USA > Kansas > Crawford County > A Twentieth century history and biographical record of Crawford County, Kansas > Part 37
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JOHN THARP.
John Tharp, Mulberry, where he is now living retired from active pursuits, is an old-timer of Crawford county and has lived here and been a factor in industrial and civic affairs for some thirty-seven years. During this time he has witnessed the development of the county from pioneer conditions to one of the most flourishing and progressive coun- ties of the state, and for his own part he has never been behind hand in assisting in this work of progress and advancement.
Mr. Tharp is also honored as one of the Civil war veterans now re-
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siding in this county. He enlisted in August. 1862, in Company F. Ninety-fourth Illinois Infantry, the company being successively com- manded by Captains Walden and Denison. The regiment was in camp at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, was sent to Rollo, Missouri, then to Springfield, and took part in several encounters with Price's and Marma- duke's men : was later sent to the siege of Vicksburg, where it was when the city surrendered on July 4. 1863 ; then went on the Banks expedition up Red river, and was in operations throughout Louisiana and into Texas; was later put on transports and sent across the gulf to Browns- ville. Texas, and after being in that state three months returned to Mo- bile, Alabama, thence to Galveston, Texas, during which time hostilities came to an end, was sent back to Illinois, and Mr. Tharp received his honorable discharge at Springfield in July, 1865.
Mr. Tharp was born in Delaware county, Ohio, November 12, 1828. being a son of James and Leah ( Decker) Tharp, both natives of New Jersey and of German descent. Both parents died in Clark county, Illi- nois, the father at eighty-four and the mother at seventy-two. They were members of the Baptist church, and he was a carpenter by trade. and in politics a Democrat. There were the following children in their family : James D .. Hiram, Ida, Phoebe, Mary A., John. Jackson and Harriett.
Mr. Tharp was reared and educated in Delaware county, Ohio, and was married there in February, 1850, to Miss Martha W. Trumbull, who had been a successful teacher before her marriage. She was born near Buffalo, in Erie county, New York, being a daughter of Samuel W. and Harriett ( Wells) Trumbull. Her grandfather was a Revolutionary sol- dier, and her father took part in the battle at Sackett's Harbor in the war of 1812. Her father was born in Connecticut and her mother in Canada. There were nine children in the Trumbull family, of whom Mrs. Tharp is the oldest, the others being: Oliver, Robert. Celesta M .. Louis E .. Wescott S., Henry L., Leonard .A., and Rachel. Four of the sons, Wescott. Henry, Leonard and Robert, were soldiers in the Civil
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war, and Leonard died during the war. The mother of this family died in Allen county, Kansas, at the age of seventy-two, and the father at Girard when eighty-seven years old. The latter was a vigorous and ac- tive man almost to his last days, successfully followed farming for many years, and in politics was a Whig and Republican.
Mr. Tharp left Ohio in 1853. and located in Clark county, Illinois, being there for eight years, and then lived near St. Louis, Missouri, for two years, after which he was in McLean county, Illinois, until 1868. In the latter year he came to this county, experiencing pioneer conditions for the first years of his residence, and he gradually became established as one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of the county. A few years ago he sold his fine farmstead of one hundred and sixty acres, and moved to a comfortable cottage home in Mulberry, where he and his wife intend to spend the declining years of their lives, surrounded by the comforts which worthy efforts and the friendship of many in their community have brought to them. Their three sons are now grown and have taken their places in the world of affairs as enterprising and honor- able men, a credit to the rearing and training which they have received from their revered parents. These sons are Morris Vernon, who is a fine mechanic residing in Walla Walla. Washington: James A., in the creamery business in Girard; and Henry, who has been a teacher and was postmaster at Mulberry for seven years, and is now cashier of the Mulberry Bank. The boys, as well as their parents, are members of the Methodist church and actively support the cause of religion. Mr. Tharp is a stanch Republican, and is affiliated with the G. A. R. post.
FRED W. DRUNAGEL.
Fred W. Drunagel, a building contractor, and senior member of the well known Pittsburg firm of Drunagel and Staneart. has been prom- inently connected with Crawford county's agricultural interests for about twenty years, and since 1896 has taken a leading part in the building
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operations of Pittsburg and vicinity. He is known for his enterprising and energetic American characteristics, although he is a sturdy German by birth and racial connections, and his career in the United States has been fruitful, prosperous and entitling him to the high esteem and re- gard of his associates and fellow citizens.
