical experience, and memories of how mother did it at home. They were given all the fresh milk they wanted, and for the going after it, and all the potatoes they could use for the digging of them. They had free access to the immense amount of brush lying around Peru, and all the driftwood they could rescue from the river, flowing past the town. Some farmer wagon, with a lad as driver, hauled the wood for them for fifty cents, and they chopped it themselves. Their other expenditures amounted to never over $1.50 a week altogether, and often not over a dollar. Ye Gods, and think what putting a girl through college means today ! The year's expense of educating Anna Moorhead and Emma Brooke was less than an outfit costs for the girl of today. Anna Moorhead, a year after her graduation, married; Emma Slosson, three years afterward. Of the early day doctors in Nemaha county, mention has been gen- erally made in the previous pages. They are found connected with the building up and prospering of the county, in country and town. They are connected with the story of the War of the Rebellion. Dr. Hayes, Dr. Kaysbier, Dr. McKay, Dr. Troughton, Dr. J. L. Thompson, Dr. J. W. Graham, Dr. Milan and Dr. Best are among the names known and be- loved by pioneer settlers. Dr. J. S. Hidden was the earliest regular practitioner in the county. He came to Kansas and Nemaha county in 1858, at which time he was a member of the New Hampshire legislature. He was a member of the famous Home Association of Old Centralia, and became rich in the county. About thirty-five years ago. Dr. S. Murdock, Sr., came from Mis- souri to Oneida, which was at that time in the height of its boom. He became the country doctor for the surrounding' people, and is still the most beloved of doctors. Dr. Heigh's name has been connected with the Wetmore and Granada and the southeastern corner of the county for many years, while Dr. McKay is largely responsible for the early day health and welfare of the extreme southern end, around America City. CHAPTER XXVIII. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. THE PIONEERS INTEREST IN SCHOOLS FIRST COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS ESTABLISHING DISTRICTS RECORDS DESTROYED BY FIRE THE DISTRICT SCHOOL NUMBER OF DISTRICTS CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATES IN 1877, 1885, I9OO AND I915 ' OFFICERS AND TEACHERS IN 1886 SCHOOL OFFICERS, I915-I918 JOINT DISTRICTS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL PLAN REJECTED CONSOLI- DATION SCHOOL CENTRALIZATION NOTABLE TEACHERS THE AL- BANY SCHOOL A BELOVED TEACHER. By County Superintendent W. R. Anthony. The huts and dugouts of the early settlers of Nemaha county were hardly completed before the attention of everyone was turned to the necessity of making provision for the education of the children of the settlement and vicinity. The lack of building material did not long check the ardor of the sturdy pioneers, and soon a number of sod school houses were erected and equipped. Though crude at first, these primitive seats of learning became actual and interesting community centers ; foi: here not only did the boys and girls of the surrounding country gather through the winter months for school, but here the settlers met to discuss important ques- tions and problems and to hold religious and patriotic services. Here, too, the young people met in spelling schools, debating societies and other wholesome amusements, and many fond ties of love and friendship and pleasant memories brighten faces and lighten hearts at thoughts of those "days gone by." These primitive sod huts and rude cabins soon gave way to better buildings, the little white school houses of almost sacred memory, and such is the neighborhood pride in these little rural centers of learning, as well as attachment for them through past associations, that it will require much argument and clear evidence before the people will consent to the passing of the rural schools for the consolidated schools, which are now being considered in many parts of the country where they are being tried out as far better and more efficient than the small rural school. Before Kansas had reached Statehood, Joseph C. Hebbard was ap- pointed first county superintendent of schools of Nemaha county, and 239 240 HISTORY OF NfeMAHA COUNTY schools were opened in the different settlements. Following Superin- tendent Hebbard, the office was filled by J. W. Fuller, F. P. Baker, Daniel Foster and J. C. Hebbard again. In November, 1862, Thomas D. Shepherd was elected for a term of two years, the first superintendent elected under the new State govern- ment. The following is the list of the superintendents of Nemaha county from the first to the present time, 1916 : Joseph C. Hebbard, March, 1859, to January, i860; J. W. Fuller, January, i860, to July, i860; F. P.. Baker, July, i860, to December, 1861 ; Daniel Foster, December, 1861, to April, 1862 ; Joseph C. Hebbard April, 1862, to January, 1863 ; Thomas D. Shep- herd, elected in November, 1862, and served from January, 1863, to January, 1865, one term. L. C. Preston served from January, 1865, to August, 1865, when he resigned, and Abijah Wells was appointed to fill the vacancy and served till December, 1865. Mr. Wells was followed by Thomas D. Shepherd, who died in December, 1867. J. H. Ballou was ap- pointed to fill out Superintendent Shepherd's term and served from De- cember, 1867, to January, i86g. J. D. Stamm was the eleventh county superintendent, serving to December, 1870. P. K. Shoemaker was elect- ed as Mr. Stamm's successor and served one term, January, 1871, to Janu- ary, 1873. Abijah Wells was the fourteenth county superintendent and served three successive terms, 1875 to 1881. Mr. Wells has the honor of having filled the office longer than any county superintendent to the date of this writing, 1916. His term of service was six years and five months. Many official records and data pertaining to the office are found in his familiar handwriting. Mr. Wells was followed by J. A. Amos, E. H. Chapman and J. J. McCray, each of whom served two terms. Milton Todd served one term, from 1893 to 1895, and was followed by C. A. Strong for one term. Mr. Todd was returned to the office in 1897 for another term, and was followed by J. G. Schofield, who served from January, 1899, to May, 1903, making his term of office four years and four months. Mr. Schofield was followed by W. T. Anderson and Mil- ton Poland, two terms each. In May, 191 1, W. R. Anthony entered the office as the twenty-fourth county superintendent and shares with Mr. Wells the honor of having been elected for three consecutive terms. His present term of office expires in May, 1917. When the county was organized and the task of laying out the dis- tricts was begun, district No. i was located to include the territory of the present city of Centralia and vicinity. This settlement was one amongst the first in the county, just north of Centralia of today. No. 2 took the Taylor Rapids settlement, a once promising little village on the banks of the Nemaha in the northern part of the county. Its dreams of future greatness failed to materialize, and today only a modest little school house stands as a landmark. District No. 3 was located just south of Baileyville, in the Graham neighborhood ; No. 4 included the Ford settlement, east of Seneca, and No. 5 was in the Roots settlement, about half way between Seneca and Corning. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 241 It is interesting to follow the list and note in the next ten districts the following settlements in various parts of the county: Carroll, near Axtell; White Hall, just east of Centralia; Beyreis, north of Seneca on the Nebraska line ; Union Dale, in the Funk neighborhood, southwest of Oneida; District No. 10, some of the old settlers of which were the Buckles, Greens, Maelzers, Smiths, Kilkennys, Letelliers, just southwest of Centralia; District No. 11, including the city of Seneca; Swerdfeger and Shumaker, north of Wetmore; Wolfley school, east of Goff, and Liberty, in the Johnson and Burger neighborhood, north of Seneca. From THE BEAUTIFUL HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, SENECA, KANS. this record we see that schools were established in all parts of the county along with homes. The records of the county superintendent's office were destroyed by fire on March 4, 1876, and much interesting early data concerning these first settlements and schools is not available for embodying in this short review of the educational history of Nemaha county ; but up to the time of the fire there had been organized about eighty districts in the county in which schools were kept from three to five or more months. (16) 242 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY With our present high ideals of schools and school work one may be inclined to minimize the efforts of these early frontier short-term schools, but when one estimates carefully and thoughtfully the results that have followed them, he must admire and praise them. The enrollment did not consist of just a handful of small boys and girls, as is the case in many places today, but the room was full, including not only little folks, but big boys and girls, grown, even young men and women. The teacher was a sturdy disciplinarian who knew how to wield the rod as well as hear classes and call school ; and while the instruction was not so classic and up-to-date in methods, hosts of young people learned to read and write and spell and cipher, learned to think and decide, to form con- clusions as to right and wrong, to be honest and frugal and upright, and later build up homes and establish a citizenship that has made Nemaha county an honor to the State of Kansas. During the next ten years, about twenty-five districts more were added to the list, bringing the number up to 105. The first district meet- ing in the Anderson district. No. 103, was held at the home of Thomas S. Anderson, just south of Oneida, on October 16, 1886, to locate the site for the school house, elect officers, etc. The territory to form this district was taken from the, surrounding districts, Nos. 4, 9, 54, 79, 83 and 87. The original notice of this first meeting is on file in the office. At this meeting P. A. Wright was elected clerk, Thomas S. Anderson, treasurer, and Henry F. Harter, director. During the next decade, 1886 to 1896, the number of school districts increased to 117. No. 117 was organized on July 16, 1894, with J. P. Good as clerk, Robert Schneider as treasurer, and Charles Krogman as director. The territory of this district was originally in Districts 3, 69, 89 and 76. Just three districts have been organized since 1896, District 118, in 1898, by Superintendent Todd ; District 119, in 1903, by Superintendent W. T. Anderson, and District 120, in 1910, by Superintendent Milton Poland. The total number of school districts in the county, including the joint districts, is now 130. For a number of years the tendency has been to make more districts, thus reducing the territory of existing districts, and the limit has about been reached. There are yet a few points where the organization of a new district would accommodate a few families in a small school, but sentiment is gradually changing and people are be- ginning to feel that it would be better if there were fewler districts and larger schools. The pendulum is beginning to vibrate the other way and consolidated schools are being thought about, talked about arid advocated in different communities. Meetings have been appointed in some lo- calities and in a few districts a vote has been taken to ascertain the senti- ment of the people on the proposition. As this brief educational review of the county must, of necessity, contain some statistics to make it of real value for future reference, the HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 243 following data is compiled from the records of the county superintend- ent's office : Names of Candidates for Teachers' Certificates in 1877 — G. W. j\Iay- hew, R. E. Mayhew, Mary E. Alvord, Hattie A. Smith, Addie Points,- Finnie Points, Mattie A. Burger, Dora Murphy, Florence Alvord, Joseph Haigh, Susie Blazier, Alice Allen, Dora Neighbor, D. B. Mercer, Cryssie Myers, John Crarey, Nora Cattin, Ollie Shannon, Mary J. Ewing, J. T. Gillam, D. S. Gilmore, Hattie West, Addie Hitchcock, D. L. Miller, I'tfFh-y'-rrii' HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, SABBTHA, KANS. Lizzie J. Hart, Frances Cattin, Maud Biddison, J. B. Lohmuller, J. J. Mc- Neil, Nannie Morehead, Morris King, V. H. Biddison, L. Herrington, Mary Todd, D. L. Ewing, Jennie McCoy, Mort Mathews, A. Sams, Emma J. Gillaspie, Jennie Ewing, Sarah Carroll, D. L. Linn, Alma Hammel, Isabel Wilson, J. J. Mitchell, Mrs. W. W. Skadden, M. H. Minehan, May Techlofen, W. D. Monk, G. D. Lewis, Sophia Wohlford, H. D. Crarey, D. R. Bradt, T. Jennings, Julia Heusley, Ella Watkins, S. S. Lindeman, Flora M. Stinson, Jennie S. Lilley, Laura Manville, Mattie Trees, Maggie Mercer, Sarah Chapman, Annie Mercer, T. J. Wolfley, A. M. Allen, J. 244 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY A. Huron, Mary Monahan, D. F. Hoover, E. H. Chapman, C. H. Stewart, T. F. Bracken, Lenore Bracken, Pat Dignan, Mary V. Andrews, Clara Gallup, Minnie King and C. H. Herold. At the teachers' institute held at Seneca in July, 1885, E. H. Chap- man, county superintendent, the following was the enrollment: Clinton Barrowdale, Elmer V Allen, Ed. E. Harter, Henry T. Shoemaker, Hugh B. Carter, Beverly H. Hobb^, John Barber, Charles Fundis, Vernon Simon, Edw. W. Clark, Fanny H. Bennett, Mary Myers, Eva Coleman, J. H. Parker, Allie Allen, Winnie Carr, Anna Ridenour, Mattie Wood- bourn, Mary Anderson, Anna Dougan, Angie Stickney, Susey Hulse, Mary Seeley, Minnie Burger, Lorrain Taylor, Minnie Kaysbier, Jennie McBratney, Cora Moren, Nettie Kuhn, Rebecca McCray, Mattie E. Clark, Genie M. Kendall, Sophia Wohlford, Lillie E. Clark, Frank A. Hastings, Anna Skinner, Alice Nightengale, Theressa Wohlford, Lillie Fabrick, Etta Borem, Dora Taylor, Delia Farmer, Lydia Oren, Mrs. O. H. Stilson, Anna Green, Belle McColgin, Emma Hodgins, Eden Borrow- dale, Mary Hale, Laura Critchfield, Jessie Boardman, Nettie Carmichael, Stowey Bruce, Lillie Rosenberger, Anna Kerr, Norma Kerr, Lora Moul- ton. Flora Stonebarger, Mary Bland, Maggie Stark, Rebecca Oren, Lydia Ward, Ada E. Sherman, Mary Roberts, Severina Koelzer, Mary McCaf- frey, Agnes Graney, Jane Coffey, Kate Brock, Sarah A. Bennett, Hattie S. Wickens, Ada O'Roke, Lulu Smith, Sarah McKee, Anna Hartman, R. W. McKinley, Charles Miner, J. E. Sherrard, Jesse Everhard, Clara Larimer, Lizzie Trees, Mary Williams, Estella Stewart, Nettie Abbey, Effie Grubb, Martha Wolfley, Grace Means, Mrs. Emma Robinson, Mary Harness, J. E. McKinley, Ida Neiman, Edith Coston, Louesa Cap- per, Clara Kistner, Lillie Ludwig, Mrs. M. E. Todd, Eugene Dorcas, Amy Chandler, Jennie Lincoln, Robert J. Waugh, Joseph Denbring, Frank Welp, B. F.- Eyer, Louisa Keepers, Mary Lincoln, Jennie McMillan, J. W. Emmert, Pauline Campbell, J. N. Largent, Hattie Church, Jennie Little, Sallie F. Potts, A. A. Walker, Allie Webster, S. S. Dorcas, Geo. J. Parks, Nettie Etter, J. J. Lockland, E. C. Shelton, Ada Lake, A. A. Brooks, Kate L. Losee, J. W. Roberts, Rosa Machamer, Anna Newland, Jennie Fisher, Bertha Winterbourne, Bertha Morton, F. C. Perkins, J. J. McCray, Chas. A. Haggard, Will M. Boylan, Eleanor Johnson, Allie G. Falconer, Lottie Balmer, Maud L. Skinner, P. K. Shoemaker, Wm. Mc- Bratney, Mrs. J. H. White, Mary Phillips, A. L. Funk, Kate E. Wickins, W. H. Higgins, Mattie Trees, A. A. Hyde, Thomas Kerr, Mrs. Nettie Milam, Elmer Bruce, S. S. Meeks, F. W. Plehn, Flora Brownlee, Julia Baker, Ina McCliire, Nellie M. Amos, Alma Hamel, Mrs. M. E. Manwar- ing, Anna Stinson, Maud Skinner, J. H. Walters, J. L. Hermon, Sera Lamberson, Anna Gill, Chas. H. Lee, J. M. Manwaring, Emma Gillaspie, A. A. Songer, W. L. Critchlow ; total, 167. Fifteen years later, in June, 1900, J. G. Schofield, county superinten- dent, on the institute enrollment are found the names of Nellie G. Alli- son, Ada M. Anderson, Minnie Benedict, Maggie Blauer, Faye Burke, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 245 Lela Capsey, Leona Clelland, Andrew Clelland, Perle Comp, Agnes Conwell, Charlotte Cottrell, Maude Cracraft, Ethel Cunningham, Edna Curtis, Grace Dennis, Bertha Dentler, Vertie DeWalt, Hettie DeWalt, Mollie Dillon, Mary Dougan, Kate Dougan, Jennie Douglass, Clemintina Drake, Emma Dyce, Josie Eigenman, Helen Emery, Winifred Evans, Grace Felt, Bert Fenner, Rose Fisher, Bessie Garrett, Bertha Garrison, Albert Gibbons, Nora E. Hamler, James ^A. Hamler, Rose Harsh, Mrs. Florence Hearne, Belle Heathe, Julius Henry, Lavina Hickey, Phoebe Hillman, Grace Hillman, E. G. Hoskinsson, A. B. Huerter, Fannie In- galls, Mamie Johnstone, Lillie J. Johnstone, Nora Keiser, Verna Keller, Margaret Kinnan, Chas. P. Knight, Anna Lahr, Bessie Lane, William W. Lilley, Grace Lockridge, Lena Lynn, Lillian Maynard, Bessie Miller, •Leona Moore, Jessie Moss, Grace Munson, Pruella Neff, Anna Neighbor, Jessie Newman, Lucretia Newman, Gertrude Nicholson, Etta Norton, Amy Norton, T. J. Nusbaum, Vera O'Roke, Lela O'Roke, Mary Ort, Ella Robertson, Francis H. Robinson, Ethel M. Schofield, Cora L. Schofield, Eva Scrafford, Mary Shoemaker, Mamie Sisson, Josie Skoch, Libbie Smith, Frank Smith, Robert Smith, Mae E. Steele, Allen Stewart, Grace M. Taylor, Maria A. Todd, Onah Torrence, Maud Ward, Myrtle Warrington, Fannie E. Wil- kins, Edith M. Williams, Clara J. Williams, A. H. Wills, G. E. Wright, Eva L. Wright, Adala A. Yeanger, Mattie Leone Yeanger, Clarence Wil- son, Mary Savage, Katie* Savage, Isaac C. Gardner, Frank Hoover, Gladys Timberlake, Alice E. Latimer, Lucie Nowak, Daisy Ball, Dora Dorman, Lillie Dorman, Sarah Adriance, G. B. Timberlake, Pearl Gruno, Ethel Balmer, May Bristol, Lottie B. McCoy, Jennie Herold, Erma Keith, Lenna Myrick, Alice Emery, Emma McBratney, Esther Hillman, Mabel Larzelere, Dorothy Geyer, Bessie Taylor, Nellie Shoemaker, Flat- tie McColgin, Mamie Maddux, Katie Davidson, Bertha Brown, Francis L. Gallagher, Mildred Firstenberger, Ethel Hoskinson, Bessie B. Lati- mer, Orpha Martin, Levera Simon, Geo. W. Sourk, H. L. Greening, J. M. Denton; total, 140. Another fifteen years later, June, 1915, W. R. Anthony, county sup- erintendent, at institute are enrolled Hazel Anthony, Agnes Adams, Je- well Allen, Anna Allen, Agnes Assenmacher, Ethel M. Bradt, Laura Barndt, Edith L. Benner, Effie Butz, Celia Burke, Katherine Badesheim, Myrtle J. Brock, Pearl A. Barber, Fayra Bissell, Nellie Briep, Edna Baldwin, Leslie Burger, Mrs. Lela Boothe, Olive Bird, Anna Creevan, Lula Crosswhite, Mildred M. Cole, Susie Cordill, Bernice F. Conard, Morna Conard, Anna Campbell, Mary E. Cramer, Josephine Camp, Ella Curtis, Georgia T. Davis, Winona Davis, Margaret Dennis, Violet Den- nis, Helen Detweiler, Ernestine Drum, Lucy Elizabeth Young, Nora Farley, Grace Funk, Violet Fish, Lucille Gunther, Helen GroUmes, Mil- dred Guffey, Ada Gaston, Mamie Herold, Daisy Haffner, Josie Hybsk- man, Cecil Hamlin, Lois Hatch, Olivia Hull, Bessie M. Jenkins, Lela Johnson, Lola Johnson, Gladys O. Kean, Lenora Kill, Ellen Kill, Zacha- 246 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY riah Kill, Rosalia Kramer, Olive Kirk, Lela Lightbody, May Lawrence, Emmett Lynch, Alary Lynch, Helen Loob, Victor Massenge, Bertha Markley, Nora Manley, Belle McGreevey, Winnie McClain, Elza Mize, Myrtle Millick, Ruth Moyer, Zella Munsell, June Meyer, Edith Mc- Bratney, Katherine Montgomery, Florence McClary, Inez Minger, Har- riett E. Mooney, Bernice Nash, William Newlove, Katie Neil, Mrs. Ber- tha Owens, Anna O'Brien, Ethel Pfiester, Reba J. Paxton, Elsie Pecken- paugh, Sybil Robinson, Sara Rooney, Hazel Rucker, Vera Ralph, Rose Savage, Sadie Sinclair, Beulah Stahn, Inez C. Shumaker, Frances Schrempp, Mary Springer, Alice Schoonover, Ray Springer, Esther Steinmeir, May Tyner, Clara Tyner, Lavina Tietz, Alice Vautravers, PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, GOFF, KANS. Edith Van Buren, Mildred Winquist, Lola Whitesell, Cecil M. Worley, Ethel L. Worley, Loretta Wells, Martha Wempe, Fannie F. Wileman, Thelma Wetmore, Milan Wasser, Dora Wells, Delpha Winkler, Amy E. Woollard, Mrs. Pearl White, Fern Yeakle; Iscah Zahm; total, 119. DIRECTORY OF SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICERS AND TEACH- ERS OF NEMAHA COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1886. District i, Centralia: A. J. Best, clerk; A. Harburger, treasurer; Henry Lohmuller, director; teachers, O. M. Bowman, William Wherland, Ada Kuhn and Sadie Montgomery. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 247 District 2, Riverside : Wade Hampton; clerk ; August Koster, treas- urer ; J. M. Taylor, director-; teacher, Carrie E. Thompson. District 3, Graham: J. M. Witmer, clerk; M. R. Connet, treasurer; William Yeanger, director; teacher, Mary Lincoln. District 4, Ford: C. A Sherman, clerk; Joseph Ford, treasurer; Giles Barney, director; teacher, J. N. Sargent. District 5, Mentor : John Warrenburg, clerk ; George F. Roots, treas- urer; Nathan Baldwin, director; teacher, Benson Vernon. District 6, Carroll : Samuel Thompson, clerk : James Montgomery, treasurer; Peter Creevan, director; teacher, Allen Lee. District 7, White Hall : J. P. Sams, clerk ; Hugh Ross, treasurer ; W. M. Coston, director; teacher, Mrs. Ella D. Wohlford. District 8, Union : Christian Nemeyer, clerk ; Henry Hecht, treasur- er; Andrew Beyreis, director; teacher, Anna Stinson. District'9, Union Dale: J. N. Funk, clerk; Isaac Briggs, treasurer; William J.' Ball, director; teacher, Sara Bennett. District 10, Pleasant Hill: Gerard Letellier, clerk; E. U. Green, treasurer; S. Harris, director; teacher, J. W. Emmert. District 11, City of Seneca: Abijah Wells, clerk; Willis Brown, treasurer ; J. H. Hatch, director ; teachers, J. G. Schofield, A. A. Brooks, Mrs. J. H. White, Mrs. E. M. Collins, Mrs. P. H. Stilson, Dora Taylor, Annie Newland, Flora Stewart District 12, Swerdfeger: V. B. Fisher, clerk; Augustus Beacher, treasurer; Richard Haxton, director; teacher, J. E. Sherrard. District 13, Pleasant Hill : E. Swerdfeger, clerk ; M. Morris, treasur- er; E. G. Pool, director; teacher, Jennie Fisher. District 14, Aurora : A. A. Rice, clerk ; Chas. E. Luce, treasurer ; William Wessell, director; teacher, Mary Anderson. District 15, Liberty: Robert Marshall, clerk; C. H. Steinmeir, treas- urer; Pierce Johnson, director; teacher, Minnie Burger. District 16, Triumph : W. A. Sipher, clerk ; William Chase, treasur- er; Peter Koehler, director; teacher, Fannie Bennett. District 17: M. H. Calnan, clerk; John Carroll, treasurer; Thomas Smith, director; teacher, Mary Morarity. District 18, Pleasant Hill: S. Mason, clerk; L. H. Inman, treasurer; G. H. Buck, director ; teacher, J. J. Lutz. .District 19, Rose Hill : G. W. Hannum, clerk ; Wm. A. Young, treas- urer; John Mills, director; teacher, Frank McCabe. District 20, Vic.tory: James Gillespie, clerk; S. R. Myers, treasurer; Guss Gardner, director ; teacher, Rosa Machamer. District 21, Kelly: A. J. Morgan, clerk; M. A. Zahniser, treasurer; W. P. Dennis, director; teacher, Julia E. Moore. ' District 22, Old Lincoln : G. N. Lowe, clerk ; Fred Kruger, treasurer ; T. J. Nicholson, director; teacher, B. H. Hobbs. District 23, Humphrey : D. R. Magill, clerk ; Scott Humphrey, treas- urer ; E. R. Murphey, director ; teacher, H. M. Elert. 248 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY District 24, Woodlawn : L. D. Tatman, clerk ; Paul C. Halliss, treas- urer; A. J. Dooley, director; teacher, Stella Guise. District 25, Capioma : C. B. Sanford, clerk ; G. W. Conrad, treasurer ; Willis M. Hooper, director ; teacher, A. A. Songer. District 26, Pleasant Ridge: J. C. Byers, clerk; Reuben Lepley, treasurer; Isaac Lockard, director; teacher, Agnes Keegan. District 27, Clear Creek: A. J. Coffin, clerk; J. M. Clark, treasurer; John Long, director ; teacher, Etta Boram. District 28, Rogers: William Clark, clerk; Thomas Rogers, treasur- er; James Fisher, director; teacher, Eva Coleman. District 29, Flag : Milton Todd, clerk ; John O. Newton, treasurer ; C. H. Hartman, director ; teacher, Anna Ridenour. District 30, Eureka: John Bauman, clerk; Nicholas Moser, treasurer; Isaac Schwisher, director; teacher, J. L. Ott. District 31, Bancroft: David Keyser, clerk; Elias Woodburn, treas- urer; Samuel Allen, director; teacher, F. K. Keller. District 32, Eagle Star: Rudolph Stauffer, clerk; Christ Minger, treasurer; Christian Lehman, director; teacher, Clara Kistner. District 33, St. Benedict : Timothy Heiman, clerk ; Clement Blocker, treasurer ; William Bernston, director ; teacher. Sister Patricia. District 34, Mt. Union: Edwin Capsey, clerk; A. J. Wolfley, treas- urer; A. J. Gilbert, director; teacher. Belle McColgin. District 35, Greenwood: P. T. Casey, clerk; J. T. Sanders, treasurer; George Blankley, director; teacher, W. H. Higgins. District 36, Mulberry : Perry Wellever, clerk ; J. E. King, treasurer ; J. Denny, director; teacher, Hugh B. Carter. District 37, Fairview: A. M. Kerr, clerk; Lewis Logan, treasurer; N. N. Williamson, director; teacher, Anna Kerr. District 38, Head : J. F. Nipher, clerk ; James Manuel, treasurer ; C. A. Hale, director; teacher, Mary Hale. District 39, Bethany: G. W. Myrick, clerk; C. J. Myrick, treasurer; A. M. Pitman, director; teacher, R. B. Huston. District 40, I. X. L. : Frank McCarty, clerk ; John Zimmerman, treasurer; I. Meisner, director; teacher, A. A. Walker. District 41, Obendorf : W. A. Lynn, clerk; John Wohlford, treasur- er ; David VanPatten, director ; teacher, P. K. Shoemaker. District 42, Harris : Wm. H. H. Dooley, clerk ; L. A. Kempin, treas- urer ; Henry Hilbert, director ; teacher, Julia Dooley. District 43, Eureka : Arthur McCray, clerk ; Peter Shontz, treasurer ; E. T. Brown, director; teacher, J. J. McCray. District 44, Corning : R. A. Harris, clerk ; C. C. Vinning, treasurer ; Andrew Isaacson, director ; teachers, F. W. Plehn, Ida Neiman. District 45, Boardman: Samuel Curtis, clerk; R. E. Mayhew, treas- ixrer ; H. R. Boardman, director ; teacher, Angeline Stickney. District 46, Edgewood: Joshua Hobbs, clerk; D. Donning, treasur- er; James Summervill, director; teacher, H. B. Carter. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 249 District 47, Johnstone: M. M. Johnstone, clerk; J. B. Clifton, treas- urer; William Johnstone, director; teacher, Thomas A. Kerr. District 48, Maple Ridge : J. C. Sherrard, clerk ; R. K. Steele, treas- urer; E. Holister, director; teacher, Jessie Spencer. District 49, Maple Shade: E. L. Clelland, clerk; John Denton, treas- urer; R. A. Brown, director; teacher, Anna Dougan. District 50, Social Hill : D. N. Rose, clerk ; M. A. Worley, treasurer ; T. M. Carr, director; teacher, Fannie Points. District 51, Sabetha: S. Slosson, clerk; C. P. Branigan, treasurer; E. Haltzschen, director; teachers: I. B. Morgan, Ethel Fountain, Kate E. Wickins, Estella McClanahan, Minnie Branigan, Biertha Morton, Lena Mooney, Jennie Lilly. District 52, Korber: Samuel Mosteller, clerk; Fred Korber, treasur- er; Amos Custard, director; teacher, Estella Stewart. District 53, Cole Creek: James Redmond, clerk; Edward Flaherty, treasurer ; Henry Heer, director ; teacher, D. O. Byrne. District 54, Pleasant View : J. W. Firkins, clerk ; O. M. Gage, treas- urer; W. M. Gettle, director; teacher, E. ,E. Hobbs. District 55, Armstrong: F. Howard, clerk; Simon Armstrong, treas- urer; M. Z. Andrews, director; teacher. Bertha Neberhine. District 56, Belleview: Wm. F. Weeks, clerk; Pat Byrne, treasurer; William Mclntire, director ; teacher, Effie L. Anderson. District 57, Morning Star : Geo. W. Johnson, clerk ; David Hardesty, treasurer; T. G. League, director; teacher, Jennie Little. District 58, Blue Star: F. A. Loveless, clerk; W. H. Thornberry, treasurer; A. D. Lelievre, director; teacher, M. L. Loveless. District 59, Marion : Frank Broxterman, clerk ; Frank Macke, treas- urer ; Peter Koch, director ; teacher, Jennie Coffey. District 60, Hazel Grove : William Bleisner, clerk ; George Pfrang, treasurer; M. Holmes, director; teacher, Nettie Milam. District 61, Pinckney: A. H. Chilson, clerk; John Speilman, treasur- er; D. R. Vorhes, director; teacher, Mary Seeley. District 62, Berwick: C. H. Maddux, clerk; Fred Ukele, treasurer; C. M. Christenson, director ; teacher, Linnie Ludwig. District 63, Tranquil : Lewis Lyon, clerk ; G. W. Greenfield, treasur- er; George Donaldson, director; teacher, G. W. Stephenson. District 64, Ehrsam: Jacob Ramsey, clerk; Barney Herold, treasur- er; Henry Broomer, director; teacher, Mary Todd. District 65, Prairie Grove: Conrad Droge, clerk; Henry Poppe, treasurer; A. Allison, director; teacher, H. S. Hay. District 66, Mt. Vernon : E. S. Vernon, clerk ; W. T. DeWalt, treas- urer; H. H. Coston, director; teacher, Fannie Laird. District 67, Star: T. J. Coulter, clerk; R. M. Bronaugh, treasurer; E. C. Mather, director; teacher, M. E. Clark. District 68, Rock: R. J. Rose, clerk; John Hansz, treasurer; George Wick, director; teacher, W. H. Starkey. 250 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY District 69, Prairie View : Jacob P. Good, clerk ; Job Brown, treasur- er; Charles Krogman, director; teacher, Inez Alexander. District 70, Pleasant View: Lemuel Kerns, clerk; John Campbell, treasurer ; Milton Moore, director ; teacher, Albert E. Mayhew. District 71, Pleasant Ridge: J. W. Vernon, clerk; V. Hanger, treas- urer ; S. A. Goldsmith, director ; teacher, Zilla Kuhn. District 72, Social Hill : George Cox, Sr., clerk ; C. C. Nissen, treas- urer; Alfred Jones, director; teacher, B. F. Stout. District 73, Pleasant Hill : H. C. Wilson, clerk ; George Guilford, treasurer; A. L. Barnes, director; teacher, Jennie McBratney. District 74, Cleveland, Mathias Schneider, clerk; Barney Bergman, treasurer; Edward Kempf, director. District 75, Harmony: John A. Thompson, clerk; S. F. Thompson, treasurer; James Cleveland, director; teacher, Mattie Trees. District 76, Center: Fred Hiskey, clerk; Frederick Burbery, treasur- er; B. Woolman, director; teacher, C. H. Lee. District ^J, Willow Glen : Wm. E. McKibbin, clerk ; G. O. Convill, treasurer; Garrett Cross, director; teacher, Martha Wolfley. District 78, Rock Creek : W. S. Reed, clerk ; J. Hesseltine, treasurer ; W. M. Lichty, director; teacher, Mattie Shackelton. District 79, Morning Star: Jessie Eyer, clerk; T. S. Gilmore, treas- urer; Andrew Williamson, director; teacher, B. F. Eyer. District 80, Summit : Michael Aldefer, clerk ; John Draney, treasur- er; Oswin Palmer, director; teacher, Lillie Rosenberger. District 81, College Hill: Patrick Cantwell, clerk; Albert Becher, treasurer ; Pat Gaughan, director ; teacher, Alice Flaherty. District 82, Prairie Star : C. J. Meisner, clerk ; W. Elliott, treasurer ; T. J. Freed, director; teacher, J. S. Baker. District 83, Victory : R. L. Wheeler, clerk ; Mrs. M. L. Holbrook, treasurer; Henry Koehler, director; teacher, Addie Sherman. District 84, Hilt: John L. Aspinwall, clerk; James White, treasurer; Samuel Keim, director; teacher, Sherman Tyrrel. District 85, Evening Star: J. R. Molineux, clerk; Z. Holland, treas- urer ; Peter Troxel, director ; teacher, Dora Cox. District 86, Goff: A. O. Hart, clerk; Dr. A. L. Warrington, treas- urer; Thomas Berridge, director; teacher, A. A. Hyde. District 87, Oneida: Frank Russell, clerk; Dr. S. Murdock, treasur- er; J. J. Boxell, director; teachers, R. W. Reese and Clara Larimer. District 88, Diamond : J. A. Purviance, clerk ; R. L. Hobbs, treasur- er ; J. F. Vinson, director ; teacher, Elmer Allen. District 89, Sherman : Paul Huerter, clerk ; L. H. Gaston, treasurer ; Peter Schmitz, director; teacher, M. McCutcheon. District 90, Eclipse: William Magee, clerk; F. M. Reed, treasurer; A. L. Conwell, director; teacher, J. T. Briggs. District 91, Pleasant Ridge: Ira Bailey, clerk; H. M. Drown, treas- urer; B. F. Dunham, director; teacher, Minnie Carr. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 2^1 District 92, Bern: Gottlieb Strict, clerk; Jacob Spring, treasurer; S. C. Neff, director ; teacher, George J. Parker. District 93, Sunny Knoll : E. Kitchen, clerk ; G. Gruetze, treasurer ; H. N. Dawson, director ; teacher, H. A. Nicholson. District 94, Baileyville: W. A. Walker, clerk; W. J. Bailey, treasur- er; W. H. Stall, director; teacher,. G. H. Shields. District 95, Cottonwood : David Finkenbinder, clerk ; Henry Pilla, director; teacher, Louise Capper. District 96, Grand View : Wayne Ford, clerk ; Joseph Scheier, treas- urer ; J. M. Rowley, director ; teacher, H. M. Wallace. District 97, Domer : W. S. Domer, clerk ; F. F. Goodwin, treasurer ; W. H. Sunderland, director; teacher, Minnie Wohlford. District 98, Shady Knoll: M. H. Maltby, clerk; W. A. Noffsinger, treasurer; A. E. Stuart, director; teacher, Clarence Keller. District 99, Victor: C. R. McConkey, clerk; John R. Brokaw, treas- urer; Samuel Cooper, director; teacher. Flora Stonebarger. District 100, Forward : J. W. Johnson, clerk ; O. K. Wilcox, treasur- er ; F. Bliesner, director ; teacher, Mattie Woodburn. District loi, U. S. Grant: F. G. Sitler, clerk; Thomas Scanlin, treas- urer; N. E. Bunce, director; teacher, E. W. Fox. District 102, Liberty: Joseph Roblyer, clerk; Dennis Maher, treas- urer ; Andrew J. Ford, director ; teacher, Mrs. Mattie Roblyer. District 103, Oak Grove : P. A. Wright, clerk ; Thomas S. Anderson, treasurer; Henry F Harter, director; teacher, Nettie Carmichael. District 104, Concord : F. G. Millick, clerk ; F. G; Hitchner, treasur- er; J. G. Maelzer, director; teacher, Marshall Hittle. District i N. and B., Albany: E. F. Bouton, clerk; C. J. Holden, treasurer; J. F. Rugsley, director; teacher, E.'S. Lawrence. District 6 N. and B., Granada; Samuel R. Guffey, clerk; John Achten, treasurer; William Spencer, director; teacher, Walter Hos- kinson. District i N. and J., Westmore : M. Worthe}'-, clerk ; H. C. DeForest, treasurer; H. A. Hough, director; teachers, P. L. Burlingame, Phoebe Anderson, Anna Gill and Catharine Thomas. District 2 N. and J., Ontario: Jacob Wolley, clerk; John H. Camp- bell, treasurer; H. T. Barnes, director; teacher, Clara Ramy. District 5 N. and P., Neuchatel : O. H. Wilsie, clerk; John Libbe, treasurer; C. B. Bonjour, director; teacher, D. C. Dille. District i N. and M., Windy Ridge : Ed F. Davis, clerk ; George M. Rasp, treasurer; C. R. W. Ford, director; teacher, Maud Skinner. SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICERS OF NEMAHA COUNTY, 1915-18. Clerks (1915-1918) — District i, Brice J. King, Centralia ; district 2, Carl Kroemer, Bern; district 3, E. N. Sigler, Baileyville; district 4, W. H. Barnard, Seneca; district 5, C. H. McClary, Centralia; district 6, Paul 2.^2. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Kirk, Axtell; district 7, W U. Martsolf, Centralia; district 8, Henry Bey- reis, Seneca; district 9, C. A. Funk, Oneida; district 10, E. E. Smith, Ver- million; district II, Dorothy Walker, Seneca; district 12, J. L. Davis, Wetmore; district 13, A. E. Wade, W^etmore ; district 14, H. D. McCon- naughey, AVetmore; district 15, M. O. Johnson, Seneca; district 16, J. H. Waller, Seneca; district 17, J. P. Carroll, Axtell; district 18, Harry Duckers, Sabetha; district ig, John W Crowley, Soldier; district 20, L. M. Crawford, Sabetha; district 21, D. H. Fitzgerald, Kelly; district 22, Henry A. Kruger, Seneca; district 23, John Moynagh, Seneca; district 24, C. A. Buck, Goff; district 25, Jessie Brownlee, Sabetha; district 26, PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, WETMORE, KANS. W'. F. Hickman, Baileyville; district 27, Frank Thomanson, Bailey- ville; district 28, John Baker, Seneca; district 29, J. M. Graney, Seneca; district 30, F. N. Rieri, Oneida; district 2 B. and G., W. D. Calder, Bancroft; district 32, C. A. Hasenager, Bern; district 33, F A. Olberding, Seneca; district 34, W H. Capsey, Soldier; dis- trict 35, Ora Clark, Corning; district 36, L. W. Harter, Centralia; district -^"j, J. S. Sourk, Goff; district 38, Joseph Huerter, Oneida; betha; district 41, Edward Myer, Centralia; district 42, E. R. Harris, Corning; district 43, G. S. Roberts, Centralia; district 44, J. B. Baker, Corning; district 45, A. R. Robeson, Centralia; district 46, A. N. Doolit- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 253 ♦ tie, Onaga ; district 47, Clint Longberg, Goff ; district 48, Harry Foster, Sabetha ; district 49, Barney Buessing, Goff; district 50, Jacob L. Kongs, Corning; district 51, C. A. Cave, Sabetha; district 52, Gottlieb Hanni, Bern; district 53, L. L. Newland, Corning; "district 54, J. L. Firkins, Oneida; district 55, Fred Schmidt, Centralia; district 56, John F. Tyron, Baileyville; district 57, James Porter, Wetmore ; district 58, H. Dutch- mann, Seneca ; district 59, Frank Broxtermann, Baileyville ; district 60, John T. Callahan, AA^etmore ; district 61, H. C. Lackey, Seneca ; district 62, E. T. Ukele, Berwick ; district 63, W. E. Johnson, Sabetha ; district 64, Al- vin A. Lear, Bern ; district 65, Louis Wiesedeppe, Seneca ; district 66, C. W. Noland, Centralia; district 67, Mrs. J. F Coulter, Vermilion; district 68, Barney Rottinghaus, Seneca ; district 69, John Nolte, Seneca ; district 70, A. W. Hammes, Baileyville; district 71, C. A. Flilbert, Corning; dis- trict 72, Williarn Brady, Wetmore; district 73, R. E. Wilson, Centralia; district 74, Henry Engelken, Seneca; district 75, William Brunner, Sa- betha ; district 76, Mrs. Carrie Shirkey, Baileyville ; district TJ, A. F. Gabbert, Bancroft; district 78, Emil Marmet, Sabetha; district 79, John Barndt, Sabetha; district 80, J. C. Williamson, Sabetha ; district 81, Wil- liam Gaughan, Centralia ; district 82, Ed Ramsey, Bern ; district 83, Fred Wheeler, Seneca; district 84, F. E. Lehman, Bern; district 85, C. C. Mun- sel, Goff; district 86, C. S. Goodrich, Goff; district 87, J. L. Hagan, Oneida; district 88, Will McBride, Seneca; district 89, H. J. Holthaus, Seneca; district 90, J. H. Bauman, Oneida; district 91, Chas. H. Riggs, Goff; district 92, H. L. Guild, Bern; district 93, H. E. McKellips, Goff; district 94, Chas. V. Haynes, Baileyville; district 95, George Heimann, Baileyville ; district 96, Joseph Lueger, Seneca ; district 97, John Wise- man, Vermiljpn ; district 99, Ernest Gerber, Oneida ; district 100, J. C. Hackenberger, Goff; district loi, F. W. Richmond, Baileyville; district 102, E. E. W&odman, Vermillion ; district 103, P. P. Waller, Oneida ; dis- trict 104, Joseph Surdez, Onaga; district 105, William Broadbent, Corn- ing; district ro6, C. Britell, Centralia; district 107, Norman R. Fike, Sa- betha ; district 108, E. L. Flott, Sabetha ; district 109, C. W Kimmel, Sa- betha; district no, George Shaffer, Corning; district in, John Moser, Sabetha; district 112, Jake Huerter, Kelly; district 113, J. H. Smith, Ax- tell; district 114, R. J. Hanni, Goff; district 115, Otis Warrenburg, Cen- tralia; district 116, Jos. S. Bauman, Oneida; district 117, Mrs. Annie J. Weyer, Baileyville; district 118, H. M. Halfen, Axtell ; district 119, W. W. Chilson, Corning; district 120, Mrs. Helen Haug, Vermillion; district iNB, C. E. Sammons, Sabetha; district 6NB, R. L. Whitesell, Wetmore; district iNJ, F. E. Smith, Wetmore; district 2NJ, W. E. Karns, Ontario; district SNP, Carl Dodds, Onaga; district iNM, O. J. Schafer, Vermil- lion. Treasurers (1914-1917) — District i, Scott Archer, Centralia; district 2, August Korber, Bern; district 3, J. M. Bronaugh, Baileyville; district 4, Charlie Parnell, Seneca; district 5, Hubert Clemens, Centralia; district 6, John F. Carroll, Axtell; district 7, Elmer Bedker, Centralia; district 8, 254 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Henry Tegtmeier, DuBois, Neb. ; district 9, W. C. Gilmore, Oneida ; dis- trict 10, James Letellier, Centralia; district 11, B. J. Firstenberger, Sene- ca; district 12, T. K. Maxwell, Wetmore; district 13, James E. Martin, Wetmore; district 14, U. S. Curtiss, Wetmore; district 15, Louis Stein- meier, Seneca; district 16, Frank Mauer, Seneca; district 17, J. P. Mit- chell, Axtell ; district 18, John O. Yoder, Sabetha ; district 19, O. G. Han- num. Soldier; district 20, J. H. Myers, Sabetha; district 21, Frank Tee- garden, Kelly ; district 22, J. J. Aziere, Seneca ; district 23, Thomas Rog- ers, Seneca; district 24, Ci. Velvic, Goff; district 25; W. E. Phillips, Sa- betha ; district 26, J. E. McConnaughey, Pawnee City, Neb. ; district 27, J. F. Keegan, Baileyville ; district 28, Ed Flaherty, Seneca ; district 29, B. F. Lohman, Seneca; district 30, Adolph Marti, Sabetha; district 31, L. J. Allen, Bancroft ; district 32, Frank Andrews, Bern ; district 33, John Haug, Seneca; district 34, Albert Swartz, Bancroft; district 35, U. G. Beck, Corning; district 36, F. H. Norton, Centralia; district 37, William Sourk, Goff; district 38, J. M. Swart, Oneida; district 39, W. G. Penn, Sabetha; district 40, C. Stoller, Sabetha; district 41, T. O. Barrett, Cen- tralia; district 42, Arthur Tinklin, Corning; district 43, Frank Myers, Centralia; district 44, J. E. Woodworth, Corning; district 45, L. A. Thompson, Centralia ; district 46, G. V. Hochard, Centralia ; district 47, J. A. Hanks, Goff; district 48, F. M. Althouse, Sabetha; district 49, S. A. Chadwick, Goff; district 50, August Brokamp, Kelly; district 51, F. O. Weary, Sabetha; district 52, Henry Blauer, Bern; district 53, T. H. Mc- Nally, Corning; district 54, J. P. Mize, Oneida; district 55, Albert Flen- tie, Centralia ; district 56, Henry Tangeman, Baileyville ; district 57, Jas. H. Smith, Wetmore ; district 58, William Oatman, Seneca ; district 59, O. J. Larkin, Baileyville; district 60, J. E. Pfrang, Bancroft; district 61, Joseph A. Spielman, Seneca; district 62, A. B. Lanning, Sabetha; dis- trict 63, Frank Miller, Sabetha; district 64, Ed Ehrsam, Bern; district 65, W. H. Katz, Seneca; district 66, F. W. Holsapple, Corning; district 67, R. M. Morrison, Vermillion ; district 68, J. T. Amos, Seneca ; district 69, Anton Olberding, Baileyville; district 70, John Koch, Baileyville; district 71, John Nightengale, Corning; district 72, W. M. Bartley, Ban- croft; district 73, John Shaefer, Centralia; district 74, Henry Heiman, Seneca ; district 75, C. W. Hatfield, Sabetha ; district 76, W. J. Griffiths, Baileyville; district JJ, Charles McMahon, Bancroft; district 78, Hiram Mishler, Sabetha ; district 79, R. R. Gilmore, Oneida ; district 80, Albert Ackerman, Sabetha; district 81, George Becker Onaga; district 82, Fred Hanni, Bern; district 83, Thomas Sherlock, Seneca; district 84, Gottfried Lortscher, Bern; district 85, Tom Fish, Goff; district 86, Bayard Taylor, Goff; district 87, D. S. Coleman, Oneida; district 88, Joe Ronnebaum, Seneca; district 89,5. T. 'Hogle, Seneca; district 90, A. G. Conwell, Oneida; district 91, Mike Brock, Goff; district 92, Jacob Spring, Bern; district 93, John Gruetze, Goff; district 94, J. M. Everts, Baileyville; dis- trict 95, Henry Dick, Baileyville ; district 96, Joseph Olberding, Seneca ; district 100, John Freel, Goff; district loi, D. B. SuUvan, Bailey- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 255 ville; district 102, L. H. Mclntire, Centralia; district 103, T. S. An- derson, Oneida; district 104, F. G. Millick, Centralia; district 105, William Bumphrey, Corning; district 106, R. E. Mather, CCentralia; district 107, J. C. Aeschleman, Sabetha; district 108, Bert Hessel- tine, Sabetha; district 109, Walter Dandliker, Sabetha; district no, 112, Bert Henderson, Kelly; district 113, S. S. Anderson, Baileyville; district 114, M. D. Garvin, Goff; district 115, O. C. Hardin, Centralia; district 116, F. W. Miller, Oneida; district 117, E. W. Weyer, Bailey- ville; district 118, August Enneking, Baileyville; district 119, Claude Grigsby, Corning; district 120, Mrs. Gertie Vestal, Vermillion; district iNB, E. E. Williams, Sabetha; district 6NB, Henry Zabel, Wetmore; district iNJ, Mrs. L. A. Achten, Wetmore; district 2NJ, W. E. Davis, Bancroft; district 5NP, J. A. Bonjour, Onaga; district iNM, E. M. Mc- Atee, Vermillion. Directors (1913-1916) — District i, C. C. Wadleigh, Centralia; dis- trict 2, C. H. Meier, Bern; district 3, J. A. Witmer, Baileyville; district 4, G. R. Gilkerson, Seneca ; district 5, R. S. Coe, Centralia ; district 6, Os- car Clear, Axtell; district 7, Eugene Moyer, Centralia; district 8, C. H. Brademeier, Seneca ; district 9, Clinton Ball, Oneida ; district 10, V. D. Crawford, Vermillion; district 11, R. T. Bruner, Seneca; district 12, J. L. McDaniels, Wetmore; district 13, Roy Shumaker, Wetmore; district 14, W. N. Rolfe, Wetmore; district 15, H. D. Burger, Seneca; district 16, Andrew Volz, Seneca; district 17, D. E. Mitchell, Axtell; district 18, Frank Norrie, Sabetha; district 19, A. J. Clem, Goff; district 20, George Althouse, Sabetha; district 21, Bert Cole, Kelly; district 22, C. R. Bales, Seneca ; district 23, George Hutton, Seneca ; district 24, Alex McClain, Goff; district 25, J. M. Ralston, Sabetha; district 26, W. H. Grubb, Paw- nee City, Neb.; district 27, James Keegan, Baileyville; district 28, M. W. McCaffrey, Seneca ; district 29, G. F. Heineger, Seneca ; district 30, Hen- ry W. Stoldt, Sabetha; district 2BG, Fred A. Cordon, Bancroft; district 32, Gottlieb Pauli, Bern; district 33, Barney Haferkamp, Seneca'; district 34, J. B. Barnes, Soldier; district 35, Jesse Jones, Corning; district 36, 5. S. Meek, Centralia ; district 37, R. T. McKee, Goff ; district 38 Gott- lieb Schneider, Seneca ; district 39, W. J. Kehler, Sabetha ; district 40, S. C. Jackson, Sabetha; district 41, Charles Kimball, Centralia; district 42, Hugh Werner, Goff ; district 43, William Brooks, Centralia ; district 44, C. W. Dixon, Corning; district 45, W. A. Wohlford, Centralia; district 46, F. M. Labbe, Onaga; district 47, B. F. Ellegood, Goff; district 48, G. J. Quinlan, Sabetha; district 49, Jacob Fisher, Goff; district 50, Charles Jorden, Corning; district 51, A. J. Collins, Sabetha; district 52, F. W. Korber, Bern; district 53, John Flaherty, Corning; district 54, Mrs. Wil- liam King, Goff; district 55, D. H. McLaughlin, Centralia; district 56, J. J. Skoch, Baileyville ; district 57, J. F. Hawley, Wetmore ; district 58, William Mathewson, Seneca; district 59, Theodore Hammes, Bailey- ville; district 60, F. W. Alumbaugh, Bancroft; district 61, Barney Wich- man, Seneca; district 62, Louis Feldman, Berwick; district 63, F. B. .256 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Lyons, Sabetha ; district 64, Frank Borchardt, Bern ; district 65, R. T. Al- lison, Seneca ; district 66, W. T. DeWalt, Centralia ; district 67, Thomas Coffey, Vermillion ; district 68, John Kelly, Seneca ; district 69, Charles Krogmann, Seneca; district 70, Will Scanlan, Baileyville; district 71, John W. Peret, Centralia ; district 72, A. M.' Nissen, Wetmore ; district 73, T. S. Fanning, Centralia; district 74, August Haug, Seneca; district 75, Paul Masheter, Sabetha; district 76, W. A. Weyer, Baileyville; dis- trict 'J'J, George Calhoun, Goff; district 78, Walter Mason, Sabetha; dis- trict 79, H. H. Guise, Oneida ; district 80, John Meisner, Sabetha ; district 81, Peter Burke, Centralia; district 82, C. C. Geissel, Bern; district 83, A. J. Spielman, Seneca; district 84, Lewis S. Hilt, Bern; district 85, F. C. McClain, Goff; district 86, F. J. Watkins, Goff; district 87, Frank Rus- sell, Oneida; district 88, Henry Burdick, Seneca; district 89, A. H. Gas- ton, Seneca; district 90, C. Grimm, Oneida; district 91, T. V. McDan- iels, Goff; district 92, Mrs. Myrtle Blauer, Bern; district 93, W. J. Hailey, Goff; district 94, A. B. Griffiths, Baileyville; district 95, John Hulsing, Jr., Baileyville ; district 96, August Haefele, Seneca ; district 97, E. A. Mann, Vermillion ; district 99, Fred Pfau, Oneida ; district 100, J. L. San- ders, Goff; district loi, Joseph Stueve, Baileyville; district 102, Clarence Howard, Centralia; district 103, S. M. Anderson, Oneida; district 104, F. G. Hitchner, Centralia; district 105, William Thompson, Corning; dis- trict 106, W. N. DeBoard, Centralia ; district 107, T. J. Meisner, Sabetha ; district 108, Samuel Beyers, Sabetha ; district 109, Fred Lortscher, Sa- betha; district no, N. R. Williams, Corning; district in, John Heiniger, Sabetha; district 112, John Heinen, Kelly; district 113, W. P. Madden, Axtell ; district 114, William Roach, Goff; district 115, William Wright, Centralia; district 116, Geo. W. Meisner, Bern; district 117, Mrs. Etta Coulter, Baileyville; district 118, J. B. Oenbring, Baileyville; district 119, C. W. Gorden, Centralia; district 120, Charles McGowan, Vermil- lion ; district iNB, E. E. White, Sabetha; district 6NB, C. E. Chase, Wet- more; district iNJ, Henry Mell, Wetmore; district 2NJ, Frank Cordon, Circleville; district 5NP, S. J. Keeney, Onaga; district iNM, Mrs. Maxie VanGilder, Vermillion. JOINT DISTRICTS, not under the jurisdiction of this county: Clerks (1915-1918) — District 4NB, J. A. Bockenstette, Fairview; district 5NB, John Hannah, Netawaka ; district iNJP, A. H. Brenner, Soldier; district 6NP, George Shields, Corning; district 8NP, J. J. Lefe- bvre, Onaga. Treasurers (1914-1917) — District 4NB, Hugh O'Grady, Sabetha; district 5NB, Frank Reeves, Netawaka; district iNJP, J. S. Armstrong, America City; district 6NP, J. K. Shields, Havensville; district 8NP, Elmer Noble, Onaga. Directors (1913-1916) — District 4NB, Michael Banks, Fairview; district 5NB, Lewis Lynn, Netawaka; district iNJP, Roy Tolin, Ameri- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 257 ca City; district 6NP, H. H. Hunt, Corning; district 8NP, O. J. Ward, Havensville. It is interesting to note that the records in the county superintend- ent's office show, in a number of cases, that many of the men who took part in the organization of the district and served as first officers are still members of the school board. While the rural schools of Nemaha count}^ have not reached an ideal standard, they have advanced with the progress of the times and rank well with the schools of other parts of the State. Many of our prosperous and loyal citizens value very highly the training they re- HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, CBNTEALIA, KANS. ceived even, in the small rural school. As a rule, the teachers have been well qualified and the schools have been of great value to the children of the county, many of whom had no opportunity of further education. As soon as practical, each of the city or village schools began to increase the course of study to include some high school work and to employ the necessary teachers to conduct the classes in the higher sub- jects. Today there are ten city high schools in Nemaha county, six of them doing accredited work and two others doing work approved by the State board. (17) 258 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Both Seneca and Sabetha are cities of the second class, and carry, in addition to the regular college preparatory course of study, a normal training, domestic science and commercial course. These schools have a very efficient corps of teachers, under the supervision of experienced superintendents, R. G. Mueller, of Seneca, in his ninth year, and George A. Allen, Jr., of Sabetha, in his fifth year, and are fully accredited. The schools of Wetmore and Centralia are fully accredited and rank next to Seneca and Sabetha. The work done is equal to that of any of our best schools, and the building and equipment are very good. Supt. Albert A. Dreier enters upon his fourth year at Wetmore in September, 1916, and Supt. George O. Kean has just closed his sixth year, four consecutive, at Centralia. The schools of Goff and Corning are smaller, but both do good work and are _ accredited high schools. Goff has an excellent building, of which the citizens of the town have just cause for being proud, and the equipment of the school is being increased as fast as the funds of the district will admit. Corning needs a new building, and the district is making provision for a building fund. These districts are so small that it requires a heavy tax rate to raise adequate funds for carrying on the schools. Both need some adjoining territory, either by consolida- tion or by the establishment of a rural high school in each city, as pro- vided in recent legislation. Supt. George O. Kean has been elected lo the superintendency of the Goff schools for 1916, and Supt. J. F. Whitaker is entering upon his third year at Corning. Bern, while not accredited, is rapidly coming to the front. A new modern building has just been completed and equipped and an excellent quota of teachers employed. The course of study for the present will cover three years of high school work. With the new building and equipment, Bern is the logical point for a splendid rural high school for Washington township, and with the co-operation of the surrounding community, the standard of the school will no doubt soon be raised to a four years' fully accredited high school. The value of a movement of this kind to the young people of the Bern community is beyond esti- mation. The little city of Oneida has a splendid school, doing four years' high school work. Many of her graduates have been very successful teachers in the schools of the county and others are filling with credit places of importance in other hues of business. The people of the little city are very loyal in their support of schools, but, like other small towns, Oneida needs the co-operation of the surrounding districts. If consolidation is not desirable, the provisions of the rural high school law might make it possible for a new building and better school equipment to be obtained without the tax becoming a burden to the community. Bancroft has a good village school of three teachers, whose work is very praiseworthy. Some high school work is done, but the equipment and teaching force do not warrant approval by the State board. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 259 Baileyville has a two-room school and excellent work is done. Only one year of high school is attempted. These ten schools, doing more or less high school work, have proven of inestimable value to the young people of the county, and each year classes graduate from them, thus laying the foundation for a better qualification for the duties of life. Nemaha county rejected, by vote, both the Barnes high school law and the county high school plan ; but the excellent city high schools maintained throughout the county seem to provide adequately for the young people who complete the grades to enter and finish high school, in many cases the district paying the high school tuition of its gradu- ates. Every year a large class finishes the eghth grade of both the rural and graded schools, and many of these enter some convenient high school. It is gratifying to note that Nemaha couty is well repre- sented in the higher institutions of learning by these young people who have finished our high schools. Since recent legislation has given us a rural high school law, providing for the establishment of high schools. in rural communities, no doubt the people will promptly avail themselves of the privileges and advantages of this law. The State department, under the supervision of State Superin- tendent W. D. Ross, is endeavoring to strengthen and enlarge the use- fulness of the rural schools by a system of sandardization whereby the equipment and conveniences of rural schools may be made more uni- form and complete. The rural school inspectors are visiting and classi- fying the schools of the State as rapidly as possible, checking them up on the requirements of standardization. One of the inspectors, J. A. Shoemaker, was in Nemaha county a few days last April, and while it was too late in the year to find all our schools in session, he visited about twenty schools, in company with the county superintendent, and reported his findings to the boards of the various districts visited. None of them were complete enough in all requirements for standard schools, but it is hoped that the people will respond readily to the demand for better equipment, whether in apparatus, seating, or buildings, and that several of our best schools may be labeled "'Standard School" before the close of the present school year. The subject of consolidation of schools as provided by law has re- ceived some attention in Nemaha county, but in almost every case has met with decided opposition. So well has the rural school filled its mission that the people are slow to give up the "tried and true" for a system with which they are not familiar. However, owing to changing conditions in communities, brought about mainly by the tendency of land owners to leave the farm and move to town, often placing a tenant or hired man on the farm, many of our rural schools have become al- most depopulated, just a few pupils left to go to school, often not over one or two to a class. Where these conditions exist, interest in the school wanes and appropriations for equipment, teachers' wages, length 26o HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY of term, etc., drop to the minimum. For such communities as these, the consolidated school seems to be the only rational solution of the school problem. Consolidation means the uniting of several weak, one-teacher, poorly graded schools into a strong, efficient, graded school, housed in a comfortable building, with several teachers, who can give sufficient time to each recitation to make the work fruitful. Consolidation in nearly every instance means the transportation of a portion of the pupils. This transportation is accomplished by conveying the children in safe and comfortable vehicles, holding from fifteen to twenty-five children, and driven by competent and rehable men under contract and bonds to perform their duties in a satisfactory way. It is oftentimes cheaper to transport a few children to a school than to establish a school for them. This is because a wagon is cheaper than a school house, horses cheaper than fuel, and because drivers cost less than school teachers. SCHOOL CENTRALIZATION. Centralization of the public schools probably had its origin in the Western Reserve section of Ohio several years ago, and the system as applied to the rural schools has been tried to such an extent that it is deemed an unqualified success. There are many points in favor of the system of centralizing or "consolidating" the rural schools in order that the pupils in the country or rural districts might have the advan- tages of a graded and high school training without the necessity of leaving home and going to the nearest town or county seat in order to attend the graded and high school — a plan requiring that they be away from home and placing considerable extra expense upon their parents. School "centralization," as it is called in Ohio and other Eastern States, provides the abandonment of all rural schools in the township and the building of a central high school in the center of the township. It provides for transportation of all pupils of every age to this central school building each morning and for their return to their homes at night. One of the centralized or consolidated systems was placed in opera- tion at Mantua, Ohio, in the year 1903, and time has proven that it has many merits far ahead of the old plan of having small district schools and many teachers. Nine districts in the township were abandoned. Nine teachers were dispensed with, and the work done at the township center by five teachers, including the superintendent and principal. Previous to the centralization, the township had maintained a high school and township supervision, which was fairly satisfactory. A number of the more ambitious and forward citizens desired to go a step further and centralize or consolidate the entire township. Bitter opposition developed, some of it sentimental, but the greater part of the opposition came from those who had no children to educate and were HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 26 1 afraid of higher taxation. Two elections were necessary to carry the township for the new system. It was inaugurated the following year in buildings at the township center, and every district school abandoned except one. Six wagons transport the pupils from their homes to the school comfortable and happy each morning. Almost from the start there was a distinct change in the personality of the pupils and marked increase in their progress, made possible by the fact that they were placed in grades and a longer period given for study and recitation. So pleased were the people with the outcome of the first year that they readily voted a higher tax to add additional teachers to the force and increase the high school facilities. The one lone district which had ob- jected to the centralization plan so forcibly that they were permitted to maintain their rural school, petitioned to have the rural school aban- doned and the pupils of the district given free transportation to the central school. Land values in the township have increased because of the fact that a better class of tenants were moving to the tenant farms, and buyers were more in evidence for the land. This centralized school has been in existence for thirteen years and is looked upon as a model of its kind in Ohio and elsewhere. The action of Mantua township, in Portage county, Ohio, was followed in succeeding years by other town- ships, and it is only a question of years when the rural school in Ohio and Indiana and parts of Illinois will be a thing of the past. The arg'ument of the opponents of centralization or consolidation of rural schools that the system "c0sts more'' and makes taxes higher is just. Better schools do cost more money. But the advantages and benefits received by the neighborhood far outweigh and overbalance the cost. The extra cost of a consolidated school will not equal the present cost which citizens who are ambitious to give their children a high school education in some town in the county, are compelled to pay. There is not a township in Nemaha county but could have a consoli- dated school. The movement is gaining ground in Iowa and in parts of Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan, and is destined to be taken up in Kansas at no late day. Wherever intelligent consolidations have been made, the results are always the same — an increased attendance, a better average, and more interest. In short, a first-class, well-taught school takes the place of the "kept" one-teacher school we have at present in so many communities. The parent who wants to educate his child, who wants him to have the faculties of the mind expanded and the attributes of the soul fully developed, cannot afford to fail to aid in this great movement. Surely, the little ones, who are reaching up with their silent, isolated appeal for a better chance in life, will have a hearty and ready response from every thoughtful, loving parent. Let us reason together over these propositions. Let us place the good of the child above all else. Let us educate them so that they shall walk upon mountain tops of exalted, progressive, glorified American citizenship. 262 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY If you who read this have been so unfortunate as not to have ac- quired an education, ponder on the opportunities you have lost, on the embarrassment which has been yours, on the ideals you have failed to re- alize, and then, when you have done this, I am sure you will lay your hands on the heads of your little ones and exclaim : "Please God, these shall have the opportunities I have missed." There are also in Nemaha county several parochial schools that de- serve notice in this comment on "Schools and Education." The St. Peter and Paul's school at Seneca with nine sisters as teachers, under the direction of Father Joseph, O. S. B., has an enrollment of about three hundred pupils. The curriculum covers ten grades and the school has an excellent reputation. Father Joseph has taken the necessary steps for the approval for high school credits by the State board of the two years' high school work done by the school. This will strengthen the school for the young people of like faith, who must have high school credits to obtain certificates as teachers in the public schools of the county. St. Mary's school at St BenediK;t has an excellent building, well equipped. Father Gregory, assisted by an able corps of sisters, con- ducts the school, which has an enrollment of more than one hundred. Only graded work is taken up in this school, in connection with religious instruction. St. Bede's school at Kelly, under, the supervision of Father Edwin, is a splendid school, with an enrollment of about one hundred pupils. He has three teachers, who are experienced instructors, and the course of study covers eight grades. Sacred Heart school at Baileyville, Father Hohe, O. S. B., in charge, is a growing institution, well patronized by the surrounding homes of the Catholic faith. This school is new and has a good building. The enrollment last year was eighty pupils. Some statistics from the superintendent's annual report: The two second class cities, Seneca and Sabetha, with a school census of 1,172 pupils, paid their thirty-three teachers $20,129, almost $20 to the pupil. The eight third class cities, Wetmore, Centralia, Goff, Corning, Bern, Oneida, Bancroft and Baileyville, with a school census of 1,129 pupils paid their thirty-eight teachers $22,650, a little more than $20 to the pupil. The no rural schools, with a school census of 3,698 pupils, paid their no teachers $42,172, just a little more than $10 a pupil. NOTABLE TEACHERS. C. C. Starr, assistant State superintendent, was appointed to his position from superintendent of the Seneca schools. He is now head of the schools in Fresno, Cal. I. B. Morgan, head of the schools of Kansas 'a/tt^l ^A'ttdy HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ' 263 City, was one of the brilliant teachers in Sabetha, having been superin- tendent of the schools in Sabetha previous to his Kansas City appoint- ments. Miss Mattie Trees, now a member of the Sabetha school board, has a record as a teacher of Nemaha county and Sabetha of which to be proud. It is doubtful if a teacher in the State can equal it. Miss Trees taught school in Sabetha for twenty-nine years without ever losing a day from her work. Hundreds of men, women and children owe allegiance to lier. Miss Trees, herself, never had a high school education. She at- tended the country schools near her home, south of Sabetha, from the time she was five years until she was nearly fourteen. Every summer she attended normal school, either at home in Sabetha or in Seneca, Emporia or Holton. There has hardly been a month since she was a tiny girl that Miss Trees has not been in a school in one capacity or Another, until her resignation to care for her mother a few years ago. She was fortunate in her teachers at the country school. She. studied under Henry Isely, Mr. Carothers and Mr. Mellenbrush. These three men owned farm.s in the vicinity, but were graduates of Eastern colleges. They took pleasure in teaching their apt pupil the higher branches. She consequently received instruction in many studies that do not come even in the regular high school curriculum. All three teachers are now dead. Prof. E. G. Hoffman, a principal of Hiawatha schools, once told a number of Miss Trees' pupils that when she was his pupil at Holton she took the entire first year's course in Latin in ten weeks. Miss Trees received her first certificate entitling her to teach when she was fourteen years old. The first school she taught was the Victory school, six miles southwest of Sabetha. Mrs. Hattie West Benson was teaching the school at the time. She got a chance to take a higher school and asked Miss Trees if she would take the Victory school. Needless to say, Miss Trees did not let the grass grow under her feet in putting in an application. James Belyea was the president of the school board, and he was shocked at the applicant's youthfulness. He claimed no little girl like that coufd teach school. Miss Trees finally persuaded him to let her try it for a month. The name of the school, Victory, was suggestive of the girl teacher's success. For Mr. Belyea was so satisfied with her that she was retained in the position for six years. 'Later, she taught in the Spring Grove, Franklin, Harmony and Summit schools, all in this vicinity. Then she was engaged to teach in the Sabetha schools. She started with the sixth and seventh grades. When they divided these grades, she retained the seventh. Then she was given the seventh and eighth. When these grades in their turn were divided she was given the ninth grade. Later the ninth grade was abolished and Miss Trees was given her position in the high school, which she held for eight years, and which she has recently resigned. Miss Trees started Dr. Orville Brown, who is now in Europe taking 264 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY a special course in medicine, on his educational career. Fred Faragher, who is professor of chemistry at the Kansas State University, is an- other of her pupils. Of the teachers in the Sabetha schools and other schools in the vicinity, Misses Jennie Douglass, Minnie Meisner, Daisy Buck, Florence Fagan, Emma Cashman, Birdie Masheter and Charles Smith went to school to Miss Trees. Stanley Ford, a teacher in the Kansas City schools, is another of Miss Trees' pupils who is prospering because of her instructions. She has always been immensely popular as a teacher and dearly loved as a friend by her pupils. And upon their learning of her decision to retire, there were not only protestations, but tears. A school teacher who has made more than good in the big world following pedagogical ministrations in Nemaha county is Dr. Maurice King, now of New York City, a Centralia boy. Dr. King attained the position of chief medical examiner of the New . York Life Insurance Company in New York. To guess his salary at $10,000 is probably put- ting it mildly. While Dr. King was studying medicine he taught school near Centralia and lived with his sister, Mrs. Durland. A. C. Durland,. who died a few years ago, was responsible for bringing the King family to Nemaha county. He lived near the Kings in New York before com- ing to Kansas. After settling near Centralia, he went back and married one of the daughters. The father of this fine family was a Swiss-Ger- man. He made a fortune in New York in the manufacture of Switzer cheese. The other children came to visit Mrs. Durland, and most of them married here. Price King is a son-in-law of Dr. A. S. Best. Al- bert King married a daughter of A. Oberndorf, the Centralia banker, and now lives in Kansas City. Another sister, Mrs. I. Mapes, also lives in Kansas City. The father never lived in Centralia, having died many years ago. The mother lived there with her children for many years. She, too, is now dead. Their children have made some of the finest citizens of which Nemaha county boasts. THE ALBANY SCHOOL. The most antiquated and venerable looking building in this part of the county is the Albany stone school house. The walls are weather beaten, and the building has a silent and mysterious atrnospbere, as if there might be a strange, and romantic tale hidden in some remote and dark closet inside the heavy pile of masonry. As a matter of fact, the old building had its hopes and ambitions at one time, but in an evil hour a vulgar railroad crept up and chilled it. When the Grand Island was being built, Albany was a better town than Sabetha, but the grade into Albany was too steep, and the road swung around into Sabetha, and the old stone school house has been sullen and silent ever since. The school house was erected in 1866. The stone for it was quar- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 265 ried somewhere near the old Fox place. The building is a heavy affair, two stories high. Originally it was hoped to have the school developed into a college, and it was believed that the two rooms would grow into a hundred and that the small beginning would be the nucleus of a nota- ble seat of learning. Pupils came from far and wide to attend the school, which was the most important school for twenty miles around. It was found neces- sary to build a boarding house next to it, and the boarding house was always filled with pupils who lived too far away to go home daily. The first teacher was I. D. Sammons, now of Pennsylvania, father of C. E. Sammons. He taught the school in 1867. Another early teacher was the late Samuel Slosson. Mrs. Jennie S. Landrum, now deceased, also taught the school in the early days. Mrs. W. B. Law- rence taught' the school longer than any other person. She taught the school fifteen years, resigning many years ago to better attend to household duties. Some of Mrs. Lawrence's first pupils grew up and were married and she taught their children. The removal of Albany to Sabetha caused a rapid decline in at- tendance at the Albany school, and now only one room, the one on the first floor, is used. The room on the second floor is closed. When the decline in Albany began, even the buildings left, some of them being moved two miles to Sabetha. A BELOVED TEACHER. "The report of the county Normal institutes held in the year 1877 shows that they were held in sixty counties. The first was held in Nemaha county, opening June 5. It held for twenty days. I attended this institute. The highest salary paid a conductor was $185, to J. M. Greenwood, in Elk; while Nemaha paid $140. In average attendance, Nemaha stands thirtieth. During the sessions of the institute, lectures were given on educational topics. State Superintendent Lemmon and S. A. Felter, who was conductor, gave lectures in Seneca. Abijah Wells was county superintendent at the time," writes Mrs. Emily Col- lins. Mrs. Emily Collins, a beloved citizen of Nemaha county, has been faithfully attending institutes ever since, for this year she completes her thirty-eighth year as teacher of the primary grade in the Seneca schools. In that period, she has lost no time. In hundreds of cases, Mrs. Collins has taught the second generation, and in one case at least, has taught the grandson, having started in school the mother and grandmother of the little lad. Her hair has grown to the softest white, but her eyes retain the fire of her youth, and her sympathy and under- standing of childhood has only increased with each year spent in their midst. Mrs. Collins never looks forward to the first of June as a re- lease from her labors, but anxiously awaits the summer's end, when 266 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY she may again be with the little ones whom she starts on the way to knowledge. Every year Mrs. Collins has a picture taken of the class. On her schoolroom walls are pictures at all stages of photography. Among the interesting are the old-fashioned chromos of two little girls, one curly head surrounded by daisies, another by roses, which the chil- dren of forty years ago remember as the first pictures hung on their nursery or bedroom walls. These favorites of other days have not been removed for more modern works of art, but have merely been moved over that the newer photographs and gravures rnay have wall space. Mrs. Collins' home is as rare as her schoolroom and herself. She has a remarkably fine library of hundreds and hundreds of books, which will be left to Seneca if that town ever has a public library. The house resembles a quaint old church, and is hung with vines and the yard filled with old-fashioned flowers. The 1915 high school annual was dedicated to Mrs. Collins. E. W. Howe, founder of the Atchison "Globe," and editor of Howe's monthly magazine, the most widely quoted writer in America, lectured in 1915 on "The People in the Audience." He said the following of Mrs. Collins, who vfas "among those present." "Mrs. Collins has taught for thirty-seven years. This fact is remarkable, but the more remarkable is Mrs. Collins' person- ality. I have never seen a woman of her age equally well preserved; not only as to health, but as to disposition. On her face are written in unmistakable characters, peace, charity, and kindliness. She is a greater woman than Jane Adams. A speaker in the Chautauqua re- ferred to Mrs. Collins, and there was a burst of applause, as the pepple of Seneca love her. Pictures of saints give them faces that are some- times, usually, I think, ludicrous. The artists try so hard to repre- sent the virtues in oil. There are no people who have "never said an unkind word of anyone"; there are no saints on earth, but the saintliest face I have ever seen belongs to Mrs. Collins, who has taught half the men and women of Seneca, and never whipped any of them." CHAPTER XXIX. LODGES AND SOCIETIES. MASONIC, THE FIRST TO ORGANIZE ^ROYAL ARCH MASONS IN 1877 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC WOMEN's RELIEF CORPS MASONIC ODD FELLOWS KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS KNIGHTS. AND LADIES OF SECURITY MODERN WOODMEN ROYAL NEIGHBORS ANCIENT OR- DER OF UNITED WORKMEN DEGREE OF HONOR FIRE DEPARTMENT C. M. B. A. ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFICERS CLUBS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS. While Nemaha county men and women would not be called "jiners," in that acceptance of the word which indicates going into anything that comes along, there have been, since early days, several solid lodges faithfully and profitably supported in all communities in the county. Seneca, the county seat, naturally organized the first lodge, which was the Masonic, A. F. and A. M., organized in September, 1863. Byron Shelley, A. K. Moore, J. H. Peckham, L. B. Jones and Hiram Johnson were the original officers. The Eastern Star lodge was organized in October, 1878. J. H. Hatch, Mrs. Peckham and Mrs. Brown were orig- inal officers. . The Royal Arch Masons was formed in 1877 with Willis Brown as high priest, and other offices filled by S. B. Murphy, John F. McGowan and J. E. Black. An attempt was made in 1864 to organize a chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but it was not effected until two years later, with Delos Acker and William Histed as officials. Seneca's present orders, with officials, are as follows : GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. George Graham Post No. 92 — Meets first and third Saturdays at 2 p. m. in G. A. R. hall. George Root, post commander. WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS. The Women's Relief Corps — Meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the G. A. R. hall at 2:30 p. m. Lizzie Wetmore, pres- ident. 267 268 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY MASONIC. Seneca Lodge No. 39, A. F. & A. M. — Communications in Masonic hall on first and third Thursdays of each month. H. M. Baldwin, wor- shipful master; W. E. Fuller, secretary. Nemaha Chapter, No. 32, R. A. M. — Convocations first and third Tuesdays in Masonic hall. Herbert E. Jenkins, high priest; R. M. Emery, Jr., secretary. Seneca Commandery, No. 41, Knights Templar — Conclaves second and fourth Wednesdays in Masonic hall. Edwin Buehler, exchequer; W. G. Rucker, recorder. Iris Chapter No. 357 O. E. S. — Meets every second and fourth Fri- day evenings of each month in the A. O. U. W. hall. Visitors welcome. Mrs. Jane Emery, worshipful master; Dora Adriance, secretary. ODD FELLOWS. Nemaha Lodge No. 19, I. O. O. F. — Meets every Monday night in I. O. O. F. hall, Seneca. C. M. Newton, noble grand; J. T. Campbell, secretary. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. Nemaha Lodge No. 99, K. of P. — Meets every Thursday evening in I. O. O. F. hall. Frank Larew, chancellor commander; Clarence Smalley, K. R. S. KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF SECURITY. Seneca Council, No. 193, K. & L. S. — Meets the second and fourth Friday each month in I. O. O. F. hall. R. D. McCliman, president; Mrs. E. M. Collins, secretary. MODERN WOODMEN. Seneca Camp No. 644 — Meets every second and fourth Tuesdays in each month in I. O. O. F. hall. J. E. White, venerable consul ; Frank Larew, clerk. ROYAL NEIGHBORS. Nemaha Valley Camp No. 944 — Meets first Friday evening of each month in I. O. O. F. hall. Social meeting every third Friday evening. Mrs. C. A. Japhet, oracle ; Mrs. Florence Wheeler, recorder. ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN. Seneca Lodge No. 60 — Meets first, third and fifth Tuesdays in each month, in their hall. Charles Carman, most worthy; W. B. Murphy, ■ recorder. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 269 DEGREE OF HONOR. Meets in A. O. U. W. hall the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month. Mrs. Edna M. Ralph, C. of H.; Mrs. Myrtle Iks, re- corder. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Seneca Fire Department — Meets last Monday in each month. Ira K. Wells, chief; C. J. Smalley, secretary. C. M. B. A. The C. M. B. A., St. Charles Branch No. 21.— Meets first and third Thursday of each month in the A. O. U. W. hall. Peter P. Stein, presi- dent; Henry Gudenkauf, recording secretary. Willis M. Slosson was master, John F. Corwin, senior warden, and J. E. Black, junior warden of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Sabetha Lodge No. 162, at its organization in 1875. Nineteen mem- bers were included in the original roster, of whom D. D. Wickins and H.C. Haines are still members and residents of the town. Sabetha Lodge, or the Central City Lodge, as it was called, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 125, was organized the same yeair, with J. E. Moon, noble grand, and W. F. Robbins as secretary. Twenty-four men organized the Knights of Pythias lodge in 1880 with David D. Wickins and T. K. Masheter as financial reporter, both of whom are still residents of Sabetha. N. S. Smith and Fred LTkele were original members who are now residents of the town. The Women's Christian Temperance Union was organized in 1878. Mrs. David Wickins and Mrs. Dr. Slosson are now members of the organization, who were charter members. Masons, Fritz Herrmann, worshipful master; Order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. George A. Allen, Jr., worshipful master; Modern Woodmen of America, A. R. Wittwer, venerable consul ; Royal Neighbors, Mrs. Halla Oylear, oracle ; Knights and Ladies of Security, Dr. B. W. Con- rad, president ; Royal Highlanders, A. G. Kemper, secretary-treasurer ; Yeomen ; Mrs. Laura L. Hook, correspondent ; North American Union, John H. Judy, secretary; Central Protective Association, W. C. Schug, president; Free Department, Fritz Herrmann, president. Centralia lodges include the Masonic, Eastern Star, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen, Royal Neighbors, Kansas Fraternal Citizens, Wood- men of the World, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Degree of Honor. Goff lodges : Royal Neighbors, Mrs. Louise Henry, oracle ; Miss Okeson, recorder; Mrs. D. W. Hunt, chaplain; Mrs. Ed Conover, past 270 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY oracle. Modem Woodmen: T. J. Cox, venerable consul; Nick Jacobs, worthy advisor; Frank Stringer, banker; W. C. Jesse, escort. Odd Fel- lows: W. E. Coffelt, noble grand; H. E. Hanley, vice grand; A. H. Fitzwater, secretary; B. A. Johnstone, treasurer. Rebekah lodge: Mrs. F. J. Cox, noble grand; Mrs. Besse Eckard, vice grand; Mrs. E. C. Maher, second vice grand ; Mrs. Nick Henry, treasurer. The lodges at Corning are the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Odd Fellows, Masons, Modern Woodmen and Knights and Ladies of Security. Oneida lodges : Knights and Ladies of Security, Raymond Funk- houser, president; Mrs. J. F. McCarty, vice president; Claud Funk- houser, secretary; Mrs. C. H. Bell, financier. Masonic, S. S. Steven- son, worshipful master ; O. L. Coleman, senior deacon ; W. H. Moore, junior deacon ; Roy Smothers, secretary. Odd Fellows : Claud Ander- son, noble grand ; Ernest Moser, vice grand ; Harvey Barndt, chaplain ; Roscoe Benedict, warden ; J. J. Russell, secretary ; Henry Wikoff, treas- urer. The Modern Woodmen is another of Oneida's active lodges. Bern lodges : Ancient Order of United Workmen, Bern Lodge No. 319, J. J. Koehler, most worthy ; D. D. Cunningham, secretary. Sunlight Lodge, Knights of Pythias : D. D. Cunningham, C. G. ; A. J. Clyman, K.- R. and S. Turnverein : Jacob Spring, president ; Charles Cassman, secretary. Wetmore lodges : Wetmore Lodge No. 53, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, A. Philip Lapham, worshipful master; Claude J. Wood, secretary. This lodge was first organized at Granada and known as Granada Lodge No. 53 ; was then moved to Capioma, where it remained about a year, and was then moved to Wetmore and its name changed. Wetmore Chapter No. 212 Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Lillie A. Achten, worshipful master; Miss Lorena J. Mell, secre- tary. Wetmore Lodge No. 289, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Charles Cooley, noble grand; Lee Adamson, secretary. Wetmore Re- bekah Lodge No. 326, Mrs. Charles Cooley, noble grand; Mrs. Anna Stolzenberger, secretary. Star of Hope Camp No. 1064 Royal Neigh- bors of America, Mrs. Alice M. Turrentine, oracle; Mrs. M. Maude Stever, secretary. Wetmore Camp No. 1515 -Modern Woodmen of America, C. C. Gilbert, vice commander; Robert Rion, clerk. Wet- more Council No. 273 Knights and Ladies of Security, Charles W. Hendershot, president; Mrs. Bessie Ruhlen, secretary. CLUBS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS. Nemaha county is rather remarkable in the number of its clubs that have stayed under a loosely woven scarf of original weaving for over a period of years. In Seneca was formed a library and literary association, as far back as 1864. After a few months' interest, it lagged. Again it was re- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 2,']\ vived. Periodical backslidings liave occurred, but, today, after more or less slips and regaining of foothold, a circulating of library books individually owned, exists in Seneca, the undoubted offspring of the or- iginal library association. In Seneca, about ten years ago, Mrs. C. C. K. Scoville, notable for her variety and brilliance of achievements, organized a sextet of girl singers called the Mary Lincoln sextet. Mrs. Scoville is the wife of the Seneca banker and mother-in-law of Lieut. Walter de Mumm, whose achievements in the European war have .attracted attention during the current year. Mrs. Scoville was named by President Lincoln on the occasion of a speechmaking visit to the town of her nativity. Mrs. Scoville remembers the martyred president. She was born in Gales- burg, 111. Her father, George I. Bergen, held a Government position. •Mrs. Scoville recalls that when she was a little girl, Mr. Lincoln came to Galesburg to deliver a speech. It was the first time he ran for the presidency. George Bergen and Abraham Lincoln were friends. A great procession was arranged in Mr. Lincoln's honor, and the daugh- ter of George Bergen rode in the carriage with Lincoln. As the crowds cheered, the child stood up in the carriage and added her cheers for Lincoln. He was greatly amused and pleased at the little girl's demon- stration and lifted her to his knee, and gave her the name of Mary Lincoln. Mrs. Lincoln's maiden name was Mary Todd. She was em- ployed as a seamstress in the family of George I. Bergen. Mrs. Sco- ville has in her possession letters written her father by Lincoln, Grant and Yates, the war governor of Illinois. The Mary Lincoln sextette of Seneca was named in honor of this event for Mrs. Scoville. It was composed of girls whose fresh young voices were carefully selected and admirably suited. Mrs. Scoville chaperoned them to neighboring towns for concerts until their fame became widespread. The sextette was disorganized by the inroads of matrimony. Since its earliest day, Nemaha county has been notably musical with many residents who have won laurels in far away places through their music. Among these was the late Will Stevenson who lived in Oneida, midway between Seneca and Sabetha, and was the moving spirit in musical affairs in all three of the communities. Today, years' after his death, the beauty of his voice and the superiority of his pro- ductions are so uniformly admired that his compositions are repro- duced in memory of him. Most of Gilbert & Sullivan's popular operas have been produced in Nemaha county by tbe choral union. One of Mr. Stevenson's great successes was "The Haymakers." It was repro- duced shortly afterward by signed request of most of the citizens of Sabetha as a benefit performance for Billy Williams, a local citizen who had been seriously injured. The play was taken to neighboring towns, and twenty years afterward, was reproduced, some of the parts being played by the children of the original company. The Billie Williams production resulted in a net donation to him of over $70. 272 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Hiawatha people had come over to see the original production. It was so good that they induced the company to go over there and give the operetta for the benefit of the Hiawatha Hbrary. They went and were given a reception in the library rooms, then located over the bank diagonally across from the postoffice. Seneca came after them for a performance at the county seat. A Seneca paper said that the perform- ance demonstrated that people could be fine business men and women and artists at the same time. Among the members of the organization at that time who took part in the opera, were C. L. Sherwood, who was business manager as well as a member of the musical company. E. Holzshue sang the boatswain in "Pinafore." Miss Ida Robbins, now Mrs. Graham of Pomona, Cal., was the prima donna. Miss Bird Riffer was Little Buttercup. Sid West was the fascinating Ralph Rackshaw and Dr. Roberts, the captain. Joe Stevenson was stage manager, and Will Stevenson, Dick Deadeye. Will Storm played the clarionet in the orchestra, and a violinist named Mutter was transported from 4S. Leavenworth. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Waller were Hebe and Sir Joseph. Sabetha gave "Erminie" too with Robert Bressem as the marquis, : and Mrs. Hogbin as Erminie. The two robbers, for whom the dicky birds were always calling, were Freel Corwin and Will Storm. Harry Gravatte staged the piece and Will Stevenson directed. This was given by the Congregational Church. Most of the performances at that time were gfiven by the choral union. The fine musical library at the public library is a result of the choral union's efforts and the inter- est which accumulated on their moneys from the time of their disor- ganization. AA^ithin the current year. The Sabetha Amateur Music Club has brought artists of world-wide fame to the town of 2,000 inhabitants, including Madame Maud Powell, the world's greatest woman violinist; Fabbrini, the great pianist, and Marguerite Dunlap, the singer. The venture was a great success. No other community so small is known to have attempted such a thing solely through a woman's club. The organization has forty-five members, some of whom have more than • local fame as musicians, notably Mrs. S. Murdock, Miss Minnie Stalder, :\Irs. W. A. Carlyle and Miss Mary Pace. A society that probably would take a State prize for continuous and uninterrupted fortnightly meetings for pleasure purposes, only, for over a quarter of a century is the Sabetha Evening Whist Club. The venerable whist club has been meeting for thirty years. Members and their children and their children's children are now members of the same organization, and have been for several years. Sweets are saved from the midnight supper served, to take home to grandchildren of charter members. The club was organized when the old-fashioned -.'i|'t "drive" whist was the rage. Neither fashion nor pleas of the newer :' members will push the originators from drive whist of two hands at a (II.) NEMAHA COUNTY OLD SETTLERS. 1 and 7, J. E. Taylor and Wife. 2 and 3, Mr. and Mrs. John Sly. 4, Mrs. Fuller. 5 and 6, E J Emery and Wife 8 and 9, J. H. Peckham and Wife. 10, Mrs. Ballard. 11 and 12, Thomas Bronaugh and Wife 13 J P Taylor' 14 and 15, Mr. and Mrs. William Broxtermann. 16 and 17, Dr. D. B. McKay and Wife. 18 Jacob McGehee' 19, Mrs. Kelley. 20 and 21, Peter McQuaid and Wife. 22 and 23, Mr. and Mrs. James Graney 24 P H Stirk" 25, Marsh Burger. 26, Ed. Caspy. 27, James Gregg. 28, Joshua Sams. 29 and 30, J. P. Cone and 'wife HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 273 game, to four, game whist, duplicate, bridge or auction, all of which have been the fashion since the organization of the Sabetha Whist Club. Seven years, or more, ago appeared the following story of a Whist Club anniversary : The charter members of the Whist Club surprised Mr. and. Mrs. C. L. Sherwood in celebration of their twenty-fifth wedding anniver- sary. Mr. and Mrs. Lon Hook, Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Haynes, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bressem, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Guild, Mr. and Mrs. E. Holtzchue and Dr. Roberts are the charter members, besides Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood. Mrs. Hook and Mrs. Sherwood were president and secretary from the formation of the club twenty years ago until last year. Mrs. Cotton has always been treasurer of the club. There never has been a cent of money in the treasury during the entire twenty years of its existence. A standing joke of the president has been to call for the treasurer's report at every meeting fortnightly for twenty years. Mrs. Charlie Haines and Mrs. Sam Murdock are the present president and secretary. The duties of these officers seem to be no more arduous than those of the treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Haines are also char- ter members, but were unable to attend the Sherwood surprise. The club guests at the party presented Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood with a hand- some set of solid silver knives and forks. The "bride and groom" were so genuinely surprised that it almost required restoratives to bring them around. The husbands attend regularly and enjoy it. Are any other thirty year husbands as faithful? The county gathering of longest standing, most faithful attendance and unvarying success was the annual picnic held for fifty years at Magill's grove near Capioma and Woodlawn in the southwestern corner of the county. Samuel Magill, with his three brothers, who were pioneer settlers of this district, arriving in 1856 and 1857, inaug- urated the picnic in his grove of walnut trees in i860. Trees were few in those days except along the creek. The walnut grove of Samuel Magill was famous. Its lumber now is made into handsome furniture filling the castles and palaces of England, but still the beauty of the woods seems undisturbed. In this forest primeval, for nearly fifty years annually, gathered, until the year of his death, Mr. Magill's friends, acquaintances and all folk from surrounding communities who knew Woodlawn or Capioma. The grove itself is historic in that Samuel Magill preempted the land in 1855, and owned it to the time of his death with the parchment deed to the land signed by Abraham Lincoln. The grove when the first picnic was held was practically the only timber in the vicinity. There are now fifty-five acres of timberland, from which, in the late years of his life, Mr. Magill shipped thousands of feet of massive walnut trees to England. Mr. Magill retired from active farming, for years prior to his death six years ago, but to the last meeting he attended the annual picnic. When the picnic started in the pioneer days, the picnickers (18) 274 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY numbered but a few early settlers, who had preempted their farms, worked early and late against the odds which assail the pioneer, with this annual celebration their only pleasure. For this day troubles were laid aside, hardships forgotten and homesickness banished in the warm, human communication, with gospel hymns and good eating the sole amusement. Every year the crowd increased until five neighborhood Sunday schools and at least two towns were represented : Granada, Capioma, Comet, Bethany and Wpodlawn, besides all the surrounding country- side and the thriving towns of Wetmore and Sabetha. The crowds frequently numbered several thousand. There was to have been speak- ing before dinner, but, of course, there was none. The speaker never arrives until dinner is spread. The mothers gather on the rough, tem- porary board benches and discuss household affairs while watching the arrivals. The fathers gather near their own rigs in knots of five and six, where they discuss their corn prospects, tell of their fine wheat crop and wonder when Charley Jordan is ever going to get around with the threshing outfit; and why on earth Jack Dyche ever wanted ■ to sell out his fine farm here in God's country, and move away out to Nebraska. The children hang around and watch closely two embryo financiers, Clyde Buck and Ed Stalcup, put up thejr ice cream and soda pop stands. Things drag along. Noon arrives and no speaker. Finally the Wood- lawn Sunday school superintendent gets up on the impromptu plat- form, flanked on one side by an American flag, and on the other by the church cabinet organ, and announces that the speaker not having come, the first thing on the program will be dinner. Shouts of applause follow this short speech. Matters begin to move. Fathers get baskets from under the buggy seats, boys bring buckets of water from the spring and mothers begin to squeeze lemons. The children hop around in everyone's way, sneaking bites from anyone's table. The picnic is fairly on. Married children, with their tots, gather at the family table cloth with grandmas and grandpas, together with a dozen intimate friends. Some few who live in far parts of the district make the picnic dinner their annual feasting together. Of course there is a hundred times too much to eat at every table, although everyone eats and eats and eats. Dinner over and cleared away, another pause comes. The speaker arrived in time to get his share of the food. Little by little, the older ones gather on the benches fronting the platform. Sweethearts saunter off to find a grapevine swing; the children scamper off to wade in the creek; the older boys rush off into Pettit's pasture for the annual baseball struggle between those old enemies, Granada and Capioma. The superintendent of the Sunday school again gets on the platform. He makes a plea for a choir. No one moves. He beseeches our excel- lent singers not to be bashful. He wants representatives from every HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 2/5 choir present. Still a motionless audience. "Well, well," he says, "I do not want to sing all these hymns as solos." Giggles followed by the rising of the faithful Capioma choir leader, who started the music with a tuning fork some forty odd years ago. This brave man is backed by three brave girls, and the procession to the dozen straight-backed kitchen chairs on the platform begins. Half the singers are then ob- liged- to return to their seats on the benches. The program begins with No. 177. The organ wheezes out the little verse all the way through, the last chord dying entirely out as the organist ceases to pump. The original chorister leads off. The voices straggle in one after the other until the chorus is reached, when the audience takes it up. This hymn is followed by another. Then some local elocutionist recites. Another chorus, followed by a second flight of oratory, and so on, heartily applauded by the neighbors and admirers of the reciter. The climax comes when fourteen perspiring, exicited little boys and girls, draped in bright blue tissue paper sashes and crowned by triple pointed, gilded pasteboard crowns, are gathered together, by their faithful trainer, Mrs. Stauffer, and coralled on the platform for the flag drill. They weave in and out and wave their flags and mix up and unmix, forming a final glorious tableau, by kneeling with their flags carefully stuck in each other's eyes. This part of the program is given an encore, and is repeated. Then, at last, the speaker gets in his work. Mothers sneak off to relieve their children of their drill finery. The speaker shouts patrio- tism at a few fathers for half an hour, and the day's' program is fin- ished. Fathers go to hitch up ; mothers gather up baskets ; older chil- dren hunt up the little ones ; the last call for ice cream is made, going at five cents a dish, and Magill's picnic is over. This has been the pro- gram for nearly half a century. Can any other community claim such - faithfulness ? CHAPTER XXX. MISCELLANEOUS. CALAMITIES GREAT DROUTH OF 1860 GRASSHOPPER VISITATION THE CYCLONE OF 1.896 JOHN P. CONE's EXPERIENCE INDIAN MASSACRE OF ARGONAUTS AN EXCITING BUFFALO HUNT REMINISCENCES OF ALFRED STOKES THE ORPHAN POPULATION THE COUNTY HOS- PITAL. Of the big calamaties of lesser renowned happenings of Nemeha county the drought of the sixties, the grasshoppers of the seventies and the tornado of 1896, are the most important. The exact dates of the drouth and grasshopper era is frequently disputed as is most matter of historical worth handed down by verbal recitation. The big drouth is generally conceded to have occurred in i860. There are scores of stories in connection with it. J. T. Brady who recently died in Pomona, Cal., tells a good one. Mr. Brady helped in the foundation of two towns, Sa- betha and Albany, and to his life's end divided his affection equally be-; tween them. He was one of the builders of Sabetha, and thirty years ago went to Pomona, Cal., which he helped to build as he had Sabetha. Many Nemaha county folk followed him there. Fred and Charlie Graham, Colonel White, Mrs. F. E. Bouton, her daughter. Miss May, Mrs. Edwin Slosson, Mr. and Mrs. William Law- rence, who have been prominent in Nemaha county for years, were seized with the California fever, gathered at Pomona, built and settled there. Mr. Brady was a connection of Ira Collins matrimonially and the two were in business together in Sabetha's early days. Mr. Collins wandered from the fold for a few years, but is again in Nemaha county. THE GREAT DROUTH OF i860. Mr. Brady recalls the drouth as follows: The pumpkin is a sort 'of "incidental" novr^on the food scale, and a feature of Hallowe'en parties, but back in i860, when the hot winds turned Kansas into a scorched plain, the now forgotten and unsung "punkin" was the whole show. John T. Brady told a story of that famous drouth in i860. He and Wil- liam Collins had come from Illinois the year before. They had started for Pike's Peak, which at that time was the Mecca of all wanderers. They met a bunch of returning emigrants near Sabetha, and the hard luck stories determined them to cast their fortunes in Kansas. They took a 276 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 277 claim near the present townsite of Sabetha. After putting in a crop in the spring of i860 they decided to go on to Pike's Peak anyway. They remained until fall and then came back to their claim. The country was burned to a crisp. The corn was twisted like burned bacon. The grass was bleached and dead. The whole country, which only a few months before had promised abuadant harvest, had been turned into a profitless waste. The bare ground looked as if it had been seared by a furnace. Nothing was raised. Brady and Collins began to look around. They knew a man named Bierly Job, close by, and called on him. They found he had a tremendous crop of pumpkins. The pumpkins had been planted in the corn, as the old fashioned farmers used to do. The corn had been killed but the pumpkins refused to suffer a like fate. The hotter the weather got, the faster grew the pumpkins. Pumpkins filled the furrows and the vines covered the hills and continued to bring forth more and more. The crop was something wonderful to behold. When anybody got hungry he came and carried off a load of Job's pumpkins. Nothing else had been raised and pumpkins were served for soup, for meat, and in pie for des- sert. People ate pumpkins till they turned yellow. That crop made his- tory and saved many a belt from being drawn into unaccustomed notches. GRASSHOPPER VISITATION. The grasshopper year was in 1873. It hit Nemaha county as thor- oughly as any other section, and tales are rampant of sufferers who had their clothes fairly eaten off their backs. The grasshopper year is al- ways referred to as if it were a calamity that visited Kansas alone, as if Kansas bore and bred the omnivorous insects, and then refused to let any other State have a sight of them. The truth of the matter is that the famous grasshoppers came from Colorado. Kansas had nothing to do with their origin whatever, and merely fed them her crops as they blew over the State into Missouri and Iowa. But Kansas is a good advertis- er, and always has been since her forefathers left New York, New Eng- land and Pennsylvania and started for the West with the motto "Kansas or Bust" on the covers of their mover wagons. Therefore when Kansas drew the grasshoppers, Kansas advertised the fact, knowing that it was better for her business to be discussed any old way rather than not to be discussed at all. And it is the same today. Iowa was having primaries, and insurging and things last week, too, but no one paid any attention to Iowa. The eyes of the entire country were on Kansas. And "as Kansas went, so goes the country" is Kansas' new slogan. In the historic year of the grasshoppers, Roy Hesseltine was a boy, and later president of the Citizens State Bank of Sabetha. The thing that impressed him most was the excitement among the turkeys when the grasshoppers darkened the sky in their countless numbers. The tur- keys were for a moment staggered by the spectacle of so much food in sight. Then they "lit" into the grasshoppers and ate, and ate, and ate. 278 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. Hesseltine says he saw turkeys eat grasshoppers until they couldn't get any more down, then stand with their mouths open. Occasionally the grasshopper would take advantage of the gobbler's "open season" and would kick itself out and escape. The turkeys would start early in the morning with a rush, bent on transacting business all day, but about one o'clock they would be full to the throat, a^d would squat down and remain there the balance of the day, picking only grasshoppers which they could reach from a reclining position. The turkeys were the only beneficiaries of the grasshopper year. THE CYCLONE OF 1896. But the cyclone was more of a personal matter with Nemaha county. To be sure a portion of the northeastern section of the State shared in it to an extent, yet it was not a State-wide event, if disastrous enough for one. The cyclone occurred on the evening of May 17, 1896. The storm originated in Miltonvale, Cloud county, Kansas, and swept through Washington, Marshall, Nemaha and Brown counties, Kansas, and Rich- ardson county, Nebraska, to Preston on the Missouri river. At times the tornado would break up into several tornadoes and in Nemaha county, several communities were simultaneously damaged by twisters. The first place where extensive damage was done was at' Barnes out in Washington county. Then the tornado hit Frankfort in Marshall coun- ty, then Baileyville in Nemaha county, then at Seneca. Five were killed at Seneca, five were killed at Reserve, four at Sabetha, five at Oneida, three at Morrill and four in Richardson county. The funnel cloud which wrecked Sabetha formed over Price station. The storm then seemed to have hesitated and gathered its forces for the descent on Pony Creek and east Pennsylvania avenue. From there it passed on to Reserve and into Nebraska. It was the worst storm the county has ever known since its organization. There was not a business building and very few houses left undamaged in Sabetha. The damage of the storm financially was estimated at one million dollars, of which over $700,000 was Nemaha county's loss. "Cyclone stories" in a stricken community are of unfailing interest and when the bitterness and sorrow have been a little obliterated by the passage of time, they become sometimes amusing. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Magill's home in Seneca was completely demolished in the tornado of 1896. Mr. Hartner, of the same locality, lived half a mile from the Ma- gill home. A family picture of the Hartner family and family group of the Magill family were carried with the wreckage of their two homes above the clouds to a distance of sixty miles and were found in the same cornfield by a farmer who was cultivating and did not know there had been a storm. The farmer carried the two pictures into the home of a neighbor, a Mrs. Plummer. She recognized the picture of the IMagill family and said the pictures must have come from Seneca. Later they HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 279 heard of the terrific storm, and the destruction in its wake, and they re- turned the pictures to the Magill family. There had been no storm at all at Falls City, Neb., or near there, only a distance of twelve or fifteen miles from Reserve, one of the towns destroyed. The pictures must have been carried entirely above the rainclouds as they were not even damp. Only one corner of the picture was torn. Mrs. Magill framed it and it still decorates their home and is in as good condition as if it had never taken so mad an air ride. In the picture are the following Seneca people: Mr. and Mrs. Abijah Wells, Mr. and Mrs. David Magill, Mrs. Captain Williams and daughter. Another story of the tornado that is amusing is the saving of the Magill piano. The piano was found upon a pinnacle of wreckage, unin- jured except for the fact that a board had blown completely through the piano, entering one side through the hard wood and going out the oppo- site side, without injuring the works of the instrument. The clock was the only thing absolutely uninjured. The clock was left standing on a pile of wood. It was ticking and had not lost a second's time through the frightful storm. When Mr. Magill and his family issued from the cellar of a neighbor's house, his clock greeted him by chiming out the correct hour. JOHN P. CONE, FIRST EDITOR, WRITES OF EARLY EXPERIENCES Issued First Copy the Seneca "Courier" Fifty Years Ago — Some Early Seneca History — The Changes of Time. As preliminary to what the writer may here state, he wishes to re- fer to first impressions. His first introduction to Seneca and the valley of the Nemaha, leading north into Nebraska, was in the late summer of 1862. There were two of us, residents at that time of Marshall county, and having a couple of Indian ponies we wished to break to the saddle and a day or two of idle time on our hands, we left Marysville one Sunday forenoon, took in a camp meeting on the Vermillion creek and from there went across the prairies to Seneca and north to near the Nebraska line, where we stopped with Dr. Edwards, a very genial old gentleman, over night. There were small and very scattering improvements along tlje valley and we met very few settlers but the road, or path rather, was an easy grade, the foliage and landscape fine, indicating productive soil and compared with anything we had seen on that or previous trips. We pronounced the valley a gem in the rough, an Eden spot of Kansas, and were, therefore, as we returned to Marshall, in a mood to sing in the lan- guage of the old hymn : "Every prospect pleases and only man is vile." Something over a year after the date mentioned above, or in Octo- ber, 1863, the writer came to Seneca with the view of starting a newspa- per. Inducements were offered and aspirations stimulated that Seneca 28o HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and Nemaha county could support and should have a newspaper. Ac- cordingly teams were sent to Atchison county and a press and complete outfit brought to Seneca and on the fourteenth day of November, 1863, the first paper in the county made its appearance — a six column four page paper, the Nemaha "Courier." Many predictions were made as to the success or failure (more of the latter) of the enterprise. The town was an infant, there was one brick business house on Main street occu- pied by Lappin & Scrafford as a general store, (now the Mason & Wolt- kamp furniture store.) The block east had a few wooden buildings and J. H. Peckham was doing a tin and hardware business in one of them, and a blacksmith shop on the east side of that block. On the next block east was the stone building now standing, considerably remodeled and then occupied by Bolivar Schofield's general store. On the south side. and corner where August Kramer now is, was John E. Smith's hotel and station for the overland stage travel. West were several small buildings occupied by furniture, general trade, saloon, restaurant or any transient line that might come along. Dr. McKay ran a drug store on the north side about where the Steam Bakery now is. The old double log house celebrated in song and story and which has a history in itself as first house, hotel, store, residence, etc., was still standing about where the Scoville buildings now are and was occupied by Albert Clarke and family. The block across the street south of where the post office now is, had one building near its center, the residence of Samuel Lappin. There were probably about two dozen business men and firms in town, all told. And while there was a pretty generous subscription list started by some subscribers paying for from three to five annual subscriptions for the paper to be sent to friends in the East, the local advertising and job work was light. The county printing was increasing and instead of its being sent away to the river papers, was now kept at home. Then, too, by per- sistent hammering and soliciting the paper soon filled up with advertise- ments from St. Joseph, Atchison and Leavenworth merchants. A new field was opened to the business men of the river towns and they took occasion to cultivate it. The home office of the "Courier" was in the rear room of the Mason & Woltkamp building before referred to. Byron Sherry's law office was in front. The press was a fine old Foster make and is now installed in the State Historical rooms in Topeka for preservation and for the good it has done. The first roller boy or original "devil" of the office was George W. Williams, of Seneca. Typesetting machines were unheard of in that day and one of the first printers who was employed to assist in placing in col- umns the "mute metallic messengers of thought," was Theodore Alvord, who responded to a call on a $5.50 stage ticket from Atchison. A great many lively reminiscences could be given of the printers and workmen who rolled into and out of town in the next few succeeding years. They were a restless and venturesome lot that traveled the road in those days HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 281 and Nemaha had one lone office where they might apply for a "sit." Al- most every article fit to eat or wear by man or beast was taken on sub- scription in those da3^s. A pair of longlegged leather boots were early handed in by a local shoemaker for the editor and he put them on and "waded in." They proved a most serviceable pair. In December, 1865, the "Courier" was designated by the Secretary of State, W. F. Seward, as one of the two papers in Kansas to publish the United States laws passed by the United States that session of Congress. A new .Gordon job press and many substantial improvements were added to the offce, followed by a frame 'one story office built on the corner where the First National Bank now stands. Most of the material was sawed in Atchison from native lumber and shipped by the Central Branch railway to Cen- tralia and hauled to Seneca by H. D. Hornbeck, the Seneca freighter of those days. Centralia then and for some years after was our nearest railroad point. The paper remained in its new home until the early sev- enties. A word now as to the early organization of the town. One Inger- soll and another man from Doniphan county are said to have located the town of Rock Castle, where Seneca now stands, in the winter of 1856 to 1857, ^nd the double log house, so often referred to, was put up the succeeding spring. Pocket knife engravure had indelibly placed the name Rock Castle on one of the logs. Not long after Royal U. Torrey, Samuel Lappin and his father, Finley Lappin, and Charles G. Scrafford, the last two arriving later, bought or took the townsite and became ac- tive in building a town and upon the suggestion of the elder Lappin, the name was changed to Seneca. This name was familiar to Lappin senior, it has been said, from a town of the same name in his native State of Ohio. In these chronicles relating principally to the town, should not be forgotten the men and families who came to Nemaha and were "squat- ting" along the creeks and branches near by and who founded some of the fine farms we see today. The idea largely prevailed then, that land worth taking up should be on a creek or low ground; that the prairies would never produce or sustain anything more than a few Indians and jack rabbits. As early as 1855, 1856 and 1857, there were the following settlers contiguous to Seneca, viz : "Elias Church, John S. Doyle, L. J. McGowen, Joseph W. Dennis, on the east side of the Nemaha and his father, Batson Dennis, on the west side, William Berry, on the east, and Jesse Dennis, on the west, W. W. Lilley on the east and E. N. Hanks on the west, Thomas Morgan on the east, and Elias Huff on the west, Thos. Carter, William R. Wells, John F. Long, William Houston on the east, and on Illinois Creek, Alonza Whitmore, Jeremiah Barnes, John Roots and George F. Roots." On the north and east of town were Lanhams, Newtons, the Johnsons, Williams, Bonine, Carlins, Steinmeirs, and many others of the tillers and toilers who could be depended upon, upon what- ever occasion called them out. 282 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Indian scares and rumpuses were somewhat common then; Small bands of the Otoes in visiting their brothers south took the Nemaha route, and while peaceable except when filled with fire water, they were not particularly agreeable as permanent residents. The savage raid by those farther west in 1864, when the Nemaha Home Guards were called out, would form a chapter of reminiscences of itself. And this is a glimpse of Seneca and Nemaha fifty years ago when it was struggling for the "Stars Through Difficulties." Kansas was the battlefield of ideas, the struggle was sharply on and defiance and death were dealing fearful blows. The heart beats and throes of the time were awakening every dormant energy. The immortal Lincoln's guiding hand was at the helm of State, and Kansas and Nemaha were loyal to the faith. "What anvils rang, what hammers beat. In what a forge and what a heat. We shaped the anchors of thy hope." "The Bison Kansas Bee" of Rush county, deep in the solitude of the "Great American Desert," sums up the progress of fifty years as follows : "Only fifty years from ox-team to automobile, from forded streams to concrete bridges. Only fifty years from buffalo grass to alfalfa, from unplowed fields, pounded by hoofs for a thousand years, to the mellow soil of varied crops. Only fifty years from bisons to shorthorns, from the wandering tribes to the contented families. The plodding pace of Buck and Berry" and the gliding 1913 model, affords no greater con- trast than that which obtains in all lines in Kansas. It's only fifty years from inebriety to sobriety, from Kansas drunk to Kansas sober ; only fif- ty years from the wagon trail to the iron rail. Only fifty years from "buffalo chips" to natural gas. Only fifty years old, yet one State alone has more money on deposit than Kansas. Fifty years ago only an occa- sional letter; today the rural carrier visits nearly every farm house. Telephones, rural carriers and good roads make neighbors closer than formerly when a block apart. Kansas, the commonwealth, has had her infancy and her ripened age, in less than the lifetime of one generation. 'Better fifty A^ears of Kansas than a cyclone of Cathay.' " INDIAN MASSACRE OF ARGONAUTS. T. H. Edgar told a thrilling story of pioneer days in this vicinity. Mr. Edgar had four brothers and a cousin who took the old Sante Fe trail for California in search of gold. They were fortunate in their quest and started to their home in the East with saddle bags filled with the precious gold dust. It was estimated that in all the return party had $100,000 in gold dust. Each of the Edgar> boys and the cousin, whose name was Burner, had $20,000 and a pony. Near Fort Leavenworth the overland party was surprised by Indians, and most of the band was mas- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 283 sacred. One brother of the Edgar boys and Burner survived. The two managed to keep hold of their saddle bags in the fray, and escaped. Sup- plies were abandoned, and in hiding out from place to place they became so exhausted they could carry the gold dust no farther, so they decided to cache it. A large gray rock along the trail was selected as a likely spot. An abandoned wolf hole was found under the stone and the gold was buried there. They reached the fort, and after four days' rest re- turned to the spot where the gold had been buried, accompanied by a company. They found the place where the raid had been, foimd the burned wagons, but no trace of men or horses was left. They searched for the gray stone, but it was not found. Nor could any familiar spot be discovered. Late in the fall', after continued search, they returned again to Fort Leavenworth. They reached their Illinois home penniless. An Illinois company was formed to search for the gold, with no better result. Twenty years later another quest was made, but the gold dust is still buried somewhere beneath the old California trail in Nemaha or Brown county. AN EXCITING BUFFALO HUNT. William B. Slosson used to tell of an exciting buffalo hunt which resulted from an Indian scare in the early sixties. All the men of the county practically had gone to war. Mr. Slosson had been wounded in the knee and was at home recuperating. Shortly before his return to the front word was received that Indians were attacking the residents of Marshall county adjoining Nemaha on the west. A rally was made at Seneca. Rev. G. C. Rice and Elihu Whittenhall, elderly men, made a house-to-house visit among the scattered settlers to inform them where the rendezvous was to be. The women sat up all night cooking. In the morning, Byrcjn Sherry, a Seneca attorney, was made commander of the impromptu brigade, numbering about 400 boys and old men, and the brigade started after the Indians. As they approached the scene of the raid, cabins were found in smoking ashes and the Indians had fled. As the party came over the hill, overlooking the Blue river valley, their hearts fairly stopped beating to behold in the valley beneath them a solid mass of tens of thousands of buffalo, peacefully feeding. There were acres and acres, solid miles, in fact, of buffalo. The buffalo sniffed the foreign invaders and started to move. The Indian hunters dashed after them. Mr. Slosson shot one buffalo and he veered out from the herd. Mr. Slosson was riding a blooded horse, which became excited with the chase and dashed after the buffalo. They caught up with the wounded animal, when he turned to lunge at them, but the skillful horse stepped aside and the animal lunged forward. Several shots and similar maneuvers finally conquered the king of the plains. He was skinned, and the fresh meat served the amateur soldiers many good meals. In the beginning of the buffalo raid, Byron Sherry cried, "Boys, 284 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY let's surround them." This became a byword, and many years afterward, when Mr. Sherry was making a political speech as candidate for congress, someone in the audience cried out, "Boys, let's surround them." It raised such a roar of laughter that the speech was useless, and Mr. Sherry lost the nomination. Mr. Sherry became a lawyer in Kansas City later. REMINISCENCES BY ALFRED STOKES. Alfred Stokes, of Sabetha, was one of twenty-two persons who ar- rived in Sabetha in 1872, from Binghamton, N. Y., to seek their fortunes. There was Mr. Stokes and family, John Stevens and family and Garret Dietrich and family. Their intention was to take up homesteads. The nearest good land was found to be in Smith county. The men left their families and went to Smith county and took up land. Mr. Stokes came back to Sabetha after staking off land near the present site of Smith Center. He gave up the homestead, let it go back to the government. The farm is now worth $100 an acre. Should he have kept it? Here is the answer. A few months after Mr. Stokes took up the claim he started from Sabetha to Smith county. The Grand Island road, when it touched Davenport, Neb., was the nearest road to the claim, seventy miles. Mr. Stokes started to walk from Davenport to the claim. He walked all day without seeing a sign of life except buffalo and wolves. At night he staggered into a building. He was back at Davenport on the Grand Island, which consisted of an old box car. He had been walking in a circle all day. The next day he started out and made better progress. He came to a dugout. A settler had just lost his wife. Mr. Stokes asked for water. The settler showed him a stinking hole. Stokes knew why the wife had died. The next night, Mr. Stokes feared to lie down for fear wolves would devour him. He walked on in the night and saw a light. A woman was nursing a sick baby. Her husband was somewhere picking up buffalo bones to exchange at Wetmore, sixty miles away, for a pitiful little jag of groceries. After he. had implored her to let him in, she did so, and he slept on the dirt floor, thankful for his life. So it went. A few dugouts ten to twenty miles apart. Poverty everywhere. At another dugout a woman had just given birth to a baby. She had baked rye bread ahead in anticipation of the event. Her huslDand sold Stokes a loaf of bread. He sat down and ate it, then begged to buy more. The husband would not sell. Mr. Stokes cooked buffalo meat with buffalo chips. It was plenty tough. There is nothing in this theory of wild game being so much better than any other kind. Mr. Stokes will take a good steak any time. Event- ually he reached his claim. There was no town of Smith Center then. There was no living on the crops produced. It couldn't be done. It wasn't done for twenty years afterward. The hundred dollars an acre HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 285 homestead doesn't look so alluring, does it? Stevens and Dietrich moved their families from Sabetha to Smith county. Both, men are dead. John Tyler died in Seattle. Mr. Stokes is the only head. of a family still living. The reason he didn't move to Smith county was that the Grand Island owed him $210 and couldn't pay it. They did him a favor. He doesn't think those years of pioneer hardships would have been worth the hundred dollars an acre. THE ORPHAN POPULATION More than fifty orphan children, homeless from the vicissitudes of a city existence, have found a home, shelter and refuge in this county. The goodly people have given these not only a home, but in most cases the love and control of parents. Our first bevy of little ones, twenty^four in number, came ten years ago under the charge of Mr. Swan and Miss Hill, field agents of the Children's Aid Society of New York City. Miss Hill is now the Kansas State agent, with headquarters at To- peka. Some of the innocents came from the Kansas Home of the Friend- less. Of all this number there was but one defective child. The rule is less than one in twelve. The city orphans know nothing of farm life, and yet they make good upon the farms and almost every case of dis- satisfaction of foster parent or child is found to be the interference of neighbors or servants. The child's return to the foster parents in love, labor and usefulness more than justifies the expense, care and trouble. The responsibility of the child's life is carried by the organized societies and their represent- atives who govern their discipline and by advice and admonition assist in th.e guidance to a useful maturity of these children. The remarkable success of these children proclaim that the rearing of the children is the greatest industry Nemaha county attempts. One of our most unpromising little ones has become the friend and associate of her foster mother. At eighteen she is little mother to two others. She has saved $500 and is today a useful, helpful housekeeper. Another has demonstrated scholarship to a marked degree and by competitive examination won a State scholarship in the big institutions of learning where she is finishing her education. This child was seven- teen. She knows how to do housework, milk, husk corn and drive a team. It has been one of the aims to place these children upon the farms in preference to other homes. Upon the farms they have the intimate as- sociation of their foster parents, their regular, steady work, the oppor- tunities of the country school — the best in America today. Add to these the regular hours of sleep, the wholesome food of the farm table and the conditions for the rearing of the child become almost ideal. The material affairs of the children are supervised by a local com- mittee that are in truth the representaives of the instiutions. The head- quarters of the movement in the county has been at Sabetha, and of the 286 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY original committee, which consisted of George W. Hook, Ralph Tennal, Tom Pace, Roy Hesseltine, Grant Hazen and Will Guild, there remains active in the work Ralph Tennal and George Hook. These two have kept in close touch with their charges, and have urged upon both parents and children that maxim of good guardians of child life, "Don't see too much." These supervisors are under lasting obligations to the newspapers of northeastern Kansas. These have, without money and without price, given most freely of their advertising columns, the reading space and their good will, and the children are blessed accordingly. The Sabetha "Herald," the Brown County "World," the Kansas "Democrat," Seneca "Tribune" and Troy "Chief" have each assisted cheerfully. May their blessings be accordingly. The committee has found some royal helpers among the people, and among those have been Mrs. Henri Plattner who, by care, advice and material assistance, has found homes for many. To Irwin Hook and his gentlewife, whose home has at all times been open for the care and instruction of the children so unfortunate as to be waiting for new homes, much credit is due. Nemaha county has always cared for the orphans. E. E. Crichley came to Kansas from England with a party of orphan children that were distributed here about .thirty-six years ago. He was taken into the O. C. Bruner home in Seneca. He remained with the fam- ily, and is now with the Santa Fe railway people in the coach depart- ment in the shops at Topeka. Although only five years of age when he was taken, he recalls quite well the day and occasion of his assignment, and when at home recently went to the court house to see if he recog- nized anything about the place that was impressed upon his child mind on the occasion of his first visit. All trace of a brother taken by a Mr. Rosengarten has been lost, and nothing is known of him since the time he was in the employ of Jake Allen, who used to run the big livery barn on the vacant block in the rear of the Kramer hardware store, and which was destroyed by fire some twenty years ago. THE COUNTY HOSPITAL. In the past few years in rich Nemaha county very few have wound their way "over the hill to the poorhouse." Thus it was called in 1869 when crops frequently failed and residents of "No Papoose' oc- casionally lost their grip. Then a county farm was secured for their care and sustenance, a mile and a half from Seneca. A stone building was erected sufficient to accommodate thirty people. The eighty acres surrounding it have frequently been self-supporting, and larger acreage, with fine timber and a picturesque stream, are included in the grounds now. But the new building is called the County Hospital, and that is what it amounts to. The building is modern in every respect, furnace-heated, a water- ' HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 287 works system, two windows to all the rooms, four porcelain baths, and a home of comparative happiness and contentment to the dwellers therein. - Under the management of Mr. and Mrs. John Pitgh, who are now conducting the hospital, it is almost self-supporting and his "family" is well content. Sara Teasdale's words about "The Poorhouse," Hope went by and Peace went by And would not enter in; Youth went by. and Health went by, And Love that is their Kin. Gray Death saw the wretchied house, And even he passed by; "They have never lived," he said, "They can wait to die." are little suited to Nemaha county's Home for the Poor, where peace reigns with comfort and contentment. Eighty windows glow in the western sun, and the glow they reflect is the glow reflected by, the care and rest that is given the weary and the old within its walls. CHAPTER XXXI. NEMAHA'S SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF RENOWN. DR. BENJAMIN L. MILLER MRS. ETHEL HUSSEY^EX-GOV. W. J. BAILEY E. G. STITT MRS. NANNIE KUHLMAN SENATOR W. H. THOMPSON MRS. VIRGINIA GREEVER WALT MASON FREDERICK GATES REV. A. G. LOHMAN COL. H. BAKER AND OTHERS. Of the sons and daughters of Nemaha county, many have acquired fame, honor and riches bounded only by the nation and a few beyond this country's boundaries. DR. BENJAMIN L. MILLER. Benjamin L. Miller, born on the Rock creek farm of his father near the Nebraska State line, has just returned from an expedition in the countries of South America for the United States Government, examin- ing mines and conditions there. He has the chair of geology in Lehigh University, and was given a leave of absence of a year and a half for the work. Upon his trip letters of his findings and travels were sent to his boyhood home and reproduced in home papers, in which he al- ways retains his interest. Dr. Miller's discoveries were- told at a congress of scientists in Washington, D. C, and before the president. The week in the National capital was notably given over to him and his work. MRS. ETHEL HUSSEY. While there may be truth in the saying that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country," yet it would seem that there are rare occasions when two prophets, hailing from the same country, may admire one another. Such seems to be the case of Dr. Edwin E. Slosson for his former countryman. Prof. W. J. Hussey. Dr. Slosson and his brilliant wife, Ma)^ Preston Slosson, a poet with a name of her own, were boy and girl in Nemaha county about the time Ethel Fon- tain was a girl in the same vicinity. All were children of pioneer citi- zens of this community; Mrs. Slosson, of Centralia, Mr. Slosson, of Sa- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 289 betha, Ethel Fontain, of Fairview. Miss Fontain became a brilliant scientist and married Prof. Hussey, a man high in the same profession. She was his helper and companion in all remarkable achievements. Indeed, she was more : his partner in equal I'ight. The same is true of the Slosson family. Dr. Slosson is associate editor of "The Independent Magazine" of New York, a periodical of highest standard. All are children of farmers, who helped to build this part of Kansas into the great commonwealth it is today. Mrs. Hussey's recent death occurred when she was returning from a trip of scientific research with her hus- band. Now for the pleasant things one gentle prophet of Nemaha county has to say of another, in a recent issue of "The Independent Magazine." "The oldest of our State universities and the youngest of the uni- versities of Argentina have formed a unique sort of partnership to in- crease their efficiency in astronomical research. The observatories of Michigan and LaPlata have been, for the last few years, under the management of a single astronomer and their telescopes working in harmony command the heavens. Prof. W. J. Hussey is doubtless the first man to attempt to occupy . chairs in two universities 9,000 miles apart. But Prof. Hussey is not unused to attempting the unusual. He has been at it all his life. A farmer boy does not work his own way to the front rank of steller discoveries at the age of forty-nine without exceptional initiative and ability. He started in life with no apparent advantages toward such a career, perhaps Quaker ancestry and a book loving father. He took the engineer course at Ann Arbor, working summers on railroad construction in Wyoming and Kansas to get money to carry him through the winter. One summer he was ordered to report to the superintendent at Mankato, to be sent into the field. Entering the office he found the superintendent out and while waiting, his orderly mind was so much distressed by the con-- fusion in the office that he busied himself cleaning up and setting things to rights. When the superintendent came back and saw the transformation he gave the young man a position in the office instead of sending him out on the road. At the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton he began the discoveries which brought him an international reputation. Upon the publication of his work on the double stars ob- served at Pultowa, Russia, and of his systematic observations of the satellites of Saturn for many years, he was elected to membership in the Royal Astronomical Society of. London and awarded the Lalande gold medal by the Paris Academy of Science. He has devoted himself especially to double stars, and has discovered 1,400 such- systems pre- viously unknown. He has found that about one star out of every eighteen is really double. To distinguish between two such stars, which are less than two seconds of an arc apart is as difficult as it would be to distinguish two pinheads placed side by side at a distance of two miles." (19) 290 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY When Professor Hussey made the pictures of the eclipsed sun in Egypt, Mrs. Hussey accompanied him, and wrote a story of the ex- perience for the California papers. The "Herald," at that time, com- mented on her rare powers as a writer, and quoted from her story. A brief resume of Mrs. Hussey's story is reproduced here from the "Her- ald" of that date, about eight years ago. "She tells of the long trip through the desert, and hardships of con- structing and mounting the enormous photographic instruments. Ice was carried over 500 miles to the party, not for their personal comfort, but to put in the photographic baths to counteract the effect of the intense heat so that the gelatine in the photographic plates would not melt. "Weeks were spent in preparation, and thousands of dollars were spentj all for that two and a half minutes of time in which the eclipse lasted. Mrs. Hussey describes the scenes among the astronomers at the critical time just preceding the eclipse, arid in very dramatic fashion. One hitch in the elaborate clock work and other mechanism would have been disastrous to the expedition, but the plates were photo- graphed and developed successfully and were on their way to America when the letter was written. Mrs. Hussey's husband is one of the big astronomers of the country. We quote below the opening paragraph of Mrs. Hussey's article which gives an idea of her style, and which we pronounce good enough to be literature. " 'The unique interest that attaches to a total eclipse of the sun is not hard to explain ; it is beautiful, it is rare, it is tantalizingly brief, it is a clue to mysteries. That blazing star, without which we should not know our own world, without which we should not know life at all, long stood behind its own light unrevealed. Now and then the moon's disk, of just proportions to screen the unbearable brilliance, comes between, and there flash into light the rose-red flames above the chromosphere, and the cold radiance never else suspected, the corona. A brief moment it hangs ; then the following limb of the black disk crusts with red, a blinding spot of yellow appears, the light of common day again floods the sky, and the corona is lost like the dawn.' " F. R. Richards was the childhood playmate of the famous lost Charlie Ross. Mr. Richard's father, the Rev. E. Richards, was a minister in New York, and lived next door to the Ross family. F. R. Richards says that for several years he played with Charlie Ross, the boy who was stolen. The Richards and Ross boys were almost the same age, and they were inseparable companions. One day when Richards was about six years old, he remembers' missing Charlie Ross. Making in- quiries of his mother, Richards learned that Charlie Ross had been stolen. Mr. Richards says he remembers his loneliness for days after Charlie Ross had been stolen, because of being robbed of the com- panionship of the lost Charlie Ross. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 29I EX-GOV. W. J. BAILEY. Willis J. Bailey, vice president and managing officer of the Ex- change National Bank, Atchison, Kans., since 1907, and governor of the State of Kansas from 1903 to 1905, was born in Carroll county, Illinois, October 12, 1854. He was educated in the common schools, the Mount Carroll High School, and graduated at the University of Illinois as a member of the class of 1879. In 1904 his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of Doctor .of Laws. In 1879, soon after completing his college course, he accompanied his father to Nemaha county, Kansas, where they engaged in farming and stock raising, and founded the town of Baileyville. Upon reaching his majority Governor Bailey cast his lot with the Republican party, and since that time has been an active and consistent advocate of the principles espoused by that organ- ization. In 1888 he was elected to represent his county in the State legislature; was reelected in 1890; was president of the Republican State League in 1893 ; was the Republican candidate for Congress in the First district in 1896, and in June, 1898, was nominated by the State convention at Hutchison as the candidate for congressman at large, defeating Richard W. Blue. After serving in the Fifty-sixth Congress he retired to his farm, but in 1902, was nominated by his party for governor. At the election in November he defeated W. H. Craddock, the Democratic candidate, by a substantial majority, and be- gan his term as governor in January, 1903. At the close of his term as governor he removed to Atchison, and since 1907, has been vice president and manager of the Exchange National Bank of that city. Shortly after his retirement from the office of governor, he was prom- inently mentioned as a candidate for United States senator, and in 1908, a large number of Republicans of the State urged his nomination for governor. Mr. Bailey has always been interested in behalf of the farmers of the country, and from 1895 to 1899, he was a member of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture. E. G. STITT. E. G. Stitt, late of Sabetha, was an old time friend and. business comrade of William Thaw, grandfather of Harry K. Thaw, and he told the story of how the Thaw fortune was started and incidentally men- tioned the sterling character of old William Thaw, on whose grandson the attention of the nation was riveted during his trial for the murder of Stanford White. William Thaw was an old canal man on the Penn- sylvania canal and made a large part of his money in the canal business. He had in a measure retired from the canal for larger interests when Mr. Stitt was" interested in canal contracts. William Thaw, Andrew Carnegie, a man named Clark and Thomas A. Scott built a bridge over the Alleghany river to connect two railroads which heretofore had 292 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY transferred passengers by drayage and busses and horses. The four men asked Mr. Stitt to take a block of stock in the bridge ; in fact, they were rather insistent about it. But Mr. Stitt was fearful of the venture and dared not sink his money. Had he put iji $1,000 he would have re- ceived enough money from the receipts of the bridge to have kept him for life. The four men mentioned were bridge stockholders. They charged twenty-five cents each for all passengers ovr the bridge and $5 for each car and engine. The same charge is still in effect after half a century. There are thousands of passenger and cars crossing this bridge daily. Harry K. Thaw, millionaire homicide, is one of the beneficiaries of the immense amount of money brought in by the bridge now. William Stitt said that William Thaw was the most beloved man in Pennsyl- vania. He was loved by young and old, rich and poor. Saturday af- ternoons Mr. Thaw gave entirely to the interests of the poor. They rang the bell of his palatial Pittsburg home and he personally talked with them and heard their troubles. He alleviated them by money or sympathy, as the case required. He personally saw that the cases of trouble were genuine. Upon his death the city of Pittsburg went into mourning. Mr. Thaw was worth $100,000,000 at the time of his death. He left $10,000,000 to each of his ten children. This is the sort of a man whose grandson faced the murder charge and is known as the degen- erate son of riches, who in a measure expiated his crime in prison and asylum. MISS NANNIE KULHMANN. Miss Nannie Kulhmann, a former Centralia woman, is holding a po- sition in Washington for which she had to compete with a hundred men. She is official translator for the patent office. In her work, she writes, reads and translates twelve different languages and the dialects of each. The languages are French, German, Spanish, Portugese, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Polish, Bohemian, Hungarian, Norwegian and Swedish. Miss Kuhlmann is A. Oberndorf's sister-in-law. She taught school in Centralia two terms, about 1883 and 1884. Her sister, Miss Emily Kulhmann, who was here at the same time, the two emigrating from Germany, was one of the first kindergarten teachers in Kansas, having a class here and beginning the work in Topeka. She is now SENATOR W. H. THOMPSON. Senator William Howard Thompson, of the United States Senate, was a Nemaha county youth, who recalls with interest his arrival in the county and the long walk he made to a farm in Rock Creek town- ship, north of Sabetha. He was a good pupil in school, taught in the country schools, was his father's court stenographer when his father was district judge, married a daughter of Andy Felt, of beloved mem- ory, one of the pioneer newspaper men of the county, and was elected to the senate when a resident of' Garden City, Kans., having, within the current year, removed to Kansas City, Kans. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 293 MRS. VIRGINIA GREEVER. Nemaha county claims Mrs. Virginia Greever for her daughter. Miss Dora Adriance, of the Seneca "Courier-Democrat," one of the clever- est of Kansas newspaper women reporters, says that Mrs. Greever was the most intimate girlhood friend of her mother. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Newland, who lived and died in Seneca. Mrs. Greever brought prohibition to Kansas. The story goes that thirty- five years ago the prohibition question was up for decision in the Kan- sas legislature, the amendment prohibiting the sale of liquor as a bever- age. The Senate passed it. Both men and women were working for its passage by the House, but defeat seemed to be imminent. Speaker Clark was about to announce a negative vote, when Mrs. Virginia Greever, a Nemaha county girl, then the wife of a member from Wyan- dotte county, rushed up to him, and in an impassioned plea, besought him for her children's sake, and for his children's sake, and all the chil- dren of the world, for Kansas' sake, and, above all, for God's sake, to change his negative vote to a vote in favor of the measure. Mr. Greever put his arm around his wife, faced Speaker Clark, and said: "Mr. Speaker, I vote in favor of prohibition." So it was through the courage of a Nemaha county woman and the consideration of her husband, a Democrat, that Kansas secured the tnost famous law in its constitution. WALT MASON. Walt Mason, the most widely read and best paid poet America has produced, is a Nemaha county product ; or, if not born within its con- fines, he spent many years on its farms. Recently, Walt Mason wrote a poem about acquiring an automobile. His ambition was to come di- rectly up to Nemaha county and parade up and down the road before the Nemaha county farmer's place where he was employed as a youth, and honk his automobile horn continuously to let the man know how he had prospered. He has not come as yet, but we are expecting him. Nemaha county is very proud of Walt Mason. Not to have read his poems argues oneself absolutely ignorant of newspaper perusal. Walt Mason worked as a cub reporter on the Atchison Globe. He wrote his paid locals into poetry that amused the entire town and were his first poetical effusions. He puts a sheet of paper, or a roll, rather, in the typewriter and simply reels off his inimitable stuff by the yard. FREDERICK GATES. Frederick Gates, private secretary and right hand man for John D. Rockefeller, was a boy in Sabetha. His father. Rev. Granville Gates, was the first minister of the Baptist church, the first church in Sabetha. Rev. Gates was pastor of the church during most of the seventies, and 294 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was here when the church edifice was erected. Fred Gates did not for- get his boyhood chums during his brilliant financial career. At least one of them, George Black, whose mother was one of the founders of the Baptist church, was offered a position with Mr. Gates in his work in the East. Mr. Black is now a figure in insurance circles in St. Louis. Frederick Gates later became cashier of a bank in Highland, Kans., and afterward a preacher in Minnesota, where George A. Pillsbury, the great miller, became interested in him. The original corporation papers of the immense Pillsbury mills were written by the son of a Nemaha county farmer. Judge W. D. Webb. Pillsbury helped Gates found the Pillsbury Academy at Owatonna, Minn. Later, Gates started a move- men to found a big university in Chicago, and interested Rockefeller in the plan, securing from him the first $600,000 contribution. Rockefeller insisted that Chicago people should make this an even million and Gates induced Chicago men to put their money into the enterprise. From this start the great University of Chicago was built, and a Ne- maha county boy started it. Fred Gates became the big distributor of John D. Rockefeller's gifts, and became a great financier on his own account. He was presi- dent of great corporations, the biggest of which was the Lake Superior Cosolidated Iron mines, with railroads, boat lines, etc., which Gates sold to the United States Steel Corporation for $75,000,000. Frederick Gates was a cousin of the late Myron Lewis, of Sabetha, whose family received a typewritten story of the life of his father, the Rev. Granville Gates, upon the latter's death. W. C. Pace, ninety-six years old, the first bandmaster of Nemaha county, who still lives with his son, T. J. Pace, was a warm friend of Rev. Gates, and kept a special room of his home ready for him all dur- ing his life in the West. REV. A. G. LOHMAN. Rev. A. G. Lohman established the boys' industrial home under Mayor Tom Johnson, at Cleveland, Ohio, upon the theory that there are no incorrigible boys. About twenty-five years ago, Lohman was preaching for the German Reformed church in Brown and Nemaha counties, in northeastern Kansas. Later, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where his voice, that had been strong enough in Kansas, failed, and he tackled the kind of work that suited his taste much better than preach- ing. He is a practical, sensible American of German parentage, trained in farm life, a man of infinite patience, the kind to handle boys. Mr. Lohman was put in. charge of organizing of the homes for boys, a movement then in its inception, in 1902. He has recently written a history of the farm and its work. The city first bought a farm of 123 acres, with a barn not very large or convenient, and no house. Mr. Lohman moved his family into the barn and made his home there until HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 295 the first cottage had been built. Boys began to come to the farm before the house was finished. The first boy who came was quartered in a tent with the workmen until the house was finished. It soon developed that more land was needed, so an adjoining farm of 162 acres was pur- chased. That gave the farm 285 acres at a total cost of $12,300. The second farm had a house on it. The total amount that has been ex- pended for the farm and all improvements in five years has been $70,000. This paid for the land, seven cottages, four barns, an engine house, bakery, laundry, , carpenter shop, gymnasium, waterworks and sewer system, electric light plant and all other permanent improvements. Rev. Lohman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Lohman, of Sabetha. COL. H. BAKER. "The Father of Bern." By Mrs. V. A. Bird. The people of Bern and vicinity were shocked and received with sad hearts a telegram announcing the death of Col. Hy Baker, at the home of relatives at Utica, N. Y., at 4 o'clock p. m. Sunday, March 10, 1913. The -telegram stated that Colonel Baker had reached there on April 20, from Kingston, Jamaica, very much improved in health, and was in fine spirits all day Sunday. He went out to dinner at one o'clock and died suddenly of heart failure five minutes after entering the house. On receipt of the telegram, the flag at the city hall was hoisted half mast in honor of the man who was the founder of Bern. Colonel Baker was born in Utica, N. Y., which was his home for twenty-eight years. He was by profession a civil engineer, and was appointed city engineer of Utica when twenty-five years old. Later, he came West and was made chief engineer in charge of the construction of the Hannibal & St. Joseph railway into St. Joseph, in 1859. He enlisted in the Union army when the Civil war broke out, and while serving as engineer at Ft. Riley was given the rank of colonel, although he never served at the front. At one time during the war he was detailed to serve as revenue collector in Missouri, and after the war ran as railway mail clerk between Kansas City and St. Louis. In connection with others he secured control of the charter of the Iowa & Missouri railway, which was sold to the Rock Island, and which became their entrance into St. Joseph from the East. During the construction of the C. K. & N. railway ("now the Rock Is- land) he served as special agent in securing bonds in aid of the road, and during this time, about 1886, he purchased the land where Bern stands, platted the town and induced the railroad to build the necessary depot and side tracks, and Bern came into existence-. Since that time Bern has been more or less his home, and especially during the last few years he has spent most of his time here. Colonel Baker was one of the best informed man in this country, being a great reader and having a 296 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY splendid memory. He was a very strong character, and in his early days an aggressive worker — the best of friends to those whom he liked and a bitter enemy on sufficient provocation. In his early days he joined the Masonic order with his lodge connections at Utica, and was laid to rest with all the honors of the order. He was never married, and, with the exception of two nephews, his family has preceded him to the grave. AND OTHERS. Ralph Bunker, of Sabetha, is winning his way as an actor with Guy Bates in "Omar, the Tentmaker." C. J. Taylor is prominent in the pension office at Washington. He is a Seneca youth. The two Maxwell boys, Howard and Giles, are designers and consulting engineers with the Gen- eral Electric people in Schenectady, and have built electric railroads in England, and are now planning a railroad to be built in Australia when the European war closes. One could go through the list and find scores of other Nemaha county youths who have made big names in the big world outside. CHAPTER XXXII. THE CHURCH IN NEMAHA COUNTY. FIRST SERMON SENECA BAPTIST CHURCH ORGANIZED HERE METHO- DISTS IN 1857 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 1863 CONGREGATIONAL- ISTS UNIVERSALISTS ROMAN CATHOLIC ST. MARY's CHURCH OF ST. benedict's STS. PETER AND PAUL's, SENECA ST. BEDE's CATH- OLIC CHURCH SENECA CHURCH MEETINGS SABETHA CHURCHES^ — • CENTRALIA CHURCHES WETMORE CHURCHES ONEIDA CHURCHES CORNING CHURCHES CHURCHES OF OTHER TOWNS. There is no doubt that the first sermon in Nemaha county was preached by a Baptist minister. Rev. Thomas Newton was a representa- tive of the regular Baptist missionary society. Rev. Newton died in 1881, when he was eighty-four years old. Rev. Thomas Newton preached anywhere and everywhere during the first few years after his arrival in the county. The church itself was finally established at Central City, August I, 1857, and for two years was the only denominational place of worship in the county. Rev. Newton was followed by his son, Thomas C. Newton in preaching the gospel on Baptist lines. The Central, City Baptist Church was finally combined with the Seneca Baptist Church in 1875, after a brave existence of nearly twenty years, when it became ap- parent that the demise of Central City, generally, was only a matter of a brief time. The Central City Church, which had been erected years before, was finally used for a school house. The Seneca Baptist Church was organized in 1866 in the Seneca school house, with the Lanham families, the Newton families, Rosanne Cordell and Eli Story and Silas Wicks as constituent members. It has not been as thriving as its pioneer efforts would warrant for twenty years and more, worshipping in the school house, private homes and utilizing the Universalist Church. The Methodists followed closely on the heels of the Baptists in or- ganizing at Seneca and became a strong church in that field of endeavor. The church was organized in 1857, but was visited only by the old-time circuit rider. Rev. Leonard Nichols. After a camp meeting held in Seneca the church was duly established, but the pastor. Rev. Asbury Clark, in- cluded surrounding towns in his itinerary, even as did John Wesley, father of the Methodist church, until the time of his death. The generous Universal building shared with the Methodist church also its roof and 297 298 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY seats, and it was not until 1877 that the Methodists erected a church building. Rev. D. D. Holmes dedicated the new church. On June 14, 1863, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church with such splendid names on the roster as J. C. Hebbard, for many years head of the school matters of Nemaha county ; Eliza Williams, Elvira Johnson, J. W. Fuller. The church did not thrive. Rev. Nash was sent for a few months to the charge. The feasi- bility of the erection of a common church to be used by all sects was discussed, but the settling as to which denomination should give its name to the building caused dissension. . Finally the Universalists built an edifice, which was shared with the Congregationalists and Baptists. The Congregationalists, which organized in 1866, built a home of their own in 1870, which was dedicated on Christmas day. Rev. W. C. Stewart was the first pastor. At least two of the pastors. Rev. R. B. Guild and Rev. A. G. Bergen,, succeeding him, remained faithful to Ne- maha county, and their children have been factors in the progress and upbuilding of both Seneca and Sabetha. Mr. Guild's children and Mr. Bergen's children married and remained in the county. George A. Guild, the eldest son, became a banker, and finally became president of the National Bank of Sabetha and is now cashier of the Capital National Bank of Topeka. A connection, the late Edwin Knowles, was president of the same Topeka bank. Miss Susan Guild, a daughter, was principal of the Sabetha schools for several years, and is now dean of Carroll College for Girls at«Waukesha, Wis. Miss Jessie Guild is a, distinguished artist in Minneapolis, Minn. Roy B. Guild, a son, is head of the Congre- gational Society in Boston Mass. Will Guild is president of a bank in Hiawatha, and Harry Guild is president of a bank in Bern. Fred Bergen, son of A. G. Bergen, is president of a bank in Summerfield. So the in- fluence of these fine, noble men has been felt all during the life of this section of Kansas. Two thousand dollars was subscribed for a general church in Seneca to be called the Presbyterian. The Universalists added to this sum $1,600 in order that the title might be Universalist, to which all churches agreed, including the Presbyterians, and the edifice was erected, the property, however, belonging to the Universalists. Charlie Scrafford, J. H. Peckham, William Histed, J. P. Taylor and D. B. McKay were the trustees. The building was of soft old gra}^ stone and today the edifice is a lovely, restful church of general use, resembling the quaint old churches of England, which have withstood the ravages of centuries. Rev. G. W. Skinner held the first service in the church, July 17, 1869. Rev. J. H. Ballou was the first pastor. The following is told of a Seneca minister's visit to the notorious Bender home, where wholesale murder was committed in early days : The only Kansas man known to have incidentally visited at the Bender home and escaped is the Rev. C. L. Titus, of the Universalist Church of Seneca. Mr. Titus was passing through Kansas in 1868 and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 299 went through Seneca on his way South. He was going to Independence to attend the big powwow held down there upon the opening of the Southern Kansas lands. He visited it in company with Dr. York, who was the last man killed by the Benders. In driving through the country at that time Mr. Titus stopped at the Bender place for a drink of water. He is the only man known to have drunk from the Bender well and es- caped with his life. The Roman Catholic Church has been a great success in Seneca and the western part of the county. The buildings in Seneca of the St. Paul and St. Peter Church and the parochial school add greatly to the archi- tectural beauty of the county seat. The society was instituted in 1869, largely by Mathias Stein. The district school building was purchased, with a block of land in the center of the town, Mr. Stein contributing a generous amount of money. The buildings have from time to time been improved and rebuilt until the square is now the most attractive and valuable. The school entertainments,, the library and the general air surrounding Sts. Peter and Paul's breathes peace and contentment. ST. MARY'S CHURCH OF ST. BENEDICT, FORMERLY "WILD CAT." The first Catholic settlers in this part of Nemaha county were Thomas Carlin and John Koch, who came here in 1857; the year after there arrived John and Joseph Koelzer, Joseph Assenmacher, Peter Blumer, Martin Stahlbaumer, John Dick, Margaret Draney, Michael Rodgers and Martin Rellinger. At the instigation of John Koelzer and John Koch, a little frame church was built in the year 1859. Peter Blumer donated twenty acres of land. Before the building was com- menced John Koelzer had gone to Atchison to see the Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S.B., then Prior of St. Benedict's College of Atchison, in order to make arrangement with him for a priest to come out here occasionally to hold divine services. After Father Augustine had given his consent they began building; and in June, 1859, Rev. Edmund Langenfelder, O. S. B. (died April 8, 1885), came out the first time, he being the first Catholic priest to set his foot on the soil of Nemaha county, Kansas. In the fall of the same year, Rev. Father Augustine paid this place a visit; he was here also twice in i860. In September, i860, the Rev. Philip Vogt, O. S. B., was sent here to attend to the few Catholic families. In the spring of 1861, Rev. Emmanuel Hartig, O. S. B., paid his first visit to this place. The first church was a ver}^ modest building, the cash ex- penses for same having been $92.20. Its size was 12x25 feet. When the church was about finished, there was wanting some glass and some other small things, which required about $20. And as nobody except Michael Rogers had any money, it was decided by John Koelzer, John Koch and Thomas Carlin to give Michael Rogers the privilege of 300 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY naming the church, and then charge him $20 for it. Michael, not know- ing but suspecting this manner of collecting, called it St. Mary's Church and had the pleasure of furnishing the $20 gold piece. After having finished the church the people desired a stationary- priest, and, in spite of not having had any harvest at all in i860 on ac- count of the great drought, they built a parish house, which was com- menced in the spring of,i86i and finished in June of the same year. Their efforts and zeal were rewarded ; for Father Augustine, O. S. B., sent the Rev. Severin Rotter, O: S. B. (died April i, 1898), who ar- rived here on June 18, 1861. He was the first resident priest of Nemaha county. From here he attended the following missions : St. Bridget's settlement, sixteen miles northwest of here. St. Augustine settlement,- now called Capionia or Fidelity, about twenty-two miles southeast of here. St. Joseph settlement in the southeast corner of Marshall county. This mission was commenced on December i, 1861 ; it is now generally called Irish Creek. Elwood and Belmont, near Wathena. The first baptism administered in Nemaha county was that of Joseph Koch, son of John and Anna Mary Koch ; and the first wedding was that of Joseph Koelzer and Sophie Koblitz. The names of people who constituted the parish in the year 1861 are : John Koch, John Koelzer, Joseph Koelzer, Martin Stallbaumer, Martin Rellinger, Margaret Draney, Peter Blumer, Thomas Carlin, Michael Rogers, Mathias Stein, W. Berntsen, John Dick, Martin Bedeau, Justus Aziere, Jacob Rellinger, Joseph Rellinger, Patrick McCaffrey, James Graney. The salary of the Rev. Severin Rotter, O. S. B., in the year 1861 was $11.50. How primitive the first church must have been, appears from the accounts, as they had paid $2 for making the pews, $2.50 for the taber- nacle, $2.05 for the confessional, fifty cents .for a table in the priest's house, $3.50 for a bed. In the year 1862 the priest had an income of $23.85. After the parish had been thus established, more people moved in, and soon it was evident that the church was too small. "Hence, in the year 1864, another larger church was built, whose size was 18x35 feet. It was Father Emmanuel Hartig, O. S. B., now Vicar General of the diocese of Lincoln,- Neb., who built this church. It was about this time that one of the Benedictine Fathers acquired an iron bell for the church. This bell, the first church bell in Nemaha county, had belonged to a: boat which sailed on the Missouri river be- tween St. Joseph and Weston. When it -was rung first, everybody ad- mired its "beautiful" sound. No one can give definite information of what has become of this bell. ST. MARY'S CHURCH, ST. BENEDICT, KANSAS. