A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 38

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 970

USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 38

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JACOB WEIGEL.

Nearly every state in ine Union has sent her quota of men to Kansas, and among those that Pennsylvania has furnished to the Sunflower state is Jacob Weigel, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 19, 1843, his parents being Nicholas and Margaret ( Iseworth) Weigel, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born about 1808, and when twenty-eight years of age came to the United States. In Pennsylvania he met and married Miss Ise- worth, the wedding being celebrated about

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1837. He was a farmer and took up his abode upon one hundred and twenty acres of land, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. Unto them were born thir- teen children, eight of whom reached years of maturity, and two of the five sons served in the Union army. John, the eldest of the family, was for three years a member of the army and was wounded January 15, 1865. at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, his injuries being very severe and causing him much suffering for several years. Mrs. Weigel. the incther, died when about forty-five years of age. The father ever remained true to her memory, living as a widower until 1898, when he passed away, at the age of ninety years. He was in good financial cir- cumstances and was a strong man physically. mentally and morally. Both he and his wife were reared in the Catholic faith, but sey- ered their connection with that church.

In his parents' home Jacob Weigel spent his youth. In 1864 he responded to the country's call for assistance to aid in preserv- ing the Union, enlisting as a member of Company I, Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania In- fantry, with which he remained until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Raleigh, North Carolina. He now draws a pension of twelve dollars a month.

On the 4th of July. 1868, after return- ing from the war, Mr. Weigel was joined in wedlock to Miss Henrietta C. Stricklin, of Richland. Michigan, in which place the wed- ding was celebrated. The lady is a daugh- ter of James Stricklin, now of Michigan. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Kalamazoo county, where Mr. Weigel carried on agricultural pursuits for thirteen years. On the 26th of March, 1878, he arrived in Sterling, Kan- sas, and soon afterward took a soldier's homestead in Reno county, near Sterling. His wife was in poor health, and on this account they returned to Michigan, where she died December 31. 1880. at the age of thirty-five years. She lost her first daugh- ter at the age of eighteen and her second daughter also died at the same age. For the past twenty-one years Mr. Weigel has resided in the Kimball family and has en-

gaged in the operation of the Kimball farm as well as his own. He has always been a hard working man. industry being one of his marked characteristics, and though he has acquired a competence he does not be- lieve in idleness and therefore continues in the active control of his farming affairs. In politics he is a Republican, giving a stal- wart support to the principles of the party. Socially he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and with the Benev- olent Association of St. Louis. He is a man of sterling worth, of strong convictions and unquestioned honesty, holding his word as obligatory as his bond.

MOSES H. VAN BIBBER.

Moses H. Van Bibber is a well known agriculturist of Huntsville township, Reno county. Kansas, and the success which he has achieved is the merited reward of his own labor. He has worked his way stead- ily upward, overcoming all the difficulties and obstacles in his path by determined pur- pose, and to-day he is recognized as one of the most substantial citizens of the com- munity, his labors having brought to him a handsome competence.

Mr. Van Bibber was born in Nicholas county, West Virginia, on the 7th of Feb- ruary, 1828, of which county his father, Da- vid C. R. Van Bibber, was also a native. The latter held the rank of captain in the militia. The grandfather of our subject, Mathias Van Bibber, was the first white male child born in a fort in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, and he held the rank of cap- tain in the militia, while his father, John Van Bibber. served as a colonel therein. About 1824 David C. R. Van Bibber, the father of our subject, wedded Jane Will- iams, who was born in Greenbrier county. West Virginia. December 12, 1804. and they became the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and eight of the number still survive. The mother passed away in Nicholas county. West Virginia, in 1872, and in' 1889, from that county, her

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husband joined her in the spirit world, dy- ing at the age of about ninety years, his birth having occurred on the 16th of No- vember, 1799.

