USA > Kansas > Crawford County > A Twentieth century history and biographical record of Crawford County, Kansas > Part 22
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noted for his energy and close application to his work, so that success has come to him as almost a logical result. Outside of his profession, he has likewise been a public-spirited citizen, and he has figured promi- nently in the professional, business and public activities of his city.
Dr. Williams was born in Henry county. Tennessee, in 1861, a son of R. M. and Lucy (Walker ) Williams. His father, who was born at Carthage. Tennessee, followed the vocation of farming, and about 1870 came to Missouri and settled near Marshfield, Webster county, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1885. Mrs. Lucy Williams, his wife, was born in Tennessee, and died in the same state, in 1864.
Dr. Williams was reared on the Missouri farm, and attended the district schools until he was eighteen years old. He then went to Leban- on, Missouri, and spent three years in the Laclede Seminary. He then took up the study of medicine with his brother. Dr. D. A. Williams, at Marshfield, and in 1884 he matriculated at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. Between sessions he studied with another brother. Dr. George W. Williams, who had located at Pittsburg. Kansas, in 1883. The family has thus been well represented in the medical profession by able and successful physicians. Dr. Williams was graduated from the Missouri Medical College in the class of 1886, his private studies having given him the equivalent of a three years' course. Soon after his gradu- ation and in the same year he came to Pittsburg and began practicing with his brother. Dr. G. W., and has lived here ever since. He has been unusually successful, and his general practice extends throughout the county. His name is a household word in many a home, where his genial sympathy and kindly good nature are often as soothing and healing to sufferers as the professional counsel which he knows how to give so skillfully.
Dr. Williams is a member of the Southeast Kansas Medical So- ciety, the Kansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is president of the Pittsburg Drug Company. which was established in June, 1898, and is one of the successful business
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enterprises of the city. He served one term as alderman from the fourth ward. for four years was one the board of pension examiners, and for three different terms was county physician. His fraterna! affiliations are with the Masonic order.
Dr. Williams was married in Missouri in 1888 to Miss Josie Thompson, and they have two daughters, Olga and Wilma.
EDWARD J. BRAZIL.
Edward J. Brazil, county commissioner and farmer of Grant town- ship, has himself made a most creditable record in connection with the various public and private affairs which have engaged his attention, and is also well known as being a son of one of the county's old and distinguished citizens.
Mr. Brazil was born in Pettis county, Missouri, March 9. 1868. being a son of Thomas and Johanna Brazil. His father came to this county at an early day in its history, and has been a prosperous and progressive farmer for many years. In 1882 the town of Brazilton was named in his honor, and he still resides at that place. His wife died February 18, 1897.
Mr. E. J. Brazil was reared in this county and received his educa- tion in the public schools. He began farming when twenty years old. and in 1894 he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. all of which he has placed under the best of improvements and made very valuable property. In November, 1900, he was elected to his present office of county commissioner, and thereby being honored in two ways : first, that he was the first county commissioner elected from Grant township, and. second, that he was the youngest man ever elected. in Crawford county. to this important administrative office.
Mr. Brazil affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America and the A. H. T. A .. and in politics is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church. He was married, January 8, 1889.
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to Miss Celestina LaForge, of Crawford county. They have nine chil- dren, all living but one: Mary, in school: William, in school; Edward, Gust, Harry. Ella, Fred, and Joseph, the youngest.
FRED K. HENNEY.
Fred K. Henney, reporter on the staff of the Pittsburg Daily Head- light, is a thoroughly up-to-date young newspaper man, and has been engaged in reportorial work ever since his school days were over. In this pursuit he follows in the footsteps of his father, the late W. H. Henney, who for years was in the newspaper business in Girard and Pittsburg.
Fred K. Henney was born in Cambridge, Illinois, March 15. 1880. His parents brought him to Girard, Crawford county, Kansas, in 1886, and here he was reared and received his high school education. Since leaving school he has been connected with the Girard Daily Press, the Hutchinson Kansan, the Hutchinson Nowes, the Pittsburg Daily Tribune, and for the past four years has been on the staff of the Pittsburg Head- light. He was married June 24, 1903. in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Miss Alice Heberlig.