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 3OI ■ In the year 1868 the priest's residence was transferred to Seneca, where a congregation had been organized in 1866. This was done prin- cipally through the influence of Mathias Stein, who had lived here several years and then moved to Seneca to open a furniture store. Nothing remarkable happened from 1868 till 1880. The priests who had charge of the parish from 1861 till 1880 were : Fathers Emmanuel Hartig, O. S. B., Pirmine Koumly, O. S. B., Thomas Bartl, O. S. B., Timothy Luber, O. S. B., Eugene Bode, O. S. B., and again Emmanuel Hartig, O. S. B. In 1878 and 1879, Father Emmanuel advertised the place to a great extent by sending articles to different Catholic papers. His efforts were well blessed; people responded" to his call, and at the beginning of 1880 ■ there were here about sixty families. The church had to be enlarged, but instead of enlarging it, they decided to build a new one, which was to last for some generations. It was 40x90 feet. When the church was finished by Father Emmanuel, O. S. B., the congregation purchased a' bell from H. Stuckstede, of St. Louis, Mo., which weighed 1,850 pounds. This bell was a beauty, indeed, for the congregation, especially so because it surpassed the Seneca bell in size. The people joyfully recollect the day it was consecrated by the bishop. In the fall of 1881, Father Ferdinand Wolf, O. S. B., was appointed pastor of the congregation, and had charge until 1883, when Father Timothy Luber, O. S. B., succeeded him. He built the sacristy and the pastoral residence in 1883. From November, 1883, the pastor lived here again. Father Timothy, O. S. B., was pastor until 1885, when Rev. Fridolin Meyer, O. S. B., was appointed, who remained four years. He was succeeded by Rev. Ambrose Rank, O. S. B., who, on account of sick- ness, had to give up after five weeks' service. In September, 1889, Father Pirmine Koumly, O. S. B., took charge. The congregation had in the meantime increased to 109 families, so that the church built in 1880 was entirely too small. The question arose what to do, to enlarge the church or to build a new one. For quite a time the people were divided, some were in favor of erecting a splendid new church of brick or stone, others, fearing the enormous cost, wanted an addition to the old church. At last they agreed to leave the decision to the bishop, the Rt. Rev. Louis M. Fink, O. S. B., who decided that a new church should be built of stone, and large enough for all future wants. And work was soon in progress. A subscription was taken up in the parish by Father Pirmine and Mr. Timothy Heinan, which amounted to over $16,000. During the year 1891 the foundation and basement were made at a cost of about $3,500. After they were com- pleted they were covered with a good coat of cement to protect them against rain ; they had decided to wait at least one year before erecting the main building. Father Pirmine was appointed pastor of the Seneca parish and en- tered upon his new field on July 6, 1892. His successor was P. Herman 302 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mengwasser, O. S. B. On the second Sunday of September, 1892, the congregation publicly voted on this question proposed by the pastor: "Are you willing to pay your subscription to the church on or before June I, 1893, in cash or to give a bankable note for amount subscribed at six per cent, interest? The time given for payment of same limited to three or four years." All except nine gave their consent. But even eight of these afterward consented also, to the great satisfaction of priest and people. In a short time all available place around the church was filled with stone, which the members of the parish hauled from a place three miles northeast of the church. On April 30, 1893, the Rt. Rev. Bishop laid the cornerstone, and on December i of the same year the church was under roof, except the tower. In January, 1894, a new subscription of $14,500 was raised by the pastor, and the church building was completed November 13, 1894. On the following day it was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishof) amid a con- course of about 3,000 people. P N. Schlechter, S. J., of St. Louis., preached the German, and P. Charles Stoeckle, O. S. B., of Atchison, then of Seneca, the English sermon. The dimensions of the church are 162x60 feet; ceiling in center aisle, fifty-two and a half feet high ; in side aisles, thirty-five feet high. The tower reaches 172^ feet from the water table, and is covered with copper. The six windows in the transept were made by Mayer & Com- pany, of Munich, Bavaria, at a cost of $2,400. The Sacred Heart Rose window above the altar is six feet in diameter and cost $275. Style of church is Roman. In the year 1895, the congregation bought four bells of 3,200, 1,800, 900 and 500 pounds, respectively, from St. Louis, Mo. In the spring of 1899 the new main altar, which cost $2,700, was set up. In the year 1900, two side altars and a communion railing were put into the church at a cost of $1,500. On September 7, 1900, Rev. Herman Mengwasser, O. S. B., was suc- ceeded by Rev. Anthony Baar, O. S. B. In the year 1901, the church was frescoed by G. F. Satory, of Wa- basha, Minn., and decorated with twelve large oil paintings by Th. Zukotynski, of Chicago. The cost of this work was $4,100. In September, 1903, the church was furnished with a set of fine Group-Stations of the Cross at a cost of $2,200. The year following, eleven Munich statues were donated to the church by various members of the parish. At present the parish consists of about 150 families, and is in charge of Father Gregory Neumayr. This place was called Wild Cat until the year 1883, when a post- office was established here, and the name was changed to St. Benedict. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 3O3 STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH, SENECA. By P. Joseph Sittenauer, O. S. B. Although this is now the largest Catholic community in Nemaha county, the cradle of Catholicity in this county is not Seneca, but St. Benedict, formerly called Wild Cat. The first priest to say Holy Mass there, as early as May, 1859, was the Rev. Edmond Langenfelder, O. S. B., who was sent by the Rev. Augustus Wirth, O. S. B., then prior of St. Benedict's College', Atchison. The first child baptized in this county, on May 12, 1859, was Thomas Rogers, who now resides in the Seneca parish. The first Catholic couple to be married, on April 17, i860, were Josepr Koelzer and Sophie Koblitz, the parents of J. P. Koelzer, of Seneca. Whatever Catholics may have resided in and about Seneca from that time until the early part of 1868 had to go to church at Wild Cat, where the priest resided since June, 1861, and from where he visited different missions. It was mainly due to the efforts of Mathias Stein that the priest's residence was transferred to Seneca in the spring of 1868. Mr. Stein had for several years lived in the Wild Cat district, but moved to Seneca to open a furniture store. Rev. Pirmine Koumly, O. S. B., was the first resident pastor living at Seneca. He was, after about six months, suc- ceeded by Rev. Thomas Bartl, O. S. B. Father Thomas was, after another half year, followed by Father Pirmine, who remained till the end of 1871. In the beginning. Holy Mass was celebrated in Mr. Stein's residence. In 1870, however, the small congregation purchased the public school house to be used as a church, together with the block on which it was situated. This is the block which now contains the church and parish house. Shortly after, a small residence and a frame addition to the brick church were erected. The parish was greatly increased under Rev. Emmanuel Hartig, O. S. B., who was pastor from the spring of 1875 to the fall of 1881. He extensively advertised the Catholic settlement of Nemaha county and drew a considerable number of new settlers to this neighborhood. A small beginning had already been made for a Catholic school, with Mr. Huhn as schoolmaster. But Father Emmanuel soon realized that he could not look for great success unless he put the school under the care of teaching sisters. He acquired, partly by donation and partly by pur- chase, the block on which the parochial school is situated. New build- ings were erected and school was opened by the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. St. Scholastica's Academy, Atchison, in the year 1878. New addi- tions had to be made in the course of time to meet the growing needs of the school. The parish grew quietly, but constantly, under Father Emmanuel's successor, the Rev. Thomas Bartl, O. S. B., who had been pastor once be- fore. He resided at Seneca from the fall of 1881 till the summer of 1885. 304 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Sick and worn out by his many and long missionary labors, good old Father Thomas, as he is still called by the old residents, retired to- his monastery at Atchison, where he died November 30, 1885, at the age of fifty-five years. The time had now come for a more rapid and more systematic de- velopment of the parish. The merit of unifying and organizing the many forces that had been created by long and hard work belongs to Rev. Suitbert Demarteu, O. S. B., who resided at Seneca from August, 1885, STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHUKCH, SENECA. KANS. to April, 1892. It was during the early part of his stay that the main portion of the present church was built, a grand structure for that time, which was a sign of unshaken confidence, both on the part of the people and the priest, in the great future of Sts. Peter and Paul's parish. When the church was completed, the small residence, consisting of two rooms, was moved to the north of it, and there served, for some years, both as sacristy and as residence, until a suitable dwelling was built in 1890. HISTORY. OF NEMAHA COUNTY 305 Father Suitbert was a man of strong character and great energy. Fie, more than any other priest before or after him, impressed his personality upon this flourishing commimity. As the thunderstorm, with its refreshing rain, must be followed by the warm rays of the sun to make the crops grow and ripen, so the en- ergetic Father Suitbert was followed by the quiet and gentle Rev. Pri- mine Koumly, O. S. B., who, from the summer of 1892 until the fall of 1895, ruled the parish and enjoyed the fruits of his earlier work at Seneca. An ailment, which was due to a sick call on a cold night, whilst he was himaelf sick with influenza, developed to such proportions that he had to retire to his monastery. Though his health was never completely re- stored, he lived until July 27, 1904, a very active member of his com- munity to the last. Rev. Boniface Verheyen, O. S. B., was the successor of Father Pir- mine, from October, 1895, to midsurrimer, i8g8. It was during his time, in May, 1896, that the cyclone struck Seneca. The church was severely damaged by the storm, but none of the other church property suffered. The loss was repaired at once, and in the year 1897, the congregation had sufficiently recovered to undertake the building of a new school. The foundation for the new school house had been laid in 1895, but, on account of the cyclone, its completion was delayed for one year. Father Boniface intended to build a school that would be large enough for all future times, and many a one, at the time, thought that the proportions of the building were extravagant. Of late years, however, it has often been regretted that the school was not built larger at that time. Father Boniface was recalled as professor to the college at Atchison in the summer of 1898, and, after an interval of four months, during which the Rev. Winfrid Schmitt, O. S. B., was pastor, the Rev. Charles Stoeckle, O. S. B., succeeded him. The church had now become too small to hold the congregation, and Father Charles added the sanctuary, thus gaining a considerable amount of space. Father Charles was also the moving force in establishing the new parish at Kelly, thus creating an outlet for the overflow for which there was not sufficient room within the confines of the Seneca and the St. Benedict parishes. Father Charles, though always looking healthy and robust, had long been ailing. He finally submitted to an operation, which bfought about his death on April 14, 1903. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Burke, O. S. B., who presided over the parish for three years. During Father Thomas' time the school made great progress, as he strained every nerve to make it accessible for every Catholic child. In August, 1906, Father Thomas was succeeded by the Rev. Law- rence Theis, O. S. B., who came at the time when it had become neces- sary to put the finishing touch to the parish. Until this time, the second story of the school house had served as a hall for the different entertain- ments. Through Father Thomas' activity an enlargement of the school became an absolute necessity. Hence, the former hall space was par- (20) 306 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY titioned off into four school rooms, thus providing each grade with its own room. This caused an increase in the number of teachers, so that the old dwelling of the sisters had to be replaced by a new and modern building, which was erected in 1907. The want of an entertainment hall was soon felt and the opinion gradually prevailed that a parish like Seneca could not well thrive without an adequate place for lawful recrea- tion. The auditorium was built in 1909 and 1910. It is a stately struc- ture and affords ample opportunity for dramatic performances and dif- ferent kinds of amusements for young and old. An addition was also built to the pastor's residence in the year 1909. The work and worrj' connected with the erection of these buildings nearly proved too much of a strain for Father Lawrence's nerves. His pastorship had to be in- terrupted by a rest of eight months, from January to September, 1910. After his return to the parish, Father Lawrence stayed for two more years, completing the different kinds of work which he had begun. But his failing health made it imperative in the summer of 1912 to relieve him of the heavy burden. He is now pastor of a smaller parish in At- chison county. Father Lawrence was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Sittenauer, O. S. B. Since the parish now possesses all the necessary buildings, the task as pastor will henceforth be comparatively easy, although even the upkeeping of these buildings requires a great amount of care and watch- fulness. The ease, however, is only a comparative one. Priests who exercise the care of souls in a large parish, with a numerous school an- nexed, have no idle moments. ST. BEDE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, KELLY. The Kelly parish was organized in. the fall of 1901, by Rev. Charles Stoeckle, O. S. B., then pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church at Seneca, and Alois Nolte, of the Seneca parish. The site for the first church was selected and the foundation laid. Rev. Father Edwin Kassens, O. S. B., of St. Benedict's College of Atchison, was appointed parish priest the following spring and held his first services on Sunday, March 16, 1902. The services were held in the district school building. Services in the school building continued until July 20, 1902, when the frame church building was completed. The original building was 24x52 feet. The first services were held in the new church August 3, 1902, and the organ from the school building was borrowed for the service. The new church was dedicated August 27, 1902, by the Rt. Rev. L. M. Fink, D.D., then bishop of the Leavenworth diocese, now deceased, assisted by Rev. P Boniface ' Verheyen, O. S. B., of Atchison, and Rev. P. Charles, O. S. B., of Seneca; Rev. Anthony Baar, O. S. B., of St. Mary's parish, at St. Benedict's, and Rev. Father Edwin, O. S. B., the parish pastor. In the fall of 1903, the parochial school was completed and the first term began September 18, 1903, with an enrollment of twenty-seven boys HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 307 and fourteen girls. In August, 1905, another room was added to the school, and living rooms for the parish teachers. At the present term of St. Bede's parochial school there are sixt3'-one boys and forty-one girls enrolled. Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Lillis, D.D., then bishop of Leavenworth, now ST. BEDE'S CHURCH, KELLY, KANS. 308 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY of Kansas City, confirmed the first class of nineteen, on June 19, 1905. The first two years Father Edwin lived at the college in Atchison and made weekly trips to minister to the parish. For a time he then lived in a room of the church, but in May, 1906, at a meeting of the men of the parish, it was decided to build a parish house. Instead, a residence and lots were purchased and has since been used as a parish house. The first mission was held beginning August 29, 1906, by Rev. Vin- cent Trost, C. F. M., of Louisville, Ky. On March 8, 1909, the Uni- versalist church building in Kelly was bought by St. Bede's parish and added to the north end of the church building, together with a ten-foot addition. On January 12, 1913, the church building caught fire and burned to the ground, only a part of the church fixtures being saved. At a mass meeting of the parish members it was decided to build a new church edi- fice. The years of 1913 and 1914 were poor crop years and the present edifice stands, a monument to the personal sacrifice of the devout mem- bers of the parish and to the help of friends and neighbors in Nemaha county. At the formal dedication which took place Sunday, October 10, 191 5, the Rt. Rev. John Ward, D.D., bishop of Leavenworth diocese, read the dedicatory mass and delivered the sermon. Rev. Mathias Stein, O. S. B., Atchison, was celebrant at the mass, and other priests assisted. The Kelly church is one of the most beautiful in northeast Kansas. It is of Gothic style, 54x100 feet, and from the platform as you enter the church to top of cross it is 125 feet. The church is built of matt-faced pressed brick, trimmed in Algonita stone, which harmonize beautifully in a structure that is very pleasing to the eye. The immense tower of the church rests on footings many feet below the ground, and through the basement three-foot walls support the tower. The basement is well finished, lighted and well ventilated, and nicely arranged. A roomy chapel occupies the east half, with a large seating capacity that is utilized for parish social events. Kitchen rooms are provided and every- thing is arranged «for labor-saving and comfort. The church itself is neatly finished in white, with nicely arranged '?• sanctuary, roomy pews and choir loft. The church steeple contains a thousand-pound bell, whose musical notes call the members to worship, and on week days peals forth the hour to the countryside, morning, noon and evening. SENECA CHURCH MEETINGS. Catholic. — Services daily at 8:15 a. m. Sundays, 8:06, 9:00, 10:30 a. m. and 3 :oo p. m. Rev. P. Joseph, O. S. B. Congregational. — Sunday school, 10 :oo a. m. Midvveek prayer meet- ing, Wednesday, and C. E. meeting, Thursdays at 8 :oo p. m. 'M HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 3O9 First Church of Christ Scientist. — Sunday services, ii :oo a. m. Wed- nesday evening testimonial service, 8 p. m. Free reading room, church edifice ; open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2 to 4 p. m. Methodist. — Morning service, 11:00; evening, 7:30. Sunday school, 9 45 a. m. ; Epworth League devotional meeting, 6 :30 p. m. Rev. I. Mc- Murray, pastor. Universalist. — Sunday school, 10 :oo a. m. ; Junior Y. P. C. U., 2 130 p. m. ; Senior Y. P. C. U., 7:00 p m. ; teachers' meeting, 8 p. m. Wed- nesday. St. Titus Episcopal. — Morning prayer and sermon, first and third Sundays each month at 11 :oo a. m. ; Sunday school each Sunday'at 10:00 a. rn. Rev. William B. Guion, rector. Of late years Seneca has had a Christian Science Church and fort- nightly .services of an Episcopal membership. Rev. Guion divides his rectorship between Seneca and Hiawatha, making his home in the latter place. Seneca is the most progressive of any Nemaha county town in its church movement. A great interest has been taken in the Community church movement in Seneca for the past two years. Its success is un- deniable. Minor disagreements are forgotten in the matter of church belief, the teachings of Christ and the betterment of the community, spiritually and civically, being the matter of importance. Rev. C. A. Richards has been the pastor at the head of the movement, which is be- lieved by many to be the life saving of the church of today. SABETHA CHURCHES. The Congregationalists claim the first regularly organized church of Sabetha, and by the method of considering Albany the mother of Sa- betha, their claims are correct if they could not substantiate their claim otherwise. The founders of Sabetha were the founders of Albany. The founders of the Congregational Church of Albany moved to Sabetha- and moved their church with them. The Congregational Church of Albany was organized September 26, 1859. The Rev. R. D. Parker was the first pastor, and there were eighteen charter members of the church : Elihu Whittenhall and his family, George Graham, John E. Graham, John Van- Tuyl, Edwin Miller, B. H. Job and their wives ; Mrs. Rising, Mrs. Archer, William B. Slosson, Thomas Robbins and John B. Shumway. These names, or those of their descendants, have been identified with the Congregational Church in its history to date. Services had been held for over a year before the actual organization of the church under God's canopy and beneath a tree in the Albany yard of Edwin Miller, whenever the weather permitted. It is scarcely surprising that with such a beginning the church has been nothing but successful from its inception. The Congregational Church was moved to Sabetha from Albany in the summer of 1871, during the pastorate of Rev. Thomas. 3IO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Rev. Parker, the original pastor of the church, later became editor of^ the Manhattan "Telephone," a newspaper long since passed on. , Several of the pastors of the church in Sabetha have become noted. Perhaps the best known is one of the latest incumbents. Rev. C. L. Fisk, who is now head of the Congregational Sunday School Associa- tion in Ohio, and his wife, Mrs. Marion Ballou Fisk, who shared with him the labors in the Sabetha field, filling the pulpit during his absences, is a brilliant cartoonist in the Chautauqua and Lyceum field. Mrs. Fisk is the one woman who has kept up chautauqua work whose time has been engaged completely throughout the year. She has appeared in every State in the Union. Her chautauqua work began in Sabetha under the Horner-Redpath people. Their work in Sabetha is still bear- ing fruit. During Mr. Fisk's pastorate a cigarette was unknown in the town. He built a gymnasium, which all boys, regardless of church affiliations, were welcome to use freely. Their entertainments for church improvement and civic improvement were so unique that city editors sent men to Sabetha to write up the affairs for their metropolitan newspapers. A presentation of Alice Hegan Rice's "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" attracted such widespread attention that Liebler & Company, who owned the copyright of the plan, sent to the little Ne- maha county town to see if their rights had been infringed. Another interesting pastor of the Congregational Church preceding the Fisks by twenty-five years was A. G. Hogbin. His wife was a co- worker with him. In their effort to build up Sabetha they bought and conducted the Sabetha "Herald" for several years in connection with their church work. Mrs. Hogbin was a daughter of Rev. M. B. Preston, of Centralia. Rev. and Mrs. Hogbin have been retired for several years and are living in Italy. Rev. Charles Beaver is the pastor of the Con- gregational Church today. The Methodist Church of Sabetha was organized in 1868 in the Sabetha school house by Rev. F. W. Meyer. It is a church of wealth and ambition and enthusiasm, pursuing modern methods of entertain- ment and interest for its youthful members. The first church building was erected by Archibald Webb, which, within the past twenty years, has been replaced by a handsome edifice containing theater seats and a fine pipe organ. Several prominent divines have been its pastors, nota- bly, Rev. E. Gill, foster-father of the Rt. Rev. Bishop William A. Quayle, and Rev. Biddison and Rev. C. W. Shaw. Of Rev Biddison the following tale is told by men who were the mischievous boys in his day. The Rev. Biddison owned two dun ponies that were the envy of all the boys in town. He would lariat them at night out in the open, and it was no rare thing for a boy to borrow a pony for a night ride. One time, Adam Cramer, who was a boy about ten years old, now a con- tractor with gray, hair, borrowed one of the ponies for such a ride. He had done it often before, but this night the enormity of his crime seemed to weigh heavily upon him. When he was three or four miles from HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 3II town he became obsessed with the idea that Rev. Biddison was after him on the other pony. He turned for home and rode with a madness surpassing that of Ichabod Crane or Paul Revere. When he reached town he found the other pony peacefully grazing on the lot. He vowed on the spot that he would steal no more rides, and he didn't. No one ever knew whether Mr. Biddison knew of these stolen rides or not. Rev. Biddison filled several pulpits in Nemaha county and if he knew of the pranks of the Sabetha boys he never told it elsewhere. Adam Cramer has been a Methodist in good standing in the church for many years, and has expiated his horseback jaunts long since.. Rev. I. C. Paugh is the pastor of the Methodist Church at Sabetha. His daughter, Miss Delight, stood highest in her class of over 1,000 graduates at Northwestern University, in Evanston, 111., this spring, and is a brilliant daughter of a scholarly father. M. J. Boomer, who celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday a few years ago by a post card shower, the surprise being arranged by his daughter, tells of the origin of the Baptist Church. He mentioned Mrs. Mary E. Black as still living. She has since died. Mr. Boomer's post card shower aroused memories. "One of the letters was from Clara Barton, who for many years was president of the Red Cross Society, and who is known all over the world. Miss Barton was Mr. Boomer's school teacher at Oxford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, over sixty-six years ago. Another letter was from Mrs. A. S. Tower, who was a schoolmate of Mr. Boomer sixty- seven years ago. Mrs. Tower now lives at La Crosse, Wis. Mr. Boomer came to Sabetha in 1873. He helped pay for the orig- inal Baptist Church, which, by the way, was the first church building erected in Sabetha. Mr. Boomer says Mrs. Mary L. Black, of Sabetha, is the only one of the original members of the Baptist Church left. This church was organized in 1871, and Mr. Boomer did not come here until two years later. The bell now being used in the Sabetha school house was used on the original Baptist Church in Sabetha. Mr. Boomer was twenty years superintendent of the Baptist Sunday school. Mr. Boomer says when he first came to Sabetha the old or eastern part of the town was contending with the present business section for the mastery. Campbell Tarr, father of the late Hamilton Tarr, had a store in the eastern or old part of Sabetha. On the store front he had a sign which announced that the store was located in "Sabetha proper." The old hotel was located where John Lanning's residence is now. Mr. Boomer has always lived at Fairview. He owns a farm near there. But he has for many years visited Sabetha regularly and is known here by nearly everybody. Mr. Boomer was for many years a member of the board of trustees of Ottawa University at Ottawa, Kans. He was a member of the Bap- tist State Mission Board fourteen years. For ten years he was a member of the board of trustees of the Hiawatha Academy. 312 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Of the pastors of the Baptist Church, it is possible the most beloved was Rev. Biggart, w^ho was almost a missionary pastor in many of the pioneer towns of northeast Kansas. He died a few years ago, and his children, remembering with affection their life in Sabetha, have been planning to go back there to live. The Sabetha Baptists have a pretty church edifice and a parsonage which is one of the pleasantest homes in the city. The present pastor is Rev. Robert Church, who is an excellent architect as well as pastor. Two churches of interest and with modest aspirations are the United Brethren, with Rev. George Krebs as pastor, and the Church of the Brethren, with Rev. Yoder as pastor. The Church of the Brethren has a sister church in the Rock Creek neighborhood. Retired from active service, but occasionally taking the pulpit, is Rev. Ephraim Cober, of Sabetha. Rev. Yoder, on September lo, 191 5, announced in the church the nineteenth birthday anniversary of Rev. Ephraim Cober, of Sabetha, who celebrated his natal day, September 5, by preaching to the con- gregation of the Rock Creek Brethren Church. Like the Great Teacher, Mr. Cober was also a carpenter, and with his own hands he built the Rock Creek Church twenty-eight years ago, dedicating it and preaching on the site it occupied continuously for thirty-five years. A birthday party was given at the John Zug home in honor of "Mr. Cober's birthday. Only a few relatives and neighbors were in attendance. Mr. Cober came to Kansas the year of the centennial for Mrs. Cober's health, as she was thought to be suffering from consumption. Mrs. Cober is living, healthy and happy, and they will celebrate their sixty-eighth wedding anniver- sary in November on her eighty-third birthday. Their son, the late Jacob Cober, a former editor of the "Courier-Democrat," died in Kansas City a few years ago, and his widow, Mrs. Laura Cober, lives near his parents in a home that Grandfather Cober built. Mrs. Ham Wasmund, of Sabetha, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cober. The Church of the Brethren, with Rev. R. A. Yoder as pastor, is one of the most successful churches of the county. A series of lectures given by the churches of Sabetha and Rock Creek have geen gratefully appreciated the past year. It is progressive, with a fine membership. As the Community Church of Seneca is one of the most interesting in these progressive days, so is the Amish or German Apostolic Chris- tian Church of Sabetha the most interesting in the eastern part of Ne- maha county. The members of the church dress simply, as do the Men- nonites of western Kansas. They are the kindliest and gentlest of German people, whose brotherly love, help and intercourse is a matter of great admiration to their more worldly neighbors. The Amish are well-to-do and successful as a result of industry, thrift, right living and unfailing faith in their religious belief. If there is a better belief or one of truer Christianity than that professed by the Amish, it has never come to light. The Amish people believe that one HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 3I3 should never buy an article for which he can not pay upon instant demand. A debt is against the theory of honesty,. They teach that so long as he has health, one should work, regardless of his worldly wel- fare. The theory is borne out by the fact that Satan finds work for idle hands, and that in gfood, honest industry lies the only real happiness. They believe absolutely in the simple life as to dress. This is so that those families who are financially able may not dress in so elaborate a manner as to arouse jealousy and envy in the hearts of those less fer- tunate. These are a few of the good ideas taught by the Amish or Apostolic Christian Church. The Amish Church is really very much like a big family. They go to church early in the morning on Sundays. They remain there and eat their lunch, have church again in the after- noon and then go home. The Sunday lunch consists usually of bread, butter, coffee and preserves. Around the church are well built sheds. All the horses are unharnessed, turned into their stalls and fed and rested while their owners are at church. If any visitors come to Sabetha to visit the Amish folk, there is immediately held a church service, that everyone may become acquainted. Every few weeks a part of the Amish people from Sabetha go to visit their Amish friends in Illinois, Indiana, Wabaunsee, county, Kansas, and other parts of Kansas and different States. In Northern Iowa there is a big colony of Amish. In most of the Middle Western States there are colonies of Amish. And every community which contains them is to be congratulated. There is a difference in the Amish and Mennonite beliefs. The Mennonite re- sembles the Lutheran teachings, whereas the Amish profess the faith of the Christian Church. The Amish throughout this section of Nemaha county are Swiss and German. The Mennonites in Kansas are chiefly Russians. The Amisb here came in great part from Baden and that section of Germany. The German Mennonites came more from the northeastern section of Germany and from Holland. In many things the two beliefs are similar. They are both industrious, thrifty, fair and live simply. But there is no scrimping. Sabetha merchants say that the Amish people are among their best customers. None but the best will do for them, with nothing flashy. Their trade is always cash. The Amish never forget their relatives in the old country. Every few weeks someone s,ends over to his native land for some relative left behind. They are' brought to America to taste the joy of farming a hundred acres of land — when in Germany they farmed one acre. When the arrive the entire Amish community gathers in the church to welcome them, and give thanks for their safe arrival. Sometimes, when it is impossible to gather at the church, the little services are held at the homes in town. There seems to be a spirit to take the Lord intimately and affectionately and reverently into all their rejoicings and social gatherings. It is a beautiful faith. Their little cemetery adjoins the country church, where headstones of simple white wood are painted with the names of the dead, no preference being shown. The Amish preachers serve without 314 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY pay, making their livelihoods as farmers and serving their Lord as ordained ministers foi; love of Him and of their people. Rev. John Platt- ner has been at the head of the Amish community here for many, many years, a gentle, lovable man, admired and loved and respected by all the community as sincerely as by his own people. In connection with the churches of Sabetha, Alfred Stokes, the town sexton, believed to be the oldest sexton in point of continuous service in Kansas, should be mentioned. Alfred Stokes has served as sexton of the Sabetha cemetery continuously for forty-two years, and is still serving. The cemetery is one of the most perfectly kept burying grounds in Kansas. There are about 400 graves in the free burying ground, which are kept in perfect order. The cemetery has no potter's field and no nook or corner which is neglected. The ground is owned by the city of Sabetha. Alfred Stokes began his hervices as sexton of Sabetha in 1872. Sadly enough, the first grave he dug was for a son. The Sabetha cemetery then consisted of but two acres. The two acres were donated to the city by a man named Goodpasture in 1856. The donor, Goodpasture, does not figure further in the history of Sabetha. In the pioneer class on Sunday, April 3, 1910, the question was asked by T. K. Masheter, "How many were at church and Sunday school in Sabetha forty years ago this morning?" (Sunday, forty years ago, was April 3.) Henry Riffer, C. Fulton and T. K. Masheter re- sponded. Mrs. Conrad could say that forty years ago she lived a mile west of Capioma. O. O. Marbourg came to Sabetha July 8, 1870, and attended church at Albany the following day. Other members of the class have been here from seven to thirty years. The late J. E. Black came here June 10, 1870, and Mrs. Black, June 22, 1870. Among other recollections of forty years ago I recall that Mr., or rather Comrade, John Palmer has lived all this time in the same house. Daniel Stone- barger lived on his farm adjoining Sabetha on the south in 1870, and was called an old citizen then. John Beamer, east of the city, came for his second trial of the West from Ohio in the spring of 1870, and has lived in the same place since. CENTRALIA CHURCHES. Centralia has come nearer keeping her number of churches down to the needs of a town of 1,000 inhabitants than the average small town or even city. Centralia has but three churches, all fairly well patron- ized. The Methodist people organized a church as early as 1867, wor- shipping in private houses for four years, when a church building was erected and Rev. T. B. Gray put in charge. In 1868, the Congregational Church was started with a membership of twelve. A church building was erected in 1871, with a capacious auditorium. Centralia was the home of Rev. Levi C. Preston, whose children are among the Nemahans who have made names in the world. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 315 Mr. Preston came to Centralia for his health and conducted a farm that was the model for many miles surrounding. He planted orchards and gardens. He frequently supplied the Congregational pulpit. His daugh- ter, Flora, became the wife of Rev. A. C. Hogbin, mentioned in another part of this history, while May is the wife of the celebrated Edwin E. Slosson, associate editor of the New York "Independent Magazine." Rev. Preston has been dead many years. Mrs. Preston makes her home with Mr. and Mrs Slosson in New York City. Rev. J. E. Everett is now pastor of the Congregational Church ; Rev. E. O. Raymond, of the Methodist Church. The Holiness sect has a church in Centralia, and Christian Science meetings are held at the home of Mrs. Catharine Meyers. In a district where the business is purely agricultural, as in Nemaha county, the entertainment for the communities devolved almost entirely on the churches. The masquerade Halloween social at the Congregational Church was a jolly pr a spooky affair, which ever way you see it. You were met at the door by ushers, who took you through winding dimly lighted hallways, in which stood ghosts and goblins, up the stairs and through the main church, in which were no lights, but many scarecrows, and down the back stairs into the Sunday school room, where the festivities were on. There were over i8o attended and many of them were masked. The judges gave little Helen Wilson the prize, a Bible. She was cos- tumed as a fairy. It was great fun guessing who the different maskers were. One "family" kept nearly everyone guessing for a long time. There were a number of beautiful costumes as well as many grotesque. Miss Margaret Everett wore a beautiful old-fashioned dress that Mr. Everett's mother wore them when they came to Kansas in 1850. WETMORE CHURCHES. Wetmore is the one Nemaha county community to consistently support an Episcopal church. The Wetmore churchmen have not a resident pastor, but are served fortnightly by the resident pastor of Atchison, and their faithfulness is a matter of remark in many neigh- boring communities. Their church is regularly supported and has been supported since the early days. Through combining with the Atchison. church they have had the advantage of eminent divines which so small a congregation or village could not have otherwise secured. The Atchi- son rectors have been rigidly regular in their Wetmore charge. Wet- more has had more than one prominent bishop serving at her fort- nightly church services in this way. The late Rt. Rev. Bishop Leonard was one who made regular visits to the Wetmore church. He became bis- hop of Utah. The Rt. Rev. Francis E. Brooke, bishop of Oklahoma, was another. Rev. John Henry Hopkins, one of the brilliant men of 3l6 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY the Episcopal church, was a third. The Wetmore church is now in charge of the Rev. Otis E. Gray, and has, within the past week, in- stalled an $800 pipe organ in its little church edifice. The Methodists were the first people to open church services in Wetmore. In 1872 the organization was effected and the church build- ing erected, unusually prompt preparation. The priest of the Wetmore St. James' Catholic Church is Father Alphonse, O. S. B., Atchison; Grace Church, Episcopal, Rev. Otis Gray, Atchison; Baptist, Rev. Jos- eph James, Wetmore; Methodist Episcopal, Rev. Lewis Weary, Wet- more. It was in Wetmore and Sabetha that the Rev. Edward Gill served when his foster son, called Willie Gill, was a Nemaha county boy who has become one of whom the county is justly proud. Willie Gill was so called during his boyhood. When he attained young manhood, he took the name of his father Quayle, and is now known to the world as the Rt. Rev. William A. Quayle, prominent bishop of the Methodist church, than whom none is more prominently in the public eye for the good works he has done and for his brain and literary talent as well. William A. Quayle was an orphan from earliest childhood, and was brought up by his uncle, Rev. E. Gill, by whose name he was generally known. Rev. Gill had no other children during his residence in this section, and Willie was his constant companion. When Rev. Gill lived in Sabetha, his home was on Roosevelt avenue which did not bear the name it does now, and was not noted as the children's street. He rode around a considerable circuit as did most country Methodist ministers in those days, according to the instruction and example of their great disciple, John Wesley. Rev. Gill preached at Wetmore, Capioma, Maple Ridge and Harmony as well as in Sabetha. The roads were in many places little more than bridle paths, but on all these, weekly, and sometimes, tri-weekly expeditions for carrying the gospel to the iso- lated, Willie accompanied his uncle. Thus he was early imbued with religious teachings. Willie Gill or Quayle, it is recalled by Mrs. M. H. Keeler, was a timid, little boy with red hair and freckles. Many a time had Mr. Gill and the boy stayed all night at the Hochstetter place, which was the name and home of Mrs. Keeler before her marriage. And by the way, Mr. Gill married Mr. and Mrs. Keeler. At one time, Mrs. Keeler re- calls there was "a big doings" in Sabetha, and her family had come up to it. A storm arose. They reached home shortly after midnight, but Rev. Gill and Willie were there before them, and they were found comfortably asleep in bed upon the arrival of the family. Dr. Isaac Magill of Corning recalls Willie Gill as one of his inti- mate boy friends. Isaac looked anxiously forward to the preaching days which brought a visit from his friend, and great was the mutual rejoicing when the weather was so bad that Willie was permitted to remain at the Magill home while Rev. Gill continued his rounds, alone. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 317 Several years ago, after Dr. Magill was a practicing physician at Corning, and when Rev. William A. Quayle was president of Baker university, the latter visited Corning as a lecturer and was. entertained at Dr. Magill's home. Dr. Magill did not connect the name of Quayle with any one he knew, but in the cou:rse of 'conversation. Rev. Quayle mentioned Mr. Gill. Dr. Magill made inquiries as to what became of Willie Gill. Mr. Quayle looked amused and quizzed Dr. Magill for sometime as to his acquaintance with Willie Gill. Dr. Magill recalled their oldtime friendship and fun; and finally there was mutual amuse- ment and pleasure when Mr. Quayle announced that he and the little, shy,^ redheaded Willie Gill were the same. Rev. Gill was at that time preaching at Junction City or Salina or one of those middle Kansas towns. He was later presiding elder of the district west of here, and also of the Kansas City district. The Wetmore Baptists organized a class in 1872, the Methodists sharing their church with them on occasion and, at times, the meetings were held in the homes of the church members. The first Baptist min- ister who officiated for a considerable period was Rev. Thomas Rolfe. At other times the society sent different men in spasmodic periods. Rev. Father Bagley was the first Catholic priest to conduct service at Wetmore while the Rev. E. H. Bailiff was the first Methodist preacher, followed shortly by Rev. E. Gill, foster father of Rev. W. A. Quayle, as told. The Methodist church is the most successful in the commu- nity, and is under the charge of Rev. Louis Weary. Mr. Weary preaches also at Bethany and several country churches between Sa- betha and Wetmore. ONEIDA CHURCHES. Oneida has four churches. The first one organized was the Chris- tian church, about the only one in the county and a thriving church. A building was erected immediately for its occupancy, the pulpit being successfully filled, fortnightly, by Chancellor Oeschger, of Lincoln, Neb. Oneida was. as different in her church organizations as in her gen- eral foundation. The Presbyterians built a church, and later_ the Meth- odists organized, using the Presbyterian building for services. Today the Methodist Church is built, and the pulpit is occupied bj' Rev. N. J. Adams. The Methodist and Christian Churches are the only ones now in use. The Baptists held their first religious services in Corning under Rev. J. S. Henry, who gave Corning the only religious services in her early days. The Baptists, however, did not erect any edifice nor effect a permanent organization., 3l8 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY CORNING CHURCHES. Corning churches now are : Presbyterian Church, Baptist Church, United Brethren Church and Methodist Church. In 1878, the Methodists organized in the school house with twenty- six members and Rev. Biddison in charge. Rev. Biddison served in many pulpits throughout the county, notably in Sabetha, where a story is related of his incumbency there, in previous pages. Mr. Biddison and Rev. Gill were so long pastors in Nemaha county, in various loca- tions that they are regarded quite as Nemaha county men. The Meth- odists built a frame church in Corning in 1879 at an expense of about $700. The Presbyterians did not have much foothold generally in Ne- maha county, but in Corning, they managed to get together to the num- ber of about twenty, and organized a society, of which Rev. E. Todd was pastor. Rev. F. O. Hesse is the Methodist minister of Corning, the year of 1916. CHURCHES OF OTHER TOWNS. During the past winter, the town of Goff had been without a min- ister for several weeks, for one reason or another. After the spring con- ference of 1916, Rev. J. W. Jones was appointed pastor of the church at Goff. Goff has also a Christian Church. Bern is notably Presby- terian leaning. In the smaller towns, the Methodists or Catholics have the largest following, while the still smaller communities and country churches are served by ministers from the largest town nearby. It is a rare thing that a preacher does not supply, more or less regularly, at least two pulpits in his community. The Holiness sect has a small following in some vicinities, nota- bly in Woodlawn and Centralia. But there is not a community in the county, however small, that is not faithfully attended by either the Pro- testant or Catholic pastors of nearby towns. The following is from a traveling preacher in Kansas, written in 1866 and 1868 : "You will find when you come that the land you want is just about double the price you expected it to be. This year wheat and oats are good ; corn good in some places, in others burnt up with drought. When no drought, no chintz-bug, no grasshopper, wheat will average twenty-five bushels to the acre, and corn, sixty ; but you can put in and attend two acres here as easily as one at home. Water-melons — - nobody steals them (the only thing they don't steal out here), for every- body has them by the wagon load. Peaches do well, selling now at fifty cents to $1.00 per bushel. Not sure whether apples will do well here or not. Grapes do well ; have seen some very fine specimens. "Climate. — In July the hottest I ever experienced; frequently no in the shade ; but even then nights cool and pleasant HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 319 Water. — In July wells nearly all went dry ; no running streams : from stinking pools water (they called it water) was hauled miles. Very little good water anywhere, at any time ; all hard limestone. In July everything seemed to be almost burnt up. Lately been great rains ; country flooded ; day before yesterday swam my horse over streams that three weeks ago were as dry as powder-horns ; won't need any more rain here till next summer. "Sickness. — Very little except ague, and there are enough castor- oil-beans in this county to physic all the ague and all other malaria out of all the stagnant pools in the State ; many fields of five, ten or fifteen acres of these beans. "Coal is pretty good and plenty of it at Fort Scott and south of that ; none fit to use any place in the State. "Wood is very poor, very dear, and very little of it anywhere. "Society, in some places, is as good as it is East; in others, as bad as thieves, cut-throats, Indians, old rebels and land sharks can make it. "Wages, for all kinds of work, lower than in the East ; the "hirecl hand" has to work harder, earlier, later, live poorer, and get less for it, than any place in the East. "My Advice. — If you have no more money than will bring you here, stay at home. If you have $i,ooo or $2,000, and are willing to work hard and live like a beggar, you can come here and soon be rich. "In the summer of 1866, after the close of the war, the brigade to which we belonged, on its march to Ft. Kearney, Neb., and back, passed through the village of Seneca, Kans., then having a population of less than 300 persons. "We preached three sermons, setting forth as distinctly as possible our religious views, and the reasons of the hope that is in us. The re- sult was, that before leaving the place on Monday morning, enough was subscribed by our friends to purchase three lots for a church. "The work thus commenced finally culminated in the erection of a beautiful stone church, costing some $9,000, Brother J. H. Ballou, now of Lawrence, in the meantime, having been associated with the societ)^ as pastor a year and a half, and assisting greatly in securing the result. 'Tt was to assist in the dedication of this church, the first erected by the denomination in the Prairie State, and to render what aid we could in paying off a heavy debt, that we accepted an invitation from the good people there to spend our vacation with them. "We reached Seneca, August 3, and were very kindly received by our former acquaintances. We found the place very much improved since we were there, the population having more than tribled. New business blocks had gone up, fine dwellings been erected, a schqol house costing $15,000 completed, and -business generally very lively. Next to Atchison it is the largest and most stirring town in northern Kansas. Its location is charming and delightful, being situated on the Nemaha river, which, together with one of its branches, nearly encircles the 320 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY town. It is the county seat of Nemaha county, and is seventy miles west of St. Joseph, ]\Io., and the present terminus of the St. Joe & Den- ver railroad. "The Universalist Church is the first church built in the place, which, of course, indicates a large, liberal element there. The Catholics have a small place of worship, the Congregationalists have just com- menced the erection of a small church, and the Methodists own a par- sonage. "Our church is 39x56, is built of a fine quality of stone — found in great abundance near the town-r-and cost not far from $9,000. The style is very neat and tasty, it is well finished and furnished, and very pleasantly located. "Brother Ballou has been the only settled pastor, and while there, did an excellent work for our cause — not only in Seneca, but the coun- try around. He has many warm friends in that part of the State who appreciate his labors among them. "The time set for the dedication of the church was Sunday, Au- gust 28. Invitations were sent to several of our preachers in Kansas, and other States to be present and assist in the dedication exercises, but, strange to say, not one invited came. Each had some excuse to offer, though none of them, we believe, had to bury their fathers or marry them wives. But the Lord did not leave us alone to do the work. • He put it into the hearts of Brothers Eaton and Bishop, of Iowa, to make their timely appearance at this feast, even though they had not been bidden. Five sermons were preached during the meeting — Broth- ers Eaton and Bishop two each, and one by the writer. "The debt on the church was $4,800, a very large sum for a small parish to raise and which had been very generous in its previous sub- scriptions. But it had been decided to pay off the debt, as large as it was, at this meeting. So an appeal was made to the people present to give generously of their means for- this cause. The following were the largest subscriptions : "C. G. Scrafford, $1,250; D. B. McKay, $600; A. Wells, $500; J. P. Taylor, $500; J. H. Peckham, $300; J. N. Cline, $150; J. Van Leon, $100. "Several gave $50 and $25 each. Others gave according to their means, until the amount reached $4,000. And before we left our friends, on Tuesday, we had the satisfaction of knowing that the full amount of the debt had been raised, and the church was free from encumbrance. We have never known of such a generous outpouring of funds before, on such an occasion. There seemed to be a determination to settle up the account to the last cent, and every one strained every nerve to secure this end, and they were victorious, and happy, because victor- ious. "We visited several other places in the vicinity of Seneca, and preached the doctrines of the great salvation. Among these we mention HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY- 32 1 Hiiwatha, Centralia, Wetmore, America, and Frankfort. We found warm friends in all of these and other places. At Hiawatha, Brother Hibbard is preaching a portion of the time. We occupied the Meth- odist Church, and had a good audience. Here they are talking strongly of building a church. Our excellent brother, Morrill, who gave $50 toward paying the debt on the Seneca Church, and who lives here, offers to head the subscription with $1,000. "We stopped over night with Messrs. Collins and Brady, formerly of Cass county, Illinois, who live near Albany, Nemaha county. They have 1,200 acres of land fenced, 300 of which are planted to corn, the balance is pasture. They have 700 head of cattle, and upwards of 500 hogs. They think Kansas far preferable to Illinois for stock-raising. Their farm is the best we- saw, and by the business manner in which they conduct their matters, they canriot help prospering". We enjoyed their kind hospitality very much. In fact, we enjoyed our visits wher- ever we went, so much so that we shall be tempted to spend another vacation in Kansas sometime. We found generous, warm hearts and welcome homes, and our visit will be long remembered as one of the most pleasant we ever experienced. "To those of our faith who think of immigrating West, let us, say, go to Nemaha or Brown county, Kansas. You can get the choicest land there for from $5 to $12 per acre, and then you will be where you can attend your church, and make the acquaintance of those of 'like precious faith.' No better country or people can be found." (21) CHAPTER XXXIIL BIOGRAPHICAL. Hon. Abijah Wells. — History in the aggregate is but the composite results of the doings of men in the mass ; whatever is accomplished by the citizenship of a city and county as a whole composes the historical annals of the body politic — all that can be told has been accomplished by men as individuals and making a co-operative effort along their re- spective lines. The humblest citizen has no doubt had a part in the mak- ing of the State — while a few men of prominence stand out' as more striking figures, whose deeds are worth recording for the benefit and inspiration of the rising and future generations of the State. In the making of Kansas and Nemaha county and its evolution from a trackless prairie to a land of homes and plenty, some striking leaders are worthy of mention in this volume of Nemaha -county historical annals. Judge Abijah Wells, who but a little over a year ago passed to his reward, was a product of the pioneer era of the State, who advanced himself from an humble situation in life to become a leader of his State and the foremost citizen of a great county, of which he was one of the builders. As a jurist, he had few superiors or e'quals ; learned in the law, he founded a widely known legal firm ; as a financier, he achieved a com- petence, which is an indication of 'shrewd financial ability of a high order; deeply religious, he devoted much of his time to the cause of Christianity; as a kind husband and father, he reared a family which have become famed for their individual accomplishments of its members in the nation. It is meet, therefore, that a reveiw of the life of Abijah Wells be inscribed in this volume. The late Abijah Wells was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- vania, June 12, 1840. He was a son of William R. and Betsy (Skinner) Wells, both of whom were natives of Orange county, New York, and descended from old American families of English descent. The parents of Jucige Wells were married in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, whither their respective parents had removed from New York, and they resided there from the date of their marriage, June 2, 1832, until 1845, when William R. Wells decided that the great West afforded better opportunities for amassing a competence than could be found in his home community. Accordingly, he migrated to La Salle county, Illinois, in 1845, ^1^^ '^^s O"^ °f the pioneers of this county. He remained in La Salle county, Illinois, until the spring of 1857, when he removed with 323 324 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY his family to Nemaha county, Kansas. The year previous he had visited Kansas, and the new territory so impressed him that he decided that the vast prairies, as yet unpeopled, viras the place for him to make his fortune and would give his children an opportunity to grow up with a great State in the years to come. He returned to Illinois in the fall of 1856 in time to vote for John C. Fremont for President, and was thus one of the original voters of the Republican party. In the spring of 1857, he crossed the intervening country and made a settlement on a tract of unbroken prairie land three miles south of Seneca. Here he built his first plain home in Kansas. Not long after his arrival in Ne- maha county, William R. Wells conceived the idea of founding a city in what was the exact geographical center of Nemaha county. With others who were interested he purchased a large tract of land and laid out the town of Wheatland, with the idea of making it the county seat. His dreams came to naught, however, and the plan of building a city miscarried, principally because of the diversion of the overland trade route through Seneca and its subsequent selection as the county seat. William R. Wells prospered in the land of his adoption, however, and he became prominently identified with the early and formative period of Nemaha county history, and was a member of the first board of county commissioners of Nemaha county. He lived on his farm until 1864, and then retired to a- home in Seneca. In June of 1882, he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Seneca, and six years later, July 18, 1888, his faithful helpmeet died. William R. Wells died December 16, 1893. Although a member of the Congrega- tional church at the time of his removal to Kansas, William R. Wells became one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal church in Seneca, and remained an active and influential member of this church until his demise. His activity in behalf of the free State movement in Kansas was noticeable, and is a matter of history. He filled the office of township trustee several terms, served as justice of the peace and was a member of the first board of county commissioners of Nemaha county. The earlier education of Abijah Wells was obtained in the district schools of La Salle county, Illinois, and he was a lad of seventeen when the family settled in Kansas. Not long after he came to Kansas he en- rolled as a student in Centralia College, and later attended the first session of the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kans., this institution at that time being noted for the excellent faculty mainfained. His ambition when a youth had been to become a lawyer, with this end in view, he entered the office of Judge J. E. Taylor, where he pursued his legal studies until his admission to the practice of law in 1866. He praoticed his profession in Kansas continuously for nearly fifty years, the only exception being when he became a member of the Kansas court of appeals. Early in 1881, he became the editor and proprietor of the Seneca HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 325 "Tribune." His talents as a journalist and manager here were shown to the best advantage, and he rapidly made the "Tribune" one of the best newspapers in northern Kansas, and created a profitable busiriess prop- erty. He sold the "Tribune," however, during the same year to A. J- Felt and devoted his entire time to his legal business and his official duties in various capacities. The law firm of Wells & Wells, started in 1866 by Judge Wells and his brother, Frank Wells, and his son, Frank, at a later date, in time became one of the best known law firms of northern Kansas, and has always done an extensive business. The legal business of this institution is carried on at present by Ira K. Wells, who became the Junior partner of the firm upon the removal of Frank Wells to Oklahoma City. The political, judicial and official career of Judge A^^ells was a remarkable one, and is the best evidence of his pronounced ability and powers of leadership among men. He became a leader of wide influ- ence, who was noted for his integrity and upright conduct in every official capacity where he was chosen to serve by his faithful and loyal constituents. During his whole life he was an active supporter of Re- publican party principles, and became one of the party's widely known leaders throughout the West. His first office was that of county su- perintendent of public instruction, to which he was chosen in 1863. In 1866, he was elected clerk of the district court, and after holding that office for one year, he was elected registrar of deeds, and filled that position one term. From 1874 to 1881, he again served as county su- perintendent of education in Nemaha county. Vigorous and capable, he was diligent and progressive in his administration of the public school system of Nemaha county, and raised the schools to a higher plane as a result of his endeavors in the educational field. Upon the expiration of his term as county superintendent, he proceeded to devote his time and talents exclusively to his growing law practice with such signal success that he was called to a seat on the Kansas Court of Appeals bencli in 1896, and represented the eastern division of the northern department of this court, and was the only Republican on the State ticket to receive a majority at the polls during that memorable year. He served as judge of the Court of Appeals with distinction and honor during the life of this court, and on its dissolution in 1901, he returned to Seneca and resumed the practice of law. Judge Wells served two terms as mayor of Seneca, and was a member of the Seneca board of education for a number of years. It is also worthy of note that Judge Wells was appointed post- master of Seneca in 1884, but resigned because of the press of his other affairs, Justus H. Williams succeeding -him as postmaster. In a material sense. Judge Wells was accounted one of the most successful financiers and business men of Nemaha county and Kansas. He foresaw the inevitable rise of land values, and early began to invest his surplus earnings in real estate and farm lands, and at the time of his demise, was an extensive realty owner in Nemaha county. He also 326 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY owned ninety acres of land within the corporate limits of Oklahoma City, which he purchased as an investment. He was markedly success- ful in banking pursuits, and was connected with the National Bank of Seneca as a director and vice-president for several years. Beginning life as a poor boy, he was essentially self made and rose from compara- tive poverty to become one of the wealthiest men of his day. The fact that he amassed considerable wealth honestly and with the exercise of inherent financial talents and good business judgment redounds to his everlasting credit ; he was noted and admired for his straighforward methods of doing business, and his universal fairness in dealing with those with whom he came in contact. The married life of Judge Wells was an exceedingly happy one, and began October 18, 1866, at which time he espoused in wedlock. Miss Loretta C. Williams, a daughter of Capt. A. W. Williams, of Sabetha, Kans. This marriage was blessed with six children, who have grown to maturity, namely : Frank, of the law firm of Keaton, Wells & John- son, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and who served four years as county at- torney of Nemaha county, and after his removal to Oklahoma City was selected as one of the city commissioners to formulate the plans for a commission form of city government ; Arthur, died at the age of two years ; Ira K., a review of whose life career is found in this volume ; Elsie, who became a teacher in the Seneca public schools, and died Sep- tember 4, 1897; Maud W., the wife of Robert E. Deemer, a merchant of Lincoln, Neb., and a veteran of the Spanish-American war ; William A., an architect of exceptional promise and ability, of Oklahoma, whose plans for the Oklahoma county court house were accepted strictly on merit, and who was the architect of the Colcord building of Oklahoma City, one of the finest office buildings of the United States, and Roland, who is located on a. ranch in Sherman county, Kansas, and is extensively engaged in raising cattle. The mother of these children was born in Greenville, Green county, Wisconsin, March 5, 1847, '^nd is a daughter of Arthur William and Mary Angeline (Nordyke) AVilliams, of English and Scotch ancestry. Capt. A. W. Williams was one of the well known figures of the pioneer period of Nemaha county history. He was born in Rochester, N. Y., March 21, 1818, and died in November, 1886, on his farm, south of Seneca. His parents removed from New York to Canada when he was but a boy and he was there reared to young manhood and learned the trade of a carpenter. In the early days of the settlement of Green county, Wisconsin, he located in that county, and was married to Mary Angeline Nordyke, who was born in Vienna, Ohio, June 7, 1826. Aftei their marriage in Iowa, Mr. and I\Irs. Williams lived in Green county, Wisconsin, until their removal to Iowa in 1856. They spent the winter in Iowa, and in the following spring migrated westward to Kansas, and made settlement on the Sabetha townsite. Mr. Williams became the owner of the land where the city of Sabetha now stands, and resided in HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 327 Sabetha until 1872, engaged in keeping the tavern and also following his trade of builder and carpenter. The Williams Hotel was situated directly upon the old overland stage route and he also maintained a stage station, at which the relay horses were kept read)^ for changing. He also farmed such of his land as was not taken for the townsite. At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Williams offered his services in defense of the Union, and was elected captain of Company D, Eighth Kansas infantry. He served with distinction, and then took up the peaceful avocation of a citizen after the close of the war. He served as post- master of Sabetha for several years; and was a leading citizen of that city until his removal to Seneca in 1872. He was engaged in the hard- ware business in Seneca for some years, and later settled on his farm, two miles south of the county seat, where he resided until his demise. The following children were born to Arthur W. and Mary Angeline Williams : Justus, former postmaster of Seneca, and now residing at Riverside, Cal. ; Mrs. Abijah Wells, Mrs. Eliza Masheter, of Sabetha, deceased; Angus and Rosabelle died young; Mrs. Mary E. McGill died in California ; Charles, living in California ; Mrs. Olive Himrod, New Jersey. The mother of these children was born in Ohio, removed with her parents to Iowa, and died in California in 1908. Judge Wells was a member of the Universalist denomination, and was one of the organizers of the Universalist church of Seneca, in 1865, He became widely'known in Universalist circles throughout Kansas and the West, and served for twenty-five years as president of the Kansas Universalist convention, holding that important position at the time of his demise. He was a Mason of high degree, and had attained the Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees in the order ; served as worshipful master of Seneca Lodge, No. 39, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and as high priest of the chapter and as eminent commander of Seneca Commandery, No. 39. He was also a charter member of Nemaha Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he had passed all the chairs and was the last surviving charter member who held his membership continuously since the organization of the lodge in 1866. He was also affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security. The demise of this illustrious Kansan occurred at Los Angeles, Cal., March i, 1915, at the home of his son, William, whither he had gone for a much needed rest and recuperation. The remains were brought to Seneca and interred in the local cemetery, after appropriate services at the Universalist Church, conducted by Dr. Fisher, of Chicago, long an associate of Judge We,lls in religious work. With the departure of the soul of this noble man to the realms from which no man returneth, there passed the leading citizen of the county and city which he assisted in building; his friends were legion; he always commanded the respect and admiration of those who knew him ; a man of fine personal appear- ance, blessed with keen intelligence, which showed in his eveiy action, a dignified bearing — he was a man among men, whose innate reserve 328 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was tempered by a wholesome good nature, which manifested itself when with his associates. As an attorney, he was always true to every trust imposed in him by his clients and business associates ; in an official capacity. Judge Wells was firm in an unalterable determination to pros- ecute the duties placed upon him by the public in the interests of his constituents. As a public spirited citizen, he had few eq.uals, and was always found in the forefront of undertakings which would have a ten- dency to advance the best interests of his home city and county. The reward which comes to all good men and true, who have been devoted to the highest principles of manhood, in the hereafter, has certainly come to him — inasmuch as his good deeds and upright life far out- weighed whatever faults he may have possessed. George W. Williams. — In point of years of residence in Seneca, George Williams is, without doubt, the oldest living pioneer settler, liv- ing in Seneca today. A review of the life of Mr. Williams takes one back to the old stage coach days ; to the time of the emigrant freighting trains ; to an account of the first house built in Seneca, in which he lived when a bo}- of twelve years of age ; the review covers the gradual settlement and development of Nemaha county, the ups and downs of a struggling community and the growth of Seneca from being merely a wide place in the great overland highway to the West into becoming one of the thriftiest and most beautiful cities of northern Kansas. Mr. Williams has seen all of this great development, and has taken an active and substantial part in the work of creating a great county from a wilderness of prairie and wild land. George W. Williams, capitalist and farmer, Seneca, Kans., was born in a small New Jersey village, March 18, 1848, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Getty) Williams, natives of Vermont and descend- ants of old New England families. The home of Mr. Williams' parents was in Burlington, Vt., but his father's work as a railroad contractor required that he make his residence in the vicinity of his employment. Henry Williams died in 1848, and his wife departed this life not long afterward. The boy, George, thus left an orphan, was given over to the care of a maiden aunt, who became his guardian and who had gone to live in New Hampshire. However, he varied his early life between the homes of a married aunt (Mrs. John E. Smith) and the maiden aunt who was his rightful guardian. He accompanied the Smith family to Seneca in 1858 and resided with them in the first house built in Seneca, his first work in the village was as "devil boy" on the first newspaper published in Nemaha county by J. P. Cone ; his duties on this sheet being to ink the "molasses" rollers, and to assist in operating the old Wash- ington hand press, with which the editions were printed. He remained a member of the staff of Mr. Cone's newspaper until his place was taken by a stronger person, and one whom the editor thought more able and competent to handle the lever of the unwieldy press. About the time his newspaper experience came to an end, his maiden aunt and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 329 ■guardian came west and located at Irving, Marshall county, Kansas, and he joined his aunt's family there. He remained with his guardian until he completed a course in Illinois College in 1864, and after clerk- ing in a store at Irving for a time, he returned to Seneca and purchased an interest in a hardware store. This was in 1870, and his business venture was a success from the start. His interests have become diver- sified during the past forty-six years, and he has become one of the largest land owners in northern Kansas, owning thousands of acres of land in the county. Mr. Williams has erected several business build- ings in Seneca, and is owner of considerable real estate in the city. He is financially interested in several banking concerns, among them being the First National Bank of Seneca, of which he has been president for over thirty years ; State Bank of Belvidere, Neb., and the State Bank of Axtell, Kans., of which he is president. He is a director in several banks. Mr. Williams has been a stockholder and director of the St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad Company, for the past three years. He is president of the Brown County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany of Morrill, Kans. Mr. Williams was married, in 1876, to Miss Mary Moss Bryan of Kentucky, a daughter of Milton Bryan, a relative of William Jennings Bryan. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born six children, as fol- lows : Raymond, third child born, killed in a railway accident in 1906; Clara, eldest child, wife of Frank Stuppy, St. Joseph, Mo. ; Mrs. Helen Short, living near Chehalis, Wash. ; Edith, wife of Art L. Collins, presi- dent of the National Bank of Sabetha, Kans. ; Rachel, at home with her parents; Milton B., at home and assisting in looking after his father's interests, a graduate of Wisconsin University, Madison, Wis., and fill- ing the post of assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Seneca. Mr. Williams is allied with the Democratic party, but has never sought political preferment of any kind, although he has taken pleasure in assisting deserving friends to office and has been generall)^ loyal to democratic principles. He is a member of the Congregational church. Despite his great success in business, agriculture and finance, Mr. Will- iams is the most modest of men who has devoted his entire life to hard work, kept at his tasks long hours, and even of late years, has assidu- ously devoted his time and energies to looking after his many inter- ests. This modest and brief review is in keeping with the inherent modesty of the man himself. Courtney C. K. Scoville. — When a truly able and gifted man finds his niche in the world of business and finance, his success is certain and sure. There is no miscalculation about the obviousness of his being adapted to his surroundings — a really successful individual becomes more so when he has discovered his proper line of endeavor in which to exercise inherited and developed talents. Real leaders in the various professions and business circles are both born and made —and in the 330 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY making, the best attributes of the man himself are developed thor- oughly and well, so that there is no half way stop in the upward climb. C. C. K. Scoville, successful financier, author and lecturer of Seneca, Kans., is one of those individuals who found his proper niche, and de- veloped himself and his powers to the fullest extent, and has become a leader of thought and men, and is widely known throughout his home State and the West. Endowed in the beginning with a heritage of pure American birth and ancestry, and gifted beyond the ordinary, he has risen to a high place among men. As a banker he has achieved success, and as a lecturer and orator, he has won more than ordinary renown — yet, withal, he is a modest, unassuming gentleman who loves best to assist in the development of social and civic conditions in his home city. The upbuilding and advancement of Seneca is in his thoughts and ambitions first and foremost of all things, and he is ever ready to take the lead in all matters having for their ultimate object a better and larger city. C. C. K. Scoville, president of the Citizens State Bank of Seneca, was born at Conneautville, Pa., September 14, 1852, and is a son of Daniel and Eunice P. B. (Kennedy) Scoville, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. On both paternal and maternal sides he is descended from old American families who trace their lineage back to pre-Revolutionary times. His grandfather was Daniel Scoville, whose' father was a soldier of the Revolution and fought under Ethan Allen with the famous "Green Mountain Boys." Mr. Scoville received his education in the public schools of Iowa and Kansas, and studied law in Seneca where the Scoville family re- moved in 1870. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1878, and practiced his pi-ofession for a number of years and then engaged in banking, although he has never abandoned the legal profession entirely. Since his connection with the Citizens State Bank, he has always been the recognized head of the bank. Previous to engaging in the practice of law, he taught school for eight years. While practicing his pro- fession, he served as city attorney, and in 1900, filled the office of mayor of Seneca for a term. He organized the Scoville Exchange Bank in 1888. This concern was successful, and its activities and general scope were broadened materially in 1894, when Mr. Scoville organized the Citizens State Bank as a successor to the private bank. The capital has been increased from $30,000 to $40,000, and this bank is now one of the substantial and flourishing financial institutions of northern Kansas. Mr. Scoville was united in marriage with Miss Mary Lincoln Ber- gen of Galesburg, 111., in 1881. Two daughters were born to them, as follows : Josephine, who studied for two years in Washburn College, Topeka, and who graduated from Smith College, Northampton, Mass., is nov/ the wife of Louis S. Treadwell, a business man of New York City, and scion of the well known Treadwell family of New York and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 33 I Albany ; Frances, a graduate of the Misses Oilman's Seminary for young ladies at Boston, Mass., is now the wife of "Walter De Mumm, a member of the famous Rheims firm of wine manufacturers and an officer of the Royal Fusileers of the German army and a member of General von Hindenberg's staff. Lieut. De Mumm has been twice dec- orated by the German emperor with the iron cross for personal bravery on the battlefield. Mrs. Scoville, who was Miss Mary Lincoln Bergen, was a daughter of George L and Mar)^ Bergen, of Galesburg, 111. George L Bergen was one of the leading' business men and politicians of his State, and was widely known as an inventor and as a public man. He filled the p.osition of internal revenue collector of the great Peoria district, for many years. He and Abraham Lincoln were close personal friends. Mrs. Scoville enjoys the great distinction of having been given the name, Lincoln, for a middle name by the great 'Lincoln himself. Mrs. Scoville's mother was a member of the celebrated Field family, from which sprang many of the leading men of the nation, notably Marshall Field, the great Chicago merchant. Mrs. Scoville was a graduate of the High School at Galva, 111., going from there to the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin, Ohio, from which she graduated in vocal, piano and pipe organ courses with distinction. Mrs. Scoville is well known over Kansas for her musical and literary accomplishments and for the beauty and hospitality of her home in Seneca, where many of the lead- ing people of Kansas and other States have been entertained. Mr. Scoville's activities outside of his banking interests have been many and varied, and their recital exhibits a remarkable versatility on the part of this able Kansan. He is essentially a self-made man, who has good and just right to be proud of his record, inasmuch as Seneca is rightly proud of him. He is an extensive dealer in farm mortgages, and loans on his own account and believes in keeping his capital con- tinually working in legitimate channels of trade. He has taken an active and general interest in matters political and served his party as chairman of the county central committee during the Blaine and Logan campaign for the presidency. He is interested in his party's success, but has never been an office seeker, preferring to be a worker in the ranks and lending his moral support to such matters. He is a strong and influential supporter of civic, social and commercial enterprises for the benefit of Seneca and Nemaha county, and is president of the Sen- eca Business Men's Club, an organization of Seneca's business and pro- fessional men who are striving for civic and commercial betterment of the city's affairs, and are pushing public improvements to the front. For the past twelve years, he has been a director and treasurer of the Nemaha County Fair Association. His rise in the banking world is a matter deserving of favorable comment, and he has become known throughout the State among the banking fraternity. During the years 1910 and 191 1, Mr. Scoville was 332 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY president of the Kansas State Bankers Association. He was one of the organizers and served as the second president of this association. During his lecturing career, which has covered a period of twelve years, he has delivered many addresses upon financial questions pertaining to banking and the legal phases of the profession of which he has made a deep study. Mr. Scoville has the reputation of being the finest and most entertaining, extemporaneous speaker in central and horthern Kansas. His broad knowledge and wide reading and continuous study have equipped him especially for this phase of his versatile attainments. Mr. and Mrs. Scoville are extensive travelers and have seen many parts of the old and new worlds. They made a sight seeing trip to Eu- rope, and visited their daughter, Mrs. De Mumm, in 1914, and were in London when the war between the European powers began. The success of this able gentleman under review can be ascribed to two or three things, either of which is important, and have a decided bearing upon a man's life career: He was rightly born and reared; he was imbued with an indomitable will and a determination to rise in the world, and was willing to make any honorable sacrifice in order to gain his end; lastly, but not least, he has enjoyed the companionship and counsel of a capable and devoted wife. While teaching school, he de- voted his spare time to the study of law and equipped himself for the legal profession. While practicing law he discovered that his talents lay in the world of finance, and he determined that banking offered the best means to the attainment of a competence. Frank L. Geary, assistant cashier of the National Bank of Seneca, Kans., was born March 29, 1880, in the city of Buffalo, New York, and is a son of William C. and Nellie R. (Rademacher) Geary, the former of whom was a native of Ohio, and the latter was a native of Holland. William C. Geary was born and reared in the Buckeye State and be- came a farmer in his younger days. Later he abandoned this vocation, and engaged in commercial business in Buffalo, N. Y., until 1882, at which time he returned to Ohio, and farmed until 1887, when he mi- grated to Illinois, where he engaged in the live stock business with headquarters at Mattoon, 111. He removed to Seneca, Kans., in 1890, and continued his live stock operations with considerable success, until his retirement from active business in 1900. He now resides in Frederick, Okla. AVilliam C. and Nellie R. Geary reared three children, as fol- lows : Charles \V and Tina A., of Los Angeles, Gal., and Frank L., with whose career this review is directly concerned. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Amsterdam, Holland, January 11, 1846, and immigrated with her parents to New York. Frank L. Geary was educated in the graded and high schools of Seneca, Kans., and studied law in the office of Judge R. M. Emery. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1901, and for five years, had a lucrative practice in partnership with Judge Emery. For the two years following he served as bookkeeper for the Seneca State Savings Bank HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 333 until 1907. He spent the following seven months in Los Angeles, doing abstract work, and then returned to Seneca to accept the position of assistant cashier of the National Bank of Seneca. Mr. Geary is emi- nently fitted by his legal and financial training to perform the duties of his position, and has a fine reputation as a banking man. He was the first title examiner in the office of the Los Angeles Abstract and Trust Company, a very large concern doing business in the Pacific Coast city. Mr. Geary was married, in 1903, to Miss Blanche Magill of Seneca, a daughter of J. D. Magill, former clerk of the Nemaha county district Court who died in 1900, his daughter, Blanche, being appointed to fill out Mr. Magill's unexpired term. She was twice re-elected to the of- fice, first in 1900, and again in 1902, and served until 1905. Mr. Geary is a progressive Republican who believes that reform and purification of the party can best be accomplished by working within the rank and file of the Republican organization, a belief which is generally shared by a majority of the party at the present time. He served as city attorney of Seneca, while filling his duties in connection with the Seneca State Savings Bank, and resigned the office when he went to California. Mr. Geary .is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Eastern Star, Knights and Ladies of Security, and the Knights of Pythias. Charles F. Schrempp, lawyer, Seneca, Kans., was born in Harting- ton. Neb., January 17, 1887, and is a son of Adolph and Sophia (Schweker) Schrempp, natives of Baden, Germany, and Schenectady, New York, respectively. Adolph Schrempp was born in 1847, ^^id em- igrated from the fatherland to America in 1853 with his parents. The Schrempp family settled in Wisconsin where Adolph Schrerhpp was reared to manhood. He there married Sophia Schweker, whose par- ents emigrated from Schenectady, N. Y., to Madison, Wis. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Schrempp settled in Cedar county, Nebraska, and were pioneer settlers of that county, where they homesteaded a claim and developed it, later removing to Yankton, S. D., and operating a hotel. , Mr. Schrempp here met the famous General Custer .with whom he struck up a warm friendship which lasted until the lamenta- ble death of the general at the Big Horn Indian massacre. After the massacre, Mr. and Mrs. Schrempp returned to Cedar county, Nebraska, and again took up farming pursuits. The Schrempps lived in Cedar county until the town of Hartington, Neb., was started, and they built the first house in that city. Mr. Schrempp became a contractor and builder in Hartington until his removal to Seneca in the spring of 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Schrempp are the parents of seven children. William, employed on the staff of the Sioux City, Iowa, "Journal ;" Albert A., in insurance business in the office of Charles F., Seneca ; Charles F., with whom this review is directly concerned, are the three sons of the family. The daughters are as follows : Anna Ottele, Sioux City, Iowa ; 334 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Teresa Smith, Sanborn, Iowa; Minnie K. Schrempp, Seneca, Kans. ; Frances Schrempp, Seneca, Kans. Charles F. Schrempp was educated in the Hartington public schools and the parochial schools, graduating from the high school of his native city in 1905. He taught school for two years, and then clerked in a general store for some years and became manager of a general store until 1909. He then went to Omaha, Neb., and worked his way through Creighton University for a period of three years during which he took the night course in law and was then enabled to take the full day course for one year. He graduated from Creighton University with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1913. During his period of study, he was employed in the Brandeis department store, and worked his way tipward from shoe salesman to floor walker on the main floor in this great establishment, from 1909 to 1912. In the spring of that year he obtained the post of assistant librarian in the Creighton law depart- ment, and was enabled to finish his collegiate course in a more satis- factory manner. Mr. Schrempp's original intention had been to begin the practice of his profession at Eugene, Ore., but having occasion to stop off at Seneca, he was impressed with the appearance of the city and the possi- bilities it presented for the practice of law, and he decided to cast his lot in this city. He was first associated with Charles Herold as deputy county attorney until March, 1915, and has built up an excellent law prac- tice. He was a candidate for county attorney on the Democratic ticket in 1914. Mr. Schrempp has built up considerable practice in outside courts, and is fast making a reputation for himself as an able attorney, besides taking a prominent part in Democratic politics. He was re- tained as attorney in the Helser land case, the biggest partition suit ever filed in Nemaha county, and an incident to the settlement of an estate valued at $200,000, at this'writing (1915) has completed the forc- ing of distribution in the secondary case in Pennsylvania, involving the personal property included in the estate. Mr. Schrempp is a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, and is president of the county federation of Catholic societies. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He is the secretary of the Literary and Lyceum course committee, and is at present secretary of the Seneca Commer- cial Club. He is a member of the Delta Theta Phi, the National legal fraternity and was instrumental in building up the Omaha chapter. Joseph P. Koelzer, lumber merchant of Seneca, Kans., is one of the native born Kansas pioneers who has lived his whole life within the borders of Nemaha county. The lumber concern of which he is the proprietor is one of the oldest established business concerns of Seneca, and was first started in 1872. J. H. Hatch was the second owner and managed the business until 1897, when it was purchased by the Holton Lumber Company, who operated it for ten years. Mr. Koelzer became HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 335 sole proprietor in 1905. The lumber yards cover five city lots and the stock of lumber, builders' material, concrete, etc., is compactly and conveniently arranged so that the extensive trade which the establish- ment enjoys can be taken care of expeditiously. A concrete building at the front on the main street of Seneca houses the office and three men are employed in the conduct of the business. J. P. Koelzer was born on a farm at St. Benedict's, three miles northwest of Seneca, April 25, 1871, and is a son of Peter Joseph (born in 1827, and died in December, 1893) ^^'^ Sophia (Koblitz) Koelzer, born in 1839, natives of German and Austria-Hungary, respectively. Peter Joseph Koelzer emigrated from Germany to America in 1852, and made a- settlement in Wisconsin, where he remained until 1859, ^^'^ then came westward to Kansas and became one of the earliest pioneer sttlers in Nemaha county. In the spring of 1859, he made a settlement in the St. Benedict neighborhood, where he homesteaded eighty acres of land, which is still owned by the Koelzer family. The following year was the noted "dry year," when many settlers left Kansas never to return. The Koelzer family was too poor to leave and had to bear the hardships incidental to the crop failure. Time proved that the "dry year" but taught the settlers a lesson, and those who were forced to stay became the prosperous citizens of a great and rich county as the years passed. Peter J. Koelzer learned how best to till the Kansas soil and how to get around the vagaries of Kansas climate and managed to raise good crops as well as to rear a fine family of children. The first home of the Koelzers was a small log cabin built of logs hewn from trees along Wild Cat creek, and consisted of one room. Later another room was added, and in 1870 the family fortunes were such that a neat frame house was built. J. P. Koelzer, the subject of this review, was the first child born in the frame house. Peter Joseph Koelzer became quite well-to-do be- fore his demise, and with the assistance of his faithful wife and his sons to help him till his acreage he became the owner of 280 acres of excel- lent farm land. As he became old he decided to build a home in Seneca, where he and Mrs. Koelzer could spend their last years in comfortable enjoyment of their good fortune; but, sad to relate, this sturdy old pioneer, died on the eve of his removal to the new home. Peter Joseph and Sophia (Koblitz) Koelzer were the parents of thirteen children, as follows: John, lives in Texas; Louis, died in Idaho; Antone, died in Seneca, at the age of twenty-three years ; four children died in infancy ; Joseph P., with whom this review is directly concerned; Peter, living at Stockton, Kans. ; Edward, farming the old home place ; Michael, of Electra, Texas ; Mrs. Mary Flushe, Muenster, Texas ; Mrs. Elizabeth Hoenig, Muenster, Texas. The mother of these children resides with her son, Peter, at Stockton, Kans. The senior Koelzer assisted in the building of St. Benedict's Church and gave liberally to the building of the magnificent new church, but death called him before the new structure was finished. 336 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Joseph p. Koelzer, the subject of this review, was educated in school district No. 33, at St. Benedict's, and remained on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age. He then married, and one year later moved to Seneca, where he engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock for a year. He then operated a lumber yard at St. Benedict's for one year and a half. Returning to Seneca, he was employed by the Hol- ton Lumber Company for eight years, and then purchased the yards and stock, in 1905. In addition to his business and property interests, Mr. Koelzer is a shareholder in the Seneca State Savings Bank. J. P. Koelzer was married in 1894 to Miss Elizabeth Schneider, born in Nebraska, and a daughter of Mathias Schneider, who moved with his family from Missouri to Nemaha county, Kansas. (See sketch). Four children were born to this union, as follows: Albert L., a hustling young business man of Seneca, and owner of the photograph gallery and moving picture show ; Fred, a student of electrical engineering in Kansas City, Mo. ; Urban and Florence, attending high school in Seneca. Mr. Koelzer is a Democrat, who has taken an active part in political and civic affairs, having served as city councilman and treasurer of Richmond township. He and the members of his family are affiliated with Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic church in Seneca, and Mr. Koelzer is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutujil Benefit Association. Hon. Rufus M. Emery. — History is a record of human events in the concrete and the historical annals of any section of the great common- wealth of Kansas is an assembling together in a systematic form an ac- count of what the men and women of that section have accomplished in the way of creating and building up a community of souls working with one accord to a common end. The history of Nemaha county tells the wondrous story of what has been done during sixty-one years of struggle, striving and working toward the creation of a great county. It must likewise tell of the individual accomplishments of the men who have taken part actively in the development of the county — and it is meet, therefore, that a review of the life of Judge Rufus M. Emery, of Seneca, be told, inasmuch as he is a leading citizen of Nemaha county, a success- ful attorney, widely known jurist and an able financier, who, during the forty years of his residence in Kansas, has won a high place in the com- munity of which he is a very important part. The life story of Rufus M. Emery is a record of the doings of a successful man of affairs, who has won his place in the citizenship of Seneca by virtue of decided ability of a high order. Rufus M- Emery was born on a farm near Loveland, Clermont county, Ohio, April 23, 1854, and comes of that sturdy American stock who for generations have been tillers of the soil and have assisted in pushing the path of empire ever westward. He is a son of Elisha J. Emery, born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, September i, 1814, and a son of Judge John Emery, born and reared in the same county, and JUDGE RUFUS M. EMERY. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 337 who removed to a farm near Cincinnati, Ohio, when Elisha J. Emery was one year old. Elisha J. Emery was reared to young manhood on the pioneer farm in Ohio, and took up agricultural pursuits in Clermont county, Ohio, where he married Miss Eliza V. Johnson, born in 1818 in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and who accompanied her parents to Ohio in 1832, when she was married. Her father in a later day migrated to Cook county, Illinois, where he farmed until his demise. Ten children were born to this marriage of Elisha and Eliza V. Emery, as follows : Al- mira, who died at the age of eighteen ; William A., Samuel A., George J., Edwin D., Jabez N., Eliza C, who married W. H. Fitzwater; Cliarles F., Rufus M., the subject of this review, and Mary M. Of these children, Almira, William A., George J., Edwin D. and Rev. Jabez N. are de- ceased. Four of the above sons, William A., Samuel A., George J. and Edwin D., served in behalf of the Union during the Civil war, and two of them, George J. and Edwin D., lost their lives while in the serviqe ; George J. was drowned in the Ohio river, and Edwin D. lost his life by drowning off the coast of North Carolina, when the transport, which was carrying him in company with other troops northward after Lee's surrender, is thought to have been wrecked in a storm and sank with all on board. Elisha J. Emery continued his farming operations on an ex- tensive scale and with marked success until 1873, when he disposed of his large realty holdings in Clermont county, Ohio, and located in Seneca, Kans. Having arrived here with a competency, he devoted his remaining years to his investments and was occupied in the capacity of private banker and later as president and one of the largest stockholders of the Bank of Nemaha County, which he was instrumental in estab- lishing in 1882, and served as its president for many years. For several years he became a teacher in the district schools. When still a youth, Eliza V. Emery was born in New Jersey, August 28, 1818 ; married, December 18, 1836, and died March 8, 1894. Rufus M. Emery was reared on his father's farm in Clermont county, Ohio, and received his early education in the district- schools of his native county. Honest, ambitious and clear headed, he applied himself with so much intelligence and diligence that at the age of seventeen years he became a teacher in the district schools. When still a youth, he mastered the art of telegraphy, and spent two and a half years as a telegraph operator in the employ of the Pittsbufg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railroad. He then resigned and came directly to Seneca, Kans., arriving here June 15, 1875. Soon after his arrival he began reading law in the office of Simon Conwell, of Seneca, and by hard ap- plication and self study, he qualified for admission to the Nemaha county bar in April, 1877. He at once began the practice of his chosen profession in Seneca, and soon won a high place for himself in the legal fraternity of Kansas. Being a young man of fine tact and address, as well as being a forceful and eloquent speaker and a logical thinker, his (22) 33^ HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY rise in the ranks of the legal profession was marked and rapid. During the many years in which Judge Emery has practiced law in Nemaha county and northern Kansas, he has maintained an unsullied reputation for fairness and a strict and abiding respect for the highest principles of his profession. He has adhered closely to professional ethics wherever and whenever he has been called upon to exercise his legal ability and knowledge of the law. Associated with Judge Emery in the law firm of Emery & Emery at present is his son, Rufus M., Jr. The political and judicial career of Judge Emery has been a note- worthy one, and begins with his election to the office of city attorney, serving also as police judge, councilman and president of the board of education, following which, he filled the office of county attorney for three consecutive terms, from 1881 to 1887. Although he had been reared a Democrat, he chose to ally himself with the Republican party, and for many years he has been one of the influential leaders of his party in Nemaha county and Kansas. He was elected a member of the State Senate in 1888, to represent Nemaha and Pottawatomie counties, and held this position for one term of four years. During his senatorial service he served on some of the most important committees of the senate, being a member of the judiciary committee and chairman of the committee of county seats and county lines, as well a a member of the committee on cities of the second class. In 1894, he was elected judge of the Twenty-second Judicial district, comprising the counties of Doni- phan, Brown and Nemaha, and gave universal satisfaction while on the bench for four years, from January, 1895, to January, 1899. After the expiration of his judicial term, he again resumed the practice of law. This esteemed Kansan has not only made an enviable record as a legal practitioner and jurist, but he has succeeded as a financier, whose land holdings and financial interests in Kansas are considerable. When the National Bank of Seneca was organized in 1897, Judge Emery was made president of this concern, which is conceded to be the strongest in Nemaha county, and one of the best managed and safest financial institutions in northern Kansas. He has made finance the subject of dili- gent study, and to his untiring labor and watchfulness, his genial man- ners, cool judgment and thorough understanding of finance, the subse- quent success of the bank has been largely due. Judge Emery was married at Corwin, Warren county, Ohio, Sep- tember 19, 1877, to M.' Lou Thompson, daughter of Samuel B. and Mar- tha J. Thompson. The father of Mrs. Emery died in Seneca in 191 1 in his ninetieth year. To Judge and Mrs. Emery have been born six chil- dren, as follows : Marie, Rufus M., Jr., George B., engaged in the optical business in Seneca, Kans. ; Helen M., wife of Eugene Hill, of Seneca; Alice, wife of Roy Voorhees, of Seneca, Kans. ; John R., bookkeeper in the National Bank of Seneca. Judge Emery is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has attained the Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees. He has HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 339 served as high priest of the chapter and as eminent commander of Seneca Commandery, No. 41. He is also a member of Abdallah Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Leavenworth. He is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and, in 1900, was the grand master workman of the State of Kansas. He has been associated with the Kansas national guard and has held commissions as captain and major in his inilitary organization. Judge Emery has always taken an active and influential part in the civic and social life of Seneca, and has ever been found in the forefront of all movements tending to the ad- vancement of his home city and county ; he has served as president of the Seneca Commercial Club, and is universally recognized as a leader among the citizenship of the city. F. J. Holthaus, cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Seneca, Kans. was born in Muhlen, Oldenburg, Germany, Nov. 16, 1876, and is a son of Franz and Josephine Holthaus. His father was a mariner who en- tered the services of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company, when said company only had two steamers. He retired from this company in 1892, and was pensioned. After F. J. Holthaus graduated from the schools in his native town, , he came to America in 1891, and completed his studies in Denver, Colo., in 1892. He then went to St». Benedict, Kans., and entered the emploj^ of the firm of Blocker & Hoeffler, dealers in general merchandise. In 1893. he went back to Denver, and entered the employ of the "Colorado Journal" (a German daily) and learned the printing trade. In the fall of 1895, he went to Chicago and worked in a print shop which did all the printing for Marshall Field. In the spring of 1896, he went to Cincinnati, and worked at his trade up to July i, and then went on a European trip. He traveled eight months on the continent in the in- terest of his coin and stamp business, and also visited his old home. In April of 1897, he came back to America, and went to San Francisco, and entered the firm of Henry Wolking & Co., importers and dealers in fancy groceries. He was with said firm until 1903. Mr. F. J. Holthaus' marriage was in 1903, to Miss Mary Haver- kamp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Haverkamp, Sr. They have four children : Regina Elizabeth, aged eleven ; Clara Josephine, eight ; John Francis, five, and Alma Bernardine, two. Ever since his marriage he has lived in Nemaha county, the first year on his father-in-law's farm, five miles north of Seneca. In 1904, he moved to Seneca and en- tered the employ of the First National Bank as bookkeeper. He was elected assistant cashier of the Seneca State Savings Bank in 1906, when J. H. Cohen bought the controlling interest of said bank and moved it into the First National Bank building. In 1907 he was elected cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Seneca, Kans., and is filling this position in a satisfactory and able manner. F. J. Holthaus is a dealer and collector 'of rare coins and stamps. He became acquainted with this hobby when a school boy through 340 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY coming across all kinds of foreign , coins which his father brought home from his trips to foreign countries. He saw that the coins are serious historical monuments, that the}' contain in a nutshell the whole history of the countries which issued them, and that by an intensive and comparative study of them ancient history can be made real and living. It is a great asset for a banker to have a numismatic knowledge. His collection at first comprised all classes of coins. In recent years he has specialized in United States and early Colonials, Oldenburg, Munster, Bremen and Papal State, with special emphasis laid upon gold and silver coins. In 1896, on his European trip, he picked up a good many dupli- cates of rare coins and stamps, and ever since that time he has been a dealer as well as collector. He is an extensive buyer at coin auction sales held in this and foreign countries. Besides his banking interests, Mr. Holthaus is the owner of a fine farm of 148 acres adjoining the city of Seneca, on which an attractive home is located. He maintains a herd of Holstein cattle. Mr. Holthaus is a Republican in politics and he and Mrs. Holthaus are members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the American Numismatic Association. John Fuller. — The historian or reviewer of this volume of Nemaha county historical annals can think of no more apt term with which to designate John Fuller, pioneer tinsmith, coppersmith and merchant of Seneca, Kans., than to give him the well deserved title of "Sage of Seneca." His has been a life well rounded and useful beyond that of ordinary men ; although four score and one years have passed since John Fuller first saw the light of day, his mental vigor is still unimpaired, and of late years he has added to the long list of his accomplishments that of lecturer. A man of broad vision and inherent capabilities, he has become a scientist and teacher and author of more than ordinary renown. John Fuller was born in Horsham, Sussex county, England, March 25. 1835, and is a son of James and Deborah (Ware) Fuller. James, his father, was a member of the Church of England, and was a general sheet and metal worker, who taught his son, John, his trade. Deborah (Ware) Fuller, his mother, was a Quaker, whose sweet womanly coun- sel and careful training did much toward making John Fuller the man he is today. One of the touching things which Mr. Fuller remembers concerning his mother is that she. made a sampler with her own hands when a girl, and inscribed on it the following original poem : "Deborah Ware is my name. With my Needle, I work the same. By this work you can plainly see The care my parents took of me." After learning the trade of sheet metal worker under his father's tutelage, John Fuller worked as a tinman and brazier and general sheet JOHN FULLER. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 34I metal worker until he attained the age of seventeen years. He then took up the trade of coppersmith, which he followed for sixteen years. In 1868, he journeyed to London, England, and again took up brazery work and also followed sheet iron work while attending the night schools of that great city. Previous to this, he had had little oppor- tunity to secure an education, and his sole reason for leaving home and going to London was to attain an education. Few boys worked as hard as he to attain his ends. Working long hours, he would quit his bench at 5 :30 p. m., walk five miles to the night school and study diligently until ten o'clock in the South London Workingmen's College, of which Huxley was the chief patron. The oldest son of Mr. Fuller has the highly prized certificate issued to Mr. Fuller by Huxley, and which has appended' to it the patron's own signature. Mr. Fuller remained seven years in London, supporting his family of five children, born in Ash- ford, Kent, England, and in this great city one of his children was born. In 1870, he immigrated to America, joining a colony which had been formed in England under the auspices of the Mutual Land Immigration Operative Colonization Company, Limited. This company brought numbers of settlers to Kansas, and Mr. Fuller was among those who settled near Goff, Kans. He remained but a year on the farm, however, raising nothing but weeds after much arduous labor. The next year he spent in Centralia, Kans., working at his trade and any honest employ- ment he could procure to keep the wolf from the door. In 1872, he came to Seneca and engaged in the hardware business in partnership with Aaron Roots. This partnership continued for two years, and then Mr. Fuller purchased his partner's interest. As his sons grew up they became associated with their father in the business, which is one of the landmarks of Seneca, under the firm name of Fuller & Son. The Fuller establishment is one of the prosperous and enterprising concerns of Seneca, and has made money for its founder and proprietor. The most interesting phase of the life career of the "Sage of Seneca" is his career as a scientist and author and his accomplishments in the field of letters is the more remarkable when we learn that he had no school advantages from the time he was nine years old up to his mar- riage, after which he secured a good, broad education while rearing and supporting his growing family in comfort. In the year 1889, Mr. Fuller wrote and published "The Art of Coppersmithing," an instructive voca- tional volume, which had a wide sale, and has run through four editions, and was copyrighted in 1904 and in 191 1 by its author. This work is a standard text on the coppersmithing art and contains 485 illustrations drawn by Mr. Fuller in order to more clearly bring out the various in- structive points. The volume was published by David Williams Com- pany, and bears the distinction of being the only text book on copper- smithing as an art ever issued. The book was greatly eulogized and praised by book reviewers of the country upon its appearance. Mr. Fuller completed another attractive and instructive volume in 1904, 342 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY called "A New and Original Treatise on the Geometrical .Development of Round and Oval Cones," with easy -examples of application. This work is a very fine affair and is intended for the use of beginners in metal working and practical sheet iron and tin plate workers. For many years this versatile patriarch has been a contributor to various news- papers, and has frequently called attention through the newspaper col- umns to undeveloped and waste resources generally overlooked by the public. He frequently lectures in the Seneca High School on scientific subjects, and the students are always eager to listen to the words of wisdom which fall from his lips. His favorite lecture is "Wealth is Not Worth," and is well worth reading or hearing. He is a deep thinker and a profound philosopher, whose material needs have not been neg- lected during the many years he has spent in Kansas. From a poor boy, he has become wealthy, and occupies a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens. It is a fact that at one time this highly regarded and wealthy citizen was in such reduced circumstances during his early struggles in Kansas that, in order to get sufficient solder with which to do his tin work, he gathered up a pile of discarded tin cans, melted them, and thus obtained the solder which he needed so badly. There is no doubt but that much of the success of John Fuller is really due to the inspiration and assistance of the noble woman who became his wife on January i, 1856, when Mr. Fuller was united in mar- riage with Miss Ann Fagg, born September 22, 1834, in England, the eldest daughter of Henry Fagg, formerly an engineer on the South- eastern railway in England. To this union have been born eight chil- dren, as follows : Henry William, associated with his father in the hardware business ; John died in 1914 ; William Edward and Walter are with the firm of Fuller & Son ; Martha Jane, at home with her parents ; Helen Florence died in September, 1870; Herbert Moreton, born at Cen- tralia, June 24, 1871, and now engaged in business with his father; Mrs. Beatus Filia Williams, born in Seneca, Kans., and resides there. Mr. and ]\Irs. Fuller are members of the Episcopalian denomina- tion. Mr. Fuller became a Mason soon after settling in Seneca, and has served as master of the local lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and he enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest Odd Fellows in Kansas, having become a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in his native country in April of 1852, and never having been delinquent in his dues during all of the sixty-four years he has been a member of the order. For the past twenty years he has been affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. John Fuller is a remarkable man, who has had a unique and interesting career. One of the highly prized possessions in the Fuller domicile is a cop- per kettle, which was made by Mr. Fuller over fifty years ago, and is a masterpice of the brazier's skill. The proudest day of the young man- hood of this fine old gentleman was when he showed to his father the kettle, after it had been made with his own hands from the copper. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 343 Robert G. Mueller, superintendent of the Seneca public school sys- tem, was born in Alleghany, N. Y., August 2, 1863, and is a son of Robert G. and Catharine (Ehret) Mueller, both of whom were born in Germany. Robert G. Mueller, Sr., emigrated from Germany with his 'parents, Jacob and Hannah Mueller, to America in 1849, ^nd first set- tled in New York. Jacob Mueller, Sr., had learned the trade of tanner and worked at his trade in this country until he became the owner of a fine farm near Alleghany, N; Y., and finally died on his farm. Robert G. Mueller, the elder, migrated from New York to Atchison, Kans., in 1878, -and after a four years' reisidence on a farm near that city, he re- moved to Atchison and has followed his trade of carpenter and builder almost continuously since 1882. Robert G. and Catharine Mueller have reared seven children, as follows : George W., deceased ; Robert G., the subject of this review; Anna C. and Henry P., deceased; Charles F., a farmer living in Butler county, Kansas ; Minnie W., deceased ; William E., a barber in Kansas City, Mo. The rriother of the foregoing children emigrated from her native land to America with her parents when six years of age. She died in Atchison in 1893. Prof. Robert G. Mueller received his early education in the public and high schools of Atchison, Kans., and also attended the- Monroe In- stitute of that city. He is self-educated, and worked his way through the University of Kansas, from which institution he graduated in 1901. Under the tutelage of his father he learned the carpenter's trade and worked during the summer vacations for money with which to continue his studies. Prof. Mueller began teaching in Atchison county in 1883, and taught for twelve years in his home county. His first principalship was at Hamlin, Brown county, Kansas, where he was located for one year ; then one year at Fairview, Brown county, Kansas ; six years as principal of the Sheridan County High School. He was called to Seneca to take charge of the city schools in 1906, and his ten years of work in this city have been very successful. Many innovations and betterments of the school work have been added by Mr. Mueller during his career in Seneca, among them being a normal training department, a domestic science department and agricultural course and a commercial depart- ment. Six teachers have been added to the high school force, and he has reorganized the seventh and eighth grades on the departmental plan. So great is the confidence held in Prof. Mueller's judgment by the board of education and the patrons of the schools that his requests for improvements are invariably granted and he enjoys the co-opera- tion of the school officials and teachers to an exceptional degree. He is still an indefatigable student and has spent four vacations at Chicago University, working toward the acquirement of a Master's de- gree. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the Kansas Uni- versity and holds a Kansas State life certificate. Prof. Mueller was married in 1889 to Miss Lillie M. Reynolds, of Cummings, Kans., a daughter of William T. Reynolds, a resident of Atchison, Kans. They have one child, Eunice, aged twelve years. 344 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Prof. Mueller is an independent in politics and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee and is superin- tendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Prof. Mueller is a very useful citizen, who is generally found in the front' ranks of those who seek to advance the civic and moral atmosphere of Seneca. His activities extend beyond the halls of the school building to such an extent that his services in behalf of the people of Seneca are immeasureable in their value to the city. By word and deed he has sought to help advance his home city in many ways. Solomon R. Myers. — The achievements of Solomon R. Myers since his advent into Kansas forty-eight years ago are worthy of mention in a favorable sense and show that he has accomplished more than the or- dinary man from a material standpoint and has filled the highest offices within the gift of the people of Nemaha county. He is descended from sturdy German stock fused with old American ancestry — a combination which makes the best American citizens. Mr. Myers' record reflects credit upon his ancestry, and he has carved for himself a career, the re- cital of which is well worthy of being handed down to posterity in this volume of historical annals of his home county and State. Solomon R. Myers was born in McDonough county, Illinois, April 4, 1849, ''■^^ is a son of Jonas and Marguerite (Treadwell) Myers, who were the parents of ten children, of whom Solomon R. was the sixth child born, and only two of whom are living. Jonas Myers was born in North Carolina in 1810, and migrated to Illinois in the pioneer days of the settlement of that State. He developed a farm and died there in 1866. Jonas was a son of Thomas Myers, a native of Germany, who immigrated to North Carolina, and owned a farm in that State. When a youth, Jonas Myers learned the trade of hat maker. Mrs. Marguerite (Treadwell) Myers was born in Virginia, a daughter of Thomas Treadwell, a native of Vir- ginia. She died in Brown county, Kansas. Solomon R. Myers migrated to Kansas in 1868, and bought land in Brown county, which he improved and farmed until 1881. He then came to Nemaha county and bought 480 acres of good land in Rock Creek township. He improved this tract and cultivated it with considerable success until his retirement to a home in Sabetha in 191 1. Mr. Myers' success in Kansas is due to the fact that he was an extensive feeder of cattle, his cattle feeding operations embracing over 500 head annti'ally. In this manner he maintained and increased the fertility of his large acreage and marketed his farm products in the most economical and profitable manner. Mr. Myers owns property in Sabetha and is a share- holder and director of the National Bank of Sabetha. Mr. Myers was married at Plymouth, 111., February 7, 1867, to Mary Thompson, who has borne him twelve children, as follows : Mrs. Carrie Cochren, Santa Anna, Cal. ; Mrs. Sarah Sanford, Peculiar, Mo. ; James H., a farmer in Nemaha county; Mrs. Delia Johnson, living in Nemaha HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 345 county; George conducts a notion store in Sabetha; Mrs. Roxy Draney, living on a farm in Nemaha county; Mrs. Marguerite Brown, Peculiar, Mo.; Mrs. lone, wife of B. Ransom, Brown county, Kansas; Mrs. Irene Koch, whose husband operates a bakery in Sabetha; Hester, at home; Herbert, deceased ; Alfred, deceased. The mother of these children was born in Kentucky, January ii, 1849, 3-nd is a daughter of James and Rebecca (Wright) Thompson, who removed from Kentucky to Illinois and died there. The political and civic career of this pioneer citizen of Kansas has been a noteworthy one. He was elected to the office of county com- missioner in 1890, and served for two terms. He was a member of the State legislature as representative from Nemaha county in 1903, and he filled the duties of this position with credit to himself and his constit- uents. From 1881 to 191 1 he served as a member of the school board of his township. He is prominent in Masonic circles and has taken all de- grees of Masonry up to and including the thirty-second degree, and is a Mystic Shriner. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Anton Wempe. — ^The Wempe family is one of the oldest pioneer families in Kansas, and its members are among the prominent citizens of Nemaha county. Anton Wempe, the "Father of Fidelity," Kans., is a product of the frontier era in the State, and his biography is an inter- esting one, which deserves a place of honor in the annals of that portion of the commonwealth with the development of which he has played such ■ an important part. Anton Wempe, retired, Seneca, Kans., was born in Effingham county, Illinois, December 24, 1847, ^"d is a son of Herfnan Henry (born in 1813, and died July 5, 1861) and Mary Alexandrina (Jensen) Wempe (born in 1820, and died in 1853). Herman Henry Wempe and his brother, Gerard, came from their birthplace in Oldenburg, Germany, to America in 1831, and located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Herman .Henry Wempe plied his trade of blacksmith in Cincinnati and eventually joined a colony of German born settlers who went westward to Effingham county, Illinois. This colony had previously sent representatives ahead on foot to spy out the country and report upon the most likelj"- place in which to make a settlement. Henry Wempe became one of the leading mem- bers of this colony, which made a settlement in Illinois as early as 1842. He reinained there until 1853 and then moved to a farm southeast of St. Louis, in St. Clair county, Illinois, where the family lived until 1858, at which time Henry Wempe made a trip to Kansas to look over the coun- try. The appearance of the Kansas country impressed him so favorably that he determined to buy Kansas land, and in the spring of 1861, he came westward to Brown county, Kansas, where he invested in a tract of land soon after his arrival. He was the father of six children, as fol- lows: Herman Henry, died at Sabetha, Kans., in 1912; Mrs. Philomena Wuebben, born in 1843, a-^id died one year after her marriage; Mrs. 346 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Elizabeth Buser, died near Fidelity, Kans., in 1911; Anton, the subject of this review; Clements August, died at Seneca in 1910; Mrs. Mary- Winkler, a widow, residing in Seneca. The father of these children be- came enfeebled soon after his return from Kansas to his Illinois home, in 1861, and died July 5, 1861. Henry Wempe was married the second time to Mrs. Mary (Kempker) Klinkheimer, a widow, who cared for the infant left by his first wife, and later accompanied the family to Kansas. Anton, the subject of this review, was practically the head of the family during the migration to Kansas. Mrs. Klinkheimer had been engaged to care for the younger children. The youngest child, now Mrs. Mary Winkler, was but five weeks old at the time of the mother's death, and so well did Mrs. Klinkheimer care for the helpless infant and the other children that Henry Wempe espoused her in marriage, and she made a splendid mother for the children. The Wempe family moved on the farm located near the Nemaha- Brown county line. The lumber used in the building of the Wempe home was shipped from Atchison, Kans. The trading point was White Cloud, Neb., and they hauled other material from the latter place, the trip requiring three days in the making. The first day was spent in traveling to White Cloud ; the second day was needed to load the wagon, and it required a third day to make the return trip, a distance of forty miles. Anton Wempe recalls that he would spend from twO to five days in "going to mill," there being three milling places for the settlers, who would first go to Wells' mill on the Nemaha river ; then, if this mill was not grinding,' he would go to Salem, Neb., and then, perchance, go on to Falls City, Neb. It was frequently necessary for him to journey from one mill to the other to get his "grist" ground, on account of the water in the streams being low. One instance of going for "grist" in particular is worth recording. Anton Wempe and a neighbor started out with a load of grain en route to the Wells mill north of Sabetha, Kans. This mill was "broke down." They went on to Salem. "No grist" there, and found it necessary to go to Cincinnati, Neb. On their return trip they stopped at Wells' mill and asked the miller what was the trouble with the mill. The miller told Mr. Wempe and his neighbor that he was out of "whang" leather" with which to fix the main belt, which was broken. Mr. Wempe saw that his neighbor had an old-fashioned "hame strap," and the men offered this strap to the miller for the purpose of fixing the belt. The belt was soon fixed and the mill started to grinding at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and by the next morning the "grist" of ten bushels of wheat and corn was all ground by 9 o'clock. When it was impossible for the Wempe family to get "grist" ground at the mills, Mr. Wempe used the old-fashioned "potato grater," which consisted of a can with holes punched in the bottom, over which the corn was "grated" in order to remove the outer shell. One can con- ceive of what a laborious task this would be. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 347 Anton Wempe lived on the home place of the family in the western part of Nemaha county, near the Brown county line, for a period of t\yenty-four and one-half years, or until the fall of 1892. He then bought a farm west of "Seneca, upon which he moved and cultivated this tract until 1908. He then moved to Seneca, where he is living comfortably in a nice bungalow. He owned two farms, of 160 and eighty acres, at this time, but later traded the eighty-acre tract for a farm in Anderson county, Kansas. Mr. Wempe's farm is well improved and is a splendid producing tract. He was always an extensive live stock producer and generally sold the product of his farms on the "hoof." Besides his farm- ing interests, Mr. Wempe is the second largest stockholder of the Citi- zens State Bank of Seneca, and is a director of this thriving financial institution. For a number of years he has served as vice-president of this bank. Anton Wempe was married in 1872 to Miss Barbara Muench, who has borne him the following children : Joseph M., member of the firm of Wempe & Huerter, Seneca, Kans. ; William P., a merchant of Bailey- ville, Kans. ; Mary, at home ; Gertrude, Fairbury, Neb. ; Anna, wife of Philip Lauer, of the furniture and undertaking concern in Seneca, Kans. ; Anthony J., assistant cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Seneca ; Ed- ward J., Fairbury, Neb. ; Rose, known as Sister Maurus, O. S. B., Mt. St. Scholastica's Academy, Atchison, Kans. The mother of these children was born May 4, 1855, at Wilmet, Cook county, Illinois, and is a daugh- ter of Joseph Mathias Muench, a native of Germany, who migrated from Illirtois to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Wempe are members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church and contribute liberally of their means to the support of the - Catholic institutions. Mr. Wempe is affiliated with the Sts. Peter and Paul's Benevolent Society. He is allied with the Democratic party and filled several township offices when living on the farm in Richmond township. He filled the post of justice of the peace and township clerk and served as clerk of the school board for many years. Anton Wempe became widely known as the "Father of Fidelity,'' Kans., and started the first general store at that place in 1890. He was the first postmaster of the village, receiving his appointment under Postmaster General John Wanamaker. He sold out his store, however, in 1892. Mr. Wempe served as county commissioner from January to March of 1892, to fill a vacancy and was thus qualified on account of having received the highest vote in the primary election of 1891. Thomas E. Rooney, real estate and loan dealer of Seneca, Kans., is one of the really successful men of his day and generation. Born in Marshall county, Kansas, of Irish parentage or descent, and reared on a pioneer farm in Kansas, he has grown up with a great State and pros- pered as his home county and State have done. He saw opportunity and grasped it and has made good in his line, and is one of the leading and substantial citizens of Seneca. 348 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. Rooiiey was born in Marshall county, Kansas, April 7, 1877, and is a son of John and Marguerite (Burke) Rooney, who were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living. John Rooney was born in Indiana in 1857, of Irish parentage. The Rooney family came to Kansas in 1873, and made a settlement in Marshall county, where the father cultivated his farm_ until his retirement in 1912 to a comfortable home in Marysville. Marguerite (Burke) Rooney was born in West Virginia in i860, and departed this life in 1914. Thomas E. Rooney was reared on the home farm in Marshall county, Kansas, and received his education in the district schools. He remained on the farm until IQ08, and then removed to Seneca, where he established a real estate and loan business. He operates in all' sections of Kansas, and has made a remarkable success of his business. Mr. Rooney is the owner of 1,500 acres of farm lands, has city property, and is the owner of a half interest in the Guilford Hotel in Seneca. Mr. Rooney was married July 24, 1907, to Miss Nellie Feehan, of Pottawatomie county, Kansas. Three children have been born of this marriage, namely: Mark, born June 24, 1908; Raphael, born March 26, 1910, and Thomas E., Jr., born September 6, 1915. Mrs. Thomas E. Rooney was born January 11, 1881, and is a daughter of Cornelius Feehan, who was a native of Ireland, and immigrated to America, set- tling in Kansas in 1870. Both parents of Mrs. Rooney are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rooney are members of the Catholic church and con- tribute of their means to the support of the Catholic institutions. Mr. Rooney is allied with the Democratic party and is a member of 'the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. George A. Shaul. — For a citizen of an inland city the size of Seneca, Kans., to achieve national prominence in a field which is filled with able and ambitious competitors, is somewhat out of the ordinary — but George A. Shaul, general contractor and builder, of this city, has ac- complished the feat, and ranks high among the builders of the West and Middle West. For several years his genius and activities have been di- rected in the work of erecting Government buildings, and so satisfac- torily have his tasks been accomplished that one extensive contract fol- lows another, and Mr. Shaul has achieved a reputation second to none in his chosen field of endeavor. George A. Shaul was born June 23, 1861, in Leland, La Salle county, Illinois, and is a son of Aaron and Olive (Near) Shaul, the former a native of New York, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Aaron Shaul was born in 1822, and died in February of 1895. He was a son of Mathias Shaiil, a soldier of the AVar of 1812, and who received a land warrant from the government in recognition of his services in behalf of his country. His warrant called for a tract of land in La Salle county, Illinois, and he removed thither at a very early day. When Aaron Shaul was eight years of age he served as a "mule driver" on the Erie canal in New York State, and worked his way upward to the position of boat GEORGE A. SHAUL. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 349 captain. He immigrated to Illinois, and in 1874, he came west to Ne- maha county, Kansas, where he made a permanent settlement on a farm near Seneca. The first year of the residence of the Sliaul family in . Kansas was the famous "grasshopper year." George A. Shaul was thirteen years of age at this time, and he recalls this trying time very vividly. He was sent out to herd cattle for S. B. Leatherburj^ on the Nebraska line range. He was watching his herds out on the hills when the grasshoppers came with the wind driving them with such force and deafening noise south and west as to stampede the cattle and fright- ened the boy. Four sons and three daughters were born to Aaron Shaul and wife, namely: Frances, who died in infancy; William, died at the age of five years; John went to California in 1871, and has never been heard from since his departure; George A., the subject of this review; Mrs. Hattie Miller, Los Angeles, Gal. ; Mrs. Henrietta Moores, Omaha, Neb. ; Mrs. Ida L. Richardson, Lafayette, Ind. Mrs. Olive (Near) Shaul was born in 1827, and died in September, 1895. Her mother was a Miss Lee, of the famous Lee family, of Virginia. It is a matter of history that the oak from which the good ship "Constitution" was built was cut from the farm of Mrs. Shaul's grandfather Lee and hauled by ox team to Boston, ready for shaping into seaworthy timbers. George A. Shaul assisted his father in tilling his Kansas farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and then crossed the continent to Cali- fornia, where he learned the trade of bricklayer and plasterer. Upon his return to Kansas he began contracting in a small way during this first year and gradually worked up to a large business. In the course of years Mr. Shaul became an extensive contractor, whose operations extended in all parts of the West. Becoming dissatisfied with the manner in which general contracting was carried on and the methods employed by some of his fellow contractors becoming decidedly distasteful to him, he made up his mind to abandon his contract work for the general pub- lic aiid devote his attention to government building. This radical departure was not taken until he had given consider- able thought to the matter of making a change and weighed the con- sequences. He finally decided that government work offered the best and most satisfactory field in which to exercise his talents and genius as a builder, and he made the plunge. During the past four years in which he has been engaged in erecting government buildings, Mr. Shaul has never found occasion to regret the change, and has received better and fairer treatment from his employers and has earned more money than ever before. His first government job was the erection of the postoffice building at Abilene, Kans., in 1912, and he is now erecting buildings at Garden City, Kans., Webb City, Mo., and Long View, Texas. He has erected the following government buildings, which are notable: Abilene, at a cost of $65,000; Garden City, Kans., $60,000; Webb City, Mo., $65,000; Long view, Texas, $45,000. Others completed are the government buildings at Clarksville, Texas, costing $45,000; 350 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Marshall, Texas, $65,000, and he has built county court houses at Dodge City, Kans., and Broken Bow and Minden, Neb. Mr. Shaul has erected ten large public buildings in Nebraska, the annex to the Lincoln hotel, Lincoln, Neb.; remodeled the old city hall and postoffice at Lincoln, Neb. ; erected the Carnegie Library at Lawrence, Kans., and has erected many school buildings throughout Kansas and Nebraska. Mr. Shaul was married in 1900 to Miss Fannie Bennett, of Seneca. Mrs. Shaul was born in Illinois and taught school in Nemaha county, Kansas, for a number of years previous to her marriage with Mr. Shaul. They have no children. The Republican party claimed the allegiance of Mr. Shaul for a number of years, and his father before him was one of the original Lin- coln men. Of late years Mr. Shaul has become a great student and reader and become an independent thinker on public questions ; likewise he has become an independent voter and is an admirer and supporter of Woodrow Wilson. He and Mrs. Shaul are members of the Universalist church. He is fraternally allied with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. George A. Shaul is a courteous and able gentleman of the old school, whom time has matured and whose mind and breadth of vision have been greatly broadened by his nation-wide contact with his fellow men. He is a decided asset to the citizenship of Seneca and is proud of the fact that he is a Kansas pioneer and has grown up with this great State. Edwcurd R. Murphy. — ^The life story of Edward R. Murphy, retired pioneer and wealthy citizen of Nemaha county, is well worth recording in the annals of this county. A resident of Kansas since 1868, he has accomplished more in the last fifty years than the average man — and has risen to a high place in the esteem and respect of his fellow men. Kan- sas spelled "opportunity" for this patriarch in his younger days, and the wonderfully rich soil of the Sunflower State became the medium throtigh which Mr. Murphy realized his dream of wealth and substance in the West. Besides the accumulation of a fortune from tilling the soil of his adopted State, he has bequeathed to his country a fine family of children. Edward R. Murphy, farmer and banker, Seneca, Kans., was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, November 11, 1840, and is a son of Michael (born in 181 5 and died in 1885) and Ellen (Tobin) Murphy fborn in 1823. and died in 1880), both of whom were natives of Ireland. Michael Murphy emigrated from the Emerald Isle with his parents in 1823, when he was eight years old, and grew up to become a tiller of the soil. He married Ellen Tobin in Canada and resided in his adopted land until 1853. then moved to Iowa, where he lived until 1868, at which time he came to Kansas and lived one year in Nemaha county, and then moved to Richardson county, Nebraska, where he died. Michael and Ellen Murphy were the parents of the following children ; Edward R., the HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 35 1 subject of this review; Mary Jane, died at Falls City, Neb.; Thomas, died at Falls City, Neb. ; James, Oklahoma ; Ellen, wife of John Draney, Seneca, Kans. ; John, Oklahoma ; Patrick, Falls City, Neb. ; Robert, Falls City, Neb. ; Elizabeth, wife of Jeremiah Kanaly, Falls City, Neb. ; Mrs. Margaret Kanaly, Oklahoma ; Michael, Oklahoma City, Okla. ; William, died at Falls City, Neb. Edward R. Murphy left his Canadian home and migrated to Iowa in 1853, first locating at Davenport, where he was employed until the spring of 1854, and he then removed to a farm in Clinton county, Iowa, which he cultivated with success until 1868. "Commodore" Murphy, as he is affectionateh' called by all of his friends and acquaintances, has a notable war record to hand down to his children and grandchildren. Mr. Murphy enlisted in the United States navy in July, 1863, and served on the United States steamer "Peosta,'' which crusied on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers until the close of the Civil war. After the war, Mr. Murphy returned to his home in Clinton county, Iowa, and was there married in 1866. Two years later he re- moved to Nemaha countj^, Kansas, and settled on a, farm, one and one- half miles west of Seneca. This farm was partly broken up, and Mr. Murphy lived upon it for one year and then resided four years on the adjoining farm, at that time the county farm. In 1873, he was enabled to purchase 160 acres of land southeast of Seneca. His prosperity began with the purchase of this tract, and this fine old pioneer eventually became a large land owner and one of the wealthiest citizens of Nemaha county and northern Kansas. He added to his acreage until he owned 1,400 acres of land, from which he has sold 280 acres, but still owns 120 acres of the original home farm. He is the owner of 200 acres of land in Pottawatomie county, Kansas, and formerly owned more land, upon which he settled two of his sons and gave them a start in life. Mr. Murphy attributes his great success in farming to the fact that he never sold any grain raised on his land, but fed and handled large numbers of cattle and hogs. He would buy calves from other farmers and, raise and fatten them for market. He was also an extensive breeder of horses and mule§ and used high grade sires in this department of animal husbandry. His favorite breed of cattle was the famous Shorthorn variety, and his horses were generally the standard Percherons. Mr. Murphy retired from active farm work in 1903 and lives comfortably in his beautiful residence in Seneca, cared for by his daughter, Ella Marion. Mr. Murphy was married in 1866 to Catharine Kelly, who bore him the 'following children: Roger, born November 11, 1868, living in To- peka, Kans. ; Ella Marion, born February 16, 1870 ; Elizabeth, born Oc- tober 4, 1871, wife of A. E. Levick, Seneca, Kans. ; Thomas, born Feb- ruary i'3, 1875, living at Wamego, Kans,; Ralph J., born September 9, 1877, living in Oklahoma; Therese, born May 18, 1879, and wife of John R. Sheahan, Kansas City, Kans. ; Edward R., born March 9, 1883. Mr. 352 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Murphy has fifteen grandchildren. His son, Roger, has the following children : Edward Alvin, member of Company K, Eighth infantry, United States army, and stationed in the Philippines ; Paul, Roger, Helen, Agnes, Eva; Mrs. Levick has four children, namely: Edward, Plarry, John and Caroline ; Thomas Murphy has three children, Ralph, Herbert and Harry ; Ralph has one son, Thomas ; Edward has a daugh- ter named Mary Bernice. The mother of these children was born in Jennings county, Indiana, near Vernon, December 25, 1843, ^"d died Sep- tember 8, 1895. The Democratic party has always had the allegiance of Mr. Murphy, but he has been content to be a voter in the ranks during his long life. He is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, and is affili- ated with the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Murphy is the colonel com- manding or post commander of George Graham Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 92, and is a prominent figure in Grand Army of the Republic circle of the State of Kansas. In addition to his large land holdings, Mr. Murphy is a charter member of the stockholders and a director of the National Bank of Seneca. L. D. Allen. — Successful banking calls for qualifications somewhat different from those required in other pursuits or professions. It calls for a keen mind, decisive action, ability to accurately judge the merits or demerits of a proposition, the power to judge and gauge human nature and determine upon the honesty and sincerity of those with whom the banker is constantly doing business. L. D. Allen, vice-president and manager of the First National Bank of Seneca, possesses the qualifica- tions of a successful banker to a considerable degree. He is one of the rising financiers of Kansas, and his prestige in financial circles is con- siderable. He is one of those broad minded individuals who keep abreast of progress and have the faculty of adapting their capabilities to the advanced needs of this modern era. Although a comparatively young man, as years measure a man's age, his experience in banking has been such as to eminently fit him for the important position which he holds. Liphe D. Allen was born on a farm in Pottawatomie county, Kan- sas, August 3, 1871, and is a son of 'John U. and Martha J. (Rollins) Allen, who were the parents of the following children : Rowland and Mattie died in infancy ; William W. died at Havensville, Kans. ; Charles H., living at Havensville, Kans. ; Mrs. Mary A. Dennan, Seneca, Kans. John U. Allen vvas born at Boston, Mass., August 16, 1833, and was a son of William W. and Mary B. (Ulmar) Allen. He is descended from the Allen family of New England, and William W. Allen was a relative of Ethan Allen, of Vermont, who commanded the "Green Mountain Boys" at the battles and capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point dur- ing the American Revolution. Mary B. (Ulmar) Allen was a daughter of Jacob Ulmar, born in Holland, and who fought in defense of the Netherlands against the Spanish conquerers, and was taken prisoner. ^^^^^^^ 1 ^^^B.' )' ^M^^^^H[^^^ ^^^^^^R^^^ 1 J A _.„^^HHHi 1 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 353 His wife, Mary (Blass) Ulmar, sent the money for his later ransom from this country. Mary (Blass) Ulmar, a lady of Welsh descent, was a member of the party of patriotic women who burned the bridge at Mar- blehead, Mass., in order to prevent the British from making a landing during the Revolution. John U. Allen's father, William W. Allen,, con- ducted a boot and shoe store in Boston, Mass., and John U. became a leather dresser in his native city. William Allen served as an alderman on the Boston town council. After his marriage, March 22, 1855, John U. Allen lived in Boston for a time, and then located at Jamaica Plains. In 1862, he enlisted in the Ninth Massachusetts artillery, and served for nearly one year, receiving his discharge just previous to the battle of Gettysburg on account of disability incurred during his service in defense of the city of Washington, D. C. In March of 1870, he re- moved to Kansas and for a time was located at Topeka. Not long af- terward he located on a tract of land near Havensville, Pottawatomie county, which he developed into a fine farm. He resided on his farm until he became afflicted with blindness, in 1901, and in November of that year he retired to a residence at Havensville, where his demise occurred on January 2, 1913. John U. Allen was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was a Mason. Mrs. Martha J. (Rollins) Allen now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Dennan, in Seneca, Kans. She was born March 23, 1838, and is a daugh- ter of William S. and Abigail (Wheeler) Rollins, of English descent. The Rollins (originally Rawlins) is a very old American family, and the name "Rawlins" traces back to the year of our Lord 1363. Cornwall, England, is the ancient home of the family in Europe, and the emigra- tion of the members of this family begins with the year 1630; during the period between 1630 and 1680, ten members of the family made set- tlements in America ; some settled in the northern colonies and others setled in the south. During the next decade at least ten more members of this fahnily came to America, and their descendants are many in this country. The members of the family who settled in the north changed the name to "Rollins" at the time of the Revolution, and it has remained "Rollins" to this day. Tracing the genealogyof L. D. Allen on the ma- ternal side in a direct line we find that : (I) James Rawlins came from England and settled at Ipswich, Mass., in 1632. Later, in 1844, he re- ceived a grant of land at Dover, N. H., settled thereon and died in 1691. His son (II) Thomas, born' in 1641, married Rachel Cox, and was a member of the rebelling assembly which protested the acts of an oppres- sive governor and was dissolved; was the father of ten children, of. whom (III) Moses, born in 1672, at Strathan, N. H., married Esther,- and died in 1717, and had nine children; (IV) Thomas (his son), born February 17, 1717, at Strathan, N. H., settled at Epping, N. H., -and married Sarah, daughter of Capt. Jonathan and '.Elizabeth (Sherbtin) Sanborn, who bore him six children, of whom (V) Moses, born' March 10, 1744, at Epping, N.H., married Anna Drew, of Madburv, N. H., (23) 354 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and was a soldier in the Continenal army, fought in the Third New York" regiment under General Sullivan at Ticonderoga in 1776, and in Gen. George Breeds' regiment in 1777; removed to Hallowell, Me., and died in 1824; had eleven children, of whom (VI) Jonathan, born October 1786, at Loudon, N. H., and died January i, 1819, at Hallowell, Me.; moved from Loudon to Barnstad and married Clarissa, daughter of John Langley, of Barrington, N. H. ; had two children, of whom (VII) William Stillson, born at Strafford, N. H., April 12, 1813, located at Rutland, N. H. ; married Abigail B. Wheeler, of Rutland ; removed to Charlestown, Mass. ; had three children, as follows : Martha Jane (Allen), Mary Ann (Gilman), and Charles Henry. L. D. Allen was reared to young manhood on the Kansas farm, and was educated in the Havensville, Kans., public schools. When he was twenty years of age he clerked in a hardware store for one year. His banking career was then begun, when he entered the Havensville bank as clerk and rose to the position of assistant cashier. In 1897, he re- moved to Goff, Kans., and became cashier of the State Bank of that city. He later organized the First National Bank of Goff, and served as president of that institution until 1906. Disposing of his banking interests in Goff, he removed to Seneca, where he became associated with J. E. Stillwell in conducting a loan and abstract business. In 1912,. he and Mr. Stillwell purchased the holdings of the late J. H. Cohen in the First National Bank of Seneca and the Seneca State Savings Bank. Mr. Allen is serving as vice-president and manager of the First National Bank, and is cashier of the State Savings Bank, quartered in the First National Bank building. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Allen is an extensive owner of Kansas farm lands, all of his farms being located in Nemaha county. Mr. Allen was married in 1895 to Miss Rosina Goodrich, who has borne him five children, as follows ; Paul J., Mary, Ulmar, Charles L. D. and John H. Mrs. Allen was born at Farmington, Atchison county, Kansas, and is a daughter of Judson and Amelia Goodrich, early pioneer settlers of Atchison county. She is a well educated lady and received a classical and musical education at Holton University. For some years previous to her marriage, Mrs. Allen was a teacher of vocal music, and is endowed with exceptional musical talents. The Goodrich family now resides at Holton. Mr. Allen is a progressive Republican, who maintains his allegiance to the party of Abraham Lincoln while working for the advancement and success of progressive principles within the ranks of- his political party. He is interested in civic affairs, and assists materially in fur- thering the cause of education by serving as a member and chairman of the Seneca Board of Education. He and Mrs. Allen are members of the Christian church, and Mr. Allen is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security. As a business man and financier, Mr. Allen has made his mark in HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 355 the world of finance, and while still young in years and strength, he has won his way to a place of honor and prestige mainly through his own efforts. It is safe to predict further advancement for this native born Kansan, who has literally grown up with Kansas. One of the in- cidents of Mr. Allen's early life which impressed itself upon his memory for all time to come was his view of the first steam railway train to arrive at Corning, Kans., and which brought his grandmother from her faraway home in Boston, Mass. He has had the unique experience of riding in a "prairie schooner," lived on a pioneer farm, and was reared amid the most primitive surroundings. Leo J. Scheier. — Among men in Seneca's financial circles, Leo J. Scheier ranks well and is second assistant cashier of the National Bank of Seneca. He stands high in business circles, and is known every- where as a conservative and capable banking man. Mr. Scheier was born March 17, 1886, in Seneca, Kans. He is a son of Peter W. and Catharine (Etringer) Scheier, to whom three children were born: Edward, of Chicago; Mary, living at home, and Leo J., who is the subject of this narrative. The father of Leo. J. Scheier was born February 22, 1850, of German immigrants, who settled in Illinois. His parents were Mathias and Louise Scheier. Catherine Scheier was born June 6, 1850, and died in 1902. She was the daughter of natives of Alsace-Lorraine, the provinces of which have played so great a part in the European war. She came to America with her parents and settled in Illinois, where she was married to Peter Scheier. Leo J. Scheier's parents came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in the early seventies and settled on a farm one m.ile west of town. They brought their parents with them and Mathias bought the farm on which his son, M. F. Scheier, an uncle of Leo J., now resides. After a year or two on the farm, Peter moved to Seneca and lived in town while farm- ing nearby land. He is now retired. Leo J. Scheier was educated in the parochial school of Seneca, Kans., and later attended St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kans., where he took classical work. Poor health forced him to take a com- plete rest in 1905 and after a year's recuperation, he entered the Seneca State Savings Bank as cashier, where he remained four and one-half years. In January, 1912, he was called to the National Bank of Seneca, Kans., to become its second assistant cashier, and has since been acting in that capacity. In politics, Mr. Scheier is an independent Democratic voter, who is not to be stampeded into voting an unfit man into office because he wears the party label Mr. Scheier is a thinking man and in political matters prefers to do his own thinking. He belongs to the Sts. Peter and Paul's Church and to the Knights of Columbus order. He is also affiliated with the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is chancellor of the Knights of Columbus, Seneca Council, No. 1769. 356 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mathias Schneider, president of the Seneca Savings Bank, is one man whose natural handicaps were not strong enough to overpower his strong ambition, and the fact that he was born in a foreign land and of poor parents has not prevented him from occupying one of the most re- sponsible places in the business affairs of Nemaha county. Mathias Schneider was born August 21, 1839, in Prussia, German Empire, and was a son of Peter and Anna Maria (Meier) Schneider. The father, Peter Schneider, was born in Prussia, in 1799, and grew up to follow the occupation of farming. Leaving his native land in 1845,- he sailed for America, and upon his arrival here, came to Milwaukee, Wis. He bought a farm near that place, in Waukesha county, and con- ducted it until his death in 1903. The mother of Mathias Schneider was born in Prussia, in 1799, and died in 1907. Both were members of the Catholic church. They were the parents of five children: Adolph, deceased ; Anton, deceased ; Mrs. Margaret Wright, deceased ; Anna Maria (Wright), deceased, and Mathias. Mathias Schneider left Germany with parents, and after coming to America, he remained with them until he was twenty-nine years of age. He then went to Salem, Neb., where he bought 340 acres of fine farming land. He sold this land in 1880, and bought eighty acres near St. Benedict, Richmond township, Nemaha county, Kansas. In 1892, he sold this land in order to buy the place which he now owns, which comprises 640 acres of the best land in the township, east of Seneca. Mr. Schneider has been an excellent manager, and from the successful operation of his farm he has accumulated a considerable fortune. His general reputation for shrewd and conservative business methods led to his election as president of the Seneca Savings Bank when it was or- ganized. His career was so conspicuously successful as to make him the most available man for the place, and consequently he was chosen as the first president of the organization, whose duty it was to start the bank out on its career. He is also a shareholder in the corporation and invested a considerable sum in the project. The success of this in- stitution is testimony to the ability of Mr. Schneider and justifies the confidence which his fellow citizens placed in him. He was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Birkhauser, who was born May 23, 1842, in Germany, and left there with her parents and came to Wisconsin while she was a young girl. She died in 1879, having been the mother of eight children, whose names are: Peter A., Mitchell township; Anna A., married Henry Stallbaumer, now a widow living with her children; Jennie, wife of Henry Koelzer, living in Missouri:- Elizabeth, now Mrs. Peter Joseph Koelzer, whose husband is a lumber- man, of Seneca, Kans. ; Gertrude, wife of Peter Smith, Seneca, Kans. ; KarlM., Richmond township, farmer. Mr. Schneider is a Catholic and a member of the Knights of Colum- bus order. He is one of the foremost citizens of Seneca, and is influential in public affairs. > H CQ O a H I— I o H oa O S fa HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 357 John Draney, retired farmer, Seneca, Kansa, was born at Cobourg, on Lake Ontario, Canada, September 8, 1840, and is a son of Hugli (born in 1805; died in 1856) and Margaret (Connolly) Draney (born No- vember I, 1814; died October 6, 1896), both of whom were natives of Ireland. Hugh Draney was born in the north of Ireland and Margaret Draney was born near Dublin, a daughter of John and Norah (Kanon) Connolly. Hugh Draney emigrated from Ireland to Canada when a young man in his teens and was there married. After his marriage he migrated to Clinton county, Iowa, in the winter of 1856, and died there. The widow was left with a family of six sons and a daughter, as follows : John, subject of this review; Mrs. Elizabeth McQuaid, Seneca, Kans. ; James, deceased ; Hugh, living on a farm north of Seneca ; Thomas, Sen- eca ; Martin, migrated to the State of Washington in 1885 and died there in 1912 ; Michael, Kansas City, Mo. The elder Draney had planned to lo- cate in the West and stopped in Iowa, but found the land too high priced for his means, and determined to come to Kansas. Death intervened in 1856, and the widow carried out his plans. In the spring of 1857, Mrs. Draney, with her family of children, migrated to Nem.aha county, Kan- sas, and preempted a homestead of 160 acres,- three miles north of Seneca. She also bought land from the government and was successful in accumulating a large estate of 720 acres. The family farm was lo- cated in the St. Benedict neighborhood, and the family expected hard times for a while, but the ability of Mrs. Draney was so great and her powers of management so remarkable that she was successful where strong men failed and had to give up the fight for the redemption of the prairie. Flour cost, in those days, the exorbitant price of $6 per 100 pounds, and was a great luxury in the frontier homes. Other neces- sities were priced in proportion on account of the high freighting rates. The Draney funds, which were to be used in buying land, .had been orig- inally left in Canada. When Mrs. Draney had her family located she made the long trip back to Canada alone' and brought her money to Kansas quilted in her skirt, after having had her bank draft turned into cash in Iowa. She carried this money all alone to Nemaha county from "Davenport, Iowa. She reared every child to become an upright and God-fearing citizen and set an example to them of industry and right living which will never be forgotten by her progeny. When old age came upon Mrs. Draney, she retired to a home in Seneca. Although a small woman physically, she made up in energy and determination what she lacked in size ; she was good, kind and brave and resourceful. John Draney recalls that he and Mr. Gregg met his mother on her return trip from Iowa and Canada, and accompanied her to Nemaha county from Iowa Point, and that the river was very high, necessitating their waiting for a week for the waters to subside. John, at the outbreak of the Civil war, entered the quartermaster's department at Ft. Leaven- worth, Kans., in 1861. His duty was to carry supplies to the LTnion soldiers stationed at different points, and the only time he was under 358 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY fire was in the chase after General Price. In the year 1865 he was sent out with a train of five hundred pack mules, carrying supplies to the Powder river country, and he witnessed the Indian battle at Powder river. His government service ended in 1865, and he returned home and began to till his 120-acre farm, which his mother had given him four years previously. He tilled his land until 1868, and then, in "company with a neighbor, rigged up a team and wagon and started for Oregon. When he arrived at Marysville, Kans., they learned that the Indians were on the warpath up the South Platte river and they headed west- ward via Lincoln, Neb. They found all ranches on the route deserted, and at Ft. Laramie were forced to wait until forty wagons had gathered for the train. They ended their long journey at Apple river, California, where they remained for one year, and then went to San Francisco and decided to return home and give up the project of making a settlement on the Pacific coast. At San Francisco, Mr. Draney took a steamer to Panama and returned home via New York City. He settled down to farming his land, three miles north of Seneca, and improved it to such an extent that he was enabled to sell out in 1879. He then invested the proceeds in a 240-acre farm, east of Oneida. This formed the perma- nent home of the family until 1909, when he and Mrs. Draney removed to a comfortable home in Seneca. The Draney farm is one of the most valuable and well improved farms in the county and is easily worth $150 an acre, a great rise from the original purchase price of $7.50 an acre. At the time he bought the farm there was neither tree nor shrub on the place, but he and Mrs. Draney have improved and beautified it until now it resembles an old Eastern farm. John Draney was married to Ellen Murphy, May 20, 1871, and this union has been blessed with the following children: Margaret Ellen, born March 4, 1872, and wife of John O'Kane, of Blue Rapids, Kans., and mother of three children, Margaret, John and Walter; Florence, born August 31, 1873, a trained nurse at Chicago, 111.; John Hugh, born September 10, 1875, and died February 24, 1876; William Wallace, born February 27, 1877, married Roxanna Myers, and .resides on a farm ad-, joining the home farm, and has seven sons and two daughters, as fol- lows : Alfred, John, Emmet, Solomon, Randolph, Lester, Delphin, Wallace, Nina and Lola ; Edwin Draney, born January 3, 1879, married May O'Kane, Fairview, Neb., and has five children, as follows: Celia, Mabel, Daniel, Marie and Clifford; Charles Draney, born October 2, 1881, married Lola Shaver, resides in St. Joseph, Mo. ; Robert, born October 11, 1883, married Alice Rogers, resides on the home place, and has two children, namely: Cecil and Ellen; Walter Draney, born April 22, 1887, maried Tecla Egen, and lives on a farm near Capioma, and has two children, Walter, Jr., and Richard John; Leo, born April 11, 1891, a medical student, Omaha, Neb. The mother of this fine family of chil- dren was born October 13, 1851, in Ontario, Canada, and is a sister of Edwin R. Murphy, of Seneca, to whose biography the reader is referred for the history of the Murphy family. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 359 Mr. Draney has in his possession the birth certificate of his mother, which reads as follows : "Church of St. Joseph, Mount Mellick, Sep- tember 12, 1819. Margaret Connolly, baptized. God parents, Owen Delaney and Margaret Scully." Mr. and Mrs. Draney and the children are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Draney is politically allied with the Democratic party. They are an intelligent, interesting couple, who are proud of the fact that they are pioneers in Nemaha county, and have assisted in building up a great State. Charles E. Mathews, farmer, Seneca, Kans., was born in Atchison, Kans., October 7, 1865, and is a son of Hiram and Sarah (Skmner) Mathews, to whom were born two children : Charles Edwin, the sub- ject of this review, and Elmer Roy Mathews. Hiram Mathews was born in Indiana, in 1828, and was a pioneer in Atchison, Kans., locating in that city in 1857. For several years he was a stage driver on the overland route from Atchison to Denver, Colo. In 1862, he enlisted for service in behalf of the Union at Leavenworth, Kans., and became a member of Company D, Second Kansas cavalry. He was second sergeant of his company, and saw active service at the battle of Prairie Grove, and many other engagements and served until the close of the war. He then located in Seneca, Kans., where occurred the culmination of a romance which' had begun in the old days of the stage coach. Before the war he had become enamored of a widow, Mrs. Sarah Jane (Skinner) Wetmore, who had come to Seneca with her husband in 1855, and made a settle- ment on Illinois river, south of Seneca, and homesteaded land. Her first husband died and she wedded the returned veteran, who proceeded to homestead a tract of land, which is now owned by the subject of this review, and located just outside of the city limits, north of Seneca. Hiram Mathews developed this farm of 160 acres and part of it is now incorporated within the limits of the city. He died in 1886. The mother of Charles Edwin was born in Pennsylvania in 1838, and moved with her parents to Illinois, where they died, and she married Mr. Wetmore. Both of Mr. Mathews' parents had been twice married. Charles Edwin Mathews was educated in the public schools of Seneca, and has always lived on the farm which he owns. He rented the land from his mother until her demise, and then came into posses- sion of the tract by inheritance and purchase. Part of the Mathews farm has been sold and incorporated in the city of Seneca and Mr. Mathews is now farming sixty-five acres of the original tract. He is well-to-do and is a shareholder of the National Bank of Seneca. Mr. Mathews was married in 1882 to Miss Carrie Thompson, who was born May 8, 1859, in Warren county, Ohio. (See sketch of her brother, Howard Thompson, for data .concerning the parents of Mrs. Mathews). She is a graduate of the Seneca High School, and taught school one year before her marriage. Three children have been born to Mr. and* Mrs. Mathews, as follows: Lillian, wife of Charles Voorhees, 360 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Seneca, Kans. ; Mattie, at home with her parents, a graduate of the Seneca High School and the domestic science department of the Man- hattan State College; Edward, at home, a graduate of the Seneca High School, arid farming in partnership with his father. Mr. Mathews is a Progressive in his political tendencies and is a firm believer and advocate of purity in politics and rule by the people and for the people, without domination by the party bosses. He and his family are members of the Congregational Church of Seneca, and he is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. It is a matter of Kansas history that an uncle of Mrs. Mathews, John Doyle by name, conducted the first tavern in Seneca, which for many years was the old stage station until superseded by a later building. Joshua Mitchell, attorney, justice of the peace and city clerk of Seneca, Kans, is one of the real, old pioneer settlers of Nemaha county, and has had an interesting and varied career which reads like a tale from romantic fiction in the recounting. Pioneer and a son of a Kansas pio- neer settler, scion of old Eastern American ancestry, soldier, Indian fighter, public official, racing man, successful attorney, — he has had considerable to do with the making of a great county and State. Judge Mitchell is one of the last survivors of the famous Powder River Indian fight, when the Sioux Indians received such a crushing defeat at the hands of the Sixteenth Kansas regiment, famous for its exploits and fighting ability, and a regiment noted for its daredevil members and brave and hardy fighters. Joshua Mitchell was born at Dover, Me., March 11, 1842, and is a son of William Hamilton and Keziah Leland (McLanathan) Mitchell, natives of Maine. William H. Mitchell, his father, was born at Foxcraft, Maine, in 1803, and died on his farm in Nemaha county, Kansas, February 5, 1859. He was a son of Joshua Mitchell, a native of Dover, Maine, a farmer and a son of Irish parents. Joshua Mitchell, grandfather of Judge Mitchell was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother of Judge Mitchell was a daughter of Samuel McLanathan, who married Keziah Leland. She was born in 181 1, and is deceased. Keziah Leland McLanathan was a daughter of Henry Leland and Sarah (Phipps) Le- land, and was born in 1787. Henry Leland was the third in line of his family in America, and was a son of Henry Leland, who was also a son of the first Henry Leland. Sarah (Phipps) Leland was a daughter of Sir William Phipps, one time ro}^al governor of Massachusetts. (The foregoing ancestral data concerning the lineage of Joshua Mitchell was taken from Henry Leland Genealogical Record). William H. Mitchell was reared on the paternal farm in Maine until 1843, when he located in Lowell, Mass., and served for ten years as captain of the night police force of Lowell. In 1853, he migrated west- ward to Galesburg, 111., and owned a farm in Knox county, which he developed and cultivated until October of 1858. In that year he loaded HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 361 all of his moveable effects on wagons, and accompanied by his wife and all of his children excepting the oldest girl drove overland to Nemaha county, Kansas, locating on the present townsite of Centralia. He built a log cabin, but did not live long to develop his Kansas farm, death in- tervening in February of the year following his advent into Kansas. Ten years after William H. Mitchell preempted his farm, the town of Centralia was laid out and built on the site of his former home. The following children were left fatherless by the demise of William H. Mitchell : Samuel McLanathan, deceased ; William Hamilton lives at Liberty, Mo. ; Emily Ann, deceased wife of Nathan Bentley Uppel, who was killed on the field of Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863 ; Sarah Keziah, deceased wife of Albert Clark, also deceased, and former residents of Seneca. The Civil war record of Joshua Mitchell began with his enlistment, October 8, 1861, in Company D, Eighth Kansas infantry, with which organization he served until August 3, 1863. After his honorable dis- charge he re-enlisted as a veteran soldier in Company M, Sixteenth Kansas cavalry, which was equipped as a light artillery company on December 8, 1863, and he served until December 8, 1865. He was com- missioned first lieutenant of Company M, and his command saw much hard service. While a member of the Eighth Kansas, Mr. Mitchell saw service in fighting bushwhackers in the border counties of Mis- souri until his regiment was ordered to Tennessee in 1863. He was taken sick at that time with typhoid fever, which developed into pneu- monia, and he received his discharge on account of sick disability. While delirious with fever, he suffered painful injuries by falling off a trestle in Nashville, Tenn. Careful nursing at home soon restored him to vigorous health and strength, however, and he re-enlisted, as stated previously, and his regiment fought General Pri'ce's army of in- vasion at the battle of Westport, October 23, 1864; the battle of the Little Blue River and Cavin Creek, and the battle of Newtonia. During these engagements, his company was under the direct command of Col. Sam Walker, a great and brave fighter. The famous Sixteenth Kansas regiment was part of the army w^hich drove General Price to the Arkan- sas river, as had been planned by the L^nion authorities. During the Westport battle every horse excepting one in Mr. Mitchell's command was killed, and his comrades would seize the horses of the soldiers watching the conflict from the rear and the side lines and again rush into the thick of the fight, during which the "Sixteenth" bore the brunt of the battle and covered themselves with imperishable glory. They had four pieces of artillery in this engagement, and the muzzles of the guns were kept hot while throwing shot and shell into the demoralized ranks of the rebel invaders. On February 13, 1865, the "Sixteenth" was ordered in pursuit of the hostile Sioux Indians, and marched, west to join the command of Brig. Gen. Patrick Edwin Connor. The expedi- tion was planned in the following order: The Sixteenth Kansas, the 362 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Second Missouri light artillery and the Twelfth Missouri cavalry, and these divisions marched twenty miles apart to their destination in Wyoming, where they expected to meet the Indians. The famous battle of the Powder River ensued. The Sixteenth regiment formed the center of attack and was only saved from annihilation by the artillery ; four times they repulsed the frenzied charges of the savages, and were forced to bear the brunt of the fighting, because the supporting columns could not see the heliograph signals, owing to the fact that the wily redmen flashed mirrors against the artillery men. This battle was Lieutenant Mitchell's last great fight, and his service ended soon afterward. Mr. Mitchell's employment in behalf of the United States Govern- ment did not cease with his war service, however, and in April, 1866, he took charge of a government train of twenty-six transport wagons (mule motive power) and convoyed the train across the plains to Ft. Union, N. M., and was thus engaged in freighting to New Mexican points until 1867, when he returned to Seneca. In 1868, he preempted a homestead in Neuchatel township, lived on it one year, commuted, and proved up on his claim. In November of 1871, Mr. Mitchell was elected to the office of county clerk, and served for four years. He was re-elected to the same office in 1875, and served for another four years. In 1880, he was appointed deputy treasurer of the county, and served for one year under Treasurer R. E. Nelson, and one year as deputy under A. C. Moorehead. In 1883, he was ap- pointed to the office of justice of the peace to fill out the unexpired term of D. B. McKay. During the years ensuing, from 1884 to 1891, this versatile gentleman followed the racing circuits with a string of fast running horses, and this was probably the most enjoyable period of his long and eventful life. He bred practically all of his own running horses and owned four fast runners and a fine trotter. Mr. Mitchell was the owner of "Bright Eyes," the famous running mare, which was known to the track devotees of twenty-five years ago and achieved a national reputation. His racing career was abandoned in May, 1891, when he received a telegram at Anaconda, Mont., from Ira Collins, then chairman of the board of managers of the State Soldiers' Home, to take the position of quartermaster at the home. He accepted, sold his racing string, and capably filled the position until May, 1894. In the meantime, Mr. Mitchell had the m.isfortune to suffer a broken arm, caused by a falling horse, in November of 1893. He returned to Seneca, Kans, and in the spring of 1895, was elected justice of the peace, and has held this office since that time, with the exception of two years, when it was filled by Hon. J. E. Corwin. Mr. Mitchell was admitted to the practice of law in 1875, and now devotes practically his whole time to his law business. Joshua Mitchell was married February 6, 1868, to Miss Julia Eliza- beth Brown, born November 8, 1846, in Warren county, Illinois, a daughter of George and Amanda Fertodd Smith Brown, natives of Ken- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 363 tucky. The father of Mrs. Mitchell died in Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1867. Her mother was born near 'Lexington, Ky., and after her hus- band's death she made her home with her children, dying at the home of her son, Albert Gardner Brown, Republic countj^ Kansas, in 1886. Mr. Mitchell's wedding occurred at St. Joseph, Mo., at the home of Harry Brown, a brother of Mrs. Mitchell. Four children have blessed this union of Joshua and Julia Mitchell, namely : George Anthony, now an electrician in Seneca ; was sailor on the high seas for five years and traveled in all parts of the world, returning home in 1914; Ellen Amanda married Chris L. Diehm, Leavenworth, Kans., and mother of three children, namely: Christopher M., Julia Barbara, and Joshua Mitchell Diehm ; William Henry died in August, 1872, at the age of eighteen months; Edwin Ruthven Brown Mitchell, educated in the Seneca schools, which he attended for fourteen years without being absent or tardy. He was married in June, 1915, to Miss Mamie Bresnahan, of Kansas City, Kans., and is cashier and staff clerk in the office of the deputy United States revenue collector at Wichita, Kans. Judge Mitchell has been allied with the Democratic party, and has taken a prominent and influential part in the affairs of his party. He is a member of George Graham Post, No. 92, Grand Army of the Re- public, and is affiliated with Seneca Lodge, No. 39, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Victor N. Peret, retired farmer and Union veteran of Seneca, Kans., has had a most interesting career. He comes of a noted- family of sol- diers and is one of four sons of a soldier father, who served in the Union army during the Civil war. Although past eighty years of age, and one of the last of the famous old guard who offered their lives in defense of the Union, Mr. Peret is still vigorous mentally and enjoys life to the utmost. Thirty of his four score years of life have been spent in Kansas and during that time he has reared a fine family and accumulated a fair sized competence for his support during his declining years. Mr. Peret was born at Abington, Wayne county, Indiana, March 3, 1836. He is a son of Victor and Mary (Dichmocker) Peret, natives of France. Victor Peret, the father, was born in 1778, and was reared in France. When he attained young manhood he became a soldier in the French armies under the great Napoleon Bonaparte and fought for several years in behalf of the emperor. He was captured in battle and taken prisoner by the British, who impressed him into service on a British sailing vessel, where he was compelled to serve for eleven years against his will and inclination. When the ship finally landed at a United States port, he made his escape and later went inland to a small town in Indiana (Abington), where he worked at his trade of tailor until his demise in 1850. The mother of the subject was born in Alsace and died in Indiana in 1850, at the age of forty-four years. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Victor N. and his youngest brother, Henry E., of Holt county, Missouri, are the only ones living. Henry E. 364 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was a soldier in the Union army, as were two other brothers of the sub- ject, James W. and August Sebastian. Victor N. Peret was reared by kind neighbors and worked at any honest labor in order to earn a living for himself after the death of his parents. He worked at farm labor for the munificent sum of $3 per month and "found," but as he grew older and stronger he easily com- manded a higher wage. On February 11, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana infantry, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Peret saw service in the Atlanta campaign, and after the fall of Atlanta, his command followed Hood's army to Columbia, S. C, expecting to meet Hood there and a battle took place, followed by another battle at Franklin. Hood's army was later de- feated at Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Peret was then sent with his corps to Washington, D. C. He was engaged in many battles and skirmishes and was for a time at Morehead City, N. C, from where his command was transferred by train to Newbern, N. C. From this point they marched thirty miles to Kingston, where they were engaged in a three days' fight. This was his last battle. Mr. Peret was honorably dis- charged from the service at Greensborough, N. C, August 31, 1865. After his notable war service, Victor N. Peret returned to Indiana and cut wood during the winter of 1865 and 1866. He. then came to Hannibal, Mo., and purchased a farm of 100 acres in the neighborhood of that city, which he cultivated for fifteen years. He then went to Holt county, Missouri, and farmed there for one year, until his removal to Wetmore, Kansas, in 1883. He and his brother, James W., started a general merchandise store at Wetmore, and eight months later, Mr. Peret sold his interest in the business to his partner and bought a farm in Wetmore township. He cultivated his acreage for seventeen years and added to his holdings until at one time he owned 500 acres of good land. In 1904, Mr. Peret decided to retire and removed to a pleasant and comfortable home in Seneca, where he owns considerable real estate. Mr. Peret was married in 1867 to Mary E. Shute. Ten children have blessed this happy marriage, of whom seven are living, as follows : John W-, a farmer of Illinois township, Nemaha county ; Emma, died at the age of twenty-one years ; Mrs. Anna Trapp, Brown county, Kansas ; Omar E., living in Idaho; James, Fort Worth, Texas; Mrs. Pearl Flem- ing, living on a farm near Council Grove, Kans. ; Cecil, El Paso, Texas ; Mrs. Mae Sheppard, Seneca, Kans. ; Robert C, died at the age of one year; two children died in infancy. Mrs. Mary Peret was born Decem- ber 5, 1846, in Richmond, Ind., a daughter of Robert C. and Mary C. (Clark) Shute, natives of Nevyr England. Robert C. Shute was an en- gineer by profession, and for a period of forty years was engaged in the practice of his vocation as engineer and county surveyor of Wayne county, Indiana, Both parents of Mrs. Peret are deceased. Mr. Peret is an independent voter, who does his own thinking along political lines. He and his good wife are members of the Methodist HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 365 church. Mr. Peret is senior commander of the Grand Army Post at Seneca, Kans. He is one of the grand old men of Kansas of whom it is a pleasure to have written this brief review. To the mind of the writer there are no Americans worthy of inore honor and distinction than the brave fellows who marched to the strains of martial music beneath the folds of the American flag and fought on the great battlefields of the South in order to preserve the Union from dissolution. They, the men in the ranks, under the leadership of the greatest generals of the age, bestowed an untold blessing upon mankind for centuries to come in making the sacrifices necessary to accomplish the end. sought by Presi- dent Lincoln. Commander Peret is one of these, and he enlisted in the Union army imbued with the idea that slavery was a sin and it was his patriotic and religious duty to shoulder a musket and assist in bringing about the conquest of the South and the preservation of the Union. Barnard Winkler. — The late Barnard Winkler was a pioneer of Kansas and one of the best known citizens of Nemaha county. His life was well rounded and the years of his earthly sojourn were replete with industry and good deeds, which will make him long remembered. Bar- nard Winkler was born in Oldenburg, Germany, January 5, 1841, and was a son of Barnard Winkler. He left his native land in 1867, immi- grated to .America and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he followed the carpenter trade for a year, and then came to Kansas. Mr. Winkler first settled in Brown county and bought' forty acres of land, upon which he erected a two-room house, which served as a residence for hipi and his bride during the first years of their struggle for a corripetence in Kan- sas. Mr. Winkler hauled the lumber from White Cloud with which to build this little dwelling, ten feet square. He did all of his own car- penter work and broke up his forty-acre tract with the aid of an Indian pony and one horse. Four years later he sold this farm and bought seventy-two acres on the county line, which he improved. Times were hard for Mr. and Mrs. Winkler during those early years .and they suf- fered many privations in trying to make ends meet. They bought a lumber wagon for $10, used chains and old harness for tugs, with a leather line on one side and a rope on the other. They farmed this tract until 1889, then sold out and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, where Mr. Winkler bought 160 acres of land in Richmond township. This farm was the permanent home of the Winkler family until igog. He improyed the farm and made it very attractive and profitable, so that he and his family lived in comfortable circumstances. This Kansas pioneer died September 12, igio^ in Seneca, where the family moved in ^909- Barnard Winkler and Miss Mary Wempe were married February 3, i86g, in Atchison, Kans. Mrs. Winkler was born October 2, 1852, in' Effingham county, Illinois, and is a daughter of Herman Henry and Alexandrina (Jensen) Wempe, natives of Oldenburg. Germany, who settled in Kansas in the spring of 1861. (See biography of Anton 366 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Wempe for a complete account of the Wempe family in America and Kansas.) Anton Wempe is a brother of Mrs. Winkler. Eleven children were born to Barnard and Mary Winkler, as follows : Henry, a farmer of Nemaha county, Kansas ; Barnard, living- on a farm near Kelly, Kans. ; Charles, of Seneca ; Anna, wife of F. M. Sears, proprietor of the Bonair Hotel, Seneca; Elizabeth, wife of G. Schneider, living on a farm east of Seneca ; John S., a farmer in Nemaha county east of Seneca ; William, cultivating the home place; Frank, deceased; Joseph, Seneca, Kans., a well known horse and mule dealer, married Minnie Robertson ; Mary, deceased, was twin sister of Joseph Winkler; Anton, deceased. Mrs. Winkler was reared to m_aturity in St. Clair county, Illinois, and received a good common school education. When twelve j^ears of age she went to work in the fields, binding wheat in the shock by hand. When she and Mr. Winkler were striving to get ahead, she nobly did her part and ably assisted in building up the family fortunes. Mrs. Winkler hauled hogs to market when the market price was just enough so that she received $2 for hauling five or six porkers, going twelve miles to Wetmore from their home, for a neighbor. They thought this amount of money was a small fortune in those days, and that they were amply repaid for the trouble of hauling the animals. The Winklers lived on the farm until 1909 and then removed to town for a well earned retirement in peace and comfort. Mrs. Winkler is the owner of 160 acres of land and has city property in Seneca. Mr. Winkler, wife and children were all members of the Catholic church. Irvin Johnson, retired farmer of Seneca, Kans., comes of an inter- esting family. His father led a romantic life in the pioneer days, having journeyed to California behind oxen and sailed back via the long sea route. Mr. Johnson was born August 17, 1857, in California. He was the son of Richard and Eliza (Metier) Johnson, to whom these four children were born : Isaiah, deceased ; Lydia, Mrs. Thompson, living on the old family farm, Nemaha county, Kansas; Ella, wife of Mr. Zimmerman, of Seneca, Kans. ; Irvin, of whom this sketch is to deal. The father was born April 29, 1833, in Indiana. His father was Ebenezer Johnson, a stanch man of Scotch-English blood. The mother was Elizabeth Tandy before her marriage to Ebenezer and they lived on their farm in Indiana, but moved to Iowa in the early days. In 1852, Richard Johnson and his brother-in-law, Isaiah Metier, took an over- land trip to California by ox team. Six years later he (Richard) re- turned to Missouri and shortly afterward bought 160 acres near Baker's Ford, in Nemaha township, Xemaha count)% the date of this transaction being July, i860. During the next eleven years he farmed this place, making improvements constantly and at the end of that period he sold out and bought land in Richmond township, where he lived until seven years before his death, in 1913, when he came to Seneca. At that time he held 800 acres of land which he had acquired by hard work and careful HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 367 management. Richard Johnson's political career was a noteworthy one, he having been elected State representative on the Democratic ticket in 1870 and to the office of sheriff two years later, in 1872. Later, he was county commissioner of Nemaha county, and worked hard in the interests of the public. He never held office for personal profit or glory, •and was always deeply interested in the matter of public welfare. Proof of his ability to give the people good administration lies in the fact that he was repeatedly elected on the Democratic ticket in a district where the Republican party was well organized and very strong. Personal friendship and a conviction that he could give good service led to scratched tickets on the part of many who were in the habit of voting the Republican ballot straight. The mother of Irvin Johnson was born in Ohio, August 2, 1833, and died in 1914, in Seneca, Kans., where she and her husband had lived since 1905. They were married in 1852 in Iowa. Irvin Johnson was reared on the farm and went through the usual hard life of the boy on the farm. He, as all farmers' boys in those days, was deprived of good school facilities, and was able to attend school only three months of the year. Until he was twenty-one years old, he remained at home, working on his father's farm, but when he became of age, he rented land from the elder Johnson, and worked this until 1907, when he moved to Seneca, Kans. Two years later he engaged in the poultry business for a time, but retired, intending to take life easy the remainder of his days. But he could not be idle, and in October, 1915, he was back in the harness again, managing his poultry business, of which he disposed March i, 1916. Mr. Johnson owns 160 acres of land in Richmond township, Nemaha county, and also has considerable property in Seneca. In 1880, he was married to Ellen Burger, and to this marriage these six children were born : Mrs. Effie Stevens, of Bethany, Neb. ; Louis, deceased ; Claud, farmer, Richmond township, Nemaha county ; Cleve, cashier at Missouri Pacific depot, Seneca, Kans. ; Wanda, wife of E. Britt, Seneca, Kans. ; Mildred, living with her parents. Mrs. Johnson was born December 26, 1855, near London, Ontario, Canada. She is the daughter of Hiram and Jane (Metcali) Burger, who came to Nemaha county in 1855, where her father was a farmer. Mr. Johnson is affiliated with the Democratic party. He is not a member of any church, but attends. Elmar Roy Mathews. — This is a story of a man who has reached success through the university of hard knocks. Keen judgment and efficient business management have brought him to conspicuous success among the business men of Seneca, Kans., where he conducts a grocery store. Mr. Mathews is a native Kansan, having been born in Seneca, January 15, 1870. He is the son of Hiram W. and Sarah Jane Skin- ner (Wetmore) Mathews, to whom two children were born, Charles 368 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ^ E., a retired farmer of Seneca, and Elmar Roy, the subject of this sketch. The father was born in Indiana, and for further details of the parents of Elmar j\Iathews, read the sketch of his brother, Charles E., which appears elsewhere in this volume. Elmar R. Mathews grew up in his birthplace, Seneca, and attended the city schools. In 1892 he went to Shenandoah, Iowa, where he took' a business course. In 1894 he returned to Seneca and was employed in the Wells law office as stenographer, which position he held until 1896. For several years immediately following, he worked at various busi- nesses, and later began farming near Seneca, where he owned 100 acres of land. In 1913 he came back to town, buying the grocery establish- ment which he now operates, and which ranks with the most up-to-date stores in the State. His business is handled in the most economical way and he numbers among his patrons some of the best residents of Seneca. He lives in his comfortable home on the outskirts of town, where he has twenty acres of land well kept, which provides a beautiful setting for his home. In 1895 he was married to Mary Grace McCulloch, and to this marriage four children were born: Two dying in infancy; Mary, born in 1903, and Paul, born in 1910, both living at home. Mrs. Mathews is a daughter of Samuel McColloch. She is a graduate of the Shenandoah College of Music, Shenandoah, Iowa, and is a very talented woman. Mr. Mathews is not a member of any church, though he attends religious services quite regularly. He belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. Ira K. Wells. — Inasmuch as it has been demonstrated that heredit}' and environment play a distinct and important part in the development of the individual, and forms the basic groundwork of whatever he is ex- pected to accomplish during his span of life, then Ira K. Wells, able attorney of Seneca, Kans., was endowed beyond the ordinary, and has undoubtedly inherited many distinguishing characteristics of his father, the late Judge Abijah Wells. He of whom this review is written was reared in the legal atmosphere, and had the advantages of a practical training under the tutelage of his father, who was a leader of the Kansas bar and a jurist of note. A thorough academic education preceded his practical training, and the two combined resulted in a finished product — an attorney of acumen and' decided ability. Ira K. Wells, of the firm of Wells & Wells, legal practitioners, Seneca, Kans., was born in Seneca, June 18, 1871,- and is a son' of the late Judge Abijah A^^ells, concerning whose life an extended review ap- pears in this volume of historical annals of Nemaha county. Z\Ir. Wells received his primary education in the public schools -oi his native city, and graduated from the Seneca High School. His aptitude for the higher studies, and his marked preference for the profession of law, demon- strated that his inherent ability and proclivities destined him for the bar, and he accordingly matriculated in the law department of the Kan- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 369 sas University, graduating therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, in 1893. He immediately became associated with his father in the practice of law, and upon his father's demise, in 1915, assumed full charge of the law practice of Wells & Wells. The political and civic career of Ira K. Wells has been a note- worthy one, and has been marked by devotion to duty, which has won him the confidence and praise of his fellow citizens. He, like his illus- trious father, has been politically allied with the Republican party, and stands high in the councils of his party. Mr. Wells was elected to the office of county attorney in 1900, while serving as city attorney of Seneca. He filled the office of county attorney successfully for two years, and then devoted himself to his private practice. However, he is the present city attorney of Seneca. He served as a member of the board of education of Seneca and took considerable interest in the cause of education, and is still interested in this phase of the civic advance- ment of the city. The latest and highest honor which has come to him from his political party was his selection as a delegate to the Republican national convention at Chicago, held June 7, 1916, from the First Con- gressional district of Kansas. For the past fourteen years, Mr. Wells has been chief of the Seneca Fire Department, and it is through his in- fluence and guidance that the fire department of the city has been kept to a considerable degree of efficiency. Mr. Wells was married May 7, 1896, to Miss Zula M. Thompson, a daughter of the late Judge J. F. Thompson, former district judge, and a sister of United States Senator William H. Thompson. This union has been blessed with two children, as follows : Loretta, aged sixteen years, a member of the senior class of the Seneca High School, and Dora, aged thirteen, freshman in the city High School. Mr. Wells is a member of the Universalist church, and is the present chairman of the board of directors of this church, which his father as- sisted in founding. He has been one of the foremost active supporters of the community movement in Seneca, and is president of the Seneca Community Association. He is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is high in the councils of this order, being a member of Seneca Lodge, No. 39, Blue Lodge; affiliated with the chapter and also Seneca Commandery, No. 39, and has taken the degree of the Mystic Shrine at Leavenworth, Kans. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Knights and Ladies of Security. As an attorney, Ira K. Wells is an unqualified suc- cess ; his citizenship is in keeping with his high standing in the com- munity, and he is ever found in the forefront of all civic movements tending to the. advancement of the best interests of Seneca and Nemaha county ; his breadth of mind, genial, Avhole souled manner and attributes and the ability to make and retain friendships, bid fair to place him in the high places in the years to come. Good nature and an obliging dis- (24) 370 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY position have endeared him to his friends, who are legion, and he is de- servedly popular among all classes. His literary hobby is history, especially when it concerns his home county and State, and this volume has been decidely enhanced in value by his contributions to the end that the people of Nemaha county may have a work worth while. Miss Abbie W. Kennard. — Kansas presents opportunities for wom- en to enter the learned professions and the marts of trade and finance, not usually offered the feminine residents of older States. It is not unusual to find women of decided ability who are capable of holding their own in competition with the stronger sex in the various cities and towns of the State. Miss Abbie W. Kennard, real estate and insurance agent, Seneca, Kans., is a good example of the successful business woman of the present age. Alone and unaided except by her own ef- forts and spurred by ambition, she has won a substantial place for her- self in the real estate and insurance field. Abbie W. Kennard was born at Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio, August 27, i860, and is a daughter of Eli and Mary (Edgerton) Ken- nard. Eli Kennard was born near Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, in 1816, and was , a son of William and Rachel (Drubree) Kennard, descended from old Quaker stock, which had its origin in America with the advent of the followers of William Penn in Pennsylvania in the seventeenth century. William and Rachel Kennard were both natives of Bucks county, Penn- sylvania. William was a noted Quaker preacher who traveled exten- sively over the eastern States, expounding the doctrine of his church. Eli Kennard was a miller, tinsmith, and farmer during his life, and died at his home in Barnesville, Ohio, in 1885. He was the father of the following children : Anna and William, deceased ; Jesse, engaged in real estate business at Lawrence, Kans.; Rachel, deceased; Mary, living at Barnesville, Ohio; Sarah J., a teacher in the Quaker schools of Philadelphia; Alfred E., Barnesville, Ohio; Elizabeth, deceased; Abbie, with whom this review is directly concerned, and who was the sixth child born. The mother of the foregoing children was born in 1824 at Summerton, Ohio, and was a daughter of James and Anna (Hall) Edgerton, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. The Hall family left their Carolina home and traveled to Harrisonville, Ohio, via the ox wagon route in the early days of the settlement of the Buckeye State. Mrs. Kennard died in 1900. Miss Abbie Kennard received her elementary education in the Friends' Boarding School at Barnesville, Ohio, and after graduating from this school, she pursued a normal teachers' course at the West- town Friends' Normal School in Pennsylvania. She taught school in Pennsylvania until 1887, at which time she came to Seneca, Kans., and joined her brother, Jesse, who had come West, and established a vari- ety store in Seneca. She remained with her brother until his removal to Lawrence, Kans., in 1910, and was appointed acting postmaster in HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 37 1 that year as his successor. Previously she had served as her brother's deputy in the postoffice. Miss Kennard began writing insurance in 1908, and is now handling fire, bondings and life insurance for eight well established companies. It was only natural for her to become inter- ested in real estate, and she has been successful in handling Kansas and western lands and city properties. She has an interest in land in Barber county, Kansas, and is a shareholder and treasurer of the Best Slate Company, of Kansas City, Mo., whose field headquarters and plant are located at Nema, Ark. While Miss Kennard has remained true to her Quaker teachings and training, she has become actively interested in the community church movement in Seneca, and is connected with the World's Chris- tian Temperance Union in a prominent way, being much interested in the uplifting of humanity and the betterment of social conditions — a field of endeavor for which her birth and training- has eminently fitted her. Miss Kennard is one of the founders of the rest room in Seneca, and has been treasurer of the organization supporting this valuable addition to the civic and social life of Seneca. She is in sympathy with the progressive political movement, and has been active in civic and political matters in Seneca. She has served as city treasurer of the city for three years, -and well merits the confidence and high esteem in which she is held by all who know her. Otto A. Kelm, one of the progressive business men of Seneca, has lived all of his life in the town where he now resides. He was born September 19, 1876, in Seneca, Kans. His parents were Albert and Anna (Pertosek) Kelm, to whom were born these three children: Otto, of whom this sketch is to treat at length ; Fred, carpenter in Seneca, Kans. ; Anna, living with her parents. The father was born in Beto, Prussia, where he was taught the shoemaker's trade as he grew up. When a young man, he left Ger- many, and on coming to America, migrated west to St. Joseph, Mo. Shortly afterwards, he came to Seneca, Kans., and opened a shoeshop which he conducted in a prosperous fashion. Later he conducted a hardware store for George Williams in Seneca. In 1899, he died at Seneca, at the age of fifty-seven years. The mother was born in Aus- tria, and left there when a child, coming to Nebraska City, Neb. She was married at St. Joseph, Mo., and now lives in Seneca. Otto Kelm attended the public schools of his native city, and after, completing the elementary grades, began working as a laborer. At the age of eighteen, he went to work in a bakeshop to learn the baker's trade, and in 1908, opened a shop of his own, which has proven an unusual success. His natural business ability and excellent service and bakery goods account, in large measure, for his business success. Grad- ually, he invested in other fields also, and is now a property owner and a shareholder of the Seneca Fair Association, among other things. Mr. Kelm is a member of the Democratic party, and is interested 372 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in all public questions, though he has never sought political prefer- ment. He belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has served as high priest and master of that order, always taking great in- terest in the affairs of his order. In looking back over the career of Mr. Kelm, the striking thing about it is the wonderful rise he has made. Starting out without re- sources of any kind except determination and willingness to work, Mr. Kelm has risen until now he is one of Seneca's leading business men, and owns one of the finest bakeries in the State of Kansas. William Dennis. — ^The career of William Dennis, mayor of Seneca, Kans., has been an interesting and noteworthy one from several view- points. He is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of Kansas, and has had a political career which is worthy of mention in a favorable sense, having been twice elected sheriff of the county, filled several minor offices, and is now giving the city of Seneca one of the best ad- ministrations in its history. His popularity, ability to make and retain friendships, wide influence, his activity in behalf of the people and in advancing the interests of his home city and county, have been such as to place Mr. Dennis in the front rank of Nemaha county citizens. The history of the Dennis family in Kansas began sixty years ago when Batson Dennis, grandfather of Willim Dennis, accompanied by his wife and family of five sons and a daughter, made the long and arduous trip from Illinois to the Kansas plains by means of ox teams and took up a large acreage of government land in Nemaha county, where they preempted land, for which they paid $1.25 an acre. Batson Dennis settled on land directly south of Seneca, and his five sons, Samuel, Joseph, Jesse, John H. and Batson settled on claims along the Nemaha river south of Seneca. John H. Dennis, father of William Dennis, took up a homestead one mile south of the present town of Kelly. Kans. These were pioneer days in Kansas, and William Dennis remembers well the plentitude of wild game which abounded in the woods and plains bordering on the valley of the Xemaha. The prairie land was broken up with the oxen, which had furnished their means of transportation from Crawford county, Illinois. Batson Dennis married a Miss Callender, who was his faithful helpmeet for many years in creating a home in the wilderness of Nemaha county. To Batson Dennis and his pioneer associates enough honors and en- coniums cannot be given for accomplishing the great and arduous task of breaking the way for the later settlers and proving to the world that Kansas could be made into a comfortable place of habitation. William Dennis was born in Crawford county, Illinois, June 9, 1854, and is a son of John H. and Ellen (Rich) Dennis. John Dennis was born in Kentucky, September 28, 1827, and was a son of Batson Dennis, who migrated from Kentucky to Illinois in the early forties. His father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother was born in Virginia, both of whom were descended from old American families from the x\tlantic WILLIAM DENNIS, MAYOR OF SENECA, KANSAS. HISTORY OF NEMAHA CQUNTY 373 seaboard. After the migration of the Dennis family to Kansas in 1856, John Dennis improved the land which he bought from the government, and became an extensive cattle raiser. This was due to the fact that there was much free range in those early days and the conveniences for grazing large herds of cattle were at hand. John Dennis died at his Kansas home in 1898. He was twice married, his first wife being the mother of William Dennis, and who bore him four children, all of whom are now deceased but William, the subject of this review. Mrs. Ellen (Rich) Dennis died in 1856. The second of of John H. Dennis was Miss Nancy (Thompson), a native of Indiana, who is now living in Seneca, aged eighty-two years. William Dennis got little schooling when he was a boy. He at- tended subscription schools for about three months out of the year until he attained the age of eighteen years, at which time he began to work out by the month for wages of $20 per month. He worked on the farm .of Joshua Mitchell, and then started in the live stock business on his own account. He continued buying and shipping live stock for about eight years and then married and began farming on his own account. His first investment was in 120 acres of lan.d near Kelly, Kans., which he cultivated until 1887. He then filled various official positions for some years, engaged in the grain business at Kelly, Kans., for a time, and purchased his present home place at Seneca in 1908. For some years Mr. Dennis has devoted his attention to racing horses, and maintains a string of thoroughbreds. For the past twenty years he has been a breeder of thoroughbreds, and has been very successful. His horses are in demand in all parts of the United States, and he has received as high as $2,000 for a single thoroughbred. Many animals bred by him have made, excellent records. His land holdings in Nemaha county have become considerable, and Mr. Dennis is one of the most extensive farmers in this section of Kan- sas. He has accumulated a fortune in Kansas land through wise in- vestments. Early in his boyhood days he became inured to the hardest kind of work, and when ten years old he hauled goods from the nearest shipping point with his uncle, Mick Thompson, for Charles Crappel, one of the early day merchants of Seneca. The official career of William Dennis began in 1887, when he was elected trustee of Harrison township, and held the office for three years. In the fall of 1889, he was elected sheriff of Nemaha county, and held the office for four years, from January i, 1890, to January i, 1894. He then farmed for a time and was appointed postmaster at Goff, Kans., and held this office for three years. He was again elected sheriff of the county in 1904, and held the office tor the following four 3-ears. He was faithful in the discharge of his duties and rendered conscientious and devoted service to the people of the county in every public position which he held. Mr. Dennis was elected mayor of Seneca in 1914. and is giving the city an excellent administration. 374 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY William Dennis was married in February, 1889, to Miss Olive Downey, who was born February 14, 1869, in Platte county, Missouri, a daughter of Madison and Kathrine (Mullen) Downey, natives of Mad- ison county, Ohio. Madison Downey was a farmer and teacher, who immigrated to Kansas in 1870, and engaged in farming near Atchison. Mr. Dennis is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and is one of the influential and popular leaders of his party in Nemaha county and Kansas. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. • The political history of Nemaha county does not record an instance of a Democrat being twice elected to the same office in past years, and Mr. Dennis bears the distinction of being the only Democrat who was ever twice elected to the office of county sheriff. His election took place in the face of the fact that he had a Republican majority of over ,856 votes to overcome. He was the first Democratic trustee ever elected in Harrison township, and defeated his opponent, whose ticket lead the field, by a majority of eighty votes. The personal popularity of William Dennis is such that he is known by almost every man, woman and child in Nemaha county. As a campaigner, he has few equals or superiors. As mayor of Seneca, he is making a record which will go down in history as the most constructive up to the present time. During Mayor Dennis' regime the main street of the city has been graded and oiled under his personal supervision and with his actual as- sistance. The new city hall is being erected, which will be a milestone in the city's progress. Few towns in Kansas or anywhere can boast of a more faithful or more energetic executive than Seneca. Benjamin F. Hart, retired farmer, Seneca, Kans., was born in Put- nam county, Indiana, October 22, 1847, ^nd is a son of William J. and Mary E. (Collins) Hart, natives of Kentucky. William J. Hart was born in Kentucky in 1823, and was a son 'of Thomas and Joyce (Hew- itt) Hart, who were among the pioneer settlers of Indiana. Both father and grandfather were tillers of the soil. William J. and Mary Hart were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living. The wife and mother was born in 1826, and died in 1880. William J. Hart re- moved with his family to Kansas as early as 1858, and settled in Brown county, Kansas, where he bought 160 acres of virgin prairie soil, which he broke up with six yoke of oxen. He developed his farm into a val- uable piece of property, and died in the home which he erected, in 1876. Benjamin F. Hart was eleven years old when the Hart family cast their fortunes in Kansas, and it fell to his lot to witness the growth and development of a great State, and to have an integral part in the mak- ing of a county. He attended school in a primitive log school house with hewn log slabs for seats and desks. • After his marriage he bought 160 acres of land adjoining his father's farm and prospered to such an extent that he eventually became the owner of 550 acres of land in Brown and Nemaha counties. This land he sold and invested the pro- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 375 ceeds in a fine farm of 333 acres two miles north of Seneca. While this farm was improved at the time of purchase, Mr. Hart .added sub- stantially to th€ buildings and fencing, and became an extensive feeder of live stock. He successfully followed his life avocation until 1895, when, feeling that he had accomplished enough for one man in a life- time of endeavor, he retired to a comfortable home in Seneca in 1895. Mr. Hart has prospered exceedingly during his long residence of fifty- seven years in Kansas, and is the owner of 900 acres of good land. He is a stockholder and a director of the National Bank of Seneca, and is one of the city's most substantial citizens. This pioneer Kansan was married in 1870 to Miss Martha Letch- worthy, who has borne him the following children : Mrs. Minnie Mc- Kellips, of Nemaha county, Kansas ; Charles, a garage and automobile man at Seneca; Zebelon, living in Nemaha county; Benjamin, railroad station agent at Summerfield, Kans. ; Mrs. Fannie Firstenberger, Sen- eca; Valentine, railroad agent. Glen Elder, Kans. The mother of this fine family was born at Parkville, Mo., in 1850, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Barnes) Letchworthy, natives of Kentucky, who immigrated to Kansas in the early pioneer days. Thomas Letchworthy was a plasterer by trade. Mr. Hart is an independent thinker and voter along political lines, and does not wear the yoke of any political party. He has been promi- nent in city affairs, and served for six years as a member of the city council. It was during his term as councilman -that the electric light and power plant was taken over by the city and operated for the benefit of all the people. He was influential, also in having the old time board sidewalks dispensed with and replaced by concrete pavements. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has served as treasurer of the Seneca Masonic lodge. Hard work, economy, and rigid attention to details have placed this Kansas pioneer and his wife in the position of wealth and comfort which they are enjoying today. Lorrain N. Simon. — As an example of the successful business man,, who during his prime, accumulated a comfortable surplus, and who, in his iater. years, retires from the strife of business competition to enjoy the quiet and easy life of leisure, Lorrain N. Simon is to be remem- bered. Engaging at various times in the furniture, grocery and hard- ware businesses, Mr. Simon has proved his versatility and the fact that he is the holder of 1,100 acres of fine,, fertile soil, attests his business acumen. It was on December 3, 1858, that Lorrain Simon was born. His parents, Adam and Mary J. (Toler) Simon, resided in Noble county, Ohio, at the time. For the life story of Adam Simon, see sketch in another part of this history. Coming to Kansas at the early age. of ten years, Lorrain grew up on his father's farm, and lived the conventional small boy's life on the farm. Mixed in> with plenty of hard work were infrequent sessions at the district school. Being proficient in his stud- 376 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ies, he later went to the high school at Seneca, Kans., thus gaining ad- vantages which all farmers' sons in those days were not given. After finishing high school at the age of seventeen years, he- taught school for a period of twelve years, while farming, in which occupation he remained until about 1893 when he moved to Seneca, to engage in the furniture business. An undertaking establishment was operated in conjunction with the furniture store. After conducting this enterprise four years, Mr. Simon sold it, and became interested in the grocery business. But shortly afterward, a good proposition was offered to him, and he left his business to take up farming. However, business exerted a fasciiiation for him, and, in 1904, he went back into the mer- cantile life, buying a hardware stock at Goff, Kans:, which he operated until 1913, when he retired and moved to Seneca. While these numer- ous adventures into business were going on, Mr. Simon was accum- ulating land, and now owns some of the best in the county. In 1880, on November 14, Lorrain Simon was married to Jennie M. Ford. T.o this union six children were born as follows : Nellie, wife of Dr. D. C. Smith, Girard, Kans., graduated from Seneca busi- ness college and studied music in Chicago ; Raymond, deceased ; Clayton K., postmaster of Goff, Kans. ; Ford, bookkeeper in sugar beet factory, Brush, Colo. ; Eunice, wife of S. D. Morris, assistant cashier of First National Bank, Goff, Kans. ; Loren D., student in the Seneca High School, winner of football loving cup, member of 1915 football team of Seneca High School. .Mr. Simon has given all of his children a high school education. Mrs. Jennie (Ford) Simon was born January 15, 1861, in Nemaha county, and was the daughter of John M. and Eliza J. (Murphy) Ford. Her father was born in Ohio, and came to Nemaha county in 1856. He freighted from Atchison to Denver, driving a yoke of oxen, making the trip in three months. His family lived at Seneca during the time John was freighting, and he rejoined them there after his retirement. In 1913, he died at the ripe old age of eight)r-four, after having lived a varied and useful, as well as adventurous, life. His wife, who died in 1902, was born in Delaware, and was seventy-three years old at the time of her death. Mr. Simon early, after reaching the legal age, affiliated himself with the Democratic party and, since that time, has cast his votes with it. Although he is not a member of any church, he attends regularly and contributes generously to the activities of the church. In addition to holding membership in the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodges, Mr. Simon is a charter member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, as is his wife. They have both been members of that order for twenty-two years. Mr. Simon has been a representative business man of his commu- nitv, ahva}-s standing for progress and willing to do all in his power to advance the welfare of his city. His business was always run effi- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 377 ciently, and he preserved to a nicety the balance between business and service. Though he was always ready to demand his rights, he was always willing to extend privileges for the accomodation of his cus- tomers. In short, he is one of the men, to whom the community looks for solid support in any project for the good of all, and for the welfare of the commercial interests of Seneca. Adam Simon. — In the days following the Civil war, many sturdy men brought their families West to try for a livelihood on the undevel- oped country of Missouri and Kansas. The pioneers had come before them, but there was still plenty to do, and he who made his living hon- estly had to labor long and faithfully. Adam Simon was one of this class, who came West to ICansas shortly after the war and laid the foundations of his success. Adam Simon was born in 1833 in Noble county, Ohio. His parents were Christian and -Harriet (Armstrong) Simon, the father having been born in Virginia in 1814. At the age of fourteen, he went to Mor- gan county, Ohio, now known as Noble county, where he followed at different times the trades of bricklayer and stonemason, and farming as well. His father. Christian, was of German descent, and his mother, of English. In 1853, Adam Simon was married to Mary J. Powell, a native of Ohio, who died there in 1856. Two children were born of this marriage : Rhoda Ann, wife of James Mathews, deceased ; Helen, deceased. The following year after his wife's death he was married to Mary J. Toler, who was born August 4, 1835, in Vii'- ginia.- She was a daughter of Absalom and Jane (Grey) Toler. The mother was a native of Ireland, and her father was born near Rich- mond, Va. She died in October, 1891. The four children born to this union were : George, deceased, who was a stockman ; I_,orrain, whose life story will be found in this book; Ida, now Mrs. McNeal, of Wash- ington county, Colorado ; Earl D., deceased. In 1869 Adam Simon came to Centralia, Kans., where he bought 160 acres of land in Mitchell township, Nemaha county, and erected a house 18x28 feet, one and one-half stories, frame. Later he put up a frame barn. The land, of course, was unbroken when Adam Simon took possession of it, and he spent some time in breaking it for culti- vation. He farmed it until 1885, when he retired and moved to Seneca, where he died in July, 1916. During this period, he homesteaded 320 acres of land in Colorado, improving it and raising 500 bushels of grain on twenty acres of land. At the time of his death, he owned 480 acres of land. Mr. Simon did not confine himself to farming, however, for in 1871 and 1872, he represented his fellow citizens in the State legislature, having been elected on the Independent ticket. While in the legisla- ture, he acquitted himself with credit, and at all times, kept a sharp lookout for the welfare of his constituents. Later he served as town- ship assessor. 37^ HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. Simon was a member of the Methodist church. He belonged to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and to the chapter and Knight Templars. He was made a Mason in 1864 in Sharon, Ohio. This is a life which any man would be proud to live, full of hard work, containing also a period of service to the interests of his State, and loyalty to his friends and community. William Burt Mxirphy. — An engineer of a municipal water works has to master a multitude of technical details to be able to operate his plant with any success at all. In fact, such a position requires such high ability that most men spend several years in schools of engineer- ing to learn the intricacies of the work. But William Burt Murphy, chief engineer of the Seneca water system, is a man of unusual me- chanical gift, and succeeded in learning the secrets of this great enter- prise without the assistance of teachers. He has studied the problems of engineering alone, and has mastered them as anyone at all familiar with the success of his work at the municipal plant can testify. Mr. Murphy was born December 22, 1859, in Cherokee county, Georgia. To his parents, Franklin and Phoebe A. (Worley) Murphy, two children were born : William, of whom this history is to treat, and Dora J., wife of Mr. Linn, of Rocky Ford, Colorado. The father was born in Georgia where he farmed until the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, in which he gave his life for the cause he believed to be right. The mother was born in Georgia also, on October 6, 1836. After the death of her husband in the Civil war, she was married a second time to Joseph E. Hocker, a native of Indiana, who practiced law in Sen- eca, Kans., where he served as justice of the peace. He was in business in Lincoln, Kans., also prior to his removal to Seneca. By a former marriage, he was the father of three boys and an equal number of girls, but no children were born to the second marriage. William Murphy, of whom this sketch is written, came to Seneca, Kans., with his maternal grandparents, W. W. and Licenia (Holden) Worley, natives of Georgia. In his native State, the grandfather had been a Baptist minister, but after coming to Nemaha county, Kansas, he followed the occupation of farming. Both grandparents are now dead. William lived on the farm until he was fifteen years old, when he came to Seneca where he attended school a short time. For several years, he farmed in Richmond township, Nemaha county, but believing that greater opportunities lay in store in the city, he returned to Seneca where he held positions in grocery stores, drug stores, and in the lum- ber yard. However, life in the store and office was too cramped, and he secured a position as fireman on the Missouri Pacific railroad in 1888. Four years later he qualified as an engineer, and remained with the company in that capacity until 1895, when he resigned. When Seneca put in its water plant, he fired the first boiler. As the plant grew larger, remained, in charge until 1907. He became assistant HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 379 engineer again in 1910, and in 1912, was appointed chief engineer of the electric and water systems of Seneca. This is a position which obviously requires a high degree of technical skill and ability. But Mr. Murphy has both in unusual amounts, and is giving the utmost satisfaction in his operation of these utilities. He owns considerable real estate in Seneca, and has a fine modern residence. In. 1885 he was married to Mary E. Ridenour, and to this union four children have been born : Raymond, stationary engineer at Ham- ilton, Mo. ; Glenn, married Irma Bruner in February, 1916, a daughter of R. T. Bruner, former county treasurer; Earl C. and Juanita, all living at home. Mrs. Murphy was born in Paulding county, Ohio, in 1856, and is the daughter of Granville and Sarah (Green) Ridenour, natives of Ohio, who came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in the early days. Before her marriage, Mrs. Murphy was a milliner and dressmaker. She has lived in Seneca since she was very young, having come there in 1866, three years before her husband. She attended the Seneca schools along with her sisters and brother. It might be interesting to know that she had thirteen sisters and one brother to grow up with her, and are all liv- ing now except one sister. Mr. Murphy is an independent Republican, taking, an active inter- est in political affairs. His preference lies with the Republican party, but when a good man is running, he gets Mr. Murphy's vote, regard- less of his party connections, for it is the man, not the party, that counts with Mr. Murphy. He is a member of the Congregational church, and of the Knights of Pythias, and Ancient Order of United Workmen lodges. Peter P. Stein. — He whose name heads this review is one of the youngest Kansas Bankers, and has made a name for himself in his chosen profesion, and has shown ability which places him in the front rank of the financial men of northern Kansas and his home city of Seneca. Peter P. Stein, cashier of the First National Bank of Seneca, Kans., is a native born Kansan, whose parents were pioneer settlers in Nemaha county, his father having been the pioneer furniture dealer and cabinet maker of the city. Peter P. Stein was born in Seneca, Kans., July 4, 1879, and is a son of Mathias and Elizabeth (Daltrup) Stein, who were parents of five sons and five daughters. Mathias Stein was born in Germany, Novem- ber 25, 1829, and learned the cabinet maker's trade in his native land. He immigrated to America in i860, and resided in eastern Iowa until after the beginning of the Civil war, and then came West to Nemaha county, Kansas. He enlisted for service in the Union army at the time of the Price invasion of Kansas and served as cook of his company in a Kansas regiment. He first cultivated a farm in Clear Creek town- ship, and farmed on his own account east of Axtell where a hill named in his honor is yet known as Stein hill. He left the farm and located in Seneca, where he started the first furniture store in the city. In 380 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY those days he made nearly all of his own furniture, and made some very durable and high class work. He remained in the furniture business until 1885, when he sold out and retired. He died May 24, 1892. The mother of Peter P. Stein was born in Germany, August 4, 1844, and died in Seneca, May 24, 1883. Peter P. Stein attended the parochial schools of Seneca and pur- sued a course of higher studies at St. Benedict's College in .Atchison, Kans. His first emploj^ment was as clerk in a general store from 1897 to 1901. In 1901 he became bookkeeper of the National Bank of Sen- eca, and was promoted to the post of cashier of this bank in 1907, a position which he held until his resignation in 1912, to accept the post of cashier of the First National Bank. Mr. Stein is also second vice president of the Seneca State Savings Bank. While the banking busi- ness has always received his devoted and undivided attention, Mr. Stein is owner of land in Nemaha county, and western Kansas, and is one of the city's younger substantial citizens. Mr. Stein was married in 1902 to Miss Frances Waltkamp, and four children have been born to this union, namely : Raphael ; Vin- cent ; Sylvester, and Celestine. Mrs. Stein was born in Des Moines, Iowa, December 31, 1881, and is a daughter of Henry Waltkamp, Sr., a native of Germany and early settler of Nemaha county. Mr. and Mrs. Stein are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Stein is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He is a Democrat in politics and takes an active and influential part in the affairs of his party. In 1904, Mr. Stein was elected treasurer of the city of Seneca, and served in that capacity for eight years. Andrew Jackson Trees. — The late Andrew Jackson Trees, of Sa- betha, Kans, was born near Moscow, Clermont county, Ohio, September 26, 1828, and was a son of John and Nancy (Hodges) Trees. The Trees family is of German origin, and John Trees was born in Pennsylvania, where his forebears had settled in the early days of the settlement of the Keystone State. He was a pioneer settler in Clermont county, Ohio, and died on the farm which he cleared from the wilderness in the Buckeye State. His wife, Xancy (Hodges) Trees, mother of Andrew Jackson Trees, was born in North Carolina, migrated with her parents to Ohio, there married, and died February 2, 1877, in her ninetieth year. John Trees was born March 19, 1833, in Clermont county, Ohio, and died at riage of John and Nancy Trees occurred August 5, 1806. The Hodges family is an old American family, and it will thus be seen that Andrew Jackson Trees was a product of sturdy German and pure American stock. Andrew Jackson Trees was reared to the life of a farmer on the famil}' homestead in Clermont county, Ohio, and immigrated to Kansas in 1872. He settled on 160 acres of land in Walnut township. Brown county, which he developed into a fine farm. ^Ir. Trees prospered and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 38 1 owned considerable land, which he divided among his children prior to his retirement to a home in Sabetha in 1886. His demise occurred in Sabetha, May 11, 1914. His 'vyas an upright and honorable life, filled with hard work and good deeds ; he was a kind husband and father, and did well by his children. The marriage of Andrew Jackson Trees and Frances A. Brown oc- curred in Clermont county, Ohio, November g, 1854. Frances A. (Brown) Trees was born March 19, 1833, in Clermont county, Ohio, and died at Sabetha, Monday, August 7, 1916. She was a daughter of John and Sarah (Brannen) Brown. John Brown, father of Mrs. Trees, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1801, and learned the trade of cabinet maker. After his immigration to America, he followed farming in Clermont county, Ohio, where his marriage with Sarah Brannen occurred, July I, 1832, near the town of Felicity. His wife, Sarah, was of Irish de- scent, and bore him eight children. John Brown died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in -1851; Sarah Brown was born in Kentucky in 1811, and died in 1876. Nine children were born to Andrew Jackson and Frances A. Trees, five of whom died in infancy. The four living children are : Mrs. Sarah R. Ashley, living on a farm in Nemaha county; Miss Mattie Trees, Sabetha, Kans. ; Elizabeth, wife of J. F. Lukert, Sabetha, Kans. ; (see biography of J. F. Lukert) ; John, a farmer living one mile south of Sabetha. Miss Mattie Trees, who is living at the family home in Sabetha, was born September 24, i860, in Clermont county, Ohio, and attended the district schools of Ohio and Brown county, Kansas, until she was sixteen years of age. She then began teaching in district No. 20, of Rock Creek township, Nemaha county, and taught in the district schools for six years. She also taught the Spring Grove school and spent six years in the school rooms of Brown county. In 1889, she began teaching the fifth and sixth grades of the Sabetha schools, and worked her way up- ward to a high school position. She retired from her profession in 1906, and has since devoted her attention to the care of her parents and look- ing after her property interests, which are considerable, and include Sabetha property and 280 acres of land in Brown and Nemaha counties. For a more extended- account of the great educational work accom- plished by Miss Trees in behalf of the youth of Nemaha county, the reader is referred to the chapter on "Schools and Education." Joseph J. Buser. — The business success achieved by Joseph J. Buser, manager of the Buser Auto Company, Seneca, Kans., is a strik- ing illustration of what can be accomplished by the individual who sees opportunity in his home community, and is able to grasp it and work his way upward to wealth and prestige. Mr. Buser is a native born Kansan, and is a son of pioneer settlers in Nemaha county. Few were the luxuries and even comforts of his boyhood; schooled in the hard life of the frontier era of Kansas development which enabled him 382 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY to build up a magnificent physique; broadened by practical experience, he is one of the leading figures of Nemaha county, because of his ac- complishments and citizenship. Joseph J. Btiser was born on a pioneer farm in Capioma township, Nemaha county, February 5, 1869, and is a son of Peter and Mary Eliz- abeth (Wempe) Buser. Peter Buser, his father, was born in the city of St. Louis, September 27, 1839, and was a son of Peter and Cath- arine Buser, natives of Germany, who immigrated to America and set- tled in St. Louis, Mo., in the thirties. Peter Buser, the grandfather, lost his life by accident in 1869. His widow married a Mr. Burns, who lived in southwestern Illinois until their removal to Nemaha county, Kansas in 1875. Both died in this county. Peter Buser removed with his family to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1867, and purchased a half section of land in Capioma township for $2,000. He developed his large farm, and was an extensive breeder and feeder of hogs. He prospered until his untimely death at Sabetha, Kans. His death was caused by a runaway team on the streets of Sabetha, March 24, 1885. Peter Buser was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Carty who bore him one child, namely : Mrs. Catharine Wahlmeier, of Jen- nings, Kans., who was born February 16, 1863, at Mud Creek, 111. His second marriage took place August 22, 1865, at St. Labora, 111., with Mary Elizabeth Wempe, and this union was blessed with the following children: Mary, born February 14, 1867, at Mud Creek, 111., and mar- ried June 6, 1889, in Capioma township to Antone Wahlmeier; Joseph John, the subject of this review; Peter Paul, born January 25, 1871, in Capioma township, married November 23, 1893, to Mary Fox, and is a partner in the Buser Auto Company; Anton F., born November 20, 1872, married at Marysville, Kans., November 29, 1905, to Katie Schmidt, and is engaged in the oil business at Wichita, Kans. ; Clement A., born January 2, 1875, married to Anna Stein, May 8, 1900, at Sen- eca, Kans., and is associated with the Buser Auto Company ; John B., born March 30, 1877, and is engaged in business with his brother, Anton, at Wichita; Henry J., born July 14, 1879, married at Axtell, Kans., to Libbie Byrne, engaged in the oil business at Wichita ; Mrs. Elizabeth Rochel, born November 28, 1881, married January 26, 1904, at Capioma, and is residing on a farm in Capioma township ; Dan G., born February 19, 1884, married at Germantown, Kans., June 6, 1905, to Ida Wintersheet, and is engaged in the oil business at Halstead, Kans. The mother of these children was born at Tentopolis, 111., December 19, 1845, and died in Capioma township, December 4, 191 1. She was a daughter of Herman Henry AA'empe, a native of Germany. (See history of the Wempe family under the biography of Anton Wempe.) Joseph J. Buser lived on the home farm, and assisted in the culti- vation of the family estate until he engaged in the general merchand- ise business for his mother at Fidelity, Kans., in the spring of 1892. On HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 383 May I, 1895, he came to Seneca, Kans., and bought a half interest with Hon. Andrew J. Felt in a bakery business. This partnership continued until the fall of 1896, when he purchased his partner's interest, and conducted the bakery business alone for some time, then consolidated with Christ Schmitt and John Meinberg. This partnership continued until the spring of 1897 when Mr. Buser sold his interest in the bakery to Schmitt and Meinberg. In the fall of 1897, he started the Leader dry goods store in the Stein building, with a stock of goods valued at $2,800. In the fall of 1904, he engaged in the clothing business and started a clothing store in the Ford building with Ben J. Stein as man- ager. In the fall of 1906, Mr. Buser purchased the general store of P L. Gibson at Denton, Kans., and operated this store for four months, and then sold the business to Buser and Stein. During that same fall, he sold his clothing store for $14,000, but continued as owner of the Leader store until December 8, 1905, at which time he sold this estab- lishment to C. R. Bricker for $14,450. In the spring of 1907, he pur- chased the Westhoff stock of goods and moved it to the old Leader building, which he owns. October 25, 1911, he again sold the Leader store to Honeywell and Stein for $24,000. January 12, 1912, he pur- chased the garage, formerly operated by George Adams. Some time later, he took in his brother, Clement A., as a partner in the business. The concern is now known as the Buser Auto Company. They handle the well known and standard makes of automobiles such as the Oak- land, Hudson, Dodge Bros., and the MaxvJ'ell. The garage building is a substantial brick structure 44x109 feet in dimensions, and is requires a considerable staff to care for the extensive business carried on by this enterprising firm. In addition to his automobile business, Mr. Buser is a large land owner, his holdings being located in western Kansas ; he is a share- holder and a director of the First National and State Savings Banks in Seneca. In October of 1912, Mr. Buser, J. E. Stillwell, and L. D. Allen, and Peter P. Stein purchased the controlling interest, formerly owned by Jacob E. Cohen in the First National Bank of Seneca. Mr. Buser is proprietor of the local opera house, and owns several business buildings on the Main street of Seneca, besides residence properties in the city. He is one of the substantial and wealthy men of Nemaha county. Mr. Buser was married. May 28, 1885, b}' Rev. P. Boniface, O. S. B., at Seneca, Kans. to Katie E. Stein, born May 13, 1870 in Seneca, a daughter of Mathias and Elizabeth Stein. (See biography of Peter P. Stein.) Mr. Buser has ta,ken a more or less active part in Democratic poli- tics, and is one of the "wheel horses" of his party in Nemaha county. He was a candidate for the office of county commissioner in 1913, and made a strong race for the office. He and Mrs. Buser are members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, and are liberal contributors and supporters of this denomination. Mr. Buser is a charter member of the Knights 384 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. Prob- ably no citizen of Nemaha county is better known or more highh' esteemed for his many excellent qualities, genial disposition and uni- versal kindness than the gentleman, of whom this brief review is writ- ten. His career is a living epitome of what a single ambitious citizen can accomplish in his home community if the right effort is put forth. Joseph J. Buser did not look beyond the borders of his home county for opportunity, such as many are wont to do — he found it awaiting him right at home — and took advantage of his opportunity with a keen- ness of perception and the necessary energy and ability to make good John McManis. — Civic pride and good management is evident in the conduct of municipal affairs at Goff, Kans., the third largest city of Nemaha county. The citizens of Goff are enterprising, industrious, and are imbued with that pull together spirit which goes a great way in making a substantial municipality. In such a community one can naturally expect to find a wide awake and hustling executive who has the best interests of his city at heart. Goff is fortunate in having as mayor, John McManis, manager of the Goff Grain Company, a business man who finds time to devote his attention to civic affairs in his home city, arid is an excellent city official. John McManis was born at Lamoille, 111., August 31, 1873, and is a son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Hedge) McManis, who were the parents of four sons and six daughters. Hugh McManis, the father of John, was born at Kempville, Catiada, February 20, 1845, ^nd died at his home west of Lamoille, 111., May 9, 1906. He immigrated to Illinois when a mere lad with his mother, who first located at La Salle, 111., and later made a home at Lamoille. When the Civil war broke out, he proved his loyalty to the Union by enlising, August 25, i86r, as a volunteer soldier in Company B, Fifty-second Illinois infantry, and served throughout the war, and was given an honorable discharge when his company was mustered out, July 6, 1865. The command to which Mr. McManis be- longed was assigned to duty with the western army, and the famous battles in which it was engaged are recorded in history. Company B took part in the famous "March to the Sea" under General Sherman. He returned home after his war service and settled down to peaceful pursuits. On April 15, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Hedge. Of the ten children born to this union, nine are living, as follows : Mary, Nellie, Frank, Bessie, Lucile and Catherine, Mrs. Thomas Huffman, living on a farm near Erie, 111. ; John, with whom this review is directly concerned ; James, an engineer by profession, located at St. Paul, Minn. Mrs. McManis, mother of John, was born at La- moille, 111., in 1850, and resides on the old home place in Bureau county, Illinois. John McManis was reared on the farm and attended the public schools of Lamoille, 111. On December i, 1893, he began working for a grain elevator concern at Whiting, Kans. Six years later (1899), he JOHN McMANIS. Mayor of Golf, Kansas. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 385 came to Goff and became manager of the Goff Grain Company, in which concern he is a stockholder. Mr. McManis has prospered in Kansas, and besides his business interests he has property in Goff and owns 160 acres of farm land in Thomas county, Kansas. He was married in 1903 to Miss Grace Berridge, born at Goff in 1881, and a daughter of Henry and Anna (Hopkins) Berridge, who were early pioneer settlers of Nemaha county, her father following the trade of stone mason at Goff for some years. Three children have been born to John McManis and wife as follows : . Geraldine, Flelen and Mar- garet. Mr. McManis is a Republican in politics and is one of the leaders of his party in Nemaha county. He has twice been elected mayor of Goff, the first time in 1904, and during his term as ma3'or the cement walks were laid on the city streets. He was again elected to the office ,in 191 5, and is also serving as township treasurer of Harrison township. During his last administration Goff citizens installed an electric lighting system. He is affiliated fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Burnett G. Firstenberger is one of the youngest bankers of north- ern Kansas, and is the youngest banker in Seneca at the present time. His success has been marked and he has shown capabilities for bank- ing, and ability for handling financial matters which have placed him in the front rank of banking men in his section of Kansas. Mr. Firstenberger was born in Seneca, Kans., May 22, 1886, and is a son of George and Jennie (Lount) . Firstenberger. George Firsten- berger, his father, was born at Gallon, Ohio, in i860, and is a son of Christopher and Barbara (Ziegler) Firstenberger, natives of Germany, who emigrated from their native land to America in 1850, settling in Ohio where Christopher followed his trade of shoe maker. Christopher Firstenberger enlisted in an Ohio infantry regiment during the Civil war, and served his adopted country bravely and well. He and his wife died in Ohio. George Firstenberger began his career as a clerk in a dry goods store in his home town of Gallon, and remained there until 1882, when he came to Seneca, and took a position with his brother in the dry goods store. He followed his vocation of salesman until his retirement in 1912, and is now making his home with his daughter and son in Seneca. Four children were born to George and Jennie Firsten- berger, as follows: Lount, deceased; Burnett G., subject of this review; Mildred, born April 20, 1888, housekeeper for her father and brother ; Doris, deceased. The mother of these children was born at Barrie, Ontario, Canada, in 1861, and was a daughter of Gabriel and Harriet (Burnett) Lount, natives of Canada. Harriet Burnett was a daughter of Aaron and Hannah (Plaxton) Burnett, natives of Kent and York- shire, England, who immigrated to Canada. Aaron Burnett came to Sen- eca, Kans., from Canada in 1870, and engaged in the lumber business at a time when Seneca was but a small village. He died here in 1891 at the (25) 386 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY age of seventy-one years. His wife, Hannah, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1820, and died in 1902. Their daughter, Harriet, wife of Gabriel Lount, is also deceased. Jennie E. (Lount) Firstenberger came to Seneca with her mother in 1870, and died in 1898. She was educated in Bethany College, Topeka, Kans., and was well versed in music. • Burnett G. Firstenberger was educated in the public schools of Seneca and the high school of Sacramento, Cal., where he made his horne with his grandmother for one year, after which he returned to his home in Seneca. His first work was as carpenter's helper, but he was soon after employed as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Seneca. He was ambitious to advance himself and was willing to study; acting upon this resolve, he purstied a special course in abnking and banking law, thus fitting himself for the post of cashier of the State Savings Bank, which position was tendered him in 1911. Mr. Firstenberger is a Democrat in politics and is at present treas- urer of the city board of education. He is a member and clerk of the Congregational church. Horace M. Baldwin. — The legal profession is one of the oldest of the learned arts and offers a vast field for advancement to the ambitious disciple of the law creeds. A knowledge of law nowadays is indispen- sible to the business or financial man; and a really able, conscientious and capable attorney is certain of recognition and the security of a com- petence. A leading member of the Nemaha county bar is Horace M. Baldwin, county attorney, Seneca, Kans. Mainly through his own efforts and the development of inherent ability, combined with a profound knowl- edge of the law has resulted in Mr. Baldwin taking front rank among the attorneys of northern Kansas. Horace M. Baldwin was born at Monmouth, 111., October 29, 1859, and is a son of John H. and Anna (McKeowen) Baldwin, who were the parents of five children, as follows : Carrie, at Monmouth, 111. ; Horace M., with whom this review is directly concerned; Mrs. Mary Mixner, Bridgeton, N. J. ; Wilbur, deceased ; Elbert, deceased. John Baldwin was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and learned the trade of mason in his youth. He was a son of Johnson and Hannah (Speakman) Baldwin, natives of Pennsylvania, who were tillers of the soil. The Speakman family is of old Quaker stock, whose origin in America began with the advent of the William Penn colony at Phila- delphia in 1682. John Baldwin migrated from his native heath to Illi- nois in 1850 and worked at his trade of mason until his retirement to a comfortable home in Monmouth, in 1914. He became an extensive con- tractor and worked at his vocation until he was past four score and five years of age — a remarkable record. Mrs. Anna (McKeowen) Baldwin, mother of Horace M. Baldwin, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of Daniel McKeowen, whose wife was a Bogart, and both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Illinois. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 387 Horace M. Baldwin attended the public schools of Monmouth, 111., and in 1876 matriculated at Monmouth College, graduating from this institution in 1880 with the Bachelor's degree, and later receiving the degree of Master of Arts. He taught for one year in the district schools of his native county, and then went to Chicago, where he was employed by the Rissler & Reitz wholesale saddlery company for one year. He then returned home and began the study of law in the office of Stewart & Grier, and was eventually admitted to the bar and came west to At- chison, Kans., where he opened an office with a law partner, the firm name being Bailey & Baldwin. In 1893 he went to Hill Cityj Kans., and took charge of the legal business of a wealthy land owning client (J. P. Pomeroy). He remained in Mr. Pomeroy's employ until 1898, and then opened a law office at Kansas City, Mo., remaining in that city until 1906, at which time he located in Seneca. Mr. Baldwin is a Republican in politics and has always been active in political affairs. While practicing at Atchison he served as police judge for a term. He was the nominee of the party in Nemaha county for State representative, but was defeated by only eight votes. In No- vember, 1914, he was elected to the office of county attorney on the Re- publican ticket, receiving a handsome majority. Mr. Baldwin was married in 1884 to Miss Harriet Waste, and two children have blessed this union, namely : Burdette, deceased, and Clifford. Mrs. Baldwin was born at Galesburg, 111., and is a daughter of Or- son and Elizabeth (Miller) Waste, the former of whom was a native of Vermont and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Baldwin studied at Knox College, Galesbtirg, 111., and taught school for one year pre- vious to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are active members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church of Seneca, and Mr. Baldwin is a steward of this church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is master of the Seneca lodge of Masons. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the National Union and is a member of the alumni association of his alma mater. Richard D. McCliman. — Faithfulness to duty on the part of public officials is always appreciated by the people, and an official who re-" gards his office other than a sinecure, is recognized as honest, capable, and well meaning. In Richard D. McCliman, postmaster of Seneca, Kans,, the patrons and citizens of Seneca have a capable and conscien- tious public servant, whose sole interest is to see that' the affairs of this important government office so close to the masses are running smoothly and for the sole convenience of the patrons of the office. Credit is due Mr. McCliman for the efficiency and general courtesy with which the postoffice business is conducted. Richard D. McCliman was born in Green county, Wisconsin, April 9, 1852, and is a son of John and Talitha (Dixon) McCliman who were 388 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY the parents of six children, as follows: Richard D., subject of this re- view and the eldest of the family; Lenda, died in infancy; John E., living in Wisconsin; Mrs. Elmeda Brandon, Albia, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Brandon, a widow living in Monroe county, Iowa; William, died at the age of one year. John McCliman was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, migrated to Wisconsin, cleared a farm in Green county and lived there until his removal to Iowa where he died in 191 1. John McCliman was a son of John and Margaret (McMillan) McCliman, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter a native of Scotland. The mother of Richard D. McCliman was born in 1824 in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of Johnathan and Mary (Boyer) Dixon, and she died in 1914. Richard D. McCliman learned the carpenter's trade in his youth in Franklin, Pa., where the family resided for twenty years. He worked at his trade in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Iowa and mi- grated to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1878. He bought eighty acres of land in Capioma township, farmed it for a short time and then sold it previous to his removal to Seneca in 1898. While residing on his farm he had become interested in Democratic politics and became well known over Nemaha county, to such an extent that he was elected to the office of county treasurer in 1897 and held this important position for five years. Previous to serving as county treasurer, Mr. McCliman served two terms as a member of the State legislature, sessions of 1891 and 1893. -^t the expiration of his term of office he engaged in the real estate business with fair success. In January, 191 5 he was appointed postmaster of Seneca, — an appointment which met with general satisfaction on account of the long and faithful record of the recipient as a party worker and as an upright and com- petent citizen. Mr. McCliman was married in December, 1874, to Miss Jennie Battin, of Franklin, Pa. This marriage was consummated in Grant county, Wisconsin. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCliman. Mr. McCliman is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights and Ladies of Security. Melville R. Connet. — Nearly two decades have passed since Melville R. Connet left his native State of Indiana to find fortune and prestige in Kansas. It is evident that he has been successful and has risen dur- ing that time to a position of prominence and affluence in Nemaha county. He has become a thorough Kansan and imbued with Western ideals since deciding that Kansas was the land of opportunity for him and his. His reputation as a financial man and banker is second to none in the county and northern Kasas. !\Ielville R. Connet, cashier of the National Bank of Seneca, Kans., was born in Monroe county, Indiana, September 5, 1859, and is a son of Nelson and Mar}- (Rose) Connet, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, MELVILLE R. CONNET. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 389 respectivelyr John Nelson Connet, born June 23, 1830, in Green county, Pennsylvania, was the son of Isaac Connet, a native of Pennsylvania, and who was descended from colonial ancestry. The Connet family is an old pure American family, who can trace their ancestry back to early settlement and Colonial days of American history. Mrs. Mary Emily (Rose) Connet was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, and her parents were among the early pioneers of that section of Ohio. Isaac Connet moved his family from Pennsylvania to Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1852, when John Nelson Connet, father of the subject, was twenty-two years old. John Nelson Connet married there, and in 1857, migrated from Ohio to Stanford, Monroe county, Indiana, where he followed farming until his migration to Kansas in 1886. He settled at Baileyville, Kans., and operated a store in partnership with his son. He died at Bailey- ville, September 19, 1889. John Nelson and Mary (Rose) Connet were the parents of five children, , as follows: W. Homer, Axtell, Kans.; Martha Ann, wife of Dr. Gaston, both deceased ; Melville R., with whom this review is directly concerned; Fred M., lola, Kans.; Frank B., Kan- sas City, Kans. By a second marriage of Nelson Connet with Mrs. Mary Richey, there were two children, as follows : Ralph A., Kansas City, Mo., and Carrie, a teacher in the Kansas City, Mo., public schools. The grandfather of Melville R. Connet was Isaac Connet, born near Prosperity, Pa., March 12, 1805, and was a cooper, farmer, sawyer and miller. He located in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1852. He died near Urbana, Champaign county, Illinois, in 1865. Isaac Connet was a son of James Connet, a native of Pennsylvania, and becarne a weaver by trade. He was a son of James Connet, born in 1730, and who was a resident of Essex county. New Jersey. Melville R. Connet was educated in the public -schools of Monroe county, Indiana, and followed farming until 1882. He came alone to Kansas in 1877, and located in Nemaha county, where he farmed for five years. He then engaged in the general merchandise business at Baileyville, Kans., for one year, after which he located in Seneca, where he operated a furniture business for twelve years. He disposed of this business, and for five years was engaged as traveling salesman, from 1895 to 1900. He took up life insurance in 1900, arid sold insurance successfully for two years. In October, 1902, Mr. Connet's banking career began with the organization of the Bank of Kelly, in which he took a prominent and active part, and became cashier of the bank. He resigned his position as cashier in 1906 and again engaged in life in- surance work until October, 1912. He then entered the National Bank of Seneca as cashier. In addition to his duties as cashier he conducts a fire insurance and loan business, which is profitable. M. R. Connet was married to Rachel K. Thompson, November 2, 1882, and three children were born to this union, namely: Lelia, aged thirteen years, and Willie, aged nine years, lost their lives in the cyclone of 1896, and Clyde died at the age of four years. Mrs. Connet was born 390 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in Douglas county, Kansas, a daughter of William K. and Fannie Thompson, deceased. The cyclone which visited Seneca May 17, 1896, caused consid- erable devastation and loss of life. Mr. and Mrs. Connet and children had gone to a neighbor's house and stood in the front yard of the neigh- bor's home, watching the black clouds, which were sweeping across the sky. Things looked dangerous and it looked as though the city would be struck by one of the whirling masses. Mr. Connet saw the danger, and told the women and children to go into the neighbor's cellar and re- main until the storm was over. Others gave conflicting advice. Five minutes later the entire party was forced to flee for their safety, while all might have been safe and sound in the cellar. The terrific wind lifted the house from the joists, the structure slid over, as it was forced by the terrific power of the wind, and the little children were crushed to death. Mr. Connet and a neighbor and his son, going into the house later, were carried a distance of 100 feet with the house, which was crushed to pieces, but they were miraculously saved. He and his two companions in peril were pinned fast by the timbers, but were soon extricated by the people who came to their rescue. Mr. and Mrs. Connet are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Connet is a Republican in politics and has always taken an active and influential part in political and civic affairs. He served as city coun- cilman when the waterworks plant and system was installed, and was elected mayor of Seneca in 1896, filling this post acceptably and ably for two years. He is prominent in secret society circles, being a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the chapter and commandery, and having been treasurer of all three Masonic bodies for the past three years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias, of which latter fraternal society he has served as a member of the Grand Lodge of Kansas. Mr. Connet is always found in the fore- front of all movements for the advancement of his home city and county, and is one of Seneca's most influential and representative men, who is courteous, diplomatic and level headed in all of his undertakings. Henry Galen Snyder, M. D. — One of the prominent and successful citizens of Seneca, Kans., is Dr. Henry Galen Snyder, well known in professional circles in this part of the State. Dr. Snyder enjoys a high reputation for medical and surgical skill and counts the best citizens of Seneca in his clientele. Dr. Snyder was born in the town where he lives March 7, 1880, and has spent his whole life within the confines of the city of his birth, except for the time which he devoted to the study of his profession. His parents were Alvin and Melisa J. (Burger) Snyder. Dr. Snyder comes of old Holland stock, which still forms one of the best lines in our American population, and his ancestors came to America in the days before the Revolution. It was these Hollanders who helped to win the colonies from a tyrannical king, who sought to oppress them, and it can HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 391 be said to the credit of Dr. Snyder's ancestry that they were among the first to rise up and protest against injustice. Dr. Snyder's father, Alvin, was born in 1847 "^ar Greensburg, Pa. His parents, Henry T. and Christena (Armel) Snyder, were natives of Pennsylvania, where the father plied his trade as a steelsmith. About four years after the birth of Alvin, the family moved to Indiana, locating near Brazil, where Alvin spent his boyhood. After passing through the typical small boy days, which James Whitcomb Riley knew so well and pictured so vividly in the Hoosier tongue, Alvin Snyder began to incline toward medicine as the profession which he most wanted to pursue. Ac- cordingly, at the age of twenty-four he set out for St. Louis to study the science of medicine, and after a difficult course of three years in medical school, the young doctor was ready to practice. In 1874, soon after his graduation, he came to Seneca, Kans., where he opened his office and received his first patients. Until the time of his death, August 29, 1914, he continued his labors among the residents of Seneca, serving them in every way within his power. Some day a poet will sing the glories of the doctor of the small town, for here is a character who is invariably self-sacrificing, bent on serving his fellowmen rather than accumulating riches, who knows how to treat every disease which country folks have. Such a man was Dr. Alvin Snyder. The mother of Dr. Galen Snyder is a native of Iowa, and was born October 3, 1856, a daughter of Marcus M. and Emily (Scoville) Burger, natives of New York State. While still young, she was brought by her parents to Seneca, where she received a high school education. Four children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Snyder : Mrs. Harry M. Leslie, Auburn, Wash. ; Galen, of whom this review is written ; Mrs. Charles Everhart, Seneca, and Mrs. A. L. Morris, Benkelman, Neb. After reading the foregoing, it is not surprising to learn that the son followed his father's profession. Dr. Snyder's youth was spent in a happy and carefree manner, but he received a sound elementary educa- tion at the same time. His father knew the value of learning and skill and spared no effort to give his son the advantages of the best training that was to be had. In 1898, having finished preparatory work, he went to Rush Medical College at Chicago, the foremost medical school in America, and one requiring the highest qualifications for entrance and for graduation. Taking his diploma in 1903, Dr. Snyder returned to his home town to begin the practice of medicine under the guidance of his .father. This, in connection with his excellent technical training, accounts to a great extent for his success in the practice of his profession. For his father, in the long years of varied experience, had acquired a stock of knowledge which no profession could gain from the stud)'' of books, and it was this invaluable store of experiences which the father passed over to his son during the eleven years of their association together in a professional capacity. This happy companionship was broken by the death of the father in 1914. The son has carried on the family tradition 392 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and has added immeasurably to his professional standing as the years have gone by. Dr. Snyder has found the duties of his profession too arduous to admit of much outside activity, and be3'-ond voting in accord with his well- defined Republican views, he has taken little part in politics. He has never held public office. Dr. Snyder subscribes to the creed of the Con- gregational Church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masonic lodge. Dr. Snyder is unmarried. John Theo. Buening. — The life story of the man whose name heads this review is the story of a self made man, who left his native land in his youth and made his way in a strange land. In turn, he has been a miner, merchant and farmer, and is at present the owner of a large farm in Nemaha county, Kansas, and owns a half interest in the department store formerly operated by Wempe & Huerter. John Theo. Buening is one of the substantial and well respected citizens of Seneca, who came to Kansas thirty-six years ago, and has won his way to a position of affluence in this land of opportunity. John Theo. Buening was born February 5, 1853, in the village of Havixbeck, Westphalia, Germany, a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Fatoum) Buening, natives of Germany. T^he parents of the subject lived in their native country until in June, 1883, when they came to America and joined their son at Glen Elder, Kans. He cared for his parents until the death of each. Bernard Buening was born in 1809, and died in January, 1897. The mother of the subject was born in 1816, and died in 1899. They were good Catholics. Bernard and Elizabeth Buen- ing were the parents of the following children : Mrs. Minnie Rothers, Jackson county, Kansas ; Mrs. Gertrude Fortman, a widow, residing at Beloit, Kans.; John Theo., the subject of this review; Bernard, living at Soldier, Kans. Mr. Buening attended the schools of his native village in Germany, and when still young began working in the coal mines at Westphalia. He was thus employed until his emigration from Germany to America in 1875. He located in Clayfield county, Pennsylvania, and worked in the coal mines there for a time, and was also employed as a miner in various localities of the East and South until 1878. It had always been his ambition to better his condition, and he realized that the vocation of a coal miner was not conducive to any great accumulation of substance. In 1878, he went to Crown Point, Ind., and was employed, as clerk in a dry goods store for six months. This was the starting point of his business career, and we next find that he had come farther west to Kansas and entered the general store of A. A. Thompson, at Glen Elder, Kans., as a clerk. In 1880, he opened a restaurant at Glen Elder and oper- ated the same for four years. He bought a half interest in a general store in the meantime, which he sold in 1883, and erected a store building and engaged in business on his own account. Three years later he traded his store for a farm of 280 acres in section 16, Reilly township, Nemaha HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 393 ^ounty, and engaged in farming. His farm was poorly improved, and he at once built a nice home and barn and set out trees in order to make the place attractive. Mr. Buening^has added to his land holdings until he now owns 365 acres. In 1893 he started a general store at Corning, Kans., but disposed of this in 1896, and gave all of his time and atten- tion to his large farming interests until 191 5, when he retired to a com- fortable home in Seneca. In 1910, Mr. Buening made a three months' visit to his native country and enjoyed going over all the old home scenes of his youth. On April 15, 1916, he purchased an interest in the AVempe & Huerter Department Store. Mr. Buening was married on August 27, 1878, to Elizabeth M. Bar- man, and this union has been blessed with the following children : Kath- rine, deceased; Mamie, wife of J. M. Wempe, Seneca, Kans.; Eleanor A., at home ; John, a farmer in Reilly township, this county. Mrs. Buening was born October 12, 1853, at Crown Point, Ind., a daughter -of John and Kathrine Barman, natives of Germany, and both of vvhom are deceased. Mr. Buening is a Democrat and has served as a member of the school board in his township. He and all his family are religiously affiliated with the Catholic church, and contribute of their means to the support of this denomination. He is a member of the Knights of Col- umbus. John L. Clark. — As a druggist and business man who has made good by his own efforts and ability, John L. Clark, druggist of Seneca, Kans., is a. fine example, having built up an unusually large business and ac- cumulated considerable property. In 1869, on February 4, John L. Clark was born. He is a son of John and Ann (Cain) Clark, of Pawnee county, Nebraska. John was one of six children whose names are : Thomas, farmer. Pawnee county, Nebraska; James H., a retired farmer of Summerfield, Kans.; Mrs. Mary A. Nester, whose husband is a farmer in Pawnee county, Nebraska; John L., of whom this sketch treats; Edward J., druggist, Kansas City, Mo., and Martha F., Summerfield, Kans. John h- Clark comes of hardy Irish stock, his father being a native of the Emerald Isle, born there in 1833, a son of Brien Clark, who mar- ried a Miss Fox. The father grew up under the pressure of hardships and at the age of seventeen, (1850), he sailed for America in the hope of being more successful and settled in New York where he followed his trade of brick molder. However, Mr. Clark was searching for a better means of earning a livelihood and four years later went west, first trying his fortunes in Chicago. After four years of it he came to Kansas, locating at Leavenworth, where he stayed four years more working at different occupations all the while. In 1861 he went to Pawnee county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded land. Now he had found what he was looking for and for thirty-six years, more than a generation, he farmed this soil; in fact, he sta3^ed on this farm until he retired in 394 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1897. At time of his retirement he owned 800 acres of land in Nebraska and Marshall county, Kansas, a fact which in itself, speaks volumes for the industry and thrift of Mr. Clark. On June 20, 1912, the father of our subject died. His wife had died in 1895 while he was still living on the Nebraska farm. She, too, was born in Ireland and was fifty-four years old at the time of her death. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark were devout members of the Roman Catholic church. John L. Clark grew up on the farm working for his father during his youth but attending school as much as possible. He finished the district school and in 1901 went to the University of Kansas at Lawrence to take a course in pharmacy. After completing the two-year course in schedule time, he went to Marysville, Kans., where he opened a drug store. He sold out in 1904 and came to Seneca where he bought the stock of Dr. Alyin Snyder which place of business he now owns though he has enlarged it considerably. In addition to drugs, he carries station- ery, wall paper, paints, sundries, and in all has about $5,000 worth of stock. This indicates the success he has attained and the fact that he owns one-half section of land in Nebraska and Kansas and owns property in Seneca in addition to his residence adds to the record of his success. In 1908 he was married to Mary E. Mohan and to this union two chil- dren have been born : Kathleen Rose, and John L. Mrs. Clark is a native of Kansas having been born in Leavenworth March 2, 1876. She is a daughter of Peter and Mary (Hines) Mohan, both natives of Kansas. Mr. Clark is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. In politics Mr. Clark is a Democrat, though he confines his participation in that, field mostly to voting on election day, as he finds his business affairs too pressing to devote any time to office seeking. Perhaps it is because he has stayed with his drug business and because he has put his best thought into it that he has built up such a large business. He takes any amount of pains to aid his customers and they are sure of courteous treatment and careful atten- tion when dealing with hi/n. It is this personal element which has, per- haps, been most powerful in building up the drug store which Mr. Clark owns. Mrs. Emma Young. — Any individual, in order to be successful in his profession or avocation, must, of necessity, be in love with the work undertaken — otherwise it will lapse into the mediocre or be a failure. It requires, for instance, that one be a lover of flowers to be successful in floriculture. Mrs. Emm_a Young, proprietor and manager of Young's green houses, Seneca, Kans., is a natural lover of flowers and was taught the rudiments of her profession by a husband, who was likewise gifted with an understanding of growing things and making beauty spots on his domain. The Young establishment had its inception in the eighties, when the first husband of Mrs. Young was compelled by failing health to abandon his trade and then indulged in his hobby of growing plants HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 395 and flowers. Before long the venture was successful as a commercial enterprise, and it has grown to considerable proportions under the skilled management of the proprietress. The green houses are beauty- spots in Seneca, and are well patronized by the people of Nemaha county, county. Speaking in a biographical sense, Mrs. Emma Latter (Brown) Young was born in Kent, England, October 29, 1852, and is a daughter of James and Louise (Brigden) Latter. James Latter learned the plasterer's trade when a youth and emigrated from his native land to Australia in 1886, where he died in 1905. James and Louise Latter were the parents of seven children, as follows : Mrs. Isabella Huggett, living in Australia; George, died in England; Mrs. Emma Young, with whom this review is concerned; Albert died in England; Mrs. Louise Reckley, Australia ; Mrs. Alice Gill, living in Australia ; one child died in infancy. The subject of this review was educated in the private schools of her native land, and was there married, January 29, 1873, to Henry Robert Brown, a plasterer by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Brown immigrated to America in March, 1873, soon after their marriage, and located in Chicago, 111., where they resided until 1882, at which time they removed to Seneca, Kans. Mr. Brown worked at his trade here until his health failed him. He and Mrs. Brown set about the establishing of a green house, so as to have an income sufficient to afford them a livelihood. The local photographers very kindly gave them used negatives, which served as the glass for filling the sashes used in the building, and their first hot house was a small affair, 12x24 feet in extent. As time went on the business justified the enlargement of the buildings, and it was made larger and moved to the present location on West Main street, Mr. Brown died in 1905. The business has continued to grow and constant enlargement has been the rule until Mrs. Young now has three green houses, 18x75 feet, 14x60 feet and 10x30 feet in sizes. She ships the product of her green houses to nearby towns and conducts her busi- ness in a capable and business-like manner. Mr. Brown died in 1905, and the widow was again married in 1908 to O. G. Young, a native of Iowa, who came to Seneca in 1873. Mrs. Young is a member of the Episcopalian church, and is a hard working, industrious woman, who takes a keen interest in her business and the welfare of the community in general. Henry Eichenlaub. — One of the landmarks of Seneca, which is an old established and successful business, is the Eichenlaub mill and grain and feed depot, placed in operation by Henry Eichenlaub over thirty years ago in Seneca. It is one of the most successful business concerns of the city and is noted for the service and courteous attention given its many patrons throughout the neighboring country contiguous to Seneca. Henry Eichenlaub, proprietor of the Eichenlaub mill, Seneca, Kans., 396 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1852, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Neidlinger) Eichenlaub, who were the parents of seven children. Henry Eichenlaub, the father, was born in Schaumberg, Germany, in 1831, and when seven years old accompanied his parents to America. The Eichenlaub family settled in Pennsylvania and Henry, Sr., was there reared to manhood and learned the trade of stone mason, which he followed during his entire life, and died in 1913. Mrs. Elizabeth Eichenlaub was born in Pennsylvania in 1832, and is still living at the old home of the family in Pennsylvania. He of whom this reveiw is written was reared in Pennsylvania, and when he attained his majority, took the advice given to the young men of his day by the famous Horace Greeley and "came West" in search of fortune. In 1873, he left his old home and made his way to Decorah, Iowa, and was employed in a flouring mill for three years. In 1876, he went to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and worked in a flouring mill for four years in that city. For two years following he was employed in a mill at Mill Brook, 111., and had full charge of the mill until his removal to Seneca in 1881. During the first year of his residence in Seneca he was engaged in the boot and shoe business. He then sold out his business and located on a farm one mile north of Seneca. On year's residence on the farm, convinced him, however, that he did not care to become a farmer, and he again located in Seneca and established a feed mill. He started his business in an old planing mill, but the patronage which he secured during the ensuing years compelled the erection of a larger building, known as the Eichenlaub Mill, ten years later. Mr. Eichenlaub's mill- ing, grain and coal business has had a remarkable growth during the years in which it has been in operation and the mill has been a prosper- ous investment. Mr. Eichenlaub is a stockholder and director of the Citizens State Bank of Seneca, and he owns considerable property in the city. Mr. Eichenlaub was married on April 18, 1878, to Miss Sadie Hum- bert. No children have been born to this union, but in 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Eichenlaub adopted a daughter, Jessie May Warden, who was born November 17, 1888, in Seneca, and is a graduate of the Seneca High School. She was married on October 20, 1910, to James E. McFarland, a native of Missouri, and a druggist of Topeka, Kans. Mr. and Mrs McFarland have one child, namely, Betty Lou. - Mrs. Sadie Eichenlaub was born at Lyons, AVayne county. New York, July 24, 185 1, and is a daughter of George Humbert, who was born at Strassburg, capital of the French provinces of Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire, September 24, 1803. When a youth, Mr. Humbert went to Paris and learned the tailor's trade, which he followed for a number of years. Later in life he immigrated to Lyons, N. Y., and conducted a grocery business. During the early sixties he located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and engaged in farming. He remained on his farm until his demise in 1893. His HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 397 wife, whose maiden name was Eva Bly, was born August' 8, 1803, at Strassburg, France, and he died in 1873. Mr. Humbert and Jiis future bride met aboard ship during the voyage across the Atlantic, fell in love with each other and were married, the marriage resulting in the birth of twelve children. They were a very religious couple and at family gatherings at their home, religious worship would be carried on. They organized the Evangelical Chitrch at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and assisted in building a fine church edifice, which still stands in the city. Mrs. Eichenlaub is the youngest child born to this estimable couple. A sister, Mrs Lena Rodenbach, lives at Minneapolis, Minn. A brother, Solomon, born in New York in 1843, is State oil inspector in Iowa. On May 16, 1916, he celebrated his golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Eichenlaub is a member of the Methodist Church of Seneca. Henry Eichenlaub is a stanch ..Republican in his political belief and served for three years as president of the Seneca school board. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is one of the influential laymen of that denomination. He is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is an enterprising and in- fluential citizen and he and Mrs. Eichenlaub are valued members of society in Seneca. Van Buren Fisher is one of the old-timers of Nemaha county, and is also one of the few surviving veterans of the Civil war. He has the distinction of having fought to save his country from dissolution and to have fought the great fight necessary to redeem a wilderness and make it habitable for mankind for centuries and ages to come. He is a Kansas pioneer who has had as many ups and downs as the veriest frontiersman and knows what real hardships have been, for the simple reason that Mr. Fisher has had more than his share of vicissitudes. He is a fine, sturdy specimen of the last remnants of the famous old guard who saved the Union, and who are now living a comfortable protected existence and honored and respected of all men by a grateful people.. Mr. Fisher was born on a farm in LaGrange county, Indiana, Feb- ruary 19, 1842, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Conley) Fisher. The Fisher family is an old American family, and Thomas Fisher, father of the subject of this review, was born in Maryland in 181 1, moved to Ohio, and later became a farmer and was a pioneer of LaGrange county, In- diana. He made his home among the Dunkards, and, being a well read and versatile man (education being a very rare accomplishment among the early day Hoosiers), he did much of the clerical work of the Dunk- ards, who would come to him to have their deeds and abstracts of title properly made out. Thomas Fisher became, somewhat of a dignitary among his neighbors and was looked upon as a learned personage of note. He held many public offices, such 'as justice of the peace, school trustee and others. He came to Butler county, Kansas, in 1880, bought a farm, improved it and finally died on a farm near Fort Scott, in 1895. 398 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Thomas Fisher was twice married and had six children by his first wife, five of whom were bo3's, and all were reared. A girl died when quite young. His second wife was Nancy Swartz, who bore him eight children. The mother of Van Buren Fisher was born in Maryland and died in 1847. Van Buren Fisher was reared on the Indiana farm and had very few luxuries in his youth. Schools were a scarce institution, and his early education was obtained at a subscription school, the teacher of which "boarded round" ainong the pupils' families as a part of the recompense. The school which Mr. Fisher attended was located in LaGrange, Ind. He followed the peaceful life of the farmer boy until the outbreak of the rebellion, and he then enlisted for service in Company H, Forty-fourth Indiana infantry, and served until his discharge in 1863. He took part in the engagement resulting in the capture of Fort Donelson, and fought at the great battle of Shiloh and also at Corinth. His command was with General Buell on his famous march through Kentucky and Tennessee, and on the return trip Mr. Fisher was wounded in a fight at Murfreesboro or "Stone River." Diiring this engagement a bullet hole was shot through his hat, a missile lodged in his left leg and he was laid up for repairs sixteen days in the field hospital. He was taken thence to Nashville, Tenn., and remained there for nine and one-half months, and was then honorably discharged at New Albany, Ind., in 1863, after a stay in Louisville, Ky. He returned home after his discharge and bought army horses for the Federal Government until the close of the war. When the war was over, Mr. Fisher married and began his farming career in Noble county, Indiana, where he remained until 1869. He migrated to Kansas during this year, driving a covered wagon or "prairie schooner," through from Indiana to Seneca, Kans., and accom- panied by his wife and little daughter. He rented a house in Seneca and then drove to Brownsville, Neb., for the purpose of buying household furniture and stocking up with provisions. On the return trip, he at- tempted to ford the Nemaha river at Baker's ford, nine miles north of Seneca, and lost his wagon and team on account of the depth of the water and the swiftness of the current and very nearly lost his own life by drowning, only a willow saved his life. He was enabled to grasp the willow and pull himself to safety as the remorseless stream was carrying him down to his death and a watery grave. Mr. Fisher was thankful to escape with his life, but the loss of his furniture and six months' sup- plies was a hard blow to the family. He obtained a job on a farm,- six miles north of Seneca, which required that he walk the entire distance from his home before breakfast each morning and back again at night so that he could be near his family. His wages were $1 per day, but this wage seemed like riches to him at that time. In the spring of 1870, he began working on the construction of the St. Joseph and Grand Is- land railroad. During the winter he did hauling when the frozen ground HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 399 did not permit construction work, and in this manner kept his family supplied with the necessaries of life. He hauled provisions from Marys- ville to Seneca, Kans. In the spring of 1871, he was far enough ahead of the game to begin renting land on his own account, and he farmed near Seneca until 1873, when he was enabled to buy eighty acres of land m Washington township, Nemaha county. He broke up the virgin prairie and placed modest improvements on the place. The grasshop- pers came along, however, about this time and cleaned out his crops, excepting a little wheat. He sold out this farm in 1875, and rented land in the same neigh- borhood fof three years, after which he moved to Seneca and operated a dray line for about three years. He again returned to the farm and rented a half section of land in Granada township for six years, and then bought eighty-six acres of land south of Seneca. He sold this tract in 1895 and was elected registrar of deeds of the county on the Republican ticket and held the office for two terms. After the expiration of his official service, Mr. Fisher bought his present farm of four acres ad- joining Seneca, in 1897. Mr. Fisher was married September 20, 1865, in LaGrange county, Indiana, to Emeline Bowman, born at Mansfield, Ohio, February 19, 1842. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Jennie M., Kansas City, Mo.; Charles M., deceased; Glenn, employed in the water service department of the Missouri Pacific railway at Goff, Kans. Mrs. Fisher is a daughter of Daniel and Kathrine (Krepps) Bowman, natives of Ohio, who removed to Indiana in the pioneer days of that State. Mr. Fisher and his estimable helpmeet are members of the Methodist church, and for the past ten years Mr. Fisher has been a member of the Seneca School Board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Karl W. Klose. — It is due to the inventive genius of Karl W. Klose that the Seneca Brick and Tile Manufacturing Company is a successful and going concern. Mr. Klose has made brick making a life study, and his entire time has been given to a working out of the most economical methods of manufacturing brick. His continuous kiln system of brick firing, placed in operation in the Seneca plant, has attracted attention in all parts of the world, and is the last word in economy of operation, which has practically saved the plant and enabled its owners to keep it in operation. Karl W. Klose, manager and superintendent of the Seneca Shale Brick and Tile Company's plant, was born at Zeiselwitz, Germany, Au- gust 17, 1874, and is a son of John and Francesca (Werner) Klose, who were the parents of eight children, as follows : John, a brick manufac- turer of Lincoln, Neb. ; Robert, a brick manufacturer now living in Ger- many, and founded the immense brick works at Hastings, Neb. ; Alois, owner of the Columbia Brick Works at Portland, Ore. ; Karl W., with 400 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY whom this review is concerned ; four sisters are married and live in Germany. , Karl W. Klose remained on his father's farm until ten years of age, and then studied engineering at Breslau, Germany, until 1897, at which time he went to South America and was employed as a local engineer until 1903. He came to the United States in that year and settled at Lincoln, Neb., and worked at brick manufacturing in his brother's plant. He managed his brother John's plant until 191 1, and he then came to Seneca and took charge of the Seneca Brick and Tile Company's yards. He is a stockholder of the company and has made a pronounced success of the undertaking. Mr. Klose was married at Lincoln, Neb., in 1903, to Elfrieda Ty- chsen, who has borne him four children, as follows : Hilda, Theo, Walter and Ruth. The mother of these children was born January 17, 1883, s^t Lincoln, Neb., and is a daughter of Theodore and Hermine (Placidas) Tychsen, natives of Germany. Theodore Tychsen was en- gaged in the wholesale grocery business at Lincoln. George Kams. — The life ^ory of a self made man is always inter- esting from many standpoints to the reader of history, especially if he has been a Kansas pioneer such as the late George Karns, of Ontario, Kans. The recital of the struggle of the early Kansas pioneers is an inspiring story, and one which should be read by the rising generation with interest and with reverence for the memories of the noble men and women who came from Eastern homes and redeemed a wilderness after years of struggle and hardships. The late George Karns was one of those who left his imprint upon the annals of Nemaha and Jackson counties and made a name and fame for himself far beyond that of or- dinary men. He was industrious and saving and accumulated consid- erable property during his life time. He was a far-seeing business man, who assisted in organizing banks and held positions of trust with financial concerns in which he became interested. He was interested in every worthy enterprise which had for its object the advancement of the best interests of his home community. He was an ardent admirer of good live stock and was considered to have been one of the best judges of cattle and hogs within the county. He was an extensive feeder and breeder of live stock, and was very successful as a stockman. Mr. Karns carried forward his large business enterprises and added to his capital continually until his estate was one of the largest in the county, the work of carrying it forward being accomplished by his faithful wife after Mr. Karns' death. Added to the honors which this fine old pioneer accumulated during his life time of endeavor was the very great honor of having been a L^nion veteran. Speaking biographically, George Karns was born at Cardington, Ohio, June 16, 1843, ^"d departed this life at Ontario, Kans., May 30, 1908. His mother died when he was seven years old and his father died a year later. He was thrown upon his own resources and forced to earn his own living from the time he was thirteen years old. When the "Oo^crSi^^viSi JisLA^on^ ^^5jxV9<2--f7 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4°! call catne for troops with which to quell the rebellion' of the Southern States, he was among the first to enlist in behalf of the Union. Mr. Karns enlisted in the Union army, June i6, 1861, in Company I, Third Ohio infantry, and served until his honorable discharge, June 21, 1864. He re-enlisted in September, 1864, in Merrill's Horse Brigade at St. Louis, and served until the close of the war. He came to Kansas as early as 1866, and located at America City. Eighteen months later, he located at Ontario, Kans., where he resided until his death. Much of Mr. Karns' farm land was located in Nemaha county, just over the Jack- son-Nemaha county line, and the old homestead, the Rosary Stock Farm, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Hamm, is located there. Mr. Karns became very wealthy as a farmer and stockman, and at the time of his death he owned 2,000 acres of land. His advice and counsel were not only sought in private affairs, but his co-operation was solicited in the promotion of all public measures, and he became a leader of his community. He owned a controlling interest in the Farmers State Bank of Circleville, Kans., and served as president of this bank for four years prior to his death. His usefulness as a citizen was generally recognized and appeals to his sympathy were never made in vain. Mr. Karns was married January 23, 1868, to Miss Caroline Kehr- wecker, who bore him eleven children, as follows : Mary Frances, wife of Charles Hubbard, Kinsley, Kans., who died May 13, 1909, leaving two daughters and a son; John W., a successful farmer and stock raiser of Ontario; Anna B., wife of M. G. Hamm, residing in the old home of the Karns family; Albert C, Council Grove, Kans., farmer and stock raiser; Maud M., now Mrs. William Fowler, of Ontario, Kans., whose husband is a successful farmer; Sarah C, wife of William M. Myers, of Kansas City, Mo. ; William E., Ontario, Kans., a farmer and stockman residing on a -farm adjoining the old home place (see sketch) ; Elizabeth E., died at the age of two years ; Carrie, wife of Fred Pfrang, Bancroft, Kans.; a child died in infancy; James George, owner of the old home place, and resides with his sister, Anna, with the intention of becomings a farmer and stockman and follow in the footsteps of his father. Mrs. Caroline (Kehrwecker) Karns was born near Cardington, Ohio, May 12, 1849, and at the age of nineteen years she became the wife of George Karns. Immediately after their marriage in Cardington, Ohio, the young couple started for their Kansas home at Ontario. She departed this life on February i, 1916, sincerely mourned by all who knew her as a good and noble woman. Her life was that of a home maker. She loved the plants and flowers, vegetables, fruits and vines, and developed great skill in their culture. Few plants or flowers that would grow in this climate could be found that she did not under- stand and had grown in her home and garden. She grew flowers only to bestow them upon her friends and gladden the hearts of the sick or sorrowing. Her home was her fort and throne, from which she ordered well the forces at her command and ruled with love its inmates. (26) 402 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. Karns was a member of Soldier Lodge, No. 240, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. This well and favorably known pioneer couple filled well their place in their day and generation, and left behind them a large family and many friends who revere their memory. M. Grant Hamm.— "The Rosary Stock Farm."— The Rosary Stock Farm, Ontario, Kans., now being operated by M. G. Hamm, and v/hich was owned by the late George Karns, was first occupied by Jerome Wilson and his wife, Leah. They sold it to William Morris in the early eighties, and Morris sold the tract to F. C. Whipple in 1887. Mr. Whip- ple lived on the farm for five years and made some substantial improve- ments in the farm buildings and remodeled the house. In the fall of 1893, George Karns purchased it and moved his family from the old home place across the creek and made the place his home until his death in 1908. His widow and a son continued to occupy it until the death of Mrs. Karns in 1916. Five years before the death of Mrs: Karns she gave the farm to her oldest daughter, Anna B., and retained the use of the place for her home during her life time. It is now occupied by Anna B. and her husband, M. G. Hamm. M. Grant Hamm, the present head of the Rosary Stock Farm, is a Kansas native son, born on a farm in Jackson county, west of Holton, February 15, 1864. His parents were the Rev. R. P. and Susan A. (Million) Hamm, natives of Fleming county, Kentucky, the former having been born November 27, 1831, and the latter, April 21, 1835. They were married August 31, 1854, and made their home at Chaney's Grove, 111., until the spring of 1857. They then removed to Jackson county, Kansas, and settled on the farm they still own, which is located five miles west of Holton, Kans. Here they reared a family of six chil- dren, four daughters and two sons, all of whom are still living within the boundaries of their home county, and most of whom are successful farmers and farmers' wives. The only break in the family circle was caused by the death of the oldest daughter, who was accidentally burned so severely that she died when a child of three years. Rev. Hamm was one of the pioneer Methodist local preachers in Kansas, and was very successful in organizing classes, in burying the dead and uniting in mar- riage more people than any other minister or official within Jackson county. The time was when he knew every family within that county, and very many of Nemaha county families. He and his wife are still living and enjoying their rest in the eventide of their lives in a comfort- able home in Holton, after having spent fifty-nine consecutive years in the same community. Rev. Hamm was rejected as a volunteer in the Union army during the Civil war on account of ill health, but served in the State militia and assisted in the repelling of General Price's in- vasion under General Curtis during the fall of 1864. Rev. Hamm has assisted in building nearly all of the churches and school enterprises of Jackson county, and has had an active and influential part in shaping the community life. He now rejoices in seeing the fruits of his toil and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4O3 looks for progress to continue. His oldest son, born in the heat of the Civil war, was named for that great general whose skill saved the Union, Gen. U. S. Grant, but he chose a different calling from that of his father. M. Grant Hamm spent his boyhood on the old home farm and at- tended the Banner district school. When seventeen years of age he en- tered Baker University, at Baldwin, Kans., and received further educa- tional training. In 1886, he met with an accident which caused him to change his plans from farm to city life, and he spent a year at the Business College and State University at Lawrence as a teacher of elocution and oratory. He then went to Kansas City, Mo., and was em- ployed as collector and manager for a large book concern for a time. After his marriage with a childhood playmate in 1888, he removed with his wife to a home in Kansas City. In four short months after this happy marriage, his wife was burned to death as a result of an explosion of gasoline. This terrible calamity caused him to again change his plans and he began ministerial work in April of 1889, when he spent a year on the Manhattan circuit. The following year he was sent to Olesburg, Garrison and Fostoria, where he spent two useful years. While on this charge he was married to Nannie E. Barnhouse, of Hopedale, Ohio. In 1891, they moved to Vermillion, Kans., where Mr. Hamm spent three pleasant years as pastor. In March, 1895, Rev. Hamm and wife moved to Hanover, and remained six months and was transferred from there to the Nevada mission and placed at Austin, Nev., where they spent two happy and useful years. The altitude of this location was too great for them to endure in comfort, and they were compelled to seek a lower level on account of Mrs. Hamm's health. They rernoved to Winne- mucca, Nev., and spent two tragic years as missionaries, during which time he buried 104 people, eighty-six of whom died unnatural deaths. So much tragedy broke Mrs. Hamm's nervous system, and they were com- pelled to return to Kansas because of her failing health. In September of 1899, they returned to Holton, and within a week Rev. Hamm was appointed pastor of the Oneida church, where they spent one and a half years very pleasantly engaged in building themselves into the com- munity life with which they mingled. In March, 1901, they removed to Dewey's Ranch, near Manhattan, Kans., and Mr, Hamm was manager of this ranch for three years, handling its large stock grazing and feed- ing enterprise's on the 9,500 acres in his charge and caring for 3,000 cattle and from 400 to 500 horses and mules each year. In October of 1903, he severed his connection with the Dewey ranch on account of the Dewey-Berry tragedy in western Kansas, and became pastor of the Westmoreland, Kans., Methodist Episcopal Church. He continued in charge of this church until March, 1905, and November 8, 1904, he moved from Westmoreland to the old home place, inasmuch as his parents had moved to a home at Holton. Until March r, 1916, he made his home on this farm and was very successful in breeding pure bred live stock and raising pure strains of grains. Mrs. Hamm died very suddenly on 404 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY December 9, 1912, of apoplexy, leaving four children, as follows : Mer- rill, Golden, Geraldine and Ferry, to mourn the loss of a loving mother and her husband the loss of a true helpmate and companion. The three older children are nowr doing for themselves. Merrill is a traveling salesman in Texas. Golden, now Mrs. Robert Armstrong, occupies the old home place. Geraldine, now Mrs. Francis Whitcraft, resides on a farm in the western part of Jackson county. Ferry, the youngest, makes his home at Ontario. Mr. Hamm was married on July 22, 1914, to Miss Anna B. Karns, and they divided their time between the two homes during the life time of Mrs. Hamm's mother. Since they have taken up their residence at the Rosary Stock Farm, they have been equipping the place as a model stock farm and expect to continue to raise the good kind of stock that adds to the betterment of the farming interests of the community. The community extends to them a hearty welcome, and bespeaks for them a useful journey together. Mr. Hamm hopes to become a part of Nemaha county community life, as well as to continue the management of the Hamm's Pioneer Stock Farm near Hol- ton. May success crown his efforts. Mr. Hamm has been president of the Jackson County Farmers' In- stitute during most of the twelve years he has been in charge of Hamm's pioneer and the Rosary Stock Farms, and was largely responsible for the organization of the present farmers' institute and stock show, which is one of the annual features of the county. He organized the Duroc Jersey Breeders Association of Kansas, and was its secretary-treasurer for two years. He assisted in organizing the Kansas Draft Horse Association and assisted in drafting the bill for the present stallion law. He is a member and has served as president one year of the Improved Grain Breeders Association, and holds the State record on acre yield of wheat per acre. Mr. Hamm is a breeder of Percheron horses and has produced some show animals that have taken ribbons in the closest contests held at the State and county fairs. He breeds Scotch Top Shorthorns and is an accurate judge of individual merit, and has added many good herd headers to the breeds of Jackson and other counties. He is a riiember of the Old Settlers Association, and has been honored with the presi- dency of the association. Aside from his farm activities and public duties, Mr. Hamm has had charge of a church nearly all the years of his residence at the old home. He is one of the few men who have been called to the pastorate of the home church in which he was reared, and has occupied this posi- tion for nearly five years of the ten years which he has lately spent at home, serving the Circleville, Bateman, Banner and Pea Ridge churches. For nearly two years he was pastor of the Ontario church, which stands on the farm he occupies. The Banner church stands on the old home place. For nearly two years he preached on the Pottawatomie Indian reservation with great acceptability and at his own option without remuneration. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 405 Edwin Buehler. — There are some who say that education is a waste of time, especially for a business man, but Edwin Buehler is not one of them. He has attended a number of higher educational institutions and finds that he is a much better business man than he would have other- wise been. Besides the practical utility of a college education, he finds the cultural value worth notice,' and believes that his years in college were not wasted. Mr. Buehler has made a success in the clothing busi- ness and has amassed considerable property, and, therefore, is in a posi- tion to take the view he does. Mr. 