Moses H. Van Bibber, whose name in- troduces this review, enjoyed but limited ed- učational advantages during his youth, but since putting aside his text-books he has largely added to his knowledge by observa- tion, reading and study, and has thus be- come a well informed man. In early life he learned surveying by himself, and for a number of years followed that occupation in his native state. On the 11th of May, 1874. he left his home in the south and with a team of horses and a covered wagon made the journey to the Sunflower state, arriving in Walnut township, Reno county, in the following June, and was at that time almost without means. He secured eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added another eighty-acre tract, but in 1884 he sold that place for fourteen hundred dollars and pur- chased the farm which he now owns. It then consisted of one hundred acres of rail- road land, and the purchase price was five hundred and ninety dollars. The principal .crop which he raises is corn and wheat, an- nually harvesting about two thousand bush- els of corn, and during the year of 1901 his wheat crop yielded a return of two thou- sand one hundred and sixty bushels. His beautiful orchard and shade trees were planted by his own hands, and the many substantial and valuable improvements here seen stand as monuments to his thrift and ability.

In the Old Dominion, on the 14th of Sep- tember. 1858, Mr. Van Bibber was united in marriage to Joanna Pierson, a native of that commonwealth, and they had a family of four children, namely: David, who re- sides in Peoria, Illinois, and has two chil- dren : Franklin, who makes his home in West Virginia: Margaret Jane, wife of Henry Jones, of Peabody, Kansas, and they have five children; and Lizzie McClintosh, who died leaving one daughter. For his second wife Mr. Van Bibber chose Virginia Ann Holt, who was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and was married September

14. 1867. and by this union there were also four children: John, who is married and resides in Oklahoma; Ulysses Simpson Grant, who makes his home in Huntsville township, and has one daughter, and one son ; Minnie, wife of O. C. Andel, by whom she has two daughters, and they reside with her parents : and Fred, at home. The mother of this family died on the 27th of October, 1892. at the age of forty-nine years. On questions of national importance Mr. Van Bibber casts his ballot in favor of Repub- lican principles, but at local elections he votes for the men whom he regards as best quali- fied for public office. He has ever been a loyal and public-spirited citizen, and during the Civil war he served for two years as a corporal in the state service. He is also a worthy member and active worker in the Missionary Baptist church. As a citizen he is progressive and loyal, as a business man straightforward and honorable, and as a friend he is faithful and consistent.

C. B. SMITH.

C. B. Smith is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. Success in any calling is an indication of close application, industry and faithfulness, qualities which are numbered among the leading character- istics of our subject, and the greatest re- ward of the successful man is his conscious- ness of having acted well his part. This Mr. Smith has ever done, and to-day hie stands among the highly respected citizens of his community.

A native of Canada, Mr. Smith was born at Port Stanley, July 24, 1847, and is a son of Alvin and Eleanor ( Clark) Smith, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Nova Scotia. Their marriage was celebrated in Canada. The paternal grand- father of our subject, Grove Smith, was a member of an old and prominent Massa- chusetts family and was a soldier in the war for American independence. He was a mechanic by profession, and his death oc- curred in Canada. His children were: Su-

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san, who married James Tobine, he being a member of an old pioneer family of Illi- nois : Moses, Aaron, Zenos, George W., Montgomery, Alvin and Safronia, who be- came Mrs. Benedict. Alvin Smith, the fa- ther of our subject, was reared to manhood in the state of his nativity. He afterward emigrated to Canada, going the entire dis- tance on foot, walking on an average of sixty miles a day, and there he settled with his father and family. They bought land and improved a farm from the native tin- ber. In 1853 Mr. Smith removed to Illi- nois, locating in Boone county, where he rented a farm, but death claimed him four years later and he passed away in 1857. His wife survived him for many years and nobly succeeded in keeping her family together and providing them with the necessaries of life. After many years she came to Kansas, and her death occurred at the liome of her son, our subject, in McPherson county. Both she and her husband were Free Will Baptists. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Hiram, who died in Minnesota ; Lucy A., who was twice married, first to J. Moss and afterward to D. Thurston; Mary E., who became Mrs. Higbee, and after his death she wedded W. Phelps; Harvey J., who died in Arkansas ; Henry T., a resident of Rockford, Illinois ; Alvin M., who makes his home in Arkansas; Ella G., the wife of G. H. Irish; Sarah J., who married C. A. Wing; Charles B., the subject of this re- view; and Carrie V., who married A. C. Church and died at Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, about 1864. The mother of this family was twice married, her first husband having been a Mr. Johnson, by whom she had one son, William Johnson. He was reared by Mr. Smith, and on reaching his majority the latter gave him a good farm, he being at that time in good circumstances, but afterward misfortune overtook him and his own children were obliged to begin life for themselves without assistance.