RUSSEL W. BRANSON.
Russel W. Branson, ex-postmaster at Cherokee, Kansas, which office he filled with eminent satisfaction to all concerned for six years. has spent most of his life in this section of the Sunflower state, and has had a very successful business career. Political and public matters have always appealed to his nature, and for a number of years he has been prominent in this direction in Crawford county. His genial and whole- souled character and positive personality and individual worth have enabled him to wield considerable influence among his fellow citizens. among whom he has been both popular and useful.
Mul vanson
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MIr. Branson was born at Georgetown, Ohio, in 1866, his parents being William W. and Amanda ( Sargent) Branson, the latter of whom was born in West Virginia and died in Ohio in 1874. William W. Branson was born in Ohio, and has been a farmer all his life. He brought his family to Kansas in 1878, locating first at Cherokee, but later moved to a farm west of town, where he lived for thirteen years; he then took up his abode on a farm in Cherokee county, seven miles southwest of Cherokee town, and still resides there.
Mr. Russel W. Branson was reared on a farm and made it his home until he was past twenty-one years old. He was a student, after his common school days, in the state normal at Fort Scott, where he studied with the idea of becoming a teacher. Later, however, he pre- pared for a business career by taking a course in the commercial depart- ment of Presbyterian College at Holton, Kansas. He then entered the railroad service, and for seven years was an operator, station agent and express agent at different points on the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis Railroad, a larger part of this period being spent at Marion, Kansas. He was later made assistant agent at Cherokee, and it was while discharging the duties of that position that he was appointed postmaster, on February 7, 1898. Since he took charge of this office the business has doubled, and he made its administration a matter of pride to the city. Mr. Branson, in December, 1904. entered into part- nership with J. R. Davis in the control of the Crawford County Times, a twelve-page quarto-weekly with a circulation of eight hundred copies. The plant is equipped with a Gordon hand press. Mr. Branson is also special agent of Kansas for the New York Life Insurance Company. In one month he wrote $55.000 for his company.
Mr. Branson is prominent in the rank and file of the Republican party, and for several years has served by election as a delegate to the state conventions. Fraternally he affiliates with the Masons, and Inde- pendent Order of Red Men, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Aid and the Anti-Horse Thief Association. Mr. Branson
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was married at Cherokee in 1893 to Miss Edith Glover, and three chil- dren have blessed their home: Florence, Ralph and Claire.
HENRY HOLZER.
The German element in our American citizenship has been an important factor in the development of the new world and in the promo- tion of its material progress. The sons of the fatherland are found in all parts of the United States and the great majority of them are not only law-abiding but also industrious and public-spirited citizens, whose labors are of value to the community with which they are connected. Mr. Holzer, who is now a retired butcher, residing on section 5. Craw- ford township, Crawford county, was born in Baden, Germany, on the 2d of May, 1844, and is a son of Benedict and Wilhelmina (Viesir) Holzer. The father was a file-maker by trade and followed that pur- suit throughout his entire business career. He died in Germany at the age of fifty-one years, while his wife. long surviving him, passed away in 1903 at the advanced age of ninety-two years.
Henry Holzer, whose name introduces this record, pursued his carly education in the public schools of his native country and after- ward attended night schools of New York city. He remained a resi- dent of Germany until twenty years of age. when he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for the new world in 1864. He had heard favorable reports concerning the business opportunities afforded by America, and he hoped that he might benefit his financial conditions in this country. Landing at New York he secured a position in a meat market there and also worked at file-making to some extent. After four years he purchased a meat market in New York city and conducted it with success until 1892, when he disposed of his business in the east and came to Kansas. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 5. Crawford township. Crawford county, where he now lives. He has erected thereon a good residence and made many
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modern substantial improvements. In the fall of 1903 his barn was destroyed in a cyclone. He had completed a new one, forty by fifty feet. and this burned also, and his creamery in Girard likewise burned-a heavy loss. The trees of liis orehard were also destroyed in the cyclone. Mr. Holzer does not engage actively in farming himself. but rents his land. merely giving his supervision to his property interests. In addi- tion to his home place he owns the opera house in Girard. This property is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and enterprise, wherein his unfaltering diligence and strong determination have been the factors that have won for him creditable success.