Mr. Drunagel was born in Germany in 1853, and was brought to this country in 1859. His father, Casper Drunagel, located at Dover, near Cleveland, Ohio, and Mr. Drunagel's youth was passed on the home- stead farm there. He became acquainted with all the details of farm work, and has always retained a liking for the life of an agriculturist. He had a common school education, and afterward learned the carpen- ter and builder's trade at Cleveland, where he also did work as a jour- neyman. He left Cleveland in the spring of 1877 and went west to New Mexico, where he secured some building contracts with the Santa Fe Railroad. He carried on this work in that territory for eight years, be- ing located at Albuquerque, Las Vegas and other points.
While there the desire seized him to get a little nearer to mother earth and be a farmer once more, and he especially wanted to get a good farming location in the west and have his father come out from Ohio and occupy it. He had been very much impressed with Crawford county land when he passed through that country, and he accordingly cor- responded with parties in this county and made arrangements for the purchase of land in Baker township. His father then moved from Ohio and took up his abode on this place. Mr. Drunagel himself arrived shortly afterward from New Mexico, and was engaged in farming with his father until the latter's death, in 1895. In 1896 he moved to Pitts- burg and resumed his building operations, in which he has been remark- ably successful. He has since formed a partnership with John E. Stan- eart, and they compose one of the leading building and contracting firms in this section of the state. Mr. Drunagel has had the contracts for put- ting up many of the large private and business structures of this city, among them being the Mousney block, the Johnson Business College
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building. the Lindski building, the residences of H. P. Foster and Dr. Williams. The firm now have contracts for several school buildings of the place.
Mr. Drunagel was married in the state of Ohio in 1885, to Miss Mary Ostermeyer, and they are the parents of four children : Louise, Everett, Emma and Frank.
DR. GEORGE S. MOFFATT.
Dr. George S. Moffatt, who has rapidly come into prominence in the dental profession since establishing himself for practice in Pitts- burg about three years ago, is a young man of ability, enterprise and especially dextrous skill in his line of work, and the results of his practice have already given him a large and steadily increasing patronage from among the best citizens of Pittsburg and the surrounding country.
Dr. Moffatt was born at LeSueur. Minnesota, in 1876, being a son of Arthur B. and Fannie ( Snow ) Moffatt. the former a native of Illinois and the latter of New York state. His father was a prominent business man with extensive interests at LeSueur, Minnesota, for twenty years, and has a commanding position in public and business affairs. He was treasurer of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, whose annual fair at St. Paul-Minneapolis is the best state fair in the United States. He and his wife are now residents of St. Joseph, Michigan, where he is connected with the Cooper-Wells Hosiery Company.
George S. Moffatt was reared at LeSueur, where he was educated, being graduated from the high school. He also graduated from the commercial college at Mankato, Minnesota, and then took up his pro- fessional studies in the dental department of the Northwestern Univer- sity at Chicago. where he was graduated with the degree of D. D. S. in 1900. He gained six months of valuable practical experience in the office of Dr. F. B. Merrill. of Chicago, who is a noted specialist in crown and bridge work. Early in 1901 Dr. Moffatt came to Pittsburg.
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which he has found a most inviting field for his work. His office was with the late Dr. J. W. Porter, who is the author of the history of the medical profession in Crawford county which finds its proper place in this work.
Dr. Moffatt was married in 1903 to Miss Blanch Andrews, of Lima, Ohio, and the daughter of a prominent oil operator of that place. The doctor and his wife are prominent in the social circle of the young people of Pittsburg, and have made many friends during their residence here.
MESHACK PURDUM.
Meshack Purdum is one of the honored and respected early citizens of Crawford county, having come here in 1874, thirty years ago. He has followed farming most of his career, and has been a very successful man in all his enterprises, being now retired from active duties and spending his declining years in the prosperity which his strenuous devo- tion to affairs in early life has gained.