C. B. Smith, whose name introduces this review, was only six years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, where he grew to manhood, re- ceiving his education in the common schools.

After the death of his father he remained with his widowed mother and, with his brothers. Alvin M. and H. J., assisted her in the support of the family. In 1870 he left that state and made his way to Kansas, first locating in McPherson county, where he se- cured a homestead claim. His mother after- ward joined him in this state and he nobly cared for her during the remainder of her life. He remained in McPherson county until 1885, when he sold his property there and came to Rice county, settling on the farm on which he now resides. Only eighty acres of this place had then been broken, there were no fences and a small frame dwel- ling stood upon the land. Mr. Smith has since enlarged and remodeled his residence, which is two stories in height, and has a large barn and all necessary outbuildings. The place is located five miles southeast of Little River and is one of the well improved and valuable farms of the county. In addi- tion to his general farming and stock-rais- ing Mr. Smith also operates a threshing machine.

In McPherson county, Kansas, in 1878. lie was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Pinkerton, who was born at Kirksville, Mis -. souri. June 7, 1855, a daughter of Thomas and Harriet ( Norman) Pinkerton, both na- tives of Ohio. They were married in the Buckeye state, and in 1855 removed to Mis- souri, where the father followed farming. During the Civil war he fought for the preservation of the Union in a Missouri regiment, having enlisted at Kirksville, that state, and during his military career he saw much hard service. He was never wounded or captured, and on the expiration of his three years' service he received an honor- able discharge and returned to his family in Missouri. He subsequently removed to No- komis, Illinois, where he followed farming until 1873. That year witnessed his arrival in Kansas, where he purchased a tract of raw prairie land and began the improvement of a farm. He was only permitted to enjoy his new home for a short time, however, as death claimed him the following year. He was a loyal and patriotic soldier, a success- ful business man and a true friend, and he

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won the love and esteem of all with whom lie came in contact. His family carried on the work which he had begun and remained there until 1885, when they sold that prop- erty and removed to Kingman county, Kan- sas, where they pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and there began the work of improving another farm, where the moth- er lived until her death, which occurred in 1891. Both she and her husband held mem- bership in the Free Methodist church, in which he served as a minister for many years, using his influence in behalf of Chris- tianity and in the uplifting of his fellow men. He was a well educated man and was a competent school teacher in early life. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton were: Amanda, the wife of J. E. Stanley; Lewis W., deceased; Margaret, the wife of our subject : A. P., a resident of Kingman coun- ty. Kansas ; Joanna, the wife of J. C. Fair- childs ; Rhoda, who married D. Hess; and Sarah J .. the wife of B. Durr. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with three children,-Arthur D., who was born August 25, 1880; Hattie E., born Novem- ber 27. 1881 ; and James L., born September 12, 1884. Of the Methodist church Mrs. Smith is a valued and active member. In his social relations Mr. Smith is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He form- erly voted with the Democracy, but is now a stanch advocate of the Reform party. He has served as trustee and assessor of his township and has filled many other minor offices, and in all his public duties he has been true to the trusts reposed in him.

FREDERICK DEISSROTH.

It is a fact to which due recognition is not always accorded that the German ele- ment of our national commonwealth has been a very important one in advancing the material interests of the nation, but on in- vestigation it will be found that a large per- centage of the successful business men are of German birth or lineage. Mr. Deissroth is a representative of the fatherland and is

now one of the leading and enterprising merchants of Wilson, where he is engaged in dealing in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes. He was born in Guntersblum, Darm- stadt, Germany, July 11. 1846, his parents being William and Elizabeth Deissroth, the former a carpenter and builder. In the fani- ily were seven children, of whom Frederick is the eldest and the only one living, and his parents have also passed away.