In 1867 occurred the marriage of Mr. Holzer and Miss Regina Wick, a native of Germany, and to them have been born two children : Charles, who is now conducting a meat market in New York city ; and Henry M., who is a well known business man of Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Holzer is a member of the Masonic lodge of Girard, and he is filling the office of justice of the peace of Crawford township. His home is located about two miles north and a mile and a half east of Girard, and he has two nice dwellings upon his farm. He deserves great eredit for what he has accomplished, for he came to America with a five-dollar gold pieee, and all that he now possesses and enjoys has been acquired through his own enterprising labors. The hope that led him to America has been more than realized, for he found in this country the opportunities he sought-which, by the way. are always open to ambitious young men,-and through the utilization of sur- rounding opportunities and by his consecutive effort and well directed energy he has gained for himself a position among the substantial residents of his adopted county and now is enabled to rest from the more arduous duties of business life, the rental from his property being sufficient to supply him with all the necessities and comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
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ROBERT P. PALMORE.
Robert P. Palmore, carrier on rural free delivery route No. 2 out of Mulberry, has had an eventful and useful career extending over nearly seventy years, and during his many years' residence in Craw- ford county he has gained the respect and esteem of hosts of his fellow citizens and attained a position of worth and success in his community.
He is also an honored veteran of the Civil war. His case was one of the numerous instances of our rebellion where members of the same family fought on opposite sides, sincerely and faithfully for the cause which appealed to each one as right and as dutiful. Mr. Palmore was living in Missouri when the war broke out, and on April 2, 1862, he enlisted in Company F of the Fifth Missouri State Militia, in the cavalry branch, the colonel of his regiment being Albert Sigel, a brother of the famous Franz Sigel. They were in camp at Booneville for several months, and were engaged in numerous skirmishes with the bush- whackers and guerrillas in Missouri. They also fought Price's and Marmaduke's men, and Quantrell's bloody troopers, also encountering General Joe Shelby's men once or twice. They were all through south- ern and central Missouri, being a rough rider regiment in the true sense of the word, and experienced some of the worst phases of the war. Mr. Palmore was in the hospital for a time, and at the end of his period of service he received an honorable discharge.
Mr. Palmore was born in Monroe county, Kentucky, in 1838. being a son of William and Betsy (Lamb) Palmore, the former a son of Charles Palmore. The father, a native of Virginia, served in the Confederate army, as did several of his sons. The mother died in Kentucky when her son Robert was eight years old. he being the eldest of the five children; the other brothers were : Captain R. H., John D .. and Jonathan, all of whom fought on the Confederate side. William Palmore was a farmer, a Democrat in politics and a member of the Christian church, and his death oceurred in Texas when he was ninety years of age.
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Mr. Palmore was reared in Kentucky, obtaining his education at the schools of his native locality, and he early began making his own way in life. He was employed in a smelter for a time. In young man- hood, and while living in Missouri he married Miss Julia Harvey, but he soon lost this wife by death. For his second wife he married Lucy Pitman, who was born in Tennessee and died in Arkansas, leaving two children : one by her former husband, Volona Baker, of Colorado; and cne son by Mr. Palmore, John W. John W. Palmore is also a carrier on a rural delivery route out of Mulberry, and is one of the popular citizens of this part of the county. He was born in Abilene, Kansas, and mar- ried Lucy Cundiff, by whom he has one son, William Robert. They have a nice home at Mulberry, and he is a member of the Masonic order at this place.