He belongs to a noted soldier family, one which sent forth many of its members to battle for the country, and he himself was one of the first to enlist in the cause of the Union. His enlistment took place in Mc- Donough county, Illinois, June 10, 1861. in response to Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand men. The Illinois quota was already full when lie enrolled, and he was at first assigned to Company C of the Ninth Missouri, but was later transferred to Company C. Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry, under Captain Veach. and his active service was all with that regiment. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge. Arkansas, and in other operations in Missouri, where he was sick in the hospital for some time. He was at the siege of Corinth, at Perryville, Kentucky, at Nashville. and at the battle of Stone River was wounded by a minie ball in the right shoulder. After spending two months in the hospitals at Nashville. Louisville and Quincy, he joined his regiment at Murphreesboro, whence he crossed the mountains to join Sherman's forces then preparing for
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the advance upon Atlanta. He was under General Hooker at Chicka- mauga. Resaca. Lookout Mountain, Burnt Hickory. Kenesaw Moun- tain. Buzzards Roost, and the other engagements culminating in the siege and capture of Atlanta. He was then put in the army which went back to engage Hood in Tennessee. being in the battles at Franklin and Nashville, and following Hood's army to the Tennessee river. After those operations he took boat down the Mississippi to the gulf. thence to Green Lake and San Antonio, Texas, being a part of General Sheri- dan's forces sent into that state. He was stationed for a time at New Brannfels, and on Christmas day of 1865. eight months after the close of hostilities, he received his honorable discharge in Texas. He took the stage for two hundred miles to Galveston, thence crossed the gulf on a boat which took fire and was nearly sunk, and finally reached home after having given a long and creditable service to his country. He was a corporal during most of his service.
Mr. Purdum was born in Ross county, Ohio, near Chillicothe. April 25. 1835. being a son of Samuel and Rebecca ( Tulles ) Purdum. both natives of Maryland. Samuel Purdum's brother Meshack had six sons who went as soldiers to the Civil war. Mrs. Rebecca Purduni died when her son Meshack was a child. and she left five other children. as follows: John W .. deceased: Abraham, who was a soldier of the Eighty-fourth Illinois and died of wounds at Nashville: Samuel, who was a soldier of the Fifty-ninth Illinois: James, of the Eighty-fourth Illinois ; and the one daughter, Martha, deceased. The father by a second marriage had six children, and one of the sons, Francis M., was also a soldier in the Fifty-ninth Illinois,-certainly a most creditable record in military affairs for the families of two brothers. Samuel Purdum. the father. died in Illinois, in 1878. at the age of seventy-seven. He was a farmer by occupation, politically a Whig and a Republican, and he and his wife were faithful Methodists. He had come to Illinois in 1838. being one of the very early settlers.
Mr. Purdum, who was reared and educated in the early days of
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Illinois, was married, some time after his return from the war, in 1867, to Miss Laurinda Cox, who has been his sharer of joys and success for thirty-seven years. She was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, being a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Ann ( Burton) Cox, who were natives of Ohio and settled in Illinois about 1835, thus coming even earlier than the Purdums. They lived in a log cabin, and Mrs. Purdum's father often shot wild turkeys from his door. There were twelve children in the Cox family, and four are living. Warren, Mrs. Purdum, Rowena McPherson and Eunice Buck. Two of the sons were soldiers, Chris- topher, who died in 1902, being a member of the Seventy-eighth Illinois, and John J. enlisting but succumbing to disease before reaching his regiment. The mother of this family died at the age of sixty-five, and the father at seventy-seven.
On coming to Crawford county in 1874 Mr. Purdum settled on an excellent farm three miles north of Cherokee, where he was successfully engaged in farming for a number of years. He has since sold his country estate and bought a fine modern dwelling in town, with ample grounds and everything convenient and comfortable. He also owns a residence and lot adjoining. so that he is owner of some very valuable property in Cherokee, and he has a delightful home in which he and his good wife may pass their last years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church at Cherokee, and he is a member of Shiloh Post No. 56. G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican, and always lends his influence to progress and advancement in matters concerning either the local or national policies.
The record of Mr. and Mrs. Purdum's children is as follows : Martha A. Hanes, now living in Pittsburg, was a successful teacher before her marriage: Miss Ivy E. is a graduate of the State Normal and now a member of the faculty of instructors at Emporia; Jacob A. is an employe of the Hamilton Coal Company ; one child died at the age of nineteen months: the son Frederick, who was a teacher, died at the age of twenty-six, and he was such an aspiring and enterprising young
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man and had so many friends among all his associates that his loss was the occasion of deep grief throughout the community and especially to his parents, who still hallow his memory in their bereaved hearts.