Frederick Deissroth was educated in the common schools and pursued a course in drawing and mathematics preparatory to learning the trade which his father had fol- lowed. He was then instructed in the study of architecture and carpentering, and en- gaged in work along that line until nineteen years of age. when he came to America. crossing the Atlantic in the winter of 1864- 5. on the steamer Saxonia, which was nine- teen days upon the trip. The vessel was commanded by Captain Meier, who said that it was his thirty-fifth voyage and that the storm which they encountered was the worst he had ever experienced. The vessel was driven about by the gale, its staterooms were damaged and the berth occupied by Mr. Deissroth was also broken down. However, in safety they at length reached New York, and, landing in the eastern metropolis, Mr. Deissroth proceeded thence to Philadelphia where he was engaged in carpentering for fifteen years. He came to Kansas with the intention of following farming, believing that his health would be benefited thereby. The exhibit made by the Sunflower state in the Centennial Exposition had favorably im- pressed him and was the thing which in- duced him to seek a home here. In the spring of 1877 he came on a prospecting tour to the west and upon his return organized a colony of forty families with whom he came to Wilson. Six of them, however, settled in Russell and Lincoln counties.

Mr. Deissroth secured a homestead in Russell county and also established a gen- eral mercantile store in Wilson, in connec- tion with J. H. Claussen, their partnership being maintained for five years. On the ex- piration of that period Mr. Deissroth soll his interest in the store and at a sheriff's

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sale purchased the store formerly owned by W. G. Thompson, and which he has since conducted. He resided upon his farm for many years, driving back and forth daily to his place of business. He first carried on mercantile operations at the corner south of his present location and there suffered a loss by fire in 1879, but, phenix-like, a new store arose from the ashes. The day following the fire he had seventeen carpenters at work on the ground clearing away the debris and making preparations for the erection of a new structure. Five years were there passed, after which, in February, Mr. Deissroth sold his interest in the establishment, as before mentioned, and purchased the Thompson store. He was for three years on the oppo- site corner and then rented his present site. In 1898 he purchased the entire corner where he is now located and erected the two-story building, having a frontage of seventy-five feet facing the railroad and one hundred and fifty feet on Main street. This building is divided into six stores. The one occupied by Mr. Deissroth is forty by fifty feet and contains a large stock of dry goods, cloth- ing, boots and shoes. Mr. Deissroth has been very prosperous in his undertaking. He gives personal attention to the business and has the unique record of never having had a bill presented to him or a draft made on him for payment of his accounts. He makes it a point to discount all bills. He sustains an unassailable reputation in business circles, his honesty being proverbial, his word being as good as any bond that was ever solemn. ized by signature or seal. He has added to his landed possessions and now operates four hundred acres, mainly planted to grain. raising between nine and ten thousand bushels of wheat each year. He is also one of the directors of the Wilson bank.

On the HIth of July, 1869, in Philadel- phia, Mr. Deissroth was united in marriage to Miss Ernestina Linsenbarth. They have nine children : Frederick is the foreman of Hock and Ladder Company No. 4, of New York city. On one occasion he saved the life of Mr. Raymond, the president of the Home Insurance Company, who was in the Windsor Hotel fire, and for this he received

a gold medal and a gift of five hundred dol- lars. The other members of the family are : August R., who is engaged in farming ; Ernestina, deceased ; Charles, who also car- ries on agricultural pursuits ; Grace, Frank, George, Otto and Ruth, who are still with the parents. The family home is a fine resi- dence which was erected by Mr. Deissroth in 1897. It extends from one street back to the next and the grounds are attractive and well laid out. There is also a good stone barn upon the place. His farm is equipped with all modern accessories and improvements, in- cluding a good grain barn and sheds, and it is characteristic of Mr. Deissroth that every- thing about him shall be neat and thrifty in appearance and thoroughly up to date.