Some time after the war, in 1869, Mr. Palmore moved out to Kansas, living at Abilene for two years: in 1871 he went to Texas by the overland route, and then lived at Maysville in Benton county, Arkansas; he spent three years in Indian Territory, was at Joplin, Missouri, for a time, and later came to Pittsburg, this county, and from there to Mulberry, where he has been a resident for some years. He took his position as rural mail carrier in 1901, and he has filled his posi- tion to the satisfaction of all concerned and in a manner most creditable to himself. He is affiliated with Mulberry Post No. 183. G. A. R., Department of Kansas.
R. W. PRESTON.
R. W. Preston, who is now engaged in the breeding of fine regis- tered Poland China hogs at his home place in Walnut, has for many years been identified with the agricultural interests of Crawford county. and has met with an excellent degree of success. He is a man of good judgment in business affairs, has been energetic and progressive since beginning the battle of life on his own account. and his place in the
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citizenry of Crawford county cannot be measured alone by the dollars and cents which he has accumulated, for he possesses many of the quali- ties that are sought among men of public spirit and advanced thought in the life of a community.
Mr. Preston was born in Portage county, Ohio, March 7, 1845. a son of Joseph and Philenda (Waldo) Preston, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. His father died on July 3, 1903. when eighty-four years old, but his mother is still living in Stark county. Ohio, and has attained the advanced age of eighty-six years.
Mr. R. W. Preston attended the common schools of Ohio, and later the academy at Shalersville. Portage county. When twenty years old he began doing for himself. and was engaged in the occupations of farming, painting and teaching school in Indiana. In February, 1870. he came out to Kansas. He rode from Kansas City to Fort Scott on the first passenger train operated on the old Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad. On arriving at Fort Scott he set out to walk to Neosho county, and the women of the party rode in the stage. He located a claim near St. Paul, then called Osage Mission, and began improving the land. But five years later, during the year of railroad land troubles, he and his family returned to Ohio for a time. In 1883 he bought one hundred and twelve acres a mile north of Walnut, and was successfully engaged in farming there until September, 1901, at which time he bought his home and seven acres of land in the town of Walnut, and has since been breed- ing and raising fine hogs, which is an industry that has paid him good returns and which he has managed very judiciously. Two and a half years of his Kansas residence were spent in Eureka and Webb City.
Mr. Preston affiliates with the A. H. T. A., and in politics is a strong Prohibitionist. being president of the law and order league and otherwise promoting the cause of temperance. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, and she is also a temperance worker. being president of the local branch of the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union. She also writes for the Walnut Eagle. Mr. Preston
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married, April 28, 1867, Miss Kezia Ann Price, a daughter of William H. and Rachel ( Lee) Price. Her father died in Indiana in May, 1885. at the age of sixty-eight years, and her mother died in Walnut, Kansas, in 1879. at the age of fifty-four.
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JOHN THONHOFF.
John Thonhoff, a retired farmer residing in Hepler, has had a long and useful career of threescore and ten years, and nearly forty of them have been spent in Crawford county, so that he ranks among the pioneer settlers, and in fact came liere before the county assumed its present political boundaries. Farming has been the occupation to which he has devoted his main energies, and his success has placed him among the men of mark of the county, and he has always enjoyed the unequivocal esteem of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Thonhoff was born in Germany, January 8, 1834, being a son of Henry and Katie Thonhoff. the former of whom died at the advanced age of eighty-one years, and the latter when her son John was a baby.
Mr. Thonhoff attended school in Germany, and, being reared to farm life, took to that occupation and followed it successfully in his native land until 1858. On December toth of that year he came to the United States and located in southwestern Missouri, where he con- tinned his farming operations steadily until the Civil war times. In the spring of 1862 he showed his sterling patriotism and his devotion to American principles by enlisting in Company K. Eighth Missouri Cavalry, and did army service until his discharge in the last year of the war. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge and other engagements. . After his muster out at St. Louis he returned to his Missouri farm, but in the fall of 1866 moved over into Crawford county, Kansas, or rather to the Neutral Lands which now compose this county. This was one of the earliest years of the county's history, so that he has been identified
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with this region almost as long as any other living resident. He took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and after improving it in good shape bought eighty acres more. He sold this place in 1890. and then moved into Hepler, where for two years he was in the furniture and undertaking business, but since then has lived retired in his own home in Hepler, and contents himself with what he has effected by his efforts in the past.