'Buehler was born July 3, 1875, in Rogersville, Ohio. His par- ents, John Rudolph and Elizabeth (Dietz) Buehler, had seven children. The father was born in Switzerland in 1829 and was a farmer the greater part of his life. However, in his earlier years, he was a stone mason, and for a time dealt in horses. He came to America when a young man and worked at various occupations. Thirty days after coming to Brown county, Kansas, he died; this was in 1886. He was married twice, his first wife's maiden name being Krebs. To the second union these three children were born : Elmer, Brown county, Kansas ; Edwin, of whom this sketch treats; Robert O., of the electric light plant, Hiawatha, Kans. Edwin Buehler came to Brown county with his parents and grew up in that section. After completing preparatory work, he entered the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kans., where .he spent one year. Later, he took a classical course at Hiawatha Academy and spent a year at the University of Kansas, at Lawrence. He was a good student and was active in student affairs while in school. After leaving school, he began work as a clerk for the Graham Clothing Company, at Hiawatha, but in 1900, three years later, he re- signed and went to St. Joseph, Mo., and took employment with Rich- ardson-Roberts Dry Goods- Company as traveling salesman for two years. He then came to Seneca and became manager of the Graham Clothing Company and built up a good business. In 1907, he bought out the business and has carried it on since with increased success each year. He now handles a $15,000 stock each year. He owns residences and town lots in Seneca, which are a testimonial to his business acumen. He was married to Agnes L. Conwell on October 28, 1908, and two children have been born to them : John E. and Russell C, both living at home. Mrs. Buehler was born in Seneca, Kans., August 30, 1885, and is a daughter of Simon and Sarah fButler) Conwell. The father was born in Ireland and practiced law in this county. Mrs. Buehler is a graduate of the Serteca High School. Mr. Buehler is an independent Progressive in political matters and tries to decide each question on its merits solely. He is not a tool of any party machine and votes as he sees fit, regardless of the party affiliations of different candidates. He prides himself on being an in- telligent voter and his very independentce of party lines reveals this 406 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY trait, for ft takes thought to study the issues and select them on a basis of m-erit. Mr. Buehler belongs to the German Reformed Church, and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Royal Arch Mason, and served as district deputy of the First District, Royal Arch Masons, for two years ; and is a member of the Knights Templar, serving for three years as eminent commander of Knights Templar Com- mandery, No. 41, of Seneca. For a period of two years, Mr. Buehler served as president of the Seneca Commercial Club, and filled the office of secretary of this organization for two successive terms. Jacob A. Reinhart, retired, Sabetha, Kans, was born in Switzerland, February 16, 1843. He is a son of Daniel and Mary Ann Reinhart, who emigrated from Switzerland to America in 1853, and located in Ohio, where Daniel Reinhart worked at his trade of tanner. He also taught school in his later years. He removed from Ohio to Indiana after some years and there he and his wife died. The subject of this review attended the district schools of Indiana, and at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in the Union service at Mendota, 111., becoming a member of Company D, Twenty-third Illinois infantry. This regiment was a • part of Mulligan's brigade and saw much hard fighting during the Civil war. Mr. Reinhart fought in Gen. Phil Sheridan's command in the Shenandoah Valley campaign, and served until his honorable discharge from the service, March 17, 1865. After the war he farmed in Indiana until 1879, and then came to Ne- maha county, Kansas, settling on a farm near Bern, in Washington township. He cultivated his fine farm until 1910, and then retired to a comfortable home in Sabetha. His first tract of Kansas land cost him $2,000, and his home farm is well improved with good buildings and fencing. Mr. Reinhart owns a total of 390 acres, which he has accumu- lated during his thirty-seven years in Kansas, and he is well-to-do. Mr. Reinhart was married in 1873 to Kathrine Ressen, born at Berne, Switzerland, May 23, 1850. Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reinhart, as follows: Mrs. Matilda Matthews, Bern, Kans. ; Albert, a miller at Bern, Kans. ; Josephine, living at Bern, Kans. ; Andrew and Norse, living in Indiana ; Mrs. Caroline Kerl, living in Ne- braska ; Mrs. Den'a Ginsler, deceased ; Gideon, farmer in Nemaha county ; Jonathan, cultivating the home farm; Edward, Ephraim and Florence, at home with their parents. Mr. Reinhart is a Republican in politics, and he and the members of the family are affiliated with the Apostolic Christian Church. George Kerr. — Among the well known and highly successful live stock breeders of northeast Kansas is George Kerr, of Sabetha, Kans., who has made a distinct success as a breeder of Duroc Jersey swine, a specialized department of animal husbandry which is certain of high rewards for the individual who is possessed of sufficient intelligence and the will to carry out his operations along well defined lines. Dur- ing the thity-two years in which Mr. Kerr has been engaged as a HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4O7 breeder of live stock, he has made a name for himself throughout Kan- sas and has accumulated considerable property, for the very si,mple reason that through his skill as a breeder he has produced animals for which live stock growers in distant counties and States were willing to pay excellent prices. George Kerr was born June i6, 1857, in Platte county, Missouri, and is a son of John and Mary Jane (Rader) Kerr, of whom George is the only offspring. John Kerr was born in Virginia in 1801, and died w;hen George was but eleven months old. He was a son of John and Mary (Calhoun) Kerr, who were descended from Irish ancestry. The mother of George Kerr was born in Ray county, Missouri, and now resides at Circleville, Kans., aged eighty-two years, having been born in 1834. She was three times married, her last marriage being with Frank Hill, a native of South Carolina, born in 1834. Eight children were born to this marriage, seven of whom are living. The subject of this review was reared in Missouri and Kansas and received his schooling at Circleville, Kans., whither his mother and step-father removed, September 22, 1872, when he was a boy fifteen years old. When he was fifteen years of age he began life for himself and did a man's work at a wage of $11 per month. He saved his earn- ings and made a payment on a farm in Jackson county, Kansas, which he farmed for a time, then sold out and bought a farm in Pottawatomie county, Kansas. Not liking his location, he bought his former Jackson county farm and cultivated it for another year. In 1890, Mr. Kerr came to Brown county, and invested in 120 acres of land in Brown county, one mile east and two miles south of Sabetha, Kans. His acreage has in- creased as his means allowed and he purchased in 1894 a fine tract of 200 acres of land in Capioma township, Nemaha county. He sold his first farm in 1894, and owns 143 acres south of Fairview, bought in 1909. Mr. Kerr first began breeding Poland China hogs in 1884, and handled this breed until 1895, when he began breeding Duroc Jersey swine. Success came to him in this line of special animal husbandry from the start, and he has made exhibits of his fine stock at the Hutchinson State Fair, and won several prizes. The products of his breeding pens are in regular de- mand, and he ships hogs for breeding purposes to buyers and hog fan- ciers in many localities. He remained in active charge of his farm until September i, 1915, and then took up his residence in Sabetha. Both of Mr. Kerr's farms are well improved with good buildings and fencing, and are very productive. Mr. Kerr was married on June 20, 1880, to Mary M. Clowe, born May 28, 1864, in Hocking county, Ohio, a daughter of Elijah Bell and Lizzie (Whitcraft) Clowe, natives of the Buckeye State. Five children have been born of this marriage, namely : Minta May, born September I, 1881, died September 5, 1881 ; John, traveling salesman with headquar- ters at Sabetha, Kans. ; Nella May, wife of Roy Dixon, Butler county, Kansas ; Harrison, a farmer in Capioma township ; Noel, traveling sales- 408 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY man located at Spokane, Wash. The Clowe family migrated from Ohio to Kansas in 1868, and bought a farm in Jackson county near Holton, Kans., for which Mr. Clowe paid $3 per acre. Elijah Bell Clowe was born March 10, 1825, and died January 3, 1905. Mrs. Lizzie (Whit- craft) Clowe was born November 14, 1832, and died November 20, 1903. They were married August 8, 1850. Mrs. Kerr graduated from the Hol- ton High School, and pursued a special course in vocal and instrumental music under skilled teachers. John Kerr, her son, is a graduate of Camp- bell University. Nella is a graduate of the Grand Island, Neb., Business College ; Harrison was a student at the Kansas State Agricultural Col- lege at Manhattan, Kans., and Noel graduated from Sabetha High School, and also studied at the Manhattan College. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are to be congratulated upon the excellent education, which they hav.e given each of their children. Mrs. Kerr is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Kerr is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the National Duroc Breeders' Association. Fred Ukele. — The accomplishments of Fred Ukele during the forty- seven years of his residence in Kansas are truly remarkable when one considers that for the past forty-three years Mr. Ukele has been a crip- ple. During his period of residence in Kansas he rose to become one of the large land owners of Nemaha county, and has reared a fine family. It is a noteworthy fact that Mr. Ukele cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln on the great battlefield of Lookout Mountain. He is one of the last of the vast army of Union veterans who fought to preserve the Union. His life has been marked by a display of good citizenship and he has served his fellow citizens in various useful capacities during his long life. Pioneer settler, Union veteran, substantial citizen, Fred Ukele is one of the honored men of Sabetha and Nemaha county. Fred Ukele was born in a log cabin located in a clearing of the dense forest of Washtenaw county, Michigan, in April, 1842. He is a son of Christian and Christina (Stohlstamear) Ukele, who were the par- ents of eight children, as follows : Mrs. Lena Reade, Mrs. Louise Gakle, Mrs. Mary Maley, deceased ; Fred, the subject of this review ; John, de- ceased ; Mrs. Rachel Weldt, living in Michigan ; Edward, Wallace county, Kansas ; Jacob, residing in South Dakota. Christian Ukele was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1808, and became a baker in his native city. Not very long after he became of age in Germany, he decided to immigrate to America. He located in Detroit and worked at his. trade of baker for some time and was there married. After his marriage he and his wife journeyed to the dense woods of Michigan and hewed a farm from the wilderness of Washtenaw county and reared a family of children, as before stated. The mother of Fred Ukele was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 181 1, and was a daughter of John and Sarah (Sterley) Stohlstamear, who drove a team to the port of Hamburg and there set sail for America, making the long voyage by sailing vessel. They were on the ocean for H a d m O H d HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4O9 seventy days. John Stohlstamear sold his team of horses in Hamburg, but was unable to sell his wagon. He accordingly had it loaded on the vessel, and upon landing at New York City, he purchased a team of oxen, which furnished the means of transportation for his family and belongings to Michigan, where he made his home. Fred Ukele was reared amid the most primitive surroundings in the great forests of Michigan, and attended district school, held in a little log school house. When he became old enough to wield and swing an axe, he began working in the timber and continued at this occupation until 1861. At this time he moved to Henry county, Illinois, and three years later, in 1864, he enlisted for service in the Union army. He be- came a member of Company I, One 'Hundred and Forty-Sixth Illinois infantry, and took part in some severe fighting until the close of the war. He was at the battle of Columbus, Tenn., and participated in the chase after General Hood's army through Tennessee and the Carolinas. When he returned from the war, Mr. Ukele learned the blacksmith's trade and worked at that trade for three and a half years, in the employ- ment of the Chicago & Rock Island Railway Company, at Geneseo, 111. In 1869, he came to Nemaha count3% Kansas, and worked for one year as a farm hand at $25 per month. He then bought 160 acres of prairie land in section 27 of Berwick township. His first move was the erection of a shanty, 16x18 feet, the boards for which were sawed from cotton- wood logs and hauled from White Cloud, Kans. Mr. Ukele paid $7 per acre for having his land broken to plow and made ready for planting his first crops. He gradually improved his land and 'prospered, as he de- served, and made a great success as a stockman, specializing in hogs. At one time Mr. Ukele owned 600 acres of land in Nemaha and Smith counties, which he deeded to his sons. He retired from active farm work in 1906, and moved to a nice residence property in Sabetha. Fred Ukele has been twice married, his first marriage being with Jena Olson, in 1864. The first Mrs. Ukele was born in 1839, and died in 1908. Two children were born to this marriage, namely : Edward, farming the home place in Nemaha county, and Sylvan engaged in the insurance business at Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Ukele reared another child named Clyde Muxworthy, who lives at Bern, Kans. In 1910, Mr. Ukele married Sarah Bowser, born August 11, -1874, in Geary county, Mary- land, a daughter of Hiram and Barbara (Brown) Bowser, the former of whom was born in 1842 and died in 1896. Mrs. Barbara Bowser was born in 1846 and died in March, 1881. Both parents were born and reared in Maryland. Mrs. Ukele came to Kansas in 1900 and joined her brother, Emery, at that time farming near Bern, in this county, but who is now living in Dickinson county, Kansas. Mr. Ukele is a Progressive in politics, and in former years was the Republican leader of Berwick township, and cast his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln at 'LooS'kout Mountain, Tenn. He has held several town- ship offices and was a member of the school board in Berwick township 4IO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY for twenty-one years, and has served as justice of the peace. He is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic Post of Sabetha. One of the interesting heirlooms of the family which is highly prized by Mr. Ukele is an old newspaper published in New York, January 4, 1800, by Samuel Freer & Son. Mr. Ukele has one grandson, Fred Ukele, and a granddaughter, Charsta Ukele. Cdurtland L. Parker. — From driver of a coal wagon in the employ of the Derby Grain Company to becoming an officer and part owner and manager of this large concern is the splendid accomplishment of Court- land L. Parker, of Sabetha, Kans. For a self educated young man, Mr. Parker has had a highly successful career, and through all of his success, he is an unassuming, obliging gentleman who is well liked by his many friends, acquaintances and the patrons of the company which he repre- sents. The story of his rise to his present position is in itself a direct refutation of the oft stated excuse of young men of the present day that opportunity for advancement is not what it was in former days. Courtland L. Parker, manager of the Derby Grain and Coal Com- pany of Sabetha, was born in Sabetha, July 31, 1884, and is a son of Wickcliffe and Ellen (Davidson) Parker, to whom seven children were born, of whom Courtland L. is the sixth in order of birth. Wickcliffe Parker was born at Janesville, Wis., October 23, 1846, and was reared on a farm until the outbreak of the Civil war when he entered the employ of the United States Government as a teamster. After the close of his Government service, he taught school; came to Sabetha, Kans., in 1880, and engaged in the selling of a bed spring patented and manufactured by himself. He disposed of his manufactured product within a radius of fifty miles of Sabetha. He died in 1910. The mother of Courtland L. Parker was born in Michigan City, Ind., September 6, 1850, and was there reared and married. She died August 18, 1914. She was a deeply religious woman, and was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Courtland L. Parker was educated in the Sabetha schools, and grad- uated from the high school of his native city. At the age of eighteen years, he entered the employ of the Derby Grain Company as driver of a coal wagon, making deliveries, to Sabetha patrons of the company. For the past fourteen years, he has remained in the employ of this concern, and has advanced from his first humble position to become a stockholder in the company, secretary and treasurer, and was appointed manager of the company in 1910. Besides the grain and coal business in Sabetha, Mr. Parker has charge of six large elevators located on the Rock Island railroad, which have his personal supervision. For a period of five years of his service, he was manager of the Derby Grain Elevator at Powhat- tan, Kans. Mr. Parker was married on June i, 1910, to Miss Stella Bartley, born March 7, 1888, at Powhattan, Kans. Mrs. Parker is a daughter of Sam- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4 II uel and Mary (Callahan) Bartley, natives of Virginia, who migrated to Kansas, and are now making their home at Powhattan. Mr. and Mrs. Bartley are the parents of eleven children, all of whom are living within a radius of twenty-five miles of their home place. Mr. Parker is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is a member of the Methodist church, of which organization he is a member of the official board. He is very active in religious work as carried on by his denomination, and is secretary of the music committee, chorister of the Sunday school, and superintendent of the intermediate department of the Sunday school. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and the Knights and Ladies of Security. Arthur J. Collins, president of the National Bank of Sabetha, Kans., was born in Sabetha, January 7, 1873. He is a son of Ira F. and Sarah M. (Moorehead) Collins, old residents of Nemaha county. Ira F. Collins, his father, was born in Cass county, Illinois, October 14, 1845, ^^'^ is a son of Thomas Jefferson and Julia (Fowler) Collins. Thomas J. Collins was born in Ohio in 1800, and was a son of Pratt and Eliza Collins, who were natives of Ireland. In August of 1862, Ira F. Collins enlisted at Virginia, 111., in Company D, One Hundred Four- teenth volunteer infantry, and saw much active service during the Civil war, in the armies of Generals Grant and Sherman. He received a wound in the head at Guntown, Miss., and remained in the army hospital for sixty days. He was also taken prisoner at Guntown and interned at Cahaba, Ala., where he was held for nine months until exchanged. His greatest battle was at Vicksburg, Miss. Mr. Collins was discharged from the service on July 25, 1865, and in the fall of that year, he migrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, and located five miles north of Sabetha. His first purchase was a quarter section of land in Berwick township. He farmed his land until 1870, and then removed to Sabetha, and engaged in general merchandising until 1890 when he §old out his store and re- tired. In 1912, he embarked in the breeding of Holstein cattle and breeds thoroughbred cattle for fanciers of this breed of cattle who wish to improve their herds. Mr. Collins is owner of 320 acres of land, and has an interest in the National Bank of Sabetha. Ira F. Collins was married in 1868 to Sarah Moorehead, who was born in Iowa in 1850, and died April 22, 191 5. Five children were born to this marriage, as follows : Mrs. F. G. Hammon, Sabetha, Kans. ; Arthur J., subject of this review; Mrs. Myrtle Storm, whose husband, W. H. Storm, is a farmer in Berwick township ; Grace, wife of George R. Jones, a clothing merchant of Emporia, Kans. ; Helen, wife of Dr. E. J. Harold, a dental practitioner of Sabetha. Mr. Collins is a progressive Republican, and filled the office of State representative from 1881 to 1885, and has served as mayor of Sabetha. For forty-five years he has been affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Grand Army Post. 412 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Arthur J. Collins, with whom this review is directly concerned, was educated in the Sabetha High School and Spalding's Business College at Kansas City, Mo. When seventeen years old, he began clerking in his father's store. In 1894, he was employed at St. Joseph, Mo., as office clerk for the Richardson-Roberts and Bern Dry Goods Company. He resigned this position in January, 1897, and returned to Sabetha, where he entered the National Bank of Sabetha as bookkeeper. He was pro- moted to the post of assistant cashier in 1898, and later was cashier of the bank until his election to the presidency of this strong institution in 1908. Mr. Collins is also a director of the First National Bank of Hia- watha, Kans. Mr. Collins was married, in 1907, to Edith, daughter of George W. Williams, of Seneca, Kans., a review of whose life is given in this vol- ume. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have one child: Mary Catharine, born Au- gust 20, 1914. Mr. Collins is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is treasurer of the Sabetha Blue Lodge. Samuel Weart, of Gilman township, is a Kansas pioneer and one time freighter, who bears the added distinction of having been an Indian fighter during his freighting days. He was born in Ohio, October 16, 1847.. and is a son of Louis and Sarah Ann (Kirkendall) Weart. His father was born in New Jersey in 1809, and removed with his parents to Ohio in a very early day. He took up farming, was married in 1840, and in 1859 migrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, taking up a location on the banks of Harris creek, in Gilman township. His first tract of land came into his possession through a mortgage which he held and foreclosed. He died in Kansas, on the Weart home place, in 1863. Sarah Ann (Kirkendall) Weart was born in New Jersey and died in In- diana, where she and her husband had gone previous to Mr. Weart's coming to Kansas. Her demise occurred in 1852. Louis and Sarah Weart were the parents of five children, as follows: William and Au- gustus, deceased; Samuel, the subject of this review; John Berry, a farmer in Washington ; David, deceased. Samuel Weart was ten years old when his father came to Kansas from Indiana, and he remained at home until he attained the age of twenty-five years. When still a youth in his teens he became a freighter, and was in the employ of the government for some time. He drove six oxen from Seneca during the years of 1864 and 1865, and transported merchandise to Ft. Halleck, and his father also hauled provisions from Atchison to Seneca for the merchants of that city. In '1864, while driv- ing a team for John Wright, their outfit was attacked by Indians to the number of twenty-five or thirty on the South Platte river. There were three wagons in the convoy of eighteen men, but these men were suffi- cient to withstand the attack of the savages, and easily beat them off and killed their leader, with several of his warriors, the Indian attack HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4I3 being somewhat ineffective because of a high wind deflecting their ar- rows. The whites lost but one driver in this fight. This train was the first to go through up the Little Blue valley after the Indian uprising and massacre of that period, and were followed by United States sol- diers. After his service as a freighter, he resumed the peaceful pursuit of farming for himself on eighty acres of the home place, and eventually bought out the other heirs and came into possession of the tract. Ry dint of industry and good management, he has come into possession of 180 acres of well improved land in Gilman township. Mr. Weart was married in 1876 to Margaret Kaiser, daughter of Nicholas and Marguerite Kaiser, who died, leaving three children, namely: Henry, deceased; Mrs. Maggie Andrews, Marysville, Kans., mother of two children ; John, deceased. His second marriage was with Mrs. Katie E. Howard, on May 3, 1904, widow of George Howard, Jr., of Denver, Colo. She was first married to George Howard, May 5, 1897, at Denver, Colo. Mr. Howard was born in Ohio in 1874, reared on a farm near Tonganoxie, Kans., where his parents, George and Lizzie Howard, had settled, later removing to Denver. George, Jr., became a brakeman on the Union Pacific railroad, and was killed in 1899, while coupling cars on the Denver & Rio Grande railroad at Alamosa, Colo. His widow, now Mrs. Weart (maiden name Kennedy), was born in Ireland, No- vember 15, 1874, and came to Kansas City, Mo., with her parents when three years old. She graduated from the sisters' school in 1889, was married in 1894 to Mr. Howard, and has one child by this marriage : Geneva, wife of William Nelson, Oneida, Kans. Mr. and Mrs. Weart are members of the Catholic church, and Mrs. Weart belongs to the altar society of the church in Kansas City. Mr. Weart is a Republican in politics. Rev. John Plattner, Sabetha, Kans., pastor of the Apostolic Christian Church of Nemaha county, was born at Basil, Switzerland, February 28, 1853, and is a son of Jacob and Anna Marie (Frei) Plattner, who were tillers of the soil in their native land, and lived and died in Switzerland. John Plattner was one of six children born to his parents. His father died in 1881 ; his mother departed this life in 1861, when he was eight years old. Mr. Plattner received a good common school education in his native country, and in 1873, he immigrated to America, and located at Peoria, 111., where he was employed as farm hand for some time until he could begin farming on his own account. He was there married, and joined the Apostolic Cliristian denomination (Amish). In 1882, he, with others, migrated to Kansas, and joined the Amish or Apostolic Christian settlement six miles west of Sabetha in Nemaha county. Mr. Plattner was appointed presiding elder or minister of the church, and is now serving in that capacity. Rev. Plattner has carried on his duties as leader and adviser of the Apostolic Christians while attending to his farming interests, and has 414 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY become well-to-do. When he came to Nemaha county, he purchased i6o acres of land seven miles west of Sabetha upon which was located a small house and indifferent improvements, which have since been re- placed by a good home and barns and other outbuildings. This first farm cost him $2,000, and his acreage in Nemaha county has since been increased to the large total of 400 acres in different tracts, in addition to two town properties. Mr. Plattner left the farm, March 2, 1905, and re- sides in a comfortable home in Sabetha. Rev. John Plattner was married October 24, 1878, to Lida Kellar, and they have reared an orphaned nephew and niece, children of Henry Plattner, namely : Jacob, farming on his Uncle John's land ; Mrs. Anna Edelman, also living on a farm in Washington township. Mrs. Lida Plattner was born July 23, 1859, at Zurich, Switzerland, and is a daugh- ter of Jacob and Anna (Wirgler) Kellar, who immigrated to America in 1874, and settled on a farm near Peoria, 111. Jacob died there in 1887, and the mother of Mrs. Plattner took up her residence with Mr. and Mrs. Plattner, dying in December, 1903. For the past thirty-four years, Rev. Plattner has served as elder of his church faithfully and well. David Durham Wickins. — "Fifty years a Kansan" is. the record of David Durham Wickins, Union veteran, and former postmaster of Sa- betha, Kans., and one of the feest loved and highly respected citizens of his community. Mr. Wickins was born on a farm in Will county, (now Kankakee), Illinois, July 16, 1842, and is a son of Joseph and Barbara S. (Durham) Wickins, natives of Tennessee, both of whom were members of old Southern American families. Joseph Wickins was a very early settler in Will county, Illinois, and removed from Tennessee to Illinois in 1834. He developed a farm in the Kankakee region and died in 1855, leaving a widow with five children, as follows : Thomas Wiley, mi- grated to Kansas, and died at Sabetha, Kans. ; William, was accidentally drowned in the Kankakee river in 1854; Joseph, deceased; David Dur- ham, with whom this review is concerned ; Frank, living in Kankakee. . The mother of these children was born in 1816, and died in Illinois in 1882 in the sixty-sixth year of her long and useful life. David Durham Wickins was reared on the farm in Illinois, and re- ceived such schooling as was afforded by the district schools of his neighborhood. When the first call for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the southern States was issued by President Lincoln in April of 1861, and Sumter had been fired upon, David D. Wickins was one of the first to respond to the call issued by the man who had been chosen from his own State to bear the burdens of a sorrowful time for the next four years. He enlisted in Company G of the Twentieth Illinois infantry regiment, and served for three years and three months. His regiment was an integral part of the Seventeenth corps. Army of the Tennessee, under the command of General McPherson. His first engagement was at Frederickstown, Mo. At midnight, on January 6, he was again under fire near Charlestown, Mo. ; February 2, 1862, he was present at the cap- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 415 ture of Ft. Henry; February i6 and 17, he participated in the assault upon Fort Donelson ; his next great battle was at Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862; Raymond, Miss., May 12, 1863. At the battle of Raymond, he was wounded in both hands and one leg" — a bullet passing through the right hand — and he was incapacitated for an entire year, but served out his time of enlistment, and received Iiis discharge at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 27, 1864. He returned to the home of his mother in Illinois after the war, and remained at home until his immigration to Kansas in 1866. Wr. Wickins first settled in Brown county near Sabetha and broke up the virgin prairie soil of his farm with oxen during the first season After his mar- riage in October of this year, he and his bride returned to Illinois, where they resided until 1873, 3-"^ then made a permanent settlement in Sa- betha, where Mr. Wickins conducted a retail meat market. In 1874 he established the first transfer business in the city and operated it success- fully until 1880. He then engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock, and operated a coal business in connection with his transfer busi- ness. He worked for a time in a hardware store. In 1882, he was ap- pointed appraiser of the Oto Indian reserve. Later he opened and con- ducted the first grocery store in Sabetha, in which the business was con- fined strictly to groceries and eatables, sometime afterward including it with a general store, which he eventually closed out and again operated a grocery store, until he engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- ness. Mr. Wickins was married at Hiawatha, Kans., October 11, 1866, to Amanda M. Hawkins, of Kankakee, 111., and daughter of Almon Haw- kins, who immigrated to Kansas in 1859. l^rs. Wickins was born Decem- ber 12, 1848. The following children have been born to David and Amanda Wickins : Edward, Salt Lake City, Utah, chief clerk in the general offices and in charge of the freight department of the Oregon short line, married Ruth Posson and has two daughters, Gladys and Florence; Kate E., wife of O. D. Gaff, Tacoma, Wash., has a son, Oliver, dentist in Chicago; Delia, wife of A. F. Washington, St. Joseph, Mo., has one daughter, Katherine ; Charles, St. Louis, Mo., engaged in the commission produce business, married Zella Hyde. Mr. Wickins is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Blue Lodge No. 162, and is affiliated with Grand Army Post No. 175 of Sabetha, Kans. He is the pioneer auctioneer of Nemaha county, and for forty years cried sales in northeast Kansas successfully. For eleven years he was a member of the board of county commissioners, having been elected a member of the board in 1889 and served for eleven years thereafter. During his term as commissioner, the county jail was erected. Mr. Wickins was appointed postmaster of Sabetha in 1912 by President Taft, and served for four' years, or until May, 1916. He has given the patrons of the postoffice an excellent administration, and has conducted the affairs of his important governmental position to the sat- 4l6 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY isfaction of every one concerned, and faithfully performed the duties of the office. It was with real regret that many patrons saw a change in the personnel of the office force at the expiration of Mr. Wickins' time. "Uncle Dave," as he is affectionately known by the citizens of Sabetha, is one of the landmarks of this beautiful city, and beloved of every one who knows him and esteemed for his sturdy and upright citizenship. George W. Williams, farmer, Oneida, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born in 1847, ^t California, Moniteau county, Missouri, and is a son of Eli W. and Eliza (English) Williams, natives of Pennsylvania and Mon- iteau county, Missouri, respectively. Eli Williams was a son of James Williams, of Pennsylvania, and was born near the city of Harrisburg. The Williams "family emigrated from Moniteau county, Missouri, to Kansas in 1855, and made settlement on a farm of 160 acres on Deer creek, in Nemaha county, now well known by the name of "Williams- dale." The Williams farm is one of the oldest farms in Kansas, and has been owned by members of the Williams family for the past sixty years. Here on the unbroken prairie lands, Eli Williams made a settlement and was thus one of the first pioneer settlers of Nemaha county. He took a prominent part in the early struggles in Kansas and was here during " the territorial difficulties. Eli W. Williams was elected a member of the State legislature scheduled to meet at Lecompton. Richard Clency was his personal bodyguard and the trip to Lecompton had been planned, and it was arranged that the two men go on horseback to the meeting. They had good horses saddled, with saddle bags and canteens for water. A sack was thrown across the back of the saddles, which contained flour and bacon, and a frying pan, gun and hatchet completed the outfit. On the morning of their proposed departure, Jim Lane sent messengers to them, telling them not to start, as they would be killed, and to defend themselves as best they could until he (Lane) could meet them. It was a time of trial and trouble for the family, and George and his sister, Fanny, stood guard all night at the cabin door with axe and knife handy, ready to sell their lives dearly in defense of their father's life. At another time a man named William Sawyer sought to take away their homestead, but was not successful. He became enraged at his failure and threatened to waylay them some dark night on their way to the river and kill them. George and. his father went armed all the time during those fearsome days, and always slept on their guns. Eli W. AVilliams died at Oneida, Kans., April 3, 1865. His wife was Eliza English, born in Moniteau county, Missouri, and a daughter of Judge James English. She died at Oneida, September 15, 1885. Eli and Eliza Williams were the parents of the following children : George W., the subject of this review; Eli Milton, Denver, Colo. ; Amon I., road supervisor of Gilmin township, and who claims to have "slept the most nights of any living person in Nemaha county ;" Boyd Lincoln, Flagler, Colo. ; Mrs. Mary Frances Cox, Oneida, Kans. ; Elizabeth Bare, who is said to be the first white child born in Nemaha county, Kansas, now GEORGE W. WILLIAMS. MRS. ALICE (GRAY) WILLIAMS. LAURIN L. WILLIAMS. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 417 deceased, and Mrs. Eliza Jane Johnson, wife of Perry Johnson, deceased. The parents and members of this noted pioneer family are all members of the Christian church. George Williams was seventeen years old when his father died, and he was left to help an invalid mother rear- a family of boys and girls in a new and barren country. With ox teams he helped break up the virgin sod. With four yoke of oxen he hauled all the family supplies from the Missouri river, and hauled lumber with ox teams to build the first drug store erected in Seneca, for Dr. McKay. The overland trail to the Far West passed through Oneida and Seneca at this time, and great wagon trains of gold seekers were constantly passing through on their way to the mountains of California. Many of the pony express riders and the old United States rangers were well known to him. Mr. Williams has often seen large herds of deer on the land where Oneida now stands, and he has many times seen hostile bands of Indians decked out with paint and war regalia and looking for trouble, but no depredations were committed by the savages nearer to the Williams' home than the Little Blue. Mr. Williams has developed the Williams homestead into a fine productive farm, and has prospered during the many years in v/hich he has been a resident of Kansas. In point of years of residence, he is prob- ably the oldest living pioneer citizen of Nemaha county at this day. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Shipping Association of Onedia, and is a charter member of the Knights and Ladies of Security. He has traveled over a considerable portion of the United States, with his wife accom- panying him part of the time, when she was engaged in the United States Indian service. He served as industrial teacher at Tuba, Ariz., in the Navajo country, and also held that position with the Kickapoo Indian tribe at Horton, Kans. He was government farmer at Tuba for a time, and did a great amount of good in behalf of the Indians, because he was practical in his instructive work, and taught the Indians from what knowledge he had accumulated from many years of actual expe- rience in tilling the Western soil. George W. Williams was married November 23, 1881, to Miss Alice Mabel Gray, a pioneer teacher of Brown county, Kansas. This marriage has been blessed with a son and a daughter, as follows : Maude, died in infancy; Laurin L., born in Oneida in 1883, and resides on the historic Williams farm. He served for five years as rural free delivery carrier out of Seneca, but liking the farm life as more suited to his tastes, he returned to the home place. He (Laurin L.) was educated in the common schools of Kansas, and finished a course in painting at Campbell University, Holton, Kans. He has some talent as an artist and loves the out door life, and is a lover of all animal life. He keeps a kennel of thoroughbred dogs, and his pack of wolf hounds are his pride. Mrs. Alice Mabel (Gray) Williams was born at Hiawatha, Kans., (27) 4l8 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY a daughter of John and Annie Maria (McCune) Gray, natives of New York. John Gray, the father, settled at Hiawatha, Brown county, Kansas, in May of 1857. There was just one house in Hiawatha at the time Mr. Gray came there to make his future home. He located a home- stead one mile north of Hiawatha, and lived there for many years. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he joined a company of guards organized in Brown county for service in the Union army under Capt- I. J. La- • cock. This company journeyed to Atchison and tried to be mustered in as a part of the First Kansas infantry, but were disappointed. The company was gone from their homes for three months and eventually disbanded. Mr. Gray then enrolled in the militia, but was rejected at Leavenworth, Kans. James Pope was captain of the company in which he enrolled. Still desirous and anxious to serve his country, he joined the home guards, under Lieutenant Perkins, and assisted in repelling of the Price invasion of Kansas. In later years he was always proud to relate the fact that he took part in the expedition which resulted in General Price and his rebel army being driven from Kansas. While Mr. Gray was away in the Union service, the wife and mother cribbed 1,000 bushels of corn and cut and hauled the winter's fuel from the woods, a distance of seven miles. The little family lived all alone and were per- fectly unprotected. John Gray was possessed of a roving diposition. He was one of the original "Forty-Niners" and crossed the plains to the gold fields of California during the great rush of 1849. He returned home via Cape Horn. He went on many freighting expeditions to Pike's Peak and was an old Indian fighter. John Gray was married in' Illinois in 1857 to Annie Maria McCune, who was born in New York, left an orphan at the age of twelve years, and then made her home with a cousin. This cousin was an editor, who came to Kansas in 1854 to help edit the "Herald of Freedom." Mrs. Gray was at Lawrence, Kans., when the town was sacked and burned by the pro-slavery ruffians, and she lost all earthly belongings. She then went to Illinois with a pro-slavery family named McVeigh, and was there married. Six sons and a daughter were born to this marriage, namely : Anson, Los Angeles, Cal. ; Arthur, Medford, Okla. ; Walter, Grant, Okla. ; Dell, Muscotah, Kans. ; Fred, Florence. Kans. ; Mrs. George W. Williams, with whom this review is concerned. .\11 of the Gray children are prosperous and are upright and worthy citizens of their respective communities. John Gray died in Oklahoma in 1906. Mrs. Annie Maria Gray died in 1885. Both lie buried in Fairview ceme- tery, Goff, Kans. Mrs. Alice Williams was reared and educated at Hiawatha, Kans., and has taught school during the greater part of her mature life, of late years having been engaged in the Indian service. Her first appoint- ment in the. Indian service was at Tuba, Ariz., as a teacher among the Western Navajos. She was lovingly called the "Soniskee" by that mighty tribe of 24,000 members. At her own request she was trans- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4I9 ferred to the Great Nemaha School of Iowa Indians and worked for several years on the reservation in Brown county, Kansas, not far from her early home. When the .Oneida postoffice was placed under the civil service, Mrs. Williams took the examination held to select some one to fill the place, and she was appointed postmistress of Oneida. Mr. Williams is her able assistant in taking care of the duties of the postoffice. She is a' stockholder of the Best Slate Company of Mena, Ark., a growing concern with a bright future, and owns land near White Cloud, Neb., and has western property and a nice residence property in Seneca. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Knights and Ladies, of Security ef Seneca, Kans. She has long been a working member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and was president of the Seneca union for three years. She was a member of the Women's Relief Corps of Seneca for some time, and was patriotic instructor of the corps. At the present time she is camp guardian of the Camp Fire Girls of the Minnehaha Camp at Oneida. The collection of Indian relics possessed by Mrs. Williams is the finest in this section of the State, and she has taken great pride and infinite pains in making her noted collection during many years. Speaking from an ancestral standpoint, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Williams was Anson Gray, a native of New York, and a direct descendant from the Grays of old Revolutionary stock. Her maternal grandmother was Jane Harris, of Pennsylvania, whose father was John Harris, the famous founder of Harrisburg, Pa., and a direct descendant from an ancestor who came to America with the Mayflower contingent. Members of the Harris family fought in the American revolution in behalf of independence. Fred Colfax Woodbury. — Personal achievement in the realms of finance always stands out prominently, and requires advancement above the mediocre and commonplace, ability of a definite order, and inherent endowments of mental and physical attributes possessed by few men. The individual who can lift himself beyond the ordinary channels of his life profession is worthy of notice and praise — and is especially marked as a rising citizen, if banking is his vocation. Fred Colfax Woodbury, president of the Citizens State Bank of Sabetha, Kans., is a rising finan- cier and banking official of northern Kansas, whose career has been a noteworthy one and his success is indicative of attainments beyond the ordinary. While having been a resident of Nemaha county but a few years, he has taken a prominent place in the civic and social life of the community, and is looked upon as an enterprising and gifted individual who has the best interests of his city and county at' heart. It is a relief, in these days of rabid commercialism, to find a citizen who looks beyond the mere money grubbing instinct, and strives to make himself useful in valued ways to his fellowmen without hope of reward other than the approbation and good will of- his fellowmen 420 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Fred Colfax Woodbury was born June 8, 1868, in Livingston county, Illinois, and is descended from old American stock, and a member of the noted Woodbury family, identified with early Colonial history, the founders of which settled at Plymouth, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., in the seventeenth century, and later moved to the valleys of Vermont. The great-grandfather of Mr. Woodbury was a soldier in the American Revolution. Fred Colfax Woodbury is a son of Hilton H. and Virginia (Clark) Woodbury, natives of Vermont and Kentucky respectively. Hil- ton H. Woodbury was born December 3, 1843, ^""^ was a son of Willard L. Woodbury, a contractor and farmer, who immigrated to Livingston county, Illinois, in 1855, and broke up the virgin prairie soil on his home- stead. He was also a house builder and contractor who did an extensive business during his life time. He migrated to Cherokee, Crawford county, Kansas, in 1875, and followed farming until his demise in 1899. Hilton H. Woodbury was married in Illinois and moved westward to Cherokee, Crawford county, Kansas, in 1884. He farmed until 1886, and then located at Ford, Ford county, Kansas, where he became engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock and in banking pursuits. He has become a man of large interests, and is president and majority stock- holder of the Ford State Bank. Hilton and Virginia Woodbury are the parents of six children, as follows: Lindon C, a railroad man, Newton, Kans. ; Fred Colfax, subject of this review; four children are deceased. The mother of these children was born in Kentucky, November 18, 1846, and died April 10, 1901. She was a daughter of John Clark, who re- moved from Kentucky to Bloomington, 111., in an early day, and became a merchant tailor, and established a clothing business. F. C. Woodbury received his primary education in the public schools of Cherokee, Kans., graduated from the high school, and completed a business course at Kansas City, Kans. For some time, he was identified with a wholesale grain and retail concern in Chicago. In 1892, he re- turned to Kansas and located in Ford county, where he served as super- intendent of public instruction for several terms, and was also interested in the live stock and banking business with his father. He later devoted his time and talents to the banking business at Ford, Kans., where he resided until 1898, and then removed to Pawnee Rock, Kans., and organ- ized the Farmers and Merchants State Bank. He remained in charge of this bank until his removal to Sabetha, Kans., in 1913, consequent to his purchase of the Hesseltine interests in the Citizens State Bank. Mr. Woodbury's ability and his attractive and likable personality have done much toward advancing the progress of the Citizens State Bank, during the past three, years, and he has taken his place among the leaders of Nemaha county during this time. Besides his large banking interests, he owns a fine grain farm in Pawnee county, Kansas. Mr. Woodbury was married, in 1894, to Miss Grace Shaffer, of Spearville, Ford county, Kansas, a daughter of J. D. Shaffer, deceased lumber merchant of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury have one child, namely: Hilton S., born in September, 1898. > HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 421 The Republican party has always had the allegience of Mr. Wood- bury, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which denomination he takes an active and influential part. Be- ing a speaker of ready and entertaining address, he is frequently called upon to address church gatherings, and teaches the young men's Bible class of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school. He is a trustee and member of the official board of the Sabetha Methodist Church. Mr. Woodbury is one of the active promoters of the farm bureau movement in Nemaha county, and the farmers' institute, and is prominentl}^ identi- fied with all good movements tending to advance the well being of his home city and county. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and the Knights and Ladies of Security. William Logan Carlyle, M. D. — Dr. William Logan Carlyle, general practitioner and anaesthetist of the Sabetha Hospital, Sabetha, Kans., was born May 22, 1866, on a farm in Adams county, Illinois, near Quincy. He is a son of William (born 1821, died 1891) and Sarah (Strong) Car- lyle, (born January 9, 1826, died December 28, 1906, in Omaha, Neb.), both of whom were born and reared in England. William Carlyle emi- grated from England in 1832; Sarah Strong emigrated from her native land to America in 1835 ; they met and were married at Beverly, Adams county, Illinois. Some years later, the family immigrated to Nebraska and made a settlement in Cass county in 1872. The Civil war record of William Carlyle, however, should precede any further account of this couple. Mr. Carlyle enlisted in the One Hundred Twenty-fourth Illinois infantry in 1862, for a period of three years, and fought in many noted engagements such as Big Black River, siege and capture of Vicks- burg. Miss.; Champion Hills, Raymond and Jackson, Miss; and his com- mand occupied and policed the city of Vicksburg after the surrender of the city. He fought at the battle of Spanish Fort in April of 1865. This was one of the last engagements of the great war. In 1872, William Carlyle made a settlement in Cass county, Ne- braska, and developed a fine farm. In old age he retired to a home at Weeping Water, and died there. Five children were born to William and Sarah Carlyle, as follows : Robert B., a boiler maker, Omaha, Neb. ; S. L., a gardener at Forest Grove, Oregon ; Edward, boiler maker, Omaha, Neb.; William L., subject of this review; Mrs. Margaret Thomas, living in Oregon. William L. Carlyle was educated in the district schools and the academy at Weeping Water, Neb., and graduated from the Rush Medi- cal College at Chicago in 1893. He practiced medicine at University Place, Neb., for four years; Kimball, Neb., for six years, and came to Sabetha, Kans., in 1903. He has practiced successfully in this city, and been connected with the staff of the Sabetha Hospital for the past thir- teen years, with the exception of three years at Hanover, Kans., 1909 to 1912. Dr. Carlyle pursued a post graduate course at the Chicago Post Graduate School in 1903. 422 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Dr. Carlyle was married December 28, 1897, at University Place, Neb., to Ruth Ingram, a native of Falls City, Neb., and daughter of Fred- erick W. Ingram, a pioneer citizen of Nebraska City, Neb., who was a freighter in the early days of the settlement of the West and transported freight overland from Nebraska City to Denver, Colo., in the early fif- ties, and became quite wealthy. Mr. Ingram is now past seventy-eight years of age, but is actually homesteadinga claim in Wyoming, despite the fact that he is well-to-do, and has three sons who are rich enough to care for their father. However, he loves the wild, free life of the open, and is happier on his lonely homestead than he could be elsewhere. Mr. Ingram, in the old days, was owner of a Missouri river steamer in part- nership with his brother. Mrs. Dr. Carlyle is a graduate of the school of music at Wesleyan University, and is the mother of one child, namely: Arthur Ingram Carlyle, born September 28, 1900, student in Sabetha . High School. Dr. Carlyle is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations and has served two years as county health officer. He and Mrs. Carlyle are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Progressive in politics, and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights and Ladies of Security, and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Edgar M. Newman, successful grocery merchant, Sabetha, Kans., was born on a farm in Rock Creek township, Nemaha county, March 30, 1870. The Newman homestead is now located in what is known as Ber- wick township, formerly a part of Rock Creek township. Mr. Newman is a son of Alexander and Augusta (Bestwick) Newman, and is the sixth born of a family of eight children. His twin brother, Edward, is em- ployed in the Newman grocery. Alexander Newman was born on a farm in Buchanan county, Mis- souri, November 11, 1840, and was a son of John and Susanna Newman, the former of whom was also a native of Missouri, and a direct descend- ant of Cardinal Newman, famed in English history. John Newman was a son of Alexander (born February 26, 1796) and Delilah (born March 27. 1797, and died May 29, 1868). John Newman, grandfather of Edgar Newman, migrated to Nemaha county in 1868, and set- tled in Rock Creek township. He drove from Buchanan county, by means of oxen which he used to break up the virgin prairie soil of his land. He erected a log cabin built of native timber and farmed his land until his death. His son, Alex, was practically reared to young man- hood on the pioneer farm in Nemaha county, and upon the outbreak of the great rebellion, he endeavored to enlist in the Union service, but was rejected, because of defective eyesight. He cultivated the family estate until his retirement to a home in Sabetha in the late seventies or early eighties. He died in Sabetha, March 20, 1909. Alexander Newman and Augusta Bestwick were married June 22, 1861, in the Moorehead stone HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 423 house in Rock Creek township. Mrs. Augusta Newman was born in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, October lo, 1846, and was a daughter of William and Mary Bestwick, early pioneer settlers of Nemaha county, Kansas. The Bestwicks were of English descent. Alexander and Au- gusta Newman were the parents of the following children : ThomasJ., of Albuquerque, N. M. ; William S., deceased; Edgar and Edward, twins ; Vina, librarian of the Sabetha city library ; Mary, deceased ; Linda, bookkeeper for T. J. Pace, proprietor of the city ice plant ; Charles W., a switchman at Omaha, Neb., in the employ of the Union Pacific railroad. Edgar M. Newman attended the district schools and the Sabetha city schools in his boyhood days. He began his business career by clerk- ing in a local grocery store until 1904. He then embarked in business for himself, and has gradually built up. an extensive business, maintaining at the present time one of the most complete grocery establishments in this section of the State, and carrying a stock of goods exceeding in value $8,000. Besides his grocery business, he owns property in Sabetha, and a business lot on the Main street of Sabetha. Mr. Newman was married, in 1909, to Vera Brumbaugh, born in Illinois, August 31, 1885. Mr. Newman is an independent in his political views, and votes according to the dictates of his conscience and own judgment. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and stands high 'in business circles in his home city. Richard Bottiger. — When Richard Bottiger left his old home in Pennsylvania thirty-two years ago, he was imbued with the idea tha^ Kansas offered better opportunities for gaining a livelihood and amass- ing a competence than that afforded in his old home State. As the years passed, this idea became a reality. Mr. Bottiger made a good liv- ing from the start, and rose from the status of a comparatively poor man to become a well-to-do citizen. At this day, when he and his faithful helpmeet who has shared his early struggles to get ahead in the world, have every comfort and luxury that money can buy, they look back over the years of hard and unremitting labor on the Kansas plains, take a just pride in their belongings and their beautiful modern home, and feel grateful that they were permitted to take a part in he upbuilding of a great county and State, in the capacity of humble tillers of the soil. Richard Bottiger was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in the town of Sunberry, August 15, 1852, and is a son of Isaac and Car- oline (Kepler) Bottiger, who were the parents of fourteen children, of whom Richard is the second in age and birth, and twelve are living. Isaac Bottiger was born in Pennsylvania in 1827, and died in 1881. He was a son of Daniel and Katharine Bottiger, the former of whom was a stone mason, and son of a German emigrant who made a settlement in Pennsylvahia. It will thus be seen that Mr. Bottiger comes of the sturdy Pennsylvania German stock, whose industry and proverbial honesty have become noted, the country over. The mother of Richard 'Bottiger was born in Dalton county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Abraham Kepler, 424 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY a farmer who was a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. She died in 1914 at the age of eighty-one years. Richard Bottiger was reared on the parental farm, and when he be- came able to do a man's work, at the age of twelve years, in the fields, did farm labor for the neighboring farmers at a wage of $3 per month, eventually receiving $13 per month, as he became older and more com- petent. He rented land in his home county, but the returns seemed so slow and opportunities for advancement looked so meager that he de- cided to come to the newer country of Kansas. Accordingly, June 8, 1883, he migrated to Nemaha county and bought 160 acres of land in Rock Creek township on a time contract at a cost of $22 an acre. In 1884 he brought his family to the new home and prosperity became his from the start. He tilled his acreage continually with excellent results until his retirement to a home in Sabetha in 1904. In six years' time he was en- abled to pay for his first farm, and then added another quarter section to his possessions. In addition to his land holdings, he is a stockholder and director of the Citizens State Bank of Sabetha. Mr. Bottiger was married in 1873 to Caroline Arbgast, born in Sny- der county, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1854, a daughter of 'Jacob and Mary (Lahr) Arbgast, natives of Pennsylvania. Three children have blessed this happy marriage, namely: Ida, wife of Clayton Lewis, farmer of Rock Creek township ; Laura, wife of Ira West, farmer of Rock Creek township; Flossie, wife of Dr. Ralph Welch, practicing dentist of Sa-- betha. Mr. Bottiger is a Republican in politics, and served as treasurer of Rock Creek township for five years. He was mayor of Sabetha for two terms, 1910-1913, inclusive, and during his term of office, the water works system was installed, and the electric light plant was enlarged and modernized. He is a member and trustee of the Sabetha Methodist Epis- copal Church. Thomas S. Anderson has lived in Kansas for the past forty-five years, and is one of the real "old timers" of the State. His first home in Nemaha county was a one-room frame house, and the only shelter he had for his live stock was a straw barn. Mr. Anderson has witnessed a great State in the making, and has assisted materially in the development of one of the richest and best counties of the commonwealth ; he has reared a fine family of children, who have taken their places in the world and have families of their own. His four score and two years still sit lightly on his shoulders, and this grand old patriarch is yef a man among men, despite his great age. Thomas S. Anderson, of Oilman township, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, July 3, 1834, and is a son of George S. and Sarah (Smith) Anderson, the former of whom was born in Ohio, November 11, 181 1. George S. Anderson was a farmer during his whole life. He married Sarah Smith in 1833, and reared a family of twelve children, as follows : Thomas S., subject of this review; William W., a farmer of Guthrie, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 425 Iowa; Humphrey, deceased; Mrs. Martha E. Jones, deceased; Mrs. Mary J. Henderson, deceased ; George W., retired farrner, Seneca, Kans. ; Mrs. Hannah Bethel, deceased; Mrs. Marguerite Carpenter, Carwi, Kans. ; Mrs. Maude Dewhurst, California ; John, deceased ; Or- lando, farming in Ohio; Mrs. Etta Bethel, deceased. Mrs. Sarah Smith Anderson, mother of the foregoing children, was born in England in 1816 and died in 1869 in Ohio. She came to America with her parents in 1818. Her father was a stone mason and was employed in the building of the White House at Washington, D. C. Twelve years after coming to this country (1830) he removed to Ohio and engaged in farming. He had a farm of 160 acres and was a pioneer in the fruit industry, maintaining a dry house for the purpose of preserving his surplus crops of peaches and apples. Thomas S. Anderson received a district school education, pursued an academic course for one year, studied in a select school, worked on his father's farm until he attained his majority, and then began teach- ing. He taught in one district school five years successively and taught for ten years in all. His first farm consisted of fifty-six acres in Athens county, Ohio, which he cultivated for five years, and then sold it. He went from Athens to Hocking county, Ohio, and bought 165 acres of unimproved land, upon which he built a house made of hewn logs cut from the timber on his own tract. He also built a log barn, and for eight years devoted his attention to the raising of tobacco and corn. In 1869 he disposed of his holdings in Hocking county, Ohio, and migrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, where he purchased 160 acres of unimproved land. He at once built a one room house and a straw barn, which .-served as his home until he could build an addition, 14x18 feet, to his home. His house was burned, with all of its contents, in 1883, for which he received insurance to the amount of $900. He then erected a ten room residence on the site of the old home, which still serves as his residence. Mr. Anderson is not a stockman and sells all of the grain grown on his place. He is a successful bee culturist. He was married in June, 1862, to Anna Eliza Martin, daughter of Jacob and Jane (Lefevre) Martin, who bore him nine children, as fol- lows : John W. and Elsie, deceased ; William T., a traveling salesman in Oklahoma; Sherman M., farmer, Nemaha county; Mrs. Sylvia Shrimp, Nemaha county; Mrs. Dora B. Marshall, Norton, Kans.; Bene- dict and Jacob S., farmers in Nemaha county. The mother of these children died in 1879. Mr. Anderson was married the second time to Harriet Maxwell on June 22, 1882, at Huntington, Ohio, and she has borne him a son, namely: Frank M. Anderson, a farmer living in Ne- maha county. Mrs. Harriet (Maxwell) Anderson was born July 4, 1843, in northern Ohio, and is a daughter of Jacob and Permelia (Snively) Maxwell. Her father, Jacob, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1819, and was a farmer all of his life in his native state. Permelia Maxwell was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1823, was married to Mr. Maxwell 426 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in 1841, and was the mother of nine children, as follows: Mrs. Mary H. Anderson; Mrs. Rebecca Norris, deceased;' Mrs. Samantha Bethel, Vinton county, Ohio; Robert J., deceased; Levy M., Gloucester, Ohio; William H., Gloucester, Ohio; Malan M. and John E., living in Ohio; Francis M., deceased. Mr. Anderson is a Democrat, who votes independently in local and county affairs. He has been a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons for many years. Mrs. Anderson is a member of the Methodist Church. Dr. Samuel Murdock, Sabetha, Kans., was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, August 6, 1841, and is a son of Ezekiel P. (born March 10, 1809, died February 11, 1907), and Rachel (Taylor) Murdock, (born January 29, 1814, died August 22, 1885). Ezekiel Murdock was born in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Ephraim Murdock, a native of Scotland. Ezekiel P. Murdock and Rachel Taylor were married in Dearborn county, Indiana, January 29, 1835, ^^^ ^^^^ union was blessed with children, as follows : David L., born in Butler county, Ohio, and died at Kansas City, Mo., August 27, 1903 ; Mary Ann, born in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1838, died March 11, 1903; Samuel and Elizabeth, (twins), of whom Elizabeth died February 16, 1883; Jacob T., born Jan- uary ri, 1844, became a lawyer, and died at Streator, 111., December 23, 1912; Ezekiel P., born December 15, 1845, and became a physician; Nancy Jane, born November 24, 1847; George L., born June 20, 1851, died September 15, 1886. There were three lawyers in this family, of whom Ezekiel P. Murdock, of Chicago, 111., was first a lawyer, and then became a physician, and is widely known as a scientist, writer and skilled physician, located in Chicago for the past forty years. The mother of these children was born in Knoxville, Tenn. David L. and J. T. were also lawyers. D. L. was judge on the bench of San Diego, Cal., but died in Kansas City, Mo. Ezekiel P. Murdock, father of Dr. Murdock, was admitted to the practice of law in Cincinnati, Ohio, and first practiced his profession in Dearborn county, Indiana, where he lived until 1854, and then located at Hennepin, Putnam county, Illinois. In 1859, he located in Lewis county, Missouri, and there followed farming. After his wife's death, he removed to Streator, 111., where his demise occurred. Dr. Samuel Murdock was educated in the public schools, and holds a diploma as Master of Arts from Chaddock College, Quincy, 111., in 1870. In 1876, he graduated from the Physicians and Surgeons College at Keo- kuk, Iowa. In the meantime, he had completed a commercial course at Bryant and Stratton's Business College in Quincy, 111., and practically made his own way through college from the time he was seventeen years old . Dr. Murdock is proud of the fact that his professional education was secured mainly through his own efforts, without any outside aid. He enlisted in Company I, Forty-seventh Illinois infantry, in 1861, and served for two years in the Union army, was wounded in the left HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 427 shoulder at Corinth, Miss., and received his honorable discharge from the service. He fought in the following great battles : Farmington, Miss. ; the skirmish lines at Shiloh and Corinth. During the period in which he was attaining his professional education, he taught school -when not attend- ing school, and practiced at Kahoka, Mo., for a number of years, and served eight years as pension surgeon and medical examiner at Kahoka. Dr. Murdock located at Oneida, Kans., in 1883, and practiced in that city continuously until November of 1905, when he came to Sabetha, Kans. Dr. Murdock was married at Monticello, Mo., January i, 1871, to Martha H. Green, while he was teaching at the Monticello Seminary, Monticello. Mrs. Murdock was born in Switzerland county, Indiana,, January 29, 1839, and died November 4, 1905. She was a daughter of Moses Green, who was a settler in Lewis county, Missouri, and became a prominent citizen of that county. Mrs. Murdock, mother of Dr. Mur- dock, was also a niece of Gen. Zachary Taylor. Three children blessed this union of Samuel and Martha Murdock, namely : Amy, died at Chad- dock, December 4, 1879; Oscar, died in infancy; Dr. Samuel Murdock, Jr., Sabetha, Kans., a review of whose life career is given in this volume. Dr. Murdock is a member of the County, State and American Med- ical Associations, and was one of the organizers of the Nemaha County Medical Society. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Congregational church. Dr. Murdock is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a thirty-second degree Mason. He is a member of the Grand Army Post at Sabetha, Kans., and in 1915, he deliv- ered the memorial day address at Sabetha. He makes addresses occa- sionally, and is a forceful and interesting speaker. For some years, he was a contributor to the "Medical Courier," of St. Louis, Mo. Unlike many professional medical practitioners, he has made provisions for his declining years, and is one of the well-to-do citizens of the county. He still practices medicine and attends to surgical cases at the Sabetha Hos- pital, when his son is away on business, and can thread a surgical needle as accurately and quickly as a younger man. During his long years of practice. Dr. Murdock treated the sick and ailing whether poor or rich, the financial condition of his patients making no difference in his atten- tions and care. He made a practice of treating the families of poor wid- ows free of charge. For all of his years, he is active as ever, shrewd, strong and mentally active, and during his life he has always been a total abstainer from alcoholic drinks, and attributes his excellent health and undiminished powers of body and mind to this fact in a great meas'ure. Levi S. Stevens, farnier and liveryman, Sabetha, Kans., was born in Lee county, Illinois, October 24, 1869. He is a son of Henry and Mary j. (Sivy) Stevens, who were the parents of five children, of whom Levi S. is the youngest. Henry Stevens was born in Pennsylvania in 1835, immigrated to Lee county, Illinois, in the late forties, and died there in 1895. H's wife, Mary J. (Sivy) Stevens, was born in Richford, Ohio, in 1836, and is now living at Eskridge, Kans. 428 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. Stevens was reared on the farm in Lee county, and was edu- cated in the district school and the public schools of Dixon, 111. He fol- lowed farming in his native State until 1902, and then came West to Brown county, Kansas, and located on a farm two miles east of Sabetha. He cultivated his land until 1910, and then came to Sabetha, and pur- chasec^ the Conrad livery barn. He is well-to-do, and owns a fine farm of 280 acres in Brown county. While living on his farm, he was a suc- cessful breeder of Percheron horses, and is known as an excellent judge of horse flesh. He makes a business of buying and selling live stock, and his knowledge of horses comes in good stead in this business. He was married in 1894 to Miss Clara Piper, and this marriage has been blessed with the following children : Verna, born in Illinois, March 16, 1898; Lulu, born in Illinois, May 1900; Mildred, born in Brown county, Kansas, June, 1903. The mother of these children was born in Lee county, Illinois, 1872, a daughter of J. J. and Elizabeth (Shelley) Piper, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Stevens is a Republican in politics, and is widely known as a horseman and successful citizen of Sabetha. Although he has been in Kansas but a few years as compared to the residence of an old settler, he has become thoroughly imbued with the Kansas spirit, and has made good in the State of his adoption. Will R. Anthony, superintendent of public instruction of Nemaha county, is one of the ablest educators and school executives of northern Kansas, who was- born to his profession, and is essentially self made and self educated. His experiences as an educator have been broad and varied enough to especially fit him for the exacting duties of his position at the head of the Nemaha county school system, and his diplomatic methods of handling the affairs of his office have been so successful that the schools of Nemaha county were never in better position than during his term as superintendent. Prof. Anthony is a product of the Southland, and is descended from old American families on both paternal and maternal side. His fore- bears were Germans, who settled originally in the Carolinas, and whose descendants were among the pioneers of Tennessee and Kentucky. W. R. Anthony was born on a farm in Sumner county, Tennessee, August 12, 1862, and is a son of Robert D. and Bettie (Harrell) Anthony, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. The old home of the Anthony family is situated on the border line of the two States, and Robert D., born in 1837, was a son of Henry S. Anthony, a native of Allen county, Kentucky, and a son of Joseph Anthony, born in North Carolina, and who came to Kentucky in 1792, when seventeen years of age. Joseph Anthony was one of the hardy pioneers who cleared away the wilder- ness and made a home under the most exacting conditions for his family. He reared a large family of children, namel}'^: George, William, Joseph, Lee and Henry S., and five daughters, all of whom were reared to man- hood and womanhood in Kentucky. WILL R. ANTHONY. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 429 Robert D. Anthony married Miss Harrell in her Tennessee home and then made a permanent residence across the State line in Kentucky, where he still resides. He is the father of four children, as follows : William R., the subject of this review; Henry W., Nashville, Tenn. ; Robert A., a teacher in Portland, Tenn ; Callie, wife of Rev. W. E. Lyon, a Methodist minister, preaching in Texas ; Bertha, wife of William Rigs- ley, and Joseph M., of Portland, Tenn. Mrs. Anthony was born in 1838, and died in September, 1913. Since her death the elder Anthony has been living with his children. A brother of Robert D. Anthony was killed in battle while fighting in behalf of the Confederacy during the Civil war, and a brother of Mrs. Anthony lost his life while in the service. Will R. Anthony was educated in the public schools of his native State, and studied in a private academy. He began teaching at the age of sixteen years, and taught for five years in the neighborhood of his old home, which was followed by one year's teaching in Illinois. He then married and clerked for three years in a general store in his home neigh- borhood. Prof. Anthony came to Kansas in 1888 and taught for three years in the schools of Phillips county. He located in Marshall county in 1891, and taught nine years, beginning in the rural schools, and then tak- ing charge of a consolidated graded school. For four years he had charge of the grammar department of the Irving, Kans., school, and spent his summer vacation in studying, so as to equip himself for a better position. He took charge of the Oneida, Kans., schools in 1903 and held this position three years, becoming superintendent of the Corning public schools in 1906, and held this place five years, or until his taking up the duties of superintendent of public instruction, to which office he was elected in November, 1910. He was re-elected in 1912 and again in 1914. For a number of years Mr. Anthony has been engaged as institute instructor in Nemaha, Cheyenne and other counties in Kansas. Prof. Anthony was married November 29, 1884, to Miss Eva Par- sons, of Illinois, a daughter of Nicholas Parsons, a native of New Jer- sey. The following children have been born of this marriage : Edith, wife of E. H. Pretz, Spokane, Wash. ; Grace, a teacher in Nemaha county; Rolin, freshman in Seneca High School; Alvah Lee, aged five years. While Mr. Anthony has been a life long Democrat in his political leanings, he is an avowed prohibitionist and a strong supporter of pro- hibition principles, who is not afraid to voice his convictions at every opportunity which presents itself. When seventeen years of age, he united with the Baptist church, and has always taken an active part in church and Sunday school work. Since coming to Kansas he has be- come affiliated with the Holiness Movement, and is very active in the religious work carried on in behalf of a higher spiritual experience.' 430 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Dr. S. Murdock, Jr. — Judging by the accomplishments and decided ability of Dr. S. Murdock, Jr., Sabetha, Kans., as related to his profes- sion, the reviewer would unquestionably place him in the front rank of distinguished physicians and surgeons of the present day. He is a sur- geon of considerable repute, and while yet a young man as years meas- ure a man's age, he has advanced steadily to a high place in the profes- sion of medicine and surgery — a place which has been won by diligent study, scientific research and constant endeavor to lift himself above the commonplace and mediocre. Dr. Murdock is the founder and builder of the Sabetha Hospital, a surgical institution which is widely and favora- bly known throughout northeast Kansas and the contigious territory of Nebraska. Dr. S. Murdock, Jr., was born at Kahoka, Mo., January 27, 1872, and is a son of Dr. Samuel Murdock, whose biography appears in this vol- ume. Dr. Murdock received his first elementary schooling in the public schools of Kahoka, Mo., and he was eleven years old when the family removed from Kahoka to Oneida, Kans. He completed his primary ed- ucation in the Oneida schools, and then studied the classics at Washburn College, Topeka, and Baker University at Baldwin, Kans. In due time, he began his medical studies at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and graduated from the Kansas City Medical College, at Kansas City, Mo., in 1893. He began the practice of medicine at Oneida, Kans., and re- mained there until 1903, when he located in Sabetha, and established the Sabetha Hospital. The hospital was first established in a large residence, but the demands upon the facilities of the building and the doctor's surg- ical skill became so great that it became necessary to erect a larger build- ing, which was completed in 191 1 — a magnificent structure which is the last word in modernity and equipped with the latest appliances in med- icine and surgery. The hospital buildings and equipment represent a total investment of over $120,000. Dr. Murdock was married, in 1894, to Miss Flora Fitschen, daugh- ter of A. P Fitschen, a merchant of Tipton, Mo. He is politically allied with the Progressive party, and he and Mrs. Murdock are members of the Congregational church. Dr. Murdock is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a Knight Templar, noble of the mystic, shrine, and has taken thirty-two degrees of Masonry. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and other minor fraternal societies. Dr. Murdock, during the twenty-three years which he has devoted to his high and difficult calling, has never ceased to be a student. In preparation for devoting his time and talents exclusively to the practice of surgery, he visited the great capitals of Europe in 1893, and attended medical and surgical clinics, in 1910, at Berlin, Germany, Vienna, Aus- tria, and Berne, Switzerland. He was engaged in his studies in Europe for a period of five months in final preparation for his work as a special- ist in surgery. He is a member of the Nemaha county, Kansas State, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 43 1 and the American Medical Associations and societies. Dr. Murdock is the active secretary of the Nemaha County Medical Society, and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Samuel M. Hibbard, M. D., ex-county health officer, Sabetha, Kans., was born July 19, 1885, at Oregon, Mo., and is a son of George W. and Kathrine (Williams) Hibbard, who were the parents of nine children, of whom Samuel M. is the eighth born, and eight are living at the pres- ent time. George W. Hibbard, the father, was born in Kirksville, Mo., Jan- uary 13, 1841, and when fourteen years of age went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he remained until his enlistment (1862) in Company E, Sixth Iowa infantry, and saw much active service in the command of Gen. William T. Sherman, and took part in the famous "March to the Sea." He was three times wounded, once through the forearm and twice through the shoulder. He fought at the great battle of Shiloh, and was at the great siege of Vicksburg, after which he was engaged in the campaign which resulted in the capture of Atlanta and the "March to the Sea," in Sherman's victorious army. After the war, he located on a farm at Oregon, Mo., and for forty-four years tilled his acreage, finally retiring to a comfortable home in Oregon, Mo. George W. Hibbard was a son .of John and Mary (Barnes) Hibbard, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers of Missouri. Records show that five generations of the Hibbards have been pioneers on the frontier of this country. They were among the first to venture into the forests of Kentucky, and a member of the family was captured by the Indians and kept a prisoner for three years. The mother of Dr. Hibbard was born at Kokomo, Ind.,. June 20, 1848, and died October 2, 1909. She was a daughter of Arthur and Mary (Smith) Williams, natives of Indiana. Dr. Hibbard attended the public schools of Oregon, Mo., and worked on his father's farm until he was seventeen years old. "\Vhen he was eighteen he entered medical college at St. Joseph, Mo., and grad- uated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1907. After practicing his profession in Missouri for some time, he came to Sabetha in 1908. During the eight years in which Dr. Hibbard has been located in Sa- betha he has built up an excellent practice and accumulated property. He is constantly striving to improve his skill, and has taken post-grad- uate courses since locating in this city. Dr. Hibbard was married in 1907 to Miss Orable Shambaugh, who was born December 23, 1886, at Oregon, Mo., and is a daughter of James and Jennie (Scott) Shambaugh. Dr. and Mrs. Hibbard are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the doctor is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has taken all degrees in Masonry up to and including the Scottish Rite degree. He served as master of Sabetha blue lodge in 1913. He is an independent, in politics. In 1913, Dr. Hibbard was ap- pointed county health officer of Nemaha county and filled this position from 1913 to 1914. 432 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Lyman Robie Jackson. — ^There is certainly some distinction in being the oldest pioneer merchant and a citizen of a Kansas community and in having lived to see a thriving town grow from the firsjt beginning of a hamlet on the Nemaha county prairies. Such 'distinction naturally and rightfully belongs to Lyman Robie Jackson, retired merchant and capi- talist of Centralia, who has lived in this city for the past forty-seven years, and has witnessed the transformation of the unpeopled prairie lands of this county to a smiling and prosperous country of homes and villages. Mr. Jackson was born in Orange county, Vermont, April 23, 1835, and is a son' of Willard and Lorinda (Peake) Jackson, to whom six children were born, of whom Lyman Robie is the fourth in order of birth. Willard Jackson, his father, was born at Salem, N. H., April 13, 1805, and was descended from an old New England family. He re- moved from New Hampshire to Vermont, and was a farmer during his whole life. He died in 1874. His wife, and mother of Lyman R., was born in Orange county, Vermont, in 1809, and departed this life in 1880. Lyman R. Jackson was reared on the home farm in Vermont, and received a good school and academic education at Barre, Vt. He learned the trade of tanner and the currier's trade, which he followed for seven- teen years. When the call came for volunteers with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States in 1861, he responded and enlisted in Company G, Ninth Vermont infantry, and served until the close of the Civil war. He saw much active service in North Carolina and the Southern States, and witnessed General Lee's surrender at Appomattox court house. Following his honorable discharge from the service, he located at Haverhill, N. H., and followed his trade until 1869. He then migrated to Kansas and established a general store in connection with the railroad depot at Centralia, Kans. He operated this store for a time and then erected a larger building in which to care for his large and increasing trade. He sold out in 1872, and bought a hardware store, which he sold in 1875. He then bought a tract of land in Home town- ship and farmed for a few years. He became a land owner and owns land -in Nemaha county at the present time. Mr. Jackson was married in 1869 to Josephine Page, a descendant of an old American family, which traces its beginning back to the thirteenth century. Mrs. Jackson is a native of Haverhill, N. H. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, as follows Mrs. Lora Combs, Bakersfield, Cal. ; Arthur, Denver, Colo, and three children, who are deceased. Arthur Jackson is a prosperous merchant at Denver, Colo., and has a record as a veteran of the Spanish-American war. He was a member of the Twentieth Kansas regiment, which fought under Gen. Fred Funston. He is a graduate of the State University at Lawrence, and re- ceived the degree of A. B. from his alma mater. Mr. Jackson has taken a very active and influential part in civic LYMAN R. JACKSON. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 433 affairs during his long residence at Centralia, and is one of the city's most respected aged residents. He is a shareholder of the Citizens State Bank of Centralia, and is a Republican, who has held many public offices within the gift of his fellow citizens. He has filled the office of mayor of Centralia on three different occasions, and during his adminis- trations many public improvements were undertaken, one of which is indicative of his great public spirit and consisted in cutting down a large hill, which obstructed a view of the city from passing passenger trains. He became a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at West Topsham, Vt., and was the actual founder of the Centralia lodge of Masons. He did the work of getting nine men together who were Masons, and took his party to Seneca and there organized themselves into the Centralia Masonic Lodge. He served as police judge of Cen- tralia and has always been active in behalf of his home city. Mr. Jack- son is a member and deacon of the Centralia Congregational Church and is a prominent member of the local Grand Army of the Republic Post. John P. Cummings, capitalist, Sabetha, Kans., is a native of Massa- chusetts, and a descendant of a New England family, five generations of which have lived in the United States. He was born at Oxford, Worcester county, Massachuetts, May 19, 1851, and is a son of John and . Minerva (Massey) Cummings, who were the parents of four children, as follows : Mrs. Ada Healey, deceased ; John P., subject of this sketch ; Ida, wife of George McLain, deceased; Elmer B., Roadhouse, 111. John Cummings, the father, was born at Oxford, Mass., December 25, 1824, and became a stone mason and plasterer. He removed to Princeton, 111., and followed his trade in that State for some years. His death occurred July 20, 1898. Mrs. Cummings, the mother, was born at Dud- ley, Mass., Septerhber 11, 1829, and is now living at Roadhouse, 111. John P Cummings became a farmer in Illinois and lived in that State until 1882. He then went west to Denver, Colo., and was em- ployed as shipper in the cattle industry until 1885, at which time he came to Sabetha, Kans., and engaged in the grain business in partner- ship with a Mr. Price. They owned a grain elevator and did a highly successful business, finally selling out the business and elevator in 1907. Mr. Cummings has invested his surplus earnings in land and now owns 266 acres of good farm lands in Brown and Johnson counties, Kansas, and is a stockholder in the Mutual Telephone Company. ' Mr. Cummings was married in 1886 to Emily Viles, who was born August 6, 1861, at Newton, Iowa, and is a daughter of Alvah and Char- lotte (Cottle) Viles. Alvah Viles was a native of Maine, who immi- grated to Iowa and lived there until 1881, and then came to Kansas, locating near Manhattan on a farm, where he became a breeder of Po- land China swine. Mr. Cummings is a Progressive in politics and was elected mayor of Sabetha in 1901. He gave the city a good administration and Turner Hall went out of existence in the city during his term of office. He (28) 434 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Stood for strict law enforcement, and his wishes in this regard were re- spected. From 1902 to 1905, he was a member oi the city school board. The Cummings home is oiie of the finest in Sabetha, and was erected in 1912 by Mr. Cummings. It is a handsome structure of eight rooms, all modern, equipped with steam heat, hot and cold running water, electric vacuum' cleaner and modern laundry equipment in the basement. It is such a home in which a housewife takes great delight, and is in keeping with the life success of Mr. Cummings. David Hennigh. — The ranks of the grand army of veterans who fought under the starry banner in defense of the Union, during the great Civil war, are fast thinning, and only the strongest who went into the affray when very 3'oung, are surviving to this day. David Hennigh, Union veteran, and Kansas pioneer, is one of the last of the "Old Guard" who marched under the Stars and Stripes at the call of President Lin- coln and who, after the war was over, came to Kansas and fought another hard battle for the redemption of the prairies in Nemaha county, and worked hard and faithfully for the amassing of a competence for his declining years and his posterity. He is one of Sabetha's "grand old men," and is highly respected and esteemed by his many friends and ac- quaintances. David Hennigh was born at Center Hall, Center count}', Pennsyl- vania, June 27, 1847, and is a son of David and Mary (Mingle) Hennigh, who were the parents of nine children of whom David was the second in order of birth. David Hennigh, the elder, was twice married, his first wife being Mary Ann Rishel, who was born February 2, 1814, in Center county, Pennsylvania, and who died October 13, 1843, leaving two sons and five daughters, of whom two are living. Of the second marriage, four sons and a daughter are living. David Hennigh, the elder, was born February 16, 1809, in Gregg township, Center county, Pennsyl- vania, and died December 11, J891. He was a son of Adam, born Jan- uary, 1757, a descendant of German ancestry and a soldier of the Rev- olution who fought in the American War of Independence. He farmed in Pennsylvania until his death in April, 1838. This Revolutionary patriot was three times married, his first wife being Anna Wierbaugh, (born July 16, 1776, and died August 2, 1794), drowned while fording a stream on horseback with an infant child in her arms. His third wife was Barbara Von Ada, born February 6, 1772, and died February 19, 1828. The name of "Hennigh" was originally derived from "Henney/' which was the name by which the early ancestors of David Hennigh were known. The Henney Buggy Company was founded and carried on by members of this family. David Hennigh, the father of David, changed spelling of the name to "Hennigh," and all of his descendants now write their surname, according to the practice established by David the elder. The mother of the subject of this review (Mary Mingle) was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1820, and died March 27, 1869. Both parents were members of the Evangelical church. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 435 David Hennigh, with whose career this review is directly concerned, was reared on his father's farm, and received his schooling in an old log school house built by his father and a neighbor in order that their chil- dren might have adequate school facilities. His schooling was neces- sarily limited, and was intermittent at times. He remained on his fa- ther's farm until his enlistment in the Union army at Potter's Mill, Penn., in Company E, First Battalion of Pennsylvania, volunteer infan- try, and he saw service in southern Pennsylvania and Maryland, in an emergency call to repel a rebel invasion at the time of the burning of Chambersbnrg, Pa. He was in service for four months and then received his discharge and remained at home until he became of age. He then started out to seek his fortune in the West and journeyed to Henry county, Illinois, where he worked out as a hired farm hand in the employ of his cousin, who paid him $25 per month. In December of 1869, he made a trip to Severance, Kans., and a short time later, he walked across the intervening country to Muscotah, Kans., a distance of fifteen miles. He then started to walk from Muscotah to Atchison, intending to board a train at Effingham, but, upon being informed by Col. Benton of Ef- fingham that the train would not be along for three hours, he finished his trip afoot, and then went back east from Atchison to Illinois. He remained in Illinois until February, 1870, and on March 2, 1870, he arrived again in Atchison county, Kansas, and bought seventy-five acres of .land- near Farmington in Center township. He learned what hard times were in those days, and was kept busy in keeping the wolf from the door. During the grasshopper visitation of 1874 and 1875, he traded poultry for seed corn, and would make the trips to Atchison where he did his trading. In 1880, Mr. Hennigh came to Nemaha county and bought a farm three miles west and one mile south of Sabetha in section 17 of Rock Creek township. His first purchase of land was a barren tract of prairie with not a stick or shrub on the entire quarter section. His first building was a granary 14x16 feet in extent which served as his home during the first summer of his residence in Nemaha county, ■ while erecting his residence. From this small beginning, he created one of the finest improved farms in the county, and has increased his land holdings to 589 acres of excellent land. For many years, Mr. Hennigh was a breeder of Shorthorn cattle of the pure bred type, and he was very successful in this venture, becoming widely known as a pioneer breeder of fine stock in Kansas and the West. He made many exhibits of his fine stock, and made private sales to parties in all sections of the western country, which required that he and his son make shipments of cattle once a week. Mr. Hennigh retired from active farm life in 1909 and erected a beautiful, modern home of ten i^ooms in Sabetha, which is one of the best built houses in this section of the State. Mr. Hennigh gave each child $1,000, or its equivalent when each attained maturity. It is worthy of note that, in 1900, Mr. Hennigh bought a ranch in Edwards county, Kansas, and placed his son, Reuben, in charge of it, 436 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY stocking the ranch with Hereford cattle which they would ship to Ne- maha county for breeding. Reuben got his start on this ranch, which Mr. Hennigh later sold, and Reuben moved to Grant county, Kansas, where he owns eight quarter sections. Mr. Hennigh was married in February, 1867, to Mary Breon, who was born October 10, 1846, in Gregg township. Center county, Penn- sylvania, and is a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Auman) Breon, natives of Pennsylvania. Twelve children have blessed this union, as follows : Alfred F., Siloam Springs, Ark. ; Mrs. Savilla Close, deceased, left two children, Alfred and Leroy, Alfred on part of home place, and Leroy is deceased ; Charles, killed by being run over by a flat car on the Central Branch railroad at Farmington, Kans. ; Reuben, rancher and stockman, Grant county, Kansas; Mrs. Ella Bestwick, Brown county, Kansas; Herbert D., farmer in Capioma township; Roy, grocery mer- chant, Sabetha; Elmar, Sabetha; Earl, farming the home place; Harry, Parsons, Kans. ; Mrs. Myrtle Brocker, Nemaha county, Kansas, mother of three children, Harry, Velma, Lila. Mr. and Mrs. Hennigh have twenty-nine grandchildren, as follows : Alfred F. has sevien children: Leon, Lottie, Hazel, Mary, Hester, Florence and Alfred. Reuben has five children: David and Lawrence, twins ; Elmore, Emmett and De Loss. Ella Bestwick has three children : lone, Helen, Vera. Herbert D. has one child, Nina Lucina. Roy has four children : Daphne, Agnes, Violet, Berna May. Harry has two children : Merle and Helen. The Republican party has always had the allegience of Mr. Hen- nigh, and he served as a member of the school board of his township for twelve years. It can be said of him that he was always in favor of the best teaching facilities for the children of his district, regardless of the expense, and believes that a good education is essential to the well being of the present day. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomination he is also a member of the official board, and is a liberal contributor to the cause of religion. He is affiliated with the Sa- betha Grand Army post, which is his only fraternal society, Few men can look backward over the long vista of years which have lapsed since he began his successful career, and be better contented with what he has accomplished in behalf of him and his than David Hennigh. John F. Lukert, county engineer, Sabetha, Kans., was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, May 27, i860, and is a son of Frederick and Dora (Miller) Lukert, who were the parents of seven children, of whom John F. is the ledst. Frederick Lukert, the father, was born in 1833, and im- migrated to America in 1887 with his family and located in Walnut town- ship, Brown county, Kansas. He became owner of a fine farm of 160 acres, which he tilled until his death in 1906. The mother of John F. Lukert was born in 1836, and died in 1909. Both parents were members of the Lutheran church. John F. Lukert was reared at Hofen, Germany, educated in the Ger- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 437 man schools, and left his native land on February 3, 1875. He came to this country and located at Sabetha, Kans. His first work was at farm labor for a monthly wage. This he followed until 1884. He then began farming on his own account one mile northwest of Sabetha, and was ac- tively engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1895. He then came to the city and engaged in the buying and shipping of grain, becoming owner of the Sabetha and Price, Kans., grain elevators, but sold out in 191 1. Mr. Lukert owns 320 acres of excellent farm land in Brown county and, for several years, was a well known breeder of Shorthorn and Hereford cattle. Mr. Lukert was married in 1886 to Elizabeth Trees, born June 11, 1863, in Ohio, a daughter of Andrew J. Trees, concerning whom, see the Trees biography in this volume. Three children have been born to this marriage, namely : Harry and Bland, farming in Brown county ; Cordia, a student in the Baptist College, (Ottawa University), Ottawa, Kans. Mr. Lukert is one of the leaders of the Democratic party in Nemaha county, and has always been interested in political matters. He was ap- pointed county engineer of Nemaha county in 1914, and is performing the duties of his office to the satisfaction of the people of the county. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Hiawatha, Kans. John McCoy. — We are living in the age of specialization, which is not exclusively confined to commercial life or to the learned pro- fessions, but has become a recognized and valued adjunct to the science of agriculture in its broadest development. The tiller of the soil who specializes in any one department of this most im-. portant vocation is making a name and reputation for himself and conferring a distinct benefit upon his fellow workers. If he be a . breeder of thoroughbred live stock he is increasing and enhancing the profits to be obtained from this very important branch of farming, and is benefiting the live stock producers of the country by placing at their disposal the best products of his skill. In the neighborhood of Sabetha, Kans., are several well known and suc- cessful breeders, among whom is John McCoy, who, for over forty years, has been producing high grade Shorthorn cattle, which have be- come famous throughout the country, and have assisted Mr. McCoy in amassing a comfortable fortune in Kansas. The history of Mr. McCoy's career as a breeder is embodied in the following newspaper clipping, which appeared in the issue of several newspapers in March, 1915 : "The farmers of Kansas and Nebraska Avill have opportunity to get some excellent Shorthorns in the sale of John McCoy & Son, that will be held at Hiawatha, Kans., Tuesday, April 4, 191 5. Nearly forty years ago John McCoy saw the need of improved beef cattle and he decided to get the best blood obtainable for that 'purpose. At this time the fine herd of J. G. Gowan, New Point, Mo., was in its prime and at its head 438 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was the noted Loudon Duke VI, No. 10399, bought of WilUam War- wick, of Kentucky, for $3,000. This bull was not only a famous prize winner, but was the sire of many prize winners. A liberal purchase of this prize winning blood gave Mr. McCoy a foundation from which he soon bred a herd that was massive, beefy and attractive. "Later, Mr. McCoy used bulls carrying Scotch blood, being sons of such noted sires as Imported Scottish Lord, No. 77761, Imported Thistle Top, No. 83876, Imported Ducal Crown, No. 97149, Imported Royal Pride, No. 14965 1, and Imported Collynie, No. 135022, the last being Pride of Collynie, No. 259588, still in service in the herd, assisted by 'Secret Good,' No. 367761. "While good blood has always been sought in this herd, Mr. Mc- Coy's first consideration has always been correct beef form. If his cattle do not come up to the standard they are not retained in the herd. This herd has done much to improve the cattle of a wide territory, and breeders and farmers in need of some good Shorthorns would do well to attend this sale." In all of the many sales John McCoy has conducted, honesty and absolute fair dealing have been the inflexible rule. During the forty years of experience in breeding and disposing of Shorthorn cattle at both public and private sales, the prices obtained for his stock, while mod- erate for the individual stock, have reached an aggregate amount as great, if not greater, than any Western breeder has received. It is probable that John McCoy has made more honest profits from his breeding operations than any other individual breeder of this section, and he ranks as the oldest breeder in Kansas today. Mr. McCoy is a member of the American Shorthorn Breeders' Association, and has a library of eighty-six volumes of the American Shorthorn Herd Book in his possession. John McCoy was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, April i, 1841, and is a son of John and Margaret (Kirkpatrick) McCoy, who were the parents of six children, two of whom are deceased, and of whom John was the fourth in order of birth. The father died in Ireland on his farm at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother departed this life in Ireland at the age of ninety-two years. Both were members of the Episcopal church. John McCoy worked on his father's farm in Ireland and learned the carpenter's trade in his youth. In 1866, he left his native isle and immigrated to America, working at his trade in the city of Chicago for three years, and two years in Michigan. His health failed him eventually, and, despite the fact that he rose to the position of boss carpenter, in 1872 he decided to come West in the hope of re- gaining his health. He migrated to Kansas and settled on a farm in Brown county. This was the "Rock Spring Farm," located about three miles east of Sabetha, for which Mr. McCoy paid $9.50 an acre, and which contained eighty acres. There were no improvements on this place, but it had a valuable HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 439 feature in the way of a large, never-failing spring, whose waters gushed from the rocks where it had its source. Mr. McCoy improved his acreage, gradually added more land to his modest eighty acres, and engaged in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle. The products of his farm in the way of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle have had a wide sale in this section of the country, and he has exhibited them at various live stock shows and fairs' with considerable success. Mr. McCoy has accumulated a total of 500 acres of land and has a fine modern residence of eleven rooms on his home farm, a cattle barn, 70x36 feet in extent, with excellent im- provements on his other three farms. His hom.e farm is located in section 4, Monall township. Brown county. Mr. McCoy is also a suc- cessful breeder of Poland China swine. His herd of Shorthorns includes an average of thirty breeding cows. John McCoy was married in 1870 to Victorine C. Nowlen, born at Coonsville, N. Y., September 17, 1841, and who died August 23, 1915. Seven children were born of this union, four of whom are deceased. The three living children are : Jessie, at home with her father, born January 24, 1877, graduated from the Sabetha High School ; Ira J., born March 4, 1879, located at Parkman, Wyo. ; Edward, at present managing the home place, and widely known as a live stock breeder, born Sep- tember 5, 1882. Mr. McCoy removed to Sabetha in 1908, and here expects to make his future home, well satisfied with what he has accomplished during his forty-four years of residence in Kansas. Mr. McCoy is a Republican and has served as a member of the school board. He has been an officer of the bank at Morrill, Kans., and is connected with the fair association at Sabetha. He is a m.ember of the Congregational Church. Andrew Williamson, retired farmer, Sabetha, Kans., was born at Berr Hill, Ayershire, Scotland, May 24, 1847, '^nd is a son of James and Mary (Cargo) Williamson, who were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are living. James Williamson was a shepherd on his na- tive heath, and was born in 1800, and died in 1884. The mother of An- drew Williamson was born in 1803, and died in 1868. Opportunities for acquiring an education were very limited in the particular case of Andrew Williamson in his native land, and he left home in 1868, shortly after his marriage in 1867, and came to America in search of fortune. He located in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and worked as a laborer in a small town at a wage of $1.35 per day. He remained there until 1876, and then crossed the continent to San Fran- cisco, where he was employed as teamster until 1879. He then came to Kansas and purchased 160 acres in section 30, Rock Creek township, Nemaha county, for which he paid $17.50 an acre. He bought this partly improved tract in partnership with his brother-in-law, John Cardy, who died a short time later. Time, industry, energy and good management have brought prosperity to Andrew Williamson, and he is the owner of 320 acres of land, eighty acres of which are located in 440 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Capioma township. When Mr. Williamson was actively in charge of the farm he kept only high grade Shorthorn cattle, Poland China and Duroc Jersey hogs. He removed to Sabetha in February, 1903. Mr. Williamson was married in 1867 to Miss Nancy Cardy, who was born in Ireland in October of 1846, and was there married. She is a daughter of Archibald and Isabella Jamieson (McLaughlin) Cardy. Eight children have been born to Andrew Williamson and wife, as" fol- lows : Charles, dead ; Elizabeth, her father's housekeeper ; Mrs. Mary, wife of C. B. Benedict, Miami county, Kansas; John C, owns and farms land in section 29, Rock Creek township ; Sarah, wife of Melvin Dan- ford, Rock Creek township ; Andrew, a salesman for The Starns Drug Company, Detroit, Mich. ; Jeannette, wife of Paul Masseter, section 25, Rock Creek township; Ellen, wife of H. Lukert, Brown county, Kan- sas. The mother of the foregoing children died September 23, 1903, Mr. Williamson and his family were all reared in the Presbyterian faith, which was the church of his parents. He is a Republican in pol- itics and hds served as a member of the school board of his township. He is a stockholder in the Mutual Telephone Company. There are two things for which this sturdy American of Scotch birth deserves credit, the first of which is the rearing of a large family of children who are all well-to-do and enterprising citizens of their respective localities ; the other is, that he came to this county a poor man, has worked hard, saved his earnings, and accumulated a comfortable competence to sup- port him and his during his declining years. His life has been an indus- trious and honest one which has met the approval of all of his friends and neighbors. John N. Funk, retired pioneer farmer and Union veteran, of Oilman township, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 6, 1840, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Hampshire) Funk, for whose biography see sketch of David Funk in this volume. When he was an infant six months old his parents moved to Putnam county, Ohio. John Funk received but two or three months of schooling each winter in his boy- hood days and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty years old. He then rented part of the home farm and operated the same until his enlistment in the Union army in 1864. He became a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio regiment, an organization of one hundred daymen, and was honqrably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, when his time of service expired. Upon his return home he moved to his farm of eight}" acres in Putnam county, Ohio, improved it with good buildings and cultivated it until 1868, when he sold out and bought his father's farm of 140 acres in the same county. One year later he sold his farm, and went to Moniteau county, Missouri, but after spend- ing three weeks in viewing the country, he decided to go farther west to Nemaha county, Kansas, and visit his brother, David. In December of 1859, hs bought eighty acres in Oilman township, and in January, 1870, he built a one room house, 14x20 feet. He also erected a typical O K 2 CO O M HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 441 Kansas barn of poles and hay. In 1873 he bought eighty acres adjoin- ing his first tract and erected a house thereon, building an additional four rooms to this residence in 1884. Previous to this, in.i88i, Mr. Funk bought 200 acres in Oilman township and rented it out for pasture for seven years, later placing all of it in cultivation excepting thirty acres. He owns 332 acres at present, all of which is in cultivation ex- cepting ninety acres, and ten acres of this amount is in orchard and twelve acres in timber. In 1879, he built a frame barn, 24x40 feet, later adding two shed wings, 16x40 feet, on each side, and in 1886, he erected a granary, 28x36 feet. In past years Mr. Funk dealt heavily in live stock, but of late he has abandoned the live stock end of farming. Mr. Funk was married in Ohio in 1860 to Magdeline Brannaman, daughter of Henry and Esther (Good) Brannaman. To this union ten children were born, as follows : Two died in infancy ; Abram L., Havre, Mont. ; Mrs. Elizabeth Schmick, Hiawatha, Kans ; Mrs. Lydia Sohn, deceased; James E. (see sketch); Sarah, died August 7, 1910; Mrs. Eva Graves, living on the home place ; Fred W., farmer in Ne- maha county ; Roy, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Funk have grandchildren, as follows: Mrs. Laura Huffman, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Schmick; Norman S., May L. and Nellie M., children of Mrs. Lydia Sohn ; Omer M., son of James E. Funk; Clifford E. and Marguerite L., children of Fred Funk. Mrs. Funk was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, September ^5, 1841, married at the age of nineteen and was her husband's faithful helpmate and mainstay during his rise to wealth and position, and was a good and kind mother to her children. She died July 31, 1910, and her remains lie buried in Oneida cemetery. John N. Funk has grown up and aged with Kansas, and, like his adopted State, is still hale and hearty in the prime of manhood, althor^h he has passed the biblical allottment of three score and ten years. When this grand old Kansas pioneer came to Nemaha county, there was hardly any settlements of houses in the vicinity of his present home, and it is a fact that he and his wife and Samuel Funk, wife and three children, lived in one room, 14x20 feet in dimension, from January 10 to May, 1870. This may seem odd and unbelievable to the present day generation, who are used to comfortable homes and every convenience, but it is a truthful statement of the manner in which the first comers to Kansas were of necessity forced to live on the plains forty and more years ago. Mr. Funk has witnessed many changes in the appearance of the countr}' since that tim.e and deserves considerable credit and honor for the useful part he has played in the creation of a great county and State. John Zug, retired carpenter, farmer and capitalist of Sabetha, Avas born at Mogadore, Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio, August 2, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Grouse) Zug, who were the par- ents of four children, as follows: Mrs. Catharine Brumbaugh, deceased; Mrs. Mary Kurtz, Brimfield, Ohio; John, subject of this review; Lizzie, 442 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY living at Mogadore, Ohio. Jacob Zug, the father, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1821, and became a shoemaker, work- ing at his trade for a period of fourteen years. In 1846, he immigrated to Ohio, and engaged in farming near the town of Mogadore in 185 1. He lived on his farm until death called him September 11, 1913. He was a son of Andrew Zug, a son of Swiss parentage, and who married a Miss Mishler, and followed the trade of tanner. The mother of John Zug was born April 2, 1823, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was a daugh- ter of William Grouse, who married a Miss Binkley. She died June 17, 1897. John Zug was reared on the Ohio farm, attended the district schools, and learned the trade of carpenter. He worked at his trade in his native State until 1880, and then immigrated to Kansas, locating in section 14, Berwick township, Nemaha county. He invested his savings in 160 acres of land upon which he made extensive improvements, soon erecting a hand- some two-story house, T-shaped, of seven rooms. He built a barn 42x70 feet — color scheme of the house was pure white in contrast to the deep red of the barns and other out buildings. Mr. Zug, being a skilled me- chanic, erected all of his own buildings. A man equipped with a heritage of industry and right living such as his was bound to succeed, as nearly all Buckeye folks of Pennsylvania German ancestry are wont to do, and he became owner of 600 acres of well improved land, 240 acres of which he divided among his children and now owns 345 acres. In 1896, he had succeeded so well that he decided to retire to a home in Sabetha, and, accordingly, purchased a tract of seventeen acres just outside the city limits, where he built a large house and resided for twelve years. He sold this tract in 1908, and bought lots in the east part of the city, and erected a handsome seven room modern bungalow, where he now re- sides. Mr. Zug was the active promoter and organizer of the Mutual Tel- ephone Gompany of Sabetha, and built up this public convenience from a modest beginning in 1908, until it now has a total of 810 subscribers. He owns over one third of the stock of this thriving concern, and served as president and manager of the company for some years, and now fills the position of treasurer. Mr. Zug has, during the course of his long ca- reer, followed various occupations, and has succeeded at most of his un- dertakings. While living in Ohio, he was a butcher for a time and did business among the farmers of the neighborhood. It was his custom to take his craft tools out on his trips, and do the butchering for the farmers. After he came to Nemaha county, he followed this avocation, and was known among the farmers as a circuit butcher, turning many an honest dollar as a reward for his strength and skill with his tools of trade. His endowments in early life were good health and a strong body and a de- sire to make the best of his circumstances. Mr. Zug was married, in 1868, to Gatharine Bair, born October 17, 1848, in Stark county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Mary (Stiffler) Bair, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 443 who were the parents of six children, five of whom are living, as follows : Mrs. Nancy Whetstone, Lake, Ohio ; Mrs. Esther Moulton, a widow liv- ing in Sabetha, Kans. ; Mrs. John Zug; Mrs. Amanda Heinbaugh, de- ceased ; Henry, Akron, Ohio ; Jacob, Suffield, Ohio. John Bair was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 22, 1819, and was a son of Adam and Barbara (Houtz) Bair, and died July 23, 1904. Mrs. Mary (Stiffler) Bair was born October 25, 1823, and died February 11, 1888. Four children have been born to John and Catharine Zug, as follows : Charles, a carpenter at Ola, Ark. ; Mrs. Mary VanDyke, living near Abi- line, Kans.; Jacob, living on a farm four miles west of Sabetha; Mrs. Cora Davis, on a farm five miles north of Sabetha. Mr. and Mrs. Zug have twenty-seven grandchildren. Charles married Amanda Reisen, and has eleven children, as follows : Lorena, Reuben, Paul, Elmer, Eliza- beth, Walter, Raymond, Hugh, Robert, Ruth, Edna. Mrs. Mary Van Dyke has five children, as follows : Harry, Esther, Lawrence, Caroline, and Ruth. Jacob married Maude Dugger, and has five children, namely : Mildred, Margaret, Merlin, John, Morris. Mrs. Cora Davis has six chil- dren, as follows : Ethel, Clarence, Pearl, George, Dale and Doris, twins. Mr. Zug is an independent in politics, and votes as his conscience dictates, and refuses to wear the party yoke of any boss or set of political bosses. He is a member of the Church of the Brethren or Dunkard sect, and is recognized as an enterprising and useful citizen by his many friends and acquaintances. He stands high in the community, in which he has taken such an active and influential part in its building up. Albert George Kemper, prosperous dry goods merchant of Sabetha, Kans., was born at Lancaster, Wis., July 8, 1867, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Womelsdorf) Kemper, who were the parents of a large family of children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and six are now living. George Kemper, the father, was born in Germany and became a farmer, immigrating to America when a young man, settled in Wis- consin and in 1883 removed to Nebraska. George Kemper was born June 14, 1823, in Germany, and after his immigration to America, worked in a factory at Philadelphia, Pa. He moved from that city to Lancaster, Wis., and engaged in farming. In 1883 he migrated to Hamilton county, Nebraska, and followed agricul- tural pursuits until his death, February 5, 1898. He was a son of Henry Kemper, who came to this country with his family, and died in Wiscon- sin at the age of eighty-six years. Anna Elizabeth (Womelsdorf) Kemper .was born February 29, 1824, at Westphalia, Germany, town of Berleburg. They were the parents of nine children, as follows : Caro- line, widow of A. B. Frederick, living at Platteville, Wis. ; Henry W. deceased ; Mrs. Matilda Bald, Aurora, Neb. ; Mrs. Louise Weingarten, Aurora, Neb. ; Edward L., Aurora, Neb. ; George B. and August F., twins, died at the age of eight years ; Anna E., wife of Dr. C. P Fall, Beatrice, Neb. ; Albert George, the youngest of the family. The subject of this review was reared on his father's farm, attend- 444 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ed the district school and removed with his parents to Aurora, Neb., in 1883. He studied in the Aurora High School and when twenty-one years old he began clerking in a furniture store at Beatrice, Neb. One year later he began clerking in a dry goods store and rose to the posi- tion of manager. In 1899 he took charge of the dry goods department of a large store in the mining town of Cambria, Wyo., and held this position for a time. In 1902 he removed to Helena, Montana, and was employed in a dry goods store until 1910. He then came to Sabetha and engaged in partnership with S. G. Hazen. This partnership was dissolved in 1914, and Mr. Kemper has since been engaged in business on his own account. He carries a large and select stock of dry goods and ladies' ready-to-wear goods to the value of $13,000, and maintains one of the classiest and best dry goods stores in northeastern Kansas. Mr. Kemper was married at Blue Springs, Neb., October 16, 1899, to Minnie I. Buckingham. One child has blessed this union, namely, Inez M., born June 6, 1904. Mrs. Minnie I. Kemper was born February 4, 1872, at Montezuma, Iowa, and is a daughter of Albert and Kathrine (Cunningham) Buckingham, who were of English descent, first lived in Ohio after their marriage and then migrated west to Iowa in a very early day. They moved from Iowa to Nebraska, where Mrs. Kemper was reared and educated. She became teacher in the district schools near Blue Springs and was teaching at the timfe of her marriage to A. G. Kemper. Mr. and Mrs. Kemper are active in the affairs of the Congregational church. Mr. Kemper is a Democrat in politics and has served as mem- ber of the city council of Helena, Mont., during his residence in that far western city. He was elected to the post of president of the Com- mercial Club of Sabetha in 1914. He was elected a member of the board pi education in 1915 and takes a decided and keen interest in the cause of education. Mr. Kemper is ever on the alert to advance the interest of Sabetha and is one of the real Sabetha boosters who have done much to make the city enterprising and attractive during past years. He is affiliated with the Royal Highlanders, the Knights and Ladies of Security, Knights of the Maccabees, and the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons. John U. Lehmann. — In point of years of residence in Nemaha county, John U. Lehmann is probably the oldest living pioneer settler of Washington township ; he bears the added distinction of having lived nearly sixty years on the farm which his courageous mother home- steaded in 1857. John U. Lehmann has seen the prairies in all of their vast, unsettled loneliness; he broke up the prairie sod of the homestead when his nearest neighbor was miles away ; he lived in this county when it required the most sturdy and brave homeseekers to withstand the loneliness and the privations necessary in the redemption of an unpeo- pled wilderness. His time of residence in Kansas dates from the era of the wild Indian to the gradual settling of the country and the HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 445 peopling of the fertile plains and the building of thriving towns wherein the rugged methods of living, which sufficed for the pioneers, have been supplanted by the luxuries of later day civilization. Although born under a foreign flag, John U. Lehmann shouldered a musket and marched away to Southern battlefields in defense of his adopted coun- try. Few men can point to a better or more honorable record than this patriarch and pioneer. John U. Lehmann, farmer and stockman of Washington township, was born at Berne, Switzerland, May i, 1841, and is a son of John and Cathrine (Arm) Lehmann, who were the parents of twelve children, of whom John U. is the seventh in order of birth. John Lehmann, the father, was born in Switzerland in 1802. He worked in a powder mill for several years, and become owner of a tourist resort at Launge, Swit- zerland, which he traded for a farm, where he spent his last years, pre- vious to his immigration to America in 1846. He first settled in Holmes county, Ohio,, and moved from there to Andrew county, Missouri, where he died in 1856. The widow and her younger children migrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, a year later, and Mrs. Lehmann preempted a quarter section of land in section 10, of Washington township. The family drove overland with oxen and horses from Andrew county, Missouri. The sons of the family felled trees found along the streams in Washington township and built a rude log cabin on the banks of Four Mile creek, which served as the family home for a number of years, until replaced by a more pre- tentious dwelling. The mother was born in Launge, Switzerland, in 1808, and died in Missouri in 1872, at the home of her son-in-law, William Schindler. John U. Lehmann was sixteen years of age when his mother located in Kansas. He was strong and vigorous, his strength and health being due to the out door life which he led in the pioneering days in Missouri and Kansas. He had opportunity for little schooling in his youth, but was blessed with inherent intelligence, which enabled him to go ahead. In September, 1862, he enlisted at Seneca, Kans., in Company G, of the famous Thirteenth Kansas infantry, and saw much active service in the Indian Territory, Arkansas and Texas. He was wounded in the left eye by the bursting of a gun cap during the battle of Prairie Grove. He re- ceived his honorable discharge from the service at Little Rock, Ark., in 1865. After the close of the Civil war, he returned home and took charge of the family farm, which he purchased in 1867. During his tenure of the land, Mr. Lehmann has made many substantial improve- ments and has maintained the fertility of his acreage by good manage- ment and raising of live stock and has accumulated a total of 360 acres of good, valuable land. Mr. Lehmann is a breeder of Hampshire hogs. However, all of Mr. Lehmann's life, exclusive of his war service, was not spent on the farm. During the great gold rush following hard upon the discovery of gold at Pike's Peak, Colo., he and five of his 446 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY brothers, Gottlieb, John, Samuel, Fred and Christ, loaded provisions on two wagons, hauled by three yoke of oxen, and set out across the country in i860 to see if they could gather in a quantity of the elusive yellow metal. They set out on the long journey, May 2, but returned in October of the same year, after some months of work in the gold mines of the Rockies. They were well satisfied to return to Kansas. Mr. Lehmann was married November 7, 1867, to Magdalena Funk- houser, and this marriage has been blessed with nine children, as fol- lows : Charles J., born in 1868, and died in 1903 ; Mrs. Amanda Fisher, widow, living with her father; Mrs. Elizabeth Schneider, St. Joseph, Mo. ; David, United States mail carrier at Bern, Kans. ; Frederick William, California; Mrs. Theodosia Wittwer, wife of the Bern banker (see sketch); Gilbert F., on the home farm in Washington township; Edson, at home; Mae F., a graduate of the Bern High School. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Signaw, near Berne, Switzerland, September 20, 1846, and is a daughter of John U. and Bar- bara (Rodenbuler ) Funkhauser, the former of whom was born in Switzerland in 1812, and immigrated to America with his wife and family of five children in 1846, and settled near Pettisville, Ohio. In 1865 he migrated to Richardson county, Nebraska, where he died in November, 1873. His wife, Barbara, was born in August, 1806, and died in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Lehmann are members of the Evangelical church, with which denomination all of his children are also affiliated. Mr. and Mrs. Lehmann are loyal to their church and contribute liberally of their means to its support. He is a member of the Sabetha Grand Army Post. It is pleasant, indeed, for a man to attain to the great age of seventy-five or more years and be able to look backward over the long, eventful years of his pioneer life and be satisfied with what he has ac- complished in the way of attaining a competence, rearing a fine family of children, and serene in the knowledge that he gave the best years of his life to help save his beloved adopted land. Mr. Lehmann often thinks of the old days when wild game was plentiful on the prairies and the Indians were numerous. The Indians frequently camped on the banks of Four Mile creek, near the Lehmann home, and he well remembers their hunting forays and knew some of the Indians well. Often he wishes that he could live over those earlier years and again hunt the wild turkey and prairie chicken. The frontier life seemed to weave a spell about the younger people which has never entirely disappeared. History will honor John U. Lehmann as being one of the real pioneers of this great county. William Thompson. — The late William Thompson, of Sabetha, Kans., was known for his kindly deeds, his honesty and industry and his liberality in support of his church. His life was a long and useful one, and he was one of the hundreds of thousands of brave men who HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 447 risked their lives in defense of the Union on the Southern battlefields. Nearly thirty-five years of his life were spent in Kansas developing a fine farm, and it was his forethought in providing for the future that led him to undertake the task of making a home on the prairies of Nemaha county. William Thompson was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, November 7, 1845. He was a son of Madison and Elizabeth (Thompson) Thomp- son,^ natives of the old Buckeye State. When he has but seventeen years of age William Thompson enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio infantry, and served his country well and faithfully during the time of his service. He resided in Ohio until 1875 and then came to Nemaha county, where he purchased 160 acres of land in Rock Creek township. He made extensive improvements on this tract and built a large ten-room house for his abode. He became an ex- tensive cattle and hog feeder and prospered during his residence in Kansas. He died May 25, 1904. He was married December 24, 1870, to Eliza Cleary, born in Noble county, Ohio, June 4, 1845, ^ daiighter of John and Ann (Dempsey) Cleary, natives of Ireland. John Cleary, her father, was born January 2, 1810, and became a carpenter, but took up farming in Noble count3^ Ohio, after his immigration to America. He was married at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Ann Dempsey, born November 4, 1817, and died 1879. Four children were born of this marriage of William and Eliza Thompson, as follows : Harmon D., at home with his mother ; Mrs. Ann lola Franklin, on a farm five miles southwest of Sabetha ; Joseph E., dead ; Norwista Grace, at home. Mrs, Thompson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is active in church and society work connected with this denomina- tion. Henson J. Hazell, prosperous stockman of Sabetha, Kans., and for- . mer member of the Board of County Commissionera of Nemaha county, has taken an active and influential part in the civic and political life of Nemaha county and has achieved a measure of success which compares most favorably with that of the best Kansas farmers. Mr. Hazell was born October 13, 1852, in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and is a son of Josiah and Armon (Miller) Hazell, who were the parents of two chil- dren, namely: John, deceased, and Henson J., the subject of this biography. Josiah Hazell was born in June, 1814, in Green county, Kentucky, and became a blacksmith and skilled machinist. He migrated to Illinois in 1840 and worked at his trade in Jo Daviess county until his death in 1854. His marriage with Armon Miller occurred in 1847. Mrs. Armon (Miller) Hazell was born in Green county, Kentucky, in 1829, and died January, 1886. She was a daughter of James and Mary (Bush) Miller, of Kentucky. After the death of Josiah Hazell, his widow mar- ried William McCarty in 1859. Mr. and Mrs. McCarty migrated to Kansas and settled in Nemaha county in 1873. 448 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Henson J. Hazell was reared on his father's farm in Jo Daviess county and came to Kansas in 1873 with his mother and stepfather, who settled on a farm in Berwick township, Nemaha county. Soon after his arrival in this county, Mr. Hazell bought eighty acres of unim- proved land in Berwick township, improved it and cultivated his acre- age for fourteen years and then sold it. He later bought 230 acres of land adjoining Sabetha on the south, just outside of the city limits, which is his home at the present time. Mr. Hazell has always been an extensive feeder and shipper of cattle and handles from 300 to 400 head annually at a considerable profit. In addition to his farming inter- ests he is a shareholder in the Citizens State Bank of Sabetha. Mr. Hazell was married in December, 1875, to Miss Mary E. Mc- Carty, who was born in Ohio, April 2, 1855, ^ daughter of George B. and Lizzie McCarty, who were natives of the Old Buckeye State. Four children have blessed this union, namely: Joseph, who is assisting his father cultivate the family farm; Mrs. Armon Brown, deceased; Robert, bookkeeper for an ice manufacturing concern at Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Helen Ash, Sabetha, Kans., whose husband is a stationary en- gineer, and who is the mother of two children, Henson Jr., and Warren Ash, born April 13, 1916. Mr. Hazell is one of the "wheel horses" of the Democratic party in Nemaha county and has been active in the councils of his party for many years. He has filled the office of township trustee and was elected to the office of county commissiorter in 1912, serving for three years. He is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Hazell has always taken a deep and abiding interest in the welfare of his home county ■ and is a thorough and loyal Kansan who has made good in the State of his adoption. John C. Maxson, M. D., Ph. G., Corning, Kans., is one of the leaders of the profession in. Nemaha county who has achieved a signal success in his difficult, useful and exacting calling. Dr. Maxson was born at Lima Center, Wis., January 14, 1867, and is a son of James S. and Amelia B. (Child) Maxson, who were the parents of six children, as follows: Mrs. Emma L. French, deceased; Julia B., deceased; Mrs. Mary A. Lamphear, wife of Dr. Emery Lamphear, Campbell, Cal. ; Sarah L., Campbell, Cal. ; Mr. Gertrude A. Reynolds, Campbell, Cal. ; Dr. John C. Maxson, subject of this review. James S. Maxson, father of Dr. Maxson, was born in Alleghany county. New York, October 9, 1823, and educated himself in the acad- emies of his native State for the teaching profession, which he followed for many years in New York, Wisconsin and Kansas. After a residence of some years in Wisconsin, he came to Kansas and located at Emporia in 1874. Later he taught in the city schools of Hartford, Kans., and taught in .various cities and towns of Kansas for several years until he retired to a home with his children at Kelly, Kans., and lived among HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 449 them until his death in 1905. Mr. Maxson was a very industrious man, who kept himself employed during vacation time by plying his trade of painter. He was married in Wisconsin to- Amelia B. Child, who was born in New York State in 1834, and died at Erie, Kans., in 1896. They vvere members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. John C. Maxson was educated in the schools of Parsons, Kans., and other towns in which his father's profession required that he reside. After completing his public school studies he matriculated at the University Medical School of Kansas City, Mo., in 1889, and pursued a course of study covering four years in that institution. He graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1893. In the meantime he had taken up the study of pharmacy in the Kansas City College of Pharmacy .md received his degree of graduate pharmacist in 1891. Dr. Maxson was thus well equipped to undertake the practice of his profession, which he began in Kansas City, Mo., remaining there until his removal to Goff, Kans., in 1894. He followed general practice in Goff until his removal to Corning in 1905. Since locating in Corning, Dr. Maxson has enjoyed a lucrative practice and has accumulated a competence for him- self and family as a result of his extensive medical practice. He owns 240 acres of land in Colorado and has three business buildings in Corning. Dr. Maxson was married in September, 1892, to Miss Addie B. Wetherby, and this marriage has been blessed with five children, as follows: Bernice, deceased; Harold, Mildred, Hilda and Alberta. Al- berta is deceased. Mrs. Addie Maxson was born in Michigan, February 7, 1865, and is a daughter of James and Caroline S. (Gill) Wetherby, natives of New York. Her father was a cabinet maker, and is deceased. Her aged mother was born in 1839, and makes her home with Dr. Maxson. Dr. Maxson is a Republican, and is affiliated fraternally with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the county. State and American Medical societies, and is constantly striving to advance himself in his profession by means of wide reading and keeping abreast of the advance made in medical science. Elliott H. Marshall, proprietor of the Sabetha greenhouses, is a native born Kansan who established his successful floral plant in 1898. Mr. Marshall was born November 6, 1872, on a farm in Berwick town- ship, Nemaha county. He is a son of Hugh and Sarah (Deaver) Mar- shall, who were the parents of three children, as follows: Edgar, the eldest who died two weeks after the arrival of the Marshall family in Kansas ; Elliott H., with whom this review is concerned ; Mrs. Hattie Hohnbaum, Hiawatha, Kans. Hugh Marshall, the father, was born in 1813 in Virginia, and died December 10, 1875. He first went from Virginia to Deavertown, Ohio, and worked at his trade of tanner until 1870, when he moved to Mis- (29) 450 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY souri, and made a settlement in that State. He lived in Missouri for one year, and on September i, 1871, migrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, and made settlement on a farm one and a half miles north of Sabetha. He tilled his eighty acre farm until his demise. The mother of Elliott H. Marshall was born in Ohio, December 11, 1833, and died June 21, 1909. The subject of this review was three years of age when his parents made their home in Kansas. He was reared on the farm and, after at- tending the district school in his neighborhood, he finished his schooling at Sabetha, being required to walk two miles from his home to the town, and return home after school was dismissed. In 1894, his mother re- moved to Sabetha, and left her son in charge of the farm. He tilled the tract until 1898, at which time he came to Sabetha, and established his greenhouses. His first building was a glass structure 16x25 feet in di- mensions, and he has continually enlarged his buildings because of the growing demands of his business, which increased from year to year under good management until the Marshall greenhouses now consist of three large structures, each seventy-five feet long. He also erected a residence on his tract of two and a' half acres, which is located on Four- teenth street, just north of the St. Joe and Grand Island railway. Mr. Marshall was married in 1894 to Gertrude E. Parker, who was born March 16, 1876, and is a daughter of Wickcliffe and Ellen (Davis- son) Parker. (See sketch of C. L. Parker). Four children have blessed this marriage, as follows : Mrs. Leonie Ruse, living in Brown county, Kansas, and who graduated from the Sabetha High School in 1915; Golda, Verna, and Bernice, at home. Mr. Marshall is inclined to be independent in his political views, and votes for such candidates as seem best suited to fill the duties of the of- fice sought. He and J\Irs. Marshall are members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Marshall is a member of the board of trustees of the Sa- betha congregation. Dr. George R. Conrad. — George R. Conrad, vi^terinary surgeon, Sa- dict's, Kans., was born in Oldenburg, German, I\Iarch 11, 1833, and is a of George W. and Lurania (Rasson) Conrad, who were the parents of six children. George W Conrad was born at Rochester, N. Y., was there reared to young manhood, moved to Jasper county, Iowa, and frorti there, came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1868. He settled on a farm in Cap- ioma township and prospered, becoming owner of 240 acres of land. Mr. Conrad, Sr., is now located at Dover, Okla., and is aged seventy-five years. He was, at one time, a member of the Kansas legislature, having been elected representative from Nemaha county on the Republican ticket. Mrs. Conrad is residing in Sa;betha. She was born in Boston, Mass., in 1843. Six children were born to George W. Conrad and wife, as follows : Mrs. Clara Robinson, Sabetha, Kans. ; Mjs. Belle Hollister, wife of manager of the Tile Manufacturing Company of Sabetha'; George R., subject of this review; Mrs. Eunice Masheter, Tryon, Okla.; Mrs. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 45 1 Mille Deaver, Kansas City, Kaiis. ; Dr. Burt Conrad, Sabetha, Kans. .George R. Conrad received his schooling in the district school of his neighborhood, in Capioma township, and remained on his father's farm until 1893. He then came to Sabetha and worked for two years with Dr. Kabe, a veterinary, after which he studied for two years at the Kansas City, Mo., Veterinary College, and graduated from this school in 1897. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Sabetha, and has built up an extensive practice among the live stock producers in a large territory ranging from Atchison to Marysville, Blue Rapids, and other points in northern Kansas. Dr. Conrad has succeeded in a professional and a material way, and owns 280 a"cres of good land south of Fairview in Brown county, Kansas. He was married, in 1894, to Etta C. Carpenter, born in 1870, in Iowa, and a daughter of James and Mary A. (Gallagher) Carpenter. Pier fa- ther was a locomotive engineer, and after migrating to Kansas, he oper- ated a flouring mill near AVoodlawn, his daughter also conducting a store and the postoffice at Woodlawn, Nemaha county. Four children have been born to Dr., and Mrs. Conrad, as follows : Paul, a student in North- western University at Lincoln, Neb. ; Samuel, George and Marjorie, at home with their parents. Dr. Conrad is a Republican in politics, and he and Mrs. Conrad are members of the Congregational church. He is fraternally affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights and Ladies of Se- curity. An incident in the early life of Dr. Conrad is well worth recording : "When George R. Conrad was about nine years of age, an Indian came along the road near the Conrad home, leading a pony. The red man wanted to buy a guinea fowl, and left the wild pony at the Conrad place. The pony was wild and untamed. George took the animal to a quiet place in the timber and fed him. The pony would fight at the least pro- vocation and resented any attention, but George gradually tamed him, and fed him at night in the barn. Two weeks later, the Indian, who was the chief, 'Mothockquit,' of the Kickapoo tribe, returned for his pony, and the boy was heartbroken over the loss of the pony, which he had hoped to keep." Dr. Conrad has specialized in his calling, and has become successsful in the surgical operation called the crip-thorchid operation, usually per- formed on a horse. Henry Feldman, successful real estate operator of Sabetha, Kans., was born in Richardson county, Nebraska, October 8, 1871, and is a son of Fred and Magdalene (Glarner) Feldman, vvho were the parents of five children, Henry being the third in order of birth. Fred Feldman was born in Berne, Switzerland, in 1840 and emigrated from the land of his nativity in 1868 and first Settled in Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade of carpenter. He lived for some years in Pittsburg and was there married and came west to Nebraska, locating on a farm in 452 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Richardson county. He cultivated his farm until his untimely death, caused by a runaway team while he was putting up hay, in the summer of 1886. The mother of Henry Feldman was born at Glarus, Switzer- land, in 1836, immigrated to America when thirty years of age, and died in 1912. Both parents are buried near the home place in Richardson county. They were members of the German Reformed church. Henry Feldman was reared to young manhood on the Nebraska farm and attended the "Rattlesnake" district school in his boyhood days. At the age of twenty- two years he rented land from his mother and followed farming successfully until 1909. The following year he located in Sabetha, Kans., and engaged in the real estate business. While managing his farm in Nebraska, Mr. Feldman specialized in the breeding of heavy draft horses and for two years after his location in Sabetha he was a breeder of Polled Durham cattle. He was a large feeder and an extensive shipper of live stock, his shipments to the mar- kets running from 200 to 500 head of hogs and cattle annually. His success in the real estate field has been marked. He is owner of 320 acres of land in Richardson county, Nebraska, the old homestead of the family. At the present time, Mr. Feldman is in partnership with J. L. Musgrove. Mr. Feldman was married in 1887 to Verna Walker, who was born June 13, 1871, a daughter of A. W. and Amelia (Ackerman) Walker, natives of Canada and Wisconsin, respectively. A. W. Walker was an early settler of Missouri, tvhere he lived for some years previous to locating on a farm near Salem, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Feldman are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Feldman is independent in his political views and refuses to wear the party yoke or vote at the dictates of political bosses. He does his own thinking along political lines and votes for such candidates as he thinks best fitted for the office sought. William H. Root, owner of a fine farm of 260 acres in Rock Creek township, is a native Kansan and son of pioneer parents. He was born on a farm in Brown county, October 7, 1864, and is the second of six children born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Burtwell) Root. Jacob Root, his father, was born in Darke county, Ohio, February 28, 1835, and migrated to Brown county, Kansas, in i860. He farmed in Brown county until 1894 and then moved to Sabetha, Kans. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1842 in Iowa and died in 1869. After her death Jacob Root was twice married without issue. He is now making his home with William H. Root in Rock Creek township. William H. Root began renting land when he" was twenty-two years of age and in 1900 came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought his present home farm of 260 acres in section 4 of Rock Creek township. He was married in 1886 to Mary Shannon, who was born in Iowa in 1867, and died in 1912, leaving three children, as follows : Mrs. Essie Sires, living at Trenton, Mo., has a son, Virgil, aged five years ; Frank and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 453 Fred, at home with their father. Mr. Root was married the second time to Mrs. Jennie (De Long) Murray, a widow, born September 24, 1872, at Parallel, Riley county, Kansas, a daughter of William and Sarah Elizabeth (Watson) De Long. William De Long, her father, was born at Wheeling, W. Va., and was a veteran of the Civil war. He served in the Seventeenth regiment of Iowa volunteer infantry and was wounded while digging a trench. A comrade accidentally stuck a pitch- fork in his right eye, causing partial blindness. He migrated to Kansas in an early day and made a settlement in Riley county. He lived in Riley county until 1874 and then removed to Troy, Kans., where he die'd in 1899.^ Mrs. Root's mother was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1836, and is now living in Randolph county, Kansas. The first marriage of Jennie De Long was with John Murray in 1893. ^^- Murray was born in Virginia, December 5, 1872, and was a son of George and Eliz- abeth Murray. ' He came to Denton, Kans., with his parents when twelve years old. After the marriage of John and Jennie Murray they moved to Troy, Kans., where Mr. Murray died in 1901. Three children were born to the Murrays, as follows:. Mrs. Alpha Lacefield, Brewster, Kans., who has a daughter, Virginia, born May 19, 1916; William L., depot helper at Sabetha, Kans. ; Myrtle Evelyn, at home. Mr. Root is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Dunk- ard church. He is a shareholder in the Sabetha Mutual Telephone Company, and is a memlper of the Farmers Union and the Farmers Shipping Association of Price, Kans. George W. Myers, wealthy farmer of Rock Creek township, began life as a herder of cattle, and has worked his way upward to his present position of substance and well being through industry and good, finan- cial management. Endowed with no possessions at the outset of his ca- reer but a strong body and a good mind, he has accomplished a great deal more than the average man. Mr. Myers is a pioneer settler of Nemaha county, and his advent into Kansas dates frdm the year 1867, when his father homesteaded a tract of land in Capioma township. Daniel Myers, the father, was born in Canada in 1832, and drove from his Canadian home to Nemaha county with a team in 1867. He set- tled in Capioma township, but left the county in 1869, and settled in Arkansas City, Cowley county, Kansas, where he died of typhoid in 1873. His wife, Elizabeth Collins Myers, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1823, and died March 16, 1899. George W. Myers was borii near Morrisburg, Canada, February 6, 1863, and is a son of Daniel and EHza (Collins) Myers, who were the parents of a family of eight children. Upon the death of his father in 1874, George W. left home and herded town cattle on the range at Arkan- sas, with his brother, Daniel, for three years. He and his brother then came to Nemaha county, and herded cattle on the plains for two years. For one year, he broke up prairie land for incoming settlers, and then rented land on his own account for two years. In 1883, he bought forty 454 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY acres in Capioma township, but sold the same in 1887, and bought another eighty, which he later sold, and invested the proceeds in a quar- ter section. In 1905, he moved to his present location, and began devel- oping and improving the farm, which was the nucleus of his present large holdings of 560 acres. Mr. Myers has one of the most complete agricul- tural plants in Kansas, upon which he has spared no pains nor expense to make perfect, and equip so that the farm work can be handled expedi- tiously and economically. He has a silo, cow shed, milk house, scales for weighing the farm products, and an excellent farm home. Mr. Myers specializes in Durham cattle. Mr. Myers was married, in 1882, to Harriet E. Benedict, who was born in Henry county, Illinois, January 28, 1866, and is a daughter of Stephen and Ann (Bushnell) Benedict, natives of New York State. The Benedict family came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and made a settlement in Capioma township as early as 1868. Stephen Benedict was born in 1833, and died on his farm in 1897. His wife, Ann, was born in 1836, and died in 1890. Both were members of the Congregational church. Stephen Benedict served throughout the Civil war as an enlisted man in an Illinois regiment, and was a member of the Sabetha Grand Army post. He was a fancier and breeder of fast driving horses, and produced the fastest pacing mare, ever bred in Nemaha county. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers : Mrs. Ida Beck, Abilene, Kans. ; Mrs. Blanche Hennigh, Rock Creek town- ship ; Harrison, a farmer in Rock Creek township ; Mrs. Ethel Hennigh, Rock Creek township; Mrs. Mildred Showman, living in the same local- ity ; Glenn and Grace, at home ; two children died in infancy. The Republican party has the allegience of Mr. Myers, and he has served in various minor offices in his township. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and ranks high in Masonic circles, being a member of the Mystic Shriners, and having taken all Masonic degrees, up to and including the thirty-second degree. He and Mrs. Myers are members of the Methodist church, and contribute of their means to the support of this denomination. Elmer E. Althouse. — Four generations of the Althouse family have lived in Nemaha county, Kansas, and the family history begins with Conrad and Susanna Althouse, who were natives of Germany and Penn- sylvania, respectively. Conrad Althouse was the grandfather of him whose name heads this review, and was born in Germany, September 23, 1795, immigrated to America, worked at his trade of carpenter and made a settlement in Nemaha county in 1857, just four years preceding his death in 1861. His wife Susanna was born at Salisbury, Penn., Jan- uary 28, 1809, and died February 17, 1898. Herman Althouse, a son of Conrad and Susanna (Workman) Althouse, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1834, and accompanied his parents to Kansas in 1857. He pre-empted 160 acres of unbroken land on Cedar creek, in Rock Creek township, broke HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 455 Up his land with oxen, built a one-room shack, and a grass-roofed shed for his live stock and later supplanted his primitive structures with better buildings when he got his land in good producing shape. The Althouse family came by steamer from Pittsburg down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, Mo., thence via the Missouri river by steamboat to St. Joseph. During the border ruffian days Her- man Althouse took an active part in some of the stirring scenes inci- dental to making Kansas a free State. He was married in 1859 to Susan Howard, born in Andrew county, Missouri, August 9, 1842, and a daugh- ter of Abraham and Siotha Jane (Manes) Howard, natives of Ten- nessee. Herman and Susan Althouse are members of the Methodist church. When Herman Althouse came to Kansas to make a home for himself he had no money, passed through all the hardships incidental to the settlement of the county and had his share of them. He has reared a large family of eleven children — a record of which any adopted son of Kansas has good and just right to be proud. Elmer E. Althouse was born on the home farm of the Althouse family, June 15, 1866, and has always lived with his parents and cared for them. He is tilling 160 acres, eighty acres of which is owned by his father. He is a Democrat in politics and is one of the enterprising younger farmers of the county. The other children of Herman and Susan Althouse are as follows: Francis M., a farmer of Rock Creek township; Mrs. Jennie Deskin, deceased; Mrs. Bettie "Euckner, Morris county, Kansas ; Mary, wife of Rev. T. M. Bell, Mound City, Kans. ; Thomas, farming in Capioma. township ; Charles, Rock Creek eown- ship ; Mrs. Nellie Felmlee, Sabetha, Kans. ; Mrs. Maud Crawford, Sabetha, Kans. ; George, a farmer of Rock Creek township, and Abra- ham H., living in Morris county, Kansas. Francis Walter Brown, well-to-do farmer of Rock Creek town- ship, is a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Orlando and Mary Ann (Luther) Brown, both of whom were born and reared in the East, the former in Pennsylvania and the latter in New York State. Orlando Brown was born September 25, 1835, and became a mechanic and farmer. He removed from his. native State to Illinois, where he resided until 1868, and then came to Brown county, Kansas. A few years later he went to Nebraska and homesteaded a tract of land and finally located in Nemaha county in 1895. The elder Brown is now living in retirement at Sabetha. Mrs. Mary Ann Brown, mother of Franklin W., was born May 3, 1840, and died in this county Septem- ber 6, 1901. Franklin W. Brown was reared on a farm and was born May 23, 1857. He accompanied his parents from his native State to Illinois, thence to Brown county, Kansas, and from there to NebVaska. He pur- chased his home farm of 165 acres in section 25, Rock Creek township, in 1895 and has it well improved. His farm residence is a comfortable eight-room affair and he has erected a large barn forty by forty-eight 456 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY feet in dimensions. In 1916 he built a barn, garage and machine shed thirty-two by thirty-two feet. Mr. Brown keeps very fine horses on his place and his farm of 320 acres is one of the best and most productive . in the Sabetha neighborhood. Mr. Brown was married in 1886 to Lucy Bent and three children have been born of this marriage, as follows: Mrs. Elsie Kerr, living in Rock Creek township; Mrs. Elva Wilkins, Baileyville, Kans. ; Elmer, farming the home place. Mrs. Lucy Brown was born on a farm in Wabash county, Indiana, March 11, 1851, is well educated, and prepared- herself for the profession of teaching, which she followed in Indiana and also in the public schools of Nebraska for fifteen years prior to her marriage. Mr. Brown is a Republican in politics and is one of the substantial and well respected citizens of Nemaha county. He and Mrs. Brown stand well. in their community and are progressive in their views and aim to keep abreast of the times. Rev. Father Edwin Kassens, O. S. B. — ^The life work of a priest is essentially one of self sacrificing devotion to the needs of his people arid his church, and entails years of study and preparation for a career which has no earthly rewards commensurate with the tasks accom- plished, excepting the satisfaction of having labored faithfully and well in behalf of Christianity and his fellow beings. Rev. Father Edwin Kassens, pastor of the Church of St. Bede's, Kelly, Kans, well merits the high esteem and love bestowed upon him by the members of his parish, and is devoted to his high calling. Father Kassens was born in Vincennes, Ind., May 2, 1859, and is a son of Theo. and Elizabeth (Altoff) Kassens, who were the parents of nine children, as follows : Edwin, the subject of this review ; Mrs. Mary Wilson, widow, residing at Vincennes, Ind. ; William, engaged in mill- ing at Vincennes, Ind. ; Mrs. Anna Schasserre, wife of a merchant of St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Rose Marsh, living near Vincennes, Ind. ; Harry, a merchant at Vincennes, Ind. ; Fran, residing at St. Louis, Mo., and engaged in the mercantile business; Mrs. Kathrine Bilsky, living near Vincennes, Ind, ; a child died in infancy. Theo. Kassens, the father, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1824, and was a herder of sheep until he attained the age of twenty-five years, when he immigrated to America and found a position as clerk in a Vincennes store. Some time after lo- cating in Vincennes, he moved to a farm in the vicinity of this old city, and resided thereon until his demise in 1893. The mother was born at Westphalia, Germany, in 1840, and immigrated to Vincennes, Ind., with her parents in 1848. She was reared on a farm near Vincennes, and is now living on the old home place of the Altoff family, near Vincennes. Edwin Kassens was reared to young manhood on the parental farm and received his early education in the Catholic parochial schools of Vincennes. When nineteen years of age he came to Atchison, Kans., and entered St. Benedict's College for the purpose of preparing for the REV. PR, EDWIN KASSBNS, O. S. B. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 457 priesthood of his church. He pursued a preparatory course, which was followed by collegiate and theological courses and was ordained for the priesthood in 1889. Thirteen years later (1902), Rev. Father Kas- sens came to Kelly, Kans., and took charge, of the Kelly Catholic Church, known as St. Bede's parish. He practically established this church and has built up his congregation until it now numbers ninety families. Father Kassens held his first church services in an old school house, a house of worship which was a striking contrast to the magnificent church of St. Bede's, which has been erected as a result of his efforts and per- fect devotion to duty. This beautiful structure is a munument to his endrgy, persistent efforts and wide influence over his members. John P. Gladfelter, farmer of Rock Creek township, was born in Clin- ton county, Pennsylvania, May 27, .1850, and is a son of Jacob B. and Elizabeth (Passel) Gladfelter, who were the parents of four children, two of whom are living. Jacob Gladfelter was born at York ,Pa., in 1809, and was descended from early Swiss emigrants who came to this coun- try from their mountain land early in the eighteenth century or about 1700. Jacob Gladfelter made a settlement in Stephenson county, Illinois, in 1866, and died two years later. The mother of John P. Gladfelter was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and died in 1892. She was the second wife of Jacob Gladfelter. He of whom this review is written left his Pennsylvania home when fifteen years old, and worked as farm hand in Stephenson county, Illinois, for seven years. He worked in various localities, and followed farming pursuits until 1890, and then migrated to Rock Creek township, Nemaha county, where he bought eighty acres in section 27. Since moving to this farm, he has built a house and repaired his various outbuildings. Mr. Gladfelter was married, in 1878, to Hannah Miller, who was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, July 16, 1854. She was educated in the public schools of Freeport, 111., and taught school for two years and four months in the country districts of her home county, and taught for nine months in the city schools. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Riehl) Miller, the former of whom was born in Perry county, Penn- sylvania, February 27, 1823, and died June 23, 1901. He was an early day shoemaker in Ohio, and worked at his trade of boot and shoemaker in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, and later bought a farm in Wisconsin and followed farming. Mary Ann, his wife, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1828, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gladfelter, Jaciuary 26, 1907, just one half hour after the only daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Gladfelter was married. The children of John P. and Hannah Gladfelter are as follows : Jessie, wife of Otto Stunz, a painter of Hiawatha, Kans., and has one child, namely, Loran ; Walter, living in Iowa. Mr. Gladfelter is a Republican in .his political pronouncement. Mrs. Gladfelter is a member of the Christian church. They are a worthy and well respected couple who are highly esteemed in their home neighbor- hood for their many good qualities. 458 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY John Meisner, a representative Rock Creek township farmer, was born October ii, 1864, at Batavia, Kane county, Illinois, and is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Bachman) Meisner, who were the parents of seven children, three of whom are living. Jacob Meisner, his father, was born at Hessenderanstindt, Germany, August 24, 1832, and immigrated to America when eighteen years old. He settled in New York State, and there learned the trade of blacksmith. He lived in New York until his migration to Kane county, Illinois, in 1856. He plied his trade there until the outbreak of the Civil war, and then showed his loyalty and de- votion to his adopted country by enlisting in Company H, Fifty-second Illinois infantry. He was a brave and able soldier, and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1863, and was discharged from further duty after leaving the army hospital where he had been in care of the surgeons and nurses for eighteen months while recovering from his wound. Previous to the Civil war, in 1858, Mr. Meisner had made a trip to Nemaha county, Kansas, to look over the land with a view to making a permanent settlement there at some future date. He was so impressed with the looks of the country that he made up his mind to locate his fam- ily in this county. The war disarranged his plans somewhat, but, in 1866, he moved his family and movable belongings across the country via the ox wagon route, and made a settlement at Seneca, Kans. He opened a smithy in Seneca, and worked at his trade until 1872, at which time he moved to a farm which he had bought dn his first trip to Kansas, and which was located in section 30, Berwick township. He tilled his acreage successfully until 1907, and then retired to a home in Sabetha, where he died in 1909. He was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Sabetha Grand Army post. Mr. Meisner, Sr., was twice married, his first marriage tak- ing place in Illinois with Barbara Bachman, in 1858. She was born at Wurtemberg, Germany, October 18, 1836, and died in 1875. His second wife was Susan Blair, born in Switzerland and who lost her life in the cyclone which swept Nemaha county May 17, 1896, leaving six children, all of whom are living in Nemaha county. John Meisner was reared on his father's farm, and remained at home to assist his father until he was twenty-five years old. He then rented land on his own account, saved his surplus earnings each year and, in 1908, was enabled to make his first investment in eighty acres of land in Washington township. In 1909, he sold this tract, and bought the farm where he now resides and to which he has added forty acres, thus making a good sized farm of 200 acres. All of the improvements consisting of residence, barns, silo, granary and poultry house have been erected by Mr. Meisner since his first purchase of a quarter section. He is con- nected with the Farmers' Shipping Association of Price, Kans. In 1890, John Meisner was united in marriage with Miss Ida M. Bahm, who has borne him children, as follows : Stella, who is a teacher in the Bern High School, a graduate of the Oneida High School and has HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 459 pursued normal courses in preparation for teaching; Clara, wife of Roy Dowdall, a carpenter living at Lincoln Center, Kans. ; Hiram, farming the home place; James, Gertrude, Jacob, Edith, and Donald F., at home with their parents. Mrs. Ida Meisner was born July ii, 1872, in Geneva, Switzerland, and was brought to America by her parents when she was a child. Her parents located in Wayne county, Ohio, and later moved to Illinois, where her father died. Her mother and the family came to Nemaha county in 1889, and the mother is living in Sabetha. While Mr. Meisner is a Democrat, he is inclined to be independent in his voting, and makes up his own mind as to the political principles enunciated by the various leaders of his party. He allows no so-called leader to dictate to him as to whom he should support. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Herman Meisner. — The Meisner family is one of the substantial and industrious families of Nemaha county of German descent. The sons of Jacob and Susan (Blair) Meisner are excellent farmers and very good citizens in their respective communities. Herman Meisner, of Rock Creek township, was born on his father's farm in Berwick township, section 36, July 27, 1878, and is a son of Jacob Meisner, con- cerning whose life story the reader is referred to the biography of John Meisner, a half brother of the subject of this review. Herman is a twin brother of Jacob Meisner, the younger. Herman Meisner received his early education in the district schools and at the age of nineteen years he rented land from his father. He worked hard in order to get a start in the world and was energetic and industrious, carefully laying by a sum of money each year until he was able to buy a quarter section in section 18 of Rock Creek township in 1908. He bought this farm from his father and it was without improve- ments other than fencing at the time of purchasing. Mr. Meisner has built a good home, of nine rooms, all modern, and has erected a large •barn forty-two by forty-eight feet in dimensions. He is a fancier of Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Meisner has been twice married. He was united in matrimony with Margaret Adgeter in 1903, and who died in 191 1, leaving one child, narriely : Margaret Elizabeth. The first Mrs. Meisner was born in Switzerland, November 19, 1878. He was again married June 26, 191 5, to Helen G. Maynard, who was born at Sabetha, Kans., April 15, 1891, and is a daughter of Charles and Margaret (Jacobs) Maynard, who were early settlers of Nemaha county. Mr. Meisner is a Democrat in politics, who finds very little time outside of his farming interests to have much to do with political mat- ters. His main interests lie with his home life and his farm, which his ambition is continually urging him to develop and make better and more productive each year. Although one of the younger generation of Kansas farmers, Mr. Meisner is making good and is a very success- ful citizen. 460 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Lawrence M. Crawford, farmer and stockman of Rock Creek town- ship, was born in Clinton County, New York, May 24, 1855, ^^^ is a son of William and Bessie (Armstrong) Crawford, who were the parents of four children, of whom Lawrence M. is the third born. William Crawford was born in Ireland and immigrated to America when he was a young man. After living for a tim_e in the Eastern States he made a settlement in Iowa and died there in 1876 at the age of seventy-three years. He was twice married, and the mother of Law- rence M. was his second wife. She was born in Ireland, left there when a child and died in Iowa in 1869, aged fifty-two years. Lawrence M. Crawford left Iowa and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1888. He bought eighty acres of land in section 21, Rock Creek township, and has it well improved with good buildings, trees and shrubbery. He rented land for a few years and in 1891 bought his present home farm. Mr. Crawford has been twice married, his first union being with a Miss Mitchell in 1876, who bore him three children, as follows : Piatt, a grocer at Sabetha ; Harold, a clothing merchant, located at Marshfield, Oregon ; Arthur, living in California. The first Mrs. Crawford was born in Iowa in 1858 and died in 1903. His second marriage occurred in 1906 with Sarah Lahr, born in Pennsylvania, 1865, and a daughter of Benjamin Lahr, an earlj- settler of Nemaha county. Mr. Crawford is a Republican who takes much interest in local and county political matters, and is a member of the school board of school district No. 20. He and Mrs. Crawford are members of the Con- gregational Church and he is fraternally affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. John W. Zimmerman. — For over fifty years the Zimmerman fam- ily have lived in Nemaha county and have prospered as people of their industry and descent invariably do. The family is of German descent and is one of the largest in the county. Twelve children in all were born to John and Clara (Deming) Zimmerman, parents of him whose name heads this review. John Zimmerman, th.e father, was born in Germany in 1847 3-iid immigrated with his parents to this country when he was twelve years old and settled at Batavia, 111. When President Lincoln called- for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States, John Zimmerman responded and enlisted for service in Company I, Fifty- second Illinois infantry, and served faithfully throughout the war. He fought at the great battle of Shiloh and several other import- ant and hard fought engagements in which his regiment participated. After the close of the war he accompanied his parents to Nemaha county and homesteaded in Gilman township. He built a log cabin of native timber, cut in the vicinity of his cabin, and also homesteaded another tract in section six of this township. His first location was in section number one. Mr. Zimmerman was hard working and econom- ical and accumula):ed 440 acres of good farm lands. He died February HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 46 1 28, 1897, after a life of industry and hardship endured for the benefit of his family seldom equalled. During the pioneer days following the Civil war when money was scarce and the settlers were having a hard time to make ends meet, Mr. Zimmerman would plant his corn in the spring, and would then drive his ox team across the country to Colo- rado and put in the season hauling freight from Leadville to Denver, Col. He would continue this employment until the time came to gather his crops and would return home to his wife and children. He made several trips of this character and would be absent from home from July until November. Mrs. Zimmerman was born in Maine in 1854. John W. Zimmerman, with whom this review is directly concerned, was born in Nemaha county, December 26, 1872. He attended the dis- trict school and assisted his parents in the farm work until twenty years old. He then hired out as farm hand for a wage of eighteen dol- lars per month for a period of four years. In 1896 he took charge of the Zimmerman estate and managed it for three years. He next rented for two years and in 1901 he bought his present honve farm of eighty acres, improved it by rebuilding the house and erecting a barn forty by fifty feet in size. Mr. Zimmerman was married in 1901 to Miss Lulu Winney, who was born in Wisconsin, November 10, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are parents of the following children : Helen, deceased ; Lloyd and Harold. Mr. Zimmerman is active and influential in the affairs of the Democratic party and has filled minor township offices. He is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America. William H. Wurzbacher, of Rock Creek township, was born on a farm in Jones county^ Iowa, January 11, 1858, and is a son of John H. and Margaret (Bechtine) Wurzbacher, to whom ten children were born, of which the subject of this review is the second in order of age. The father of William H. was born in Germany, and became a cooper and farmer. He emigrated from his native land in 1848, lived in Maryland, and in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Iowa as .early as 1854. He developed a farm in Jones county, that State, and there reared his family. His death occurred in 1902 at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, and the mother of William H., left Germany when she was twenty years old, and died at the old home in Iowa in 1892, aged sixty years. William H. Wurzbacher began doing for himself on rented land in Jones county, Iowa, when he was twenty-five years old, in 1883. He did this for six years, and then came to Nemaha county in 1889 for the pur- pose of making a permanent home for his family, where land was cheaper and opportunities were greater for a poor man to get ahead. He bought a quarter section of land in Capioma township, of which seventy acres were broken up and in cultivation, but it was otherwise unimproved. He improved this farm and sold it at a profit over and above the original in- vestment in the fall of 1903, and moved to his present farm, which he pur- 462 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY chased in February, 1902, consisting of 160 acres in section 10, Rock Creek township. His idea of buying this farm, which is located just one mile west of Sabetha, was to get a place, which was near to his church. The only improvement on this tract was the fencing, although the land had been cultivated for some years. Mr. Wurzbacher built a large white house, barn and other out buildings, and now has a very attractive farm place, which is growing more valuable each year on account of its near- ness to the enterprising city of Sabetha and the hard work of the proprie- tor, who is constantly improving the soil and making it more productive. Mr. Wurzbacher has some fine horses and cattle, in which the Aberdeen Angus strain predominates. He was married, in 1883, to Mrs. Julia Hollister, who was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, November 27, i860, and was a daughter of Elisha Hollister, who settled in Nemaha county in 1883, and died here in 1898. One child blessed this union, namely: DeWitt T., born April i, 1885, in Jones county, Iowa, and was married, in 1912, to Miss Katie Nor- rie, who was born on a farm near Sabetha, February 3, 1888. She is a daughter of Eben and Elizabeth (Lahr) Norrie, natives of Canada and Illinois respectively, and who were early settlers in Nemaha county, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt Wurzbacher have one child, namely: Wilbur William, born March 31, 1913. Mrs. William H. Wurzbacher departed this life April 24, 1904. She was a deeply religious woman, and was a worker in the United Brethren church. She was a good and faith- ful wife to her husband and a wise mother to her son. Mr. Wurzbacher is independent in his political views, and devotes his attention outside of his personal business affairs to his church. He is a trustee of the Sabetha United Brethren Church, and is one of the ablest laymen of this denomination. Quinter Davis, who is farming a half section of land in Rock Creek township, and is owner of a fine quarter section, was born in Adams county, Iowa, September 16, 1876. He is a son of Rev. William and Susan (Slifer) Davis, to whom were born three sons and a daugh- ter, as follows : U. S. Davis, Quinter Davis, Charles Davis and Fern Davis. Rev. William Davis was born in Maryland in 1847, 3-iid during his younger days was a druggist. When a young man he removed to Ill- inois and went from that State to Iowa, following agricultural pur- suits in both States. He removed from Iowa to Brown county, Kansas, in 1881, and engaged in farming. He is a half owner of the farm which is being managed by his son, Quinter. For a number of years the senior Davis has been a minister of the Brethren church and carried on his ministerial duties in behalf of various Brethren churches while attend- ing to his farming. He is now retired from active farm work and re- sides at Morrill, Kans., although he still continues his ministerial work to a certain extent. Rev. Davis is a Civil war veteran, who enlisted in a Maryland regiment and was wounded at the battle of Antietam, and also fought in the battle of Bull Run. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 463 Quinter Davis attended the Morrill public schools and attended the Baptist College, located in that city. He began farming at the age of twenty-two years and in 1907 came to Nemaha county and bought 160 acres of land, which was half of a tract of 320 acres owned by his father. The Davis farm is well improved and is noted for its fine live stock. Mr. Davis has been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and has also been a large feeder of cattle. He was married in 1901 to Mary Whitmer, born near Mound City, . Mo., in 1877, who has borne him children as follows : Harold, Lylse, Ronald and Max. Mrs. Davis is a daughter of Rev. Peter E. and Cyn- thia Ann (Cable) Whitmer. Peter E. Whitmer was reared in Ohio and served in the Union army during the Civil war as a member of an Ohio regiment. In one engagem.ent in which he participated a shot tore all of the fingers from his left hand. After the war he took up min- isterial work and also farmed in Missouri and Nebraska. He came from Nebraska to Kansas in 1894 and is living at Ottawa, Kans. Mrs. Davis' mother was born in Ohio and died in 1910 at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Davis is well educated in music and has taught music' in her home commuity. Mr. Davis is a Republican and is a member of the school board of his district. He and Mrs. Davis have many friends in Nemaha and J3rown counties and are intelligent, well read people, who believe in keeping abreast of the times. William E. Johnson, owner of a fine farm of 160 acres, and town- ship trustee and assessor of Rock Creek township, was born at Galva, 111., March i, 1869. He is a son of William and Mary (Lafferty) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Ireland. William Johnson, father of the subject of this review, came to America when a boy, and after his resi- dence of some years in Illinois, he migrated to Nemaha county in 1870, and bought a farm in Capioma township, which he cultivated until his death in 1908. His wife was born in Ireland, and died in Nemaha county in 1894. The early schooling of William E. Johnson was obtained in district 48, and he began making his own way when twenty-two years old. When he attained to that age, he worked out as farm hand at $18 per month until 1889, at which time he rented land in Adams and Oilman townships. In 1890, he bought a farm of 100 acres in- Oilman township at a cost of $32 an acre. Three years later, he sold this farm for $60 an acre, and bought his present home place of 160 acres in Rock Creek township. For some years, Mr. Johnson was a successful breeder of Poland China hogs, which he exhibited with success at the county fairs, and disposed of at public sales besides shipping many full bred swine to distant points for breeding purposes. He was married in 1895 to Delia L. Myers, who was born at Mor- rill, Brown county, Kansas, Augut 23, 1874, and is a daughter of Sol R. Myers, whose review appears in this historical work on Nemaha county. 464 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child, namely : Harvey M., born Decem- ber 13, 1904. Mr. Johnson is prominent in the affairs of the Democratic party, and received the appointment of assessor of his township in 191 1. So well did he perform his official duties, and so successful was his conduct of. the affairs of his office that he was elected to the office in 1912, and again elected trustee in 1914. He is also a member of the school board of his district, and takes a keen and decided interest in township and county matters, as befitting a wide awake and intelligent citizen. He and Mrs. Johnson are affiliated with the Methodist church, and are well respected by their many friends and acquaintances throughout Nemaha county. Mr. Johnson ranks high in Masonic circles, and has taken all degrees of Masonry, including the thirty-second, and is a Mystic Shriner. Daniel N. Price. — "The Snowdoun Stock Farm." — The biography of a successful man must, in order to be comprehensive and read intel- ligently, bring out the salient facts regarding his life work and show wherein lies the main features underlying the influences which have had a decided bearing upon his rise in life. Ambition has characterized the life work of Daniel N. Price, successful farmer and well known live stock breeder of Center township, Nemaha county, and much inherent intelligence and industry have enabled him to rise above the mediocre and make a life profession of his work. Mr. Price has long been the most successful breeder of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle in northern Kansas. The product of his skill as a breeder has been exhibited at the county fairs held in Seneca, and he has been awarded first, second and third prizes on several occasions. Mr. Price disposes of his fine live stock at private sale on his place and realizes a comfortable income from these sales. The "Snowdoun" herd of Shorthorns, numbering fifty-two head, is headed by "Good Scotchman" and "Prince Imperial." Daniel N. Price was born on a farm .in Ogle county, Illinois, March 9, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Ann Maria (Brown) Price, who reared a family of five sons and five daughters. Jacob Price was born in Washington county, Maryland, October 28, 1818, and was a son of Jacob Price, a native of Germany. Jacob Price, the father of Daniel N. Price, migrated from his native State to Ogle county, Illinois, Sep- temb€r 25, 1845, ^^'^ ^°^^ years later, June 14, 1849, he was married to Ann Maria Brown, who was born in Washington county, Maryland, September 27, 1829. Both parents were members of the United Brethren church. Jacob Price died in Illinois, May 25, 1885, and his wife departed this life in 1910. Of the ten children born to Jacob Price and wife, five are deceased. Daniel N. Price remained at home with his parents until February, 1891, and then came west to Center township, then a part of Marion township, Nemaha county, Kansas, and he and his wife settled upon 320 acres which she then owned. Mr. Price has made a wonderful success of his farming operations since coming to Kansas and has greatly im- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 465 proved his farm with substantial farm buildings, including a horse barn, 28x58 feet in extent, and a cattle barn, 28x40 feet in dimensions, with sheds on three sides of the structure. He has devoted his attention and skill as a breeder to the production of fine Shorthorn cattle and has succeeded in making a name for himself in this particular line. Mr. and Mrs. Price moved to Baileyville in the spring of 1906, and resided in town seven years and then returned to the farm. ' Mr. Price was married, December 24, 1890, to Miss Anna E. Good, and to this union have been born four children, as follows : Wava Leone, born June 25, 1895, and died September 12, 1907; Everett, born November 23, 1896, a student of animal husbandry at the State Agricul- tural College of Manhattan, Kans. ; Elva May, born May 8, 1898, a student in the Seneca High School, and Nola, born August 7, 1908. Mrs. Price was born in Ogle county, Illinois, February 23, 1862, and is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Plumb) Good, the former born in 1821, and the latter in 1825, whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Jacob and Elizabeth Good reared a family of ten children and are now deceased, the former dying October 26, 1886, and the latter, June 6, 190D. Previous to his death Jacob Good had purchased land in Nemaha county and made arrangements to move here. Mr. Price is allied with the Republican party and takes an active part in political affairs in his county. He is the present treasurer of Center township, and is a shareholder and director of the Baileyville Bank. He and his estimable wife are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Price is fraternally connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Price is one of the well-to-do farmers of Nemaha county, who is a thorough and loyal Kansan, interested in all good movements for the development of his county and State, and takes a keen interest in the welfare of his neighbors and the people of the county. He and Mrs. Price take a just pride in their fine family of children and are giving them every opportunity within their power to bestow in order to edu- cate them to became good citizens and take their rightful place in the social and civic life of their community. Frank M. Althouse, well known farmer and breeder of Rock Creek township, was born in Andrew county, Missouri, March 26, 1861, and is a son of Herrnan and Susan (Howard) Althouse, whose life history is recorded in the sketchof Elmer E. Althouse, published elsewhere in this volume of Nemaha county history. Mr. Althouse accompanied his par- ents to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1862. He received a district school education, and was reared to the farmer's life. In 1886, he began to work in his own behalf, and homesteaded land in Nebraska for two years, and also owned a tract of land in Colorado. After two years spent in home- steading, he returned to his home county, and bought his farm of 160 acres in sections 32 and 33, of Rock Creek township. The place was un- improved and only partly broken up for cultivation. During his tenure of this farm, Mr. Althouse has built a barn sixty feet square, and made (30) 466 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY other good improvements. He is engaged in breeding Shorthorn cattle, and is making a success of the undertaking. He is also a breeder of Hampshire hogs, and has a large number of this valuable variety of swine. Mr. Althouse has a natural wood, covering ten acres on his place, but has planted more trees and an orchard so as to beautify the surround- ings of his home. The quarter section has been added to until he owns 240 acres in all. Mr. Althouse was married, in 1901, to Margaret Miller, born, in 1875, in Rock Creek township, a daughter of AMUiam H. and Caroline (Mer- cer) Miller, now living at Sabetha, and who were early settlers in Ne- maha county. Mr. and Mrs. Althouse have four children, as follows : Fred H., Floyd J\I., Marjorie and ]Mary E. Mr. Althouse is allied with the Democratic party, but prefers to leave political matters to those who have the time and inclination to make a pursuit of politics. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a good, useful and upright citizen who has the respect and good wishes of many friends and acquaintances for his excel- lent demeanor. Lawrence V. Sanford, one of the younger enterprising farmers of Rock Creek township, is a native of the Hoosier State and was born in Union county, Indiana, February 11, 1882. His parents are Giles C. and Amanda (Swain) Sanford, to whom have been born seven children, six of whom are living, as follows : Fred L., who married Sarah, a daughter of Sol R. Myers, and resides at Peculiar, Mo. ; Clark C, living on the Sanford home place ; Lena, housekeeper for Lawrence V. ; Emmett R., who married Ella AA'ood, of Bedford, Iowa, is a resi- dent of Missoula, Mont., a graduate of the Zanerian Art College at Col- umbus, Ohio, and a teacher by profession ; Perry, deceased ; Rosa V., at home ; Lawrence V., with whom this biography is directly concerned. Giles C. Sanford was born in Union county, Indiana, May 10, 1840, and became a farmer. When war was declared between the North and South he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Indiana cav- alry and was first sergeant of Compam^ D, and later received a lieu- tenant's commission. He fought at the battles of Nashville, Franklin, AMlson's Creek Brentwood, Little Harpeth, Sugar Creek and others. He became afflicted with the prevailing scourge of measles and was confined to the army hospital for a few months. Aside from this dis- ease he suffered no serious trouble as a result of his arduous experience during the war. After the close of his war service Giles C. returned to his home in Indiana and married. He farmed in Indiana until Feb- ruary 18, 1885, and then migrated to Nemaha county Kansas, and bought 160 acres of land in section 30, Rock Creek township. At the time of his purchase of the Sanford home place it was improved very scantily, with a small house and a pole shelter for the live stock with the usual pioneer's roof made of prairie grass. Mr. Sanford built manj' improvements on the place more in keeping with his ideas of what a HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 467 farm should have, and engaged in the breeding of Morgan horses. His farm consisted of 260 acres well improved at the time of his death, March 15, 191 5. He was a member of the Masonic order and was well, and favorably known throughout Nemaha county. Speaking in a gene- alogical sense, Giles C. Sanford was a son of Edward and Hepsabeth (Macy) Sanford, natives of Nantucket Island, and whose ancestry were descended from English immigrants who came from the ancestral home of the family in England soon after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plym- outh, Mass., in 1620. A record of this old American family which dates back from the sixteenth century is in existence. Descendants of Ed- ward Sanford and his brothers reside in'Indiana and various States of the Middle ^^'est. The first settlement of the family when its members left their old New England home was in the western reserve of Ohio, where many revolutionary grants were made to revolutionary soldiers and their children. Mrs. Amanda (Swain) Sanford was born in Union county, Indiana, November 11, 1841, and was a daughter of Nathaniel and Rhoda (Gardner) Swain, natives of North Carolina, who came to Union county, Indiana, in 1818. Mrs. Sanford resides on the Sanford homestead. Lawrence V. Sanford attended the district school of his neighbor- hood and also studied at Oneida in the high school. He became a stu- dent at the Kansas State Agricultural College in 1900 and pursued the complete course in agriculture and animal husbandry and received his degree in 1904. He at once began farming in Nemaha county on the old homestead. Mr. Sanford has applied the science of agriculture which he learned at the State school to good advantage in the cultiva- tion of the farm and has made a striking and unusual success of his life work. He specializes in pure bred Shorthorn cattle, for the reason that it pays best to have good beef producing animals on the place. He is a stockholder and a director of the Oneida State Bank and finds time outside of his farming duties to take part in civic and social affairs and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. It is only nat- ural to find that a man of his education and intelligence is an inde- pendent in politics. Edward Pendergrass. — It is somewhat of a distinction to be probably the oldest living native-born resident of a township of Nemaha county, but Edward Pendergrass, born in 1862, is at least one of the oldest native-born Kansans in Rock Creek township. He is not onh' a pioneer by virtue of having been born in this county, but his father, John Pen- dergrass, was one of the first settlers of the eastern part of Nemaha county and one of the earliest of the Kansas pioneers. Mr. Pendergrass is well known throughout the cpunty and has a fine farm of 320 acres in Rock creek township. John Pendergrass, his father, was born in Ireland in 1828 and left the Emerald Isle when twelve years of age. He crossed the ocean and lived in various parts of the United States until he came to Atchison, 468 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Kans., in 1856. Two years later he bought a farm in Berwick town- ship, Nemaha county, but did not develop it until after the Civil war. ,He served as a cavalryman in the Second Nebraska regiment of cavalry and did valiant service in behalf of the Union during the Civil war. He returned to his farm in Berwick township after his war service and lived thereon until his removal to Rock Creek township in the early seventies and lived there until his death in 1908. His wife was Miss Julia Culhane, who was born in Ireland in 1832, and died October 11, 1885. Both parents were members of the Catholic church. Edward Pendergrass. assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty-eight years old and then rented land from his father, who later gave him a deed to eighty acres. He has added to this modest beginning until he owns 320 acres, well improved and located five miles south of Sabetha in section 32 on the Nemaha-Brown county line. Forty acres of this tract is covered with natural timber, which is quite an asset in the way of providing both fuel and lumber for use on the farm. Mr. Pendergrass was married in 1890 to Miss Agnes O'Kane, who was born in Ireland on February 17, 1871, and immigrated to America when she was eighteen years old. She departed this life on November 7, 191 1, leaving six children to mourn the loss of a good and kind mother. The children are as follows : George,' deceased ; Roy, Walter, Julia, John, Ford and Nina. Mr. Pendergrass is a Republican in politics, but has never been a seeker after political preferment. He and his children are members of the Catholic church. George W. Montgomery. — Although George W. Montgomery, of Berwick township, was not reared on a farm and knew nothing practi- cally of the rudiments of farming when he began his career in Nemaha county, an inherent intelligence and the power of adapting his talents to a new vocation enabled him to make good and achieve a success far above the mediocre and commonplace. He became a specialist, made a success of a strange and entirely new avocation after spending years at the cabinet maker's trade, and is now one of the large landowners of this county. Mr. Montgomery was born in a home on Federal street, Philadel- phia, Pa., October 13, 1851, and is a son of William and Martha (McGar- vey) Montgomery, who were the parents of five children. William Mont- gomery, his father, was born in County Farman, Ireland, December, 1825, and was brought to Pennsylvania by his parents when four years old. He learned the trade of cabinet maker in his youth in the city of Philadel- phia and resided in that city while working at his trade for twenty-four years. He then removed to Manchester, Ohio, and followed his trade until his death in 1895. His wife was born in Ireland in 1826 and died in 1856. The senior Montgomery was again married to Nancy Freeland who bore him two children. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 469 George W. Montgomery attended the schools of Manchester, Ohio, and learned the cabinet maker's trade. After he became proficient at his trade he worked with his father for three years and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed as skilled workman in a sash and door factory for seven years. While working at his trade he did considerable thinking; his thoughts turned to the idea that it might be possible for him to delve at his bench and lathe all of his life and he would probably never become well-to-do and always be a dependent worker. At this time the famous Horace Greely had been sending forth his great admonition, "Go West, young man, go West, and grow up with the country." Mr. Montgomery saw others going West and heard tales of the cheap lands to be obtained in Kansas and became imbued with the idea that if others could go west and succeed he could do it also. Accordingly he laid away his tools for the time being and came to Nemaha county in 1878. Knowing nothing of farming he took the shortest and most practical road to knowledge in the avocation upon which he had decided and hired himself out as iarm hand at a wage of fifteen dollars a month. Two years later he betame a renter and in 1880 he bought eighty acres in section twenty-one, Berwick township. This tract was unimproved and undeveloped. Mr. Montgomery built a small house, fourteen by twenty feet, set out trees and an orchard and a grove of shade trees, so that time and the Kansas soil would in a few years give his farm the appearance of an old homestead, such as can be seen everywhere in his native State. As the years passd and the trees and shrubbery grew his place became beautified and he made the necessary additions to his home. He likewise annexed the contin- gent land to his "eighty" on all sides and his large acreage now ex- tends to all four corners of the section and embraces 620 acres of fine land. Mr. Montgomery has specialized in thoroughbred live stock and has been successful as a breeder of Durham cattle and standard bred Percheron horses. ' Mr. Montgomery was married in March 11, 1885, to Anna Culver- house, and this union has been blessed with seven children, as follows : William, deceased; Mrs. Mattie Miller, living in Berwick township, and has one child, George L. ; Charles, Robert, Alma, George, at home ; Bessie, is deceased. The mother of these children was born near Wilkesbarre, Pa., November 2, 1861, and is a daughter of Charles and Martha (Shiffer) Culverhouse, both' of whom were natives of the Keystone State and immigrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, in January, 1872. The Culverhouse family settled on a farm on the county line south of Sabetha, later lived two years at Fairview, Kans., and then moved to Arkansas, where Mr. Culverhouse died in May, 1900. Mrs. Montgom- ery's mother makes her home among her children. Mr. Montgomery is an independent in politics and votes according to the dictates of his conscience and good judgment. He allows no man or so-called political boss to inform him as to how he should vote 470 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY or as to what political principles and tenets he should follow. He reads, studies, and decides for himself as to the merits of the various candidates and creeds. He and Mrs. Montgomery are affiliated relig- iously with the Baptist church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. William Lukert, prosperous and enterprising farmer of Walnut township. Brown county, Kansas, is a native of Germany, and one of the adopted sons of Kansas who has made good in the land of his adoption, and is loyal and steadfast in his allegience to the land which has afforded him and his a comfortable substance and given his parents and brothers an opportunity to achieve moderate wealth and prestige. Mr. Lukert was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 9, 1870, and is a son of Frederick Lukert, concerning whose career an account is given in the biography of John F. Lukert, county engineer of Nemaha county. Mr. Lukert left his native land in company with his parents in 1887, and was reared to young manhood on his father's farm in Walnut township, Brown county. He received his schooling in the district school of Rock Creek township in Nemaha county, and also went to school in Berwick township. His entire life associations have been almost entirely with Nemaha county people and, although Mr. Lukert lives just over the line in Brown county, he has the warmest spot in his heart for Nemaha county. He rented his father's farm in 1891, and in 1894, he bought his present farm of 147 acres. He has placed all of the improvements on this place which include a modern nine room residence, attractively painted in white and a large barn 34x64 feet in dimensions and other buildings. Eighty acres of Mr. Lukert's 364 acres lie in Nemaha county, Kansas. Mr. Lukert was married, in 1894, to Barbara Keller, who was born in Germany on June 14, 1875. Three children have been born to this union, as follows : Paul, John and Marie, all of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. Lukert is independent in his political beliefs, and votes inde- pendently, regardless of the party platforms or creeds as expressed by the leaders of the various political parties. He is a member of the Evan- gelical church, and is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Work- men. James F. Starns, retired farmer and Union veteran, Sabetha, Kans., was born in Fountain county, Indiana, January 20, 1842, and is a son of James and Matilda Starns, whose life stories are given in the biography of Frank M. Starns, written elsewhere in this volume. The parents of James F. Starns left Indiana, when James F. was a boy, and made settlement in Wapello county, Iowa. This was in the pioneer days of the settlement and development of Iowa, and the settlers labored under great difficulties. Consequently, the children of James and Matilda Starns had very little schooling, and the most of school attend- ance that James F. ever got was for about three months of each year, dur- ing the winter time. Lack of suitable clothing and footwear was one of the serious drawbacks to education in the Starns family, and if the chil- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY -47! dren had shoes to protect their feet from the bitter cold of winter, they attended the school sessions ; if not, they stayed at home. In 1856, James Starns and his family migrated westward to Brown county, Kansas. James F. was then fourteen years old, and able to do almost a man's work in the fields. For the first five years in Kansas, he broke prairie with a team of oxen. On September 28, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company D, Eighth Kansas infantry, which was enrolled in Nemaha and Brown counties, and started to the seat of war from Sabetha. Mr. Starns served under Generals Thomas, Sherman and Rosecrans, and was present at the great battle of Chickamauga, receiving a wound in the neck during that memorable battle. He took part in all of the great battles fought by the Union armies between Chickamauga and Atlanta, and served the Union in twelve southern States during his time of service. He re-en- listed as a veteran volunteer in east Tennessee in 1864. Comrade Starns was never taken prisoner for the very simple reason that he was too good a ''runner," when his command was effecting a retreat when the odds were going against the Union forces. He received his final discharge at Leavenworth, Kans., January 9, 1866. Following his return home, he hauled logs to the saw mills for three years. In 1869, he began farming on rented land and later bought forty acres in Morrill township, Brown county, Kansas. He improved this tract with a house and farm_ buildings, and cultivated it for thirty-three years, and then traded it for an eighty-acre tract in Capioma township, Nemaha county. Three years later he sold this farm, and then bought forty acres north of Sabetha, in Berwick township, which he sold in 1915, and retired to a cottage home in Sabetha. "Comrade" Starns was married in Richardson county, Nebraska, on December 24, 1869, to Elizabeth Eakins, who was born near Ottumwa, Iowa, October 15, 1849, ^^'^ is a daughter of William and Marina (Vas- sar) Eakins, natives of Indiana and Missouri respectively. Mrs. Starns' parents made a settlement in Brown county, Kansas, in 1855. The fol- lowing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Starns : Elmer, a book- keeper, Kansas City, Mo. ; Howard, a graduate of the St. Joseph Veteri- nary College, and a practitioner at Humboldt, Neb. Mr. Starns is a Republican and a loyal adherent of the principles of his party. For years he has been a staunch and unswerving supporter of the party candidates. He is a member of the Grand Army post of Sa- betha, and is hale and vigorous for his age. He is proud of the fact that he was given the opportunity to offer his life in defense of the Union, and is also proud of the important fact that he is one of the oldest living pioneer settlers of Kansas. For sixty years, he has lived in Kansas and has witnessed the settlement and development of a great State and county. He has seen the prairies made to yield food for the millions of people in the nation and has witnessed the gradual transformation of an unsettled wilderness to a smiling and peaceful land of plenty, dotted with towns and cities and comfortable and prosperous farms. 472 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Charles W. Ridgway, owner and manager of a 480-acre farm in Adams township, was born in Polk county, Iowa, November 30, 1854, and is a son of Peter M. and Louisa M. (Hamlin) Ridgway, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Peter M. Ridgway, the father, was born at Wheeling, W. Va., in 1822, and was partly reared in that city, and was a son of David Ridgway, born in Ohio in 1788, who was descended from the Ridgway family of England, members of whom immigrated to the New England colonies in about 1700. The family of Ridgway is one of the oldest of the pure American strain. David Ridgway was one of the very first pioneer settlers of Iowa and removed to that State in about 1834, became the owner of 1,000 acres of land in Polk county, and made his original preemption on the site of part of the city of Des Moines. He bought up a great deal of land at the government sale price of $1.25 an acre and became one of the prominent and influential figures in the early. civic life of Iowa. David Ridgway was the father of six sons and four daughters, as follows: Abraham J., born July 16, 1814; Isaac, born September 28, 1816; David, born December 20, 1817; John, born May 24, 1819; Catharine, born May 2"], 1820; Elizabeth, born November 21, 1822; Peter M., father of Charles W., born April 30, 1824, and died March 17, 1879; Rachel, born December 29, 1825; Rebecca, born March 15, 1828; Samuel, born in 1830. David Ridgway died at Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of seventy-six years. Peter M. Ridgway worked on the parental farm until he attained his majority and then moved to a tract of 160 acres which his father gave him, in Polk county, Iowa. Some years later he bought a section of land in Page county, Iowa, and lived thereon. During the Civil war he served as captain of the Iowa Home Guards, and after the war he sold his Iowa land and moved to Kansas, in 1866, engaging in the livestock business in Neosho county. When Peter Ridgway came to Kansas he brought along with his outfit some very fine livestock, but suffered a serious* misfortune when his herd of fine cattle became infected with Texas fever, caught, from herds of cattle which were driven north from Texas for grazing on the Kansas lands. He died on a farm near Seneca, Kans., in 1879, and his remains are interred in the Seneca cemetery. Peter M. Ridgway and Louisa Hamlin were married in 1848, and they were the parents of the following children : Samuel and Abraham, deceased ; Charles W., the sub- ject of this review ; Lois L., deceased ; Peter W., living in Nemaha county, a farmer and father of twelve children ; Ephraim, deceased ; Elmer E., a harness merchant, Kelly, Kans. The mother of these children died in 1869. Charles W. Ridgway's early life was spent on a pioneer farm in Page county, Iowa, whither his parents had removed when he was a small boy. Settlements were few and far between and school houses were very rare. The school which he attended, and which was located on the border line of Iowa and Missouri, required a three-mile walk on his part morning and evening. However, Mr. Ridgway remembers the good times which the Iowa and Missouri boys had while attending this school. I— I I > ^ ■ -^'% ■■'«!«. >.f^^i^ ^^^ If -^'*^' CO fd H d HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 473 After attaining his majority, he attended school in Topeka, Kans., for two years, the family having removed to Neosho county, Kansas, in 1866. He and his three brothers bought eighty acres of land in partner- ship and farmed it in common for five years. At the time of Mr. Ridg- way's marriage, in 1882, he had eighty acres of land and owed one-fourth of a $1,555 mortgage on the eighty-acre tract. However, he worked hard, managed his finances ably and eventually became the owner of 480 acres. It might be well to add here that the Ridgway family came to Nemaha county in 1879. The Ridgway farm is one of the finest tracts in Nemaha county and is well improved with a large thirteen-room house, fitted up in a modern manner with a water plant and heating and acetylene light- ing system. The barn is 40x48 feet, with a large stone basement. Other buildings on this fine agricultural plant are kept in first-class condition. Mr. Ridg- way has long been a breeder of Percheron horses, and is president of the Kelly Draft Horse Company, a concern which has imported several fine Belgian and Percheron horses from abroad. He also maintains a drove of over 100 pure bred Poland China swine. The Ridgway farm boasts some of the finest livestock in northern Kansas, but the proprietor has never placed any animals on exhibition, preferring to handle well bred live stock simply because it is the best thing to do on the farm. Mr. Ridgway has been appointed to serve as township treasurer on two different occasions, has served several terms as justice of the peace and has served as delegate to the Republican State conventions at To- peka. However, although he has always taken a keen interest in political matters and is interested in the success of his party at the polls, he has never allowed politics to interfere with his farming operations, and be- lieves that a man's first duty is to his business, home, and to his family. The marriage of Charles W. Ridgway and Julia Thomas was con- summated February 14, 1882, and has been blessed with five children, as follows: Olive, who died in infancy; Mrs. Rose M. Karnowski, living on a farm two miles north of Centralia, and has four children, namely: Gladys, Raymond, Bernice and Edna Fay; Edward C, resides on one of his father's farms and has one child living, Dewart; Tracy E., living on one of his father's farms, and has two children, Gerald and Bernetta ; Mrs. Amanda B. Gettle, mother of two living children, Roberta and Maxine. Mrs. Julia (Thomas) Ridgway was born in Kentucky, November 22, 1861, and is a daughter of Rev. A. S. and Mehalie (Harrington) Thomas, natives of Kentucky. Rev. Thomas was reared in Kentucky, being born in February, 1830, and was educated for thp ministry, and followed his ministerial career until his demise at Reno, Neb., June 5, 1914. His wife, Mehalia Harrington, was born in Kentucky and died in Texas. She was the mother of nine children, as follows : Mrs. Sarah E. Purtee, living on a Colorado fruit ranch; Mary I., deceased; Alfred F., a ranchman in Texas; Mrs. Elizabeth Purtee, Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Maria Defrees, 474 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Kansas City, Mo. ; James W., Kansas City, Mo. ; Mar£ha, deceased ; Asa S., a farmer near Kansas City, ]\Io. ; Julia, wife of Charles W. Ridgvvay, subject of this review, and who was reared in the country until she was ten years old, and then removed with her parents to Kansas City, Mo., where her father was pastor of the Christian Church. She remained with her parents until her marriage. The Ridgways are members of the Evangelical church and Mr. Ridg- way is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 19, of Seneca. George E. Kohler. — The life story of George E. Kohler, of Ber- wick township, portrays in expressive and substantial terms a record of success Avhich is seldom equalled. When a man can become owner of 600 acres of valuable Kansas land in the comparatively short space of twenty-four years, it is evidence of ability and industry of a very high order and the tale of his accomplishments is well worth record- ing in terms of praise. George E. Kohler was born on a farm in Fayette county, Iowa, March 11, 1868, and is a son of Benjamin and Magdalena (Wenzer) Kohler, natives of Germany. Benjamin Kohler, his father, was born in Switzerland in 1830 and learned the miller's trade. When sixteen years old he immigrated to America and settled in Elgin, Iowa, where he became manager of a flour mill, lived there the remainder of his days and died at Elgin in 1905. George E. Kohler's mother was born in Switzerland in 183 1 and is making her home at West Union, Iowa. When George E. Kohler was twenty-three years old he married and left his home city of Elgin, Iowa, with a capital of $175. He started West in the hope of finding a place where he could make his fortune and become owner of a farm. His westward pathway led him to Bern, Kans., where many Swiss people had settled and formed a Swiss colony. For a few months he worked as farm hand at a wage of $20 per month. He then rented his present home farm in section 28, four miles northwest of Sabetha, and in 1892 he bought the place. At the time Mr. Kohler purchased his farm the improvements were not of much account. He set out trees and shrubbery, built a large house and barn and eventually created a desirable homestead in ac- cordance with his ideas of v/hat a farm home should be like. The first farm was not sufficient for him, however, and as his means allowed he reached out for more and more land until at the present time he owns 600 acres of good farm land in Brown and Nemaha counties. Mr. Kohler was married to Sarah Wenger, who Jjjas borne him one child, namely : Mrs. Lulu Munz, who makes her home at the Kohler place. Mrs. Kohler was born in Elgin, Iowa, March 28, 1869, and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kizer) Wenger, natives of Switzer- land, who emigrated from their native land to America in 1874 and made an early settlement in Nemaha county, Kansas. It is only natural to find that a citizen of the calibre and ability of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 475 Mr. Kohler should take an influential part in civic and political mat- ters in his home township. He has done so and served the people as township trustee for six years, beginning with 1909. He has also been a member of the school board of district sixty-two. The Democratic party has always had the allegiance of Mr. Kohler. While he is con- servative in his methods of doing business and is a careful business man, he is big hearted and generous and he is known as a ready and liberal contributor to the needy and destitute and is a firm believer in practical Christianity without the outward show. John M'. Shaefer. — Neat appearing and well kept is the summary of the observation of the average onlooker when he views the home farm of John M. Shaefer in Home township. The Shaefer farm well deserves all of the praise which can be bestowed upon it, and Mr. and Mrs. Shaefer can be justly proud of their handsome home and the fertile acres which surround it. Evidence of industry and thrift are seen on every hand, and fat swine, handsome horses, and sleek and well fed cattle are seen in the fields to please the eye of the observer. Added to these is a fine family of children, of whom their parents are very proud, with good and just right, inasmuch as this family is their contribution to their home county and State. John M. Shaefer was born in Ulster county. New York, March 2, 1863, and is a son of Adam and Wilhelmina (Smith) Shaefer, who were the parents of six children, as follows : John, deceased ; Adam, deceased ; Mrs. Mary Hailey, deceased; John M., subject of this review; Leonard M., whose biography is given in this volume ; George, twin brother of Leonard, deceased. The reader ss referred to the biography of Leonard M. Shaefer for further details concerning the lives of Simon and Wil- helmina Shaefer. John M. Shaefer was educated in the district schools, and was reared on the Shaefer home farm in Nemaha county since he was six years old. When he was twenty-six years old, he became heir to the northwest quarter of section 26 in Home township, and has made his home thereon since that time. He has improved this tract with a good home of eight rooms and other buildings in keeping with a well defined plan of locating his farm buildings. In 1889, he set out an orchard of two acres which, when it came into bearing, was one of the finest and most prolific in Nemaha county. He made exhibits of his fine apples and peaches at Centralia, and people came from far and near to buy the products of his orchard in season. During the last great drought in Kansas, many of the trees died, or were so badly injured that they have ceased bearing. He also set out a beau- tiful grove of shade trees, which add to the attractiveness of the sur- roundings, and give a grateful shade on the hot summer days. Mr. Shaefer keeps well bred Durham cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs, and also has some fine Norman horses. He is a shareholder of the Farmers Ele- vator Company of Centralia. Mr. Shaefer was married, in 1889, to Octavia Jessee, a daughter of 476 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY George T. and Laura J. (Buckles) Jessee. She was born in Russell county, Virginia, November 18, 1869. Her parents were early settlers of Nemaha county, and came to this county in 1880. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaefer, as follows : George E., born July 31, 1892, a graudate of the Centralia High School, and now bookkeeper for the Pueblo, Colo., Electric Light and Power Company; Lillian, born November 28, 1894, graduated from the Centralia High School, pursued a course in music at Pueblo, Colo., in 1914, and has taught music in her home district — she also taught a term of school in Harrison township in 1913; Grace E., born January 18, 1901, attends school at Centralia; Mat- tie, was born September 10, 1904. Mr. Shaefer is a standpat Republican who thoroughly believes in Republican principles, and is interested in his party's success at the polls. He has been road supervisor, and is now a member of the school board of district No. 73. He is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Odd Fellows of Centralia. George A. Magill,, cashier of the State Bank of Kelly, Kans., was born November 24, 1886, in Brown county, Kansas, and is a son of James D. and Ida E. (Shiffer) Magill, pioneer settlers of Nemaha county, who were among the first to come to Nemaha county. James D. Magill was born in Platte county, Missouri. His parents came to Kansas from Missouri in 1856. He homesteaded 160' acres of land one mile north of Capioma, Nemaha county. The family drove from Missouri to the Kansas homestead with ox wagons and James D. broke up the first land on his .farm with oxen. The family first resided in a log cabin, which served as the family •domicile for a number of years. James D. Magill served as trustee of Capioma township and was elected district clerk of Nehama county in 1898, and held the office until his de- mise in 1900. James D. and Ida E. Magill were the parents of seven chil- dren, as follovvTs: Millie, wife of C. V. Williams, a veterinary surgeon of Frankfort, Kans. ; Blanche, wife of Frank L. Geary, a banker of Seneca, Kans.; Mrs. Bessie Britt, whose husband is a barber located in Seneca; Mrs. Alice Hayner, Elm, Wyo. ; George A., with whom this review is concerned ; Frank, operating a lumber and grain business at Victor, Kans. ; Paul, a farmer living in Richmond township. When George A. Magill was twelve years old his parents removed to Seneca and he attended the public schools for four years after the family located in the city. When sixteen years of age he entered the employ of Thompson & Wempe as clerk in their general merchandise store. He remained with this firm for five years and then pursued a course in bookkeeping and commerce at Central Business College, Kansas City, Mo., for six months. For one year thereafter he was em- ployed on an Idaho ranch. In December, 1908, he returned to Seneca and became bookkeeper of the National Bank of Seneca, and served in this capacity until 1909. He then took charge of the State Bank of Kelly. Mr. Magill is likewise a shareholder and director of this bank HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 477 and the prosperity of the institution is sufficient evidence of his ability to conduct its affairs in the interest of both patrons and stockholders. Mr. Magill was united in marriage with Miss Emily Scrafford in 1910. Mrs. Magill was born February 26, 1887, in Adams township, Nerriaha county, a daughter of Frank M. and Eva (Alexander) Scrafford, who formerly resided in Nemaha county, but are now located on a farm in North Dakota. Mrs. Magill is a graduate of the Seneca High School and taught school for three years previous to her marriage. Mr. Magill takes an active part in county affairs and is usually found in the forefiront of community undertakings. He is a member of the County Fair Association and is a Republican in politics. He is affil- iated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 39, of Seneca, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, No. 60, of Seneca, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 570, of Kelly, Kans. Bert G. Cole, grain dealer and merchant of Kelly, Kans., is one of the live wires of his city, and has filled the office of postmaster -of Kelly for four years. He was born in Brownsville, Cass county, Michigan, January 10, 1880, and is a son of Milton J. and Etta (Lee) Cole. Milton J. Cole was born in New York State in i860, went from his native State to Michigan where he remained until 1882, and then migrated to Kansas, locating on a farm near Kelly in Nemaha county. The mother of Bert G. Cole was born in Michigan, and is now residing in Wetmore, aged fifty- two years. The father died in July, 1912. Milton G. Cole and wife were the parents of the following children : Bert G. ; Donald, an automobile salesman at Wetmore ; Maud, wife of Dr. Searles, residing in Wetmore ; Mrs. Zelpha Cawood, wife of a leading merchant of Wetmore. Bert G. Cole received his primary education in the district school, and accompanied his parents to Kansas, where he assisted his father in cultivating the farm until he began life for himself. In 1898, he pursued an engineering course in the agricultural college at Manhattan, Kans., and then returned to the home farm. He located on a farm owned by his father near Kelly, and in partnership with his father and brother, operated a livery business in Goff and Wetmore. He later engaged in farming until 1909, and then located in Kelly, where he became manager of Denton & Kuhn Commission Company's grain elevator. Mr. Cole has lately engaged in the automobile business in the capacity of auto salesman, and has handled considerable real estate. Mr. Cole's first marriage was in 1903 with Miss Ella Drager of Illinois township, Nemaha county. She was born in 1882, and died in 1904, leaving one child, Iscah, with grandparents at Waterville, Kans. His second marriage occurred in 1909 with Kathrine Stoldt, born in Adams township, Nemaha county, a daughter of George and Minnie (Jordan) Stoldt, natives of Germany. The Stoldts were early settlers in Nemaha counJ:y. George, the father of Mrs. Cole, is deceased, and the mother resides with Mrs. Cole at Kelly. Mr. Cole is a Republican, and has taken a more or less active part in 478 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY political affairs in his town and county, being considered one of the lead- ers of the G. O. P. in Nemaha county. In 191 1, he was appointed post- master of Kelly, and served for four years, until his Democratic successor was appointed. Mr. Cole is a member of the Kelly Lodge of Odd Fel- lows, and is a past grand chancellor of this lodge. Abram Funk, carpenter and builder, and Union veteran, of Kelly, Kans., might aptly be called the "Father of Kelly," inasmuch as he started and operated the first general store in the town in 1887. Mr. Funk wa.= born January 6, 1847, ^n Putnam county, Ohio, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Hampshire) Funk, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Henry Funk was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, November 27, 1808, and became a farmer, removing to Putnam county, Ohio, where he died in 1887. Abram Funk was reared on the pioneer farm in Putnam county, Ohio, attended the district school of his neighborhood and enlisted in the Union army. His enlistment took place in Ma3^ 1863, at Lima, Ohio, in Company F, in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio regiment, and served until his discharge in August, 1863. He was in service in the environs of AA'^ashington, D. C, and at Fort Bayard contracted measles, from which he was laid up for a time. After his war service, Mr. Funk learned the carpenter trade, and about 1867 began to take building contracts on his own account. In 1870 he bought a farm in Putnam county, Ohio, which he cultivated for ten years, then sold out and came to Kansas. His 'first settlement in Kansas was in Nemaha county, six miles south of Sabetha, where he bought 160 acres of partly improved land in 1880. He sold this tract in 1881 and bought 240 acres near Kelly, in Adams township. This farm was poorly im- proved at the time of purchase and he erected the necessary buildings and changed the appearance of things, being enabled to sell out at a good profit in 1887. He then went to western Kansas, but returned to Kelly within a year and started the first general store in this vil- lage. Six months later he disposed of his business and has since de- voted himself to carpentering and contract work. During past years ]\Ir. Funk has been kept fairly busy at his trade and has erected several structures in Kelly and around the country side. Abram Funk was married in 1869 in Allen county, Ohio, to Eliza- beth Clevenger. This union has been blessed with the following chil- dren: Mrs. Edna Blackwell, living in Delta county, Colorado; Lowell, a teacher in Centralia, Kans., and graduate of the State Normal School at Emporia, Kans. ; Grace, who has taught in the Seneca Public Schools for the past twelve years; Russell C, a practicing dentist at Lemore, Cal., and graduate of the AVestern Dental College of Kansas City, Mo. One child died at the age of four years. Mrs. Funk was born August 29, 1850, in Allen county, Ohio, a daughter of I. H[. and Lucinda (Ford) Clevenger, natives of New England. Mr. Funk is progressive in his political views and is a member of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 479 the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Corning Lodge, No. 13. Pie is tolerant in his religious views and while an attendant at religious worship, is not a member of any denomination. Mr. Fuiik is a citizen who believes in the "Golden Rule" as applied to a man's behavior, and is living an honest, upright and industrious life. It is to his everlasting credit as a citizen and father that he has given all of his children every advantage possible in the attainment of a good education. Barney Wichman. — One of the most attractive and best improved farms in Nemaha county, Kansas, is that of Barney Wichman of Mit- chell township. This farm consists of 250 acres, is well fenced, and has excellent buildings. AVhen Mr. Wichman took possession of the place in 189s, the improvements were of a negligible quantity, but the place now is a fine indication of the thrift and enterprise of its owner. In 1904, Mr. Wichman erected a fine nine room farm residence, painted cream color, modern in ever}- respect and heated with a hot air furnace. This home, with its cluster of attractive farm buildings, sits well back from the road- way in the midst of well kept grounds. The following year he built a large .barn 50x56 feet in extent, attractively painted in red and white. Barney "VA^ichman was born in Oldenburg, Germany, April 13, 1867, and is a son of John Casper and Josephine (Bokin) Wichman, who were the parents of six children, as follows : Barney, the eldest of the family, and concerning whose life career this review is written ; Henry, a farmer of Richmond township ; Joseph, deceased ; Clements, of Richmond town- ship ; Elizabeth and Josephine, deceased. John Casper Wichman was born in Germany in 1835, married in Germany and immigrated to America in 1883 and, after a six months' residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, he came west and settled in Nemaha county, Kansas. He first settled in Marion town- ship, but later removed to Mitchell, township. He died in Richmond township in 1899, at the home of his son, Clements. His wife, Josephine, was born in 1834, and died in her native land in 1871. Barney Wichman left his native land in 1887 and came to America. He was employed in an undertaking establishment in Cincinnati, Ohio, until 1892. He then came west and settled in Nemaha county, Kan- sas, where he rented land in Marion township for three years. His three years of renting proved profitable and he was enabled to buy 160 acres of land in section eight, Mitchell township, in 1895. He has since increased his acreage to 250 acres and made the improvements on his land as stated in the preceding paragraph. Mr. AVichman keeps con- siderable live stock on his farm and is thus enabled to market the pro- duction of his plant in the most economical and profitable manner, while insuring- the continued fertility of his broad acres. He was married in 1893 to Miss Mary Stueve and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Benjamin, Harry, Louis, August, Joseph, Elizabeth, Anna, Rosa, Francis. The mother of these children was born in Oldenburg, Germany in 1865, and left her native land in 1887. She settled in Cincinnati, and there met and was 480 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY wooed by Barney Wichman — the marriage resulting has been a happy and prosperous one, and Mrs. Wichman deserves a considerable meas- ure of praise for the success of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Wichman and their children are members of the Cath- olic Church and contribute of their means to the support of this de- nomination. They take part in the many social doings of the church and are highly respected citizens of the county. ' Robert M. Bronough, one of the oldest pioneers of Nemaha county and a prominent and progressive business man at Baileyville, Kans., has made a conspicuous success of his life career and his business, which is that of furniture dealer in his home city. Mr. Bronough comes of a family which figures prominently in the early history of Nemaha county and Kansas. His father was Thomas Bronough, born in Kentucky in 1805, and reared in his native State, living there until he removed to Illi- nois in 1830. He lived in Illinois until he followed his older sons to Kansas in 1859, at which time he drove out to Nemaha county with a train of three wagons and settled on a homestead three miles south of the pres- ent site of Baileyville. He broke up the ground for his farm and culti- vated it for a number of years. In his old age he made his home with his son, Robert M., after the death of his wife, and he enjoyed living to a good old age of eighty years, respected and loved by all who knew him. His death occurred in 1884. During the earlier years of his life, Thomas Bronough filled the office of county assessor of Nemaha county, to which office he was elected in 1866. Seven deputies were employed under him and he was the last county assessor to serve before the law provided for township assessors. His son, Robert, was his chief deputy and assisted in changing the tax roll from the alphabetical to the numerical order, thus getting all the taxable land on the county tax rolls. Thomas Bronough married Mary Rollins, born in Kentucky in 181 1, and departed this life in 1875. Thomas and Mary Bronough were par- ents of eight children, as follows : Eliza, deceased, wife of O. C. Bruner, former county treasurer : Tolliver, Union war veteran, a rnember of Com- pany E, Thirteenth Kansas regiment of volunteers, coming to Kansas in 1857, dying in Arkansas in 191 1 ; James T., came to Kansas in 1858, and was a well known farmer near Kelly, Kans., dying in 1897; Mrs. Lucy Gilliland, living near San Diego, Cal., with a widowed daughter; Vir- ginia, wife of Thomas D. McGatagan, formerly lived near Frankfort, Kans., and lived in Oklahoma and California, dying in California ; Sarah, died at the age of ten years in Illinois ; Mary, died at the age of seventeen years, in 1867; Mrs. Elvira McBradley, living in Baileyville. Robert M. Bronough was born May 6, 1844, in Schuyler county, Illinois. He came to Kansas with his parents in 1859, and he attended the Centralia schools in his boyhood days. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he answered the call to arms and enlisted in Company E, Thirteenth Kansas infantry, and saw much active service in the South and on the frontier. He took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 4^1 Ark., and served in Arkansas, Indian Territory and the Red River valley country and was engaged in many minor conflicts during- tne course ot his war service. He was mustered out of the service at Little Rock, Ark., in 1865, and received his honorable discharge on June 26, 1865. From Little Rock he accompanied his regiment to St. Louis via the Mississippi river route, and thence to Leavenworth, where the troops were paid off. From there they came by stage to Weston, Mo., and then boarded the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs railroad and rode to Atchison, Kans. After stopping at the old Massasoit Hotel over night, he and some of hi.s comrades paid a fare of $12 each for transportation to Seneca via the Holliday stage route. After his return home he worked on his father's farm until 1898 and then located in Baileyville, where he en- gaged in business for himself and dealt extensively in hardware, furni- ture and lumber for a number of years, but of late he has conducted a furniture store exclusively. At one time, when living on the farm, Mr. Bronough achieved considerable success as a breeder and shipper of Shorthorn cattle. He is a shareholder and vice-president of the Bailey- ville Bank, of which ex-Governor Bailey is president. In the year 1866- 1867, Mr. Bronough, with J. W. Fuller, who was county clerk at the time, changed the tax roll from alphabetical to the numerical order, as pro- vided by law. Robert M. Bronough was married on September 12, 1866, to Miss Mary J. Cassidy, who was born in Ohio, September 12, 1845. She was a daughter of John and Eliza (Paulman) Cassidy, natives of Ohio, who imrnigrated to Kansas in 1865. There were four children born to this marriage, as follows : John, farmer. Center township ; Mrs. Olive Griffith, Baileyville; Mrs. Laura Bigelow, deceased; Thomas C, Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Bronough is in sympathy with the Democratic party and casts his vote for its nominees. He is active in religious affairs of his com- munity and is a trustee of the Presbyterian church. He holds member- ship in the Odd Fellows fraternal order and, because of his Civil war career, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post, Seneca, Kans., and a member of the Kansas State Historical Society. Joseph Schumaciher, merchant, Kelly, Kans., was born in Damme, Germany, November 11, 1875, and is a son of Edward and Bernardina (Bergmann) Schumacher, natives of Germany. The father of Joseph Schumacher was a wagon maker in the Fatherland and both parents died in Germany. Mr. Schumacher was reared and educated in Germany until he was thirteen years old and then emigrated from his native land to America. He first worked for his uncle, Barnard Bergmann, at St. Benedict's, and was employed on his uncle's farm for a time previous to taking employment in the general store owned by Clements Blocker at St. Benedict's. He remained at St. Benedict's until 1905 and then came to Kelly, where he farmed for two years in the nearby country. He was next employed in the general store owned by Dignan & Haug, and in (31) 482 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1906 he purchased the business in partnership with j\Ir. Ketter. Mr. Schiimacher is a good, careful business man and the store in his charge is doing a prosperous business, which exceeds $12,000 annually. For- tune has smiled upon Mr. Schumacher and he is the owner of 160 acres of good land in Adams township. Mr. Schumacher was married November 19, 1903, to Miss Susan Kongs, of St. Benedict's. Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher are the parents of three children, as follows: Alvin, Cyril and Leanord. The mother of these children was born at St. Benedict's, April 7, 1884, a daughter of Michael and Mary (Rettele) Kongs, natives of Germany and Wiscon- sin, respectively. Mrs. Kongs is now living among her children. Air. Schumacher is an independent in political matters and is a member of the Kelly Cahtolic Church. He is also affiliated with the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. Theodore Rosengarten. — Theodore Rosengarten, farmer and stock- man, of Mitchell township, was born in Hanover, Germany, February 18, 1854, a son of \Mlliam and ]\Iary Rosengarten, who reared a family of three children of whom Theodore is the only one now living. Both par- ents died in their native land. Theodore lived in Germany until 1880, and then crossed the ocean to find fortune in America. He first located in the St. Benedict neighborhood of Xemaha county, Kansas, and bought 80 acres of land for which he paid $25 an acre. He sold this same farm for $45 an acre in 1902 and then bought his present home farm of 160 acres in Mitchell township, upon which he has made many substantial im- provements and has prospered. !Mr. Rosengarten favors the Durham breed of cattle and has some very fine animals on his place. Mr. Rosengarten was married in 1883 to Mary Tichlofen, who has borne him the following children : Henry, married to Florence Brinkler, and resides in Seneca ; Frank, who took to wife May Hoops, lives in Seneca and has one child, Carmelita ; Minnie, wife of J. Brinkler, a farmer living near Seneca, and has one child, Gerald ; Edward married Cecilia Nash, is farming the home place and has one child, Edna. The mother of these children was born at AA^aterford, Wis., June 25, 1857, ^"d is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Honeymann) Tichlofen, natives of Germany. Henry Tichlofen was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1830, and learned the carpenter's trade. He emigrated from the Fatherland in 1854, and settled in Racine county, Wisconsin. From there he came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1875, and worked at his trade of carpenter in Seneca until he purchased a farm of 80 acres in Richmond township for which he paid $8.00 an acre. He farmed his land until his retirement in 1902,. and is now making his home with Mrs. Rosengarten. He was mar- ried in AMsconsin to Elizabeth Honeymann in 1843, ^^^d who died in 1902. The mother of ]Mrs. Rosengarten was born in Germany and left her native coimtry and came to America when she was twelve years old. Mr. and ]\Irs. Tichlofen were the parents of eight children of whom Mrs. Rosengarten is the eldest. These children are : ]\Irs. Elizabeth Rosen- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 483 garten, wife of the subject; Henry, a farmer living near Junction City, Kans. ; Mrs. Ida Underwood, Omaha, Xeb. ; Julius, of Kansas City, Mo.; Rose, wife of J. Donnelly, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Airs. Elizabeth Kirk, Kansas City, Kans. ; Mrs. Lydia Xoland, Solomon, Kans. ; John, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rosengarten are members of the Catholic church and contribute of their means to the support of this denomination. i\Ir. Ros- engarten has served as road supervisor of Mitchell township, and has filled the post of clerk of school district No. 65. William Gerkens. — W^illiam Gerkens, merchant of St. Benedict's, Xemaha county, Kansas, was born in \\'estphalia, Prussia, German Em- pire, October 2, 1858, and is a son of Joseph and Angela (Entpohler) Ger- kens, natives of the fatherland, and who reared a family of five children, as follows : Frank, living in Germany and who served in the Austro- German ^^'ar of 1866 and the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871 ; Henry; living in Germany; Mrs. Elizabeth Brock, Germany; William, the sub- ject of this review; Mrs. Anna Attens, living on a farm near Baileyville, Kans. Joseph Gerkens was born in A^'estphalia, Prussia, in 181 1, and was a son of John Gerkens, who was a farmer. Joseph became a shepherd, and died in 1892. The mother of \^'illiam Gerkens was born in 1819, and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Evro) Entpohler, the former of whom was a school teacher in Germany. She died in 1876. William Gerkens left his native country August 31, 1881, and made his way across the seas and the United States to Dubuque county, Iowa, where he found employment as farm hand for three years, beginning with $180 for the first year and eventually receiving $205 for his second and third years of service. A^^ishing to see the country to the westward he set out and traveled for a time and then returned to Iowa, where he out- fitted himself as a traveling merchant, with a horse and wagon. Until 1888 he traveled over the greater part of Iowa in a nomadic manner, retail- ing his wares at the farm houses by the wayside, and resting where night found him. In 1888 he made up his mind to locate in Texas, but on the way through Kansas and he became discouraged over the appearance ot the country in the southern part of Kansa, and gave up that idea and came to St. Benedict's, from where he again traveled over the country retailing dry goods. and notions. In 1889, with a stock of goods valued at about $200, he started a gen- eral merchandise store at St. Benedict's, and during the years that have passed he has prospered and is now comfortably well off in this world's goods. His little stock of goods has grown during the years until he now carries a stock worth $3,000 and has a steady, substantial trade among the people of this vicinity. Mr. Gerkens was married in 1889 to Bernadina Sturve, born in Stein- felt, Oldenburg, Germany, in 1851. She cam.e to St. Benedict's with her mother in 1882. Both parents of Mrs. Gerkens are dead, her mother hav- ing departed this life in 1894. One child has blessed this happy marriage, namely. Alary, born March 17, 1891. 484 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY. Mr. Gerkens is a Democrat in politics and he and his wife and daughter are members of St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Mr. Gerkens' hobby is the breeding and raising of St. Bernard, Hartz Mountain Canary birds, and he understands perfectly how to raise the feathered songsters, which he loves so well. Henry B. Nichols. — The late Henry B. Nichols, of Seneca, Kans., was one of the best known and best loved men of the pioneer and latter days in Nemaha county. Forty and more years ago the Nichols home, east of Seneca, was famed for its hospitality and was looked upon as a stopping and resting place for the settlers who were then coming into the county. The welcome which strangers would receive from Mr. and Mrs. Nichols would go a long way toward making their new neighbors from far lands feel at home in Kansas. Henry B. Nichols was a gentleman of the old school whose education and attainments fitted him for the role which he played in the life of his adopted community, and it was said of him shortly after his demise, by one who knew him well : "He was a kind man whose example I would wish my children to follow." What a tribute ! Henry B. Nichols was born on a farm near Clyde, Ohio, February 22, 1843, and was a son of Henry and Harriet (Bemis) Nichols, the for- mer a native of Vermont and the latter a native of Canadice, N. Y. The Nichols family is one of the old families of America, of Welsh ancestry, and whose members were allied with the Quaker church at the beginning of that faith. Henry B. Nichols was yet a boy when the call came from President Lincoln for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States. He responded and enlisted in Company K, One Hun- dredth Ohio infantry, during the first ye^r of the great war and served throughout the conflict. He enlisted under Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, who later became President of the United States. In one of the great battles in which his regiment participated, Mr. Nichols was wounded in the left shoulder and taken prisoner by the Confederates, who placed him in durance in the famous Belle Isle prison just across the river from Libby. Before being captured he contrived to make a sling for his wounded, arm, and under this sling he hid a small sum of money, which he intended to send home for emergency. This money was overlooked when he was searched by his captors, and by his telling the guard he was badly wounded, they let him pass without a thorough search of his person. After his exchange, and he had regained his health, he again returned to the battlefields of the South with his regi- ment and was again wounded, this time being shot through both legs, the wound incapacitating him for further service for some time. After his marriage in 1865, ^i"- Nichols farmed in Ohio until his removal to Kansas in 1871. He settled on a farm one and one-half mile east of Seneca and developed it into a fine property now known as the Mat Schneider farm. He followed the vocation of agriculturist until his retirement to a home in Seneca in 1893. His demise occurred January 21, 1909. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 485 Henry B. Nichols was married on December 12, 1865, to Mildred M. Brush, and one child has blessed this union, Miss Allie R. Nichols, born March 28, 1875, on the family farm in Richmond township, and now re- siding in Seneca. Miss Nichols is the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres and maintains the old Nichols home in Seneca. Mrs. Mildred (Brush) Nichols was born near Clyde, Ohio,. December 29, 1846, and died April 18, 1911. This well respected and highly esteemed couple left behind them an example of right living and usefulness that is well worth emulation by the rising generation. ' Both attended the Congregational church, of which Miss Nichols is a member, and she is also connected with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Henry B. Nichols was a Re- publican during his whole life, but never sought political preferment. He was an influential member of the Seneca Grand Army of the Re- public Post, of which he was commander. With him, kindness and hos- pitality was a virtue and bred within him ; he died full of honors and hon- ored and respected by all who knew him as a good and worthy citizen. John T. Pugh. — John T. Pugh, the efficient superintendent of the Nemaha county Poor Farm, was born on a farm in Fayette county, Illi- nois, February 5, 1863, and is a son of William W. and Elizabeth (Denton) Pugh. William W. Pugh was born in Tennessee, December 9, 1829, and removed with his parents to Illinois when a youth. He was reared on the Illinois farm and learned to till the soil under his father's tutelage. In 1875 the Pugh family left Illinois and migrated to Wilson county, Kansas, and later moved to a farm near Perry, Okla., where Will- iam W. died in 1903. In his younger days he was a school teacher in Illinois and was a well read man. William W. and Elizabeth Pugh were the parents of the following children : John T., with whom this review is concerned ; Edward, a hardware merchant located in Oregon ; Mrs. Mary Watkins, living on a farm near Goff, Kans. ; William M., Beloit, Kans. ; Mrs. Anna Reeves, Wichita, Kans. ; one child died in infancy. The mother of these children was born in 1840 in Fayette county, Illinois,' and de- parted this life November 8, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Pugh were members of the Christian church and at the time of his demise, William AV Pugh was the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres of land. John T. Pugh was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Wilson county, and received a district school education. When he attained his majority he rented a farm in Wilson county, Kansas, which he cultivated until 1890, and then came to Nemaha county. He first rented land in Adams township. He was appointed in 1913 to the position of superinr- tendent of the county farm of 200 acres by the county commissioners of Nemaha county. At the present writing there are eight wards of the county in the home under Mr. Pugh's charge. Mr. Pugh was married in 1883 to Miss Viola McClure, who has borne him the following children : Mrs. Audie Stone, living in Oregon ; Mrs. Effie Heinen, of Adams township ; Carl, a farmer in Center township ; 486 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Orpha, deceased. Mrs. Pugli was born September 11, 1865, in Fulton county, Indiana, a daughter of Robert and Esther (Hickman) McClure, early settlers of Wilson county, Kansas. Mr. Pugh is a Republican in politics and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Since taking charge of the County Farm he has given evidence of decided ability to successfully manage the farm and has the confidence of the county commissioners and the people of Nemaha county in general. Rev. Father Gregory Neumayr. — Rev. Father Gregory Neumayr, O. S. B., pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Benedict's, Kans., was born at Munich, Germany, 1866, and attended the schools of his native city. He began his studies for the priesthood in 1879, at the Benedictine Seminary, of Scheyern, Germany'. When he attained the age of eighteen years he immigrated to America, and in 1883 he was admitted to member- ship in the Benedictine Order at Atchison, Kans. Father Gregory was ordained for the priesthood in 1891, and his first parish work was at the Straubb Settlement near Avoca, Neb. His next charge was at Burlington, Iowa, after which he became assistant in the church at Atchison, Kans. In 1895 he was sent to Purcell, Kans., and had charge of the erection of a church at that place. He remained at Purcell for two years, and in 1910 took charge of the Effingham, Kans., Catholic Church. He remained at Effingham until September 13, 1914, when he was given the pastorate of St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict, Kans. Emil J. Jonach, Jr., merchant, Kelly, Kans., is a native Kansan. He was born on a farm near Woodlawn, Nemaha county, October 10, 1883, and is a son of Emil J. and Martha (Laughlin) Jonach, natives of Ger- many. Emil Jonach, Sr., was born at Frankenhausen, Germany, February 22, 1833, and followed the trade of barber in his native land, and also studied medicine. He emigrated from the Fatherland in 1850 and first lived in New York City where he conducted a barber shop until 1856. When Kansas was opened for settlement in the early fifties, he was among the first to come to the new State and, in 1856, made a settlement in Capioma township. He homesteaded 160 acres of land and broke up his land with horses. As the years passed and prosperity smiled upon Mr. Jonach, he accumulated a total of 780 acres of land in the county, and retired from active farm work in 1901. He has been one of the promi- nent citizens of his township and, being a well read man, has been called upon by the citizens, to serve as a justice of the peace and as a member of the school board. He makes his residence in Capioma township, and among his children. Mr. Jonach served his country in the Union army, and saw service on the frontier during the Indian troubles. His wife, Martha, was born in Indiana. Emil J. Jonach, Jr., was reared to young manhood on his father's farm, and was educated in the district school of his neighborhood. In 1908, he bought 160 acres of land in Capioma township, and farmed it in HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 487 partnership with his brother, Charles, until 191 1, when he sold the farm to his father, and engaged in the merchandise business in Kelly. Mr. Jonach has been very successful in his business, and is one of the live business men of the hustling town of Kelly. Mr. Jonach, Jr., was married, in 1910, to Miss May Barnett, and this union has been blessed with one child, namely: Emil J., Jr., born Jan- uary 21, 1912, in Kelly. Mrs. Jonach was born February 14, 1890, in Brown county, Kansas, and was reared in Nemaha county. She is a well educated lady, and taught school for two years in this county. Her parents, O. G. and Mary R. (Miller) Barnett, are natives of Illinois, and were early settlers in Kansas. They reside -on a farm south of Oneida, Kans. Mr. Jonach is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Jonach belongs to Eastern Star Lodge No. 357 of Seneca, Kans. Bernard Bergmann. — Bernard Bergmann, retired farmer, St, Bene- dict, Kans., was born in Oldenburg, Gecmany, March 11, 1853, and is a son of Franz A. and Mary A. (Haskamp) Bergmann, who were the par- ents of nine children, three of whom are living in America. Franz Berg- mann was born in 1816, and became a sailor and fisherman. For three years he served in the German army, and in 1880 he immigrated to Amer- ica, first settling in Iowa, where he farmed with his children, who had preceded him to this country, namely: Bernard, Joseph, and Clements. The elder Bergmann remained in Iowa until 1897, and then came to Seneca, Kans., where he died January 31, 1901. His wife was born in Germany in 182 1 and died near St. Benedict's parish at the home of her son, Frank, on January 28, 1904. Bernard Bergmann, subject of this review, attended the schools of his native land, learned the trade of cigar maker and worked in a cigar factory in Germany until 1872. He then immigrated to America and farmed for ten years in Iowa, coming to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1882. He bought 80 acres of land in Clear Creek township upon which a small shanty had been built. He at once set about putting up good improve- ments, and erected a comfortable two story house, and a barn 44x54 feet in dimensions. Mr. Bergmann became a breeder of Standard Percheron horses and mammoth Jacks, which he exhibited with considerable success at the county fairs. He made a success of his farming operations and his live stock breeding and as the years passed he added to his possessions until he became the owner of 240 acres of well improved land, in addi- tion to giving his son a fine farm of 160 acres, comprising the home place. Mr. Bergmann retired in 1906, and moved to St. Benedict's, where he erected a fine two story modern home, which is easily the finest resi- dence in the village. Mr. Bergmann was married to Caroline Lange, in Iowa, in 1878, and to this marriage have been born six children, as follows : Mrs. Mary Huesling, wife of J. Huesling, born December 18, 1879, died 488 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY May 15, 1904, born at New Vienna, Iowa, and died at St. Benedict's; Kathrine, wife of George Heiman, Marion township, born No- vember 28, 1880, and died in St. Joseph's Hospital, March 10, 110; Frank, farmfng the home place of the Bergmanns, married Dena Hul- sing; Lena, wife of Frank Melcher a farmer and large land owner, of Richmond township (see sketch) ; Joehanna, wife of Henry Engelken, Richmond township ; Lawrence, married Ernestina Skoch, and lives on the Bergmann farm in Clear Creek township. The mother of this fine family was born in June, 1854, in Steinfelt, Oldenburg, Germany, a daughter of Herman Henry and Catherine (Olberding) Lange, and left her native land with her father in 1885 and settled in Iowa. She departed this life October 18, 1899, and is now- buried in St. Benedict's cemetery. She was a good and faithful helpmate to Bernard Bergmann, and a kind and wise mother to her children. The Bergmann family are all members of the Catholic church. Mr. Bermann is a Democrat who is quite influential in the affairs of his party in Nemaha county. He. served as clerk and road supervisor of Richmond township, and filled other positions with credit to himself and the people. The career of this splendid American citizen of Ger- man birth is a striking and forceful example of what is frequently ac- complished in this land by members of this sturdy and industrious race. When he arrived in this country he was Just a poor German emigrant boy who had paid for his passage across the seas by many days of hard labor in the fields. By means of tireless industry, economy, foresight, and good financial judgment he has risen to become one of the wealthy and respected citizens of Nemaha county, who takes a just and rightful pride in the fact that he is self made and owes no man for his prestige and present comfortable state of affluence. Bernard Henry Rottinghaus.^ — The success which has attended the efforts of the average German born farmer or those of German descent in Nemaha county is, in many instances, amazing when one compares their accomplishments with those of the mass of farmers who form the population of this county. Sometimes it seems unaccountable, but the evidence of an individual success such as has been won by Bernard Henry Rottinghaus is here in Illinois township in the concrete and con- sists of over 400 acres of well tilled farm land, a handsome modern farm home of ten rooms, fat, sleek cattle of the best breeds, hogs, and fine horses, all accumulated during the thirty years since Mr. Rottinghaus came to America from Germany, a poor immigrant lad. He is also a stockholder and director of the Kelly State Bank. Bernard Henry Rottinghaus was born at Oldenburg, Germany, July 30, 1861, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Bunger) Rottinghaus, who were the parents of five children, as follows : Elizabeth Von Lemden, living in Germany; Mrs. Dina Meyer, Germany; Mrs. Lizzie Kempson, Germany; Bernard H., subject of this review; a daughter died in in- fancy. Henry Rottinghaus, the father, was born in 1823, farmed during HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 489 his whole life, and cjied in 1881. Their mother was born in 1820, and died in 1900. Mr. Rottinghaus received a good common school education in the Fatherland, and emigrated from his old home in 1883 in search of fortune in America. He settled in the St. Benedict neighborhood of Nemaha county, Kansas, and worked out for $15 per month for seven years. He saved his earnings, and in 1888, he bought a farm of no acres in Rich- mond township. He improved this tract and sold it in 1902, investing the proceeds in a farm in Illinois township, which he has since increased to the large total of 440 acres. Forty acres of his land li£S in Mitchell township. Mr. Rottinghaus has one of the best improved farms in Nemaha county and is consta;ntly making improvements of a substantial nature-. He erected a ten room modern home, of an attractive design in 1909 at a cost of $4,000, .and has built a large granary and hay barn since coming into possession of the place. He keeps high grade stock, including Poland China hogs, Shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses and Percheron draft animals. On both of his farms he has a five acr.e orchard in bearing. Mr. Rottinghaus was married February 12, 1890, to Anna Stegemann, who has borne him eight children, as follows : Mary, wife of Joseph Lierz, a farmer in Nemaha county; Henry, Joseph, Alvin, Anna, Frank,. Emma and Dora, at home with their parents. Anna (Stegemann) Rottinghaus was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March 14, 1864, and is a daughter of Herman and Agnes (Dickmanri) Stegemann. She came from Germany to St. Benedict's in 1889. Mr.Rottinghaus usually votes the Democratic ticket, but finds little time for political matters and has no ambition for office holding. He and all members of his family are de- vout Catholics, and are members of St. Bede's Catholic Church at Kelly, Kans. John G. Hulsing. — John G. Hulsing, late of St. Benedict's. Nemaha county, Kansas, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 24, 1852, and was a son of George and Kathrine (Mulring) Hulsing, natives of Germany, where they were tillers of the soil. Both emigrated from their native land to America when young, located in Cincinnati, met there and were married. To them were born five children, of whom John was the eld- est. The Hulsing family removed from Cincinnati to Dubuque county, Iowa, when John was a bo}^ and he was there educated and reared to young manhood. After his marriage in 1875, he removed to Carroll county, Iowa, and farmed there until 1894, when he moved westward to Nemaha county, Kansas. He located in the town of St. Benedict's, and operated a general store in partnership with Clements Brocker for three years, then operated the store for three years on his own account, and then bought a farm of 160 acres on the outskirts of the town. He culti- vated his land assiduously, used good judgment, and prospered until he became the owner of 300 acres of good farm land. His demise occurred February 27, 1913. 49° HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY John G. Hulsing was married in 1875 to Mary Hoefler, and this union was blessed with the following children, namely: John^ a farmer of Nemaha county, Kansas ; Mrs. Kathrine Raker, living on a farm near Baileyville, Kans. ; Anna, wife of Ed Koelzer, Nemaha county; Mary, at home with her mother; Dena, wife of Frank Bergmann; Henry, a farmer of Richmond township ; Lizzie, wife of W. Rettele, living near Seneca, Kans.; Mrs. Clara Haug, living with her mother; Mrs. Rosa Bergmann, residing near Baileyville, Kans. Mrs. Mary Hulsing was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 8, 1853, and is a daughter of Garrett J. and Clara (Schaefer) Hoefler, natives of Germany, who came to Ohio from their native land when young. They were the parents of fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy. The Hoeflers also removed to Iowa where both of Mrs. Hulsing's parents died. Mrs. Hulsing is the owner of a farm of 206 acres and is a loyal member of St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Frank A. Olberding. — He of whom this chronicle treats, comes of sturdy German stock, the kind from which a large part of our successful citizens have sprung. It is a remarkable fact that among the misfits and never-do-wells very few Germans are found. Success seems to gravitate toward these thrifty people, perhaps because they are not spoiled by it, for no one ever saw a German family spoiled by too much prosperity. No matter how comfortably they are situated, they always retain their simple mode of life and refrain from all show of extravagance. Frank A. Olberding is a typical citizen of this type. Starting out in life under the severest disadvantages, he has labored long and hard and now rests easy in the security of the income which he spent hard years in achieving. Born in Oldenburg, Germany, October 17, 1866, he started life under a different civilization. His parents were John H. and Agnes (Kruse) Olberding, to whom were born four children : Anna, married to Mr. Kohake, now dead ; Henry, Clear Creek, Nemaha county, dead; Josephine, Clear Creek township, Nemaha county; Frank, of whom this sketch treats. The father was born in Germany in 1821, and followed the occupa- tion of farming in his native land. In middle life he immigrated to America, and brought his family to Nemaha county, Kansas, where he bought land in Clear Creek township, and farmed until the time of his death in 1900. The mother of Frank Olberding, like her husband, was born in Germany, and died there in 1873, when about forty years of age. Frank Olberding was brought to America when a young boy and grew up on the farm, attending at the same time the district school in Clear Creek township. After completing his education, he worked at various places as a farm hand, drawing $15 to $20 per month. At the age of twenty-seven, he had saved enough money to buy a farm and he acquired a half section of land in Richmond township, section eighteen. The farm was poorly improved when he took pos- session but he has introduced modern improvements on the place and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 49I has a well equipped farm. Besides farming, Mr. Olberding is a breeder of fine hogs and has a fine lot of Red Poland stock. He feeds one hun- dred hogs a year and makes a large profit out of his investment. He raises about iro acres of corn yearly, which yields about forty bushels to the acre. In addition to his farming interests, he is a stockholder in the Seneca Farmers' Union and is counted among the influential and prominent farmers of this section of the state. In 1894 he was married to Agnes Tangemain and to this union seven children were born : Edward, George, Lawrence, Veronica, Ben- edict, Agnes, Albert, all living at home. The mother of these children was born in Germany, September 12, 1875, but left there when only a year old. Her parents settled in Nemaha townsliip, and both now live on their farm in Clear Creek township. Mr. Olberding is an adherent to the Rornan Catholic faith and be- longs to the Democratic party. In his residence in America, which dates from 1883, he has shown himself a good citizen and a fine neigh- bor He has completely assimilated the ideals of his adopted country, and is a credit to the Stars and Stripes. He has never sought political preferment, but has always taken a keen interest in governmental af- fairs. For the past two years Mr. Olberding has been driving a Stude- baker "Six" automobile for which he paid $1,300. He and his family get much enjoyment from the use of this fine machine and he finds it a convenience in his farming operations. Jerome McQuaid. — Jerome McQuaid, a breeder of fine Poll-Aber- deen Angus cattle and other fancy stock, is one of the prosperous farm- ers and stockmen of Richmond township, Nemaha county. Mr. Mc- Quaid was born in Nemaha county, June 5, 1877, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Draney) McQuaid. The father was of Irish birth, hav- ing been born on the Emerald Isle in 1833. At the age of seventeen, Peter McQuaid left the land of the Shamrock and settled in the United States. He worked at various jobs for some time, and when the Civil War broke out he was employed by the government as a blacksmith during the years of that great struggle. When the last battle was over and the great industrial forces which supplied the army with equipment and kept it in fighting condition were disbanded, Peter McQuaid mi- grated to Nemaha county, Kansas, and opened a blacksmith shop in the old town of Farmington. Later he saw a good opening at Seneca, Kansas, and moved his shop to that place, where he had a fine trade. In 1873 he bought a farm near Turkey Creek in Nemaha county, and was very successful in this venture. He made numerous improvements and dealt heavily in live stock and at one time he owned 440 acres of land which he farmed until his death in 1895. Though coming from a strange land, he readily took on the American ways of thinking and became active in public affairs, taking an especially prominent part in the work of the Republican party in his district. He held the office of registrar of deeds in Nemaha county for one term and was a capable 492 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY official. He professed the Roman Catholic faith. The mother of Jerome McQuaid was a Canadian, born in 1843, ^^'^ '^ow lives in Seneca. To Peter and Mrs. McQuaid were born ten children, seven of whom are living. Jerome McQuaid attended the district school and mastered the "three R's" with no more difficulty than the average small boy finds. He was a live boy in every sense of the word and enjoyed the farm and its attendant delights despite the irksome chores which it is the lot of all boys on the farm to perform. When he attained the age of twenty-one years, he rented land from his mother and in 1900 he bought a farm of 160 acres near the old home place. On this place he built a substantial house and barn and made numerous other improvements. He farmed the place until 1907, when he sold it and bought 333 acres of fine land in Richmond township, in sections 22 and 23, which were formerly owned by B. F. Hart. This farm is well improved and he has a fine barn and corn crib, the latter of his own construction as are other minor improvements around the place. Mr. McQuaid has 140 acres of his farm in corn, which yields fifty bushels to the acre. He also has sixty acres in alfalfa. Mr. McQuaid devotes considerable atten- tion to his live stock, which is of excellent breed, including Polled Aberdeen Angus cattle. All graded stock on his place is of a high quality. February i, 1897, he was united in marriage with Ida Haug, who was born December 28, 1880, and is a daughter of August and Kath- rine (Selbach) Haug, natives of Germany. Mrs. Ida McQuaid was born in Nemaha county where her parents came as early settlers in the pioneer days. To this happy union, nine children were born : Cora, Sylvester, Oliver, Angela, Surilla, Marcella, Hylda, Carmelita, and a baby girl, Eveline, all living at home. Mr. McQuaid is a Republican and takes an interest in the political affairs of his community. He is an adherent of the Catholic church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. John J. Smith, farmer, Adams township, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born in Nemaha county, November 4, 1872. He is a son of Thomas and Ellen (O'Connell) Smith, natives of Ireland. Thomas Smith was born in Ireland, in 1840, and was reared in his native village. At the age of seventeen years, he started working for himself and worked in his native land until 1861 and then came to America. He located at Leavenworth and was employed by the United States Government as teamster for seven years. In 1868 he came to Nemaha county and home- steaded 160 acres of land, upon which he resided for a period of thirty years. He then retired to a comfortable home in Axtell, Kans., where he died in 1904. He and his wife, Ellen, were good Catholics, and were the parents of ten children, as follows : Mary (Sister Olivia) and Sarah (Sister Helen), Sisters of Charity in the Catholic church; Mrs. Nellie Kegan, of Baileyville, Kans., who is the mother of two children ; Katie (Sister Rosaleta") in the Catholic Church ; Edward, a farmer near Ax- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 493 tell, Kans., and father of five children; John J., subject of this review; Thomas, a farmer living at Sargent, Mo„ and father of seven, children ; Rev. Father Patrick Smith, a priest located at Blaine, Kans.; Delia (Sister Donata), a sister of the Catholic church; Mrs. Rose Waters, Topeka, Kans., mother of one child. The mother of these children was born in Ireland in 1844, and started working when ten years old. When sixteen years of age she came to America and worked as a domestic at Leavenworth until her marriage in 1868. She died in St. Francis' Hos- pital at Topeka, Kans., September 10, 1915. John J. Smith was reared on his father's farm and received a district school education. He worked for his father on the home place until twenty-two years of age and then began life for himself._ He first rented eighty acres of land in Clear Creek township for one year, and then rented another eighty acres and farmed it for one year. He then took charge of 160 acres of land for a year, and then rented 160 acres within three miles of Summerfield, Kans., which he cultivated for two years, after which he returned to Clear Creek township and farmed 160 acres for two years, and after farming another 190 acres for one year, he made his first land investhient in 160 acres south of Seneca, which he owned for three years. He then sold out, and after a year's residence in Seneca, he bought 170 acres west of Seneca. One year later he sold this farm, and in 1909 bought his present home place of 157.25 acres in Adams township. Mr. Smith was married April 23, 1894, to Jane Aziere, who bore him the following children: John P. and Lawrence H., at home with their father. The mother of these children was born in Nemaha county. May I, 1876, and died in 1910. She was a daughter of Charles and Mary (Gaume) Aziere, natives of France. Charles Aziere was born in France in 1848, and was one of the early pioneers of Nemaha county, dying here in 1902. His wife, Mary, was born in France in 1846, and died in 191 5. They were devout Catholics. Mr. Smith's second marriage took place May 30, 1911, with Eliza- beth, daughter of Fred and Augustina (Tanking) Guenther. Fred Guenther, her father, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1856, and worked in his native country until his immigration to America in 1886. For five years he followed farming near Seneca, Kans., and was then employed in a packing house in Kansas City, Kans., for six years. For six years following he lived in Seneca ; then farmed eighty acres in Adams township for seven years. He then came to Gilman township, Nemaha county, and rented 160. acres of land, in 1913. Augustina Guenther was born in Kansas, January 13, 1873, and she and Fred Guenther were married in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Guenther have had a family of four children, as follows : John and Herman, deceased ; Eliza- abeth, wife of John J. Smith, and Vincent. Mrs. Smith was born August 2, 1893, 3-nd was reared in Seneca, Kans. She was educated in the com- mon schools and worked as a domestic until her marriage in 191 1. Two 494 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY children have been born of this marriage : RosaHta Helen, born Novem- ber 30, 1912; Sylvester Frederick, born May 5, 1916. Mr. Smith and his family are members of the Catholic church and he is affiliated with C. M. B. A., the Knights of Columbus and the St. Joseph Society. He is allied with the Democratic party and is at present a member of the school board. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Altar Society of the Catholic church. George Stallbaumer. — Among the farmers and stockmen of Rich- mond township who have made good at the business must be mentioned George Stallbaumer. He was born November 247 1877, in Nemaha county. To his parents, John M. and Mary H. (Van Brook) Stall- baumer, were born eight children as follows: Charles H., deceased; Rosina, wife of Thomas Carpenter, deceased; John, living near Kelly, Kans. ; Albertina, wife of Henry Welp, of Oregon; Ida, now Mrs. James Carlin, living near Frankfort, Kans. ; Louisa, deceased, wife of P. J. Rettele ; Edward, Marion township ; George, of whom this sketch is written. John J\I. Stallbaumer, father of George Stallbaumer, was born in Germany, May 17, 1835. AVhen a young man he left the fatherland and came to America and located immediately in Nemaha county, Kansas. He died x\ugust 24, 1881, and was laid to rest in the St. Benedict's ceme- tery. His wife was born in Holland, August 16, 1844, and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, with her mother and settled near St. Benedict's, Kans. The long trip exhausted their resources and in the western com- munity there was little means of earning a livelihood for one in the mother's situation. They attempted to learn the English language, but it was a slow task and their funds speedily grew smaller. Finally they were in want and not even food was to be had. So the child went out on the prairie one hot day in search of food. The intense heat made her faint and she was overcome from exhaustion and hunger and but for the protection of an umbrella, she might have fallen prostrated by the heat of the hot sun and died. She was found by neighbors and given food, and since that time has managed to keep the wolf from the door. She has lived in Seneca for the past sixteen years. George Stallbaumer was reared on the farm and during his early years worked hard for his father. After spending his youth in the con- ventional way of the country boy, George decided that he wanted to be a farmer on his own account and at the age of twenty-four rented land from his mother to the extent of 115 acres. In 1900 he was married to Elizabeth Engelken, and to them eight children were born : Philomena, Cornelia, Alfred. Cyril, Hubert, Raymond, Adrian, and Cletus. Mrs. Stallbaumer is a daughter of Herman and Anna (Schulte") Engelken, of Nemaha county. She was born October 13, 1881, in Dor- chester, Allamakee county, Iowa. Mr. Stallbaumer is a Democrat, having voted the ticket of that party for conscientious reasons for many years. He professes the faith HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 495 of the Catholic church and is known about the community for his de- vout and upright life. Henry Harpenau. — Among the industrious farmers of Richmond township must be named Henry Harpenau, who for years has farmed with conspicuous success on his land in Nemaha county. He can be taken as a type of the German people, industrious, thrifty, alert for new opportunities, ambitious, and a self-respecting, upright citizen. They are a credit to any community and regardless of any opinions some may hold about hyphenated citizenship, a country peopled with men like Henry Harpenau and his German fellow-citizens is not in danger of decay. It is rather on the verge of a new day and of a new era of pro- gress. Henry Harpenau was born. October 30, 185 1, in Oldenburg, Ger- many. His parents, Henry and Mary (Trimpe) Harpenau, had one other child, Mrs. Pete Koch, of Marion township, Nemaha county. The father was born in 1823. He spent his early life in Germany until 1871, when he came to Richmond township, Nemaha county, where he bought 120 acres of land in section 18. He farmed this successfully and later added to his holdings, and led a prosperous life as a farmer until his death in 1892. The mother of Henry died in Germany. Henry Harpenau came to Nemaha county, Kansas, when a very young man. He attended the common schools of his native land before coming to America. When his father brought him and his younger sis- ter to America, they settled on prairie land in Nemaha county and Henry was put to work breaking up the land while his sister kept house for her father and brother. He worked for his father until the time of his marriage in 1884, when he rented part of the farm and worked it himself. Upon the death of his father several years later, he inherited 408 acres of land which had belonged to the elder Harpenau. Henry has always been a hard working man and has taken great pride in keep- ing his farm in good condition, having made vfery extensive improve- ments since taking over the land. He has always kept graded stock on the farm and is always eager to show his stock to visitors who find that it compares very favorably with those of the best farms in the state. In 1884 he was married to Lizzie Oenbring and to this union these eight children were born : Henry, living in California ; Mary, Frank, Anna, Joseph, living at home ; Kathrine, a sister at a convent in Atchi- son, Kansas ; Joehanna and Louis, living at home. Mrs. Harpenau was born March 8, 1861, in Germany, and left there in 1883, with her parents, who settled in St. Benedict's, Kans., wheere they fengaged in farming. Mr. Harpenau is affiliated with the Democratic party and is a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church. Lie is of a retiring disposition and has no political ambitions. He is industrious and an upright citizen of his community. 496 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Peter H. Reed. — Three things which have been accomplished by Peter H. Reed, of Reilly township, entitle him to honorable mention in the annals of his home county. First, he has the distinction of having been one of the youngest soldiers in the great Civil war ; second, he has risen from practical poverty in his youth and early manhood to have be- come one of the large land owners and wealthy citizens of Nemaha county ; third, he has reared one of the large families of this county, and has seen each of his children take a substantial place in his respective community. Even if he had accomplished no more than the third of these things, his place in history would have been assured. From rail splitter to large landed proprietor could be made the title of an inter- esting story. Peter H. Reed is a Kentuckian by birth, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Hostetter) Reed, natives of the Blue Grass State. George W. Reed, his father, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, April lo, 1824, and was reared on his parents' farm. He was a well educated man and taught school in his native State for several years. He immigrated to Kansas with his family in 1887 and located in Jack- son county, Kansas. He bought a small place of four and one-half acres adjoining the town of Soldier, and lived thereon for eighteen years, dying there on February 15, 1898. He filled the office of trustee of his township for two terms and had also served as sheriff of his home county in Kentucky for several years. He was a member of the Christian church, and was secretary of the Masonic lodge of Soldier, Kans. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Kentucky, January 29, 1826, and died November ri, 1876. George W. and Elizabeth Reed were the parents of the following children : Nancy Ellen, born July 2, 1843, ^"d died September 11, 1871 ; William W., born July 26, 1846, and was a Union soldier, died February 28, 1867; Peter H., the subject of this re- view; Dr. Thomas M. Reed, born December 15, 1851, and died May 29, 1875 ; Dr. Salmon S., born May 20, 1854, and died October 18, 1912, was a physician at Soldier, Kans. ; Mary Elizabeth, born December 29, 1856, and died April i, 1875 ; Mrs. Emma E. Cocherell, living in Jackson county, born December 17, 1859; John L., born August 2, 1862, and died December 26, 1863. Peter H. Reed was born in Gallatin county, Kentucky, March 26, 1849, ^"d was reared on a Kentucky farm. When but fifteen years of age (1864) he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-fifth Kentucky infantry, and served until the close of the war. After his war service expired he remained at home and took care of his brothers and sisters as assistant to his father until he was twenty-one years old. He then rented some land, purchased an axe and split rails and cut fence posts for a living. At the time of his marriage, in 1869, he was possessed of but $42 in cash. Since that time his fortunes have steadily risen, especially since his advent into Kansas in 1872, living first at Valley Falls, Jefferson county. He settled in Nemaha county in the fall of 1873. The first HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 497 taxes which Mr. Reed paid in 1873 amounted to but $5.03. Since that time his tax payments have gone upward until now they amount to hundreds of dollars. Mr. Reed has increased his acreage from the first modest beginning to the large total of five hundred and sixty acres in Reilly township, Nemaha county, and 360 acres in Butler county, Kan- sas. He is a fancier of Polled Angus cattle and maintains a herd of ninety-one head, nine of which are thoroughbred stock. He has planted twenty-five acres of alfalfa on his farm, which is well improved and highly productive. Mr. Reed was married in 1869 to Sarah E. Hon, who has borne him twelve children, as follows: Dr. George D., a practicing physician at Williamsburg, Franklin county, Kansas; William W., a farmer in.Texas; Omer, who is engaged in the hardware and lumber business at Casso- day, in Butler county, Kansas ; Mrs. Emma L. Mulliken, a widow at Columbus, Kans., whose former husband was superintendent of the Cherokee county schools, and who won' the gold medal in a State oratorical contest ; Frances A. Cordon, living on a farm in Reilly town- ship ; Josephus, in the hardware and lumber business at Cassoday, But- ler county, Kansas ; Marguerite, a music teacher in California ; Mrs. Nannie Rings, whose husband is an automobile man at Kansas City, Mo. ; Wallace W., engaged in the hatdware business in California ; Thomas L., farming the home place, a graduate of the State Agricul- tural College at Manhattan (1913), and a successful farmer. The mother of this large family of children was born in Kentucky August 19, 1850, and is a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Coons) Hon, of Kentucky. Daniel Hon was born February 6, 1829, and died in his native State, September 3, 1894. He was an elder of the Christian church. Margaret, his wife, was born January 31, 1833, and still lives in Gallatin county, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Hon were the parents of the following children: Sarah E., wife of the subject of this review; John, born April 29, 1853, a farmer in Kentucky ; Peter, born November 3, 1854, a farmer in Kentucky ; Leila, deceased ; Mrs. Lucetta Spencer, born September 7, 1859, living in Kentucky; Elijah, born July 8, 1864, a farmer in Kentucky ; Joseph, born March 12, 1866, a member of the Butler Manufacturing Company, of Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Margaret Beall, born September 13, 1869, Kentucky; Daniel, born April 26, 1873, and lives at Metcalf, III. ; Mrs. Pearl Hendricks, born February 9, 1876, living on a farm in Kentucky. Mr. Reed is allied with the Democratic party and has held several township offices, among them being that of school director, which he has held for twenty-five years. He and Mrs. Reed are members of the Christian church and contribute of their means to the support of this denomination. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is a director of the State Bank of Soldier, Kans., and is a director of the Cassoday State Bank. (32) 498 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Joseph Rettele. — Joseph Rettele, prosperous farmer and stockman, of Richmond township, was born March 22, 1856, at Manitowoc, Wis., and is a son of Louis and Mary Magdalena (Koelzer) Rettele, who were the parents of four children, as follows : William, deceased ; Joseph, the subject of this review; Mrs. Mary M. Kongs, living with her children in Nemaha county; Peter J., residing on a farm south of Kelly, Kans. Louis Rettele was born in Baden, Germany, August 26, 1826, and when eight years old immigrated with his parents to America, the family set- tling in Wisconsin. Louis Rettele was reared to young manhood in Wisconsin and worked out as a farm hand until 1867. He then mi- grated to Nemaha county with his wife and family and bought 240 acres of land in Richmond township. The family, came by railroad to East Atchison, Mo., and were ferried across the Missouri river to Atchison, where they boarded a train which took them to Centralia, there being no steam railroad at that time through Seneca. The family walked from Centralia to Seneca. The lumber which was used in building of the new home was hauled from Centralia by wagon. In time Louis Rettele became well-to-do and added more land to his original farm. He died April 12, 1899. The mother of Joseph Rettele was born in the Rhine province, Germany, August 15, 1830, and died in 1881. Joseph Rettele was eight years of age when the family settled in Nemaha county. He remembers many of the incidents of those early days and recalls vividly the hardships which the Rettele family were compelled to endure. As a sturdy boy he helped his father break up the prairie sod on his land and recalls that during their first year in Kansas they paid $100 for a wheat crop of twenty acres which yielded but twenty-five bushels of wheat, all told. The drought and "hoppers" took the crops. Durmg the years of 1869 and 1870 the grasshoppers were so thick that the sun was clouded and obscured by the dense masses of the pests, and so dis- couraged was his father that if any one had come along and made him an offer for his land, he would have accepted it and left Kansas forever. However, the family money was all invested, locations were not easily found so suitable as the one they had, and they decided to "stick it out" and prosperity eventually smiled upon them. Joseph Rettele re- mained with his father and mother until their respectiye deaths, and he then became heir to 120 acres of land, which, added to 80 acres which had been previously deeded him, made a fine farm of 200 acres. He has spent several thousand dollars in making substantial and attractive im- provements and has always been a hard and diligent worker, never spending much money for pleasure and luxuries. Mr. Rettele's sole aim in life has been to provide a comfortable home and substance for his family — and in this he has succeeded. Joseph Rettele was married in 1879 to Miss Mary A. Stein, born January 8, 1862, at St. Benedict's, Kans., and a daughter of Mathiasand Elizabeth Stein, concerning whose lives the reader is referred to the HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 499 sketch of Peter Stein, a brother of Mrs. Rettele. Nine children have been born to Joseph and Mary A. Rettele, as follows: Louis and AVilliam, farming land in Richmond township ; Peter A., a farmer m Clear Creek township ; Mrs. Elizabeth Haeffler, living near Paola, Kans. ; Mrs. Anna Engelken, Mitchell township ; Frank, deceased ; Benedict, Kathrine, and Alphonse, at home with their parents. Mr. Rettele is a Democrat but is inclined to be independent in his voting and does not wear the party yoke. He filled the post of clerk of -his township. All of the Rettele family are loyal members of the Cath- olic church. John Gress. — John Gress is one of those industrious and energetic citizens, who, though born under another flag, have since come to America and become loyal citizens and have taken their place among the substantial men of every community. He is one of the most suc- cessful farmers and stockmen in Richmond township and has been a man of good judgment in all- his undertakings. Mr. Gress was born in Bavaria, Germany, on September i, i860, and is a son of George and Marguerite (Saalmueller) Gress. The father was born January 2, 1809, in the province of Bavaria, where he lived until 1879, when he gave up struggling in his native land and set his eyes and hopes toward America. Arriving in this great land, he came to Wetmore, Kans., and lived with George Pfrang, a son-in- law, until John Gress, his son, rented a farm and cared for him and his mother until the father's death in 1889, which ended a long and industr- ious life. The mother was born October 22, 1822, and died in 1896, in Kansas City, after a short illness. She came to America the year after her husband came, as he had brought John and a daughter only with him on his journey. After reaching America and locating a home, George Gress sent for his wife. Ten children were born to this happy union, seven of whom are still living. John Gress attended the primary schools of his native land where he familiarized himself with the rudiments of a practical education, then at an early age, he started out to work by the month. Though he ■was young and inexperienced, he was undaunted and his pluck and indys- triousness won him many friends. After four years of hard work as a farm hand, he rented farm land and made a home for his parents, who kept house for him. In 1895 he bought the eighty acre farm in Rich- mond township which he now tills and later bought additional land at various times until he now owns 287 acres of the best farming land in Nemaha county, Kansas. During his tenure, he has built -a comfortable and substantial house on the place and has made all manner of improve- ments, including two barns which are well built. Mr. Gress takes espe- cial interest in stock and is a breeder of Poland China hogs which are of the highest breed. He pays much attention to his hogs and they bring him fancy prices which well repay him for his trouble. He was united in marriage to Barbarba Martin on March 3, 1886. 500 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mrs. Gress, a daughter of Valentine and Barbara Martin, was born June 3, 1865, in Bavaria, and left her native land in 1872, coming with her parents to Xemaha county, Kansas, where they farmed for many years. To this happy union nine children were born whose names are: Anna, Mt. St. Scholastica's — Sister Mercedes — O. S. B., Convent, Atchi- son; Helen, now Mrs. Jos. B. Kramer, Nemaha county; George, a farmer in Mitchell township, Nemaha county; Lawrence, Center township; Joseph, a farm hand ; Leo, Aloysius, Wilfred, and John, living at home. Mr. Gress is a devout member of the Catholic church. He is affil- iated with the Democratic party and takes an interest in political mat- ters, especially those of a local nature. He was at one time road over- seer of Richmond township and administered the functions of his office to the satisfaction of those who elected him. Mr. Gress has been a successful farmer and is a valuable member of his community. Albert Swartz. — The career of Albert Swartz, pioneer settler, for- mer county official and extensive stockman of Reilly township, is an epi- tome of individual success which ranks far above the average of Kansas farmers. The large holdings of Mr. Swartz in Nemaha county will ex- ceed 1,400 acres of farm and grazing lands. The Swartz farming oper- ations are carried on, on an extensive scale and require the assistance of five hired farmhands to assist him in the management of the farm. The home farm of the family is well improved with a handsome nine-room residence fitted up with water and lighting systems and modern in every respect. An immense barn flanks the home and stands out on the land- scape. This barn is 60x80 feet in dimensions and required a total of 56,000 shingles for the roofing. It is also protected by five lightning rods. Two large silos are kept filled with green forage for winter feeding. The Swartz place also boasts a five-acre fruit orchard and is one of the best kept and finest equipped farming plants in Kansas. Mr. Swartz maintains a total of fifty head of horses, thirty-five of which are required to do the farm work. He is a breeder of Holstein cattle and keeps fifteen head of pure- breds on the farm. An itemizing of the livestock on the Swartz farm shows that there are sixty head of high-grade Durham cows, 300 head of Duroc Jersey hogs, and 160 head of prime steers fattening for the mar- kets. Forty acres of this farm are sown to alfalfa. The parents of Albert Swartz were Henry and Mary (Shumaker) Swartz, pioneer settlers of Nemaha county, whose biographies follow : Henry Swartz, father of Albert, was born in Germany in 183 1, and began making his own way in his native land when seventeen years old. When he became of age he immigrated to America, in 1854. For a short time he made a living in New York by woodchopping and went from that State to Indiana, where he followed railroad work until 1865. This was the date of his migration to Nemaha county, Kansas, where he invested in a quarter section of land, upon which he resided until his death in 1908. Henry Swartz was a forehanded and industrious man who worked hard f w H 02 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY SOI all of his days and lived to see each and every. member of his family well provided for and prosperous. , He bequeathed to his adopted country a fine family of sons and daughters and accumulated a fortune in land and money during the forty or more years which he spent in Nemaha county. He was an extensive cattle raiser and feeder who believed thoroughly in the business of raising cattle for market. He accumulated over i,ooo acres of land during his remarkable career in Kansas. He was a Demo- crat and a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Swartz was accompanied on the voyage across the Atlantic by his intended wife, Mary Shumaker, whom he espoused in wedlock upon his arrival at New York City. Eight children were born to this marriage, as follows : Mrs. Anna Bremer, a widow, living at Colorado Springs, Col. ; Mrs. Edith Smith, Soldier, Kans. ; Albert, subject of this review; Henry, proprietor of the electric light plant at Valley Falls, Kans. ; William died at the age of thirty years ; Mrs. Minnie Lynn, Soldier, Kans., and two children who died in infancy. The mother of the foregoing children was born in 1830 and died April I, 1907. Albert Swartz was born in Indiana, May 2, i860, was reared to young manhood in Nemaha county, Kansas, and received his education in a pioneer log school house. He rented a half section of land from his father when he became of age and four years later he purchased 160 acres in Reilly township, which he farmed until his father's demise. He then bought the Swartz home place from the heirs and has improved it con- siderably. He has continued to buy land until he owns 1,430 acres in all, thirty acres of which is located in Florida. Mr. Swartz was married April I, 1883 to Anna Cline, who has borne him children as follows : Mary, born April 19, 1884; Nora, born March 13, 1886, and living at St. Joseph, Mo.; Louis A., born in 1891, a farmer, living in Nemaha county; Francis H., born June 28, 1898, and Lawrence L., born August 17, 1900. The mother of these, children was born in Illinois, August 25, 1859, and is a daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Reilly) Cline, natives of Ireland. Pat- rick Cline was born in 1839 and immigrated to America in 1855. He settled on a farm in Illinois and resided there until 1865, at which time he came to Kansas and purchased a farm of 160 acres on Coal creek, in Nemaha county, where he lived until his death, in 1903. His wife, Bridget, was born in 1830 and bore him eight children, namely : Anna, wife of Al- bert Swartz; Mrs. Jennie McNeill, Corning, Kans.; William, a farmer, living at Seneca, Kans. ; Mrs. Rosa McNally, Oklahoma ; Mrs. Josephine McDonald, Wyoming; John E., a farmer, living on Coal creek, Kansas; Mrs. Katie Girest, Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are devout Catholics. Mr. Swartz has been a lifelong Democrat and is prominent in the affairs of his party in Nemaha county. He is treasurer of the local school board and has served several terms as township trustee. He has filled the post of county commissioner for two years and is a niember of the Farmers' Union, of which he was one of the organizers. 502 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Frank F. Krapp. — In all parts of the United States are men who are prominent in their communities, who have reached their positions of eminence through long years of laborious effort, filled with stubborn ob- stacles which have been overcome by sheer grit. Numerous among this worthy class are those citizens who were born under another flag and who have come to America in the hope of finding free opportunity -and an equal chance with all others. All of us know many such men, some more conspicuous than others, but all deserving of the highest honor and praise. One of these men is Frank F. Krapp, who for years has lived in Richmond township where he has been remarkably successful in his vocation as a farmer and stockman. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March 26, 1861, His parents were Arnold A. and Catharine (Boche) Krapp. The father was born in Germany in 1810 and farmed until the year of his death, 1867. The mother was born in 1820 and died in 1865. To this union eight children were born, five of whom are liv- ing. Frank F. Krapp attended school in his native land and worked there until 1890, when he sailed for America and came directly to Nemaha county, Kansas. He brought one thousand dollars with him as capital, but as he was new in this country and was unfamiliar with conditions here, he wisely worked out as a farm hand for several months while he was acquainting himself with the prospects and the conditions in Nemaha county. At the end of eight months he had formulated his ideas about property values and was ready to consider buying a farm. After careful investigation he bought 240 acres in Richmond township, which proved to be an excellent investment. It rapidly increased in value and in 1902 he sold it at a higher figure than was paid for it orig- inally. He then bought the farm of four hundred acres which he now owns. It is located three-quarters of a mile east of Seneca, Kans., and is one of the most attractive places in the township. He built one of the finest modern houses in the county and it is equipped with all the modern conveniences which are regarded as so essential to comfort in the modern farmhouse. The house is painted yellow and is set in a spa- cious yard which is dotted with evergreen trees which give a most pleasing effect. The farm yard is extensive and is equipped with large barns, silo, and all other modern improvements. Mr. Krapp makes it his policy not to spare expense when labor-saving machinery or appli- ances can be installed. The watchword of his place is efficiency and he takes as much care to eliminate out-worn methods of doing things as the manager of a large business house does. In addition to his farming, Mr. Krapp is also an extensive stock raiser. He is a breeder of fine Shorthorn cattle and is now feeding 140 head of hogs. These activities are an important addition to the work of the farm and Mr. Krapp has installed modern equipment for the handling of this feeding. In 1891 he was married to Lizzie Kramer, who was born July 23, 1872, in Oldenburg, Germany, but who left there in 1888 with her par- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY SO3 ents, John Henry and Bernardine (Arling) Kramer. Eight children have been born to this happy union: Mrs. Polly Boeding, Richmond township; Joseph, living at home; Theodora, Sister Alphonsina, in con- vent at Atchison, Kans.; Alphonso, student at St. Benedict's College, Atchison, Kans. ; Lawrence, Mary, Rosa, and Aloysius, living with their parents. Mr. Krapp is a believer in the Catholic faith and is highly respected in his neighborhood for his upright and honorable life. He is a Demo- cratic voter and take^ an active part in the public life of Richmond township. He also belongs to the Farmers' Union, in which he is an influential member. John Wempe. — John Wempe, of Seneca, Kans., is one of the most substantial business men and stock buyers of Nemaha county. He is active in all business affairs of Seneca and is a large dealer in horses and mules. Mr. Wempe was born January 4, 1876, in Brown county, Kansas, and was the son of Clements and Agnes (Deiker)' Wempe. For further details, the reader is referred to the history of Anton Wempe, an uncle of John, whose life story is written elsewhere in this volume. John Wempe attended the district school in Brown county and later went to the public school at Seneca. In 1887 he matriculated in Campbell University, at Holton, where he took a commercial course. After the completion of his education, he returned to the farm until he was twenty-two years old when he engaged in business in Seneca, Kans. His first venture was into the coal and ice business and later he became a furniture dealer. In both of these lines he met with unusual success. However, he saw greater opportunities in stock dealing and accordingly went into that business, which later years have shown to be a wise selection. In 191 1 he built the present barn at a cost of $3,000. This is a commodious affair, 66x58 feet in size and capable of holding 80 head of stock. This is fitted with, the most modern conveniences and appliances. His residence is a very attractive one, made of stucco and was built in 1913. It is modern throughout and is artistically situated. Mr. Wempe owns about two hundred acres of land, all of which is of excellent quality. He also owns stock in the Fair Association of Nemaha county and is prominent in the business undertakings of the county. In 1908 he was married to Ellen C. Mohan, who was born July 16, 1884, in Leavenworth county, Kansas. Her father was born in Ireland, but he and his wife died when Ellen was less than two years old and she was reared by an aunt, Mrs. Dr. F. C. Creeg, of Leavenworth county. Two children, Lawrence and Kenneth, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wempe. Mr. Wempe is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He votes the Democratic ticket. 504 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY George Calhoun. — One of the youngest veterans of the Civil war re- sides in Reilly township, and it was necessary for him to give his birth date at an earlier year than it was in reality in order to be accepted as a volunteer. In these days of national excitement over the predominating question of preparedness and the necessity of again arousing the patriot- ism of the American people to be ready to defend their country in time of need, it is refreshing, indeed, to chronicle the life story of this veteran of a great war, George Calhoun, of Reilly township.. His earlier years were adventurous ones and included a period as freighter across the great plains, and his subsequent enlistment in the Union arm3^ His later years in Nemaha county have been productive of much material good, and Mr. Calhoun has become owner of 440 acres of land and is president of the First National Bank of Goff, Kans. George Calhoun was born in Holmes county, Ohio, February 29, 1848, and is a son of Milton and Mary (Kerr) Calhoun, natives of the old Buckeye State and members of an old American family. Milton Calhoun was born in 1797, reared on a farm and was well educated. He taught school for a number of years and migrated to Missouri in 1853. He farmed land in Platte county, Missouri, until his death in 1863. He was a Democrat and a member of the Seceders' church. His wife, Mary, was born in 1800 and reared a family of ten children as follows : Mrs. Helena Moore, who married a Mr. McClain after the death of her first husband, and was married the third time to a Mr. Foster, and is now deceased ; Mrs. Eliza Jane McNees, deceased ; Mrs. Rub)^ Hancock, deceased ; Mrs. Mary Sharpton, deceased; Amanda, died at the age of eighteen years; Mrs. Rebecca Hill, deceased ; John, died at the age of twenty-four years ; William Flenry, died eight years old; George, subject of this review; Mrs. Emeline Moore, deceased. The mother died in 1857. George Calhoun was reared on the farm in Ohio and Missouri and when fourteen years old, set out across the plains as a freighter in com- pany with his brother, John M. Calhoun. They engaged in freighting for one year, and Mr. Calhoun then enlisted in the Fourth Missouri cav- alry regiment. Company A, and served until the close of the Civil war. In order to be accepted, it was necessary for him to give his birth date as 1846, so that he would be old enough for enlistment. He farmed in Mis- souri until 1869, after the close of his war service, and then came to Kan- sas. For the first ten years of his residence in this county, he rented land and worked out by the month and was enabled to make a purchase of eighty acr^s in Reilly township, which formed the nucleus of his present large holdings of 400 acres in Nemaha county. In addition to this land, he owns forty acres in Jackson county. Mr. Calhoun is a Republican in politics and has never married. His place is well improved with good buildings ; and he has three fruit or- chards on hJs land. He raises Poland China swine and Durham cattle successfully. Mr. Calhoun is one of the organizers of, and is president: of, the First National Bank of Goff, Kans. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 505 Henry Rottinghaus. — Fine horses are the specialty in which Henry Rottinghaus, of Richmond township, takes pride. For years he has made a business of breeding fine horses and has. taken a great many prizes at fairs and exhibits. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, Jan- uary 6, 1858, and was a son of Barney and Agnes ( Putthuf) Rotting- haus. Barney was born December 21, 182 1, in Handorf, Germany, where he was a farmer. In 1878 he came .to Nemaha county, Kansas, and located on the site where his son now lives, five miles north of Seneca. He farmed until his death on November 8, 1904. He was mar- ried in Germany to Agnes Putthuf, who was born April 26, 1826, in Deummerlohausen, Germany. She died April 4, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Rottinghaus celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in America. Seven children were born to them : Agnes, wife of F. Tangeman, Nemaha township ; Henry, of whom this historical account is written ; Mrs. Lizzie Nordhaus, Nemaha township ; Mrs. Anna Willionbrink, Montrose, Mo.; Barney, Nemaha township farmer; Mrs. Dinah Oster- haus, Nemaha township ; one child, last born, died in infancy. Henry Rottinghaus attended school in his native land but in 1875, he left Germany to come to America, where he thought greater oppor- tunities would be found. He first located in Dubuque county, Iowa, where he worked out as a farm hand for $14 a month wages. In 1876 he came to Kansas and worked as a farm hand near Seneca until 1881, when he bought eighty acres of land in section 12, Richmond township. He broke the ground, planted trees and built a house, 14x20 feet and one story in height. He remained on this place until 1902, w^hen he moved to the farm on which he now lives. He made many improvements, built barns and sheds, and has increased his holdings until he now owns 520 acres of land, all in Nemaha county, Kansas. But his main interest or hobby is the breeding of fine imported Percheron horses. He makes exhibits of them at fairs and always gets a high compliment on their ex- cellence and frequently takes off the first prize for them. He is also a breeder of the Black Mammoth "Jacks." Mr. Rottinghaus makes a good sum yearly, from his horses and takes great pleasure in his fancy animals. February 15, 1882, he was married to Barbara Weber, who was born January 12, 1862, in Elk county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Michael and Kathrine (Fischer) Weber, natives of Germany. Her parents left the Fatherland in 1861, and settled in Pennsylvania. Later on, March 4, 1870, they came to Nemaha county, Kansas. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rottinghaus : Mrs. Mary Busman, living south of Seneca; John, Iowa; Jacob, Corning, a farmer; Joseph, George, Frank, Albert, and Paul, living at home. Clements and Helena are dead. Mr. Rottinghaus and his family are members of the Roman Cath- olic church. He has reached a conspicuous place among the farmers of Richmond township by his hard work and thrift. He is a judicious manager, and has proved what hard work and economy can do for any- one, who is willing to deserve success. 506 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Gottfred Heiniger, one of the well known and popular farmers and stockman of Richmond township, was born in Berne, Switzerland, August 12, 1869. He is a son of John and Mary (Hess) Heiniger. The father was born in Switzerland in 1826, and came to America in 1895, and settled in Illinois. In 1899, ^e migrated to Kansas, locating in Ne- maha county, where he died the following year. The mother of Gott- fred Heiniger was' born in Switzerland in 1847, ^"^ was the second wife of John Heiniger. Three children were born to this union, their names being: Gottfred, whose life story is herein written; Mrs. Emma Hencher, living in Ohio ; Gottlieb, Nebraska. Gottfred was educated in the public schools of Switzerland. He immigrated to America in 1893 and settled at Bern, Nemaha county, Kansas, and worked out as a farm hand for about ten years. The fol- lowing six years he spent as a tenant on the farm in Richmond town- ship which he now owns. When he went to it as a renter, the place was only slightly improved and was not so well equipped, as it is today. Mr. Heiniger now owns 320 acres of land in Nemaha county, all of which he has bought by the fruits of his own labors and upon which he can look as a result of his industry and careful management. In 1897, he was married to Anna Meyer, who was born in Ohio, in 1871, and came to Kansas when a very small child with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Myer, who were born in Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Heiniger were born five children, as follows: Louise, born 1899; William and Walter, twins, born 1902 ; Martha, born 1903 ; Edward, born 1906. Mr. Heiniger is a German Mennqnite, and his wife is of the same faith. Neither is affiliated with fraternal organizations, and in politics, they are independent voters, always supporting the side which seems to be right, without regard for party names. Mr. Heiniger is a member of the school board of Gilman township, and is very much interested in giving better educational advantages to the children of the present generation. He is a conscientious and upright citizen who is respected and admired by his neighbors and by all who know him. He is one of those strong types who form the backbone of our country's citizenry, and without whom America would be weak and vacillating. Henry L. Wikoff. — The review of the life career of Henry L. Wik- off, well known citizen and banker of Oneida, Kans., portrays the ac- complishments and achievements of an individual with a definite goal in view. His boyhood ambition aroused and his plans laid for an even- tual settlement in Kansas, he chose Oneida as the place to establish a banking concern which has grown to become one of the thriving and important concerns of the count3^ The two score and seven years which have been spent by Mr. Wikoff in Kansas have been productive of not only material good to himself but have been devoted unselfishly to the betterment and advancement of his home city and county. Henry L. Wikoff was born in Ontario, 111., October 31, 1859, and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 50/ is a son of 'Ezekiel and Emily (Wetmore) Wikoff, who were the par- ents of five children. Ezekiel Wikoff was born at Freehold, N. J., in 1832, and was a son of Henry Wikoff, a native of Holland, who emi- grated to New Jersey when a young man, and followed farming until his death at the age of eighty years. Ezekiel Wikoff was one of the early pioneers of Knox county, Illinois, and previous to migrating to the West, he had followed the trade of wheelwright. He included agri- culture in his vocations upon coming to Illinois, and developed a fine farm in Knox county, upon which he resided until his demise in 1865. He was the father of five children, as follows : Mrs. Cornelia Wet- more, deceased; Herbert, Manhattan, Kans. ; May, dead; Henry L., the subject of this review; Frank E., banker at Oneida, Kans., born in Illi- nois in 1861. The mother of the foregoing children was born at Utica, New York, in 1827, and died at the home of her son, Henry, in 1905. She was a daughter of Col. E. F. Wetmore, of Utica, N. Y., who com- manded a New York regiment of volunteers "during the Civil war. Henry L. Wikoff received his primary education in the district schools of his native county, and studied for one year in Westfield Col- lege, Illinois. When fifteen years of age he worked as farm hand for a wage of twenty-five cents per day with "found." He later farmed the old home place in partnership with his brother, Herbert. As early as 1872, he made a trip to Kansas on a hunting expedition, and liked the coun- try so well, especially in Nemaha county, that he made up his mind to eventually locate in this county. Accordingly, in 1889, he left his na- tive county, and in partnership with his brother, Frank, opened a pri- vate bank in Oneida. This banking business was conducted in the name of Wikoff Brothers, with considerable success, until 1896, when the organization of the Oneida State Bank was effected. Mr. Wikoff is serving as vice president of this thriving financial institution. The property interests held by Mr. Wikoff are considerable, and indicate that he possesses financial ability of a high order. He and his brother, Frank E., have become owners of 1,350 acres of good land in Nemaha county, and he owns property in Oneida. He erected a hand- some frame residence of nine rooms in 1889. He has served as mayor of Oneida and, during his term as mayor, cement sidewalks and other improvements were completed. During 1908, he filled the office of treasurer of Oilman township. He was again elected mayor of the town in 1912, and re-elected in 1914. During 1912, electric lights were installed on the streets and in the buildings of the town. Mr. Wikoff has always been a public spirited citizen, and has filled practically every office within the gift of the people of Oneida, during his twenty- seven years of residence in Kansas. Mr. Wikoff was married in 1885 to Miss Mary Skiff, who was born at Champaign, 111., in September, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Wikoff have one child : Howard H., born December 6, 1888, in Illinois, and was reared in Nemaha county, Kansas. He graduated from the Oneida High School 508 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in 1905, and then entered the Lexington, Mo., Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1907, with a commission of second lieutenant. He then studied in Chicago University until 1909, and then matricu- lated at Kansas University, in which institution he took up the study of law in 1912, studying two years. He was admitted to practice in Illinois, and is now connected with the legal department of the Fidel- ity Trust Company of New York City, at their Chicago headquarters. Mr. Wikoff'is a Progressive in politics. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. When a boy of thir- teen years, Mr. Wikoff made his first trip to Kansas for the ostensible purpose of hunting wild game, such as prairie chickens. He was much impressed with the possibilities of the country in the vicinity of Seneca, although, at that time, there were but few houses in the county seat and not many permanent settlers in Nemaha county. Opportunity beckoned to him, however, and the passing years have proved that his judgment as to location and the future of this county were essentially correct. He has seen considerable advance and growth in northern Kansas since his first visit, and has taken an active and influential part in the development of one of the best counties of a great State. Louis Hecht. — Louis Hecht inherits from his father, William Hecht, a disposition for hard work and perseverance which has been instru- mental in making him one of the most successful and prominent farmers in Nemaha count3^ William Hecht was born in Germany in 1823, and after passing his youth and young manhood in his native land, he came to America in search of better opportunity. At the age of thirty, he landed on the shores of this free land and began a struggle which tested his endurance and ambition to the last degree. In Illinois he found work in a sawmill, and later was employed as a carpenter. In 1857 he came to Nemaha county, where he bought 160 acres of land on which he built a log cabin. The land which he purchased was not under cultivation, and he drove a yoke of oxen in plowing up his land for the first time. For years he worked incessantly early and late to make both ends meet. Gradually he achieved success and was able to accumulate some of his returns. At the time of his death, April 14, 1896, he owned 410 acres of land, which was a remarkable record, considering the difficulties which he was forced to undergo. He was $100 in debt when he reached America and labored under the additional handicap of being in a strange country and compelled to use a strange language. William Hecht was conspicu- ously successful as a farmer. But best of all, he never relied on anyone to help him out. From the start, he worked independently and saved his money and he was never under obligations to any man. Such a spirit of independence and self-reliance never fails to make success for its posses- sor, and certainly did not in this instance. Sophia (Blidsoe) Hecht, the mother of Louis, was born in 1834, and, like her husband, was of German birth. Both of her parents were of Ger- o o K > a HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY' 5^9 man birth and were married in their native land but came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in the early days. They were buried in the Lutheran cemetery in Nemaha township. Mrs. Hecht died in 1872. To Mr. and Mrs. Hecht were born eleven children, only three of whom are living. Those surviving are : Mrs. Minnie Stiner, Pawnee county, Nebraska ; Louis, subject of this review, third oldest son; Mrs. Eliza Boehmer, of Richardson county, Nebraska. Louis Hecht was born in Nemaha county, Kansas, June 3, 1861, and grew up on his father's farm on which he put in many long hours of labor when he would have preferred to be splashing in the creek, or lying in the shade. He attended No. 8 district school during the short terms it was in session. At the age of twenty-two years, he rented land for a year from his father and farmed it with considerable success, and the fol- lowing year, he became heir to 160 acres of fine land in the southwest quarter of section 11. By hard work he has increased his holdings to 390 acres, all of which is productive. His land was unimproved, and Mr. Hecht had to build a frame house in which to live. Originally his house was 16x24 feet in size, but later he made an addition increasing the size of it. In 1891 he built a spacious barn, 30x40 feet in size and sixteen feet high. This is one of the best barns in the township, and Mr. Hecht is justly proud of it. He has made other extensive improvements on his farm which cannot be mentioned in the space at hand, but it can be said that he is always on the alert to make additions to his farm which will increase its usefulness and value. Thirty acres of his present holdings are in tim- ber of excellent quality. On February 28, 1884, he was married to Mary Boehmer, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Hotham) Boehmer, natives of Oldenburg and Hessen, Germany. When young people, they left their native land and came to America, settling in Wisconsin where the father worked in the pine forests. He was married in Illinois and came to Nebraska in i860, where he remained until his death, October 12, 1910, at the age of eighty- six years. The mother is still living on the old home place in Pawnee county, Nebraska, with her youngest son. Mr. and Mrs. Boehmer were the parents of eight living children : Heni-y, Richardson county, Ne- braska; Fred, Pawnee, county, Nebraska; Mrs. Mary Hecht; Mrs. Car- oline Koester, Du Bois, Neb. ; Mrs. Sophia Siske, Pawnee county, Ne- braska ; William, Pawnee county, Nebraska ; Mrs. Rosa Siske, Pawnee county, Nebraska ; Herman, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hecht are the parents of seven children, as follows : Edwin, deceased; Carl, born January 9, 1889; Elmer, born September 11, 1891 ; Jesse, born December 26, 1894; Lottie, born June 13, 1898; Rosa, born November 5,. 1900; Leslie, born April 28, 1906. Carl is farming in Iowa. Elmer is a farmer in Nemaha township, and Lottie is his house- keeper. Mr. Hecht is a Republican, who has been elected to the school board; on which he has served with complete satisfaction to his constituents, 5 lO ■ HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and also served as road overseer for two terms. He professes the Evan- gelical faith, and has maintained a high reputation among his neighbors for uprightness and probity. Throughout the community there is the deepest respect for his achievements and for the success he has won de- spite overwhelming difficulties. John F. Tryon is one of the prominent farmers of Clear Creek town- ship and he has, by pure industry and good management made a com- fortable living out of his farm and the Duroc Jersey hogs of which he is justly pioud. Mr. Tryon was born March 15, 1870, in Clear Creek township, Nemaha county, and was a son of Aaron and Elizabeth Ann (Gilman) Tryon. Aaron Tryon was born September 7, 1822, in Ohio, and farmed in his native State until 1856. He then came to Kansas and settled in Clear Creek township, where he homesteaded forty acres of fine farming land. He broke up the soil and put most of it in cultiva- tion. An abundance of rock was to be had in his locality and Mr. Tryon built a two-room house of native stone, which still stands and is as strong as it was the day it was built. On December 5, 1899, Aaron Tryon passed away, after having lived a long and useful life. The mother of John F. Tryon was born April 16, 1827, in Ohio, and died March 22, 1901. Both were of Irish descent and were members of the United Brethren church. Aaron Tryon's life was an interesting one and he could talk for hours about the days of the prairie schooners and of the incidents which happened while he was driving his covered wagon from Ohio to Kansas. He later held public office in Clear Creek town- ship and always executed his trust with sincerity and to the interest of his community. To this union twelve children were born, seven of whom are now living. John F. Tryon attended school in district No. 56. He worked on his father's farm when he was not in school and helped a great deal in making the farm bring a living income. At the age of twenty-one, he took charge of the management of his father's farm and gave him a much needed rest. John's parents lived with him on the farm and never had cause to worry about food and shelter in their declining years. At their death, John inherited the forty-acre farm and now owns 165 acres jointly with his brother, Joseph. Mr. Tryon takes a great interest in his hogs and for years he has been a breeder of Duroc Jersey hogs of a very high grade. These are the pride of the farm and no visitor comes but he must go out to see the hogs the very first thing. He was married to Laura Lockard, February 23, 1905. She was born September i, 1883, in Mahaska county, Iowa, and was the daugh- ter of James M. C. and Mary J. (Reed) Lockard, who were both born in Indiana. The father was born October 23, 1835, and lived on the farm until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Union army on August 31, 1861, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, in Company C, Fortieth Iowa infantry. Taking an active part in the fighting, he saw service in various States of the South, including Arkansas and Tennessee. He was wounded HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 5TI in the battle at Little Rock, Ark., and was in the army hospital six months. The injury was in his right arm and was very serious for a time. He also had six brothers in the army. The mother of Mrs. Tryon came to Kansas in 1900, but has since returned to Iowa, where she is now living at the age of seventy-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Tryon have been born four children, two of whom died in infancy. The other two, Goldy and Lucy, live with their parents. Mr. Tryon is a Republican and was at one time a member of the township board. He is a regular attendant at religious services and is known among his neighbors for his good character and steady habits of life. He is one of the public-spirited citizens of his community and is always ready to do what seems to him to be for the best interests of the community. Emery Conwell. — The review of the life of Emery Conwell, hard- ware merchant of Oneida, Kans., is an epitome of success and is a rec- ord of considerable accomplishment by a man who is yet j'^oung in years, while having risen to a high place in the business world and made good not only as an agriculturist, but as a merchant. Emery Conwell was born in Grant county, Indiana, January 26, 1870, and is a son of A. L. Conwell and Kathrine (Higgins) Conwell, who were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living. A. L. Conwell was born in Indiana in 1836, reared to young manhood on his father's farm, and at the outbreak of the Rebellion, he enlisted as a mem- ber of the Thirteenth Indiana cavalry. He saw much active service in the Southland, and at the close of the war he resumed his peaceful pur- suit of farming. In 1870 A. L. Conwell migrated to Richardson county, Nebraska, where he made his home until 1879, at which time he came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought 160 acres of land in section two. Oilman township. This place had but few improvements when Mr. Conwell became the owner of it and he developed a fine farm which served as his home until his retirement to a home in Oneida in 1896, directly after his farm home and buildings were destroyed by the great cyclone of May 17, 1896. He owns 560 acres of good land in this county and was an extensive feeder of live stock. The mother of Emery Con- well was born in Ohio in 1841, married in Indiana, and has been her husband's faithful helpmate. Emery Conwell was reared on his father's farm and attended the district school and the public school of Oneida, Kans., eventually grad- uating from the Oneida High School. At the age of twenty-one years he rented land and began farming on his own account. Five years later he bought 160 acres of land in Oilman township, which he improved to such an extent that it is one of the finest farms in the township or county. He erected a six-room dwelling, barn and other outbuildings and made it a point to keep good graded live stock on his place. For a number of years Mr. Conwell was a successful breeder of Duroc Jersey swine. In 1910 he traded his Nemaha county farm for a tract of 260 512 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY acres in Sedgwick county, Kansas, and has at the present time 420 acres of Kansas land, besides property in Oneida. In 191 1 he traded land for a stock of hardware at Oneida and has since conducted a very successful business enterprise which requires that he carry $15,000 worth of hard^ ware and furniture in stock. This stock is well housed and displayed in a building forty by eighty feet in extent. Mr. Conwell was married November 18, 1896 to Miss Belle Brokaw, born in Illinois in 1875, a daughter of John and Letitia (Van Nuys) Brokaw, who migrated to Kansas in 1880 and made a settlement in Oilman township, this county. Both parents of Mrs. Conwell were natives of New England and are descended from old American stock. Mr. Brokaw is now living in retirement in Oilman township with his two daughters, Mrs. Mary Johnson and Mrs. Belle Conwell. Mrs. Brokaw is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Conwell are the parents of five children, as follows : Ooldia, Lois, Lenis, Bernice and Wilma, all of whom are at home with their parents. Politically, Mr. Conwell is allied with- the Republican party. He is fraternally allied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious affiliations are with the Christian church, of which organiza- tion he is an elder. Mr. Conwell is a deliberate, careful, conscientious business man who carefully weighs each undertaking or proposition until convinced of its merits and then proceeds to accomplish the task set to the best of his ability. Jacob Fleisch. — "The Groves Were God's First Temples." — Evident- ly Jacob Fleisch and his wife of Nemaha township were born with a love of the beautiful embedded deeply within their soul's — for, during their whole life, they have been lovers of the beauties of nature, and have en- deavored to express this deep love by means of assisting nature in beauti- fying the treeless prairie of Nemaha county by an extensive planting of forest trees and flowers. The grounds around the Fleisch country estate are perfect bowers of beauty and a riot of gorgeous color in flowering shrubs and plants, cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Fleisch. Nearly the half of his 320 acres of land is taken up with woods which he has planted with his own hands. Fifty acres or more are planted to walnut trees, ten acres are of hedge trees, and a veritable forest of great, maple trees extends almost as far as the eye can reach. When Mr. Fleisch moved to his prairie farm over forty-five years ago, he missed the woods and flowers of his native Buckeye State and proceeded to remedy its defects by a systematic planting of trees and flowers. As a result he has what is probably the most beautiful estate in all of northern Kansas, and has what is perhaps the most extensive private forest in the length and breadth of Kansas. Jacob Fleisch was born in Preble county, Ohio, October 16, 1838, and is a son of Michael and Kathrine (Hawk) Fleisch, natives of Ger- many. Michael Fleisch emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania, and migrated from there to make a settlement in Preble county, Ohio, where HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 5^3 he died in 1891, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was twice married, his first wife being the mother of Jacob Fleisch, the subject, and died in 1874, at the age of seventy-five years. Michael Fleisch was the father of fourteen children, of whom three are living, as follows : John Vanier, of Humboldt, Neb. ; Joseph, of Preble county, Ohio, and Jacob, with whom this review is concerned. Jacob Fleisch was reared to young manhood on the parental farm in Preble county, Ohio, and migrated to Kansas in 1870. He purchased a tract of unbroken prairie land in Nemaha township, section i, Nemaha county, which he has improved with good buildings, flowers and a verita- ble forest of maple, walnut and other deciduous trees. One hundred and sixty acres of his half section of land is planted to trees and the farm pre- sents a striking and unique appearance as contrasted with the neighbor- ing places. Mr. Fleisch keeps his acreage in a high state of cultivation, and has prospered during the many years he has been a resident of Kansas. • Mr. Fleisch was married June 22, 1876, in Preble county, Ohio, to Miss Mary Jane Gard, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, January 20, 1838, and is a daughter of Joseph and Sadie (Bishop) Gard. Her father was a native of Preble county, and her mother was born in North Caro- lina, dying in 1882 at the age of seventy-two years. Joseph Gard de- parted this life in 1886 at the age of seventy-five years. He followed farming as a vocation. Previous to her marriage, Mrs., Fleisch was a very successful teacher. No children have been born to this worthy couple, who have always been hard and diligent workers. They are a jolly, happy and hospitable wedded pair who enjoy life and take a keen interest in local and State affairs, and believe in keeping up with the times in every possible way by extensive reading and study. Mr. Fleisch has the welfare of his county at heart, and he and Mrs. Fleisch are of the true pioneer type who have progressed with their county and State. Mr. Fleisch is a strong exponent of good roads and is a builder of good roads, being not only an advocate but a practical demonstrator of the value of a system of highways. While he is not a member of any church denomi- nation, he and Mrs. Fleisch endeavor to live upright and Christian lives. Politically, Mr. Fleisch is an independent in his views and is inclined to favor the Socialistic idea. He is broad minded and liberal in all of his views, and is one of the best citizens of Nemaha county. Joseph P. Carroll. — One of the well-known farmers and stockmen of Clear Creek township is Joseph P. Carroll, who was born and, reared in the township in which he now resides. Mr. Carroll comes of Irish parentage. His father, John Carroll, having been born on the Emerald Isle in: 1820. The elder Carroll left his native land when a young man . and came to New York, where he worked as a laborer for some time. A few years later he went to Wisconsin and migrated to Kansas in 1854, locating for a time at Leavenworth and then, in Marshall county, Kan- sas, where he farmed until 1872. Coming to Nemaha county he home- (33) 514 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Steaded eighty acres and bought i6o acres, on which he built a log cabin. He spent long months of tedious labor clearing and breaking his land for cultivation, but within a few years he was well situated and im- proved his farm each year. He died in 1891. The mother, Elizabeth (Carroll) Carroll, was born in Ireland in 1837. She is now living in Summerfield, Kans. To Mr. and Mrs. Carroll eight children were born. Joseph Carroll was born January 10, 1874, in the log cabin which his father had built on his farm. The family of John Carroll were forced to economize and the members helped out in the field to make ends meet. Joseph was required to do a great deal of work for his father, but never- theless he found time to attend the school in District No. 17, where he was drilled in the principles of the "three R's." For several years he worked for his father and brother, Michael, but in 1898 he bought eighty acres of land in Clear Creek township. He now owns the original eighty acres and farms 200 acres besides, and from this land he nets a goodly income. On his farm he'has made it a hobby to keep graded stock and his Shorthorn cattle are worthy of all the pride he bestows upon -them. Mr. Carroll is unmarried. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and professes the Roman Catholic faith. In politics, Mr. Carroll is in sympathy with the Democratic party and he has been trustee of Clear Creek township as well as township clerk. The fact that he has held these two offices shows the esteem in which his fellow citizens hold him. His official duties weer administered with care and promptness and to the general satisfaction of his community. Mr. Carroll is a public spirited citizen and is always ready to do his share in fostering improvements in his township. John A. Rilinger, late of Clear Creek township, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born in Lafayette countj^ Wisconsin, in 1857, and was a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Block) Rilinger, natives of Prussia, Ger- man Empire, and who immigrated to America in an early day and located in Wisconsin. When John Rilinger was nine months old his parents left Wisconsin and settled in Nemaha county, where he was reared to mahood and took up the avocation of farming. He was in- dustrious and applied himself so diligently to the task of building up a competence for himself and his that he became the owner of 320 acres of excellent farm land in Clear Creek township. Mr. Rilinger was married in 1883 to Agnes McKinley, who bore him five children, as follows : John, farming the home place of the Rilingers; Mary, a sister, O. S. B., Atchison, Kans.; Rosa, wife of Ber- nard Buser, Clear Creek township; Leo, farming on the home place; William, at home with his mother. Mr. Rilinger departed this life in 1907. He was a loyal Catholic and was a member of the Modern Wood- men of America. It can be said of him that he was a good husband, and a kind father, who was always looking ahead into the future with a view to making every provision within his power for his wife and children. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 515 Mrs. Agnes Rilinger was born February 4, 1868, at Atchison, Kans., and is a daughter of James and Marion (Dailey) McKinley, natives of Indiana and Canada, respectively. James McKinley was born in 1840 in Indiana and was a son of John and Susan McKinley, natives of Ireland, who immigrated to America and were farmers in Indiana. James followed the trade of carpenter and came to Atchison when the city was a village and there plied his trade until his demise in 1871. James and Marion McKinley were the parents of the following children : Mrs. Julia Yates, wife of J. Yates, a railroader of St. Joseph, Mo.; Mrs. Mary Steward, Oklahoma; Mrs. Agnes Rilinger. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Canada in 1841, and was a daughter of Patrick Dailey, a native of Ire- land, who first emigrated from his native isle to Canada and thence came to Atchison, Kans. The inother of Mrs. Rilinger died in 1871 and she was left an orphan at the age of three years. She was reared by a kind couple named Mathias and Anna (Zalesky) Ugoreck, natives of Prussia, who immigrated to this country in the early sixties and first lo- cated in Atchison, Kans., and came to Nemaha county in 1865. The Ugoreck farm was located six miles south of Seneca. Mr. Ugoreck is now living in Seneca, retired. Mrs. Rilinger is a capable woman, who has taken over the manage- ment of her 180-acre farm since the death of her husband and is accom- plishing the task of making the farm pay, with the assistance of her sturdy sons. John M. Schmidt, farmer and stockman of Clear Creek township, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born at Seneca, 'Kans., February 4, 1875, and is a son of Mathias and Anglia (Davis) Schmidt, who were parents of five children. Mathias Schmidt, his father, was born in the city of Wittenberg, German, in 1826, and left his native land when eighteen years old. He located in Philadelphia, and worked at his trade of shoe maker until after the close of the Civil war when he came West to Kan- sas and opened a shoe shop in Seneca. He made shoes for the trade here, and did shoe repair work for twenty-two years, and then invested his savings in a farm in Marion township, which he cultivated until his demise in 1907. He was twice married. His second wife, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany in 1845, ^-^^ died May 26, 1899. John M. Schmidt assisted his father on the home farm until he at- tained his majority, and then bought 160 acres of unimproved prairie land in section 20, Clear Creek township. He broke up the first sod on this land and, in the course of time, made many improvements. He has prospered since buying his first quarter section, and now owns 240 acres of excellent farm land. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs, and also raises sheep, a department of animal husbandry, which he finds quite profitable. Mr. Schmidt's marriage with Miss Mary McQuaid took place in 5l6 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1897, and the following children have blessed this happy marriage: Nora, attending school in Seneca, Kans. ; Cecilia, Hugh, Oscar, Ralph, Rosa, Levert and Lawrence. The mother of these children was born June 3, 1878, in Nemaha township, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth McQuaid (see sketch of Jerome McQuaid, brother of Mrs. Schmidt). Mr. Schmidt is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and he and the members of his family are loyal adherents of the Catholic church. Charles Rethmann is one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of Nemaha county and represents that prosperous middle class of Americans on whom the success of this great democracy depends. He was born September i, 1879, in Marion township of Nemaha county, and is therefore a native "jayhawker" and one whose loyalty and love for his State has kept him within her confines, even though greater financial success might possibly have been had in other places. His par- ents, Clements and Agnes (Lutmerding) Rethmann, were the parents of seven other children, and four girls and two boys of the family still live. The father was born in Germany in 1843. Coming to America, he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked as a teamster for seven years. He then came to Nemaha county and bought land in Marion township with the savings which he had slowly accumulated by hard work and constant economy. The land was poorly improved, there being oply a small shanty on the place, but he began making improvements from the first, and, in the forty years during which he owned the place, he made wonderful progress. To show the difficulties he worked under in the early days, the method of gathering corn by hand in a basket may be cited. But he had "grit" and a good supply of German common sense which have made him a successful farmer. As proof, he now owns 370 acres of land in Nemaha county, Kansas. At present he is living in retirement in St. Benedict, Kans., where he moved in 1908. The mother of our subject v{as born in Germany in 1844, and left there at the sarne time her husband sailed for America. The voyage was a hard one, last- ing nine weeks. On the trip, twenty-two passengers died. The mother died in 1910, and is buried in St. Benedict's Catholic cemetery. Eight children were born to them : Mrs. Mary Olberding, living three miles west of Seneca; Christena, married to Mr. Haferkamp, who lives near St. Benedict. Kans. ; Mrs. Anna Wichmann, living three miles east of St. Benedict, Kans. ; Josephine, wife of Frank H. Holthaus, of Richmond township; Charles, of whom this sketch deals; Benjamin, farming the old home place ; John and Frank, deceased. Charles Rethmann learned the rudiments of the common branches at district school No. 59 in Marion township, and after spending his youth working for his father on the farm, he started out at the age of twenty- one years to shift for himself. He rented the farm on which he now lives, which consists of 120 acres, owned by his father. In 1910 he bought eighty acres adjoining the farm which his father owned, and two years later, bought his father's farm. Behind these transactions lie a lot of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 517 hard work and careful management, but the rapidity with which Charles Rethmann forged ahead shows the stuff that is in him. He has always been very business-like in the conduct of his affairs and takes pride in keeping his improvements up to a modern standard. His 200 acres .are an enviable farm which anyone would wish to own. He was married, in igoo, to Minnie Deters. To this union one child, Clem, was born: Mrs. Minnie Rethmann was born in Germany, April 16, 1879, and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, with her parents in 1895. In politics, Mr. Rethmann inclin'es toward the Democratic party and usually votes for that organization's candidates. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Associa- tion. In such a career as this, the real accomplishments are not known to those on the outside. No one but those who have gone through the task of building up a farm in properous holdings know what labor and toil it entails and what sleepless hours are spent in planning- expenditures. Mr. Rethmann has succeeded conspicuously and is a credit to Nemaha .county. Richard D. McCaffrey.— The father of Richard D. McCaffrey was Edward McCaffrey, who came to Kansas in 1858, and went through the rough life on the frontier which included guerilla and Indian attacks, stage coaches, and plowing by oxen. Edward McCaffrey was born in Ireland in 1822, and came to America when a young man, locating in Iowa. After living there for some time, he migrated to Kansas, and homesteaded a claim in Clear Creek township, Nemaha county. His land was in section 11. In these days there was, of course, little chance of shipping finished lumber into the part of the country .where Mr. Mc- Caffrey was located, so he set to work, and built a cabin out of hand- hewn logs. At the same time he erected a barn for his horses and cat- tle, and- though materials for building were scanty, he was able to con- struct very serviceable buildings, which he used for several years, until he was able to afford better ones. In traveling from Iowa to Kansas, he drove a yoke of oxen which he also used in breaking up his land. In this day of swift automobiles and tractors, it is hard to realize the slowness of the older method of travel' and farming, and how much more difficult it made farming. His trading was done at St. Joseph and Atchison, as these cities were the nearest places where he could get provisions. The trip was rough and dangerous, for there were many Indians along the route which made travel unsafe. Many times white settlers, in going to these places to trade, were attacked by In- dians, though few were ever killed in the skirmishes. Game was plenti- ful in those days, especially de'er and wild turkey, and a pioneer who could shoot was not in danger of starving. Mr. McCaffrey owned 640 acres of land in Clear Creek township, which he farmed until his death in 1896. In the early days, he served as county commissioner, and al- ways took a lively interest in the public affairs of Nemaha county. He was reared in the Roman Catholic faith. 5l8 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY The mother of Richard McCaffrey, whose maiden name was Fan- nie Cassidy, was born in Ireland. She died in 1876, at the age of forty- eight years. Ten children were born to her, eight of whom are living. Richard, the ninth child, was born in Clear Creek township, Nemaha county, March 21, 1872. Richard McCaffrey grew up on his father's farm, and attended school in district No. 26, when it was possible for him to do so. At the age of twenty-two, he started farming for himself and, in 1909, bought eighty acres of land. This has since been increased to 219 acres, which lie in section 2, Clear Creek township. Mr. McCaffrey has built a num- ber of improvements on his place, which have greatly increased its value. He takes special pride in his fine stock, which is of a very high quality, and which is all graded. He was married, in 1905, to Sarah Clark, daughter of William and Marion (McBride) Clark, who were natives of Scotland. Both parents are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. McCaffrey are the parents of four chil- dren. Francis W., Melvin M., Marion A. and Harold E. Mr. McCaffrey is a Democrat. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men lodge at Bern. Mr. McCaffrey is a conscientious man of high character. His many friends admire him for his integrity and firm convictions and, though he has never sought political preferment, there is little doubt that he would make a good official were his fellow citizens to confer the honor of public position upon him. Alfred A. Smith. — The late Alfred A. Smith of Clear Creek town- ship, Nemaha county, Kansas, was one of the pioneers of Kansas,, who came to Nemaha county with his parents as early as 1859. He was born in Jacksonville, 111., March 12, 1845, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Mosson) Smith, who were natives of England, and were married in Illinois after emigration from their native land. The Smith family immigrated to Kansas in 1859, and William Smith homesteaded and bought eighty acres of land in Clear Creek township, Nemaha county. This farm was located in section 26. William became promi- nent in the civic affairs of Nemaha county and, being a well read man who had taught school in Illinois, easily became a leader of the people in his day. He served as registrar of deeds of the county, and it was while filling this position that his skill as a fine penman came into play. His hand writing is inscribed on many of the records in the Ne- maha county court house. In the early days, he also taught school in the town of Seneca. By two marriages, he (William) became the father of five children, as follows : William Alfred, deceased ; Edmond, Montezuma, Colo. ; second child born, Mrs. Elizabeth Potts, deceased ; Mary A., wife of D. Kale, St. Louis, Mo., and Alfred A., the subject of this review. Alfred A. Smith grew to manhood in Nemaha county and farmed in section 26, Clear Creek township, until his demise on July 27, 1912. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 5I9 He became the owner of i6o acres of land, and was a good farmer and a kind husband and father. He was twice married, his first wife being Melissa Kline of Illinois, who bore him three children: William, liv- ing in Colorado ; Harry, St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Libbie Curtis, Boise, Idaho. The marriage of Alfred A. Smith and Anna Nowak was solemnized at Seneca in 1880, and has been blessed with the following children: Alice, at home with her mother, and a teacher; Mrs. Mabel McCune, Brooklyn, Kans. ; Walter, who is farming the home place for his mother; Frank, Clyde and Clara, at home. Mrs. Smith has three step-children, namely : William, living in Colorado ; Mrs. Elizabeth Curtis, living in Idaho ; Harry, residing in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Smith was born in Iowa, May 5, 1856, and is a daughter of John and Cath- arine (Luskett) Nowak, natives of Bohemia, who emigrated from their birthplace at the time of marriage and came to America. John Nowak was born in 1816, and died in 1880. He was a stone mason and plasterer by trade and, after living in Iowa and St. Joseph, Mo., he lo- cated on eighty acres of land in Nemaha county, Kansas, where he reared his" family to maturity. The mother of Mrs. Smith was born in 1835, and is now living with her son. Van, in Nemaha county. Mrs. Smith was educated in the Seneca schools, and also studied in St. Joseph. Since her husband's death, she has conducted her 160 acre farm successfully, but had the misfortune to lose her home by fire in 1914, and has replaced the burned structure by a new home completed during the early part of 1916. It is worthy of mention that the late Alfred A. Smith was a freighter across the plains enroute from St. Joseph, Mo. and Seneca,' Kans., to Denver, Colo. Daniel E. Mitchell, farmer, breeder, and sportsman, of Clear Creek township, was born on his father's farm in Clear Creek township, June 23, 1875, and is a product of the pioneer and constructive era of the development of his county and State. He is a son of John and Mary (Moriarty) Mitchell, who were natives of Ireland and were among the very earliest settlers in Clear Creek township. John Mitchell was born in Ireland in 1846 and was a son of Daniel and Mary (Corcoran) Mitchell, who emigrated from the Emerald Isle in 1850, and came to America and settled in Ohio, where the family resided until i860. In that year, Daniel Mitchell came with his family to Nemaha county and bought a quarter section of land in Clear Creek township, upon which he erected a log cabin in which two of his datigh- ters were born, namely, Anna and Rosa. He broke up the prairie soil with six head of oxen, improved his tract and later sold it. Daniel Mitchell died in 1890, nearly 100 years old. His wife died in 1897, aged eighty years, and was, the mother of six children. John Mitchell, father of the subject, died in 1913, and became the owner of 400 acres of land before his demise. He had three days' schooling all told in his life. 520 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY When the family resided in Missouri a few years previous to locating in Kansas he was the only white boy attending school and the negroes had a habit of fighting him on this account. However, he was a nat- ural mathematician and easily overcame the handicap imposed through lack of enough schooling. His wife, ^Mary Moriarty, was born in Vir- ginia in 1849 and died in 1894. She was a daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Alexander) Moriarty, natives of Ireland and Virginia, re- spectively. Fourteen children were born to John and Mary Mitchell, as follows: Daniel E., concerning whom this review is written; Patrick, a farmer in Marshall county, Kansas ;James, farming in Clear Creek township ; Mrs. Mary Hoffman, Harrington, Kans. ; John R., Marshall county, Kansas ; Mrs. Margaret Skoch, Clear Creek township ; William F., Marshall county, Kansas; Joseph L., Marshall county, Kansas; Thomas, Pawnee county, Nebraska; Mrs. Rosa Young, Clear Creek township ; Mrs. Anna Egan, Marshall county, Kansas ; Sister Jose- phine, Sheridan, Wyo. ; Frank, Marshall county, Kansas ; Gilbert, Clear Creek township. Daniel E. Mitchell attended District School No. 17, and also spent a four-months term at Axtell schools. When twenty-two years old he rented land in Marshall county, Kansas. He next rented the farm, which he now owns, from his grandmother and in 1898 he purchased this farm of 159 acres. He has erected all the existing improvements on the place and has a good home and barns. Mr. Mitchell is a well known and suc- cessful breeder of Duroc Jersey swine and has made exhibits of his stock. He is also a breeder of Hereford cattle. Mr. Mitchell is a lover of sport and hunting and has one of the finest collections of furs in the county, which includes the skins of wolves, raccoons and coyotes, which he has brought down with his rifle. He is considered to be a fine marksman and is probably the best shot in Nemaha county. Mr. Mitchell was married in 1892 to Amelia Gossin and this union has been blessed with five children, as follows : John, deceased ; Tressie, Genevieve, Robert and Daniel. Mrs. Mitchell was born at St. Bridget, Marshall county, Kansas, November- 4, 1873, and is a daughter of John and Kathrine (Confrey) Gossin, natives of New York and Ireland, respectively, and who settled in Kansas as early as 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat and a member of the Farmers Union. Albert C. Eicherimann, of Clear Creek township, was born in Switzerland, July 20, 1853, and is a son of Zelestine and Mary E. (Oechsle) Eichenmann, who were the parents of twenty children, seven of whom were reared to maturity. Zelestine Eichenmann was a native-born Swiss, who was a farmer and became a member of the Swiss Congress. He died in 1884. The mother of the subject was born in Switzerland in May, 1822, and died in her native country in 1878. Albert C. Eichenmann received a good education in his native coun- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 521 try and immigrated to America in 1873. He located in Madison county, Illinois, where he farmed and taught school until '1879, when he came to Kansas and located in Clay county. He farmed in Clay county until 1881 and then located in Nemaha county. He bought land in Mitchell township, sold it in 1886 and bought 160 acres in section 22, Clear Creek township. He built a house on this farm and sold it in 1892. After a residence in Seneca in official capacity he bought 160 acres in section 7, Clear Creek township, which he farmed for two years and then rented land in Marion township. Later he took charge of the present Rilinger farm of 330 acres in Clear Creek township, where he is now making his home. Mr. Eichenmann was married in 1879 to Mary E. I-Iochderffer, who has borne him fifteen children, as follows : Emm.a, deceased : Jose- phine, wife of C. H. Wempe, the well known horse breeder of Richmond township ; Frederick, San Francisco, Cal. ; Mrs. Kathrine Jackson, of Leavenworth, Kans. ; Leo, deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of F. Miller, Tuttle, Okla. ; Rosa, living with Mrs. C. H. Wempe ; Francis, Seneca, Kans. ; Helen, Leavenworth, Kans. ; Albert, Paul, August, Zelestine, John and Constance, at home with their parents. The mother of this remarkably large family was born in Bond county, Illinois, July 20, 1862, and is a daughter of Frank and Kathrine (Kloster) Hochderffer, natives of France, who emigrated from their native country in 1842 and located in Missouri, where Frank Hochderffer engaged in the manufacture of brick. The family came to Nemaha county, Kans., in 1884, but the father remained here but a short time, failing health compelling his removal to California, where he died. * Mr. and Mrs. Eichenmann and their children are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Eichenmann is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Eichenmann is a Democrat who has been a leader of his party in the county and has served in an official capacity. In 1892 he was one of the leaders of the Populist movement in Kansas and was elected to the office of registrar of deeds of Nemaha county, serving for one term. He has held many township offices and has taken an active part in civic affairs. From 1905 to 1910 he was engaged in the hardware business at Baileyville, and in 1914 returned to his present farm. Mr. Eichenmann is a well read man, who keeps posted on the topics of the day and is well thought of by all who know him. Henry F. Katz, farmer and stockman, Nemaha township, this county, was born July 12, 1884, on a farm where he now lives. He is a son of Christ and Dorettta (Flentie) Katz, natives of Germany. Christ Katz accompanied his parents from Germany to America and was reared to young manhood in Illinois. When he attained a man's estate he migrated westward to Nemaha county, Kansas, and was a pioneer set- tler in this county who worked hard and accumulated a large amount of land previous to his demise in 1913. He was one of the most suc- cessful agriculturists of the county. He was the father of twelve chil- 522 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY dren, as follows : William, a farmer of Nemaha township ; Henry F.. with whom this review is directly concerned ; Lizzie, living in Oklahoma City, Okla. ; Herman, Nemaha township ; Christ, Nemaha township ; Albert, Manhattan, Kans. ; Edith, Chicago, 111.; Mrs. Emma Peake, of Manhattan, Kans.; Alvin, also living at Manhattan; August, residing in South Dakota; Mary and Christ, deceased. The mother of these children was born in Germany and died in 1902 at the age of forty-five years. Both parents lie buried in the Lutheran cemetery in Nemaha township. Henry F. Katz was reared on his father's farm and attended Prairie Grove Public School in District No. 65. He succeeded to the home place by inheritance and purchase and is now the owner of 257 acres in sec- tion 12, Nemaha township. In former years he was an extensive feeder of cattle and hogs. Mr. Katz was married in 1908 to Miss Elvina Korber and this union has been blessed with four children, as follows : Maleda, born March 21, 1909; Mildred, born March 22, 1911, and Doretta, born June 15, 1913, and a son born in January, 1916. Mrs. Katz was born in Dubois, Neb., May 13, 1889, and is a daughter of Fred and Theresa (Poppe) Korber, natives of Germany, and who reared a family of eight children, of whom six are living. Mr. and Mrs. Korber resided on a farm near the Katz place in Nemaha township. Mr. Korber died January 27, 1916, aged sixty-one years. Mr. Katz is allied with the RepuTjlican party and he and the family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Katz is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America* lodge at DuBois, Neb. Conrad Droge. — During the fifty years of Conrad Droge's residence in America he has amassed a comfortable fortune and held one of the highest offices within the gift of the people of Nemaha county, Kans. Like other German immigrants to the United States, Mr. Droge landed on our hospitable shores a poor man, blessed with robust health and strength and imbued with an ambition to succeed. He has acconiplished his desires and is now one of the old pioneer settlers of Kansas who has assisted in developing one of the best counties of a great State and taken his place among the leaders of his home county. Conrad Droge was born in Hanover, Germany, January 14, 1844, and is a son of Henry and Louise (Bunnenberg) Droge, who lived and died in their native land and reared a family of three children, as fol- lows: Henry, deceased; Conrad, the subject of this review; Williarri, a farmer in Pawnee county, Nebraska. Conrad Droge was reared on his father's farm in Hanover, Germany, and in 1866 crossed the ocean in search of fortune in America. He worked as farm hand in Illinois for one year and then came to Seneca, Kans., in 1867, where he was employed as laborer and clerked in a general store for four years. His desire had always been to own a farm of his own, and during his years of hard work at wages he carefully saved his money and in 1873 he HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 523 invested his cash capital in 130 acres of unimproved land in section 4, Nemaha township. During his first year on the farm he broke up part of it and built a shanty as a domicile. This shanty was soon super- seded by a commodious stone house which makes his home today. He has added to his holdings until he now owns 370 acres of land in Kansas and Nebraska. Mr. 'Droge was married on August 7, 1874, to Miss Sophia Poppe, and this marriage has resulted in the birth of nine children, six of whom are living, as follows : Emma, at home ; William, a farmer in Nebraska ; Henry, farming in Montana ; Herbert, George and Freda, at home. The mother of these children was born in Hanover, Germany, January 11, 1858, a daughter of Henry Poppe, who left the Fatherland in 1870 with his family and settled in Nemaha county, Kansas. Mr. Droge is a Republican and has always taken an active and in- fluential part in political and civic affairs in Nemaha county. He was elected to the office of county commissioner in 1893 on the Republican ticket and has served faithfully and capably for six years. He has also served the people of his township as trustee and school director and is usually found in the forefront of all good movements. He and Mrs Droge and the children are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and contribute of their substance to the support of this church. Mr. Droge is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Moses Henton Allison, farmer and stockman, Nemaha township, was born on a farm in McDonough county, Illinois, January 16, 1843, and is a son of Thomas and Martha (Humphrey) Allison, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Thomas Allison, his father, was born in 181 1, in Pennsylvania, a son of William Allison, who married a Miss Haynes, and was of Scotch descent, the family being an old one in America. The Allisons migrated to Illinois and from that State, Thomas Allison migrated to Iowa in an early day, and operated a flour- ing mill at Council Bluffs, where he died in 1871. Thomas and Martha Allison were the parents of three children, as follows : William, dead ; Moses Henton, with whom this review is concerned ; Augustav, Cole- raine, Minn. The mother of these children was born in 1820, and died at the home of her son, Moses H., in 1884. Both parents were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. ' Moses H. Allison was educated in the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, High School, and enlisted in the Third Iowa regiment of artillery at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1864, but was never engaged in battle. In 1869, he and his brother, William, inherited 480 acres of land in sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Nemaha township, Nemaha county, Kansas, and he came West to develop his land. He built his home on that part of the tract, lying in section 5, erecting a stone house and other farm buildings. Mr. Allison prospered in Kansas and owned considerable land at one time, but has sold off a part of his holdings, and now owns 160 acres. He is an ex- tensive breeder of Shorthorn cattle and has exhibited his fine live stock ' 524 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY at the county fairs with great success, and has carried away the sweep stake prizes and other secondary awards. He is also a breeder of stand- ard Percheron horses, and takes a just and abiding pride in his fine live stock. Mr. Allison was married November 7, 1872, to Miss Emma Berger, and to this union have been born three children, namely: Roland, a farmer in Nemaha township ; Marsh, farming in Nemaha township ; Martha, at home with her parents. Mrs. Allison was born January 30, 1850, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Marcus and Emily (Scoville) Berger, natives of New England, who immigrated to Kansas in 1870, and settled on a farm in Washington township, Ne- maha county, where they died. Mr. Allison is a member and a supporter of the Nemaha County Fair Association, is a Republican in politics, and has filled the local of- fices of road overseer, school director, and township treasurer, and is a member of the Farmers' Union. Charles H. Bell.-^The reviewer, in tracing the life career of Charles H. Bell, Union veteran, pioneer, and large landed proprietor of Nemaha county, Kansas, must necessarily begin with his birth in Indiana, and trace his rise from workman to his present position of wealth and pres- tige, which he is now enjoying after a long life time of ceaseless endeavor. We must follow his wanderings from the old home in Indiana to the bat- tlefields of the South where he risked his life and limb in defense of the Union; go with him to the gold fields and the wide reaches of the great California valley — to the mountains where he delved for the precious metals ; thence to the flat lands of the valleys where he followed the vocation of rancher ; thence to southwest Missouri, and lastly to Kansas, where his later fortunes were cast with final success. Charles H. Bell of Oneida was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, August 31, 1845, ai^d is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Harris) Bell, natives of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania respectively, and descendants of old American Colonial stock. The grandfather of Sarah (Harris) Bell was born in Scotland, and her grandmother was born in Germany. Samuel Bell was a pioneer settler in Indiana and was also one of the first home- steaders in Buchanan county, Missouri. He preempted land on the pres- ent site of St. Joseph, and later returned to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he died in 1848. His widow reared the large family of thirteen children and two nieces in Indiana. She was a remarkable woman. She went to Colorado when seventy years of age and homesteaded land, cre- ating a farm, which was her home until her death in 1901, when she de- parted this life at the great age of eighty-two years. Charles H. Bell attended school in a log school house which was fitted up with slab benches. His father died when he was three years old, and his mother, of necessity, reared the family of thirteen children left fatherless. Charles remained at home until he was seventeen years old and then enlisted Februar}', 1862, in Company I, One Hundred Fifty- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY $25 fifth Indiana regiment of volunteers. He was decidedly under the required age for enlistment, and also had a younger brother, John, in the army, and two older brothers, Stuart and Jacob, also fought in defense of the Union. His service was in Virginia and the Southeast, and he served creditably until his honorable discharge from the service in November, 1865, in Delaware. After working on the home farm for another season, he went to Illinois and hired out as a farm hand at $26 per month for two years, and then crossed the continent to California. When he arrived on the coast, he spent two months in the gold mines, but taking a dislike to the work, he secured employment on a ranch where he was employed until 1875. He then rented 3,000 acres of land in partnership with Henry Cooper, with whom he raised crops of wheat and barley for two years. His first year's work was a total loss ; the hot winds coming and destroy- ing the crops. Time was extended to them, however, and with help from their creditors, they made good during the second year, and were able to clear $1,500 each above all indebtedness. Mr. Bell then sold his half in- terest in the lease to a Mr. Goble, and returned home for a visit. It was well that he did so because his former partner and Mr. Goble went broke that same year on account of hot winds and another drought. After a six months' visit among the old home scenes he went to Newton county, Missouri, and bought 200 acres of land, including forty acres of timber, which was partly improved by two small log cabins. In 1878 he rented his Newton county farm, and spent the season in logging and clearing his forty-acre tract of timber. He again moved to his farm in the following autumn, and remained tilling his acreage until 1881, at which time he sold out and came directly to Nemaha county, Kansas. On his way he drove 100 head of cattle which he traded for 140 acres of land and assumed a mortgage of $1,000. The first farm which he owned in this county had a frame house of five rooms and a barn 16x20 feet. He rented this farm to his brother, William, for a year, and then returned to Missouri and worked out by the month. At the end of a year, he again came to Ne- maha county and traded his farm to John Boxwell for 100 acres near Oneida, Boxwell assuming the $1,000 mortgage. He erected a nine room house with two cellars underneath at a cost of $1,800 and built a barn 50x32 feet. A cyclone came along in 1896 and entirely destroyed his barn and damaged his house to the extent of $500, the strong wind tear- ing down the chimneys and denuding the walls of plastering. Strange to relate, one of his horses, which was in the barn, escaped injury. Mr. Bell soon repaired the damage to the premises, and resided on the place until 1901. In the meantime, in 1895, he had purchased 160 acres which ad- joined his first farm, and, in 1896, added eighty acres, and in 1901, bought 120 acres also adjoining. He erected two barns, 52x46 feet and 32x52 feet in dimensions, and also built an eight-room house, which is the present residence. This fine home is modernized and fitted with electric lights in all buildings on the place. Mr. Bell is an extensive dealer in Shorthorn cattle, and deals in feeders and stockers. He is one of the 526 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY largest cattlemen in Nemaha county. The last addition which he made to his holdings was a tract of 160 acres in Adams township, and he now owns 625 acres in all. Mr. Bell was married, in 1879, to Miss Lottie Cawyer, born in Mis- souri in 1861, and who departed this life in 1880, leaving one child, Mrs. Bertha Hoops, who lives in Montgomery county, Kansas, and has six children. In 1882, Mr. Bell married Miss Maggie Quimby, who has borne him six children, as follows : Mrs. Bessie Lenhart, Rock Spring, Wy. ; Abbie ; Hilbert C. ; Edna ; Wayne, and Orville. Mrs. Bell was born in Wayne county, Illinois, March 10, 1866, and came with her parents to Missouri in 1878. Charles H. Bell is a Republican in politics, and he and Mrs. Bell are affiliated fraternally with the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Bell has the very re- markable record of havihg never been sick, and is strong and hearty at the age of seventy-one years. During the past forty years the doctor's bill for medical services for his family has not exceeded fifty dollars. John J. Skoch, owner and manager of 160 acres of excellent farm land in section 25, Clear Creek township, Nemaha county, Kansas, is a Bohemian by birth, and is a son of Frank Skoch, who resides on a farm adjoining that of his son. Frank Skoch was born at Trabre, Bohemia, in January, 1843, and is a son of Frank and Mary (Schmach) Skoch. He immigrated to Amer- ica in 1870, and worked in the ore mines near Alleghany, Pa., until 1877, when he came West to Nemaha county, Kansas. During the first seven years of his residence in this county, he rented land, and was en- abled to buy 160 acres in Clear Creek township, where he is now resid- ing. He was man^ied when a young man to Anna, daughter of Frank and Kathrine (Kaulhaus) Bustrice, and who was born November 11, 1846. To this union have been born nine children, namely: John J., the subject of this review; Frank, a farmer in Clear Creek township; Mrs. Mary Droppleman, Phillips county, Kansas ; Mrs. Anna Mitchell, Clear Creek township ; Mrs. Barbara Mulrine, St. Bridget, Kans. ; Mrs. Maggie Engelken, Marshall county, Kansas; Josephine, a teacher for the past fifteen years, now teaching in Marshall county; Venzle, on the home place ; Mrs. Rosa Oldenburg, Marion township. John J. Skoch was born June 20, 1869, in Bohemia, and was one year old when his parents left Bohemia, and came to Pennsylvania. He was reared to young manhood on his father's farm in Nemaha county, and began his own career as a farm hand, starting to work for $17 per month, and later receiving $22 per month. In 1890, he rented forty acres from his father and others in Clear Creek township for one year, then worked out until 1893. His first purchase of land was in section 28, Clear Creek township, where he bought eighty acres, which he farmed for eight years, and then traded for his present farm of 160 acres in section 25. Mr. Skoch has a neat seven room farm residence. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 52/ painted a straw color, and his home is located about ten miles north- west of Seneca. He keeps high grade stock on his place, and has about one acre of orchard. John J. Skoch was married, in 1893, to Anna, daughter of Bernard and Elizabeth (Starmann) Dropplemann, and she was born in Dod- dridge county. West Virginia, where she resided until 1891, and then came to Kansas to keep house for her brother, who was farming in Marshall county, Kansas. Bernard Dropplemann was born in 1809 in German ; immigrated to America and died at his home in Doddridge county, West Virginia, in 1894. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Holland in 1823, and died in 1908. They were the parents of twelve children, three of whom are deceased. Five children have been born to John J. Skoch and wife, namely : Mrs. Ernestine Bergmann, Clear Creek township, born November 20, 1894, taught school for three years; Edward, born May 13, 1896; Albert, born November 2, 1899; Edna, born March 12, 1896; Emma, born June 10, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Skoch and the children are loyal members of the Catholic church. Mr. Skoch is affiliated with the Knights of Colum- bus, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, and he and his family are prominent socially in the county. Mr. -Skoch is one of the Democratic leaders of the county, and has always taken an active and influential part in civic and political affairs. He has held office in his township for the past twenty years, and has held the post of central committee- • man for his party ; filled the post of road overseer and township treas- urer. He is now a member of the school board of district 56. Mr. Skoch is one of the best known men of Nemaha county, and is a wide awake citizen who takes a keen interest in community matters, and is greatly interested in the welfare of the people of Nemaha county. John T. Baker, successful farmer of Nemaha township, was born in Nemaha county, Kansas, January i, 1878, and is a son of August and Margarette (Quirk) Baker. August Baker was born in Germany in 1842 and came to America with his mother, first settling in New York State. Later, August Baker came to Kansas with a family by the name of Sly, who had adopted him after the demise of his parents ■ in the early fifties. He died at the home of his son, December 31, 1915. The mother of John T. Baker was twice married, and died about 1895. John T. Baker was reared on the farm which he now owns and is cultivating 200 acres of land in section 16, Nemaha township. He was married in 1897 to Bertha Hartman and seven children have blessed this union, namely: Irene, Mary, John, Bertha, Edith, Alice and Edward. Mrs. Baker was born in Nemaha township in 1875 and is a daughter of Fred and Bertha Hartman, at present living on a farm in Nemaha town- ship, where Mrs. Hartman died November 11, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Catholic church and take an active interest in the social and religious affairs of this strong religious 528 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY organization. Mr. Baker has taken a prominent and influential part in the affairs of the Democratic political organization in his township and county and served for eight years as treasurer of Nemaha township. He is now serving as a member of the school board of District No. 28. John F. Kerl, Union veteran, and farmer of Nemaha township, was born in New York City, N. Y., August 3, 1847, and is a son of Lewis and Martha (Ketchum) Kerl, natives of Germany. Lewis Kerl, his father, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1816, and became a skilled cabinet maker. When a young man he emigrated from the Fatherland to New York and followed his trade of cabinet maker in that city with considerable success. He made furniture for some of the distinguished New York people of his time, and it is recorded in the family archives that this skilled mechanic made a bedstead for the home of John Jacob Astor which cost $136 in the making. He also plied his trade in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., until 1880, when he immigrated westward to Pawnee county, Nebraska, where he farmed until his demise in 1905. This was not his first experience in farming, however, as he had farmed to some extent in the vicinity of Pittsburg. There were eleven children born to Lewis and Martha Kerl, of whom four are deceased. Martha, wife of Lewis Kerl, was born in Prussia in 1826 and departed this life in 1900. When she Was three years of age her parents emi- grated from Germany to New Jersey, where her father became a large land owner and died there after several years' residence. John F. Kerl attended the public schools of Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, and at the president's call for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States, he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania infantry, and his command saw much active service in the eastern division of the Union armies under Gen. U. S. Grant. He was discharged from the infantry service in 1863, and re-enlisted in the Sixth heavy artillery regiment and saw service in the southeast and the Car- olinas and was engaged in several battles until his final discharge in 1864. After the war, Mr. Kerl learned the blacksmith's trade in the town of Harmony, Pa., and worked at his trade until 1881, when he abandoned it entirely and has since devoted himself to farming pursuits. Mr. Kerl migrated to Kansas in 1879 and bought eighty acres of land in section 6, Nemaha township, this county, and the years which have passed since that time have seen his fortune improve until he has be- come the owner of 448 acres of western lands. John F Kerl has been twice married, his first marriage occurring in 1873 with Agnes Hebberling, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1876 at the age of twenty-one years, leaving three children, as follows : Wilbert, living in Nebraska ; John, a farmer in Clear Creek township ; Emanuel, a farmer of Richardson ocunty, Nebraska. March 25, 1877, Mr. Kerl married Miss Mary A. Myers, who was born at Pitts- burg, Pa., December 18, 1856, and has borne him eight children, as follows : Mrs. Florence Wright, Nemaha county, Kansas ; Mrs. Mar- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 529 garet Westfall, Idaho; Edward, farming in Clear Creek township; Eva, wife of J. Lockard, (see sl in partnership with William Kinsey, and the firm is placing a, line of stock remedies on the market under the name of the "K & K" Manufac- turing Company. Mr. Kinyon is allied with the Republican party, and was elected to the office of mayor of Bern in April of 1915. During his term of office, he has made several worthy improvements in the city, and is making a creditable record as a public spirited official. He is affiliated with, and holds office in, the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Wood- men of America. Charley Beyreis. — "Charley," as all of his many friends know him, is one of the prominent and successful farmers and stockmen of Nemaha township, Nemaha county, Kansas. Mr. Beyreis was born January 7, 1880, on the farm where he now lives. He is a son of Andrew and Anna (Hansz) Beyreis, to whom were born twelve children, ten of whom are still living. Andrew Beyreis was born in Saxony, Germany, January 16, 1835, and left there when a young man to come to America. In 1872, he settled in Nemaha township, and bought 160 acres in section 11. This was prairie land when he took it, but by hard work, he converted it into tillable condition and built a house and stables on- the place. He re- mained on this land, making improvements constantly, until his death. May 29, 1915. At one time during his life, he had owned 400 acres of land v/hich made him a farmer of high rank. The mother of Charley Reyeris was born August, 1842, in Alsace-Lorraine, that buffer province on the German frontier which has been tossed back and forth by French and German armies. She left her native land with her mother, and they set- tled in Illinois upon their arrival in America. Mrs. Beyreis died in 1895. Charley Beyreis was reared on his father's farm in Nemaha county, Kansas. He spent his boyhood as all others boys on Kansas farms spend their earlier yeai's, including several months' attendance at the school in district No. 8. Mr. Beyreis has always lived on the farm, on which his father originally settled. He owns 420 acres of land in Nemaha and Grey counties, which are farmed jointly by Charley and his brother, Henry. Henry also owns 160. acres of land in Finney county, and a half interest 566 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in 200 acres in Nemaha county, Kansas. Neither of the brothers is mar- ried. Charley is a Republican voter, and is affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 19, Seneca, Kans. Both Charley Beyreis and his brother are well liked among their friends, and are considered very successful farmers. They have attained success wholly by their own hard work and careful management, and are among the most valuable members of their community. John W. Gillaspie. — Forty-four years of John W. Gillaspie's life have been spent within the borders of Nemaha county, Kansas, and he can rightly be considered as one of the pioneers of Kansas. During this period, he has witnessed many changes for the better, and has seen the country grow more populous, and the farmers of his section of the State of Kansas grow more prosperous each year. Mr. Gillaspie was born in Monroe county, Iowa, May 18, 1852, and is a son of Benjamin N. and Elizabeth (Newman) Gillaspie. Benjamin N. Gillaspie was born in Fountain county, Indiana, in 1824, and was a son of Andrew Gillaspie, a native of Ohio and son of Scotch parents, and who married a Miss Nichols, also of Scotch parentage. Benjamin N. Gillaspie was an early settler in Fountain county, Indiana, and was one of the earliest pioneers in Monroe county, Iowa, where he owned a farm. In his boyhood days, Benjamin N. Gillaspie learned the blacksmith trade and plied his trade until his enlistment in the Union army at Centerville, Iowa, in 1862. He was a member of Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa infantry. He re- ceived his discharge after his term of enlistment expired, and continued to ply his trade, and farmed until his removal to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1872. He settled on a homestead south of Centralia, Kans., and made many improvements on the place. His first house was a very small one, and in keeping with his limited means. It is recalled that he broke up the land on his farm with the aid of a two year old colt and mare for lack of a better team. In his later days, the pioneering fever again obsessed him, and he took a trip to the far west in company with his son, William, for the purpose of homesteading a Government claim. Death claimed him while absent on this expedition in 1881. Elizabeth Newman Gillas- pie, wife of Benjamin N. Gillaspie, was born in Fountain county, Indi- ana, in December, 1824, a daughter of Nathaniel Newman, of German and Scotch descent and who married a Miss Campbell. She died in 1891. John W. Gillaspie was reared on his father's farm in Iowa and Kan- sas, and received a district school education. When he attained his ma- jority, he married and rented land from his father-in-law, J. W. Dennis, who deeded him a farm of seventy-five acres in 1874. This tract was unbroken prairie land with no improvements of any kind, Mr. Gillaspie first built a small house, and in later years as he became able, he erected a large eleven room house with other out-buildings of a substantial nature. Mr. Gillaspie is a fancier of well bred live stock, and takes a pride in his fine driving horses. His farm now embraces 120 acres of well tilled land, besides which, he is a shareholder in the Farmers Union Elevator Company of Seneca, Kans. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 567 Mr. Gillaspie was married in 1873 to Amanda Dennis, who has borne him the following children : Walter, living in Morris county, Kansas ; Ola, wife of W. O. Neiberger, Morris county, Kansas ; Wesley, deceased ; Roy, a farmer in Nemaha county ; Raymond, died in infancy ; Mrs. Maud E. Neiberger, of Jackson county, Kansas. Mrs. Amanda Gillaspie was born August 21, 1854, in McLean county, Illinois, a daughter of Joseph W. and Mary Ann (Young) Dennis, who were among the earliest of the Nemaha county pioneers. Concerning this noted couple, the "Courier- Democrat," in its issue of November 13, 1913, has the following to say in part, upon the demise of Mr. Dennis : " 'Uncle Joe' Dennis, one of the oldest pioneers in this section of Kansas, died at his home a half mile south of Seneca, Monday night. Death came after a short illness, due to the infirmities of old age. As the news of his death passed along the street and throughout the community next day, universal sadness was MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH DENNIS. felt, and many were the kind words uttered to the memory of this sturdy pioneer. The familiar figure of Mr. Dennis on the streets of Seneca was an ever welcome one. His cheery word and unassuming manner made him the friend of all. To such men as this do we owe the privileges we now enjoy. More than half a century ago (1856), Mr. Dennis and wife, with others of their kind, came to this then trackless wilderness", and carved out the great commonwealth of Kansas. • "Joseph W. Dennis was born in Henry county, Kentucky, April 9, 1825, and at the time of his death on November 11, 1913, was well up in bia eighty-eighth year. From Kentucky, Mr. Dennis moved to DeWitt county, Illinois, where, in 1847, he married Mary A. Young, of Adair 568 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY county, Kentucky. In 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis, together with his fa- ther, Batson Dennis, and four brothers, came to Nemaha county, Kansas. Upon his arrival, Mr. Dennis entered the quarter section of land, which, throughout the fifty-six years and over that he has been a citizen of the county, has ever been 'home.' He later added to his holdings, and at one time, owned 1,200 acres in this county. Mr. Dennis and wife shared their full quoto of the hardships of the early pioneer. The log cabin of the early day was their home the first few years, and eventually gave way to a more modern dwelling as time progressed. Each decade in passing, marked a wonderful change in Nemaha county, and at the time of his death, Mr. Dennis lived in one of the nice farm homes of the com- munity. "The father and brothers of J. W. Dennis died years ago. On the eighth day of July, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis, surrounded by their chil- dren and grandchildren, celebrated the passing of the sixtieth milestone of their wedded life in their own quiet manner." On the eighteenth day of April, 1909, the faithful wife of this grand old pioneer passed 'away. Mrs. Mary Ann (Young) Dennis was born in Adair county, Kentucky, in 1826. Early in life, she removed with her parents and family to DeWitt county, Illinois, where she met and married Joseph W. Dennis, July 8, 1847. Ten children were born to this noted couple, of whom three survive the parents, namely : Campbell W. Den- nis ; Philip Dennis, and Mrs. Amanda Gillaspie. Four children died in infancy, and three others, Mrs. Howard Chilson, Mrs. Sarah Luckey, and Mrs. Mary Highsmith, passed away leaving families. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis were faithful members of the Baptist church. Amanda, wife of- John W. Gillaspie, owns part of the land upon which her father settled, when he came to Kansas. Mr. Gillaspie is allied with the Democratic party, but has never sought political preferment. He and his wife take an active interest in social affairs and have many warm and steadfast friends in the com- munity. The members of the Gillaspie family are proud of the fact that the parents on both sides were among the pioneers of the State. They are members of the Universalist church, and Mr. Gillaspie is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Ray T. Ingalls, editor and proprietor of the Goff "Advance," Goff, Kans., is a son of Franklin T. Ingalls, who was born near Naperville, 111., September 29, 1848, and was the youngest son of Henry and Lois Ingalls. He resided at Naperville until he attained the age of eighteen years, and received his education in the district schools and the Naper- ville, 111., Academy. In 1866, he went to Wisconsin, and worked in the lumber camps for two years. He then located in Will county, Illi- nois, and practiced veterinary surgery, and farmed for several years. He was married at Connersville, Ind., December 3, 1876, to Amanda George, who was born on a farm near Dayton, Ohio., February 25, 185 1, and was a daughter of John Wesley and Nancy George, who HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 569 moved to Connersville, Ind., in 1855. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls moved to a farm near Joliet, 111., and later located at New Lenox, 111., where Mr. Ingalls conducted a meat market. They again returned to the farm near Joliet and, in 1885, came to Kansas, and set- tled on a farm southeast of Centralia, in Nemaha county. One year later, they removed to Seneca, and are now residents of that city. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls are as follows: Mabel, the eldest child, was born in Illinois on October 9, 1877, and was married to Will J. Foreman on December 23, 1896. At the time of this marriage, Mr. Foreman was a brakeman on the Kansas City Northwestern railroad with his headquarters and home in Kansas City, Kans. He later gave up railroad work, and moved to a farm near Dewey, Okla. Olive, the second child, was born in Illinois, Ntjvember 19, 1879, and took up newspaper work after graduation from the Seneca High School. She spent her apprenticeship as a compositor on the staff of the Seneca "Rural Kansan," and was later employed in the office of the "Courier-Democrat," and also filled the post of social reporter on the Seneca "Tribune," and worked for these newspapers for several years. She was_ married at St. Joseph, Mo., on January i, 1916, to Frank I. Reed, of Grand Island, Neb. Mr. Reed is engaged in the garage busi- ness at Grand Island, Neb. Park, the third member of the family, was born in Illinois, August 27, 1881, and was educated in the Seneca public schools. He was mar- ried, in 1908, to Miss Lulu Morris of Hiaw^atha. He lives in Seneca and, for the past fifteen years, has been a piano salesman. Irvin, fourth born, was born in Illinois, December 19, 1883, was educated in the Seneca schools, and makes his home with his parents in Seneca. Fannie, fifth child, was born near Centralia, Kans., September 3, 1885, was educated in the Seneca schools, and taught school in Nemaha county for a number of years. She was married, in 1908, to L. Harold Bump, son of Mrs. L. A. Bump of Kelly, Kans. Mr. Bump is employed as United States mail cle'rk on the run between Cheyenne, Wyo., and Pocatello, Idaho, a position which he has held for the past eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Bump make their home at Cheyenne. Alice, seventh member of the family, was born in Seneca, July 20, 1889, and attended the Seneca schools. She followed the trade of mil- liner and saleslady in Kansas City for a number of years. She was mar- ried in 1913 to Fred H. Burke, a Kansas City druggist. Mary Esther, eighth child, was born in Seneca, January 31, 1892, and attended the Seneca schools, after which she was employed as com- positor in the office of the "Courier-Democrat" and the Goff "Advance" prior to her death, April 9, 191 5. Ray T. Ingalls was born at Seneca, Kans., October 19, 1887, and began his newspaper career in 1902 by becoming an apprentice in the 570 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY office .of the "Courier-Democrat" at Seneca, Kans., where he remained for ten years at different periods as a printer. He served as foreman for the Westmoreland "Recorder" for three years, and then returned to Seneca as machine operator for the "Courier-Democrat." May i, 1913, he purchased the Goff "Advance." During the three years in which he has had charge of this newspaper he has built up the circulation of the sheet from 200 Subscribers to a strong list of more than 750, and has en- larged the paper from a sheet with two pages of home print to a well edited and neatly printed paper of four pages, well patronized with local advertising. He was married to Iva F. Hosier, November i, 1908. Three children have been born to this marriage, namely: Dorothy, Helen and Kathryn. Mrs. Ingalls was born at Westmoreland, Kans., October 29, 1889, and is a daughter of Solomon and Amanda (Graff) Mosier, na- tives of Indiana and Ohio respectively. Solomon Mosier was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war and served for one year in an Indiana regiment under General Miles and later filled the post of Gen- eral Miles' orderly in the regular army for over six years. Mr. and Mrs. Mosier are living at Redondo Beach, Cal. Mr. Ingalls is a Democrat, politically, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is fraternally allied with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Frank D. Steele, farmer and stockman of Harrison township, was born in Wisconsin, January 16, i860, a son of George and Eliza fPerry) Steele, who were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living. George Steele, the father, was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1822, and when he became of age, removed to New York State, where he married and then immigrated to Wisconsin. After he farmed in Wisconsin for few years, he removed to Bradford, Iowa, and rented land near that city until 1866, when he came to Seneca, Kans. Coming nere m May, 1866, he worked as a laborer for two years, and then preempted eighty acres of land in Adams township. The first home erected by George Steele on his preemption was a "hole in the ground," and tne walls of which were built of sod cut from the prairie, with a thatch roof. He farmed this tract for eight years, and then traded his homestead for a team of horses, harness and a wagon. During the remainder of his life, he rented land in Nemaha county, eventually dying on a farm in Harri- son township in 1893. Mrs. Eliza (Perry) Steele was born in New York State in 1839, and died in 191 1. Frank D. Steele was reared to young manhood in Nemaha county. Although he was but six years of age when the family came to Kansas, he remembers the early days of the settlement of Nemaha county, and has never forgotten the privations which fell to his lot and the mem- bers of his father's family in the struggle to attain a livelihood, and make a home in the new country. It is a far cry from the first home HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 5/1 which he knew in Harrison township to his comfortable farm residence. The "hole in the ground" or sodhouse in which he spent many of his boyhood days has long since passed out of existence. Mr. Steele was enabled to make his first investment in farm land in 1889, and purchased eighty acres in section 28, of Harrison town- ship. This farm is the nucleus around which his large holdings of 480 acres have accumulated, and the home place is well improved, with a comfortable farm dwelling and a large barn 40x50 feet in extent. Mr. Steele is an extensive feeder of cattle, and specializes in high grade Dur- ham cattle, Duroc Jersey swine and draft and Percheron horses. He believes in high grade stock on his place, and prefers to market the pro- ducts of his large farm on the hoof at all times. Mr. Steele was married, in 1884, to Miss Laura B. Rucker, who was born near Streator, 111., February 10, 1865. To this union have been ■born the following children: Mrs. Pearl Jones, living in Reilly town- ship ; Arlie, a farmer on section 33, Harrison township ; Frank D., Jr., farming in Harrison township. Mr. Steele is a Republican in his political affiliations and is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is essentially one of the industrious and self made men of Nemaha county, who has worked his way upward to his present comfortable position by dint of industry and good management. Frank J. Watkins, real estate dealer, Goff, Kans., is a native born Kansan who was born on a pioneer farm in Harrison township, Nemaha county, August 13, 1871. He is a son of Holden J. and Mary R. (Hall) Watkins, to whom were born seven children, six of whom are living. Holden J. Watkins was born in Michigan, July 20, 1848, reared in his native State, and migrated to Brown county, Kansas, in 1870. He drove from Michigan to Kansas and after stopping a while in Brown county, he came directly to Harrison township, Nemaha county, and traded his team and wagon for eighty acres of land in section 10, Harri- son township. He lived on his farm until 1889, ^.nd then located in Goff, where he operated a livery barn and dealt in live stock for sev- eral years, eventually removing to Cherryville, Kans., where he invested his working capital in an ice and cold storage business. He lived in Cherryville until his demise, February 14, 1909. His widow makes her home at Cherryville. Frank J. Watkins attended the Goff schools, and was employed in the Goff State Bank from 1891 to 1894 as bookkeeper. He served as stationery engineer of the William McKibbin Elevator Company until 1896. Following this occupation, he became associated with Kirsch- baum & Sons Produce Company, and was also engaged in the retail meat business in his home city. In 1903, he established his real estate business, and has become an extensive dealer in farm lands, besides being owner of a considerable acreage of farm land on his own account. Mr. Watkins was married, in 1893, to Mary Gettle, who was born 572 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY September lo, 1872, in Pennsylvania, a daughter of William and Mar)' (Armstrong) Gettle, natives of the Keystone State who were early set- tlers of Adams township, Nemaha county. They settled on a farm in that township, and lived in Nemaha county until both died. Four chil- dren have been born to Frank J. and Mary Watkins, as follows : Hazel, graduate of the Goff High School, and now a trained nurse in Kansas City, Mo. ; Fred, Lloyd and Janice, at home with their parents. Mr. Watkins is allied with the Republican party, and has filled the office of township trustee for two terms. For the past fourteen years, he has been a member of the school board, and has served as a member of the town council. He is affiliated with the Modern Wood- men of America, and is recognized as one of the real live wires of Goff, who takes an active and influential part in all undertakings, which have for their object the boosting of his home city and county. David Campbell. — Mrs. Delia M. Campbell. — The late David Camp- bell, of Harrison township, was born in New Castle, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1876, and came to Kansas with his parents when he was two years old. He was a son of John and Lorinda (Ken- nedy) Campbell, natives of Pennsylvania, who immigrated to Kansas in 1874, and settled on a farm in Jackson county. John Campbell was born in 1849, and died March 16, 1908. His widow resides at Palo, Kans. David Campbell was reared in Kansas on his father's farm, and became a drayman and farmer at Goff. He owned eighty acres of land in Harrison township, which made a good living for himself and fam- ily through his industry and natural intelligence combined with good management and the assistance of a faithful wife. David Campbell died January 3, 1915, sincerely mourned by the members of his family and a host of friends and acquaintances. He was affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Modern Brotherhood. David Campbell was married December 12, 1898, to Miss Delia Sourk, and four children were born of this marriage, three of whom are deceased: Verna, born, September 24, 1901, is a graduate of the Goff public schools, and a high school student. Mrs. Delia (Mitchell) Camp- bell was born on a farm in Harrison township, October 6, 1881, and is a daughter of William and Amanda (Mitchell) Sourk, whose biogra- phies are given at length in this volume of historical annals of Nemaha county. Mrs. Campbell lived on her father's farm until her marriage with Mr. Campbell, after which Mr. and Mrs. Campbell removed to Goff. When Mr. Campbell died, his widow traded their eighty acre farm for a large, modern residence in Goff, consisting of ten rooms, and adapted for a boarding and rooming house, known as the "Campbell House." Mrs. Campbell promptly saw her opportunity and,, for some time, has been conducting a popular boarding house, which is well patronized, and is noted for its excellent accomodations and good meals HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 573 served to the patrons. Besides this real estate, she has an interest in the Sourk estate which is considerable. She and her daughter are both members of the Christian church, and Mrs. Campbell is a liberal con- tributor to this denomination. Cla3M:on K. Simon, postmaster at Goff, Kans., was born in Seneca, March 20, 1887, and is a son of Lorraine N. and Jennie M. (Ford) Si- mon, whose biographies . are to be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Simon received his education in the district schools of Nemaha county, and the high schools of Seneca and Corning. He also pursued a business course at the Central Business College of Kansas City, Mo., and studied at Baker University, Baldwin, Kans. After completing his course in Central Business College, he taught for three months in this college, and at the age of eighteen years, he became bookkeeper for the National Bank of Commerce, of Kansas City, and also the National Biscuit Company of Kansas City, Mo. During 1912 and T913, he stud- ied at Baker University, and then became associated with his father, Lorraine N. Simon, in the hardware business at Goff, Kans. In 1914, he went to Coffey county, Kansas, and engaged in farming for a time. In March of 191 5, he was appointed postmaster of Goff, and is filling this position to the satisfaction of the patrons of the office. Mr. Simon was married in 1914 to Miss Agnes E. Hanley, born September, 1890, at Goff, Kans., and a daughter of John E. Hanley, a blacksmith at Goff. Mr. Simon is a Democrat politically, and is a mem- ber fraternally of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Louis S. Slocum, editor and jeweler, Corning, Kans., was born at Jackson, Mich., September 18, 1874, and is a son of Willis and Alice M. (Fuller) Slocum, to whom five children were born. Willis Slocum, his father, was born October 5, 1843, ^^ Connecticut, town of East Haddam. He enlisted in Captain Corwin's Independent Battery of New York volunteers, and fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, during which engagement he was badly wounded by a shell. His command faced Gen. Pickett's famous charges four times during this great battle, which marked the turning point against the Confederacy during the Civil war. At the time of his honorable discharge, he was first ser- geant of his company. He was a member of the Corning Grand Army post, the Ancient Order of L^nited Workmen, and the Knights and La- dies of Security. He removed to Beloit, Kans., from Iowa, in 1877, and engaged in the mercantile business for some years, after which he en- gaged in farming near Centralia, Kans., in 1881. He came to Corning, Kans., in 1885, and conducted a mercantile business here until 1910, when he retired. He died June 10, 1912, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. Slocum was married to Alice M. Fuller in 1872. Mrs. Slo- cum was born at Collinville, Conn., February 11, 1854, and is now mak- ing her home at St. Joseph, Mo. Louis S. Slocum was educated in the Corning schools and grad- uated from the high school. He then studied in the Wichita Business 574 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY College, and also pursued a course with the Sprang Correspondence School. At the age of twenty-one years, he began teaching school at the Rose Hill district school in Reilly township, and also taught for one year in Corning, teaching, in all, for three years. In 1896, he bought a half interest in the Corning "Gazette" with Frank Minter. The paper had a subscription list of 300, which has been increased to over 600 sub- scribers at the present writing. In 1899, Mr. Slocum purchased his partner's interest, and has since operated the newspaper on his own account. In the meantime, Mr. Slocum studied in the jewelry and watch making schools of Kansas City, Mo., and became proficient at the jeweler's trade. He established a jewelry establishment in Corning in 1906, and conducted it successfully until his store was destroyed by fire in February, 1916, entailing a loss of $1,400. Mr. Slocum is a share- holder of the Farmers State Bank, and is a hustling and enterprising citizen. He has been twice married. His first marriage took place, in 1899, with Lela E. Casey, a daughter of Peter T. Casey. She died in Decem- ber, 1909. His second marriage took place September 25, 1912, with Elsie E. Baldwin. Two children have been born of this marriage, namely: John, and Morris. John was born July 11, 1913. Morris was born March 10, 1915. The mother of these children was born February II, 1883, in Seneca, Kans., and is a daughter of John Baldwin, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. ^ James E. Woodworth. — It is evident that James E. Woodworth, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Corning, was destined for his chosen profession. During the fourteen years, in which he has been connected with this bank, he has displayed marked aptitude for the profession of banking and has risen to a high place among the bank- ing fraternity, with whom he has cast his lot. The confidence in which he is held by the shareholders of the Farmers State Bank and the uni- versal esteem, which is accorded him by the patrons of the bank and his fellow citizens, simply constitute a just recognition of his ability. Mr. Woodworth was born on a farm in Jackson county, Kansas, Nov- ember 8, 1878, and is a son of William H. and Sophia A (Latimer) Woodworth. William H. Woodworth, his father, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, March 4, 1847, ^^^ is a son of Hilon and Cordelia (Winters) Woodworth, both of whom were natives of New York. Hilon Woodworth was employed in the woolen mills of his native State until his removal to Henry county, Illinois, where he engaged in farm- ing until his demise. William H. lived in Henry county, Illinois, until his migration to Kansas in 1870, where he made settlement in Jackson county. He followed farming until 1906 with success, and became owner of 160 acres of land. In 1906 he retired to a home at Holton, Kans. To William H. and Sophia Woodworth were born the following children : Francis, cashier of the Kansas State Bank, Holton, Kans. ; HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 575 William H., Jr., a farmer of Jackson county, Kansas; James E., subject of this review; Mary R., deceased; Edson S., assistant cashier of the Farmers State Bank, Corning. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, March 30, 1843. She is a daughter of Francis H. and Rebecca Latimer, who were born and reared in New England. The Latimers moved to Jackson county, Kansas, in 1864, and engaged in farming. Mrs. Latimer also taught school in the neigh- borhood of their farm, north of Holton. James E. Woodworth attended the district school in his home neighborhood, and also pursued a commercial course at Campbell Uni- versity, Holton, Kans. In August of 1901, he came to Corning, and took the position of bookkeeper of the Farmers State Bank. In 1905, he became cashier of this flourishing institution. He and his brother Edson own a farm of 120 acres in Red Vermillion township. Mr. Woodworth was married at Corning to Miss Pansy Robison, September 26, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Woodworth have one child, namely : Beatrice, born May 21, 1908. Mrs. Woodworth was born at Sheldon, Iowa, April i, 1885, and is a daughter of George Milton and Vinnie E. (Robinson) Robison, both of whom were natives of Iowa. George Milton Robison was born near Winterset, Iowa, February 7, 1846, and died July 12, 1908. His wife, Vinnie A., was born in Rush- ville, 111., (Schuyler county), January 16, 1851, and taught school in Illinois, and in Dallas county, Iowa, where her marriage with George Milton Robison took place. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Robi- son removed to their home on a farm near Storm Lake, Iowa. In 1888, the Robison family removed to Nemaha county, Kansas, and farmed here until Mr. Robison was deprived of his eyesight in 1895. They then moved to Corning, where Mr. Robison died, July 12, 1908. They were the parents of six children. Mrs. A\^oodworth is a graduate of the Corn- mg High School. The Republican party has always had the allegience of Mr. Wood- worth, and he is serving as a member of the Corning city council, a position in which he takes a deep interest, because of his public spirit and a desire to see his 'home city make greater progress along civic lines. He has been a member of the city council for the past ten years, and is also a member of the city school board, a situation which enables him to further the cause of education. He and Mrs. Woodworth are members of the United Brethren church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. John William Hybskmann is a successful hardware and furniture dealer in Corning, Kans. He was born November 16, 1874, in Seneca, Kans., and is the son of August H. and Margaret (Nelson) Hybsk- mann, whose biographies are set forth elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Hybskmann was reared in Centralia, Kans. He attended the grammar schools of Centralia and, at the age of eighteen, he began 576 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY clerking in a hardware store at Vermillion, Kans. Three years later, he went to Goff, Kansas, and worked for Charles Kenison, a hardware and furniture dealer, and five years later, he and his brother went into .business at Axtell, Kans., where they combined a plumbing and tin- ner's business with. their own. In 1909, their partnership was dissolved, and William Hybskmann came to Corning, where he purchased a stock of hardware and furniture, valued at $3,000. By courteous treatment and judicious business practice, he has more than trebled his original stock, the value of his store now being $10,000. This growth speaks volumes for his business acumen. He has been fire chief in Corning, and takes an active interest in the public affairs of the community. He belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On May 7, 1901, he was married to Hattie Berridge, who was born September 2, 1877, at Netawaka, Kans. They have three children, Vance, Audry and Drothy, all living at home. Mrs. Hybskmann is the daughter of Thomas Berridge. Her mother's maiden name was Maria Gibbons. Her father was born in England and came to Goff, Kans., in the early days, to engage in the retail mercantile and lumber business. He is now living in retirement in Topeka, and is enjoying the fruits of his many years of hard labor. His wife is dead. Mr. Hybskmann, in addition to being, an experienced hardware and furniture dealer, is an embalmer, having studied that work in Kan- sas City, Mo., several years ago . He is a staunch Republican, and a public spirited citizen, although he has never sought public office. What honors have come to him have come of their own volition, he has never gone after them. Dr. William Heuschele. — Few professional men in Corning enjoy so wide a reputation as does Dr. William H. Heuschele, physician and surgeon, and county health officer of Nemaha county. He was born July 25, 1884, at St. Joseph, Mo., and is the son of Julius W. and Mary (Lashaway) Heuschele. They were the parents of one other child, Mrs. Tillie Castle, Andrew county, Missouri. Dr. Heuschele's father was born in September, 1861, in New York. He was employed by the Vanatta Wholesale Drug Company, St. Joseph, Mo., from 1880 to 1912. He is now retired, and is living in St. Joseph, Mo. His parents came from Germany to New York. Dr. Heuschele's mother was born in Canada in 1864, and is yet living. Dr. Heuschele attended the public and high schools at St. Jos- eph, Mo. He worked with his father in the wholesale drug house for some time and, in 1906, he entered the Ensworth Medical College, St. Joseph, Mo. He was graduated there in 1910, and became assistant physician at the State hospital, St. Joseph, eighteen months later. He later came to Corning and began his practice, and has gained a high reputation as a physician and surgeon. He was married in 191 1 to Grace E. Miller, who was born April 22, 1890, at Anna, Illiiiois. She HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 577 is the daughter of Thomas and Sarah A. (Hultz) Miller, natives of Ken- tucky and Virginia. The father was an expert accountant. Both par- ents are living. Mrs. Heuschele attended school in St. Joseph and the seminary at Keokuk, Iowa. Mr. Heuschele is a Democrat in politics. He is county health offi- cer of Nemaha county, and is performing the duties of that office with entire satisfaction. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and is well liked by his associates. He has a large and remumera- tive practice which he has built up through hard work and medical skill. John W. AndrcAvs, police judge of Corning, Kans., was born in Michigan City, Ind., October 15, 1862. He is a son of John W. and Laura (Cramm) Andrews, to whom four children were born, as follows: James, deceased; Mrs. Laura McKinnel, deceased; Charles B., twin brother of John W., was formerly sheriff of Nemaha cotmty, and was also engaged in the livery business with his brother at Corning, and now makes his home in Seneca. John W., father of Judge Andrews, was born in Pennsylvania in 1830 and, when a young man, he moved to Michigan City, Indiana, and followed his trade of tanner. He became prominent in the affairs of his adopted city, and served as postmaster of Michigan City during President Lincoln's administration. His death occurred in 1862. Mrs. J^aura Andrews, mother of John W., subject of this review, was born in Pennsylvania in 1836, and departed this life in 1898. The widow Andrews was married again, to H. B. Thomas, a contractor of Michi- gan City, who died in 1896. Judge Andrews, was educated in the Michigan City schools, and graduated from the high school of his home city. When about twenty- two years old, he came west and located in Chautauqua county, Kan- sas, where he invested in 240 acres of land, which he farmed until 1888. He made a visit back to the old home of the family in Indiana and, in 1889, came to Corning, and invested his capital in a livery business at Corning in partnership with his brother, Charles. He continued in the livery business until 1897, and was then appointed postmaster of Corning, a position which he held until December, 1914. Mr. Andrews is well-to-do, and owns property in Corning. He has been conducting a real estate and insurance business in Corning for some time, and also deals in farm loans. Pie represents the Continental, Aetna, the Capi- tal Live Stock Company insurance companies, and does an excellent business. Mr. Andrews has accomplished a great deal in his life time, and is deserving of more than ordinary credit and honor for the part he has played in the civic body, because of the fact that he has been a cripple since childhood. Judge Andrews was married, in 1899, to Kathrine Sauers, who was born in Atchison, Kans., in 1868, and is a daughter of William Sauers, who was a harness maker in the early days, and came from Atchison (37) 57^ HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY to Corning. Four children have been born of this marriage, namely: James K., St. Joseph, Mo.; Lulu, at home; Minnie, pursuing a course in nursing ; John W. Jr., at home with his parents. The Republican party has always had the allegience of Judge An- drews, and he has been generally interested in political matters. He served five years as a member of the Corning city council, and is police judge of the city. He has filled the office of justice of the peace since 1893. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is now serving as clerk of the local Woodmen, which office he has held for seventeen ypars. Elmier A. Miller is a well-known grain dealer of Corning, Kans. He has built up a large and profitable business by his straight-out policy of square dealing and small profits. He was born March 28, 1881, near Goff, Kans. He is the son of Johnson and Lettia (Way) Miller, who were the parents of nine chil- dren, all of whom are living. Mr. Miller was the eighth child. His father was born December 20, 1837, in Indiana, and was reared on the farm. In 1859, he came to Douglass county, Kansas, driving an ox team. He went to Colorado in 1863 on a prospecting trip, and again drove his yoke of oxen. He mined near Denver until 1879, when he came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought eighty acres in Harrison town- ship, paying ten dollars an acre for it. In 1899, he sold out and moved to Corning where he retired, and in 1908, he moved to Centralia, where he now lives. The mother of Elmer Miller was born in Illinois, February 14, 1840. Both parents are members of the Methodist church. Elmer Miller attended the district schools, and was graduated from Goff High School in 1898. He taught school four years in the district schools of Nemaha county. He worked in a lumber yard two years, and in 1903, went to Everest, Kans., for the same company. The fol- lowing year he became manager for this firm at Bigelow, Kans. This in itself is a most fervent testimonial to his business ability and the fact that in 1905 he bought one-half interest in the firm shows that he was in good favor. He sold out his interests in 1912, and engaged in the real estate business at Centralia, Kans., until 1914, when he came to Corning, and bought a half interest in the grain elevator with C. A. Hilbert. He is now grain buyer. In addition to his Nemaha county holdings, Mr. Miller owns 240 acres of Oklahoma land. He was married in 1909 to Lenoa G. Brown, who was born Nov- ember II, 1881, in Kentucky. She was graduated from Corning High School, and' died December 16, 1914, leaving one child, Helen, who is also dead. She was the daughter of William and Mahala (Offal) Brown. She was a cultured and much loved woman. She graduated from the Effingham School of Music, and taught in this school for seven years. Mr. Miller is a member of the Methodist church, and belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He votes the Democratic ticket. Mr. Miller is a most successful business man, and enjoys a wide HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ' 579 reputation in the vicinity of Corning. He has always been conservative in his investments, and has never squandered his money in riotous liv- ing. Mr. Miller is a man of whom the community is proud, and he, in turn, has done many good things for Corning. Whenever he gets a chance, he always turns business toward Corning, and the town owes much to him. Charles C. Townsend, farmer and stockman of Home township, was born in Ulster county. New York, February i8, 1861, and is a son of Ransom and Sarah (Schoonmaker) Townsend, who were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living. Ransom Townsend was born in Green county. New York, June 27, 1822, learned the trade of carpenter and followed it all of his long life. He migrated to Nemaha county in 1870 with his family of six children, and bought a homestead claim of eighty acres, for which he paid $160. Twenty acres of his claim was al- ready broken up and had been in cultivation. He built a house, which is still standing, although the first home of the family was a cabin built of native logs, in which they lived for two years. The sons of the family did practically all of the farming, while the father followed his trade in the surrounding country. He died February 8, 1906. The Townsend family is of English descent. The mother of Charles C. was born in Orange county, New York, November 24, 1825, and died May 10, 1914. Both Mr. and Mrs. Townsend were devout Methodists and deeply re- ligious people, who reared their children to become God-fearing men and women. Charles C. Townsend received his early education in the district schools of Ulster county, New York, and also attended the school in district No. i, in Home township. When he attained the age of twenty- five years he rented land on his own account from his father, and in 1906 he bought the home farm of 160 acres in section 14 of Home township. He has improved this place and is a breeder of Duroc Jersey swine. Mr. Townsend is a member of the Farmers Union, and is a shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company, at Centralia. Mr. Townsend was married in 1887 to Miss Kate Torrance, who has borne him the following children, namely: Mrs. Carrie Ca,mpbell, St. Joseph, Mo., who was born September i, 1888, in Illinois township, and graduated from the Centralia High School, ar,d after attending the Seneca High School for two years, she taught in Nemaha county from 1905 to 1906, and also in 1906 and 1907, and is the mother of one child, Virginia; Jennie S., born December 23, 1891, and died January 8, 1892; Charles P., born November 13, 1895, and died April 7, 1896. Mrs. Kate Townsend was born in Essex county. New York, January 16, i860, and is a daughter of Parker and Jeanette (Minor) Torrance. Her father was a butcher by trade and was born November 18, 1827, and died De- cember 21, 1900. Her mother was born in New York in 1828, and died in 1864. Mr. Townsend is a stanch Democrat, who believes thoroughly in 580 . HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY the principles of his party, and is a warm admirer of President Wilson and the Wilson policies. He is serving the people as township clerk and is ever ready to give his services in a civic capacity in behalf of his neigh- bors and friends. He and Mrs. Townsend are members of the Congre- gational Church, of which organization he is a deacon and one of the trustees. They contribute very liberally to their church, and are active workers in Congregational church circles. David Fvink, president of the State Bank of Oneida, and prosperous agriculturist of Oilman township, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, September 30, 1844, and was reared on his father's farm. When nineteen years of age, he enlisted for the Union service in Company F, One Hun- dred Fifty-first Ohio infantry, and served for four months. His reg- iment was one of the one hundred day organizations formed in Ohio at that time. He remained in Putnam county until 1868, and then decided to try his fortunes in the West. He came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought eighty acres of land, two acres of which had been broken up and placed in cultivation, and the improvements on the place consisted of a log cabin. Mr. Funk set to work and built a two room frame house, more in keeping with his ideas of a home to which he added in 1873 another room, later adding another room in 1880. The first crops he raised on the place were good yields of oats and corn, and he was soon able to add another "eighty" to his holdings, in 1883. Two years later, he bought another eighty acres, and at the present time, is the owner of a fine farm of 257 acres, upon which are located two good farm houses, one of which is a seven room residence, (his own home), arid the other, (his son's home), consists of nine rooms erected in 1891. In 1910 Mr. Funk exchanged homes with his son, and since that time his son has managed the farm on the shares system. In addition to his land holdings, Mr. Funk has considerable banking interests, and is president and a director of the State Bank of Oneida, a thriving financial concern with which he became connected in 1894, and was elected to the presidency of the same in 1906. The parents of David Funk were Henry and Elizabeth (Hampshire) Funk. Henry Funk was born in Virginia in 1809, and died in Ohio in 1884. For over a half century, he owned and operated a farm in Putnam county, Ohio, which he cleared from the dense wilderness. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Pennsylvania in 1817, and departed this life, Jan- uary 31, 1908. When her husband died, she came to Kansas in 1887, and lived in Oneida until 1903, and then made her home with her son, David, until her demise. Six children were born to Henry and Elizabeth Funk, as follows : Samuel, a carpenter living at Sioux City, Neb. ; John, a farmer of Oilman township; David, the subject of this review; Abraham, carpenter and contractor, Kelly, Kans. ; Henry, a painter at Beaver Dam, Ohio ; a daughter died in infancy. David Funk was married in 1862 to Sarah L. Ouffy of Putnam county, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with the following chil- HISTORY OF NEMAPIA COUNTY 581 dren : Henry, deceased ; Frank, Portland, Ore., city salesman for a large wholesale house; Esther; Molly; May; Flora, deceased; Carl, Portland, Ore., grocer; Ralph, a practicing physician at Powhattan, Kans. ; Ches- ter, at home and managing the parental farm ; Mrs. Lottie Wenger, Price, Kans. The mother of these children was born September 7, 1844, and at the age of twelve years, began working out as domestic at from twenty- five cents to $1 per week until marriage. She is a daughter of Aquilla and Jerusha Ann (Ford) Guffy, the former of whom was born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1816, and died April 4, 1862. The mother of Mrs. Funk was born in Warren county, Ohio, June 2, 1821, and departed this life, December 12, 1912, in Kansas, whither she came in 1865, after her hus- band's demise. Previous to his demise, Mr. Guffy, in i860, had invested in 800 acres of land in Nemaha county, and had planned to make a home near Oneida, but death intervened. Mrs. Guffy remained in Kansas for about ten years, and then returned to Ohio, sold her Kansas land and married Michael Weaver, who died seventeen years later. After Mr. Weaver's demise, she again came to Kansas and made her home with her children until her demise. There were seven children in the Guffy family, as follows : Joseph, an invalid for the past seven years, Seneca, Kans.; Nancy Jane, deceased; Phoebe Ann Burke, Oneida, Kans.; Sarah L., wife of the subject of this review ; John, deceased ; Mary M. (Shaffer) Largent, Ontario, Canada, and Rosa, deceased. Mr. Funk is a Republican in politics and has taken an active part in the civic affairs of his township and county. Early in the eighties he served as township trustee, and for the past four years he has filled the office of township treasurer. Mrs. Funk has been a member of the Christian church since 1858 and is an active worker in the affairs of the church. David Funk is a loyal Kansan who will go down in history as one of the sturdy and successful pioneers of a great county and state ; he is proud of the fact that he was a pioneer settler of Nemaha county, and the county is proud of him and his kind, who are the backbone and sinew of the civic body, and one of the good old American stock who have been pioneers and blazed the path of empire from the Atlantic coast to the far West through successive generations. It is a matter of note that Mr. and Mrs. Funk were rocked in the same cradle, the paternal homes of each being within sight of each other, in Putnam county, Ohio. Peter T. Casey. — The late Peter T. Casey, of Corning, Kans., was born in the province of Nova Scotia, Dominion of Canada, June 23, 1844, and was a son of John and Margaret fTulloch) Casey, who were the parents of ten children, two of whom survive, and of whom Mr. Casey was the third in order of birth. John Casey, his father, was born in Nova Scotia in 1813, and was a blacksmith by trade. In fact, for generations, the members of the Casey family have been smiths and were of sturdy, honest and industrious stock. John Casey never ven- tured beyond the borders of his native land of Acadia, and departed this life December 21, 1884. Peter T. Casey's mother was born in 582 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Nova Scotia in 1817. In the year following- her husband's death, she left her old home in the Dominion, and made the long journey to Corn- ing, where she remained and was cared for by her son until her death, November 7, 1890. Mr. Casey spent his boyhood in attending school in his native land and early learned to swing a hammer and sledge in his father's smithy. He grew up sturdy, strong and ambitious. The spirit of adventure and longing to come to the States obsessed him when he arrived at man's estate, and he made his way to Atchison, Kans., in 1867. He remained in this city four years and plied his trade with profit, saving during his four years of labor a sum of $600, which was sufficient to make a pay- ment upon a tract of farm land, which it was his ambition to own. In 1870, he came to Nemaha county and purchased a homestead of eighty acres for $1,500. This land is located in section 26, and was probably the site of the first blacksmith shop in Illinois township. Mr. Casey erected a smithy on his farm and soon had all the trade he could possibly manage and his services as a skilled blacksmith were in great demand by the settlers, who were coming into the township in ever increasing numbers. In fact, the Casey shop served the farmers of southern Ne- maha county from far and near, and he prospered. He sold his farm in 1871, and located in Corning at a time when the embryo village was but a trading point, with only one general store. Six years later he again went to the farm and remained on his farm until 1887. In that year he started a general store in the growing town and achieved a large measure of success, building up a considerable trade, which required that he carry over $6,000 worth of goods in stock. In 1889 he traded his store for the present beautiful home of the family and engaged in the banking busi- ness. He organized a company, which formed the Farmers State Bank of Corning, and filled the post of cashier of the bank for nine years. At the expiration of this period he again resumed his mercantile business, but sold out his store in 1900 to George Leuck & Company and retired from active business pursuits, well content with what he had accom- plished. At the time of his demise he owned stock in the Farmers State Bank and also owned 480 acres of farm land in Red Vermillion township, and possessed real estate in Corning. Mr. Casey was married in 1873 to Miss Maria O. Swan, and five children were born to this marriage, as follows : Lela, deceased, wife of of L. S. Slocum ; Nellie, deceased ; Mrs. Jennie Keith, living in New Mexico ; Mrs. Mabel Baker, Corning, Ivans. ; Alfred, farming near Corn- ing, Kans. ; Mrs. Jennie Keith is a talented artist, who has done con- siderable artistic work in oil. Mrs. Maria O. Casey was born at Bremen, Cook county, Illinois, November 15, 1854, and is a daughter of Alfred and Frances (Church) Swan, natives of New York. Her father was killed while serving as a volunteer in the Union army during the Civil war, and Mrs. Casey's mother died soon after his death. The orphaned daughter then came to Nemaha county, Kansas, when twelve years old. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 583 and was reared in the home of her uncle, Frank Church, who gave her the advantages of a good education. She taught two terms of school in Nemaha county previous to her marriage with Mr. Casey. Mr. Casey was a member of the Presbyterian church and was a liberal giver to religious needs. He was affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights and Ladies of Security. The Republican political party gener- ally had his allegiance and support and he filled the post of trustee of his township and also served as a member of the city council of Corning. The death of this successful and highly esteemed citizen occurred on April 24, 1916, and was the result of an accident. Even in his later years it was Mr. Casey's wont to look after his farming interests in person, and he spent much of his time doing work in order to keep his mind and body in action. On the date mentioned above he was engaged in hauling fence posts to his farm, and the team which he was driving probably started while Mr. Casey was standing in the rear part of the wagon. The sudden jerk of the horses starting at a gallop is thought to have thrown him to the ground backward and death resulted from the injuries received. His body was found lifeless in the field. Peter T. Casey will long be remembered as a valued citizen of Corning and one of the real pioneers of Nemaha county, whose name is indelibly linked for all time to come with the building aiijid development of a rich and fertile section of Kansas. Clarkson A. Hilbert, grain dealer and farmer of Corning, Kans., is a member of one of the first pioneer families of Nemaha county, and has spent nearly his whole life within the borders of the county. The story of his career is an epitome of successful endeavor, and he has suc- ceeded at all of his undertakings. Mr. Hilbert was born in Atchison, Kans., October 17, 1869, and is a son of Henry and Eliza (Conard) Hilbert. Henry Hilbert, his father, was born on a farm in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1844, and is a son of John and Sarah Hil- bert. John Hilbert, his father, was a miner by occupation, and died in 1844, when Henry was an infant. Henry Hilbert was reared on the family farm and, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted at Lion Lex, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in Company H, One Hundred Thirty-eight Pennsylvania infantry, and fought in his first engage- ment at Brandy Station, Va., and was in the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. He was taken prisoner by Confederates at or near Balti- more, Md., and was first interred in the prison camp at Danville, Va., from which point he was transferred to the notorious Libby prison. He remained in Libby prison for seven months and eleven days until his release. He was mustered out of the service in 1865, when the war' was ended. In 1867, he went to Elkhart, Ind., and was employed in grubbing land and cradling wheat during his first season. In those days, the wheat was mowed with a scythe and cradle, and all hay and 584 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY grass was mowed laboriously by hand. In 1869, he went to Atchison, Kans., and farmed near that city for one year, and then homeseated a quarter section of land in section 30, Harrison township, Nemaha county. He built a small home 14x20 feet in size with a height of ten feet. This home was built of concrete, and was one of the first build- ings of the kind, to be erected on the prairies, and the fifth house to be built in Harrison township. It is recalled that Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert gathered up pebbles and small stones from the prairie in an old wash boiler, and they carried water for the concrete mixing a distance of ninety feet. Building a home in this manner was very slow and hard work, but they eventually got the job done, and were proud of their new hom'e. In the course of time, they enlarged the original small dwelling to one of comfortable proportions. During their first year on the farm, their stock of provisions were only fifty pounds of flour and fifty cents worth of sugar, which they used only on state occasions, when they had company for meals. During those first years, Mrs. Hil- bert became discouraged and cried because of the fact that their main provender for months and months was corn bread. One occasion when she was crying bitterly over their hard lot, Henry said to his wife, "Mother, let us go back East." This suggestion aroused her pride and latent spirit, and she replied spiritedly,' "No, we came here to make a home, and here we stay." That was the true spirit of the pioneer men and women of Kansas, which enabled them to endure privations, pov- erty and hardships, and meant, in time, the winning of the great West. For the first four years of his residence in Kansas, Henry Hilbert never knew the luxury of a pair of leather shoes. He and his devoted wife were married in 1868. Mrs. Eliza Conard Hilbert was born in Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1845. The following children blessed this happy union, as follows : Clarkson A., subject of this re- view ; Mrs. Margaret Conard, living in Illinois township ; Isaac, died at the age of fourteen ; William, a well known breeder of Belgian horses of Harrison township ; John, living in California ; Robert, a farmer of Illinois township ; Joseph, deceased. Henry Hilbert retired from the farm in 1908, and is now living a retired life in Corning. He is one of the charter members of the Corn- ing Grand Army post, and is universally esteemed as an excellent citi- zen. Clarkson A. Hilbert was reared to young manhood on the pioneer farm in Harrison township, and attended the Harris district school. When seventeen years old, he entered Lecompton University, Kansas, located in Douglas county, and studied in that institution for three terms, studying bookkeeping and kindred subjects. He then worked out as a farm hand for one year prior to renting a farm in December, 1892. He rented land for six years in section 13 of Illinois township, and was enabled to buy the tract in 1898. This farm is well improved, and is located about three miles north of Corning. When Mr. Hilbert HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 585 became the owner, he built a new home of eight rooms, erected a large barn forty feet square and practically rebuilt all of the fencing, which was in a delapidated state. He built his barn in 1904, and completed his residence in 1905. The Hilbert farm comprises 220 acres of land in a high state of cultivation. In March of 191 5, Mr. Hilbert engaged in the grain business at Corning in partnership with E. A. Miller. Clarkson A. Hilbert was married December 22, 1892, to Miss Nettie J. Kline, born February 22, 1873, in Perry county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob L. and Mary E. (Crow) Kline, natives of Penn- sylvania, who immigrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1882, and made a settlement in Illinois township. Mrs. Hilbert attended Pleasant Ridge school, district No. 17. Jacob L. Kline, her father, was born June II, 1836, in Prairie county, Pennsylvania, and died June 5, 1915. His demise occurred in the Hilbert home, resulting from, illness which came upon him, in western Kansas, near Garden City, whither he had gone to homestead a tract of government land. He was married to Mary E. Crow, May 14, 1871. They were the parents of two children, namely: Mrs. Nettie J. Hilbert, and George A., born September 14, 1875, 3- resident of Kansas City, Mo. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson Hilbert, namely: Mary E., a teacher in the Nemaha county schools ; Floyd O., the first born, is deceased ; Cur- tis C, graduate of the Corning High School; Urbin R., deceased; Lester and Gertrude E. Mr. Hilbert is allied with the Republican part)', and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. For the past eighteen years, he has been a member of the district school board. Mr. and Mrs. Hil- bert are members of the United Brethren and the Methodist churches, respectively. Edward S. Vernon, retired pioneer and Union veteran of Corning, Kans., has fought bravely in two great struggles during his long life, the first of which was in defense of the Union, where he offered his life and faithful service in behalf of his country on the bloody battlefields of the Southland ; the second was the equally brave fight which he and his young wife waged on the Nemaha county prairies in the creation of a home in order that they might rear their family in comfort and have a competence in their decling years. They won — inasmuch as they were made of the material which is inherent in the American pioneers. After years of industry and honest striving to make a beautiful country home and a fruitful farm on the prairie, they are enabled to live in peaceful retirement in their comfortable home near the school grounds, where daily they take enjoyment from the happy play of the childr.en of their friends and neighbors. Edward S. Vernon was born near Zanesville, Ohio, November 13, 1842, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Spry) Vernon, to whom four children were born, one of whom, John W., recently died in Corn- ing; the second was Mrs. Eliza J. Woolard, deceased; William A., Osceola, Iowa, and Edward S., subject of this review. 586 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Samuel Vernon, his father, ^^as born on a farm in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 12, 1810, and was a son of John and Elizabeth (Bowers) Vernon, the former of whom was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, born January 11, 1788, and died July 31, 1866. Mrs. Eliza- beth Vernon, grandmother of Edward S., was born November 24, 1790, and died April 25, 1880. It will thus be seen that Mr. Vernon is de- scended from pure American ancestry. Edward S. Vernon was reared amid the rugged hills of his native county in Ohio and received his elemefitary schooling in a log school house, which he attended until the call came from President T^incoln for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States. He enlisted December 18, 1861, in Company F, Seventy-eighth Ohio in- fantry. Upon its formation the regiment was sent immediately to Fort Donelson, Tenn., and later the young soldier received his first baptism of fire at the great battle of Shiloh. The fighting from then on was continuous, and he fought in all of the fierce engagements around Vicksburg until the surrender of the city by General Pemberton with 30,000 Confederates. July 22, 1864, his command witnessed and took part in the fall of Atlanta, and he accompanied General Sherman's grand army in its victorious march from Atlanta to the sea, marching afoot all the way. He received his honorable discharge from the service July II, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. At the close of liis service he was sergeant of his company. He was appointed corporal March i, 1863, and was appointed sergeant July 23, 1864. He at once returned home, and after farming with his father for a year, he rented a farm in the home neighborhood for three years. He then listened to the call of the great West for settlers to assist in the building up of a new domain as part of the United States, and he decided to come to Kansas in search of a permanent home. He and Mrs. Vernon came by train as far as Topeka, and then drove overland to the site of his homestead in section 32, Illinois township. His first house was a story and a half building, 16x24 feet in size. During 1875 a school session of three months was held in this then pretentious home, probably because it was larger than the average pioneer home. In the course of time Mr. and Mrs. Vernon prospered and added to their possessions until they owned 240 acres of land, which Mr. Vernon cultivated until 1897, and then retired to a home in Corning. Mr. Vernon was married in 1866 to Miss Martha Stiers, who was born September 22, 1846, at Adamsville, Ohio, and is a daughter of John W. and Cornelia (Bagley) Stiers. Five childreii have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon, as follows : Samuel W., a ranchman at Delta, Colo. ; Frank W., Olathe, Colo. ; Newton L., farming the Vernon home place in Illinois township; Mrs. Mae Maneval, Corning; Edward G., Law- rence, Kans. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Vernon is a stanch Republican,' who has taken an active part in civic HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 587 and political affairs in his township and county. He filled the post of trustee of Illinois township, and served as a member of the school board of district No. 66 for twenty-one years, and was a member of the Corning school board for three years. He still takes an active interest in county affairs, and is usually found in the forefront of all matters tending to advance the interests of his home county and adopted State, which he has assisted so materially in making. He is greatly interested in the Grand Army of the Republic and is a valued and influential member of this once mighty organization. He was appointed commander of the Corning Grand Army Post in 1883, and filled this honorable position for eighteen years in all. Frecey A. Clark, manager of the Corning Telephone Company, and owner and manager of the Electric theatre at Corning, is among the most progressive business men of the community. He is making a suc- cess of this business enterprise and is only waiting for bigger fields to open up before expanding his interests. Mr. Clark was born November 25, 1889, in Harrison township, near Kelly, Kans. He is a son of James and Sarah B. (Shaffer) Clark. An- other son, Bert, is deceased. James Clark was born near Seneca, Kans., in 1867. He farmed practically all of his life prior to 1901. For two years he managed the hotel in Corning. Then he worked iri the cream- ery and also for the Lueck General Merchandise Company. He is now employed by the Brown-Smith general merchandise store, of Corning, and is constable of Illinois township. Mr. Clark is a Republican in pol- itics. The mother of Frecey Clark was born in Iowa. Frecey Clark attended district school in Oklahoma and public school in Corning. He began working for the telephone company in 1907, and in 1913 was promoted to the managership. This rise speaks for itself concerning Mr. Clark's future and his ability. He opened a motion picture theatre in 191 5, which is showing two pictures a week. He was married May 11, 1913, to Dottie Allen, daughter of Erve and Elizabeth (Wion) Allen. She was born near Corning, Kans., September 29, 1890. Her parents were early settlers, who still live on their farm in Illinois township. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark. They live in an excellent modern home in Corning and are among the most promising young people of the town. Leonard M. Shaefer, a leading farmer and stockman of Home town- ship, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born in Ulster county, New York, July 4, 1865. His parents were Adam and Wilhelmina (Smith) Shaefer, to whom were born five sons and a daughter. Adam Shaefer, his father, was born in Germany in 1827, and left his native land when twenty- seven years old, in 1854. On the same ship on which he sailed was his intended wife. He settled in New York and worked in a glass factory at Ellenville, N. Y., until 1871. He took his savings in that year and came West for the purpose of making a home for himself and his family on the prairies of Nemaha county, Kansas. ' He made a settlement on sec- 588 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY tion 26, in Home township, and paid $7 an acre for land, which has since increased in value many times. The first home of the Shaefers was a small affair, 16x20 feet in dimensions, \ Holtz took place in Ger- many, and after her immigration to this country she was widowed and married Mr. Herbstreith in Illinois. There were three children in the Herbstreith family, as follows : Mrs. Christina (Schumaker) Quinn, living at Wathena; August, Oneida, Kans., and Mrs. Hubert Clemens. Mrs. Herbstreith makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Clemens. Mr. Clemens is an independent voter who is not allied with any political party and votes as his intelligence and comprehension dic- tates and allows no man to tell him how he should vote or which can- didate he should support. He is, therefore, a member of that vast and growing number of American citizens who are not held by the party yoke and do not listen to the dictates of the political bosses and through v/hom this country is destined to have a better and more representative government in the years to come. Even during the present political campaign the great independent vote is a factor with which the feaders are reckoning and which will turn the tide in favor of the fortunate candidate. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Reuben Elbert Mather. — The Mather stock farm located in section 20, Illinois township, is widely known for the fine live stock, which is produced thereon. The proprietor of this farm, Reuben Elbert Mather, has made a reputation for himself in Kansas as a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle, Duroc Jersey swine and high grade horses. He also spec- ializes in Angora goats. Mr. Mather takes great pride in his fine live stock, and has exhibited the product of his skill very frequently with suc- cess at the county fairs and stock exhibits. Reuben Elbert Mather was born in Will county, Illinois, November 16, 1878, and is a son of Edward and Henrietta (Ballau) Mather, who were the parents of four children, as follows : Reuben Elbert, eldest of 664 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY the family and subject of this review; Mrs. Alice Miller, widow living at Centralia, Kans. ; James I., a farmer of Illinois township ; Minerva, de- ceased. Edward Mather, the father, was born in New York, August ii, 1848, and came to Illinois with his parents when a boy. When the Civil war broke out, he enlisted in 1862 as a membfer of a company forming part of an Illinois regiment of volunteers, and fought at the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg. Much of his service was devoted to scout and outpost duty, and he served until the close of the war. He was well- to-do and a son of wealthy parents, which enabled him to make a trip to Kansas in 1869, and invest in an entire section of land. He removed his family to this tract in Illinois township, Nemaha county, in 1887, at which time he bought morp land and accumulated a total of 1,280 acres, which he has since divided among his children. His main object in in- vesting in such a large tract of land was to provide homes and farms for his children, as they grew up and started out in life for themselves. Dur- ing his second trip to Kansas, he made a stay of some years, and im- proved his home farm with substantial buildings and fencing and placed the land in cultivation. Two years after his second trip here, his first wife died, and he returned to Illinois for a time, but came again for a permanent stay and engaged in the grain and lumber business at Cen- tralia. Five years later he was married to Cordelia Royce, a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Mather now reside at Centralia. Reuben Elbert Mather was educated in the Centralia schools, and also attended Baldwin University. He has always been a farmer, and was reared to the life of a farmer. Mr. Mather is owner of 320 acres of land, which is considered to be one of the best improved stock farms in Nemaha county. He is a believer in the advantages of having live stock of the purest strains on his farm, and is convinced that it does not pay to keep inferior breeds of cattle or horses on the place. Mr. Mather prides himself rightly on his fine live stock, and has become a specialist in breeding Aberdeen Angus cattle and Duroc Jersey swine, which have been exhibited with success at the county fairs and stock shows. As a diversion he breeds Angora goats. Mr. Mather was married, in 1891, to Miss Estella Hailey, who has borne him six children, as follows : George E., a farmer living near York, Neb. ; Ray A., a resident of Idaho ; Ruth E., at home with her par- ents and who is a graduate of the Centralia High School, and has been a teacher in the public schools ; Nettie, died in infancy; May M., and Clara W., at home. Mrs. Estella Mather was born in Henry county, Illinois, May 3, 1871, and is a daughter of William and Lucretia (Barnes) Hailey, natives of Illinois, who made a settlement in Nemaha county in 1887. Mrs. Mather is a graduate of the Centralia schools, and taught in the public schools for three terms. Mr. Mather is a Democrat politically, and has filled the post of clerk of Illinois township. He is a member of the Congregational church, and takes a decided interest in religious and Sunday school work, being at HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 665 the present time the assistant superintendent of the Congregational Sun- day school at Centralia. He is affiliated fraternally with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. William H. Briggs, farmer and stockman, and owner of 120 acres in Oilman township, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, February 15, i860, and is a son of Isaac and Sarah I. (Courtney) Briggs. Isaac Briggs, his father, was born in West Virginia, in 1832, and in 1853 migrated to Illinois; worked as farm hand for a time, rented land, and in 1872 bought an eighty-acre farm where he resided until his im- migration to Kansas in 1880. He bought a half section of land in section 20, Oilman township, Nemaha county, farmed it until 1888, then rented his land and moved to Seneca for one year, returning to the farm in 1889 for another four years, after which he engaged in the lumber bus- iness at Oneida, a business which he followed until his demise in 1898. Sarah I, wife of Isaac Briggs, was born in Ohio, September 8, 1836, and !ier marriage with Mr. Briggs occurred in August, 1855. Nine children were born of this marriage, namely: Jennie,, deceased; AVilliam H., sub- ject of this review; John, in the lumber business in Summerfield, Kans., has seven children ; Mrs. Cora Oilmore, on a farm near Oneida ; James, lumberman at Emporia, Kans. ; Harry, lumberman at Bunker Hill, Kans. ; Mrs. Dora Hanson, Sabetha, Kans. ; Mary and Charles, dead ; Cora, has three children ; James, has three ; Harry, seven, and Dora is the mother of one child. Mrs. Isaac Briggs was a genuine old-fashioned mother, who in her younger days operated a spinning wheel and wove all the homespun which she used in making the clothing of her children. She died April 5, 1916. After the Briggs family located in Kansas, William H. assisted his father for one year and then rented fifty acres from his father on shares and lived at home for five years, and was then enabled to buy eighty acres from his father. He lived on the home place for another five years, and in 1888 he built a four-room cottage for himself and a barn, 28x24 feet in size, together with a granary and buggy shed, and lived on his own land for six years. In 1894 he rented out his land and bought his present farm of 120 acres. One year later he sold his eighty-acre tract, and in 1898 he erected a comfortable seven- room farm dwelling, and has a frame barn, 36x40 feet, erected in 1907. Mr. Briggs keeps about twenty head of cattle, six horses, and seventy- five head of hogs and feeds all of his grain to live stock on his place, often buying feed for his stock. For the past twenty years Mr. Briggs has sold no grain from his farm and consequently his acreage is kept up to a high standard of fertility. William H. Briggs was married to Alice Meisenheimer, February 15, 1888, and this marriage has resulted in the birth of three children, as follows : Mrs. Erma Benedict, on a farm near Oneida, mother of two children, Mildred G. and Donna; Mrs. Edna Butz, on a farm in Rock Creek township, has one child, lone ; Alfred, student at Baker Univer- 666 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY sity, Baldwin, Kans. The mother of these children was born in Clay county, Illinois, December 14, 1859, and was left an orphan by the death of her parents in 1867. She was then reared by Mr. and Mrs. William Price, of Flora, 111., and lived with them until she came to Kansas in 1882 to reside with her sister, and later worked as domestic in the home of Mrs. Cyrus Shinn until her marriage in 1888. She departed this life in 1910. The second marriage of William H. Briggs occurred August 6, 1914, with Zannah Todd, born December 23, 1863, in Ohio, and a daughter of William and Rosa Todd. Her father, William Todd, was born in England in 1813 and immigrated to this country when a young man and settled in Ohio where he followed agricultural pursuits, dying on his farm in 1890. His wife, Rebecca, was born in England, and died in Ohio, aged sixty-two years. There were ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Todd, as follows : John, a teacher in Texas ; Elizabeth ; Sarah ; James ; Lydia ; Joseph, deceased ; George, a carpenter at East Liverpool, Ohio ; Vance, deceased ; Zannah, wife of Mr. Briggs ; Mrs. Nancy Peters, Lawnsdale, Colo. Mrs. Briggs was reared on her fathers farm in Ohio, and started to complete a high school course, but later her health failing, she visited a relative in Iowa for eighteen months, and upon her return to Ohio she lived with a sick aunt for one and a half years and after a short period at her parents' home she went west to Nebraska and lived with her sister until 1910. She then went to Emporia, Kans., and re- sided with a sister and followed nursing. Coming to Oneida in 1912, she nursed Mrs. Sarah Briggs through a serious illness and was married to Mr. Briggs in 1914. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Briggs is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has filled the post of superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday scjiool at Oneida for the past fourteen years. He is a Republican in pol- itics but has never sought office or political preferment. Ai M. Butz, proprietor of 220 acres of well improved farm lands in Oilman township, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 9, 1862, and is a son of Augustus and Sarah (Herley) Butz. Augustus Butz was born in German in 1832, and immigrated to America when a young man, and settled in Clinton county, Ohio, where he farmed until his enlistment in the Eighth Ohio infantry for service in the Union army during the re- bellion of the Southern States. He died March 8, 1862, in Missouri, after taking part in the campaign against General Price's army and having been placed on the invalid list on account of disease contracted while on the march. His wife, Sarah, born March 3, 1842, was left with three chil- dren, as follows : Mrs. Mary McConkey, Red Cloud, Neb. ; Mrs. Minerva Boice, Coyles, Neb. ; Ai, subject of this review. In 1863, the widow mar- ried Andrew Scouten, and two years later the family moved to Kansas. Mr. Scouten was born in Illinois in 1832, and died in Red Cloud, Neb., in 1900. His first location in Kansas was in Brown county, near Hiawatha, and some time later, he and A. M. Butz bought a quarter section near Oneida, which they farmed together for four years. In 1886 they sold out, and Mr. Scouten moved to Nebraska, 1 where his death occurred in HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 667 1900. Seven children were born to this marriage of Sarah Butz and Andrew Scouten, as follows : Elias, a minister and farmer living at Folk, Ark. ; Mrs. Emma Birt, wife of a carpenter and contractor at To- peka, Kans.; Edward and Fred, farming in Humboldt county, Nebraska; Louis and Lottie, dead. The mother of this fine family is now living with her daughter in Topeka. A. M. Butz was three years of age when his parents came to Kansas, and he remained at home until 1883, at which time he and his stepfather bought 160 acres of land near Oneida in partnership. After they dis- posed of this farm in 1887, he rented eighty acres of land in Marshall county, Kansas, for two years, and in 1888, he bought eighty acres in Oilman township, Nemaha county, which was poorly improved with a small box house 14x18 feet and a straw shed. In 1893, he built an addi- tion to his home and, in the following spring, added another room. In 1894, he built a large poultry house 14x22 feet, and a corn crib 16x18 feet, with a shed. In .1903, he enlarged his residence to a seven room struc- ture. Mr. Butz was an extensive hog and cattle raiser until six years ago, when he abandoned stock raising on account of the hazard attached to it, having lost thirty-four hogs at one time, and twenty-five head at another period. His bad luck with live stock became proverbial with him, and he lost cattle, hogs and horses. His 220 acres are all in cultiva- tion, and he has 150 fine fruit trees. He has three large barns on the place, one of which is 34x38 feet in size and the two others, 28x40 feet. Mr. Butz was married July 7, 1886, to Mary D. Ott, a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Fisher) Ott. Henry Ott, her father, was born in Germany, in 1833 and when twenty-five years old, immigrated to Illinois and later came to Kansas, and farmed in Nemaha county until his death in 1883. His wife, Minnie, was born in Germany in 1833, and accom- panied her husband to America, dying in Kansas in 1908. There were eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ott, as follows: John, Oklahoma; Louis, Illinois ; Henry, Oklahoma ; Sophia, deceased ; William, in cream- ery business, Seneca; Mrs. Minnie Carter, Hiawatha, Kans.; Fred, de- ceased ; Charles, Sabetha, Kans. ; Crist, deceased ; Bert, a barber at Kan- sas City, Mo.; Mary, wife of A. M. Butz. Mrs. Mary Butz was born in Illinois in 1866, and came to Kansas with her parents when one year old. She remained at home with her parents until her marriage. Mrs. Butz is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security. Mr. and Mrs. Butz are the parents of eight children, namely : Mrs. Grace Edwards, on a farm near McNeely, S. D. ; Ira, a bridge builder of Lawrence, Kans. ; Ernest, em- ployed on a farm near Sabetha ; Alvin, a farmer, Sabetha, Kans. ; Effie, a student in Emporia, Kans., Normal College; Ralph, in Sabetha High School; Glenn and Fern, at home. Mrs. Edwards has one child, Erma. Alvin is the father of a daughter, lone. Ira Butz is sergeant, U. S. A., on duty at the Mexican border. Mr. Butz is a Republican who has taken a prominent and active part 668 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in civic and political affairs in Nemaha county; served as trustee of Gil- man township from 1908 to 1910; and, for twenty years, he was a member of the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security. James E. Funk, farmer of Oilman township, was born in Nemaha count}-, Kansas, April 30, 1872, and is a son of John N. Funk, whose biography aj)pears in this volume. James E. Funk was reared to man- hood on the farm which adjoins his own place, received a district school education, and attended the Oneida schools. He assisted his father on the home place until he attained his majority and then rented seventy acres from his father, which he worked on shares until 1899, when he and his brother, Fred, rented the home place of 320 acres on shares. In 1900 he bought eighty-six acres just across the highway from his father's home place and rented it to a tenant for two years previous to making his home thereon in 1905. In that year he erected a seven-room frame house and a barn, 28x36 feet in size, and a double corn crib, etc., and has since made his home on the place. Mr. Funk has a nice two- acre orchard and specializes in Buff Orpington poultry, having about 150 on the place. Mr. Funk was married November 8, 1905, to Jennie L. Marvin, a daughter of George and Louise (Neyhart) Marvin. George Marvin, her father, was born in New Jersey, September 8, 1844, and was reared in a country tavern which his parents operated on the highway between Bartonville and Stroudsburg, Penn. He became a teacher and followed this profession for ten years and' then came to Seneca, Kans., where he engaged in the manufacture of barbed wire fencing, calf weaners and bed springs, in partnership with his brother, Philip. They finally dis- posed of their plant to a corporation or syndicate trust and he engaged in the general merchandise business until 1908. Old age coming on and his health failing, Mr. Marvin sold out his business and is now living a retired life in Seneca. He has held office in Pennsylvania, and Seneca, Kans., served as police judge for Seneca for two terms and declined to serve for a third term. Since boyhood, Mr. Marvin has been a member of the Methodist church and is a trustee of the Seneca Methodist Episcopal Church. For twenty-five years he was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and carries an honorary medal given for a quarter of a century's membership and for having filled all offices in the order. Mr. Marvin is a Democrat. Louise, his wife, was born in Pennsylvania, October 14, 1846, and was twenty years old when she and Mr. Marvin were married. The Marvins came to Kan- sas in 1880. They have reared four children, as follows: Frank, mer- chant of Blue Rapids, Kans., married Eva Michaels, of Ohio; Mrs. Ida Dutton, Blue Rapids, Kans., mother of three children, Frank, Ethel and Ora; Allen, a jeweler at Blue Rapids, Kans., has four children, Erma, Louis, Albert and Alice, deceased ; Allen married Mary Rodgers, grand- daughter of A. W. Slater, a pioneer of Centralia, Kans. ; Jennie, wife of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 669 James E. Funk, born at Stroudsburg, Pa-., October 2, 1878, graduated from Seneca High School and the Nemaha Commercial College, and assisted her father in the store until her marriage with Mr. Funk. Mr. and Mrs. Funk have one child, Omer Marvin Funk, born November 26, 1912. Mr. Funk is a Republican in politics, and attends church with Mrs. Funk, who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Seneca. Samuel F. Johnson. — The Johnson farm of 359 acres in Oilman township is one of the finest and best improved in northern Kansas, and is famed throughout this section of Kansas for the fine thoroughbred Aberdeen Angus cattle, which are bred by Mr. Johnson, who maintains a herd of fifty high grade stock at all times. He keeps about twelve head of Morgan horses, which are kept in first class condition. The fine poul- try are the pride of the place, and Mrs. Johnson keeps 150 pure bred •Barred Rock poultry, carefully housed and tended, which add no small amount to the income of this excellent agricultural plant. The Johnson tract of 359 acres of fine rolling land is all in cultivation excepting eighty acres of pasture. Mr. Johnson has thirty-eight acres of alfalfa, two acres of orchard and ten acres of virgin prairie grass. The Johnson residence is a pretentious nine room affair equipped with lighting system and mod- ern throughout, supplemented with three barns, 32x36 feet, 30x42 feet and 32x64 feet in dimensions, modernly equipped with two litter carriers. The hog house is 20x64 feet in size and shelters 100 head of Duroc Jersey swine. Mr. Johnson has been building up his fine farm for thirty-two years, and is justly entitled to feel proud of his accomplishments. Speaking in a biographical sense, Samuel F. Johnson was born May 25, 1863, in Nemaha county, within one and a half miles of his present home, and is a son of George W. and Marcella (Linn) Johnson, natives of Indiana and Illinois respectively. George W. Johnson, his father, was born in LaPorte county, Indiana, December 23, 1840, and is a son of George Johnson. He came to Kansas with his parents when eighteen years of age (1858), and is one of the first real settlers of Nemaha county. In 1904, Mr. Johnson left his farm and retired to a home in Sen- eca. He is comfortably situated in Seneca, and owns four residence properties, which yield him a good income. He is a Republican in poli- tics, is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and attends the Methodist Episcopal church. George W. Johnson was married in 1862 to Marcella Linn, born in 185 1, in Illinois, came to Kansas with her parents in 1858, and died June 4, 1874. Four children were born to this union, as follows : Samuel F., with whom this review is concerned ; David Linn, a Nemaha county farmer ; Mrs. Ollie M. Turner, Sabetha, Kans. ; Grace G., who married Harry Felts, a son of ex-Lieutenant Governor Felts, and resides at Washington, D. C. In 1878, Mr. Johnson married Nono Storm, who was born in Indiana in 1862, and has borne him one child, namely: Mrs Ethel Gaston, of Seneca, Kans. 670 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Samuel F. Johnson bought his farm when it was raw, unimproved prairie land and plowed the first furrow in the virgin soil on June 4, 1884, and has, by dint of hard labor, good management and intelligent applica- tion of the best principles of intensive agriculture, brought the land up to a high state of cultivation. All of the improvements on the farm have been placed at his direction and expense. The marriage of Samuel F. Johnson and Mary L. Brokaw occurred November 30, 1887, 3-i^d has been blessed with three children, namely: Melvin O., a druggist at Sabetha, Kans. ; Alvin R., associated with his brother in the drug store ; Virgil G., student in Kansas State University. Mrs. Mary L. (Brokaw) Johnson was born February 5, 1867, and is a daughter of John P. and Letitia (Van Nuys) Brokaw, the former of whom was born 'in New Jerse)^ November 24, 1833, a son of Abraham I. and Cornelia (Polhemus) Brokaw, natives of New Jersey. Abraham Brokaw was born October 11, 1787, and died May 5, 1878. During his whole life he cultivated a farm in New Jersey. C&rnelia, his wife, was born February 11, 1793, and died April 3, 1873. To Abraham and Cor- nelia Brokaw were born twelve children, as follows : Cornelia, born 1813, died 1816; Ellen M., born 1815, died 1865; Catharine, born 1816, died 1904; Daniel P., born 1818, died 1894; Isaac A., born 1819, died 1892 ; Eliza Jane and Phoebe Ann, born 1825, the former of whom died in 1826, the latter, 1870; Henrietta, born 1828, died 1904; Theodore P., born 1830, died 1831; Louise and John P., born 1833, the former died 1837, and the latter is living; Abraham, born 1837, died same year. John P. Brokaw, father of Mrs. Johnson, left New Jersey and mi- grated to Montgomery county, Illinois, in the spring of 1858, where he farmed for eighteen years, and then came to Kansas in 1877. He lived ' in Doniphan county for three years, and in 1880, bought eighty acres near Oneida in Nemaha county. His first home was a small affair, which was later superseded by a more pretentious home of eight rooms, in which he made his home until 1898. He then sold out and bought 320 acres near Perry, Okla., where he lived for five years, sold out, and en- gaged in the harness business at Wichita, Kans., for three years. He then farmed a twenty acre tract near Wichita for the ensuing two years, after which he returned to Oklahoma and remained there for a year. After another period of residence at Wichita, he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Johnson, near Oneida. Mr. Brokaw is owner of a farm of 360 acres in Louisiana. He was married January 13, 1858, to Letitia Van Nuys, born in New Jersey, March 4, 1837, and died February 22, 1890. Six children were born to John P. and Letitia Brokaw, as follows: Annie L., born 1859, died i860; Jacob S., born 1861, is a contractor at Los Angeles, and had one child, Clydia, who died February 10, 1916; Cornelia P., born 1865, died 1866; Mary L., wife of Samuel F. Johnson; Charles E., born 1871, a farmer in Montana; Lizzie B., born 1875, wife of Ernery Conwell, merchant of Oneida. Letitia (Van Nuys) Brokaw was a daughter of James and Letitia (Staats) Van Nuys, the former of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 67 1 whom was born August 29, 1799, in New Jersey, and died January 14, 1866. The latter was born March 2, 1804, and died September 28, 1873. Five children were born to James and Letitia Van Nuys, namely : Sarah E., born 1826, died 1900; Catharine, born 1831, died 1900; Henry S., born 1833, resides in New Jersey; Anna M., born 1835, died 1902; Letitia, born 1837, died 1890. James and Letitia were married in New Jerse}', Decem- ber 4, 1823. Samuel F. Johnson is a Republican in politics and has taken an active and influential part in township and county affairs. He is now serving his second term as township clerk, and has been a member of the school board. He is affiliated with the Yeomanry and is foreman of his lodge, is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, and aud- itor of the same lodge, of which Mrs. Johnson is also a member. He attends the Congregational church, of which denomination Mrs. Johnson is a member and trustee. Chester A. Funk, farmer, Gilman township, was born in the home where he is now living, June 8, 1881, and is a son of David and Lucinda Funk, old residents of Nemaha county, to whose life story in this volume the reader is respectfully referred. Chester A. Funk was educated in the Oneida schools and worked on his father's farm until he attained his majority. He then pursued a three months course in Spaulding's Busi- ness College at Kansas City, Mo., but did not complete his course on account of an epidemic breaking out among the students of the school. He was fortunate in being in a dentist's office when smallpox was dis- covered in the school and returned home while all of the student body were taken to the pest house for detention and treatment. Upon his re- turn home, he and his brother, Carl, rented their father's farm on shares, and they farmed together until 1905, at which time Carl went to Port- land, Ore., and Chester A., has remained in charge of the farm to this da,te. Mr. Funk was married, June i, 1904, to Miss Laura Conwell, daugh- ter of A. L. Conwell, an old resident of Gilman township, and whose biography appears in this volume. Mrs. Laura Funk was born May 29, 1880, and attended the district school in the neighborhood of her father's farm until sixteen years old, then became a pupil in the Oneida High School, graduating therefrom in 1900. Eight children have been born of this marriage, namely: Dorothy, aged ten years; David, aged nine; Howard and Herold (twins), aged seven; Catharine, five years old; Revier, three years of age; Alice, aged two; Frances Eleanor, born Jan- uary 30, 1916. Mr. Funk attends services at the Christian church, of which denom- ination Mrs. Funk has been a member since she was sixteen years old. Mr. Funk is an independent in politics, and is inclined to be progressive in his political views. For the past year, he has filled the post of road supervisor. He is affiliated fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled all chairs in the Oneida Lodge of Odd Fel- lows. 672 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Willie C. Reynolds. — The general merchandise store of W. C. Rey- nolds, of Oneida, Kans., is one of the thriving business establishments of Nemaha county, and a stock of goods exceeding in value of $7,000 is attractively displayed in a large frame business building forty-one by sixty feet in dimensions, erected by Mr. Reynolds in 1914. The stock of goods sold over the counters in this prosperous establishment in- cludes groceries, general merchandise, dry goods, work clothing, feed, etc. Mr. Reynolds has b^en engaged in business in Oneida for the past two years and during that time has built up an extensive and profitable trade. W. C. Reynolds was born at Agency, Mo., March 21, 1879, and is a son of Levi and Eva L. (Babcock) Reynolds. Levi Reynolds, his father, was born on a farm in Buchanan county, near Agency, Mo., February 9, 1856, and was a son of pioneer parents from Virginia. When he wa'3 twenty-one years of age he bought a small farm south of Agency and began farming on his own account and also rented land. The small tract of twenty acres which Levi Reynolds bought necessitated its clearing of timber and the erection of a home. He built a three-room house and set out fruit trees to such an extent that in later years the entire tract was all in fruit. Six years later he moved to De Kalb county, Missouri, and rented 160 acres for a period of two years. In 1890 he sold his farm near Agency and removed to St. Joseph where his wife died in 1893, ^'^^ ^e then returned to Agency and bought a farm of fifty-two acres, which is now well improved and is the present residence of the family. The mother of W. C. Reynolds was born in Livingston county, Missouri, in 1862, and died in St. Joseph in 1891. Levi and Eva Reynolds were married in 1877 ^^^ ^wo children were born of this marriage, namely: Willie C, the .subject of this review, and Mrs. Lela M. Stanton, living- on a farm near Centralia, Kans., and mother of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Levi Reynolds were members of the Baptist church. W. C. Reynolds was reared on his father's farm and received a com- mon school education, attending the public schools of St. Joseph for three years. In 1899 he began working for himself in a stirrup fac- tory at Agency, Mo. One year later he was made manager of the fac- tory and held the position for two years. In 1902 he was employed as timber buyer for a lumbering firm and in 1903 he removed to St. Joseph and was employed as street railway conductor for one year and a half and then followed teaming until 1907, at which time he came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and rented the Alex. Moore farm of 160 acres. Two years later he rented an additional 160 acres and followed farming until September 15, 1914, when he disposed of his crops, farming imple- ments and live stock and located in Oneida and engaged in the mer- cantile business. Mr. Reynolds was married November 15, 1899, to Miss Eva M. Ratcliff, who has borne him the following children: Crystel L., aged HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 6/3 fifteen years and a student in the Oneida High School; Pearl, died at the age of three months. Mrs. Eva M. Reynolds was born at Agency, Mo., November 13, 1880, and is a daughter of William H. and Bertha L. (Hunt) Ratcliff. William Ratcliff, father of Mrs. Reynolds, was born June 6, 1854, in Missouri. His father was a sawmill operator and he was reared in the vicinity of his father's mill and became the sup- port of the family when seventeen years old on account of his father's early death. When sixteen years old he started a stirrup factory at Hainesville, Mo., and seven years later he moved his factory to Agency, where it has since grown to become an important industrial affair. Mr. Ratcliff first began making stirrups with a hand adze and saw and is now the head of a large corporation and has a plant equipped with modern working machinery and employing twenty or more men. He ships the product of his factory to all parts of the world. The Ratcliffs were married in 1878, and have reared children as follows : Eva, wife of W. C. vReynolds, and born November 13, 1880, educated in the Agency schools and married at the age of nineteen years ; Charles, a farmer of Hemple, Mo., and father of two children, William and Felix ; Oran Lee, a farmer of Frazier, Mo., and father of one child, Catharine. The mother of Mrs. Reynolds wa;s born at Albany, N. Y., in 1862, and was reared by her grandmother, her father having been killed in the Civil war. William H. Ratcliff was a deacon of the Baptist church for many years, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat in his political affiliations and is a mem- ber of the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He and Mrs. Reynolds deserve considerable credit for their rise in the world to a position of standing and affluence, and their suc- cess is really striking when one considers that their advent into Kansas followed a isiege of sickness which left Mr. Reynolds nearly $800 in debt. William J. Ball, retired farmer and Union veteran, Oneida, Kans., was born in Washington county, Ohio, December 29, 1841, and is a son of James and Jane (Benson) Ball, natives of Virginia and Ohio respec- tively. James Ball was born in Loudon county, near Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1813, and died in Ohio in 1870. At the age of fourteen he was ap- prenticed to a shoe maker, and finished his apprenticeship, and became proficient at his trade when twenty-one years of age. He started a shop of his own at McConnellsville, Ohio, and was married in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1841. Shortly after his marriage, he removed to Meigs county, Ohio, established himself in the shoe trade and lived at Tuppers Plains until his removal to Long Bottom. He died near Syracuse, Ohio. He was a member of the Baptist church, and was a well read man; taught school at intervals, and served as a member of the school board of his city. Mrs. Jane Ball, mother of the subject, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1814, and died in Meigs county in 1855. She was reared in the country, and was the eldest of four daughters, born to her parents Be- (43) 674 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ing the eldest of a family of daughters, she learned to do work outside of the home and assisted her parents in clearing the brush away from her father's land, going to mill with the grist to be ground, and naturally grew up to become a robust and hearty woman. However, her health failed her when her last child was born and she died in 1855. There were six children in the Ball family, as follows : William J., with whom this review is directly concerned; Charles B., born 1842, and died in 1913, leaving four children. Myrtle, Harriett, Emma, and Edward ; George, born 1845, lives at Stockton, Cal., and has four children, Agnes, Mary, Norton, and Harry; Joseph J., born 1847, resides in Columbus, Ohio, is a school teacher and clerk, has one child. May; Mrs. Maria Stobert, Meigs county, Ohio, born 1850, and mother of five children, namely: Earl, Carrie, Herbert, Lenora, and Amy, deceased; one child died in infancy. William J. Ball worked out as farm hand at twenty-five cents per day in his younger days, and learned the tannery business, btit never followed it, because of a distaste for the work, although he was to receive $25 per year while learning the trade. When seventeen years of age, he did the hardest kind of labor, sometimes making fence rails at fifty cents per hundred, said fence rail to be cut at least eleven feet long. He also made staves, and grubbed out underbrush at $3 per acre, and during har- vest time, he swung a cradle in the wheat fields for $10 a month. He worked seven months on one farm for $8 per month, and then worked on a towboat plying on the Ohio river from Pomeroy to Louisville for about three months. When the Civil war began, he enlisted in .Company B, One Hundred Sixteenth Ohio infantry, under Captain Keyes, and fought in the battles of Piedmont, Va., Fisher Hill, near Strausburg, Cedar Creek, Winchester (1864), and Snicker's Ferry. He was engaged in the three days' battle of Winchester with General Early. His command suffered a rout, and he was lost from his command for one month before he found his way back to the company mess. He was present at AA'inchester when Sheridan made his famous ride, turned back the flee- ing soldiers, and saved the day for the Union forces. He was stationed- on the Chickahominy river until February, 1864, and his command was detailed south of Petersburg, captured Ft. Gregg near Petersburg, and followed Lee to Appomattox, and witnessed Lee's surrender. They 're- mained at Richmond until June, 1865, and then went home. Mr. Ball was honorably discharged in June, 1865, and returned to steamboating on the Ohio river for one and a half years. Becoming afflicted with rheumatism he secured a place as night watchman in a coal mining town, and was thus employed for two and a half years. He then went to Pomeroy, and was a night watchman for five years. In 1870, he pur- chased a sixty acre farm in Meigs county, Ohio, for $2,500, for which he paid $1,250, and gave a mortgage at ten per cent. He lived for two years on his farm, and then sold out. In 1878, he came to Nemaha county. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 675 Kansas, and moved to a farm of i6o acres, which had been given to Mrs. Ball by her father. After two years' residence in Kansas, Mr. and Mrs. Ball sold their farm and returned to Syracuse, Ohio, where Mr. Ball operated an engine until 1882. The lure of the great West again drew them on, and they returned to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1882, for a permanent stay. They bought eighty-two acres of land, improved it and resided thereon until 1899, at which time they rented the land and moved to southern California and Colorado with their son whose health had failed. They spent two years on the coast, and in Colorado, and upon their return, purchased a neat cottage in Oneida, which serves as the Ball home. The eighty-two acre tract owned by Mrs. Ball is well improved and cultivated by their son. Mr. Ball is also the owner of 200 acres in Smith county, Kansas, wljich he rents out as grain land, and also owns 160 acres in Texas, which is fenced but otherwise unimproved. William J. Ball was married, in 1870, to Harriet Gilmore, who has borne him the following children : Mrs. Nellie Pettit, died in Nemaha county; Edgar, died at the age of seven months; Clinton G., lives on the Ball farm, is married and has one child, Norman, aged one year. Clinton G., attended the Oneida High School, but broken health com- pelled him to relinquish his studies, and he later studied bookkeeping at Denver, Colo., and is now a successful practical farmer. Mrs. Harriett (Gilmore) Ball was born in Meigs county, Ohio, April 24, 1842, and is a daughter of Isaac and Polly (Stivers) Gilmore. She was reared on a Buckeye State farm, educated in the district and high schools, and taught school for twelve years previous to her mar- riage. Mrs. Ball has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-six years. Mr. Ball is a Republican, is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public and is affiliated with the Oneida Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a trustee of the same. Joseph B, Ketter, merchant, Kelly, Kans., is a member of the firm of Ketter & Schumacher, conducting a general merchandise store at Kelly. This store is one of the thriving business concerns of Nemaha county, and a stock of goods valued at over $11,000 is carried constantly. The large and ever increasing trade of the store is due to the courteous and honest treatment afforded the many patrons of the establishment. Joseph B. Ketter was born November 13, 1875, in Wisconsin, and is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Wink) Ketter, natives of Germany. Philip Ketter was born in Germany in 1834 and was reared to young manhood in his native land. He immigrated to America in 18.^6 and set- tled in Wisconsin, where he bought a forty-acre tract of timber land, which he cleared and lived upon until 1880. He then sold his Wisconsin farm and came to Kansas, where he bought 220 acres of land in the Wild Cat district. He cultivated this tract with profit until 1902, when he sold it and bought 320 acres in Harrison township, Nemaha county. He lived upon this farm for eight years, then rented it and retired to a home in 676 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Kelly, Kans. He died June 4, 1915. Thirteen children were born to Philip and Elizabeth Ketter, namely: Philip, a farrner in Illinois town ship, Nemaha county, and father of eight children, as follows: Louis, Katie, Tena, Clara, Marguerite, La-vyrence, Ollie and Ambrose ; Jacob, at home ; Peter, a farmer in Adams township ; George, a farmer in Okarche, Okla., and the father of eight children ; John, died in infancy ; Joseph B., subject of this review; Mrs. Ida Huls, living in Richmond township, and mother of seven children; Elizabeth, known as Sister Agilbertha, at Mt. St. Scholastica's, Atchison, Kans. ; John A., farming the Ketter home place, has three children ; Mrs. Mary Eisenbarth, also living on a family farm, has four children ; Anna died at the age of seventeen years ; Henry, farming in Adams township, has three children ; Andrew, clerk in the store at Kelly, Kans. The mother of this large family of children was born in Germany in 1848, and was brought to Wisconsin with her parents when she was a six months' old infant, living in Wisconsin until her marriage with Mr. Ketter, May 4, 1863. Joseph B. Ketter was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the district schools of Richmond township, Nemaha county. He re- mained with his parents until he attained his majority and then began farming on his own account on a rented forty-acre farm. He continued in agricultural pursuits until 1906, and then came to Kelly, where he bought a half interest in the general merchandise store of Joe Schu- macher. At the time Mr. Ketter entered into partnerhip with Mr. Schu- macher, the store carried a small stock of goods, valued at $4,700. Since that time Mr. Ketter, by diligent application and tireless industry and careful attention to business details, has built up the business to a ca- pacity of $11,000. The firm has a two-story store building 30x60 feet in extent, and has generally prospered. Mr. Ketter is a Democrat in politics. He is a member of the Cath- olic Church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. Isaac C. Lockard. — Nearly sixty years have gone by since Isaac C. Lockard, Nemaha county pioneer and settler, came with his bride to Kansas in search of a home on the boundless prairies. The first home of this grand old patriarch in Nemaha county was a typical sod house, which soon gave place to a more pretentious frame dwelling. Mr. Lockard has seen a great State in the making; he has witnessed the disappearance of the buffalo, the wild game and the Indians, and has seen the onward advance of civilization and the redemption of a wilder- ness and is proud of the fact that he is one of the oldest pioneers of Kansas. When Mr. Lockard landed in Atchison, Kans., the present beautiful Kansas city of 20,000 inhabitants was but a collection of a dozen or so houses — what wonderful changes have taken place since that period. Isaac C. Lockard was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, November 5, 1833, and is a son of William R. and Sarah C. (Day) Lockard, who HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 5/7 were the parents of ten sons and three daughters. William R. Lockard, his father, was born in Kentucky in 1795, and removed with his parents to Indiana early in the nineteenth century. He died in 1862. His wife was born in Kentucky in 1815 and died in 1901. Both parents were members \of the Christian church. The Lockard family left their Indiana home when the subject of this review was a boy and settled in Iowa, where Isaac C. was reared to young manhood. This was in the pioneer days of Iowa and Isaac C. Lockard learned early in his youth what it was to rough it in the most primitive style. He attended school for about three months each year in an old log school house, and this school was supported by the subscriptions of the settlers in the neighborhood. The cabin was meanly furnished and the seats which the boys and girls used were hewn slabs of oak or native timber. When a boy, Isaac had plenty of work in the way of cutting brush from his father's land and splitting rails for fencing. He was married in 1856 and in 1857 decided to try his fortunes in the new State of Kansas. Accordingly, he set out and made his way to Atchison, where he lived for a year, and then farmed a tract of land in Lancaster township, Atchison county. From Atchison county he made his way to Pawnee county, Nebraska, and farmed there until 1871, at which time he bought seventy-three acres of land in Clear Creek township, Nemaha count}-, Kansas. His land was improved with a "sod house" — left there by the first homesteader. Mr. Lockard at once built a frame house, 16x24 feet in extent, and has made various improvements since that time, and has added to his possessions until he owns 113 acres in Ne- maha county. Mr. Lockard was married in 1856 to Sarah C. McMains, who was born in April, 1836, in Indiana, and this union has resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows : Vellite, deceased ; Margaret A. Lock- ard, Clear Creek township ; William, deceased ; Robert, ' Shelby county, Missouri ; James R., married Eva Kerl, farming the home place ; George H., deceased; Sadie C, wife of C. Saums, living in Texas. In addition to these children, Mr. Lockard adopted an orphan child when she was seven days old and reared her as one of his own. The child's name was Rosa Wymore, now happily married to Ben Wagner, and living in Texas. Mrs. Lockard died in 1904. Mr. Lockard has been a life long Republican, but has never been a seeker after political preferment. He is a member ■ of the Christian church. It is a matter of note that this pioneer had five brothers and two brothers-in-law in the Union army. David H. Fitzgerald, M. D., Kelly, Kans., has been a medical prac- titioner in Kansas for the past thirty-five years, and has practiced his profession in Nemaha county for thirty-two years. In point of years of service in behalf of suffering humanity he is one of the oldest prac- ticing physicians in the county. Dr. Fitzgerald was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 678 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 23, 1853, and is a son of Thomas C. and Margaret (Witherspoon) Fitz- gerald, both of whom were natives of the Keystone State. Thomas C. Fitzgerald, his father, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1818 and educated himself for the teaching profession, which he followed during the winter months, and pursued the vocation of contractor and brick layer when school was not in session. He migrated to Miami county, Kansas, in 1877, and located on a farm near Paola, where he bought an eighty-acre farm. He farmed his land for a few years, then rented it and retired to a home in Paola. He died in 1884. Thomas C. Fitzgerald was married to Margaret Witherspoon in Pennsylvania, and she was his faithful helpmate. She was born July 18, 1821, and died at the home of her son, John W., in Kansas City, Mo., March 4, 1910. Thomas and Margaret Fitzgerald were the parents of five children, three of whom were living at the time of the mother's demise, namely: John W., Kansas City, Mo. ; James S., \\'etmore, Kans., and Dr. David H., the subject of this review. Dr. Fitzgerald has an interesting family genealogy on his maternal side and is descended directly from Robert I, (Robert Bruce) King of Scotland, and his ancestral tree is chronicled as follows: (I) Mar- garet, the daughter of Robert I, (Robert Bruce) King of Scotland, mar- ried Walter, the sixth high steward of Scotland, and had an only son who became Robert H, King of Scotland, born 1316, died 1390, first of the Stuart sovereigns of Scotland. The title Stewart or Stuart was adopted because of the ancestral possession of the high stewardship on the paternal side. Robert H married Lady Isabel Mure and by her had a third son, (III) Robert Stuart, Earl of Monteith and of Fife and Duke of Albany, chief executive of the government of Scotland for his brother Robert III, who married Lady Margaret as his wife and by her had (IV) Murdoch Stuart, governor of Scotland, condemned and . executed for treason. His wife was Isabel, daughter of Duncan, Earl of Lennox, and by her had (V) Sir James Stuart, who was proclaimed a rebel arid died in Ireland in 1451. His wife was Lady McDonald, and by her had (VI) V/alter- Stuart, of Morphie, who married Lady Elizabeth'Arnot, and by her had a second son (VII), Andrew Stuart, who became the third Lord Evandale, and married Lady Margaret, daughter of Sir John Ken- nedy. They had a son (VIII), Andrew Stuart, who was fourth Lord Evandale and governor of Dunbarton Castle, Scotland. He (Andrew) assumed the title "Ochiltree'' by consent of the crown, and died in 1548. His wife. Lady Margaret Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, Earl of Arrau and descendant of James II, King of Scotland — they had a son (IX), Andrew Stuart, who became Lord Ochiltree II and married Agnes Cunningham and they had as their second daughter (X) Lady Margaret Stuart, who married John Knox, the reformer. John Kriox had been previously married and at the time of this second marriage in 1564 was fifty-nine years of age, while his wife of quite a young wo- man. Much comment was occasioned throughout Scotland because of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 679 Lady Margaret's marriage to a man of humble birth and because of the disparity of their ages. Notwithstanding all this the marriage was a happy one. John Knox was born in Haddington in 1505 and died in Edinburgh, November 24, 1572. They had a daughter (XI), Elizabeth Knox, who married Rev. John Welch, the minister at Ayr and a dis- tinguished teacher of his day. They had a daughter whose name was rXII) Daughter Welch. She married Rev. James Witherspoon, min- ister of the Parish of Yester, Haddingtonshire, near Edinburgh, all of his ministerial life. He was born sometime previous to 1680. His father was David Witherspoon and the name is said to have been originally 'AVodderspoon.' One of his sons was (XIH) James Withersooon, a minister who married Ann Walker. They had a son (XIV) James "Wodderspoon." One of his sons was (XIII) James Witherspoon, a burgh, in 1725. He was married in Scotland and immigrated to America about 1750, settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He was acci- dentally killed about 1760. The Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independentce and president of Princeton College, was his brother. James Witherspoon had a second son (XV), James W. Witherspoon, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1757, and died March, 1832, purchased and owned the old Franklin county, Pennsylvania, homestead, and was married April 25, 1780, to Mollie Elliott, whose mother was a Hamilton, cousin of Alexander Ham- ilton. She was born in the West Indies and died in the Pennsylvania home in 1833. They had seven children, of whom the eldest was (XVI) John Witherspoon, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 9, 1781, and died April 26, i860. He married Nancy Scott, Decem- ber 8, 1808. Their daughter was (XVII) Margaret Witherspoon, born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1821, married December 5, 1848, to Thomas Clark Fitzgerald. David Hurst Fitzgerald attended the common schools of his native county until the removal of the family to Illinois in 1865, and he then studied at the McCombs schools and pursued a scientific college course in 1872 and 1873. He taught school in Illinois for six years and taught for one year after the family settled in Kansas. He studied medicine and graduated from the Keokuk College of Medicine in 1881. In the autumn following his graduation Dr. Fitzgerald located in Garrison, Pottawatomie county, Kansas, practiced for one year, then located at Blaine, Pottawatomie county, and practiced there until July 10, 1884, at which date he located at Wetmore, Nemaha county. He built up a large practice at Wetmore and remained in that city until July, 1898, when he located at Kelly. He conducts a drug store in addition to his medical practice. For twelve years Dr. Fitzgerald served as surgeon for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company. Dr. Fitzgerald was married in 1887 to Ella Leibig, who died in 1894, leaving three children, namely : Terrance C, United States railway mail clerk traveling out of St. Joseph on the Rock Island railroad, father of 68o HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY one child, Virginia J. ; Dr. David Hurst Fitzgerald, dentist at Seneca ; James W., died in youth. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Kansas, September, 1869, and was a daughter of William and Sarah (Longue) Leibig. William Leibig was born in Germany in 1846; came to America with his father when a young man; enlisted in a Kan- sas regiment and served throughout the Civil war, was wounded in battle; and after his discharge located in Nemaha county and dealt in horses until 1888; sold out and retired to a home in St. Joseph, Mo.; was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, Grand Army of the Republic, and a Republican in politics. Sarah, his wife, was born in Kansas in 1842 and died in 1886. William and Sarah Leibig were the parents of four children, namely: Mrs. Dora Boyce, California ; Charles, a telephone operator at St. Joseph, Mo. ; Ella, de- ceased wife of Dr. Fitzgerald ; Ida, died in youth. In 1897 Dr. Fitzgerald espoused in marriage. Miss Alice G. John- son, of Muscogee, Okla., who was born in Illinois in 1866, and is a daughter of William and Julia Johnson, who were the parents of the following children, namely : Mrs. Mamie Hervey, Kansas City, Mo. ; mother of two children, namely : Mary and Sydney ; Walter P., superin- tendent Muscogee, Okla., water works, and has one child, Helen; Rich- ard S., master mechanic Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad, Mus- cogee, Okla., and has one child, Esther; Mrs. Ida Smelzer, Kansas City, Kans., whose husband is chief operator Western Union Telegraph Company; Mrs. Eva Crum, telephone operator, main station, at Kansas City, Mo., and Lula. Mrs. Fitzgerald was educated in Missouri, quali- fied for the teaching profession, but never taught, for the past ten years she has been chief operator and manager for the Kelly exchange of the Bell Telephone Company, and has filled the office of post mistress for the past year. Dr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Fitzgerald is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Kelly Lodge No. 570, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 53, of Wetmore, Kans., and the Knights of Pythias of Seneca. Michael Eisenbarth, retired, Kelly, Kans., was born at Differton, Germany, June 29, 1848, and is a son of John and Anna (Larson) Eisen- barth, natives of Germany. John Eisenbarth, his father, was born in 1813, and was employed in the coal mines of his native land until his death in 1870. His wife, Anna, was born in 1820, and died in 1890. John and Anna Eisenbarth were the parents of eight children, as follows: John, deceased ; Anna M., deceased ; Marguerite, was a midwife in Ger- many for forty years and now makes her home at Differton ; Michael, subject of this sketch; John N., lives at Differton, Germany; Nicholas, lives with Michael ; Peter, killed in a coal mine in Mexico, September 22, 1882; Mrs. Anna Stemmel, Differton, Germany, and mother of five chil- dren, namely : Peter, Margaret, Anna, Catharine and Joseph ; Mrs. Helen Larson, on a farm near Seneca, and mother of eight children, Anna, Clara, Ida, Bertha, Marie, John and Odelia. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 68 1 Michael Eisenbarth began work in the coal mines of his native country when sixteen years of age and followed mining until 1870, at which time he was called to the colors, and participated in the Franco- Prussian war, remaining in the service until 1873. He then mined coal until 1875, and immigrated to America in that year. He first located at Youngstown, Ohio, later went to Kewanee, 111., and worked in the coal mines until 1881. He then came to Kansas, and bought forty acres of unimproved land near Corning in Nemaha county, upon which, he resided until 191 5, when he retired to a comfortable home at Kelly, Kans. Mr. Eisenbarth has prospered during the thirty-five years he has been a resi- dent of Kansas, and is now the owner of 280 acres of good, tillable land. He was married in Illinois, in 1876, to Ernestine Furst, a daughter of David and Wilhelmina (Wolf) Furst, and to this marriage, nine children have been born, as follows : Mrs. Louisa Wiiltz, Corning, Kans., mother of four children : Carrie, Mary, Anna, and Andrew ; Mrs. Helena Johnson, Kelly, Kans., mother of three children, namely: John, Henry, and Hazel ; Helena and Louisa are twins ; Henry N., a farmer near Corning, and father of four children, Laurence, Marguerite, Sarah and Norvert; Mrs. Carrie Koch, Baileyville, Kans., mother of four children, namely: Vincent and Marcella (twins), George and Furman; Mrs. Clara Ketter, on a farm near Kelly, mother of three children, namely. Francis, Celestine, and Mildred ; Emma, a teacher ; John, farmer near Kelly, has four children: Vincent, Albert, Edmond, and Raymond; William, cultivating the home place, married, and has one child : Wil- frid ; Fred, also on the home place. Ernestine Eisenbarth, mother of this fine family, was born in Germany, September 18, 1853. and immi- grated to America with her parents when six years of age. Her father, David Furst, was born in 1815 and upon his immigration to this country he located on a farm in Illinois, which he cultivated until his untimely death by. accident in 1863. His wife, Wilhelmina, was born in Germany in 1817, and died in Corning, Kans., in 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Furst were the parents of eleven children, as follows: Wilhelmina Zang, in Ne- braska ; August, farmer, Oklahoma ; Carolina Charlotte, in Illinois ; Au- gusta, deceased ; Ernestine, wife of Michael Eisenbarth ; Mrs. Louisa Kempin, Corning, Kans. ; Mrs. Emma Coleman, Paxton, 111. ; William, a farmer near Corning, Kans. ; Charles, Kewanee, 111. ; Mrs. Odelia Zang, Kewanee, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Eisenbarth and the children of this fine family are members of the Catholic church, and contribute of their means to the support of Catholic institutions. He usually votes the Democratic ticket, and is a loyal Kansan in every sense. John M. Swart. — Thirty years ago John M. Swart, wealthy landed proprietor of Adams township, began his career in Kansas. He and his wife were distressedly poor — so poor that all they owned was a small cookstove and a bedstead, which cost the small sum of $2.50 (still in the family home), one table, and some cheap chairs, all of which were bought 682 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY on time. With this assortmeiit of household furnishings, Mr. and Mrs. Swart began their wedded life. They were young, ambitious and optim- istic, however, and were looking forward to better times and the ac- cumulation of a fortune in the future ; but, the first year's crops were a total failure ! However, it is said that "a bad beginning oft makes a good ending,'' and the adage, whether true or not, came true in the case of John M., and Louisa Swart, who are now the owners of 840 acres of well improved Kansas land. Can a man accomplish more than this in thirty years, at any other vocation based on hard work and tireless in- dustry? We think not. Men may scheme, invent, or produce something which the public must have and make a fortune, often at the expense of their fellow creatures, but the farmer must delve in the ground, learn to outwit the vagaries of Mother Nature, and so manage his financial af- fairs that his books show a net profit each year. In the creation of a home on the wild prairie it is necessary for him to deny himself and his the luxuries of the present day civilization and to always look ahead. Perhaps it is the ingrained German thrift inherited through a long line of industrious ancestors which has enabled Mr. Swart to make good ; we are inclined to believe this, inasmuch as the people of his nationality are noted the world over for this trait. John M. Swart was born in Germany, March 6, i860, and is a son of Martin and Addina (Kronlova) Swart, natives of the Fatherland. Mar- tin Swart was born in 1814, learned the trade of baker in his native vil- lage and immigrated to America in 1872, settling near Manhattan, Kans., where he took up a homestead near the town of Leonardville. He tilled his farm until 1886, then rented the place and retired to a home at Leon- ardville, where he died in 1889. He was a member of the Evangelical church. His wife, Addina, was born in 1831, married in 1851, and died in 1899. To Martin and Addina Swart were born nine children, namely: William, a gardener af Manhattan, Kans. ; Henry, Rockey, Okla. ; George, living in Oregon ; Mrs. Henrietta Nanninga, Levittsville, Kans. ; John M., subject of this review; Dietrich, a minister at Holton, Kans.; Mrs. Mar- guerite Barnett, Leonardville, Kans. ; Mrs. Addina Debus, Jewell City, Kans., and Mrs. Minnie Bohnenblust, Leonardville, Kans. John M. Swart was twelve years of age when the Swart family im- migrated to America. When he was twenty-six years old he rented his father's farm for ten years and had many ups and down during that period. He began with nothing, but managed to save sufficient money to make a substantial payment on 120 acres of land in Adams town- ship, Nemaha county, in 1896. This farm was the nucleus around which his present large estate has been built up, and he is now the owner of 840 acres, on which stands a comfortable, nine-room farm residence, modern- ized and equipped with a lighting system and which makes a strong con- trast to the little old house in which he and his wife began life in Nemaha county. On the Swart farm there are four good houses and five large barns. For some years he maintained a dairy herd of thirty-two cows. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 683 which materially added to his income and produced as high as $8 worth of cream daily. Mr. Swart is also a large feeder of cattle and deals ex- tensively in poultry. Like many other farmers he is an alfalfa groWer and has a field of eighty acres on his place. The marriage of John M. Swart and Louisa Zeisset occurred on February 8, 1886, and has been blessed with the following children: Mrs. Martha Krummel, on a farm near Rice, Kans. ; George, located on the home place, has two children, Wilbert and Alfred; Henry, on -his father's farm, has one child, Leonard ; Mrs. Lillie Johnson, on a farm near Goff, Kans., mother of three children. Glen, Elmer and Pearl ; Bettie, at home ; Emma, deceased ; John, at home ; Rosa, died in infancy. Mrs. Louisa Swart was born in Germany, July 20, 1866, and is a daughter of Jacob and Marguerite (Mueller) Zeisset. Jacob Zeisset was born in 1837, mar- ried Marguerite Mueller in 1862 and departed this life in his native land in 1883. Marguerite Zeisset was born in 1842 and died in 1881. Jacob and Marguerite Zeisset were the parents of six children, namely : Louisa, wife of John M. Swart ; Mrs. Bertha Nanninga, Leonardville, Kans. ; Mrs. Elizabeth Weller, Leonardville, Kans. ; Jacob, a farmer at Leon- ardville, Kans. ; Mrs. Bettie Harriman, and Henry, Leonardville. Mrs. Swart came to America in 1882 and worked as domestic as wages vary- ing from $1.50 to $2.50 per week. She was thus employed in Pittsburg, Pa., for three years and one year in tlay Center, Kans., previous to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Swart are members of the Evangelical church and con- tribute of their means to the support of this denomination. Mr. Swart has served the people of his township as a member of the school board and also filled the post of township trustee for six years. He has always been a steadfast Republican. Few men can look backward with more pride in personal achievement than John M. Swart, and few couples can look forward with more complacency in a comfortable and assured fu- ture than they. Like the village blacksmith in Longfellow's immortal poem, "He looks the whole world in the face. For he owes not any man." George W. Sourk is one of the "live wires" and best-known business men in Nemaha county, and his drug store at Goff is one of the most com- plete and up-to-date of any in the county. He enjoys a large and perma- nent patronage because of the excellent service which he renders, and his business grows steadily with the passing of time. Mr. Sourk was born February 24, 1876, and is the son of William and Amanda (Mitchell) Sourk. The father was a native Scotchman and came to the United States at the age of sixteen and located with his parents at Oshkosh, Wis., where his father had pre-empted forty acres of land. At the age of twenty-one, he started out to farm for himself, and until 1880, he farmed in Whiteside and Stark counties, Illinois. He then came to Kansas and bought 320 acres of unimproved land in Harrison 684 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY township, Nemaha county, and lived on this place until his death, in July, 191D. When the Kansas City Northwestern railroad was built through Kansas, William Sourk had a spur built out to his farm and this line is still known as Sourk's spur. He was a heavy shipper of grain and livestock. At the time of his death he owned 720 acres of well improved land. He was a member of the Christian church and attended to his re- ligious life with great sincerity and faithfulness. The mother of George W. Sourk was born in Kentucky and received a common school education. She was married to Mr. Sourk in Illinois and died in Kansas in 1909. Eight children were born to them, George W. being the youngest son. George W. Sourk received a common school education and began life for himself at the age of nineteen, when he took a position as school teacher and taught for nine years. At the end of that time he bou-ght out Dr. L. A. Corwin's drug store and soon afterward became a registered pharmacist. His venture into the drug business became a great success, and eight years later he bought out the store of C. H. Hayes, which he consolidated with his own, making it one of the largest and most com- plete drug stores in Nemaha county. In addition to his business, he owns 320 acres of land in Harrison township, which are well improved, and has a residence in Goff. He also owns the large business block in which his store is located. For many years he has been city clerk of Goff, and is secretary of the Goff Telephone Company. He is a member of the Ma- sonic, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America, and is a Republican in politics. In April, 1906, he was married to Maud Ward, and five children have been born to them, as follows : Lois, born April 8, 1907 ; Lela, born September 26, 1908; Ward, born April 19, 1912; George, born November 16, 1913, and Amanda Eli:^abeth, born March 5, 1916. Mrs. Sourk is the daughter of E. R. and Elizabeth (Artman) Ward. Her father was born in Ohio in 1846 and was a soldier in the Civil war. Mr. Ward is prominent in the affairs of Wetmore and is presi- dent of the First National Bank, Wetmore, Kans. Mrs. Sourk was'born November 7, 1879, in Larkin, Kans., and after receiving a common school education, she attended the State Normal School and taught for eight years afterward in the graded schools. She professed to the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Eastern Star lodge. Charles R. Tolliver, ticket agent at Goff, Kans., has been a railroad man for many years, and has been station agent at a number of Kansas towns. He is one of the most efficient in the service and has been pro- moted a number of times for good service. He is the son of George W. and Mary E. (Limes) Tolliver. His father was born in Clay county, Illinois, in 1831, and was reared on a farm. He lived at home until his marriage in 1849 ^''^^ then, at the age of eighteen, he began farming on 120 acres in Clay county, which was a gift from his father, a pioneer settler in that district who owned 2,500 acres of land in one body in HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 685 Illinois. He remained on this land until 1902, when he went to Ripley county, Missouri, and bought 320 acres, eighty of which were improved. During the four years he lived on this place he rented his Illinois farm, and about 1906, he returned to Illinois and rented out the Missouri property. He continued to live in Illinois until his death in 1907. He was an extensive dealer in livestock and was an energetic and active farmer, but as he neared the age of fifty, his health began to decline and he practically gave up his work then, doing only what was necessary to protect his property interests. He was a member of the Christian church, having joined that denomination early in life. Everyone looked upon , him as a pillar in his church, and he could always be counted on for active service when help was needed in any of the church's affairs. The mother of Charles Tolliver, Mary E., was born in Indiana in 1833, and grew up on the farm. She was married at the age of sixteen to Mr. Tol- liver and, like him, she was an active church worker. Her religious zeal ultimately cost her her life, as she exerted herself so much when caring for attendants at a series of revival meetings that she took pneumonia fever, and because of her weakened system, due to overwork, she died, that sad event taking place in Illinois in 1895. She left the following children : Mrs. Viola Strond, deceased, mother of five children ; Law- rence, died in infancy; Charles R., subject of this review; Albert, farmer. Clay county, Illinois, father of Charlie, Hattie, Rial and Grace; Henry, deceased; Soloma, deceased, and Elmer, station agent at Hanna, Wyo., where he has been for twelve years in the employ of the Union Pacific, and father of one child. Charles Tolliver was born in Clay county, Illinois, August 28, 1862, and was a graduate of Louisville High School, in Clay county. Upon completion of his high school work he taught for five years in Arkansas and Illinois, and at the age of twenty-four years he became station agent at Edmond, Kans., where he stayed about four years. He was then sent to Netawaka, next to Glen Elder, then back to Netawaka, from there to Osborne, and finally to Goff in 1905, where he was given charge of the union station, which place he has held until the present time. He owns eighty acres of improved land in Reilly township, which he cultivates. In 1884 he was married to Henrietta Frey, and the following seven children have been born to them: Edgar, telegraph operator, Neosho, Mo.; Harry, operator, Sabetha, father of Richard L. ; Jack, operator, Tulsa, Okla. ; Mrs. Mary Steel, farmer, Harrison township ; Ruth, high school student, living with her parents, and Robert and George, also liv- ing at home. Mrs. Tolliver is the daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca (Newton) Frey. The father was born in Ohio in 1829, and was reared on the farm and has never left it. He still farms in Clay county, Illinois, where he owns 120 acres of well improved land, but he now lives in re- tirement. He is a Methodist and votes the Democratic ticket. The mother was born in England in 183 1 and came to the United States with her parents when she was a small girl and settled on a farm in Ohio, where 686 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY she lived until her marriage to Mr. Frey. She was a member of the Bap- tist church. Nine children were born to them, as follows: Samuel, farmer, Oklahoma ; John, farmer, Terre Haute, Ind. ; William, farmer. Clay county, Illinois; Henrietta, wife of Mr. Tolliver; Mrs. Nettie Wil- son, Clay county, Illinois ; James, farmer in same locality ; Ollie, died in infancy, and Mrs. Myrtle Fancher, wife of a Clay county farmer. Mrs. Tolliver grew up on the farm and remained with her parents until her marriage in 1884. She is a member of the Eastern Star and Royal neighbors lodges. Her husband belongs to the Masonic and Modern Woodmen of America orders, which are affiliated with those to which Mrs. Tolliver belongs. Mr. Tolliver votes the Democratic ticket. William M. Kongs, hardware and implement merchant, Kelly, Kans., was born on a farm near Seneca, June 25, 1882, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Rettele) Kongs, natives of Germany. Michael Kongs, his father, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, in 1857, and when twenty years of age emigrated from his native land to America. He came direct to Sabetha, Kans., and worked at any honest labor he could find, such as railroad work and farming, until his death March 19, 1895, even- tually becoming the owner of a farm near St. Benedict's. He was mar- ried to Mary Rettele in 1878 and was the father of four children, as fol- lows : Mrs. Minnie Rohr, Okarche, Okla., mother of six children, namely: Helen, Edwin, Marie, Matilda, Louis and William; William M., the subject of this review; Mrs. Susan Schumacher, Kelly, Kans. (See '•ketch) ; Louis, on the home place of the family, north of Seneca, and has two children, namely : Vincent and Eulalia. The mother of William M. Kongs was born in Wisconsin in 1856 (see sketch of Joseph Rettele), was reared on the farm and remained at home until her marriaee. AVilliam M. Kongs was reared to young manhood on the parental farm and was educated in the district school. When he became of age he rented his mother's farm near Seneca and cultivated it for three years. He then bought 160 acres near Kelly in Adams township, which he improved and managed successfully for four years. He then sold his farm and purchased the hardware and implement business formerly owned by Peter Ketter. When he came into possession of the store the stock of goods carried did not exceeed $4,000 in value and Mr. Kongs. by dint of industry and the exercise of decided business ability, has increased the value of the stock carried to over $8,000 during the past three years and also owns his storeroom and residence in Kelly. He is independent in politics and is a mert^ber of the Catholic Church of Kelly. William M. Kongs was married February 9, 1904, to Sophia Novak, a daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Skolout) Novak, Bohemians by birth. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kongs, namely: Albert, ten years old ; Philomena, aged eight years ; Sylvester, five years old. Joseph Novak, father of Mrs. Kongs, left his native land of Bohe- mia in 1856 and immigrated to America at the age of eighteen years. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 687 \ He made a pioneer settlement on the banks of Wild Cat creek, near Seneca and worked out for ten years on neighboring farms until he was enabled to buy eighty acres of land, which he improved and farmed, gradually increasing his holdings until he had 200 acres. He sold his land in 1905, and bought a section of land near I^ost Springs, Kans., upon which he and his family are residing. Agnes, his wife, was born in 1861, and was eighteen years old when she emigrated from Bohemia to America. The marriage of Joseph Novak and Agnes Skolout took place in 1878 at St. Benedict's, and was blessed with nine children, as follows : Mrs. Agnes Koelzer, Auburn, Neb., mother of children as follows : Mathias, Nicholas and Emma ; Sophia, wife of W. M. Kongs ; Mrs. Anastasia Massat, Hanover, Kans. ; Edward, a farmer near Lost Springs, Kans., has one child, namely, Ellen ; Albert, at Lost Springs ; Mrs. Anna Pospisl, Rockport, Mont., mother of two children, namel}': Leroy and Edward; Chauncey and Ralph, at home v/ith their parents. Charles S. Goodrich, cashier of the Home State Rank of Goff, Kans., was born in Holton, Kans., February 9, 1881. He is a son of Jud- son S. and Almira Harton Goodrich, both natives of New York State. ' Judson S. Goodrich was born May 17, 1842, near Worcester, N. Y. At the age of nine years, he, with his parents, moved to Wisconsin, following farming until 1870, when he moved to Farmington, Kans. In 1878 he moved to Holton. For eleven years he carried mail over a star route between Netawaka and Holton, making the trip daily by hack or horseback. He later engaged in the transfer business at Holton, which he followed until his physical condition made it necessary for him to re- tire from active life. Almira Harton Goodrich, mother of C. S. Good- rich, was born August 12, 1848, residing in New York State until her marriage to Judson S. Goodrich, December 2, 1868. Charles S. Goodrich was reared in Holton, attending the public ' school of his native city. His banking career began at the age of eighteen years, when he entered the State Bank of Goff as bookkeeper. In 1900 and 1901 he attended Campbell College, returning to his post in the Goff bank. At the age of twenty-one he was made assistant cashier, and in 1904, when the First National Bank of Goff was organized, tak- ing over the business of the State and the Farmers State Bank, the sub- ject of this sketch was made cashier of the new institution, which po- sition he filled until 1909, when he resigned to become cashier of the Home State Bank of Goff, then organizing. He was married to Florence Fagan, September 22, 1909. Two chil- dren have been born to this union, namely : Helen and Harvard J. Mrs. Goodrich was born in Sabetha, Kans., December 20, 1884, and is a daughter of Thomas J. and Lois (King) Fagan, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, being educated in that country for a Catholic priest ; but not being entirely satisfied, he left home at the age of eighteen years, coming to America and taking up the study of law. After his marriage, he, with his family, moved to Oklahoma. He was one of the first mayors of Oklahoma City. 688 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mrs. Goodrich is a graduate of the Sabetha High School, and taught in the public school of Goff three years, and at Corning one year, pre- vious to her marriage. C. S. Goodrich' owns a quarter section of Nemaha county's farm land near Goff, besides several pieces of town property. He is president and director of the Goff Telephone Company, and his activities outside of his business affairs are worthy of commendable mention and rank him as one of the real leaders and workers of the community in which he resides. He is a stanch Republican in his political affilations. He is a member and elder of the Goff Christian Church, and is serving his third 'year as president of the Nemaha County Sunday School Associa- tion. He is likewise fraternally allied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a banker and active citizen he has made himself known and his influence in behalf of a better city has been marked, and he is ever found in the van of all movements tending to advance the interests of his home city and community. Willis Morrell, owner of a general merchandise store at Goff, Kans., is one of the progressive business men of that locality. He carries an excellent stock of goods valued at $4,000 and has cultivated a thriving list of customers which is constantly growing because of the courtesy and good service which Mr. Morrell renders. He was born in Michigan, November 4, 1869, and is the son of Oren and Isabella (Tift) Morrell. The father was born in New York about 1839 and grew up on his father's farm. After finishing a district school- ing, he remained on his father's farm until the opening of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Government service. With the exception of the time thus spent in the service of his country, Mr. Morrell spent his life on the farm. In 1885 he came to Kansas, buying eighty acres in Adams township, which he farmed for five years, when he accepted an excellent offer to buy his farm. He rented a place for a short time and then moved near Burns, Kans., where he died in 1898. The mother, Isabella Tift, was also born in Michigan about 1845, and lived on her father's farm until her marriage in 1865. She is now living in Kansas City, Mo,, with her daughter, Mrs. Nina Powell. She was the mother of six children. Willis, of whom this review treats ; Aiadrew, barber, Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Nina Powell, widow, Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Edyth Tanner, whose husband is a mine operator in Cripple Creek, Colo. ; John, deceased, and one child who died in infancy. Willis Morrell was reared on the farm, and after a district schooling had been completed, he started out, at the age of seventeen, to make his own way. His first job was on a farm, where he worked seven years for $16 a month. Then he rented eighty acres in Adams township and farmed five years for himself, after which he moved to Goff and worked in the general merchandise store run by J. G. Bickle until 1908. Having acquired some experience in conducting a merchandise business, he pur- chased a stock of $1,500 worth of goods and started a store of his own. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 689 He has operated this store since that time and has built up a substantial trade by the good service which he has rendered. The stock is much larger now than it was when he started in and a greater variety of goods is handled. In 1894 he was married to Bessie B. Gettle, and one child, Veva, aged five years, was born to them. Mrs. Morrell is the daughter of William and Mary J. (Armstrong) Gettle. The father was born in Penn- sylvania about 1852 and was reared in the rural district on his father's farm. At the age of eighteen he learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed for many years. In 1880 he came to Kansas and bought eighty acres in Adams township, Nemaha county, Kansas, where he made his home until his death in 1905. The farm was unimproved when he took charge of it, but he soon converted it into a modern, well-improved farm. The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1853 ^^'^ lived on her father's farm until her marriage in 1872. Seven children were born to her : Mrs. Iva Likens, wife of a farmer of Centralia, Kans., mother of Samuel, Erma, Lawrence and Eva; Mrs. Sarah Clark, wife of a Burlington (Kans.) farmer, mother of Frank, Hallen, Roy and Inez; Mrs. Mary Watkins, wife of a Goff real estate man, mother of Hazel, Fred, Lloyd and Janice ; Mrs. Etta Finch, wife of a Muscotah merchant, mother of Glen and Pearl ; Mrs. Bessie Morrell, wife of the subject of this bio- graphical review ; Roy, a farmer near Goff, father of Robert and Maxine ; Alice, Oklahoma. Mrs. Morrell was born July 31, 1875, and helped her parents work on the farm, both in the house and in the fields, before her marriage. She has always made herself useful wherever she was, and now that her husband is conducting a store, she helps him out by doing the clerical work, which she has taught herself. She works in the store every day and is as solicitious for the welfare of her husband's business as he is. It is largely this spirit of splendid co-operation which exists between them that enables the business to continue its success, and Mr. Morrell is greatly aided by having such a willing worker to assist him in the management of his business. Mr. Morrell is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security and is well known in Goff and vicinity. Chauncey M. Abbott, tra'veling superintendent for Kirschbrauta & Sons, of Omaha, is one of the best known business men in northern Kansas. He enjoys the close friendship of a great number of business men whom he has met in his work as traveling salesman and traveling superintendent. He was born September 11, 1883, in Goff, and is the only, son of Edmund B. and Prudence (Scofield) Abbott, whose lives are recorded in this volume. After completing his grammar school education in 1899, he went to Havensville High School one year and from there to Campbell College at Holton, Kans., where he remained two years. At the end of his sophomore year he transferred to Baker University at Baldwin, Kans., where he studied one year. He left Baker University (44) 690 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY to attend the Central Business College in Kansas City, Mo., where he prepared himself for commercial work. He then took a position with Kirschbraum & Sons, of Omaha, as road man. His work was so suc- cessful that in two years he was made manager of their plant at Goff, Kans. H^e so successfully executed the duties of the office that he was promoted at the end of five years to the position of field superintendent, a position which he now holds. , July I, 1905, he was married to Vera E. Hindes, and to this union three children have been born: Rachel H. and Horace E., both deceased, and Mary A., aged four years. Mrs. Abbott is the daughter of Horace F. and Mary (Burch) Hindes. Her father was born in Milwaukee, Wis., May 15, 1857, ^^'^ lived on a farm during his early years. When he was seven years old his father, who had enlisted in the Union army for the Civil war, was taken ill of fever and was sent to a hospital at Memphis, where he died. The father had enlisted in Wisconsin and served until December 4, 1863. Upon the death of the father, Horace Hindes was taken to live with his aunt, a sister of his father, in Rockford, 111., where he received his schooling and made his home until he was sixteen years of age. Then he started out for himself and did various kinds of labor, including work in a creamery. In 1890, he organized a stock company to erect a creamery, and he was made general manager because of his ability in this industry. But in three yeafs he had an opportunity to sell his stock at a general increased price and he immediately went from Tampico, 111., where his first enterprise was launched, to Stella, Neb., and organized another company after the same plan he had ernployed at Tampico. He managed this for four years, and in 1897 the company dissolved and the creamery closed its doors. The following year Mr. Hindes moved to Goff, Kans., and took a position as manager of the branch wholesale house of Kirschbraum & Sons. For twelve years he directed the work of this branch house and was then sent out for three years as field super- intendent. In this position, as in others which he had previously held, he proved a capable executive. Mr. Hindes began to feel the call of the farm and watched for a chance to purchase a good plot of land. Finally he bought 320 acres near Logan, Kans., and he is still living on this place. It is well improved and stocked with good horses and cattle. The mother of Mrs. Abbott, Mary (Burch) Hindes, was born in Union Grove, 111., April 21, 1862, and was reared in the country. She was married Novem- ber 22, 1882. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Hindes, three children were born : Vera E., wife of Mr. Abbott, of whom this history is written ; Gladys M., musician, and Hen- rietta, who died in infancy. Gladys Hindes is an accomplished musician of wide renown, having toured the country on various Chautauqua and lyceum circuits. She is a graduate of the Peoria College of Music and of the Illinois Woman's College of Music at Jacksonville. She also spent two years studying with Prof. Loudenback at Atchison, Kans., and followed this with one term of study at the Horner Institute, in Kansas City, Mo. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 69 1 Mrs. Vera Hindes Abbott was born March 14, 1886, at Prairie Cen- ter, 111. She completed grammar school and was graduated from- Goff High School in 1903. During the following two years she worked for her father in the creamery office. She is a member of the Methodist Church and of the Eastern Star lodge. Mr. Abbott is a man of large ability and has achieved a reputation above the average. His work throughout has shown results and he has proved one of the best executives in the business. He is a young man and has a great future ahead of him. Edmund B. Abbott, retired merchant, Goff, Kans., was born in Canada, July 18, 1845, ^-^''^ was reared in the country district and spent his boyhood working about the farm and going to the district school a few months each year. At the age of twenty, he went to the Academy of Bakersville, Canada, for four terms. He also spent four months in the military academy at Quebec, and was so efficient in his work that he was able to qualify as second lieutenant in the king' army. On leaving school he worked on the farm until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he migrated to Idaho and spent two years in the wild western country. Recrossing the border, he spent several years in Canada, and then came to Kansas, locating at Goff, where he engaged in the lumber business and also dealt extensively in live stock. This business held his interest almost exclusively until 1904, when he retired to enjoy the fruits of his long and intensive labors. His parents were Chauncey and Mary (Carpenter) Abbott, who were the parents of five children: Isadore, deceased; Cynthia, deceased; Ed- mund B., of whom this sketch deals; Salina G., deceased, and Chandler C, deceased. The father was born in Canada near the site of Abbott's Corner, on October 17, 1807. He was a member of the Methodist church and was a devoted church worker and held the office of trustee for many years. That he was highly respected by his neighbors is shown by the fact that for many years he was the justice of the peace in his Canadian district and administered the functions of his qff ice, justly and with ability and efficiency. - , ,. . His wife, Mrs. Mary Abbott, was born pecernber 6, 1814, at St. Ar- mond, East Canada, and grew up on her fatlier's farm in that district. She lived at home until her marriage to Mr. Abbott, April 26, 1835, which was performed by the Rev. Matthew Lang, of their home Methodist church. Edmund B. Abbott, of whom this biographical report is written, was married November 7, 1879, to Prudence Scofield, daughter of Lorenzo and Charlotte (Carpenter) Scofield. One son, Chauncey, was born to,, them. An extended account of his life wil) be found in this volurae. Mrs. Abbott's father, Lorenzo Scofield, was born at St. Armond, East Canada, April 26, 1809, and was reared in that vicinity. He devoted his life to agriculture and lived the greater part of his life in Canada. He was a devout member of the Methodist church. Mrs. Abbott's mother 692 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was born September 28, 181 1, in the same village as her husband. She was married to Mr. Scofield, March 8, 1835, ^^'^ they lived a long and happy life together. Like her husband, Mrs. Scofield was a member of the Methodist Church. Seven children were born to this union : Lucy J., deceased; William S., deceased; Jeremiah, deceased, capitalist at St. Albans, Vt. ; David F., deceased; Patricia A., deceased; Prudence C, wife of Mr. Abbott, and Louis D., St. Albans, Vt. Mrs. Abbott was born at St. Armond, East Canada, April 14, 1848, and was reared on her father's farm. As she was an unusually bright pupil, she developed an ambition to teach school, and as soon as possible she qualified herself for such a position. At the age of seventeen years she obtained a teaching position, and for twelve years she followed that profession in Canada and Vermont. Retiring from teaching at the end of that period, she returned to her parents, where she lived for two years, and then she was married to Mr. Abbott, in 1879. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Eastern Star Lodge. Mr. Abbott is one of the public-spirited men of his community and takes an active part in civic matters. Until recently, he served on the school board and the city council of Goff and was held in high respect for his efficient and capable work in those offices. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He usually votes the Democratic ticket. Philip J. Scott. — Some of the interesting history of Marion town- ship has been told around the fireside in the home of Philip J. Scott, farmer and stockman, on long winter evenings. His mother, Catharine (Hogan) Scott, was born January 14, 1833, in Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Patrick and Sarah (Burk) Hogan, natives of Ire- land. Both parents died in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Scott had been living in Nemaha county only a short time when an incident occurred which nearly proved fatal to Mrs. Scott, and of which she never tires of telling. It was one afternoon in 1876, while they were living on the Sullivan place, southwest of Baileyville. In those days many Indians lived around the country by stealing horses and grain, and often attacking houses and burning them. On this particular afternoon she was alone and out across the prairie she could see a band of red men coming. They came closer, and Mrs. Scott began. to grow fearful. But when they were two miles away, neighbors went out and frightened them back and no harm was done. The Indians frequently came into the settlements and drove off the hogs belonging to the white people, but the hogs usually found their way back home. William Scott, the father of Philip, has also seen a very interesting part of Kansas histery and before his death he used to tell story after story to the young folks who had not gone through the days which were more dangerous and uncertain. He was born in Ireland, February 26, 1828, and when a child he came to Canada with his parents. He was a son of William and Elizabeth Scott and his father followed farming. In 1870 the father of Philip Scott came to Nemaha w m o > > S H CO o o 1^ O HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 693 county, Kansas, where he worked as a laborer, mostly in Seneca. The following year he rented a farm, which he managed until 1877, when he homesteaded forty acres in Marion township, section 28. He put up a small one-room house 16x18 feet, with an additional small room above. He broke up this land and in 1881 bought another forty acres, thus mak- ing eighty acres, which amount he owned at his death in 1882. He was married, January 16, 1859, and the facts concerning his wife's life have already been related. She is now living with her son, Philip. Eight children were born to Philip's parents : Elizabeth, now Mrs. Sullivan, of Marion township, widow; Sarah, Mrs. Donnelly, of Center township; William, Center township ; Mary, Mrs. Rice, of Baileyville ; Richard, Marion township; Philip, of whom this biography is, to deal in full; Ella, living at home ; Agnes, Mrs. Anderson, Marion township. Mr. and Mrs. Scct1 were members of the Catholic Church. Philip Scott attended district school in district No. 70, Marion town- ship. He has always lived on the old home place, and since 1892 he has never missed a year feeding hogs and cattle, handling ten or twelve loads each year. He usually keeps two hundred head of cattle the whole yc-ar and buys hogs and cattle for the markets continually. His farm is also produc+ive and nets him a comfortable return. He owns 515 acres of land at this time. Mr. Scott is a Democrat in politics and in 191 1 served a term as justice of the peace and later served a second term, his work being so satisfactory to the people of the township. He has always taken an in- terest in public affairs. Mr. Scott is not married. He is a regular at- tendant at church and contributes liberally to religious and charitable enterprises. Eor many years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has held all offices in the Baileyville Lodge of Odd Fellows. Mr. Scott is a popular man in his community and is al- ways a leader in public enterprises. His good judgment and wide ac- quaintance have made him unusually influential in the affairs of Marion township. Roy Roscoe Gilmore. — For over half a century the Gilmore family have been tillers of the soil in Nemaha county, Kansas. During the early fifties Isaac Gilmore, grandfather of him whose name heads this biogra- phy came from his home near Pomeroy, Ohio, after selling the mineral rights of his i6o-acre tract of valuable coal lands in Meigs county, Ohio, and bought two and one-half sections of prairie land in Nemaha county. He divided this land among his children, who left their old Buckeye State home and settled on the prairies of this county and developed splendid farms. The father of Roy R. Gilmore was Timothy Gilmore, who came to Kansas in 1865 and began to develop his tract of unbroken prairie land. Timothy Gilmore, father of Roy R. Gilmore, was born in Ohio, De- cember 22, 1843, and was a son of Isaac and Polly (Stivers) Gilmore, the former of whom was born at Marietta, Ohio, in 182 1 and dying in July, 1864, and the latter was born in New York February 2, 1821, and died in 694 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1905, a daughter of Benjamin and Sophronia Stivers, who immigrated to Meigs county, Ohio, in 1835. Six years later, 1841, the marriage of Isaac and Polly Gilmore took place. Timothy Gilmore assisted his father on the farm in Meigs county, Ohio,, until he attained the age of eighteen years and then enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio infantry, and served for three years in the Civil war. His company captain was Captain Keyes. He fought at the battles of Piedmont, Va., Fisher Hill, near Strausburg, Cedar Creek and \\'in- chester (1864). He fought through the three days' battle of "V\'inchester under General Sheridan and took part in the final rout of Early's com- mand. His command was later detailed for field duty south of Peters- burg, captured Fort Gregg, near Petersburg ; followed Lee to Appomat- tox and witnessed Lee's surrender. The regiment remained at Rich- mond until June, 1866, and were then sent to their homes. In the fall of 1866, Timothy Gilmore came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and began de- veloping the quarter section of land which his father had given him as his share of the estate which he obtained in exchange for his coal rights in Meigs county, Ohio. Not being very well fixed in funds when he first came to this State, he worked out as a farm hand for some time before making a permanent settlement on his place, which was wild, unbroken prairie. He first built a two-room frame house, to which he later added a single room addition. As time went on and his crops became better and better each year, and his prairie farm was stocked with cattle and horses, he felt able to build a modern home of twelve rooms in 1892. He also erected a large barn, 36x56x19 feet, in 1901. For many years Mr. Gilmore was an extensive stock raiser and specialized in .high-grade Per- cheron horses, the sale of which at his demise brought the large total of $2,600. He was also a specialist in the breeding of Berkshire hogs, which took many prizes and blue ribbons at the various stock shows. Not long after he began farming his first quarter section, he added 200 acres to his farm. This sturdy pioneer died in 191 1 and his remains were interred in the Oneida cemetery. He was an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Gilmore was married in June, 1867, to Harriet Vilott, who re- ceived the second marriage license granted in Nemaha county. His wife, Harriet Vilott, was born in Indiana, February 14, 1848, a daughter of James and Marian (Noble) A'^ilott, who immigrated to Kansas in Janu- ary, 1865, and settled in Nemaha county. Seven children were born to Timothy and Harriet Gilmore, as follows : Mrs. Luella Briggs, Summer- field, Kans., mother of seven children, namely: Percy (deceased). Merle, Eunice, Naoma, ]\Iildred, Lela and Helen ; Mrs. Stella Burk, a widow, Emporia, Kans., has two children, Celia and Gloyd ; Ira Lee Gilmore, lumberman, Oklahoma, has three children, Basil, Dale and Rosamond ; Mrs. May Bloss, Seneca, Kans., has two children, Nelly May and Ed- mond C. ; A^'illiam C, living near Oneida, Kans., father of three children. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 695 Howard, Gilbert and Cornelia; Roy Roscoe, subject of this review; Mrs. Inez Leftwich, Pittsburg, Pa., 'has one child, Morris M. Timothy Gilmore was a prominent and influential leader of the Re- publican party in Kansas and served as central committeeman for several years. He was a delegate to State conventions on several occasions, but was never an office seeker. He preferred to take an active interest in politics solely for the love of the game, and during his career he assisted many friends to political preferment. Roy R. Gilmore was born on the home place of his parents in Adams township, 'May 22, 1881. After completing the course of study prescribed, in the district school of his neighborhood, he entered the State Agricul- tural College at Manhattan and studied for two years. Failing eyesight compelled him to relinquish his studies, however, and he took the short course in agriculture. He returned home from the college and for five years he tilled his father's acreage on the share plan. He then made a trip to California for his health and returned by way of Oregon and Washington, stopping on his return trip at Everett, Wash., for two months. Upon his return home he again farmed the Gilmore home place for four years, in the meantime building himself a four-room cottage across the highway from his father's home. He moved into this new home and has since remained there, cultivating his own farm of 120 acres. Mr. Gilmore was married December 26, 1907, to Enid Lulu Keeler, a daughter of Morris and Alberta (Hostetter) Keeler. Morris Keeler, the father of Mrs. Gilmore was born in Connecticut and became a carpenter. He immigrated to Kansas at an early day and still follows his trade at Sabetha, Kans. Mrs. Gilmore was born April 14, 1883, and was reared on a farm. She graduated from the Sabetha High School and taught school for three years. For two years previous to her mar- riage she filled the post of cashier and bookkeeper in the Haines store at Sabetha. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roy R. Gilmore, Helen Margaret, aged six years. Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore are members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Gilmore is affiliated with the Republican party. The Gilmores are popular in their home locality and have many warm and steadfast friends .who esteem them for their many good qualities. Dr. James B. Roberts, an Eclectic practitioner, is -a well known pro- fessional man of Goff, Kans., and has a very large practice in this vicinity. Dr. Roberts is skilled in his specialty and enjoys the confi- dence of a large clientele because of his unquestioned integrity and high ethical standard as well as the attestation of many years of suc- cessful practice of the profession of medicine. Dr. Roberts is a native of Indiana, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah A. (Anderson) Roberts, who were the parents of four children, whose names are as follows : Amanda, deceased ; William, deceased ; Jennie M., wife of Mr. Jones, retired, Kansas City, Mo., and James B., 696 HISTORY OF.NEMAHA COUNTY of whom this review is written. The father died when Dr. Roberts was a small boy, and little can be recalled of the incidents of his life. The mother was born in Ohio in 1829, and died in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1897. She was reared on the farm and attended the district school; but her education was by no means confined to her school room instruction, for she was taught the household arts by her mother in the most thor- oughgoing fashion, which was so widely followed in former years. This training included spinning and weaving. She lived with her parents until her marriage, which took place in 1857. Her husband's death caused her to sell the family farm in Indiana and move to Iowa, near Hartford, Warren county, where she lived with her brother-in-law, and by the hardest kind of work, managed to keep her children together. As soon as the little tots were large enough to work, they helped their mother shear the sheep by holding them while she deftly ran the shears over the animals. Then she carded, spun and wove the wool into cloth and made their clothing. After spending four years with her brother- in-law, her children were growing up, and she moved to Hamlin, Iowa, and kept house for the children. For five years her two oldest sons taught school and the struggling family lived in modest comfort by the earnings of the children and the careful management of the mother. Moving to Adel, Iowa, the sons, William and James, taught school at that place until the health of William began to break under the strain, and he was compelled to go to Colorado for his health. To accomplish this, William made the trip overland in a wagon driven by a span of mules, and stopped at Idaho Springs to recuperate. Six months later his brother, James, the subject of this biography, joined him and they en- gaged in mining. A year later the mother joined them, and during the next four years the two brothers worked desperately to save up money. Fortune favored them, and at the end of four years they had saved sufficient funds to enable them to study medicine. They returned to Iowa and attended the Eclectic Medical College, where they were grad- uated in 1891. William went to Nebraska, where he practiced until his death. The mother lived in Des Moines until her death, December 22, 1897. When Dr. Roberts was twelve years old his economic manhood began. Although a bo)^ a stature, he was made to carry the burdens of a man, for the income of the family lay largely on the initiative of Dr. Roberts and his brother, William. For several years he worked at any- thing which would bring a monetary return. One thing stands out in the life story of Dr. Roberts — he wanted an education, and he fought to gain the object of his ambition. One instance which is typical is his working three months at the wages of $5 a month to get the $15 neces- sary to attend the normal school to qualify as a teacher. He saved his money, and in 1888, began the study of medicine. After a successful course he was given the degree of Doctor of Eclectic Medicine, and began practicing in 1891. He practiced in Des Moines for three years HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 697 and then went to Springfield, Neb., where he joirted his brother in the medical science. Upon the death of his brother, William, Dr. Roberts went to Kansas City for further study of the latest developments in medical science. He studied at the Eclectic Medical University there and was graduated in 1900. For the next thirteen years he practiced in Formosa, Kans., and then came to Goff, where he enjoys a large prac- tice. Dr. Roberts stands very high in his profession, and he has con- tributed to several medical journals,, including that of the Lloyd Brothers, of Cincinnati, and the "Eclectic Medical Journal," Kansas City, Mo. He was married in 1884 to Belle Branson, and three children have . been born to them : George, a barber in Medford, Ore. ; Earle, machine shop foreman, Sioux Falls, S. D. ; Farris, high school student. Mrs. Roberts is a daughter of Nathan and Mary (Retdig) Bi-anson. Her father was born in Knoxville, Tenn., in 183 1, and learned the cabinet maker's trade and the art of wagon making. He worked steadily at his two trades until 1861, when he enlisted in the Twelfth Illinois cavalry. He was in the skirmish at Harper's Ferry and was sent home sick shortly afterward, but speedily recovered and returned to the front, where he served continuously throughout the remainder of the war. On the completion of his term of service, he homesteaded twenty-five acres of timber land in Illinois, and lived there until 1879, when he sold out and moved to Springfield, Neb., where he remained until his death, in 1901. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and held several offices in his locality as a result of the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens. He was married in 1857 to Mary Retdig, at Grumfield, 111., and to this union ten children were born : John, farmer in Colorado, father of two children, Lula and William ; Marion, express agent, Omaha, Neb., father of one child, Leon ; Mrs. Tillie Bauner, Springfield, Neb., widow, mother of six children, Boyd, Beulah, Ada, Ernest, Louise, Walter ; Isabelle, wife of Dr. Roberts ; Mrs. Lettie Monford, Chadron, Neb., of Walter and- Donald ; Mrs. Dollie Minturn, whose husband is a stock farmer, mother of Raymond and Irene. The other three children are not living. Mrs. Roberts was born January 15, 1871. She attended the gram- mar schools and learned the milliner's trade, which she followed at Springfield, Neb., for six years. She is active in the work of the Chris- tian Adventist Church, and is likewise prominent in the activities of the Royal Neighbors lodge, of which she is a member. Dr. Roberts is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is past grand master of the latter order. He votes the Democratic ticket, but is too busy with his practice to do active political work. He is a prominent citizen of Goff and is well known and admired by a large number of residents of this township. 698 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Gottlieb Schneider. — Whenever you find a settlement of German or Swiss emigrants, there you find a country of prosperous and enterprising homes, whose owners are usually well-to-do and are ambitious for them- selves and their progeny. Gottlieb Schneider, well-to-do farmer of Adams township, of Swiss birth, is a striking example of the successful foreign born American citizen, who has risen to a place of prominence and sub- stance in the land of his adoption. Gottlieb Schneider was born in Switzerland, October 8, 1893, and is a son of Albert and Elizabeth (Schneider) Schneider. Albert, his father, was born in 181 1, and died at his Swiss home in 1863. Elizabeth, his wife, and mother of the subject, was born in Switzerland in 1830, mar- ried in 1855 and lived in her native land until 1883, and then immigrated with her family to America, first locating in Cleveland, Ohio, where she resided until 1888, and then migrated to Kansas, locating in Brown county, where she was housekeeper for her son, Gottlieb, for two years. She then returned to Cleveland, Ohio, and lived in that city for twenty- seven years, finally returning to Switzerland, where her demise occurred in 1898. The children of the Schneider family are as follows : Jacob, a machinist of Cleveland, Ohio, and father of three children ; Albert. Ed- ward, Mrs. Elsie York, mother of one child; Gottlieb, the subject of this review, who left his native land when seventeen years of age (in 1880) and immigrated to America. He located in Cleveland, Ohio, and worked in the machine shops, plying his trade of skilled machinist for four years. In 1884, Mr. Schneider came West to Jackson county, Kansas, and worked as farm hand for $15 per month for four years, and then rented eighty acres of land for a year, after which he again hired out for $25 per month and boarded himself in a residence furnished him by his employer. One year later he again rented sixty acres in Jackson county, which he farmed for two years, then moved to Brown county, Kansas, where he rented 160 acres for three years, after which he rented 160 acres in Adams township, Nemaha county, and served as overseer of a 480-acre farm, owned by M. Schaible, of Brown county. He looked after the Schaible farm for one year, then rented 160 acres more land and farmed it for one year. Mr. Schneider is owner of 160 acres of land in Adams township and is still renting the Schaible farm of 320 acres. He is an extensive live stock man and favors the Duroc Jersey breed of hogs. His farm produces well and he cultivates 200 acres of corn annually, some of which is sold for seed to the extent of $150 year])'. I\Ir. Schneider was married December 26, 1889, to Fredericka Lan- dle, a daughter of Frederick and Mary M. (Roehm) Landle, and this union has been blessed with six children, as follows : Herman, a farmer in Jefferson county, Kansas ; AValter, at home ; Mrs. Lillie Pugh, wife of a farmer near Seneca, has one child, Lloyd ; George, Anna and Har- old, at home. Frederick Landle, father of Mrs. Schneider, was born in Baden, Germany, was a factory employee and died in his native land when Mrs. Schneider was three years old. Mrs. Mary M. Landle was HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 699 born in Germany in 1842, and died in her native land in 191 1. There were three children in the Landle family, namely: Christina Ruhe, Cali- fornia, mother of four children, Mrs. Rosa Roehm, Mrs. Louise Buerr, Mrs. Amy Gossler, and Robert; Fredericka, wife of Gottlieb Schneider; Mrs. Louise Jenni, Germany, mother of four children. Mrs. Fredericka Schneider was born October 7, 1867, and was reared in her native vil- lage in Germany. When ten years of age she worked out for $25 per year until she was twenty years old, and then came to America, where she worked as domestic for $2 per week for two years and was then married. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are members of the German Evangelical Church. August Thiem, farmer and stockman, Adams township, was born in Germany, September 10, 1856, and is a son of August and Rosa (Ciller) Thiem. August Thiem, father of the subject, was born in Saxonj', Germany, in 1831, and began his own career in 1852, at which time he was married and farmed in his native land until his immigration to America in 1883. He located on an eighty-acre farm near Goff, Kans., and built up a fine farm from unbroken prairie. He became well-to-do and was the owner of 280 acres of land. He has given land to his chil- dren and grandchildren and still owned 160 acres at the time of his de- mise in 1903. To August and Rosa Thiem were born the following children : William, Henry, Carl, Edward, Mathilda and Mrs. Theresa (Bern), deceased; Paul, a farmer in Nemaha county; Oswald, farming in Nemaha county; August, with whom this review is concerned, and who was the first born of nine children. The mother of the foregoing children was born in 1833, and died in Kansas in 1909. August Thiem, subject of this review, began life for himself when twenty-five years old, and worked as farm laborer for two years after his immigration to America in 1881. His first year's wages were $70, and in 1882 he made a first payment on eighty acres of land, and in 1884 began working for his father and continued tilling his father's land until his marriage in 1889, and in the following year he moved to his own farm, after he had completed the erection of the necessary buildings thereon. Mr. Thiem has added to his holdings until he now has a fine farm of 300 acres, well improved and highly productive. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs and Durham cattle, and is building up herds of these fine animals. Mr. Thiem was married in 1889 to Anna Trache, and this union has been blessed with the following children : Mr. Elsie Grustye, Adams township ; Emma, Eitel, Arthur, Edward, Walter, Leon, Herbert and Karl, at home with their parents. Mrs. Anna Thiem was born in Sax- ony, German3^ August 6, 1862, and is a daughter of Gottlieb and Chris- tina (Coach) Trache. Gottlieb Trache, her father, was born in 1829, and farmed in his native country until 1881, and then came to America, settling on a forty-acre farm in Wisconsin, which he cultivated until yOO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 1893, at which time he sold out and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and resided Yfiih. his daughter, Mrs. Thiem. His wife, Christina, was born in 1830, and died in 1867. Mrs. Thiem immigrated to this country when she was nineteen years old and worked out as a domestic for $2 per week, remaining in one situation for four years and two months previous to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Thiem are loyal members of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Thiem is an independent in politics and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Thomas Henry. — Were all of the stories of trials and tribulations of the early Kansas settlers printed they would fill several respectable volumes of large size ; the stories of the early pioneers of Nemaha county, for instance, would make interesting reading were they told in suitable rhanner for recording. The life history of Thomas Henry, of Adams township, Kansas pioneer, and the tale of his rise from the direst poverty to a position of substance in the community reads like a tale from modern fiction, and will serve as a vauable lesson for his progeny to remember in future years. Thomas Henry was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 6, 1855, and is a son of George and Eliza (Dougle) Henry, the former having been born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1827; married Eliza Dougle in 1852, and immigrated to America in 1872. George Henry located at Wet- more, Nemaha county, Kansas, and worked out by the month for a year ; but, unfortunately, he received no wages because his employer had suffered the misfortune of having his crops destroyed b}^ the grass- hoppers and had no money to pay wages. He offered Mr. Henry his choice of taking the best horse in the barn for his pay or remaining on the farm and working for his board. He chose the latter course, as a horse would have been a decided incumbrance in those days, with no feed in existence to keep the animal alive. He stayed on his employer's farm and killed and dressed chickens for the Atchison market, and after the hard times had somewhat abated, he rented a tract of land in partnership with Nick Pfrang and cultivated it for six years. He then rented eighty acres for a cash rent of $75 for two years. He sold off his live stock, etc., and pre-empted 160 acres of land in Kingman county, Kansas, proving up on the same in six months, and resided thereon until his demise in 1888. His wife, Eliza, was born in Bavaria, in 1828, and died in her native land in 1871. George and Eliza Henry were the parents of seven children, as follows: Thomas, the subject of this review ; Nicholas is retired at Goff, Kans. ; Adolph is a farmer in Germany ; Andrew is farming in Mitchell township ; Lizzie, deceased ; Margaret, in Germany; Mrs. Katie Choenlau, Oklahoma. Thomas Henry began doing for himsef when fifteen years of age, worked four years in a brewery and then served in the German army until he was twenty-three j^ears old. His army service was followed b)' three years' service in a brewery, during which time he saved money enough to pay his passage to America. He left Germany enroute to HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY JOI the United States, June 7, 1881, and arrived at Wetmore, Kans., July I, 1881. He located in Wetmore township, Nemaha county, Kansas, where he was employed for four months in railroad section work, fol- lowed by six months in railroad construction work in western Kansas, and his subsequent return to Nemaha county. After working as farm hand for one year he rented eighty acres and farmed on his own account for a year, following which he purchased 160 acres of land in Kingman county, Kansas. For five years he tried desperately to earn a living for himself and wife on his Kingman county farm, but failed to do so. Times got so hard with him that he was forced to give his note with approved security in order to buy a $3 pair of shoes, and he finally left his farm and took up railroad work in Colorado in order to earn suf- ficient money to provide the necessities of life for himself and his. He relinquished his farm to a loan company, which assumed his $r,ioo mortgage, and promised him $25 for the title to the land, but never paid the money. He moved his family to Colorado and left his live stock in his brother's charge, later selling the animals for $94. He re- mained in Colorado until 1894, and then decided to try Kansas farming once more, this time, however, in Nemaha county. He returned to this county and bought eighty acres of land for $1,100 and farmed it for some years until 1909, then rented his place and bought 186 acres (his present home place) in Adams township. Some time later, Mr. Henry sold his 160 acres, which he had accumulated in Wetmore township, and has since devoted his entire time and attention to the development of his Adams township farm. He has a fine seven-room farm residence and has a large modern barn, built in 191 1, and other excellent improve- ments on his place. Success has come to him in these later years and he has prospered to the extent that he is one of the representative and substantial citizens of his county. Mr. Henry was married, October 28, 1883, to Theresa Martin, in Wetmore, who has borne him children, as follows : The first born died in infancy; Mrs. Mary Gudenkauf, on a farm near Kelly, Kans., mother of four children ; George, a farmer at Ordway, Colo., father of two children ; John, with George in Colorado ; Mrs. Rosa Mandable, on a farm in Nemaha county, has one child; Joseph, Fred and Carl, at home; Elizabeth, deceased ; Louis and Thomas, also at home with their parents. The mother of this family was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 20, 1863, and is a daughter of Valentine and Barbara (Pfrang) Martin. Val- entine Martin was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1838, and died in 1878. He was the only son of Fright and Barbara Martin, the latter of whom died in Germany. He left his native land after his marriage and immigrated to Arnerica in 1871, locating at Wetmore, Kans., where he rented 160 acres for one year, then moved to a rented farm near Seneca, upon which he lived for two years previous to buying a homestead of eighty acres. He sold his homestead two years later and then rented 160 acres in Harrison township for two years, after which he rented 160 702 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY acres five miles north of Seneca and farmed it for six years. His un- timely death in 1878 was caused by a runaway team. Barbara, wife of Valentine Martin, was born in 1833 and died in 1910.' She worked out for $25 per year until her marriage. After Mr. Martin's death she lived on the family farm for three years and then bought an eighty- acre farm in Wetmore township, which was without improvements. She and her second husband, Andrew Capp, with the help of her chil- dren, broke up the land and erected a home and buildings on the tract and lived upon her farm until 1909. She then sold out and moved to a home in Seneca, dying July 22, 1910. After the demise of her first husband she married Andrew Capp in 1880, who still resides at Seneca. Nine children were born to Valentine and Barbara Martin, as follows : Maggie and Agnes, deceased ; Theresa, wife of Thomas Henry_; Mrs. Barbara Gress, on a farm in Nemaha county ; Mrs. Anna Sherlock, Adams township ; George, a farmer of Nemaha county ; John, Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Mary Quinlan, Gilman township; Joseph, died at the age of seven months. Theresa Henry worked as domestic for two years at fifty cents per week in Seneca, and when she was thirteen years old, worked for John P. Cone at seveny-five cents per week, and it is one of the sad experiences of the stay at Mr. Cone's house that she set fire to some goods used as covering for fruit and was docked $1.50 damages on account of the accident. Mr. and Mrs. Henry and children are all loyal and devout members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Henry is a member of the Farmers' Union and usually votes the Democratic ticket. Peter P. Waller. — The younger generation of farmers are prone to specialize ; many of them believe thoroughly in the more advanced meth- ods of farming, and do not fear to venture into special departments of agriculture which admit of greater rewards to the man of intellect and industry who closely applies his talents in the right direction. Improve- ment in the class of animals on the farms of the west is gradually coming about and is due to the venturesome' specialists in animal husbandry who insist upon having only the best thoroughbred varieties of livestock which they can obtain. These in turn sell the product of their breeding stables to others who also desire to improve their herds with better meat producing strains. Peter P Waller, farmer and breeder, of Adams town- ship, Nemaha county, is one of those specialists in animal husbandry who is making a success of breeding Hereford cattle and whose herd of fifteen head is of the best strain obtainable. Mr. Waller was born on a farm near Seneca, Kans., February 8, 1886, and is a son of Wenzel Waller, a native of Austria, born March 14, 1850. Wenzel Waller immigrated to America in 1868, first located in St. Louis, but worked in several mid-western States as harvest hand and laborer until 1871. He then came to Nemaha county and bought 120 acres near Oneida. He prospered and added land from time to time until he became owner of 640 acres in Nemaha county and 240 acres in Colo- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 7^2) rado. Wenzel Waller was married in 1872 to Magdalena Kizer, born in Germany in 1855 and came to America with her parents when she was an infant eighteen months old. She was reared to young womanhood in A\'^isconsin. Ten children have blessed this marriage as follows : Wen- zel, deceased; John, on the Waller home place; Joseph, farming in Colo- rado; Mrs. Marguerite Aziere, on a farm near Kelly; Airs. Elizabeth Lierz, living on a farm near Seneca ; Mrs. Oplonia Christman, residing on the home place; Peter P., subject of this review; Mrs. Alary P>oding, living on a farm near Kelly ; Mrs. Annie Sack, living on a farm near Seneca ; Mrs. Josephine Nordhaus, on a farm near Seneca. Peter P \\^aller was reared to become a farmer and worked at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years old. He then rented a farm from his father, located about six miles east of Seneca, consisting of 320 acres in Adam.s township and is cultivating this farm to his profit. Mr. Waller specializes in white-faced Hereford cattle, of which breed he has fifteen pure bred stock and twenty head of grade stock. During 1915 he exhibited ten head of his fine Herefords and was awarded five blue ribbons, three red and two yellow ribbons, his exhibit easily leading all others at the livestock exhibit. Mr. Waller keeps Duroc Jerse}^ swine and aims to maintain enough livestock on his place to consume the grain which he raises. - He has out this year ten acres of wheat and 150 acres in corn, besides roughage. Mr. Waller was married February 17, 1909 to Mar}' RoUman, daugh- ter of John and Catharine (Young) Rollman. Three children have been born to this union: Wenzel P., born March 2, 1910; Francis P., born Jan- uary 25, 1913, and Kathleen Marion, born May 5, 1915. Mrs. Mary Waller, mother of the foregoing children, was born in Aleade county, Kansas, April 16, 1887, and began Working out at the age of fifteen years. She followed dressmaking previous to her marriage with Mr. Waller. John Rollman, her father, was born in Germany in 1848 and immigrated to America in 1884 and farmed for four years in Meade county, Kansas. He then went to Colorado and homesteaded for two years, left his claim and returned to Kansas, where he died in 1892. Kathleen, his wife, was born in Germany on November 22, 1859, worked as a domestic until her marriage in 1884, followed by her immigration to America with her hus- band. John and Kathleen Rollman were the parents of seven children, as follows : Joseph, an engineer in Canada ; Mary, wife of Peter P Wal- ler; Annie, Laurence and Anna, deceased; Peter, Leavenworth; Katie, Seneca, Kans. Mrs. Rollman married John Banks, a native of Ital3^ in 1894. Mr. Banks was born in Italy in 1844, immigrated to America in 1874, began farming in 1886 and died in 1912. Four children were born of this marriage : Annie, Willie, Mathew, deceased, and Gertrude, a high school student. Mr. and Mrs. Waller are members of the Catholic Church of Seneca. Mr. Waller is a Democrat in politics and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. 704 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY William H. Sherrard, trustee of Adams township, and owner of a fine farm of 157 acres, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, December 2, 1855, and is a son of John C. and Anna M. (Waggener) Sherrard, the former of whom was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, April 15, 1831, and died January 2, 1909. John Sherrard was left fatherless when he was five years old, and at the age of twelve years he was the practical head of the family. He remained with his mother until he was twenty- three years of age, then married and started in life for himself. He fol- lowed the trade of carpenter for a few years and then began farming on rented land. He removed to Putnam county, Ohio, and lived there on a farm until his removal to Atchison, Kans., from which city he drove over- land to Sabetha, Kans., November i, 1868, accompanied by his brother- in-law. They rented land for four years three and one-half miles south of Sabetha and then bought 120 acres of land in Capioma township, in part- nership with his son, William H. He developed his'farm and lived there- on for twelve years, then engaged in the grain and elevator business at Oneida, Kans., for a period of six years. After disposing of his elevator and farrti he bought a tract of thirty-one acres in Oneida and resided there until his demise in 1909. John Sherrard was a member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church and was affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. He was married in 1854 to Anna M. Wag- gener, born in Athens county, Ohio, in 1834, and who was a teacher prior to her marriage. They were the parents of eight children, as fol- lows : William H., subject of this review ; Mrs. Mary E. Stewart, a widow living in Portland, Ore. ; James C, living on a farm near Oneida, and father of seven children, three of whom were killed in a cyclone ; Edwin S., farmer near Oneida, has three children; John E., police judge at Mul- S., farmer near Oneida, has three children; John E., police judge and mine owner at Mullen. Idaho ; George U., traveling for a Louisville to bacco firm with headquarters at Salt Lake City, father of one child; Charles P., deceased, and Guy, Arcadia, Kans. William H. Sherrard resided with his parents until he was twenty- five years old and then rented eighty acres of land in Capioma township for two years, after which he bought eighty acres within two miles of Woodlawn, Kans., erected thereon a house 22x24 feet, with six rooms, together with a barn and other out buildings. He resided on this farm until 1909, then sold it and purchased 157 acres in Adams township, which is his present home. Mr. Sherrard has practically retired from active farming and his land is being cultivated by his son-in-law, Arthur Farnham. Mr. Sherrard was married to Eliza Johnson, March 15, 1882, and two children have been born to this union: Mrs. Ina B. Bridson, Perry, Kans., and mother of a son, Gale H., and Mrs. Grace E. Farnham, whose husband is operating the Sherrard farm. Mrs. Eliza (Johnson) Sherrard was born December 22, 1859, and is a daughter of William and Mary (Lafferty) Johnson, the former of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 7^5 whom was born in Ireland in 183 1, left an orphan at the age of seven, and was thrown upon his own resources. He immigrated to America at the age of nineteen and located in Pennsylvania, where he was em- ployed in the lime quarries. In 1858 he removed to Illinois and farmed there until 1870, and then immigrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, buying 160 acres of land in Capioma township. He developed a fine farm and resided thereon until his demise, April 14, 1908. His wife, Mary, was born in Ireland in 1835 and was married to Mr. Johnson in Pennsylvania, in 1857. There were ten children born to William and Mary Johnson, as follows. Eliza, wife of W. H. Sherrard ; Ella, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Reed, a widow with five children, living on a farm near Woodlawn, in Capioma township ; Margaret, deceased ; Samuel H., Oneida, Kans., trustee of Oilman township ; William E., trustee of Rock Creek town- ship ; Anise, deceased ; Mrs. Ida Foster, whose husband is treasurer of Capioma township, mother of three children ; Albert J., druggist at Falls City, Neb. ; Mrs. Delia Carpenter, Rock Creek township. Mr. Sherrard is a Democrat in politics and is one of the leaders of his party in Nemaha county. He is the present trustee of Adams town- ship and held the office of trustee of Capioma township when he was tweijty-two years of age. He and Mrs. Sherrard are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Sherrard is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, of which lodge he was the efficient clerk for eighteen years. John A. Hainan, owner of 160 acres of farm land in Oilman town- ship, is a son of Arnold and Isabella (Colyer) Heinen, natives of Prus- sia. Mr. Heinen is one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of Nemaha county, who has worked his way upward to a competence during the thirty-three years of his residence in Kansas. He is a veteran of the Civil war and has a war record of which his descendants may well be proud. Although Mr. Heinen has passed the allotted three score years and ten, and his life has been spent in hard labor, he is still vig- orous, mentally and physically. Arnold Heinen, his father, was born in Prussia in 1818, and immi- grated to America in 1852. He stopped in New Orleans for two months after landing from the steamship which conveyed him and his family across the seas and waited until the ice had gone out of the Mississippi river so that the steamer could carry him to his destination in Illinois. When navigation was again resumed he took a steamer for Bridge- town, 111., and resided in that town and worked at common labor until 1862. In the meantime he had been saving his money and was enabled to buy 120 acres of land ten miles distant from Bridgetown, and there moved his family. His first farm home was a rude log hut, 10x10 feet in size, and it was necessary for Mr. Heinen to clear his land of a heavv growth of timber. By the time of his demise in October, 1882, he had eighty acres cleared and a comfortable home erected and was in fair circumstances. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. His (45) 7o6 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY wife, Isabella, was born in Prussia in 1820, and she and Arnold Heinen were married in 1840. They were the parents of six children, as fol- lows: John A., subject of this review; Jacob, retired farmer of Wet- more, Kans. ; Mrs. Sophia Ingle^ living on the old .home place in Illinois ; Mrs. Tillie Mulhart, retired at Wetm.ore, Kans. ; Amanda, deceased ; one died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1884. John A. Heinen was born in a Prussian village, March 11, 1843, ^^'^ when he was two years old he was taken and reared by his father's brother until he attained the age of nine years. He then accompanied his parents to America and was reared on the pioneer farm in Illinois. As soon as he was strong enough he began working to assist in the sup- port of the family and did all kinds of hard labor, such as working in a brick yard at twenty-five cents per day and farm work at from $8 to $10 per month. He enlisted for service in the Union army, August 12, 1862, and served as a member of an Illinois company until his honorable dis- charge from the service, August 3, 1865. Mr. Heinen was engaged in many great battles during the Civil war, and was in the following en- gagements : Jackson, Tenn. ; Champion Hills, Black River, siege and capture of Vicksburg, and was at the second fight at Jackson, Miss., in August, 1863. His command then went into winter quarters at Black River, and he was one of sixty men detailed for mounted scout duty. Later, his company was a part of the command which chased Price's army through Tennessee, and again went into winter quarters at Mem- phis, in 1863 and 1864. In the spring of 1864 his company was given six days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition and sent on scout duty. On a forced march to Germantown they met the enemy and the Union forces suffered defeat and lost their supplies, and were forced to retreat to Memphis. Soon after his arrival at Memphis, Mr. Heinen suffered a sunstroke, and on June, 14, 1864, was sent to the hospital, where he remained until December 14, 1864. He then joined his regiment at Nashville, Tenn., and took part in the battles around that city. From Nashville his command returned to Memphis, thence to St. Louis, and from there to New Orleans, where they remained for two months pre- vious to going to Fort Morgan, across the Gulf of Mexico. From Fort Morgan he marched to Mobile, Ala., and took part in the heavy engage- ments at that place, April 7, 1865, and at Fort Blakely, April 9, where his last battle was fought. In the spring of 1866, Mr. Heinen rented a farm and followed agri- cultural pursuits in Illinois until his removal to Kansasx in 1883. H'e bought 160 acres of good land near Oneida, in Gilman township, Ne- maha county, in section 28, and has made his home on this tract con- tinuously for thirty-three years. Mr. Heinen was married in 1870 to Rosa Heck, a daughter of Fred Heck, who was born in Germany in 1802 ; immigrated to the United States in 1854; located in Indiana and followed the trade of wagon HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 'JO'] maker; moved to Illinois and farmed, and came to Kansas with Mr. Heinen and made his home with him until his 'demise in 1886. There were two children in the Heck family, namely: Rosa, wife of John A. Heinen, and one child died in infancy. Mrs. Rosa Heinen was born in Prussia, October 26, 1845, ^"d began working out as a domestic when ten years old and continued in domestic service until her marriage with Mr. Heinen in Illinois. She is a member of the Methodist Church and the Woman's Relief Corps. Nine children have been born to John A. and Rosa Heinen^ namely : Fred, a farmer near Abilene, Kans., has two children; Mrs. Lizzie Bob- bet, on a farm in Adams township, has two sons ; Jacob, farmer near Cen- tralia, Kans., has a daughter ; Mrs. Belle Pierce, first born of the family, wife of a blacksmith at Axtell, Kans. ; Mrs. Emma Garber, on a farm in Adams township, mother of one child ; John, farming near Oneida, Kans.; Mrs. Frances Campfield, at home, mother of one child; William, on a farm near Centralia ; one child died in infancy. John A. Heinen is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a Republican in politics. He is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Frederick W. Funk, farmer, Gilman township, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born August 20, 1878, on a farm near Oneida, and is a son of John and Magdalene Funk, whose biographies appear elsewhere in this history of Nemaha county. Frederick W. Funk was reared on his fa- ther's farm and received a district school education. He assisted his fa- ther in operating the home farm until he attained his majority, and he then rented a tract of 160 acres from his father, which he cultivated until 1914. In the meantime he had invested his savings in a farm of seventy- five acres two miles east of the home place in 1910. He moved to this farm in 1914, and his sister and her husband who had been managing this farm, moved to the Funk homestead in order to keep house for John Funk, the father. Mr. Funk is beginning to breed Jersey cattle on his place, and has a nice herd started with four thoroughbred Jersey cows, and it is his intention to specialize in Jerseys exclusively. His poultry are also worthy of mention, and are of the Rhode Island Red variety. Mr. Funk was married February 28, 1904, to Miss Maud E. Graham, daughter of Benjamin F. and Josephine (Tasker) Graham of Seneca, Kans., to whose biography the reader is referred for a history of the Graham family. Two children have been born of this union, as follows : Clifford, aged eight years, and Marguerite, born on the old Funk home- stead. Mrs. Maud E. Funk was born on a farm near Baileyville, Kans., November 2, 1877, and was reared in Seneca. When eighteen years old, she began clerking in the Seneca stores, and was thus employed for seven years in Seneca and Topeka, Kans. One of the heirlooms in possession of Mr. and Mrs. Funk is a large mirror, six feet, nine inches in height, by thirty inches wide, fitted in a massive plaster frame and extra large French beveled. This mirror was brought from Brooklyn, N. Y., and is 708 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY over one hundred years old. Mr. Funk is a Republican in politics, and he and Mrs. Funk are an energetic, ambitious couple who are destined to succeed in the land of their birth as their pioneer parents succeeded before them. Simon Armstrong. — The career of the ■ late Simon Armstrong, of Home township, in its recital is an epitome of a wonderful success achieved by a poor Scottish homesteader, who preempted land in section ID of Home township over fifty years ago. He was of that sturdy strain which knows no weariness and are universally successful as stockmen the world over. Mr. Armstrong devoted his entire attention to the raising and feeding of cattle and made large earnings where others who had the same opportunities in Kansas failed. At his death he had the satisfaction of bequeathing to his children the large estate of 1,200 acres, which, when divided, made exactly a quarter section of land for each child. Simon Armstrong was born in Scotland, May 4, 1829, and was reared to young manhood amid the crags and peaks of his native coun- try. He grew up sturdy and strong as well as ambitious to immigrate to America and make his fortune. He Came to this country when a young man and first settled in Iowa, where he worked out as a farm hand until 1865. In that year he came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and homesteaded 160 acres in section 10 of Home township, which is still the home place of the family, and where his widow resides. His work in Nemaha county was one of the greatest successes ever known in the history of Nemaha, and he died a very wealthy man and a large land owner. • Probably his greatest pleasure and satisfaction was gleaned from the fact that he could bequeath to each of his eight children a farm of 160 acres as a reward for their assistance while he was accumu- lating a fortune. He departed this life in 1902, and was sincerely mourned as a sturdy and upright citizen. Mr. Armstrong was married in 1874 to Miss Emma Vautravers, and this marriage resulted in the birth of the following children : Fred, a farmer in Home township ; Mrs. Margaret S. Mooney, Home town- ship ; John, a farmer in Home township; Lewis, cultivating the home place; Mrs. Rosa Stout, Mrs. Louise Bryan, Roy and Jessie, all living in Home township. Mr. Armstrong was a member of the Congregational church, of which denomination Mrs. Armstrong and all of her children are members. Mrs. Armstrong was born in Switzerland, December 20. 1852, and was a daughter of David Fred and Sophia (Bonjour) Vau- travers, who emigrated from Switzerland in 1854 and settled in the French colony of Neuchatel township, where Mr. Vautravers home- steaded. They were the parents of seven children, the first of whom, a son, to be born in Kansas, died, and was buried in a dry goods box, which served for a coffin, on the home place. Times were hard for the settlers in those earh^ days and Mrs. Armstrong knew what real hard- ships were in her younger days. She attended school in a log hut and o z HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 709 never received very much schooling'. When she was nine years old she worked out amon^ the neighbors in order to lighten the load which her parents were forced to bear in supporting their growing family. She received a wage of $2 per week and remained at home during the winter seasons and assisted in making the clothing worn by the members of the family. Shi was once employed by a Mrs. Friend in Seneca, Kans., when thirteen years old. She remained with the Friend family for eight months and so faithfully did she keep house for them that they fell in love with her and wished to adopt her as their own. She as well as her brothers and sisters were reared in a log cabin and their nearest trading point was Ft. Leavenworth, where their father journeyed to get flour and other provisions. The early home of the Vautravers family was located in the north- ern part of Neuchatel township. Mrs. Armstrong resides on her own farm of 120 acres, and has a good nine-room residence as her place of abode, which was erected in 1892. This home sits far back from the road and is surrounded by trees and shrubbery and in the distance are seen several acres of natural timber. William Curtis Gilmore— "The Blue Grass Stock Farm."— The in- dividual who enlarges his sphere of usefulness to his community beyond the borders of his own personal achievement field and endeavors to further the cause of better farming methods if he be an agriculturist, is conferring a distinct benefit upon his fellow men and making a name and place for himself which will outlive the mere fact of his own personal suc- cess. In William Curtis Gilmore, progressive farmer of Oilman town- ship, the community has a useful citizen who ranks as one of the leaders in his vocation in Nemaha county and who has for many years been an advocate of more advanced farming methods. William Curtis Gilmore, owner of the "Blue Grass Stock Farm," of 360 acres, in Gilman township, was born in Adams township, July 18, 1879, and is a son of Timothy Gilmore, deceased pioneer settler of Nema- ha county. (See "biography of Roy R. Gilmore for complete history of the Gilmore family.) After finishing the district school, William C. Gil- more studied for three terms at Campbell Universty, Holton, Kans. When he became nineteen years of age he taught one term of school and then went to Oklahoma, where he was engaged in the lumber business for nine months. After returning home he farmed and taught school for another winter and then rented land from his father for a year. He then moved on 160 acres of his present farm, which was his wife's inheritance, and has since specialized in fin€ livestock. Mr. Gilmore deals in Per- cheron horses, and is a breeder of shortjiorn cattle, Duroc Jersey swine and R. C. B. Leghorn poultry. While he has never made a practice of exhibiting his fine live stock, Mr. Gilmore has met with more than the average success as a livestock breeder. Mr. Gilmore was married February 25, 1903, to Miss Marion Wet- more, and this union has been blessed with three children, as follows : yiO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Howard, aged eleven years ; Gilbert, aged five years, and Cornelia, aged three years. Mrs. Gilmore was born on a farm near Oneida, July lo, 1881, and was educated in the district school and Oneida High School. She is a daughter of George A. and Cornelia (Wikoff) Wetmore. George A. Wetmore was born in New York, July 9, 1842, and was thrown upon his own resources by the death of his father when he was tWdve years old. His mother remarried and his stepfather drove him away from home. A sister, who was earning her own living by teaching school, gave the homeless boy money with which to pay his train fare to the home of a married sister in Illinois, and he made his home with her until his mar- riage in 1865. After farming on his own account in Illinois, he immi- grated to Gilman township, Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought 160 acres of land, and two years later he bought 200 acres, which he culti- vated until his removal to a home in Seneca in 1901. He lived at Seneca until 1909 and then returned to his farm and resided with his married daughter for two years. He then married Sara Cox at Oneida, 111., No- vember 22, 1910, and made his home at Oneida, 111., until his death, Octo- ber 24, 1914. During his lifetime, Mr. Wetmore lived in Oneida, N. Y., Oneida, Kans., and Oneida, 111. — making three towns named Oneida which claimed him as a citizen. His first wife, Cornelia, was born in Illinois, in 1841, and died in 1895. Four children were born to George A. and Cornelia Wetmore, as follows : Mrs. Mary Firstenberger, Kansas City, Kans. ; Herbert, a dentist at Salt Lake City, Utah ; Emily, died at the age of two. years ; Marion, wife of W. C. Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore is an independent voter who is not allied with any one political party and does not wear the party yoke of any political boss. He filled the post of township clerk for two years and has served for four years past as treasurer of the school board. He takes an active and influential part in farming activities in Nemaha county which have for their ultimate object the betterment of conditions for the farmers and greater yields of crops and bigger profits. He is secretary of the Farmers' Shipping Association of Oneida, Kans., and is president of the Farmers' Institute and is president of the Nemaha County Farm Bureau. Ralph Westover is a widely known, retired farmer now living in Goff, Kans. For many years he has lived in Nemaha county as farmer or business man, and is now enjoying in retirement the fruits of his long years of faithful labor. He is the son of Sherman and Hettie (Canfield) Westover. Sher- man Westover was born in Connecticut in 1812, and came to the West- ern Reserve, Ohio, with his parents, Luman and Sabrey (Smedley) Westover, when he was three years old. Luman Westover was a soldier of the Revolution, and a son of Luman Westover, who emigrated from Holland to America. Sherman Westover received very little education, and spent most of his time working on the farm. He lived with his par- ents until he was thirty-three years old when he bought 133 acres in Portage county, Ohio, and began farming for himself. He was a sue- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 7II cessful and prosperous farmer, and he continued to buy land until he owned 293 acres. He lived on his farm until his death in 1899. He was a member and deacon of the Christian church. His wife, Hettie, whom he married in Ohio, was born in Connecticut in 1820, and grew up on the farm. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Westover : Ralph, the subject of this biographical account; Irvin, carpenter and contractor, of Alliance, Ohio, has two children, one son, Charles, is mayor of Alliance ; Mrs. Phoeba Mock, wife of a farmer at Berlin Center, Ohio, has two children, one living, Dr. Wallace K. Mock, a noted physician at Cleve- land, Ohio ; John, deceased, father of three girls ; Mrs. Annie Case, widow, mother of two children, Alliance, Ohio. Ralph Westover was born in Portage county, Ohio, January 14, 1837, grew up on the farm, and received a district schooling. At the age of twenty-three, he rented 133 acres of land from his father. A year later he went to Hiram, Ohio, where he rented a hotel, which he conducted for two years. Then he went to Michigan, where he worked as wood chop- per, for almost a year for fifty cents a day and board. He then bought forty acres in Michigan and, after farming it for four years, he sold out and came to Kansas and rented an eighty acre farm near Holton in 1865. Two years later, he hired out as a farm hand and, after working two sea- sons, he bought eighty acres five miles from Holton, where he lived eight years. During this time he had to drive to Atchison and Leavenworth to do all of his trading. Supplies were so scarce for two years that he lived almost entirely on sorghum molasses and corn bread. Money could not be borrowed for less than fifteen per cent interest. He next went to Netawaka, where he helped build the railroad depot, and two years later, came to Goff where, in 1876, he bought 160 acres of raw land nearby. A year later, he sold this, and bought eighty acres on Spring Creek, and two years afterwards, he took a trip through Texas, Arkansas, and Mis- souri, looking for land, and finally bought Missouri land to the extent of 160 acres. He soon sold it, and bought forty acres northeast of Goff, where he lived for two years. He traded this tract for town property and a livery stable, later selling the stable and buying a restaurant, which he operated about a year. Selling this, he built a house and, within a month, sold it to buy a forty acre farm east of Goff, where he lived two years, and then traded it for eighty acres east of Goff, where he remained five years. At the end of that time, he sold out and retired, and is now living in Goff, where he owns considerable property. He is a member of the Christian church, and is a loyal member of the Demo- cratic party. He has served as township trustee two terms, when he was living at Netawaka. He was married in 1858 to Mary Stump, daughter of George and Eliza (Brenneman) Stump. Her father was born in 1810 in Pennsyl- vania, and died in 1894 in Ohio. He was a member of the Christian Church. The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1814, and died in 1849 in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio. Eleven children were born 712 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY to them. Mary, wife of Mr. Westover, was born in December, 1840, in jNIilton township, Alahoning county, Ohio. She was reared on the farm, and received a district schooling. She taught school one term after com- ing to Kansas, and had ten negroes and twenty white children in her first school. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Westover, but five of them died of diphtheria, leaving only one child, Mrs. Harriett Tay- lor, wife of a farmer living a mile west of Goff. She has one child, Mary, the only grandchild of Mr. A^^estovei', and who is married to Leonard Powell, a farmer near Goff. Mr. Westover's first wife died in February, 1909. In 1910, he was again married to Martha E. Stump, niece of Mary Stump, his first wife. Mrs. Westover was born in Indiana in 1858. In 1910 she came to Kansas from Ohio, and was immediately married to Mr. Westover. She is the daughter of Henry and Barbara (Rummel) Stump. Her father and mother were born in Ohio, and both died in their native State. Mr. Westover is a farmer who has seen many hard days, but ill luck never kept him down, and he is living in ease and comfort in his old age, a thing which would not have been possible had he not labored so diligently while young and strong. He is much respected and admired by his neighbors, and is well known throughout the township. Thomas P. Johnstone, farmer in Harrison towship, is a native of Nemaha county, having been born in Granada township March 23, 1884. He is the son of James and Mary Johnstone, whose lives are recorded elsewhere in this volume and to which sketch we refer the reader. Mr. Johnstone's boyhood did not differ much from that of the other small boys of Nemaha county and his boyish pranks and adventures are remem- bered by his old friends. He went to the district school with the other small boys of his neighborhood and learned the three R's. At the age of twenty-one he began to work for himself, but remained at home until he was twenty-six, helping his father part of the time and farming for himself the remainder of the time. Later he rented eighty acres from his father and finding this a successful venture, he bought the place later in the year, and he has lived on the farm since that time. It is fenced and improved to a modern degree and at the present time Mr. Johnstone is building a frame house on it which is twenty-four by thirty-two feet in size and is two stories in height. Mr. Johnstone is a progressive farmer who believes that a stitch in ime saves nine a.nd will invest money in improvements confident that it will make him greater returns in the end. This policy is apparent to the most casual observer around the farm. Mr. Johnstone is a farmer and stock- raiser of prominence throughout his district. Besides raising numerous horses and mules he pays special attention to his breeds of fine Duroc Jersey red hogs of which he is justly proud, as they are among the finest in the township. Mr. Johnstone also operates two threshing outfits and has built a large shed to house them during the winter season. In addi- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 7I3 tion to the farm which he owns, he also rents twenty acres from his father and finds this profitable, as it increases his yield without corre- spondingly increasing his labor. Mr. Johnstone was married to Lillie M. Swart, February 2, 1910, and three children have been born to them: Glenn Martin, aged four; Elmer John, aged three; Pearl Elizabeth, aged seven months. Mrs. Johnstone is the daughter of John M. and Louise Swart, of whom an extended account is. written in another part of this history. Mrs. Lillie Johnstone was -born August 6, 1892, in Riley county, Kansas, and was brought up on her father's farm. After receiving a common school ed- ucation, she lived with her parents until she was married to Mr. John- stone. Mr. Johnstone is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also holds several offices of honor. One of these is as secretary of the Farmers' Union at Maple Shade, known as Local No. 1378, and another is as secretary of the Union business at Goff. He votes the Republican ticket and takes an active interest in the public affairs of his township and county, although he has never sought political preferment. Louis Schuneman, owner of 200 acres of farm lands in Adams town- ship, is a native of Germany, and one of that sturdy class of Americans of German birth who have made good in Kansas. He is a son of Carl and Wilhelmina (Senn) Schuneman, the former of whom was born in the Fatherland in 1824, learned the trade of blacksmith when a boy and became owner of a small farm in Germany. He followed farming and- operated a blacksmith shop until his demise in 1883. His wife, Wil- helmina, was born in 1840, married in i860, and immigrated to America in 1902 in order to keep house for her son, Albert, at Baileyvile, Kans. She spends her time among her children, nearly all of whom emigrated from Germany to this country, and have settled here, as follows: Theo- dore, deceased ; Gustave, a farmer in Bourbon county, Kansas ; Louis, the subject of this review; Mrs. Augusta Ming, Berlin, Germany- Fred- erick, a clerk in Germany ; Minnie, living with Gustave ; Albert, in the United States mail service at Kansas City, Mo. ; Henry, deceased ; one child died in infancy. Louis Schuneman was born February 25, 1866, in Germany, and was reared on his father's farm. He served for three years in the German army, and after working at home for two years after his army service, he immigrated to the United States. He located on a farm near Seneca, and worked as a farm laborer for five years, imbued with the firm intention to one day own a farm of his own. He carefully saved his money until he was able to rent and stock up a farm of eighty acres. His venture as a farmer on his own account proving profitable, two years later he invested his hard earned savings in a tract of 120 acres in Adams town- ship, to which he has since added eighty acres adjoining. Mr. Schune- man has 160 acres in cultivation, and is a successful farmer Mr. Schuneman was married February 5, 1899, to Vina Hansz, a 714 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY daughter of Michael and Marguerite (Stermer) Hansz. Michael Hansz, her father, was born January 24, 1835, in France, and emigrated from his native land to America in 1864. He located in Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought 160 acres of land in the Nemaha valley, which had been granted to Zenas Dunbar, musician and captain of Castle's Company, New York militia of the War of 1812. Dunbar assigned his rights to M. Hansz in consideration of $1.25 an acre, and the deed of conveyance was signed by Abraham Lincoln, September 16, 1864. Mr. Hansz later sold 120 acres of the original tract for $125 an acre. He is now living in Seneca. Marguerite Hansz, mother of Mrs. Schuneman, was born near Schweinfurt-on-the-Main, Germany, March 15, 1839, and came to Chi- cago, 111., in 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Hansz were married in Illinois in 1859. Mrs. Hansz died in 1910. They were the parents of eight children, as fol- lows : Mrs. Louise Graham, a widow, Seneca, Kans. ; George, dead ; Mrs. Mary Robbins, Soldier, Kans. ; Vina, wife of Louis Schuneman ; Mrs. Rosa Hart, Seneca, Kans. ; one child died in infancy ; Edward. Seneca, Kans. ; the first born died in infancy. Mrs. Vina Schuneman was born on a farm near Seneca, April 12, 1872. Nine children have been born to Louis and Vina Schuneman, namely : Helen, aged six- teen years ; Clarence, fourteen years old ; Paul, thirteen ; Alice, eleven years old; Gracie, nine years old; Earle, aged seven; Harry, five years of age ; Francis, aged two years ; Willis, an infant. Mr. Schuneman is a Republican in politics but finds very little time outside of his farming interests to take any active part in political affairs. William M. Sourk, for many years a farmer in Harrison township, is one of the largest shippers and farmers in this part of the county and annually sends large shipments of stock and grain to the markets over the special railroad spur which has been built to his farm. He is a prominent citizen in many other respects also, for his interest in relig- ious work and in political matters leads him to take an important part in the activities of his community. He is a son of William and Amanda J. (Mitchel) Sourk, of whom an account is given in the biographical sketch of George W. Sourk, which appears in another part of this volume. • William M. Sourk, of whom this review is to treat at length, was born in Stark county, Illinois, April 10, 1863. His boyhood and youth was spent on his father's farm and he lived much the same life as did the average farmer's son of that day, working hard when needed, and play- ing hard when he was not needed around the farm. He went to school as much as the limited opportunities in the rural districts of those days would permit. He did not leave his home place until he was forty-four years old, having spent his younger years in helping his father. As the latter grew more aged and wished to give up the strenuous labors of the field, his son worked all the more steadfastly and took the burden from his father's aging shoulders. For many years, in fact, he managed the farm without profit to himself, accepting only as compensation his HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 715 bare living expenses. At the death of his father, William and his sis- ters, Addie M. and Mattie A., bought the home place of 320 acres and his sisters lived with him and kept house for him until his marriage in 1913. He then traded an eighty of the home place to Mattie and an eighty of his own place, which he had bought previously to the death of his father, and consisting of 160 acres, in 1886, the southeast quarter of section 21, adjoining, the Sourk home place, for Addie's interest. This land adjoined the family estate and William Sourk worked it as part of the father's place, turning all profits to the latter. In 1899 he also, by shrew'd trading, bought another 160 acres, situated one mile north of the original farm, in northeast quarter of section 17, making a section of contiguous territory which William was required to look after and keep in repair. In 1912 he traded a quarter section of this land on the purchase of his present home place and now has 320 acres in section 21, two sisters owning the remaining quarter, and the Sourk heirs owning 160 acres in northeast part of section 21. Mr. Sourk deals extensively in live stock and keeps as high as five hundred head of cattle, hogs and sheep. At the time the writer called, Mr. Sourk's stock was at the low- est condition it had been for years and he had sixty-eight head of sheep, forty-nine head of cattle, thirty-one hogs, fifteen horses and one mule. The railroad company has built a spur into his farm so that he can ship stock and grain more conveniently. This is known as Sourk's spur and is officially designated as a flag station. March 23, 1913, he was married to Ernestine (Hall) Cose, a widow of Thomas Cox, and to this union one child has been born, William M., Jr., born May 9, 1915. , Mrs. Sourk's first husband, Thomas Cox, was born near Bancroft, Kans., in 1879, and died in 1903 at Goff, Kans. He was reared on the farm and received a district schooling and followed farming the greater part of his life. To this marriage one child was born, Thomas L., born January 29, 1903, who lives with his mother. Mrs. Sourk is the daugh- ter of Armsted and Emaline L. (Harper) Hall. Her father was a pioneer in Nemaha county, who for more than thirty-five years lived in the Ontario neighborhood. He was born November 22, 1825, in Pat- rick county, Virginia, and at the age of twenty-five years, came to Mis- souri but soon crossed the plains for Oregon. Later he went to San Francisco and returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama and sailed to New York. In 1857 he returned to Missouri and when the Civil war broke out shortly afterward he joined General Marmaduke Price's reg- iment and took part in many of his adventurous expeditions. Before enlisting he was married to Margaret Jane Green, who bore him two children, Emma Esther, now Mrs. Isaac Cobb, and Francis Marion, of Colorado. In 1878 he was married to Emma L. McCormick and to this union were born three children, Minerva Virginia, now Mrs. Armour Lynde ; Laura Ernestine, now Mrs. William Sourk, and Armsted Clyde. At the age of thirty Mr. Hall united with the Christian church and was active in its affairs until his death. 7l6 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mrs. Ernestine Hall (Cox) Sourk was born near Bancroft, Kans., Oc- tober I, 1881, and was reared on the farm. After receiving a common school education, she helped her parents around the house until the date of her marriage in 1901. After the death of her first husband, she did much sewing to add to her income and later went to New Mexico to prove up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres. After living there a year, she sold out and came back to Kansas where she resumed her sewing. In 1913 she was married to Mr. Sourk. She is a member of the Christian church and belongs to the Royal Neighbors and Rebecca lodges. Mr. Sourk is an active member of the Christian church and for years has been an elder in this denomination. When revival meetings were to be held at Goff in July, 1914, he was selected as superintendent of construction of the big tabernacle which was to be built at Goff, Kans. This structure, which was forty by fifty-six feet in size, was built in one day, a remarkable feat of building and a result of the won- derful co-operative industry of Goff's citizens. Mr. Sourk furnished the greater portion of the material, hauled from his place for the building. Mr. Sourk usually votes the Republican ticket. Since he was twenty- one years he has been a member of the election board almost contin- uously and in only two election has he failed to serve. One of these was in 1908 when he was busy settling up his father's estate, and in 1902 when he refused to serve in order to do more active work in support of one of his close friends who was a candidate for county com- missioner. Mr. Sourk is an active citizen among his neighbors and holds membership in the Masonic lodge and in the Modern Woodmen of America. He was president of the Farmers Union for a number of years prior to January i, 1915, and is now president of the Cemetery Association and is a member of the school board. This concludes the list of activities of this prominent man. One has only to read them to see what character and industry must lie behind the name of a man who is as respected in his community as is Mr. Sourk. John Sherman Sourk. — One of the widely known farmers of Harri- son township is John Sherman Sourk, who owns 280 acres of well im- proved farming land in this township. He is a son of William and Amanda J. (Mitchel) Sourk, of whom more is told in the biographical review of the life of George Sourk, which appears on other pages of this volume. John S. Sourk was born in Stark county, Illinois, on December 12, 1866, and grew up on his father's farm, receiving a common schooling, while living on the farm. He taught a total of seventy-nine months, and attended Campbell Universit}' at Holton two years. He started out for himself at the age of twenty-three and, after his period of school teach- ing, he began to farm on the 120 acres he had bought in 1895, while he was still teaching school. In 1902, he bought eighty acres adjoining his original holdings and, in 1910, he bought another eighty acres two HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ']'i■^ and one-half miles northwest of his home place. He rents his farming land now, and keeps only the pasture land for his own use, and raises a considerable number of cattle, horses and Poland China hogs. At pres- ent, he has twenty-six head of Poland China hogs, fifteen head of fine Norman horses, and thirty-two head of white face and Shorthorn cattle which is an average amount of stock. He raises chiefly corn on his land. On April 29, he was married to Hettie Edith Barnes, and to this mar- riage, four children have been born : One who died in infancy ; Orval L., eleven years old, in school ; Gerald F., four years old ; Ruth E., five months old, living at home. Mrs. Sourk is the daughter of John and Elverna (Meyer) Barnes, whose life histories are set down elsewhere in this book. Mrs. Sourk was born near Goff, Kans., October 26, 1883, and was reared on the farm. She lived at home until her marriage in 1900. She is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Sourk. is a member of the Christian church, in which he is a deacon and trustee. He is auditor of the Farmers' Union, and is very active in its affairs. Mr. Sourk is a Republican voter and takes an inter- est in all public affairs, both of his locality and those of the Nation. He is one of the foremost men in his neighborhood in trying to improve the welfare of the neighborhood, and much credit should be given him for what he has done. John H. Barnes. — One of the well known farmers of Granada town- ship is John H. Barnes, the son of James and Mary Ann (Page) Barnes, who were pioneer settlers in Ohio. The father, James Barnes, was born in Maryland, in 1812. He came to Leavenworth, Kans., in 1857. Six months later, he moved to Granada township, Nemaha county, where Mr. Barnes pre-empted a piece of land and farmed it for sixteen years. Meanwhile, he was traveling and teaching. When he grew too old to actively engage in his work, he divided the eighty acres among his chil- dren, and lived in retirement until his death in 1877. He was a member of the Baptist church, and for some time, he acted as pastor, and through- out his life, he was an able and constant worker in his church. In poli- tics, Mr. Barnes was a Republican. His wife, Mary Ann Barnes, was born in New York City in 1813. She was married to Mr. Barnes in 1838, and twelve children were born to them : One child, who died in infancy ; Mrs. Sarah Chasem, deceased ; Wesley, deceased ; Mrs. Ruth Hicks, deceased ; James, deceased ; Mrs. Catherine Thompson, deceased ; Jacob, deceased ; Henry, deceased ; Samuel, farmer, Granada township ; Mrs. Emily Clifton, retired widow, Goff; John H. ; Luke, deceased. John H. Barnes was born in Ohio, March 8, 1854. At the age of fourteen, he started out for himself, and his first job was as hired man at wages of ten dollars a month. He worked as a farm hand for about nine years, when he bought forty acres in Harrison township, which he farmed four years, and then left to buy eighty acres in Granada town- ship. He 'moved on this property, and is renting the other farm. 7l8 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY He was married in 1879 to Elverna Moyer, and eight children were born to them, four dying at a tender age. Those now living are : Mrs. Daisy Hawley, Granada township ; Mrs. John S. Sourk, Harrison town- ship ; Mrs. Ethel Bondrager, Granada township ; j\Irs. Estelle Pittman, wife of a Granada township farmer. Mrs. Barnes was the daughter of Augustus and Ellen Moyer. Her father was born in Pennsylvania in 1830. He followed farming all of his life, and came to Kansas in the sixties, and lived most of the time in Granada township. ' Elverna Barnes was born in Pennsylvania in 1863, and died in June, 1905. Mr. Barnes was married a second time in 1907 to Lydia Porter. Mr. Barnes is a well liked man, and belongs to a great many organ- izations, among which are : Masonic, in which he was escort ; Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, was escort and treasurer; Knights of Pythias; Farmers' Alliance, was treasurer ; Grangers ; Modern Wooden of Amer- ica, was treasurer six years. He is widely known in this district, and is highly respected by all who know him. Chester G. Sourk, a prosperous farmer of Harrison township, is a son of Chester M. and Harriett A. (Cox) Sourk. Chester M. Sourk was born in Illinois, May 17, 1861, and was raised on the farm. At the age of twenty-two years he started out for himself and though he was in poor health, he worked hard, most of the time on a hay bailer, which he ran eight years. Then he bought 120 acres near Goff, which he farmed until his death, December 26, 1912. He was a member of the Christian church, and of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodges. For several years he was venerable counsel for the Woodmen. On April 3, 1880, he was married to Harriett A. Cox and two children were born to them : Ches- ter G., of whom this biographical account is to deal, and Mrs. Ada E. Porter, wife of a Brown county, Kansas, farmer, and mother of one child. Mrs. Sourk was born in London, England, April 3, 1863, and came to the United States with her parents when she was a very small child. She lived with her parents until her marriage and did a large part of the housework for them. She is a member of the Baptist church. She died in 1901. Chester G. Sourk was born in Harrison township, Nemaha county, August 23, 1892, and was reared on his father's farm. After receiving a common school education, he went to Kansas City, Mo., where he studied shorthand and typewriting. At the age of twenty, he rented his father's place of 120 acres. He keeps high grade Jersey red hogs, having about twenty-eight head at present. Besides this he owns eight head of cattle and twelve horses. He grows mostly corn and wheat on his place. September 6, 191 1, he was married to Grace B. Porter, daugh- ter of William and Nancy (Cullum) Porter. Two children have been born to them : Clyde, three years ; Jessie, one and a half years old. Mrs. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 719 Sourk's father was born in Missouri in 1832 and died in Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1908. He started out for himself when he was quite young and in 1870 came to Kansas, locating in Nemaha county, seven miles northeast of Goff, where he bought 400 acres on which he lived until his death, though he had sold 140 acres before he died in 1908. He was a member of the Christian church and for several years was a township officer and was a member of the school board. In 1874 he was married to Nancy Cullum, who was born in Nash- ville, Tenn., in 1849. She lived on the farm with her parents until her marriage. She belonged to the Christian Church and is now living at Wetmore, Kans. Eleven children were born to them : James, farmer near Wetmore; five children; Mrs. Bertha Pendergrass, farmer, Rosalia, Kans; Mrs. Manda Lynn, farmer, Brown county, Kansas; Mrs. Jennie Johnson, wife of hardware merchant, Caldwell, Kans.; Mrs. Ella Mc- Kee, wife of Nemaha county farmer; Mrs. Jessie Bright, wife of Ne- maha county farmer ; Mrs. Ethel Lee, wife of farmer near Wetmore, Kans ; William, farmer near Wetmore ; Mrs. Edna Bontrager, Axtell, Kans., wife of farmer; Grace, wife of subject of this review; Leslie, living at Wetmore with his mother. ■Mrs. Chester Sourk was born March 5, 1892, in Wetmore, Kans., and was reared on the farm. She lived with her mother until her mar- riage. She attends the Christian Church regularly. Mr. Sourk attends the Christian Church and is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Farmers' Union and is a director in that organization. He is one of the younger m.en of the county and is a progressive and wideawake farmer, who without doubt will make a name for himself. Bayard Taylor, of Harrison township, Nemaha county, Kansas, was a son of Joseph Willard Taylor, who was born on a farm in Hendricks county, Indiana, in 1830. When he was very young, his father died, leaving a widowed mother, whom it was the duty of Joseph Willard Tay- lor to support. This he did in a most manful way, and until he was twenty years old, he and his sister, Sarah, lived with his mother, and cared for her welfare. Then, taking a wife, because he cherished his strong- love for his mother, and brought her into his new home to live with him and his wife. She lived alternately with her son and her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Yates, until her death. Joseph Taylor was of an enterprising na- ture, and soon after his marriage, he started a general merchandise store in Cartersburg, Indiana, which he conducted for some time. For a term of four years, he was assessor of Hendricks county, Indiana. He mi- grated to Kansas in August, 1862. When the Civil war broke out, Mr. Taylor was a young man of thirty. Because of his ability in leading men, he was made captain of a Kansas militia company, which fought against General Price's army when the rebel general made his raid toward Kansas and was stopped at Westport, Mo. He also served as paymaster for the Federal Government during a later period of the war. 720 . HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and passed through many exciting situations during the bloody struggle. Once- when he was engaged in a particularly dangerous piece of work, he disguised himself in the hope of avoiding capture. In 1862, he came to Kansas and bought 200 acres of land five miles north of Holton, in Jackson county, which he farmed for three years. Then he moved to Holton, where he went into the general merchandise business in partner- ship with "Uncle Tom" Adamson, who was well known in Holton. He conducted this business for three years, during which period he rented his farm, but finding farm life more attractive, he sold his business inter- est in the merchandise store, and returned to his farm near Holton. Once when Jackson county needed a good assessor, Joseph Taylor was appointed and executed the duties of this office with skill and satisfac- tion to all concerned during his two-year term. While filling this office, he was elected justice of the peace of his precinct. Office holding had few attractions for him, and he returned to his farm. He later had the honor of naming his home township — Liberty township. In 1882, after he had consummated many business deals, in which he traded his farm for another one and that for a third one, he went into the general mer- chandise business again on a special trade. Mr. Taylor had for several years been dealing in trades and leaving his son, Bayard Taylor, to manage the farm. He has also done considerable cattle buying, and by driving them to Leavenworth, was able to ship them at a great profit. In the fall of 1882, he made one of his characteristically shrewd trades, this time with Edmund Abbott of Goff, Kans., in which he traded eighty acres of land and 700 head of sheep for Mr. Abbott's general mer- chandise store, at Goff, Kansas. In thirty days, however, Mr. Taylor made a deal with the hotel keeper in Goff, by which he traded his gen- eral merchandise store for the hostelry^ He kept this for several months, when he traded it for a hardware store, which he operated successfully for a year. Selling out at a favorable price, he moved to Corning, where he bought a general merchandise store, which he operated for a year, when he came back to Goff to buy a hardware store again. After con- ducting it for four years with remarkable success, he traded it to James Conville for a farm of 160 acres. Then he bought a livery stable from his son, and ran it a year, after which he went into partnership with George Bickle in the general merchandise business. After a year, he sold his interest to his partner, and went to Bancroft, where he took charge of a lumber yard and hardware store, which he conducted for twelve years. Selling out this establishment, he returned to Goff, where he lived in retirement until his death on April 4, 191 1. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years of his life, he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge. In 1851, he was married to Elizabeth Pope, and to this union, six children were born, as follows : Mrs. May Rafter, widow and mother of four children, living in Holton ; Mrs. Rose Dunn, wife of cashier of Holton State Bank, and mother of two children; Bayard, subject of this review; HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 721 Mrs. Eva Plaxton, of Florida, where her husband is a gardener, and who is the mother of seven children ; Mack, cattleman in Greeley county, Kansas, and father of one boy, and Ula, who died in infancy. Mrs. Tay- lor was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, in 1830, and was reared in a hotel where her parents lived. After having completed her common school education, she lived with her parents until her marriage. She died February 17, 1914. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the Rebekah lodge. Bayard Taylor was born on August 19, 1857, °^ the farm in Hen- dricks county, Indiana. His formal schooling was slight, because school in the rural districts of Hendricks county were not flourishing. Bayard Taylor lived with his parents until he was twenty-six years old, when he was married and bought 160 acres near Goff, and started farming for himself. With the exception of about eighteen months during which he rented his farm and lived in Goff, Bayard Taylor has lived on his farm continuously. By his wise management he has increased his holdings considerably, to include 320 acres in Logan county and 160 acres, ad- joining his present farm of equal size. Altogether he holds 640 acres in Logan and Nemaha counties. He was married July 26, 1883, to Harriett Westover, and to this happy union one daughter has been born, Mrs. Mary Alice Powell, wife of a farmer, Leonard Powell, living near Goff. She was graduated from the Goff High School in the class of 1908. Mrs. Taylor is a daughter of Ralph and Mary (Stump) Westover. A complete account of Mr. West- over's life appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Harriett (Westover) Taylor, wife of Bayard Taylor, was born October 11, 1863, in Behring county, Michigan, and was reared on her father's farm. Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, and for eighteen years, has been treas- urer of the school board, a record which, to the fullest degree, attests his ability and integrity in administering the funds of the educational work of his district. Mr. Taylor's reputation is above reproach, and he is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. Nick Henry, trustee of Harrison township and a well known far- mer, was born in Germany, March 4, 1858. His parents were George and Iva (Dougle) Henry, whose life histories are narrated in the sketch of Thomas Henry which appears elsewhere in this volume. Nick Henry received a common school education and at the early age of four- teen he bravely set out to earn his way in the world, first finding work on a neighboring farm for three years. He learned the milling business and was thus employed until 1877, when he left his native land and sailed for America, the land of opportunity. Locating near Seneca, Kans., Mr. Henry worked On a farm for two years and later he worked on a farm west of Wetmore. He rented 160 acres which he farmed for two years profitably. For another year he rented eighty acres on Wolfley Creek and at the end of that time had laid away enough money to buy 160 acres northeast of Bancroft. (46) 722 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY After farming this for one summer, he received a good offer for it and sold out, going from there to Kingman county, Kansas, where he home- steaded i6o acres, remaining there six years altogether. He made money out of this venture, although he was handicapped by an unfortunate accident which occurred as he was moving to his Kingman county place. He attempted to drive his twenty-seven head of cattle overland to his new place, but the heat was so great that most of the cattle died on the road, leaving him only eight with which to stock his farm. The following year he returned to his former farm to get thirteen head of horses which he had left there the year before, but after driving them over to his new place, all of them took the glanders and died. He was not discouraged by these calamities and instead of giving up in despair, he borrowed money on his farm and bought a span of mules and he and his loyal wife were able to make both ends meet by hard work. During the winter when there was nothing he could do, his wife worked out to earn enough. In 1890, Mr. Henry came back to Nemaha county and located east of Goff, where he bought eighty acres which he farmed until 1910, when he gave up active farming on a large scale. Since that time he has lived in Goffs, where he owns a twenty-acre tract. He was married November 15, 1880, to Louise Pfrank. Seven children have been born to them as follows : Mrs. Mary Evans, of Florida, a widow with one child ; Edward, farmer in Oklahoma, one child ; William, farmer east of Goff ; Harry, farmer in Granada town- ship; Mrs. Kate Berridge, wife of a Topeka real estate dealer, and mother of one child; Herman, living at home; Jessie, student at Wash- burn College, Topeka. Mrs. Henry was born in Michigan and is a daughter of German immigrants. The mother died when Mrs. Henry was a small child. Nich- olas Pfrank, her father, came to America in 1848 and located in New York. From there he went to Michigan and bought a farm which he operated for several years. He later sold out and migrated to Kansas, where he bought 160 acres of fine land near Netawaka, which he farmed for six years. Bad seasons and unavoidable backsets ruined his crops several years in succession and he was forced to give up his place. He imme- diately set out to start life over again and rented eighty acres which he farmed for five years. In this venture he was successful and made enough money to buy 160 acres near Goff, which he farmed until his death. His death occurred in 1896. Mr. Pfrank was a member of the Catholic church. He was the father of two children, as follows : Louisa, wife of Nick Henry, and another child who died in infancy. Mrs. Henry was born September 13, 1862. She is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Altar Society. She also belongs to the Royal Neighobrs and the Rebekah fraternal organizations. Mr. Henry belongs to the Masonic order and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Henry was elected trustee of Harrison township on the Republican ticket in 1912 and was re-elected to the office in 1914. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 723 John A. Ketter, who is known by all farmers in his neighborhooa, is'the son of Philip, Sr., and Elizabeth (Wink) Ketter, of whom a com- plete record is set down in the sketch of J. B. Ketter, which appears in another part of this volume. The subject of this review was born at St. Benedict's, July 2, 1882, and has lived on the farm all of his life. After receiving a common schooling, he lived with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, when he rented eighty acres in Illinois township which he farmed one season. After this he rented sixty acres in the same township near the town of Kelly, and farmed it one year. In the fall, he rented 160 acres of his father's place, and is still farming this land. In addition to his crops Mr. Ketter raises fine Hampshire hogs and has a few thor- oughbred Shorthorn cattle. He was married October 17, 1906, to Clara A. Eisenbarth, daugh- ter of Michael and Ernestine (Furst) Eisenbarth, and three children were born to this marriage : Frances Ernestine, age eight ; Celestine J., age four ; Mildred C. E., aged one. A complete- review of Mrs. Ketter's parents will be found in the article which treats of the life of Michael Eisenbarth, which appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Ketter was born in Corning, Kans., Mardh 5, 1883, and was reared on the farm. After receiving a common school education, she remained with her par- ents until her marriage, October 17, 1906. She is a member of the Cath- olic church and of the Altar Society. Mr. Ketter is also a Roman Catholic and belongs to the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, and to the Farmers' Union. In politics, he votes the Democratic ticket. Israel Livingood, of Harrison township,, was born in Iowa, Septem- ber 18, 1857, and is a son of Josiah and Susanna (Eby) Livingood, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania in 1832, and was reared in Germantown, Ohio, where his parents removed when he was but a child. Josiah Livingood learned the trade of harness maker and saddler and followed this trade from the time he was twenty years old imtil his removal to Iowa in 1855. He farmed in Iowa until 1878 and then mi- grated to Lincoln county, Kansas. Here he bought a farm, but three years later he sold it and came to Nemaha 'county and bought 120 acres (the old Irving place near Seneca). He located in Seneca and worked at the carpenter's trade a part of his time. In 1885 he sold his town and country property and moved to Smith county, Kansas, where he pur- chased a quarter section of land and lived there until his death. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. Josiah Livingood was mar- ried in Ohio to Susanna Eby, who was born in Pennsylvania and reared in Ohio. While employed at the Hotel Florentine at Germantown she met and was wooed by Josiah Livingood. They were the parents of six children, as follows : Mrs. Mary Richards, Seneca, Kans. ; Israel, subject of this review; Noah, a farmer in Norton county, Kansas; Perry, a farmer in Smith county; Mrs. Ella Will, deceased. 724 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY When Israel Livingood was twenty-one years old he bought eighty acres in Lincoln county, Kans., and farmed it for three years, and then came to Nemaha county, Kansas, where he rented his father's farm near Seneca for ten years. He then bought his present home farm in Har- rison township. Mr. Livingood was married in 1881 to Mollie Boyer, born in West Virginia in 1858, and a daughter of William and Lucinda Boyer, natives of West Virginia. Her parents were early setlers in Lincoln county, Kansas, where she taught school for two years. She was also engaged in dressmaking at Salina, Kans., for a short time pre- vious to her marriage. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Israel Livingood, namely: Mrs. Jessie Rose, Denver, Colo., whose hus- band is route agent for the Adams Express Company ; Harry and Aldo, twins ; Mont, at home. Harry and Aldo Livingood were born on Octo- ber 6, 1889, on the farm near Seneca, Kans. From the age of six to thirteen years the twins studied in the district school and then entered the Corning High School, from which they graduated in 1907. They en- tered Baker University at Baldwin, Kans., in 1909 and graduated there- from in 1913. Harry became principal of the Waterville, Kans., High School, and Aldo studied for one year at Kansas University. Harry is now superintendent of the Rossville, Kans., schools, and Aldo is superintendent of the Barnes, Kans., schools. Mr. Livingood and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Republican party usually has his allegiance. Charles Krogmann. — ^Two things stand out in the life career of Charles Krogmann, of Marion township, and entitle him to specific and honorable mention in the annals of his county, of which he is one of the real pioneers. Mr. Krogmann has reared a large family of twelve children and risen from moderate circumstances to become one of the largest land owners of the county. When he first came to Kansas thirty-eight j^ears ago he had little of this world's goods, but he had learned how to work with both hands and brain. During his residence in Nemaha county he has made good and become one of the leading citizens of this prosperous county. Charles Krogmann was born in Oldenburg, Germany, April 4, 1849, ''nd is a son of Charles H. and Katharine (Rethmann) Krogmann, who reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are living. Charles H. Krogmann, the father, was born in 1818, in Oldenburg, Germany, and became a sailor as well as having been a farmer. He died in his native land in 1885. Katharine, his wife, and mother of the subject of this review, was born in 1825, and died in 1915. He of whom this review is written left his native land in 1868 and came to America in search of fortune. He first located in Dubuque, Iowa, and worked as a farm hand in Dubuque county for a number of years. After his marriage in 1876, he rented land in Delaware county, Iowa, until 1878 and then came to Nemaha county, Kansas. He in- vested hii? saving in eighty acres of land in Center township, which he HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 725 sold a few years later and bought his present home farm of i6o acres in section 36, Marion township. Fortune has smiled upon Mr. Krog- mann's efforts and the years of hard labor and good financial manage- ment have seen his acreage increase to the large total of 763 acres, all of which is located in Nemaha county. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs and feeds a large amount of live stock on his farm annually. Mr. Krogmann was married May 30, 1876, to Josephine Kramer, and the following children have blessed this happy union, namely : Mrs. Elizabeth Von Der Kampe, living in Mitchell township ; Mrs. Christena Pavelick, also living on a farm in Mitchell township ; Lena, in Mt. St. Scholastica Convent, Atchison, Kans., known ag Sister Anatolia; Fred- erick, deceased ; John, a farmer in Marion township ; Mrs. Anna, wife of A. F. Reinecke, Center township ; Mrs. Mary Nolte, of Center town- ship ; Antone, Louis and Joseph, at home ; Charles, deceased ; Frank, at home, and Frances, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Krogmann have thirty grandchildren. The mother of this large and interesting family was born March I, 1856, in Ohio, and is a daughter of Frederick and Eliza- beth (Vaske) Kramer, natives of Germany and America, respectively. They migrated from their native home and died in Iowa, where they owned a fine farm. Mr. Krogmann is a Democrat and is the present trustee of Marion township, having been elected in 1915. He and the members of his family are affiliated with the Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church at Seneca. Mr. Krogmann is a sturdy American citizen of German birth, who is proud of the record he has made in the land of his adoption, and the people of his home county are likewise proud of him and his. He has madp a record in Kansas that has been surpassed by but few men in the same length of time. John W. Baker. — To the mind of the reviewer and historian there is no life as interesting and so full of a wealth of material as that of the Union veteran, especially if he be an individual who has worked his way upward from an humble beginning to become fairly well-to-do in this world's goods. Job" W. Baker, veteran and retired farmer of Harrison township has done this. In addition he has reared and be- queathed a family to this country of which any man way well be proud. For long and arduous years, John W. Baker marched under the starry flag and fought on Southern battlefields in order that the Union might be saved from dissolution and an inestimable benefit be forever incur- red in behalf of struggling mankind in all the world. After the great was was over he again took up another fight ; this time the gaining of a livelihood as a tiller of the soil ; he fought this fight to a finish and won, although at times, when he and his good wife were striving to wrest a modest fortune from the Kansas soil the struggle seemed hope- less. The good old American blood in his veins stood him in fine stead, however, and he won in good time to enjoy these later years in comfort and peace, surrounded by the evidences of plenty, which his thrift has made possible in past years. 726' HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY John Baker, his father, was born in Virginia in 1812; was reared on a Virginia farm and when he became of age he started in the butch- ering business which he followed until he bought a farm near Colum- bus, Ohio, where he resided and reared his family until his death in 1895. Virginia (Long) Baker, his wife, was born in 1813 and their mar- riage took place in 1832. Seven children were born to them, as follows : Marguerite J., Henry, Mrs. Mary A. (Perry) Tucker and James, de- ceased; John W., subject of this review; Louis Cass, killed at Chicka- mauga, and Martha, deceased. The mother of these children departed this life in 1870 at her home in Ohio. Both John Baker and wife were devout Methodists. . ' John W. Baker, with whom this review is directly concerned, was born on a farm in Franklin county, near Columbus, Ohio, November 17, 1843, ^^'^ was reared on the farm, had little schooling and remained at home until his enlistment in the Union army in 1862. He enrolled for service in the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio infantry. Com- pany C, and served for two years and eleven months. He fought in the great battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, and many minor engagements in which his regiment participated, without receiving a single wound. He served faithfully and bravely until his honorable discharge from the service in July, 1865. In 1866 he rented his father's farm in Ohio and farmed it for fifteen years. He then invested his savings in twenty-seven acres adjoining his father's land, which he cultivated for some years and sold out in order to come to the great West and make a new start. He mi- grated to Kansas in 1886 and rented land near Wetmore, Kans., which he farmed for two years. Another season he rented an adjoining farm and then moved to a quarter section near Goff, for which he paid cash rent for one year and at the end of his rental period purchased the farm. This tract has been his home ever since and he has made many improvements on the place, chief among them being a large and com- modious ten-room farm residence and a large frame barn. He has pros- pered in the years since making his purchase and is well content with what Kansas has given him and his. While home on a furlough from his army service in the latter part of 1862, Mr. Baker espoused in marriage the sweetheart of his youthful days, and she has been his faithful helpmeet these many years, until her demise in 191 1. Mr. Baker wore his soldier's uniform at the wed- ding and for nearly fifty years this marriage existed with much happi- ness and contentment to both husband and wife. Mrs. Mary Baker was born in Franklin county, Ohio, March 11, 1839, and when still a young girl started working as a domestic to gain an independent live- lihood for herself. She worked as domestic until twenty years old and then married Joseph Long, who died two years after the marriage. She then went to her father's home and the second marriage resulted. Nine children were born to John W. and Mary Baker, as follows : Oscar, at HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 72^ home and assisting in managing the farm ; Mrs. Abbie McDonald, liv- ing on a farm in Jackson county, Kansas, mother of seven children ; Arnold, at home ; Oland, a farmer of Wetmore township, has three chil- dren; Mrs. Linda Burgett, Goff, Kans;, mother of four children; Mrs. Laura Burgett, living on a farm near Bancroft, Kans., has six sons ; two _ children died in infancy. Mrs. Mary Baker was a daughter of William (born in 1815, died in 1880) and Elmira Harter (born in 1820 in New Hampshire). William Harter was a shoemaker and farmer and was a member of the Dunkard sect which located in the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio. They were the parents of six children, as ■follows: Hiram, de- ceased; Mrs. Mary (Harter) (Long) Baker, deceased; George; Mrs. Charity Baker, deceased ; David, farmer in Rice county, Kansas ; Mrs. Elizabeth Fields, died in Texas, leaving three daughters. It is a notable fact in the personal history of Mr. Baker that he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, while wearing a soldier's uni- form. However, he has since embraced the doctrines of the Democratic party and votes the Democratic ticket at election time. He is a mem- ber of the United Brethren church and has always striven to live a good, cleanly and industrious life which makes him highly esteemed among his many acquaintances and well wishers who are legion. Ira Bailey, of Harrison township, is a son of Jehu Bailey, a native Pennsylvanian. Born in 1824, Jehu was apprenticed- to the cooper trade while still young. Then he followed the plastering occupation for a time before he turned to farming, which he made the chief business of his life. He moved westward when the great tracts of fine farming land were opened up in Ohio and other States. He farmed in Ohio for a number of years, and then migrated to Illinois, where he purchased 300 acres of good land. As he grew older, he sold part of this land and gave the re- mainder to his children, reserving for himself only his town property. He worked at the plastering trade a short time, and then retired to spend his days in quiet. He passed away after a long and useful life, August II, 1914. For many years he was an elder in the Church of God. Jehu Bailey was married to Frances Swiler in 1844. She was born in Pennsylvania, in 1827. To this union were born seven children, as follows : First born child died in infancy ; Ira, of whom this review treats ; Mrs. Agnes Postlewait, wife of a retired Illinois farmer ; Jacob, a retired farmer in Illinois ; Lincoln, farming in Illinois ; Harry, working the old home place in Illinois ; Charlie, deceased. As soon as Ira Bailey was of age, he cast his eyes toward Kansas, and shortly set out for the land of the west. Having only limited capital, he rented fifty acres of fine land near Centralia, Kans., and farmed this successfully for two years. Finding a better opportunity in Marshall county, he went there and homesteaded eighty acres, building up a farm which he kept and operated successfull}- for seven years. Selling this, he bought 160 acres in Nemaha county near Baileyville, which he oper- ated for four years. Then he had a chance to buy 105 acres of fine land 728 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY near Goff and, for nine years, farmed this place which was a short dis- tance northeast of town, meanwhile renting his place near Baileyville. After four months in California, he returned to Kansas, and bought a house and four lots in Wetmore, Kans., where he lived five years. He then went back to his farm near Goff for four years more. Seeing an opportunity to acquire a good quarter section west of Goff, he purchased it and made it his permanent home. He has equipped his place for the care of fine stock and poultry and is breeding some unusually good grades of Aberdeen cattle, Poland China hogs, and is raising annlially a large number of Plymouth Rock chickens of a pure strain. He was married, in 1870, to Martha A. Brownlee, and five children have been born to this union : Mrs. Irene Penhorwood, mother of four children, wife of a farmer living near Soldier, Kans. ; John, farmer near Goff, father of two children; third child died in infancy; Mrs. Ethel Armstrong, wife of farmer and stockman near Centralia, and mother of one child ; Edward, living on the home place, father of one child. Mrs. Bailey is a daughter of Morgan and Judith (Butterfield) Brownlee. Her father was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 6, 1825. At the age of eighteen, he started out to farm for himself, and at various times, worked land in Ohio and in Illinois. After locating in the latter State, he rented land until 1856, when he bought 160 acres in Illinois, which he operated for a number of years with profit. He eventually sold out and went to Minnesota, but after a short time in that country, he found it less to his liking than Illinois, and returned to the latter State, buying eighty acres near his former farm. Six years later, he traded this for forty acres of the 160, which he formerly owned, and for three years, he farmed this place. He then migrated to Kansas and located near Vermillion, where he took a homestead of eighty acres, on which he lived eight years, during which time he converted the tract into a pro- ■ ductive and highly improved farm. Selling out, Mr. Brownlee bought 160 acres on Wolfley Creek, where he remained ten years. He sold out again and bought forty acres just across the road from his former place, which he farmed six years, and then gave to his youngest son and moved to Holton, where he lived in retirement until his death, September 2, 1906. He was a most devout member of the Church of God, and acted as elder for many years, and was also superintendent of the Sunday school. He was married in 1847 to Judith Butterfield, who was born in Herkimer county. New York, September 10, 1828. To Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee were born these children. Martha, wife of Ira Bailey ; Franklin, hunter in Idaho ; Mrs. Flora Walker, Lawrence, Kans., wife of a traveling sales- man ; William, grocer in Topeka ; Mrs. Fannie Killinger, wife of a farmer near Holton ; one child, who died in infancy. Martha Bailey, wife of Ira Bailey, was born in Illinois, November 26, 1851, and was raised on her father's farm. She attended the district school, and at the age of sixteen years, started to work for two dollars per week. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey spent a month last summer visiting the Panama-Pacific Exposition and other places along the Pacific coast. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 729 Mr. Bailey is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and takes an interest in the affairs of his denomination. He usually votes the Republican ticket. Otho L. Johnstone, farmer and stockman of Harrison township, is a son of James and Mary Johnstone, whose lives are recorded in an- other part of this biographical volume. He was born on the farm on which he is now living on July 27, 1892, and save for one year when he was farming his grandfather's place, he has never been off his birth- place. Mr. Johnstone is one of the youngest, but most successful of Harrison township's farmers and he is following the most progressive methods in his work. He raises high grade Duroc Jersey hogs num- bering about fifty annually and keeps twenty head of cattle on hand. Besides these he has on hand seven head of fine horses and four colts, all of which are strong, healthy animals. He was married April 17, 1912, to Marie Hanks, and to this union two children were born, Lois, aged three years, and Herbert, aged seven months. Mrs. Johnstone is a daughter of James and Iva (Shafer) Hanks. Her father was born near Seneca June 10, 1875, and was reared on the Nemaha county place which his father owned. After receiving a common school education he started out, at the age of nineteen, to earn his own way working by the day as a common laborer. In less than a year, however, he moved to his father's farm and operated it three years and then bought ninety-three acres near ICelly, where he lived eight years. Then he sold out and lived in Kelly one year while working at carpentering. At the end of that time he bought 160 acres in Granada township where he still resides. Mr. Hanks is a noted stock raiser and makes a specialty of high grade Duroc Jersey hogs of which he raises about one hundred head per year. In addition to this he is a breeder of cattle. He is a member of the Methodist Church and of Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America lodges. He is treasurer and county director of the Farmers Union and votes the Democratic ticket. He was married in 1894 to Iva Shafer, who was born in Nemaha county, Kansas, January 14, 1875. She is a member of the Methodist church, the Royal Neighbors and the Farmers Union. Two children were born to this marriage: Marie, wife of Otho Johnstone; Everett, died April 16, 1916. Mrs. Johnstone was born near Seneca, Kans., August 11, 1895, and received a common school education. She is a regular attendant at the services of the Methodist church. Mr. Johnstone is president of the Farmers' Union and is a Republican in politics. John M. Eisenbarth, one of the well known farmers of Harrison township, is the son of Michael and Ernestine Eisenbarth, whose lives are recorded elsewhere in this volume. He was born in Corning, Kans., February 28, 1887, and grew up on the farm, receiving, at the same time, an elementary schooling. Starting out for himself at the age of twenty- one years, he rented eighty acres near Kelly, Kans., and farmed this for 73° HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY a year, then rented a farm of equal size in Harrison township. A year later he rented i6o acres from his mother-in-law, Mrs. Ketter, and has farmed this since that time; On his place, he keeps the finest strains of thoroughbred Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle. Corn is his largest crop, and he uses most of this in feeding. > He was married February 26, 1908, 'to Mary S. Ketter, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Ketter, whose biographies are set forth in the re- view of the life of J. B. Ketter, which appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Eisenbarth was born at St. Benedict's, Kans., August 19, 1884, and was reared on the farm. She received a common school education, and lived with her parents most of the time before her marriage. Mr. Eisenbarth is a member of the Catholic church, and of the Cath- olic Mutual Benefit Association. His wife professes the same faith, and belongs to the Altar Society. Four children were born to them : Vincent John, aged six; Albert Philip, aged four; Edmund Joseph, aged two ; Raym.ond Anthony, aged one. Samuel A. Chadwick. — One of the respected farmers of Harrison township is Samuel A. Chadwick, who lives near Goff. He is the son of Samuel and Susan (Kern) Chadwick, who were the parents of eight children : William, harness maker and shoe repairer, Bancroft, Kans., and father of four children ; Samuel A., of whom this sketch is to deal at length; Mrs. Fannie Call, deceased, who was mother of one child; Mrs. Julia Sams, widow, of Goff, Kans., dressmaker, and mother of two children; Charles H., produce dealer, Coldwater, Kans., father of two children : Amanda, deceased, and one child died in infancy. The mother of Samuel Chadwick, Jr., was the daughter of Jacob and Susan Kern, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania and lived on farms all their lives, the former died in Clinton, Pa., at the age of eighty-eight years. Samuel, Sr., was born in Connecticut in 1815; learned the carpenters' trade and followed it alternately with that of farming until 1870, when he came to Kansas and located in Netawaka, Jackson county, Kansas. He worked out as a farm hand for a year and then homesteaded eighty acres in Harrison township, on which place he lived until his death in 1903. He was a member of the Farmers' Alli- ance. His wife was born in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1826, and lived with her parents until her marriage in 1849. Mrs. Chad- wick is a member of the Christian Church and lives with her son and does much of the housework around the place. Samuel A. Chadwick, the subject of this review, was born in Clin- ton county, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1861, and grew up on the farm. At the early age of thirteen, he began working out at five dollars a month. After twelve years as a farm hand, he bought eighty acres in Harrison township and farmed it fifteen years, when he sold out and moved to the old home place. He raises Red Poll cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs with great success and has some fine stock on his place. He was married in 1888 to Maggie Sparrow and four children have HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 731 been born to them : Mrs. Grace Eberwein, living with her parents, and mother of one child; Mrs. Susie Clarkson, wife of a Wetmore farmer, and mother of one child ; Earl and Mary, deceased. Mrs. ChadWick is the daughter of Mason and Mary Sparrows. Her father was born on a Ken- tucky farm, where he lived until coming to Kansas, where he followed railroad contracting for some time, dying in Wetmore in 1887. Mrs. Chadwick was born in Iowa in 1862. She is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Chadwick is a member of the Masonic order and of the Farm- ers' Union. He takes an active part in public affairs and usually votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the school board and is intensely interested in the welfare of the schools of his district. Charles Jorden. — Few men have parents whose lives were as inter- esting as that of John Jorden, the father of Charles Jorden. He was born in Macklinburg, Germany, July 25, 1826, and began to shift for him- self at the early age of ten years. His first job was herding geese. Later he worked as coachman for one of the largest landowners in the German Empire, for ten years. He came to America in 1862 and located near Batavia, 111., renting a farm there for a period of two years. He came to Kansas in 1864, and located in Seneca, where he worked for Charles Scrafford about two years. He then rented 100 acres from Mr. Scrafford, and farmed it for two years, and rented an eighty-acre farm, west of Sabetha, for one year. He homesteaded eighty acres in Berwick township and cultivated it for twelve years. He sold out and rented eighty acres near Kelly, and lived on it eleven years, prior to moving to a forty acre farm nearby, on which he remained six years. After that he lived with his children near Seneca until his death, January 27, 1912. He quar- ried stone for the first stone building erected in Seneca. Prices in those early days were interesting. Mr. Jorden had to pay as high as $9 per hundred pounds for shorts which his wife used in baking bread. He often paid $1 a bushel for corn, and then paid fifty cents for having it ground at the mill near Seneca. When he came to Seneca, he arrived by way of St. Joseph where he had come by rail and prepared to make the trip from St. Joseph to Seneca overland. He paid a man $35 to drive him and a load of furniture to Seneca. His wife, Louisa (Lish) Jorden, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, March 20, 1824. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jorden, namely: Mrs. Sophia, Proude, deceased, whose husband was the first blacksmith in Seneca ; John, deceased ; Christ, farmer, Morris county, Kansas; Mrs. Minnie Soltz, lives near Kelly; Mrs. Mary Badesheim deceased ; Mrs. Dora Reed, Morris, Kans. ; Mrs. Christina Coe, wife of a Morris farmer; Charles, subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Jorden were members of the Lutheran Church. Charles Jorden was born April 10, 1872, and grew up on the farm. At the age of twenty, he started out in life for himself, and for two years, worked with pick and shovel. He then rented 240 acres in partnership 732 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY with his brother-in-law, and after a year under this arrangement, he rented forty acres, which he worked for one season independently. After working oirt as a farm hand a year, he rented a place near Kelly. Later he rented i6o acres near Vermillion, and two years after this, he rented an equal sized place in Harrison township, which he bought a year later, and where he still lives. He was married September 20, 1892, to Lillie M. Warner, and five children have been born to them, namely: One, who died in infancy; Elmer, farmer near Kelly; John, Charles, Lillie, all living at home. Mrs. Jorden is the daughter of A. B. and Sarah (Knight) Warner. Her father was born in New York, July 25, 1840. He learned the stone mason's trade, and has followed this trade all of his life. He has lived in Minne- sota, Missouri, and has lived in Kansas since 1890, when he came to Ver- million. Two years later, he moved to Kelly, where he stayed for eight years, and then came to Goff. Although he is now seventy-six years of age, he plies his trade vigorously. He is a member of the Christian church and of the Knights of Pythias lodge. He is a Republican in politics. He was married, in 1861, to Sarah Knight, who was born in New York, February 23, 1844. She is a devout member of the Christian church. Nine children were born to A. B. and Sarah Warner: three children died in infancy ; the others are : Arthur, farmer near Vermilion, father of three children ; John and Lyda, deceased ; Frank, farmer at Bancroft, father of five children ; Lillie, wife of Mr. Jor- den ; Mrs. Ada Hawley, wife of Golf farmer, mother of five children. Mrs. Jorden was born March 17, 1870. She attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a member of the Royal Neighbors of America. Mr. Jorden attends the Methodist Episcopal church and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has held all offices, and has been past grand master. He is a Democrat, and has been a member of the school board for fifteen years and, for six years, has been road overseer. He is one of- the board of directors of the Farmers' Union. Mr. Jorden is a highly respected citizen, and is active in the public affairs of his neighborhood. James E. Martin, farmer and trustee of Granada township, is a son of Thomas J. Martin, postmaster of ^^^etmore, Kans., who was born in Ohio, May 10, 1851, and is a son of James and Rachel A. (Zepernick) Martin. James Martin was a farmer and stock raiser in the early days of Ohio and frequently drove large herds of cattle from Ohio to the Pittsburg market in Pennsylvania. He migrated to Illinois in i860 and engaged in live stock dealing for seven years. He came to Kansas in 1868 and bought a quarter section in Capioma township, upon which he lived for ten years and then moved to Seneca, where he served a term as sheriff of the county. He lived in Seneca until his demise. His wife, Rachel, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and was mother of nine children, as follows : John, Seneca, Kans. ; Thomas J. ; J. G., liv- ing in Alaska ; Albert, a merchant of Seneca, Kans. ; Van, deceased; W^il- HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 733 Ham, killed on the railroad in Colorado ; Mrs. Elizabeth Wolfley, St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Francis Horn, Indianapolis, Ind. ; Ida, died in infancy. Thomas J. Martin, father of the subject, was born in Ohio. He was reared there and in Illinois and Kansas, where he began working out by the month when eighteen years old. After ten years experience as farm hand he bought a quarter section in Capioma township, upon which he resided for twenty-five years and then located in Wetmore, where he bought and shipped live stock until 1913. He was appointed postmaster of Wetmore in 1914. He is a member of the Masons and is a trustee of the order and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen. He is a Democrat in politics and filled the office of trustee of Wetmore township for four years and also served two years as trustee of Capioma township. He was married to Elizabeth Lockman, a daughter of David M. and Clarice E. Lockman, natives of Kentucky, who came to Kansas and located in Granada township, Nehama county, in 1855. ^i"- s-^id Mrs. Martin have been the parents of the following children, namely: Stewart J., Mildred May and James E. James E. Martin, subject of this review, was born in Capioma town- ship, January 29, 1884, and attended the district school and assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty years old. He then worked out by the month for two years in Arizona. Upon his return to Kansas he rented 160 acres near Wetmore for a year, after which he bought an eighty-acre tract north of Wetmore in section 26. He has improved this place nicely and the farm makes him and his family a good living. Mr. Martin was rnarried on January i, 1907, to Madge E. White, a daughter of Calvin and Elizabeth (Vanscoyk) White. Three children have been born of this marriage, namely: Madeline Fay, aged eight years ; Mildred May, aged five years ; Margaret Lucile, aged one. Mrs. Madge Martin was born April 14, 1883, at Clifton, Kans., and was a compositor in the Wetmore newspaper office for a year previous to her marriage. She is a member of the Methodist church and is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security. Mr. Martin is a Democrat and leader of his party in his township. He was appointed trustee of the township to succeed M. L. Loveless, who resigned on account of other business, and was elected to the office at the expiration of his first term. Mr. Martin is a Free Mason and is affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He also fills the post of treasurer and member of the local school board. Altogether he is a very useful and active citizen in his community who believes in doing his share of the civic and governmental work required to keep things moving. Jacob Geyer, well known farmer of Granada township and owner of a fine farm of 200 acres, is probably the oldest native born resident of his township, and has the distinction of having lived in the house, in which he was born for fifty-five years. He comes of sturdy German emigrant 734 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY stock, who, as a general thing, make good in America as tillers of the soil, or whatever occupation they take up. For industry and successful tilling of the Kansas soil the German-American residents of Nemaha county have few equals and no superiors. The Geyer family is one of the oldest pioneer families in this county, and takes its beginning far back to the year 1856 when Jacob Geyer, father of Jacob, settled in Gra- nada township on a pre-empted homestead and developed it into a fine farm. Jacob Gey^r, the elder, was born in Germany, April 16, 1830, and was reared to young manhood in his native village. In 1851 he immigrated to America in search of a home and fortune, and began his career in Iowa, where he farmed on rented land for five years. He was married in that State, and in 1856, he came with his young wife to Kansas, and homesteaded in Granada township. He lived on his farm until 1880, and then sold it to his son, and retired to a home at Wetmore, Kans., where he died on October 24, 1901. He was a member of the Evangelical church, and was affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Jacob Geyer was married at Dubuque, Iowa, in 1853, to Barbara Zim- mer, who was born in Germany, August 4, 1830, and immigrated to the United States with her people in 1851. Her parents located in Iowa. Mrs. Geyer has, of late years, united with the Methodist church, because of the lack of an Evangelical church in her n^sighborhood. Jacob and Barbara Geyer were the parents of ten children, five of whom are de- ceased. The five living children are : Mrs. Minnie Porr, a widow living near Sabetha ; Mrs. Barbara Clinkenbeard, Wetmore, Kans. ; Mrs. Mary Clinkenbeard, Oklahoma; Jacob, subject of this review; Mrs. Lizzie Means, a widow, living at Wetmore. Jacob Geyer, with whom this review is intimately concerned, was born on the Geyer homestead near Wetmore, October 10, 1861, and was reared amid pioneer surroundings at a time when settlers and neighbors were few and far between. He obtained such schooling as was possible in the early days, and has lived all of his life on the farm where he was born. In 1880, he purchased his father's home place and has accumulated a total of 200 acres of well tilled and highly productive land. His largest crop is Indian corn, which he feeds to live stock on his place. He was married March 24, 1881, to Miss Helena Zabel, and this marriage has been blessed with ten children, as follows: Arthur, a blacksmith at McPherson, Kans. ; Mrs. Dora Rarick, living on a farm at Howard, Kans. ; Mrs. Mabel Sanders, wife of a live stock commission man at Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Lillie Randall, Wetmore, Kans. ; Lee, a school teacher at Hamlin, Kans. ; Harry, a farmer in Brown county, Kansas ; Ethel, a teacher at Whiting, Kans. ; Mrs. Gladys Stevenson, living on a farm near Wetmore; Mrs. Merle Bell, on a farm near Wet- more ; Helen, a student in the Wetmore High School and member of the class of 1917. The mother of this large and interesting family was born in Wisconsin, December 22, i860, and is a daughter of Frederick and HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 735 Louisa (Zabel) Zabel, natives of Germany. Frederick Zabel, her father, was born in 1824, and was married in his native land in 1849. Five years later, (1854), he emigrated with his wife and family to the United States, and settled in Wisconsin where he farmed until his migration to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1867. He bought a quarter section near Wetmore, which he farmed until 1886, and then sold and retired to a home in Wet- more, where he died July 23, 1896. Mrs. Louisa Zabel, his wife, was born January 10, 1830, and was a faithful helpmeet to her husband during his long life. She is a member of the Evangelical denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Zabel were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are liv- ing: Mrs. Dora Martin, a widow living in California; William, a retired farmer of Holton, Kans. ; Albert, deceased ; Frederick, a farmer of western Kansas ; Mrs. Louisa Mayer, a widow living at Wetmore ; Helena, wife of Jacob Geyer, subject of this review; Ferdinand, a farmer of Idaho ; Mrs. Mary Johns, wife of a farmer and lumberman of Oregon ; Mrs. Christina Rebenstorf, deceased. Mr. Geyer is a Republican in politics, but finds little time to devote to political matters, and prefers to give his attention to his farming inter- ests. Mrs. Geyer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. There must be considerable satisfaction in having grown up with a great county such as Nemaha, and to have lived during the pioneer era of a great State in the making. The greatest accomplishment, however, and one of which Mr. and Mrs. Geyer have good and just right to be very proud, is the fact they have reared to young manhood and womanhood a large and interesting family of ten children. Had they done no more than this, they would be entitled to place of honor and should receive honorable mention far above the average in the annals of their home county where these children were born and reared. Jacob Wolfley, proprietor of 800 acres of land in Jackson and Ne- maha counties, is one of the old Kansas pioneers, whose career in the West begins with his experience as a freighter across the Great Plains. His father before him was one of the earliest of the Kansas pioneers and came to Nehama county as early as 1855 ^^'^ purchased land. Augustus Wolfley, like his son, was a successful man of affairs and was ever on the westward fringe of frontier civilization. Augustus Wolfley, father of Jacob, was born in Pennsylvania; March 23, 1802 and, while reared in the country, spent a part of his youthful days in Pittsburg, where his father operated a tannery. His father died when Augustus was thirteen years old and he assisted his mother in carrying on the work of the farm and tannery until he be- came of age. He then left home and went to Ohio, where he became a missionary, preaching the gospel for several years, finally buying a farm in Ohio, upon which he lived for three years and then traded it for a farm of 400 acres near Port Clinton, Ohio. He lived near Port Clinton for several years, and in the meantime made a trip with a son on the lookout for another location farther West. He decided to remove to 736 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Illinois, and accordingly bought 100 acres near Kankakee. From there they went to Iowa and invested in 800 acres in Iowa. He placed two of his sons upon the big Iowa farm and operated it until 1854, when Augustus again moved, this time to the Iowa place, to which he drove by team from Ohio, with five horses. In 1855 he came still farther west and bought land in Nemaha county, near Wetmore. In the fol- lowing spring he pre-empted a quarter section west of Wetmore and made his home there until his demise, May, 1880. One year later his son drove fifty head of cattle through to the Kansas farm and joined his father there. Augustus Wofley was a devout member of the Church of God. His wife, Mary Cudney, was born in New York, Sep- tember 3, 1812, and died May 2, 1878. Nine children were born to Augustus Wolfley and wife, namely : Augustus J., deceased ; John, deceased; the third child died an infant; Reuben, deceased; James, sent by his father to Illinois when eighteen years old and later to Iowa on business where he collected some money due Mr. Wolfley and deposited it in a bank, but the family never heard from him again. He is supposed to have been waylaid and killed ; Jacob, with whom this review is di- rectly concerned ; Theodore, real estate broker in California ; Mrs. Mary Morris, deceased ; Mrs. Anna E. Bazan, deceased. Jacob Wolfley was born in Ohio, May 10, 1843, reared on the farm in Illinois and Kansas and began to make his own way in the world when twenty-one years old. The great West at that time offered plenty of adventurous pursuits for a young and able man and Jacob Wolfley could not resist the temptation to have a hand in some of the things which, were going on. He was employed in driving herds of cattle across the plains to the western country ; drove freight wagons for the government from Fort Leavenworth to Paola, Kans., and also drove freighting outfits to Fort Laramie, Wyo. He was engaged in railroad service for a year and then decided that he needed some more schooling in order to fit himself better to make his own way in the world. He attended school for a year at Topeka, studied for two years in Lincoln College, and afterward pursued a commercial course at Leavenworth for one year. He finally settled down to the prosaic life of a farmer on a tract of 160 acres given him by his father near Wetmore. He home- steaded an adjoining eighty and made this his home for ten years and then erected a home on a quarter section which he owned in Jackson county upon which he lived for twenty-two years. Previous to this his former home not far from Goff had been burned. ' In 1902 Mr. Wolfley bought a residence property in Goff where -he has his permanent home while looking after his large farming interests. Mr. Wolfley was married in 1873 to Nancy S. Williams, a daughter of Nehemiah and Mary (Studebaker) Williams, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, January 16, 1815, and removed with his parents to a farm in Indiana when but a child. He started out for him- self when twenty-three years old and split fence rails in the Indiana HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 737 woods for as low as twenty-five cents per hundred. He farmed in Indiana for sixteen years and in 1854 moved to Iowa. Five years later he sold out and migrated to Kansas and pre-empted a quarter section of land in Jackson county, on which he made his home for ten years. He farmed in various localities until he left the farm and moved to Soldier, Kans. After residing there for four years he bought forty acres near Ontario, Kans., and lived with his daughters until his death in 1885. Nehemiah Williams was married to Mary Studebaker in 1838 and five children were born to them, as follows : Mrs. Catharine Whin- ery; Mrs. Sarah B. Campbell; John W. ; Abraham T., deceased; Nancy S., born October 16, 1832. The mother of the foregoing children was born in 1818 and died in 1893. Nine children have been born to Jacob Wolfle}^ and wife, as fol- lows : Perley M., father of five children, farming near Ontario, Kans.; Mrs. Alice E. Goodrich, on a farm near Wetmore, has five children ; Mrs. Ida F. Foley, a widow with two children, living in New Mexico; Mrs. Mary R. Klaiber, wife of a druggist located at San Francisco, Cal. ; Sydney J., farmer and stockman, living in Nebraska ; Mrs. Nannie H. Spencer, Downs, Kans., mother of four children; Dorsie M., in high school; Earl, deceased; one child died in infancy. Mr. Wolfley is a Republican who during past years has filled va- rious township offices and taken an active part in civic and political affairs which he now leaves for younger men. He is a member of the Church of God and he and Mrs. Wolfley are religiously inclined. Al- though past seventy-two years of age, Jacob Wolfley is still active and spry and personally oversees the management of his farms and makes daily trips to the country. He has no notion of stopping work and rusting out as many men of his age are inclined to do, but believes in keeping active as the best antidote for old age. Rev. Samuel Munsell. — The late Rev. Samuel Munsell of Granada township, was born in Missouri, in' 1840, and was reared on a Missouri farm. He began to make his own way in the world from boyhood. In 1880, he settled on an eighty acre homestead in Granada township, Ne- maha county, and resided there until his death in 191 1. He was, for many years, a member of the Christian church, and was a minister of that denomination for over thirty years. Mr. Munsell was married in 1866 to Sarah Jane Cook who bore him eight children, as follows : James, a farmer living near America, Kans. ; Joseph, Goff, Kans. ; Horace, a road maker and wood sawyer in the State of Washington ; Albert, a farmer in Missouri ; Mrs. Mary E. Kerr, Valley Falls, Kans. ; Mrs. Hes- ter Clifford, Seneca, Kans. ; John, deceased ; Samuel, a farmer in Harri- son township. Mr. and Mrs. Munsell had an adopted son, Charles Mun- sell, who still lives on the Munsell home place, and cares for his adopted mother. His name by birth was Charles Lackey, born in Cherokee county, Kansas, in 1881, and left an orphan when two years old. His grandparents reared him until he attained the age of nine years, and he (47) 73^ HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY was then adopted by the Munsells. Mr. Munsell is an independent in poHtics, industrious and capable, and is conducting the Munsell hom^ farm very successfully. Mrs. Sarah Jane (Cook) Munsell, widow, was born in Missouri, Feb- ruary i6, 1848, and is a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Henderson) Cook, natives of Missouri. John Cook was an early Kansas pioneer who came to this state in 1852 and died from a bullet wound received at Easton, Kans., in the early border days. John Cook was married, in 1846, to Mary Ann Henderson, who was born in Missouri in 1826, and died in Arkansas, March 11, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Cook were members of the Christian church. They had a family of seven children, as follows: Mrs. Sarah Jane Munsell ; James, Josephine, and Burton, dead. After the death of Mr. Cook, his widow was married to Jerry Edwards of Cher- okee, Kans., and three children were born to this marriage, namely: Nancy and William; and Benton, living in Arkansas. Howard Spiker, an extensive farmer of Granada township, Nemaha county, is a son of Henry and Mary (Moore) Spiker, who were early pioneer settlers in Nemaha count}\ Henry Spiker, his father, was born in Ohio, in 1838, and served for three years in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war. He enlisted in the Seventy-eighth Ohio infantry, in 1861 and fought in the Union armies for three years until he re- ceived his honorable discharge. He was taken prisoner during one of the great battles in the Southland in which his regiment took an active part and he was placed in Andersonville prison. He remained in this terrible rebel prison for three months and sixteen days until his exchange was brought about. He immigrated to Kansas in 1870 and located on a farm near Mount Pleasant School House in Center town- ship. He developed a tract of 160 acres of prairie land into an excellent producing farm, and left the place in 1876 on account of the ravages of the grasshopper pests, lost his farm on account of debt and became a renter for three years. This enabled him to regain his footing and he again bought eighty acres on the present site of the town of Goff. He set out a large peach orchard on the place and again lost his farm. His next venture was to trade sixteen head of cattle and $200 for a forty- acre tract near Horton, Kans., where he made his home for twentj' years previous to his retirement to a home at Horton. He had become owner of an 120-acre farm and was enabled to buy property at Hor- ton. After a residence of seven years in Horton he invested in a quar- ter section near Granada, upon which he lived for eight years, then sold it and bought 200 acres in Jackson county which he farmed until his death in 1909. This' sturdy and persistent pioneer who achieved a final and lasting success despite misfortune which followed him for several years in Kansas, is deserving of the greatest credit for his accomplish- ments. He was a member of the Methodist church and was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife, Mary, was born in 1848. Ten children were born to Henry and Mary Spiker, as follows : HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 739 Charles, a farmer in Oklahoma; Howard, subject of this review; Sum- ner, a farmer in Brown county, Kansas ; Mrs. Sarah Pickering, Horton, Kans. ; William, farming the Spiker home place in Jackson county ; Mrs. Fannie Ammon, Netawaka, Kans. ; Logan, living on the home place ; Mrs. Hallie Benson ; Mrs. Allie Bedbork, Horton, Kans. ; Algie, a farmer of Granada township. Howard Spiker, with whom this biography is directly concerned, was born in Ohio, September 27, 1870, and was educated in the district schools of Nemaha county. He assisted his father at home until he was twenty-four years old. He then worked for his father at wages for two years, and teamed in Horton for six months, after which he rented a quarter section near Horton, Kans., for two years. He then rented a farm three miles east of Whiting for a year, after which he bought 157 and one-half acres in Granada township which has since been his home. Mr. Spiker raises fifty hogs or m.ore for market each year and u'gually has about twenty-five head of cattle each year. He has out over 180 acres in corn, which is his main crop. Mr. Spiker is owner of 247 acres in Granada township and is also farming a half section which adjoins his home place. Howard Spiker was married March 22, 1894, to Miss Minnie Vanderslice, who has borne him the following children : _Melvin, who is married and has two children ; Elsie, Mamie, Mildred, Norman, Olive, Lola, William, Harmon and Forest, at home with their parents. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Doniphan county, Kans., on August 10, 1876, and is a daughter of Daniel and Martha (Jeffries) Vanderslice, who were early Kansas pioneers'. Daniel Van- derslice was born in Kentucky, September 10, 1844. His wife, Martha, was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, May ri, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderslice were the parents of ten children, as follows : Lewis and George, deceased ; Thomas, a barber in Missouri ; Edward, a carpenter of Horton, Kans. ; Mrs. Minnie Spiker ; Mrs. Nellie McClellan, a widow living at Horton, Kans. ; Robert, a farmer in Brown county ; John, a farmer at Alma, Neb.; Mrs. Delia Moberly, Brown county, Kansas; Charles, at the home of his parents. Daniel Vanderslice is a son of Thomas Vanderslice, who was appointed Indian agent at the Iowa, Sac, and Fox agency, and had charge of all the different tribes of Indians in this part of Kansas, and was the first Indian agent in this State. The Vanderslice family came to Kansas in 1853 ^i^d William Vanderslice has lived at the old Vanderslice home near Highland, Kans., since he came to Kansas in his youth. When the Vanderslice family left their old Kentucky home they freed their one family slave. After their ar- rival in Kansas they were unable to get white help and the elder Van- derslice went to Westport, Mo., and bought a slave woman. Later on they bought more slaves, but sold them during the Civil war. During the Civil war Daniel Vanderslice joined the state militia and was en- gaged in police and patrol duty for a year's time. In 1864 he went to 740 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Montana, traveling by horseback and ox teams. While there he worked as a freighter and a miner and was with the crOwd that opened the road from Big Horn Mountain to Deer Creek on the South Platte River. He remained in Montana for two years and then returned to Kansas and was engaged as a freighter in the early days. Daniel Vanderslice came to Horton, Kans., when the town was one and a half years old and worked for many years in the railroad shops as a carpenter and is now retired. Mr. Spiker is a Republican in politics, but has never been a seeker after political preferment. He is affiliated fraternally with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen, and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is a member and director of the Nemaha County Farmers' Union. Virgil A. Bird, city clerk of Bern, Kans., and manager of the Scott Lumber Company, is a native born Kansan and a son of Kansas pioneer parents. He was born in Wolf River township, Doniphan county, Sep- tember 3, 1869, and is a son of George and Emma (Davison) Bird. George Bird, his father, was born in Litchfield, Conn., November 6, 1834, and was a son of James and Susan (Danhy) Bird, natives of New England. James Bird was a soldier in the. War of 1812, and died in 1865. He was the father of ten children, of whom George was the yourgest Leaving the old home in the East, George Bird made a set- tlement in Doniphan county, Kansas, as early as 1858, cultivated a farm and also worked at his trade of mason in Highland, Kans. He enlisted in the L^nion army as musician in Company C, Seventh Kansas cavalry, under Colonel Jennison. His first engagement was at the battle of the Little Blue, near Kansas City, Mo., and he went with his command through Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. He returned home after the close of the war and preempted a quarter section of land in Robin- son township. Brown county, which he later sold and moved to Wolf River township, Doniphan county. He followed agricultural pursuits until his retirement to a home at Denton, Kans. George Bird was married in 1867 to Miss Emma Davison, who bore him the following children: Virgil A., with whom this review is di- rectly concerned ; Wilbur, living at Denton ; Mrs. Effie Harless, de- ceased ; Mrs. Stella Harless, Severance, Kans. ; George, Jr., farming the old home place. Mrs. Emma (Davison) Bird, mother of the foregoing children, was born in New York State, April 26, 1846, and is a daughter of Henry and Anna (Young) Davison, who migrated to Kansas in 1864. Virgil A. Bird was reared on the family farm in Doniphan county, and after attending the district schools until he was sixteen years old, he entered Campbell College, at Holton, Kans. He studied there for two years, and then began clerking in a general merchandise store at Severance, Kans. Mr. Bird was first married in 1896 to Cathrine Cor- coran, of Severance. She died October 31, 1897. In 1899 he came to Bern and operated a bakery until 1910. He then became interested in a P > to d CO 2 d HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 741 the lumber business, invested his capital in the Scott Lumber Company, became a director, and took over the management of the concern, which is one of the prosperous business establishments of Nemaha county. Mr. Bird was married in 1906 to Eva (Cox) Lehmann, widow of Charles Lehmanti, eldest son of John Lehmann. Mrs. Bird was born Sep- tember 19, 1872, on the Cox homestead, in Oilman township, and is a daughter of Posey W. and Frances (Williams) Cox, pioneer residents of Nemaha county, whose parents were also Kansas pioneers. (See biography of Posey W. Cox and George W. Williams for the family history, traced further back two and three generations). Eva Cox was educated in the Oneida public schools and attended the Western Nor- mal College, at Lincoln, Neb. She taught school for five years in the district schools of her native county, and taught the primary depart- ment of the Oneida graded schools for three years, until her marriage with Charles Lehmann in 1900. One child was born to this marriage, namely: Carl, at home. A child, Beverly Bernice, aged five years, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bird. Mrs. Bird is quite active in social affairs in her home city, and is talented as a writer, one of the most in- teresting contributions to this volume of history being her "History of Bern, Kans." She is a member of the Christian church, and is affiliated with the Woman's Club of Bern. One of the most attractive eighty-acre farms and farm residences in Nemaha county is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bird, which is located two and a half miles northeast of Bern, and is known as the "Sunset." The pretty farm house is surrounded by large evergreen trees, which add to the beauty of the surroundings and enhance the broad, well-kept lawn. The place, as a whole, is well cared for and gives evidence of exacting management and thorough attention to details of farm man- agement. Mr. Bird is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, and takes an active part in political matters. He has served as president of the Bern Commercial Club and has filled the post of city clerk since 1909. His fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Bird are valued and useful citizens of the thriving little city of Bern and enjoy the respect and esteem of hosts of friends. They are proud of the fact that they were born and reared in the great State of Kansas, and also of the fact that their progenitors were among the sturdy army of empire builders whose early struggles gave the Union a great State developed from the prairies. Mrs. Bird has been a loyal club woman for several years, and she believes that one of the highest ambitions in life should be to help others. This ambition is typical of club women in general, and they have stepped forward eagerly to aid by their counsel and support any movement which had for its object the betterment of civic and social conditions. Mrs. Bird was treasurer of the First District Federation of Clubs for two years, and at the present time she is serving as a member of the Library Extension of the First District Federation of Women's Clubs. 742 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Melvin H. Spiker, one of the younger farmers of Granada township, was born in Brown county, Kansas, July 6, 1895. He was reared on his father's farm in Brown and Nemaha counties, and received a district school education. Mr. Spiker is a son of Howard and Minnie Spiker, whose biographies appear in this volume. He assisted his father in till- ing the home place until he was eighteen years of age, and then rented a tract of ninety acres from his father, and engaged in farming on his own account. Mr. Spiker has made a success of his independent venture, and has his farm well stocked with thirty-two head of hogs, five head of cat- tle, five mules and a pony. He raises equal amounts of corn and wheat as his staple crops each year, and usually has good crops. Mr. Spiker was married on December 24, 191 3, to Miss Ida Fuhrer, who has borne him one child, namely : Martha Alaine, born September 30, 1914. Mrs. Ida Spiker was born in Rawlins county, Kentucky, Au- gust 29, 1893, and was reared on a farm. She received a good school education, and was employed as clerk in a drug store and as telephone operator, prior to her marriage with Mr. Spiker. Mrs. Spiker is a daugh- ter of Rudolph Fuhrer, deceased, who was born at Thun, Switzerland, February 10, 1863, and died at his home at Wetmore, Kans., February 22, 1916. He came to this country with his parents in 1872, and was married to Rosa Stalder at Pawnee City, Neb., May 5, 1888. After his marriage, he moved to Cheyenne county, Kansas, and farmed in that semi-arid dis- trict until 191 1, at which time he brought his family to Nemaha county and bought an eighty acre farm a few miles northwest of Wetmore. He made a small payment on the place and he and his family set to work to pay off the indebtedness. Soon they were getting along nicely, and were in a fair way to become prosperous when Mr. Fuhrer's health failed him in 1913, and after a lingering illness, he died. He was buried under the auspices of the Wetmore Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he was a mem- ber. Mr. and Mrs. Fuhrer were the parents of the following children, namely : Mrs. Emma Howell, living on a farm in Granada township ; Charles, a fireman on the Burlington railroad at Falls City, Neb- ; Mrs. Ida Spiker, -wife of the subject of this review; Mrs. Nora Hutchinson, living on a farm in Granada township; Manilla, Hattie, Lillie, and Georgia, at home with their mother. Mrs. Rosa Fuhrer was born in Switzerland in 1866, and came to America in 1884, and made her home at Bern, Kans., living with relatives until her marriage with Mr. Fuhrer. Mr. Spiker is a Republican in politics, and is one of the hustling and enterprising young farmers of this section of the county, who takes a keen interest in township and county matters of a civic nature. Mrs. Spiker is a member of the Christian church, and both are popular and well liked among their many neighbors and friends. Samuel Thornburrow, cashier of the Wetmore State Bank, was born on a farm in Jackson county, Kansas, April 14, 1865. He is a son of John and Mary (Thorpe) Thornburrow, the former of whom was born in England in 1833, immigrated to America in 1857, and located in Illinois, HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 743 where he farmed during the summer months, and worked in the coal mines during the winter seasons for two years. He then went west to Salt Creek valley, in Leavenworth county, Kansas, and followed mining and farming there for two years previous to his removal to Jackson county, Kansas. When John Thornburrow came to this country, he bought a quarter section of land which he developed and tilled until his retirement to a home in Wetmore in 1898. His death occurred De- cember 3, 1900. He was a member of the Episcopalian church, and was a Mason. His wife, Mary, was born in England in 1835, and bore him seven children, as follows : Edward, a farmer in Wetmore ; Mrs. Mary' Scott, a widow living at Wetmore ; Robert, deceased ; Samuel, subject of this review ; Elizabeth, Wetmore, Kans. ; John, died in infancy ; Clyde C, farmer and stockman at Wetmore. Samuel Thornburrow began for himself when he became of age, and bought a quarter section of land which he farmed for eleven years. He then bought his father's home place and managed it from 1898 to 1904. He sold his first farm and bought 160 acres adjoining the home place, and also added another quarter, making 480 acres in all. Later, he sold eighty acres of this large tract and, in 1904, he removed to Wet- more, renting out part of his land and retaining a part for a live stock range until 1909. He served as a director of the Wetmore State Bank fram 1901 to 1909, and was assistant cashier until January i, 1916, at which time he was promoted to the post of cashier of the bank. Mr. Thornburrow was married December 31, 1890, to Etta Carney, daughter of James and Jane (Cummings) Carney, the former of whom was born in Ireland in 1820, was left an orphan at the age of seven years, and was forced to battle for his own livelihood from that time on. He made his home with a brother until he became of age, immigrated to Canada, and engaged in railroading for several years prior to taking up farming in that country. In 1869, he sold out his holdings in the Do- minion, and came to Jackson county, Kansas, where he rented land for twelve years. He next settled in Atchison where he followed teaming until his death, March 28, 1891. James Carney .was married in 1862 to Jane Cummings, who was born at Stratford, Canada, in 1831, and died at St. Joseph, Mo., November 30, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Carney were parents of eight children, namely: Etta, wife of the subject of this review, and who was born at Chipstow, Canada, November 23, 1861, learned the trade of dressmaker and milliner, and followed it at Atchison and Wetmore before her marriage; Mrs. Jane Nance, Wetmore, Kans; Mrs. Mary Cullen, St. Joseph, Mo. ; John, accidentally killed by falling from a building; William, deceased; Mrs. Bessie Couser, deceased; Mrs. Nettie McDonald, deceased ; Mrs. Katherine Smith, St. Joseph, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Thornburrow have an adopted son, Raymond, offspring of Mrs. Thornburrow's sister, whom they took to rear when he was an infant six weeks old. Raymond is a high school student, class of .1917, Wetmore High School. 744 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mr. Thornburrow is a Republican, and is now filling the post of township treasurer. He is a member of the Episcopalian church, and is treasurer of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias. Edward W. Thornburrow. — The measure of an individual success is the ultimate accomplishment of a decade of constant endeavor. The con- crete results show fOr themselves in instances where Kansas farmers have achieved a remarkable success, such as that of Edward W. Thornburrow, extensive land owner of Wetmore, Kans. During thirty-four years in following agricultural pursuits, Mr. Thornburrow has accumulated a total of 1,200 acres of land in Nemaha county and 240 acres in Jackson county, Kansas. Despite the fact that he is able to retire from active labor he personally oversees the work on his home farm of 240 acres and goes daily to his farm. He is a son of John and Mary (Thorpe) Thornburrow, Kansas pioneers whose biographies are given in connec- tion with that of Samuel Thornburrow, banker at Wetmore. Edward W. Thornburrow was born on a farm near Leavenworth, Kans., January 13, 1861. AVhen he was twenty-seven years old his father gave him a tract of land, which he farmed for fifteen years and made his hom.e thereon. This farm was the nucleus around which his large acreage has been created. Mr. Thornburrow has bought land con- tinuously since beginning his career in Nemaha county. When Mr. Thornburrow moved to Wetmore, he erected a large and commodious fourteen-room residence, of three stories, modern in many respects, with a bath and heating plant. He rents out 1,200 acres of his land and has personal supervision of 240 acres to which he travels each morning and returns therefrom to his home in the evening. Mr. Thornburrow keeps 150 or more Duroc Jersey hogs on his place, sixty-two head of cattle, eight cows and heifers, and generally keeps his farm well stocked. Mr. Thornburrow was married in 1890 to Isabella Johnstone, who was born in Illinois, September 28, 1871, and is a daughter of William Johnstone, an aged resident of Goff, Kans. (See sketch of William Johnstone.) This marriage has been blessed with one child, Mary Isa- belle, born September 25, 1893, a graduate of Wetmore High School, class of 1910. She studied at Evanston, 111., for one year and spent two years in Kansas University at Lawrence, Kans. After studying at Law- rence she entered Oberlin University, at Oberlin, Ohio, and spent six months in this college. She studied music, both vocal and instrumental, in addition to her classical course and is an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Mr. Thornburrow is a Republican in politics and has served as treas- urer of Reilly township. He filled the office of mayor of Wetmore for three terms. He and Mrs. Thornburrow are members of the Episcopalian church. Mr. Thornburrow is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is trustee of his lodge. Harvey H. Lynn, vice-president of the Wetmore State Bank, was born in Platte county, Missouri, February 3, 1842, and is a son of Hines HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 745 C. and Hester Ann (Caton) Lynn, natives of Missouri. Hines C, his father, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1810. When Hines C. was two years old, his father was killed, being struck by lightning. Hines resided at home with his mother until his marriage in 1836, and then lived on rented farms until 1842, at which time he bought a quarter section in Platte county, Missouri, upon which he lived until 1858. In that year he migrated to Brown county, Kansas, and preempted 166 acres with a Mexican war land warrant. He developed this tract and made his home thereon until his death in 1891. Hines C. Lynn was the father of seven children, as follows: W. W., retired and living among his children ; F. M., died as a result of disease contracted while in ser- vice in the Civil war; Harvey H., subject of this review; David H., farmer in Brown county, Kansas; three children died in infancy. Hes- ter Ann (Caton) Lynn, mother of Harvey H. Lynn, was born in War- ren county, Missouri, in 1813, and died in Platte county, Missouri, in 1850. Both parents were members of the Methodist church. Harvey H. Lynn was reared on the pioneer farm of the family in Platte county, Missouri, and did not receive any schooling until he was fifteen years old and then had the advantage of but two terms dur- ing the winters. When fifteen years old he began earning his own way in the world by driving freighting teams across the great plains in the employ of a freighting company. He followed this adventurous occupation until i860. In 1857 he drove westward with -a large consign- ment of food stuffs and presents for the Sioux Indians and greatly en- joyed the wild, free life of the great outdoors during his years of freight- ing and "mule-whacking." In the year 1861 he enlisted for service in behalf of the Union in Company H, Seventh Kansas cavalry, and served faithfully until the close of the Civil war. He was in many famous engagements, such as the battle of Corinth, Miss., Oxford, Miss., Holly Springs, and Granada, and served the greater part of his time under the command of Gen. U. S: Grant. After receiving his hon- orable discharge from the service he returned to Kansas and again en- gaged in freighting to the far west until 1867. He then farmed with his father for a year and in 1868 he purchased his father's farm and en- gaged in the live stock business until 1897. In that year he removed to Wetmore, Kans., and practically retired from active pursuits. In 1882 he and Samuel Morris organized the Wetmore State Bank, of which thriving, financial institution he has been vice-president for the past fourteen years. Mr. Lynn is owner of 175 acres in Brown county, Kansas, and owns 160 acres in Nemaha county. He married, March 15, 1868, Rose F. Hough, who has borne him children as follows : Washington H., a traveling salesman whose home is at Wetmore ; the second child died in infancy ; Mrs. Cora A. Burt, wife of a Topeka, Kans., restaurant proprietor. The mother of these children was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, January 14, 1841, and is a daughter of Mason and Susan (Kuhn) Hough, the former of 746 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY whom was born in Pennsylvania, in 1816, and became a carpenter and farmer. He migrated to Kansas in 1866 and bought a farm of 700 acres in Brown county, lived thereon for ten years and then divided his land among his children. He retired to a home at Granada in Nemaha county, where he resided until his death in 1892. Mason Hough was a member of the Methodist church and a class leader; was a Repub- can and served for many years as trustee of his township in Brown county, and also filled the important post of county commissioner for three years. He was married in 1842 to Susan Kuhn, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, in 1818, and died in 1894. Mason and Susan Hough were parents of nine children, as follows: Rosana F., wife of Harvey H. Lynn, subject of this review; Henry E., former bank cashier of Lawrence, Kans. ; Mrs. Catharine H. Rolfe, deceased ; John A., far- mer and stockman of Wetmore, Kans.; Washington H., retired hard- ware merchant, Wetmore, Kans. ; Louis, dead ; Valentine, farmer in Brown county; Mrs. Amanda Lockman, deceased; Mary E., dead. Mr. Lynn is a stanch Republican who believes thoroughly in the principles and tenets of his party and supports the Republican can- didates. He is a member of the Methodist church. William F. Turrentine.— The Wetmore "Spectator," of which Wil- liam F. Turrentine is editor and proprietor, was established in 1882, and has had different owners, until Mr. Turrentine bought a half interest in the newspaper in January, 1905. In October of the same year, he pur- chased the other half interest. On May 26, the plant of the "Spectator" was burned, and everything destroyed with almost a total loss. Mr. Turren- tine then borrowed $900, again issued his paper, and has never missed an issue. While awaiting the installation of his new outfit, the "Spectator" was issued from a Seneca printing plant for two weeks. The "Spectator" has a circulation of twenty quires, and is a well established weekly sheet. Mr. Turrentine has recently started the Netawaka "Chief" at Netawaka, Kans., under the date of May 4, 1916, for the initial number. William F. Turrentine was born on a farm near Pana, 111., Novem- ber 2, 1864, and is a son of Calvin, born at Winsor, 111., in 1831. Calvin Turrentine was a singing teacher in his younger days and cultivated a rented farm in Illinois from 1861 until 1876. He lived the greater part of his long life in Pana, 111., where he followed teaming and railroad work until his death in 1907. His wife was Susan P. Downing, born at Cairo, 111., in 1838, orphaned at the age of twelve years, and subsequently reared by her uncle, Madison Haggle of Hillsboro, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Turrentine had children, as follows: Edward E., a printer in Illinois; William F., subject of this review; Alice B., a trained nurse in Chicago; Ida M., deputy clerk of circuit court at Taylorsville, 111.; Calvin P., a painter ; Mrs. Mira E. Foil, circuit clerk at Taylorville, 111. ; Charles S., a railroad bridge carpenter of South Chicago. William F. Turrentine was educated in the Pana, 111., public schools, and when fourteen years old, served an apprenticeship in the office of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 747 the Pana "Palladium." Beginning with noon of September, 1879, on the first Monday, he worked for eight years and learned the printer's trade thoroughly. He removed to St. Joseph, Mo., on July 22, 1887, and was employed on the St. Joseph "Gazette" until the spring of 1888. He then went to Centralia, Kans., and worked for four months on the staff of the Centralia "Journal," after which he returned to St. Joseph, and was again employed on the "Gazette" until 1890. He spent six months with the St. Joseph "Herald," and then worked on the staff of the "Daily News" for six years, learning to operate the linotype machine during this period. He learned linotype composition and operation of the first machine used west of Chicago. On March i, 1897, he rented 160 acres of land near Ef- fingham, Kans. and farmed for eight years. He then came to Wetmore, Kans., and purchased the "Spectator." Mr. Turrentine was married, September 13, 1893, at Good Hope, 111., to Alice May Simpson, who has borne him five children, namely: Eva, died in infancy ; William F., Jr., born August 19, 1895, a student at Baker University; James S., born June 18, 1897, graduate of Wetmore High School, class of 1916, and a teacher in Brown county; Glenn R., born January i, 1899, student Wetmore High School, class of 1917; Carl P., born December 26, 1902. Mrs. Alice M. Turrentine was born at Macomb, 111., March 17, 1867, and is a daughter of F. M. and Amanda L. (Lemon) Simpson, the former of whom was born at Macomb, 111., in 1842, and has been a farmer all of his life in Illinois. He was married in 1864 to Amanda Lemon, born at Good Hope, 111,, in 1849, ^"d who bore him seven children, as follows : Mrs. Dora Eva Moore, in Colorado ; Alice M., wife of subject of this review; James R., a farmer in Colorado; P. W., a farmer at Soldier, Kans. ; Charles, died in infancy ; Mrs. Martha E. Lindsey, Macomb, 111. ; Albert S., a civil engineer located in Cali- fornia. Mr. and Mrs. Turrentine are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Turrentine has been superintendent of the Sunday school for the past six years. He is also president of the Epworth League. In politics he is a progressive Republican, and is serving as mayor of the city of Wetmore. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is senior warden of the Wetmore Masonic lodge; is a member of the Eastern Star lodge, and past patron of same; holds membership in the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs and the Modern Wood- men. Mrs. Turrentine is past worthy matron of the Eastern Star lodge, and is oracle of the Royal Neighbors, and a member of the Rebekahs. Charles E. Cooley, owner of a fine farm of 160 acres in Granada township, was born in Illinois, June 25, 1879, and is a son of Roselle and Arimepha (Towler) Cooley, residents of Wetmore, Kans. Charles E. Cooley was educated in the common schools and was reared on the farm. When twenty years of age he began life for hirhself on an "eighty" which he rented near the town of Goff. One year later he bought a grist mill at Kelly, Kans., and operated the mill for six months. He then sold 748 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY it, and after working as section hand for three months, he bought eighty- acres near Goff, which he cultivated for three years, then sold out and •bought an "eighty" near Bancroft, where he lived for four years. Selling out this place he bought a quarter section in Mitchell township, but traded this place seven months later for eighty acres in Ottawa county, Kansas. Eighteen months later he traded this tract for a quarter section in Granada township, Nemaha county. This was in 1910 and is the pres- ent home place of Mr. Cooley. He is a breeder of Poland China swine, of which variety he has fifty head, and also has sixteen head of cattle and eight horses. He operates a portable saw outfit with which he does considerable sawing for his neighbors. Mr. Cooley was married, December 20, 1899, to Nettie A. Ruhlen, who has borne him children, as follows : Harold, born December I, 1900; Mabel, born November 9, 1902; Lorimer, born August 25, 1904; Russell, born February 14, 1909; Lois, born May 10, 191 1 ; Lela, a twin to Lois; Edith, died five days after her birth, on August i, 1913. Mrs. Nettie Cooley was born in LTnion county, Ohio, September 21, 1878, and is a daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Clevenger) Ruhlen. Jacob Ruhlen, her father, was born in Germany, February 13, 1849, and secured a good education. He taught school for several years in his native land and immigrated to Kansas in 1881 and located on a rented farm in Granada township. A year later he bought eighty acres, which he farmed for two years, then sold out and bought a forty-acre farm in Granada township, upon which he lived for seven years. He then sold it and moved upon the tract now owned by Charles E. Cooley, which he had purchased some time previously. Mr. Ruhlen sawed all of the lumber with which his house and farm buildings were built. After a three years' residence on this farm he rented out his place and moved to Wetmore, Kans., for two years. He then returned to his farm, where he remained for six years. His wife's health failing, he again removed to Wetmore. Two years later his wife again yearned for the farm home and at her entreaties he moved back to the farm, where she died two weeks later. After a residence of two years on the farm with his children, Mr. Ruhlen moved to Wetmore for a year, then traded his farm for eighty acres owned by Mr. Cooley. He is now living on a ten-acre tract in the outskirts of Baldwin, Kans. . He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, and is a Baptist. Mr. Ruhlen was married in 1876 to Lydia Clevenger, who was born in Put- nam county, Ohio, December 2, 1850, and died in Kansas in 1890. They were the parents of eight children, as follows : The first born died in infancy; Mrs. Nettie Cooley; Lewis, a machinist at Wetmore; Charles, of Madison, N. J.; Minnie, died in infancy; Edna, at home, Baldwin, Kans., and Nellie, who died in infancy. Mr. Cooley is a Democrat. He is prominent in the Odd Fellows, has filled all chairs of his lodge and is past noble grand of the order. He and Mrs. Cooley are members of the Methodist church and Mrs. Cooley is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah and the Royal Neighbors. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 749 Martin T. Brock. — The history of the Brock family of Nemaha coun- ty, Kansas, begins with Samuel Brock, father of Martin T. Brock, sub- ject of this review and owner of a quarter section farm in Granada town- ship. Samuel Brock, his father, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1812. He. lived in an Irish village until he became of age and then immigrated to America. For the first twelve years he was employed in a paint factory at Newark, N. J. He then moved west to Illinois and bought a tract of land, which he farmed for ten years, then sold out and moved to Platts- burg, Mo. He farmed in Missouri for three years, in the vicinity of Plattsburg, and then moved to a farm near King City, Mo., and pur- chased 100 acres, which he cultivated for ten years, eventually selling out and coming to Kansas in 1881. He rented land near Axtell, Kans.," for three years and then bought 120 acres in Nemaha county, east of Axtell. In 1884 he built a home and farm buildings on his place in Ne- maha county and moved to it. Mr. Brock bought this land for $7.50 an acre, and it was sold March 18, 1916, for $85 an acre. The senior Btockk lived thereon until his death, on February 16, 1914. He was a devout Catholic and a Democrat in politics, and lived to be over one hun- dred years old. Samuel Brock was married October 6, 1857, to- Bridget Kerns, who was born in Ireland February 2, 1842, and emi- grated to the United States when fourteen years old. She lived in Illinois until her marriage with Mr. Brock. There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Brock, as follows: Mrs. Katie Hynes, widow, living at St. Joseph, Mo. ; Mrs. Hannah Tichlofen, Junction City, Kans. ; Mrs. Eliza Tatlow, Cottonwood Falls, Kans. ; Martin T., subject of this review ; Michael, a farmer of Granada township ; Agnes Brock, living at Axtell, Kans. ; James, Mammoth Springs, Ark. ; John, a farmer living near Ax- tell, Kans. Martin T. Brock was born near Plattsburg, Clinton county, Missouri, March 6, 1868, and was reared on a farm and received a common school education. When he was twenty-two years of age he broke prairie land in Kansas for two years and then rented a sixty-acre farm in Clear Creek township, which he farmed for one year. He then rented land in Capioma township for a year, and after a year's residence in Seneca, he rented a tract of 100 acres near that city for a year. For seven years following he rented land in Capioma township and tilled a half section successfully. He then bought eighty acres in Granada township, which served as his home for sixteen years, after which he traded it for his present place of 160 acres, upon which he moved with his family, March i, 1916. For the past twenty-seven years, Mr. Brock has operated a corn sheller, and probably has the record as a corn sheller operator, on account of having shelled over 3,000,000 bushels in that length of time. For the past two years he has raised over 10,000 bushels of corn on his own account each year. He favors the Duroc Jersey breed of swine on his place and has over eighty head at this time, besides twelve head of Shorthorns, twelve horses and two mules although his livestock is lower 7SO HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY in numbers than is common with him on account of having depleted his stock by close selling in the spring of 1916. All of the products of his farm are fed to livestock on the place, thus insuring the continued fer- tility of his soil and continued yields of large crops. Mr. Brock was married to Miss Jennie Parcels, August 10, 1891, and three children have been born of this marriage : Myrtle J., aged twenty-four years, who has taught school for three terms ; Mirl, a farmer near Goff, Kans., aged twenty-two years ; Leland, aged fourteen years. Mrs. Jennie Brock was born at Watseka, 111., February 23, 1868, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Parcels, old pioneer residents of Nemaha county and now living at Seneca. James Parcels, her father, was born ■ in Pickaway county, Ohio, July 29, 1830, and was the son of a Methodist minister. His parents necessarily lived in several locations, as the father's duties called him and eventually moved to Indiana. When Mr. Parcels was twenty-five years old (1855), he joined a party of twelve men, two of whom were his brothers, on an overland trip to Placerville, Cal. They were five months and sixteen days in making the trip to their destination from Peru, Ind., and it was an eventful and wonderful journey to the young men who formed the party. Mr. Parcels stayed in California for three years and started on the return trip in December, 1858. The party returned home via the Isthmus of Panama and New York City, and landed at New York City on Christmas Eve. Mr. Parcels was married in 1858, but his first wife lived but five years after marriage. One son, George, now deceased, was born of this marriage. Soon after his wife's death, Mr. Parcels enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio infantry, and was mustered out at Camp Denison after his period of service expired. Soon after the close of the war he went to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he and Elizabeth H. Jones were mar- ried and eventually lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in Seneca, Kans. Mrs. Parcels was the second daughter of Austin and Syrena Jones and was born in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Parcels lived for a time at Watseka, 111., but later went to Ohio and from there returned to Illinois. In 1873 they came to Kansas and took up a homestead near Wichita, but after seven years of grass- hoppers, drouths and crop failures, they moved to Alamosa, Colo., in order to make a new start. For eighteen months Mr. Parcels freighted in the mountain country and in the fall of 1881 they returned to Kansas. This time, the family located in Nemaha county and for several years Mr. Parcels rented various farms near Baileyville and in the vicinity of Centralia. He lived for five j^ears on the Kendall place west of Seneca and in the early nineties he bought a place in the western part of the city, which serves as the Parcels home. Mr. Parcels is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is a Mason. Their children are as follows. ]\Irs. Jennie Brock; James, Hiawatha, Kans.; William H., of Eureka, ]\Iont. ; Mrs. Dora Harper, Seneca, Kans., and Louis B., Hiawatha, Kans. They have fourteen grandchildren. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 75 1 Mr. Brock is a Republican who takes an active and influential part in civic matters. He served on the school board of his district for fifteen years and was road overseer for two years. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of Ameri- ca, serving as counsel of the latter organization at Woodlawn for six years. Henry Gallentine is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Miller) Gallentine, natives of Pennsylvania. Joseph Gallentine, his father, was born in 1826, was reared in the Keystone State and immigrated to Kansas in 1884. For the first three years in this State he rented land, and in 1887 he purchased a farm of 120 acres near the town of Wetmore, in Nemaha county. He lived on his farm until his return to Pennsylvania in 1899. Death resulted in his native state from cancer of the stomach, in 1900. During the Civil war, Mr. Gallentine served for three years as a volun- teer in a Pennsylvania regiment and was deprived of his hearing during his war service. He was a Democrat in politics. Joseph Gallentine was married in 1852 to Nancy Miller, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1836, and bore him a family of six children, as follows: Henry, silbject of this review; Mrs. Emma Bedker, Cripple Creek, Colo.; the third and fourth children died in infancy; Mrs. Maria Mahaney, Uniontown, Pa.; Mrs. Nancy Ellen Miller, deceased. Henry Gallentine, formerly of Granada township, was born Septem- ber 2, 1853, in Pennsylvania, and began life for himself when eighteen years of age. He worked at farm labor in his native State until his re- moval to Kansas in 1879. He invested his capital in 146 acres of land in Granada township, Nemaha county, Kansas, which he cultivated until 1908, at which time he went to Colorado and homesteaded a quarter sec- tion of Government land, upon which he is living. Mr. Gallentine was married in 1879 to Miss Phoebe Cramer, a daughter of Frank and Mary (Miller) Cramer, natives of Pennsylvania. Frank Cramer, her father, was born in 1836 and followed farming in his native State until his re- moval to Kansas with his family in 1878. He located at Sabetha and followed various occupations until his death in 1905. Frank Cramer and Mary Miller were married in 1856 and were the parents of twelve chil- dren, as follows : Mrs. Phoebe Gallentine, wife of Henr^ Gallentine ; Levi, killed by a horse at the age of eleven years ; Mrs. Hulda Eiker, deceased ; Adam, a plasterer, living at Sabetha; Mrs. Rebecca Miller, Norton county, Kansas ; Nancy, aj home with her mother ; Hattie and John, died in in- fancy ; Henry and William, Sabetha, Kans. ; Mrs. Lydia Mize, deceased ; Elijah; a farmer, living near Wetmore. Mrs. Phoebe Gallentine was born in Pennsylvania, October 30, 1857, and is the mother of nine children, as follows : Mrs. Emma Larabee, Bern, Kans., and mother of three children ; Mrs. Ellen Heald, mother of three children, and living at Troy, Kans. ; Frank, died at the age of thirty-one years ; Mrs. Nora Kleeman, Seibert, Colo., whose husband is a photographer; Katherine, born in 1888; Jo- seph, farming home place, in Granada township, born in 1890; Edward, 752 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY born in 1892, and living at Sabetha; Vernon, born in 1894, and lives in Iowa; Florence, born in 1896, and is at home with her mother. Mrs. Phoebe Gallentine owns 146 acres in Granada township. When Henry Gallentine came to Kansas he was possesed of one old, blind horse, with which he began farming his Nemaha county tract. He also owned a one-horse wagon. With these assistants he made his start in this county and has become a wealthy man. Since locating in Colorado he has become owner of 320 acres of land and is a capitalist and money lender in his locality. With characteristic shrewdness and blessed with business ability, he saw an opportunity in the western State to make his capital earn money for him and he has succeeded even beyond his expectations in accumulating wealth. C. C. Moore is the owner of 100 acres in Granada township and he rents an additional 253 acres, which gives him a large farm. • His parents were J. B. and Mary (Ball) Moore, of Virginia. The father, J. B Moore, was born in Lee county, Virginia, in 1854. After receiving a rudimentary education, Mr. Moore went out to shift for himself and at the age of nineteen he set up as a farmer in Virginia, where he rented land until 1892, when he came to Kansas and settled near Powhattan, where he remained five years. Later, he moved on the farm of George Williams, three miles south of Seneca, where he lived until 1914, when he bought eighty acres north of Corning, on which he now lives. He is a Republi- can in politics. His wife, Mary (Ball) Moore, was born in Lee county, Virginia in 1855. She was reared on the farm and lived with her parents until her marriage, in 1878. She is a member of the Methodist church. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore, as follows : Amanda Brooks Stoldt ; C. C, the subject of this review; Mrs. Lora Bales, wife of a farmer near Seneca, m.other of three children ; Margaret, living at home. C. C. Moore was born in Virginia, November 13, 1876. At the age of twenty years, he began working out on the farm by the month, and three years later he rented eighty acres in Mitchell township, where he lived for a year. During the next few years he rented different farms and finally bought the 100 acre farm in Granada township, which he owns. He has forty hogs and nine head of cattle. He usually plants 165 acres in corn and thirty to forty acres in wheat and oats. He is a member of the Farmers' Union, and is a Republican in politics. Mr. Moore was married in 1899 to Cordilia Dean, daughter of Hen- derson and Sarilda (Brooks) Dean. Ten children were born to them, as follows : Ethel, aged sixteen ; Henry, aged fifteen ; Lillie, aged thir- teen ; Minnie, aged eleven ; Jessie, aged nine ; Millard, aged eight ; Joseph, H., aged seven ; Grace E., aged five ; Iva M., aged two ; Florence, aged one. Mrs. Moore was born in Lee county, Virginia, March 11, 1879. Her father, Henderson Dean, was born in Lee county, Virginia, in 1851, and farmed in Lee county all of his life. He owned 200 acres of heavily HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 753 stocked land. He was a member of the Methodist church. In poHtics, he was an ardent Democrat, and for twenty years he acted as road boss in the township in which he lived. He died in 1907. Mrs. Sarilda Dean was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, in 1857. She was a' member of the Baptist church. Two children were born to them, as follows : Cordilia, wife of Mr. Moore, and Peter, a laborer in Kansas City, Kans., father of three children. Daniel A. League, farmer, owner of 120 acres of fine farming land in Granada township, is one of the well known farmers of this section of the county. He is the son of David and Mary (Hudson) League. His father was born in Kentucky in 1840, and started out to work for him- self at the age of nine years. He worked out until 1865, and then lived on a rented farm in Illinois. He served as a member of the Fourth Iowa cavalry during the Civil war. He was wounded in the arm and was in a hospital at Keokuk for several months. David League farmed in Illinois and Iowa until 1878, and then came to -Kansas, locating in Re- public county, where he homesteaded 160 acres. In 1894 he sold out and came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought forty acres at Granada. In 1905 he retired and lived in Granada until his death the following year. He was a member of the Masonic and Modern Woodmen of America lodges. Mr. League was a Republican in politics. His wife, Mary League, to whom he was married in 1862, was born in Pennsyl- vania, October 26, 1845, ^'^^ was reared in the country. She worked out from the time she was fourteen years old until her marriage. Mrs. League was a member of the Evangelical church. Six children were born to them, as follows : James E., liveryman, Belleville, Kans., father, of one child : Theodore F., died in Colorado in 1898, leaving two chil- dren; Minnie M. and Thomas J., died in infancy; Mrs. Bertha E. Chase, wife of a Granada township farmer, has eight children; Daniel, subject of this sketch. Daniel League was born in Republic county, Kans., February 10, 1883. He bought eighty acres on Wolfley creek, Nemaha county, when he was nineteen years old, and lived there for three years. He bought and sold various tracts and rented farms for several years before set- tling near Wetmore on the 120-acre tract which he now owns.. He has twenty-five head of cattle. He keeps enough stock to eat all the grain he raises and often has to buy feed. He was married to Ethel Porter, December 25, 1902, and four chil- dren have been born to this marriage : David W., aged twelve ; Louis M., aged eleven ; Rod, aged five ; Mary, aged two. Mrs. League is the daughter of William and Nancy C. (CuUom) Porter, of whom more is told in the biography of Mrs. Chester Sourl^. Mrs. League was born October 3, 1885, near Wetmore, Kans. Mr. League is a member of the Masonic and Modern Woodmen lodges and of the Farmers' Union and the Anti Horse Thief Associa- tion. Pie is a Republican, and has served as committeeman. (48) 754 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Roy Shumaker. — The history of the Shumaker family in Kansas is a very interesting recital and embraces the long past halcyon pioneer days in the initial period of the development of Kansas and Nemaha county. This family is one of the oldest in the county and the State, and the first settlement made by -Frederick Shumaker, father of him whose name heads this review, was made in Granada township in 1856. The elder Shumaker was a freighter and government teamster, who knew the prairie country of the frontier in all of its wildness of sixty years ago, and was possessed of such an abiding faith in the eventual peopling of the waste places that he purchased large tracts of land, which have steadily increased in value with the march of time and the settlement of the country. Roy Shumaker, extensive farmer and bank president of Granada township, has followed closely in his father's foot- steps and has emulated his example to a considerable extent by investing in land. Frederick Shumaker, father of Roy, was born at Mundingen, Baden, Germany, June 28, 1830. He was left an orphan at an early age, and was reared by strangers in a Catholic settlement. He emigrated to America when twenty-three years old, and was absolutely penniless when he landed in New York City. The ship which carried him was forty-five days in crossing the Atlantic. Cholera was raging on board the vessel, and ninety passengers died. He borrowed money from a fellow com- patriot with which to pay his passage to Chicago, where he obtained employment in a brick plant for a year, while the cholera epidemic was raging in the city. He went from Chicago to Iowa and worked out as a farm hand until 1856, at which time he migrated to Kansas and home- steaded a quarter section one mile east of the site of Wetmore, although there was no village of Wetmore at that time. Afer taking possession of his claim and filing his preemption papers at the nearest land office, he went to Fort Leavenworth and hired out to the United States Gov- ernment as a teamster and for the following fourteen months drove mule freighting outfits to Salt Lake City. This was a dangerous time, inas- much as Indians were numerous and warlike, and the freight trains were sent out under convoy of a force of 2,000 regular soldiers to guard against attack. When his service expired he purchased a pony and rode to his claim in Nemaha county and began to develop it. ' Roy Shumaker, his son, has in his possession a receipt given his father for 120 bushels of corn, signed by Hugh Flanigan in 1875. He also has the tax receipts issued in 1861. At one time, in i860, when money was scarce, Mr. Shumaker traded a wagon load of corn for a pair of boots and delivered the corn to the purchaser in Atchison, Kans. Mr. Shumaker lived on his claim until the railroad was built, and the passing trains killed so many of his cattle that he left his first location and bought a farm two miles north, upon which he resided until 1890. At this time he moved back to his original preemption, and lived thereon until his death, December 16, 1905. He bought land continuously until he became owner of 2,000 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 755 acres, which he divided among his children. That is, he gave each child i6o acres, and retained 480 acres for himself, which amount he owned previous to his death, eventually selling all of this except a quarter section. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was a Repub- lican politically. His wife, Rachel Jennings, was born in Indiana in 1829. They were married in i860, and the following children blessed this union, namely: John W., deceased; Roy, subject of this review; Charles, deceased ; Sarah Margaret, died of scarlet fever in infancy ; Fred, farming 480 acres near Wetmore, Kans. ; Jacob L., miller and wagon maker at Goff, Kans. Some time after the death of his first wife, Mr. Shumaker married Cora Pier-son. Roy Shumaker was born on the Shumaker homestead in Nemaha county, November 19, 1862, and when a boy of ten years he herded cattle on the plains. When he became of age he began for himself by working for wages in his father's behalf for two years. He and his two brothers then cultivated land which their father permitted them to till free from rent charges. When Frederick Shumaker distributed his land holdings, Roy received a quarter section which was the nucleus around which his present large holdings of 930 acres have grown as a result of diligence and good financial management. Mr. Shumaker raises and feeds a large amount of live stock and personally oversees his large acreage. He has 200 acres of corn this year (1916). He was married December 20, 1891, to Miss Addie Logue, who has borne him eleven children, as follows : Ethel, died in infancy ; Charles E., aged twenty-two years ; Chester H., aged twenty years ; Addie, aged eighteen years ; Roy W., aged seventeen years ; Nora, aged sixteen years ; Mary, died in infancy ; Freddie J., aged twelve years ; Walter, aged ten years; Ernest, aged nine years; Lida J., aged eight years. Mrs. Addie Shumaker was born on a farm near Wetmore, Kans., August 3, 1874, and is a daughter of Oliver and Polly (Murphj') Logue. Her father was b©rn in Platte county, Missouri, in 1843, ^^'^d migrated to Kansas with his parents as early as 1857. He followed farming until 1896, and then went to Oklahoma and invested in land in that State. He lived in Oklahoma until his demise in 1912. Mrs. Polly Logue was born in 1850, and was the mother of the following children : William M., deceased ; John F., farmer in Idaho ; Mrs. Addie Shumaker, of this review ; Robert, a farmer in Arizona ; Charles, living in Oklahoma. Mr. Shumaker is president of the Farmers' Union in his locality and is a Republican. He served three years as road supervisor and for several years he has been a member of the school board of his district. Mr. Shumaker is vice-president of the First National Bank of Wetmore, Kans. His success as a farmer and citizen has been a striking one and is indicative of inherent and natural ability of a high order. Harry Henry, farmer and stockman, Granada township, is one of the progressive young men of the county. He has started out success- fully and if he continues in his present prosperity, he will soon be one of the most prosperous farmers in this part of Nemaha county. Mr. 756 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Henry is a son of Nick and Louise Henry, of whom more is told in another part of this volume. He was born near Goff, Kans., July i, 1892. He attended grammar school and later completed two years' work at Goff High School. At the age of seventeen years he started out for himself, first renting 480 acres from his father, which he farmed for four years. He worked as a brakeman on the Chicago Northwestern railroad for five months and then bought 320 acres near Goff. The land was not improved except for the fencing, and Mr. Henry lived with his parents in Goff while cultivating this farm. In the fall of 191 5 he built a good frame barn and granary and erected a four-room frame cottage on the land. He has stocked his farm until it presents an imposing sight to the visitor. On his place at present are fifty head of cattle, fifty hogs, six mules and four horses. He was married to Miss Etta Talbott, September 22, 1915. Mrs. Henry is the daughter of Grant and Belle, (Thompson) Talbott. Grant Talbott was born in Iowa in 1872, and came to Kansas City Mo., at the age of twenty-one years to work for the street railway com- pany. Later he was a street car employee in St. Louis and Cleveland. For twelve years he was a brakeman on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, after which he went to Salt Lake City. Three years later he moved to California, and is working for railroad companies. He is a Repub- lican and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was married in 1892 to Belle Thompson, daughter of Dr. P. Thompson, of Corning, Kans., who was born in Indiana. She was a member of the United Brethren church. She died in April, 1911', at Corning, Kans. Three children were born to this union, namely: Etta, wife of Mr. Henry; Mrs. Vera Delude, Onaga, Kans., wife of a gacage owner, mother of one child, and Harry, who makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Henry was born in Monrovia, Kans., February 20, 1893, ^^'^ was reared in St. Louis, Mo. She was graduated from the 191 1 class of the Corning High School. She is a member of the United. Brethren church and of the Royal Neighbors lodge. Mr. Henry is active in the affairs of his township and is a member of the Farmers' Union. He is a Republican. Mr. Henry, however, de- votes most of his time to his work as a farmer and is intent on making that business a success. He has wisely adopted the parctice of allowing nothing to interfere with his business. William Johnstone. — ^To live a long and useful life and to be able as the maturer years come to retire and live in comfort and security, ^uch is the happy position of William Johnstone, who for many years farmed in Nemaha county, and who now lives in peaceful retirement at Goff. Mr. Johnstone is a son of William and Isabella (Holliday) John- stone, both of stanch Scotch blood. William Johnstone, Sr., the father of him of whom this review is written, was born in Scotland. He grew up on his father's highland farm, and never left his native shores. In KO 1^ tOccz !> M 2 '-< HtSo ^>^ Oh ^1 " > dg a H H ft) t> 2, d ^^H ^ ""'^T':^ *^^^^^l Ti 1 Ijj^ HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 757 1826 he was married to Isabella Holliday and they settled down on a farm in the Scottish highland and reared a large family in peace and con- tentment. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church and lived devout lives in that faith. Eleven children were born to them, as fol- lows : John, died at the age of eighty years; Eugene, deceased; Bessie, deceased ; Mary, whereabouts unknown ; fifth child died in infancy ; William, subject of this biography; Isabella, deceased; Mrs. Judith McEntire, Toronto, Canada; ninth child died when very young; James, living in Canada ; the youngest child died in infancy. William Johnstone, Jr., was born in Dumphreyshire, Scotland, May 18, 1835, and received a country school education. At the age of fourteen he began working out as a farm hand and laborer. He was married at the age of twenty-one and brought his bride immediately to America, locating near Guelph, Canada, where he worked in a saw mill for a period of five years. Having saved a small sum of money, he rented a small farm near Guelph, and for another period of five years he farmed this place with profit. At the end of this time he moved to a larger farm of lOO acres, which he rented for the same length of time, but he began to cast his eyes toward the West, and after his lease had expired he moved to Kansas, renting 320 acres near Muscotah, Atchison county. He found Kansas farming very profitable and in four years time he had saved enough to buy an eighty-acre farm in Nemaha county and moved to it as soon as he could build a house on the place. He set to work erecting a dwelling, which was 16x32 feet in size, and one and one-half stories in height. After this he put up fences, barns, sheds, granary and other improvements, and before long he had an opportunity to buy a thirty-acre tract adjoining his farm. This made him no acres, and he farmed this successfully until 1915, when he sold the land to his son, James, and retired to Goff, Kans. He was married to Isabelle McCall in 1856, and to this m.arriage eleven children were born : John, killed while working as conductor on the Central Branch railroad; William, shot by robber at Valley Falls. Kans. ; Jaines, farmer, Goff, Kans. ; Thomas, died in Spokane, Wash. : David A., ranchman in Montana; George, painter in Kansas City; Ben- jamin, hardware merchant, Goff; Mrs. Mary J. Vanderbord, Kelly, Kans; Mrs. Isabella Thornburrow, Wetmore ; two children who died in infancy. Mrs. Johnstone is the daughter of John and Isa- bella (Angus) McCall. The father was born in Scotland, where he he spent his youth and received his early education in the district schools there. But the routine life on the farm palled on him and as soon as he reached the military age, he enlisted in the army of the king and saw varied and adventurous service with the colors. He fought in the battle of Waterloo under the Duke of Wellington, and was in several other battles against Napoleon's troops. At the battle of Carona he was wounded, and one of the bullets which struck him was not extracted, and he carried it with him to his grave. Because of his wound he received 75^ HISTOKY OF NEMAHA COUNTY a pension and did light farming after his retirement from service, but at the age of seventy he no longer felt able to continue his farming and from that retired. His death occurred ten years later. Mr. McCall was a Presbyterian. Mrs. McCall was born in Scotland, and as a girl worked out in the homes of neighbors. She lived to the ripe old age of eighty years, and was a member of the Presbyterian church. Five children were born to this union : William, deceased, was a ship carpenter in Liverpool ; Jean, deceased ; Jennie, whereabouts unknown ; Mary, whereabouts unknown ; Isabella, wife of Mr. Johnstone. Mrs. Johnstone received her early education in the Scotch schools. From the date of her birth in 1832 until her marriage, at the age of twenty-four, she lived in Scotland. She died in 1902, and was buried at Wetmore, Kans. Mr. Johnstone is a Republican in politics, and for thirty years he was a member of the school board. For a period of ten years he was road supervisor in Granada township, and he executed the duties of his office with economy and good judgment. His neighbors know him as an upright and highly respected citizen of Goff. James Johnstone. — Residents of Goff know James Johnstone as one of the most industrious and persevering farmers of their vicinity and one who has followed the worthy example of his father, William John- stone, whose life story is told in full in this volume. Mr. Johnstone is one who has struggled many years against adverse circumstances and come out victorious, and is now enjoying the full deserved ease of re- tirement after a busj' life. He has been so long in the harness that even after he has disposed of his farm land or rented it, he cannot be content to sit entirely idle, and often when he craves the feel of the plow pushing through the fresh spring soil, he goes out to the farm of one of his sons and spends a day in the fields. Mr. Johnstone was born June 7, 1856, in Cummingsville, Canada, and lived on his parents' farm until he was twenty years of age. On the morning of January i, 1878, he started out for himself and took charge of a sixty-five-acre farm in Atchison county, Kansas, which he rented for one year. Next, he located on Coal creek, on an eighty-acre place, which he farmed for one season. These undertakings were profitable, and by the end of the second year of independent farming, he had accu- mulated enough to close a deal for eighty acres in Granada township, Nemaha county. The land was unimproved, and he wa^ further hin- dered by two bad seasons, in which his crops were ruined. This setback was serious to the young farmer just starting up in life, but it did .not daunt him in the least, and when there was nothing to do on his own place, he worked out, often taking as low as $1 a day for his team and himself in order to earn some money during his idle hours. As the place was totally unimproved, he could put in only the most inexpensive buildings at first. He had to content himself with a straw barn and with SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF JAMES JOHNSTONE. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 759 a house sixteen feet square. He lived on this place until 1891, having improved it somewhat each year. About that time he traded it for 160 acres in Harrison township, which he farmed until 1913, when he bought twenty acres in Goff and moved there to live in retirement. By this time he had accumulated considerable property, for in 1893, he bought back the eighty acres which he had traded off previously, and in 1897 he bought another eighty acres. He was at a later date the owner of 700 acres ; for this he was in debt $2,800, but in one season, by a clever business maneuver, he cleared enough to pay off this debt, when he refused to sell his corn crop at thirteen cents and held it the following year and received fifty cents a bushel for it. In addition to his farming, he was an extensive stock raiser and feeder. At the time he moved to Goff he had thirty-eight hogs, eleven head of cattle and twenty-five horses. On most of his land corn and wheat arc the chief crops. Since his retirement he has rented all of his land, with the exception of twenty acres in Goff, on which he lives, but as some of his children rent from him, he often visits them and helps them with their work. January i, 1878. he was married to Mary M. Gibson, a daughter of Jacob and Leah (High) Gibson, both of Pennsylvania. Mr. Gibson was born in York county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1823. He was married to Leah High in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1851, and the early years of their married life were spent in that State. Moving to Peoria, 111., they farmed for seven years, and in 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Gibson moved to Atchison county, Kansas, locating two and one-half miles east of Arrington. Mr. Gibson became an orphan early in life and was thrown upon his own resources. By turns he was a carpenter, wheelwright and school teacher ; but a great deal of his time was spent on the farm. He was the father of eleven children, two of whom, are dead. He died at his home near Arrington, March 16, 1900, at the age of seventy-six years. The mother of Mrs. Johnstone was Leah Gibson, who was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1831, and died September 23, 1901, at the age of seventy years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gibson were de- vout Christians and reared their children in the way of piety. Local papers printed appropriate tributes to them when they passed away. The daughter, Mary M. Gibson, was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1852. At the age of thirteen she moved with her parents to Peoria, 111., and later came with them to Atchison county, Kansas. She attended district schools in Illinois and Kansas, and later Mrs. Monroe's school at Atchison. January i, 1878, she was married to James Johnstone, and two years later they moved to Nemaha county, Kansas. Mrs. Johnstone was an enthusiastic worker in the Methodist church. She was the mother of six girls and four boys. She died Octo- ber 8, 1906, and left a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. James and Mary M. Johnstone had children born to them as follows : 760 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Mrs. Lillie Jane Roots, Campus, Kans. ; John F. G., Campus, Kans. ; Mrs. Mamie Davis, Reilly township ; Thomas P., Harrison township ; Mrs. Ma3^sel Bloom, Adams township ; Mrs. Altha, wife of Roy Sheely, Adams tov^nship ; Harry, Campus, Kans. ; Otho, on his father's farm in Harrison township ; Mrs. Gladys Jordan, wife of Elmer Jordan, Harrison township ; Velra, Goff, Kans. June 8, 1912, Mr. Johnstone was married to Rosa E. Strange, daughter of George and Anna (Drewes) Strenge, whose biographies will be found elsewhere in this volume. Three children were born to this union • Frances Evaline, aged three j^ears; Ethel Louise, aged two years, and Mildred James, an infant. Mrs. Johnstone was born in Germany, No- vember 29, 1891, and received her early education in the schools of the Fatherland. She came to America at the age of seventeen years and worked out until her marriage. She is a devout member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Johnstone is an independent voter and casts his vote on the side which appears to be in the right, regardless of the party label. He is active in public affairs, and for twenty-two years he .served on the school board. He has for many years been a faithful member of the Methodist church, and is a regular attendant at the meetings of his con gregation and contributes liberally to the support of the church. Mr. Johnstone is a citizen of whom Goff has reason to be proud, for, although he has never held high office nor amassed a fortune, yet he has gone through the test and has not been found wanting. When adversity was upon him, he did not fail, and in his later years he is reaping gener- ously from the seed which he sowed in the days when he labored long and hard to keep the wolf from the door. He is a man of simple tastes and ■ exerts a wholesome influence on his community, in which he is highly respected and loved. Frank G. Millick. — The story of what has been accomplished during a little over thitry years in Nemaha county by Frank G. Millick, of Neuchatel township, is an epic in itself, and demonstrates that Kansas is still a land of opportunity. From farm hand to the ownership of over 400 acres of Nemaha county land, all of which is in intensive cultiva- tion, is a summary of the life and deeds of Frank G. Millick, who was born in Wisconsin, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret Millick, natives of Germany. Joseph Millick, his father, was born in Germany in 1805, and emi- grated from his native land to America in 1848. He located in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and lived there until 1868 on a farm which he cleared from the wilderness. He sold out in 1868^ and made his home with a married daughter until his death in 1877. His death was due to accidental drowning in a creek near Columbus, Wis. He was a devout Catholic and a Democrat. His wife, Margaret, was born in Germany, in 1820, and bore him nine children, as follows : Joseph, deceased ; Mrs. Josephine Dean, Fall River, Wis. ; Mrs. Hannah Livermore, deceased ; HISTORY OF' NEMAHA COUNTY 76 1 Mrs. Mary Daniels, deceased ; Robert, a contractor and builder at Por- terville, Cal. ; John, a banker at Blackfoot, Idaho ; William, a farmer at Challis, Idaho ; Mr'fe. ~Rose Fisher, living on a farm at Blackfoot, Idaho. Frank G. Millick, subject of this review, was born on his father's farm near Columbus, Wis., April i6, 1861, and started for himself when he was thirteen years old. After working as farm hand for twelve and a half years in his native State, he came to Kansas in 1886, and bought eighty acres in Neuchatel township, Nemaha county. Prosperity has smiled upon Mr. Millick since his advent into this county, and he has continued to add to his first modest "eighty" until he now owns 419 acr?s, all of which are under cultivation. His farm is improved with substantial buildings, and he has twenty-eight acres in alfalfa, raises over 100 Duroc Jersey hogs annually, and keeps about thirty-seven head of Shorthorn cattle on his place. Mr. Millick was married to Elizabeth Langsdorf September 29, 1885. This marriage has been blessed with children, as follows : Oscar, born January i, 1888; Mrs. Olive Warren, born February 6, 1890; Myrtle, born February 17, 1894; Wesley, born February 20, 1900; John, born March 6, 1903. Myrtle Millick has taught school for the past four years and Wesley is a student in the High School at Onaga, Kans. Mrs. Eliz- abeth Millick was born at Randolph, Wis., May 10, 1862, and is a daugh- ter of Martin and Elizabeth (Cobb) Langsdorf, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1825, and immigrated to the United States in 1850. He located in Wisconsin, and after a few years' renting, he was enabled to buy an eighty-acre farm, which he tilled for fifteen years, then sold out and bought a small farm of twenty acres near Doylestown, Wis. He lived there until his death in 1901. Mr. Langsdorf was a member of the Lutheran church. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Germany in 1823, married Mr. Langsdorf in 1848 and bore him ten children, na.mely: Mrs. Louise Hack and Andrew, living at Columbus, Wis. ; Mrs. Kate Bushon and Conrad, both deceased ; Fred, a farmer near Vermillion, Kans. ; Mrs. Mary Pursky, jiving near Columbus, Wis. ; Mrs. Julia Bork, deceased; John, a farmer at Dodge, Wis.; a child died in infancy; Elizabeth, the sixth child born, wife of Frank G. Millick. Mr. Millick is a Republican, and is one of the leaders of his party in Nemaha county. He has served four years as township trustee, one year as treasurer, and one year as assessor, and is a very useful and public- spirited citizen. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Millick is a member of the Lutheran chiirch. Lemuel L. Newland, trustee of Red Vermillion township, was born in Virginia, January 28, 1861, and is a son of Isaac NcAvlarid, a native of Virginia, who married a Miss Berick. Isaac, his father, learned the trade of shoemaker and followed this trade at Mt. Jackson, Va., during his entire life until his death in 1861. His older sons managedhis farm near the town where he plied his trade. His wife was born in 1821. They were the parents of eight children, as follows : Paul, a carpenter 762 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY and contractor in Virginia ; Pierce, died in Virginia at the age of thirty years ; Winton, died at the age of thirty years ; Mrs. Jennie Downey, wife of a hardware merchant in Virginia ; Caleb, a 'restaurant propri- etor in Colorado ; Frank, a twin brother of Caleb, is a confectionery proprietor at Hoxie, Kans. ; Mrs. Mary Strieker, living in Virginia ; Lemuel L., subject of this review. L. L. Newland began making his own way when fourteen years old and eventually found his way to Kansas, where he followed farming in Brown county until 1902. He then bought 150 acres in Red Ver- milion township, Nemaha county, which is his present home farm. He has on his place, twenty head of cattle, twenty head of Duroc Jersey hogs and twenty head of horses. He has sown thirty-two acres of alfalfa, but raised all the crops adaptable to this soil and climate with fair suc- cess. Mr. Newland was married November 9, 1887, to Sarah Heer, born in Missouri, June 15, 1864, and is a daughter of Henry and Christina (Trook) Heer, natives of Germany and Ohio, respectively. Henry Heer was born in 1817, and immigrated to the United States in 1838. He first located in Missouri, where he lived until 1862, and then came to Kansas and lived in Doniphan county for thirteen years. He finally sold out his holdings in Doniphan county and rented land in Brown couty for five years, after which he came to Red Vermillion township, Nemaha county, and bought an eighty-acre tract, to which he later added seventy acres, and lived thereon until his death in 1901. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist church. His wife, Christina, was born in 1827, and bore him ten children, as follows : The first two died in infancy; Mrs. Mary Jane Overlander, deceased; Robert M., a farmer in Colorado ; George, a concrete worker at St. Joseph, Mo. ; Sarah, wife of L. L. Xewland ; Irwin, a farmer of Red Vermillion town- ship ; Mrs. Lucinda Felts, Brown county, Kansas; Mrs. Anna Channel, deceased ; Franks a teamster in Nebraska. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Newland, as fol- lows : Chester, born in 1888, and farming near Havensville, Kans, ; Ivan, born October 6, 1890, living in Dakota; Floy, Mrs. McNeil, born September 16, 1892, living in Red Vermillion township; Ray, born Au- gust 24, 1894; Clio, born January 20, 1897; Vera, born August 14, 1899; Zola, born June 4, 1902; Ruth, born July 15, 1907. Mr. Xewland is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Newland is a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. Mr. Newland has served two years as township treasurer and for the past two years has capably filled the office of town- ship trustee. Thomas ponahue has the distinction of being one of the oldest set- tlers, if not the oldest pioneer, of Red Vermillion township. He has lived on his farm for the past forty-seven years, and has built the home, barns, fences and sheds and planted the trees and shrubbery which adorn his homestead. He has seen the vast expanse of unpeopled HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 763 prairie lands, both hill and vale, transformed into a veritable storehouse of food supplies, which are sent to all parts of the country in exchange for the luxuries and necesities of latter day civilization, which have supplanted the simple and crude needs of the rugged pioneers. Thomas Donahue was born in Ireland, January 13, 183S, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (Barret) Donahue, who lived and died in their native land. Patrick and Mary Donahue were farm folks in Ireland and were devout Catholics. They reared a family of children, as follows : Mrs. Ann Dunbar, died in Ireland; Anthony, died in Ireland; Mrs. Bridget McCoy, deceased; Thomas, subject of this review; Mrs. Mary Cosgrove, died in America ; the sixth child died in infancy. When Thomas Donahue was fourteen years old, he began to make his own living and worked out by the day and by the month at any hon- est labor he could get. Opportunities were few and far between in his na- tive country for a boy who was ambitious to get ahead in the world and even in his boyhood days he cast longing eyes toward the far off land of America and dreamed of the day when he could take passage across the broad Atlantic and seek his fortune in the new world, where every man was free to follow his inclinations in the matter of gaining a liveli- hood, and muscle and brawn were needed in the development of the country. In 1862 he was enabled to sail for America and landed at Baltimore. He soon found employment in a rolling mill, the operation of which was stopped by the rebel authorities, and he was thrown out of a job. He went from there to Wheeling, W. Va., and worked in the rolling mills of that city for two years. He then made his way to Chi- cago and worked iri that city for eight years and was a resident of Chicago at the time of the great fire which devastated the city. In 1869 he came West to Nemaha county, Kansas, and invested his savings in eighty acres of railroad land. He was only able to make an initial pay- ment on the land, however, and was given ten years' time to finish paying for it. He has resided on this farm continuously and has in- creased his holding's to the large total of 360 acres, which are well im- proved. Mr. Donahue has thirty- acres of alfalfa, and owns from sixty to seventy head of white faced Hereford cattle and 100 head of Duroc Jersey hogs, and has fourteen head of horses on his place. Mr. Donahue was married May 10, 1866, to Mary McTigue, who has borne him the following children : Patrick, a farmer in Neuchatel township ; James, died at the age of forty-one years ; Anthony, a farmer in Dakota ; William, born April 18, 1876, is farming the home place ; Mary, died at the age of nineteen years ; David, born in August, 1880, farming in Colorado ; Mrs. Katie Clines, living on a farm in Nemaha county; one child died in infaancy. The mother of these children was born in Ireland, in February, 1843, and is a daughter of James and Catharine (Heperin) McTigue, natives of Ireland. James, her father, was born in Ireland in 1813, and emigrated to America in 1850. He followed railroad work until 1867, and then made his home with Mr 764 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY Donahue for the remainder of his days. Catharine, his wife, was born in 1813, and their marriage took place in 1830. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Mrs. Marguerite Gaugin, a widow, living in Nemaha county ; Mary, wife of Thomas Donahue ; Mrs. Anne Flaherty, deceased ; Mrs. Kate Barrett, died at Colorado Springs ; Helen, deceased ; Patrick, a railroad man in Colorado ; Mrs. Jane C. Fiery, a widow, living at Leavenworth, Kans. ; James, proprietor of a furniture store at Colo- rado Springs, Colo. Mr. and Mrs. Donahue are members of the Catholic church. James E. Wilcox. — The life story of James E. Wilcox, merchant of Bancroft, Kans., is a tale of the accomplishments of a man who was left motherless and thrown upon his own resources when fifteen years old. He became a tiller of the soil and made a great success as a farmer; in- later years he embarked in merchandising at Bancroft and has become wealthy. Mr. Wilcox operates the general store at Bancroft, conducts a lumber yard, manages the grain elevator, and conducts a hardware and farm implement depot, besides looking after his large farming in- terests, which embrace 520 acres of land adjoining the village of Ban- croft and 880 acres situated in other sections of Kansas. His parents were W. T. and Lucretia (Green) Wilcox. W. T. Wilcox, his father, was born in Illinois in 1834 and immi- grated to Kansas in 1857. He has the distinction of having been the first white settler married in Jackson county. . For some years he drove ox teams in the overland freighing business, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in a Kansas regiment and served the Union until the close of the war. He then followed active farming pursuits until 1906, after which he made his hom.e at Bancroft until" 1916, and then removed to Holton, Kans. He is a Republican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Wilcox was married in 1858 to Lu- cretia Green, who was born in Missouri in 1838, and died in 1873. Four children were born of this marriage, namely: James E., subject of this review ; the second child died in infancy ; Mrs. Susan Jane (Thornton) Bristow, Goff, Kans. ; Jessie G., deceased. James E. Wilcox was born in Jackson county, Kansas, September 16, 1859, and was reared on the farm. He began for himself when he was fifteen years old and worked out for $11 per month. He worked as a farm hand until he was twenty-two years old and then rented land on his own account in Jackson county. Not long afterward he became owner of a farm and continued to buy land as he was able. In 1892 be engaged in business at Bancroft and has built up one of the largest general mercantile concerns in Nemaha county. His stock of goods carried in all lines is valued at over $10,000, and he does an extensive business among the surrounding farmers. Mr. Wilcox was married in 1884 to Miss Ella Vannote, who has borne him five children, as follows : Ida May, died at the age of seven years ; Clyde, living at Los Angeles, Cal., was engaged in marine service for four years, and is now a member of the Los Angeles police force; HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 765 Clarence, a farmer at Bancroft, married Lois Connor; Mrs. Ada Swartz, wife of Louis Swartz, living on a farm in Reilly township; Bernice, a student in the State College at Manhattan, Kans., where she is pursuing a four years' course and will graduate in 1917. IVfrs. Ella Wilcox was born in Nemaha county, November 17, 1865, and is a daughter of John and Lydia (White) Vannote. John Vannote, her father, was born in New Jersey in 1834, and was left an orphan when but a child. He necessarily had to rustle for himself at a very early age. He removed to Iowa and there followed farming until his removal to Kansas in i860. He lived on his farm of 160 acres in Ne- maha county until his death in 1903. Lydia, his wife, was born in Michigan in 1843, ^''^'^ is a member of the United Brethren church. John and Lydia Vannote were married in 1859, and the following children were born to them : Mrs. Sarah Shaffer, living in Jewell county, Kan- sas ; , Frank, a farmer, at Mission, Texas ; Mrs. Nettie Riggs, living in Reilly township; Ella, wife of James E. Wilcox, subject of this review; two children died in infancy. Mr. Wilcox is allied with the Republican party and has served two terms as trustee of Reilly township. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen lodge. Mrs. Wilcox is a member of the Royal Neighbors. John William Geren, successful farmer of Wetmore township, be- came familiar in his younger days with all the hardships and vicissi- tudes incidental to the making of a home on the Western plains and has experienced with his family the pangs of hunger and want in western Kansas. One of the highly prized mementos of the struggle which the family were forced to undergo in western Kansas is a silver dollar given to Mr. Geren's son by his grandfather as a present and which Mr. Geren was tempted to spend for flour when it was badly needed in the home. He thought better of it, however, and did not spend the money. He is a son of John W. and Mary (Davenport) Geren, whose life stories follow. John W. Geren, his father, was born near Knoxville, Tenn., in February, 1824, and he was left fatherless when ten years old. Being the eldest of seven children, the burden of the family support fell upon his young shoulders and he cared for his mother and family until he was twenty-six years of age. He then married and took his old mother along with him to his new home and cared for her until her death. He went to Indiana from Tennessee and farmed there for a year, following which he went to Illinois and lived there for twenty years, after which he spent two years in southwestern Missouri. Two years later he returned to Illinois and bought back the half section of land which he had sold near Denver, 111. Two years later (March 3, 1873), he migrated to the West and bought a half section near Severance, Kans. He farmed this tract for twelve years and sold it preparatory to locating in western Kansas, where he preempted 320 acres. After struggling for six years in the semi-arid country to make ends meet, Mr. Geren sold his land 766 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY for a mere trifle and came to Bancroft, Kans., purchased a home and lot and lived there until his death in 1910. His was an adventurous and nomadic life and it is recorded that during the days of 1849, when the gold excitement was at its height and men were rushing madly West- ward in search of the elusive and shining metals, he drove overland from Illinois to Pike's Peak, and after a year's hardships and adventures he returned home without the coveted riches. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist sect and was a Republican voter. John W. Geren was married in 1846 to Mary A. Davenport, who was born in In- diana in 1831. Nine children were born to this marriage, as follows: Mrs. Jennie Shinn, Bancroft, Kans. ; John William, subject of this re- view; Abram L., a railroad engineer, living in Canada, and has a wife and seven children living in Oklahoma ; six children are deceased. John William Geren, with whom this review is directly concerned, was born in Illinois, December 29, 1859, and began for himself when twenty-six years of age. He bought a livery business at Severance, Kans., and operated it for three years. He then sold out and went to western Kansas and homesteaded 320 acres. After struggling to make a living on his homestead for four years, during which time his family suffured from actual want, he sold out and came to Marshall county, Kansas, and rented 500 acres of land for the following four years. He then rented a quarter section from his father-in-law, near Severance; Kans., for two years, and was enabled to buy 157 acres of raw land near Bancroft, Kans., in Wetmore township, Nemaha county. Mr. Geren has improved this tract with substantial buildings and has created a fine farm, having increased his holdings to 237 acres in Kansas and fifty acres in Oklahoma. Mr. Geren has forty acres of alfalfa and a large fruit orchard, which includes 300 peach trees in bearing and 200 pear trees now eight years old and in bearing. He raises high grade Shorthorn cattle and pro- duces over 100 head of Duroc Jersey hogs annually. This is quite an accomplishment when one considers the ups and downs which Mr. Geren has had during life time. He recalls that when he located in western Kansas he had just $1.25 in cash. At one time the larder was cleared of flour and he found it necessary to borrow from his father in order to avoid spending a dollar which had been given to his fifteen months' old son by his grandfather. This son is now thirty-one years old and prizes the silver dollar as a valuable keepsake and an indication of the love given him by his parents, who placed sentiment above all other considerations in a trying time. Mr. Geren was married to Miss Addie Poynter, July 19, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Geren have three children. William E., born at Sev- erance, Kans., February 8, 1885, worked for a railroad in St. Joseph, Mo., for a year when he attained his majority, but has been farming with his father for the past seven years. William E. was married De- cember 24, 1909, to Clara Frederickson, born June 15, 1888, daughter of HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 767 Christian and Martha (Erickson) Fredericlcson, the former of whom was born in Denmark in 1838, became a carpenter ; immigrated to America in 1875 and located near Whiting; farmed 160 acres until 1904; was postmaster of Bancroft for nine years, and is now retired. Martha, his wife, was born in Denmark in 1851. William E. Geren is the father of four children, as follows : Willma N., deceased, and Willette Helen, twins, born August 15, 1910; Raymond E., born July 22, 1912; Lena May, born August 7, 1914. Mar)' Helen Clare, second child of Mr. and Mrs. Geren, was born August 11, 1887, in Ness county, Kansas, in a sod house, graduated from the Bancroft High School and is the wife of Hugh C. Hyder, a clerk in the Bancroft store, and a son of David and Margaret Hyder, of Belleville, Kans. He was born February i, 1876, and followed farming until he entered the Bancroft store in March, 1915- Mr. and Mrs. Hyder were married in 1905. Percy Earl is the third child of John W. Green, and was born May 2, 1902, on the Green home place, near Bancroft, and is a student in the Bancroft public schools. The mother of the foregoing children was born November 8, 1864, on a farm near Severance, Kans., and is a daughter of Samuel and Helen (FoUett') Poynter. Samuel, her father, was born at Adriance, Mich., June 8, 1821, and, when a boy, accompanied his parents to Ohio. He was married in 1854 and was employed in hewing ties from logs at a wage of fifty cents per day in his younger days until he had saved enough money to buy twenty acres of land. He went to Missouri in 1856, and farmed in that State until the outbreak of the Rebellion. Being a Northern sympath- izer, he was forced' to leave. Enroute to Kansas he traded his Missouri farm to a man whom he met in exchange for the other's Kansas farm. It was a case of trading ''sight unseen," but suited both parties, because the Kansas man had to leave because he was a rebel at heart and Mr. Poynter was likewise forced to leave Missouri. He still owns the 120- acre farm at Severance, Kans., and is now residing at Bancroft at the home of his granddaughter. His wife, Helen, was born near Pioneer, Ohio, August 29, 1831, and bore him the following children: R.. E. Poynter, painter and carpenter at Holton, Kans., and Addie, wife of John William Geren. Mr. Geren is a Republican. He and his family are members of the Christian church. John W. Crowley, trustee of Reilly township, Nemaha county, Kansas, was born on a farm near Logan, Hocking county, Ohio, Sep- tember 3, 1869. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Good) Crowley, natives of Ireland, the former of whom was born in 1838 and the latter in approximately the same year. William Crowley was reared and edu- cated in his native country and received an education somewhat above the average. He immigrated to the United States in 1869 and operated a general merchandise store at Buena Vista, Ohio. Previous to his emigration from Ireland, he had followed the trade of baker there and had thus gained considerable business experience, which stood him in good stead in the newer country. After a short experience in mercan- 768 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY tile pursuits, he engaged in farming in Hocking county, Ohio, where he died in 1872. His wife, Elizabeth, after the death of her husband, nobly set to work to support her growing family and succeeded in rearing them to become useful men and women. William and Elizabeth Crow- ley were the parents of the following children: Mrs Anna Potter, wife of a hotel proprietor in Cleveland, Ohio ; William, a hard- ware merchant at Ellensburg, Wash. ; James, a farmer and waterworks employee at Seattle, Wash.; John, subject of this review; Mrs. Eliza- beth Fast, whose husband is a merchant at South Perry, Ohio; Joseph, a farmer at Ottawa, Kans. John W. Crowley, subject of this review, began for himself at the early age of twelve years and received a wage of $5 per month as farm laborer in his native country in Ohio. When fifteen years old he came west to Kansas in search of his fortune and eventually found it in Ne- maha county, Kansas. He worked as farm hand for several years, and in 1896 he made his 'first investment in eighty acres of land in Bourbon county, Kansas. He farmed this tract for four years and then sold it. He came to Nemaha county and rented no acres in Reilly township for one year. He then rented 270 acres for another year. By this time he had determined upon the tract which he intended to purchase and accordingly bought 160 acres of the 270 acres which he had been renting. In 191 1 he bought the remaining no acres, which he is farming success- fully. Mr. Crowley conducts general farming operations and keeps an average of forty head of Shorthorn cattle and raises over 100 head of Duroc Jersey swine annually. Mr. Crowley was married May 16, 1890, to Miss Minnie Allen, who has borne him children, as follows : Martin, born January 18, 1892, a farmer in Reilly township ; Hubert, born February 27, 1901 ; Russell, born May 24, 1903 ; Charles, born November 10, 1904 ; Harry, born No- vember I, 1906; Nellie, born June 24, 1908; Alberta, born June 18, 1911. Mrs. Minnie Crowley, mother of the foregoing children, was born in Nemaha county, Kansas, March 27, 1875, and is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Barnett) Allen, pioneer settlers of Nemaha county. Henry Allen, her father, was born in Franklin county, Ind., September 13, 183 1, and was reared in Indiana until he was twenty-one years old and then began renting land on his own account. He farmed on rented land in Illinois until 1858, and then immigrated to Nemaha county, Kansas. He drove an ox team and cows from Illinois to his new loca- tion in this county, and preempted eighty acres of Government land, on which he built his pioneer home. He prospered in the years following his advent into Kansas and continued to buy land until he owned 441 acres. He farmed his home place until 1898 and then retired to a home at Soldier, Kans., where his death occurred May 20, 1910. The Re- publican part}r always had the allegiance of Henry Allen and his pa- triotism compelled him to apply for enlistment in the Union army at the time of the Civil war, but he was rejected because of a crippled hand. HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY 769 His wife, Elizabeth, was born near Dayton, Ohio, August 4, 1834. Mr. and Mrs, Allen were the parents of the following children: William, died at the age of twenty-four years; Mrs. Alice Wilson, deceased; Albert, a real estate man at Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Clara Hannum, de- ceased. Mrs. Crowley's grandparents on her father's side were Samuel (born in Franklin county, Indiana, in 1803, and died in Kansas in 1868) and Olive (Wallace) Allen (born in Bennington county, Vermont, in 1800, and died May 25, 1888). Samuel Allen was likewise an early Kan- sas pioneer, who settled in Nemaha county on an eighty-acre preemp- tion adjoining that of his son as early as 1858. There were two children by her first marriage and four by the second marriage. Her first hus- band was a Mr. Howe. Mrs. Elizabeth Allen was a daughter of An- derson and Margaret Barnett, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, re- spectively. Anderson Barnett was born in Virginia in 1811, and was a pioneer in Ohio and Illinois. He died May 27, 1888. He was a Whig, and was a member of the Quaker sect. Margaret, his wife, was born in Kentucky in 1814. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett were the parents of eighteen children. Since locating in Nemaha county, Mr. Crowley has taken a promi- nent and influential part in the civic and political life of the county. He is allied with the Republican party and is one of the real leaders of his party in Reilly township. He served for some years as district clerk and for eight years as trustee of the township. He is a director and vice- president of the local Farmers' Union. William E. Kams, proprietor of a half section of well improved farm land in Wetmore township, was born in Ontario, Kans., February 9, 1883, and is a son of George and Caroline (Kehrwecker) Karns, late of Nemaha county and Ontario, Kansas, whose biographies appear in this volume of Nemaha county history. Mr. Karns was reared on his father's farm near Ontario, and began renting land from his widowed mother when twenty-four years old. In 191 1 he was given a tract of land taken from his father's estate. At his mother's death he inherited another tract of eighty acres, and he added to this tract an "eighty" which he bought, thus making 320 acres of land in all which he owns. Mr. Karns conducts general farming opera- tions and has fifteen acres of alfalfa. He keeps his farm well stocked with about forty head of cattle. Mr. Karns was married to Miss Rose Spencer, April 21, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Karns have two children, namely: Harold, born March 14, 1908, and Neil, born May 11, 1913. Mrs. Rosa Karns was born on a farm near Circleville, Kans., May 8, 1882, and is a daughter of William and Mary (Figley) Spencer. Her father was born in Missouri, July 7, 1850, and began to make his own way in the world when still a small bov. When he was eight years old he made a trip to Kansas. He has followed farming nearly his whole life, with the exception of three years spent in the silver mines of Colorado. He purchased a quarter section (49) 770 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY near Circleville, Kans., in 1885, and has lived continuously on his farm since that year. He is a member and a deacon of the Christian church, and for the past twenty-seven years has been a member of the school board. His wife, Mary, was born in Ohio, February 15, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer are parents of thirteen children, as follows : Mrs. Nettie Rich- ardson, Oklahoma ; Mrs. Lena Brown, Wathena, Kans. ; Thomas, farm- ing in Oklahoma; Rosa, wife of Mr. Karns; Mrs. Bertha Disney, on a farm near Porters, Kans. ; Ross, a farmer near Downs, Kans. ; Mrs. Ethel Brumbaugh, wife of a merchant at Porters, Kans. ; Mrs. Ina Kis- sell, wife of an editor at Porters, Kans. ; Fred, George, Fayette, and Essie, at home with their parents ; one child died in infancy. Mr. Karns is vice-president of the Bancroft State Bank, a thriving financial institution, which is incorporated with a capital of $15,000. He is allied with the Republican party, and is affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Karns is a member of the Christian church. Harvey Hittle, farmer of Reilly township, was born in Rush county, Indiana, April 14, 1845, ^i^d is a son of Henry and Mary (Busell) Hittle. Henry Hittle, his father, was born in Greene county, Ohio, January 15, 1818, and became a wheelwright and carpenter. He followed his trade until 1887 in Indiana and Iowa, where he also followed farming. In 1887 he sold his farm and retired to a home at Lovilia, Iowa, where he died August 14, 1897. His wife, Mary, was born in Ohio, September 4, 1817, and bore hinj children as follows: Sarah Ann, born November 13, 1841 ; William, born in September, 1842; Hester Ann, born October 12, 1843; Harvey, born April- 14, 1845; Elizabeth, born September 4, 1846; Barney, born April 6, 1848; Lydia M., born May 3, 1849; Elithia J., born June 20, 1850 ; Mary C, born April 4, 1852 ; Susan P., born De- cember 15, 1853; Francis A., born November 20, 1854; John D., born February 8, 1856; the thirteenth child died in infancy, September 4, 1857; Nancy C, born October 23, 1858; Henry Elwood, born April 14, i860; Greenbury, born August 30, 1861. When Harvey Hittle was twenty-two years old he rented land in his native State for two years and then migrated to western Iowa in 1869. Seven years later, (1876), he came to Kansas, and farmed for five years in Doniphan county. He then took up a timber claim in Rawlins county, Kansas. In 1881 he bought eighty acres in Reilly township, Nemaha county, which has been his home for the past thirty-five years. During the Civil war, Mr. Hittle served for two years and four months as a member of Company C, Eighth Iowa cavalry. Mr. Hittle was married to Sarah Jane Gano, April 30, 1878, and this marriage has been blessed with sixteen children, as follows : George M., born January 23, 1879; a child died in infancy, April 9, 1880; John H., born January 29, 1881 ; Robert A., born December i, 1882; Alma O., born July 23, 1884 ; Jessie R., born April 4, 1886 ; Charles William, born HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY ^^'i■ November 23, 1887; Mary E., born July 24, 1889; Melissa B., born April II, 1891 ; Benjamin F., born January 15, 1893; Alice V., born June 27, 1895; James M., born August 16, 1897; Clarence, born February 14, 1900; the fourteenth child died in infancy, January 13, 1902; Bernice Loretta, born April 23, 1903; the sixteenth child died in infancy, March 19, 1905. The mother of this large farriily was born in Marshall county, Iowa, December 12, 1863, and was married to Harvey Hittle, April 30, 1878. She is a daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Wilkes) Gano. Her father was born in Ohio, August 27, 1838, and follov/ed farming in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. He departed this life, December 9, 1868. Eliza- beth, his wife, was born in Greene county, Indiana, May 20, 1843. By her marriage with Mr. Gano, there were five children, as follows: Robert, born August 6, i860; George W., born December 12, 1863; Sarah J., born December 12, 1863 ; Emily N., born July 6, 1865 ; Matilda J., born March 17, 1867. Mr. Hittle is a Republican and has served as a member of the local school board and as road overseer. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. The most notable accomplishment of his long life, however, aside frorn his service in behalf of the. Union, is the fact that he and his good wife have reared one of the largest families in Nemaha county and honor and credit is due them for their large contribution to the civic body of the county and State. Michael Malone. — The late Michael Malone of Reilly township was one* of the oldest of the Kansas pioneers, and was one of the earliest of the settlers of Reilly township, Nemaha county. He was a veteran of the Civil war and left a record behind him at his demise, of which his descendants may well be proud. Michael Malone was born in Ireland in 1825, and lived in his native land until he was seventeen years old. He then realized his youthful dream of coming to America in search of fortune and adventure, and found both in the years that passed after hjs arrival on the hospitable and friendly shores of the new world. He first located in Illinois, and worked out as a farm hand until his removal to Iowa, where he farmed until the outbreak of the Civil war. When the call came from Presi- dent Lincoln for volunteers to quell the rebellion of the southern States, this loyal, adopted son of America responded, and fought bravely in de- fense of the Union from 1861 to the close of the war when he received his honorable discharge from Company A, First Iowa cavalry regiment. After his discharge, he engaged in railroad construction work with four teams which he owned. He followed this occupation for a season, and then came to Kansas, and purchased 126 acres in Jackson county, which he farmed for twelve years. He then sold this tract and bought a half section in Reilly township, Nemaha county, which he improved and made his home thereon until his demise on April 22, 1905. Mich&,el Malone was married in 1869 to Catharine Boucher, who was born in Ireland, November 15, 1839. To this marriage were "^^2 HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY born children, as follows : Mary, born June 27, 1871 ; John, born Octo- ber 20, 1874, farming the home place and owns 160 acres; William, born June 17, 1877, and died June 30, 1880. Mrs. Malone and her children are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Malone was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Joseph F. Severin. — For an individual to begin his career in Nemaha county with a quarter section of land only partially improved and to increase his holdings to the large total of 720 acres in a little over twenty years is remarkable and is an indication of financial and agricultural ability of a high order. It requires intelligence and concentrated effort for a farmer to succeed as well as Joseph F. Severin, of Marion town- ship, has done, and his success is in keeping with the ambition and char- acter of the man himself. The secret of Mr. Severin's success is par- tially explained when it is known 'that he is an extensive breeder and shipper of Duroc Jersey hogs of the pure bred class, and to this special department of farming he has devoted his attention for several years, and he usually raises and ships from 250 to 300 head of hogs annually in car load lots direct to the city markets. Joseph F. Severin was born in Doddridge county. West Virginia, February 19, 1867, and is a son of Frederick J. and Julia Ann (Rahrig) Severin, for further details of whom the reader is referred to the biog- raphy of Frederick W. Severin, a brother of Joseph F., who resides in Marion township. Joseph F. Severin was reared on his father's farm in Doddridge county, West Virginia, and attended school but tlflree months out of each year until he was seventeen years old. He remained at home, assisting his father on the home place until he attained his majority. In 1888 he left the old home and made his way to Doniphan county, Kansas, where he worked as a farm hand for two years for $20 per month. He then went west to Montana and followed various occu- pations for a little over a year, when he returned to his old home in West Virginia. He remained there until 1892, and then returned to Kansas and clerked in a grocery store in Doniphan county, and also engaged in the grain and live stock business with his brother, John B. Severin, at Bendena, Kans., until his marriage in 1895. After his marriage he lo- cated in Nemaha county and bought 160 acres of land in section 17, Marion township. This farm was poorly improved with a small house and a typical Kansas pioneer barn, built of poles and roofed with hay and straw. It is needless to state that Mr. Severin's farm is well im- proved at the present time with a good farm residence and well built outbuildings of' a modern type. During the twenty years he has been in Nemaha county, industriously applying his talents, fortune has smiled upon this West Virginia gentleman and he has accumulated a total of 720 acres of land, 240 acres of which are in his home farm in Nemaha county, 160 in Marshall county, Kansas, and 320 acres in Osborn county, Kansas. He is an extensive live stock raiser and has made a success of raising Duroc Jersey hogs for market. > g H 3 H 2 O H O o CO H ►H M 02 H