LOUIS FRANKLIN SCHIRK.
Louis Franklin Schirk. a locomotive engineer and a well known citizen of Pittsburg. being one of the city councilmen, has made a fine record in the operating department of the Kansas City Southern Rail- way, as well as in all other enterprises with which he has been connected during his very busy and successful lifetime. His career has especial interest because he carried out a fixed determination to a successful accomplishment, and this case among those of so many mortals who drift from one shore of life's sea to another. sometimes finding good fortune and again the ill, is a most pleasing phase of Mr. Schirk's life. Besides having achieved a high degree of success as a railroader, he has been a very public-spirited citizen in local politics and other affairs, and has gained a well deserved popularity during his years of residence in the thriving city of Pittsburg.
Mr. Schirk was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1863. a son of Ambrose and Mariette (Ackerman) Schirk. His paternal ancestry is French, and his father was born in France, from which country he came to America when about three years old. His younger years were passed mainly in Milwaukee, and from that city he enlisted in the Civil war. in the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Regiment, and served as a loyal soldier of the Union throughout the war. About 1882 he brought his family to southwest Missouri and located on a farm nine miles west of Neosho. where he died.
Mr. L. F. Schirk was reared and received his education in Mil- waukee, and at the age of nineteen accompanied the rest of the family to southwest Missouri. He followed farming there until 1888, and then started in to carry out his ambition to become a railroad engineer, for
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which occupation he had cherished almost a passionate fondness since boyhood. He began working in the mechanical department of the Kansas City Southern Railway ( then known as the Kansas City, Pitts- burg and Gulf). His start was on the lowest round of the ladder, and he went through the grades from wiper, fireman, etc., until his promo- tion as engineer came in recognition of merit. In point of length of service on this road, he is now the oldest locomotive engineer, and this fact is of much advantage to him in many ways. He has had engine runs on all the divisions between Kansas City and Mena, Arkansas. and is now in charge of the passenger run between Pittsburg and Mena. He has a clean and efficient record of service with the company, and is valued accordingly by his employers.
Mr. Schirk has made his home in Pittsburg for the past six years. and during this period has made his influence felt in various ways in public affairs. In April, 1903, he was elected city councilman to repre- sent the second precinct of the fourth ward. In the council he is chair- man of the finance committee, and a member of the committee on streets and alleys and of the purchasing committee. In March. 1904. the Republican party in Crawford county chose him as delegate to the Kansas state convention at Wichita for the nomination of governor and state officials. He is a prominent Mason, being a member of Lodge No. 187, F. & A. M., and Mt. Joy Commandery No. 29, R. A. M., in Pittsburg, and of Abdallah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Leaven- worth. He also belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Mr. Schirk was married at Neosho, Missouri, to Miss Emma Mc- Leod. and they have five children, as follows: Troy. Grant. Mildred, Rudolph and Maud.
LEWIS S. SCHWAB.
Lewis S. Schwab, general manager and treasurer of two important Cherokee business enterprises, namely. the Cherokee Commercial Com-
L S. Schwab
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pany and the Weir Junction Coal Company, has, by his business ability and industrious application to affairs, made himself an influential mem- ber of the business circles of Crawford county while still a young man within his twenties. The Cherokee Commercial Company conducts a high-class general merchandise establishment, has a recognized standing for financial reliability and excellent business management, and enjoys a large trade. The other members of this firm are: H. C. Schwab, Clarence Schwab, Bessie Schwab, Fannie F. Watson, H. E. Schwab, M. C. Bolick, George P. Norton, J. G. Schwab. The Weir Junction Coal Company, which was organized in 1897, has J. G. Schwab for presi- dent, H. E. Schwab for secretary, and Lewis S. Schwab for general manager and treasurer, and it mines and sells a very superior quality of coal, having two of the leading coal mines of Crawford county.