Mr. Thonhoff married. December 10. 1863. Miss Mary Viets, a daughter of Henry and Maggie Viets, natives of Germany, but both now deceased. MIr. and Mrs. Thonhoff have the following children : Maggie, the wife of Chris Seller. a farmer near Hepler; Henry, also living in this township : Mary, the wife of Nick Waggoner, of Missouri : Millie, the wife of John Curry, of LaHarpe, Kansas ; Bertha, the wife of Clarence Curry, of Hepler ; and Frederick, a merchant of Hepler. Mr. and Mrs. Thonhoff are members of the Lutheran church, and he adheres to Republican principles and has fraternal affiliations with the Ancient Order of United Workmen in Hepler.
Fred, the youngest child, was born in Walnut township. Crawford county. September 25. 1878. and was educated in the common schools and the high school at Hepler. He spent the first years of his life on his father's farm. He is a young man who has taken a place among the people of his vicinity as a leader. In his political sentiments he is a Republican and cast his first presidential vote for Mckinley. He was elected city clerk in 1900 and re-elected to the same office again in 1901. He was elected mayor of his town in 1902, when at the age of twenty- four, which is a very rare honor. He received his appointment as post- master at Hepler after the election of 1904. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W., No. 115, at Hepler. He wedded Miss Mont Johnson, June 28, 1899. Mrs. Thonhoff was a native of Crawford county and a daughter of David and Minerva Johnson. She was edu- cated in the common schools and has received musical instruction also. Mr. Thonhoff began in the mercantile business January 9. 1901, and
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he carries a full stock of staple goods, which any first-class store carries in country towns. His annual sales amount to $17.000. He is one of the stable young men of the county of Crawford.
J. A. NUTTMAN.
J. A. Nuttman, one of the prominent lumber dealers of Pittsburg, Crawford county, has been a resident of the city and connected with his present industry since 1882, so that he is really to be numbered among the old citizens. He has had a very successful career in busi- ness, and his energy, public spirit and broad-mindedness have made him a most valuable factor in many enterprises that concern the city. He has not confined his attention entirely to the prosecution of his private business, but has been interested in politics and affairs of public moment. so that his life has had a broad usefulness to all within the sphere of his influence.
Mr. Nuttman was born at Decatur. Indiana, in 1856. a son of J. M. and Melitta ( Mickel) Nuttman. His father was born in New Jersey, and came to Indiana when a young man. He was first a general merchant and afterward engaged in the lumber business. In 1879 he moved to Kansas City. Missouri, where he was associated with the Hoffman Brothers in the lumber business. He later took up his resi- dence in Pittsburg, where he now lives, although retired from active labors. His wife is also still living.
Mr. J. A. Nuttman received most of his education in Fort Wayne. Indiana, where the family lived for twenty years. He early became familiar with the details of the lumber business, and at the age of twenty- six. in 1882. came to Pittsburg and entered the employ of G. B. Shaw and Company, lumbermen. He was in charge of the company's yard for four years, and then embarked in the same line of business for him- self. in which he has continued with excellent success to the present
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time. He is a member of the Southwestern Lumbermen's Association, and was its president for one year.
Mr. Nuttman is vice-president of the Pittsburg Building and Loan Association, and for several years has been very influential in its man- agement. The association has done a great work in this city and vicinity, and Mr. Nuttman has given his best efforts to promoting its prosperity and progress. He is a prominent Republican, has been dele- gate to several important conventions, and is chairman of the congres- sional committee for the third district of Kansas. He has been through all the Masonic degrees, being a member of the Shrine, and is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is now and has been for several years treasurer of the board of education of Pittsburg. Mr. Nuttman was married in Ohio to Miss Laura Paynter, and they have two children, Bert and Julia.
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