Mr. Deissroth exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party. He has served as mayor of Wilson and as a member of the city council, while for three years, from 1880 until 1883. he was county commissioner for the third district. He belongs to Samaria Lodge, No. 298, F. & A. M., of which he was the first master, serving in that capacity for several years. He also belongs to Ells- worth Chapter, No. 54. R. A. M. : Ellsworth Council, No. 9. R. S. M. : St. Aldemar Com- mandery, No. 33: and Isis Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also connected with Wilson Lodge, No. 225, I. O. O. F., and is a member of the German Lutheran church. He has every reason to be proud of his rec- ord, which indicates his business ability to be of a high order, combined with unflag- ging perseverance and keen discrimination. His entire life has been one of unusual activ- ity and industry and his methods have al- ways been in keeping with the highest prin- ciples of fair dealing and with conscientious regard for the rights of others.

WILLIAM N. LEWIS.

A leading business citizen of Hollyrood, Kansas, who conducts one of the important lines of sale and manufacture in this little city, is William N. Lewis, a native of Penn-

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sylvania, born in Cumberland county, on November 21, 1863. He was a son of Nich- olas and Margaret ( Finkenbinder ) Lewis, the former of whom was born in Germany, and the latter of whom was a native of Pennsylvania.

Nicholas Lewis was a shoemaker by trade, and until 1872 was located at Stone- ham, Pennsylvania. At that date he re- moved to Ellsworth county, Kansas, with his family, and located at Wilson, opening up at this place a shoemaking shop. A short time later he removed to what is now Russell county, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of railroad land which was entirely unimproved. Mr. Lewis was one of the early pioneers and spent five years in the improvement of his land, in farming and stock-raising, selling out at that date and again engaging in work at his trade, in Wil- son. Until 1893 Mr. Lewis conducted a business in this line but failing health urged a return to the more active life on the farm, and he purchased a desirable tract of land in Barton county and carried on general farm- ing there until 1899. returning at that time to Russell county, where he now resides.

The children born to the parents of our subject numbered eight, and five of these still survive, as follows: Fred R., who is in the harness business in Wilson: William N., who is the subject of this sketch ; Daniel A., who is in the employ of the government ; Jennie B., who is the wife of R. Powell, a farmer of Ellsworth county : and Samuel A., who resides at home.

William N. Lewis of this sketch was a lad of nine years when his parents came to Kansas, and he acquired his education in the public schools of his district. As soon as old enough to learn a trade, he was in- structed by his father and thus gained a knowledge of leather and other necessi- ties of the shoe and harness trade, which later in life, when he was prepared to estab- lish a business for himself, proved of the greatest value.

As early as eighteen years Mr. Lewis be- gan the business of grain buying, in asso- ciation with his eldest brother, and this was carried on with success for two years. In

1889 vur subject came to Hollyrood and started the first business in his line, in this town, offering to the public a complete line of both heavy and fancy harness, plain or ornamental, with all modern designs and conveniences, arl soon began the manufac- ture of the same, this branch of the business being satisfactory both to himself and his many patrons. He has given close atten- tion both to the management and promotion of his business and has gained the confidence of the public over a large extent of terri- tory. In addition to his manufactured arti- cles, which are complete and entirely up-to- date, he has on sale an excellent line of less expensive harness and horse furnishings.

In politics Mr. Lewis has always been an adherent of the Democratic party, but has never accepted any office except that of con- stable, liis service in that position being sat- isfactory to both parties, although he re- tained the office but one term. He is well and favorably known in a number of frater- nal orders, the leading ones being : F. & A. MI., of Hollyrood ; R. A. M., E. M. Chapter, of Ellsworth; and has filled many official positions and has been a representative to the grand lodge ; is also a thirty-second de- gree Mason and belongs to Wichita Con- sistory: Hollyrood Lodge. No. 380. I. O. O. F., in which he is past grand; and in the Knights of Pythias, where he has passed the chairs and has been a representa- tive to the highest lodge.

Mr. Lewis is highly regarded in his local- ity and is recognized as a man of high char- acter who conducts his business on princi- ples which reflect honor and benefit not only upon himself, but also upon his town. Our

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 38

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 970

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 970