Mr. Lewis S. Schwab was born in Henry county, Illinois, June 27, 1876, a son of John and Hester C. Schwab. His father, who died in 1897, was a successful business man, especially as a coal dealer and oper- ator, and he came from Henry county, Illinois, to this county, where he controlled large interests up to the time of his death. He was of pro- nounced political views, being first a Greenbacker and then a Populist, believing that the policies thus represented were the best for the country. He was a Lutheran in religious faith, and his wife, who is a Congre- gationalist, is still living at the Cherokee home. They were the parents of seven children living, who have inherited the business instincts of their father and are all interested in the business affairs controlled by the fam- ily. The children are : Mrs. Mary C. Bolick, secretary of the company ; Mrs. Fannie F. Watson: J. G. Schwab is president of the Weir Junction Coal Company : Lewis S. is the next in order of age: Hettie E. is secre- tary of the coal company ; and Clarence .A. and Bessie A. are both inter- ested in the coal business.
Mr. Lewis S. Schwab received his early training both in Henry county, Illinois, and in Crawford county, and as soon as school days were over he threw himself energetically into the conduct of business affairs,
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in which he has gained great prestige."He is a Chapter Mason; and one of the young leaders in the van of progress in this section of the state. He is a worker in the Presbyterian church.
HIRAM FROST ADSIT.
Hiram Frost Adsit, who is how filling the position of superinten- dent of the county farm of Crawford county, was born in Rensselaer county, New York, on the 9th of September. 1845. He is a son of Benjamin and Deborah (Frost) Adsit, who were also natives of the Empire state. The father was a dealer in horses. On leaving the east he removed to Wisconsin and subsequently settled in Traverse City, Michigan, where he died in the year 1876 at the age of seventy-two years. His wife passed away in Kansas in 1886 at the age of eighty- four years. In their family were twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, of whom Hiram Frost Adsit is the eleventh in order of birth and the only son now living.
The subject of this review was very young when his parents removed to Wisconsin and he pursued his education in the district schools of Walworth county, that state. He entered upon his business career in the capacity of a farm hand and was thus employed until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when, his patriotic spirit being thor- oughly aroused, he offered his services in defense of the Union and joined the boys in blue of Company D, Thirty-ninth Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry. This was in 1863. and, proceeding at once to the front, he participated in the siege of Vicksburg and in the Red River expedi- tion, thus taking part in some of the important movements of the war. He received an honorable discharge in 1864 and afterward went to work in the pineries of Wisconsin, being thus employed through the win- ter months, while in the summer seasons he ran on the upper Mississippi river in connection with the logging industry. After four years spent in this way he removed to Fulton county, Illinois, where he secured
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employment as an engineer in a sawmill. The autumn of 1869 wit- nessed his arrival in Kansas, and he has since been identified with the interests of the Sunflower state. He first located in Fort Scott. but in February, 1870, came to Girard and has since made his home in Craw- ford county. For eighteen months he was connected with a lumber yard, and then contracted for a tract of railroad land east of Girard, on which he engaged in farming for three years. On the expiration of that period he engaged in buying and shipping grain, which claimed his attention for three years, and in 1878 he was called to public office, being appointed deputy sheriff. He served for a term of two years, and was then reappointed in 1884. In 1895 he was elected sheriff of the county and entered upon the duties of the office in January, 1896. He served for two years as a capable official and retired from the posi- tion as he had entered it. with the confidence and good will of the general public. Later his attention was given to the development of his city property, and he thus superintended his invested interests until he was appointed superintendent of the poor farm, of which he took charge on the Ist of February, 1903. He has since occupied the position in a capable manner. the work being carried on in a practical way. . At the present writing he is having the house all papered and painted and cleaned throughout and is putting everything in first-class condition.
On the 13th of October. 1886, Mr. Adsit was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Huff. a daughter of Jasper Huff, of Indiana, and to them have been born two children, but Deets, the elder, died at the age of two years: Hitha, the second child. is now six years of age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Adsit hold membership in the Christian Science church. . He belongs to the Fraternal Aid, to General Bailey Post No. 149. G. A. R., and to the Improved Order of Red Men, and he was great sachem of Kansas for one year. His political allegiance is given to the Repub- lican party, and in all matters of citizenship he is progressive and pub- lic-spirited. He has ever discharged his duties with marked ability and fairness, for he is a most loyal, public-spirited citizen. As a business
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